bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical analysis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for otogenic brain abscesses
Authors: Zhang Ziheng , Wu Cong , Xia Haiou , Yu Xinru , Zhao Baojun , Chen Xiaoyun
Published: October 2023

Objective: To explore the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for otogenic brain abscesses (OBA). Methods: Clinical data from 10 patients with OBA were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment experiences were summarized. Results: Two were first diagnosed in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 5 in Neurosurgery, and 3 in other departments. There were 6 cases of temporal lobe abscess and 4 cases of cerebellar abscesses. Five cases were accompanied by 1 or more intracranial complications. Headache is a common presentation in all cases. The main pathogenic bacteria were anaerobic bacteria. All patients had no previous ear or brain surgery history, and no history of traumatic brain injury, 7 received surgical treatment in the neurosurgery and/or otolaryngology department. Two patients died, the other 8 fully recovered and so were discharged. Conclusions: Diagnosis and treatment of OBA must involve multiple departments. Multidisciplinary consultation (MDT) is crucial to the success of the first OBA diagnosis. The diagnosis and treatment team develops personalized treatment plans by integrating MDT treatment opinions and combining the actual condition of patients, thereby making the diagnosis and treatment of OBA accurate and timely.
Gender Differences in the Impact of the Informal Economy on the Labor Market: Evidence From Middle Eastern Countries
Authors: Taheri Elham , Katircioğlu Salih , Tecel Ayhan
Published: October 2023

Although considerable discussion has been devoted to the macro determinants of labor market variables across genders, comparatively little attention has been given to the contribution of the informal economy to this market. This study was aimed at empirically investigating the impact of the size of the shadow or informal economy (IE) on labor market variables across genders in 12 Middle Eastern countries. The study used quarterly time series data on each country under investigation, covering 1991 to 2015. Phillips–Perron unit root tests were carried out to verify the stationarity of the examined economic series. An autoregressive distributed lag approach was adopted to conduct cointegration tests and estimate long-run regression coefficients and error correction terms. The results indicated that the IE served men and women differently across countries. Whereas this economy had a long-run positive relationship with men’s employment rates in Bahrain, Iran, Qatar, and Turkey, this relationship existed among women only in Israel. IE activities matter in the employment of men and women in Middle Eastern countries. The sizes of IEs in the labor market are a significant factor that favors men’s employment rather than that of women.
Methodologies Used in Studies of Self-Management Interventions for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: An Integrative Review
Authors: Klein Abbey Jo , Eisenhauer Christine , Mollard Elizabeth , Shade Marcia Y. , Alappattu Meryl
Published: October 2023

Background:

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects approximately 60% of women in the United States and negatively impacts self-esteem, sexual function, participation in social activities, and quality of life (QOL). Self-management interventions show promise for improving UI symptoms and QOL. Previous reviews of UI self-management studies have focused on outcomes for older women. However, the literature lacks a synthesis of methodologies of these studies.

Purpose:

The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize and evaluate methodologies used in studies of self-management interventions for UI in adult women.

Methods:

Using an integrative review approach, a search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase was conducted yielding 1404 results, 23 of which met inclusion criteria. Data abstracted from each article included author(s), year of publication, study design and purpose, sample, country and setting, measures of UI symptoms, and intervention description.

Results:

Findings showed methodological differences, particularly in design, assessment of UI subtypes, measures of UI symptoms, and intervention components. Multicomponent self-management interventions were used in 18 studies and 1 component used in 5 studies. Education, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and bladder training were the intervention components most frequently used, either alone or in combination; however, intervention components were not consistently aligned with the UI subtypes. Analysis of ethical matters revealed areas for improvement, specifically in reporting privacy and confidentiality and in methods to obtain informed consent.

Conclusions:

Results highlight opportunities to improve the rigor of methodologies used in studies of self-management interventions for UI in adult women.
Weight loss, cure, and temporality in the “Diet Capital of the World”: Disciplining fatness in Durham, North Carolina
Authors: Elledge Annie Morgan
Published: October 2023

This article argues that Durham, North Carolina configures itself as a place for weight loss through its dieting industry and its identity as the “Diet Capital of the World.” Building from archival data from the 1930s through the 1980s, I trace the historical development of Durham’s diet industry. Following work in crip studies this article theorizes weight loss as a “cure” that works to remove fatness from individual bodies and remove fat people from the future. Engaging with work in urban geography and critical geographies of fatness, this article analyzes how anti-fatness and place co-produce each other across scales in the city. The Rice Houses and Durham’s broader dieting landscape illustrate how places are created for spatial and temporal disciplining of fat bodies. Attending to these sites, this article understands how anti-fat cure constructs places to discipline fat people’s bodies and create futures without fatness.
The inheritance and repetition of colonial practices of dispossession
Authors: Chatterjee Pratichi
Published: October 2023

State processes of land dispossession rely on multiple modes of power such as domination, legitimisation, pacification, and deceit to achieve their aims. This article analyses how governments in Australia have drawn on these varied forms to redevelop inner city areas in Sydney which are important to Indigenous communities. It analyses three redevelopment practices that targeted the suburbs of Redfern and Waterloo between 2005 and 2019. First, domineering planning structures used to marginalise Indigenous housing in Redfern. Second, racist tropes that have worked to legitimise this authoritarian approach and the resulting dispossession. Third, community consultations, that attempted to placate residents impacted by redevelopment, with culturally inclusive participation, but that maintained a deceitful silence on the question of colonisation. The article shows how authoritarian state planning, racialised legitimisation, and colonial pacification and deceit wielded in Redfern and Waterloo, are directly inherited from and/or reproduce historic colonial nation and city building agendas. On this basis, the article claims that settler colonialism can be understood as a self-perpetuating process, where practices of dispossession, developed at a given time, can set precedent for and be reworked into later programmes of land dispossession.
The smart grid archipelago: Infrastructures of networked (dis)connectivity in Amman
Authors: Kintzi Kendra
Published: October 2023

This article examines the fragmented connections of Jordan’s smart grid, building on scholarship that questions how smart infrastructures reshape governance, sociospatial exclusion, and the fabric of urban life. Jordan’s ambitious smart energy program is often held up as a global model by investors, as it catalyzed over US$4 billion in private investment for new renewable and smart energy development. Yet smart energy transition is experienced in powerfully uneven ways, as distributed solar installations and smart grid technologies radically remake the spaces of urban life. Rooted in sixteen months of ethnographic fieldwork, this article traces the vertical materialization of the smart grid from the ground up, from in-home smart meters through the evolving interconnections that they enact. I argue that (post)colonial property relations engender an archipelagic landscape of (dis)connectivity that redistributes the benefits and burdens of digitalization. Drawing from Glissant’s archipelagic thought, I examine (dis)connection and urban fragmentation as a form of relation that links enduring (post)colonial relations to contemporary projects of smart development. In the (post)colonial world, as smart infrastructures are built into the conduits of uneven property relations, they come to incorporate not only capitalist logics but also racialized logics and historically contingent relations of exclusion and differentiation.
New notions of soft power: Impact rhetoric in mega-event bid documents
Authors: Wise Nicholas , Ludvigsen Jan Andre Lee
Published: October 2023

This viewpoint addresses notions of impact and soft power. Two bidding documents submitted in 2018 by Morocco and a joint bid by Canada, Mexico, and the United States are explored, focusing specifically on language used when discuss the term “impact.” Soft power is important to consider and use as a framework for interpretation because bidding for events involves the ability to persuade and use power as a medium to showcase the ability to host. Both bid proposals place less attention on economic impact, and emphasize the social and environmental impact that these events will have. Each bid document had a defined statement on legacy, but legacy did not dominate either bid as both put focus on how they would create impact in the present time. This approach is something that brings people into the directions of the bid, in terms of how social, economic, or environmental impact would be achieved, and directives positioned how they would make people aware of impact.
Pyogenic liver abscess caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae diagnosed by third-generation sequencing: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Ting , Huang Xiangyun , Xu Tianmin , Li Shuo , Cui Manman
Published: October 2023

We report a case of a woman with diabetes mellitus and choledocholithiasis who had a low fever with chills and severe weakness for 7 days. The patient’s abdominal tenderness was positive. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a giant abscess in the liver. The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae was found in the purulent fluid of the liver by nanopore-based metagenomic third-generation sequencing combined with an antibiotic susceptibility test. The patient recovered after intravenous antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage. Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus and choledocholithiasis should be aware of the possibility of pyogenic liver abscesses caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. To rapidly control the development of this disease, nanopore-based metagenomic third-generation sequencing plays an important role not only in rapidly identifying pathogens, but also in guiding the use of antibiotics.
Applying a Maternal Standards of Care Audit Tool and Quality Improvement Process to Improve Healthcare for Pregnant Women in Prison
Authors: Usigbe Joy , Macey Erin , Klemme Paige , Williams Maranda , Turman Jack E.
Published: October 2023

Women are the fastest growing prison population, but little is known about the quality of maternal care for pregnant women in prison. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Transitional Healthcare Team (THT), we developed a maternal standard of care (MSOC) audit tool to identify existing strengths and weaknesses and recommend evidence-based strategies for improvement. After creating the MSOC audit tool, we used it to audit 52 charts and conducted interviews of IDOC staff regarding maternal health care processes. Identified strengths include prenatal care, screening/treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and substance use disorders, contraception use, and health education. Mental and nutritional health care are areas of weakness. Staff motivation and community partnerships facilitate positive change, but a “punitive” culture, lack of resources, and communication challenges are barriers to change. Developing accountability tools and processes to promote maternal standards of care holds the potential to increase the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies and improve re-integration into society.
Strengthening Parental Identity of Incarcerated Fathers through Innovative Practices of Drama in Education
Authors: Pandis Eleftherios , Dima Aikaterini
Published: October 2023

This paper focuses on an innovative research initiative conducted within a Greek Detention Center. The project explores the paternal identity of incarcerated fathers with the primary objective of reinforcing their parental attitudes, skills, and practices. Despite the challenges imposed by incarceration, it is widely acknowledged that individuals can, and indeed should, continue to exercise their parental roles. This serves as the central premise of our research. A Detention Center in Greece was carefully selected through a process of feasibility sampling for this study, encompassing a participant group of 16 incarcerated fathers. The adoption of an action research methodology was deemed most appropriate for the execution of this parenting program. The research initiative comprised of 10 unique workshops, underpinned by principles of drama in education. These workshops provided the incarcerated fathers with opportunities to explore alternative methods of interaction with their children. The study concluded with a demonstrable enhancement in the paternal identity of the incarcerated fathers, affirming the initial research goals of the project. This provides evidence for the potential of such innovative approaches in supporting the development of stronger parental attitudes, skills, and practices among incarcerated parents.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disappointment: Disappointment and Its Role in PTSD
Authors: Flint Tuly , Ronel Natti
Published: October 2023

Disappointment is an under-studied concept in the field of PTSD; it is nevertheless apparent in testimonies of individuals diagnosed with PTSD. Self-disappointment, disappointment with others, and disappointment with the Sublime are mentioned in the literature yet were not studied and described in the context of PTSD and spiritual recovery. This study aims to fill this gap; 50 individuals of varying backgrounds who recovered from PTSD and attributed their recovery to spirituality were interviewed. Participants underwent a variety of traumas, had different piety levels, and used different recovery methods. Findings revealed a mechanism where individuals diagnosed with PTSD experience three-dimensional disappointment (TDD) with self, others, and the Sublime, and that this disappointment breeds a sense of disconnection and helplessness. Findings suggest also that disappointment plays a significant role in both creating PTSD and intensifying the suffering from it. Implications for caregivers, therapists, and individuals with PTSD are discussed.
‘There’s a lot on my shoulders’ – occupational therapists’ experience of stress and burnout in mental healthcare settings in Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Weir Francesca Unity , Ramano Enos M. , Balbadhur Raashmi
Published: October 2023

Introduction:

South African occupational therapists, working in mental healthcare, are exposed to chronic stress; this can lead to their experiencing symptoms of burnout. There has been a call for research to explore the experiences of stress and burnout that occupational therapists encounter whilst working in different contexts, and this article presents findings from a study focused on the field of mental healthcare in Gauteng, South Africa.

Methods:

Thirteen occupational therapists participated in the study using qualitative and descriptive methods. The study sample was selected using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected via online focus group discussions and underwent thematic analysis according to open coding.

Findings:

This article presents the findings of theme one, as part of a greater dissemination of findings, where the participants described their stress and burnout as a personal psychological experience. This involved the experience of emotional burden, strained interpersonal relationships and feelings of failure. The participants perceived their stress as a fluctuating experience and, a portion of the participants, felt that they had experienced burnout.

Conclusion:

The negative personal psychological impact of stress and burnout on occupational therapists working in South Africa, in the field of mental healthcare, has been well indicated in the study.
Energy management strategies of hybrid renewable energy systems: A review
Authors: Ibrahim Marwa M.
Published: October 2023

Burning fossil fuels results in more emissions than generating electricity from renewable sources. The transition to renewable energy from fossil fuels, which currently produce the majority of emissions, is essential to preventing the climatic disaster. Hybrid energy generation systems are still in their infancy. It is envisaged that future technology developments would lead to greater application and more economical goods. There will be more standardised designs, which will make it easier to select a system that is suitable for a certain application. The components will communicate more with one another. As a result, control, monitoring, and diagnosis will be made simpler. The hybrid energy system (HES), also known as hybrid power, is expected to be the long-term power solution for microgrid (MG) systems. This study compares and contrasts several theories and conventional approaches to controlling HRES’s control and energy consumption. A successful energy management strategy has been created using a variety of methods and procedures. The effectiveness of an EMS is determined by its control architecture and the solution approach used; common topologies include hierarchical, decentralised and centralised EMS. Supply side management and demand side management, two EMS components, will be discussed later. The three EMS control architectures are examined in this section. In order to determine the most practical and dependable solution with the lowest Net present cost (NPC), COE and realistic environmental consequences, various hybridisation cases of a PV panel, wind turbine, battery storage and diesel generator are designed, analysed and compared using DSM. The results of taking into account DSM indicated a reduction in CO2 emissions of 25%, NPC emissions of 14.8%, COE emissions of 14% and an increase in RF emissions of 8.5%. Two fundamental metrics – the DSM Quality Index for technical benefits and the DSM Appreciation Index for economic advantages – are used to assess the technical and economic benefits of DSM.
Comparative evaluation by two different hybrid power flow controller topologies of transient stability of machine system connected to wind-PV sources
Authors: Seddiki Zahira , Allaoui Tayeb , Smaili Atallah
Published: October 2023

The Hybrid Power Flow Controller (HPFC) has a simple design configuration, where the upgrading of the line functionality and controller can be performed in stages. This paper applies two HPFC configurations to a multi-machine power network. The first HPFC is a combination of two static synchronous series compensators (SSSC) connected in series, and a Static Var compensator (SVC). The second one consists of two shunt Static synchronous compensators (STATCOM) connected through a Thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC), across a coupling transformer in a common DC link. The HPFC topologies are tested with a multi-machine power network with faults, in the presence of solar and wind energy sources. The overall model is simulated using SimPowerSystems toolbox and the performance of the two HPFC topologies is compared under various operating conditions. The comparison of simulation results shows that the second HPFC gives a better view than the first in analyzing the power system transient stability.
Relationship Between Age and Pathology With Treatment of Pediatric and Adolescent Discoid Lateral Meniscus: A Report From the SCORE Multicenter Database
Authors: Silverstein Rachel S. , McKay Scott D. , Coello Pablo , Pupa Lauren , Latz Kevin , Craig Kemper W. , Adsit Elizabeth , Wilson Philip L. ,   Members of the SCORE Quality Improvement Registry, Albright Jay , Algan Sheila , Beck Jennifer , Bowen Richard E. , Brey Jennifer , Marc Cardelia J. , Clark Christian , Crepeau Allison , Edmonds Eric , Ellington Matthew , Fabricant Peter D. , Frank Jeremy S. , Ganley Theodore J. , Green Daniel W. , Gupta Andrew , Heyworth Benton , Mansour Alfred , Mayer Stephanie , Milewski Matthew D. , Niu Emily , Pacicca Donna M. , Parikh Shital N. , Rhodes Jason , Saper Michael , Schmale Gregory A. , Schmitz Matthew , Shea Kevin , Storer Stephen , Ellis Henry B.
Published: October 2023

Background:

Surgical treatment options of discoid lateral meniscus in pediatric patients consist of saucerization with or without meniscal repair, meniscocapular stabilization, and, less often, subtotal meniscectomy.

Purpose:

To describe a large, prospectively collected multicenter cohort of discoid menisci undergoing surgical intervention, and further investigate corresponding treatment of discoid menisci.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A multicenter quality improvement registry (16 institutions, 26 surgeons), Sports Cohort Outcomes Registry, was queried. Patient characteristics, discoid type, presence and type of intrasubstance meniscal tear, peripheral rim instability, repair technique, and partial meniscectomy/debridement beyond saucerization were reviewed. Discoid meniscus characteristics were compared between age groups (<14 and >14 years old), based on receiver operating characteristic curve, and discoid morphology (complete and incomplete).

Results:

In total, 274 patients were identified (mean age, 12.4 years; range, 3-18 years), of whom 55.6% had complete discoid. Meniscal repairs were performed in 55.1% of patients. Overall, 48.5% of patients had rim instability and 36.8% had >1 location of peripheral rim instability. Of the patients, 21.5% underwent meniscal debridement beyond saucerization, with 8.4% undergoing a subtotal meniscectomy. Patients <14 years of age were more likely to have a complete discoid meniscus ( P < .001), peripheral rim instability ( P = .005), and longitudinal tears ( P = .015) and require a meniscal repair ( P < .001). Patients ≥14 years of age were more likely to have a radial/oblique tear ( P = .015) and require additional debridement beyond the physiologic rim ( P = .003). Overall, 70% of patients <14 years of age were found to have a complete discoid meniscus necessitating saucerization, and >50% in this young age group required peripheral stabilization/repair.

Conclusion:

To preserve physiological “normal” meniscus, a repair may be indicated in >50% of patients <14 years of age but occurred in <50% of those >14 years. Additional resection beyond the physiological rim may be needed in 15% of younger patients and 30% of those aged >14 years.
Novel anti-amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review
Authors: Chowdhury Selia , Chowdhury Nurjahan Shipa
Published: October 2023

Background

Lecanemab is the latest monoclonal antibody that targets beta-amyloid approved exclusively for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. This article aims to provide a systematic review of the efficacy, and safety of lecanemab in slowing clinical decline in Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods

A comprehensive search of various databases, including the National Institute of Health clinical trials registry, PubMed, and the Cochrane library, was conducted until July 2023 using the keywords lecanemab, BAN2401, and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, conference abstracts listed in the Cochrane database (including Embase) and drug information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label were examined. Only clinical trials published in the English language were considered. In total, 107 articles were retrieved, and after thorough evaluation, three randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trials involving 2729 participants were included in the analysis.

Results

The FDA approved lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease in January 2023 which acts as a novel disease-modifying anti-amyloid-beta (Aβ) human monoclonal antibody and is administered intravenously. Based on the clinical trials included in this review, lecanemab was found efficacious in reducing the accumulation of beta-amyloid and slowing down the cognitive decline and it was well tolerated. Lecanemab had a statistically significant change from baseline in Clinical Dementia Rating–Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), Alzheimer’s Disease Composite Score (ADCOMS), Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAScog14), Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Activities of Daily Living Scale for Mild Cognitive Impairment (ADCS-MCI-ADL), and reductions in brain amyloid burden. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were headache, infusion-related reactions, and Amyloid related imaging abnormalities-edema.

Conclusions

Lecanemab therapy led to a substantial decrease in amyloid plaques and a noticeable slowing of clinical decline. The findings suggest a meaningful connection between the reduction in amyloid and the positive impact on patients' clinical outcomes, hinting at potential disease-modifying effects.
Emotion Matters: Understanding the Role of Achievement Emotions in High School Students’ Decision for Tertiary Education
Authors: Yim Joanne Sau-Ching , Sedhu Daljeet Singh , Abdul-Rahim Puteri Rohani M.
Published: October 2023

Emotions play an integral role in learning. It is an effective response to a stimulus which can be experienced felt along a positive–negative continuum. Achievement emotions arise from academic activities, and can activate or de-activate educational motivation responses. Based on Control Value Theory, this study examined how negative achievement emotions impact high school students’ decision to pursue tertiary education, and what were the contributing factors of these emotions. One thousand five hundred and forty-seven high school students participated in the survey, and data were solicited via established inventories as well as an open ended question. Quantitatively, Partial Least Squares structural equation modelling found boredom and test anxiety to significantly lower students’ decision to pursue tertiary education. The precursors to negative achievement emotions stem from examinations and assessments, struggle in lessons, learning itself, parental expectations to excel, and mental health issues. Findings demonstrated the potential of emotions in influencing students’ value orientation with respect to tertiary education. As the study is based on a post-pandemic context, implications of findings are discussed in view of the underlying post-pandemic challenges accompanied by recommendation to stakeholders.
Modeling Determinants of Lifelong Learning According to the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Proxy-Based Approach Using PIAAC Data
Authors: Partsch Melanie Viola , Landberg Monique
Published: October 2023

In today's world, lifelong learning (LLL) is a key element of individual and societal success. However, despite knowing potential determinants of LLL, we do not yet understand how they interact to facilitate LLL. Therefore, the present study aims to verify the usefulness of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in predicting LLL. We applied a survey data-based approach by building proxies of TPB components for LLL based on the German PIAAC dataset. Our TPB-based path models explained both participation in non-formal LLL and engagement in informal LLL in a large heterogeneous sample of the German working population, also when controlling for influential socio-demographic determinants of LLL. Thereby, our results provide first evidence that TPB lends itself as core of a LLL process model that can serve as a basis to integrate further well-studied determinants of LLL participation and then can be tested in longitudinal multi-level studies.
Peripheral Veno-Arterial-Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Refractory Septic Shock in Children: A Multicenter Review
Authors: Warnock Brielle , Lafferty Gina Maria , Farhat Abdelaziz , Colgate Cameron , Dhar Archana , Gray Brian
Published: October 2023

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is utilized as a rescue therapy in the management of pediatric patients with refractory septic shock. Multiple studies support the use of a central cannulation strategy in these patients. This study aimed to assess the survival of and identify mortality risk factors in pediatric patients supported with peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO in the setting of septic shock.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed and compared clinical characteristics of 40 pediatric patients supported with peripheral VA ECMO for refractory septic shock, at two tertiary care children's hospitals from 2006 to 2020. Our hypothesis was that peripheral VA ECMO is effective in supporting cardiac function and improving tissue oxygenation in most pediatric patients with refractory septic shock.

Results

The overall rate of survival to discharge was 52.5%, comparable to previously reported survival for pediatric sepsis on ECMO. With the exclusion of patients with an oncologic process, the survival rate rose to 62.5%. There was a statistically significant difference in mean pump flow rates within 2 hours of initiation of ECMO between survivors and non-survivors (98 mL/kg/min vs 76 mL/kg/min, P  =  .050). There was no significant difference between pre-ECMO vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) in survivors and non-survivors. A faster decrease in VIS in the first 24 hours was associated with lower mortality.

Conclusions

From this large case series, we conclude that peripheral VA ECMO is a safe and effective modality to support pediatric patients with refractory septic shock, provided there is establishment of high ECMO pump flows in the first few hours after cannulation and improvement in the VIS.
(Un)safe Spaces: The Relationship Between Slavery and Sexual Victimization of Black Women
Authors: Bailey Caroline M.
Published: October 2023

Research exploring the correlates of sexual victimization has found sexual victimization to be associated with both individual- and contextual-level factors, including age, gender, poverty, and size of the female population. However, to date, research has been limited in exploring how historical factors, such as slavery, may be associated with the contemporary prevalence of sexual victimization of women. Historical accounts have often suggested that enslaved women often experienced sexual victimization during their enslavement. Despite these accounts, research has been limited in empirically exploring the relationship between slavery and the sexual victimization of Black women. Using the 1860 U.S. Census and the 2019 National Incidence-Based Reporting System, multilevel logistic regression analyses are employed to explore whether slavery is consequential for contemporary instances of Black female sexual victimization. In line with the “legacy effect” framework, the findings from the current study suggest that Black women are significantly more likely to be sexually victimized in counties characterized by larger enslaved populations in 1860. These findings illuminate how historical institutions, despite being outlawed, have contemporary consequences, particularly for Black women. These findings, discussions, avenues for future research, and policy implications are discussed below.
A Pragmatic, Person-Centered View of Cannabis in the United States: Pursuing Care That Transcends Beliefs
Authors: Bosley Hannah G. , Peña Juan M. , Penn Andrew D. , Sorensen James L. , Tierney Matthew , Flentje Annesa
Published: October 2023

Background:

Rates of cannabis use are increasing in the United States, likely as a result of changes in societal attitudes and expanding legalization. Although many patients report wanting to discuss the risks and benefits of cannabis use with their clinical providers, many providers hold conflicting beliefs regarding cannabis use and often do not engage patients in discussion about cannabis. This dilemma is underscored by the limitations imposed on cannabis related research, and lack of empirically based best-practice guidelines for clinicians when addressing cannabis use with patients.

Objectives:

We aimed to briefly summarize clinician and patient attitudes toward cannabis use and review current clinical guidelines and provide suggestions to assist health care providers and clinicians in increasing their comfort and skill in discussing cannabis use with patients.

Methods:

A narrative review on attitudes toward cannabis use and clinical guidelines was performed to summarize the literature and provide evidence-based recommendations.

Results:

Attitudes toward cannabis use have been shaped by personal and political factors and contribute to clinician hesitance in speaking with patients about the topic. Administrative barriers have hindered the development of clearer public health guidelines that might enable the dissemination of evidence-based information on the health effects of cannabis use and might ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

Conclusion:

Not discussing cannabis use with patients may be a crucial missed opportunity for harm reduction. In the absence of empirically supported best-practice guidelines, a person-centered approach can facilitate conversations on the harms and benefits of cannabis use.
The Association of Food Insecurity, Mental Health, and Healthcare Access and Use Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the United States: Results From the 2021 National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Masa Rainier , Shangani Sylvia , Baruah Dicky , Operario Don
Published: October 2023

Purpose

We sought to describe the prevalence of food insecurity and its relationship with mental health, health care access, and use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in the U.S.

Design and Setting

We analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a cross-sectional study of noninstitutionalized adults from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Sample

The study sample was restricted to LGB adults ≥18 years (N = 1178) from the 2021 NHIS survey.

Measures

Food security was assessed using the 10-item U.S Adult Food Security Survey Module. Study outcomes were mental health (depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and serious psychological distress), health care utilization, and medication adherence.

Analysis

Descriptive statistics and linear and generalized linear regressions.

Results

The study sample consisted of 69% White, 14% Hispanic/Latinx, 9% Black, and 8% people of other races. Approximately half (53%) identified as bisexual and 47% identified as gay or lesbian. Eleven percent were food insecure. Sexual orientation, income-to-poverty ratio, and health insurance were significant correlates of food insecurity. In multivariable analyses, food insecurity was significantly associated with mental illness (including depression, anxiety, and serious psychological distress), limited health care access and use (including inability to pay medical bills, delay in getting medical and mental health care, and going without needed medical and mental health care), and medication nonadherence (including skipping medication, taking less medication, delay filling prescription, and going without needed prescription).

Conclusion

Food insecurity is a constant predictor of adverse mental health and low medical and mental health care use rates among LGB adults in the United States. Achieving food security in LGB people requires improving their financial and nonfinancial resources to obtain food.
Reducing fire hazards and enhancing the thermal stability, acoustical, and UV protection of polyvinyl alcohol using bio-based flame retardant
Authors: Abdelkhalik Aksam , Makhlouf Ghada , El-Basheer Tarek M.
Published: October 2023

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a highly flammable material, and enhancing its flame retardancy to pass the glow wire test is a great challenge. In this work, the melamine salt of tannic phosphate (MTP) was synthesized, characterized, and combined with PVA at 8, 10, 13, and 15 wt%. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated that MTP enhanced the char formation of PVA at 750°C. Flammability tests showed that low concentrations of MTP can enhance the flame retardancy of PVA. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of PVA increased from 18.8% to 39.9% in the PVA/15%MTP composite. The vertical flame spread test (UL94V) showed that PVA/13%MTP, and PVA/15%MTP composites achieved V0 rating. Glow wire test data indicated that PVA/10%MTP, PVA/13%MTP, and PVA/15%MTP composites had a glow wire flammability index (GWFI) of 960°C/2 mm. Moreover, all the composites passed the needle flame test when the flame application time was 120 s. PVA/15%MTP composite showed very good UV protection and an increase in sound absorption coefficient magnitude compared with pure PVA. The new results can increase the application of PVA in different industries.
‘Play’ing College Football: Campus Athletic Worker Experiences of Exploitation
Authors: Kalman-Lamb Nathan , Silva Derek
Published: October 2023

It is well-established in the literature on the economic dimensions of US college sport that it has become a site of professionalized, value-producing work that does not equitably compensate the campus athletic workers responsible for the production of value therein. Yet, while these interventions make highly compelling political economic claims, few focus on how college athletes themselves experience the system and thus the exploitation they might endure. Drawing on testimony from semi-structured interviews conducted with 25 former college football players, we aim to expand discussions of exploitation beyond debates over compensation through our analysis of the contrast between ‘work’ and ‘play’ that exists in the lives of campus athletic workers. Utilizing a non-deterministic Marxian theory of exploitation, this paper explicitly interrogates the way capitalist ideology permeates college football by centering the important tension between ‘work’ and ‘play’ that contributes to that ideology as experienced and understood by college football players.
Rural–Urban Health Care Cost Differences Among Latinx Adults With and Without Dementia in the United States
Authors: Gutiérrez Ángela , López-Anuarbe Mónika , Webster Noah J. , Mahmoudi Elham
Published: October 2023

Objectives

To compare rural–urban health care costs among Latinx adults ages 51+ and examine variations by dementia status.

Methods

Data are from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2018 waves; n = 15,567). We inflation-adjusted all health care costs using the 2021 consumer price index. Geographic context and dementia status were the main exposure variables. We applied multivariate two-part generalized linear models and adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics.

Results

Rural residents had higher total health care costs, regardless of dementia status. Total health care costs were $850 higher in rural ($2,640) compared to urban ($1,789) areas ( p < .001). Out-of-pocket costs were $870 higher in rural ($2,677) compared to urban ($1,806) areas ( p < .001). Dementia status was not an effect modifier.

Discussion

Health care costs are disproportionately higher among Latinx rural, relative to urban, residents. Addressing health care costs among Latinx rural residents is a public health priority.
X-ray diffractometer, FTIR and theoretical approach of topological analysis of covellite single crystal
Authors: Solanki Mitesh B. , Jani Margi , Vyas Sandip M. , Parekh Bharat B. , Oza Ankit D. , Prakash Chander , Singh Bharat
Published: October 2023

Covellite (CuS) is a mineral sulfide with a multitude of potential applications in various technical fields. While it possesses a basic formula, its structure is complex, featuring alternating layers of planar CuS3 triangles and CuS4 tetrahedrons interconnected by S–S bonds. To gain a deeper understanding of Covellite's structural, mechanical and electrical properties, as well as its chemical bonding, extensive research utilizing X-ray diffractometer, FTIR and first-principles calculations have been conducted on its covalent Structure (CuS). The DFT and DFT + U methods were employed, revealing their sensitivity to the correlation treatment (U value). Although a universal U value cannot be determined, this investigation identifies U = 5.5 eV as an appropriate quantity. The examination of the electronic structure uncovers a significant metallic character attributable to the p(S)-d(Cu) orbital interactions up to the Fermi level. Moreover, the estimated density of states illustrates that the atomic contribution primarily arises from the 3d1 orbitals, which ultimately induce the [2D] plane conductivity anisotropy of Covellite. Additionally, the electron density underwent a topological analysis using the Quantum ESPRESSO PW software, leading to the computation of two distinct topological charges associated with Cu. This finding substantiates the presence of an iconic model featuring mixed charges. The covalent nature of the S–S bond receives support from the DFT analysis, and it is plausible that the preferential cleavage of CuS occurs at the [2D] surface, specifically at the CuS bond. It is worth noting that the S atoms constitute the majority of the cell volume and possess a dominant influence on the crystal's compressibility.
Exploring the impacts of tourism development and exchange rate on renewable energy demand in China: A nonlinear perspective
Authors: Chenjie  , Yunbao Xu , Zhubin Peng , Sohail Sidra
Published: October 2023

The demand for carbon-free or renewable energy sources is on the rise due to their role in boosting environmental performance and controlling emissions. The majority of previous research is based on the symmetry assumption while analyzing the association between tourism demand (TD), exchange rate volatility (ERV), and renewable energy consumption (REC). To plug this hole, this research scrutinizes the impact of TD and ERV on REC in China. To investigate the short and long-run implications of TD and ERV on REC, this analysis employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) techniques. The study's innovative approach enhances its scientific value through a novel and insightful examination of the variables of interest. The linear model results indicate that TD has a positive and significant long-run impact on REC. Conversely, ERV has a negative and significant long-run impact on REC. The NARDL model finds that a positive TD shock significantly and positively affects REC in the long run, while a negative TD shock does not exert a noticeable impact on REC. A positive ERV shock significantly and negatively affects REC in the long term, whereas a negative ERV shock has an insignificant impact on REC. Conversely, only a positive ERV shock has a significant positive impact on REC in the short run. These findings imply that policymakers must adopt stable and reliable foreign exchange market policies and promote sustainable tourism practices at tourist hotspots.
Applicants' success in the ethics entrance exam: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vierula Jonna , Karihtala Tiina , Ervaala Niina , Naamanka Kati , Haavisto Elina , Talman Kirsi
Published: October 2023

Background

Student selection is the first step in recruiting future social and healthcare professionals. Ethically competent professionals are needed in social and healthcare. It is important to select applicants who have the best possible abilities to develop their ethical competence in the future. Values-based recruitment has been used to inform the recruitment and selection of higher education applicants. However, objective and valid tests in student selection are needed.

Aim

To assess social and healthcare applicants’ success and related factors in the ethics section of the universities of applied sciences digital entrance examination (UAS Exam) to undergraduate degree programmes.

Research design

A cross-sectional design was used.

Participants and research context

Social and healthcare applicants needed to identify ethical situations in the ethics section of a national digital entrance examination (UAS Exam) in autumn 2019 (between 29 October and 1 November) in 20 Finnish universities of applied sciences.

Ethical considerations

The process for the responsible conduct of research was followed in the study. Ethics committee approval was obtained from the Human Sciences Ethics Committee in the Satakunta region (27 September 2019). Approval to undertake the study was obtained from the participating universities of applied sciences. Participation to the study was voluntary and based on informed consent.

Results

The applicants’ ( n = 8971) mean scores were 7.1/20 (standard deviation 6.5), and 22.7% of the applicants failed the ethics section. Age, previous education, and place of birth (own/parent) explained the applicants’ success in the ethics section (total score and failed exam results).

Conclusion(s)

Applicants’ success in the ethics section varied indicating that future students may have a different basis to develop their ethical competence. This may impact on (new) students’ learning, especially in practical studies.
Role of Board Composition Index in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosure: Evidence From United States
Authors: Mohy-ud-Din Kamran
Published: October 2023

Corporate directors play a crucial role in meeting the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting obligation. Thus, how to promote CSR practices through MNCs has attracted the attention of scholars. This study aims to investigate the impact of the board composition index on CSR disclosure in the context of the United States. In addition, the study examines whether board characteristics (board size, board diligence, board duality and board independence) impact CSR disclosure. Panel data for S&P 1500 index firms were collected from the data stream portal. The current study employed a sample of 286 US firms from 2010 to 2020. To achieve the research objectives, the current study develops an index score very first time for board composition. A panel regression model with fixed and random effects was employed to estimate the proposed hypotheses. In addition, the problem of endogeneity was resolved through the dynamic GMM model. The results of the study revealed that the board composition index has a significant impact on the disclosure of CSR information. Moreover, higher board diligence and independence in US corporates enhance CSR disclosure. However, board duality and the size of the board room negatively and significantly impact CSR. US policymakers and legislators make reforms in composition and structure to build stakeholders’ interest. In addition, no study combined such corporate board variables to address CSR in developed countries. The findings of the study are consistent with both institutional and stakeholder theory.