bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design for additive manufacturing: A three layered conceptual framework for knowledge-based design
Authors: Haruna Auwal , Yang Maolin , Jiang Pingyu
Published: October 2022

Designers face new challenges in the conceptual design phase because of the wide-ranging industrial application of additive manufacturing (AM). Structure simplification and function integration should be investigated during the conceptual design phase to embrace the design freedom that design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) offers. In this regard, a three-layered DFAM framework for knowledge-based design is established in this paper. The first layer utilizes a customized Gero’s function-behavior-structure (FBS) model to support the extraction of DFAM knowledge. The second layer uses a knowledge graph (KG) approach to express the DFAM knowledge. The third layer focuses on applying KG for DFAM by providing design guidance during the conceptual design phase. The framework supports learning to capture, design feature guidelines, representation of design behavior, and interaction with AM design engineers. Thereby, the framework provides a well-ordered and coherent approach to exploit the buried new design advantages of AM during the conceptual design phase. Subsequently, to verify the feasibility of the framework in the design process, a prototype software system and a throttle pedal design project are used for demonstration.
A study on wire arc additive manufacturing of 308L austenitic stainless steel cylindrical components: Optimisation, microstructure and mechanical properties
Authors: Prasanna Nagasai Bellamkonda , Malarvizhi Sudersanan , Balasubramanian Visvalingam
Published: October 2022

In the current study, a 308L austenitic stainless steel (SS) cylinder was fabricated using the wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology based on the cold metal transfer (CMT) arc welding process. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise the process parameters for fabricating the 308L SS component. The microstructural and mechanical properties of the additively deposited 308L SS cylinder were studied. The tensile properties were tested in three directions in relation to the deposition layer to evaluate the anisotropy behaviour of the 308L SS cylinder. The results show that the microstructure of the 308L SS cylindrical component is characterised by vertically growing austenite dendrites (γ) and residual ferrite (δ) within the austenite. The average microhardness of the 308L SS cylinder is about 220 ± 13 HV0.5. The hardness of the lower zone was 6.84% and 13.04% higher than the middle and upper zones. The average values of yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation (EL) of the 308L cylinder are 368.5 MPa, 593 MPa and 50.5%, respectively. The UTS of the longitudinal orientation specimen was 3.22% and 6.66% higher than the transverse and diagonal directions. The percentage of anisotropy in UTS was below 10% of the component built with the CMT process. The UTS of the WAAM 308L SS cylinder was greater than 570 MPa and greater than previously reported results. The mechanical behaviour of the CMT-WAAM 308L SS cylinder exhibited equal or better performance than the properties of filler wire and wrought 308L alloy. Therefore, the properties of the CMT-WAAM 308L SS cylinder are confirmed to be acceptable for industrial usage.
BHIVA position statement on HIV, the law and the work of the clinical team
Authors: Saigal Priyanka , Phillips Matt , Bernard Edwin , Douglas Calum , Poulton Mary , Smithson Kat , Sparrowhawk Alex , Ward Chris , Weait Matthew
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this statement is to outline issues at the interface between HIV transmission and the law and provide guidance to healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in the field of HIV medicine. The guidance is to support work in the UK, and it is important to note that the law in England and Wales differs from that in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Approaches are suggested to deal with these issues consistently, within legal and General Medical Council (GMC) regulatory frameworks and in the context of the public health agenda. The guidance specifically addresses sexual transmission.
Climate and ice conditions of East Siberian Sea during Holocene: Reconstructions based on sedimentary geochemical multiproxy
Authors: Astakhov Anatolii S , Babich Valeriy V , Shi Xuefa , Hu Limin , Obrezkova Maria S , Aksentov Kirill I , Alatortsev Alexander V , Darin Andrey V , Kalugin Ivan A , Karnaukh Viktor N , Melgunov Mikhail S
Published: October 2022

Reconstruction of ice conditions and climate of the East Siberian Sea during the Late Middle Holocene was implemented for the first time using a transfer function method based on marine sedimentation proxies. Transfer functions were developed based on a hydrometeorological time series of changes in mean annual air temperature (ΔT10) and the ice-free period (IF10) for the last 70–90 years and a geochemical time series of bottom sediments accumulated during this time, which were obtained using a submillimeter scanning of the core in the X-ray fluorescence analysis of synchrotron radiation. Geochemical time series of Holocene deposits were obtained from X-ray fluorescence analysis of the core in a step of 1–2 cm. Reconstruction of ice conditions and average annual air temperature revealed a decreasing trend of ΔT10 and IF10, which started from the middle Holocene up to the Little Ice Age due to an orbitally determined decrease in insolation. A synchronous periodicity of changes in ice cover and air temperature was revealed and approximated by periods of 1600 years for IF10 and 1740 years for ΔT10, which are comparable to Bond’s climatic cycles. These results indicates the telecommunication of the Atlantic processes, climate of the East Siberian Sea, and predominance of the cyclonic type of atmospheric circulation during the Holocene.
Appraisals Associated with Interpersonal Negative Emotions: What Distinguishes Anger, Contempt, Dislike, and Hatred?
Authors: Steele Amanda K. , Roseman Ira J.
Published: October 2022

To aid in understanding the determinants of negative interpersonal and intergroup behaviours, this research tested theories specifying which appraisals of events would be associated with distinct negative emotions felt towards other individuals. To test hypotheses, we analysed survey responses from 128 MTurk workers and undergraduates in the USA who wrote about current and prior experiences of either anger, contempt, dislike, or hatred, and rated scales measuring hypothesised appraisals and emotional responses. As predicted, anger was associated with perceiving another person as blocking one’s goals, whereas contempt was associated with perceiving another person as beneath one’s standards; and anger, contempt, dislike, and hatred were each associated with perceiving events as motive-inconsistent and caused by another person. However, only one item measuring prospective control fit the predicted pattern of anger and contempt involving higher control potential than dislike and hatred. These results replicate and extend previous findings on appraisal-emotion relationships in India and the United States. Similarities and differences across cultures in appraisal-emotion relationships are discussed and applied to intergroup relations in developing societies.
Book review: Pramod Kumar, A. V. Manjunatha, and Suman K. Sourav, Contract Farming and Land Tenancy in Indian Agriculture
Authors: Barik Prasenjit
Published: October 2022

Pramod Kumar, A. V. Manjunatha, and Suman K. Sourav, Contract Farming and Land Tenancy in Indian Agriculture (1st edition). SAGE Publications, 2021, 352 pp., ₹1,395, ISBN: 9789353886264 (Hardback.
Book review: Himanshu, Peter Lanjouw, and Nicholas Stern, How Lives Change: Palanpur, India and Development Economics
Authors: Saikia Munmi
Published: October 2022

Himanshu, Peter Lanjouw, and Nicholas Stern, How Lives Change: Palanpur, India and Development Economics. Oxford University Press, 2018, 501 pp., ₹795. ISBN: 9780198838050 (Hardback)
Toward A Black PlayCrit in Educational Leadership: What School Leaders Need to Know About Black Boyhood Play
Authors: Bryan Nathaniel , Davis Darrel R. , McMillian Rachel , Jackson Jarvais , Cooper Robin
Published: October 2022

Childhood play is one of the hallmarks of early childhood education, yet most early childhood educators have stereotypical views of Black boyhood play. At the same time, few scholars have addressed teachers’ and school administrators’ stereotypes and biases of Black boys’ play styles and behaviors. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to highlight the ways in which school administrators reinforce the anti-Black misandric violence Black boys experience during play through disciplinary decision-making. We also explore how such reinforcement leads to Black boys’ entry into the preschool-to-prison pipeline. Ultimately, we aim to introduce Black PlayCrit to the field of educational leadership/adminstration in order to bring attention to anti-Black misandric violence against Black boys, and to celebrate the rich history and strength of Black boyhood play.
A Unique Appliance for Median Facial Cleft Management With Sleep Apnea due to Undeveloped Nasal Septum: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Amina  , Ahmed Saad , Rajput Geeta , Abdullah Sabzar
Published: October 2022

The role of a prosthodontist in the management of facial cleft patients is the restoration of feeding, respiration, facial harmony, dental harmony and phonation. This case report presents the fabrication of an appliance for a pediatric patient with congenital median facial cleft who had sleep apnea due to the absence of nasal septum, which is a rare condition, with a unique method that fulfilled the patient's needs and improved quality of life. The patient also had median cleft lip and premaxilla along with hypertelorism.
Opening the Attitudinal Black Box: Three Dimensions of Latin American Elites’ Attitudes about Gender Equality
Authors: Alexander Amy , Bohigues Asbel , Piscopo Jennifer M.
Published: October 2022

This paper takes one of the first, direct approaches to understanding which factors shape which attitudes towards gender equality among political elites. We examine support for gender equality among legislators in 13 Latin American countries, using 10 new questions from the 2015–2018 wave of the Latin American elites survey (PELA). We argue that legislators’ attitudes about gender equality fall into three distinct dimensions: holding egalitarian views, recognizing that gender inequality is a problem, and supporting state action to hasten gender equality. Overall, women express the more gender-equal orientation on all three dimensions, while factors like religiosity and ideology matter differently for different dimensions. These findings demonstrate the need for more nuance in measuring and analyzing attitudes towards gender equality, in order to better understand the link between descriptive and substantive representation.
Association of Chronic Kidney Disease and Complications Following Acute Torsional Ankle Fracture
Authors: Sinkler Margaret A. , Pennacchio Caroline A. , Kotchman Halle M. , Vallier Heather A.
Published: October 2022

Background:

Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with poor outcomes following traumatic fractures, there is a scarcity of literature describing the effect on outcomes of ankle fractures. We will examine the impact of CKD on clinical outcomes following torsional ankle fracture, including complications and unplanned surgical procedures.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 1981 adult patients with torsional ankle fractures treated at a level 1 trauma center was performed to identify patients with CKD based on glomerular filtration rate. Demographic, injury, and treatment-related characteristics were collected. Outcomes included any unplanned procedure: implant removal, debridement, revision, arthrodesis, and amputation; in addition to complications of superficial infection, deep infection, and implant irritation. Patients with CKD were matched with patients without CKD by propensity score matching. Univariate comparisons between groups were conducted using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results:

136 patients (68 with CKD and 68 without CKD) were analyzed. Of the 68 patients with CKD, the mean stage of disease was 3.7 with 24% on dialysis for a mean length of 4.1 years. Patients without CKD were more likely to undergo primary ORIF (100% vs 54%, P < .001). Thirty-five percent of patients with CKD had surgical complications vs 19% in the cohort without ( P = .07). Patients with open fractures, dislocation, and chronic kidney disease were, respectively, 5.19, 3.77, and 3.91 times more likely to have any complication ( P = .02, P = .05, P = .05). Patients with CKD were more likely to undergo unplanned arthrodesis ( P = .01). Only dislocation was an independent predictor for unplanned procedure (odds ratio = 5.08, P = .026).

Conclusion:

Following torsional ankle fracture, CKD is associated with increased likelihood of having a complication or an unplanned arthrodesis. Open fractures and dislocation at time of injury are also associated with complications. Our findings encourage caution about surgical treatment of ankle fractures in patients with CKD.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective, comparative, prognostic.
Automatic incipient fault detection and health state assessment of rolling element bearings using pruned exact linear time method
Authors: Buchaiah Sandaram , Shakya Piyush
Published: October 2022

Rolling element bearing is a crucial component in rotating machines. The existence of faults in the bearing causes sudden failures, resulting in catastrophic failure of machines. Incipient fault detection and health state assessment are the essential tasks in condition-based maintenance to avoid machine failures. This paper proposes a new method, the Pruned Exact Linear Time, for identifying the incipient faults and following damage states in the bearing. When a fault initiates in the bearing, there is an increment in the vibration response. This increment can be quantified by the degradation indicator computed from the vibration signal. The Variational Mode Decomposition technique is used to de-noise the vibration signals. Various statistical features are derived from the de-noised signal, and the best feature subset is chosen by the Recursive Feature Elimination method. Then, the significant bearing life degradation indicator is computed using the Reconstruction Independent Component Analysis method by fusing selected features. A novel index is formulated for computing the percentage of failure, which can identify whether the bearing is in a mild failure state or medium failure state. The efficiency of the proposed framework is demonstrated using experimental bearing datasets.
From Compliance to Transformation: Notes on the MSU Strategic Plan to Address RVSM
Authors: Hirsch Jennifer S. , Khan Shamus
Published: October 2022

This response to Campbell et al. makes three points. First, the commitment to “know more” must examine the full ecology of relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM); that knowledge is essential for creating multilevel prevention strategies. Second, a full realization of an intersectional perspective requires attention to a broader range of power-based harms, forging institutional links between RVSM prevention and work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Third, while support for survivors is certainly vital, most people who experience harm do not report it, and so an ambitious approach to prevention is vital to building communities in which everyone can thrive.
A comparative study on coagulation and hematologic laboratory techniques for blood sampling using the push-pull method from a CVC versus venipuncture
Authors: Wang Lingli , Zhang Xiaomei , Qin Yi , Wang Feng , Cui Ming , Shi Yingjuan , Chen Yu
Published: October 2022

Objectives:

To demonstrate the equivalence and substitutability of two blood collection methods: the push-pull method from a CVC and direct venous puncture (DVP).

Methods:

A comparative, within-subject study was conducted between September 2021 and December 2021 at a hospital in NanTong city. The sample comprised critically ill patients aged 18 and older in critical care units such as general, emergent, cardiac, respiratory, and neurological units. A total of 154 paired blood samples were collected via a CVC and direct venous puncture. This study focused on the laboratory results of the coagulation and hematologic tests. The reproducibility and reliability of the results were calculated by the mean of the coefficient of variation (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Bland–Altman statistics were used to analyze the substitutability of the two blood collection methods.

Results:

The difference in the means between the two methods ranged from −1.61 to 0.09, and the coefficients of variation for both methods were similar. The ICCs of the two methods were all above 0.90, which indicated excellent reliability. In the Bland–Altman plots, all of the blood samples that obtained by the push-pull method were within clinically acceptable ranges compared to the samples obtained by direct venous puncture.

Conclusion:

The push-pull method of collecting blood specimens from a CVC should be acceptable for coagulation and hematologic laboratory tests.
Communicating the Risks of Air Pollution to the Public: A Perspective from Jordan and Lebanon
Authors: Saadeh Rami , Khader Yousef , Malkawi Mazen , Allouh Mohammed Z
Published: October 2022

Background:

Communicating air pollution to the public is essential in reducing exposure to air pollutants through increasing awareness and promoting precautionary actions. However, one way to approach the public is through healthcare professionals who are considered public health leaders and could influence the public’s opinion. The current study aimed to investigate the perception of health experts about communicating air pollution to the public.

Methods:

Personal interviews of 32 health professionals were conducted to report their opinions about communication of air pollution through an open-ended questionnaire. Interview questions were focused on 5 themes: common air pollutants and health risks, goals and barriers of communication, types of information to disseminate, target groups, and vehicles of communication.

Results:

Interviewees agreed that air pollution should be communicated to the public. Major barriers to achieving effective communication were people’s poor comprehension and lack of interest of policymakers. The levels of pollution, associated health risks, and ways to protect one’s self were the most frequently reported types of information to distribute. Most interviewees focused on patients with pre-existing conditions and children as the main target groups. Further, social media and text messages were preferred as vehicles of communication.

Conclusion:

Although not all interviewees had a clear idea of how to develop and implement a communication system, most of them agreed on its importance in protecting the public. More emphasis on this topic and further investigations are expected to increase the interest of health care professionals in communicating the risks of air pollution and advocating for public health policies regarding air pollution.
Intestinal Parasitosis and Associated Factors Among Food Handlers Working in the University of Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Desalegn Wondimagegn , Birke Wondwossen , Teshome Tizita , Bacha Ketema , Tamene Aiggan , Tesfaye Legesse , Tagesse Mihretu
Published: October 2022

Background:

Intestinal parasite infections are major global public health problems. The majority of persons infected reside in Sub-Saharan Africa with a high burden of the disease. Very few studies have been done in Ethiopia and none exist at Wachemo University, Southern Ethiopia. The present study aimed to investigate intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among Wachemo University students’ cafeteria food handlers.

Methods:

Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 randomly selected food handlers from 15, February to 05, March/2019. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and standard laboratory procedures were employed to collect stool and finger specimens and analyzed them for intestinal parasites. Data were edited, cleaned, entered, using EPI data 3.3.1, and analyzed by statistical package for social science version 20. A stepwise logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for the different factors.

Results:

Of 212, the majority 63.7% were females and 48.1% attended grades 9 to 10. Of the stool and fingernail specimens examined, 29.7 % and 5.6% were positive for different parasites, respectively. The most prevalent parasite is Ascaris lumbricoides (12.7%) followed by Hookworm (6.6%), Giardia lamblia (4.7%), Taenia saginata (2.4%), and mixed infection (3.3%). Although several factors showed significant association with intestinal parasitosis, attending secondary level education 94.5% (AOR: 0.055; 95% CI [0.007-0.413]), fingernail status (AOR: 0.330; 95% CI [0.113-0.965]), and hand washing with soap and water after toilet use (AOR: 0.332; 95% CI [0.125-0.884]) were the significant variables in multivariable analysis ( P < .05).

Conclusions:

The results demonstrated intestinal parasite infections as a public health issue in Ethiopia that requires attention. Appropriate intervention programs like encouraging food handlers to practice good hygiene, routine hand washing at key times, and nail trimming should be implemented.
Introduction to the Media International Australia special issue on “TikTok cultures in the Asia Pacific”
Authors: Abidin Crystal , Lee Jin , Kaye D. Bondy Valdovinos
Published: October 2022

The editors of this Feature Topic are founding members of the TikTok Cultures Research Network that focuses on culturally-situated and qualitatively-grounded scholarship on TikTok in the Asia Pacific region. This Feature Topic collection for Media International Australia is our second in a string of Special Issues on TikTok, each primed to interrogate the platform from different scholarly vantage points while remaining committed to surfacing, highlighting, and strengthening research from, by, and about contexts in the margins. In this Feature Topic issue, we focus on the Asia Pacific region to understand the socio-cultural impacts, creative circumventions, and agentic employments of TikTok since its installation. Given the timing of symposium and intellectual inquiries, these studies have also naturally considered the cascading impacts and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on platform use, meaning making, and the habitable spaces we make for ourselves and for each other in times of crisis.
Toward a penology of organizational offending
Authors: Sutton James E , Peoples Clayton D
Published: October 2022

The punishment of organizational offending has largely been overlooked by penologists, despite the fact that organizational actors such as corporations and the state perpetrate the most serious forms of offending. Accordingly, this paper represents a step toward foregrounding organizational offending within the discipline of penology. We begin by discussing the implications of several Classical School ideals and theories of punishment for organizational offending, with special emphases on challenges and contradictions. We then review control strategies that are unique to organizational offending, and we go on to contemplate how expressive and non-institutional tactics might potentially factor into how organizational offending is punished. When taken together, these sections reveal the limitations of penology's traditional assumptions of an individual offender and individual offending. We conclude by outlining our view of what a penology of organizational offending should accomplish.
Over the ruins of subjects: A critique of subjectivism in anthropological discourse
Authors: Santos Alexandre Ricardo
Published: October 2022

The present article develops a theoretical and philosophical critique of the subjectivist paradigm that grounds a good part of present-day anthropological discourse. The main thesis is that by placing the individual and its subjective experiences at the beginning and end of the anthropological discourse, one never thoroughly acknowledges and accepts our non-subjective and finite modes of being, thereby replicating a distorted and shallow picture of what we are as humans. The article explores, first, how that subjectivist paradigm came about, as well as some of its problems; secondly, it considers ethics and morality as the domain where one can better grasp the limits of subjectivist orientations; and concludes by turning to Heidegger's perspective on the ontological finitude of Dasein in order to emphasize the need for contemporary anthropology to build its reflections from within human finitude, that is, the frailties and the practical, analytic and moral limits of human existence.
Influence of material grading and compositional platinum profile on the functionally graded piezoelectric bridge structure
Authors: Adhikari Jitendra , Kumar Rajeev , Jain Satish Chandra
Published: October 2022

Bridge transducers are square or rectangular cymbals that have been proven to be a promising design for piezoelectric energy harvesting in the presence of high-impact loads. This study investigates the effect of compositionally graded platinum and material exponents on the performance metrics of a flex tensional bridge structure. A functionally graded piezoelectric material is created here by incorporating a compositionally graded Pb[ZrxTi1−x]O3/platinum material (Pb[ZrxTi1−x]O3/platinum) with a polymer of -(C2H2F2)n-. The multiphysics bridge structured model is solved using finite element analysis. The biokinetic energy is generated by footsteps with loads that are 1.5–3 times the body weight, and thus an impact load of 1500 N is considered in this study. The performance metrics in terms of voltage and power are scrutinised using the electromechanical model in order to attain maximum output at optimal settings. The optimal grading exponent values are determined by the platinum concentration as well as other functional factors. It is discovered that the power law-driven grading index improves bridge functionally graded piezoelectric material performance regardless of changes in other operating parameters. Although platinum impairs Pb[ZrxTi1−x]O3/platinum performance but synergising the composite material with the grading index enhances the performance metrics percentage of functionally graded piezoelectric material over the respective Pb[ZrxTi1−x]O3/platinum material. This research establishes the relevance of synergism on the electromechanical features and performance of bridge transducers, and is applicable to any bonded piezoelectric device, whether it is an energy harvester, actuator or sensor.
Numerical simulation research on the influence of the parameters of water injection on the GDI engine
Authors: Zhang Zhongjie , Li Aqian , Zheng Zhaolei
Published: October 2022

The small enhanced technology that synergizes in-cylinder direct injection and turbocharging has good power and fuel economy, and has become a trend in the development of gasoline direct injection engines. However, the enhanced technology has sharply increased the thermal load in the cylinder. It is easy to cause engine knocks, which is currently one of the main limiting factors in improving the performance of direct injection gasoline engines. This paper discusses the influence of direct injection of water into the cylinder on the combustion of gasoline direct injection engines through numerical simulation. The gasoline engine is induced to knock by increasing the compression ratio and advancing the ignition timing. The influence of the water injector (six nozzle holes) layouts (direct water injection in the cylinder) and the water temperatures on the water movement in the cylinder and on the combustion and knock is explored. The in-cylinder water injector and the fuel injector are injected with two nozzles. Results show that when the water injector is arranged in the center of the cylinder head, the water evaporation in the cylinder before ignition is faster. Most of the water is located near the cylinder wall surface, which can reduce the temperature near the wall surface as much as possible and suppress the knock. Therefore, the effect of suppressing knocks is better. The injecting water is advantageous to make the mixed gas distribution uniform and the turbulent kinetic energy high when its temperature is low.
Medical decision-making when the patient is a prisoner
Authors: Larsen Erik , Drabiak Katherine
Published: October 2022

Although prisons provide on-site primary care, the corrections system relies on external hospitals to provide a variety of healthcare services. Compared to the general population, incarcerated patients experience higher rates of chronic medical conditions, mental illness, substance abuse, cancer, traumatic brain injury, assault, and communicable disease. Certain specialties of clinicians are likely to encounter patients who are incarcerated, which makes it important for clinicians to understand how medical decision-making may differ when the patient is a prisoner. The corrections system retains custody of inmates and is responsible for their welfare, including facilitating necessary medical care. However, this does not permit corrections personnel or a warden to automatically assume the role of the patient's medical decision-maker. Except for narrow exceptions, prisoners do not lose their rights to medical decision-making. In some instances, corrections staff or the prison warden have improperly asserted authority to act as the patient's medical decision-maker, such as when the patient lacks decision-making capacity. This violates ethical principles of bodily integrity, respect, and fairness. This paper provides an overview of medical decision-making for incarcerated patients, how surrogate decision-maker hierarchies apply to incarcerated patients without decision-making capacity, and special considerations for this subset of patients.
Effect of Preoperative Sarcopenia, Malnutrition and Functional status on Postoperative Morbidity Following Liver Transplantation
Authors: Prakash Kelika , Sam Amal Francis , K Nandakumar , Tandon Neha
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The effect of sarcopenia, malnutrition, and functional status on immediate post liver transplantation outcome is not well established. Most studies on sarcopenia are related to 1 and 3-year mortality. Studies evaluating the effect of malnutrition are at least a decade old.

Project Aims

We evaluated the effect of preoperative sarcopenia, malnutrition, and functional status on postoperative length of hospital and ICU stay, incidence of complications, and mortality.

Design

In this prospective study conducted on living donor liver transplant recipients, sarcopenia and malnutrition were identified using the psoas muscle thickness to height and the Royal Free Hospital- Nutritional Prioritizing Tool respectively. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was noted. Postoperatively, length-of-hospital stay, ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and incidence of postoperative complications were noted.

Results

Hospital and ICU length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation were greater in sarcopenic versus non-sarcopenic patients (35.9 (14.6) versus 26.7 (10.7) days, P  =  0.02; 12.9 (4.8) versus 9.6 (3.8) days, P  =  0.02 and 8 [5,23] versus 5 [4,7] days, P  =  0.01 respectively). The incidence of acute kidney injury was higher in patients with sarcopenia (53.3% vs 19.4%, P  =  0.02). Patients with malnutrition and repeated hospitalizations had higher ICU stays but hospital length of stay duration of mechanical ventilation or the incidence of postoperative complications were not affected. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score did not affect postoperative outcome.

Conclusion

In living donor liver transplant recipients, sarcopenia increased hospital and ICU stays, and duration of mechanical ventilation postoperatively. Malnutrition increased ICU stays.
The Applications and Potential Developments of Ultrasound in Oral Cancer Management
Authors: Lo Wu-Chia , Chang Chih-Ming , Cheng Ping-Chia , Wen Ming-Hsun , Wang Chi-Te , Cheng Po-Wen , Liao Li-Jen
Published: October 2022

Oral cancer is endemic and causes a great burden in Southern Asia. It is preferably treated by surgery with/without adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation therapy, depending on the stage of the disease. Close or positive resection margin and cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis are important prognostic factors that have been presented to be related to undesirable locoregional recurrence and poor survival. Ultrasound (US) is a simple, noninvasive, time-saving, and inexpensive diagnostic modality. It can depict soft tissues very clearly without the risk of radiation exposure. Additionally, it is real-time and continuous image is demonstrated during the exam. Furthermore, the clinician can perform US-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) at the same time. US with/without US-guided FNA/CNB is reported to be of value in determining tumor thickness (TT), depth of invasion (DOI), and cervical LN metastasis, and in aiding the staging of oral cancer. DOI has a relevant prognostic value as reported in the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging of oral cancer. In the present review, we describe the clinical applications of US in oral cancer management in different phases and potential applications in the future. In the pretreatment and surgical phase, US can be used to evaluate TT/DOI and surgical margins of oral cancer in vivo and ex vivo. The prediction of a malignant cervical LN (nodal metastasis) by the US-based prediction model can guide the necessity of FNA/CNB and elective neck dissection in clinical early-stage oral cancer. In the posttreatment surveillance phase, US with/without US-guided FNA or CNB is helpful in the detection of nodal persistence or LN recurrence, and can assess the possibility and extent of carotid artery stenosis after irradiation therapy. Both US elastography and US swallowing assessment are potentially helpful to the management of oral cancer.
Temporal aspects of two types of backward crosstalk in dual-tasks: An analysis of continuous mouse-tracking data
Authors: Schonard Carolin , Ulrich Rolf , Janczyk Markus
Published: October 2022

A common explanation for processing limitations in dual-tasking is the existence of a bottleneck during response selection, meaning that the selection of responses can only occur serially for different tasks. However, a large body of data shows that features of a (secondary) Task 2 can already influence the processing of a (primary) Task 1. Such effects are referred to as backward crosstalk effects (BCEs). In the present study, two types of such BCEs were investigated: the compatibility-based BCE, which depends on the dimensional (often spatial) overlap between task features, and a BCE based on a go/no-go task in Task 2 (no-go BCE). Joining a line of research that suggests different mechanisms for these two types of BCEs, we investigated them using a mouse-tracking setup. Time continuous analyses revealed that the compatibility-based BCE triggered a spatial activation of the Task 2 response early during Task 1 processing, whereas the no-go BCE triggered an inhibitory effect in the case of a no-go Task 2, which spills over to Task 1 execution. This occurred, however, earlier in the time course than expected. The results are discussed with regard to recent models of dual-task processing.
Balancing digital debt and digital options: Challenges of digital transformation at Green Cargo
Authors: Asatiani Aleksandre , Torell Jacob
Published: October 2022

Green Cargo is a state-owned railway logistics company based in Sweden. The company has a wealth of experience in train logistics, and it is well-positioned to benefit from the push toward the zero-carbon future. To materialize this potential and to support growth, Green Cargo needs to create a strong digital foundation. This teaching case presents challenges faced by Mr Ingo Paas, CIO of Green Cargo, who is looking for ways to deal with an existing digital debt that has been hindering company’s digital transformation efforts.
Screening for co-infections in patients with substance use disorders and severe bacterial infections
Authors: Varley Cara D. , Conte Michael , Streifel Amber C. , Winders Bradie , Sikka Monica K.
Published: October 2022

Background:

Patients with substance use disorders admitted for severe bacterial infection are in a prime position to be screened for important co-infections. However, data suggest that standard screening for co-infections in this population during hospital admission can vary in frequency and type of testing.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of patients to evaluate screening for co-infections during admission, followed by a case–control analysis to determine factors associated with lack of any screening.

Results:

We identified 280 patients with 320 eligible admissions. Most were male and Caucasian with unstable housing. Only 67 (23.9%) patients had a primary-care provider. About 89% ( n = 250) of our cohort were screened for one or more co-infection during their first admission with one patient never screened despite subsequent admissions. Of those screened, the greatest proportion was HIV (219, 81.4% of those without history of HIV), HCV (94, 79.7% of those without a prior positive HCV antibody), syphilis (206, 73.6%), gonorrhea, and chlamydia (47, 16.8%) with new positive tests identified in 60 (21.4%) people. Screening for all five co-infections was only completed in 15 (14.0%) of the 107 patients who had screening indications. Overall, a high proportion of those screened had a new positive test, including three cases of neurosyphilis, highlighting the importance of screening and treatment initiation. One patient was prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis at discharge and only 37 (34.6%) of those eligible were referred for HCV treatment or follow-up. In multivariable case–control analysis, non-Medicaid insurance (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2–6.6, p = 0.02), use of only 1 substance (OR 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3–6.5, p < 0.01), and no documented screening recommendations by the infectious disease team (OR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.5–8.8, p < 0.01), were statistically significantly associated with lack of screening for any co-infection during hospital admission.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest additional interventions are needed to improve inpatient screening for co-infections in this population.
Emerging genetic biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Barbar Jawad , Armach Maria , Hodroj Mohammad Hassan , Assi Sahar , El Nakib Clara , Chamseddine Nathalie , Assi Hazem I
Published: October 2022

Comprehensive genomic profiling is a next-generation sequencing approach used to detect several known and emerging genomic alterations. Many genomic variants detected by comprehensive genomic profiling have become recognized as significant cancer biomarkers, leading to the development of major clinical trials. Lung adenocarcinoma has become one of the most targeted cancers for genomic profiling with a series of actionable mutations such as EGFR, KRAS, HER2, BRAF, FGFR, MET, ALK, and many others. The importance of these mutations lies in establishing targeted therapies that significantly change the outcome in lung adenocarcinoma besides the prognostic value of some mutations. This review sheds light on the development of the comprehensive genomic profiling field, mainly lung adenocarcinoma, and discusses the role of a group of mutations in this disease.
Rituximab Dosing in Glomerular Diseases: A Scoping Review
Authors: Alzayer Husam , Sebastian Kuruvilla K. , O’Shaughnessy Michelle M.
Published: October 2022

Purpose of Review:

Rituximab is increasingly prescribed for glomerular diseases. However, the recently published Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Glomerular Diseases lacks details on recommended dosing regimens for most individual glomerular diseases. We performed this scoping review summarizing the evidence for rituximab dosing in glomerular disease.

Sources of Information:

PubMed database.

Methods:

The PubMed search methodology was developed with a medical librarian and performed by the first, with review by a second, author. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies (PCSs) examining rituximab efficacy and/or safety in antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), membranous nephropathy (MN), lupus nephritis (LN), or podocytopathies (minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [FSGS]) were included. Fifty-three studies (14 RCTs and 39 PCSs) were included.

Key Findings:

We identified 16 different rituximab dosing regimens studied as induction therapy for one or more of the 5 glomerular diseases of interest. The most frequently studied rituximab induction regimens were 1000 mg as 2 doses 2 weeks apart (17 studies, 32%) and 4 doses of 375 mg/m2/week (18 studies, 33.9%). Twenty-six studies (49%) examined rituximab as monotherapy or in conjunction with corticosteroids alone, while the remaining studies examined rituximab as part of combination immunosuppression. Adapting treatment to achieve B-cell depletion, with frequent evaluation of disease-specific biomarkers, might prove the optimal approach to achieving and maintaining remission. Rituximab might also enable steroid minimization or avoidance.

Limitations:

Restriction of the search to a single database and to studies published in the English language, and with an accompanying abstract, could have led to selection bias. While the search was limited to prospective observational studies and RCTs, no formal assessment of study quality was performed.
Conducting more inclusive solar geoengineering research: A feminist science framework
Authors: Kravitz Ben , Sikka Tina
Published: October 2022

Solar geoengineering, or deliberate climate modification, has been receiving increased attention in recent years. Given the far-reaching consequences of any potential solar geoengineering deployments, it is prudent to identify inherent biases, blind spots, and other potential issues at all stages of the research process. Here we articulate a feminist science-based framework to concretely describe how solar geoengineering researchers can be more inclusive of different perspectives and potentially contradictory conclusions, in the process illuminating potential implicit bias and enhancing the conclusions that can be gained from their studies. Importantly, this framework is an adoptable method of practice that can be refined, with the aim of conducting better research in solar geoengineering. As an illustration, we retrospectively apply this framework to a well-read solar geoengineering study (also led by the first author of this study), improving transparency by revealing its implicit values, conclusions made from its evidence base, and the methodologies that study pursues. We conclude with a set of recommendations for the geoengineering research community whereby more inclusive research can become a regular part of practice. Throughout this process, we illustrate how feminist science scholars can use this approach to study climate modeling.
The impacts of partnering with cancer patients in palliative care research: a systematic review and meta-synthesis
Authors: Paolucci Alessandra , Nielssen Ingrid , Tang Karen L. , Sinnarajah Aynharan , Simon Jessica E. , Santana Maria J.
Published: October 2022

Background:

Palliative care (PC) is an added layer of support provided concurrently with cancer care and serves to improve wellbeing and sustain quality of life. Understanding what is meaningful and a priority to patients, their families, and caregivers with lived experience of cancer and PC is critical in supporting their needs and improving their care provision. However, the impacts of engaging cancer patients within the context of PC research remain unknown.

Objective:

To examine the impacts of engaging individuals with lived experience of cancer and PC as partners in PC research.

Methods:

An a priori systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021286744). Four databases (APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE) were searched and only published, peer-reviewed primary English studies aligned with the following criteria were included: (1) patients, their families, and/or caregivers with lived experience of cancer and PC; (2) engaged as partners in PC research; and (3) reported the impacts of engaging cancer PC patient partners in PC research. We appraised the quality of eligible studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and GRIPP2 reporting checklists.

Results:

Three studies that included patient partners with lived experience of cancer and PC engaged at all or several of the research stages were identified. Our thematic meta-synthesis revealed impacts (benefits and opportunities) on patient partners (emotional, psychological, cognitive, and social), the research system (practical and ethical) and health care system (service improvements, bureaucratic attitudes, and inaction). Our findings highlight the paucity of evidence investigating the impacts of engaging patients, their families and caregivers with lived experience of cancer and PC, as partners in PC research.

Conclusions:

The results of this review and meta-synthesis can inform the more effective design of cancer patient partnerships in PC research and the development of feasible and effective strategies given the cancer and PC context patient partners are coming from.
Rupture of the Short Head of the Biceps Brachii: Arthroscopic Repair
Authors: Osés Guilherme L. , Lima Ewerton B. S. , Godoy Gabriel P. , Lara Paulo Henrique S. , Ribeiro Leandro M. , Belangero Paulo S. , Andreoli Carlos Vicente , De Castro Pochini Alberto , Ejnisman Benno
Published: October 2022

Background:

Short head of the biceps brachii rupture is a rare lesion, and usually happens in high-speed sports such as parachuting and wakeboarding in traction mechanism, resulting in loss of biceps function. Early surgical treatment achieves better clinical outcomes. There is no isolated short head of the biceps brachii arthroscopic repair described in literature.

Indications:

Acute traumatic short head of the biceps brachii rupture in active patients.

Technique Description:

Short head of the biceps brachii and coracobrachialis nonabsorbable double suture. Short head of the biceps brachii reinsertion in coracoid process with an anchor.

Results:

Satisfactory repair of the biceps lesion. The patient regained active range of motion in 8 weeks and full return to sport in 16 weeks.

Conclusion:

Isolated short head of the biceps brachii arthroscopic repair is a minimally invasive technique with good functional result and has not been described in the literature yet. It restores bicep’s function and a satisfactory return to sport. The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.