bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapy Assistant Staffing and Patient Quality Outcomes in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Authors: Prusynski Rachel A. , Frogner Bianca K. , Skillman Susan M. , Dahal Arati , Mroz Tracy M.
Published: July 2021

Therapy staffing declined in response to Medicare payment policy that removes incentives for intensive physical and occupational therapy in skilled nursing facilities, with therapy assistant staffing more impacted than therapist staffing. However, it is unknown whether therapy assistant staffing is associated with patient outcomes. Using 2017 national data, we examined associations between therapy assistant staffing and three outcomes: patient functional improvement, community discharge, and hospital readmissions, controlling for therapy intensity and facility characteristics. Assistant staffing was not associated with functional improvement. Compared with employing no assistants, staffing 25% to 75% occupational therapy assistants and 25% to 50% physical therapist assistants were associated with more community discharges. Higher occupational therapy assistant staffing was associated with higher readmissions. Higher intensity physical therapy was associated with better quality across outcomes. Skilled nursing facilities seeking to maximize profit while maintaining quality may be successful by choosing to employ more physical therapy assistants rather than sacrificing physical therapy intensity.
Prediction and Evolution of the Influence of Microblog Entries in the Context of Terrorist Events
Authors: An Lu , Han Yuxin , Yi Xingyue , Li Gang , Yu Chuanming
Published: July 2021

The outbreak of terrorist events often causes tremendous damage to the country and society and arouses high attention from the public and an overwhelming response on the microblogging platform. Predicting the influence of microblogging in the context of terrorist events and revealing its evolutionary mode can help counterterrorism departments foresee potential risks, take effective countermeasures in time, and provide a reference for reducing public panic caused by terrorist events. In this study, Word2Vec is combined with the K-means clustering technique to discover the topics of microblogging, and an emotion analysis of microblogging is performed. The user features, time features, and content features of microblogging in the context of terrorist events are extracted. The prediction model of microblogging influence based on the logistic regression model was constructed and evaluated. The experimental results showed that the prediction accuracy of the model was 85.8%, which had superior performance over other six classification models. In addition, the high-influence characteristics of microblogging in the context of terrorist events were analyzed and summarized. Finally, a quantitative method of the influence of a microblogging topic based on the h-index was proposed. The evolution pattern of the influence of a microblogging topic was analyzed. The results can help predict microblog entries of high influence, understand the intensity and variation of public concern over terrorist events, and assist counterterrorism departments in taking scientific decisions.
The Impact of Treatment Delay on Hepatitis C Liver Transplant Outcomes
Authors: Booth Ian A. , Clark Jacqueline E. , LaMattina John C. , Barth Rolf N. , Haririan Abdolreza , Ravichandran Bharath R.
Published: July 2021

Background: Direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have improved outcomes in liver transplant recipients (LTRs). However, the timing of HCV treatment and approach to treating rejection have not been well described. Additionally, pharmacists’ roles in these comprehensive areas have not been investigated. Methods: This single-center, retrospective, cohort review compared 1-year graft and patient survival between HCV-positive and HCV-negative LTRs. Secondary endpoints included 1-year rejection rates, HCV sustained virologic response and time to HCV treatment. Results: Ninety-two HCV Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAT)-positive LTRs were matched 1:1 to HCV-seronegative LTRs. One-year graft and patient survival were similar between groups. HCV-positive LTRs were more likely to experience biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), and despite treatment with pulse steroids, there was no impact on graft survival or occurrence of fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH). Time to HCV treatment was 5.4–6.4 months post-transplant, with no treatment failures or impact on graft or patient survival. Conclusions: No difference was seen in graft survival at 1 year between HCV-positive and HCV-seronegative LTRs. Delayed time to treatment of HCV and treatment of rejections in the HCV-positive cohort did not impact outcomes. However, pharmacist-driven protocols could ensure more efficient initiation of HCV treatment in the future.
Effect of length in rotational autofrettage of long cylinders with free ends
Authors: Shufen Rajkumar , Dixit Uday Shanker
Published: July 2021

Thick-walled cylindrical and spherical pressure vessels are often subjected to autofrettage, a process in which the vessel is loaded at the inner wall to cause a partial or complete plastic deformation emanating from the inner wall, followed by unloading. This introduces the beneficial compressive residual stresses in the vicinity of the inner wall. Depending on the type of the loading, there are five different types of autofrettage processes— hydraulic, swage, explosive, thermal and rotational. This article analyzes the rotational autofrettage, in which the cylinder to be autofrettaged is loaded by rotating it about its longitudinal axis. The centrifugal forces cause the required plastic deformation in the cylinder. Hence, when the cylinder is unloaded by bringing it to rest, compressive hoop residual stresses are introduced in the vicinity of its inner wall. When long cylinders are rotated about their axes, the distribution of axial stress changes with length of the cylinder and affects the generation of the residual stresses in the autofrettaged cylinder. This effect is investigated here by a finite element method (FEM) analysis of rotational autofrettage of cylinder made up of A723 gun steel. The FEM analysis using ABAQUS® package reveals the presence of tensile axial residual stresses in the vicinity of the inner wall of the cylinder, which increase with length. The tensile residual stresses can be mitigated by constraining the ends of the cylinder during the rotational autofrettage.
Identification of drivers’ driving habits and shift schedule correction for vehicles with automatic transmission
Authors: Xia Guang , Zhang Hualei , Tang Xiwen , Wu Shilong , Zhao Linfeng , Hu Jinfang
Published: July 2021

Resource conservation has become a hot topic, and driving habits also have a significant impact on a car’s fuel consumption. In view of the different needs of drivers with different driving habits for automatic transmission and shift characteristics, a vehicle automatic transmission, and shift correction control strategy based on driving habit recognition is proposed. Based on the analysis of drivers’ driving behavior, the phase space reconstruction method is first used to reconstruct the time series of driving control signals, and the driving habit identification and gear shift correction control are conducted based on the correlation dimension and Kolmogorov entropy evaluation index. Simulation and real car test show that the identification method based on phase space reconstruction method and driving habits evaluation index can accurately identify drivers’ driving habits. The gear shift correction control strategy based on driving habit recognition fully meets the different requirements of different drivers for the gearshift performance of vehicles and improves the intelligence degree of automatic transmission of vehicles.
Modification of rotary air preheater toward achieving extended life-span utilizing porous media approach: A case study
Authors: Hajebzadeh Hamed , Ansari Abdulhamid NM
Published: July 2021

The main goal of this study is to achieve the extended operating life of the rotary regenerative air pre-heater (Ljungström) of Bandar Abbas power plant by modifying operational parameters by decreasing the corrosion. To achieve this goal, a three-dimensional CFD simulation of the Ljungström is carried out, utilizing the thermal non-equilibrium porous media model. Temperatures are validated against measured data from the power plant with a maximum relative error of 5.54% on the Celsius scale, and mass flow rates are validated with a maximum relative error of −5.25%. The effect of the Ljungström key parameters including the rotational speed, cold layer material, inlet air/flue gas temperature, and mass flow rate, are analyzed in presence of leakages and neglecting it, using porous media approach. The leakage effect is investigated considering radial and axial/peripheral clearances. Finally, a simulation is performed by applying feasible improved parameters extracted from the above analyses considering the effect of all parameters together in presence of leakages, which shows a 6.14% improvement in the Ljungström effectiveness, reducing the total leakage to about one-third of the actual model and eliminating any corrosion.
Reimagining Internationalization for Society
Authors: Leask Betty , de Gayardon Ariane
Published: July 2021

To reimagine means, literally, to reassess, rethink, and recreate. It implies a need for radical change and innovation. In this special issue, authors explore the possibilities of connecting internationalization to society, for the benefit of society. Hitherto, much of the literature published on internationalization has been essentially inward looking, focused on how students and institutions experience internationalization and how they benefit, or not, from it. The papers in this issue explore a broader vision for internationalization, one focused also on the real and potential impact of internationalization activities on local and global communities. In different ways, each of the articles contributes to a new vision for internationalization, through the important process of reimagining internationalization for society.
The Association of Coagulation Indicators and Coagulant Agents With 30-Day Mortality of Critical Diabetics
Authors: Huang Yingxin , Zhong Zhihua , Liu Fanna
Published: July 2021

Diabetes, regarded as a global health concerned disease, was focused by the World Health Organization (WHO). Patients with diabetes may have a hypercoagulable and hypo-fibrinolysis state. There is lots of research about cardiovascular effects on diabetes patients, but less about the coagulation system. This study is designed to investigate the relationship between coagulation indicators and 30-day mortality of critical diabetes patients. In this retrospective, single-center study, we included adult patients diagnosed with diabetes. Data, including demographic, complication, laboratory tests, scoring system, and anticoagulant treatment, were extracted from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier curve were applied to predict the association of mortality and coagulation indicators. Cox hazard regression model and subgroup analysis were used to analyze the risk factors associated with 30-day mortality. A total of 4026 patients with diabetes mellitus were included in our study, of whom 3312 survived after admitted to the hospital and 714 died. Cox hazard regression showed anticoagulant therapy might decrease the risk of 30-day mortality after adjusted. In age <70 subgroup analysis, we found that patients with PTT <26.8 s or lightly increased PT may increase odds of 30-day hospital death (HR, 95%CI, 2.044 (1.376, 3.034), 1.562 (1.042, 2.343)). When age >70, lightly increased PTT may reduce the risk of mortality, but PT >16.3 s, a high level of hypo-coagulation state, increase risk of mortality (HR, 95%CI, 0.756 (0.574, 0.996), 1.756 (1.129, 2.729)). Critical diabetes patients may benefit from anticoagulant agents. The abnormal coagulant function is related to the risk of 30-day mortality.
Transient and Persistent Cost Efficiency in Hotels in the Canary Islands
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Jorge V. , Acosta-González Eduardo
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study is to determine the presence or otherwise of transient and/or persistent cost inefficiency in the lodging industry. To do so, we applied the method proposed by Filippini and Greene, within a stochastic frontier panel data framework. Our empirical analysis is based on data for the hotel industry in the Canary Islands (Spain), an important destination for European tourists, for the period 2002-2015. Using a stochastic translog cost frontier model, we show that the industry’s real output during the study period could have been achieved at 17% less cost if persistent (systematic) inefficiency were eliminated, and at 24% less cost in the absence of transient (nonsystematic) inefficiency. We also present evidence of factors that strongly influence hotels’ transient cost efficiency, such as the positive effects of market share (in total revenue terms) and certain management characteristics, including the degree of independence with respect to shareholders, the experience in the industry (years in business) and the number of subsidiaries.
Examining the Schoolwide Expectations Survey for Specific Settings: Descriptive Properties
Authors: Royer David James , Lane Kathleen Lynne , Oakes Wendy Peia , Jenkins Abbie Brooke , Cantwell Emily Dawn , Common Eric Alan , Lane Katie Scarlett
Published: July 2021

In tiered systems, all school faculty and staff ideally recognize student academic, behavioral, and social achievement as a shared responsibility. In an ideal system, faculty and staff collaborate in a data-informed process to define common student expectations to facilitate success. Adults provide clarity for all students by defining expectations for instructional and non-instructional settings, allowing equitable access to all areas of the school experience. In this replication study, we explored educator priorities of behavioral expectations in classroom and non-instructional settings for students as measured by the Schoolwide Expectations Survey for Specific Settings (SESSS). We analyzed faculty and staff data from 10 U.S. schools whose leadership teams participated in a yearlong professional learning series to design their Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention. Results indicated educators across school levels (elementary, middle, high) had similar views on what expectations should be prioritized for student success, with statistically significant differences found for the hallway setting. Implications and future directions for research in this area are discussed.
Catheter-related blood stream infection in hemodialysis patients with symmetric tunneled non-side-hole hemodialysis catheters
Authors: Tal Michael G , Yevzlin Alexander S
Published: July 2021

Background:

Tunneled hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients. Side holes positioned near the tip of catheters have been linked to formation of thrombi, which, in turn, have been implicated in predisposition to infection. In addition, side holes allow spillage of catheter locking solution, including antibiotics, thereby minimizing the lock solution’s effect on the catheter tip. This study assessed the infection events that occurred in a series of hemodialysis patients using a non-side-hole catheter.

Methods:

Over a period of 2 years, a novel symmetric-tip non-side-hole catheter was placed in 60 patients. Hemodialysis was performed thrice weekly. Prescribed dialyzer flows were 300–350 mL/min. Catheters were routinely locked with heparin 5000 units/mL between treatments. Patients were followed up for any catheter related complications, specifically infection events.

Results:

Seven events of catheter-related bloodstream infection occurred for a rate of 0.76 events per 1000 catheter-days, with the first event occurring 9 weeks after insertion. These events were treated by locking the affected catheter with 2 g of clindamycin in 2 mL of heparin 1000 units/mL and administration of intravenous antibiotics, in most cases, for 7–14 days. Two catheters were removed due to infection.

Conclusions:

Catheter-related bloodstream infections with non-side-hole hemodialysis catheters do occur at a relatively low rate and in this initial preliminary study it seems that most of these infections can be successfully treated without removal of the affected catheters.
Subaortic left brachiocephalic vein and real-time ultrasound-guided puncture
Authors: Montes-Tapia Fernando , Arenas-Ruiz José , Palma-Soto Rosa , Garcia-Alcudia Zelenia , Rodríguez-Garza Claudia Yasbek , Martínez-Ponce de León Ángel
Published: July 2021

We describe a subaortic left brachiocephalic vein, a congenital anomaly that can be suspected during the rapid central vein assessment before central venous catheterization. Since the vein descends vertically/obliquely rapidly from its origin, we suggest that the puncture should be made at a greater angle (50°–60°) than what is usually used to puncture this vein (20°–30°). Failure to identify this anomaly may cause a failed puncture or complications from the puncture of adjacent blood vessels.
Predictors of parasocial interaction and relationships in live streaming
Authors: McLaughlin Caitlin , Wohn Donghee Yvette
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the current article was to explore parasocial phenomena in the unique and interactive context of live streaming. Specifically, the predictors of parasocial interactions (PSIs) and parasocial relationships (PSRs) were compared. In the past, the terms ‘parasocial interaction’ and ‘parasocial relationship’ have been used interchangeably, even though they are distinct constructs – which has confused researchers’ understanding of these phenomena. The current study aims to begin to disentangle our understanding of these two constructs by studying the predictors for each construct separately. An online survey was utilized to collect data on PSRs, PSIs, and various parasocial predictors that fell into three categories: streamer (source) characteristics, viewer characteristics, and behavioral (relationship) characteristics. Results indicate that streamer characteristics were the most important predictors of both PSIs and PSRs in the live streaming context, although characteristics of the viewer and relationship were also influential. These findings indicate that message sources can modify their content to encourage parasocial phenomena in their audience. This is encouraging, as research suggests that parasocial phenomena lead to many positive repercussions for the media and so are generally considered a goal of media personae.
Interview with Samantha Frost on ‘The Attentive Body’: Epigenetic Processes and Self-formative Subjectivity
Authors: Tamari Tomoko
Published: July 2021

The interview is a follow-up from Samantha Frost’s article, ‘The Attentive Body’, in Body & Society 26(4). Tomoko Tamari invites Frost to explore her interest in ‘biocultural creatures’, with its focus on ‘bodies’ responsive self-transformation’ in epigenetic processes, and unfolds Peirce’s account of the index for understanding meaning-making in biological processes. Tamari also introduces Katherine Hayles’s notion of ‘cognitive nonconscious’ to raise the question of the possible theoretical and mechanical similarities/discrepancies between epigenetic processes in organisms and the meaning-making process in computational systems. Drawing on Jacob von Uexkull’s notion of ‘umwelt’ and introducing Yoshimi Kawade’s remarks on a living being’s subjective orientation in environments, a further question about ‘intention’ and ‘subjectivity’ enables Frost to further unpack her notion of ‘the attentive self’ and discuss its relation to ‘intentionality’ and ‘referentiality’ in epigenetic processes. Finally, Samantha Frost mentions her current projects on the connection between ‘attention-as-responsive-self-transformation’ and ‘mode-of-living-as-form-of-life’.
Caregiver perspectives on the impact of uncertainty on the everyday lives of autistic children and their families
Authors: Goodwin Jane , Rob Priyanka , Freeston Mark , Garland Deborah , Grahame Victoria , Kernohan Ashleigh , Labus Marie , Osborne Malcolm , Parr Jeremy R , Wright Catharine , Rodgers Jacqui
Published: July 2021

Approximately 50% of autistic children experience high anxiety. Intolerance of uncertainty (tendency to react negatively to uncertain situations) is a key mechanism in the development and maintenance of anxiety. This study aimed to provide a descriptive, thematic analysis of the impact on uncertainty on the daily lives of autistic children and their families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents and caregivers of 53 autistic children (including 3 dyads) aged 6–16 years to elicit examples of uncertain situations that the children found challenging and to explore the impact of these situations on family life. Thematic analysis revealed five overarching themes: child’s reactions to uncertainty, trying to reduce uncertainty, the impact of difficulties with uncertainty, the impact of uncertainty on parenting and the impact on parents. These findings provide a crucial understanding into the range of uncertain situations autistic children with anxiety experience. Anxiety-reduction approaches based on increasing tolerance to everyday uncertain situations could help improve well-being, quality of life and participation for autistic children and their families.

Lay abstract

Anxiety is common in autistic children. Research shows that this may be related to intolerance of uncertainty, which is a tendency to react negatively to uncertain situations. Understanding when, why and how autistic children respond to uncertainty is important in the development of anxiety programmes. We asked 53 (including 3 dyads) parents of autistic children about the types of uncertain situations that cause difficulties for their child and how uncertainty impacts on daily life for them and their families. We found that uncertain situations made autistic children and their families feel sad, worried, frustrated and angry through the themes: child’s reactions to uncertainty, trying to reduce uncertainty, the impact of difficulties with uncertainty, the impact of uncertainty on parenting and the impact on parents. There are lots of situations that are anxiety provoking for autistic children because of uncertainty, such as school. Programmes to reduce anxiety and increase autistic children’s ability to cope with everyday uncertain situations could improve quality of life for autistic children and their families.
The role of morphological similarity in lexical activation and unintentional transfer
Authors: Fuster Carles , Neuser Hannah
Published: July 2021

Aims:

Within the current multilingual paradigm shift, transfer is increasingly conceptualised not only as an unintentional mechanism of “interference”, but also as an intentional mechanism used as a learner strategy. However, very little is known from an empirical perspective about (un)intentionality in transfer. This article builds on an exploratory study which suggested that background language words that fit well within the morphological constraints of the target language are highly activated during target language use and, consequently, likely to transfer unintentionally. The present study tests whether the correlation between morphological similarity and unintentionality in lexical transfer is statistically significant

Methodology:

A quasi-Poisson regression analysis was employed to test the significance of morphological similarity on the amount of unintentional transfer in the written production of Spanish by 78 highly multilingual school students, when tested together with additional variables (number of languages known, proficiency in the target and source languages, frequency of use, first language/second language status and psychotypology) that have also been proposed to affect lexical activation and transfer.

Data and analysis:

A picture-story description task was used to elicit written transfer. When a learner reported – introspectively or retrospectively – a word to have been transferred from a background language, this word was coded as an instance of intentional transfer. Reversely, non-target-like words traced back to a background language by the authors that were not commented on by the learner were coded as instances of unintentional transfer.

Findings:

A strongly significant ( p < 0.001), positive correlation was found between the amount of unintentional transfer and morphological similarity. A negative trend ( p < 0.1) was also found between amount of unintentional transfer and number of languages known by learners. Theoretical implications are discussed.

Originality:

This is one of few studies shedding light on (un)intentionality in transfer. It is also one of few studies to employ regression analysis to investigate the effect of several variables on transfer.

Significance:

The study provides empirical evidence to substantiate theoretical accounts of lexical activation. First, the results show that morphological similarity indeed seems to be the primary variable leading to high levels of cross-lexical activation and, second, the results show how highly activated words are more likely to be transferred unintentionally, further supporting these theoretical accounts.
Energy-efficient distributed heterogeneous clustered spectrum-aware cognitive radio sensor network for guaranteed quality of service in smart grid
Authors: Ogbodo Emmanuel , Dorrell David , Abu-Mahfouz Adnan
Published: July 2021

The development of a modern electric power grid has triggered the need for large-scale monitoring and communication in smart grids for efficient grid automation. This has led to the development of smart grids, which utilize cognitive radio sensor networks, which are combinations of cognitive radios and wireless sensor networks. Cognitive radio sensor networks can overcome spectrum limitations and interference challenges. The implementation of dense cognitive radio sensor networks, based on the specific topology of smart grids, is one of the critical issues for guaranteed quality of service through a communication network. In this article, various topologies of ZigBee cognitive radio sensor networks are investigated. Suitable topologies with energy-efficient spectrum-aware algorithms of ZigBee cognitive radio sensor networks in smart grids are proposed. The performance of the proposed ZigBee cognitive radio sensor network model with its control algorithms is analyzed and compared with existing ZigBee sensor network topologies within the smart grid environment. The quality of service metrics used for evaluating the performance are the end-to-end delay, bit error rate, and energy consumption. The simulation results confirm that the proposed topology model is preferable for sensor network deployment in smart grids based on reduced bit error rate, end-to-end delay (latency), and energy consumption. Smart grid applications require prompt, reliable, and efficient communication with low latency. Hence, the proposed topology model supports heterogeneous cognitive radio sensor networks and guarantees network connectivity with spectrum-awareness. Hence, it is suitable for efficient grid automation in cognitive radio sensor network–based smart grids. The traditional model lacks these capability features.
I’m Here; I’m Queer: How One Parent Advocates for the Inclusion of Queer Youth
Authors: Colvin Kody , Edwards Sean , Eng Britnee
Published: July 2021

Educators and school administration are tasked with creating schools that support and affirm LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) students and families. This study explores a high school in a conservative community as one parent attempts to advocate for their transgender child and other LGBTQ+-identifying students. Although school employees are mandated by state and federal laws to ensure that all students are free from bullying and harassment, the research highlights that schools remain hostile for many LGBTQ+ students. This article provides reflection questions throughout the case as a way for school leadership to grapple with and challenge their thinking regarding LGBTQ+-affirming strategies in their schools.
Flexural behavior analysis of composites with triaxial woven fabric as reinforcement
Authors: Rao Yunfei , Zhang Chen , Li Zhe , Li Qianqian , Zhang Honghua , Li Wei
Published: July 2021

The triaxial woven fabric is known for their light weight and isotropy of mechanical properties. However, researches that using it as reinforcement to form different structural composites were rarely mentioned. Here, we found that the effect of the triaxial woven fabric can be almost equivalent to the unidirectional fabric in flexural strength (99.18%) when it was added as a reinforcing material into the unidirectional fabric composites even though the weight of triaxial woven fabric has only a third of unidirectional fabric. Moreover, the effects and mechanisms are quite different when changing the position of the triaxial woven fabric in the composites. The damage modes of composites when triaxial woven fabric in different stacking sequences were summarized and the resin blocks model from triaxial woven fabric composites was presented in this paper.
Non-similar forced convection analysis of Oldroyd-B fluid flow over an exponentially stretching surface
Authors: Razzaq Raheela , Farooq Umer
Published: July 2021

In the study of boundary layer regions, it is in practice to dimensionalize the governing system and grouping variables together into dimensionless quantities in order to curtail the total number of variables. In similar flow phenomenon the physical parameters do not vary along the streamwise direction. However in non-similar flows the physical quantities change in the streamwise direction. In non-similar flows we are forced to non-dimensionalize the governing equations through non-similarity transformations. The forced flow of Oldroyd-B fluid is initiated as a result of stretching of a surface at an exponential rate. Flows over stretching surfaces are important because of their applications in extrusion processes. The forthright purpose of this study is to consider the non-similar aspects of forced convection from flat heated surface subjected to external viscoelastic fluid flow, described by the freely growing boundary layers enclosed by a region that involves without velocity and temperature gradients. The governing system of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDE’s) is transformed into dimensionless form by proposing new non-similar transformations. The dimensionless partial differential system is solved by using local non-similarity via bvp4c. Thermal transport analysis is conducted for distinct values of dimensionless numbers. It is revealed that heat shifting process expanded by the increase in the numerical values of Prandtl number and relaxation time. The dimensionless convective heat transfer coefficient results revealed that it is declining by expanding relaxation time constant [Formula: see text] and a boost is observed by enlarging the Pr and retardation time constant [Formula: see text]. A comparison of Nusselt number is presented.
Lightweight and maintainable rotary-wing UAV frame from configurable design to detailed design
Authors: Guo Huiqiang , Li Mingzhe , Sun Pengfei , Zhao Changfeng , Zuo Wenjie , Li Xiaoying
Published: July 2021

Rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widespread in both the military and civilian applications. However, there are still some problems for the UAV design such as the long design period, high manufacturing cost, and difficulty in maintenance. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel design method to obtain a lightweight and maintainable UAV frame from configurable design to detailed design. First, configurable design is implemented to determine the initial design domain of the UAV frame. Second, topology optimization method based on inertia relief theory is used to transform the initial geometric model into the UAV frame structure. Third, process design is considered to improve the manufacturability and maintainability of the UAV frame. Finally, dynamic drop test is used to validate the crashworthiness of the UAV frame. Therefore, a lightweight UAV frame structure composed of thin-walled parts can be obtained and the design period can be greatly reduced via the proposed method.
Automated Insulin Delivery Systems: Today, Tomorrow and User Requirements
Authors: Giménez Marga , Conget Ignacio , Oliver Nick
Published: July 2021

Automated insulin delivery (AID) is the most recent advance in type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. It has the potential to achieve glycemic targets without disabling hypoglycemia, to improve quality of life and reduce diabetes distress and burden associated with self-management. Several AID systems are currently licensed for use by people with T1D in Europe, United States, and the rest of the world. Despite AID becoming a reality in routine clinical practice over the last few years, the commercially hybrid AID and other systems, are still far from a fully optimized automated diabetes management tool. Implementation of AID systems requires education and support of healthcare professionals taking care of people with T1D, as well as users and their families. There is much to do to increase usability, portability, convenience and to reduce the burden associated with the use of the systems. Co-design, involvement of people with lived experience of T1D and robust qualitative assessment is critical to improving the real-world use of AID systems, especially for those who may have greater need. In addition to this, information regarding the psychosocial impact of the use of AID systems in real life is needed. The first commercially available AID systems are not the end of the development journey but are the first step in learning how to optimally automate insulin delivery in a way that is equitably accessible and effective for people living with T1D.
Disproportionate Minority Contact: An Expanded Examination of how Threat of Violent and Sexual Offending Impacts Court Outcomes
Authors: Fix Rebecca L. , Fanniff Amanda M. , Kline Julia L. , Letourneau Elizabeth J.
Published: July 2021

Racial disparities in the U.S. juvenile justice system appear to be attenuated for people with sexual and violent versus drug and property offenses. Existing theories such as the racial threat hypothesis partially explain these racial disparities, but the definition of “threat” could limit our ability to explain juvenile justice outcomes across offense categories. Importantly, research often overlooks the different and unique threats associated with violent and sexual crimes. The present study examined impacts of racial threat and an expanded definition of “threat” associated with violent and sexual crime on (a) preadjudication detention and (b) dispositions of postadjudication confinement. Statewide archival court data were obtained regarding 212,274 male and female adolescents. In the full models, less severe violent (assault vs. homicide) and sexual offenses (indecent exposure and child pornography vs. sexual abuse) were associated with lower use of detention and secure confinement. This impact of specific violent and sexual offenses on court outcomes were observed in models run with Black adolescents and models separated by violent offenses and sexual offenses. Higher rates of county-level homicide prosecutions and White-to-Black unemployment were significantly and positively associated with detention and confinement, respectively. Racial threat and other theories aiming to explain racial disparities should be reexamined and modified to include markers of violent and sexual offense stigma and threat. Further, models testing racial disparities should include an expanded definition of “threat” in selecting indicators. Our suggested modified theory could better elucidate racial disparities in the juvenile justice system and presents important practice implications.
Quantitative Dynamics Effects of Belt and Road Economies Trade Using Structural Gravity and Neural Networks
Authors: Dumor Koffi , Yao Li , Ainam Jean-Paul , Amouzou Edem Koffi , Ayivi Williams
Published: July 2021

Recent research suggests that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would improve the bilateral trade between China and its partners. This article uses detailed bilateral export data from 1990 to 2017 to investigate the impact of China’s BRI on its trade partners using neural network analysis techniques and structural gravity model estimations. Our main findings suggest that the BRI countries would raise exports by a modest 5.053%. This indicates that export and network upgrades should be considered from economic and policy perspectives. The results also show that neural networks is more robust compared with structural gravity framework.
Nodular Hidradenocarcinoma, Trichelemmal Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Clear Cell Changes: Pitfalls of Biopsy Diagnosis of Skin and Adnexal Tumours
Authors: Agarwal Apoorva , Agarwal Preeti , Anand Akshay , Sagar Mala , Bhalla Shalini , Agrawal Manish , Sonkar Abhinav Arun , Goel Madhu Mati
Published: July 2021

Skin and Adnexal tumours are a group of benign and malignant tumours whose basic diagnosis relies on histopathology. A single tumour may show more than 1 appendageal differentiation. Morphologic distinction between benign and its malignant counterpart is of utmost importance as it affects the treatment and prognosis of patient. We have described 3 cases who presented in our university hospital, in which final resection pathological diagnosis differed from initial core biopsy interpretation. The authors have made an attempt to provide a brief overview of diagnostic overlap existing between nodular hidradenocarcinoma and tumours of clear cell histology. Salient morphologic features differentiating cylindroma or trichilemmal carcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma have also been discussed. Final diagnosis is paramount for adjuvant management and prognostication of the patient in a clinical setting.
Survival rates and reasons for revision of different stem designs in total hip arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia: a regional registry study
Authors: Di Martino Alberto , Castagnini Francesco , Stefanini Niccolò , Bordini Barbara , Geraci Giuseppe , Pilla Federico , Traina Francesco , Faldini Cesare
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in dysplastic hips is challenging, and each specific implant used in this context has been associated with specific complications. A registry study was performed to query survival rates, hazard ratios, and reasons for revision of different stem designs in THAs after developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Materials and methods

A regional arthroplasty registry was inquired about cementless THAs performed for hip dysplasia from 2000 to 2017. Patients were stratified according to stem design in tapered (TAP; wedge and rectangular), anatomic (ANAT), and conical (CON), and divided on the basis of modularity (modular, M; nonmodular, NM). In total, 2039 TAP stems (548 M and 1491 NM), 1435 ANAT (1072 M and 363 NM), and 2287 CON (1020 M and 1267 NM) implants were included. Survival rates and reasons for revisions were compared.

Results

The groups were homogeneous for demographics, but not fully comparable in terms of implant features. NM-CON stems showed the highest risk of failure (significant) and a high risk for cup aseptic loosening (2.5%). The adjusted risk ratio showed that NM-CON was more prone to failure (HR versus NM-ANAT: 3.30; 95%CI 1.64–7.87; p = 0.0003). Revision rates for dislocations and stem aseptic loosening did not differ between cohorts.

Conclusions

NM-CON stems showed the highest risk of failure, especially high rates of cup aseptic loosening. NM-CON implants were not more prone to dislocations and stem aseptic loosening. Clinical comparative studies are required to investigate the causes of NM-CON failures, which may be due to abnormal acetabular morphology or imperfect restoration of the proximal biomechanics.
Arthroscopic incidence of lateral meniscal root avulsion in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury
Authors: Ciatti Riccardo , Gabrielli Armando , Iannella Germando , Mariani Pier Paolo
Published: July 2021

Background

To arthroscopically evaluate the incidence of lateral meniscal root avulsion (LMRA) and associated intra-articular injuries in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Materials and Methods

From April 2014 to March 2017, 532 consecutive patients were diagnosed as having an ACL injury and underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. The diagnosis of LMRA was made arthroscopically. The effects of gender, activity, grade of laxity, time from injury, and concomitant meniscal lesions were analyzed.

Results

Among 532 patients, 497 (93.4%) underwent primary ACL reconstruction and 35 (6.5%) underwent revision procedures. 383 were acute or subacute injuries (less than 6 months from injury to surgery) and 149 chronic (more than 6 months). Average age was 30.4 years (DS: ± 11.04); there were 422 (79.3%) males and 110 (20.6%) females. A LMRA associated with the ACL injury was detected in 72 cases (13.5%), with a significant prevalence observed in males ($${\chi ^2}$$

χ
2

= 4.65; P = 0.031, statistically significant). In the 149 patients with a chronic injury, 27 patients had LMRA (18.1%), while 45 of the 383 patients with an acute or subacute injury had LMRA (11.7%). There was a tendency, albeit not significant ($${\chi ^2}$$

χ
2

 = 3.721; P = 0.054), for the prevalence to increase with time since the initial ACL injury. LMRA was significantly associated ($${\chi ^2}$$

χ
2

= 7.81; P = 0.006) with a meniscocapsular tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (ramp lesion). No other significant associations, such as with severity of A-P translation (as measured by KT-2000) or activity level, were detected.

Conclusion

LMRA is a relatively common injury associated with both acute and chronic ACL tears. A relatively high incidence in cases of chronic ACL insufficiency suggests that LMRAs do not heal spontaneously or that they may appear with time, even when absent at the time of the initial injury.

Level of evidence

Level III, cross-sectional study.
Testicular fixation and its effect on ipsilateral and contralateral testis in prepubertal rat model
Authors: Singh Amit Kumar , Srinivas M. , Mallick Saumyaranjan
Published: July 2021

Background

While performing orchidopexy, various suture materials or fibrin glues are used to achieve testicular fixation. This study was designed to assess the histological changes in testis after orchidopexy using fibrin glue and suture material.

Methods

Male Wistar rats (n = 80) were divided randomly into four groups. Group I, (n = 20): sham operation, Group II (n = 20): Dartos Pouch (DP), Group III (n = 20): Transtunical fixation (TF), Group IV (n = 20): Tissue Adhesive (TA). Ipsilateral and contralateral testicular histology was assessed at 70 and 120 days of life after sacrificing animals by using thiopental sodium intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg.

Results

Morphologically, at day 70, contralateral testis in Group III had a significant (p value 0.046) decrease testicular width (0.92 ± 0.01 vs 1.24 ± 0.39 cm). At 120 of life, Group I, II, III, and IV had a significant (p value < 0.001 each) decrease testicular width and weight in ipsilateral and decrease testicular length (p value 0.002) in contralateral testis. Histologically, mean seminiferous tubular diameter and DNA flow cytometry had a significant (p value < 0.001) decrease in size in Group I, II, III, and IV both ipsilateral as well as contralateral testis. Intergroup comparison at 70 and 120 days of life showed a significant decrease in seminiferous tubular diameter in Group II, III and IV and in Johnsen maturation score, seminiferous tubular diameter, DNA flow cytometry in Group I, II, III, and IV.

Conclusions

Dartos Pouch is most suitable procedure for treatment of orchidopexy. Suture fixation must be avoided and if the need arises then instead of suture materials, fibrin glue should be used for testicular fixation.
Discovery of fibrillar adhesins across bacterial species
Authors: Monzon Vivian , Lafita Aleix , Bateman Alex
Published: July 2021

Background

Fibrillar adhesins are long multidomain proteins that form filamentous structures at the cell surface of bacteria. They are an important yet understudied class of proteins composed of adhesive and stalk domains that mediate interactions of bacteria with their environment. This study aims to characterize fibrillar adhesins in a wide range of bacterial phyla and to identify new fibrillar adhesin-like proteins to improve our understanding of host-bacteria interactions.

Results

Through careful literature and computational searches, we identified 82 stalk and 27 adhesive domain families in fibrillar adhesins. Based on the presence of these domains in the UniProt Reference Proteomes database, we identified and analysed 3,542 fibrillar adhesin-like proteins across species of the most common bacterial phyla. We further enumerate the adhesive and stalk domain combinations found in nature and demonstrate that fibrillar adhesins have complex and variable domain architectures, which differ across species. By analysing the domain architecture of fibrillar adhesins, we show that in Gram positive bacteria, adhesive domains are mostly positioned at the N-terminus and cell surface anchors at the C-terminus of the protein, while their positions are more variable in Gram negative bacteria. We provide an open repository of fibrillar adhesin-like proteins and domains to enable further studies of this class of bacterial surface proteins.

Conclusion

This study provides a domain-based characterization of fibrillar adhesins and demonstrates that they are widely found in species across the main bacterial phyla. We have discovered numerous novel fibrillar adhesins and improved our understanding of pathogenic adhesion and invasion mechanisms.