bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of work engagement in professional musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rucsanda Mădălina Dana , Radu-Giurgiu Cristina , Belibou Alexandra , Cazan Ana-Maria
Published: January 2024

While the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 crisis is impacting many areas of society, some professions are more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than others, especially by the feeling of insecurity about future working conditions. The present research was conducted during the pandemic and assesses the extent to which musicians’ desire to develop professionally, their work engagement and their motivation to study further in the context of job insecurity, intolerance to uncertainty, and emotion regulation were affected. A cross-sectional design was used. The participants were 167 Romanian professional musicians. The results show that cognitive reappraisal and achievement-striving moderate the relationship between qualitative job insecurity and work engagement, more specifically: cognitive reappraisal and achievement-striving are moderators and buffer the negative relationship between qualitative job insecurity and work engagement. Given that the current context is marked by uncertainty, future studies could investigate the effect that intervention for managing emotions can have on increasing well-being and work engagement.
Computer training tools for students and graduates of railway universities in the development of practical skills
Authors: Akulov Artem , Zhelieznov Kostiantyn , Zabolotnyi Oleksandr , Chabaniuk Eugene , Shvets Angela
Published: January 2024

Teaching the basics of a profession to university students and graduates requires the use of intensive training methods to reduce time and increase the efficiency of knowledge acquisition. Railway workers have a special responsibility related to the safety of train traffic. In this regard, appropriate training, retraining, and certification should be provided. For this purpose, it is appropriate to use computer interactive teaching methods that use modern technologies for modeling and simulating the operation of various technical objects of railway transport. For this purpose, it is advisable to use computer interactive teaching methods that use modern technologies for modeling and simulating the operation of various technical objects of railway transport, that is, simulators and computer training programs that allow both training and examination of applicants. The work contains an overview of computer teaching aids for bachelors of railway universities. A description of the beta version of a computer program for studying the predeparture inspection of wagons for the timely detection of damage to rolling stock structures, emergency operation of mechanisms and other emergency situations was presented. A system was proposed for integrating the software product into the educational and professional program “Wagons and wagon facilities” in the Railway Transport specialty.
Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Performed Within 10 Days of Injury Does Not Increase Risk of Postoperative Arthrofibrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Aman Zachary S. , Blaber Olivia K. , R. McDermott Emily , DeFoor Mikalyn T. , DePhillipo Nicholas N. , Dickens Jonathan F. , Dekker Travis J.
Published: January 2024

Background:

The optimal timing of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) remains a controversial topic. Previous reviews have demonstrated that there are no differences between early and delayed ACLR; however, these studies have been limited by heterogeneous definitions of acute ACL injury.

Purpose:

To evaluate postoperative patient functional outcomes and risk for arthrofibrosis after acute arthroscopic ACLR performed ≤10 days after injury.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using multiple medical databases. Inclusion criteria were studies that evaluated postoperative range of motion outcomes for patients undergoing ACLR ≤10 days after initial ACL injury. For included comparative studies comparing patient groups undergoing ACLR ≤10 days and patients undergoing “delayed” ACLR after ≥3 weeks of initial injury, quantitative analysis was performed to assess for differences in postoperative arthrofibrosis, reoperation rates, and patient-reported outcomes between groups. DerSimonian-Laird binary random-effects models were constructed to quantitatively describe the association between the ACLR time period and patient outcomes by generating effect estimates in the form of odds ratios with 95% CIs. Qualitative analysis was performed to describe variably reported patient outcomes and the risk of arthrofibrosis after ACLR for noncomparative studies.

Results:

Screening yielded 6 full-text articles with 448 patients who underwent ACLR (296 ACLR <10 days, 152 ACLR >3 weeks), with a pooled mean age of 28.1 years. For studies amenable to quantitative analysis, there were no significant differences between ACLR performed ≤10 days and ACLR performed at the 3-week point or after in terms of postoperative stiffness (3 studies; odds ratio, 1.27; P = .508), Tegner scores (2 studies; mean difference, –0.056; P = .155), or reoperation for stiffness (3 studies; odds ratio, 0.869; P = .462). The overall incidence of postoperative arthrofibrosis after 12 months of follow-up was 11 of 296 (3.7%) for ACLRs performed ≤10 days versus 6 of 152 (3.9%) for those performed at the 3-week point or after.

Conclusion:

ACLR performed ≤10 days after the inciting injury does not increase the risk of postoperative arthrofibrosis and demonstrates similar patient-reported outcomes compared with ACLR performed at the 3-week point or after.
Translating academia. Implications for knowledge production in the social sciences and the humanities
Authors: Bielsa Esperança
Published: January 2024

This introduction to the special issue provides some context on the linguistic landscape that characterizes contemporary academia and on the significance of academic translation for knowledge production. It elaborates on how the adoption of English as academic lingua franca, one of the most pervasive aspects of a global university system shaped by neoliberalism, has led to the coexistence of differently placed languages in a competitive market. Most of the world’s researchers in the social sciences and the humanities today exist in highly multilingual spaces where the simultaneous use of different languages for research, writing and teaching has become routinized. However, the preponderance of English as the universal medium of what counts as globally relevant knowledge also determines the nature of mostly covert, yet widespread academic translation practices without which the functioning of the lingua franca would be impossible. These ordinary yet widely ignored translation practices are constitutive of knowledge production in a global academic space. Reflecting on the politics of translation in this highly unequal field becomes, in this context, a necessary undertaking. Such a reflection entails, on one hand, a recognition of the continuity and inseparability of writing, interpreting, and translating in shaping the production of social scientific and humanistic knowledge and, on the other, a critique of assimilatory forms of translation through which the dominance of plain English as the language of science is constructed.
Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on Improving Family-Centred Pain Care in a Tertiary Pediatric Centre
Authors: Kammerer Elise , Fawcett-Arsenault Joelle , Iliscupidez Lexyn , Ali Samina
Published: January 2024

Background

Despite being a core component of family-centered and compassionate care, children's pain is often undertreated in Canadian hospitals. Nurses’ and other healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) ability to understand and respond to a child and their family's pain care needs is integral to improving this care in a family-centered manner.

Purpose

To understand nurses’ and other HCPs’ perceptions of child and family needs to make care more collaborative and patient- and family-centered.

Methods

Eighteen participants were recruited and represented the specialties of nursing ( n = 8), psychology ( n = 1), child life services ( n = 2), medicine/surgery ( n = 3), and administration/leadership ( n = 4); 3 of the administrators had a nursing background. Transcripts were analysed using a semantic, inductive approach with two coders using a codebook to ensure reliability.

Results

Participants felt that pain care was important, but that it needs to take greater priority in the hospital. In our analysis, we identified four core needs that nurses and other HCPs have to provide better pain care: 1. Better acknowledgement of child and family experiences; 2. Better visual and written knowledge translation tools for patients and families; 3. Better provision of verbal pain education to children and families by nurses and other HCPs; and 4. Help for patients and families to advocate for better pain care when they feel their needs are not being met.

Conclusions

Nurses and other HCPs value patient- and family-centered pain care, and wish to empower families to advocate for it when it is sub-optimal.
Comparison of Low Dose Recombinant Factor VIIa and 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Treatment of Bleeding Related to Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Caldwell Lauren , Bhakta Rima , Naik Neha , Knowles B.D. , Parker Jessica , Van Berkel Patel Megan
Published: January 2024

Background: Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) and prothrombin concentrate complex (PCC) are used for uncontrolled bleeding in cardiac surgery (CS), however, there are limited direct comparisons of these agents. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rFVIIa and PCC in CS related bleeding. Methods: This retrospective study included adult CS patients who received either low dose rFVIIa (<30 mcg/kg) or 4-factor PCC. The primary outcome was transfusion requirements of packed red blood cells (pRBC) within 6 hours of factor administration. Secondary efficacy outcomes included transfusion requirements 0-18 hours, doses of additional factor product, thrombotic events, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Results: A total of 179 patients were included (n = 78 rFVIIa; n = 101 PCC). Of patients who received blood products, there was no difference in the requirement of pRBCs within 6 hours (73.8 vs 68.9%, P = .5359) or in the median amount of pRBC transfused (500 mL vs 640 mL, P = .0723) in the rFVIIa and PCC groups respectively. Patients in the PCC group were more likely to require additional factor products (24.4% vs 47.5%, P = .0015), develop AKI (12.8% vs 25.7%, P = .0325), have longer ICU lengths of stay [2 (IQR 1-5) vs 4 (IQR 2-6), P = .0487] and greater in-hospital mortality (2.6% vs 10.9%, P = .033). There was no difference in thrombotic events. Conclusion: Although, there was no difference in pRBC transfusion requirements between PCC and rFVIIa, more patients in the PCC group required additional factor products and had increased adverse effects. Further comparisons of PCC and rFVIIa are warranted.
Automatic evaluation method for vehicle audio warning system using MFCC-polynomial hybrid feature
Authors: Wang Zuoliang , Xu Qimin , Chen Zehua
Published: January 2024

In the evaluation of vehicle audio warning system, there is no automatic method. Besides, due to the noise interference of in-vehicle environmental, the quantity limitation and only positive training samples, the accuracy of traditional template matching or identification methods for audio is low. To solve the above problems, an efficient, accurate, and automatic evaluation method is proposed for vehicle audio warning system. Firstly, logmmse-spectrum subtraction method is used to filter the dynamic noise and static noise of the evaluation audio acquired in the in-vehicle environment. Secondly, the end point detection based on short-time energy is used to obtain the effective audio segment after noise reduction, and the start time of the audio warning segment can be accurately obtained. Then, the Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient (MFCC) feature and the polynomial fitting feature of each audio segment are extracted. The hybrid features are treated as the input of the Hidden Markov Model-Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM-HMM) based audio matching model. Finally, according to frame shift set by endpoint detection and the audio sampling frequency, the emitted time of matched audio warning can be calculated to support the evaluation of vehicle audio warning system. The experimental result shows that, with dynamic-static noise reduction and MFCC-polynomial hybrid feature, the average matching accuracy of the proposed method reaches 99.6% in the case of only five training samples.
Research on speed predictive control system of intelligent connected vehicle based on V2X
Authors: Li Aijuan , Niu Chuanhu , Sun Xueyong , Jiang Yuanshuai , Liu Gang
Published: January 2024

To enhance the efficiency of urban road traffic and reduce waiting time at traffic lights, this paper proposes a V2X based speed prediction control method for intelligent connected vehicles. Firstly, this paper uses PreScan to build an intelligent network environment model based on V2X communication technology. Then, the traffic signal and target vehicle information transmitted by V2X are analyzed and processed, leading to the design of an intelligent connected vehicle speed prediction control system. Finally, comparative experiments were conducted using HIL between the conventional vehicle speed decision control system and the V2X-based intelligent connected vehicle speed prediction control system under various operating conditions. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed speed prediction control system can reduce waiting time for traffic lights and enhance road traffic efficiency. Therefore, this paper’s designed speed prediction control system is both effective and feasible, providing a reference for future research on intelligent connected vehicle speed decision control.
Gear fault diagnosis based on complex network theory and error-correcting output codes: Multi class support vector machine
Authors: Rai Akhand , Kapu Vishnu Priya , Balaji P S , Tiwari Prashant
Published: January 2024

Gearbox failures have a detrimental effect on the machine performance that affects the production capacity and economic benefits of a manufacturing industry in an adverse manner. Early detection of faults in gears helps to prevent sudden machine failures. Previously, many signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques have been successfully applied to diagnose gear faults by analyzing the machine vibrations. These techniques have repeatedly emphasized on the need to extract quality features from gear vibration signals and using artificial intelligence techniques that can identify multiple types of faults simultaneously. As such, in this article, new features called as visibility graph features based on complex network theory have been proposed to extract fault information from vibration signals. In addition, a new artificial intelligence framework for multifault classification known as error-correcting output codes-multiclass support vector machine is proposed to detect gear faults. To the best of authors’ knowledge, these features along with the error-correcting output codes-artificial intelligence framework have been rarely utilized for fault diagnosis purpose. The proposed approach has been applied on experimental gear vibration data to validate its effectiveness. First, the vibration signals are transformed to graphs, and various graph properties are computed to serve as fault features. Then, the fault features are supplied to train the error-correcting output codes-multiclass support vector machine model and learn the fault patterns. Finally, the gear fault classification accuracies are determined for various gear test conditions and compared with those of existing methods. It is observed that the proposed approach provides an average improvement of 4.22%, 9.93% and 11.8% over the time-domain features, time–frequency domain features and voting-based multiclass support vector machine classifier, respectively, for different operating conditions. Furthermore, the suggested technique augments the classification accuracies by 10%, 7.5% and 6.7%, respectively, as compared with the deep-learning models, namely standard stacked sparse autoencoder, deep neural network and convolution neural network.
Analysis of clinical, immunological characteristics, damage, and survival in 300 Turkish systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Tekeoglu Senem , Temiz Karadag Duygu , Ozdemir Isik Ozlem , Yazici Ayten , Cefle Ayse
Published: January 2024

Objective

This retrospective study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Turkish Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients of Caucasian ethnicity, focusing on their clinical, immunological, and therapeutic characteristics, damage accural and mortality.

Patients and Methods

We carried out a retrospective assessment of 300 SLE patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2017 at Kocaeli University Rheumatology Clinic. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, immunological profiles, treatment approaches, disease-related damage, and survival information were collected.

Results

The study population had a significant female predominance (89%) with a mean age of disease onset of 35.4 (SD:13.3) years. Hematological (72.6%) and mucocutaneous (72%) manifestations were the most common clinical findings, followed by arthritis (66.3%). Females had higher frequency of photosensitivity (p = 0.019), malar rash (p < 0.001), and alopecia (p = 0.014). Anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected in 61.6% of patients, while 57% of patients had hypocomplementemia. Secondary antiphospholipid syndrome was observed in 15.3% of patients; the most common manifestations included deep venous thrombosis (32.6%) and cerebrovascular accidents (30.4%). Lupus Nephritis (LN) affected 40.3% of the cohort. The most common pathologic finding was Class IV LN (30.5%). Eventually, 13 (4.3%) patients developed chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 4 had renal replacement therapies. Patients with LN had higher usage of pulse steroids, azathioprin, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (p < 0.001 for each).  In the juvenile-onset group (n = 31, 10.3%), an increased occurrence of malar rash (p = 0.009), nephritis (p = 0.034), hypocomplementemia (p = 0.001), positive anti-dsDNA (p = 0.007), anti-Sm (p = 0.046), anti-rib-P (p = 0.014) antibodies were observed. At least one damage parameter was observed in 32.6% patients with musculoskeletal manifestations being the most common. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with various malignancies, with cervical cancer being the most common (4 cases). The total 5 and 10-year survival rates were 92.5% and 86.7%, respectively. However, patients with CKD, had lower survival rates; 75% at 3 years and 60% at 15 years. Regression analysis demonstrated an association of CKD and  history of infections with decreased survival (p = 0.02, each).

Conclusion

Ethnicity and geography influence the clinical diversity of SLE. Recognizing these disparities is crucial for tailoring patient care. Future inception cohort studies in Turkish SLE patients are necessary to address the limitations of retrospective research.
Red Blood Cell Transfusion Practice Pattern Before and After Implementation of a Local Restrictive Transfusion Protocol in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Chartrand Lily , Zabeid Alexandra , Lacroix Jacques , Villeneuve Andréanne
Published: January 2024

Background

A restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion guideline was established in 2019 in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), suggesting a hemoglobin concentration threshold of 7 g/dL.

Objectives

(a) To determine its impact on the number of RBC transfusions and donor exposure; (b) to characterize RBC-transfusion determinants and justifications.

Study Design

Single-center retrospective historical control study comparing all neonates consecutively admitted to the NICU during two five-month periods: 401 patients in 2013 before and 402 patients in 2021 after restrictive guideline implementation. Possible determinants were assessed via logistic regressions and justifications via a questionnaire.

Results

In 2021, 9.2% of neonates received at least one RBC transfusion compared to 13.5% in 2013 ( p = .075). Adherence to protocol thresholds was 50%. Implementation of a restrictive transfusion protocol had some impact on determinants related to neonatal morbidity and illness severity and some impact on justifications being mainly based on hemoglobin value.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that the implementation of a restrictive RBC transfusion protocol tended to decrease transfusion rates and donor exposure in the NICU, but the trend was not statistically significant. Future work should focus on improving protocol adherence.
Building Optimism Through Inspirational YouTube Videos During the Pandemic: An Empirical Examination
Authors: Luik Jandy E. , Bisono Indriati Njoto , Aritonang Agusly Irawan
Published: January 2024

This article presents the results of content categorisation and measurement of the effects of YouTube videos released publicly by commercial entities during the pandemic. The videos in question contain inspirational content concerning prosocial behaviour in response to COVID-19 and are released through the big companies’ official YouTube accounts. In the first study, the authors analysed the content of videos from various companies. While the videos encompassed different presentations of actions taken and messages expressing optimism, those that conveyed empathetic communication and human values were predominantly featured. We categorised the findings into action-oriented, human values–oriented and empathic-oriented content for the selection of videos in the subsequent study. In the subsequent experimental study, aimed at understanding the effects, we asked participants to watch and evaluate the videos selected from the initial study. The results demonstrated that empathic-oriented content had the highest impact on individuals, leading to increases in five measures of inspiration: aspiring to become a better person, engaging in acts of kindness towards others, seeking what truly matters in life, striving to live a more fulfilling life and aligning personal goals.
Does Competition Spur Innovation in North Africa? Evidence from a Panel ARDL Approach
Authors: Gani Walid
Published: January 2024

The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area at the beginning of 2021 provides new opportunities for North African countries to boost their economies. To conquer this vast market, innovation has become an ineluctable need. Although competition policy may serve as a salient lever for enhancing innovation, it is still not well harnessed by North African economies, even though they have one of the oldest competition law regimes on the African continent. For this purpose, this article attempts to explore the relationship between competition and innovation in four North African countries from 1995 to 2019. The second generation of panel unit root and cointegration tests have been used in our study. Based on the estimations of the panel autoregressive distributed lag model, our findings show that competition positively impacts innovation in the long run. Furthermore, our empirical results demonstrate that innovation is positively affected by economic growth and financial development while negatively affected by human capital and trade openness in the long run. The causality analysis reveals a unidirectional causal relationship running from competition to innovation.

JEL Classification

C32, C33, K21, O30
Grandmasters, distinct elite: Taste submitted to discussion from the social conditioning factors of the predilection for chess
Authors: Januário Jéssica dos Anjos , Giglio Sérgio Settani , Amaral Sílvia Cristina Franco
Published: January 2024

This study analyzes the relations between the social conditioning factors and the taste for the cultural practice of chess manifested in the discourses of the grandmasters who compose its elite in the Brazilian contemporary context. The theoretical and methodological framework of Pierre Bourdieu was used. For the research method, retrospective semi-structured interviews were carried out personally with each Brazilian chess grandmaster. Thematic Analysis was assigned for the qualitative treatment of the data. The result originated the axis ‘Grandmasters, distinct elite: the naturalness of the cultivation of taste by legitimate heirs’, which mainly analyzes the favoured family origin of these agents and how this affected the success of their high-performance trajectories in this sport. It is concluded that the mechanism of the family cultural heritage acted in the production of a dilettantish taste and lifestyle in relation to chess, characterizing a distanced, liberated and detached attitude towards the practice. This condition is disseminated by its elite and does not include all people who, in Brazil, have different family origins and deal with it from an unequal distribution of opportunities in relation to the practice of this sport.
A Systemic Perspective to Realizing and Improving Quality of Education in Schools
Authors: Garira Elizabeth
Published: January 2024

Poor education quality leads to student failure. Improving education quality requires an interdisciplinary approach from various stakeholders with skills to develop educational interventions. Training education personnel in quality improvement processes without buy-in from systems theory is unlikely to be successful. We examine how systems theory helps in education quality realization. An analysis of education levels and their roles in the attainment of education quality is done. This discussion leads to a conclusion of the need for an effective interdisciplinary systemic perspective to realize education quality. The study recommends education systems to apply systems theory to understand educational issues for improvement purposes.
Reader Response Approach for Enhancing Literary Comprehension in an EFL Context
Authors: Bist Resham Bahadur , Kandel Rajan Kumar
Published: January 2024

This article examines the impact of Reader Response Approach (RRA) on learners’ autonomy in interpreting literary texts in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes. The research involved graduate-level students and teachers from two public universities of Nepal, through Participatory Action Research (PAR). Data were gathered from two Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), twelve classroom observations, and two Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), involving a total of 54 participants. The analysis, based on the principles of socio-constructivism, revealed that RRA-based classes provided students with greater freedom and ample opportunities to engage in discussions on literary texts, connecting them to their personal beliefs and values by fostering their active participation.
Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Kinase is a Common Convergent Pathway to Renal Neoplasia: A Contemporary Review
Authors: Alruwaii Zainab I. , Williamson Sean R. , Al-Obaidy Khaleel I.
Published: January 2024

Mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) is a member of the phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxide kinase (PI3 K)-related protein kinase family that functions as a central regulator of cell growth, metabolism, proliferation, and survival. The role of the TSC-mTOR signaling pathway in kidney tumors has been implicated in some hamartoma syndromes; however, with the advent and wide utilization of molecular studies, a growing number of kidney tumors have been linked to somatic or germline mutations involving genes that encode for this pathway, including eosinophilic solid and cystic renal cell carcinoma, low-grade oncocytic tumor, eosinophilic vacuolated tumor, renal cell carcinoma with fibromyomatous stroma and angiomyolipoma, among others. Herein, we review the contemporary developments of mTOR pathway-related renal neoplasia, focusing on the clinicopathologic features of the tumor entities.
Wavelet packet decomposition with motif patterns for rolling bearing fault diagnosis under variable working loads
Authors: Wang Qiang , Xu Feiyun , Ma Tianchi
Published: January 2024

Bearing intelligent diagnosis based on signal processing has been a hot research topic. However, due to the different data distribution caused by the variable working loads, the model learned from source domain has poor performance in target domain. To solve this problem, a feature extraction method named Wavelet Packet Decomposition with Motif Patterns (WPDMP) is proposed. Firstly, multiscale signals are obtained using wavelet packet decomposition; then, the MP features of these multiscale signals and the original signal are extracted; finally, these MPs are combined as input vector of support vector classification (SVC) for fault identification. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has extraordinary superiority for unlabeled target domain fault diagnosis. In addition, the feature visualization results show that the proposed model can extract domain invariant features, so the proposed model has considerable research prospects.
Self-compassion and parenting efficacy among mothers who are breast cancer survivors: Implications for psychological distress
Authors: Kuswanto Carissa Nadia , Stafford Lesley , Schofield Penelope , Sharp Jessica
Published: January 2024

Mothers who are breast cancer survivors may experience psychological distress in relation to diminished parenting efficacy. Self-compassion may protect mothers from psychological distress, yet little is known about self-compassion in this population. The extent to which self-warmth (self-kindness, mindfulness and sense of common humanity) and self-coldness (self-judgement, isolation and over-identification) dimensions of self-compassion moderate parenting efficacy in predicting depression, anxiety and stress was examined in a sample of 95 mothers who were breast cancer survivors. Independently, poorer parenting efficacy was associated with more depression and stress symptoms. Within regression models, self-coldness was a direct predictor of depression, anxiety and stress, while self-warmth moderated the relationship between parenting efficacy and stress. Self-warmth presents as a potential protective factor for stress associated with poor parenting efficacy, while self-coldness is a potential direct risk factor for psychological distress. Mothers who are breast cancer survivors may benefit from self-compassion focused psychosocial interventions.
An experimental investigation of the effect of carbon nanotubes addition and shot peening process on the ballistic limit of fiber-metal laminates
Authors: Rahmani Kamran , Alitavoli Majid
Published: January 2024

The present research has experimentally investigated the effect of adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and shot peening operations on the ballistic behavior of fiber-metal laminates (FMLs). The unreinforced and reinforced FMLs with 0.2 wt.%, 0.4 wt.%, and 0.6 wt.%. of MWCNTs were manufactured by hand lay-up method and subjected to shot peening operations. Finally, the specimens were exposed to the ballistic impact test using a cylindrical projectile with a conical head. The best result was obtained for 0.4 wt.% of MWCNTs, in which the ballistic limit and absorbed energy increased by 6.80% and 13.75% for non-shotted and by 8.50% and 17.45% for shotted samples, respectively. This demonstrates the positive effect of shot peening in increasing the ballistic limit through a combination of work hardening and compressive residual stresses in the aluminum layers. However, mechanical performance decreased in samples containing 0.6 wt.% of MWCNTs due to nanoparticle agglomeration. The fracture surfaces of the samples were also analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, and the results indicated an improvement in the adhesion properties at the interface between the fibers and matrix in the reinforced samples, achieved through mechanisms such as crack bridging and MWCNTs pull-out.
A Question of Age? Applying Desistance With Children
Authors: Wigzell Alexandra , Bateman Tim
Published: January 2024

Youth justice in England and Wales has seen the increasing adoption of desistance thinking in recent years. There has been scarce academic debate of this development, despite the desistance evidence base focussing on adult pathways away from crime. This article examines the theorisation and application of desistance thinking with children, centring on the experiences and narratives of four ‘groups’ involved in the formal youth justice system in England and Wales, across two empirical studies. It challenges previous scholarship that denies the relevance of desistance theories to under-18s, arguing for progressive desistance practice that prioritises children’s healthy long-term development.
Meritocracy, meritocratic education, and equality of opportunity
Authors: Napoletano Toby
Published: January 2024

There are two ways, broadly speaking, that one might conceive of meritocratic education. On a standard, ‘narrow’ conception, a meritocratic approach to education is one which distributes certain educational goods and opportunities according to merit. On a second, ‘broader’ conception, however, meritocratic education is an educational system suited to a commitment to meritocracy – where ‘meritocracy’ refers to a particular conception of distributive justice. In this article, I argue that these two conceptions are incompatible with each other, and so the standard ‘narrow’ conception of meritocratic education is, in fact, incompatible with a commitment to meritocracy, at least given the typical way of understanding meritocracy. Of particular importance is that while meritocracy, as a view of distributive justice, requires a commitment to equality of opportunity principles, the narrowly meritocratic conception of education does not. The reason has to do with differences in the underlying justifications of the merit-based principles in each: Meritocracy appeals to moral desert, while the educational desert that is grounded by one’s merits is best thought of as a kind of institutional desert. Thus, I will argue, while meritocracy (and so the broad conception of meritocratic education) is constrained by a fair equality of opportunity requirement, narrowly meritocratic education is not. Recognizing the relationships between meritocracy, meritocratic education, and equality of opportunity, I argue, sheds considerable light on disagreements in the debate over equality of opportunity in education.
Challenges of integration of immigrant students into Slovenian primary schools—Perspectives of teachers and other professionals
Authors: Pucelj Maja , Zoran Annmarie Gorenc
Published: January 2024

The primary school sector, where educational and socialization activities occur, is the first and most important sector for integrating migrant students into a new environment. Nevertheless, the 2019 Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) for Slovenia concludes that while Slovenian integration policies provide equality on a legal or theoretical level, they do not fully integrate immigrants into society. Therefore, this research has answered the main research question with a methodologically empirical analysis based on semi-structured interviews with teachers or other professionals in selected primary schools. The study examines the integration of immigrant students into Slovenian primary education, specifically within the pedagogical framework. It explores the challenges encountered by pedagogical and professional staff in this context, as well as the experiences of immigrant students and the overall classroom community throughout the educational process, as reported by the interviewees.
Ethnic studies programs in America: Exploring the past to understand today’s debates
Authors: Morgan Hani
Published: January 2024

The debates that involve banning critical race theory and implementing ethnic studies programs have recently surged. But this is not the first time that controversy about ethnic studies programs and other efforts to promote equity has led to dissension. In the 1960s, similar discord led to violence. Today, right-wing activists are making efforts to prevent ethnic studies programs from being implemented. Many educators and historians, however, are expressing the need to teach the accurate histories of racial and ethnic minority groups at educational institutions. In this article, I argue that today’s resistance to implementing ethnic studies programs is a continuation of the opposition that occurred in the 1960s against this trend and the other efforts that were designed to promote equity. In contrast to the idea that ethnic studies programs contribute to divisiveness, I argue that they offer a better way of teaching students in a country that has become more racially diverse. I retell what happened during the Freedom Summer of 1964 and the strikes at Columbia University and San Francisco State College to offer a perspective that is often neglected when authors describe the movement to ban critical race theory.
Unraveling the effects of preform structures on the microstructure, electromagnetic shielding properties, and thermal conductivity of 3D orthogonal C/C composites
Authors: Zhang Yiming , Yu Mingming , Fang Lin , Zhang Liying , Xie Wang , Ren Musu , Ma Pibo , Sun Jinliang
Published: January 2024

To expand the application of C/C composites in the field of 5G satellite, this paper explores the influence of different preform structures on the mechanical properties, EMI shielding properties, and thermal conductivity of C/C composites. Three common 3D fabric preform structures with different weaving parameters are designed. The pore evolution process of different samples was analyzed by image recognition processing method and pore partition method. The findings indicate that the 3D Fine weave pierced structure leads to higher graphitization degree. 3D orthogonal woven structure results in a higher compression strength of up to 240 MPa. Furthermore, the molding method of 3D orthogonal woven structure exhibits superior EMI SE and thermal conductivity. The EMI shielding mode of C/C composites is the coexistence of absorption and reflection. And excellent texture and a high fiber volume fraction are beneficial to improve thermal conductivity. In conclusion, 3D orthogonal woven structure is more suitable for producing C/C composites with high strength, superior EMI shielding, and enhanced thermal conductivity compared to 3D Fine weave pierced structure. This study reveals a new control method of high-performance materials for 5G satellites.
Assessing the Impact of a 1.5 T Transverse Magnetic Field in Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer Patients
Authors: Li Yukun , Li Baosheng , Zhu Jian , Yin Yong , Li Zhenjiang
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiotherapy enables visualization of static anatomy, capturing tumor motion, and extracting quantitative image features for treatment verification and outcome monitoring. However, magnetic fields in online MR imaging (MRI) require efforts to ensure accurate dose measurements. This study aimed to assess the dosimetric impact of a 1.5 T magnetic field in esophageal cancer radiotherapy using MR-linac, exploring treatment adaptation potential and personalized medicine benefits. Methods: A prospective cohort study enrolled 100 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing 4DCT and 3DCT scans before radiotherapy. The heart was contoured on 3DCT, 4DCT end expiration (EE), and 4DCT end inhalation (EI) images by the same radiation oncologist. Reference RT plans were designed on 3DCT, with adjustments for different phases generating 5 plan types per patient. Variations in dose-volume parameters for organs at risk and the target area among different plans were compared using Monaco 5.40.04. Results: Slight dose distortions at air-tissue interfaces were observed in the magnetic field's presence. Dose at air-tissue interfaces (chest wall and heart wall) was slightly higher in some patients (3.0% tissue increased by 4.3 Gy on average) compared to nonmagnetic conditions. Average clinical target volume coverage V100 dropped from 99% to 95% compared to reference plans (planEI and planEE). Dose-volume histogram variation between the original plan and reference plans was within 2.3%. Superior–inferior (SI) direction displacement was significantly larger than lateral and anterior–posterior directions ( P < .05). Conclusion: Significant SI direction shift in lower esophageal cancerous regions during RT indicates the magnetic field's dosimetric impact, including the electron return effect at tissue-air boundaries. Changes in OAR dose could serve as valuable indicators of organ impairment and target dose alterations, especially for cardiac tissue when using the 1.5 T linac method. Reoptimizing the plan with the magnetic field enhances the feasibility of achieving a clinically acceptable treatment plan for esophageal cancer patients.
Hiding in Plain Sight—Neighborhood Versus Individual Determinants of Psychological Outcomes in Patients With Epilepsy
Authors: Terman Samuel W.
Published: January 2024

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Intraosseous Nontraumatic Median Nerve Entrapment at the Elbow: A Case Report
Authors: Teodonno Francesca , Maffeis Jacopo , Latini Francesca , Chevrier Benedicte , Teboul Frédéric
Published: January 2024

Intraosseous median nerve entrapment at the level of the elbow can occur after a traumatic event such as fracture and/or dislocation of the elbow. It is considered a rare and severe entity. We present a rare case of nontraumatic median nerve entrapment inside the distal humerus. No article about atraumatic intraosseous entrapment was encountered in literature.
A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research in Hand Surgery
Authors: Hircock Caroline , Lin Xue-Wei , Lansang Rafael P. , Leveille Cameron F. , Gallo Lucas , Thoma Achilles
Published: January 2024

No formal review of qualitative research in hand surgery has been previously performed. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the reporting quality of hand surgery qualitative research with the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR), a 21-item checklist. The secondary objectives were to describe qualitative research in hand surgery by domain, determine differences in reporting quality based on use of a reporting guideline, publication of SRQR and journal of publication, and to identify important outcomes in hand surgery conditions. Fifty-five studies were included from MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Emcare. The median SRQR score was 16. The lowest reported sections were context, data collection methods, and data analysis. Qualitative research was found in multiple domains of hand surgery. There was a significant difference between papers that used a reporting guideline and studies published after the publication of the SRQR. Clinical/medical/basic science journals had the highest median SRQR score. Outcomes identified were pain for carpal tunnel syndrome and pain, function, unintentional harm, recurrence, and recovery time for Dupuytren disease. To further improve reporting quality in hand surgery qualitative research, we recommend that investigators ensure they provide rationale for their methodology and become familiar with the SRQR guidelines.
Endovascular thrombectomy for posterior cerebral artery strokes in the national inpatient sample (EaT PeCANpIeS) study
Authors: Brake Aaron , Fry Lane , Heskett Cody , Alkiswani Abdul-Rahman , LeBeau Gabriel , De Stefano Frank , Lei Catherine , Le Kevin , Rouse Adam G , Peterson Jeremy , Ebersole Koji
Published: January 2024

Background

Posterior cerebral arteries with acute ischemic strokes (PCA-AISs) comprise around 2% of all acute ischemic strokes and may result in significant long-term deficits. Current guidance regarding endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for PCA-AIS is insufficient as no published randomized trials exist.

Methods

An analysis of the National Inpatient Sample database compared medical management versus EVT for PCA-AIS. Propensity score matching was applied to adjust for nonrandomization.

Results

The study included 19,655 patients. Before matching, the EVT cohort had significantly higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (10.21 vs. 4.67, p < 0.001), had lower rates of favorable functional outcomes, functional independence, and higher rates of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and inpatient mortality. After matching, no differences in functional outcomes were identified, but revealed a higher proportion of ICH in the EVT group (17.45% vs. 8.98%, p < 0.001). However, NIHSS subgroup analysis identified improved functional outcomes associated with the EVT group who presented with an NIHSS between 10 and 19 both in terms of rates of favorable functional outcomes (35.56% vs. 12.09%, p < 0.001) and rates of functional independence (26.67% vs. 9.34%, p < 0.01). On further investigation, the clinical benefit, in the NIHSS 10-19 subgroup, was driven by patients receiving EVT in combination with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).

Conclusions

This analysis shows that current national practices utilize EVT for more severe PCA strokes. Clinical benefit was only detected in patients with moderate stroke severity (NIHSS 10-19) who were treated with combined EVT and IVT. Further work is needed to investigate the features of PCA-AIS that might benefit from EVT the most.
Overestimation of ischemic core on baseline MRI in acute stroke
Authors: McArthur MA , Tavakkol E , Bahr-Hosseini M , Jahan R , Duckwiler GR , Saver JL , Liebeskind DS , Nael K
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose

In patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), overestimation of ischemic core on MRI-DWI has been described primarily in regions with milder reduced diffusion. We aimed to assess the possibility of ischemic core overestimation on pretreatment MRI despite using more restricted reduced diffusion (apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ≤620 × 10−6 mm2/s) in AIS patients with successful reperfusion.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective single institutional study, AIS patients who had pretreatment MRI underwent successful reperfusion and had follow-up MRI to determine the final infarct volume were reviewed. Pretreatment ischemic core and final infarction volumes were calculated. Ghost core was defined as overestimation of final infarct volume by baseline MRI of >10 mL. Baseline clinical, demographic, and treatment-related factors in this cohort were reviewed.

Results

A total of 6/156 (3.8%) patients had overestimated ischemic core volume on baseline MRI, with mean overestimation of 65.6 mL. Three out of six patients had pretreatment ischemic core estimation of >70 mL, while the final infarct volume was <70 mL. All six patients had last known well-to-imaging <120 min, median (IQR): 65 (53–81) minutes.

Conclusions

Overestimation of ischemic core, known as ghost core, is rare using severe ADC threshold (≤620 × 10−6 mm2/s), but it does occur in nearly 1 of every 25 patients, confined to hyperacute patients imaged within 120 min of symptom onset. Awareness of this phenomenon carries implications for treatment and trial enrollment.