bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three new species of Paratanaoidea (Crustacea, Tanaidacea) from the South China Sea
Authors: TZENG YOU-WEI , WEI CHIH-LIN , MA LIN , LI XINZHENG
Published: November 2023

Three new crustacean species of the order Tanaidacea are described from the South China Sea. Alloleptochelia falciformes sp. nov. (Family Leptocheliidae) can be distinguished from the most similar species, A. evansi (Edgar, 2012), by the much stouter body, and fewer articles on the antennule flagellum and relatively longer pereopods 4–6 dactylus of the male. Kalloleptochelia multiarticulata sp. nov. (Family Leptocheliidae) can be easily differentiated from its congeners by the male having significantly more antennule flagellum articles, a two-articled uropod exopod, one additional dorsal seta on the pereopods 2–3 merus, and one additional spiniform seta on the pereopod-6 carpus. Paranesotanais incisus sp. nov. (Family Nototanaidae) differs from its only congener, P. longicephalus Larsen & Shimomura, 2008, by the female having one robust inner seta on the palm of the cheliped propodus, and the male having one long and conspicuous notch extending from the outer surface to the ventrodistal corner on the cheliped carpus. Morphological keys and comparison tables of all known species of the genera Alloleptochelia and Kalloleptochelia, as well as a key of the genus Paranesotanais, are provided.
A new species of the broad-shouldered water strider genus Microvelia Westwood (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, Japan
Authors: WATANABE KOHEI
Published: November 2023

Microvelia (Picaultia) yoshitomii sp. nov., currently considered endemic to Haha-jima Island, Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, Japan, is described. This new taxon was previously thought to be M. (P.) douglasi Scott, 1874, but has distinctly different morphological characteristics, including (1) proportional lengths of hind tarsomere II/I in both sexes approximately 1.1; (2) apex of male fore and middle tibiae strongly projected; (3) right paramere apically rounded and not markedly narrowed in lateral view, with ventral margin almost straight in lateral view.
A new species of the genus Diptilomiopus Nalepa and a key to diptilomiopid species (Prostigmata; Eriophyoidea; Diptilomiopidae) associated with Moraceae plant family
Authors: KHAN EID MUHAMMAD , KAMRAN MUHAMMAD , ALATAWI FAHAD JABER
Published: November 2023

The subfamily Diptilomiopinae Keifer and the genus Diptilomiopus Nalepa (Prostigmata; Eriophyoidea; Diptilomiopidae) are recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia with the description and illustration of a new species, D. bahaensis sp. nov., collected from Ficus carica L. (Moraceae). Additionally, a key to diptilomiopid mite species reported from the plant family Moraceae is provided, along with their distribution and habitus to the host plants.
Large-scale Fortification of Rice in India and Its Distribution in Public Distribution System
Authors: Kachhawa Kavita , Mogra Renu
Published: November 2023

Rice fortification with micronutrients is getting popularity in supplementation programmes as it provides cost-effective, easy and public-health-solution to treat anaemia and protein-energy-malnutrition. In India, A pilot scheme for rice- fortification and its distribution under Public Distribution System in fifteen districts was started for a period of 3 years (2019–2022). To examine effect of fortified rice on nutritional status of population, its supplementation studies in Indian government’s social safety programmes were reviewed. The reviewed studies showed that supplementation of fortified rice was significantly effective in reducing prevalence of anaemia, increase in haemoglobin level, and improvement in cognitive scores. However, all the reviewed studies were limited only to supplementation of fortified rice at mid-day meal programme. Thus, it can be inferred that fortification of rice can be a cost-effective tool to combat anaemia at community level but more conclusive evidences are still required.
Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Dental Pulp and Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells
Authors: Yang Y. , Alves T. , Miao M.Z. , Wu Y.C. , Li G. , Lou J. , Hasturk H. , Van Dyke T.E. , Kantarci A. , Wu D.
Published: November 2023

The regeneration of periodontal, periapical, and pulpal tissues is a complex process requiring the direct involvement of cells derived from pluripotent stem cells in the periodontal ligament and dental pulp. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are spatially distinct with the potential to differentiate into similar functional and phenotypic cells. We aimed to identify the cell heterogeneity of DPSCs and PDLSCs and explore the differentiation potentials of their specialized organ-specific functions using single-cell transcriptomic analysis. Our results revealed 7 distinct clusters, with cluster 3 showing the highest potential for differentiation. Clusters 0 to 2 displayed features similar to fibroblasts. The trajectory route of the cell state transition from cluster 3 to clusters 0, 1, and 2 indicated the distinct nature of cell differentiation. PDLSCs had a higher proportion of cells (78.6%) at the G1 phase, while DPSCs had a higher proportion of cells at the S and G2/M phases (36.1%), mirroring the lower cell proliferation capacity of PDLSCs than DPSCs. Our study suggested the heterogeneity of stemness across PDLSCs and DPSCs, the similarities of these 2 stem cell compartments to be potentially integrated for regenerative strategies, and the distinct features between them potentially particularized for organ-specific functions of the dental pulp and periodontal ligament for a targeted regenerative dental tissue repair and other regeneration therapies.
Impulsivity Drives Adolescents to Smoke and Drink: Gender Differences in the Mediating Effects of Resilience and Depression
Authors: Yan Kai , Feng Yonghui , Liu Ziyao , Shi Wei , Jiang Yubin , Liu Juan
Published: November 2023

High and rising rates of smoking and drinking among Chinese adolescents are contributing to increasingly serious physical and mental health issues. While impulsivity has been demonstrated to be significantly related to adolescent cigarette and alcohol use, little is known about the mechanisms behind this association. The current study focused on resilience and depressive symptoms as potential mediators of this link, exploring the indirect pathways connecting impulsivity to teenage tobacco and alcohol use. Possible gender differences in this indirect pathway were also explored. Participants were secondary school students from southern China ( N = 3466; 49.2% were female; Mage = 14.18; SDage = 1.57). Results revealed that adolescents who were more impulsive used cigarettes and alcohol more frequently, and that this effect was partially mediated by lower resilience and more depressive symptoms. It is noteworthy that there were gender differences in this mediating effect, with the effect of impulsivity on cigarette use for girls being mediated by resilience and depressive symptoms, whereas this statistically significant association was not identified for boys. These findings show how adolescents’ impulsivity drives them to smoke and drink, and also emphasize gender as a crucial consideration for intervening with adolescents’ drinking and smoking behaviors.
Tech titans, cyber commons and the war in Ukraine: An incipient shift in international relations
Authors: Matania Eviatar , Sommer Udi
Published: November 2023

After years of highlighting the importance of cyber elements to the battlefields of the 21st Century, many observers are perplexed to see how conventional the war in Ukraine seems to be. We argue, nonetheless, that the war in Ukraine is another step in an incipient shift in international relations and international security inextricably linked with the cyber era. The cyber era has ushered in a key change in the sense that companies, in addition to nation-states, now play a role with meaningful and substantial consequences for the geostrategic upshots of the conflict. Key elements in this new IR reality are formed in the vision and spirit of the tech titans – Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Amazon. The cyber commons, which includes elements that had not existed as shortly as two decades ago, and that are almost purely a product of the inventiveness and entrepreneurship of the tech titans – such as cloud computing or social media – is now part and parcel of the way states identify themselves, recognize their friends and foes, protect themselves and attack others, and operate internally and externally.
The customer is always right? Flags of convenience and the assembling of maritime affairs
Authors: Gould Alex
Published: November 2023

The concept of ‘flag of convenience’ is ubiquitous in literature on maritime governance. First popularised by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), it has served as a touchstone concept in maritime policy discourse, and as a metaphor for the interaction between state and corporate actors in both maritime affairs and the globalised economy more broadly. This article argues, however, that the conceptions of public and private as ontologically separate that underpin existing literature on maritime governance have obscured notable shifts in the practices of flags of convenience in recent decades. More specifically (and drawing on assemblage theory), it argues that while flags of convenience have been framed exclusively as entities that allow shipping interests to escape regulatory control, certain open registers have been re-constituted as hubs of knowledge and materiality that ease and accelerate commercial circulation in a variety of ways. The article concludes by drawing attention to the volatility of the politics and practices of flag statehood at large; additionally, it highlights the insights that can be yielded for International Relations by the examination of maritime governance using novel theoretical tools.
Spillover Effects of COVID-19 News Coverage on Willingness to Participate in Medical Research in a Diverse Sample of US Older Adults
Authors: Bleakley Amy , Maloney Erin K. , Young Dannagal G. , Hennessy Michael , Crowley John P. , Silk Kami J. , Langbaum Jessica B.
Published: November 2023

COVID-19 has dominated news coverage since the beginning of the pandemic. The extent to which exposure to such news affected perceptions of medical research and other health issues is not clear, especially among older adults who are more susceptible to infection and experience more COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. This study uses a two-wave national panel of U.S. adults ages 50 years and older ( n = 1,240) to examine the mechanism through which exposure to source-specific news outlets (e.g., national network broadcasts, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC) affected willingness to participate in medical research for COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), both of which afflicts millions of older adults. We hypothesized that spillover from COVID-19 information exposure influenced potential research participation in AD research through attitudes toward science and COVID-19 misperceptions. Path analysis results provide empirical support for spillover effects which vary by news outlet.
Political Self-Cultivation for Humane Government: Yi I’s Defense of the Way of the Hegemon in Neo-Confucian Korea
Authors: Kim Sungmoon
Published: November 2023

As ardent followers of Mencius and Zhu Xi, virtually all Korean Neo-Confucians during the Chosŏn dynasty rejected the Way of the Hegemon by understanding it as directly opposed to the Kingly Way, a humane government allegedly conducted by ancient sage-kings. However, Yi I [Formula: see text]珥 (1536–1584), a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar-official in sixteenth-century Korea, endorsed the Way of the Hegemon as compatible with the Kingly Way by reconceptualizing it, otherwise predicated on strong consequentialist ethics, in a way consistent with Confucianism’s deepest concern with the well-being of the people. In Confucianizing the Way of the Hegemon through the creative re-reading of the Book of Rites from a Xunzian standpoint, Yi I proposed a new method of moral self-cultivation specifically tailored for a Confucian ruler—called political self-cultivation in this paper—that combined the traditional Neo-Confucian recovery model of self-cultivation with a strong sense of political responsibility.
Estimating a Preference-Based Value Set for the Mental Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (MHQoL)
Authors: van Krugten Frédérique C. W. , Jonker Marcel F. , Himmler Sebastian F. W. , Hakkaart-van Roijen Leona , Brouwer Werner B. F.
Published: November 2023

Background

Health economic evaluations using common health-related quality of life measures may fall short in adequately measuring and valuing the benefits of mental health care interventions. The Mental Health Quality of Life questionnaire (MHQoL) is a standardized, self-administered mental health–related quality of life instrument covering 7 dimensions known to be relevant across and valued highly by people with mental health problems. The aim of this study was to derive a Dutch value set for the MHQoL to facilitate its use in cost-utility analyses.

Methods

The value set was estimated using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with duration that accommodated nonlinear time preferences. The DCE was embedded in a web-based self-complete survey and administered to a representative sample ( N = 1,308) of the Dutch adult population. The matched pairwise choice tasks were created using a Bayesian heterogeneous D-efficient design. The overall DCE design comprised 10 different subdesigns, with each subdesign containing 15 matched pairwise choice tasks. Each participant was asked to complete 1 of the subdesigns to which they were randomly assigned.

Results

The obtained coefficients indicated that “physical health,”“mood,” and “relationships” were the most important dimensions. All coefficients were in the expected direction and reflected the monotonic structure of the MHQoL, except for level 2 of the dimension “future.” The predicted values for the MHQoL ranged from −0.741 for the worst state to 1 for the best state.

Conclusions

This study derived a Dutch value set for the recently introduced MHQoL. This value set allows for the generation of an index value for all MHQoL states on a QALY scale and may hence be used in Dutch cost-utility analyses of mental healthcare interventions.

Highlights

A discrete choice experiment was used to derive a Dutch value set for the MHQoL. This allows the use of the MHQoL in Dutch cost-utility analyses. The dimensions physical health, mood, and relationships were the most important. The utility values range from −0.741 for the worst state to 1 for the best state.
Characterization of Motorcycle Encroachments in the U.S
Authors: Daanen Michael A. , Gabauer Douglas J. , Riexinger Luke E.
Published: November 2023

In 2020, there were 5,579 motorcyclist fatalities in the U.S., which is the highest on record. Despite accounting for only 3% of registered vehicles, motorcycles are involved in 42% of fatal guardrail impacts. Roadside safety hardware testing guidelines are outlined in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) for passenger vehicles and large trucks but these procedures do not include any motorcycle impacts. Although international test procedures for roadside hardware prescribe motorcycle crash tests, it is not known if the prescribed test conditions reflect the conditions at which motorcycles depart the roadway in the U.S. A better understanding of the characteristics of motorcycles departing the roadway in the U.S. is needed before the development of motorcycle crash tests. This study used the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 17-88 database to compare the encroachment and impact characteristics of motorcycles, passenger vehicles, single-unit trucks, and tractor-trailer trucks. Motorcycles were found to have a similar distribution of impact angles to passenger vehicles, with an 85th percentile of 24 degrees. The median and 85th percentile impact angle was found to be shallower for tractor-trailer trucks compared with motorcycles and passenger vehicles. Additionally, large trucks and motorcycles were found to roll over at a higher frequency than passenger vehicles. During the first event, almost 80% of motorcycles were upright. By the second event, almost 50% of motorcyclists were separated from the motorcycle. This indicates that a large percentage of riders lose contact with the motorcycle during the first event and are separated during any subsequent events. Based on these results, future motorcycle-barrier tests should consider an upright configuration and an impact angle of 24 degrees.
At Least She Is Doing Something? Women Do Not Prefer a Woman Who Confronts Gender-Based Discrimination With a Distancing Motive Over a Nonconfronter
Authors: Munder Anja K. , Becker Julia C. , Ruiz Nadja Salvatierra , Christ Oliver
Published: November 2023

We examined how female (and male) observers evaluated a woman who confronts gender-based discrimination expressing a distancing motive (distance oneself from other women) compared to different types of nondistancing motives. We were interested in the distancing motive, because it has ambivalent implications for women (opposition to discrimination and potential for prejudice reduction vs. disparaging women). In three preregistered online vignette experiments ( N1 = 404 women and men; N2 = 295 women, N3 = 742 women and men; with men as control groups), participants evaluated a female professional who confronted gender-based discrimination, implying either an individual motive (improve individual situation), a group motive (improve women's group status), or a distancing motive, all compared to a condition where the woman did not confront at all. Although women perceived distancing-motivated confrontation as more effective and beneficial for women than no confrontation, they evaluated the distancing-motivated confronter equally negatively as the nonconfronter. Furthermore, effects of gender group (Studies 1 and 2) and feminist identification (Studies 2 and 3) and comparing women's to men's evaluations (Studies 1 and 3) overall indicate that the confrontation motives’ implications (e.g., devaluation of women) for people's identities (e.g., feminist women vs. feminist men) shape the evaluation of a confronter. These results encourage those who have contact with targets of gender-based discrimination to reflect on how their own identity may influence their reaction toward the target.
Bioethics in Gerontology: Developing a Typology of Ethical Issues in Assisted Living
Authors: Turner Kelly , Kemp Candace L. , Lesandrini Jason , Madison Barquiesha , Donohue Erin
Published: November 2023

Assisted living (AL) simultaneously is home to older adults who cannot live independently and a place where people work and visit and, therefore, where value conflicts are apt to arise. In this report we present the “Typology of Ethical Issues in Assisted Living” with emphasis on its development. The typology derives from a synthesis of frameworks used in acute care spaces adapted and applied to data collected as part of an ethnographic study involving AL residents with dementia. Our work advances knowledge and has implications for future research and practice.
Utilization of Imaging for Severe Injuries at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games
Authors: Drury Anne , Engebretsen Lars , Steffen Kathrin , Soligard Torbjorn , Liu Ran , Forster Bruce B.
Published: November 2023

Purpose: In order to better understand the imaging of severe trauma in sport, this study describes the imaging modalities utilized to image athletes who experienced severe traumatic injuries at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games 2022, the distribution of these modalities in relation to the sporting facilities, and the types of injuries imaged in each sport. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis with descriptive tables and figures, performed on a single population (athletes of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games 2022). Results: Of the 2871 athletes in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, there were 40 athletes with severe injuries who underwent medical imaging. MRI was used more often than Radiography or CT. Athletes at venues without MRI on site had to be transferred to adjacent hospitals for care. Alpine and Freestyle skiing athletes experienced the majority of severe traumatic injuries at this Olympic Games, and the majority of injuries were to the lower limb. Conclusions: Access to medical imaging for severely injured athletes is a critical consideration in the organization of any sporting event. MRI in particular is highly utilized in this population.
The State of the Union: Trauma System Development in the United States
Authors: Rogers Frederick B. , Larson Nicholas J. , Dries David J. , Olson-Bullis Barbara A. , Blondeau Benoît
Published: November 2023

Injury is both a national and international epidemic that affects people of all age, race, religion, and socioeconomic class. Injury was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.) in 2021 and results in an incalculable emotional and financial burden on our society. Despite this, when prevention fails, trauma centers allow communities to prepare to care for the traumatically injured patient. Using lessons learned from the military, trauma care has grown more sophisticated in the last 50 years. In 1966, the first civilian trauma center was established, bringing management of injury into the new age. Now, the American College of Surgeons recognizes 4 levels of trauma centers (I-IV), with select states recognizing Level V trauma centers. The introduction of trauma centers in the U.S. has been proven to reduce morbidity and mortality for the injured patient. However, despite the proven benefits of trauma centers, the U.S. lacks a single, unified, trauma system and instead operates within a “system of systems” creating vast disparities in the level of care that can be received, especially in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. In this review we present the history of trauma system development in the U.S, define the different levels of trauma centers, present evidence that trauma systems and trauma centers improve outcomes, outline the current state of trauma system development in the U.S, and briefly mention some of the current challenges and opportunities in trauma system development in the U.S. today.
A Need for a Novel Survival Risk Scoring System for Intensive Care Admissions Due to Sepsis in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients
Authors: Wittmann Dayagi Talya , Nirel Ronit , Avrahami Galia , Amar Shira , Elitzur Sarah , Fisher Salvador , Gilead Gil , Gilad Oded , Goldberg Tracie , Izraeli Shai , Kadmon Gili , Kaplan Eytan , Krauss Aviva , Michaeli Orli , Stein Jerry , Steinberg-Shemer Orna , Tamary Hannah , Tausky Osnat , Toledano Helen , Weissbach Avichai , Yacobovich Joanne , Yanir Asaf D. , Zon Jessica , Nahum Elhanan , Barzilai-Birenboim Shlomit
Published: November 2023

Background: Children with hemato-oncological diseases or following stem cell transplantation (SCT) are at high risk for life-threatening infections; sepsis in this population constitutes a substantial proportion of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions. The current pediatric prognostic scoring tools to evaluate illness severity and mortality risk are designed for the general pediatric population and may not be adequate for this vulnerable subpopulation. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on all PICU admissions for sepsis in children with hemato-oncological diseases or post-SCT, in a single tertiary pediatric hospital between 2008 and 2021 ( n = 233). We collected and analyzed demographic, clinical, and laboratory data and outcomes for all patients, and evaluated the accuracy of two major prognostic scoring tools, the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 (PELOD-2) and the Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III). Furthermore, we created a new risk-assessment model that contains additional parameters uniquely relevant to this population. Results: The survival rate for the cohort was 83%. The predictive accuracies of PELOD-2 and PRISM III, as determined by the area under the curve (AUC), were 83% and 78%, respectively. Nine new parameters were identified as clinically significant: age, SCT, viral infection, fungal infection, central venous line removal, vasoactive inotropic score, bilirubin level, C-reactive protein level, and prolonged neutropenia. Unique scoring systems were established by the integration of these new parameters into the algorithm; the new systems significantly improved their predictive accuracy to 91% ( p = 0.01) and 89% ( p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The predictive accuracies (AUC) of the PELOD-2 and PRISM III scores are limited in children with hemato-oncological diseases admitted to PICU with sepsis. These results highlight the need to develop a risk-assessment tool adjusted to this special population. Such new scoring should represent their unique characteristics including their degree of immunosuppression and be validated in a large multi-center prospective study.
Sexual Violence Among Higher Education Students in the United Kingdom: Results from the Oxford Understanding Relationships, Sex, Power, Abuse and Consent Experiences Study
Authors: Steele Bridget , Degli Esposti Michelle , Mandeville Pete , Humphreys David K.
Published: November 2023

Sexual violence (SV) experienced by higher education students is a prevalent public health problem. Collecting data on SV through self-report surveys in higher education institutions (HEIs) is essential for estimating the scope of the problem, the first step to adequately resourcing and implementing prevention and response programming and policies. However, in the United Kingdom, data is limited. We used data from the cross-sectional Oxford Understanding Relationships, Sex, Power, Abuse and Consent Experiences survey, administered to all students at a university in the United Kingdom in May 2021 ( n = 25,820), to estimate the past year prevalence of SV. We analyzed data from respondents who answered at least one question on SV ( n = 1,318) and found that 20.5% of respondents experienced at least one act of attempted or forced sexual touching or rape, and 52.7% of respondents experienced at least one act of sexual harassment (SH). We found that women experienced the highest rates of SV. Attempted forced sexual touching was far more common than forced sexual touching, or rape. Sexist remarks or jokes were the most common act of SH. Most acts of SV took place at the university. These findings reveal that the prevalence of SV in HEIs in the United Kingdom could be far higher than what is experienced in the general population. While this study reflects the context in only one institution, it underlines the need for continued monitoring to develop rigorous, evidence-based, and targeted prevention and response strategies.
Audience Response to COVID Monologues: Research-Based Theater on the Societal Impact of COVID-19
Authors: Hurley Emily A. , Tharmarajah Saraniya , de Mahy Genevieve , Rassp Jess , Salvatore Joe , Jones Jonathan P. , Harvey Steven A.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Research-based theater uses drama to communicate research findings to audiences beyond those that typically read peer-reviewed journals. We applied research-based theater to translate qualitative research findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different segments of U.S. society.

Approach

Theater artists and public health researchers collaborated to create a collection of eight monologues from systematically sourced, peer-reviewed publications. Following three virtual performances in Spring, 2021, audience members were invited to complete a survey.

Setting/Participants

Audience survey respondents (n = 120) were mostly U.S.-based and were diverse in terms of age, race/ethnicity, gender, profession, and experience attending theater.

Method

We summarized closed-ended responses and explored patterns by demographic characteristics. We synthesized themes of open-ended responses with inductive coding.

Results

Audience members somewhat/strongly agreed that COVID Monologues increased their knowledge (79.4%), represented the reality of the U.S. COVID-19 epidemic (95.7%), and offered new perspectives on what people had been experiencing (87.5%). Most also agreed research-based theater is an effective means of understanding health research (93.5%) and can promote community resilience in times of public health crisis (83.2%). Mann-Whitney U tests suggested less positive reactions from demographics that were not well-represented in monologue characters (cisgender men, Hispanics). Qualitative comments suggested audience members valued monologues that offered self-reflection and validation of their own COVID-19 experiences through relatable characters as well as those that offered insight into the experiences of people different from themselves.

Conclusion

This work adds to evidence that research-based theater can help build knowledge and emotional insight around a public health issue. As these elements are foundational to pro-social, preventative health behaviors, research-based theater may have a useful role in promoting collective response to public health crises like COVID-19. Our method of systematically-sourcing research for theater-based dissemination could be extended to target more specific audiences with actionable behaviors.
Performance enhancements and NOx emission reductions using novel exhaust-driven hybrid gas turbine inlet air-cooling techniques
Authors: Bassily Ashraf M.
Published: November 2023

For combined cycles, gas turbine inlet air-cooling (GTIAC) increases the mass flow rates of both air and the generated steam of the heat recovery steam generator and hence power output. The introduction of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to reduce NOx emissions necessitates the application of GTIAC to overcome the adverse effects of gas turbine (GT) inlet air heating that accompany EGR. For a hot-humid climate, the r5egular cooling methods consume a significant amount of energy while desiccant and inlet-fogging are not effective. The main purpose of this study is to introduce innovative exhaust-driven hybrid GTIAC techniques that can reduce effectively the inlet temperature of the combined cycle in a hot-humid climate without consuming a substantial amount of energy and examine the effects of applying such techniques on the performance and NOx emissions. In this paper, a thorough analysis for the effect of increasing ambient temperature ( To) and relative humidity ( RHo) on the performance and NOx emissions of the air-cooled GT combined cycle (ACGTCC) is presented and the novel exhaust-driven hybrid (NE-DH) GTIAC systems of desiccant-ejector, ejector-refrigeration, and desiccant-ejector-refrigeration are applied to ACGTCC and optimized for maximum power output. The 1-D model at the double choking was used to model the performance of the ejector GTIAC technique. The results indicate that applying NE-DH GTIAC techniques results in gains in power, which vary between 0.31% and 0.6% per °C rise in To and an efficiency improvement of up to about 0.5 percentage point and significant reductions in both capital and maintenance costs compared with applying the refrigeration GTIAC system. The introduction of ejector and desiccant cooling decreases NOx emissions further and adds no additional equipment cost if implemented together with EGR or some CO2 capture techniques. A suggested plan for GTIAC that reduces NOx emissions by up to 25% is presented.
Experimental investigation on spray and flame characteristics of a marine diesel engine with single and double injection
Authors: Liu Rui , Yang Xuan , Huang Li , Li Xinrui , Shen Gang , Ju Dehao , Feng Mingzhi , Lu Xingcai
Published: November 2023

Multiple injection is one of the advanced technologies employed in modern diesel engines to improve combustion efficiency, reduce pollutant emissions, and minimize combustion noise. The application of multiple injection in marine diesel engines differs from its use in vehicles or heavy-duty engines, as it is not commonly combined with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). However, there is a scarcity of studies specifically examining the combustion characteristics of medium-speed marine diesel engines utilizing multiple injection. Given the large space scale of marine diesel engine, a constant volume chamber with a visible diameter of 240 mm was used, and an injector with a nozzle diameter of 0.465 mm was employed in the experiment. The spray development and combustion process were recorded by Mie-scattering and flame natural luminosity imaging respectively. Both conventional and double injection combustion processes were analyzed in detail. The results show that although the liquid phase spray does not fully penetrate to the cylinder wall in marine diesel engines, the flame penetrates to the cylinder wall rapidly, the flame burns near the wall almost throughout the entire combustion duration. The combustion characteristics of the double injection are significantly different, the flame propagation speed of the pilot and main injection fuel is one-third to one-half of that of a single injection with a long duration. For single injection spray with long injection duration, the flame penetration velocity is determined by the sequential ignition velocity of the fuel. While the flame penetration velocity for sprays with short injection duration mainly depends on the jet penetration velocity. The investigation on the impact of dwell time, fuel distribution, and injection pressure on the combustion process of double injection also provides valuable insights for optimizing multiple injection strategies.
Is University Support Effective? A Longitudinal Study of Cultural Adaptation of South Asian Students in Chinese Universities
Authors: Li Xun , Rahman Md Sahariar , Yu Lan
Published: November 2023

The successful adjustment of international students to the new environment depends on their ability to interact effectively with the external environment. However, the literature has not yet provided a clear understanding of how the support provided by host universities affects the academic achievement and cultural adaptation of international students, particularly in longitudinal studies involving students from different countries and regions in China. Based on Student-centered Learning Engagement framework, this study developed and tested a model composed of three variables—university support, academic achievement and cultural adaptation, and collected data from South Asian students at Chinese universities from 2017 to 2019 through questionnaires. The findings revealed that university support significantly affected cultural adaptation through academic achievement. The study suggests that Chinese universities should provide appropriate levels of support for international students to achieve positive academic outcomes, and to better understand and adapt to the universities, societies, and cultures.
Four suppositions about emergent properties of complex interventions that operate and function as systems: A call for evaluation research
Authors: Renger Ralph , Renger Jessica , Pescud Melanie T , Van Eck Richard N , Basson Marc D , Renger Jirina
Published: November 2023

This article focuses on evaluating the emergent properties of complex interventions that operate and function as systems. After defining key terms, four suppositions of emergence are presented. The suppositions are based on the authors’ reflections on evaluating several complex interventions using a systems approach. Supposition 1 posits that there is an operational emergent property, paralleling the theory-driven evaluation concept of implementation theory noted by Carol Weiss. Supposition 2 suggests that every complex intervention also has a functional emergent property that speaks to the effectiveness of the intervention. Several important distinctions between a functional emergent property and the long-term outcomes derived based on a reductionist worldview are noted. Supposition 3 builds on the work of Chalmers to posit that it is possible for a complex intervention to simultaneously have more than one operational emergent property and more than one functional emergent property. Supposition 4 is grounded in the system definition to propose that operational emergence is a prerequisite for functional emergence. Suppositions by definition require proof to become theories. The article calls for evaluators to share whether their experiences support these suppositions and encourages investments in evaluation research to test them.
Ketamine for Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus in Palliative Care. A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Dunn Edward J. , Willis David D.
Published: November 2023

We report a case of super refractory status epilepticus uncontrolled by multiple anti-seizure medications in an individual with acute liver failure due to hepatic cirrhosis and an obstructive ileocecal mass plus multiple bilateral lung lesions presumed to be metastatic. A ketamine infusion was initiated late in his hospitalization which eliminated the convulsive seizures in less than an hour. The abatement of convulsive seizures allowed his grieving wife to return to her husband’s bedside to witness the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and be present during the final 24 hours of his life. We review the medical literature on the role of Intravenous (IV) Ketamine in the treatment of super refractory status epilepticus.
Silencing Human Rights Defenders Once and for All? Determinants of Human Rights Defenders’ Killings
Authors: Krain Matthew , Murdie Amanda , Beard Abigail
Published: November 2023

When are human rights defenders at risk of being killed? Echoing research on journalist killings, we argue that a democratic context makes it easier for human rights defenders to operate and incentivizes them to continue activities and to pursue information that puts them at risk. De jure protections that defenders have may not be enforced or may not protect defenders from bad actors engaging in politically motivated murder. These factors make human rights defenders more likely to be killed by actors trying to avoid the spotlight and exposure in democratic systems than in other types of regimes. Autocratic regimes provide fewer opportunities to freely advocate for human rights and to pursue or disseminate information about human rights violations by state or non-state actors, reducing the likelihood of defender mortality. Using two new sets of cross-national data on the number of killings of human rights defenders between 1997 and 2010 and from 2014 to 2020, we find that these arguments are generally supported when controlling for other factors that affect the killing of human rights defenders, particularly in democracies with lower state capacity.
Kikuchi Disease After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: A Case Report With Immunohistochemical Analyses
Authors: Hamamoto Yuichiro , Kawamura Michihiro , Mori Hideo , Uchida Hiroki , Hiramatsu Kazuhiro , Katori Chiaki , Asai Hinako , Kawasaki Hiroko , Minamino Taishi , Hashimoto Michiko , Nakatsuka Shin-ichi , Yoshida Kyotaro
Published: November 2023

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been administered in many countries after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lymphadenopathy is a side effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We report a rare example of Kikuchi disease in the cervical lymph nodes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. A 41-year-old man complained of a swollen neck and fever 9 days after the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine. Computed tomography revealed enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Fine needle aspiration and resection were performed, and the clinicopathological diagnosis was consistent with Kikuchi disease. Histologically, the resected lymph nodes lost their polarity, and many histiocytes were aggregated with karyorrhectic nuclear debris and apoptosis. SARS-CoV-2 positive cells were small lymphocytes detected by immunohistochemistry. This is the first report that demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 expression in Kikuchi disease post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Incidentally Diagnosed With Pulmonary Embolism in Lung Cancer Patients: Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Mortality With Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Luo Zhuanbo , Xu Ning , Ma Guofeng , Lu Yangfei , Yao Jianchang , Ying Kejing
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this work was to compare the clinical characteristics, rate of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), bleeding complications and mortality of incidental and symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) detected on computed tomography in patients with lung cancer. Clinical data of lung cancer patients with PE were obtained from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Ningbo First affiliated hospital of Ningbo University during January 2016 and June 2021 and were reviewed retrospectively. We compared clinical and radiological characteristics in lung cancer patients with incidental PE (IPE) and symptomatic PE (SPE) and identified variables associated with the 1-year survival on multivariate Cox analysis. All patients were followed up for 1 year to compare the risks of recurrent VTE, bleeding complications, and mortality. Survival analysis was performed by use of Kaplan–Meier. A total of 223 lung cancer patients with PE were enrolled over the period. Of these, 117 (52%) patients had symptomatic whereas 106 (48%) patients had incidental PE. Those with IPE were more likely to have adenocarcinoma, VTE history, chronic respiratory disease and chemotherapy within 30 days prior to PE, while SPE was more frequently observed in patients with squamous cancer, concomitant VTE, performance status 0-1, chronic heart disease and major surgery within 30 days prior to PE. During 1 year of follow-up, recurrent VTE was diagnosed in 10 patients (9.3%) in lung cancer patients with IPE and 13 patients (11.2%) with SPE. The 12-month cumulative recurrent VTE incidence was 9.6% for patients with incidental and 11.4% for patients with symptomatic PE ( P = .61). The 12-month cumulative incidences of major bleeding complications were also comparable in the 2 groups (8.1% for incidental patients and 9.8% for symptomatic patients; P = .62). However, the respective 12-month mortality risks were 34.6% and 30.2% in lung cancer patients with IPE and SPE respectively ( P = .03). On multivariate Cox analysis, we found that IPE occurrence was an independent risk factor associated with 1-year mortality in lung cancer patients complicated with PE after adjusting for age and sex (HR 1.517; 95% CI: 1.366-1.684; P = .027). Our findings suggest that lung cancer patients diagnosed with and treated for incidental PE had a similar rate of recurrent VTE, and incidence of hemorrhagic complications, but a significantly higher 1-year cumulative mortality rate after PE compared to those with symptomatic PE. IPE may be a marker of poor prognosis.
Investigation of the free vibrations of bi-directional functionally graded material beams using differential quadrature method
Authors: Huang Xiaojun , Zhang Liaojun , Ge Renyu
Published: November 2023

In this study, we investigated the natural dynamic characteristics of bi-directional (2D) functionally graded material (FGM) beams using differential quadrature method (DQM). The higher order shear deformation theory was used to reconstruct the displacement and strain fields at any point on the beam. The resulting equilibrium equation of elasticity was expressed by stress is equivalently integrated along the height direction of a rectangular beam, which helps derive the ordinary differential characteristic equations of the free vibration problem of 2D FGM beams, including the natural frequency and the triple-coupled mode functions. Then, using the DQM, the eigenvalue problems of the derived differential equation for free vibration of 2D FGM beams were transformed into a set of algebraic equations representing the eigenvalue problems. The obtained algebraic equations were solved using the orthogonal triangular decomposition method (QR). First, several orders of natural frequencies of the free vibrations of 2D FGM beams were calculated sequentially, and then, the triple-coupled mode functions were obtained together. Numerical examples were used to illustrate the effects of the thickness ratio, grading indexes, and the supported edges on the natural frequency in detail. Numerical results validated the feasibility and accuracy of the developed DQM for solving the problem of free vibrations in 2D FGM beams.
Real Research with Fake Data: A Tutorial on Conducting Computer Simulation for Research and Teaching
Authors: Sturman Michael C.
Published: November 2023

Although many have recognized the value of computer simulations as a research tool, instruction on building computer simulations is absent from most doctoral education and research methods texts. This paper provides an introductory tutorial on computer simulations for research and teaching. It shows the techniques needed to create data based on desired relationships among the variables or based on a specified model. The paper also introduces techniques to make data more “interesting,” including adding skew or kurtosis, creating multi-item measures with unreliability, making data multilevel, and incorporating mediated, moderated, and nonlinear relationships. The methods described in the paper are illustrated using Excel, Mplus, and R; furthermore, the functionality of using ChatGPT to create code in R is explored and compared to the paper's illustrative examples. Supplemental files are provided that illustrate each example used in the paper as well as several more advanced techniques mentioned in the paper. The goal of this paper is not to help inform experts on simulation; rather, it is to open up to all readers the powerful potential of this research and teaching tool.
Contextual Adaptations to Implement SWPBS With Fidelity: The Case of Cyprus
Authors: Michael Demos , Nikiforou Militsa , Charalambous Vicky , Vrasidas Charalambos
Published: November 2023

The transfer and adoption of the school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) framework in different contexts worldwide is receiving increased interest. Identified challenges in implementing relevant systems and practices with fidelity at local schools can lead to adaptations improving the contextual fit of SWPBS, which eventually contributes to enhanced outcomes. The present study documents a 2-year systematic implementation of SWPBS in 31 elementary schools in Cyprus. Cultural and situational barriers were identified using a mixed-methods design. Data were obtained from three fidelity assessments across time, through which we examined the schools’ efforts to integrate SWPBS elements into their setting. School size and location were also used to predict implementation fidelity. External coaches’ experiences working with schools for 2 years were summarized to provide insight into the main impediments to effective implementation. Recommendations for forthcoming applications of SWPBS in contexts with similar characteristics are drawn.