bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Agency of Black LGBTQ+ Youth in Schools and in NYC’s Ballroom Culture
Authors: Reid Shamari
Published: July 2022

Background/Context:

In recent years, youth agency has become more prevalent in education research, with many scholars agreeing that youth agency is highly contextual, reliant on multiple forces, and inextricably connected to social identity. However, relatively few studies have explored the agency of Black LGBTQ+ youth and how these youth understand their own agency. This fact connects to the reality that although there is a growing body of research around the educational experiences of LGBTQ+ youth of color, it is often centered on their victimhood and rarely explores how they practice agency to respond to the challenges they face.

Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study:

Recognizing the importance of context and social identity with regard to youth agency, this study extends the literature on youth agency and LGBTQ+ youth of color by exploring the following research question: How do eight Black LGBTQ+ youth who are active members in New York City’s ballroom culture make sense of their agency in school and in out-of-school ballroom spaces?

Data Collection and Analysis:

Following Seidman’s (2013) interview process, three separate interviews were conducted with all eight youth. In addition, all eight youth participated in two focus groups. The data analysis was informed by a queer of color critique theoretical framework and focused on specific occurrences in the data in which the young people articulated understandings of their agentive practices that worked toward responding to, resisting, or subverting racial and anti-LGBTQ+ marginalization across schooling and ballroom contexts.

Findings:

Findings indicate that the youth regarded school as a confining space in which they were fearful of anti-LGBTQ+ rejection and abuse. Thus, they used their agency to suppress their LGBTQ+ identities in order to minimize their experiences with discrimination. Suppressing their identities resulted in the youth feeling disconnected from school and isolated, and increased their risk for depression and anxiety. Contrastingly, the youth understood ballroom as a liberatory space in which they felt able to confidently explore and express their LGBTQ+ identities and create alternatives for themselves outside socially constructed expectations of their identities.

Conclusions/Recommendations:

Results suggest that Black LGBTQ+ youth are always practicing agency, albeit to work toward different ends, such as occulting or exploring their LGBTQ+ identities. Findings suggest that schools can learn from ballroom spaces how to better invite Black LGBTQ+ youth into schools in humane and educative ways, encourage their agentive imaginations within education spaces, and promote liberatory school environments that recognize and embrace these youth’s racial, gender, and sexual identities.
Introduction to the Special Issue-Imagining Possible Futures: Disability Critical Race Theory as a Lever for Praxis in Education
Authors: Annamma Subini Ancy , Ferri Beth A. , Connor David J.
Published: July 2022

This article provides the introduction to a special issue of the Teachers College Record (TCR) “Imagining Possible Futures: Disability Critical Race Theory as a Lever for Praxis in Education”. We begin by revisiting the seven tenets of DisCrit and citing a truncated intellectual geneology. Next, we trace the importance of a TCR special issue recognizing the mutually constiutive oppressions of racism and ableism. We then briefly describe the powerful premise and substantive contributions of the eight featured articles in this special issue. Each article is featured due to its commitments to link DisCrit theory to practice – engaging praxis through empirical research and/or theoretical engagements examining higher education, teacher education, state standards, k-12 education, carceral education, and international education using a variety of rigorous methods. By taking on racism and ableism across disciplinary boundaries and geographic borders, the contributors to this special issue break open new possibilities.
Improving text relationship modelling with artificial data
Authors: Organisciak Peter , Ryan Maggie
Published: July 2022

Data augmentation uses artificially created examples to support supervised machine learning, adding robustness to the resulting models and helping to account for limited availability of labelled data. We apply and evaluate a synthetic data approach to relationship classification in digital libraries, generating artificial books with relationships that are common in digital libraries but not easier inferred from existing metadata. Artificial books are generated by remixing existing texts into synthetically constructed formats. We find that for classification on whole–part relationships between books, synthetic data improves a deep neural network classifier by 91%. Furthermore, we consider the ability of synthetic data to learn a useful new text relationship class from fully artificial training data.
More Than Prefigurative Politics? Redefining institutional frames to reduce precarity under neoliberal capitalism
Authors: De Coster Marjan , Zanoni Patrizia
Published: July 2022

This paper responds to the emergent calls for recovering the role of contentious politics in prefigurative communities to more effectively transform capitalist institutions. Theoretically drawing on the work of Judith Butler, our paper points to the importance of addressing the institutional frames that demarcate who will be (mis)recognized in the public space and which are at the core of politics. Our analysis of the Coop case shows how prefigurative and contentious politics are not incompatible, but can rather strengthen each other in a virtuous circle. When articulated to redefine existing institutional frames, they can reduce precarity. Through this articulation an assembly is constituted where a redefined subject can emerge outside the precarizing frames of neoliberalism. At the same time, our analysis suggests that Coop’s political practices do not completely redefine the individualized, calculative neoliberal subject. Project workers embraced the assembly only to the extent that it helped them reduce their self-responsibility and advance their professional and life projects. Overall, these insights advance the literature on grassroots organizations by showing the importance of contentious politics in attempting to redefine the institutional frames, as opposed to solely relying on prefigurative politics outside institutions. Yet they simultaneously confirm the difficulty of redefining the precarious neoliberal subject through collective emancipatory projects.
Cross-language perception of Japanese consonant length by speakers from Italian- and Mandarin-speaking backgrounds
Authors: Tsukada Kimiko , Hajek John
Published: July 2022

This study compared individuals from two first language (L1) backgrounds (Italian, Mandarin) to determine how they may differ in their perception of Japanese consonant length (i.e. singleton vs. geminate) according to the phonemic status of length in L1 and experience with Japanese. The participants included two groups of non-native learners of Japanese: 14 native Italian speakers (NI + Japanese), 18 native Mandarin speakers (NM + Japanese) and two control groups: 14 native Italian (NI – Japanese) speakers naïve to Japanese, 10 native Japanese (NJ) speakers. The participants’ length perception accuracy was examined in a forced-choice identification task. The NJ listeners hardly misperceived any tokens, but the non-native listeners were generally accurate (> 85%) in identifying the Japanese length category. The NI – Japanese group was slightly (albeit non-significantly) more accurate than the NM + Japanese group, suggesting the possibility that the use of phonemic length in L1 was facilitative. The direction of misperception (i.e. singleton as geminate or geminate as singleton) differed according to different group. Non-native learners’ results also provided evidence for plasticity in cross-linguistic perception in adulthood.
The Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-Revised (K-MPAI-R): Validation of the Italian version
Authors: Antonini Philippe Roberta , Cruder Cinzia , Biasutti Michele , Crettaz von Roten Fabienne
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the 40-item Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-Revised (K-MPAI-R). The certified Italian version was used and answered by 419 student musicians (aged M = 23.18 years, SD = 5.26 years) all were university-level students of a Bachelor’s or Master of Arts degree course in Italy. The revised Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory is based on Barlow’s model of anxiety and was recently validated in different languages. Regarding the stability of the scales, there were differences with the original scale and the factor loadings, because six items were smaller than .40 and for this reason they were deleted and not considered for the following analyses. However, the results are a platform for developing future research on music performance anxiety (MPA) in association with other variables in the Italian speaking contexts. The Italian version of K-MPAI-R could be useful for understanding the ways in which music students experience MPA and to examine the correlation with other variables
The effects of Chinese and English background music on Chinese reading comprehension
Authors: Quan Yixue , Kuo Yi-Lung
Published: July 2022

The study investigated the influence of the language of background music with lyrics (Chinese and English) on Chinese reading comprehension after controlling for English listening proficiency. A total of 38 Chinese English learners from a university were enrolled in a within-subject design experiment. All participants were exposed to three background conditions: silence, English background music with lyrics (EL-BGM), and Chinese background music with lyrics (CL-BGM). The results showed that participants’ Chinese reading performance was negatively influenced by EL-BGM, with significantly lower reading efficiency and reading rate. Participants with better English listening ability had higher Chinese reading efficiency under the EL-BGM condition. Possible explanations for these findings in terms of the interference-by-process hypothesis, the attentional capture account, and the duplex-mechanism account are discussed.
Spatial analysis guiding decision making in environmental conservation: Systematic conservation planning and ecosystem services
Authors: Magdalena Ulises Rodrigo , Gonçalves de Souza Gabriel Barros , Amorim Raul Reis
Published: July 2022

Achieving conservation targets for sustainable development has been one of society’s greatest challenges. In this context, environmental conservation approaches such as Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) and ecosystem services (ES) have become increasingly popular as feasible solutions for the allocation, delimitation, and management of protected areas. These approaches, often used to drive public policies based on payment for environmental services, have highlighted the intrinsic relationships between the paradigms of geography and spatial analysis (SA), as they rely on space-time processes and multidisciplinary concepts for the analysis of the biophysical, social, and economic variables. In this context, this manuscript aimed to outline the relevance of SA as a geographic perspective for the progress of environmental conservation. The arguments were here aligned in the following steps: (i) concepts around protected areas and the factors that impact them; (ii) environmental conservation approaches used to allocate and delimit protected areas, and their respective features, limitations, and related definitions; and (iii) correlations between SA and the use of ES and SCP (paradigms, advances, and contributions). As major findings, it was indicated that the SCP and ES work in a space-time dimension to measure and describe patterns of abstract phenomena using spatial analysis techniques. Moreover, we identified that conceptual mismatches and the absence of a common language to environmental conservation approaches reduces the expressive participation of geography that has its focus on determination the abstract features of observed objects or phenomena. It is important, however, that its paradigms become an essential methodological component in environmental approaches to the quantification and delimitation of the elements and natural processes.
A computationally efficient C0 continuous finite element model for thermo-mechanical analysis of cross-ply and angle-ply composite plates in non-polynomial axiomatic framework
Authors: Joshan Yadwinder Singh , Soni Aakash , Grover Neeraj
Published: July 2022

In the present article, the thermo-mechanical bending response of multi-layered composite plates is investigated in the framework of inverse-hyperbolic shear deformation theory using a generalized finite element model. The mathematical development is carried out under the assumptions of linear structural kinematics for the materials following generalized Hooke’s law. Energy-based finite element formulation and the principle of minimum potential energy are employed to develop the finite element governing equations. A computationally efficient C0 continuous finite element formulation is developed to examine the response of laminated composites subjected to constant, linear, and non-linear temperature change. Numerical analyses are carried out for composite laminates considering various lamination sequences (cross-ply as well as angle-ply), boundary conditions, loading conditions, span-thickness ratio, etc. The present results are compared with the existing analytical and numerical results and their agreement is observed. The effect of fiber orientation angle on bending response is analyzed to enable the optimal design of laminated composite structures under thermo-mechanical loading.
Longitudinal Analysis of COVID-19 Impacts on Mobility: An Early Snapshot of the Emerging Changes in Travel Behavior
Authors: Matson Grant , McElroy Sean , Lee Yongsung , Circella Giovanni
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a huge disruption worldwide with direct and indirect effects on travel behavior. In response to extensive community spread and potential risk of infection, during the early stage of the pandemic many state and local governments implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions that restricted non-essential travel for residents. This study evaluates the impacts of the pandemic on mobility by analyzing micro panel data ( N = 1,274) collected in the United States via online surveys in two periods, before and during the early phase of the pandemic. The panel makes it possible to observe initial trends in travel behavior change, adoption of online shopping, active travel, and use of shared mobility services. This analysis intends to document a high-level overview of the initial impacts to spur future research to dive deeper into these topics. With the analysis of the panel data, substantial shifts are found from physical commutes to teleworking, more adoption of e-shopping and home delivery services, more frequent trips by walking and biking for leisure purposes, and changes in ridehailing use with substantial variations across socioeconomic groups. The social and environmental implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for effective policy and directions for future research are made in the conclusion.
Evolution of Driver Fatigue Detection Techniques—A Review From 2007 to 2021
Authors: Kamti Mukesh Kumar , Iqbal Rauf
Published: July 2022

Driver fatigue is the most important factor in the increase in the frequency of traffic accidents and fatalities every year. Fatigue impairs driving performance through a lack of concentration and slower reaction time. Therefore, a fatigue detection system is very important for safe driving. This paper presents a systematic literature review of the research conducted over the last 15 years to provide information about the evolution of various driver fatigue detection (DFD) systems with the advancement of technologies. In the domain of DFD, researchers have used different approaches such as physiological, behavioral, vehicular, and mixed. Findings from the study indicate that physiological and behavior-based techniques are widely used by the authors, whereas vehicular features are very scarcely used. Analysis of papers shows that researchers are more likely to utilize a combination of physiological and behavior-based approaches to identify driving fatigue or drowsiness. The outcome of this literature review could help practitioners to improve existing fatigue detection technologies by application of the different approaches for fatigue identification and measurement.
Computationally Efficient Modeling of Lightweight Expeditionary Airfield Surfacing Systems at Large Length Scales
Authors: Kinser R. P. , Barkey M. E. , Rushing T. W. , Cisko A. R. , Garcia L. , Allison P. G. , Jordon J. B.
Published: July 2022

Expeditionary airfield matting systems are lightweight, portable surfaces that enable the rapid deployment of infrastructure to support aircraft operations. Individual matting components are assembled via interlocking joints to construct arrays that serve as temporary aircraft operating surfaces. The paper outlines the homogenization of the AM2 portable airfield matting system and its interlocking mechanisms to permit computationally efficient analyses toward understanding mechanisms that influence the global behavior of these arrays and underlying subgrade during aircraft maneuvers. An equivalent orthotropic two-dimensional continuum was developed from finite element analysis of a detailed three-dimensional model and its flexural behavior was validated against experimental data and solid finite element models. Interlocking joints were characterized using node-to-node connector elements based on subscale finite element studies. Both components were implemented into a full-scale model representative of a typical test section, and responses to static high tire pressure aircraft loads were analyzed over a soil foundation representing a California bearing ratio of 6%, yielding promising agreement with experimental data. Results of this study reveal an inherent coupling between load transfer, mat deflection, and near-surface subgrade stress with dependence on tire location, mat core shear flexibility, and joint stiffness.
Investigation of Inlaid Pavement Marker Performance and Safety Effectiveness
Authors: Dwyer Carmine , Himes Scott
Published: July 2022

The objectives of this study were to assess inlaid pavement marker (IPM) performance and estimate their safety effectiveness in St. Louis, Missouri. IPM performance was evaluated through a count of marker presence and a feedback survey from participants who viewed dry and wet night videos of IPM sections in the St Louis area. The safety effectiveness of IPMs was evaluated using a rigorous state-of-the-art empirical Bayes (EB) before–after crash analysis. The marker presence assessment, unfortunately, did not provide any conclusive trends in IPM performance. Newer IPM sections had higher percentages of missing markers than older sections, and there were too many unknown variables to determine the source of the unexpected differences. The unanimous conclusion of the nighttime video visibility survey was that drivers and passengers traveling on a wet night feel that IPMs are very important to the visibility of the roadway’s lane lines. For the EB analysis, installation and reference site data were used to examine the effects for specific crash types, including total, fatal and injury, wet pavement, nighttime, nighttime wet pavement, lane departure, wet pavement lane departure, and nighttime lane departure. Based on the aggregate results, IPMs, when installed with pavement resurfacing, significantly reduce all crash types examined.
Transit Usage in Social Shocks: A Case Study of Station-Level Metro Ridership in Anti-Extradition Protests in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Ho-Yin , Ma Hanxi , Zhou Jiangping
Published: July 2022

As a form of social movement aiming to effect social change, protests could bring about unintended impacts on all walks of life. In other words, the cost of protests can be incurred by those who might not be protesters. The protests triggered by an extradition bill in Hong Kong since 2019 are no exception. This paper focuses on the impacts on the ridership of the metro system on protest days. It synthesizes and hypothesizes factors influencing the distribution of the ridership changes and conducts an empirical study in the context of Hong Kong to study the possible influences and spatial dependence. It is found that, across metro stations, political orientation (percentage of votes to pro-democracy camp in the 2019 Election of District Councils), law enforcement (permission from the police to protest), land use type (especially for commercial and open space), population age and income, as well as transit/road network characteristics and intermodal connectivity, significantly influence the ridership of metro stations during protest days. In addition, the mixed regressive spatial autoregressive model has higher explanatory power than the ordinary least square model, suggesting the need for a spatial lag and error specification. The results could also have significant implications for policy and planning for operating metro services and managing metro stations before, during, and after social shocks.
Multiple Drone Routing Problem for On-Demand Hyperlocal Market
Authors: Pachayappan Murugaiyan
Published: July 2022

Deploying drones for rapid pickup and delivery for on-demand customers in the hyperlocal market is unexplored in literature and demands attention. Maximizing customer pickup and deliveries with a limited drone flight endurance is essential but is hard to achieve in practice because of many service requests by on-demand customers. It mandates that drones cover extra mileage to visit docking stations in between services for recharge. Optimally allocating the services on available flight endurance and minimizing the docking station visits to complete all scheduled services is a predominant requirement for effective drone operations in a hyperlocal market. This problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming model, and a heuristic algorithm is proposed to attempt various practical size problems, with near-optimal solutions reported. The paper offers valuable insights for practitioners and future researchers wishing to analyze the performance of drone operations and determine the appropriate number of drones required for the hyperlocal market based on service demand.
Understanding Adoption Intent and Behavioral Response to Shared Electric Bicycles: A Survey in Ningbo, China
Authors: Li Wenhao , Yang Yongjiang , Cheng Long , Meng Xianghe , Zhang Fan , Ji Yanjie
Published: July 2022

As a new form of shared mobility similar to bike-sharing, there is an increasing trend of people starting to use shared electric bicycles (SEB) for travel in China. Understanding the psychosocial factors that affect residents’ intention to use SEB is essential for the implementation of policies to develop sustainable transportation. Most research focuses on bike-sharing, while research on SEB is relatively rare. As such, this study proposes a theoretical framework based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore the mechanisms that influence the acceptance of and intention to use SEB. Drawing on this, it further addresses the moderating role of group heterogeneity and the residual effect of bike-sharing. An online survey of 313 SEB users in China was conducted in 2021. The results are constructed by structural equation modeling (SEM) and multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) model. The results show that the research model can well explain people’s intention to use SEB. Perceived usefulness, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control have direct positive effects on the intention to use SEB. However, there is group heterogeneity between social-economic attributes and latent variables. Moreover, satisfaction with bike-sharing could moderate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention toward SEB. Based on the findings, some policy insights from users, government, and enterprises are proposed to guide the development of SEB.
A low-cost, flexible extruder for liposomes synthesis and application for Murrayafoline A delivery for cancer treatment
Authors: Pham Dan The , Nguyen Linh Phuong , Pham Quynh Thi Huong , Pham Chi Khanh , Pham Dung Thuy Nguyen , Viet Nguyen Thanh , Nguyen Hong Van Thi , Tran Toan Quoc , Nguyen Duong Thanh
Published: July 2022

Liposomal encapsulation is a drug delivery strategy with many advantages, such as improved bioavailability, ability to carry large drug loads, as well as controllability and specificity towards various targeted diseased tissues. Currently, most preparation techniques require an additional extrusion or filtering step to obtain monodisperse liposomes with the size of less than 100 nm. In this study, a compact liposome extruder was designed at a cost of $4.00 and used to synthesize liposome suspensions with defined particle size and high homogeneity for Murrayafoline A (Mu-A) loading and release. The synthesized MuA-loaded liposomes displayed a biphasic drug release and remained stable under the storage condition of 4°C. They also significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells in the cancer spheroids by 25%. The low-cost, flexible liposome extruder would allow the researchers to study liposomes and their applications in a cost-effective manner.
“Tearing the Fabric” or “Weaving the Tapestry”? A Discursive Resources Approach to Identity-Implicating Organizational Events
Authors: Sheep Mathew L. , Alexandra Rheinhardt  , Hollensbe Elaine C. , Kreiner Glen E.
Published: July 2022

How do organizational members discursively construct large-scale organizational events that have identity implications? Whereas previous studies have focused primarily on collectively construed organizational identity threats and, to a lesser degree, identity opportunities, we move beyond past work to examine how individual members construct a single organizational event in divergent and more nuanced ways. Taking a discursive resources approach to members’ discourse in response to a watershed event in the Episcopal Church, we find that members engage in organizational identity work processes as a means of constructing an identity-implicating event. Through their identity work, which involves the construction of (in)coherence among an organization’s multiple identities, members construct an event as aligned with some organizational identities yet misaligned with others. Our study has implications for research on organizational identity and identity work, organizational events, and discursive resources.
Role of solid lubricants/sulfide mix in brake performance for automotive applications—a review
Authors: Eakambaram A , Saibalaji MA , Baskara Sethupathi P
Published: July 2022

Friction materials play a crucial role in the safe movement of automobiles and the protection of human life. As the pad slides against its mating partner, the kinetic energy is transferred into frictional heat. The developed friction at the interface causes the vehicle to slow down as its momentum is dissipated as heat in the pads and rotors. Further, it causes the degradation of the binder and thus the stability of the friction coefficient becomes questionable. Therefore, the role of solid lubricants comes to the scenario which tends to mitigate the abrasion. It is noticed that the sulfide mix composites delay the thermal degradation of the binder by increasing its oxidation resistance. Some researchers have achieved this by blending various resins. Further, solid lubricants have a good third body and secondary film-forming ability and thus they reduced the wear, due to their excellent adhesion properties to the metal substrate. Hence, this review focused on the role of different solid lubricants and sulfide mix/sulfide blend in the stabilization of friction coefficient and controlling the wear.
Static and local dynamic stability of subjects with knee joint osteoarthritis
Authors: Karimi Mohammad Taghi , Sharifmoradi Keyvan
Published: July 2022

Stability is defined as the ability to control the amplitude and velocity of center of gravity (CoG) changes during quiet standing, and to decrease the risk of falling during walking. Few studies exist which examine the local dynamic stability of those with knee joint osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, it is debatable whether the stability of OA subjects differs from that of normal subjects or not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the static and local dynamic stability of the subjects with knee OA in comparison to normal subjects. Fifteen OA subjects and 15 healthy subjects with matching age, weight, and gender participated in this study. A Qualysis motion analysis system incorporating a Kistler force plate was used to record data during quiet standing and when walking on a treadmill. Static stability was evaluated based on center of pressure (COP) sways excursion, path length and velocity in mediolateral and anteroposterior axes. Local dynamic stability was evaluated by the use of short Lyapunov exponent when subjects walk on treadmill. A two-sample test-test was used for the final analysis (α = 0.05). Mean values of the COP excursion in mediolateral and anteroposterior directions, and the velocity of COP in both mediolateral and anteroposterior directions, differed significantly between healthy and OA subjects ( p < 0.05). Local dynamic stability of OA subjects appeared to be reduced compared to healthy subjects, especially when ambulating at higher walking speeds ( p-value < 0.05). Study results demonstrated that both static and local dynamic stability decreased in OA subjects. This may be in part due to altered control mechanisms which are required for response to perturbations during standing and walking to ensure stability. As a decrease in local dynamic stability is correlated to an increased risk of falling, it is important that this group should receive appropriate treatment interventions to improve standing and walking stability.
A preliminary study exploring the mechanical properties of normal and Mgp-deficient mouse femurs during early growth
Authors: Laurent Cédric , Marano Alexandre , Baldit Adrien , Ferrari Maude , Perrin Jean-Christophe , Perroud Olivier , Bianchi Arnaud , Kempf Hervé
Published: July 2022

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is mostly known to be a calcification inhibitor, as its absence leads to ectopic calcification of different tissues such as cartilage or arteries. MGP deficiency also leads to low bone mass and delayed bone growth. In the present contribution, we investigate the effect of MGP deficiency on the structural and material mechanical bone properties by focusing on the elastic response of femurs undergoing three-points bending. To this aim, biomechanical tests are performed on femurs issued from Mgp-deficient mice at 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of postnatal life and compared to healthy control femurs. µCT acquisitions enable to reconstruct bone geometries and are used to construct subject-specific finite element models avoiding some of the reported limitations concerning the use of beam-like assumptions for small bone samples. Our results indicate that MGP deficiency may be associated to differences in both structural and material properties of femurs during early stages of development. MGP deficiency appears to be related to a decrease in bone dimensions, compensated by higher material properties resulting in similar structural bone properties at P35. The search for a unique density-elasticity relationship based on calibrated bone mineral density (BMD) indicates that MGP deficiency may affect bone tissue in several ways, that may not be represented uniquely from the quantification of BMD. Despite of its limitation to elastic response, the present preliminary study reports for the very first time the mechanical skeletal properties of Mgp-deficient mice at early stages of development.
Associations between self-test and pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV among men who have sex with men in China
Authors: Wang Xiaofang , Hu Xiaosong , Liu Zhongfu , Hui Hongtao
Published: July 2022

Background

This study aims to assess HIV self-testing (HIVST), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) uptake and associations of three HIV prevention strategies among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China.

Methods

This study included two stages, baseline and follow-up, and was conducted in Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province in North China. MSM were recruited online and by peer-referral. Data contained an online questionnaire and sampling blood for HIV tests. The research group generated a QR code linking to the survey, and participants were asked to scan this QR code with a cellphone to fill out the questionnaire. MSM at the baseline were imparted knowledge of PrEP, PEP and condom use.

Results

Between January 2018 and March 2019, the research team enrolled 773 MSM for baseline analysis, and 699 were HIV negative at baseline. For follow-up, 62% (430/699) participants were retained. At baseline, 11.6% (50/430) of the participants was aware of PrEP and 40.9% (176/430) of PEP; 0.7% (3/430) had ever taken PrEP and 3.3% (14/430) had taken PEP. At follow-up, 77.7% (334/430) reported awareness of PrEP and 54.0% (232/430) for PEP; Only 2.6% (11/430) initiated PrEP uptake and 3.0% (13/430) for PEP. Additionally, at follow-up, only 21 participants newly conducted HIVST. Results showed that being willing to pay for PrEP and PEP uptake was associated with conducting HIVST, and initiations of two HIV prevention methods, PrEP and PEP uptake, were significantly associated with each other.

Conclusions

Knowledge dissemination increased participant awareness and acceptance of PrEP and PEP effectively. Uptake of HIVST, PrEP, and PEP were low and associated with each other. It is promising to achieve high uptake by promoting HIVST, PrEP and PEP as one prevention package.
Robust sliding mode prediction path tracking control for intelligent vehicle
Authors: Wu Yan , Wang Lifang , Li Fang , Zhang Junzhi
Published: July 2022

Because of the characteristics of nonlinearity, strong coupling, fast time-varying, and uncertainty of the intelligent vehicle movement, the accurate path tracking control of the intelligent vehicle becomes a challenge. Considering a variety of complex constraints from the control system, this article combines sliding mode control and model prediction control to improve the intelligent vehicle real-time path tracking performance and proposes a robust sliding mode predictive controller for intelligent vehicle path tracking control. The sliding mode predictive controller uses the sliding mode surface in sliding mode control to construct the prediction model and corrects the sliding mode control output through continuous feedback correction and rolling optimization and then obtains the optimal control input which makes sure optimal performance control under system various constraints. The sliding mode predictive controller can simultaneously consider the tracking performance and system complex constraints, which effectively improves the dynamic performance and robustness of the control system. Related simulation results show that sliding mode predictive controller not only solves the problem of system constraints but also improves the accuracy of intelligent vehicle path tracking and the robustness of the system.
High-performance family of polymeric particles prepared from poly(phenylene oxide)-poly(hexyl isocyanate) liquid crystal block copolymer: synthesis and properties study
Authors: Semsarzadeh Mohammad Ali , Sh Dadkhah Arezoo , sabzevari Alireza
Published: July 2022

The poly (phenylene oxide)-block-poly (hexyl isocyanate) copolymers (PPO-b-PHIC)s were synthesized in various ratios of blocks using the organotitanium coordination method at room temperature. The copolymer particles were prepared by precipitation of concentrated solution of the copolymers in non-solvent under stirring. The synthesized copolymers and their particles were characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscope (POM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of block ratio on the anisotropic-isotropic transition and liquid crystal texture of copolymers as a function of temperature and concentration of the solution was investigated. The polymeric particles tend to be aligned along the fibrillar direction by increasing the block ratio of amide in the copolymer.
Opinions of nurses regarding Euthanasia and Medically Assisted Suicide
Authors: Velasco Sanz Tamara Raquel , Cabrejas Casero Ana María , Rodríguez González Yolanda , Barbado Albaladejo José Antonio , Mower Hanlon Lydia Frances , Guerra Llamas María Isabel
Published: July 2022

Background

Safeguarding the right to die according to the principles of autonomy and freedom of each person has become more important in the last decade, therefore increasing regulation of Euthanasia and Medically Assisted Suicide (MAS).

Aims

To learn the opinions that the nurses of the autonomous region of Madrid have regarding Euthanasia and Medically Assisted Suicide.

Research design

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Participants and research context

All registered nurses in Madrid. The study was done by means of a self-completed anonymous questionnaire. The variables studied were social-demographic, giving opinions about Euthanasia and MAS.

Ethical considerations

Each participant was assured maximum confidentiality and anonymity, ensuring the ethical principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki, as well as in the Organic Law 3/2018, on Personal Data Protection and guarantee of digital rights.

Findings

A total of 489 nurses answered the questionnaire. In total, 75.7% of the nurses confirmed that Euthanasia should be regulated in Spain. 66.3% indicated that information on Euthanasia should be provided jointly by doctors and nurses, and 42.3% considered that it could be applied by both medical and nursing professionals. A total of 87.2% advocated the participation of nurses in health policy, influencing the drafting of the law. In the face of possible regulation, 35% would request Conscientious Objection, being closely related to their religious beliefs.

Discussion

Different authors point out that nurses’ perceptions and attitudes towards Euthanasia are conditioned by different factors, such as religion, gender, poor palliative care, legality and the patient's right to die.

Conclusion

Nurses are positioned in favour of the regulation and practice of Euthanasia and MAS, depending on their age, years of experience, training, model of care and especially religious beliefs.
Cabotegravir: The First Long-Acting Injectable for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis
Authors: Durham Spencer H. , Milam Ashlee , Waer Dylan , Chahine Elias B.
Published: July 2022

Objective

Review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and role of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) in HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Data Sources

A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar (2012 to April 2022) with the search terms cabotegravir, preexposure prophylaxis, and PrEP. Other resources included abstracts presented at recent conferences, the manufacturer’s Web site, prescribing information, and review articles.

Study Selection and Data Extraction

All English-language articles of studies assessing the efficacy and safety of CAB-LA for PrEP were included.

Data Synthesis

CAB-LA is the first long-acting injectable therapy approved for HIV-1 PrEP in both men and women. It is a suspension given intramuscularly every other month. CAB-LA has been shown to be more effective than daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in preventing HIV-1 infection among high-risk individuals. Two phase 3 trials were stopped early on the basis of superior efficacy of CAB-LA. The most common adverse effects were injection site reactions (ISRs), although they tended to decrease over time, and few participants in clinical trials discontinued use due to ISRs.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice

CAB-LA may be particularly useful for individuals with known adherence problems to oral therapy, those with renal impairment, and those with decreased bone mineral density. However, CAB-LA is more expensive than generic TDF/FTC and may be associated with weight gain.

Conclusions

CAB-LA is the first long-acting injectable agent for HIV PrEP. It is more effective than oral TDF/FTC, is well-tolerated aside from ISRs, and has few clinically significant drug-drug interactions.
The Effects of Adding Semaglutide to High Daily Dose Insulin Regimens in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Meyer Jodi , Dreischmeier Emma , Lehmann Molly , Phelan Jessica
Published: July 2022

Background:

Escalating doses of insulin required with progression of type 2 diabetes may lead to weight gain. Weight loss associated with semaglutide may be beneficial. However, data on the use of semaglutide in patients requiring high daily doses of insulin are currently lacking.

Objective:

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of semaglutide on total daily dose (TDD) of insulin when initiated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on high daily doses of insulin. Secondary objectives assessed included changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate, and diabetes and blood pressure medications.

Methods:

This IRB exempt retrospective medical record review included patients with T2DM prescribed semaglutide and at least 100 units TDD of insulin between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019.

Results:

Of the 72 patients included, the TDD of insulin decreased from baseline to 6 months (183 ± 98 units and 143 ± 99 units, P < 0.001). Average A1c and body weight also decreased from baseline to 6 months (8.9% ± 1.3% and 7.6% ± 1.5%, P < 0.001 and 123.9 ± 23.5 kg and 118.9 ± 22.9 kg, P < 0.001, respectively). Limitations included a homogenous patient population and inability to control confounding factors.

Conclusion and Relevance:

Improvement in glycemic control occurred despite reductions in TDD of insulin. Improvements in A1c and body weight were clinically significant. This analysis adds to existing literature supporting the use of GLP-1 RAs in patients on high daily doses of insulin.
Adherence to Sedation Targets With Weight-Based Propofol and Dexmedetomidine in Patients With Morbid Obesity
Authors: Hayes Emily , Esteves Alyson
Published: July 2022

Background:

Propofol and dexmedetomidine are routinely used in intensive care units (ICUs). Both are lipophilic, potentially leading to accumulation in adipose tissue. Limited evidence exists on what body weight to utilize in patients with morbid obesity.

Objective:

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of weight-based sedation with propofol and dexmedetomidine in ICU patients with morbid obesity.

Methods:

Retrospective review of ICU patients admitted from January 2018 to January 2020 who were sedated for ≥48 hours was performed. The primary outcome was the percentage of time within target sedation during the first 48 hours, stratified by body mass index (BMI) <40 or ≥40 kg/m2. Additional outcomes included adverse events and the infusion rate to achieve target sedation. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics.

Results:

A total of 80 patients were analyzed. Patients on propofol with a BMI <40 kg/m2 were in their target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) 11.7% versus 16.1% with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 ( P = .580). Patients with a BMI <40 kg/m2 on dexmedetomidine were in their target RASS 27.6% versus 10.7% with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 ( P = .053).

Conclusion and Relevance:

Body mass index did not significantly alter propofol target sedation attainment. However, patients with morbid obesity on dexmedetomidine demonstrated significantly less time in target sedation. An actual body weight dosing strategy of these drugs did not achieve desired target sedation for those with a BMI ≥40 versus BMI <40 kg/m2. These findings support future research on the optimal sedation dosing strategy in this patient population.
Efficacy of Postoperative Oral Antibiotics in Foot and Ankle Surgery
Authors: Frederick Robert M. , Burnette Hannah , Joyce Myles , Kumar Padam , McGee Trevor , Chiu Chi-Yang , Bettin Clayton C. , Grear Benjamin J. , Murphy G. Andrew , Richardson David R.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Preoperative oral antibiotic use in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery is standard practice, but no consensus has been reached regarding the efficacy of postoperative oral antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to determine whether postoperative oral antibiotics reduce the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients, with and without comorbidities, undergoing foot and ankle surgery.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted identifying patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery by 4 fellowship-trained, foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2019. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received postoperative oral antibiotics (group 1) and those who did not (group 2). Two surgeons routinely prescribed postoperative oral antibiotics, and 2 did not. Demographics, comorbidities, and procedure complexity based on surgical site and Current Procedural Terminology code were recorded from the charts. The primary outcome was postoperative infection (superficial or deep) within 6 months after surgery. Patients with antibiotic use prior to surgery, preoperative infection, or lack of follow-up >6 weeks were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to analyze differences in infection rate and severity.

Results:

Chart review identified 3631 patients, 1227 of whom did not receive postoperative oral antibiotics whereas 2394 patients did. Routine postoperative oral antibiotic use did not significantly affect postoperative infection rates or severity. However, all covariates studied (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, tobacco use, alcohol use, rheumatoid conditions, and age) influenced postoperative infection rates and severity.

Conclusion:

The results of this study indicate that postoperative oral antibiotics are not associated with differences in infection rates or severity. We do not recommend routine use in foot and ankle surgery.
Construction and Preliminary Validation of Machiavellianism Scales From the HEXACO-100
Authors: Marcus David K. , Nagel Madeline G. , Lambros Alexa , Zeigler-Hill Virgil
Published: July 2022

Machiavellian individuals are callous, manipulative, and misanthropic, and they are also strategic and capable of delaying gratification. Many commonly used measures of Machiavellianism focus on the antagonistic aspects of Machiavellianism and devote few items to the strategic aspects of this construct. Because the HEXACO framework includes an Honesty-Humility factor, it may be especially capable of characterizing the full range of Machiavellian characteristics. The current study used a consensus-rating approach to create Machiavellianism scales using items from the HEXACO-100. This approach yielded two HEXACO-Machiavellianism scales that were labeled HEXACO-Manipulative and HEXACO-Disciplined. Data from five community and college student samples were used to examine the internal consistency and validity of these HEXACO-Machiavellianism scales. The scales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and displayed promising convergent and discriminant validity with criterion variables, including other Machiavellianism scales. The HEXACO-Manipulative and HEXACO-Disciplined scales were negatively correlated, suggesting that Machiavellianism may be better understood as an emergent trait.