bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and characterization of electrospun GelMA/PCL/CS nanofiber composites for wound dressing applications
Authors: Pilavci Esra , Ayran Musa , Ulubay Dilay , Kaya Elif , Tinaz Gulgun , Bingol Ozakpinar Ozlem , Sancakli Aykut , Gunduz Oguzhan
Published: December 2022

In the present study, the effect of different ratios of GelMA concentration has been exhibited for wound dressing implementation by the electrospinning method using a new polymer combination of Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)/Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Chitosan (CS). The nanofiber composites were fabricated due to their biocompatible, biodegradable, improved mechanical strength, low degradation rate, and hydrophilic nature to develop cell-mimicking, cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Different concentrations of GelMA were added to the PCL/CS solution as 5, 10, and 20 wt%, respectively, in the formic acid/acetic acid (7:3) solution. A photoinitiator was added to the solution for photo-crosslinking of GelMA. The influence of different solution concentrations (5, 10, and 20 wt%) on the structure’s nanofiber production and fiber morphology was examined. SEM micrographs revealed that varied GelMA concentrations resulted in suitable and stable nanofiber composites. The average diameter of nanofiber composites grows as the GelMA concentration rises. FTIR, DSC, tensile test, degradation, and swelling test were evaluated. The results demonstrated that high mechanical strength, hydrophilic properties, and a slow degradation rate were observed with the presence and increment of GelMA concentration within the nanofiber composites. The antibacterial potential of GelMA/PCL/CS nanofiber composites was evaluated against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus using a disc diffusion assay. In vitro cell culture research was conducted by seeding NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells on nanofiber composites, proving these cells’ high cell proliferation rate, viability, and adhesion. 10 wt% GelMA-based nanofiber composites were found to have great potential for wound dressing applications.
Treatment and outcomes of peritonitis due to Rothia species in patients on peritoneal dialysis: A systematic review and multicentre registry analysis
Authors: Ling Chau Wei , Sud Kamal , Lee Vincent W , Peterson Gregory M , Van Connie , Zaidi Syed Tabish Razi , Patel Rahul P , Castelino Ronald L
Published: December 2022

Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis remains a severe complication of PD. Although peritonitis due to Rothia spp. is rare, the treatment recommendations and outcomes are uncertain. Our study aims to review (1) published literature on peritonitis caused by Rothia spp. and (2) reported cases of peritonitis due to Rothia spp. in patients on PD in Australia and New Zealand. A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar for articles published between January 1949 and February 2022 was conducted. To be eligible, articles had to describe antibiotic therapy and treatment outcomes in all PD patients for peritonitis caused by Rothia or Stomatococcus spp. Data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) registry of PD patients who developed peritonitis due to Rothia spp. between July 2011 and May 2020 were also reviewed. A total of 12 articles and 28 episodes were identified from the literature search and ANZDATA registry analysis, respectively. Over 60% of the peritonitis cases due to Rothia spp. were from the Rothia mucilaginosa species (8/12 and 17/28, respectively), while Rothia dentocariosa was the second most commonly identified species in both the literature search and the ANZDATA registry analysis (4/12 and 5/28, respectively). A majority 8 (66.7%) of the articles in the literature search employed a combination antibiotic regimen, while the remaining 4 (33.3%) used a single antibiotic regimen. In contrast, most of the episodes, 22 (78.6%) described in the ANZDATA registry analysis, employed a single antibiotic regimen, and only 6 (21.4%) episodes were treated with a combination antibiotic regimen. The duration of antibiotic therapy ranged from 2 to 3 weeks in the literature search, and 1 to 3 weeks in the ANZDATA registry. While no deaths within 30 days of developing peritonitis were reported, catheter removal was reported in three (25%) and two (7.1%) episodes in both the literature search and the ANZDATA registry analysis, respectively, of which the majority occurred in patients treated for ≤2 weeks. PD-associated peritonitis due to Rothia spp. is uncommon and associated with relatively good outcomes. Antibiotic treatment for 3 weeks is associated with better outcomes.
Impact of peritoneal dialysis modality on patient and PD survival: A systematic review
Authors: Luo Pei-Ting , Li Wei , Li Xin-Yang , Zhang Yu , Du Bing , Cui Wen-Peng
Published: December 2022

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of the peritoneal dialysis (PD) modality, automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), on all-cause mortality (ACM) and PD failure. Studies were identified in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu and Wanfang databases from database inception until April 1, 2021. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study (PICOS) design. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to pool outcome estimates. Seventeen studies (more than 230,000 patients) were included. Our meta-analysis showed that compared with CAPD, APD demonstrated a significantly lower ACM risk (HR 0.87 [95% CI 0.77–0.99], p = 0.04), especially in studies involving an as-treated analysis (HR 0.75 [95% CI, 0.63–0.90], p = 0.00), published in Asia (HR 0.76 [95% CI, 0.67–0.86], p < 0.001) or Europe (HR 0.81 [95% CI, 0.74–0.89], p < 0.00), or published after 2012 (HR 0.82 [95% CI, 0.68–0.99], p = 0.04). However, APD was as effective as CAPD for PD survival (HR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.00], p = 0.05 or HR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.35], p = 0.61). Our results demonstrate a significant survival benefit for APD and provide evidence for increasing the global use of APD, especially in developing nations, where APD use has been hampered by a lack of reimbursement for care.
Coercive and mimetic isomorphic mechanisms for service provision: The creation of nonprofit organizations in Mexico before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hernandez Ortiz Tania L , Appe Susan
Published: December 2022

Nonprofit organizations represent diverse efforts of collective action and service provision, and have for some time been collaborators to public governance systems in developed and developing economies. In this article, we contribute to the limited empirical and analytical study in the field of public policy and administration about the operational environments that enable or constrain nonprofits in the provision of public goods and services. The operational environment for organized civil society, namely for nonprofits, includes the combination of their regulatory, political, and funding contexts. By analyzing the purposes of 296 new nonprofits registered between 2016 to 2020 in Mexico, the empirical context of our inquiry, we find that as resources have declined, new nonprofits adopt isomorphic mechanisms by resembling their purposes to the services the government intends to support. Nonprofits have also responded to the pandemic by focusing more than before on areas related to health, social assistance, and funeral services. The study contributes to bigger questions about the relationships between and balance across the responsibilities of governments and nonprofits, including during the COVID pandemic, and to the understanding of nonprofits as service providers in public governance.
An approach for predicting longitudinal free vibration of axially functionally graded bar by artificial neural network
Authors: Demir Ersin , Sayer Metin , Callioglu Hasan
Published: December 2022

In this study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is designed for the analysis of the longitudinal free vibration of an axially Functional Graded (FG) bar. The material of the bar is varied from one end to the other end according to power law function. Aluminum and Alumina and the mixture of these two materials are used in the analysis. The radius of the bar is also varied along to the longitudinal direction according to power law function. In addition, the effect of the variation in the slenderness ratio is also investigated. An ANN code is written in Matlab in order to obtain a generalized approach for vibration analysis of the FG bar. In the ANN training, some results of free vibration analysis obtained from the SolidWorks program based on Finite Element Method are used. The predicted values that are not used in the training are also obtained in SolidWorks for comparison. A Matlab program code, which based ANN method is used to find new values to be predicted. The process is also made for comparison with the ANN based Matlab nntool program. When the results obtained from SolidWorks and prepared Matlab code and Matlab nntool are compared, it is seen that the results are in harmony.

AMS subject classifications: 74H45, 68T07
Control algorithm of weight on bit and rate of penetration based on drilling robot
Authors: Zhao Jianguo , Liang Penghui , Liu Qingyou , Han Shuo , Zhang Ying
Published: December 2022

At present, the traction force and traction speed of the drilling robot cannot be controlled. However, if the speed of the drilling robot is too high, the bit will be damaged because of the shock load. If the speed of the drilling robot is too low, the drilling efficiency will be very low. The existing control system and control algorithm of the drilling robot cannot meet the requirements of the drilling conditions. A control system of the weight on bit and the rate of penetration of the drilling robot was invented. On the basis, a dual-loop fuzzy proportional integral derivative (PID) control algorithm of the pressure difference and flow rate was proposed to control the weight on bit and rate of penetration. Furthermore, the simulation model of the dual-loop fuzzy PID control algorithm was established. It is found that the proposed dual-loop fuzzy PID control algorithm has the characteristics of small overshoot and good tracking. Furthermore, the correctness of the theory was verified by the experiments. The experiments show that the average amplitude of rate of penetration vibration by using adaptive PID controller is less than 50% of that of PID controller. The maximum weight on bit with the adaptive PID controller is only 45.94% of that of the conventional PID controller. The overshoot of the adaptive PID controller is only 24.07% of that of the conventional PID controller. At the same time, the vibration amplitude of the conventional PID controller is obviously larger than that of the adaptive PID controller. The proposed adaptive PID controller in this paper can effectively reduce the vibration of the bit. By reducing the vibration of the bit, the life of the bit can be extended. Finally, it is of great significance to realize the efficient and intelligent drilling process.
Bringing French modernism to Singapore: Nanyang painter Georgette Chen
Authors: Neal Christine Crafts
Published: December 2022

A veritable world citizen, Nanyang painter Georgette Chen (1906–1993) melded artistic influences from both the East and West, bringing French modernism to Singapore. Much has been written about her contribution to the art of Singapore, her role in the establishment of the Nanyang Style, the lasting influence that she exerted on younger artists, and her considerable artistic achievements. Never before examined is the development of her oeuvre that reflects this mixture. The works selected for this investigation reveal her artistic development from student to teacher, the range of her thematic interests, and the stimuli that she absorbed from a life ensconced in eastern and western cultures.
Iatrogenic ANA: An emerging source of expensive diagnostic confusion
Authors: Ali Hammad , Buechler Connor R. , Sanaullah Oneeb , Lucas Alexandria , Lohr Kristine L.
Published: December 2022

Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) therapy has been shown to be useful in a multitude of disorders. IVIg is produced from pooled human plasma; therefore, autoantibodies found in the general population are also present in IVIg and transferred to those being transfused. This can prove a particular hazard for screening and diagnostic tests based on autoantibodies. We present a patient who was found to have a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer after multiple IVIg transfusions, resulting in diagnostic confusion and unnecessary workup. A 45-year-old gentleman was diagnosed with atypical CIDP, initiated on a course of IVIg, and sent for inpatient rehabilitation. However, recovery was complicated by multiple readmissions for recurrent weakness, and as part of the workup for other etiologies, an ANA was found to be positive. Sub-serologies and paraneoplastic autoantibody panel were negative. In the absence of clinical symptoms, we recommended continued monitoring and repeat ANA testing 6 months after the last dose of IVIg; as any drug needs 5 half-lives to be eliminated from the body. Clinicians should consider any recent IVIg treatments when evaluating the pre-test probability of detecting an underlying connective tissue disease with ANA screening. Indiscriminate ANA levels in patients recently given IVIg lead to unnecessary and expensive further testing and consultation.
Persistence and adherence to second-generation antipsychotic long-acting injectable medications for schizophrenia: A comparative study in the Australian context
Authors: Pai Nagesh , McGeachie Andrew B , Puig Andrea , Huang Tom H-W , Brahmbhatt Prachi
Published: December 2022

Objective

To examine patient characteristics, persistence and adherence to treatment associated with use of second-generation antipsychotic long-acting injectable (SGA LAI) medications in the Australian real-world setting.

Method

Five SGA LAIs were compared using a retrospective 10% sample of prescriptions in Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data: paliperidone palmitate 1-monthly (PP1M), paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly (PP3M), aripiprazole monohydrate (ARI), risperidone (RLAI) and olanzapine pamoate (OLAI).

Results

Patients in the PP3M cohort were more persistent with treatment ( p < 0.001). Median months of persistence: PP3M (36 months); ARI (18 months); PP1M (11 months); OLAI (8 months); RLAI (4 months). Patients in the PP3M cohort were more adherent to treatment ( p < 0.001): PP3M (78%); ARI (51%); PP1M (46%); OLAI (35%); RLAI (33%).

Conclusions

Patients on PP3M treatment showed comparatively longer persistence and better adherence. Treatments for schizophrenia with longer dosing intervals may provide patients with symptomatic stability that could allow for reduced hospitalisations/relapse and increased focus on functional recovery.
Diffuse WT1 Positivity in Smooth Muscle Component Supports Dual Differentiation of Mesothelial Cells in the Histogenesis of Leiomyoadenomatoid Tumors—A Report of two Cases
Authors: Krishnamurthy Kritika , Merkulova Yekaterina , Guzman-Arocho Yaileen , Rosen Seymour , Sun Yue
Published: December 2022

Leiomyoadenomatoid tumors of the epididymis are exceedingly rare biphasic tumors composed of an adenomatoid component in the form of gland-like structures lined by single flat or cuboidal cells admixed with smooth muscle. Radiological and gross findings cannot distinguish leiomyoadenomatoid tumors from the more common classic adenomatoid tumors or leiomyomas, and careful microscopic examination is critical in the identification of this esoteric variant. The histogenesis of this entity remains ambiguous. Common hypotheses include a collision tumor, a variant of an adenomatoid tumor with a smooth muscle component, or an adenomatoid tumor arising in the background of reactive smooth muscle hyperplasia. We present 2 cases of leiomyoadenomatoid tumors with diffuse nuclear WT1 positivity in both the adenomatoid and smooth muscle components, supporting the mesothelial origin of these tumors.
Outpatient initiation of venetoclax in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Palmer Shannon , Patel Anand , Wang Christopher , Patel Bianka , Zeidner Joshua , Foster Matthew , Muluneh Benyam , Buhlinger Kaitlyn
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Venetoclax is a treatment option in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in both the front-line and relapsed/refractory settings. Initiation of therapy has been previously restricted to the inpatient setting at some institutions due to a risk of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and limitations in medication access efficiency given the high cost of therapy.

Methods

We assessed the safety of initiating venetoclax in the outpatient setting through a single-arm, retrospective study of adult AML patients between April 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Results

Eighty-two patients started venetoclax during this time, with 47 (57%) patients initiated in the outpatient setting. Fifty-five percent of patients received venetoclax as first-line treatment for AML (n = 45) and 45% of patients received venetoclax for relapsed/refractory AML (n = 37). Successful initiation, defined as no hospitalizations secondary to TLS within seven days of therapy initiation, occurred in 98% of patients. The rate of TLS was 2.1% (n = 1) following venetoclax initiation. TLS symptoms were managed during hospitalization, requiring only one day of missed AML therapy. Median turnaround time for medication access was three days. Hospitalizations within seven days occurred in 17% of patients (n = 8), with the majority due to febrile neutropenia.

Conclusions

The results of our study provide further evidence for the safety and feasibility of initiating venetoclax in the outpatient setting with a pharmacist-led interdisciplinary protocol.
Rayleigh wave in layered piezoelectric semiconductor with consideration of PN junction effects
Authors: Xu Chunyu , Wei Peijun , Wei Zibo , Guo Xiao
Published: December 2022

In this paper, analytical solutions for Rayleigh wave in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric semiconductor (PSC) substrate with a covering layer of different type doping are obtained. The PN junction (called also the depletion layer), which is created by the diffusion and drifting due to the different doping type of the substrate and the covering layer, can be considered as an electrically gradient layer between the covering layer and the substrate. Making use of the state transfer equation method, the transfer matrix of the state vector of the depletion layer is derived mathematically. Based on the numerical calculations, we investigate the physical influences of the covering layer, electric boundary conditions and doping concentrations on the dispersion and attenuation, and the effects of PN junction on the wave-mode shapes. Our results show that the semiconductor will slow the Rayleigh waves and induce the attenuation. Both the phase velocity and attenuation are dependent upon the frequency. The existence of PN junction has less influences on the dispersion and attenuation but relatively large influences on the wave-mode shapes, especially, on the electric potential, carriers concentration, electric displacement, and the current density of carriers.
Effective properties of heterogeneous materials as functions of contrast between properties of constituents
Authors: Kachanov Mark
Published: December 2022

One of the key difficulties in applications of the effective media theories to real materials is the complex and “irregular” character of microstructures. However, in cases of moderate contrast between properties of the constituents, the sensitivity of the effective properties to microgeometries is much lower; it vanishes in the first approximation. The latter actually remains applicable at substantial (up to 70%–100%) contrast in properties. The effective elastic and conductive properties are considered as functions of property contrast between constituents. Whereas in the isotropic cases the Voigt–Reuss bounds provide guidance, in anisotropic cases these issues are less obvious. Two origins of effective anisotropies are discussed: (A) anisotropy of material constants and (B) geometric factors: non-random orientations of non-spherical inclusions. To the first order in contrast, the factor (A) is dominant, and factor (B) can be ignored (effective properties are independent of microgeometries, such as inhomogeneity shapes); the importance of factor (B) increases sharply with increasing contrast. For matrix composites (continuous matrices containing inhomogeneities), an interesting interplay takes place between the moderate contrast assumption and the non-interaction assumption (NIA). It shows that, in cases of moderate contrast, the NIA remains accurate at substantial concentrations. An application to monitoring fatigue of austenitic steel, whereby property contrast between the martensite and austenite phases is moderate, is discussed. Results of the second order in contrast, that are limited to the ellipsoidal inhomogeneities, are also given.
Fluocinolone acetonide implant (Iluvien®) for macular edema associated with retinitis pigmentosa: A case report
Authors: Jomaa Emilie , Delyfer Marie-Noëlle , Korobelnik Jean-François
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Macular edema can be observed in 20% of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and is often responsible of central vision impairment. Intraocular administration of corticosteroids (either triamcinolone or dexamethasone implant) has been found to be effective in that indication. We here describe the first report of a successful bilateral administration of fluocinolone acetonide implant in a patient with steroid-dependent macular edema associated to RP.

Methods

Case report.

Case report

A 34-year female patient with RP was referred for a one-year bilateral persistent ME. She had been refractory either to topical or to general carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Bilateral off-label administration of 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®, Allergan, CA) was therefore decided. Efficacy and tolerance were very good in both eyes. Still, every four-month injections were required to maintain the macula dry. Off-label use of 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant (Iluvien®, Alimera Sciences, GA) was then proposed and injected, first, in the right eye and, two-years after, in the left eye. No recurrences of the edema were observed from then on, i.e., for 3 years in the right eye and for 1 year in the left eye.

Conclusion

Intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide could represent a promising means in the therapeutic management of persistent steroid-dependent ME related to RP.
Asynchronous training for ultrasound-guided peripheral IV placement among critical care nurses
Authors: Schott Christopher K , Devore Jennifer A , Kelly Monique YB , Mayr Florian B
Published: December 2022

Objective:

Teaching ultrasound (US) guidance for placement of peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters requires significant time for synchronous didactic and hands-on training. The investigators assessed the feasibility of an asynchronous model for critical care nurses to learn the novel skill of US-guided PIV placement. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of successful attempts and number of sticks per attempt for anatomy versus US-guided approaches.

Methods:

The investigators built a self-contained training cart for learners to practice and record their performance. Training occurred asynchronously. The learners recorded data from PIV attempts. Participants completed pre- and post-training surveys. Data from this prospective observational cohort was analyzed for descriptive and comparative statistics, using Kirkpatrick’s Model for evaluation of this educational intervention.

Results:

During a 6 month period, 21 nurses completed the asynchronous training, with eight recording their PIV placements. 81.0% of the training occurred outside of a Monday to Friday 9AM–5PM period. There were 64 attempts by anatomy approach and 84 with US-guidance. The anatomic approach was successful in 35.9% of attempts with a mean of 1.5 sticks (SD 1.0, Range 1–5). The US-guided approach had a statistically significant greater rate of success (77.4%; p < 0.001) with a mean of 1.2 sticks (SD 1.2, range 1–2, p < 0.01). Participants reported increased confidence in US-guided PIV placement and enjoyment with this method of learning.

Conclusions:

Asynchronous learning model with cart-based instruction and practice is a feasible means for nurses to learn US-guided PIV placement. Significant outcomes were seen across Kirkpatrick levels I–IV for educational outcome assessment.
Does more matter? Critical mass and legislative influence
Authors: Nemerever Zoe , Parry Janine A
Published: December 2022

Scholars are divided on whether increased group size helps or hurts political minorities. We test the concept of “critical mass” using a different kind of long-time minority: pre-realignment Republicans in the American South. In Arkansas, after a century of token status, the minority party doubled its numbers in the late 1990s, held steady through the 2000s, then surged to a super majority. This stair-stepped transformation opened a unique window to address a question thus far examined only cross-sectionally: is an outgroup’s influence enhanced by an increase in numbers or does success become less likely as the majority reacts to a growing threat? We find support for the latter. As the minority expands, the likelihood their bills will be adopted, relative to majority bills, decreases markedly. The widened deficit is not, however, the consequence of diminished Republican success, but rather of a Democratic surge.
Preliminary evidence that applied cognitive linguistics is effective for novice learners regardless of their individual differences
Authors: Kissling Elizabeth Maria , Arnold Taylor
Published: December 2022

Given the immense potential of cognitive linguistics for second language teaching and the need to produce more robust empirical evidence of its effectiveness for a range of learners in real classrooms, the current study set out to investigate the effectiveness of a novel cognitive linguistics-inspired approach for teaching Spanish prepositions and aspect to novice learners ( n = 30). Animated videos, which were created collaboratively with students to ensure their comprehensibility, presented Principled Polysemy Networks for the prepositions por and para and the concept of boundedness for aspect (preterite and imperfect). After presentation, practice, and feedback cycles, learners made significant gains on controlled production tasks and performed as well as more advanced learners recruited in prior studies, suggesting that the cognitive linguistics approach was effective for these novices. The study found no statistically significant correlations between learning outcomes and individual difference measures of executive function, working memory, motivation, or learning style, which was cautiously interpreted as suggesting that the applied cognitive linguistics approach benefited all learners, not just a subset with particular abilities.
Access and diversity in South African craft and design: The work of craft intermediaries in Cape Town
Authors: Comunian Roberta , England Lauren
Published: December 2022

Creative intermediaries are increasingly recognised for their role in facilitating the growth and development of creative entrepreneurs and creative and cultural industries. There is also a growing interest in the role of creative and cultural industries in developing economies, for economic development but also cultural engagement and social change. In this article, we bring a Global South perspective to the study of creative intermediaries in the craft sector by exploring how they engage with makers and markets for craft products in Cape Town, South Africa and beyond. Using qualitative interviews with key players from four intermediary organisations working at the community level through to luxury export, we present their different business models and approaches to supporting the development of the craft sector and makers. We reflect on the role they play in addressing inequalities, especially in opportunities to access craft careers and develop sustainable livelihoods for disadvantaged communities. We also consider some of the key challenges these intermediaries face in relation to policy, infrastructure, finance and global competition. The article argues for the value of adopting an ecological perspective in studying the role of craft intermediaries to recognise their role in addressing inequalities in accessing craft careers and the importance of support for makers at different stages in their professional development.
In conversation with Deirdre Figueiredo MBE, Director of Craftspace
Authors: Patel Karen
Published: December 2022

Deirdre Figueiredo MBE is Director of Craftspace, an organisation in Birmingham, United Kingdom, which supports contemporary craft. For over 30 years, Craftspace has been working with communities and artists to challenge and push boundaries in craft, and Deirdre has been at the forefront for most of that time. In this conversation with special issue editor Dr Karen Patel, Deirdre reflects on her career in the craft sector and her own intersectional experience, and discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement on contemporary craft.
Cause and place of death in Norwegian nursing home residents
Authors: Vossius Corinna , Bergh Sverre , Selbæk Geir , Lichtwarck Bjørn , Myhre Janne
Published: December 2022

Background:

Nursing home (NH) residents are in their last phase of life, and two aims of the NH’s medical care in Norway is to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions that would not benefit the resident and to facilitate a peaceful death in familiar surroundings when the time comes. However, little is known about the share of residents dying in NHs and the causes of death. We therefore evaluated the cause and place of death in a cohort of NH residents followed from the time of NH admission until death.

Methods:

NH residents were followed from admission to the NH and over the entire course of their NH stay. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Cause and place of death were retrieved from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry.

Results:

Of 1283 residents, 6.2% died in hospital and 91.2% in a NH. Those who died in hospitals were more often male, died sooner after NH admission, had a less severe degree of dementia and had poorer general health. Dementia was the most common underlying cause of death, followed by cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions:

Dementia is one of the main causes of death in NH residents. In addition, our findings indicate a low number of inappropriate referrals to hospital during the last stage of life. However, further research should explore whether the terminal phase of NH residents is formed in accordance with their preferences and whether appropriate palliative care is offered.
Playing the story: Learning with young Children’s in/visible composing collaborations in outdoor narrative play
Authors: Lenters Kimberly , Mosher Ronna , MacDonald Jennifer
Published: December 2022

In this article, we examine young children’s narrative play as posthuman, collaborative composing assemblages. Thinking with Tsing (2015), we re/consider collaboration as that which benefits from contamination and unruly edges as lively and generative places can help educators to notice and nurture that which easily goes unnoticed. We are guided by the question of what could be learned about generating literacy learning opportunities for young children in an outdoor program focused on setting up conditions for collaborative, narrative play. Posthuman perspectives deriving from the philosophical work of Deleuze and Guattari, often utilize the concept of the rhizome. However, following the scholarship of posthuman philosopher Anna Tsing and mycologist, Merlin Sheldrake, we turn to another more-than-human lifeform and introduce the construct of mycelial networks for posthuman literacy studies. For this study of children’s collaborative composing, we work with Tsing’s concepts of unruly edges and contamination as collaboration and introduce the concept of the in/visible. Taking up Tsing’s invitation to think differently about the construction of knowledge practices, we map and examine children’s collaborative storying by providing two vignettes, which together, comprise a rush of troubled stories. The troubled stories were part of an awakening for program facilitators, a space of four weeks in which they came to see that by attuning to the liveliness of the children’s movements, their understanding of collaborative narrative play was transformed. As relations between the human children and facilitators and the more-than-human vividly animate in this study, the in/visible moments that erupt along the interface between the domesticated and the wild can guide educators in planning and enacting young children’s literacy learning. To foster children’s collaborative composing, we assert, it is necessary to trust that storying occurs, for many children, in the underground, in/visible spaces that underpin the stories they play.
Prophylactic Effects of Sub-anesthesia Ketamine on Cognitive Decline, Neuroinflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Elderly Mice
Authors: Chen Minmin , Han Yinqiu , Que Bin , Zhou Rong , Gan Jianhui , Dong Xiaoyun
Published: December 2022

Cognitive dysfunction is a very common postoperative complication. The study aimed at investigating the effects of ketamine on the cognition of elderly mice after anesthesia and surgery (AS). We reported that AS impaired the cognition of elderly mice, while ketamine helped to maintain the cognitive function. Ketamine decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and the expression of p-TAU, S100B in hippocampal induced by AS. In addition, AS triggered severe oxidative stress in hippocampal, while ketamine inhibited it. Oxidative stress induced autophagy of hippocampal neurons via inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Ketamine could activate PI3K pathway and inhibit autophagy in hippocampal, thus maintain the loss of hippocampal neurons. The study suggested that ketamine inhibited the neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, reduced the autophagy of hippocampal neurons via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. It may provide novel methods for the protection of cognitive function in elderly during perioperative period.
Bearing fault diagnosis model using improved Bayesian information criterion-based variational modal decomposition and IGA-SVM
Authors: Ye Yang-fei , Zhang Meng
Published: December 2022

In rotating machinery, the bearing vibration signal is easily covered by the vibration signal of other components, which makes the fault characteristic signal not obvious in the collected vibration signal. In order to better separate the vibration source from the collected vibration signal, a variational modal decomposition optimized by bayesian information criterion (VMDBIC) is proposed. At the same time, the data set is constructed based on the separated vibration source signals, and the support vector machine (SVM) optimized by improved genetic algorithm (IGA) is used to diagnose the bearing fault. Firstly, the Bayesian information criterion is used to calculate the number of potential vibration sources in the vibration signal. The calculated number of vibration sources is used as the number of modal components of variational modal decomposition (VMD) to decompose vibration signal. Secondly, the modal components obtained by VMD are used to construct the eigenmatrix of vibration signal. And the singular value energy spectrum of 3 bearing types (a total of 24 fault types) is calculated based on the eigenmatrix of vibration signal. Finally, the singular value energy spectrum is used as the input of IGA-SVM model to diagnose the bearing fault. The effectiveness of VMDBIC method is verified from three aspects of the time-frequency domain signal, the index of orthogonality (IO), and the index of energy conservation (IEC). The feasibility of the method proposed in this paper is verified from three aspects: fault identification effect of various types of bearings, load changes, and mutual diagnosis of different bearings.
Prefigurative leadership: The building of leadership roles in a municipal campaign
Authors: Bedock Camille , Della Sudda Magali
Published: December 2022

Most research on mayoral leadership focuses on how leaders view and exercise power when in office. In contrast, we study ‘prefigurative leadership’ during a municipal campaign, i.e. the way in which putative leaders construct, stage and consolidate a leadership style that foreshadows the way they will exercise power if they get elected. We rely the study of the 2020 French municipal election in Bordeaux, characterized by political alternation, succession to a strong leader, and electoral uncertainty. Candidates endorse a great variety of prefigurative leadership styles and juggle with a series of dilemmas inherent with the complexity of mayoral roles.
The current state of the osteoarthritis drug development pipeline: a comprehensive narrative review of the present challenges and future opportunities
Authors: Kim Heungdeok , Seo Jinwon , Lee Yunsin , Park Kiwon , Perry Thomas A. , Arden Nigel K. , Mobasheri Ali , Choi Heonsik
Published: December 2022

In this narrative review article, we critically assess the current state of the osteoarthritis (OA) drug development pipeline. We discuss the current state-of-the-art in relation to the development and evaluation of candidate disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) and the limitations associated with the tools and methodologies that are used to assess outcomes in OA clinical trials. We focus on the definition of DMOADs, highlight the need for an updated definition in the form of a consensus statement from all the major stakeholders, including academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and patient organizations, and provide a summary of the results of recent clinical trials of novel DMOAD candidates. We propose that DMOADs should be more appropriately targeted and investigated according to the emerging clinical phenotypes and molecular endotypes of OA. Based on the findings from recent clinical trials, we propose key topics and directions for the development of future DMOADs.
Successful retrieval of a needle point from the breast through a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system
Authors: Sibilio Andrea , Bucchi Elisa , Alfieri Clarissa , Marongiu Francesco , Curcio Annalisa
Published: December 2022

Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) system is generally used to perform breast biopsies after identifying suspicious lesions that are occult on ultrasound. In this case, we used an 8-Gauge VABB to retrieve a needle point retained in the outer-lower quadrant of the right breast of a patient previously treated with lumpectomy. The use of stereotactic VABB system in this specific clinical setting has been never described before and resulted minimally invasive and perfectly suitable for correct localisation and retrieval of the 3-mm needle point; moreover, it may be easily reproduced elsewhere.
Future of HIV2 and HIV2 +  1 Infected Patients Treated with Antiretrovirals Followed at the Day Hospital HIV Care Unit from 2011 to 2015
Authors: Diallo Ismaël , Ouédraogo Smaïla , Sawadogo Abdoulaye , Ouédraogo Gafourou Arsène , Diendéré Eric Arnaud , Zoungrana Jacques , Sondo Apoline Kongnimissom , Bognounou Réné , Savadogo Mamoudou , Poda Armel , Drabo Youssouf Joseph
Published: December 2022

Introduction: HIV2 is endemic in West Africa. In Burkina Faso, its prevalence was estimated at 2%. The aim of this work was to evaluate the follow-up of patients and also to contribute to the availability of data. Methods: We involved 18 years or older. Infection was screened according to the national algorithm. A cross- sectional study from first June 2017 to 31 December 2017 was performed. For each patient, sociodemographic, clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolution data were collected and analyzed. Results: The proportion of patients infected with HIV2 (n  =  48; 1.7%) and HIV2  +  1 (n  =  67; 2.4%) was 4.3%. The sex rat mean age was 50.3  ±  8.5 years. The combination of 2INTI  +  LPV/r was the most prescribed (n  =  73; 63.5%). The average gain of LTCD4 has evolved from + 236 cells/mm3 in 2011 to + 364 cells/mm3 in 2015. The retention rate at grade 5 was about 70%. Conclusion: The immunological and clinic response of the patients was satisfactory. More than half of the patients remained in the continuum of care after five years of follow-up.
Emotion in Entrepreneurship Education: Passion in Artistic Entrepreneurship Practice
Authors: Ávila Alexandre Leite de , Davel Eduardo , Elias Sara R. S. T. A.
Published: December 2022

Although emotions have been recognized as fundamental for entrepreneurship and educational practices in general, the role of emotions in entrepreneurship education (EE) remains overlooked in entrepreneurship scholarship, particularly in the field of EE in the arts, where entrepreneurs are driven by their passion and strong emotional connections to their artistic projects. In this article, we discuss how emotion, and in particular passion, impacts entrepreneurship educational practices in the context of artistic entrepreneurship. Our 24-month inductive practice-based study, which used different sources of information (documents produced by the participants, direct observation, videos and semi-structured interviews) resulted in the identification of two dynamics of passion (transforming and contagious) and three aspects in which passion affected the EE process (motivation, collaboration and resilience). We conclude that our results can enrich studies in EE from different paths: discussing the relations between impacts of passion and other widely discussed constructs, broadening the understanding of passion as a dynamic and sociocultural emotion and highlighting the role of pedagogical practices in this context. Additionally, we broaden current understandings of the importance of passion for EE in the arts field.
Peptidomimetics in cancer targeting
Authors: Gomari Mohammad Mahmoudi , Abkhiz Shadi , Pour Taha Ghantab , Lotfi Ehsan , Rostami Neda , Monfared Fatemeh Nafe , Ghobari Babak , Mosavi Mona , Alipour Behruz , Dokholyan Nikolay V.
Published: December 2022

The low efficiency of treatment strategies is one of the main obstacles to developing cancer inhibitors. Up to now, various classes of therapeutics have been developed to inhibit cancer progression. Peptides due to their small size and easy production compared to proteins are highly regarded in designing cancer vaccines and oncogenic pathway inhibitors. Although peptides seem to be a suitable therapeutic option, their short lifespan, instability, and low binding affinity for their target have not been widely applicable against malignant tumors. Given the peptides’ disadvantages, a new class of agents called peptidomimetic has been introduced. With advances in physical chemistry and biochemistry, as well as increased knowledge about biomolecule structures, it is now possible to chemically modify peptides to develop efficient peptidomimetics. In recent years, numerous studies have been performed to the evaluation of the effectiveness of peptidomimetics in inhibiting metastasis, angiogenesis, and cancerous cell growth. Here, we offer a comprehensive review of designed peptidomimetics to diagnose and treat cancer.
Principle and Control of Active Engine Mount Based on Magnetostrictive Actuator
Authors: Si Zhiyuan , Bai Xianxu ‘Frank’ , Qian Lijun , Chen Peng
Published: December 2022

Engine mount system affects the automobile NVH performance. Active mounts would achieve excellent vibration isolation and relative displacement control performance in a broad frequency bandwidth by outputting controlled force to the mounting system. The actuator and control method of the active mounts determine the system performance. In this paper, an active mount based on the smart material, i.e., Terfenol-D rod, is proposed, which mainly includes three parts: rubber spring, magnetostrictive actuator (MA), and hydraulic amplification mechanism (HAM). Dynamic model of the active mount is correspondingly established. A state feedback control method based on x-LMS (Least-Mean-Square) algorithm is proposed as well. Specifically, with the consideration of the unmeasurable state parameters in the active mounting system, an x-LMS state feedback controller with the system state as the reference signal is constructed by employing Sage-Husa Kalman filter to realize the state estimation of the active mounting system. Then a detailed analysis of the proposed control method is conducted, with deriving iterative formula of tap-weight vector. Sequentially, the problem of the dependence on the excitation signal in the x-LMS algorithm is addressed. The feasibility and capability of the proposed control method are verified and evaluated by simulation of a two-degree-of-freedom active mounting system.
Promotion of Specific Single-Transverse-Mode Beam Characteristics for GaSb-Based Narrow Ridge Waveguide Lasers via Customized Parameter Design
Authors: Wang Tianfang , Yang Chengao , Chen Yihang , Shi Jianmei , Yu Hongguang , Su Xiangbin , Zhang Yu , Xu Yingqiang , Niu Zhichuan
Published: December 2022

GaSb-based single-transverse-mode narrow ridge waveguide (RW) lasers with high power and simultaneous good beam quality have broad application prospects in the mid-infrared wavelength region. Yet its design and formation have not been investigated systematically, while the beam characteristics that affect their suitability for specific applications remain rarely analyzed and optimized. The present work addresses these issues by theoretically establishing a waveguide parameter domain that generalizes the overall possible combinations of ridge widths and etch depths that support single-transverse-mode operation for GaSb-based RW lasers. These results are applied to develop two distinct and representative waveguide designs derived from two proposed major optimization routes of model gain expansion and index-guiding enhancement. The designs were evaluated experimentally based on prototype 1-mm cavity-length RW lasers in the 1950 nm wavelength range, which were fabricated with waveguides having perpendicular ridge and smooth side-walls realized through optimized dry etching conditions. The model gain expanded RW laser design with a relatively shallow-etched (i.e., 1.55 $$\upmu$$
μ
m) and wide ridge (i.e., 7 $$\upmu$$
μ
m) yielded the highest single-transverse-mode power to date of 258 mW with a narrow lateral divergence angle of 11.1$$^\circ$$

∘

full width at half maximum at 800 mA under room-temperature continuous-wave operation, which offers promising prospects in pumping and coupling applications. Meanwhile, the index-guiding enhanced RW laser design with a relatively deeply etched (i.e., 2.05 $$\upmu$$
μ
m) and narrow ridge (i.e., 4 $$\upmu$$
μ
m) provided a highly stable and nearly astigmatism-free fundamental mode emission with an excellent beam quality of M$$^2$$

2

factor around 1.5 over the entire operating current range, which is preferable for seeding external cavity applications and complex optical systems.