bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Gradual and Immediate Violence of an Engineered Conflict: School Closings, Public Housing, Law Enforcement, and the Future of Black Life in Chicago
Authors: Stovall David
Published: June 2023

Background/Context:

This article considers violence, both structurally and interpersonally, in Chicago, a city that moves to isolate and contain many of its Black working-class/low-income/no-income residents. Violence (particularly death by gun violence) should never be understood as a singular social problem that requires unilateral decisions on how to address the issue. Instead, it is critical to understand that homicides and other forms of violence are often the outcomes of conflict exacerbated by planned scarcity and abandonment (engineered conflict). In short, we should consider these conflicts as largely engineered by the state, declaring some Chicago residents to be of value along the lines of race, class, gender, age, (dis)ability, and sexual orientation, while others are deemed disposable.

Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study:

Instead of the deficit narrative of crazed, pathological criminals roaming the streets, another conversation pushes us to understand violence beyond the acts that result in bodily harm or death, and begin to consider the structural conditions that increase the chances of a violent act taking place. For these reasons, this article contemplates the following questions: What pushes people to be in conflict with each other while remaining reluctant to strike back at the system that has largely engineered the conditions of marginalization, isolation, and containment? More important, for those who have decided to resist, what are they doing to address the situation while building new realities for themselves and the people they care about?

Research Design:

The design of the study is qualitative, utilizing archival and current data on school closings, the destruction of public housing, and law enforcement. Utilizing conceptual design, the study positions engineered conflict as a material and ideological process with the goal of rendering certain Black communities in Chicago disposable.

Conclusions/Recommendations:

Instead of ending with the adage that “there’s nothing we can do about it,” we should understand that people who find state-sanctioned violence to be unacceptable are operating in ways that are proactive and compelling. Local organizations throughout the city have created their own unique processes in developing strategies to address affordable housing, quality education, and public safety. Their consideration of fugitive possibilities (strategies that are not based in commonplace policy solutions offered by the state) and actions is critical in a city that attempts to enforce a logic of disposability on their humanity.
Infrastructuring European scientific integration: Heterogeneous meanings of the European biobanking infrastructure BBMRI–ERIC
Authors: Aarden Erik
Published: June 2023

While transnational research infrastructure projects long preceded the formal integration process that created the European Union, their advancement is an increasingly central part of EU research policy and of European integration in general. This paper analyses the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure–European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI–ERIC) as a recent example of institutionalized scientific collaboration in Europe that has formally been established as part of EU science policy. BBMRI–ERIC, a network of European biobanks, is expected to contribute to both European science and European integration. Yet its achievements in these domains are interpreted differently by various actors involved. This paper draws on STS conceptualizations of infrastructures as relational, experimental, and promissory assemblages. These support the formulation of a working definition of research infrastructures that in turn helps to explore the heterogeneous meanings attributed to BBMRI–ERIC. The paper describes the creation of this distributed European research infrastructure, and divergent understandings of what it means for BBMRI–ERIC to be distributed, to be European and to be a research infrastructure. This analysis demonstrates how building a research infrastructure is also an effort to define what it means to be European—a process in which what is European about science and what science can do for Europe is continuously (re-)imagined, contested and negotiated.
Investigation of the Policy Effect of High-Speed Metropolitan Rail Service in Seoul Through Latent Class Modeling Analysis of Stated Preference Survey
Authors: Yun Jaewoong , Jeong Sugyo , Kong Jaehyeong , Chung Jin-Hyuk
Published: June 2023

The sprawl of megacities is increasing the need to improve public transit services to cover longer distances in shorter times than current services. High-speed metropolitan rail services have been introduced to satisfy the needs of passengers and are expected to alleviate the transportation problems caused by urban sprawl. However, the effectiveness of public transit demand inducement policies, which have been employed in various ways in South Korea, has been questioned. Thus, agencies responsible for high-speed metropolitan rail services should also evaluate whether such policies will work properly. The achievement of the policy can be evaluated as sufficiently inducing the demand of the target group, and investigated through the residence information and the current travel behavior. This study investigates the current travel behavior of users to be replaced when a new high-speed metropolitan rail service is introduced and directly analyzes the travel mode shifting effect. While previous studies focused on increasing the applicability to general services by classifying groups based on personal attributes, this study focuses on evaluating detailed policy achievements for specific services. We apply a latent class modeling approach using stated preference survey data for group classification. In particular, by employing the user’s current travel behavior as a class membership attribute, the characteristics of potential passengers of the high-speed metropolitan rail service are analyzed. The estimation results suggest that current travel behavior significantly classifies high-speed rail passengers. In addition, the policy achievement was investigated in detail by region and operation time, and several additional policy directions are presented to satisfy the policy goals.
Light-weight design of an overhead crane’s girder with a non-symmetric box cross-section
Authors: Pavlović Goran V , Zdravković Nebojša B , Savković Mile M , Bulatović Radovan R , Marković Goran Đ
Published: June 2023

The proper choice of material and geometric properties of the girder of the bridge crane can significantly reduce its weight and production cost. This research presents the weight optimization of the main girder with a non-symmetric box-like cross-section. The strength analysis in characteristic points of the critical cross-section and the local stability of plates were conducted using Eurocodes. This study aimed to prove that a proper choice of geometry for the cross-section plates and their additional design elements can have a meaningful impact on the weight. The optimization procedure was done using Water Evaporation Optimization (WEO) algorithm, with the implementation of all necessary criteria and conditions which must be fulfilled. This study revealed that the application of the light-weight design philosophy to the structure of the main girder could significantly reduce its weight, which is verified in the existing examples of double-beam bridge cranes. Achieved savings in girder weight are between 24.43% and 34.73%, dependingly on the considered example. Also, the study showed the influence of the chosen material on the steel girder’s optimum weight and geometric parameters. Depending on the studied example of the bridge crane and selected material, the WEO algorithm gave the same solution through simulations. The value of the optimum weight had a slight deviation at the second decimal place, which is neglectable. The algorithm successfully avoided the trap of getting into the local minimum during the search. In the end, it can be stated that the application of the WEO algorithm was successful in the considered engineering problem since it was the optimization of a complex steel structure with 11 variables and more than 20 constraint functions.
Critical review on tool wear and its significance on the µ-ECSM process
Authors: Kumar Nitesh , Das Alok Kumar
Published: June 2023

Micro-electrochemical spark machining (µ-ECSM) is an advanced hybrid machining approach to machine materials, irrespective of their electrical conductivity. This article illustrates the state-of-the-art review of the current research on the wear mechanism of micro-tool electrodes used in the µ-ECSM process. The influence of different electrical and non-electrical machining parameters on tool wear rate, inducing dimensional inaccuracies in the fabricated components, has been addressed. The various parameters of the tool, such as the material, surface morphology and texture, shape, and size, which influence the process performance, have been discussed in detail. The requirement for technological development in the tooling area of the µ-ECSM process has been pointed out. A detailed analysis of the aforementioned areas is present in this article.
Design, analysis and experiment of robust adaptive repetitive angle tracking control for a one-DOF manipulator driven by pneumatic artificial muscles
Authors: Guo Dong , Liu Jun , Zheng Song , Jiang Peng
Published: June 2023

There exist nonlinearities, uncertainties and time-varying characteristics in the system dynamics of manipulators driven by pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs), which makes the accurate dynamic modeling and controller design challenging. In this paper, a robust adaptive repetitive control scheme is proposed to solve the periodic-trajectory tracking problem for a one-degree of freedom (one-DOF) manipulator driven by two PAMs. First, the system model of the one-DOF PAM-driven manipulator is analyzed and derived. Next, during output constraint design by using a barrier Lyapunov function, a sliding mode surface is reasonably constructed to compensate for the differential term of time-varying constraint parameter. Then, with the help of Lipchitz condition, signal replacement technique and reparameterization are implemented to deal with nonparametric uncertainties in the manipulator system for the subsequent uncertainty compensation by using difference learning method and robust feedback strategy. Moreover, the stability of closed-loop PAM-driven manipulator is proven theoretically by using Lyapunov synthesis. In the end, comparative experiments are provided on a self-built PAM testbed to demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed robust adaptive repetitive control scheme.
Efficient on board storage and retrieval of fast maneuver profiles for space applications
Authors: Karpenko Mark , Cristi Roberto , Levitas Joshua
Published: June 2023

Attitude guidance is a concept for implementing performance enhancing rotational maneuvers that uses a conventional closed-loop attitude control system to track an optimized maneuver trajectory. Minimum-time attitude guidance is presently being used for executing fast occultation avoidance maneuvers on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). A challenge in operationalizing the idea is related to the limited size of the spacecraft’s command buffer, which was not designed with maneuver tracking in mind. In this paper, we propose an interpolating pre-filter built on B-splines that can be used on board to process downsampled maneuver commands (to save buffer space) and provide attitude control inputs at the servo-rate. The approach is validated using a high-fidelity simulation of the LRO developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“As tough as she is beautiful”: Discourses of female professional wrestlers in World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Evolution”
Authors: Hill-Cann Amber , Burr Viv
Published: June 2023

We present findings from a critical discourse analysis of commentary from World Wrestling Entertainment’s pay-per-view Evolution, an all-female wrestling competition. Approximately 10 minutes of match commentary were analysed, attending to the discourses operating within the text; the subject positions offered by them; and the implications these may have for subjectivity, action, and practice. Two discourses are presented: female wrestlers as “real athletes in a real combat sport” and “female wrestlers as conventionally feminine.” The operation of these discourses through the text was interpreted as offering opportunities for women wrestlers to construct identities as serious sportspeople while at the same time limiting those opportunities through the requirement that they also demonstrate heteronormative femininity. We discuss these findings within the framework of neoliberal feminism and a postfeminist sensibility. We conclude that, contrary to its superficially feminist agenda, Evolution offers a narrow and contradictory space for women to construct legitimate identities as professional wrestlers, where discursive positions may be simultaneously offered and undermined by commentators.
Identification and characterization of differentially expressed circRNA in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced cleft palate
Authors: Gao Liyun , Tan Jingwen , Han Chunhua , Fan Junfei , He Jiayin , Luo Ting , Yu Shiqun , Che Xiangxin , Zhang Lin , Wang Xin
Published: June 2023

Various circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel class of non-coding RNAs, which are pervasively transcribed in the genome. CircRNAs play important roles in human, animals and plants. Up to now, there was no report regarding circRNAs of cleft palate by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin (TCDD) induce. The present study screened identification and characterization of differential expressed-circRNAs in TCDD-induced cleft palate. 6903 circRNAs candidates came from cleft palates. Among them, 3525 circRNAs are up-regulation, and 3378 circRNAs are down-regulation by TCDD induce. The cluster and GO analysis found that circRNAs involved in biological process, cellular component, and molecular function. Through the analysis of KEGG Pathway, circRNAs made functions via classical signaling pathway in cleft palate, such as TGF-beta signaling pathway, BMP signal pathway, MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, we found down-regulated circRNA224, circRNA3302 and up-regulated circRNA5021 targeted tgfbr3, but up-regulated circRNA4451 targeted tgfbr2. circRNA4451 may make functions through TGF-beta signaling pathway. These results suggested that many different circRNAs may make important role in TCDD-induced cleft palate, which provided a theoretical basis for further research.
Linc-ROR Regulates POU5F1 and SOX2 by Competitively Binding miR-145-5p to Affect the Proliferation and Migration of Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Yu Xiuchong , Ma Xinyi , Jia Yangtao , Wu Xinxin , Yan Zhilong
Published: June 2023

Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and research on gastric cancer pathogenesis is fundamental. Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) control cancer initiation and progression through several mechanisms, with the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network being the most common. In this study, in situ hybridization revealed that long intergenic non-protein coding RNA-regulator of reprogramming (linc-ROR) was highly expressed in gastric cancer cells and was mainly cytoplasmic-positive. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), plate colony formation, wound healing, and Transwell assay revealed that linc-ROR knockdown impedes the growth, proliferation, and migration of gastric cancer cells, while linc-ROR overexpression promoted gastric cancer cell growth, migration, and colony formation ability. Combined with previous studies, the molecular mechanism axis of linc-ROR /miR-145-5-5p/ POU5F1/ SOX2 was verified. The expression of linc-ROR knockdown significantly suppressed the protein expression of POU5F1 and SOX2. Co-transfection with linc-ROR siRNA reverses the carcinogenic effect of the miR-145-5p inhibitor on gastric cancer cell proliferation, cloning, and migration. These findings lay a foundation for developing novel targets for gastric cancer treatment.
Investigating partial least squares discriminant analysis and hierarchical modelling of short wave infrared hyperspectral imaging data to distinguish production area and quality of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
Authors: Colling Janine , Muller Magdalena , Joubert Elizabeth , Marini Federico
Published: June 2023

Short wave infrared hyperspectral imaging was tested for its ability to distinguish rooibos tea ( Aspalathus linearis) based on production area and quality grade, with the aim to replace time-consuming sensory analysis in the industry. The number of latent variables and model parameters of the calibration model were optimised by cross-validation. Classification error rates were used to evaluate the performance of the models in classifying rooibos based on production area and quality grade. The production area of rooibos was distinguished by applying a partial least square-discriminant analysis model with second derivative pre-processing, followed by mean centering and inclusion of nine LVs. The model could successfully distinguish between the two production areas and had a classification accuracy of 100% for the prediction set. To distinguish between different quality grades, a hierarchical model with second derivative pre-processing was developed. Grade A could be distinguished successfully from grades B, C and D (class BCD) with 100% accuracy and grade D could be distinguished from grades B and C (class BC) with 96% accuracy. However, the model was less accurate to distinguish between grade B and C samples, with prediction accuracies of 82 and 66% for B and C, respectively. Application of near infrared hyperspectral imaging therefore offers the potential to replace the use of sensory analysis in the rooibos tea industry to predict production area and quality grade of this herbal tea.
Electromechanical model and simple numerical analysis for a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester considering nonlinear piezoelectricity, nonlinear damping, and self-powered synchronized switch circuit
Authors: Asanuma Haruhiko
Published: June 2023

Establishment of an analytical technique that considers nonlinear piezoelectricity, nonlinear damping, and the connections to the self-powered synchronized switch circuit represents a challenging but practical issue in the development of piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters. The two-way coupled analysis method, which combines numerical software with a circuit simulator, can simulate the performance of the harvester, but it imposes a high computational load. We develop a numerical analysis technique that is more readily implemented to allow us to produce accurate predictions of the output power, displacement, and frequency response characteristics of this harvester with the switch circuit. First, we derive the electromechanical equation required for the miniature harvester, and we then determine the parameters in this equation using the harmonic balance method. Finally, the governing equation coupling the piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with the self-powered synchronized switch circuit is simplified, taking the form of a quartic equation with respect to the displacement. The simulation replicated a reduction in the displacement at higher resistive loads, wider variations in the resonance frequency, and the nonlinear stiffness softening characteristics that were observed experimentally. This paper provides a practical method for predicting the performance of the nonlinear piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with the synchronized switch circuit.
CEO Humility, Corporate Entrepreneurship, and the Moderating Influence of Discretionary Forces in the Task Environment
Authors: Chaudhary Sanjay , Karwasara Atul , Gupta Vishal K. , Marino Lou , Batra Safal
Published: June 2023

This study examines whether and when humble CEOs lead firms that behave more entrepreneurially. Guided by upper-echelons theory, we link CEO humility with corporate entrepreneurship, considering two specific discretionary sources in the firm’s task environment—market turbulence and market complexity—as moderators. We test our hypotheses using multi-source data from small Indian firms. We find that the association between CEO humility and corporate entrepreneurship is positive and significant, strengthening at higher levels of humility. Systematic post hoc analyses yield evidence for the moderating influence of market turbulence and complexity. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
A Contemporary Clinicopathologic Analysis of Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma and Vena Cava Involvement
Authors: Al-Rusan Omar M. , Patil Dattatraya , Master Viraj A. , Osunkoya Adeboye O.
Published: June 2023

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is occasionally associated with vena cava involvement. Despite recent advances in therapeutic modalities, the 5-year survival in this population continues to be poor. Therefore, further studies are required to better characterize this patient population, especially from the clinicopathologic standpoint. A comprehensive review of patients with RCC and vena cava involvement managed at our institution from 2014 to 2022 was performed. Multiple clinicopathologic parameters including follow-up were obtained. A total of 114 patients were identified. The mean patient age was 63 years (range: 30-84 years). The cohort consisted of 78/114 (68%) males and 36/114 (32%) females. The mean primary tumor size (excluding tumor thrombus) was 11 cm. The majority of tumors (104/114, 91%) were unifocal. Tumor stages were categorized as follows: pT3b (51/114, 44%), pT3c (52/114, 46%), and pT4 (11/114, 10%). Most of the tumors were clear cell RCC 89/114 (78%), although other more aggressive RCC subtypes were also present. Most tumors were WHO/ISUP grade 3 (44/114, 39%) or 4 (67/114, 59%) with sarcomatoid differentiation present in 39/67 (58%). Necrosis was present in 94/114 (82%) tumors. Twenty-three of 114 (20%) tumors were categorized as pM1 and the ipsilateral adrenal gland was the most common site of metastasis. Of the 91 patients categorized as pM, not applicable at nephrectomy, 42/91 (46%) subsequently developed metastasis, most frequently to the lung. Of all patients, only 16/114 (14%) had positive vascular margins and 7/114 (6%) had positive soft tissue margins despite having very advanced disease and a subset considered inoperable at other centers.
Interleukin-6 Stromal Expression is Correlated with Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition at Tumor Budding in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Uehara Takeshi , Sato Koichi , Iwaya Mai , Asaka Shiho , Nakajima Tomoyuki , Nagaya Tadanobu , Kitazawa Masato , Ota Hiroyoshi
Published: June 2023

Background. Tumor budding is a poor prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Interleukin-6 (IL6) is one of the main cytokines produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts. IL6 is linked with cancer progression and poor prognosis by activating cancer cells and modifying the cancer microenvironment. However, little is known about the expression of IL6 in tumor budding and its association with tumor budding in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of IL6 in tumor budding was examined using a tissue microarray consisting of 36 patient samples of tumor budding in colorectal adenocarcinoma. IL6 mRNA was detected by RNAscope. Patients were stratified into negative and positive IL6 expression groups. Results. IL6 expression was overwhelmingly observed in cancer stroma but was negligible in cancer cells. Tumor budding grade was higher in the IL6-positive group in cancer stroma than in the IL6-negative group ( P = .0161), while the IL6-positive group significantly exhibited the epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype compared with the IL6-negative group in cancer stroma ( P = .0301). There was no significant difference in overall survival between colorectal adenocarcinoma patients in the IL6-positive and -negative groups in cancer stroma. Conclusion. Tumor budding may be affected by IL6 expression, and IL6 expression in cancer stroma at tumor budding may be an important prognostic marker.
Evidence-Based Assessment of Developmental Disorders
Authors: Elkins Anjeli , Petersen Madeline , Nirjar Urveesha , Monticello Nina , Martel Michelle
Published: June 2023

Developmental disorders are diverse, common, and impairing; still, many clinicians lack comprehensive training in their assessment. This review presents thorough guidelines for the evaluation and diagnosis of common communication, sleeping, feeding, and elimination disorders that often onset in the early developmental period and that are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Thorough guidance on the evidence-based assessment of developmental disorders is critical, as they are prevalent, impairing, and commonly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders of childhood. This review is the first of its kind—providing critically needed, step-by-step guidance on the existing evidence-based methodologies and assessment tools available for diagnosis. This review also makes clear the dire need for further development and validation of relevant screening and diagnostic measure and calls for specific attention to the development of specific screening and diagnostic assessment measures for feeding disorders and elimination disorders in particular. Clinicians and researchers alike may find this article useful in guiding diagnostic, treatment, and research procedures.
Ribociclib-induced visual hallucination in a patient with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Kapagan Tanju , Bulut Nilufer , Demirer Serhat , Erdem Gokmen Umut
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors are widely used in combination with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer. Hematological toxicities (e.g. neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, lymphopenia, or febrile neutropenia), infections, decreased appetite, exhaustion, headache, dizziness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia, rash, increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and QT interval prolongation are frequent side effects associated with the use of CDK 4/6 inhibitors. However, to our knowledge, no case of hallucination associated with CDK 4/6 inhibitor use has been described in the English-language literature.

Case report

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer who developed visual hallucinations after receiving ribociclib, a CDK 4/6 inhibitor, and letrozole for 3 days. Cranial imaging and blood tests did not reveal the cause of the hallucinations.

Management and outcome

The visual hallucinations completely resolved within 4 days after the ribociclib treatment was terminated. The patient received only letrozole for 2 weeks, and ribociclib treatment was restarted 2 weeks later. Visual hallucinations recurred on the third day of treatment, and ribociclib treatment was discontinued again. The patient recovered completely from visual hallucinations 4 days after discontinuation. Subsequently, treatment was continued with letrozole and palbociclib, another CDK 4/6 inhibitor. Hallucinations did not recur during follow-up.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hallucinations caused by ribociclib; notably, it shows that symptoms may develop in the early stage of treatment.
Prioritization of vegetable-borne biological hazards in Argentina using a multicriteria decision analysis tool
Authors: Brusa Victoria , Costa Magdalena , Oteiza Juan M. , Galli Lucía , Barril Patricia A. , Leotta Gerardo A. , Signorini Marcelo
Published: June 2023

Vegetables, especially those eaten raw, have been implicated in several foodborne disease outbreaks. Since multiple vegetable matrices and hazards are involved, risk managers have to prioritize those with the greatest impact on public health to design control strategies. In this study, a scientific-based risk ranking of foodborne pathogens transmitted by leafy green vegetables in Argentina was performed. The prioritization process included hazard identification, evaluation criteria identification and definition, criteria weighting, expert survey design and selection and call for experts, hazard score calculation, hazard ranking and variation coefficient, and result analysis. Regression tree analysis determined four risk clusters: high ( Cryptosporidum spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Norovirus), moderate ( Giardia spp., Listeria spp., Shigella sonnei), low (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Ascaris spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Salmonella spp., Rotavirus, Enterovirus) and very low ( Campylobacter jejuni, hepatitis A virus and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis). Diseases caused by Norovirus, Cryptosporidium spp. and T. gondii do not require mandatory notification. Neither viruses nor parasites are included as microbiological criteria for foodstuff. The lack of outbreak studies did not allow to accurately identify vegetables as a source of Norovirus disease. Information on listeriosis cases or outbreaks due to vegetable consumption was not available. Shigella spp. was the main responsible for bacterial diarrhea, but it has not been epidemiologically associated with vegetable consumption. The quality of the available information for all hazards studied was very low and low. The implementation of good practice guidelines throughout the entire vegetable production chain could prevent the presence of the identified hazards. The current study allowed the identification of vacancy areas and could help reinforce the need for performing epidemiological studies on foodborne diseases potentially associated with vegetable consumption in Argentina.
Persons Sentenced to Death and Their Last Statement: Presence and Absence of Techniques of Neutralization
Authors: van Baak Carlijn , Maher Cooper A. , Hayes Brittany E.
Published: June 2023

Extant research suggests that offenders use techniques of neutralization. Using qualitative analysis, we examine the presence or absence of techniques of neutralization among the population of persons sentenced to death for homicide in Texas during their last statement before execution between 1982 and 2022 ( N = 578) and how such techniques overlap with other emergent themes. Results indicate that only a small portion (25%) of those convicted of homicide justify their actions when faced with execution, while often simultaneously expressing gratitude or guilt.
Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Sleep in Australian Adults
Authors: Edmed Shannon L. , Huda M. Mamun , Pattinson Cassandra L. , Rossa Kalina R. , Smith Simon S.
Published: June 2023

Background

Poor sleep can contribute to poorer health and socioemotional outcomes. Sleep health can be influenced by a range of individual and other socioecological factors. Perceptions of neighborhood physical and social characteristics reflect broader social-level factors that may influence sleep, which have not been well studied in the Australian context. This study examined the association between perceived neighborhood characteristics and sleep in a large sample of Australians.

Methods

Data were from 9,792 people aged 16 years or older, from Waves 16 and 17 of the nationally representative Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics (neighborly interaction and support, environmental noise, physical condition, and insecurity) and self-reported sleep duration, sleep disturbance, and napping were examined using multiple logistic regression models.

Results

“Neighborhood interaction and support” and “neighborhood physical condition” were not significantly associated with any sleep outcomes after adjusting for relevant covariates. However, “environmental noise” and “neighborhood insecurity” remained significantly associated with sleep duration and sleep disturbance. None of the neighborhood characteristics were associated with napping. Furthermore, associations did not significantly vary by gender.

Conclusions

This study highlights the potential benefit of public health policies to address noise and safety in neighborhoods to improve sleep.
Pain, function and quality of life are impaired in adults undergoing periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) for hip dysplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: O’Brien Michael JM , Semciw Adam I , Mechlenburg Inger , Tønning Lisa CU , Stewart Chris JW , Kemp Joanne L
Published: June 2023

Background:

Hip dysplasia is a common condition in active adults with hip pain that can lead to joint degeneration. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a common surgical treatment for hip dysplasia. The effect of this surgery on pain, function and quality of life (QOL) has not been systematically analysed.

Purpose:

In adults with hip dysplasia: (1) evaluate differences in pain, function and QOL in those undergoing PAO and healthy controls; (2) evaluate pre- to post-PAO changes in pain, function and QOL; (3) evaluate differences in pain, function and QOL in those with mild versus severe dysplasia, undergoing PAO; and (4) evaluate differences in pain, function and QOL in those having primary PAO versus those with previous hip arthroscopy.

Methods:

A comprehensive, reproducible search strategy was performed on 5 different databases. We included studies that assessed pain, function and QOL in adults undergoing PAO for hip dysplasia, using hip-specific patient reported outcomes measures.

Results:

From 5017 titles and abstracts screened, 62 studies were included. Meta-analysis showed PAO patients had worse outcomes pre- and post-PAO compared to healthy participants. Specifically, pain (standardised mean difference [SMD] 95% confidence interval [CI]): −4.05; −4.78 to −3.32), function (−2.81; −3.89 to −1.74), and QOL (−4.10; −4.43 to −3.77) were significantly poorer preoperatively. Meta-analysis found patients experienced improvements following PAO. Pain improved from pre-surgery to 1-year (standardised paired difference [SPD] 1.35; 95% CI, 1.02–1.67) and 2 years postoperatively (1.35; 1.16–1.54). For function, the activities of daily living scores at 1 year (1.22; 1.09–1.35) and 2 years (1.06; 0.9–1.22) and QOL at 1 year (1.36; 1.22–1.5) and 2 years (1.3; 1.1–1.5) all improved. No difference was found between patients undergoing PAO with mild versus severe dysplasia.

Conclusions:

Before undergoing PAO surgery, adults with hip dysplasia have worse levels of pain, function and QOL compared to healthy participants. These levels improve following PAO, but do not reach the same level as their healthy participants.

Registration:

PROSPERO (CRD42020144748)
Case mix-based changes in health status: A prospective study of elective surgery patients in Vancouver, Canada
Authors: Sutherland Jason M , Crump R Trafford , Karimuddin Ahmer A , Liu Guiping , Wing Kevin , Janjua Arif , Isaac Kathryn
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Hospital activity is often measured using diagnosis-related groups, or case mix groups, but this information does not represent important aspects of patients’ health outcomes. This study reports on case mix-based changes in health status of elective (planned) surgery patients in Vancouver, Canada.

Data and methods

We used a prospectively recruited cohort of consecutive patients scheduled for planned inpatient or outpatient surgery in six acute care hospitals in Vancouver. All participants completed the EQ-5D(5L) preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively, collected from October 2015 to September 2020 and linked with hospital discharge data. The main outcome was whether patients’ self-reported health status improved among different inpatient and outpatient case mix groups.

Results

The study included 1665 participants with completed EQ-5D(5L) preoperatively and postoperatively, representing a 44.8% participation rate across eight inpatient and outpatient surgical case mix categories. All case mix categories were associated with a statistically significant gain in health status ( p < .01 or lower) as measured by the utility value and visual analogue scale score. Foot and ankle surgery patients had the lowest preoperative health status (mean utility value: 0.6103), while bariatric surgery patients reported the largest improvements in health status (mean gain in utility value: 0.1515).

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that it was feasible to compare patient-reported outcomes across case mix categories of surgical patients in a consistent manner across a system of hospitals in one province in Canada. Reporting changes in health status of operative case mix categories identifies characteristics of patients more likely to experience significant gains in health.
Shame and Adult Learners
Authors: Modenos Lisa
Published: June 2023

In this paper, I explore the ways that educators can nurture transformative learning for adult students by engaging emotions, particularly shame. I discuss how shame mitigates adult student experiences, successes, and failures in higher education, and how a relational pedagogy of vulnerability can support adult learners. This approach not only helps adult learners but reifies liberatory education for students and teachers alike, challenging hegemonic norms in higher education that often limit and exclude adult learners.
Pedagogical and strategic blind spots: Critical and Indigenous theories of education in dialogue
Authors: Furrey Gavin Meyer
Published: June 2023

This paper advances a theoretical analysis of the similarities and differences between critical theories of education and Indigenous theories of education along three main themes: epistemological and ontological groundings, the means of education, and political projects. While both schools of theory critique neoliberal and neoconservative tendencies in curriculum and in the political economy of education, and both promote pedagogies favoring freedom from oppression, respect, and sustainability divergences in the two schools of thought are important to grasp for theoretical and strategic reasons. This paper delineates these differences and arrives at the following broad conclusions: (1) while critical theories of education are epistemologically contentious, Indigenous theories of education are ontologically rebellious; (2) while critical scholars emphasize protecting and improving public schools in the name of preserving a public good, they largely ignore how the political economy of education and different political goals encourage Indigenous educators to turn towards options beyond the traditional public school for creating alternative educational spaces; and (3) while critical scholars promote a remaking of the public sphere to increase the participation and opportunities of all individuals within it, Indigenous scholars in education favor a model of schooling capable of raising citizens that are first citizens of their own communities, and then citizens of broader communities; this tension might be best illuminated by a liberal versus a communitarian political philosophy. This paper concludes in arguing that while the two bodies of literature have much in common, a pro-public school discourse, as well as new theories for intercultural pedagogy, should address the divergences evident in these themes.
Designing futures through student engagement: A policy futures perspective
Authors: Hall Tony , Millar Michelle , O’Regan Connie
Published: June 2023

Futures research is gaining increased prominence in educational research and development ( Tesar, 2021 ), and particularly now as we emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has provided a lever for change and an opportunity for innovation in learning, teaching and assessment ( Hall et al., 2020 ; Jandrić et al., 2022 ; Tesar, 2020 ). Designing Futures (DF) is an initiative that aims to transform the student learning experience at university, including through promoting student entrepreneurship and enhanced interaction with enterprise, industry and the innovation sector, supported by a national employability policy agenda, and concomitant, significant government funding. Ireland’s Higher Education Authority has invested €7.57 m in the DF programme at University of Galway for a period of 5 years, 2020–2025. However, introducing such a programme as DF within higher education raises problematic tensions around the purpose of higher education today, as set amidst the current policy futures perspective. Specifically, how do we balance policy imperatives to work more closely with enterprise and industry, while at the same time protecting the essential role of higher education, which must be to provide a formative context for all students to reach their fullest potential as active citizens? This paper helps to position the concept of student engagement, taking DF as an exemplar initiative, and examining the concept as it is construed and deployed in an innovative, futures-oriented educational programme. This review is critical for DF, to ensure we remain fundamentally focused on education, and not just for the world of work, which is of course important, but beyond enterprise and industry: to ensure students’ readiness for the complex and challenging world of today and tomorrow. Furthermore, this constitutes an important contribution to the literature, at a time when the identity of the university and purpose of higher education are the focus of an educationally problematic neoliberal agenda ( Mintz, 2021 ).
Empowering Youth Vaccine Ambassadors to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination in Local Communities: A 7-Step Approach
Authors: Minkah Princilla A. , Borg Amy , Ryan Grace W. , Goulding Melissa , Perrone Domenica , Castiel Matilde , Rosal Milagros C. , Lemon Stephenie C.
Published: June 2023

Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for youth since 2021, vaccine hesitancy has resulted in suboptimal uptake. Public health campaigns that empower local youth ambassadors as trusted messengers who share their personal narratives related to getting vaccinated hold promise for promoting COVID-19 vaccination. We used a seven-step approach to develop, implement, and evaluate a youth-led ambassador campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake in communities experiencing COVID-19 disparities in Worcester, MA. The seven steps included (1) engaging with key partners, (2) determining a community of focus, (3) identifying trusted sources, (4) determining campaign components, (5) training the vaccine ambassadors, (6) disseminating the campaign, and (7) evaluating the campaign. We trained nine youth as vaccine ambassadors. Ambassadors were guided through self-reflection of motivations for COVID-19 vaccination and the resulting personal narratives became the campaign messaging. English/Spanish vaccine messages developed by youth ambassadors were disseminated through social media platforms ( n = 3), radio ( n = 2), local TV ( n = 2), flyers ( n = 2,086), posters ( n = 386), billboards ( n = 10), and local bus ads ( n = 40). Qualitative youth feedback indicate participation in the campaign was a positive and empowering experience which reinforces the importance of engaging youth in public health messaging. Youth empowerment through personal narratives (and storytelling) holds promise for future public health campaigns.
Temporal Trends and Contemporary Regional Variation in Management of Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy
Authors: Penton Ashley , Kelly Robert , Le Linda , Blecha Matthew
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to investigate regional variation and temporal trends in seven quality metrics amongst CEA patients: discharge on antiplatelet after CEA; discharge on statin after CEA; protamine administration during CEA; patch placement at conventional CEA site; continued statin usage at the time of most recent follow-up; continued antiplatelet usage at the time of most recent follow-up; and smoking cessation at the time of long term follow up.

Methods

There are 19 de-identified regions within the VQI database in the United States. Patients were placed into one of three temporal eras based on the time of their CEA: 2003-2008; 2009-2015; and 2016-2022. We first investigated temporal trends across the seven quality metrics for all regions combined on a national basis. The percentage of patients in each time era with the presence/absence of each metric was identified. Chi-squared testing was performed to confirm statistical significance of the differences across eras. Next, analysis was performed within each region and within each time metric. We separated out the 2016-2022 patients within each region to serve as the status of each metric application in the most modern era. We then compared the frequency of metric non-adherence in each region utilizing Chi-squared testing.

Results

There was statistically significant improvement in achievement of all seven metrics between the initial 2003-2008 era and the modern 2016-2022 era. The most marked change in practice pattern was noted for lack of protamine usage at surgery (decreased from 48.7% to 25.9%), discharge home postoperatively without statin (decreased from 50.6% to 15.3%), and lack of statin usage confirmed at time of most recent long term follow up (decreased from 24% to 8.9%). Significant regional variation exists across all metrics ( P < .01 for all). Lack of patch placement at the time of conventional endarterectomy ranges from 1.9% to 17.8% across regions in the modern era. Lack of protamine utilization ranges from 10.8% to 49.7%. Lack of antiplatelet and statin at the time of discharge varies from 5.5% to 8.2% and 4.8% to 14.4% respectively. Adherence to the various measures at the time of most recent follow up are more tightly aligned across regions with ranges of: 5.3% to 7.5% for lack of antiplatelet usage; 6.6% to 11.7% lack of statin utilization; and 13.3 to 15.4% for persistent smoking.

Conclusions

Prior studies and societal initiatives on CEA documenting the beneficial effects of patch angioplasty, protamine use at surgery, smoking cessation, antiplatelet utilization and statin compliance have positively impacted adherence to these measures over time. In the modern 2016-2022 era the widest regional variation is noted in patch placement, protamine utilization and discharge medications allowing individual geographic areas to identify areas for potential improvement via internal VQI administrative feedback.
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Alters Auditory Steady-State Oscillatory Rhythms and Their Cross-Frequency Couplings
Authors: de la Salle Sara , Choueiry Joëlle , Payumo Mark , Devlin Matt , Noel Chelsea , Abozmal Ali , Hyde Molly , Baysarowich Renée , Duncan Brittany , Knott Verner
Published: June 2023

Auditory cortical plasticity deficits in schizophrenia are evidenced with electroencephalographic (EEG)-derived biomarkers, including the 40-Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR). Aiming to understand the underlying oscillatory mechanisms contributing to the 40-Hz ASSR, we examined its response to transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied bilaterally to the temporal lobe of 23 healthy participants. Although not responding to gamma tACS, the 40-Hz ASSR was modulated by theta tACS (vs sham tACS), with reductions in gamma power and phase locking being accompanied by increases in theta-gamma phase–amplitude cross-frequency coupling. Results reveal that oscillatory changes induced by frequency-tuned tACS may be one approach for targeting and modulating auditory plasticity in normal and diseased brains.