bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Youth and Young Terror: Canadian Case Law and the Socio-Carceral Dynamics of Youth and Young Offenders Convicted of Terrorism Offences
Authors: Gacek James , Jochelson Richard , Asfari Amin , Corcoran Lauren , Ranieri Marisa
Published: June 2024

Focusing on developments within Canadian jurisprudence, the authors explore significant case law and its impact on our understanding of the challenges faced by youth and young offenders convicted of terrorism offences while navigating the legal and correctional systems. We demonstrate how Canadian law has often failed to address the needs and lived experiences of youth and young offenders convicted of terrorism offences while dealing with legal supports and corrections’ resources. To that end, we scrutinize important Canadian case law. Preliminary findings highlight the inadequate interventions measures, both at the state and non-state levels, available to inmates who have committed terrorism-related offences, as well as question whether such interventions have any reintegrative value for youth and young offenders’ personal growth and desistence upon release. Moreover, institutional deficits, such as the absence of correctional programing leave open the opportunity for re-offending and radicalization upon release. If there is a role for law to play in rehabilitation, a thorough exploration of case law as it relates to youth offenders convicted of terrorism offences is required. In addition to examining Canadian jurisprudence and its impact on understanding the challenges faced by youth and young offenders convicted of terrorism offences, it is crucial to underscore the importance of strong and conventional community ties after release. These ties can significantly mitigate further alienation and extremist tendencies. Socio-legal and carceral recommendations are discussed.
A word about . . . Preaching in a politicized society
Authors: Whitaker Erica
Published: June 2024

Preaching in a politicized society offers an opportunity for preachers to engage challenging topics in the church. This article offers three ways to approach preaching today. Sermons can preach beyond the binary, preach a posture rather than a position, and preach a word that opens rather than closes.
Pink Slips (for Some): Campus Employment, Social Class, and COVID-19
Authors: Jack Anthony Abraham , Bassett Becca Spindel
Published: June 2024

Although undergraduates from all class backgrounds work while attending college, little is known about how students approach finding work and the benefits they reap from different on-campus roles. Drawing on interviews with 110 undergraduates at Harvard University, we show that in the absence of clear institutional expectations surrounding on-campus work opportunities, students draw on class-based strategies to determine which jobs are “right for them.” Upper-income students pursued “life of the mind” jobs that permitted them access to institutional resources and networks. Alternatively, lower-income students pursued more transactional “work for pay” positions that yielded fewer institutional benefits and connections. The consequences of these differential strategies were amplified during COVID-19 campus closures as work-for-pay positions were eliminated while life of the mind continued remotely. Through documenting heterogeneity in work experiences, we reveal a class-segregated labor market on campus and extend previous analyses of how university practices exacerbate class differences and reproduce inequality.
Child meal support program, food and nutrition insecurity, and health among Korean children
Authors: Cho Seongha
Published: June 2024

Background

Korea's child meal support program (CMSP) aims to reduce food and nutrition insecurity (FNI) and improve health among children from low-income households.

Aim

We examined the impact of different types of CMSP on children's FNI and health in Korea, analyzing meal frequency and healthful food consumption (FNI), and general health and depression (health) among child meal card (CMC) and facility meal service (FMS) participants compared with nonparticipants.

Methods

The 2018 Comprehensive Survey on Korean Children data were analyzed. Precisely, 847 children from low-income households aged 9–17 were categorized into CMC ( n = 331), FMS ( n = 209), and income-eligible nonparticipants ( n = 307). Propensity score-weighted generalized linear models assessed CMSP's impact on FNI and health. Stratified generalized linear models examined heterogeneity in FNI–health associations by CMSP status.

Results

CMC participants reported more frequent breakfast consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 0.662, p < 0.05) but poorer self-rated general health (OR = 1.890, p < 0.05); FMS participants were less likely to have three meals (OR = 1.814, p < 0.05), fruits and vegetables (OR = 2.194, p < 0.001), and protein-rich foods daily (OR = 1.695, p < 0.05) than nonparticipants. Health risks associated with healthful food consumption and meal frequency were more pronounced among CMC and FMS/nonparticipants, respectively.

Conclusion

CMSP had a limited impact on reducing FNI and improving health among children from low-income households. CMC appeared more effective than FMS in alleviating FNI, notwithstanding potential health concerns. Food assistance programs should seek comprehensive enhancements in children's food and nutrition security and health.
Developing the Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus consensus measures for assessment of supervised psilocybin services: An e-Delphi study
Authors: Korthuis Philip Todd , Hoffman Kim , Wilson-Poe Adrianne R. , Luoma Jason B. , Bazinet Alissa , Pertl Kellie , Morgan David L. , Cook Ryan R. , Bielavitz Sarann , Myers Renae , Wolf Robert Cameron , McCarty Dennis , Stauffer Christopher S.
Published: June 2024

Background:

Voter initiatives in Oregon and Colorado authorize legal frameworks for supervised psilocybin services, but no measures monitor safety or outcomes.

Aims:

To develop core measures of best practices.

Methods:

A three-phase e-Delphi process recruited 36 experts with 5 or more years’ experience facilitating psilocybin experiences in various contexts (e.g., ceremonial settings, indigenous practices, clinical trials), or other pertinent psilocybin expertise. Phase I, an on-line survey with qualitative, open-ended text responses, generated potential measures to assess processes, outcomes, and structure reflecting high quality psilocybin services. In Phase II, experts used seven-point Likert scales to rate the importance and feasibility of the Phase I measures. Measures were priority ranked. Qualitative interviews and analysis in Phase III refined top-rated measures.

Results:

Experts ( n = 36; 53% female; 71% white; 56% heterosexual) reported currently providing psilocybin services (64%) for a mean of 15.2 [SD 13.1] years, experience with indigenous psychedelic practices (67%), and/or conducting clinical trials (36%). Thematic analysis of Phase I responses yielded 55 candidate process measures (e.g., preparatory hours with client, total dose of psilocybin administered, documentation of touch/sexual boundaries), outcome measures (e.g., adverse events, well-being, anxiety/depression symptoms), and structure measures (e.g., facilitator training in trauma informed care, referral capacity for medical/psychiatric issues). In Phase II and III, experts prioritized a core set of 11 process, 11 outcome, and 17 structure measures that balanced importance and feasibility.

Conclusion:

Service providers and policy makers should consider standardizing core measures developed in this study to monitor the safety, quality, and outcomes of community-based psilocybin services.
Pivotal role of orexin signaling in the posterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus during the stress-induced reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior
Authors: Illenberger Jessica M , Flores-Ramirez Francisco J , Pascasio Glenn , Franco Marissa , Mendonsa Brandon , Martin-Fardon Rémi
Published: June 2024

Background:

The orexin (OX) system has received increasing interest as a potential target for treating substance use disorder. OX transmission in the posterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (pPVT), an area activated by highly salient stimuli that are both reinforcing and aversive, mediates cue- and stress-induced reinstatement of reward-seeking behavior. Oral administration of suvorexant (SUV), a dual OX receptor (OXR) antagonist (DORA), selectively reduced conditioned reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior and stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in dependent rats.

Aims:

This study tested whether OXR blockade in the pPVT with SUV reduces oxycodone or sweetened condensed milk (SCM) seeking elicited by conditioned cues or stress.

Methods:

Male Wistar rats were trained to self-administer oxycodone (0.15 mg/kg, i.v., 8 h/day) or SCM (0.1 ml, 2:1 dilution [v/v], 30 min/day). After extinction, we tested the ability of intra-pPVT SUV (15 µg/0.5 µl) to prevent reinstatement of oxycodone or SCM seeking elicited by conditioned cues or footshock stress.

Results:

The rats acquired oxycodone and SCM self-administration, and oxycodone intake correlated with signs of physical opioid withdrawal, confirming dependence. Following extinction, the presentation of conditioned cues or footshock elicited reinstatement of oxycodone- and SCM-seeking behavior. Intra-pPVT SUV blocked stress-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking but not conditioned reinstatement of oxycodone or SCM seeking or stress-induced reinstatement of SCM seeking.

Conclusions:

The results indicate that OXR signaling in the pPVT is critical for stress-induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking, further corroborating OXRs as treatment targets for opioid use disorder.
Spatial metabolomics reveals key features of hippocampal lipid changes in rats with postoperative cognitive dysfunction
Authors: Lei Zheng , Wan Jie , Han Jing-jing , Zhang Chun-Yan , Wang Hao-Tian , Zhou Ding-jie , Chen Yu , Huang He
Published: June 2024

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. Numerous evidence suggest that dysregulation of lipid metabolism is associated with cognitive impairment; however, its precise role in the development of POCD is still obscure. In this study, we established a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) model in rats and employed the Barnes maze to assess cognitive function, selecting POCD rats for subsequent experimentation. Utilizing mass spectrometry imaging, we detected plenty of lipids accumulates within the hippocampal CA1in the POCD group. Immunofluorescence staining revealed a significant reduction in the fluorescence intensity of calcium-independent phospholipases A2 (iPLA2) in the POCD group compared to the control, while serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT) was markedly increased in the POCD group. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the number of synapses in hippocampal CA1decreased significantly and postsynaptic density became thinner in POCD group. Furthermore, after reversing the metabolic disorders of iPLA2 and SPT in the rat brain with docosahexaenoic acid and myriocin, the incidence of POCD after CPB was significantly reduced and the disrupted lipid metabolism in the hippocampus was also normalized. These findings may offer a novel perspective for exploring the etiology and prevention strategies of POCD after CPB.
Retroperitoneal dermoid cyst complicated with uterine adenomyoma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Yanhua , Liu Hailing , Hou Wenjing , Cheng Hui , Wang Feng , Zhang Lingyan , Zhou Jianbo , Han Feng , Zhu Weipei
Published: June 2024

Pelvic masses frequently originate from the pelvic cavity and are often associated with uterine, ovarian, or intestinal disorders. This report describes the case of a patient with a pelvic mass diagnosed as a retroperitoneal dermoid cyst at our hospital. We analyzed this case and conducted a literature review, to mitigate the risk of misdiagnosis and enhance the treatment of retroperitoneal masses.
Calculation and experimental study of reactivity between CaO–BaO–Al2O3–CaF2–Li2O mould slag and low density and high strength steel
Authors: Yan Xiaobo , Dai Jiahui , Mao Yumin , Wang Qian , Zhu Lilong , Wang Qiangqiang
Published: June 2024

In the continuous casting of low-density and high-strength steel, minimising or eliminating steel–slag reactions is imperative to ensure stable slag properties and a smooth casting process. This study conducted steel–slag contact experiments at 1400 °C, based on thermodynamic calculations predicting the reaction trends of the proposed CaO–BaO–Al2O3–CaF2–Li2O mould slag with low-density and high-strength steel containing 8 wt-% Al. The changes in compositions, rheological, and solidification characteristics of slags pre- and post-reaction are analysed. The findings reveal that only Li2O reacts with Al in the steel, forming LiAlO2 rather than Al2O3. Reactivity is affected by component activity and the partial pressure of Li vapour at the reaction interface, established to vary between 0.154 and 0.253 atm. Within the current range of slag composition, increasing Al2O3 and reducing Li2O content in the slag inhibits the slag–metal reaction. Specifically, Li2O remains unreactive with Al when 2.5 wt-% < Li2O  <  5 wt-% and Al2O3  >  27 wt-%. Conversely, the reaction occurs when Li2O  >  4.5 wt-% and Al2O3 < 18 wt-%. In conclusion, low- and non-reactive mould slags suitable for casting low-density and high-strength steel are proposed, considering both reactivity and stable slag properties.
Thermodynamic simulation of slag–refractories interactions in innovative slag-splashing processes in converters
Authors: Zhang Han , Yuan Zhangfu , Zhao Hongxin , Zhao Linfei , Kong Dong , Lu Yi
Published: June 2024

The innovative slag-splashing process in converters enables the reuse of CO2. However, the changes in slag–refractories interactions after applying the new technique are not yet clear. In this work, an approach was developed to thermodynamically simulate the slag–refractories interactions in slag-splashing processes. Firstly, the simulation was validated. Subsequently, the differences in traditional and innovative slag-splashing processes were compared, and the effects of slag carbon addition, CO2 consumption, and refractories composition on slag–refractories interactions were investigated. It was found that after applying the new technique, the mass of the high-melting-point solid solution increased, and the liquid slag had a better bonding effect on the refractories and the external mechanical bonding layer. Increasing the slag carbon addition and CO2 consumption both led to an increase in high-melting-point solid solution. However, increasing the slag carbon addition favoured the bonding of liquid slag to the refractories, while increasing the CO2 consumption weakened the bonding ability of the liquid slag. The increase of C in MgO–C refractories resulted in an increase in Fe and CO production. Due to the deterioration of slag wettability on refractories, the increase in C is detrimental to the converter slag-splashing process.
A Spatiotemporal Model as an Approach for Parameterizing the Inherited Cosmopolitan Urban Areas: Eastern Harbor, Alexandria-Egypt
Authors: El-Sayed Yoseph Walaa
Published: June 2024

Eastern Harbor urban areas, Alexandria-Egypt, are inherited cosmopolitan spatial systems formed across eras. Parameterizing their inheritances is a scientific challenge according to their complex configuration and nonmetric meaning and value data. This study developed an approach for calibrating their urban parameter sets as vocabularies and governing grammars based on the space entity. Historical inductive method supports generating a valid spatiotemporal model, facilitating reliable deductive methods for investigating their deep-rooted urban anatomy based on anthropological temporal frames, followed by defining the inherited space-syntax via the resulting ontology-based model. The proposed systematic conceptual approach’s findings would serve informatic-based actions in continuous obsolescence.
Back to the Future: Placing the Florida Decision in Historical Context
Authors: Black Timothy
Published: June 2024

In January 2024, Florida’s Board of Education eliminated the sociology course, ‘Principles of Sociology’ as one of its core requirements for obtaining a general social science education in its college and university system. Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz, led the charge, claiming that sociology has been ‘hijacked by left wing activists’ and is a purveyor of ‘woke ideology’. Some within the profession would agree with Diaz, and certainly, many university administrators would as well. Of course, there are varying representations of sociology, and what Diaz and others are targeting is critical sociology and its commitment to the interrogation of power. However, these political dynamics are not new. The history of critical sociology has reflected a similar pattern that it is being played out currently. The ebbs and flows of critical sociology’s place within the discipline, the state and profession’s suppression of it, its resurgence linked to external social and political forces, and its precarious existence within the university have been true of critical sociology since its origins. This paper offers a historical context for better understanding the current attack on the field of sociology and raises the question, what should critical sociologists do about it?
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Monetary Value of Informal Caregiving for Non-Institutionalized People Living With Dementia
Authors: Cantu Phillip , Cho Tsai-Chin , Wyman Mary , Helppie-McFall Brooke , Ajrouch Kristine J.
Published: June 2024

Objective

To examine racial and ethnic differences in costs of informal caregiving among older adults with dementia in the United States.

Methods

We used data from the 2002 to 2018 Health and Retirement Survey to estimate annual informal care hours for adults with dementia ( n = 10,015). We used regression models to examine racial and ethnic differences in hours of informal care for activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL, controlling for demographic characteristics, education, and level of disability.

Results

Our sample was 70% non-Hispanic White, 19% non-Hispanic Black, and 11% Hispanic. Hispanics received, on average, 35.8 hours of informal care each week, compared to 30.1 for Blacks and 20.1 for Whites. Racial and ethnic differences persisted when controlling for covariates.

Discussion

Informal care is a greater cost to racial and ethnic minoritized families. Informal care was valued at a replacement cost of $44,656 for Hispanics, $37,508 for Blacks, and $25,121 for Whites.
Fruit fly optimization algorithm with escape predation mechanism based direct lift control for automatic carrier landing
Authors: Zhang Xiangyin , Liu Chengling , Wang Jiaxing , Li Xiuzhi
Published: June 2024

This paper designs a practical automatic carrier landing system (ACLS) that utilizes direct lift control (DLC) technology, and the controller parameters are optimized by using the enhanced fruit fly optimization algorithm with escape predation mechanism (EPFOA). The designed ACLS comprises the control channels of elevator, flap and throttle. The coordinated action of the elevator and flap can generate direct lift, enabling the aircraft to approach the desired glide path quickly and accurately. A decoupling module is designed to enhance the attitude stability of the aircraft during landing, thereby increase the success rate of landing. In order to achieve the better control effectiveness, the EPFOA is proposed to optimize the controller parameters of the DLC-based ACLS. Inspired by the predator-escape behavior between dingoes and sheep, EPFOA divides the whole fruit fly swarm into three categories: discovered escaping fruit fly (DEF), escaping fruit fly (EF) and predator fruit fly (PF). The PFs can ensure the population of convergence, while the DEFs and EFs can preserve the diversity of the population and avoid falling into local optima. Experiments are conducted in various cases, and the designed DLC-ACLS demonstrates superior ability in flight path adjustment and attitude control compared to the traditional F/A-18 ACLS in landing control. Additionally, the proposed EPFOA shows superior performance compared to other optimization algorithms.
Cutting Through the Noise: Auditory Scenes and Their Effects on Visual Object Processing
Authors: Williams Jamal R. , Störmer Viola S.
Published: June 2024

Despite the intuitive feeling that our visual experience is coherent and comprehensive, the world is full of ambiguous and indeterminate information. Here we explore how the visual system might take advantage of ambient sounds to resolve this ambiguity. Young adults ( ns = 20–30) were tasked with identifying an object slowly fading in through visual noise while a task-irrelevant sound played. We found that participants demanded more visual information when the auditory object was incongruent with the visual object compared to when it was not. Auditory scenes, which are only probabilistically related to specific objects, produced similar facilitation even for unheard objects (e.g., a bench). Notably, these effects traverse categorical and specific auditory and visual-processing domains as participants performed across-category and within-category visual tasks, underscoring cross-modal integration across multiple levels of perceptual processing. To summarize, our study reveals the importance of audiovisual interactions to support meaningful perceptual experiences in naturalistic settings.
Reshaping sustainability through climate attention, financial regulations, and energy policy
Authors: Wu Chunhui , Inuwa Nasiru , Lee Lianne M.Q. , Fatima Sana , Meo Muhammad Saeed
Published: June 2024

The United States is classified as “insufficient” by the climate action tracker (CAT), indicating a lack of progress in addressing crucial environmental concerns. This highlights the inadequacy of current policy measures, especially in achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG) 13. In view of this, the present study examines the impact of public climate attention, financial regulations, and energy policy uncertainty on the load capacity factor in the United States. The quarterly data spanning from 2004 to 2021 has been analyzed by employing a unique bootstrap rolling window Granger causality test. The findings confirm that an increase in public climate attention and financial regulations positively affects the load capacity factor, indicating an improvement in environmental quality. Further, it was found that an increase in energy policy uncertainty negatively affects the load capacity factor, indicating environmental degradation. The study highlights policy implications to support the United States in achieving SDG 13.
Contemporary Legal Pluralism, the Modern Metropole, and Immigrant Integration: Negotiating the Law and Legal Institutions in Immigrant Contexts
Authors: Kozak-Isik Gulseren
Published: June 2024

Social actors’ ability to navigate multiple—and at times contradictory—institutions is essential to the well-being of contemporary diverse societies. For immigrants, the process and outcome of this negotiation shape the trajectories of their integration. Through in-depth interviews, participant observations, and the analysis of written and online materials, this paper studies Muslim immigrants’ experiences of, responses to, and negotiations with the coexistence of American and Islamic laws in the U.S. The data show that legal pluralism (LP) in the modern Metropole has given way to new and novel understandings and practices of LP: the “right to the law” and the “cosmopolitization of the legal field.” Also, whether and how Muslim immigrants negotiate American and Islamic laws is deeply rooted in and critically engaged with the prevailing discussions of equality, pluralism, inclusion, and citizenship. The findings of the study demonstrate that the American Muslim community has developed multiple creative responses to the challenges of LP, and these responses are constantly evolving and readapting through redefinition of acceptable practices, reordering of authoritative voices within the community, creative legal interpretations, and hybridization of the coexisting laws. Thus, the idiosyncrasies of LP in the modern Metropole have created simultaneous drives for adjustment and preservation.
An Empirical Analysis of the Asymmetric Association of Public Investment with Private Investment: Revisiting Crowding-In/Out Effect
Authors: Rai Pratibha , Pundir Vijeta , Gupta Priya , Singh Sultan , Bhawna
Published: June 2024

The crowding-in/out effect of government spending on private investment has been a much-debated topic. As the controversy surrounding this topic persists, the subject is revisited using an improved nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model for the Indian economy using the sample period 1980–2022. In the framework of the flexible accelerator model, the present study considers the positive and negative shocks in the two public investment series and positive and negative shocks in other macroeconomic variables (such as FDI, lending rate and credit availability to the private sector) as determinants of private investment. The results depict strong nonlinear short-run and long-run cointegrating linkages establishing the tendency of the Indian economy to converge to a long-run and short-run equilibrium threshold. The long-run estimation shows that private investment decreases at a much higher rate when public investment falls as compared to its tendency to rise when public investment increases. Further, contrary to our expectations, public investment in the non-infrastructure sector crowds in private investments, while public investment flowing into the infrastructure crowds out private sector investments, possibly because of the long gestation period of public investments. An important policy implication is to channel investments in the non-infrastructure and infrastructure segments of the public sector that boost private investments aligned with sustainable development goals. Efficient qualitative fiscal and monetary policy measures are recommended to encourage private investments.
Interactive effects of presentation mode and pitch register on simultaneous consonance
Authors: Friedman Ronald S. , Kowalewski Douglas A.
Published: June 2024

In this study, we tested for interactive effects of presentation mode (diotic vs. dichotic), pitch register, and both harmonicity and spectral interference on simultaneous consonance, the tendency to perceive some combinations of simultaneously sounded musical tones as more pleasant than others. In two experiments, participants were asked to rate the pleasantness of synthetic dyads (i.e., two-note chords) generated from an unconventional musical system, the Bohlen–Pierce chromatic just scale. Consistent with earlier findings, analyses of these ratings showed that diotic presentation bolsters the positive association between harmonicity and consonance. Analyses also newly revealed that diotic presentation bolsters the negative association between spectral interference and consonance, presumably reflecting the reduction in interference between close-frequency partials engendered by channeling chord tones to different ears. However, the results also showed that these interactive effects were no longer reliable when dyads were presented in a relatively high pitch register (centered at C7 vs. C4), even when controlling for potential confounds between register and loudness. This appears to reflect the marked aversion to dyads presented in a high-frequency range, a tendency that may have overwhelmed the relatively subtle contribution of presentation mode. In sum, our results point to the importance of taking pitch register into account when modeling the combined effects of presentation mode, harmonicity, and spectral interference on simultaneous consonance judgments.
Does fantasy empathy predict the attribution of virtual agency to music?
Authors: Vuoskoski Jonna K. , Treider John Melvin , Huron David
Published: June 2024

Social emotions have figured prominently in recent research pertaining to music-related emotions. If music is indeed able to evoke social emotions in listeners, the implication is that music may be perceived in some way as akin to a human agent. Yet music, especially instrumental music, is not obviously an agent capable of feeling. Following up on past research linking liking sad music to the fantasy facet of trait empathy, the results of three studies are reported. The first two were online surveys involving 112 and 137 participants, respectively, who rated sets of words in terms of their implied agency, synonymousness, or applicability for describing music. The third involved a listening task in which 299 participants listened to 24 short excerpts of instrumental music, and selected up to 3 words, from a list of 16, that best described each excerpt. The list of 16 words was compiled based on the results of the first two studies and comprised 8 pairs of words that differed in terms of their level of implied agency but were matched in terms of their meaning and applicability to music. Participants also completed the Fantasy subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The results did not support the hypothesis that high-fantasy listeners would be more likely to impute (virtual) agency to music. Instead, the attribution of agency was significantly associated with enjoyment and musical arousal.
Resmetirom: The First Food and Drug Administration–Approved Medication for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Authors: Guirguis Erenie , Dougherty John , Thornby Krisy , Grace Yasmin , Mack Keri
Published: June 2024

Objective:

To review the literature leading to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the first medication, resmetirom, for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), including the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical studies, dosing, and adverse effects. Relevant data will be used to discuss how resmetirom impacts clinical practice.

Data sources:

A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE from database inception to May 12, 2024. Keywords included non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and resmetirom. Study selection, data extraction and all English-language studies involving the use of resmetirom for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/NASH were included.

Data synthesis:

Resmetirom, a thyroid hormone receptor agonist, is administered at daily doses of either 80 mg or 100 mg. The drug was shown to provide NASH resolution as assessed by the NAFLD activity score, 80 mg-24.2%, 100 mg-25.9% compared to 14.2% with the placebo group ( P < 0.001). Resmetirom, improved liver fibrosis, 80 mg-25.9%, 100 mg-29.9% compared to 9.7% with the placebo group ( P < 0.001). Resmetirom’s ability to improve fibrosis in patients with F2-F3 fibrosis offers valuable benefit for patients at risk of progressing to cirrhosis.

Relevance to patient care and clinical practice:

Resmetirom expands the medication options available to treat patients with NASH which can be given alongside other medications to optimize metabolic factors such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. Resmetirom was well tolerated in studies.

Conclusion:

Resmetirom serves as an attractive option in patients diagnosed with NASH with evidence of advanced fibrosis (F2-F3) in combination with exercise, diet, and other multimodal therapies targeting metabolic risk factors.
“It Was one of the Most Revealing Experiences of My Life:” Women's Views on Group Counseling for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Tutty Leslie M.
Published: June 2024

Groups are a common clinical intervention for women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). This secondary mixed-methods analysis from a study of 567 Canadian women from the prairie provinces compared the mental health and well-being of 131 women who had attended a IPV group to 436 women who had not attended any group. Qualitatively, perspectives from 131 women (113 comments; 18 interviews) who attended some form of group treatment were analyzed. Of the 199 coded comments about the IPV groups, most were positive (157 or 78.9%), while the remaining 21.1% (42) reflected concerns or suggested changes. Clinical implications are provided.
Care in crisis: Entangled dimensions of care work during war
Authors: Becker Xenia , Peticca-Harris Amanda
Published: June 2024

In this essay, we draw on two reflective interviews with Yosh, leader of the Ukrainian gender-based activist organization Feminist Workshop, illustrating her views on providing care-based services to displaced women during the full-scale invasion by Russia. Situating the interviews within the scholarly literature on care and the contemporary realities of the Russia/Ukraine war, we surface Yosh’s experiences and her consideration of more disruptive alternatives of care. In doing so, we assert the need for scholars (ourselves included) to be more willing to reframe feminist assumptions of care.
Impact of ventilation efficiency on restraining hazardous toilet plume post-flushing in indoor environments
Authors: Liu Hua , Zhang Zhonghua , Zhang Yalei , Zhou Xuefei
Published: June 2024

This study analyzed the hybrid ventilation efficiency of indoor toilet plumes generated post-flushing with various designs. Single-sided natural ventilation and hybrid ventilation were numerically investigated to determine the impact of vent locations commonly found in multistorey buildings. An in-situ experiment was performed to identify the size distribution of the plume with time series. A computational fluid dynamics model based on the Reynolds-averaged naiver-Stokes equations and baseline k-ω turbulence equations was used to predict aerosol pollutant transmission. The aerosol-laden particles receded gradually impacted by the convection of the ambient source. Besides flush volume, temperature and ventilation scenarios were also related to the generation and droplet transmission. The results indicated that the ventilation rates were generally increased with decreased residence time if the turbulence was not suppressed. This study suggested that appropriate ventilation design could significantly reduce the average particle residence time, in which case it could also reduce the rate of virus infection.
Care needs of people with dementia in Tanzania and associated impact on carers: A cross-sectional, observational study
Authors: Galbraith-Olive May Alice , Safic Ssenku , Mwaipopo Lawtiko , Ernest Alex , Gray William Keith , Urasa Sarah , Dotchin Catherine , Fisher Emily , Spector Aimee , Walker Richard
Published: June 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the care needs, care arrangements and burden of care for people with dementia in Northern Tanzania. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study. People with dementia and their carers ( n = 53) were recruited from an outpatient clinic, and data on carer burden and independence in activities of daily living were collected. Associations with carer burden and characteristics were explored through non-parametric tests and regression analyses. Results: Thirty-six carers were female (68%). Levels of impairment in instrumental activities of daily living were high, with a median score of 38 out of 44 on the Identification and Intervention for Dementia in Elderly Africans – Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IDEA-IADL). Carer burden was moderate with a median Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) score of 46 out of 88. Being a female carer was associated with higher carer burden (odds ratio 3.68, 95% CI 1.04–12.99). Discussion: Carer burden was found to be higher than in previous studies based in low-and-middle income countries. Further research is needed to explore this difference, and to identify interventions to support care needs and reduce carer burden.
Appropriateness of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management: Reply
Authors: Shiraishi Makoto , Kanayama Koji , Lee Haesu , Furuse Kiichi , Okazaki Mutsumi
Published: June 2024

In response to the commentary by Daungsupawong and Wiwanitkit (doi: 10.1177/15347346241247914), we authored a reply letter addressing their concerns regarding our previous publication (doi: 10.1177/15347346241236811). Daungsupawong and Wiwanitkit highlighted that while the advancements in generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots show promise, several challenges remain in their application to diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) management. In our reply, we emphasized the recent improvements in chatbots’ capabilities, particularly in image interpretation and non-English language communication. We posit that these challenges will be overcome in the near future, enabling the clinical implementation of AI chatbots for DFU management.
Understanding Men’s Lived Experience of Mental Distress Through Metaphors
Authors: McKenzie Sarah K. , Mathieson Fiona , Das Tiara , Genuchi Matthew C. , Oliffe John L.
Published: June 2024

The use of tailored language, which involves a clinician’s ability to adapt communication styles and employ accessible terms and concepts, has long been touted as key to engaging men with mental health services. Metaphors are one communication device that can provide men with ways through which to meaningfully express themselves and communicate their mental distress experiences. Using qualitative photovoice research, the current study examined how New Zealand-based men ( n = 21) communicatively constructed their meaning of mental distress through metaphors. Analysis of interview data was used to derive three metaphor groupings men consistently drew on to articulate their lived experiences: metaphors of emotions ( darkness and weight), metaphors of survival ( battle and entity), and metaphors of disembodiments ( debility and entrapment). The findings highlight the power of metaphors as a tool for men in communicating their experiences of mental distress and are valuable for health professionals to contemplate across an array of contexts. The implications and importance of a metaphor-enriched perspective for engaging men in professional health care settings and services are discussed.
The Impact of Physical Activity Enjoyment, Exercise Self-Efficacy, Recording Physical Activity, and Exercise Goal Setting on Physical Activity Levels of College Students
Authors: Taylor Susannah , Martin Joel , Wilson Oliver W. A. , Elliot Lucas , Bopp Melissa
Published: June 2024

Physical inactivity has been established to be problematic for college students both short- and long-term. Their participation in physical activity (PA) is influenced by many factors which will be explored in this study. The purpose of the study was to examine the interrelationships of PA enjoyment, exercise goal setting, exercise self-efficacy, and recording PA behaviors and the impact on PA. One thousand four hundred and seventy-six students at a public university in the United States responded to a questionnaire consisting of validated survey instruments regarding PA levels and exercise behaviors between 2014 and 2018. Exercise self-efficacy, PA enjoyment and recording PA were direct positive predictors of PA. Our findings reinforce the positive influence between PA enjoyment, exercise self-efficacy, and establishing exercise goals with increased PA. Particularly, exercise goal setting and PA enjoyment not only directly impact PA but also influence other model variables, underscoring their significance in enhancing PA among college students.
Integrating long short-term memory for optimal control of 6-DOF welding robot arm
Authors: Phan Gia-Hoang
Published: June 2024

In the realm of mechatronics, robots stand out as emblematic manifestations of societal progress. The synergy between the evolution of robotic technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) has been pivotal in refining performance and elevating the automation capabilities of robotic arms. This study delves into the integration of the long short-term memory (LSTM) AI model in the control of the inverse dynamics of a six-degree-of-freedom welding robot arm, employing a velocity-based motion control methodology. Noteworthy for its innovative operational approach, this method is widely employed across diverse models of industrial robotic arms. The research findings underscore the superior optimization results achieved by the LSTM model during the accumulation of control signals, surpassing previous studies in the same domain. Anticipated as a catalyst for substantial improvements in the efficiency of welding robot operations, this model heralds a promising avenue for future advancements in optimization techniques.
Carotid atherosclerotic plaque microcalcification is independently associated with recurrent neurovascular events: A pilot study
Authors: Bhakta Shiv , Tarkin Jason M , Chowdhury Mohammed M , Rudd James HF , Warburton Elizabeth A , Evans Nicholas R
Published: June 2024

Background:

Microcalcification and macrocalcification are critical processes in atherosclerotic plaque progression, though how these processes relate to the risk of stroke recurrence in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis is poorly understood.

Methods:

We performed a post hoc analysis of data from the ICARUSS (Imaging Carotid Atherosclerosis in the Recovery and Understanding of Stroke Severity) study, where individuals with acute ischemic stroke originating from ipsilateral carotid stenosis of ⩾ 50% underwent 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (NaF-PET) to measure microcalcification. Tracer uptake was quantified using maximum tissue-to-background ratio (TBRmax). Macrocalcification was measured on computed tomography (CT) using Agatston scoring. Patients were followed up for 6 months for recurrent ipsilateral neurovascular events.

Results:

Five (27.8%) of 18 individuals had a recurrent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Ipsilateral carotid plaque NaF uptake at baseline was higher in those with recurrent events compared to those without, and this association remained after adjustment for other vascular risk factors (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.24, 1.03–1.50). Macrocalcification score in the symptomatic artery was also significantly independently associated with ipsilateral recurrence, but the effect size was relatively smaller (aOR = 1.12, 1.06–1.17 for each 100 unit increase).

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that microcalcification in symptomatic carotid plaques is independently associated with ipsilateral ischemic stroke recurrence. Furthermore, differences in the extent of active microcalcification in macrocalcified plaques may help explain variation in the relationship between calcified carotid plaques and stroke recurrence reported in the literature. Our pilot study indicates that evaluation of carotid artery microcalcification using NaF-PET may be a useful method for risk-stratification of carotid atherosclerosis, though our findings require confirmation in larger cohorts.
Tribocorrosion experimental investigation on Ti6Al4V burnished samples used for hip joint replacement
Authors: Sicilia Alessandro , Saffioti Maria Rosaria , Miorin Enrico , Zin Valentina , Ruggiero Alessandro , Umbrello Domenico
Published: June 2024

This work aimed to investigate the effect of the burnishing surface treatment on the tribocorrosion resistance related to Ti6Al4V specimens, in the framework of the head-neck tribo-pair characterising a total hip replacement. The experimental procedure carried out started by choosing the specimens referred to different burnishing conditions together with specimens not treated or treated only with the turning process. Then, tribocorrosion experiments with fixed load and two frequencies were conducted through a reciprocating tribometer equipped with a potentiostat able to measure the electrochemical corrosion potential and current associated to the synergistic wear phenomenon analysed together with the coefficient of friction. Furthermore, optical topographical acquisitions were performed before and after the experiments. The results showed that the non-burnished specimens exhibited unexpected oscillations of the coefficient of friction approximately in the middle of the rubbing phase and the same happens for the cell potential; the wear volume was measured after the tribocorrosion test. This allowed to estimate the wear factor related to all the analysed configurations, showing a greater mean value in correspondence of greater sliding frequencies in the non-burnished cases, while the opposite happens in the burnished cases. Finally, the burnished sample at the lower burnishing force resulted to have the noblest corrosion potential, while the non-burnished samples exhibited the lowest corrosion current density.
Investigating the Potential of Multilineage Differentiating Stress-Enduring Cells for Osteochondral Healing
Authors: Watanabe Shotaro , Hosokawa Hiroaki , Sakamoto Takuya , Horii Manato , Ono Yoshimasa , Kimura Seiji , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Ohtori Seiji , Sasho Takahisa
Published: June 2024

Objective

Multilineage differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells, a pluripotent stem cell subset of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have shown promise for various tissue repairs due to their stress tolerance and multipotent capabilities. We aimed to investigate the differentiation potential in vitro, the dynamics in vivo, and the reparative contribution of Muse cells to osteochondral lesions.

Design

Labeled MSCs were cultured and sorted into Muse and non-Muse (MSCs without Muse cells) groups. These cells were then formed into spheroids, and chondrogenic differentiation was assessed in vitro. Twenty-one immunocompromised mice were used as the in vivo models of osteochondral lesions. Live imaging, macroscopic evaluation, and histological and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted at the 4- and 8-week time points.

Results

Muse cell spheroids were formed, which were larger and stained more intensely with toluidine blue than non-Muse spheroids, indicating better chondrogenic differentiation. Live imaging confirmed luminescence in all 4-week model knees, but only in a few knees at 8 weeks, suggesting cell persistence. Macroscopically and histologically, no significant differences were observed between the Muse and non-Muse groups at 4 and 8 weeks; however, both groups showed better cartilage repair than that of the vehicle group at 8 weeks. No collagen type II generation was observed in the repaired tissues.

Conclusion

The implantation of the spheroids of Muse and non-Muse cells resulted in better healing of osteochondral lesions than that of the controls, and Muse cells had a higher chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro than non-Muse cells.
Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Disease: A New Perspective
Authors: Turner Christopher
Published: June 2024

First recorded in 1928, people living with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a three to four times higher risk of developing periodontal disease (PD) than non-diabetics; for those who smoke this risk increases up to ten times. However, many doctors are unaware of this.

DM and PD are bidirectionally linked, the one affecting the other and vice versa, although the mechanism is not fully understood and may be linked to chronic infection. PD has an adverse effect on glycaemic control. That improves when periodontitis is successfully treated.

Doctors should consider PD when their patients have persistently high glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and dentists should consider diabetes or pre-diabetes when they have patients with unstable or progressive periodontitis.

Doctors, dentists, and their teams need to share results. A traffic light system of red, amber and green for both medical and dental risks is proposed, and a pro forma designed, so that diabetics themselves can share them with their professional advisors until such times as there are reliable methods of interprofessional communication and a paradigm shift in working practices is achieved.

Dentists need to find ways to teach their medical colleagues about the basics of PD, update their medical records, and understand more about medical risks. More research is required.