bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factorial randomised controlled trial to examine the potential effect of a text message-based intervention on reducing adolescent susceptibility to e-cigarette use: a study protocol
Authors: Barnes Courtney , Turon Heidi , McCrabb Sam , Mantach Stephanie , Janssen Lisa , Duffy Megan , Groombridge Daniel , Hodder Rebecca , Meharg David , Robinson Elly , Bialek Caitlin , Wallace Seaneen , Leigh Lucy , Wolfenden Luke
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Adolescent e-cigarette use, globally and within Australia, has increased in recent years. In response, public health agencies have called for the development of education and communication programmes targeting adolescents. Despite such recommendations, few rigorous evaluations of such interventions currently exist. The main objective of this study is to examine the potential effect of a text message intervention targeting parents and adolescents on adolescent susceptibility to e-cigarette use (eg, intentions towards using e-cigarettes). Secondary objectives are to (1): examine the effect of the intervention on adolescent e-cigarette and combustible tobacco use and (2) examine the acceptability of the intervention.

Methods and analysis

A randomised controlled trial employing a 2×2 factorial design will be conducted with parent–adolescent dyads (aged 12–15 years). Dyads will be randomly allocated to one of four arms: arm 1—a text message intervention delivered to adolescents only; arm 2—a text message intervention delivered to the parents of adolescents only; arm 3—a text message intervention delivered to both the parents and adolescents; and arm 4—an information only control, consisting of an e-cigarette factsheet provided to parents only. Participant recruitment commenced in March 2023 with the aim to recruit 120 parent–adolescent dyads. Data collection to assess study outcomes will occur at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months post the commencement of the intervention. The primary endpoint will be 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome will be adolescent susceptibility to e-cigarette use, assessed using validated items. Analyses of trial outcomes will be undertaken under an intention-to-treat framework, with all participants included in the analysis in the group they were allocated.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been obtained from the human research ethics committee of the University of Newcastle (H-2022-0340). Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.

Trial registration number

The trial was registered prospectively with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000079640).
Barriers to and enablers of the transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services for autistic young people and/or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Tang Kim , Hill Elizabeth , Pellicano Elizabeth , Thompson Craig , Myers Bronwyn
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Autistic young people and/or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have co-occurring mental health conditions experience significant challenges when transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS). However, barriers and facilitators to this service transition are poorly understood for this population. This scoping review aims to synthesise the available evidence on barriers and enablers to the transition from CAMHS to AMHS for autistic young people and/or those with ADHD.

Methods and analysis

Arksey and O'Malley’s six-step framework for scoping reviews will be used. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist will guide the reporting of this review. Electronic databases of Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest Central and Google Scholar will be searched for relevant articles published in English with no date limitations. Title, abstract and full-text screening will be completed by two independent reviewers. Studies will be eligible for inclusion if the article focuses on (1) adolescents and/or young people (aged 18–24) with a primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and/or ADHD (population) and (2) describes factors associated with service or care transitions (concept) (3) from CAMHS to AMHS (context). Study quality will be evaluated using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields. Data describing the factors that enable or inhibit the transition from CAMHS to AMHS will be extracted and synthesised using the Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model as a framework for organising and reporting results.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presented at conferences.

Trial registration number

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BZPQF.
How a population-based cohort of men estimate lifetime risk of prostate cancer in a survey before entering a prostate cancer screening trial in Sweden?
Authors: Palmstedt Emmeli , Månsson Marianne , Kollberg Karin Stinesen , Carlsson Sigrid , Hellström Mikael , Wallström Jonas , Hugosson Jonas , Arnsrud Godtman Rebecka
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Investigating men’s perceived lifetime risk of prostate cancer.

Design

Survey-based study to men invited for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the GÖTEBORG-2 trial between September 2015 and June 2020.

Setting

38 775 men in the Gothenburg area, Sweden, were invited for PSA-testing and participated in a survey.

Participants

17 980 men participated in PSA-testing, of whom 13 189 completed the survey. In addition, 1264 men answered the survey only.

Interventions

Before having the PSA-test, men answered an electronic survey and estimated their lifetime risk of receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis on a visual analogue scale from 0% to 100%.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was the median lifetime risk estimation, which was compared with Wilcoxon test to an anticipated lifetime risk of 20% (based on GÖTEBORG-1 trial). The secondary outcome was to determine factors associated with risk estimation in a multivariable linear regression model: previous prostate examination, family history, physical exercise, healthy diet, comorbidity, alcohol consumption, smoking, education level, marital status, urinary symptoms and erectile dysfunction.

Results

Among PSA-tested men, the median estimated lifetime risk of prostate cancer was 30% (IQR 19% to 50%), corresponding to a 10 percentage-points higher estimation compared with the anticipated risk (p<0.001). Family history of prostate cancer, moderate to severe urinary symptoms and mild to moderate erectile dysfunction were associated with >5 percentage-points higher risk estimation. Similar results were obtained for non-PSA-tested men.

Conclusions

Most men overestimated their prostate cancer risk which underscores the importance of providing them accurate information about prostate cancer.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN94604465.
Barriers and facilitators of cardiovascular disease prevention services for women with prior gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in low-income, middle-income and high-income settings: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Quansah Dan Yedu , Visintini Sarah , O'Neill Carley , Savard Karine , Lewis Rebekah , Coutinho Thais , Mullen Kerri-Anne
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Women with previous pregnancy-related cardiovascular risk indicators, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), have an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although CVD screening and preventive care beginning in the early postpartum period are recommended, certain barriers limit access to such services. We plan to conduct a scoping review of the literature to explore and summarise evidence on the barriers and facilitators of postpartum CVD preventive services in women with a history of GDM and HDP.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will be conducted in line with the Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodological framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for conducting a systematic scoping review and will follow the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and the Coordinating Centre at the Institute of Education guidelines. The review results will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. We will search the following databases: Medline, Embase and CINAHL. We will conduct grey literature searches for registered dissertations and theses. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be kept broad. Qualitative and quantitative studies published in English or French that investigated and reported percieved barriers or facilitators to postpartum CVD screening and preventive care among women with previous GDM and HDP will be included. Individual, interpersonal, organizational, and system level factors will be reported. Qualitative findings will be summarised narratively, and quantitative findings will be absorbed within the themes using the multisource synthesis method.

Ethics and dissemination

This review represents one objective of a larger project that was reviewed by the Ottawa Health Sciences Network Research Ethics Board (QI-184). We will disseminate knowledge emanating from this review through open-access publication, presentation/public forums on women’s cardiovascular health, women’s CVD prevention forums and social media. We will also present the findings of this review at the annual meeting of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance.
Health outcomes of COVID-19 patients from Wuhan, China 3-year after hospital discharge: a cohort study
Authors: Dai Yang , Wang Yan , Yang Xin Yue , Wang Qing Hua , Hu Bao Man , Wang Man , Jiang Ji , Cheng Li Xia , Zheng Fu Yuan , Qin Ting , Zhang Ming Yang , Liu Yu Hui , Ma Xiang Yu , Zeng Ling , Jiang Jian Xin , Cao Guoqiang , Mao Qing Xiang , Jones Paul W , He Yong , Bin Cao , Li Li
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To evaluate changes in health outcomes between years 2 and 3 after discharge following COVID-19 and to identify risk factors for poor health 3-year post-discharge.

Design

This is a multicentre observational cohort study.

Setting

This study was conducted in two centres from Wuhan, China.

Participants

Eligibility screening has been performed in 3988 discharged laboratory-confirmed adult COVID-19 patients. Exclusion criteria were refusal to participate, inability to contact and death before follow-up. The WHO COVID-19 guidelines on defining disease severity were adopted.

Results

1594 patients participated in the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year follow-ups, including 796 (49.9%) male patients, and 422 (26.5%) patients were classified in the severe disease group. 3 years after discharge, 182 (11.4%) patients still complained of at least one symptom. The most common symptoms were fatigue, myalgia, chest tightness, cough, anxiety, shortness of breath and expectoration. Fatigue or myalgia, the most common symptom cluster, frequently coexisted with chest symptoms and anxiety. Symptom persistence between years 2 and 3 was reported in 70 patients (4.4%) for which intensive care unit (ICU) admission was a risk factor (p=0.038). Of the 1586 patients who completed the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT), 97 (6.1%) scored ≥10, with older age being associated with CAT ≥10 (p=0.007).

Conclusions

Between years 2 and 3 after SARS-CoV-2 infection, most patients returned to an asymptomatic state, and only a few were still symptomatic. ICU admission was a risk factor for symptom persistence.
Study protocol: effects of exercise booster sessions on preservation of exercise-induced adaptations in persons with multiple sclerosis, a multicentre randomised controlled trial—the MS BOOSTER trial
Authors: Taul-Madsen Laurits , Hvid Lars G , Sellebjerg Finn , Christensen Jeppe Romme , Ratzer Rikke , Sejbæk Tobias , Svendsen Kristina Bacher , Papp Viktoria , Højsgaard Chow Helene , Lundbye-Jensen Jesper , Dawes Helen , Dalgas Ulrik
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes a broad range of symptoms, with physical function being one of the most disabling consequences according to patients themselves. Exercise effectively improves lower extremity physical function. Nonetheless, it is unknown which exercise modality is most effective and it remains challenging to keep persons with MS adhering to exercise over a longer period. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate how exercise booster sessions (EBS) influence the sustainability of exercise-induced effects on physical function, and furthermore, to investigate which exercise modality (aerobic training or resistance training) is most effective in terms of improving physical function.

Materials and methods

This study is a multi-arm, parallel-group, open-label multicentre randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of EBS. Participants (n=150) are initially randomised to 12 weeks of either resistance training+usual care, aerobic training+usual care or usual care. After 12 weeks of intervention, participants in the exercise groups will again be randomised to either EBS+usual care or usual care during a 40-week follow-up period. The primary outcome is physical function (composite score based on 6-min walk test and five-time sit to stand), and the secondary outcomes are fatigue, cognition, physical activity, symptoms of depression and quality of life.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the Central Denmark Region Committees on Health Research Ethics (1-10-72-237-21) and is registered at the Danish Data Protection Agency (2016-051-000001) and at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04913012). All study findings will be published in scientific peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04913012.
Effect of age on postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain after radical resection of lung cancer-specific pain in the post-anaesthesia care unit: a single-centre retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Shichao , Zhu Haipeng , Yuan Qinyue , Li Bing , Zhang Jiaqiang , Zhang Wei
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To explore the relationship between age and postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain after radical resection of lung cancer and the specific effect of moderate-to-severe pain in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) on this relationship.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Single medical centre.

Participants

Patients ≥18 years having radical resection of lung cancer between 2018 and 2020.

Measurements

Postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain.

Results

A total of 3764 patients were included in the analysis. The incidence of postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain was 28.3%. Age had a significant effect on the prediction model of postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain. Among the whole population and those without moderate-to-severe pain in the PACU, those who were younger than 58.5 years were prone to experience moderate-to-severe pain 24 hours after surgery, and in patients with moderate-to-severe pain in the PACU, the age threshold was 62.5 years.

Conclusion

For patients who underwent elective radical resection for lung cancer, age was related to postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain, and moderate-to-severe pain in the PACU had a specific effect on this relationship. Patients among the whole population and those patients without moderate-to-severe pain in the PACU were more likely to experience postoperative 24-hour moderate-to-severe pain when they were younger than 58.5 years old, and in patients with moderate-to-severe pain in the PACU, the age threshold was 62.5 years old.
Retinal and choroidal microvascular features during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Peng , Wang Caixia , Liang Yuchen , Shang Qingli
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To analyse retinal and choroidal microvasculature features in healthy pregnant women using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched for published studies that compare retinal and choroidal microvasculature characteristics between pregnant females and non-pregnant females from inception to November 2023. The statistics were continuous variables. They were presented as the mean difference (MD) with a corresponding 95% CI. We used Review Manager software 5.4.1 for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 5 eligible studies involving 219 eyes in the pregnancy group and 186 eyes in the control group were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that the retinal deep capillary plexus vascular density (DCP VD) measured by OCTA was significantly higher in healthy pregnant women than in controls (MD 1.53; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.44; I2=0%; p=0.0009). However, differences between the two groups in the retinal superficial capillary plexus VD (SCP VD) (MD 0.41;95% CI −1.26 to 2.09; I2=85%; p=0.63), the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) (MD 0.01; 95% CI −0.01 to 0.03; I2=14%; p=0.18), the choriocapillaris VD (CC VD) (MD 0.76; 95% CI −1.11 to 2.64; I2=79%; p=0.43) were uncertain.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis found that the DCP VD of healthy pregnant women was higher than that of non-pregnant controls. However, differences in SCP VD, FAZ and CC VD between the healthy pregnant women and the non-pregnancy controls were uncertain. Our findings can help to get a deeper understanding of retinal and choroidal microvascular characteristics during pregnancy.
UK survey of patient and caregiver perspectives on the impact of chronic kidney disease-associated anaemia
Authors: Hull Katherine L , Reast Jemma , Clair Catherine , Kent Jennifer , Moore Mandeep , Pittaway Sophie , Revell Pete , Burton James O
Published: August 2024

Objective

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated anaemia has substantial biopsychosocial impacts. This study explores the impact of CKD-associated anaemia and treatment preferences from the patient perspective.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Anonymised online survey implemented by Ipsos UK on behalf of the National Kidney Federation and GSK from October 2022 to January 2023.

Participants

Data were collected from UK adults living with CKD (self-reported).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Outcome measures were exploratory and not predefined. The cross-sectional survey was designed to explore the biopsychosocial impact of living with anaemia on individuals with CKD; their unmet needs; the treatment strategies typically implemented and the associated barriers/facilitators to adherence; the healthcare professional–patient relationship with regard to anaemia diagnosis and management.

Results

Of 101 participants, 90 (89%) were patients with CKD and 11 (11%) were informal carers. 96 (95%) participants reported symptom(s) relevant to their experience of CKD. 88 (87%) participants reported symptom(s) associated with anaemia and 61 (64%) expressed an impact on daily life including 18 (19%) unable to perform daily activities, 13 (14%) unable to go to work and 9 (9%) reporting poor social life/interactions. 85 (84%) participants reported they have received treatment for anaemia: intravenous iron (n=55, 54%), iron tablets (n=29, 29%), erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) via an autoinjector (n=28, 28%), ESA injections via a syringe (n=24, 24%), ESA injections via a dialysis machine (n=17, 17%), folic acid (n=22, 22%) and blood transfusion (n=17, 17%). Six of seven (86%) participants who received their ESA from a healthcare professional at home preferred injections whereas 13/27 (48%) participants who injected themselves at home preferred oral tablets.

Conclusions

There is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the management of CKD-associated anaemia. A personalised approach incorporating the treatment preferences of the individual should be explored when discussing treatment options.
Treatment with oncolytic vaccinia virus infects tumor-infiltrating regulatory and exhausted T cells
Authors: DePeaux Kristin , Gunn William G , Rivadeneira Dayana B , Delgoffe Greg M
Published: August 2024

Background

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are an attractive way to increase immune infiltration into an otherwise cold tumor. While OVs are engineered to selectively infect tumor cells, there is evidence that they can infect other non-malignant cells in the tumor. We sought to determine if oncolytic vaccinia virus (VV) can infect lymphocytes in the tumor and, if so, how this was linked to therapeutic efficacy.

Methods

To investigate infection of lymphocytes by VV, we used a GFP reporting VV in a murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumor model. We also performed in vitro infection studies to determine the mechanism and consequences of VV lymphocyte infection by VV.

Results

Our findings show that VV carries the capacity to infect proportions of immune cells, most notably T cells, after intratumoral treatment. Notably, this infection is preferential to terminally differentiated T cells that tend to reside in hypoxia. Infection of T cells leads to both virus production by the T cells as well as the eventual death of these cells. Using a mouse model which overexpressed the antiapoptotic protein Bcl2 in all T cells, we found that reducing T cell death following VV infection in MEER tumors reduced the number of complete regressions and reduced survival time compared with littermate control mice.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that OVs are capable of infecting more than just malignant cells after treatment, and that this infection may be an important part of the OV mechanism. We found that exhausted CD8+ T cells and regulatory CD4+ T cells were preferentially infected at early timepoints after treatment and subsequently died. When cell death in T cells was mitigated, mice responded poorly to VV treatment, suggesting that the deletion of these populations is critical to the therapeutic response to VV.
Sociocultural aspects of the medicalisation of infertility: a comparative reading of two illness narratives
Authors: James Annie , Warrier Manjusha G , Benny Ann Treessa
Published: August 2024

This paper is a comparative reading of variations in the medicalisation of infertility caused by sociocultural aspects, in two illness narratives by patients: Elizabeth Katkin’sConceivability(2018), a story of navigating a fertility industry with polycystic ovarian syndrome and antiphospholipid syndrome in America and Rohini Rajagopal’sWhat’s a Lemon Squeezer Doing in My Vagina(2021), a discussion from India of a growing awareness of medicalisation in treatment of unexplained infertility. For this purpose, it first charts scholarship on illness narratives and medicalisation, noting a historical association. Following this, it shows how infertility, a physiological symptom of reproductive incapacity or failure to show clinical pregnancy, is generally medicalised. This paper reads the texts as showing hitherto unaddressed sociocultural aspects of infertility’s medicalisation. At the same time, drawing from existing sociological and anthropological scholarship, it shows how a reading of sociocultural aspects in medicalised infertility nuances understanding of it’s medicalisation. This comparative reading attends to sociocultural values and norms within the texts, including pronatalism, fetal personhood, kinship organisation, purity/pollution, individual reliance, sacred duty and so forth. It draws from scholarship on embodiment, rhetorical strategies and the language of medicine. It also shows how a patient’s non-medicalised, affective history of ‘deep’ sickness caused by the biographical disruption of infertility is not that of a ‘poor historian’. In laying out the particularisation of such sociocultural values and norms across America and India, medicalisation’s migration from its origins to the margins reveals subjectivised, stratified reproduction in infertility illness narratives. This paper is part of a turn in scholarship away from understanding the medicalisation of infertility as naturalised and decontextualised.
UK female veterans’ physical health: perceived impact of military service and experiences of accessing healthcare. Findings of a qualitative study
Authors: Morgan Louise , Hooks C , Fossey M , Buxton E , Rose Godier-McBard L
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Women make up almost 14% of the UK’s veteran population; however, little is known about female veterans’ physical health and experiences of accessing healthcare after military service. As part of a qualitative study to understand female veterans’ experiences of statutory and charitable support, participants were asked if they felt anything about their military service had impacted their physical health as civilians. They were also asked about their experiences with accessing healthcare and any associated challenges. The aim of this paper is to outline participants’ responses to inform the development of further research.

Methods

85 women who had served in the British Armed Forces took part in semistructured interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams between June and December 2022. Reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted to identify, analyse and report repeated patterns in responses to questions.

Results

Participants reported a range of physical health consequences that they attributed to military service. These included injuries sustained during training and deployment, ‘wear and tear’ through training and the impact of sometimes unsuitable clothing. They reported chronic pain, tendonitis, arthritis, slipped discs, broken bones and hearing loss. Some described their lives as severely restricted as a result. Challenges to accessing healthcare included perceived stigma associated with help-seeking, inconsistency around the transfer of medical records and a widespread lack of veteran awareness among civilian healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

There is a distinct lack of research in the UK against which to compare these findings; thus, further research is required in all areas of female veterans’ physical health and experiences of accessing healthcare. Research should begin by establishing the nature and prevalence of health conditions among female and male veterans to identify the unique needs of both and tailor support accordingly.
Destitute and dying: interventions and models of palliative and end of life care for homeless adults – a systematic review
Authors: Coverdale Megan Rose , Murtagh Fliss
Published: August 2024

Background

Homeless adults experience a significant symptom burden when living with a life-limiting illness and nearing the end of life. This increases the inequalities that homeless adults face while coping with a loss of rootedness in the world. There is a lack of palliative and end of life care provision specifically adapted to meet their needs, exacerbating their illness and worsening the quality of their remaining life.

Aim

To identify interventions and models of care used to address the palliative and end of life care needs of homeless adults, and to determine their effectiveness.

Methods

Standard systematic reviewing methods were followed, searching from 1 January 2000 the databases: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycInfo. Results were reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and described using a narrative synthesis. Study quality was assessed using Hawker’s Quality Assessment Tool.

Results

Nine studies primarily focused on: education and palliative training for support staff; advance care planning; a social model for hospice care; and the creation of new roles to provide extra support to homeless adults through health navigators, homeless champions or palliative outreach teams. The voices of those experiencing homelessness were rarely included.

Conclusion

We identified key components of care to optimise the support for homeless adults needing palliative and end of life care: advocacy; multidisciplinary working; professional education; and care in the community. Future research must include the perspectives of those who are homeless.
Constraining the EdGB theory with extreme mass-ratio inspirals
Authors: Tan Jing , Zhang Jian-dong , Fan Hui-Min , Mei Jianwei
Published: August 2024

The Einstein-dilaton-Gauss–Bonnet (EdGB) theory is a modified theory of gravity which include a scalar field to couple with the higher order curvature terms. It has already been constrained with various observations include the gravitational wave (GW) with LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration. In this work, we study the capability for space-borne GW detectors to constrain the EdGB theory using the signal of Extreme Mass-Ratio Inspiral (EMRIs). We use the “numerical kludge (NK)” method to construct the waveform of EMRI in the EdGB theory, focusing on the case when the central black hole is spinless. We then study how a future space-borne gravitational wave detector, TianQin, for example, can place constraints on the EdGB theory through the detection of EMRIs. With the analysis using mismatch and Fisher Information Matrix (FIM), we find that the EdGB parameter $$\sqrt{\alpha }$$

α

is expected to be constrained to the level of $$\sim \mathcal {O}(0.1)$$

∼
O
(
0.1
)

 km.
Geodesics structure and deflection angle of electrically charged black holes in gravity with a background Kalb–Ramond field
Authors: Al-Badawi Ahmad , Shaymatov Sanjar , Sakallı İzzet
Published: August 2024

This article investigates the geodesic structure and deflection angle of charged black holes in the presence of a nonzero vacuum expectation value background of the Kalb–Ramond field. Topics explored include null and timelike geodesics, energy extraction by collisions, and the motion of charged particles. The photon sphere radius is calculated and plotted to examine the effects of both the black hole charge (Q) and the Lorentz-violating parameter (b) on null geodesics. The effective potential for timelike geodesics is analyzed, and second-order analytical orbits are derived. We further show that the combined effects of Lorentz-violating parameter and electric charge can mimic a Kerr black hole spin parameter up to its maximum values, i.e., $$a/M \sim 1$$

a
/
M
∼
1

thus suggesting that the current precision of measurements of highly spinning black hole candidates may not rule out the effect of Lorentz-violating parameter. The center of mass energy of colliding particles is also considered, demonstrating a decrease with increasing Lorentz-violating parameter. Circular orbiting particles of charged particles are discovered, with the minimum radius for a stable circular orbit decreasing as both b and Q increase. Results show that this circular orbit is particularly sensitive to changes in the Lorentz-violating parameter. Additionally, a timelike particle trajectory is demonstrated as a consequence of the combined effects of parameters b and Q. Finally, the light deflection angle is analyzed using the weak field limit approach to determine the Lorentz-breaking effect, employing the Gauss–Bonnet theorem for computation. Findings are visualized with appropriate plots and thoroughly discussed.
IMPLICATIONS OF ADOPTING WATER POLICY AND CASTE ON MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY: EVIDENCE FROM HOUSEHOLD-LEVEL DATA IN INDIA
Authors: PANDEY SUCHITRA , MOHAPATRA GEETILAXMI , ARORA RAHUL
Published: August 2024

This paper attempts to unravel the influence of caste on water poverty while examining the relationship between the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and the modified water poverty index (MWPI). Additionally, considering the inevitable role of policies in combatting water woes, this paper analyses the impact of drinking water policies. The empirical results show that MWPI significantly impacts MPI, and caste significantly determines both MWPI and MPI. This study also found that drinking water policies significantly influence MWPI and indirectly impact MPI through MWPI.
DYNAMIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL ELEMENTS AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE KOREAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY: A PANEL VECTOR AUTOREGRESSIVE APPROACH
Authors: SUNG BONGSUK , PARK SANG-DO
Published: August 2024

From the perspective of a heterogeneous firm framework, intellectual capital is considered one of the predominant driving forces behind the enhancement of productivity and achieving sustained growth. This study investigated the dynamic interactions between the elements of intellectual capital (human, structural and relational capital) and productivity using panel data from Korean manufacturing firms. Considering various diagnostic test results, we established a dynamic panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model and used a generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator to test the dynamic interactions between intellectual capital components, firm heterogeneity (age, leverage, size and slack), interfirm competition and productivity. The PVAR-based Granger causality test results indicated that among the dynamic interactions, human capital had a central role in mutually reinforcing structural and relational capital and further enhancing productivity. We also revealed a positive bilateral relationship between structural capital and productivity. Relational capital was found to have no significant effect on productivity, but productivity contributed to raising relational capital. Our findings suggested that productivity-based sustained growth requires the strategic formulation and implementation of various policies to develop and fully leverage human resources by establishing an efficient and effective innovation-friendly structure. These foundations should be followed by consideration of various employee configurations to promote the development of human, structural and relational capital.
MORPHOLOGY OF WEAR DEBRIS DURING DRY SLIDING OF Ti6Al4V/TiC COMPOSITE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES IN VACUUM CONDITIONS
Authors: LAL BASANT , DEY ABHIJIT , MAURYA UPENDRA , ALI AJAZ
Published: August 2024

A high temperature-dependent wear setup was employed to examine the Ti-6Al-4V (an [Formula: see text] titanium alloy) tribological properties under vacuum environments. The components of Ti-6Al-4V alloys used in aerospace and space environments are subjected to relative motion which results in the occurrence of tribo phenomenon. In this study, Ti6Al4V pin slid against SS316L disc under vacuum conditions at high temperature. The analysis of the wear debris clearly shows the effect of wear morphology of the worn surface which was analyzed by Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The fine particles were observed at room temperature under vacuum conditions where Adiabatic Shear Band (ASB)-effects of plastic deformations and Mechanically Mixed Layer (MML) are observed at 137.3 N and 0.01[Formula: see text]ms[Formula: see text]. The tribological tests were carried out employing a pin on disc configurations at high temperatures (up to 400∘C). Further, its influence on wear debris under (137.3 N) high load and 0.01[Formula: see text]ms[Formula: see text] was also tested. The experimental results showed that various types of debris exhibited decreasing wear rates with increases in temperatures.
STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF 1 AND 15μm PITCH VALUES ON THE APPARENT NANOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LASER POWDER BED FUSION-PRODUCED CuCrZr ALLOY
Authors: PRABU G. , YANG CHE-HUA , ALNASER IBRAHIM A. , JEYAPRAKASH N.
Published: August 2024

Material deformation due to nanoindentation is well known. However, the deformation of a material, indentation cavity, and piled-up region drastically increases and nanohardness significantly decreases if the nanoindentation is performed in such a way that the deformation of one nanoindentation affects the others. This situation arises in various materials when they are subjected to tribological application such as pantograph assembly in electric trains and contact between the electrical power supply plug and pins. This situation has been addressed in this study and the quantitative reduction in nanohardness has been evaluated in detail. In this work, the nanoindentation was performed on the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) CuCrZr alloy specimen under a load condition of 4500[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]N. This test was conducted at 100 points with an array of [Formula: see text] at a 1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m pitch value. Two significant findings were identified in this work. First, the indentation impression was smaller and the corresponding nanohardness and contact stiffness values were higher in the first column of 10 nanoindentations and the first row of 10 nanoindentations. The remaining 80 nanoindentations displayed contrasting behavior compared to the initial 20 nanoindentations due to the prior deformation of nearer regions. Nanohardness value decreased parabolically from the low deformation to the high deformation region. This finding was validated by increasing the pitch to 15[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m under the 4500[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]N load conditions. The piled-up region around the impression of indentation changed from a semi-circular shape at a 15[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m pitch value to a cone shape at a 1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m pitch value. These findings will be beneficial for industries during the design of materials and will help reduce material failures resulting from tribological activities.
Organic device fabrication and characterizations: DFT support
Authors: Ahmed Ali Ben , Benhaliliba Mostefa
Published: August 2024

In this study, the effects of introducing a zinc cation into a zinc-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) cluster are examined in relation to organic phthalocyanine material. The Au/ZnPc/Si-based organic diode is made using the thermal evaporation method. The optical properties of the filter are checked and a selected wavelength of 360[Formula: see text]nm is recorded. Au/ZnPc/Si/Al exhibits high rectifying performance, and the organic device’s primary conduction mechanism is Space Charge Limited Current. ZnPc film’s superior transparency is shown in the visible spectrum, and its optical bandgap of 3.32[Formula: see text]eV is found. According to this result, ZnPc is a semiconductor. ZnPc has a weak exciton binding energy (600[Formula: see text]meV), a high chemical stability, and non-zero value of second hyperpolarizability (4.73[Formula: see text]10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]esu). These features can offer our ZnPc-based organic device a wide range of applications, including microelectronics, solar cells, and nonlinear optical devices.
Resources for Teaching Operating Systems: A Survey of Instructors and a Literature Review
Authors: Ebling Maria R.
Published: August 2024

Objectives
: Faculty new to teaching operating systems or those looking to refresh their course need to understand the state of the art in operating system education. Toward this goal, we conducted a survey of operating system instructors to understand how they approach teaching the course and what textbook and software platforms they use in their classrooms. We also conducted a literature review examining two decades of papers focused on teaching operating systems to undergraduates.

Survey
: We surveyed people who teach operating systems at the undergraduate level to determine which textbook they use, on which software they base projects, and how they approach teaching the course.

Literature Review
: We searched the ACM Digital Library for publications focused on undergraduate education about operating systems. We selected a total of 51 papers. For each selected paper, we identified which approach (i.e., concrete vs. abstract) and perspective (i.e., internal or external) on teaching operating systems the authors used, which Curriculum 2023 topics they covered, and on what type of system (e.g., educational, production, research) their projects were based. We also looked at the evaluation of the methods and the impact these papers have had on the field.

Findings:
Instructors teaching operating systems tend to balance both their approach and their perspective, with a slight leaning toward an internal perspective, whereas authors supporting operating system education overwhelmingly support an internal, concrete approach to the course. In addition, authors also tend to focus on a few key topics, including System Calls and Processes, Concurrency, Scheduling, Virtual Memory, File Systems API and Implementation, and Performance Evaluation.

Conclusions
: This work will help faculty teaching operating systems to consider which approach and perspective they wish to take in their course and to find the resources most relevant to their preferred approach and perspective. It can also help focus future research in the area of operating system education, to align it better with current practices.
Privacy beyond Data: Assessment and Mitigation of Privacy Risks in Robotic Technology for Elderly Care
Authors: Grabler Reinhard , Koeszegi Sabine Theresia
Published: August 2024

The introduction of robotic technology in the context of elderly care poses new privacy challenges. We conducted a systematic literature review of publications from 2010 to mid-2023, focusing on privacy-related concerns and efforts to resolve privacy conflicts associated with the use of robotic technologies in elderly care. The review is organized into three key discussion points: (a) conceptions of privacy, where we explore the multifaceted and multidimensional nature of privacy, building on Burgoon’s work; (b) privacy concerns, which we categorize using Rueben’s taxonomy of privacy constructs; and (c) mitigation strategies for addressing these concerns. Our analysis reveals that current design practices for robotic technologies in elderly care predominantly emphasize informational aspects of privacy. However, adopting a holistic approach to privacy is more advantageous. To extend privacy protection beyond mere data protection, we develop a framework that matches different mitigation strategies with privacy concerns across the identified dimensions of privacy, recognizing that no single approach is universally applicable across all aspects of privacy. We accomplish this by proposing an integration with existing privacy impact assessments and apply our findings to the design of robotic technology for elderly care.
Fixed‐Time Sliding Mode Control for Robotic Manipulators Based on Disturbance Observer
Authors: Li Tianli , Zhang Gang , Zhang Tan , Pan Jing
Published: August 2024

A novel controller using fixed‐time sliding mode (FTSM) and fixed‐time disturbance observer (FTDO) is proposed to achieve trajectory tracking control of robotic manipulators. First, the mathematical model is established for robots with dynamic model uncertainties and external disturbances. An FTSM control strategy is presented where the integral terms of position errors are introduced into the existing sliding mode surface (SMS) to reduce the steady‐state error of the system. The exponential form in the integral terms can provide an appropriate control force for tracking systems when the position errors are far from the sliding surface for a long time. Then, an FTDO is designed to obtain a precise estimation of lumped disturbances which can be used to weaken the impact of disturbances on the control accuracy. Finally, the fixed‐time convergence properties of the tracking control system are demonstrated using Lyapunov stability theory. Simulation research is carried out to illustrate that the proposed control strategy has strong robustness and fast‐tracking speed.
The Characteristics of Self‐Reported Symptomatic by Individuals with Mild COVID‐19 during Omicron Pandemic in China: Cross‐Sectional Online Survey
Authors: Liu Xiang , Wei Xiaoling , Xing Xiangju , Lu Ling , Chen Min , Zhao Yumei , Zhou Shuang , Feng Ting , Wang Li , Luo Chengling , Xia Jing , Zhang Jun , Liao Banghong , Wu Kui , Yao Wei , Wang Changzheng
Published: August 2024

Background. An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) epidemic occurred throughout China from December 2022 to January 2023, and the vast majority of those infected individuals were mild. The symptom characteristics of mildly infected individuals in this epidemic wave of the Omicron variant have not been well described. Methods. We conducted a nationwide survey of symptomatic characteristics of nonhospitalized individuals with mild Omicron infection through a WeChat app. Results. Respondents (68.6% female) were aged 18–87 years (42.6 ± 13.1 years), of whom 79.8% were diagnosed by SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR or antigen test. Of the 19 symptoms predefined in the questionnaire, an average of 7.8 symptoms was reported. The most common symptoms included cough (81.2%), fever (79.9%), fatigue (73.8%), muscle soreness (62.2%), headache (59.2%), and phlegm (55.1%). Painful swallowing was present in 38.3% of the participants and was one of the most severe symptoms perceived by the participants. Also, we found that young people were more likely to have symptoms such as fever, painful swallowing, and headache compared to the elderly population. 36.9% of respondents graded their symptoms as severe, and the severity of symptoms was higher in young people than in older adults, with fever, cough, painful swallowing, fatigue, and headache being the most severe. In addition, women experienced a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms than men, but there was no significant difference in the severity of most symptoms. The presence of comorbidities did not increase the incidence or severity of symptoms in those with mildly infected individuals. Conclusions. The symptom profile of mild COVID‐19 cases in the nationwide Omicron wave in China was markedly different from previous reports, featuring a high incidence of symptoms, multiple symptoms, and heavy symptoms. The symptoms of mild Omicron infection cases are not mild and are more pronounced in young people.
A Comprehensive Review of the Strategies to Reduce Retinoid‐Induced Skin Irritation in Topical Formulation
Authors: Narsa Angga Cipta , Suhandi Cecep , Afidika Janifa , Ghaliya Salsabil , Elamin Khaled M. , Wathoni Nasrul
Published: August 2024

Currently, retinoids are known for their abundant benefits to skin health, ranging from reducing signs of aging and decreasing hyperpigmentation to treating acne. However, it cannot be denied that there are various side effects associated with the use of retinoids on the skin, one of which is irritation. Several approaches can be employed to minimize the irritation caused by retinoids. This review article discusses topical retinoid formulation technology strategies to reduce skin irritation effects. The methodology used in this study is a literature review of 21 reference journals. The sources used in compiling this review are from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE. The findings obtained indicate that the following methods can be used to lessen retinoid‐induced irritation in topical formulations: developing drug delivery systems in the formulation, such as encapsulating retinoids, transforming retinoids into nanoparticles, forming complexes (e.g., with cyclodextrin), and binding retinoids with carriers (e.g., polymers, NLC, SLN), adding ingredients with anti‐irritation activity, skin barrier improvement, and increased skin hydration to retinoid formulations (e.g., combinations of glucosamine, trehalose, ectoine, sucralfate, omega‐9, and 4‐t‐butylcyclohexanol, addition of ethanolic bark extract of Alstonia scholaris R. Br).