bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new species of Jurasai Rosa et al., 2020 and the first record of the family Jurasaidae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) in the northern Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: NUNES JOÃO PAULO , NASCIMENTO MATHEUS , PEREIRA-COLAVITE ALESSANDRE
Published: August 2023

A new species, Jurasai parahybanum sp. nov., from the recently discovered elateroid family Jurasaidae is described. This is the first record of the family to Paraíba state and the Northern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Photographs and drawings of the important morphological characters of the new species are provided. An updated key and distribution map to the known species of the family are provided.
Seasonal Dependence of the Pacific–North American Teleconnection Associated with ENSO and Its Interaction with the Annual Cycle
Authors: Hu Suqiong , Zhang Wenjun , Jin Fei-Fei , Hong Li-Ciao , Jiang Feng , Stuecker Malte F.
Published: August 2023

The Pacific–North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern is one of the prominent atmospheric circulation modes in the extratropical Northern Hemisphere, and its seasonal to interannual predictability is suggested to originate from El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Intriguingly, the PNA teleconnection pattern exhibits variance at near-annual frequencies, which is related to a rapid phase reversal of the PNA pattern during ENSO years, whereas the ENSO sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Pacific are evolving much slower in time. This distinct seasonal feature of the PNA pattern can be explained by an amplitude modulation of the interannual ENSO signal by the annual cycle (i.e., the ENSO combination mode). The ENSO-related seasonal phase transition of the PNA pattern is reproduced well in an atmospheric general circulation model when both the background SST annual cycle and ENSO SST anomalies are prescribed. In contrast, this characteristic seasonal evolution of the PNA pattern is absent when the tropical Pacific background SST annual cycle is not considered in the modeling experiments. The background SST annual cycle in the tropical Pacific modulates the ENSO-associated tropical Pacific convection response, leading to a rapid enhancement of convection anomalies in winter. The enhanced convection results in a fast establishment of the large-scale PNA teleconnection during ENSO years. The dynamics of this ENSO–annual cycle interaction fills an important gap in our understanding of the seasonally modulated PNA teleconnection pattern during ENSO years.
The Influence of Equatorial Cooling on Axially Symmetric Atmospheric Circulation Forced by Annually Averaged Heating
Authors: Adam Ori
Published: August 2023

Axisymmetric theory of atmospheric circulation is extended for the case of concentrated equatorial cooling and annually averaged heating. The solutions are derived in a 1.5-layer shallow water model on the spherical Earth, which includes vertical mixing with diagnostic surface momentum. The axisymmetric solutions capture the sensitivity of the large-scale circulation to equatorial cooling seen in observations and in eddy-permitting models, namely, (i) weakening and widening of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) and (ii) weakening and poleward shift of the subtropical jet. For sufficiently large equatorial cooling, a tropical anti-Hadley cell emerges that transports energy equatorward, balancing the equatorial energetic sink. The analytic solutions predict the critical cooling required for the emergence of the anti-Hadley cell and provide a simple mechanism for the response of the MOC to equatorial cooling. Specifically, equatorial cooling reduces net tropical heating, which weakens the circulation and shifts the edge of the rising branch poleward. This in turn reduces upper-level momentum which is set by surface momentum in the rising branch. The subtropical meridional temperature gradient decreases with upper-level momentum, requiring a widening of the circulation to close the energy budget. The subtropical jet therefore shifts poleward with the edge of the MOC and weakens due to the reduced upper-level angular momentum. The strong sensitivity to equatorial cooling seen in the axisymmetric system suggests that the above mechanism may have an important role in the sensitivity of the MOC to equatorial temperature anomalies on seasonal or longer time scales.

Significance Statement

Axisymmetric solutions for the response of the atmospheric circulation to concentrated equatorial cooling are derived, motivated by the equatorial cooling by the cold tongues of the Pacific and Atlantic. The solutions capture the response of the large-scale realistic atmosphere to equatorial cooling, namely a weakening and widening of the meridional overturning circulation and a weakening and poleward shift of the subtropical jet. In addition, for sufficiently strong cooling, a tropical anti-Hadley cell emerges. The solutions provide insight into the influence of biases in the representation of the cold tongues in climate models, the relation of interannual equatorial variability to the large-scale circulation, and changes in the large-scale atmospheric circulation on geological time scales.
Thermal cycling effects on the mode-I delamination of multilayer laminated composites: An experimental-numerical approach
Authors: Moslemi-Abyaneh Behzad , Ghasemi Ahmad Reza
Published: August 2023

In this research, the influence of thermal cycling on the fracture toughness and maximum load in the mode-I delamination of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) was investigated. To reduce the effect of the remote ply orientation on the fracture toughness during initiation and propagation delamination, double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens with a stacking sequence of unidirectional [0]16 were considered. The specimens were subjected to thermal-cycled loading between 15°C and 65°C for 50-150 number cycles. One group of un-cycled specimens was examined at the commencement of the research as a control group to determine the effects of thermal cycling loading on mechanical characteristics of the second group specimens. During the DCB experiment, the specimens were inspected by 2 real-time cameras to record the delamination length and initial crack tip opening displacement (ICTOD). The strain energy release rate (SERR) approach was used for obtaining the critical fracture toughness from the experimental data. By employing the digital image correlation (DIC) method, the initial crack tip separation profile was obtained. The measured bridging laws with the cohesive zone elements model are used to accurately simulate the delamination propagation in DCB specimens. Investigation of load variations revealed that critical fracture toughness in the mode-I of delamination is firmly affected by the thermal cycling process.
Predictors of Client Satisfaction With Bereavement Counselling: The Role of Negative Effects
Authors: Telaar Berit , Hanauer Christina , Rosner Rita , Doering Bettina K.
Published: August 2023

Bereaved persons seeking help in bereavement counselling report generally high client satisfaction. However, qualitative research suggests that some clients also indicate dissatisfying experiences and negative effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of content-, counsellor- and client-related characteristics and negative effects to client satisfaction. Bereaved participants ( n = 53) who had completed bereavement counselling were recruited either online or via counselling organizations. In an online survey, they provided information about client-, loss- and counselling-related variables, present grief severity, negative effects of counselling and client satisfaction. In a hierarchical linear regression analysis controlling for recruitment strategy, online-recruited participants were less satisfied. In a second step additionally considering number of sessions, grief severity and negative effects, experiencing more negative effects predicted lower client satisfaction. The results indicate that negative effects could play an important role for client satisfaction. More research is needed to investigate this phenomenon.
Effects of Silent Intervals on the Extraction of Human Frequency-Following Responses Using Non-Negative Matrix Factorization
Authors: Giordano Allison T. , Jeng Fuh-Cherng , Black Taylor R. , Bauer Sydney W. , Carriero Amanda E. , McDonald Kalyn , Lin Tzu-Hao , Wang Ching-Yuan
Published: August 2023

Source-Separation Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (SSNMF) is a mathematical algorithm recently developed to extract scalp-recorded frequency-following responses (FFRs) from noise. Despite its initial success, the effects of silent intervals on algorithm performance remain undetermined. Our purpose in this study was to determine the effects of silent intervals on the extraction of FFRs, which are electrophysiological responses that are commonly used to evaluate auditory processing and neuroplasticity in the human brain. We used an English vowel /i/ with a rising frequency contour to evoke FFRs in 23 normal-hearing adults. The stimulus had a duration of 150 ms, while the silent interval between the onset of one stimulus and the offset of the next one was also 150 ms. We computed FFR Enhancement and Noise Residue to estimate algorithm performance, while silent intervals were either included (i.e., the WithSI condition) or excluded (i.e., the WithoutSI condition) in our analysis. The FFR Enhancements and Noise Residues obtained in the WithoutSI condition were significantly better ( p < .05) than those obtained in the WithSI condition. On average, the exclusion of silent intervals produced a 11.78% increment in FFR Enhancement and a 20.69% decrement in Noise Residue. These results not only quantify the effects of silent intervals on the extraction of human FFRs, but also provide recommendations for designing and improving the SSNMF algorithm in future research.
Separate and Unequal in St. Louis? Strengths and Limitations of School-Level Funding Data Using a QuantCrit Framework
Authors: Anglum J. Cameron
Published: August 2023

As outcome gaps persist between students of varying racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, it remains critical to assess how equitably school funding regimes allocate resources, perhaps most importantly in segregated areas. In this article, I apply a QuantCrit framework to examine school funding in the St. Louis region using newly available school-level data, data particularly relevant in urban settings with large potential within-district funding variation. My findings vary widely predicated on choices to include measures of local property wealth, underscoring the importance of quantitative analyses to motivate analytical decisions based on the context and historical underpinnings of relevant data sources.
Critical Race Teacher Leadership: Leading Antiracist Systems Change
Authors: Knaus Christopher B. , Rogers-Ard Rachelle
Published: August 2023

As attacks on critical race theory continue, anti-Black violence remains normalized, with schools often unwilling to transform toward racial healing. Sharing narratives from urban school-based practitioner projects, the authors conceptualize an applied critical race theory systems change model. After clarifying four tenets to guide teacher leadership-driven antiracist systems change, the authors identify five ongoing systemic antiracist approaches. Central to such transformation efforts are antiracist teacher leaders who are informed by voice-centric classroom instruction and an awareness of the larger school, community, and district contexts. The authors caution that antiracist systems change must continually counteract the Whiteness of schools.
Pharyngeal Fish Hook Impaction: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Sa’adudeen Idris Olanrewaju , Omokanye Habeeb Kayode , Peter Adeoye Oladapo , Ige Olufemi Adebayo , Jimoh Muritala , Ominigbo Olodedia Benneth , Fabiyi Johnson Olurotimi , Aremu Shuaib Kayode , Adegboye Aderonke Folashade
Published: August 2023

Foreign bodies, particularly fish bones, in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus are a common complaint. A swallowed foreign body can be embedded in the tonsil, the base of the tongue, the pyriform fossae, or any region of the upper esophagus. A 70-year-old woman presented with persistent left-sided pharyngeal pain with the sensation of a foreign body for 10 days. She felt a sudden sharp pain in her pharynx while eating a fish head 10 days before the presentation. On examination, an elderly woman was found in painful distress. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed a pool of saliva in the pyriform fossae and a diagnosis of a foreign body in the esophagus was suspected. She was planned for direct laryngoscopy, left (lateral/external) pharyngotomy, and removal of foreign bodies under fluoroscopic guidance of the C-arm. A metallic fish hook that hung over the greater left horn, buried in the neck muscles, was found during the surgery and was extracted. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged from the clinic. Foreign bodies, particularly fish bones, in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus are a common complaint, particularly in the African setting.
Correlational Analysis of Nasal Resistance and Acoustic Rhinometry Measurements With the Localization of Fungus Balls in the Paranasal Sinuses
Authors: Xu Tao , Wang Yin-Feng , Wang Ya-Lin , Guo Xiao-Tao , Luo Jing
Published: August 2023

Objective: To investigate the reason for fungal balls (FBs) being localized in paranasal sinuses, we analyzed the clinical presentations of patients with FB rhinosinusitis (FBS). Methods: Clinical data, anatomical variation (ie, nasal septal deviation, concha bullosa, and Haller cell), as well as measurements of nasal resistance (NR), nasal cavity volume (NCV), and nasal cross-sectional area (NCA) using active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry were collected from FBS patients hospitalized in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2022. A retrospective analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 19.0 to perform the Shapiro–Wilk test, t-test and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 95 FBS patients, including 33 male and 62 female patients, were included in this study. FBs in maxillary sinus were the most common (83, 87.4%), followed by sphenoid sinus (9, 9.5%). Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed that a higher left-to-right NR ratio was associated with an increased likelihood of FBs being present in the left sinus [Odds ratios (OR) = 0.185; 95% CI, 0.061-0.558; P < .01]. When the ratio of the left-to-right second-minimum NCA was higher and the FB was more in the right sinus (OR = 3.194; 95% CI, 1.593-6.405; P = .001). Additionally, when the difference between left and right NCV was greater and FB occurred more commonly in the right sinus (OR = 1.435; 95% CI, 1.196-1.721; P < .001). Nonetheless, the presence of nasal septum deviation and concha bullosa did not significantly contribute to FB formation. Conclusions and significance: The differences in NR, NCA, and NCV between the affected and unaffected sides of nasal cavity are risk factors for the FB formation. To reduce FBS recurrence, it is important to focus on improving nasal ventilation during the surgical treatment.
Enhanced effect of chloroprene on the mechanical properties of polyurethane foams
Authors: Hosseinpour Masoumeh , Ashjari Hamid Reza , Seyed Dorraji Mir Saeed , Rastgouy-Houjaghan Mehrdad , Faraji Sheida
Published: August 2023

In this research, a new method to increase the mechanical properties of the low-density polyurethane foams (PUFS) has been described. Chloroprene rubber (CR) is used as reinforcing the mechanical properties of the foam. Polyurethane foam (PUF) containing CR (PUF/CR) and pure PUF were characterized by mechanical testing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of mechanical properties show the tensile strength of PUFS containing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt% CR are 38.2, 42, 56.4, 61.48, 77.3 and 77.18 kPa, respectively. Also the morphological studies show by increasing the amount of CR in the foam structure, the foam cells are smaller and more closed.
Effect of peri-operative intra-aortic balloon pump in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting on outcomes in a resource limited setting
Authors: Sohail Abdul Ahad , Samejo Areeba , Bajwa Hamza , Wahab Rida , Asif Narmeen , Inam Hina , Shahabuddin Syed
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion for diminished myocardial function is standard of care in cardiac surgery. Previous studies have suggested a possible benefit to IABP support before surgery with regards to outcomes and complications. However, there are conflicts with other studies suggesting no significant benefit. Optimal time of insertion, whether preoperative or perioperative (intra-operative and post-operative), has yet to be defined.

Methodology

A retrospective, hospital records-based chart review was conducted for patients admitted to our center from January 2015 to December 2019 for coronary bypass surgery necessitating IABP insertion. Cases were stratified according to the timing of insertion and analyzed according to surgical outcomes and complication rates.

Results

Out of 97 patients, 84.5% underwent preoperative IABP insertion while 15.5% of patients received perioperative (Intra-operative or post-operative) insertion. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with perioperative IABP insertion as compared to the preoperative group (60% vs 20.7%, p = 0.003). However, there were no significant differences between 30-day readmission rates in the two groups (9.8% vs 6.7%, p = 1.000). Length of stay was also higher in patients with preoperative insertion of IABP ( p = 0.032), with no significant difference in ICU stay ( p = 0.107). Perioperative IABP patients had higher rates of arrhythmias (46.7%, p = 0.042) and reopening of patient (33.3%, p = 0.028).

Conclusion

Our study shows improved mortality in patients with preoperatively inserted IABP. This may be beneficial for high-risk patients undergoing CABG surgery. Expanding the use of IABP before CABG in third world countries such as Pakistan may improve overall survival for patients.
Survey of maps of dynamics for mobile robots
Authors: Kucner Tomasz Piotr , Magnusson Martin , Mghames Sariah , Palmieri Luigi , Verdoja Francesco , Swaminathan Chittaranjan Srinivas , Krajník Tomáš , Schaffernicht Erik , Bellotto Nicola , Hanheide Marc , Lilienthal Achim J
Published: August 2023

Robotic mapping provides spatial information for autonomous agents. Depending on the tasks they seek to enable, the maps created range from simple 2D representations of the environment geometry to complex, multilayered semantic maps. This survey article is about maps of dynamics (MoDs), which store semantic information about typical motion patterns in a given environment. Some MoDs use trajectories as input, and some can be built from short, disconnected observations of motion. Robots can use MoDs, for example, for global motion planning, improved localization, or human motion prediction. Accounting for the increasing importance of maps of dynamics, we present a comprehensive survey that organizes the knowledge accumulated in the field and identifies promising directions for future work. Specifically, we introduce field-specific vocabulary, summarize existing work according to a novel taxonomy, and describe possible applications and open research problems. We conclude that the field is mature enough, and we expect that maps of dynamics will be increasingly used to improve robot performance in real-world use cases. At the same time, the field is still in a phase of rapid development where novel contributions could significantly impact this research area.
Bilateral subconjunctival haemorrhage in spinal cord injury: a case report
Authors: Zhong Junqing , Ye Weisheng , Meng Dan , Wang Yanwu
Published: August 2023

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction is a common symptom after spinal cord injury. Here, the case of a 45-year-old male patient who was treated with indwelling urinary catheter during spinal surgery for a fall fracture injury of the T12 thoracic vertebra, associated with decreased muscle strength of both lower extremities, is described. During hospitalization in the rehabilitation department, conventional anticoagulation therapy was administered, and the urinary catheter was removed with the patient urinating by increasing abdominal pressure. At 8 days following urinary catheter removal, the patient was found to have a slight subconjunctival haemorrhage of the left eye, which gradually developed into massive subconjunctival haemorrhage in both eyes. After re-indwelling the urinary catheter, the bilateral subconjunctival haemorrhage gradually improved. No abnormal indicators were found during re-examination of coagulation function and platelet count, and the results of ophthalmological examination were normal. For patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction associated with spinal cord injury, the risk of bleeding during the anticoagulation period should be carefully assessed to eliminate possible underlying bleeding risk factors (including past medical history and appropriate use of anticoagulant drugs) when considering spontaneous urination through the mode of abdominal pressure.
Vehicle stability control strategy for high-speed curves based on mode switching
Authors: Yang Taiping , Li Peiqing , Li Qipeng , Li Zhuoran
Published: August 2023

This study aims to design a mode-switching control system based on a non-singular fast terminal sliding mode (NFTSM) algorithm for the lateral stability problem of vehicles driving in high-speed curves. First, a three-degrees-of-freedom model of the vehicle was established, and a predicted lateral load transfer ratio (PLTR) was proposed as a threshold for dividing the lateral stability index based on the conventional PLTR. Second, for the vehicle driving state in which the vehicle does not satisfy the PLTR threshold, the vehicle lateral deflection angle is adjusted based on the NFTSM controller to improve the bending path-tracking accuracy of the vehicle. For the vehicle critical rollover state that satisfies the PLTR threshold, an NFTSM-based additional yaw moment control algorithm is proposed to estimate various unknown disturbance and parameter ingestion terms in the vehicle modeling process using an adaptive radial basis function neural network and adaptively adjust the key parameters of the NFTSM controller. Finally, a joint Carsim-Simulink simulation model was built to verify the control algorithm proposed herein. The simulation results show that the mode-switching control system can improve the vehicle’s yaw and rollover stability in high-speed curves and prevent the occurrence of rollover.
The (inter)visual politics of border security: Co-constituting gender and race through Frontex’s Risk Analysis
Authors: Achilleos-Sarll Columba , Sachseder Julia , Stachowitsch Saskia
Published: August 2023

Visuals, including photographs and data visualizations, play a crucial role in the politics of EU border security, both as an internal governance tool (e.g. in surveillance) and as an external means of communication/representation (e.g. in photojournalism). Combining scholarship on photographic representations of migration with literature on surveillance technologies and data visualizations, we argue that these visuals interact to reproduce gendered and racialized meanings of migration and border security. Using a feminist postcolonial lens, we develop an intervisual framework for studying how processes of gendering and racialization render subjects, practices and spaces knowable at the intersection between these visuals. We apply this framework to a case study of Frontex’s Risk Analysis Reports (2010–2021) and demonstrate how it is applicable to other security institutions. The intervisual analysis reveals how the migrant Other and (white) European are visually reproduced through: 1) the (in)visibilization of bodies; 2) the ascription and denial of agency; and 3) the spatialization of borders as ‘frontier imaginings’ that oscillate between fortification and expansionism. The intersectional co-constitution of gender and race, we conclude, is central to the visual politics of Frontex, contributing to problematizing migrants and migration and legitimizing violent border practices.
Platelet-Rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhang XiuXiu , Ji YuXiu , Zhou MingChun , Zhou XiaoZhu , Xie Yu , Zeng Xin , Shao FangLin , Zhang Chi
Published: August 2023

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains a variety of growth factors and has been widely used in maxillofacial surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, and other fields. In recent years, with the increasing morbidity of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the use of PRP has also increased. The objective of this article was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRP for AGA. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, covering the databases from their earliest records until March 2022. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore the effects of PRP for hair density, hair count, and hair diameter in AGA. Nine trials involving 238 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that PRP for AGA increased hair density at 3 and 6 months with statistically significant differences compared with the placebo ( P < .05). PRP also increased hair count and hair diameter compared with the baseline, but there was no significant difference compared with the placebo ( P > .05). Two of the 7 studies reported adverse reactions. No serious adverse reactions were found. In conclusion, PRP is an effective and safe treatment for increasing the hair density in AGA. Trial registration: The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022362432).
Improvement of students’ self-directed learning readiness through problem-based English language learning in Korea
Authors: Han Insuk
Published: August 2023

The current study investigated how problem-based English language learning influenced Korean secondary students’ self-directed learning readiness (SDLR). Based on the analysis of 78 students’ responses on the pre- and post-surveys, it was revealed that the students experienced significant increases in their SDLR in 18 out of 46 items, and many were related to learning strategy management, examination management, and time management. While male students showed an increase in five items, female students revealed an increase in 19 items, mostly related to learning strategy management, stress management, and assignment management. In the analysis of the relative significance of the change, the females revealed a more meaningful increase of their SDLR in seven items compared to the males. The items were focused on assignment management, closely related to the qualities for problem-based learning (PBL). These outcomes imply that PBL-based English language lessons can be effective for developing Korean secondary students’ SDLR. Additionally, as females’ SDLR can be more extensively, promptly, and significantly improved by PBL than that of males, more precise planning and constant application of PBL seem necessary when organizing PBL-based English lessons for male students.
Early literacy going digital: Interweaving formal and informal literacy learning through digital media
Authors: Papadopoulou Maria , Makri Katerina , Pagkourelia Evgenia , Kombiadou Evi , Gaspari Katerina
Published: August 2023

The proliferation and strong presence of new media in young children’s' lives have oriented early childhood research and practice towards the concept of digital literacy, now being an important part of ECE policy and practice worldwide. Children join formal education with a rich repertoire of multimedia, multimodal and digital practices, shaped outside schools, at their home and broader social milieu. Related literature acknowledges a strong relationship between digital media and children’s literacy development. However, little is known about the actual experiences when this relationship is forged. During the interplay with digital and non-digital media and resources, it is interesting to illustrate the connections in literacy gained through different contexts. The DIGILIT Kids project aimed at exploring the literacy practices of preschool children in digital environments. To this end, our research team conducted qualitative research, interviewing parents, preschool educators and children, while, in parallel, observing children's media use with different digital devices, during their school time and collecting their written and electronic works, before and during the research process. The research context was a public kindergarten classroom in Thessaloniki, Greece, with 20 children. Our findings are summarized in this paper through three children’s cases, presented as profiles, representing, to a satisfactory degree, recurrent themes from our whole dataset. The three profiles depict different levels of digital and traditional literacy manifested through children’s practices. Our discussion highlights aspects of the complex relationship of digital media and literacy, as well as the need to bridge the gap between formal and informal ways of literacy learning.
The Significance of Physical Activity Education: A Survey of Medical Students
Authors: Panton Zachary A. , Smith Shannon , Duggan Michael , Kodali Anahita , Donaghue Jack F. , Riew Grant J. , Seward Michael , Briggs Logan G.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Less than 20% of US adults meet physical activity (PA) recommendations, yet few physicians provide consistent PA counseling. There is limited research on the state of education of PA counseling in medical school curricula. The purpose of this study was to analyze medical students’ perspectives on the current state and perceived quality of PA education in medical school.

Methods

An online survey was administered to the students of nine United States medical schools in January 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze results.

Results

Of 5500 invited students, 1182 (21.5%) responded. Only 8% of students received any formal training on PA counseling for patient or self-use throughout their medical education. The majority (64% and 85%, respectively) of respondents felt that both learning more about the benefits of PA and gaining more practical skills in counseling on PA should be requirements to graduate. Students across all medical school years agreed that formal training on patient counseling for PA should be taught more in-depth.

Conclusions

Medical students believe that PA and exercise physiology should comprise more of medical education curricula. Such training may equip students with the tools they believe they need to adequately treat patients effectively throughout their careers.
Vulnerability assessment of critical infrastructures for cascading failures: An application to water distribution networks
Authors: Gaur Vaibhav , Yadav Om Prakash , Soni Gunjan , Rathore Ajay Pal Singh , Khan Eakalak
Published: August 2023

Critical infrastructures form the backbone of any nation, and the failures of these infrastructures could lead to economic disruptions and fatal consequences. Assessing the vulnerability of such critical infrastructures has now evolved into a necessary and imperative task for researchers around the world. Water distribution networks form an essential class of critical infrastructures of modern society. The uninterrupted functioning of such networks is crucial for ensuring a nation’s economic development and welfare of society. The objective of this article is to evaluate the vulnerability of nodes for Water Distribution Networks considering cascading failures. The system dynamics of a water network are included in the simulation process to estimate the impacts of cascading failures. Vulnerability metrics based on loss of topological connectivity and supply capability are formulated in this article. The applicability and significance of the proposed methodology are demonstrated using a sample network case study. Identification of different vulnerability zones is done by employing k-means clustering to perform a methodical comparison between the proposed and existing metrics of vulnerability assessment.
Thanatographical fiction: Death, mourning and ritual in contemporary literature and film
Authors: Ruhe Cornelia
Published: August 2023

In recent years, many authors around the world have taken on the difficult task of commemorating the unmourned dead caused by wars, terrorism or structural violence, or of giving them a literary burial. Their fictions, which I will call thanatographical fiction in the following, play a central role for the collective imaginary in that they provide an archive of knowledge on how violent death and grief are processed. The study of a comparative corpus shows that there is a transcultural and transmedial poetics of grief that serves to frame and channel emotions, to give them a form that allows access to them without sparking further excess. What I aim to demonstrate is that the common grounds of fictions from such diverse places as France, Québec, Senegal and Ukraine are that they can illustrate processes of the economy of emotions: in order to address the subject of violent death, they have to resort to different strategies of emotion control. By modulating emotions, texts and films influence both the regulation of grief and commemoration on one hand, and on the other, the reinforcement of collective identities. They can thus provide an instrument for reflecting on the interaction of grief and violence to gain a better understanding of it. I will thus analyse Wajdi Mouawad’s tetralogy of plays Le sang des promesses, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr’s novel De purs hommes, Valentyn Vasyanovych’s film Atlantis and Julie Ruocco’s novel Furies to elaborate a first draft of a thanatographical poetics of grief.
The brain functional connectivity alterations in traumatic patients with olfactory disorder after low-level laser therapy demonstrated by fMRI
Authors: Hosseini Seyedeh Fahimeh , Farhadi Mohammad , Alizadeh Rafieh , Ghanbari Hadi , Maleki Shayan , Zare-Sadeghi Arash , Kamrava Seyed Kamran
Published: August 2023

Background

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been clinically accepted to accelerate the nerve regeneration process after a nerve injury or transection. We aimed to investigate the neuronal basis and the influence of LLLT on brain functional networks in traumatic patients with olfactory dysfunction.

Methods

Twenty-four Patients with traumatic anosmia/hyposmia were exposed to pleasant olfactory stimuli during a block-designed fMRI session. After a 10-week period, patients as control group and patients who had completed the sessions of LLLT were invited for follow-up testing using the same fMRI protocol. Two-sample t-tests were conducted to explore group differences in activation responding to odorants ( p-FDR-corrected <0.05). Differences of functional connectivity were compared between the two groups and the topological features of the olfactory network were calculated. Correlation analysis was performed between graph parameters and TDI score.

Results

Compared to controls, laser-treated patients showed increased activation in the cingulate, rectus gyrus, and some parts of the frontal gyrus. Shorter pathlength ( p = 0.047) and increased local efficiency ( p = 0.043) within the olfactory network, as well as decreased inter-network connectivity within the whole brain were observed in patients after laser surgery. Moreover, higher clustering and local efficiency were related to higher TDI score, as manifested in increased sensitivity to identify odors.

Conclusions

The results support that low-level laser induces neural reorganization process and make new connections in the olfactory structures. Furthermore, the connectivity parameters may serve as potential biomarkers for traumatic anosmia or hyposmia by revealing the underlying neural mechanisms of LLLT.
Using Gamification Strategies to Create Effective Experiential Exercises
Authors: Tomczyk David , Teckchandani Atul
Published: August 2023

Despite the many theories supporting experiential learning, there is little guidance on how to design effective experiential exercises. To address this gap, we adapt insights from gamification research to devise a step-by-step process that management instructors may use to design effective experiential exercises for use in face-to-face and virtual synchronous classrooms. We describe this process in detail, specifying the questions instructors must ask at each step and outlining common gamification strategies that may be used when designing the experiential exercise. We provide tips on how to ensure the newly-created experiential exercise works well in virtual settings and with existing simulations. Finally, we share two experiential exercises created using this process.
Interaction of porous substrate and vegetable oil-based hydrophobic thermoset coatings during UV-polymerization
Authors: Husić Indira , Mahendran Arunjunai Raj , Sinic Judith , Jocham Christoph , Lammer Herfried
Published: August 2023

In the current study, we report the progress in developing new UV polymerizable hydrophobic biobased coatings from modified vegetable oil for porous substrates like paper and wood. The aim was to produce novel hydrophobic coatings on porous substrates and investigate how the porous nature of the substrates will be affected by different chemical formulations that penetrate into the interior of the substrate during the exposure to different intensities of UV light, and what hydrophobic properties that interaction will result in. The curing formulations were based on acrylated epoxidized linseed oil (AELO) as a prepolymer. For the UV polymerization, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (Irgacure 184) was used as a photoinitiator; isobornyl acrylate (IBA) and isosorbide methacrylate (IM) were used as bio-based diluents; hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS), vinyl-polydimethylsiloxane (v-PDMS), triethoxyoctylsilane (TEOS) were used as hydrophobic additives and they were added in different concentrations to the AELO curing formulations. The formulations were then cured under UV light on wood and paper substrates. FT-IR analysis showed that the AELO resin was successfully polymerized on both paper and wood substrates, and by contact angle measurements it was found that the highest hydrophobicity was achieved for the coatings that contain HDTMS (108° in average). The layer thickness on wood substrates was in between 9 and 20 µm, and on paper substrates between 8 and 24 µm. Only about a 5° difference in contact angle was observed between the coatings with respect to change in diluents and different UV light intensity. All cured samples showed a good chemical resistance to acetic acid, citric acid and ethyl alcohol after 1 hour exposure; to acetone and ethylbutyl acetate after 10 s, and to benzine after 2 minutes. Outstanding hydrophobic behavior was observed for the HDTMS coatings, however, better physical properties were determined for the coatings containing v-PDMS and TEOS, on which the scratching was observed after the applied force of 1.5 and 0.6 N in comparison to HDTMS coatings (0.4 N). The resulting properties achieved for the AELO coatings indicated that it has a potential to be used for wood coating and packaging application.
Vaccine-elicited B- and T-cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is impaired in chronic lung disease patients
Authors: Liu Haolin , Aviszus Katja , Zelarney Pearlanne , Liao Shu-Yi , Gerber Anthony N. , Make Barry , Wechsler Michael E. , Marrack Philippa , Reinhardt R. Lee
Published: August 2023

Background

While vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) provides significant protection from coronavirus disease 2019, the protection afforded to individuals with chronic lung disease is less well established. This study seeks to understand how chronic lung disease impacts SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-elicited immunity.

Methods

Deep immune phenotyping of humoral and cell-mediated responses to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was performed in patients with asthma, COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD) compared to healthy controls.

Results

48% of vaccinated patients with chronic lung diseases had reduced antibody titres to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antigen relative to healthy controls. Vaccine antibody titres were significantly reduced among asthma (p<0.035), COPD (p<0.022) and a subset of ILD patients as early as 3–4 months after vaccination, correlating with decreased vaccine-specific memory B-cells in circulation. Vaccine-specific memory T-cells were significantly reduced in patients with asthma (CD8
+
p<0.004; CD4
+
p<0.023) and COPD (CD8
+
p<0.008) compared to healthy controls. Impaired T-cell responsiveness was also observed in a subset of ILD patients (CD8
+
21.4%; CD4
+
42.9%). Additional heterogeneity between healthy and disease cohorts was observed among bulk and vaccine-specific follicular T-helper cells.

Conclusions

Deep immune phenotyping of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine response revealed the complex nature of vaccine-elicited immunity and highlights the need for more personalised vaccination schemes in patients with underlying lung conditions.
Real-world effectiveness, satisfaction, and optimization of ubrogepant for the acute treatment of migraine in combination with onabotulinumtoxinA: results from the COURAGE Study
Authors: Manack Adams Aubrey , Hutchinson Susan , Engstrom Ella , Ayasse Nicolai D. , Serrano Daniel , Davis Linda , Sommer Katherine , Contreras-De Lama Janette , Lipton Richard B.
Published: August 2023

Background

Individuals using onabotulinumtoxinA as a preventive migraine treatment often use acute treatments for breakthrough attacks. Data on real-world effectiveness of the small-molecule calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist ubrogepant in combination with onabotulinumtoxinA are limited.

Methods

COURAGE, a prospective, multiple attack, observational study, evaluated the real-world effectiveness of ubrogepant (50 or 100 mg) for acute treatment of migraine in people receiving onabotulinumtoxinA, an anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody (mAb), or both. This analysis focused only on onabotulinumtoxinA users. The Migraine Buddy app was used to identify eligible participants and track response to treated attacks. For each ubrogepant-treated attack, meaningful pain relief (MPR) and return to normal function (RNF) at 2 and 4 h post-dose over 30 days was assessed. MPR was defined as a level of relief that is meaningful to the participant, usually occurring before the pain is all gone. After 30 days, satisfaction was reported on a 7-point scale and overall acute treatment optimization was evaluated using the migraine Treatment Optimization Questionnaire-4 (mTOQ-4).

Results

This analysis included 122 participants who received ubrogepant and onabotulinumtoxinA and reported on 599 ubrogepant-treated attacks. Following the first ubrogepant-treated attack, MPR was achieved in 53.3% of participants 2 h post-dose and in 76.2% of participants 4 h post-dose. RNF was achieved in 25.4% of participants 2 h post-dose and in 45.9% of participants 4 h post-dose. MPR and RNF results were similar across up to 10 ubrogepant-treated attacks. After 30 days, satisfaction with ubrogepant in combination with onabotulinumtoxinA was reported by 69.8% of participants and acute treatment optimization (defined as mTOQ-4 score ≥ 4) was achieved in 77.6%.

Conclusions

In this prospective real-world effectiveness study, ubrogepant treatment in onabotulinumtoxinA users with self-identified migraine was associated with high rates of MPR and RNF at 2 and 4 h as well as satisfaction and acute treatment optimization. Although the lack of a contemporaneous control group limits causal inference, these findings demonstrate the feasibility of using a novel, app-based design to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and satisfaction of treatments.

Graphical Abstract
Emergency departments as under-utilized venues to provide HIV prevention services to female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Poxon Amanda , Leis Maria , McDermott Miranda , Kariri Antony , Kaul Rupert , Kimani Joshua
Published: August 2023

Background

Female sex workers (FSW) in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by HIV and remain a key target population for efforts to reduce transmission. While HIV prevention tools such as PEP and PrEP are available through outpatient FSW clinics, these services are underused. Emergency medicine is a rapidly expanding field in Kenya and may provide a novel venue for initiating or optimizing HIV prevention services. This study examined the characteristics of FSW from Nairobi, Kenya, who had utilized an emergency department (ED) during the past year to broaden our understanding of the patient factors related to usage.

Methods

An anonymous questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 220 Nairobi FSW attending dedicated clinics from June to July 2019. The participants were categorized into those who attended an ED over the past year (acute care users) and clinic-only users (control). A modified version of the WHO Violence Against Women Instrument assessed gender-based violence. Multivariable negative binomial logistic regressions evaluated predictors of health care use among these populations.

Results

Of the total 220 women (median [IQR] age 32 [27–39]), 101 and 116 were acute care and control populations, respectively. Acute care users had 12.7 ± 8.5 healthcare visits over a 12-month period, and the control population had 9.1 ± 7.0 (p < 0.05). ED attendance did not improve the PrEP usage, with 48.5%, and 51% of acute care and clinic users indicated appropriate PrEP use. Patient factors that correlated with health care utilization among acute care users included client sexual violence (OR 2.2 [1.64–2.94], p < 0.01), PrEP use (OR 1.54 (1.25–1.91), < 0.01), and client HIV status (OR 1.35 (1.02–1.69), p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Many FSW at high risk for HIV were not accessing HIV prevention tools despite attending a dedicated FSW clinic offering such services. FSW who had attended an ED over the past year had a higher prevalence of HIV risk factors, demonstrating that emergency departments may be important acute intervention venues to prevent HIV transmission in this population. These results can guide policy design, health care provider training, and facility preparedness to support strategies aimed at improving HIV prevention strategies for FSW in Kenyan ED’s.