bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep-Learning-Based Fault Occurrence Prediction of Public Trains in South Korea
Authors: Caliwag Angela , Han Seok-Youn , Park Kee-Jun , Lim Wansu
Published: February 2022

The reliability and safety of the train system is a critical issue, as it transports many passengers in its daily operation. Most studies focus on fault diagnosis methods to determine the cause of faults in the train system. Aside from fault diagnosis, it is also vital to perceive a fault even before it occurs. In this study, a fault occurrence prediction based on a machine learning model is developed. The fault occurrence prediction method aims to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of a train subsystem. RUL refers to the remaining amount of time before a fault occurs on a train subsystem. The prediction method developed in this study can be used to clear a fault even before it occurs. In case of inevitable faults, the output from the prediction method can be used to alert the personnel in charge by imposing an alarm. Therefore, the fault occurrence prediction method is expected to increase the reliability of the train system. The deep neural-network-based model is tested on an actual device. Deep neural network is used because of its feature extraction capability, especially in handling big amount of data. The testing results in 90.08% accuracy. In addition, a graphical user interface is developed as an interface between a user and the actual device containing the fault occurrence prediction model.
Research on Characteristics of Macrotexture for Colored Anti-Skid Coating on Pavement Based on Fractal Theory
Authors: Wang Kaifeng , Li Yue , Zhu Yunsheng , Xiang Huilun , Lu Genqi
Published: February 2022

A type of colored anti-skid coating was prepared to improve the anti-skid performance of pavement, as described in this paper, and the composition of the colored anti-skid coating was determined by laboratory tests. The image-processing techniques in MATLAB and fractal theory were used to analyze the macrotexture characteristics of colored anti-skid coating surfaces. Four different particle sizes were used for specimen preparation, with diameters of 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm. The three-dimensional (3D) macrotexture structure model was constructed based on shape from shading (SFS) theory. The anti-skid performance of the coating assessed by the British pendulum number (BPN) correlates with the fractal dimension. The result shows that when the particle size is the same, the more the spraying amount of anti-skid particles, the larger the fractal dimension. There are different optimal spraying amounts (OSA) for the maximum fractal dimension at each particle size. Meanwhile, when the particle size increases from 1 mm to 4 mm at the OSA, the fractal dimension decreases from 2.719 to 2.492 and the BPN gradually increases from 75 to 86, and the colored anti-skid coating shows good anti-skid performance improvement. In addition, the fractal dimension has a negative correlation with the BPN, and the correlation coefficient R2 between the fractal and the BPN is 0.95074, which indicates that the fractal dimension can reflect the complexity of the macrotexture and characterize the anti-skid performance of the coating under certain conditions. This research helps to provide an effective method to evaluate the macrotexture characteristics of colored anti-skid coating.
Development of a Smartphone Application Serving Pavement Management Engineers
Authors: Stephens Damien , Souliman Mena I. , Vechione Matthew , Shirvaikar Mukul , Li Yi
Published: February 2022

Determining the presence and location of pavement defects is vital to the timely maintenance of road infrastructure. Many applications exist for the purpose of tracking user-reported pavement distresses and roadway hazards, but few leverage the capabilities of modern smartphones. This pilot study aims to establish proof of concept that a custom-built smartphone application possesses the ability to utilize onboard smartphone sensors to collect global positioning system (GPS) and vibrational data with accuracy and sensitivity suitable for detecting pavement defects. An application was developed for Android and iOS that utilizes smartphone GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope sensors to sample and log location, vibrational, and rotational data. The datasets obtained by the application are used to quantitatively establish the application’s ability to detect abnormalities in sampled data when in the presence of pavement defects or abnormal road conditions versus a baseline noise margin under no pavement defects. Additionally, the true sampling frequencies of both platforms are established to compare against user-specified sampling frequencies to determine true sampling performance. Furthermore, the datasets obtained from the Android and iOS platforms are compared to establish that there are differences in sensor hardware used that affect the sensor responses. Results from analysis of the datasets support the conclusion that the application successfully samples smartphone sensors, which can be used to detect defects in pavement when mounted to a vehicle windshield, as well as having the ability to provide relatively accurate and precise location data, given commercial smartphone GPS accuracy limitations.
Changes in immune profile affect disease progression in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Fathi Farshid , Saidi Reza F , Banafshe Hamid Reza , Arbabi Mohsen , Lotfinia Majid , Motedayyen Hossein
Published: February 2022

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a chronic liver condition is largely associated with immune responses. Previous studies have revealed that different subsets of lymphocytes play fundamental roles in controlling or improving the development and outcome of solid tumors like HCC. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether immune system changes were related to disease development in HCC patients. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 30 HCC patients and 30 healthy volunteers using Ficoll density centrifugation. The isolated cells were stained with different primary antibodies and percentages of different immune cells were determined by flow cytometry. Results: HCC patients indicated significant reductions in the numbers of CD4+ cells, Tbet+IFNγ+cells, and GATA+IL-4+cells in peripheral blood in comparison with healthy individuals ( p < 0.05). There was no significant change in IL-17+RORγt+cells between patient and healthy groups. In contrast, Foxp3+CD127lowcell frequency was significantly higher in patients than healthy subjects ( p < 0.0001). The numbers of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells were significantly lower in HCC patients than healthy control ( p < 0.0001), although the reduction in Th2 cell numbers was not statistically significant. On the contrary, Treg percentage showed a significant increase in patients compared to healthy subjects ( p < 0.0001). Other data revealed that Th1, Th2, and Th17 cell frequencies were significantly higher in healthy individuals than patients with different TNM stages of HCC, with the exception of Th2 in patients with stage II HCC ( p < 0.01–0.05). Treg percentage was significantly increased in patients with different TNM stages ( p < 0.0001). Among all CD4+ T cells, the frequency of Th2 cell was significantly associated with TNM stages of HCC ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data provide further evidence to show that immune changes may participate in determining HCC progression and disease outcome. However, it should be mentioned that more investigations are needed to clarify our results and explain possible impacts of other immune cells on the pathogenesis of HCC.
Varying Estimates of Sepsis among Adults Presenting to US Emergency Departments: Estimates from a National Dataset from 2002-2018
Authors: Ramgopal Sriram , Horvat Christopher M , Adler Mark D
Published: February 2022

Background

A variety of approaches to defining sepsis using administrative datasets have been previously reported. We aimed to compare estimates, demographics, treatment factors, outcomes and longitudinal trends of patients identified with sepsis in United States emergency departments (EDs) using differing sets of sepsis criteria.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study using the National Healthcare Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a complex survey of nonfederal US ED encounters between 2002 to 2018. We obtained survey-weighted population-adjusted encounters of sepsis using the following criteria: explicit sepsis, severe sepsis, and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score combined with the presence of infection.

Results

Age-adjusted for US adults, 18.6, 16.1 and 8.9 encounters per 10 000 population were identified when using the explicit, severe sepsis and qSOFA definitions, respectively. A higher proportion of the explicit cohort was hospitalized and had blood cultures performed, compared to cohorts ascertained using severe sepsis and qSOFA criteria, though confidence intervals overlapped. Antibiotic use was highest in encounters meeting qSOFA criteria. When inspecting unweighted encounters meeting each set of criteria, there was minimal overlap, with only 3% meeting all three. Encounters meeting the explicit and severe sepsis criteria were increasing over time.

Conclusion

The explicit, severe sepsis and qSOFA criteria generated similar annual rates of presentation when applied to US ED encounters, with some evidence of the explicit sepsis cohort being higher acuity. There was minimal overlap of cases and instability in estimates when assessed longitudinally. Our findings inform research efforts to accurately identify sepsis among ED encounters using administrative data.
Rape Stereotype Acceptance in the General Population of England and Wales
Authors: Hermolle Megan , Andrews Samantha J. , Huang Ching-Yu S.
Published: February 2022

The #MeToo movement has facilitated a growing awareness in the UK of rape stereotypes but there has been little research on how accurately rape is perceived in this region, especially regarding demographics such as ethnicity and age. This study recruited 1000 participants, representative of the UK population, to complete an online survey prompting beliefs about rape perpetrators, rape victims, rape allegations, male rape, and motives for and consequences of rape. After carrying out frequency analyses on agree-incorrect and disagree-incorrect statements, we found that, generally, accuracy was high, although there were higher levels of stereotype acceptance for perpetrator related stereotypes. Further analysis found that in terms of demographic differences, Black and Asian participants and men were significantly more likely to accept stereotypes than other demographic groups. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, including potential for jury education, and educational media campaigns aimed at the demographics most likely to accept stereotypes.
Physical Activity Assessment and Promotion in Clinical Settings in the United States: A Scoping Review
Authors: Grogg Kristin A. , Giacobbi Peter R. , Blair Emma K. , Haggerty Treah S. , Lilly Christa L. , Winters Carena S. , Kelley George A.
Published: February 2022

Objective

The purpose of this scoping review was to systematically examine interventions that focused on physical activity assessment and promotion in clinical settings in the United States.

Data Sources

A literature search was performed in 6 major databases to extract published peer-reviewed studies from 2008 to 2019.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Interventions with practicing health professionals in the United States who performed physical activity assessment and promotion with adult patients 18 years of age and older. Studies were excluded if they were published in non-English, observational or case study designs, or gray literature.

Data Extraction

Studies were screened and coded based on the population, intervention, comparison, outcomes and study setting for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. Of 654 studies that were identified and screened for eligibility, 78 met eligibility criteria and were independently coded by two coders.

Data Synthesis

Data were synthesized using qualitative and descriptive methods.

Results

Forty-three of the included studies were randomized controlled trials with a majority being delivered by physicians and nurses in primary care settings. Fifty-six studies reported statistically significant findings in outcome measures such as anthropometrics and chronic disease risk factors, with 17 demonstrating improvements in physical activity levels as a result of the interventions.

Conclusion

The assessment and promotion of physical activity in clinical settings appears to be effective but warrants continued research.
A Multilevel Perspective to Social Media Influentials’ Frame Building Across Crises
Authors: Zhao Xinyan
Published: February 2022

Social media influentials play key roles in information creation and impact people’s crisis interpretations and behavioral intentions. Applying a multilevel perspective, this study examined how various social media influentials’ frame building was affected by crisis clusters and message characteristics. Social media influentials’ tweets were extracted from over a million tweets from eight crises. A random sample of 2,000 tweets was analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that social media influentials’ use of responsibility and topic frames was affected by both crisis-level factors (i.e., crisis origin and organization type) and message-level factors (i.e., communicative functions and types of influentials). These findings support the importance to understand the contextual factors that condition influentials' frame building on social media.
Relationship between Cyberbullying Victimization and Non-suicidal Self-Injury: Roles of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Self-Compassion
Authors: Geng Jingyu , Wang Jue , Wang Yuhui , Wang Xingchao , Lei Li , Wang Pengcheng
Published: February 2022

Non-suicidal self-injury has been increasingly acknowledged as a health problem. However, the association of cyberbullying victimization with non-suicidal self-injury and the mechanisms connecting this link have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the current study aimed to test the link between cyberbullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury and to explore the mediating roles of basic psychological needs satisfaction and the moderating role of self-compassion in this relation. A sample of 1007 senior high students participated in the current study and completed multiple questionnaires on cyberbullying victimization, basic psychological needs satisfaction, non-suicidal self-injury, and self-compassion. The bivariate correlations between variables, mediation model, and moderated mediation model were tested by correlation analysis and Model 4 and Model 8 of the PROCESS macro, respectively. The results indicated that cyberbullying victimization was significantly and positively associated with non-suicidal self-injury. Autonomy needs satisfaction mediated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury. The direct effect of cyberbullying victimization on non-suicidal self-injury was alleviated by strong self-compassion. Besides, self-compassion strengthened the direct relation between cyberbullying victimization and basic psychological needs and further strengthened the indirect association of cyberbullying victimization with non-suicidal self-injury. Our study highlights the potential mechanisms underlining the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury, and it has important theoretical and practical implications for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury.
Effects of the wing spacing, phase difference, and downstroke ratio on flapping tandem wings
Authors: Younsi Abdelhakim , El-Hadj Abdellah Abdellah , Abd Rahim Shayfull Zamree , Rezoug Tahar
Published: February 2022

In this paper, a numerical study on the effects of the asymmetry in flapping duration, wing spacing, and phase difference on the aerodynamic performance of flapping tandem wings is carried out. Three downstroke ratios to flapping period ( ξ) are chosen, ξ = 0.35, ξ = 0.5, and ξ = 0.65, where ξ = 0.5 represents a symmetrical stroke. Four values of wing spacing L are selected: 1.25c, 1.5c, 1.75c, and 2c (c is the wing chord length), while the phase difference between the fore and hind wings is ranged from 0° to 270° with an interval of 90°. The effects of these parameters on the lift and thrust generation are investigated. A study of the energy consumption and the flight efficiency has also been taken into consideration. The flow variables in the computational domain around the flapping tandem wings are solved using the commercial software Fluent. The results show that the effects of the downstroke ratio on the aerodynamic performance are significantly higher than the effects of the wing spacing and the phase difference. The thrust generation and efficiency are maximized in the case with faster upstroke ( ξ =0.65). However, the maximum lift generation and efficiency are located in the case with faster downstroke ( ξ =0.35) instead. The optimal configuration is obtained using a minimum of wing spacing (1.25c) and phase angle (0°) with a downstroke ratio of 0.436.
Experimental and numerical optimization of a centrifugal pump volute and its effect on head and hydraulic efficiency at the best efficiency point
Authors: Dehghan Amir Arsalan , Shojaeefard Mohammad Hassan
Published: February 2022

There is a misunderstanding about the volute casing of the centrifugal pump. Since it is a stationary part, it is assumed that the volute has a slight impact on the efficiency of the pump; however, this part has a considerable effect on the efficiency and is considered an important part converting the dynamic energy to static pressure. To authenticate this fact, in this article, main parameters of the volute which consist of the cross-section shape, theories of designing the volute (i.e., conservation of angular momentum and constant velocity), volute throat area, cutwater angle, cutwater diameter, base circle diameter, volute inlet width, diffuser length and outlet cross-section, and linear and quadratic diffusers are investigated. First, the performance curve has been obtained experimentally and numerically. In simulations, a proper turbulence model has been used and the continuity and the Navier–Stokes equations have been solved. Moreover, with the accurate analysis of contours, streamlines, and recirculation areas on the volute throat area and diffuser, all parameters have been optimized. According to the results, hydraulic efficiency and head of the circular cross-section are 87.6% and 14.55 m, respectively, which is the most efficient compared with the other shapes. The results also revealed that the most appropriate theory for designing the volute is the conservation of angular momentum, and the cutwater angle of 10° with the lowest possible cutwater diameter (3 mm) has the best efficiency (88.1%). Furthermore, the base circle diameter has the optimal value (220 mm, efficiency = 88.7%); otherwise, head loss of the volute increases. The volute inlet width of 23 mm has a hydraulic efficiency of 88.93%, and its head loss is the lowest. Increasing the length of the diffuser decreases its efficiency, and the length and diameter of the discharge area of the most appropriate one are 160 mm and 65 mm, respectively.
Comparative study of machining quality for the Al–SiC–Gr hybrid metal matrix composite using ECM and ECSG
Authors: Rahi Dhruv K , Dubey Avanish K
Published: February 2022

Hybrid metal matrix composites have superior strength to weight ratio as compared with conventional composites or superalloys. This characteristic makes them suitable for different advanced industries such as aerospace, automobile, and biomedical. Mechanical and thermal energy based processes have their own limitations to machine these composites due to superior mechanical properties and melting of reinforcement particles, respectively. Researchers are trying to machine metal matrix composites by the electrochemical process with the aim to achieve better machining quality, but low material removal rate and oxide layer formation on the machined surface has emerged as the main limitation. A hybrid variant of electro-chemical machining (ECM) and conventional grinding has capability to overcome these limitations. Keeping this in view, the experimental set-up of electro-chemical surface grinding (ECSG) has been developed with the aim to compare the machining characteristics of the hard-to-cut hybrid metal matrix composite Al–SiC–Gr with the ECM process. The machining performances have been compared on the basis of material removal rate, surface roughness, and microcrack width in the machined component. The influence of some important input process parameters on these performance characteristics have been analyzed scientifically. Experimental results show that the ECSG process improves the machining performance by reducing or eliminating the oxide layer from the machining zone due to suitable grinding effects. Material removal rate, surface roughness, and microcrack width were improved by 68%, 24%, and 40%, respectively, by using the ECSG process. The formation of the large size oxide layer with high crack width on the machined surface was observed at high voltage, high electrolyte concentration, and at low table speed.
Lichen sclerosus following genital piercing
Authors: Chan S , Watchorn RE , Muneer A , Bunker CB
Published: February 2022

Male genital lichen sclerosus (MGLSc) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that predominantly affects uncircumcised males. Several aetiological factors have been described, with growing evidence supporting chronic urine exposure of susceptible epithelium being crucial to its pathogenesis. We describe a 45-year-old man with a 2-year history of MGLSc at the site of a urethrocutaneous fistula secondary to a penile piercing. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of MGLSc occurring at the site of a genital piercing.
Animating a neighborhood: The enchanting placemaking of Le Grand Éléphant de Nantes
Authors: Grant Jason C
Published: February 2022

At the end of an industrial era in which Nantes was the busiest shipping and slave-trading port in France, a giant, mechanical elephant became an animating force in the city's reanimation of the neighborhood left behind. In this paper, I consider the Grand Éléphant de Nantes as a case study of urban enchantment. The elephant occupies the boundary between artwork, machine, and animal, allowing it to captivate spectators and encourage the communal creation of a place in a public urban space. It simultaneously turns away from, rather than grappling with, the site's historical role in the transatlantic slave trade. Following Jane Bennett's conception of enchantment as a method of commodity fetishism, this paper shows that enchantment is a force of placemaking that draws spectators from urban stupor and in doing so, raises the potential for ethical engagement with space.
Computational Galerkin Finite Element Method for Thermal Hydrogen Energy Utilization of First Grade Viscoelastic Hybrid Nanofluid Flowing Inside PTSC in Solar Powered Ship Applications
Authors: Bayones Fatimah S , Jamshed Wasim , Elhag SH , Rabea Eid Mohamed
Published: February 2022

Parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSCs) are commonly used in solar thermal implementations to achieve high-temperatures. The current investigation looks at entropy formation and the effect of nano solid particles on a parabolic trough surface collector (PTSC) mounted aboard a solar-powered ship (SPS). The non-Newtonian first grade viscoelastic type, as well as a porous medium and Darcy-Forchheimer effects, were utilised in the current study. The flowing of PTSC was created by a non-linear stretching sheet, and the changing thermal conductivity, heat source, and viscous dissipation effects were used to calculate the heat flux in the thermal boundary layer. To convert partial differential equations (PDEs) into solvable ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with boundary-constraints, a similarity transformation strategy was used. The boundary-constraints and PDEs have been reduced to a set of non-linear ODEs (ordinary differential equations). To reach the approximated solution of ODEs, the Galerkin finite element method (G-FEM) is used. As working fluids, copper-sodium alginate (Cu-SA) and molybdenum disulfide-copper/sodium alginate (MoS2-Cu/SA) hybrid nanofluids were used. According to the findings, the permeability factor diminished the Nusselt number whilst boosting the skin friction factor. Furthermore, overall entropy variance throughout the domain was increased for flow speeds using the Reynolds number, and viscosity changes were tracked using the Brinkman number. When compared to MoS2-Cu/SA, using Cu-SA nanofluid boosted thermal efficiency by 1.3–18.8%.
Mid-quantile regression for discrete responses
Authors: Geraci Marco , Farcomeni Alessio
Published: February 2022

We develop quantile regression methods for discrete responses by extending Parzen’s definition of marginal mid-quantiles. As opposed to existing approaches, which are based on either jittering or latent constructs, we use interpolation and define the conditional mid-quantile function as the inverse of the conditional mid-distribution function. We propose a two-step estimator whereby, in the first step, conditional mid-probabilities are obtained nonparametrically and, in the second step, regression coefficients are estimated by solving an implicit equation. When constraining the quantile index to a data-driven admissible range, the second-step estimating equation has a least-squares type, closed-form solution. The proposed estimator is shown to be strongly consistent and asymptotically normal. A simulation study shows that our estimator performs satisfactorily and has an advantage over a competing alternative based on jittering. Our methods can be applied to a large variety of discrete responses, including binary, ordinal, and count variables. We show an application using data on prescription drugs in the United States and discuss two key findings. First, our analysis suggests a possible differential medical treatment that worsens the gender inequality among the most fragile segment of the population. Second, obesity is a strong driver of the number of prescription drugs and is stronger for more frequent medications users. The proposed methods are implemented in the R package Qtools. Supplemental materials for this article, including a brief R tutorial, are available as an online supplement.
Evaluating the Effect of Circ-Sirt1 on the Expression of SIRT1 and Its Role in Pathology of Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Diao Wenjie , Liu Ge , Shi Chao , Jiang Yiyao , Li Haihui , Meng Jinjin , Shi Yu , Chang Mingming , Liu Xuegang
Published: February 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease that plagues a major portion of the world’s population, and there is currently no effective cure for this ailment. The proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) are known to be the pathological basis of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension. Studies in the past have shown involvement of CircRNA in the pathology of pulmonary as well as cardiovascular diseases. However, there are very few studies that have analyzed the relationship between CircRNA and PAH. The aim of this study was to explore this relationship by using rat PAH model. A hypoxic, PAH rat model was constructed for this study and the subsequently produced hypoxia-induced rat PASMC cells were utilized to demonstrate the reduction in expression of circular RNA of Silent information regulator factor 2-related enzyme 1 (circ-Sirt1) and SIRT1 mRNA in response to hypoxia, through cell function tests, cell rescue tests, and physical tests. We found that the expression of circ-Sirt1 and SIRT1 decreased in the PAH rat model induced by hypoxia. It was also revealed that the overexpression of circ-SIRT1 increased SIRT1 levels, but inhibited the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, Smad3, and Smad7, and weakened PASMC cell vitality, proliferation, and migration ability. The findings of the present study indicate that circ-Sirt1 regulates the expression of SIRT1 mRNA and inhibits TGF-β1/Smad3/Smad7 mediated proliferation and migration of PASMC. This provides a new insight into the molecular mechanism of pulmonary artery vascular remodeling in PAH and may aid in the development of novel therapeutic options for management of PAH.
Acknowledging vulnerability in ethics of palliative care – A feminist ethics approach
Authors: Morberg Jämterud Sofia
Published: February 2022

Patients in need of palliative care are often described as vulnerable. Being vulnerable can sometimes be interpreted as the opposite of being autonomous, if an autonomous person is seen as an independent, self-sufficient person who forms decisions independently of others. Such a dichotomous view can create a situation where one has experiences of vulnerability that cannot be reconciled with the central ethical principle of autonomy. The article presents a feminist ethical perspective on the conceptualisation of vulnerability in the context of palliative care. It does so through the lens of the concepts of inherent and pathogenic vulnerability from the taxonomy on vulnerability suggested by Mackenzie et al. To differentiate between forms of vulnerability, is important since even though vulnerability can be regarded as a shared life condition it can be the product of practices creating harm to the patient. The article also presents an analysis of how vulnerability can be included in the interpretation of the ethical principle of autonomy, in order to be relevant in palliative care where vulnerability is salient, namely, as relational autonomy. Furthermore, two practical implications for nursing practice are suggested. Firstly, to acknowledge vulnerability as a shared life condition one needs training in order to neither be overwhelmed by one’s own vulnerability, nor become invulnerable when facing vulnerability in others. Secondly, to foster relational autonomy includes navigating between the patient exercising their autonomy within a framework of relations, and shielding the patient from paternalistic practices. Nurses could be particularly suited for this role, which includes creating an environment which is open and supportive; navigating between patient, family and staff; seeing and acknowledging the complex situation in which patient autonomy is actually played out; and promoting patient autonomy.
Examining China’s Academic Narratives Surrounding Higher Education Internationalization in Foreign Countries: A Multi-theoretical Lens
Authors: Wu Hantian , Zheng Jie
Published: February 2022

Mainland China's domestic academic literature on foreign issues can be regarded as a reference for its policymaking since the early stages of the “Reform and Opening Up”. This investigation constructs a multi-theoretical framework for examining and interpreting mainland China's domestic academic narrative surrounding higher education internationalization in foreign countries/regions. Taking an academic journal data-based approach, it presents the findings and further discusses China's domestic disciplinary culture in the field of international higher education studies, as well as the possible impact of such narratives on its practices.
Final-year medical student Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine synchronous summative tele-assessments during a COVID-19 Delta-variant stay-at-home lockdown
Authors: Looi Jeffrey CL , Maguire Paul A , Bonner Daniel , Reay Rebecca E , Finlay Angus JF , Keightley Philip , Tedeschi Michael , Wardle Claire , Kramer David
Published: February 2022

Objective

We describe the planning, process and evaluation of final-year Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine summative assessments in a four-year graduate medical degree program, during a COVID-19 Delta-variant public health stay-at-home lockdown.

Conclusions

We conducted separate written and clinical synchronous (real-time simultaneous) tele-assessments. We used online assessment technology with students, examiners and simulated patients, all in different physical locations. Medical students’ examination performance showed a good range. This was comparable to other discipline stations, and performance in previous years. There was no differential performance of students through the day of the assessments.
The Serious Game and Integrated Simulator for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in Nursing Students
Authors: Demirtas Ayla , Basak Tulay , Sahin Gul , Sonkaya Murat Çagatay
Published: February 2022

Background

Nurses are often the first health professional who identify cardiopulmonary arrests in hospital settings; therefore, they require proficient cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate game-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for first-year nursing students in terms of students’ knowledge levels, performance, satisfaction, and confidence.

Methods

This study was conducted following a quasi-experimental design. A total of 104 students were randomly assigned to two study groups. A Serious Game & Integrated Real-Time Audiovisual Feedback Simulator was utilized in the cardiopulmonary resuscitation training of the intervention group. For the control group, only a real-time audiovisual feedback simulator was used.

Results

There was an increase of approximately 30 points between the pre-test and post-test scores for knowledge in both groups. In regard to performance scores, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in regard to overall scores, compression depth, and compression frequency were similar at post-test and re-test (p>0.05). The difference between groups was not statistically significant for satisfaction and self-confidence statistically (p>0.05).

Conclusion

The integration of a serious game into a real-time audiovisual feedback simulator does not provide significant advantages over the use of only a real-time audiovisual feedback simulator in terms of cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and performance.
Fast Serious Analogue Games in Planning: The Role of Non-Player Participants
Authors: Sousa Micael , Antunes António Pais , Pinto Nuno , Zagalo Nelson
Published: February 2022

Objective

Public participation has benefited from innovative engagement tools that facilitate the negotiation between diverse sets of stakeholders with different planning perspectives. Our objective is to test and evaluate the use of a fast Serious Game (SG) to support a participation process in the context of a conference on urban mobility. We also aim to explore how these analogue games engage Player Participants (PPs) and Non-Player Participants (NPPs).

Methodology

We developed an empirical approach where a fast analogue planning game was designed and deployed to support discussions during a conference on sustainable mobility. The game resulted from modding existing modern board games. We combined several game mechanisms and components with an urban map, following the Design, Play, Experience (DPE) framework for SG development. The low-tech game was available to Player Participants (PPs) and displayed in a way Non-Playing Participants (NPPs) could participate indirectly.

Results

The proposed SG engaged PPs and NPPs. PPs immediately started to plan the local transport system establishing a collaborative dynamic. NPPs participated by helping PPs, providing them with their expert and local knowledge. The simplicity of the game and the way it was displayed contributed to the engagement of PPs and NPPs.

Conclusion

Our findings show that layout configurations and facilitation techniques with analogue games can foster the participation of PPs and NPPs. Low-tech analogue SGs can be useful when resources are low, SG experience is reduced, and fast solutions for citizen and stakeholder engagement are necessary.
The Adapted DUKE-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire in a Community Sample of Portuguese Parents
Authors: Martins Silvana , Martins Cátia , Almeida Ana , Ayala-Nunes Lara , Gonçalves Andrea , Nunes Cristina
Published: February 2022

Purpose: Social support measures have generated empirical evidence of helping relationships and their role in family functioning and well-being. Social support networks affect parental practices and the ways in which families overcome stressful life events. Thus, it is important to gather knowledge about the different forms of support that families can benefit from. The aim of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate the Portuguese version of the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ), a three dimension measure (confidant support, affective support, and instrumental support), Method: 1058 Portuguese parents participated in the study. They were mostly married/cohabiting and employed mothers. The Portuguese version of the FSSQ contained 13 items distributed into 3 subdimensions. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and the study of Pearson correlations. Results: The FSSQ original three-factor structure was supported by confirmatory factor analysis and the instrument showed good internal consistency. Confidant support and Instrumental support were negatively associated with Permissive parenting and Affective support was negatively associated with Authoritative parenting and Permissive parenting. All three dimensions showed low and positive correlations with Authoritarian parenting. Discussion: The Portuguese version of the FSSQ met adequate psychometric criteria and can be confidently used in family assessments of social support, whenever a brief, self-administered questionnaire would be useful for community services providers
Variability and Excess in Opioid Prescribing Patterns After Cleft and Craniosynostosis Repairs
Authors: Zubovic Ema , Skolnick Gary B. , AuBuchon Jacob D. , Waters Erika A. , Snyder-Warwick Alison K. , Patel Kamlesh B.
Published: February 2022

Objective

To critically analyze pediatric opioid prescription patterns after cleft and craniosynostosis repairs.

Design

Observational study 1) retrospectively reviewing pediatric opioid prescriptions from July 2018 to June 2019 and 2) prospectively surveying patients about actual opioid use from August 2019 to February 2020.

Setting

Academic tertiary care pediatric hospital.

Patients

133 pediatric patients undergoing cleft lip and/or palate or craniosynostosis repairs. Prospective surveys were offered at postoperative visits; 45 of 69 eligible patients were enrolled.

Intervention

None.

Main Outcome Measures

Opioid doses prescribed at discharge and actual home opioid use.

Results

90 patients with cleft lip and/or palate and 43 patients with craniosynostosis were included. Median prescribed opioid doses were 10.3 for cleft lip and/or palate procedures (range 0–75), and 14.3 for craniosynostosis repairs (range 0–50). In patients with cleft lip and/or palate, there was a negative correlation between age at surgery and prescribed opioid doses ( rs  =  -0.228, p  =  0.031). 45 patients completed surveys of home opioid use. No patients used more than 10 doses. Forty percent used no opioids at home, 33% used 1 to 2 doses, 18% used 3 to 5 doses, and 9% used 6 to 10 doses.

Conclusions

Opioid prescriptions vary widely after common craniofacial procedures. Younger patients with cleft lip and/or palate may be more likely to be prescribed more doses. Actual home opioid use is less than prescribed amounts, with most patients using five or fewer doses. A prescribing guideline is proposed.
Developing Self-Monitoring Skills in Mathematics for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Authors: Pettrey Katherine V. , Lastrapes Renee E. , Mooney Paul
Published: February 2022

The present article provides educators of students with emotional and behavioral disorders with information on how to develop students’ math-related self-monitoring skills. A rationale for fostering self-monitoring skills in math is followed by steps and helpful hints on how best to plan, implement, and evaluate a self-monitoring intervention across math content and settings. Readers also learn how to incorporate the self-regulation interventions of self-talk, schema instruction, and Cover-Copy-Compare within math-focused self-monitoring intervention programming.
Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Cancer Receiving Specialist Palliative Care
Authors: Allende-Pérez Silvia Rosa , Cesarman-Maus Gabriela , Peña-Nieves Adriana , Arcos Amelia , Baz-Gutiérrez Patricia , Robles Joanna , LeBlanc Thomas W.
Published: February 2022

Context

The prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer is particularly high at disease progression and during relapse. Patients cared for in specialized palliative care units (SPCU) are rarely included in VTE studies. Objective: We sought to study the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and survival of individuals with VTE in an SPCU setting.

Methods

We retrospectively included 2707 consecutive individuals with active cancer managed at a SPCU. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and frequency for categorical variables. Overall survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier and comparisons by log-rank test. Thrombotic events were confirmed by imaging.

Results

We studied 1984(73.3%) women and 723 (26.7%) men. The overall prevalence of thrombosis was 22.2% with only 6.2% occurring after initiating SPCU care, and was higher in women (24.6% vs 15.8%), particularly with gynecological tumors (cervical: 30.5%, ovarian: 29.2%). Median survival was slightly longer for patients without VTE (80 days [IQR21-334] and 69 days [IQR 25-235]; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Prevalence of VTE was high and varied by tumor origin. VTE may impact survival. Though median survival is short, some patients are followed over months, suggesting that in the absence of high bleeding risk, treatment for thrombosis in an attempt to decrease the morbidity of re-thrombosis should be considered. On the other hand, few patients developed symptomatic VTE during SPCU care, making generalized primary prophylaxis probably unwarranted. Customizing anticoagulation for the risk of hemorrhage and physical performance is essential.
ACE2 Protein Expression During Childhood, Adolescence, and Early Adulthood
Authors: Schurink Bernadette , Roos Eva , Vos Wim , Breur Marjolein , van der Valk Paul , Bugiani Marianna
Published: February 2022

Purpose and context. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is the entry receptor for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Variations in ACE2 expression might explain age-related symptomatology of COVID-19, that is, more gastro-intestinal symptoms and less pulmonary complaints. This study qualitatively investigated ACE2 protein expression in various organs from the fetal to the young adolescent stage. Method. Autopsy samples from lung, heart, liver, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, kidney, adrenals, and brain (when available) were obtained from twenty subjects aged 24 weeks gestational age through 28 years. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded 4-um-thick tissue sections were stained against ACE2. Key results. We showed that the extent of ACE2 expression is age-related. With age, expression increases in lungs and decreases in intestines. In the other examined organs, ACE2 protein expression did not change with age. In brain tissue, ACE2 was expressed in astrocytes and endothelial cells. Conclusions. Age-related ACE2 expression differences could be one substrate of the selective clinical vulnerability of the respiratory and gastro-intestinal system to SARS-CoV-2 infection during infancy.
Prevalence of Internet Addiction and its Correlates Among Regular Undergraduate Medicine and Health Science Students at Ambo University. Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Umeta Gurmu Tesfaye , Regasa Sanyi Daba , Taye Getu Melesie , Ayeno Hunduma Dinsa , Tefera Gosaye Mekonen
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

Internet addiction (IA) is causing academic failure, decreased concentration ability, and a negative affective state. In Ethiopia, studies conducted on IA were limited; therefore, this study aimed to assess its prevalence and risk factors among medicine and health science (MHS) students of Ambo University.

Materials and Methods:

This study was a cross-sectional study and included MHS students of Ambo University from July 15 to August 15, 2021. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire after receiving informed consent from study participants. The results were analyzed using the statistical software for social sciences version 24. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to explore the relationship between IA and dependent variables.

Results:

Of the 253 participants who participated in the study, 201 (79%) were found to have an IA. Having one’s own computer, Internet access at home and an email account were 2 times more risky to develop IA compared to their counterparts with AOR = 2.615 (95% CI = 1.118-5.956) with a P value of .022, AOR = 2.154 (95% CI = 1.054-4.405) with a P value of .35 and (=2.154 (95% CI = 1.054-4.405 with a P value of .035 respectively. Additionally, those who use the Internet for news were 2.5 times more likely to develop IA compared to those who do not (AOR = 2.551 (95% CI = 1.225-5.349) with a P-value of .013). The use of the Internet for scientific research and education reduces IA by 0.7 times (AOR = 0.323 (95% CI = 0.120-0.868) with a P value of .025).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of IA was found to be high in this study. Therefore, strategies are needed to minimize the prevalence of this problem.
Zirconium Based MOFs and Their Potential Use in Water Remediation: Current Achievements and Possibilities
Authors: Flores-Cervantes Deborah Xanat , Medina-Montiel Claudia , Ramirez-Corona Nelly , Navarro-Amador Ricardo
Published: February 2022

Water pollution and scarcity are two of the most serious problems humanity is currently facing. Therefore, it is important to develop effective and inexpensive technologies and treatments to remove key pollutants from water. Zr based Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are new materials with the potential to remove organic and inorganic pollutants. However, it is important to critically analyze their performance in laboratory trials to evaluate their scalability potential for wastewater treatment. This document presents a critical review of the most recent studies and advances regarding Zr based MOFs, specifically the UiO-66 and Ui-O67 MOFs and analogous materials. We found that, although these materials are effective at removing inorganic and organic pollutants in water, there are still available research opportunities and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. There is a need to further understand the mechanisms involved in the removal process to be able to develop more effective materials and/or to determine the best operating conditions during its implementation. Variations in removal efficiencies between the same MOFs also call for a more detailed description of the synthesis, as well as a better characterization of the material. This is because small variations in the characteristics of MOFs lead to non-homogeneous results, making accurate predictions of their removal capacity more difficult to determine. Finally, there is a need to better understand the stability of Zr based MOFs, as well as their removal capacity and reusability in wastewater with competitive ions, at standard pH and temperature operating conditions.