bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do culturalismo conservador à crítica da mídia: questões de comunicação no pensamento de Jessé Souza
Authors: Serelle Márcio
Published: August 2021

Este artigo objetiva debater questões comunicacionais presentes na obra de Jessé Souza que se referem à contribuição da mídia para propagação e consolidação do que o sociólogo denomina “culturalismo conservador”. Essa expressão designa criticamente o pensamento social brasileiro que forjou um mito da brasilidade definido a partir de traços como miscigenação, emotividade e confiança interpessoal. A afirmação desse imaginário resultou na escamoteação de conflitos raciais e de classe e na ativação de um contraponto estadunidense idealizado, que afirma nossa inferioridade como povo e nação. Pretende-se, neste artigo, ressaltar a complexidade das interações midiáticas no processo de propagação e consolidação dessa ideia-força. Objetiva-se refletir sobre o papel das instâncias de sociabilidade na produção de sentido e os aspectos assimétricos da mediação. O intuito é articular dois campos disciplinares para proposição de questões que facultem uma crítica social mais integral.
Elaboração de cartas geotécnicas aplicadas a solos colapsíveis em áreas urbanas utilizando o método do detalhamento progressivo
Authors: Silveira Paulo Edison Martins da , Reis Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira
Published: August 2021

Muitos trabalhos tratam da colapsividade de solos, porém poucos são voltados para o planejamento urbano. Este trabalho apresenta procedimentos para elaboração de cartas geotécnicas aplicadas a solos colapsíveis em áreas urbanas, discutindo a influência da escala de trabalho, dos procedimentos de mapeamento geotécnico e dos ensaios laboratoriais para a avaliação do fenômeno. O trabalho buscou critérios de elaboração de cartas geotécnicas aplicados a solos colapsíveis nessas áreas, com base no método do detalhamento progressivo, focando nos principais condicionantes à ocorrênciado processo e nos ensaios geotécnicos mais adequados em cada etapa de estudo. O trabalho apresenta os resultados obtidos nas duas etapas do referido método, a geral (1:50.000) e a de semidetalhe (1:25.000). Na primeira etapa, foram executados os seguintes procedimentos: análise de documentações cartográficas temáticas e compilação bibliográfica; fotointerpretação; levantamento de campo; realização de ensaios laboratoriais; análise de perfis de sondagens geotécnicas; elaboração de carta geotécnica (1:50.000) com geração de unidades geológico-geotécnicas pela análise multitemática com cruzamento de dados de declividade, hipsométricos, geológicos, pedológicos, geotécnicos e laboratoriais; e, finalizando, esses resultados foram integrados para definir zonas suscetíveis à ocorrência desses solos e a escolha da área-alvo para os estudos da etapa de semidetalhe. Na segunda etapa, foram executadas as seguintes atividades: levantamento complementar dessa área, ensaios edométricos para confirmação de ocorrência ao fenômeno e elaboração de carta geotécnica (1:25.000). Pelos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que a metodologia do detalhamento progressivo, com suas diferentes escalas de trabalho, objetivos e procedimentos, apresenta-se como uma ferramenta importante na elaboração de cartas de suscetibilidade ao fenômeno da colapsividade de solos em áreas urbanas, com vantagem de otimizar recursos financeiros, pessoais e tempo disponíveis.
Compared Outcomes of ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients With Multivessel Disease Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Preserved Fractional Flow Reserve of Nonculprit Lesions Treated Conservatively and of Those With Low Fractional Flow Reserve Managed Invasively: Insights From the FLOWER-MI Trial
Authors: Denormandie Pierre , Simon Tabassome , Cayla Guillaume , Steg Philippe Gabriel , Montalescot Gilles , Durand-Zaleski Isabelle , le Bras Alicia , le Breton Hervé , Valy Yann , Schiele François , Cuisset Thomas , Vanzetto Gérald , Levesque Sébastien , Goube Pascal , Nallet Olivier , Angoulvant Denis , Roubille François , Charles Nelson Anaïs , Chatellier Gilles , Danchin Nicolas , Puymirat Etienne ,   for the FLOWER-MI Study Investigators
Published: August 2021

Background:

In patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for nonculprit lesions guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) is superior to treatment of the culprit lesion alone. Whether deferring nonculprit PCI is safe in this specific context is questionable. We aimed to assess clinical outcomes at 1 year in ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and an FFR-guided strategy for nonculprit lesions, according to whether or not ≥1 PCI was performed.

Methods:

Outcomes were analyzed in patients of the randomized FLOWER-MI (Flow Evaluation to Guide Revascularization in Multivessel ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial in whom, after successful primary PCI, nonculprit lesions were assessed using FFR. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned hospitalization with urgent revascularization at 1 year.

Results:

Among 1171 patients enrolled in this study, 586 were assigned to the FFR-guided group: 388 (66%) of them had ≥1 PCI, and 198 (34%) had no PCI. Mean FFR before decision (ie, PCI or not) of nonculprit lesions was 0.75±0.10 and 0.88±0.06, respectively. During follow-up, a primary outcome event occurred in 16 of 388 patients (4.1%) in patients with PCI and in 16 of 198 patients (8.1%) in patients without PCI (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.20–0.88];
P
=0.02).

Conclusions:

In patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction undergoing complete revascularization guided by FFR measurement, those with ≥1 PCI had lower event rates at 1 year, compared with patients with deferred PCI, suggesting that deferring lesions judged relevant by visual estimation but with FFR >0.80 may not be optimal in this context. Future randomized studies are needed to confirm these data.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02943954.

Graphic Abstract:

A
graphic abstract
is available for this article.
Redox Switches Controlling Nitric Oxide Signaling in the Resistance Vasculature and Implications for Blood Pressure Regulation: Mid-Career Award for Research Excellence 2020
Authors: Aramide Modupe Dosunmu-Ogunbi Atinuke , Galley Joseph C. , Yuan Shuai , Schmidt Heidi M. , Wood Katherine C. , Straub Adam C.
Published: August 2021

The arterial resistance vasculature modulates blood pressure and flow to match oxygen delivery to tissue metabolic demand. As such, resistance arteries and arterioles have evolved a series of highly orchestrated cell-cell communication mechanisms between endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells to regulate vascular tone. In response to neurohormonal agonists, release of several intracellular molecules, including nitric oxide, evokes changes in vascular tone. We and others have uncovered novel redox switches in the walls of resistance arteries that govern nitric oxide compartmentalization and diffusion. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of redox switches controlling nitric oxide signaling in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, focusing on new mechanistic insights, physiological and pathophysiological implications, and advances in therapeutic strategies for hypertension and other diseases.
Biodiversity of intertidal marine flatworms (Polycladida, Platyhelminthes) in southeastern Australia
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ JORGE , HUTCHINGS PAT A. , WILLIAMSON JANE E.
Published: August 2021

Flatworms of the Order Polycladida are a group of free-living invertebrates found in a diversity of marine habitats, with over 800 species described worldwide. Marine flatworms are a conspicuous component of Australia’s marine fauna yet have received little attention. Less than 30 scientific articles have been published on Australian marine flatworms since 1855, of which only nine include species from southeastern Australia. Here, the biodiversity and distribution of species belonging to the Order Polycladida inhabiting intertidal rocky beaches in southeastern Australian waters were identified and analysed. Sampling was conducted at low tide along the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria. Collected samples were serially sectioned for comparative anatomical studies, and tissue was removed from each individual for molecular sequencing and analyses. Both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences were obtained and used as an additional source of evidence for the description of new species as well as providing further insight into the phylogenetic relationships between them. A total of 20 species, six of which are new (e.g., Eulatocestus australis sp. nov.), and a new genus (Parabolia gen. nov.) have been described, as well as two new records for Australia (e.g., Stylochoplana clara Kato, 1937) have been identified increasing our knowledge of this important component of the Australian marine biota.
Recent Trends in the Material Well-Being of the Working Class in America
Authors: Ziliak James P.
Published: August 2021

I examine trends in the material well-being of working-class households using data from the Current Population Survey in the two decades surrounding the Great Recession. In the years leading up to the Great Recession, average earnings, homeownership, and insurance coverage all fell, and absolute poverty and food insecurity accelerated. After-tax incomes were, for the most part, stagnant. The economic hemorrhaging either abated or reversed, however, in the decade after the Great Recession, especially for the least skilled and for households headed by a Hispanic person. This includes robust earnings growth, which led to declines in earnings inequality, absolute poverty, and food insecurity, coupled with increased insurance coverage and a modest rebound in after-tax incomes. As many of these recent advances likely stalled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I discuss various policy options.
The Recovery from the Great Recession: A Long, Evolving Expansion
Authors: Shambaugh Jay C. , Strain Michael R.
Published: August 2021

Prior to 2020, the Great Recession was the most important macroeconomic shock to the United States’ economy in generations. Millions lost jobs and homes. At its peak, one in ten workers who wanted a job could not find one. On an annual basis, the economy contracted by more than it had since the Great Depression. A slow and steady recovery followed the Great Recession’s official end in summer 2009, but because it was slow and the depth of the recession so deep, it took years to reduce slack in labor markets. But because the recovery lasted so long, many pre-recession peaks were exceeded, and eventually real wage growth accumulated for workers across the distribution. In fact, the business cycle (including recession and recovery) beginning in December 2007 was one of the better periods of real wage growth in many decades, with the bulk of that coming in the last years of the recovery.
Perceived organizational support in public and nonprofit organizations: Systematic review and directions for future research
Authors: Prysmakova Palina , Lallatin Nicole
Published: August 2021

A qualitative meta-analysis of 57 studies (1987–2018) on perceived organizational support in public and nonprofit administrative contexts in various parts of the world revealed 70 related variables within 16 categories. While most reviewed studies sampled employees of the US, the UK, and Iran, in terms of geography, research on the perceived organizational support of public and nonprofit services has been constantly spreading and has been revealing similar findings across countries. While the article questions the generalizability of some findings due to the overreliance on small convenience samples from educational, health, and social work facilities, it supports the generalizability of many found associations even though they happen in various international, organizational, and institutional settings. In particular, in public-serving contexts, perceived organizational support exhibits stable and positive relationships with commitment, intent to stay, motivation, satisfaction derived from job and tasks, well-being, empowerment, reduced stress, work–family balance, and individual growth. Meanwhile, the positive perceptions of support link negatively to unionization and reveal no consistent patterns regarding demographics. The article invites scholars to explore public and nonprofit contexts further, and to test previously overlooked associations like those with leadership type, reward expectancy, public service motivation, and withdrawal activities.

Points for practitioners

Perceived organizational support should be cultivated in public and nonprofit contexts, as it improves employees’ commitment, motivation, satisfaction, and well-being, and reduces stress. Perceived organizational support might matter for retention more than the content of a job. Employees who feel supported demonstrate better work–family balance and positively perceive many aspects of their organizations. Promoting perceived organizational support helps when intensive workloads and high levels of stress are inadequately compensated. Perceived organizational support can mitigate employees’ burnout caused by the emotional labor of service provision.
A Look Back: Taking stock of public school choice in Kappan
Authors: Preston Teresa
Published: August 2021

In this monthly column, Kappan managing editor Teresa Preston explores how the magazine has covered the questions and controversies about school choice. Although many authors across the decades objected to the use of vouchers to pay private school tuition, those same authors lent support to the idea of choice among public schools. Advocates of public school choice have endorsed various models for providing choices, from alternative schools, to magnet schools, to charter schools.
Charter schools and equity: The power of accountability
Authors: Ladd Helen F. , Fiske Edward B.
Published: August 2021

Many proponents of charter schools suggest that, by providing an option outside traditional public schools, they are helping disadvantaged students who might otherwise be confined to low-quality neighborhood schools. But market-based accountability structures are insufficient to ensure that charter schools are actually enrolling students (i.e., students from economically distressed families, students with disabilities, English learners, and students of color) and, once they are enrolled, providing them sufficient support. Helen Ladd and Edward Fiske use the Massachusetts system of authorization, data collection, and site visits to illustrate a high quality public accountability system for charter schools that is focused on promoting equity.
Are evangelical Christians abandoning public schools?
Authors: Rhames Marilyn Anderson
Published: August 2021

Conventional wisdom suggests that evangelical Christians, often among the most vocal advocates of school choice efforts in the U.S., are promoting choice out of a sense of frustration with public schools and perceived bias against religion. Research by Marilyn Anderson Rhames, however, suggests that evangelicals are no more concerned about religious bias in their local schools than other Americans. Using data from the 2019 PDK poll into the public’s attitudes toward the public schools, Rhames analyzed responses to questions about pressure to “fit in” or conform; religious bias; bias against gay, lesbian and/or transgender students; and the perceived risks of improper civics, Bible, and comparative religion instruction. In most cases, evangelical responses were not significantly different from those of other parents. In some case, racial identity and ideology were stronger drivers of parental opinion.
Choosing cyber during COVID
Authors: Maranto Robert , Beck Dennis , Clark Tom , Tran Bich , Liu Feng
Published: August 2021

Substantial research has already examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected in-person schooling, but no prior work has explored its effects on cyber schools. Here, Robert Maranto, Dennis Beck, Tom Clark, Bich Tran, and Feng Liu compare the students entering a large national cyber charter school network in spring 2020, during the pandemic, with students entering in 2019 and 2018, before the pandemic. They find that the COVID cohort resembled prior groups demographically but reported greater success at their prior in-person schools and exhibited greater measured success in cyber schools.
Washington View: From conflict to cooperation: 9/11 Day
Authors: Ferguson Maria
Published: August 2021

In a time of great political division, the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance stands as an example of how Americans can turn tragedy and conflict into an opportunity for collective action. Maria Ferguson reflects on what she has learned from her work with the organization that established what is now the largest national day of service in the United States.
Study on dynamic sealing performance of combined sealing structure of telescopic type of downhole robot by using HTHP coupling method
Authors: Zhao Jianguo , Peng Hanxiu , Fang Shiji , Wang Kunpeng , Han Shuo , Zhang Ying , Zhu Zixu , Tu Chi
Published: August 2021

The sealing performance will directly affect the operation of downhole robot under HTHP condition. Traditional analysis methods of sealing performance are that the temperature and pressure is loaded respectively. This can not really evaluate the sealing performance. Besides, the simulation process is: Step 1: pre-compress O-ring to produce contact force. According to the contact pressure, select the compression ratio to calculate the displacement of the slip ring. Step 2: load fluid pressure on the O-ring. This simulation method is to directly load pressure on the undeformed O-ring. However, the O-ring will deform after pre-compression. Therefore, this simulation method is not accurate. In order to make the simulation data more accurate, calculate the data of shape, stress, and strain of O-ring caused by pre-compression caused by assembly. Then, import the deformation body containing the real data of shape, stress, and strain into a new model. On the basis, establish the numerical simulation model of piston, piston guide rod, O-ring, and FTS-ring with HTHP loads is. Finally, calculate and analyze. When the compression ratio of the O-ring is about 14%, the sealing performance is good. What’s more, the distribution of contact stress and Von Mises of the O-ring at 8.3 mm/s of motion speed are analyzed. The results show that the foot shaped combined sealing structure can keep a good dynamic sealing performance under HTHP condition. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the analysis of the dynamic sealing performance by using HTHP coupling method. In the analysis of sealing performance: the hydraulic pressure is loaded to the real model with the real shape, stress, and strain produced by the O-ring assembly. This can more accurately evaluate the sealing performance under HTHP condition. It also provides a reference for the dynamic sealing structure design of downhole tools.
The diagnostic value of chest X-ray in coronavirus disease 2019: A comparative study of X-ray and CT
Authors: Zeng Fengxia , Cai Yong , Guo Yi , Chen Weiguo , Lin Min , Zheng Jun , Zeng Hui , Wang Sina , Qin Genggeng
Published: August 2021

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic spreads around the world, the demand for imaging examinations increases accordingly. The value of conventional chest radiography (CCR) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of CCR in the detection of COVID-19 through a comparative analysis of CCR and CT. This study included 49 patients with 52 CT images and chest radiographs of pathogen-confirmed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-suspected cases that were found to be negative (non-COVID-19). The performance of CCR in detecting COVID-19 was compared to CT imaging. The major signatures that allowed for differentiation between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases were also evaluated. Approximately 75% (39/52) of images had positive findings on the chest x-ray examinations, while 80.7% (42/52) had positive chest CT scans. The COVID-19 group accounted for 88.4% (23/26) of positive chest X-ray examinations and 96.1% (25/26) of positive chest CT scans. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CCR for abnormal shadows were 88%, 80%, and 87%, respectively, for all patients. For the COVID-19 group, the accuracy of CCR was 92%. The primary signature on CCR was flocculent shadows in both groups. The shadows were primarily in the bi-pulmonary, which was significantly different from non-COVID-19 patients ( p = 0.008). The major CT finding of COVID-19 patients was ground-glass opacities in both lungs, while in non-COVID-19 patients, consolidations combined with ground-glass opacities were more common in one lung than both lungs ( p = 0.0001). CCR showed excellent performance in detecting abnormal shadows in patients with confirmed COVID-19. However, it has limited value in differentiating COVID-19 patients from non-COVID-19 patients. Through the typical epidemiological history, laboratory examinations, and clinical symptoms, combined with the distributive characteristics of shadows, CCR may be useful to identify patients with possible COVID-19. This will allow for the rapid identification and quarantine of patients.
Effect of emergency declaration on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: A social network service-based difference-in-differences approach
Authors: Eguchi Akifumi , Yoneoka Daisuke , Shi Shoi , Tanoue Yuta , Kawashima Takayuki , Nomura Shuhei , Makiyama Koji , Uryu Shinya , Sawada Masayuki , Kawamura Yumi , Takayanagi Shinichi , Gilmour Stuart , Miyata Hiroaki
Published: August 2021

Strong lockdowns to control COVID-19 pandemic have been enforced globally and strongly restricted social activities with consequent negative effects on mental health. Japan has effectively implemented a unique voluntary policy to control COVID-19, but the mental health impact of the policy has not been examined on a large scale. In this study, we examined the effect of the first declaration on the mental health of affected residents. We used population-level questionnaire data of 17,400 people living under the state of emergency and 9208 who were not through a social-networking-service app and applied a difference-in-differences regression model to estimate the causal effect of the declaration of the state of emergency on psychological wellbeing, stratified by job category. No statistically significant effect of the declaration was observed among all job categories. This suggests that residents’ psychological situation has gradually changed, possibly influenced by other factors such as the surrounding environment, rather than the declaration itself. Given that Japan has a unique policy to control COVID-19 instead of a strict lockdown, our results showed the Japanese-style policy may serve as a form of harm reduction strategy, to control the epidemic with minimal psychological harm, and enable a policy that balances disease control and mental health. Caution is necessary that this study used self-reported data from a limited time period before and after the first declaration in April 2020.
“Trapped in their Shame”: A Qualitative Investigation of Moral Injury in Forensic Psychiatry Patients
Authors: Roth Sophia L. , qureshi Aamna , Moulden Heather M. , Chaimowitz Gary A. , Lanius Ruth A. , Losier Bruno J. , Mckinnon Margaret C.
Published: August 2021

Individuals who engage in criminal behavior for which they are found not criminally responsible (NCR) may be at increased vulnerability to experience moral pain and, in extreme circumstances, moral injury after regaining insight into the consequences of their behavior. Yet, almost no research exists characterizing the nature, severity, or impact of moral pain in this population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine forensic psychiatric patients and 21 of their care providers. Narratives were explored using thematic analysis. Findings demonstrate that NCR patients endorse symptoms consistent with moral injury, including feelings of guilt toward victims, shame for one’s behavior, and a loss of trust in one’s morality. Moral pain is a strong driver of behavior and must be understood as part of a constellation of factors influencing criminality, risk, and recovery. Future research must develop adequate tools to measure and characterize offense-related moral injury to understand its impact on this population.
Calling Time Out in Doha: The Seiko Block Camera and Image Ethics
Authors: Staton David
Published: August 2021

In an effort to put more eyeballs on television sets, and in an attempt to reinvigorate a sport long beleaguered by doping scandals, recent questions surrounding female sponsorships, and a vanishing audience, the International Association of Athletic Federations unveiled a new camera designed by Seiko during the September 2019 World Championships held in Doha, Quatar. The idea was to add to an immersive experience, offering unparalleled views of sprinters at the moment they exploded from the starting blocks. Like many things during the Doha meet, the effort became an ending to a bad joke. Rather than getting to the heart of the event, the camera’s focus was a bit lower; the Seiko angle became known derisively as the crotch shot. After objections by two female German sprinters the positioning of the camera angle (specifically what would be shown when) was reconsidered, reframed, and essentially retired. Control of the body, including how it is observed, and the closely related idea of the control of one’s image are bound by certain ethical dimensions, particularly when that control is violated or profited from by outside parties. This paper interrogates how those concerns may be ameliorated by embracing an ethics of care.
Operationalizing legal rights in end-of- life decision-making: A qualitative study
Authors: Tilse Cheryl , Willmott Lindy , Wilson Jill , Feeney Rachel , White Ben
Published: August 2021

Background:

For a patient’s legal right to make end-of-life treatment decisions to be respected, health care practitioners, patients and their substitute decision-makers must know what rights exist and how to assert them (or support others to assert them). Yet very little is known about what enhances or obstructs the operationalization of legal rights from the perspective of patients, family members and substitute decision-makers.

Aim:

To explore barriers and facilitators to the operationalization of rights in end-of-life decision-making from the perspectives of terminally-ill patients and family members and substitute decision-makers of terminally ill patients in Australia.

Design:

Semi-structured interviews (face to face and telephone) with patients, family or substitute decision-makers experienced in end-of-life decision-making completed between November 2016 and October 2017. A thematic content analysis of interview transcripts.

Setting/participants:

Purposive sampling across three Australian states provided 16 terminally-ill patients and 33 family and/or substitute decision-makers.

Results:

Barriers and facilitators emerged across three overlapping domains: systemic factors; individual factors, influenced by personal characteristics and decision-making approach; and communication and information. Health care practitioners play a key role in either supporting or excluding patients, family and substitute decision-makers in decision-making.

Conclusion:

In addition to enhancing legal literacy of community members and health practitioners about end-of-life decision-making, support such as open communication, advocacy and help with engaging with advanced care planning is needed to facilitate people operationalizing their legal rights, powers and duties. Palliative care and other support services should be more widely available to people both within and outside health systems.
Effect of the dwell time deviation constraint on brachytherapy treatment planning for cervical cancer
Authors: Yan Gaoshu , Kang Shengwei , Tang Bin , Li Jie , Wang Pei , Wang Xianliang , Lang Jinyi
Published: August 2021

Objective

This study aimed to quantify the effect of the dwell time deviation constraint (DTDC) on brachytherapy treatment for cervical cancer.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out on 20 patients with radical cervical cancer. The DTDC values changed from 0.0 to 1.0 by a step size of 0.2. We adjusted the optimization objectives to ensure that all plans were optimized to a high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) D90 (the dose to 90% of the HRCTV) = 6 Gy, while keeping the dose to the organs at risk as low as possible. The dose–volume histogram parameters and the dwell time data were compared between plans with different DTDC values.

Results

The HRCTV volume covered by 150% of the prescription dose gradually increased with increasing DTDC values. As the DTDC value increased from 0.0 to 1.0, the effective dwell point proportion increased from 61.78% to 90.30%. The mean dwell time initially decreased with an increase in the DTDC value, reached the minimum value at DTDC = 0.8, then slightly increased at DTDC = 1.0.

Conclusions

When using inverse planning simulated annealing optimization for radical cervical cancer cases, the recommended DTDC value is approximately 0.6 if the organ dose needs to be limited.
Effects of emotionally incongruent musical excerpts on memory retrieval
Authors: Panteleeva Yulia , Courvoisier Delphine S , Glowinski Donald , Grandjean Didier M , Ceschi Grazia
Published: August 2021

Music’s power to trigger memories has rarely been tested; in particular, it is not clear what mechanisms govern memory retrieval elicited by musical cues. Previous research has suggested that memory retrieval is underpinned by two mechanisms: (1) distinctiveness—the probability that a cue will retrieve a memory declines with the number of stimuli previously encoded with that same cue and (2) incongruence—a cue encoded with emotionally incongruent targets triggers more memories of the stimuli associated with it than a cue encoded with emotionally congruent stimuli. Our participants experienced an implicit encoding phase where they were presented with auditory-visual pairs of stimuli (pieces of music and images of facial expressions). In the retrieval phase, participants were asked to remember encoded stimuli triggered by music. As expected, musical cues encoded with emotionally incongruent facial expressions triggered more memories than cues encoded with congruent facial expressions. Contrary to our prediction and to previous findings, music from distinctive pairs of stimuli triggered fewer memories than cue pairs displayed multiple times in the encoding phase. Our finding suggests that the manipulation of stimuli at encoding is crucial when using musical cues to trigger memories.
The financialization of remittances and the individualization of development: A new power geometry of global development
Authors: Warnecke-Berger Hannes
Published: August 2021

The article argues that the increasing financialization of remittances produces an enormous shift in the political economy of development and contributes to a new power geometry of development. Exploring this power geometry, the article focuses on three main issues: First, migrants intend to support their friends and families on an individual level as remittance senders, and together with the corresponding recipients they form a translocal moral economy. On a macro level, the value of these transactions is high when currency hierarchies remain strong. Financialization of remittances amplifies this micro–macro divergence inherent to remittance flows. Deepening the financial “development” impact of remittances then goes hand in hand with cementing global inequality. Second, economic and political elites in remittance-receiving societies who are able to organize direct and indirect access to remittances with the help of financial instruments and through financialization are able to emancipate from national political control. This indirectly contributes to fostering elite rule in remittance-receiving societies. Third and finally, development is no longer a “national” objective but has become the individual risk of migrants and their relatives and friends. Financialization of remittances therefore consolidates an individualized notion of development. This paper aims to go beyond the narrow economistic and problem-solving approach on which many studies on remittances and financial inclusion draw. It illustrates how financialization of remittances (re)shapes power relations both within the Global South and between the Global South and the Global North.
Walking Psychotherapy As a Health Promotion Strategy to Improve Mental and Physical Health for Patients and Therapists: Clinical Open-Label Feasibility Trial
Authors: Koziel Nicole , Vigod Simone , Price Jennifer , Leung Joanne , Hensel Jennifer
Published: August 2021

Background

Persons with mental illness are more at risk for sedentary behaviour and associated consequences. We assessed the feasibility of outdoor walking during psychotherapy sessions in an outpatient trauma therapy program to challenge sedentary behaviour.

Methods

In this pilot trial in Toronto, Canada, female therapists and patients >18 years, were encouraged to walk during 12 consecutive trauma therapy sessions. Both groups were provided wearable pedometers. We assessed protocol feasibility and desirability, and 12-week changes in patient post-traumatic stress [PTSD check-list for DSM-5 (PCL-5)], and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms [Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)].

Results

91% (20/22) of patients approached for the study consented to participate and 17 (85%) completed follow-up questionnaires. There was walking in 132/197 (67%) of total therapy sessions (mean 7.3 out of 10.9 sessions per participant). Inclement weather was the predominant reason for in-office sessions. At 12-week follow-up, PCL-5 mean scores decreased from 38.4 [standard deviation, ((SD) 11.8) to 30.7 (SD 14.7)], [mean difference (MD) 7.7, 95% CI: 1.5 to 13.8]; 41% (7/17) participants had a clinically significant PCL-5 score reduction of >10 points. DASS-stress mean scores decreased from 19.0 to 16.0 (MD 3.0, 95% CI: 0.3 to 5.6). No changes were observed for DASS depression (MD -0.9, 95% CI: −5.1 to 3.3) nor DASS anxiety (MD -0.2, 95% CI: −3.1 to 2.7). Daily step reporting was inconsistent and not analyzed. There was high acceptability amongst patients and therapists to walk, but not to record daily steps. There were no adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

It was feasible and acceptable to incorporate outdoor walking during trauma therapy sessions for patients and therapists. Weather was the greatest barrier to implementation. Further randomized-control study to compare seated and walking psychotherapy can clarify if there are psychotherapeutic and physical benefits with walking.
Combined Percutaneous Tracheostomy and Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes in COVID-19: A Prospective Series of Patient Outcomes
Authors: Oberg Catherine L. , Keyes Colleen , Panchabhai Tanmay S. , Sajawal Ali Muhammed , Oh Scott S. , Grogan Tristan R. , Mojica James , Auchincloss Hugh , Pulido Natalie , Brait Kelsey , Folch Erik E.
Published: August 2021

Background: A significant number of patients with severe respiratory failure related to COVID-19 require prolonged mechanical ventilation. Minimal data exists regarding the timing, safety, and efficacy of combined bedside percutaneous tracheostomy and endoscopy gastrostomy tube placement in these patients. The safety for healthcare providers is also in question. This study's objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined bedside tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement in COVID-19 patients. Design and Methods: This is a single arm, prospective cohort study in patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation who underwent bedside tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement. Detailed clinical and procedural data were collected. Descriptive statistics were employed and time to event curves were estimated and plotted using the Kaplan Meier method for clinically relevant prespecified endpoints. Results: Among 58 patients, the median total intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay was 29 days (24.7-33.3) with a median of 10 days (6.3-13.7) postprocedure. Nearly 88% of patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation postprocedure at a median of 9 days (6-12); 94% of these were decannulated. Sixty-day mortality was 10.3%. Almost 90% of patients were discharged alive from the hospital. All procedures were done at bedside with no patient transfer required out of the ICU. A median of 3.0 healthcare personnel total were present in the room per procedure. Conclusion: This study shows that survival of critically ill COVID-19 patients after tracheostomy and gastrostomy was nearly 90%. The time-to-event curves are encouraging regarding time to weaning, downsizing, decannulation, and discharge. A combined procedure minimizes the risk of virus transmission to healthcare providers in addition to decreasing the number of anesthetic episodes, transfusions, and transfers patients must undergo. This approach should be considered in critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.
Information poverty predictors among Ahvazi citizens; Investigating some cases
Authors: Farajpahlou Abdol Hossein , Koohi Rostami Mansoor , Beshlideh Kiomarth , Pourkhalil Neda
Published: August 2021

The present study aimed to investigate the most important information poverty predictors among Ahvazi citizens. This applied and correlational-descriptive study employed structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The information poverty scale and the standard questionnaires of social participation, social exclusion, technophobia, and economic capital were used to collect the data. On the next step, their reliability and validity were confirmed through using Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. The study population consisted of individuals aged 15 and above living in Ahvaz. Furthermore, the subjects were selected using a multistage random sampling technique, where 520 questionnaires were collected. The results showed a significant relationship among some factors like information poverty and education, gender, social exclusion, social participation, and ultimately, economic capital. However, the relationship between technophobia and information poverty has not been confirmed. Information poverty is a multidimensional-multifactorial phenomenon, associated with diverse factors. Due to the fact that, the relationship between variables and information poverty was confirmed; we need to minimize material poverty and social exclusion, paying attention to the educational system, and increasing social participation in society in order to reduce information poverty. This phenomenon can be in contact with information-related infrastructures, increasing the number of libraries and their resources, strengthening Internet access, and teaching information literacy. Moreover, several factors can exacerbate information poverty, some of which has been addressed in this study.
Banks in India: A Balancing Act Between Profitability, Regulation and NPA
Authors: Kanoujiya Jagjeevan , Bhimavarapu Venkata Mrudula , Rastogi Shailesh
Published: August 2021

Banks are facing varied issues worldwide. The existing set of performance measures of banks lack a cohesive and concerted approach for adequate fulfilment of the purpose. This study proposes a holistic view of the bank performance, which includes profitability, risk-taking (non-performing asset [NPA]), and regulation. It has been observed that Indian banks fare miserably in this litmus test of comprehensive performance measure. The meanest of the expectation that NPA should be affected by the regulatory mechanism is found surprisingly missing in the Indian banks. The existing literature has not taken a holistic view of bank performance, and therefore, the findings of this study provide enough impetus to all the stakeholders of the banks to respond. Policy makers and regulatory bodies can redirect both the banking governance and regulation so that the basic tenet of comprehensive bank performance expectations, as raised in this study, are met reasonably.
Mother Nature’s Fury: Antagonist Metaphors for Natural Disasters Increase Forecasts of Their Severity and Encourage Evacuation
Authors: Hauser David J. , Fleming Megan E.
Published: August 2021

Natural disasters are often described as having antagonistic qualities (e.g., wildfires ravage). The information deficit model presumes that when people assess the risk of weather hazards, they ignore irrelevant metaphoric descriptors. However, metaphoric frames affect reasoning. The current research assessed whether antagonist metaphors for natural disasters affect perceptions of the risk they pose. Three studies ( N = 1,936) demonstrated that participants forecasted an antagonist-framed natural hazard as being more severe, and intended to evacuate more often, than a literal-framed natural hazard. Thus, the metaphorical language used to discuss natural disasters deserves consideration in the development of effective risk communication.
Examining Partnership Approaches for Engaging Fathers to Address Domestic Violence
Authors: Parekh Jenita , Kim Lisa , Karberg Elizabeth , Whitfield Brooke , Scott Mindy E.
Published: August 2021

Little is known about partnerships fatherhood programs establish to engage fathers in addressing domestic violence (DV). The study aimed to (a) describe partnership activities between fatherhood programs and organizations that address DV, (b) highlight strategies for productive partnerships, and (c) identify areas in need of improvement for addressing DV. This study discusses findings from qualitative interviews with 27 individuals from 17 fatherhood and DV organizations across the United States including the variety of partnership activities used to prevent and address DV (e.g., conducting trainings or facilitating referrals); strategies for creating productive partnerships; and partnership areas that need further attention.
Creating reverse flow arteriovenous fistulas with a forearm cannulation target
Authors: Kim Hyein , Nelson Peter R , Mushtaq Nasir , Mallios Alexandros , Kempe Kelly , Zamor Kimberly , Pandit Viraj , Vang Steven , Jennings William C
Published: August 2021

Background:

Establishing a forearm arteriovenous fistula (AVF) offers preferred cannulation sites and preserves proximal access opportunities. When a radiocephalic AVF at the wrist is not feasible and the upper arm cephalic and median cubital veins are inadequate, an AV graft or more complex access procedure is often required. Creating a retrograde flow forearm AVF (RF-AVF) is a valuable alternative where the mid-forearm median antebrachial or cephalic vein is adequate, offering forearm cannulation zones with AVF outflow through deep and superficial collaterals. We report our technique and results.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed our vascular access data base of consecutive patients during an 11-year study period where a RF-AVF established the only available cannulation target in the forearm. In addition to physical examination, all patients had ultrasound vessel mapping.

Results:

A forearm access was established with a RF-AVF as the only opportunity for cannulation in 48 patients. Ages were 14–86 years (median = 62 years). Forty-four percent female, 63% diabetic, 13% obese, and 29% had previous access operations. Inflow was proximal radial artery in 47 individuals and one proximal ulnar. Nine AVFs (19%) failed at 2–66 months (median 14 months). One RF-AVF was ligated due to arm edema. Follow-up was 2–111 months (median = 23.5 months). Primary and cumulative patency rates were 62% and 91% at 12 months, and 46% and 85% at 24 months. Five patients were lost to follow-up with functioning RF-AVFs (mean 41 months). Twenty-three patients (48%) died during F/U of causes unrelated to access procedures (mean 25 months).

Conclusions:

Establishing a reverse flow forearm AVF offers a successful autogenous access option in the forearm for selected patients with an inadequate distal radial artery and/or cephalic vein at the wrist, avoiding more complex or staged procedures and preserving upper arm sites for future use. A proximal radial artery inflow procedure is recommended.
Validation of a low-cost selective powder deposition process through the characterization of tin bronze specimens
Authors: Magalhães Samuel , Sardinha Manuel , Vicente Carlos , Leite Marco , Ribeiro Relógio , Vaz Maria , Reis Luís
Published: August 2021

Additive manufacturing technologies are becoming increasingly popular due to their advantages over traditional subtracting manufacturing technologies. Despite advances in this field, fixed and maintenance costs for additive manufacturing with metals remain high. The introduction of low-cost metal machines in the additive manufacturing market considerably reduces the cost of acquiring and maintaining this type of equipment. This work aims to establish the process requirements for a low-cost selective powder deposition process, and validate it through the production of specimens in the laboratory and evaluate their mechanical properties. Tin bronze specimens were produced under different manufacturing conditions, namely powder dimensions, type of crucible and coke, firing segments and casting strategy. The morphology and chemical composition of the specimens were carried out combining the scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy techniques, respectively. It was observed that crucibles and coke with impurities that react with the metal powders and infill in a reducing atmosphere have influence in the final quality of parts. Tested samples displayed high variability of results which can be correlated with different manufacturing conditions. The selection of the appropriate print parameters led to the manufacture of tin bronze specimens with mechanical properties comparable to those reported in the literature. Overall, low-cost selective powder deposition is a promising technology, if identified manufacturing issues are addressed.
Limited, considered and sustainable consumption: The (non)consumption practices of UK minimalists
Authors: Martin-Woodhead Amber
Published: August 2021

Minimalism is an increasingly popular lifestyle movement in western economies (predominantly in the USA, Japan and Europe) that involves voluntarily reducing consumption and limiting one’s possessions to a bare minimum. This is with the intention of making space for the ‘important’ (potentially immaterial) things that are seen to add meaning and value to one’s life. Drawing on interviews with minimalists in the UK, this article reveals that minimalists practice sustainable (non)consumption via limiting their consumption. This is achieved by actively buying less, using up and maintaining what is owned, and, when objects are acquired, only practising highly intentional, considered and (sometimes) ethical consumption. For some, such practices are predominantly based on strong ethical and environmental motivations or are seen as a positive ‘by-product’ of their minimalist lifestyles. Whilst for others, their motivations are primarily aligned to personal well-being. The article subsequently argues that the limited and considered practices of minimalist consumption can be seen as sustainable practices in outcome, if not always in intent.