bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curcumin nanocapsules effect in apoptotic processes, gene expression, and cell cycle on Hep-G2 cell lines
Authors: Moawad Mahmoud , Nasr Ghada M , Osman Afaf S , Shaker Emad S
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Curcumin has antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, and its therapeutic effect must be considered. Nanocurcumin capsules showed a potential increase against in vitro biological cancer. This study sought to determine how curcumin nanoparticles and nanocapsules affected the expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bax, and Bax in a liver cancer cell line (Hep-G2). Mechanisms of apoptosis were also examined in this cell line.

Methods

This study used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to analyze the p53, Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 gene pathways and to evaluate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the efficacy of curcumin nanoparticles (CNPs) and curcumin nanocapsules (CNCs) against liver cell lines. Flow cytometry was used to check for signs of apoptosis and the cell cycle.

Results

Curcumin nanocapsules produced by the ball milling process at 90 min significantly boosted the populations of apoptotic cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The mRNA expression analysis revealed that the proapoptotic Bax, Caspase-3, and the tumor suppressor gene p53 were upregulated throughout the process started by curcumin nanocapsules and decreased in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio .

Conclusion

This research provides a fresh understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the liver cancer-fighting abilities of curcumin nanoparticles. Curcumin nanocapsules produced through a unique mechanical technique can be used as an anticancer agent.
Scaling Down from the Neighborhood in Urban Planning Research and Practice: The Potential Benefits of a Micro-Scale Focus
Authors: Walter Rebecca J. , Tillyer Marie Skubak , Ramiller Alex , Acolin Arthur
Published: May 2023

The neighborhood has been the dominant spatial unit in urban planning since the early 20th century. Criticisms of the neighborhood unit include disagreements about defining boundaries, methodological challenges in capturing neighborhood effects, and negative impacts on communities. With advancements in data management, and public data available at smaller units (street block or property), quantitative analyses are possible at the micro-scale. This commentary draws on crime research and prevention to illustrate the benefits of micro-scale approaches to quantitative analyses in the field of urban planning, arguing that the devolution to smaller scales may be a vehicle for efficient resource allocation.
Response to Melatonin Treatment in Children With Autism spectrum Disorder and Relationship to Sleep Parameters and Melatonin Levels
Authors: Martinez-Cayuelas Elena , Merino-Andreu Milagros , Losada-Del Pozo Rebeca , Gavela-Pérez Teresa , Garcés Carmen , Soriano-Guillén Leandro
Published: May 2023

Melatonin is one of the most used pharmacologic treatments for sleep problems in autism spectrum disorder, though its relationship with circadian and sleep parameters is still not well stablished. A naturalistic study was conducted in children with autism spectrum disorder, previously drug-naïve, before and after treatment with immediate-release melatonin. Circadian rhythms and sleep parameters were studied using an ambulatory circadian-monitoring device, and saliva samples were collected enabling determination of dim light melatonin onset. Twenty-six children with autism spectrum disorder (age 10.50  ±  2.91) were included. Immediate-release melatonin modified circadian rhythm as indicated by wrist skin temperature, showing an increase at night. A positive correlation was found between time of peak melatonin and sleep efficiency improvement values. Sleep-onset latency and efficiency improved with immediate-release melatonin. Immediate-release melatonin could be an effective treatment to improve sleep onset and restore a typical pattern of wrist temperature, which appears to be lost in autism spectrum disorder.
Which Latinos Experience Bias Victimization? An Examination of Acculturation, Immigrant Status, and Socio-economic Status
Authors: Sabina Chiara , Perez Graciela , Cuevas Carlos A. , Farrell Amy
Published: May 2023

The present study examined factors that could be associated with bias victimization according to intergroup threat theory, namely socioeconomic status (SES), acculturation (Anglo orientation and Latino orientation), immigrant status, and their interactions. Self-identified Latino participants ( N = 910) from three cities in the United States were queried about experiences with bias victimization, specifically hate crime and noncriminal bias victimization. Findings revealed that levels of bias victimization, hate crime, and noncriminal bias victimization were associated with SES, Anglo orientation, immigrant status, and their interactions, although in some unpredicted ways. Interactions among key variables helped clarify the roles of these factors in concert on bias victimization. The hate crimes against U.S.-born Latinos and the victimization risk associated with increasing Anglo orientations among immigrants contradicts predictions of intergroup threat theory. More nuanced analyses of social locations are needed to examine bias victimization.
Optimization of aerodynamic drag reduction for vehicles with non-smooth surfaces and research on aerodynamic characteristics under crosswind
Authors: Gao Wei , Wei Minxiang , Huang Shangzhu
Published: May 2023

Energy consumption and environmental pollution problems have become increasingly prominent in China. The drag reduction of vehicles is an effective method to improve the fuel economy of cars and reduce greenhouse emissions. In this paper, based on the MIRA squareback model, the influence of the shapes, arrangements, layout positions, and dimensions of the non-smooth units on the aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles are investigated through the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The depth, longitudinal spacing, and horizontal spacing are taken as the design variables and the aerodynamic drag coefficient is used as the optimization objective. The optimal Latin hypercube experimental design method is adopted to select sample points, and the response values of each experiment sample point are calculated through the integrated platform in Isight software. According to the response values, the Kriging approximation model is built and validated. Furthermore, the multi-island genetic algorithm is applied to optimize the dimensions of pit non-smooth units. The aerodynamic characteristics of the smooth surface model and the optimized non-smooth surface model under steady crosswind are conducted using numerical simulation. The findings obtained from the investigation will provide a certain reference for the application of non-smooth units in the field of automobiles.
De novo lupus nephritis after SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Mok Chi Chiu , Chu Chiu Sum , Tse Sau Mei
Published: May 2023

The relationship between viral infection and onset of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus remains uncertain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, organ-specific and multisystemic autoimmune phenomena temporally related to the viral infection have been described. Immune dysregulation triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus leading to hyperactivation of both the innate and adaptive immune systems contributes to the excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, autoantibodies, and subsequent autoimmune manifestations. We report two patients without known autoimmune diseases who developed lupus nephritis shortly after a documented mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Together with other similar cases in the literature, the observation supports a viral trigger of the development of systemic lupus erythematosus in susceptible individuals.
Immunological disease activity parameters at conception are risk factors for preterm birth and low birth weight in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Shimada Hiromi , Wakiya Risa , Kameda Tomohiro , Nakashima Shusaku , Miyagi Taichi , Sugihara Koichi , Ushio Yusuke , Mino Rina , Mizusaki Mao , Chujo Kanako , Kanenishi Kenji , Kadowaki Norimitsu , Dobashi Hiroaki
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study aimed to identify which disease activity parameters may be risk factors for preterm birth (PB) and low birth weight (LBW) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We also analyzed the extent to which these parameters affected PB and LBW.

Methods

We collected the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), the rate of lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) attainment, complement levels, and the titer of anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody as disease activity parameters. We retrospectively analyzed the associations of these parameters with PB and LBW.

Results

Sixty pregnancies were included in this study. C3 levels and anti-dsDNA antibody titers at conception were strongly associated with PB ( p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively), whereas C3 and CH50 levels were associated with LBW ( p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). A logistic regression analysis showed that the cutoff values of C3 and anti-dsDNA antibody for PB were 62.0 mg/dl and 5.4 IU/ml, respectively. The cutoff values of C3 and CH50 for LBW were 87.0 mg/dl and 41.8 U/ml, respectively. The risk of PB or LBW was increased when divided by the cutoff value, and the combination of these cutoff values showed a significantly higher risk of PB and LBW ( p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

PB and LBW are strongly associated with disease activity parameters in patients with SLE. Therefore, strictly monitoring and controlling these disease activity parameters, with or without clinical manifestation, is important for women who want to become mothers.
Relationship Between Perceived Discrimination and Somatic Symptom Disorder Among Young Adults With Immigrant Background in South Korea
Authors: Jang Sou Hyun , Kim Minsun , Kim Paul Youngbin , Baek Kyungmin
Published: May 2023

Insufficient research has compared the impact of subtle and overt discrimination on somatic symptom disorder (SSD) among young adults with immigrant backgrounds in South Korea, a country that is becoming increasingly racially and ethnically diverse. Therefore, this study sought to examine this. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in January 2022 involving 328 young adults aged 25 to 34 years who had at least one foreign-born parent or were foreign-born immigrants. We used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression with SSD as the dependent variable. The results showed that subtle and overt discrimination were positively associated with SSD among young immigrant adults. Subtle discrimination seems more strongly related to SSD among Korean-born immigrant adults (N = 198) than foreign-born immigrant young adults (N = 130). This result partially supported the theory that both forms of discrimination were differently related to increased SSD tendencies by place of birth.
Poverty and social exclusion in the EU: third-order priorities, hybrid governance and the future potential of the field
Authors: Copeland Paul
Published: May 2023

EU leaders have agreed to reduce the number of people who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 15 million (including at least five million children) by 2030. This article explores this ambitious target and analyses the positioning of the field throughout the EU’s broader governance hierarchy, as well as the governance arrangements within the field. It finds that throughout such governance arrangements, the issue of being at risk of poverty or social exclusion is largely dealt with by intergovernmental agreements and is thereby a third-order priority for the EU, with economic integration first-order and employment policy second-order. Meanwhile, within the field EU governance arrangements are currently being transformed to further encourage the Member States to take action. While this is a significant development, the overall ability of the EU to reduce the number of those at risk of poverty or social exclusion requires the field to move beyond its current third-order status.
A Mapping Review of Netnography in Nursing
Authors: Salzmann-Erikson Martin , Eriksson Henrik
Published: May 2023

People use the Web to seek health-related information and to discuss health issues with peers. Netnography, a qualitative research methodology, has gained the attention of researchers interested in people’s health and health issues. However, no previous reviews have accounted for how netnography is used in nursing research. The purpose of this mapping review was to generate a map of netnographic research in nursing. The search was conducted in PubMed, Academic Search Elite, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Data were extracted from 53 original articles. The results show an increasing trend in published netnographies over time; 34% of the total sample was published in 2021. Of the total, 28% originated from Sweden, and 81% had used a covert approach. In studies in which the researchers used more participatory designs, the time spent on online forums ranged between 4 weeks and 20 months. Informed consent is found to be an issue in netnographic studies. We discuss the fact that nursing researchers have used netnography to address a wide range of research topics of concern and interest, from self-care support in an online forum for older adults to nursing students’ perspectives on effective pedagogy. In line with the digital transformation in society in general, we discuss the fact that netnography as a research methodology offers great opportunities for nurse researchers to monitor new spaces and places that presuppose online methodological knowledge.
District and School Leaders’ Efforts Concerning the Public Gender Transition of a High School Teacher
Authors: Wright Tiffany , Brooks Sarah
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This case study examined the efforts of district and school level leaders related to the public gender transition of one high school teacher over a 2-year period. We employed Theoharis’ (2007) conceptualization of social justice education leadership to guide our analysis.

Research Methods

This qualitative inquiry drew from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the superintendent, transgender teacher, high school principal and relevant teacher union leaders. Related documents were also collected to triangulate the data sources. Data analysis involved open coding to identify themes and significant features of participants’ actions and experiences.

Findings

The findings are presented in the form of a chronological narrative about district and school leaders’ actions as one teacher underwent a public gender transition. Following this narrative, we explore three critical characteristics of the educational leaders’ actions: Collaborative communication, intentionality and anticipation, and framing.

Implications

This study addresses a significant gap in the literature concerning how educational leaders might work to create safe school environments for LGBTQ educators. While the efforts made by district and school level leaders in this case represent important steps toward creating safe environments for transgender educators, additional professional development and policy making are critical actions that could build on the efforts detailed in this case.
Introduction to the Special Issue, Anthropometry in Design
Authors: Albin Tom , Molenbroek Johan
Published: May 2023

Welcome to the special issue on anthropometry! This discussion will cover a range of differently sized topics to fit your interests. De Bruin and Castelluci discuss the problems of designing school furniture that fits students, noting that “Regarding School furniture dimensions, students are usually exposed to furniture with fixed dimensions, which makes it almost impossible to adjust to the ‘growing’ anthropometrics along their school life and neither does it accommodate multidimensional fit very well.” Griffin et al. discuss developing an “understanding [of] body dimensions in relation to how a body functions, moves, and changes” that “is fundamental to creating compatible wearable products” for aging women. Alemany et al. discuss 4D scanning, observing that “This technology is able to capture the human body surface in motion at high frequency with a high resolution” and offers “an enormous potential to advance in ergonomic design and biomechanics.” Bradtmiller describes the “nearly infinite combination of head/facial characteristics” and that “This combination of traits allows us to recognize unique individuals but increases the challenge of designing head and face products that fit a wide variety of individuals with a relatively small number of sizes.”
A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study: Eliciting ICU Experiences and Measuring Outcomes of Family Caregivers of Patients Who Have Undergone Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: McAndrew Natalie S. , Erickson Jeanne , Hetland Breanna , Guttormson Jill , Patel Jayshil , Wallace Lyndsey , Visotcky Alexis , Banerjee Anjishnu , Applebaum Allison J.
Published: May 2023

The impact of an intensive care unit (ICU) admission on family caregivers of patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been well described. Aims of this study were to determine the feasibility of conducting research with family caregivers of HSCT patients during an ICU admission and generate preliminary data about their experiences and engagement in care. Using a mixed-methods, repeated measures design, we collected data from family caregivers after 48 hr in the ICU (T1) and at 48 hr after transferring out of ICU (T2). Enrolling HSCT caregivers in research while in the ICU was feasible (10/13 consented; 9/10 completed data collection at T1); however, data collection at T2 was not possible for most caregivers. Caregiver distress levels were high, and engagement in care was moderate. The three themes that emerged from interviews ( n = 5) highlighted that although HSCT family caregivers faced many challenges and received limited support during their ICU experience, they were able to access their own personal resources and demonstrated resilience.
Left Behind: Medicaid Immigrant Exclusions and Access to Maternal Health Care Across the Reproductive-Perinatal Continuum
Authors: Fox Ashley , Howell Frances M. , Weber Ellerie , Janevic Teresa
Published: May 2023

Noncitizen immigrants are often excluded from accessing critical safety-net programs, such as Medicaid. Access to health care plays a central role in current policy debates on maternal health. Yet, immigrant exclusions are rarely considered in maternal health policy research. Through open-ended interviews with 31 policymakers, researchers, and program administrators, we examined state variations in approaches to providing care for pregnant, post, and intrapartum immigrant women. We found four themes: (a) a patchwork safety-net exists that provides some access to immigrants ineligible for Medicaid; (b) patchwork coverage leads to patchwork care, which can contribute to maternal health inequities; (c) immigrant Medicaid policy is assembled along a hierarchy of deservingness based on documentation status; (d) Trump-era public charge rules and political climate may have a substantial chilling effect on benefit uptake regardless of eligibility. We discuss implications for efforts to expand Medicaid postpartum and address the maternal health crisis.
Cable News Use and Conspiracy Theories: Exploring Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC Effects on People’s Conspiracy Mentality
Authors: Gil de Zúñiga Homero , Scheffauer Rebecca , Zhang Bingbing
Published: May 2023

Research on the origin, dissemination, and support of conspiracy theories has skyrocketed. Studies reveal how individual antecedents such as people’s personality traits, intrinsic motivations, and broad social-psychological processes explain this phenomenon. Fewer studies, however, explored the role of cable news exposure. This study casts a new light on how exposure to Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC relate to people’s levels of general conspiracy mentality fueled by the belief in “secret-plotting orchestrated by powerful others.” Results from K-mean cluster algorithms, ordinary least squares (OLS) causal-autoregressive regressions, and cross-lagged panel structural equation model tests show Fox News exposure fosters people’s conspiracy mentality.
Quantitative Risk Assessment of Dermal Sensitization Potential Following Use of Shampoo Products Containing the Formaldehyde Releasing Preservative DMDM Hydantoin
Authors: Stewart Chloe K. , Parker Jillian , Hwang Ruth , Vincent Melissa , Fung Ernest
Published: May 2023

Historically, formaldehyde was used as a preservative in personal care products to extend product shelf-life; however, given its skin sensitization potential it has been phased out of use and replaced with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, such as Dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin (DMDMH). A relationship has been established between positive patch test results following exposure to DMDMH and previous sensitization to formaldehyde. Upon direct contact with the skin, formaldehyde can react with skin proteins and cause an acute inflammatory reaction, which may progress to skin sensitization following repeated exposure. This quantitative risk assessment (QRA) aimed to assess the risk of skin sensitization induction following use of shampoo products containing the maximum allowable concentrations of DMDMH in formulation (1% w/v), translating to a free formaldehyde concentration of 0.02%. To determine a margin of safety (MOS) for exposure to DMDMH from use of shampoo products, consumer exposure levels (CEL) were estimated based on typical use scenarios and then benchmarked against an acceptable exposure level (AEL). The AEL was derived using a weight of evidence approach where a range of no expected sensitization induction levels (NESILs) was utilized. The MOS values for a shampoo product containing 1% DMDMH (.02% formaldehyde) was above 1 for the typical use scenario indicating a low likelihood of skin sensitization induction among healthy individuals. Thus, it can be concluded that shampoo products containing DMDMH at or below current allowable concentrations are not expected to increase the risk of skin sensitization induction.
A sequential mixed-integer programming method for concurrent optimization of core topology and face sheet thickness of a sandwich beam
Authors: Larsson Johan , Göransson Peter , Wennhage Per
Published: May 2023

A method is proposed that allows for the concurrent optimization of core topology and face sheet thickness of a sandwich beam under compliance constraints. The problem is solved using a novel mixed-linear extension of the Topology Optimization of Binary Structure (TOBS) topology optimization method aiming to minimize the total mass of the beam. The method has been demonstrated on a clamped beam example and the results have been compared to results from topology optimization of the core with a range of a priori fixed face sheet thicknesses. It is shown that the new method, starting from a fully populated core, finds a minimum mass that is lower than but in the neighbourhood of the best results from the topology optimization with fixed face sheet thicknesses. By varying the compliance constraint it is shown that the core topology approaches an ideal corrugated geometry as the compliance constraint is relaxed. The trends observed in the results are compared to analytical models for an idealized core.
Kia aiō ngā ngaru, kia hora te marino: smoothing the waters in natural resource management to mitigate risk and uncertainty
Authors: Hyslop Jade , Harcourt Nikki , Awatere Shaun , Hikuroa Dan , Blackett Paula , Heron Richard Le
Published: May 2023

Aotearoa (New Zealand) is undertaking reforms in natural resource management, and there are promising signals that Indigenous perspectives will be included alongside science for decision-making. Any resource management system is underpinned by worldviews, from which values stem and then risk and uncertainty derive. Māori (the Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) and Eurocentric notions of risk and uncertainty are fundamentally different because knowledge holders have different worldviews. Eurocentric concepts of risk and uncertainty continue to frame policy, making it challenging for Māori knowledge to shape policy that is relevant for decision-making in Aotearoa. We explore Māori perspectives of risk and uncertainty and literature, identifying common attributes across natural resource management frameworks, and identify issues of risk and uncertainty from the perspective of Māori experts. We conclude that a Māori approach to enhancing natural resources is more aligned to current environmental policy compared with standard approaches for risk assessment and reducing uncertainty.
A 6-Month Follow-Up Study: Cognitive Impairment May Predict More Frequent Use of Methamphetamine
Authors: Karabulut Sercan
Published: May 2023

Objectives:

Methamphetamine (METH) use has been associated with impairments in a variety of cognitive functions. In this study, it was aimed to assess the relation between cognitive measures and frequency of METH use.

Methods:

Ninety-eight participants with methamphetamine use disorder were assessed with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Victoria-Stroop Word Color Test (SWCT), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B. Participants were followed up during 6-month period with multiple urine toxicology tests (at baseline, month 1, month 2, month 3 and month 6).

Results:

Participants who had their prescriptions regularly were more likely to have higher rates of METH-negative urine results ( P = .003). Participants who had more correct numbers, completed more categories and had more conceptual level responses on WCST were more likely to use lower frequency of METH (OR = 0.006, P < .01; OR = 0.171, P < .001; OR = 0.024, P < .001; respectively). The higher error numbers and perseverative error rates on WCST were associated with more frequent METH use (OR = 0.023, P < .001; OR = 0.076, P < .001). Interference factor on SWCT was related with lower frequency of METH use whereas color naming factor on SWCT was related with higher rates of urine results (OR = 0.012, P < .001; OR = 3.628, P < .001; respectively). Higher TMT B-A score was related with more frequent METH use, although the significance disappeared after adjustment (OR = 0.002, P < .001). Having psychotic symptoms predicted less frequent use, but after adjustment for other significant variables, there was no significance.

Conclusion:

Lower frequency of METH use in the follow-up could be predicted by neurocognitive assessments. Deficits in executive functions, attention, set-shifting and mental flexibility seems to be the most effected domains and this effect may be independent from the severity of psychotic symptoms.
Nextdoor v. the community network literature: Do Nextdoor’s uses match the potential envisioned for ComNets
Authors: Lillie Jonathan , Achhammer Matthew
Published: May 2023

This study considers whether the use of the neighborhood-focused social networking web application, Nextdoor, might in certain instances rise to the level of community development envisioned over 25 years ago by “community networking” (ComNet) scholars. In the 1980s and 1990s, academics and journalists recognized the potential of “electronic community networks,” or ComNets, to help people connect with their geographic communities and help struggling communities with civic and economic development. Those early ComNets were described as helping residents to “get together” to tackle neighborhood issues from the grassroots. Through a case study drawing from interview data and participant observation, this study looks at how residents in a metropolitan US city and a nearby suburban area might, or might not, be using Nextdoor in these developmental ways envisioned by the ComNet literature.
Bollywood celebrities as bioconsumers of reproductive technologies in neoliberal fertility markets: A study of popular public discourse
Authors: Malhotra Isha , Sharma Eva , Thakur Raj
Published: May 2023

The article makes a biopolitical study of commercial surrogacy in India through the case studies of Bollywood celebrities prioritizing bioengineered babies through surrogacy. Drawing upon the theories of the culture industry and neoliberal subjectivity, the entanglement between the cultural economy of celebrity and the medico-industrial complex is decoded. The study attempts to focus on the existing popular public discourse using newspaper articles, tabloid press, interviews, and journal articles to investigate how Bollywood celebrities, as bioconsumers in the neoliberal surrogacy market, further genetic essentialism and neoliberal eugenics. Celebrities, as agents of new reproductive subjectivities, invite critical forays into bioeconomies of intensity, intimate life and belongings through the affective bonds of familial ties and kinship. Examining the moral economy of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in India, the study highlights the exploitative use of the reproductive labour of surrogates, who are treated as effaced entities and as collateral ‘prosthetics’ in the ART industry.
Push-Out experiments on bearing capacity of perfobond leiste shear connectors after hydrochloric acid corrosion
Authors: Qiao Wenjing , Wang Zhiyong , Yang Fan , Zhao Baojun , Li Yunlong
Published: May 2023

The paper study the shear bearing performance and failure mechanism of perfobond leiste (PBL) shear connectors after hydrochloric acid corrosion. Seven groups of specimens with PBL shear connectors were designed, these PBL shear connectors suffered from hydrochloric acid corrosion time of 0 h, 1 h, 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Herein, loading process, shear bearing capacity, load-slip curve, and failure mode were obtained by the push-out experiment, and then refined the finite element model (FEM) was established. Following the parameter analysis of 14 experiment specimens and 77 finite element models, the force mechanism of PBL shear connectors after hydrochloric acid corrosion were analyzed. With the extension of the corrosion time of PBL shear connectors, the shear capacity, deformation capacity, and slip decrease gradually. Among them, the finite element parameter analysis of PBL shear connectors demonstrates that their shear bearing capacity has the ability to be modified by raising the concrete strength, the diameter of penetrated steel bar, the diameter of steel plate holes, and changing the end bearing mode. On condition that the concrete strength is raised from C30 to C60, the shear capacity is reduced by 5.19%. When the diameter of penetrated steel bar has mushroomed from 12 mm to 25 mm, the shear capacity declines by 9.59%. Meanwhile, the shear bearing capacity of the end bearing is about 2 times of the non-end bearing. Once the diameter of steel plate holes adds 35 mm to 65 mm, the shear capacity just decreases by 2.48%. Finally, the reliability of PBL shear connectors are analyzed by the exit experiment data and the shear bearing capacity formula of PBL shear connectors. The research results can offer a reference for the shear bearing capacity of PBL shear connectors after hydrochloric acid corrosion.
Machine learning based prediction model for plastic hinge length calculation of reinforced concrete structural walls
Authors: Barkhordari Mohammad Sadegh , Jawdhari Akram
Published: May 2023

Reinforced concrete structural walls (RCSWs) are integral part of buildings and other structures and are used to carry in-plane and out-plane loads. For assessment purposes and to ensure safety and resilience of the structure, the curvature, capacity, and strain demands of RCSWs need to be estimated. Nonlinear numerical models are increasingly used in earthquake engineering design and assessment, where it is critical to develop high fidelity simulation tools to precisely forecast the global and local behavior of RCSWs. Plastic deformations concentrated in small regions, i.e. plastic hinges, and characterized through the concept of plastic hinge length (PHL), are conventionally used to define the inelastic response of RCSWs. In this study machine learning (ML) algorithms were leveraged in evaluating the PHL of RCSWs. A database containing 721 planar and nonplanar RCSW samples were utilized for training and testing ML models. Four different algorithms were employed, namely: XGBoost, CatBoost, Random Forest (RF), and genetic programming. The RF model outperformed other ML counterparts. The results of the best ML model were also compared against empirical equations available in literature and nonlinear regression analysis. The proposed ML model provided much better predictions than the existing relationships. Predictions of most empirical models were found to be extremely over (or under) conservative. The proposed ML model was also presented via an online tool where users can obtain the PHL of any RCSW simply by inputting wall parameters and clicking a run button.
Solving journalism with data: Silicon Valley’s influence on the Fourth Estate
Authors: Schaetz Nadja , Laugwitz Laura , Lischka Juliane A
Published: May 2023

The historically ambiguous relationship between journalism and Big Tech can be traced back to the late 20th century, when news organizations started to recognize the potential of the Internet as a distribution platform. While a growing body of literature is concerned with power asymmetries between Big Tech and journalism, the role of place in shaping the layered histories of journalism remains underexplored. This study uses a framework of place—conceptualized as material and geographic, a setting for action and lived experiences carrying the legacies of their past, and a site of accumulating histories of cultural meaning and power ( Usher, 2019 )—to examine how Silicon Valley and Fourth Estate ideals converge. Empirically, the study analyzes job advertisements of four US and UK print-legacy news outlets serving as a window into shifting expectations, skills, and values that news organizations seek in their employees, reflecting broader trends in journalism. Findings show that journalism draws on Silicon Valley ideals, merging datasolutionism with Fourth Estate narratives of audience access. Some news organizations are not only tech-oriented but frame themselves as tech companies with a Fourth Estate mission. While both Silicon Valley and Fourth Estate narratives promote ideals of equal power distribution, findings indicate the reinforcement of hegemonic power structures in the news industry. We conclude that the influence of Silicon Valley on journalism is one of consolidating power through location, action, and cultural meaning, as news organizations construct datasolutionism as a pivotal novel layer to achieve long-standing Fourth Estate ideals. This analysis contributes to our understanding of the historical context and evolving nature of the relationship between journalism and Big Tech, highlighting the significance of place in shaping the dynamics between these two increasingly intertwined industries.
Novel Surgeon-Modified Fenestrated Iliac Stent Graft
Authors: Jungi Silvan , Papazoglou Dimitrios D. , Chan Hon-Lai , Schmidli Jürg , Makaloski Vladimir
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

We describe the feasibility and early results of a novel endovascular approach with a surgeon-modified fenestrated iliac stent graft to preserve pelvic perfusion in patients with iliac aneurysms not suitable for iliac branch devices (IBDs).

Technique:

Seven high-risk patients, median age 76 years (range 63-83), with a complex aortoiliac anatomy with contraindications for commercially available IBDs were treated with a novel surgeon-modified fenestrated iliac stent graft between August 2020 and November 2021. The modified device was built using an iliac limb stent graft (Endurant II Stent Graft; Medtronic), which was partially deployed, surgically fenestrated with a scalpel, reinforced, re-sheathed, and inserted via femoral access. The internal iliac artery was cannulated and bridged with a covered stent. Technical success rate was 100%. After a median follow-up period of 10 months, there was 1 type II endoleak and no migrations, stent fractures, or loss of device integrity. One iliac limb occlusion occurred after 7 months, which needed a secondary endovascular intervention, restoring patency.

Conclusion:

Surgeon-modified fenestrated iliac stent graft is feasible and might be used as an alternative in patients with a complex iliac anatomy not suitable to commercially available IBDs. Long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate stent graft patency and potential complications.

Clinical Impact

Surgeon modified fenetrated iliac stent grafts might be a promising alternative to iliac branch devices, extending endovascular solutions to a broader patient population with complex aorto-iliac anatomies preserving antegrade internal iliac artery perfusion. It is possible to treat small iliac bifurcations and large angulations of the iliac bifurcation safely and there is no need for a contralateral or upper-extremity access.
Review on the influencing factors towards improving properties of composite insulation panel made of natural waste fibers for building application
Authors: Shakir Mohammad A , Ahmad Mardiana I , Ramli Nur Kamila , Yusup Yusri , Alosaimi Abeer M , Alorfi Hajer S , Hussein Mahmoud A , Rafatullah Mohd
Published: May 2023

The low performance of insulation panels has received great attention from many researchers and engineers to improve their properties as it has become a limiting factor that minimize their usage specifically as insulation building material. Recently, there has been an increase in interest in the development of composite insulation panels made from natural waste fiber. Due to the abundance of natural waste fiber generated by the agricultural industry, it has made them suitable to be utilized as raw material for composite insulation panels. Having improper waste disposal management might result in these massive quantities of valuable natural waste fiber having a detrimental effect on our ecosystem and contributing to various environmental pollution. A composite insulation panel made from natural waste fibers has unique and versatile features in terms of thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. Seeing such potential, this paper presents a review on the influencing factors towards improving comprehensive properties of composite insulation panels. Factors that influence the properties of the panel, such as the physico-chemical properties of fiber, fiber geometrical structure, and fiber treatment were discussed. Previous and recent research efforts related to factors influencing the properties of composite insulation panels were also compiled. Last but not least, the suitable criteria, limiting factors, and condition of the fiber used in composite insulation panels were also all highlighted.
Return of Individual Research Results: Participant Perspectives in a Longitudinal Community-Based Sample
Authors: Angal Jyoti , Brockevelt Barbara , Caraway S. Jean , Kenyon DenYelle B. , Ziegler Katherine , Elliott Amy J.
Published: May 2023

The last decade has witnessed growing calls for the return of individual research results. Prior work in genetic studies has shown that individual, contextual, and cultural factors influence participants’ preferences for individual research results. There is a gap in knowledge about participants’ views about other types of results, specifically those lacking clinical significance. This study investigates the perspectives of 1587 mothers enrolled in the Northern Plains Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. Participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios to determine their perceived value of individual research results based on result type and the ability to interpret them within a normative context. Irrespective of the result type, participants attributed higher perceived value to results that were well understood than results of unknown significance.
Total Hip Arthroplasty in Chile Is Characterized By Low Utilization Rates and Disparity in Access
Authors: Bengoa Francisco , López Alberto , Rojas Nicolás , Dabed David , Diaz-Ledezma Claudio
Published: May 2023

Background: Disparity in access to total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an internationally recognized phenomenon influenced by social and geographical factors. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) employs the utilization rates of THA to evaluate and compare healthcare utilization by its 37 country members, including Chile. Purpose: We sought to describe THA utilization rates in the elderly Chilean population and to compare it with data from other OECD countries. In addition, we sought to identify whether sociodemographic variables influence access to THA in Chile. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of THA cases performed in Chile between 2016 and 2018 in patients aged 65 years and older in a large database regulated by the Ministry of Health; 8970 patients were included. Mean utilization rates (MURs) of THA within Chile’s 346 administrative-territorial divisions (called communes) were calculated. We analyzed associations between the communal MUR and poverty, rurality, insurance type, and geographical health administration dependency. Results: The national MUR of THA in the elderly population in Chile was 144/100,000 for the period studied. The median communal MUR was 107 (interquartile range [IQR]: 66–153). A lower MUR of THA was observed in communes with higher poverty levels, higher rurality, and a lower rates of private insurance. After negative binomial regression analysis, only rurality rate and geographical healthcare service dependency were associated with MUR. Conclusions: This retrospective database study suggests that the utilization of THA in Chile is unequal and well below the average of other OECD countries. Higher rates of rurality and administrative healthcare dependence (a geographical/administrative factor) were associated with disparities in access to THA within Chile.
Transformational leadership and teacher work performance: Mediating effect of job autonomy and trust in school principal – insights from senior secondary school data in India
Authors: Khan Furkan
Published: May 2023

Deriving from the social exchange theory, this study proposes a parallel mediation model where job autonomy and trust in school principal were underlying mechanisms through which transformational leadership affects teacher work performance. I propose that the leader provides job autonomy and builds trust among the teachers, that in turn influences teacher work performance. I tested the hypothesized model by using cross-sectional data ( N  =  755) based on four themes – transformational leadership, trust, job autonomy and work performance. The data was collected through an online survey from senior secondary school teachers in New Delhi, India. After establishing the reliability and validity of measures, the parallel mediation model was tested using AMOS 4.0. The result of regression analyses using the Bootstrap confidence interval method indicates significant results showing that trust in school principal and teacher job autonomy mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and teacher work performance. Limitations, implications and future research directions are discussed at the end.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasés impact on the affected person and next of kin: A mixed methods study
Authors: Johansson Helena , Berg Katarina , Jonasson Lise-Lotte , Berterö Carina
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects and changes the lives of both affected persons and next of kin. There is a need for support and a sense of coherence to manage the life situation and minimize the symptom and caregiver burden. The aim of this study was to diverge or converge views of symptom burden, caregiver burden, the need for support, and sense of coherence in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their next of kin to gain a deeper and broader knowledge and understanding.

Methods

A mixed methods study with data from interviews and four validated questionnaires from persons affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in GOLD stages III and IV and their next of kin.

Results

Questionnaires from 112 persons affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 71 next of kin, together with 25 and 21 interviews, show that; there is a difference between estimated symptoms and caregiver burden and experiences expressed in their own words. There is also a defect regarding meaningfulness, comprehensibility, and manageability affecting daily life. Symptoms and caregiver burden, together with the sense of coherence, strengthen the need for support.

Discussion

The complexity of the life situation leads to a need for supportive interventions to strengthen internal and external resources.
Counter-Frames Against Anti-Asian Racism During the Corona Pandemic in Berlin – Coping With Exclusion, Creating Belonging and Organising Resistance
Authors: Suda Kimiko , Köhler Jonas
Published: May 2023

In 2020, anti-Asian racism re-emerged during the coronavirus pandemic in Germany and elsewhere, manifesting in media narratives, and evoking different forms of violence and exclusion, especially in public space. Racialisation as an everyday process creates “counter-frames” by racialised groups. They are constructed in relation to institutionalised interpellation as “the other.” Building on Feagin's concept of “white framing” and “counter-framing” and Löw's concept of space, this paper discusses the effects of racialisation, coping and anti-racist resistance strategies as developed by the Asian diaspora. Social change regarding racism will be analysed through Foroutan's concept of “postmigrant society.” We based this study on a convenience sample of people with Asian heritage which we conducted in 2020 in Germany. In addition, we included a diary study for which a subset has been sampled. We argue that the pandemic influenced the formation of counter-frames against anti-Asian racism in the specific context of Berlin.
Direct Oral Anticoagulant Failures in Atrial Fibrillation With Stroke: Retrospective Admission Analysis and Novel Classification System
Authors: Rose David Z. , Chang Jane Y. , Yi Xiyan , Kip Kevin , Lu Yuanyuan , Hilker N. Corbin , Beltagy Abdelrahman
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Breakthrough acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in patients with known, nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (AF), on Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC), is an ongoing clinical conundrum. Switching anticoagulants was shown to be ineffective in preventing recurrent AIS. Systematic, patient-level chart review of so-called “DOAC failures” may offer insight into this phenomenon.

Methods

We conducted an IRB-approved, 6-year, retrospective study of AIS admissions, already prescribed DOAC for known AF. We sought plausible, alternative reasons for the AIS using a novel classification schema, CLAMP: C for Compliance concerns, L for Lacunes (small-vessel disease), A for Arteriopathy (atherosclerosis, web, or vasculitis), M for Malignancy, and P for Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). These categories were labeled as DOAC “Pseudo-failures.” Conversely, absence of CLAMP variables were labeled as DOAC “Crypto-failures” conceivably from AF itself (“atriopathy”) or pharmacokinetic/pharmacogenomic dysfunction (ie, altered DOAC absorption, clearance, metabolism, or genetic polymorphisms). Forward logistic regression analysis was performed on prespecified DOAC subgroups.

Results

Of 4890 AIS admissions, 606 had AF, and 87 were previously prescribed DOAC (14.4% overall DOAC failure rate, 2.4% annualized over 6 years). Pseudo-failures comprised 77%: Compliance concerns (48.9%), Lacunes (5.7%), Arteriopathy (17.0%), Malignancy (26.1%), and PFO (2.3%). Crypto-failures comprised 23%, had lower CHADSVASc scores (AOR = .65, P = .013), and occurred more with rivaroxaban (41%) than apixaban (16%) or dabigatran (5.6%).

Conclusion

In AIS patients with known AF, DOAC Pseudo-failures, with identified alternate etiologies, are 3 times more likely than DOAC Crypto-failures. The CLAMP schema represents a novel approach to diagnostic classification and therapeutic adjustments in patients already prescribed DOAC for AF.