bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Normative power in the planetary organic crisis
Authors: Manners Ian
Published: April 2024

The lead intervention article argues that the new reality of the planetary organic crisis awaits a normative critical social theory of planetary politics, a means of understanding the sharing of relationships within International Relations and an agenda for action in concert found in the normative power approach. The article and subsequent 20th anniversary special issue provide an opportunity to reflect and develop the ideas of the original Journal of Common Market Studies ‘normative power’ article through a prospective on the use of normative power in addressing the planetary organic crisis. The special issue sets out a prospective on theorising normative power in the rapidly shifting context of 21st-century planetary organic crisis involving interacting and deepening structural crises of economic inequality, social injustice, ecological unsustainability, ontological insecurity and political irresilience – as demonstrated by the global financial crisis, COVID-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine. It begins by setting out the normative power approach to planetary organic crisis, where 21st-century politics are characterised by truly planetary relations of causality that can only be understood and addressed holistically. In the wider context of climate emergency, food and water insecurity and their socio-economic and political consequences, a planetary political approach to understanding the European Union is an essential starting point.
The Heart and Leadership of The Donna Rockwell
Authors: Hoffman Louis
Published: April 2024

Donna Rockwell was an important scholar, educator, practitioner, and leader in humanistic psychology who died in October 2023. Her contributions will continue to live on many ways, including through her publications, but particularly through the personal impact that she had on people. This article contains reflections of the person of Donna Rockwell, her contributions, and her legacy.
Leveling control of multi-cylinder hydraulic press based on multi-agent reinforcement learning
Authors: Jia Chao , Liu Peng
Published: April 2024

In this paper, a multi-agent–based reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm is proposed to solve the leveling control problem of a multi-cylinder hydraulic press with coupling phenomena. This algorithm is a model-free control algorithm, which can avoid the modeling difficulties and low efficiency caused by the complexity of the model. The control algorithm of the hydraulic press adopts Multi-Agent Soft Actor–Critic (MASAC). The concept of multi-agent is introduced to control each coupling input separately. The distributed updating method is used to realize accurate and stable control of the hydraulic press. At the same time, a reward function of the piecewise function type is proposed in this paper. Compared with common algorithms such as the quadratic reward function, this algorithm has a faster and more stable convergence effect in the whole process. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm has better convergence speed and leveling accuracy than the traditional single-agent algorithm.
Adaptive fuzzy control for high-order nonlinear systems with asymmetric time-varying full-state constraints and dead-zone input
Authors: Zhang Beiyuan , Jiang Yan
Published: April 2024

The issue of adaptive fuzzy control for a category of high-order uncertain nonlinear systems is discussed in this paper. The time-varying full-state constraints are asymmetric, and the input is subjected to dead-zone. The asymmetric time-varying high-order barrier Lyapunov functions (BLFs) are constructed to depict the constraints characteristic and a controller design strategy is proposed. A dead-zone compensation mechanism is used to eliminate the influence of dead-zone input. Based on adding a power integrator technique and the adaptive control method, an adaptive state feedback controller is designed. As a consequence, all the constraints are not breached and the tracking error converges into a prescribed small region around the origin. Finally, a numerical example and a practical example are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
An improved state space model predictive control for linear systems with input disturbance
Authors: Zhang Jian , Xu Ying , Li Yiran
Published: April 2024

This paper presents an improved model predictive control (MPC) algorithm for linear systems with input disturbance. Based on the developed extended non-minimum state space input disturbance (ENMSS-ID) model, the input disturbance model structure is incorporated into the MPC framework and the objective function of the MPC optimization problem is improved to weigh the system output increments. This enables the algorithm simultaneously to achieve good input disturbance rejection performance for systems with known input disturbances and reduce the controllers’ sensitivity to model mismatch. An existing optimal estimation method is introduced to estimate the input disturbance, together with the proposed strategy to improve estimation convergence. Offset-free property is also proven to show the steady-state performance of the designed control scheme. Finally, two benchmark plants are studied to illustrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed algorithm.
Development and Validation of a Nomogram Model to Predict Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Huang Jingjing , Wang Zhujian , Shi Fang , Wu Haitao
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Polysomnography was class I test for who was suspected of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which would cost lots of time and money. This study aimed to develop a nomogram model mainly based on oxygen and blood routine indicators to predict OSA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 685 patients with suspected OSA at our hospital. Multivariate analysis was used to construct a nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was assessed using calibration and discrimination. Results: The multivariate analysis identified age, gender, body mass index, mean pulse oxygen saturation, percent nighttime with oxygen saturation less than 90%, red blood cell, hematocrit, and red blood cell distribution width SD as significant factors ( P < .05). A nomogram was created for the prediction of OSA using these clinical parameters and was internally validated using a bootstrapping method. Our nomogram model showed good discrimination and calibration in terms of predicting OSA, and had a C-index of 0.935 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.917-0.954] according to the internal validation. Discrimination and calibration in the validation group were also good (C-index, 0.957; 95% CI, 0.930-0.984). Conclusion: The newly developed nomogram can effectively help physicians make better clinical decisions, which may save a lot of time and costs.
Prediction of trends in unfavorable prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke according to low left ventricular ejection fraction levels
Authors: Yang Dehao , Hu Jingyu , Zhang Minyue , Chen Yiqun , Xie Haobo , Jin Yining , Jiang Zerui , Huang Jiaqi , Li Kun , Huang Jiexi , Wang Yanchu , Weng Yiyun , Chen Guangyong
Published: April 2024

As few studies have reported the impact of lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, we aimed to explore this through a retrospective cohort study and a meta-analysis. A total of 283 AIS patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between 2016 and 2019 were enrolled and divided into three groups based on LVEF tertiles. The logistic regression model estimated the association between LVEF and the three-month AIS prognosis. After adjusting for confounding factors, patients in tertile 3 exhibited an increased risk of poor functional outcome and mortality [odds ratio (OR), 2.656 (95% CI: 1.443–4.889); OR, 7.586 (95% CI: 2.102–27.375)]. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library was performed. Our meta-analysis revealed that LVEF < 40% was significantly associated with poor functional outcome [OR 1.94 (95% CI: 1.08–3.50)], mortality [OR 3.69 (95% CI: 1.22–11.11)], as well as LVEF < 55% [OR 1.68 (95% CI: 1.22–2.32); 2.27 (95% CI: 1.30–3.96)], respectively. A decreased LVEF could predict an inferior prognosis for AIS; therefore, it could aid in clinical decision-making in this patient population.
Use of noninvasive brain stimulation and neurorehabilitation devices to enhance poststroke recovery: review of the current evidence and pitfalls
Authors: Wang Chien-Chih , Hu Tsung-Ming , Lin Yung-Jie , Chen Chien-Lung , Hsu Yu-Chuan , Kao Chung-Lan
Published: April 2024

Neurorehabilitation devices and technologies are crucial for enhancing stroke recovery. These include noninvasive brain stimulation devices that provide repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct current stimulation, which can remodulate an injured brain. Technologies such as robotics, virtual reality, and telerehabilitation are suitable add-ons or complements to physical therapy. However, the appropriate application of these devices and technologies, which target specific deficits and stages, for stroke therapy must be clarified. Accordingly, a literature review was conducted to evaluate the theoretical and practical evidence on the use of neurorehabilitation devices and technologies for stroke therapy. This narrative review provides a practical guide for the use of neurorehabilitation devices and describes the implications of use and potential integration of these devices into healthcare.
Sildenafil improves hemodynamic changes caused by acute pulmonary embolism by inhibiting Rho kinase activity
Authors: Wang Hui , Li Wei , Yan Yan , Shi Meng-Jie , Hou Feng , Zhang Rui-Peng
Published: April 2024

Objective

This study examined the effects of sildenafil on acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using a rat model.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham, pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and sildenafil groups. The sham and PTE groups received normal saline once daily via gavage for 14 consecutive days, whereas the sildenafil group received sildenafil (0.5 mg/kg/day) once daily via gavage for 14 consecutive days. Autologous emboli were prepared from blood samples collected from the left femoral artery of rats in each group on day 13, and autologous emboli were injected into the jugular vein cannula of rats in the PTE and sildenafil groups on day 14. Sham-treated rats received the same volume of saline. Right systolic ventricular pressure (RVSP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) were used to assess pulmonary embolism, and western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect relevant markers.

Results

The Rho kinase signaling pathway was significantly activated in rats with APE, and sildenafil significantly inhibited this activation.

Conclusions

Sildenafil protected against APE through inhibiting Rho kinase activity, thereby reducing pulmonary vasoconstriction and decreasing elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. These findings might provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
Temporomandibular disorders among Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: a narrative review
Authors: Oelerich Ole , Daume Linda , Yekkalam Negin , Hanisch Marcel , Menne Max C.
Published: April 2024

This narrative review aims to demonstrate and summarize the complex relationship between Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) by reviewing the results of observational studies and case reports. EDS are a set of hereditary connective tissue disorders, where generalized joint hypermobility (GJH), especially in the hypermobile subtype (hEDS), is a key symptom. Mutations have been identified in genes that impact the production or assembly of collagen for all subtypes except hEDS. While the correlation between GJH and TMD has been analysed in various studies, fewer studies have examined TMD in patients with EDS, with most showing an increased prevalence of TMD. In case–control studies, an elevated prevalence of myalgia, arthralgia and disc-related disorders was found in individuals with EDS. Various therapeutic interventions have been reported within the literature in the form of case reports and observational studies, but there are no long-term clinical trials with results on the efficacy of different therapeutic approaches to date. This review demonstrates the high prevalence of different TMDs in different subtypes of EDS, but also shows that little is known about the success of treatment thus far. Further clinical research is necessary to provide adequate guidance on targeted treatment.
Differences Between Traumatic and Degenerative Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mundal Kristine , Geeslin Andrew G. , Solheim Eirik , Inderhaug Eivind
Published: April 2024

Background:

Intact meniscus roots are a prerequisite for normal meniscal function, including even distribution of compressive forces across the knee joint. An injury to the root disrupts the hoop strength of the meniscus and may lead to its extrusion and the development of osteoarthritis. A medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) is often thought to have a primary degenerative pathogenesis. However, there is mention of some cases of MMPRTs where the patients have a solely traumatic injury to a previously healthy meniscus.

Purpose:

To describe a subpopulation of patients with traumatic MMPRT.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 5.

Methods:

The Web of Science database ( www.webofscience.com ) was queried using the Medical Subject Headings term “medial root tear.” Articles were reviewed, and those evaluated for MMPRTs in a degenerative meniscus were excluded. A total of 25 articles describing cases of acute traumatic causes were included in this study. For these articles, the patient characteristics, injury mechanisms, and concomitant injuries evaluated were recorded and pooled.

Results:

The search revealed 660 articles, and 25 were selected for inclusion. A total of 113 patients with a traumatic MMPRT were identified and included in this review. The study population had a mean age of 27.1 years and a high share of men (64%). Also, this review displays how most patients with traumatic MMPRTs also suffer concomitant injuries (68%).

Conclusion:

The findings in this review support our hypothesis that there is a unique subgroup with acute traumatic MMPRTs that have unique patient characteristics, injury mechanisms, and combined injuries, compared with previously published reviews on MMPRTs.
Return to Sports Rates in Pediatric Patients After Bilateral Versus Unilateral Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Klueh Michael P. , Swany Lauren M. , Troost Jonathan P. , Crawford Eileen A.
Published: April 2024

Background:

Patellofemoral instability commonly occurs during sports activities. The return to sports (RTS) rate for pediatric patients after bilateral medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) is unknown.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate RTS outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing bilateral MPFLR. It was hypothesized that (1) fewer pediatric patients would RTS after bilateral MPFLR compared with unilateral MPFLR and that (2) for those in the bilateral cohort who were able to RTS, fewer patients would attain the same level of play as or higher level than the preinjury level.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

We prospectively collected RTS data on retrospectively identified matched cohorts of patients aged ≤18 years who underwent unilateral and bilateral MPFLR. We matched each participant with bilateral MPFLR at a 1 to 2 ratio with a participant with unilateral MPFLR by concomitant procedure, age, and sex. Postoperative complications and preoperative imaging measurements were collected from medical records. Patient-reported outcomes were obtained using a current Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score collected at the time of primary outcome data.

Results:

We matched 16 participants (mean age, 14 years) who underwent bilateral MPFLR to 32 participants (mean age, 14.3 years) in a corresponding unilateral MPFLR cohort. We found a significant decrease in RTS rates for pediatric patients after bilateral MPFLR when compared with unilateral MPFLR (69% vs 94%; P = .03). Among those who returned to sports, there was no difference in the level of play achieved. For participants who did not RTS or returned at a lower level of play after bilateral MPFLR, 57% cited fear of reinjury as the primary reason. There were no differences in postoperative complications or current Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores between cohorts. The bilateral cohort had a significantly higher Caton-Deschamps index compared with the unilateral cohort, although the absolute difference was small (1.3 vs 1.2; P = .005).

Conclusion:

We found that pediatric patients have a lower RTS rate after bilateral MPFLR when compared with a matched unilateral MPFLR cohort. No differences in the level of play were achieved among those who returned to sports. Fear of reinjury was a commonly cited reason for not returning to sports.
Turkish validation of the chronic orchialgia symptom index and its association with the visual analog scale
Authors: Demirci Aykut , Hızlı Fatih , Başar Halil
Published: April 2024

Objective:

To conduct a translation and validation study of the Chronic Orchialgia Symptom Index (COSI), which has 12 questions in three domains pain (P), sexual symptoms (SS), and quality of life (QoL), in the Turkish language.

Material and methods:

The study included a total of 175 patients diagnosed with chronic scrotal content pain (CSCP) between January 2023 and January 2024. In addition to demographic data, the scores obtained on the COSI questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were recorded. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach alpha coefficients. Reliability was evaluated using the test-retest correlation method.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 37.2 ± 14.1 years and the median (IQR) duration of pain was 5.5 (9) months. The median total COSI score was determined as 13 (13) and the median subscores were 7 (7) for P, 1 (2) for SS, and 5 (6) for QoL. The test-retest correlation coefficient for each item was determined to be higher than r = 0.80 ( p < 0.001). The Cronbach alpha values for the subscores were 0.80 for P, 0.71 for SS, and 0.80 for QoL. There was determined to be a statistically significant positive correlation between the VAS score and the COSI P, SS, QoL, and total scores ( r: 0.63, p < 0.001; r = 0.32, p < 0.001; r = 0.56, p < 0.001; r = 0.59, p < 0.001, respectively). The optimal cutoff point of the COSI total score was determined to be 16.5 points (AUC:0.77, p < 0.001) for the determination of patients experiencing severe pain (⩾ 7.5) according to the VAS score.

Conclusion:

The Turkish version of the COSI questionnaire is a valid, reliable, and repeatable questionnaire that can be used to evaluate the effects of symptom severity in patients with CSCP.
AMBER Alert: An Ironic Antidote to “Missing White Girl Syndrome”?
Authors: Griffin Timothy , Kadleck Colleen , Houk Catie
Published: April 2024

“Missing White Girl Syndrome” (MWGS) has been coined in critique of news media coverage favoritism of victims fitting that description. The AMBER Alert child recovery system was in fact inspired by the abduction and murder of a missing white girl, and some have argued its issuance decisions reflect MWGS. We examine this question using secondary data, including the annual AMBER Alert reports provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children (NISMART), and the National Crime Information Center (NCIS). We compared the demographics of victims from official AMBER Alert data (NCMEC) with cross-comparable demographics from the two official missing persons data sources to test for potential main-effect bias favoring whites or girls. A fourth dataset derived from media accounts of AMBER Alerts is used to test for any potential interaction effect of issuance preference for white girls. Overwhelmingly the findings suggest AMBER Alert issuance decisions do not reflect MWGS. Thus, we argue the system has the potential to function as an ironic “antidote” to MWGS by virtue of the identities of the children for whom it is routinely deployed. However, we qualify by acknowledging limitations with available data, and that the “black box” of AMBER Alert issuance decisions remains unstudied, leaving open the question of race and/or gender bias occurring at that point. Policy discourse and future research implications are discussed.
Pyrolysis and combustion of industrial hemp, coal and their blends for thermal analysis by thermogravimetric analysis/Fourier transform infrared spectrometer
Authors: Merdun Hasan , Yıldırım Mert
Published: April 2024

In this study, the thermal behaviours of Cannabis sativa (CS), coal and their five different blends at a heating rate (β) of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50°C min−1; the synergistic effects between CS and coal; and the distribution of gases formed during pyrolysis and combustion were investigated by using the thermogravimetric analysis/Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TGA/FTIR) integrated system. The TG and DTG curves showed that the thermal decomposition of pyrolysis and combustion of all feedstocks at all β values had three main decomposition stages. The synergistic effect was observed for DTGmax, mass loss (ML), or final residue (FR) at least once at a given β of each blend; and the synergy was more effective for DTGmax and ML in pyrolysis than in combustion, whereas the opposite was true for FR. The lowest emissions of CO2, CH4, NO x and SO2 except CO during pyrolysis occurred at the blend of 0% CS + 100% Coal. However, the highest emissions of CO, CH4, NO x and SO2 except CO2 during combustion were observed at the blend of 80% CS + 20% Coal. The emissions of CO, CO2, NO x and SO2 from all samples during pyrolysis were lower than that of combustion, indicating that pyrolysis can be preferred due to its lower emission to the environment. Different structural properties of CS, coal and their blends caused different thermal behaviours, synergistic effects and gas products during pyrolysis and combustion by TGA/FTIR, suggesting detailed further investigation for upper-scale pyrolysis and combustion applications.
Overview of waste bank application in Indonesian regencies
Authors: Budiyarto Arie , Clarke Beverley , Ross Kirstin
Published: April 2024

Managing municipal solid waste (MSW) is a critical for Indonesia, as the country produces a substantial amount of waste annually. However, Indonesia’s recycling rate remains limited, less than 25% of its waste, with the rest ending up in landfills. To address this, waste banks have emerged as a community-based solution to enhance MSW management through recycling. Although waste banks currently contribute only 7% to recyclable waste management, they hold promising potential, especially considering their close ties to households, the primary waste producers in Indonesia. Unfortunately, documentation of waste bank successes in Indonesian regencies is scarce, as most success stories are limited to major cities. This article conducts a literature review on waste bank implementations across various regencies, evaluating their accomplishments, obstacles and potential contributions to local MSW management. The review draws upon scholarly publications and various government reports, regulations and websites dedicated to updates on waste bank activities. Waste banks play a crucial role in enhancing environmental quality by promoting proper waste disposal and reducing landfill waste. They create economic opportunities, increasing income for both customers and administrators. Additional services, such as banking facilities encompassing savings, loans, daily necessities and bill payments, amplify their significance. To fully harness the potential of waste banks, support is imperative. Establishing adequate infrastructure and providing capacity-building for administrators are essential. Although regulatory frameworks offer opportunities, the impact of regency-level regulations on waste bank growth varies and necessitates further examination. Support mechanisms should be tailored to align with local characteristics and requirements.
Les Youtubeuses : des actrices de la promotion du manger sain ? Une approche par les théories des pratiques
Authors: David Maxime , Dyen Margot , Ezan Pascale
Published: April 2024

Résumé

Les influenceurs qui s’expriment sur le manger sain jouissent d’une forte popularité. Cette recherche enrichit la compréhension de la mise en scène du quotidien à travers les vlog en décryptant les pratiques alimentaires mises en scène par les Youtubeuses, et en caractérisant les éléments constitutifs de ces pratiques. La recherche révèle que ces pratiques reposent sur des aliments-totems, des significations faisant écho aux préoccupations des followers (alimentation végétale, optimisation du temps), et des compétences au service de la simplicité et de l’efficacité. La proximité relationnelle et l’exemplarité (notamment physique) sont centrales dans les vidéos. Les résultats de l’article permettent de recommander comment les pouvoirs publics pourraient s’emparer de ces canons de la communication digitale, que l’on caractérise ici de communauté de pratiques.
Commentaire sur « Look up ! Cinq propositions de recherche pour repenser le marketing dans une société post-croissance » : contribution du Discours lacanien à un marketing plus responsable
Authors: Garnier Marion , Gotteland David
Published: April 2024

Résumé

Dans cet article, nous commentons la réflexion de Rémy et al. sur le marketing dans une société « post-croissance », où les partenaires de l’échange englobent l’ensemble des parties prenantes avec lesquelles l’organisation est en interaction, y compris son environnement naturel. Nous partageons l’idée de Rémy et al. que le marketing doit évoluer de manière radicale. Nous prolongeons leur point de vue en adoptant une perspective lacanienne. Selon Lacan, le discours est ce qui fait « lien social ». Nous proposons alors, à partir de la théorie lacanienne du discours, d’interroger ce que serait le discours d’un marketing responsable dans une société post-croissance et donc post-jouissance.
Intravenous Antibiotics in the Management of H. pylori Infection: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chau Yau-Lam Alex , Milic Tessa , Perrott Jerrold
Published: April 2024

Background: Helicobacter pylori is implicated in the development of gastritis, ulcers, and various gastric cancers, representing significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare spending. Patients with H. pylori infection have traditionally been treated with oral antibiotics, however, oral therapy is not feasible in all clinical situations. We examined the available evidence supporting the use of intravenous (IV) antibiotics in H. pylori. Methods: This systematic review was carried out by reviewing multiple electronic databases: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, Clinicaltrials.org, and the World Health Organization (WHO) database of clinical trials. Articles published from database inception until February 12, 2023 that discussed the use of IV antibiotics in H. pylori management were included. Results: The search strategy identified 978 studies, with 11 meeting the inclusion criteria. The results demonstrate that there is a lack of robust trials examining the use of IV antibiotics in H. pylori management. Many trials demonstrated that IV antibiotics were safe and efficacious but the results are limited by inconsistencies in the year and geographic location trials were conducted, the IV and oral antibiotic regimens, and the duration of therapy. Conclusions: IV antibiotics appear to be a feasible therapeutic alternative in the management of H. pylori and can be considered, especially in patient populations where oral therapy is contraindicated.
Regulating local government debt in China: Intended and unintended consequences
Authors: You Yu
Published: April 2024

This study integrates institutional and empirical analyses to investigate the intricate policies that regulate local government debt in China. It finds that, within a remarkably short period, China has skilfully incorporated local government debt into the local budget management system, thereby transforming it from a mere transaction between local governments and credit agencies to an intergovernmental fiscal relations framework. The study also establishes that the pivotal debt-regulating policies are more geared towards prioritizing the cost of debt over its scale. Official documents, statistical data, and in-depth interviews provide evidence to support these findings. Drawing on an analysis of county-level panel data in Sichuan Province, this study identifies two main effects of these policies. Primarily, the cost of local general debt may trigger the notorious soft budget constraint, thereby incentivizing county-level governments to depend more heavily on superior transfer payments. Additionally, the fiscal consolidation policy, which focuses on the cost of local special debt, may lower the debt ratio. However, it also has the unintended consequence of bolstering the local government’s reliance on land finance.
Design, analysis, and ground deployment test of space deployable mast based on double-layer deployable unit
Authors: Zhou Yu , Han Xinyang , Yu Chengyi , Ma Hailong , Wan Feng , Zhao Xianchao , Gao Feng , Chen Weixing
Published: April 2024

The space deployable mast has been successfully applied to space equipment such as solar sails and space telescopes. At present, the deployable units of the space deployable mast mostly adopt the configurations of deployable units of FAST (Folding Articulated Square Truss), HIMAT, and ADAM (Able Deployable Articulated Mast). The configuration of the deployable unit is relatively few. Besides, there is a lack of ground micro-gravity environment simulation test devices for space deployable masts. This paper proposes the space deployable mast based on the double-layer deployable unit. Firstly, the configuration design method of the double-layer deployable unit based on the screw theory has been carried out. Three double-layer hybrid mechanisms serving as the basic units of the deployable mast have been obtained. Then, the kinematic and dynamic models of deployment of the space deployable mast have been established. And the deployment simulation based on MATLAB and Simscape has been performed. Furthermore, modal and static simulations have been performed to obtain the fundamental frequencies and maximum deformation displacements of the deployable masts consisting of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 units with and without cables. Finally, the ground test device has been developed to carry out the ground deployment test of the space deployable mast in the ground micro-gravity environment. It has been found that the ground test device could achieve the micro-gravity simulation level of 90.5%.
“I hardly see the husband”: Noticing the absence of men in paid domestic labour research
Authors: Murray Amy Jo , Durrheim Kevin
Published: April 2024

Feminist scholars have focused on paid domestic labour as a site of gendered inequalities structured by race, gender, class, and citizenship. However, men are largely absent from feminist intersectional understandings of everyday interactions within paid domestic labour. This paper draws on an interview study of South African domestic workers focusing on their talk about interactions with male employers. The analysis demonstrates that talk about routines of the physical and symbolic absence of men can become normalised within domestic labour discourse. This is a narrative that is only brought to light once men's (lack of) presence is made a topic. The conspicuous absence of analyses of this kind within paid domestic labour studies points to unfinished and troubling feminist projects.
The Implementation of Tax Indirect Auditing Methods in Greek Economy Against Tax Evasion
Authors: Stasinopoulos Dionysios , Kastanioti Catherine
Published: April 2024

This article aims to review and analyse the indirect auditing methods that were applied in Greece for the first time at the beginning of 2012 as a tax auditing tool, for the more comprehensive identification of taxable items. By employing the use of indirect auditing methods (mark-up method, net worth method, source and application of funds method, unit & volume method and bank deposits and cash expenditure method) an attempt is made to determine withheld taxable items, other than those measured by the tax forms and the official accounting books and taxpayers’ tax data, by utilizing the information from various sources and bodies.

At the same time, a survey was carried out, on a randomly selected sample of 517 respondents, for analysing the awareness of Greek taxpayers regarding the use of indirect auditing methods as well as the general population’s awareness of their basic tax obligations. A total of 96.13% of the population were not aware of indirect audit methods while 79.88% expressed the belief that being aware of them can potentially increase citizens’ tax compliance. The survey highlighted that regarding indirect tax audit methods the level of knowledge of the general population is very low, necessitating the organized and systematic promotion of these new methods by the Tax Authority, which can lead to the disclosure of withheld (shadow) taxable items and thus achieve greater tax compliance in the long term.
Growth of Cess and Surcharges in India: With Special Reference to Education Cess of Union Government and Its Utilisation
Authors: Motkuri Venkatanarayana , Revathi E.
Published: April 2024

This article presents the analysis of trends and contribution in education budget of education cess levied by the union government and discusses its implications for state governments. It is generally contested that vertical imbalance will continue as the union government is making use of certain constitutional provisions such as levying cesses and surcharges and mobilising resources at its disposal, which does not have constitutional mandatory/obligation sharing with the states. Evidence presented in the article indicates such a trend in India. Education cess is one such instrument that the union government is leveraging. While the union government expenditure on education is one-fourth of the total public expenditure on education (states–centre) in India, half of the union government’s Ministry of Education expenditure is raised through education cess.
Differentiation Syndrome Presenting as Acute Kidney Injury in a Patient of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia on All-trans Retinoic Acid and Arsenic Trioxide Regimen: A Case Report
Authors: Dutta Madhurima , Das Tonmoy , Bora Mitul , Medhi Pranab , Choudhury Dhruvajyoti , Kakoti Sweety , Hazarika Tanurekha , Goswami Himanish , Bordoloi Zenila , Choudhury Sangeeta
Published: April 2024

Introduction:

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), classified as Subtype M3 of acute myeloid leukemia, is known for its relatively favorable prognosis, primarily due to the high effectiveness of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in treating the maturation block. However, it is essential to be aware of potential complications such as ATRA syndrome, which can affect 5%–25% of patients and manifest with symptoms such as fever, interstitial pulmonary infiltration, pleural/pericardial effusion, and acute renal failure.

Methods:

We present the case of a 47-year-old female with a history of hypertension, who experienced rash, fever, and reduced urine output during the induction phase with ATRA. Her serum creatinine levels exhibited a rapid increase from 2.63 mg/dL on October 07, 2022, to 7 mg/dL on October 18, 2022, despite having normal-sized kidneys and normal corticomedullary differentiation. A renal biopsy conducted on October 20, 2022, revealed features consistent with active tubulointerstitial nephritis, with direct immunofluorescence showing no significant glomerular immune deposits. A total of 17 hemodialysis sessions were performed.

Results:

A subsequent bone marrow examination conducted on October 26, 2022, demonstrated a hypercellular aspirate with normal morphology. However, due to the persistence of renal failure, a repeat biopsy was performed, revealing severe acute tubular injury. Pulse steroids were initiated, and ATRA was discontinued, resulting in an improvement in renal function.

Conclusion:

This case highlights an instance of acute, early, and severe differentiation syndrome (DS) occurring after induction therapy in a patient with APL. The DS in this case was particularly severe, leading to renal failure necessitating hemodialysis. The prompt initiation of pulse steroids and discontinuation of ATRA proved to be effective in managing this complication. Clinicians should remain vigilant for DS and its potential complications, including acute kidney injury and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, when treating patients with APL.
Beyond Birth Work: Addressing Social Determinants of Health With Community Perinatal Support Doulas
Authors: Rice Heather , Collins Cyleste , Cherney Emily
Published: April 2024

Adverse maternal and infant health outcomes among African Americans are increasingly recognized as indicators of a critical public health crisis in the United States. Research has found that stress is related to structural racism and the social determinants of health (SDOH) that cause avoidable, unfair inequities in resources, education, power, and opportunities across ethnic groups. This paper describes the SDOH needs and experiences of pregnant Black women from the perspective of doulas and Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC) clients. The design was a qualitative description, using data collected over time (2017–2018, 2020–2021, and 2023). This study took place in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio and the sample included 58 clients, 26 doulas, and 2 resource intake specialist assistants (RISAs). Qualitative data included individual client interviews, three doula focus groups, and one interview with two BBC RISAs. Three coders used content analysis to deductively identify SDOHs and calculate the number of interviews that contained information about specific SDOHs. Although the sample reported issues with all SDOH, particular ones caused a cascade of SDOH effects. Transportation issues, for example, impeded women from being able to make it to work, doctor’s appointments, and to purchase essential baby items (e.g., food, infant supplies). An inability to work—whether because of transportation challenges or pregnancy-related health complications—led to unstable housing and an inability to deal with transportation challenges. Many clients mentioned that housing was a major issue, with many clients experiencing housing instability. Implications include ensuring SDOH information is collected from a trusted source who can advocate and ensure access to a wide range of local resources, ensuring policies protect pregnant women from experiencing a cascade of SDOH that may contribute to continuing health disparate infant and maternal health outcomes in African American women.
The Perceived Power and Powerlessness in School Health Nurses’ Mental Health Promotion Practices: A Synthesis of Qualitative Studies
Authors: Flodin Nina , Lejtzen Stina , Gunnarsdóttir Hrafnhildur
Published: April 2024

Schools are important arenas for mental health promotion initiatives. School nurses have the opportunity and ability to support and promote students’ mental health, but their role and practices have been perceived as somewhat unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore school nurses’ mental health promotion practices. A total of 12 scientific studies were synthesized through a meta-ethnographic approach. The overarching results of the synthesis show that school nurses’ mental health promotion practices are largely about balancing and combining the students’ needs with different professional perspectives, competencies, and conditions. The school nurses perceived that they had the power to influence their practices through a variety of ways, highlighting the importance of letting the students’ needs guide the practices. Yet, at the same time they described feelings of powerlessness because of the different organizational structures that were hindering their mental health promotion practices.
Social Support Is Protective Against the Effects of Discrimination on Parental Mental Health Outcomes
Authors: Alvarez Dallis , Adynski Harry , Harris Rebeca , Zou Baiming , Taylor Jacquelyn Y. , Santos Hudson P.
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:

Discrimination, or unfair treatment based on individual characteristics such as gender, race, skin color, and or sexual orientation, is a pervasive social stressor that perpetuates health disparities by limiting social and economic opportunity and is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes.

AIMS:

The purpose of the present study is to (1) examine the association between maternal experiences of discrimination and paternal experiences of discrimination; (2) explore how discrimination relates to parental (maternal and paternal) stress and depressive symptoms; and (3) examine whether social support exerts protective effects.

METHODS:

The sample was 2,510 mothers and 1,249 fathers from the Child Community Health Network study. Linear regression models were conducted to explore associations between maternal and paternal discrimination. In addition, mediation analyses were conducted to explore if social support functioned as a mediator between discrimination on parental stress and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS:

Most mothers (40.3%) and fathers (50.7%) identified race as the predominant reason for discrimination. Experiencing discrimination was significantly related to stress and depressive symptoms for both parents, and all forms of social support mediated these relationships. Our findings suggest that social support can act as a protective factor against the negative association between discrimination and both stress and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings highlight the need to integrate social support into existing interventions and include fathers in mental health screenings in primary-care settings. Finally, we briefly describe the role of nurses and other allied health professionals in addressing discrimination in health care and health policy implications.
The need for more pragmatic trials in glaucoma research
Authors: Pacovska Mayara Fernanda , de Amorim-Cabral Camila Lisandra Dantas , Teixeira Eloisa Gomes do Rosário Monteiro , Kasahara Niro
Published: April 2024

Aim

There have been a number of clinical trials in glaucoma research published in the past two decades. Most of these trials were designed to evaluate very specific issues in selected populations placing them in the explanatory end of the pragmatic-explanatory continuum. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of pragmatism of published randomized controlled trials in glaucoma.

Methods

A PubMed search using ‘glaucoma’ from 1995 to 2022 and randomized controlled trial (RCT) article type was done. Each study was assessed by three independent examiners using the Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary version 2 (PRECIS-2) toolkit. Scores were calculated for each study to determine the level of pragmatism. A summed score ≥36 was indicative of a very pragmatic study.

Results

Thirty-two different articles were included in the analysis. These papers represented 13 different landmark trials. The median PRECIS-2 score was 32 (range, 25 for the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial (EMGT) to 34 to the Collaborative Normal Tension Glaucoma Study (CNTGS) and the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study). The Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study (TAGS), was considered very pragmatic and scored 33 points.

Conclusion

Despite the number of RCTs in glaucoma, there is still a need for more pragmatic studies.
Comparison of GATT versus micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation combined with GATT in patients with advanced glaucoma
Authors: Karapapak Murat , Olgun Ali
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To compare the efficacy of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) versus micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation(MP-TDLC) combined with GATT in the treatment of advanced glaucoma.

Methods

This retrospective comparative study study included 82 patients (82 eyes) with a diagnosis of advanced glaucoma: 36 patients underwent GATT, and 46 underwent GATT + MP-TDLC. Intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in patients who underwent GATT and GATT MP-TDLC were analyzed retrospectively at regular intervals during the 6-month follow-up period.

Results

For the 82 patients included in this study, the mean ± SD IOPs before the procedures were 27.2 ± 8.5 mmHg in the GATT group and 26.6 ± 6.9 mmHg in the GATT + MP-TDLC group ( p = 0.866), and the numbers of glaucoma medications used were 3.41 ± 0.5 in the GATT group and 3.36 ± 0.4 in the GATT + MP-TDLC group ( p = 0.605). The mean IOP after GATT was 13.6 ± 3.9 mmHg at day 1, 13.9 ± 3.7 mmHg at week 1, 14.6 ± 4.0 mmHg at month 1, 15.3 ± 4.3 mmHg at month 3, and 14.7 ± 3.3 mmHg at month 6. In the GATT + MP-TDLC group, the postoperative day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3, and month 6 IOP values were 12.4 ± 2.5, 11.8 ± 1.8, 12.1 ± 2.0, 11.8 ± 1.09, and 11.8 ± 1.5 mmHg, respectively.

Conclusion

GATT was found to be effective in the treatment of patients with advanced glaucoma, and results closer to the targeted low teens IOP values were obtained with GATT + MP-TDLC.
A rare case of simultaneous occurrence of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and corpus callosum ischemia
Authors: Fossataro Federica , Pece Alfredo , Maione Giulio , Zur Dinah , Loewestein Anat
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To report a case of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in an elderly patient with ischemia of the left splenium of the corpus callosum, providing details of the diagnostic work-up and subsequent follow-up.

Methods Section

Case report.

Results

A pseudophakic 80 years-old woman referred complaining sudden visual impairment in the left eye (LE) in concomitance with episode of hypertensive crisis. Fundus examination showed diffuse swelling of optic disc associated with flame peripapillary hemorrhages in LE and small crowded disc in right eye (RE). A superior altitudinal defect with arcuate defect including the blind spot were detected at the visual field in the LE. The patient was diagnosed with NAION. Five days later the patient complained a further vision loss and a pathological area within the left splenium of corpus callosum, consistent ischemia, was depicted at magnetic resonance imaging of brain. Corpus callosum infarction was completely asymptomatic and neurological evaluation was normal. At 45 days follow-up fundus examination showed white ischemic nerve while visual field was irreversibly constricted with tubular defect in LE.

Conclusion

In case of NAION linked with corpus callosum ischemia multimodal imaging and systemic work-up play a pivotal role for an early diagnosis.