bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Out of the cauldron: lessons from Cedric Robinson
Authors: Bourne Jenny
Published: January 2022

This is an abbreviated account of the UK webinar launch in October 2021 of the biography, Cedric Robinson: the time of the Black Radical Tradition, written by Joshua Myers. Moderated by James Pope, panellists, including Myers, Colin Prescod, John Narayan, Avery Gordon and Elizabeth Robinson present their takes on Robinson in relation to the UK and especially his relationship with the Institute of Race Relations and the journal Race & Class. They discuss key aspects of Robinson’s work, including the meaning of racial capitalism, his understanding of time, and how for him historical materialism was grounded, not in the mode of production but in the primacy of social struggle and in a dialectic of power and resistance to its abuses.
Velocity Obstacle-Based Collision Avoidance and Motion Planning Framework for Connected and Automated Vehicles
Authors: Wang Shunchao , Li Zhibin , Wang Bingtong , Ma Jingfeng , Yu Jingcai
Published: January 2022

This study proposes a novel collision avoidance and motion planning framework for connected and automated vehicles based on an improved velocity obstacle (VO) method. The controller framework consists of two parts, that is, collision avoidance method and motion planning algorithm. The VO algorithm is introduced to deduce the velocity conditions of a vehicle collision. A collision risk potential field (CRPF) is constructed to modify the collision area calculated by the VO algorithm. A vehicle dynamic model is presented to predict vehicle moving states and trajectories. A model predictive control (MPC)-based motion tracking controller is employed to plan collision-avoidance path according to the collision-free principles deduced by the modified VO method. Five simulation scenarios are designed and conducted to demonstrate the control maneuver of the proposed controller framework. The results show that the constructed CRPF can accurately represent the collision risk distribution of the vehicles with different attributes and motion states. The proposed framework can effectively handle the maneuver of obstacle avoidance, lane change, and emergency response. The controller framework also presents good performance to avoid crashes under different levels of collision risk strength.
Can Social Resources Explain the Limitations in the Activities of Daily Living of Older Adults Classified by the Phenotype of Physical Frailty?
Authors: Venturini Claudia , Moreira Bruno de Souza , Ferriolli Eduardo , Liberalesso Neri Anita , Lourenço Roberto Alves. , Sampaio Rosana Ferreira
Published: January 2022

The objective is to investigate the mediating roles of living alone and personal network in the relationship between physical frailty and activities of daily living (ADL) limitations among older adults. 2271 individuals were classified as vulnerable (pre-frail or frail) or robust. Mediating variables were living alone and personal network. Katz Index and Lawton-Brody scale were used to assess ADL. Mediating effects were analyzed with beta coefficients from linear regression models using the bootstrapping method. Mediation analysis showed significant mediating effects of living alone (β = .011; 95% CI = .004; .018) and personal network (β = .005; 95% CI = .001; .010) on the relationship between physical frailty and basic ADL limitations. Mediation effects of living alone and personal network on the relationship between physical frailty and instrumental ADL limitations were β = −.074 (95% CI=−.101; −.046) and β = −.044 (95% CI = −.076; −.020), respectively. Physically vulnerable older adults who lived alone or had poor personal network were more dependent on basic and instrumental ADL.
How Marketer Actions Influence Persuasion Knowledge: Meta-Analytic Evidence of a Nonlinear Relationship
Authors: Eisend Martin , Tarrahi Farid
Published: January 2022

Persuasion knowledge development helps consumers cope with marketplace persuasion, leads to better consumer decision making, and adds to consumer well-being. While significant research exists on the impact that individual factors (e.g., age) and cues (e.g., sponsorship disclosure messages) have on consumers’ persuasion knowledge development, little is known about the influence of marketer actions, such as advertising spending. This is surprising, as marketer activities provide a major source of information for consumers’ persuasion knowledge learning and practice and can theoretically either support or hinder persuasion knowledge development. The authors develop several explanations for various types of relationships between advertising spending and persuasion knowledge. They test these relationships by means of a meta-analysis of the persuasion knowledge literature based on 140 papers with 162 distinct data sets that address persuasion knowledge measurements. They find that increasing advertising spending also increases consumers’ persuasion knowledge. The relationship follows an inverted U-shaped curve; at a certain level of advertising spending, persuasion knowledge begins to decrease. The findings have theoretical and societal implications and, depending on the level of advertising investment, policy implications with the ultimate aim of ensuring consumer well-being and protecting consumer groups with low levels of persuasion knowledge.
Leading with humour and its effect on resilience in the workplace: The perspectives of principals in Kuwaiti secondary schools
Authors: Alazmi Meznah Saad , Alhajeri Salem Saad
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to explore the extent to which the principals of secondary schools in the State of Kuwait said they practiced leadership with humour and if it impacts on their level of resilience in the workplace. The study sample consisted of 121 male and female secondary school principals from six educational districts in Kuwait who were selected using the random stratified method. The study findings showed that the perceptions of school principals regarding the extent to which they practice leadership with a sense of humour were moderate in all fields. The study also found that school principals enjoy high resilience in their workplace, especially when solving a problem. Finally, the results showed that the more a school principal used humour the more resilient he/she would be in the workplace. The study concluded that humour should be considered as one factor in effective leadership and that leadership training programmes should include this dimension. The level of resilience can be clearly predicted by identifying the extent to which school principals claim to practice leading with humour.
Serum vancomycin levels predict the short-term adverse outcomes of peritoneal dialysis–associated peritonitis
Authors: Ma Ying , Geng Yingzhou , Jin Li , Wang Xiaopei , Liang Changna , Xie Liyi , Lu Wanhong , Lv Jing
Published: January 2022

Background:

The role of monitoring serum vancomycin levels during treatment of peritoneal dialysis (PD)–associated peritonitis is controversial. Substantial inter-individual variability may result in suboptimal serum levels despite similar dosing of vancomycin. The published predictors of suboptimal serum vancomycin levels remain limited.

Methods:

Data were retrospectively collected from 541 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 312019. For gram-positive cocci and culture-negative peritonitis, we adopted a vancomycin administration and monitoring protocol. Short-term adverse outcomes of PD-associated peritonitis, including transfer to haemodialysis, death, persistent infection beyond planned therapy duration and relapse, were observed. The association between trough serum vancomycin levels and short-term adverse outcomes was evaluated.

Results:

Intraperitoneal vancomycin was used in 61 gram-positive cocci or culture-negative peritonitis episodes in 56 patients. Fourteen episodes of short-term adverse outcomes occurred in 12 patients, whose average trough serum vancomycin levels on day 5 of treatment were significantly lower than those who didn’t experience any adverse outcomes (8.4 ± 1.7 vs 12.5 ± 4.3 mg/L, p = 0.003). In gram-positive cocci or culture-negative peritonitis patients, those with higher day 5 trough serum vancomycin levels had a lower risk of short-term adverse outcomes (odds ratio: 0.6, 95% confidence interval: 0.4 to 0.9, p = 0.011). Receiver operating charecteristic curve (ROC) analyses showed that the day 5 trough serum vancomycin levels diagnostic threshold value for short-term adverse outcomes was 10.1 mg/L. After adjustments for gender, exchange volume and residual kidney function (RKF), baseline higher peritoneal transport was associated with a suboptimal (<10.1 mg/L) day 5 serum vancomycin level.

Conclusions:

Serum vancomycin levels are correlated with short-term adverse outcomes of PD-associated peritonitis, and higher peritoneal solute transport status is associated with suboptimal trough serum vancomycin levels on day 5.
High versus low ultrafiltration rates during experimental peritoneal dialysis in rats: Acute effects on plasma volume and systemic haemodynamics
Authors: Helman Jakob , Öberg Carl M
Published: January 2022

Introduction:

Intradialytic hypotension is a common complication of haemodialysis, but uncommon in peritoneal dialysis (PD). This may be due to lower ultrafiltration rates in PD compared to haemodialysis, allowing for sufficient refilling of the blood plasma compartment from the interstitial volume, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here we assessed plasma volume and hemodynamic alterations during experimental PD with high versus low ultrafiltration rates.

Methods:

Experiments were conducted in two groups of healthy Sprague-Dawley rats: one group with a high ultrafiltration rate ( N = 7) induced by 8.5% glucose and a low UF group ( N = 6; 1.5% glucose), with an initial assessment of the extracellular fluid volume, followed by 30 min PD with plasma volume measurements at baseline, 5, 10, 15 and 30 min. Mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored during the experiment.

Results:

No significant changes over time in plasma volume, mean arterial pressure or central venous pressure were detected during the course of the experiments, despite an ultrafiltration (UF) rate of 56 mL/h/kg in the high UF group. In the high UF group, a decrease in extracellular fluid volume of −7 mL (−10.7% (95% confidence interval: −13.8% to −7.6%)) was observed, in line with the average UF volume of 8.0 mL (standard deviation: 0.5 mL).

Conclusion:

Despite high UF rates, we found that plasma volumes were remarkably preserved in the present experiments, indicating effective refilling of the plasma compartment from interstitial tissues. Further studies should clarify which mechanisms preserve the plasma volume during high UF rates in PD.
The effect of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: A systematic review
Authors: Ramessar Nina , Borad Abhilasha , Schlesinger Naomi
Published: January 2022

Objective

Many rheumatologists are inundated with questions about what “natural remedies” and “anti-autoimmune diets” exist for decreasing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) disease activity. Over the last three decades, there has been an abundance of data from several different trials about omega-3 fatty acids sourced from fish oil, but the findings have been contradictory. This review seeks to present this data so that evidence-based recommendations can be given to patients, supporting the use of an adjuvant regimen with their present immunosuppression.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and Scopus electronic databases to retrieve relevant articles for this review. Trials conducted on human subjects with SLE with full publications in English were included from 1 January 1980 to 1 April 2021. The impact of fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on specific clinical features, the innate and adaptive immune response, biomarkers, and disease activity measures were assessed. The initial search yielded 7519 articles, but only 13 met our criteria and were eligible for this review.

Results

Data from thirteen articles were assessed. Ten trials assessed disease activity as an outcome, with eight trials demonstrating an improvement in patients in the omega-3 fatty acid group as assessed by a validated clinical tool or individual patient criteria. There was a significant improvement in Systemic Lupus Activity Measure-Revised (SLAM-R) scores at week 12 ( p = .009) and week 24 ( p < .001). Additionally, a reduction of urinary 8-isoprostane, a non-invasive marker of disease activity, was observed. There was no treatment benefit seen with respect to renal parameters such as serum creatinine or 24-hour urine protein; or systemic parameters such as C3, C4, or anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) levels regardless of the dose of the omega-3 LUPUS fatty acids or duration of the trial.

Conclusion

While there is conflicting evidence about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on SLE disease activity, specific measures have demonstrated benefits. Current data show that there is a potential benefit on disease activity as demonstrated by SLAM-R, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) scores and plasma membrane arachidonic acid composition and urinary 8-isoprostane levels, with minimal adverse events.
Finerenone: A Novel Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist for Cardiorenal Protection in CKD and T2DM
Authors: Long Allissa , Salvo Marissa
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To describe the pharmacology, clinical and safety evidence, and relevance to clinical practice of finerenone.

Data Sources:

A literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed, MEDLINE, and clinicaltrials.gov with search terms of “finerenone” and “BAY94-8862.”

Study Selection and Data Extraction

All available studies with human participants in English were considered. Studies were included if they investigated drug pharmacology, efficacy, and safety information.

Data Synthesis

In addition to standard of care with a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASi), finerenone lowered the risk of kidney disease progression (17.8% vs 21.1%) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease compared to placebo. Similarly, finerenone reduced cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease compared to placebo (12.4% vs 14.2%).

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice

It is anticipated that finerenone will be added to therapy after a RASi and a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, as tolerated, based on adverse events and potassium levels.

Conclusions

Finerenone offers a unique approach to further delay the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It also provides another option for patients who cannot tolerate RASi or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.
Hybrid Masculinities and the Limits of Anti-Violence Efforts in BDSM Communities
Authors: Sorin Cierra R.
Published: January 2022

This article interrogates the gendered consequences of men’s anti-violence work in pansexual BDSM communities. Based on interview data from BDSM practitioners, I demonstrate empirically that Bridges and Pascoe's heuristic split of hybrid masculine practices—strategic borrowing, discursive distancing, and boundary fortification—does not account for the necessary interrelationship of these practices. I argue that these practices are mutually constitutive, further obfuscating men’s dominance in the gender hierarchy. The hybrid masculine practices of men who engage in anti-violence work in pansexual BDSM communities are reliant upon narratives of women in need of saving, positioning women as victims and men as saviors who protect them. The women I interviewed were critical of the anti-violence work that men in their communities were doing to prevent or respond to violence; women’s general distrust of men doing this work signals a gendered disconnect between who is doing this work and the effects of it in kink communities more broadly. Although they intended to challenge and prevent sexual violence, men’s hybrid masculine practices in their anti-violence efforts in BDSM communities reproduce the gender inequality that maintains sexual violence both within and beyond these communities.
Cold Water Immersion Directly and Mediated by Alleviated Pain to Promote Quality of Life in Indonesian with Gout Arthritis: A Community-based Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kurniasari Maria Dyah , Monsen Karen A. , Weng Shuen Fu , Yang Chyn Yng , Tsai Hsiu Ting
Published: January 2022

Background: Gout arthritis is an autoinflammatory arthritis that generates chronic long-term pain. Pain impacts physical activities, joint mobility, stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Cold-water immersion therapy reduces inflammation and pain associated with gout arthritis. However, cold-water immersion therapy has not been conducted among people worldwide with gout arthritis. Objective: To investigate the cold-water immersion intervention on pain, joint mobility, physical activity, stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life among acute gout patients. Methods: A community-based randomized control trial design with two parallel-intervention groups: a cold-water immersion group (20–30°C 20 minutes/day for 4 weeks) and a control group. In total, 76 eligible participants in Tomohon City, Indonesia, were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method and were randomly assigned using block randomization. A generalized estimating equation model was used to analyze the results (coef. β) and produce 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A path analysis was used to analyze mediating effects. Results: Significant pain alleviation ( β = −2.06; −2.42), improved joint mobility ( β = 1.20, 1.44), physical activity ( β = 2.05, .59), stress ( β = −1.25; −1.35), anxiety ( β = −.62; −1.37), and quality of life ( β = 5.34; 9.93) were detected after cold-water immersion at the second-week, and were maintained to the fourth-week time point, compared to pre-intervention and the control group. Depression ( β = −1.80) had decreased by the fourth week compared to the pre-test and control group. Cold-water immersion directly mediated alleviation of pain ( β = −.46, p ≤ .001) and to promote the quality of life ( β = .16, p = .01). Conclusions: Cold-water immersion decreased pain, stress, anxiety, and depression, and increased joint mobility, physical activity, and quality of life. It mediated alleviation of pain to increase the quality of life.
Mindful unlearning in unprecedented times: Implications for management and organizations
Authors: Vu Mai Chi , Nguyen Loi A
Published: January 2022

Crises trigger both learning and unlearning at both intra-organizational and inter-organizational levels. This article stresses the need to facilitate unlearning for effective crisis management and shows how we could use mindfulness practice to enhance unlearning and transformative learning in a crisis. This study proposes the conceptualization of mindful unlearning in crisis with different mechanisms to foster unlearning in three stages of crisis (pre-crisis, during-crisis, and post-crisis). These mechanisms include mindful awareness of impermanence and sensual processing (pre-crisis stage), mindful awareness of interdependence and right intention (crisis management stage), and mindful awareness of transiency and past experiences (post-crisis stage).
Practice-driven research for statewide scale up: Implementation outcomes of the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network
Authors: Suhrheinrich Jessica , Nahmias Allison S , Yu Yue , Melgarejo Melina , Schetter Patricia , Holt Tana C , Stahmer Aubyn C
Published: January 2022

Scaling up the use of evidence-based practice (EBP) for autism across service sectors and regions has presented a considerable challenge indicating a clear need for continued development. The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) integrates implementation drivers into specific procedures and methodology as an implementation strategy to support statewide scale up. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of CAPTAIN on provider-level outcomes including attitude toward, and knowledge, fidelity and use of autism EBPs, and overall classroom quality. Overall, results indicated variability across measures, with some significant differences between CAPTAIN-trained and non-CAPTAIN-trained providers. CAPTAIN-trained providers reported more openness to EBP. Significantly more CAPTAIN-trained direct service providers reported collecting fidelity of implementation data (χ2(2, N = 1515) = 10.95, p = 0.004), collecting student data (χ2(2, N = 1509) = 14.19, p = 0.001), and reported using their primary EBP with “most or all students” (χ2(2, N = 1514) = 11.41, p = 0.003) than providers not trained by CAPTAIN. In summary, these preliminary findings show promise for the efficacy of the CAPTAIN model to increase dissemination and implementation of EBP at the classroom level.

Lay abstract

Supporting use of evidence-based practice in public service programs for autistic individuals is critical. The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) brings together best practices from intervention and implementation research to support scale up of autism services. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of CAPTAIN on provider-level outcomes including attitude toward, knowledge, fidelity, and use of autism EBPs and overall classroom quality. Overall, results indicated variability across measures, with some significant differences between CAPTAIN-trained and non-CAPTAIN-trained providers. These preliminary findings show promise for the efficacy of the CAPTAIN model to increase dissemination and implementation of EBP at the classroom level.
Alt. Health Influencers: how wellness culture and web culture have been weaponised to promote conspiracy theories and far-right extremism during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Baker Stephanie Alice
Published: January 2022

This article examines the proliferation of alt. health influencers during the COVID-19 pandemic. I analyse the self-presentation strategies used by four alt. health influencers to achieve visibility and status on Instagram over a 12-month period from 11 March 2020, when the pandemic was declared by the World Health Organisation. My analysis reveals the ways in which these influencers appeal to the utopian discourses of early web culture and the underlying principles of wellness culture to build and sustain an online following. While early accounts of micro-celebrity treat participatory culture as democratising and progressive, this article demonstrates how the participatory affordances of social media have been exploited to spread misinformation, conspiratorial thinking and far-right extremism. These findings develop previous work on ‘conspirituality’ by demonstrating how wellness culture and web culture can coalesce for authoritarian ends.
The Effects of Political Attitudes on Affective Polarization: Survey Evidence from 165 Elections
Authors: Guedes-Neto João V
Published: January 2022

How do individual-level political attitudes influence affective polarization on a global scale? This article contributes to the debate on the social distance of party affect by testing a set of hypotheses in 165 elections across the world. With a sample of over 170,000 voters, the results of multilevel mixed-effects regressions demonstrate that ideological radicalism, political knowledge, and external efficacy substantively affect how voters see the main political parties in electoral disputes taking place in 52 countries from 1996 to 2019. Satisfaction with democracy, however, is context-dependent; it positively influences affective polarization only when generalized democratic satisfaction is low. Furthermore, I show that these correlations remain stable regardless of the operationalization of affective polarization—that is, based on two dominant parties and weighted for multiparty competition. These findings provide robust inputs to the study of party preferences and social distance in a cross-national longitudinal perspective.
Fostering Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Creating an Equitable Environment That Addresses the Needs of Undergraduate Students
Authors: Louten Jennifer
Published: January 2022

Student retention is a critical issue for universities, and nearly half of the students who start degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) do not complete them. The current study tracks the progress of STEM students taking part in an entry-to-graduation program designed to build community, provide academic and social support, and promote engagement in academically purposeful activities. Although it had no effect on the number of students who changed their major, the program more than doubled the number of students who graduated in their original major. Black or Hispanic students taking part in the program also graduated at twice the rate of comparator students, largely attributable to the success of women in these groups. The results provide needed real-world insights into how to create an equitable environment that promotes the persistence and graduation of students, including those from groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
Comparison of Absolute Dose Achievable Between Helical Tomotherapy and RapidArc in Total Dura Mater Irradiation for Child Cancer
Authors: Sun Wenzhao , Zhang Jun , Wang Yixuan , Chen Meining , Wang Jianli , Chen Li , Lu Lixia , Deng Xiaowu
Published: January 2022

Background and Purpose: In this study, the absolute dose achievable between helical tomotherapy (HT) plans and RapidArc (RA) plans for total dura mater irradiation (TDMI) was compared. Materials and methods: A planning study was conducted on nine children's case datasets with dura mater metastasis of neuroblastoma. The target included the entire calvarium and skull base and formed a closed volume with a certain thickness around the brain. HT and RA plans with four coplanar full arcs (RA4) with half-field technique were generated for the comparison of absolute dose achievable. In total, 30.6 Gy was prescribed as D95% (ie, dose to 95% of PTV volume). Results: In the dosimetric comparison between the two modalities, HT provided more homogenous dose distribution than RA4 (mean HI5−95%: 1.046 vs 1.088, P < .001). The V107% and D2Gy of PTV in HT versus RA4 were 3.06% versus 30.47% and 32.59 Gy versus 33.45 Gy, respectively. HT reduced the Dmean and V5Gy of the brain, brainstem, and hippocampus by 25%–48% and 27%–56% compared with RA4, respectively. Conclusion: Both techniques could provide sufficient coverage for targets, but HT offered more homogenous dose to PTV and lower dose to the central region of the brain involving the brainstem and hippocampus. RA4 could be completed in a shorter time with lower MUs, but with relatively higher dose to the brain or hippocampus. In terms of dosimetry, HT may improve long-term cognitive decline in these young pediatric patients with TDMI.
The Importance of Emotional Regulation in Mental Health
Authors: Menefee Deleene S. , Ledoux Tracey , Johnston Craig A.
Published: January 2022

Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being and exists on a continuum much like physical health. Although many ways to assess mental health exist outside of either having a disorder or not, practitioners often rely on the presence or absence of symptomatology. The assessment and promotion of emotional regulation in patients is one way to encourage individuals to engage in mental health-promoting behaviors. Specific techniques are discussed that address emotional regulation. Overall, providing patients with the tools to regulate emotional responding will likely have a direct impact on well-being as well as reduce MH symptomology.
A novel remote hands-on training for neuroendovascular-based treatment in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ohshima Tomotaka , Koiwai Megumi , Matsuo Naoki , Miyachi Shigeru
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded a change in learning modalities, which led us to develop a remote personal training system for clinicians performing neuroendovascular procedures. A portable vascular model designed for practicing catheter navigation guidance, thrombus retrieval, and intracranial aneurysm coil embolisation was established. We created an environment that enabled interactive dialogue and communication across long distances using the Internet. The instructor conducted approximately 2 h of hands-on training with two to four trainees at a time. Despite the restrictions enforced by the Government of Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 17 online hands-on training were successfully conducted throughout Japan over 1 year for a total of 48 trainees. The developed remote training programme, to avoid the aggregation of a large number of trainees at a developed time, proved to be at par with the conventional learning system. The training was well-received since the operation time was longer and the question and answer sessions were more fulfilling compared to the conventional format in which a group of trainees had got a brief opportunity to receive actual hands-on experience.
Sensor-based skeleton modeling and MVEEs approach of the redundant manipulator for reaction motion
Authors: Ye Lan , Xiong Genliang , Zhang Hua , Zeng Cheng
Published: January 2022

With the wide application of redundant manipulators, sharing a working space with humans and dealing with uncertainty seems an inevitable problem, especially in the dynamic and unstructured domain. How to deal with obstacle avoidance is of particular importance that robots and humans/environments are safe interactions to fulfill the complex cooperating tasks. This paper aimed at solving the problem of multiple points avoidance for the reaction motion based on the skeleton algorithm in unstructured and dynamic environments. A method named “sensor-based skeleton modeling and MVEEs approach of the redundant manipulator for the reaction motion” is proposed. The extraction of skeleton information from image is obtained to calculate the distances of the multiple control points and establish the repulsion in this method. Afterward, the force Jacobian related to the priority weighting factors is calculated and then a reaction force with damping term is established, which is corresponding nominal torque commands. For the redundant manipulator, the joint angles are obtained through torque iteration instead of inverse kinematics to reduce calculation cost. Finally, the method was tested by a 7-DOF manipulator in the ROS framework. The obtained results indicate that the method in this method can realize dynamic obstacle avoidance and time cost reduction.
Effects of chemical reaction, viscosity, thermal conductivity, heat source, radiation/absorption, on MHD mixed convection nano-fluids flow over an unsteady stretching sheet by HAM and numerical method
Authors: Rehman Sajid , Gul Taza , Khan Waris , Khan Aamir , Zeeshan
Published: January 2022

Investigations are performed for further observations of heat and mass transfer in magneto-hydrodynamic mixed-convectional nano-fluid flow with the assumption of variable viscosity and thermal-conductivity over an unsteady stretching sheet. Base fluid is Carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) water as a carrier fluid with different nano-particles such as [Formula: see text] (Titanium), Ag (Silver), [Formula: see text] (Aluminum), and Cu (Copper). Flow contains different physical parameters, such as heat source, chemical reaction effect, Schmidt number, and radiation absorptions effects are observed to be significant in the presences of magnetic field. Obtained equations are solved by numerically BVP4C-package (shooting method) and analytically by BVPh2.0-package (Homotopy Analysis Method “HAM”). Interested physical quantities are, viscosity-parameter ( A), Thermal-conductivity parameter ( N),Thermocapillary-number ( M), Hartmann-number (Ma), Prandtl-number (Pr), 4-nano-particles ([Formula: see text]), temperature Grashof number ([Formula: see text]), and mass Grashof number ([Formula: see text]) are the focus to the velocity, temperature, and solute concentration profiles. It is concluded that, Solute concentration of ([Formula: see text])-water has higher than the other 3-nano-fluids. Mass flux, heat flux, and Skin friction of fluids are direct functions of magnetic force, while inverse function of temperature. Magnetic force also decreased the speed of fluids and hence mass flux reduced which implies that, the temperature reduces. [Formula: see text] has also inverse relation with mass flux, heat flux, and skin friction, while direct relation with the speed of fluids. Similarly, [Formula: see text] has inverse relation with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], but direct relation with [Formula: see text]. Different results are shown in graphical and tabular form.
Overlapping needs for sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention in women with substance use disorders
Authors: Gibson Britton , Hoff Emily , Haas Alissa , Adams Zoe M , Price Carolina R , Goddard-Eckrich Dawn , Sheth Sangini S , Dasgupta Anindita , Meyer Jaimie P
Published: January 2022

Objectives:

Women with substance use disorders have high unmet needs for HIV prevention and drug treatment and face challenges accessing care for other unique health issues, including their sexual and reproductive health.

Methods:

We did a cross-sectional evaluation of sexual and reproductive health behaviors and outcomes among women with substance use disorders, who were enrolled in one of two concurrent clinical trials of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. Descriptive analyses and bivariate logistic regression were used to assess factors driving contraceptive use, and other essential sexual and reproductive health services utilization and outcomes.

Results:

Among 226 women, 173 (76.5%) were of reproductive age. Most women had histories of unintended pregnancy (79.2%) or miscarriage (45.1%) and high HIV risk behaviors (53.5%). Most (61%) participants did not use any form of contraception at the time of assessment, although few (15%) reported pregnancy intentions. In bivariate models, ongoing criminal justice involvement was associated with 2.22 higher odds of not using contraception (95% confidence interval = 1.09–4.53; p = 0.03) and hazardous drinking was protective against not using contraception (odds ratio = 0.33, 95% confidence interval = 0.13–0.81; p = 0.02). Contraception use was not significantly associated with any other individual characteristics or need factors.

Conclusions:

This is the first study that identifies the unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of women with substance use disorders who are engaging with pre-exposure prophylaxis. We found that women accessed some health services but not in a way that holistically addresses the full scope of their needs. Integrated sexual and reproductive care should align women’s expressed sexual and reproductive health intentions with their behaviors and outcomes, by addressing social determinants of health.
The strength and conditioning practices and perspectives of soccer coaches and players
Authors: Weldon Anthony , Wong Sing T , Mateus Nuno , Duncan Michael J , Clarke Neil D , Pears Matthew , Owen Adam L , Bishop Chris
Published: January 2022

Strength and conditioning (S&C) is implemented across various sports and levels, but there is limited understanding of the personnel responsible for this, including their S&C practices and perspectives. Whereas recent evidence has shown that coaches and players are often tasked with the responsibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate: 1) the personnel responsible for delivering S&C across different levels of soccer, 2) the practices and perspectives of soccer coaches and players, and 3) to ascertain whether the practices employed align with contemporary evidence and guidelines. Forty-two soccer coaches and 30 soccer players completed an online survey with six sections: (a) informed consent, (b) background information, (c) education, qualifications, and prescription, (d) views on S&C, (e) exercise selection and preferences, and (f) issues and improvements. Frequency analysis was used to report responses to fixed-response questions and thematic analysis for open-ended questions. Most respondents reported S&C to be ‘important’ to ‘very important’ for all soccer, physical fitness, and injury parameters, with perspectives being predominantly aligned with S&C guidelines and research in soccer. Although S&C coaches were mostly responsible for delivering S&C sessions, over 60% of respondents disclosed S&C sessions were delivered independently or by support staff. This is problematic given only four coaches held S&C qualifications, and issues and improvements were mostly regarding a lack of S&C expertise and education. This study provides valuable information for S&C and soccer organizations. Particularly regarding the additional support required to ensure those responsible for delivering S&C in soccer have the appropriate knowledge and qualifications.
The combined oral contraceptive pill
Authors: Patterson Laura
Published: January 2022

The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) has been a popular choice of contraception since it was first introduced in 1961. There are numerous varieties of COCP and tailored regimes allow patients more choice and opportunities to adapt contraception to suit individual needs. The pandemic has made it more difficult for patients to access long-acting reversible contraception support and many have been using interim methods of contraception, including the COCP. In this article we explore which pill to prescribe, developments in tailored regimes, guidance about changing pills when side effects arise, health risks and benefits, as well as best practice for remote assessments and prescribing.
Designing Palliative Care Facilities to Better Support Patient and Family Care: A Staff Perspective
Authors: McLaughlan Rebecca , Richards Kieran , Lipson-Smith Ruby , Collins Anna , Philip Jennifer
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To contribute staff perspectives on the design of palliative care facilities to better align with the philosophy of palliative care, in support of patient, family, and staff well-being.

Background:

The receipt of palliative care differs from other inpatient experiences owing to its distinct philosophy of care, longer lengths of stay, a greater presence of family members, and more frequent end-of-life events. While research regarding the optimal design of palliative care environments recognizes these differences, this knowledge has been slow to exert change on the guidelines and procurement processes that determine the design solutions possible within these settings. Sustained research attention is required.

Methods:

An online survey, comprising a series of open-ended questions, elicited the perceptions of palliative care staff regarding the relationship between the physical environment and the distinct philosophy of palliative care.

Results:

Responses from 89 Australian-based palliative care professionals confirmed the high value that staff place on environments that offer privacy, homeliness, safety, and access to gardens to assist the delivery of optimum care.

Conclusions:

Our findings illustrate that the implications of privacy and homeliness extend far beyond the patient room and that homeliness is about more than an aesthetic of comfort. This highlights a broader capacity for design to better support the philosophy of palliative care. Importantly, the data reveal a key relationship between staff well-being and the environments in which they work; environments that are unable to match the quality of care that staff aspire to deliver can engender frustration and distress.
Return to Work Within Four Months of Grade 3 Diffuse Axonal Injury
Authors: Young Michael J. , Sanders William R. , Marujo Rose , Bodien Yelena G. , Edlow Brian L.
Published: January 2022

Neuroprognostication following diffuse axonal injury (DAI) has historically relied on neuroimaging techniques with lower spatial resolution and contrast than techniques currently available in clinical practice. Since the initial studies of DAI classification and prognosis in the 1980s and 1990s, advances in neuroimaging have improved detection of brainstem microbleeds, a hallmark feature of Grade 3 DAI that has traditionally been associated with poor neurologic outcome. Here, we report clinical and radiologic data from two patients with severe traumatic brain injury and grade 3 DAI who recovered functional independence and returned to work within 4 months of injury. Importantly, both patients were scanned using 3 Tesla MRI protocols that included susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), a technique that provides enhanced sensitivity for detecting brainstem microbleeds. These observations highlight the importance of developing approaches to DAI classification and prognosis that better align with contemporary neuroimaging capabilities.
Exceptional response to lurbinectedin and irinotecan in BRCA-mutated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patient: a case report
Authors: Cortesi Laura , Venturelli Marta , Barbieri Elena , Baldessari Cinzia , Bardasi Camilla , Coccia Emanuele , Baglio Federica , Rimini Margherita , Greco Stefano , Napolitano Martina , Pipitone Stefania , Dominici Massimo
Published: January 2022

Lurbinectedin is responsible for DNA recognition and binding, producing double-strand DNA (dsDNA) breaks thus resulting in apoptosis. Sensitivity to lurbinectedin is linked to the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system. Furthermore, irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, provokes dsDNA breaks that could be reinforced abrogating the NER system using lurbinectedin. BRCA-mutated patients, already treated with platinum-derived drugs, who suffered DNA damage, cannot repair the breaks due to lurbinectedin interaction, whereas irinotecan provokes a dsDNA break that promotes synthetic lethality. This article describes an exceptional response to lurbinectedin alone followed by the association with irinotecan in a BRCA-mutated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patient. A 44-year-old BRCA1-mutated ovarian cancer patient was treated in sixth line with lurbinectedin and irinotecan with a time to further progression (TTFP) equal to 8 months. In our case, the association with irinotecan overcame the resistance to lurbinectedin alone. In conclusion, lurbinectedin and irinotecan demonstrated a promising response in platinum-resistant patients. However, further studies should be conducted to validate our findings and future trials will be important to further define the clinical utility of lurbinectedin.
Vascular plugs are associated with reduced fluoroscopy times compared to endovascular coils in proximal splenic artery embolization in trauma
Authors: Glenn Austin M , Huang Junjian , Gunn Andrew J , Pollak Jeffrey , Quencer Keith B
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

Proximal splenic artery embolization plays an important role in the treatment of hemodynamically stable blunt splenic trauma patients with medium- to high-grade injuries. Proximal splenic artery embolization is most often performed utilizing endovascular coils or vascular plugs. The objective of this study was to compare technical and clinical outcomes of proximal splenic artery embolization using either endovascular coils or vascular plugs in patients with traumatic splenic injuries.

Materials and methods:

A single-institution retrospective review of all proximal splenic artery embolizations for trauma over a 5-year period was performed. Patients who underwent embolization using both endovascular coils and vascular plugs were excluded. Baseline characteristics, including patient age, sex, and grade of splenic injury, were recorded. Complication rates, rates of splenic salvage, and total fluoroscopy time were recorded and compared.

Results:

A total of 26 patients were included in the analysis (17 males, 9 females, median age: 50 years). Of these, 15 patients were treated with vascular plugs (57.7%), while 11 patients (42.3%) were treated with endovascular coils. Mean grade of injury was 3.5 and 4.1 in the vascular plug and endovascular coils groups, respectively. There were no differences between the groups regarding these baseline characteristics. Splenic salvage was 100% in both groups. No major complications were identified in either group. Mean fluoroscopy time was significantly lower in the vascular plug group (14.5 versus 34.0 min; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Proximal splenic artery embolization for splenic trauma can be satisfactorily achieved with either vascular plugs or endovascular coils with no differences in splenic salvage or complication rates in this retrospective study. However, embolization utilizing vascular plugs had significantly reduced fluoroscopy times.
Russia in the Putin era – a case of bureaucratic authoritarianism?
Authors: Everett Judas
Published: January 2022

There has been much debate surrounding the classification of the kind of regime which developed in Russia following the collapse of communism and this has only intensified during the Putin era. This article considers whether the concept of bureaucratic-authoritarianism is really applicable in the case of Russia. Lilia Shevtsova was the first to tentatively state that Russia is a case of bureaucratic-authoritarianism. However, to provide more assured acceptance or rejection of the concept, this article returns to the paradigm’s roots. The concept of bureaucratic-authoritarianism was developed by Guillermo O’Donnell and thus the characteristics he outlined are applied to the case of Russia in the Putin era. Doing so allows for a level of precision and depth in concluding that bureaucratic-authoritarianism is a relevant paradigm. Confirmatory evidence for all seven of the characteristics enumerated by O’Donnell is found, suggesting that Russia in the Putin era can be considered a case of bureaucratic-authoritarianism.
Elastic response of Carbon Black reinforced polyester based composites using micromechanical models: Role of interphase
Authors: Karevan Mehdi
Published: January 2022

Carbon-based reinforcements have been widely reported in improving mechanical properties of polymers. However, still few studies exist on the incorporation of the interphase as a result of the interfacial interactions into analytical prediction tools. To better understand the effect of interfacial interphase, this study compares and correlates the experimental mechanical response of polyester based composites filled with carbon black (CB) with the elastic behavior obtained from the micromechanical models. Mold cast composites of polyester reinforced with 0 wt%–10 wt% of CB were fabricated. To determine the length of cooperative rearranging region (CRR) as a measure of the interphase, thermal studies focusing on the variations in the specific heat capacity or the relaxation strength of the composites around the glass transition temperature ( Tg) range were performed using a thermodynamical model. Micromechanical models such as the Halpin-Tsai and Tandon-Weng were used to determine the Young’s modulus with respect to the CB wt% and diameter as well as the interphase thickness and modulus. The results exhibited the sensitivity of the models to the existence of the interphase as a secondary mechanism, which was correlated to the cross-link density and interfacial bonding. The impact results showed the decrease in the impact resistance upon the addition of higher filler loadings ascribed to the destroyed bonding at the interface and CBs agglomeration confirmed by morphological studies. The research results can be further utilized in the explanation of the changes in the elastic response of carbon-based reinforced thermosetting composites emphasizing the key role of interphase.