bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel anion exchange membrane comprised of three aromatic units for fuel cells
Authors: Zheng Shanchang , Huang Yue , Hua Yani , Gao Zhan
Published: January 2024

Anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) has made great progress recently due to the continuous improvement of anion exchange membrane (AEM). Aryl ether bond-free membranes are considered to be promising for improving the overall performance of AEMs. Here, we present a copolymer consisting of m-terphenyl, diphenyl ethane and biphenyl (PMDBP) to further enhance the microphase separation structure by introducing a third structural unit, biphenyl. Meanwhile, the more compact biphenyl structure enhances the mechanical strength of AEMs. Specifically, PMDBP AEMs possess superior OH- conductivity (up to 113 mS cm−1) and excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength up to 42 MPa). Furthermore, the PMDBP has an outstanding single-cell performance with a peak power density (PPD) of up to 95 mW cm−2 with a platinum-carbon (Pt/C) catalyst at 80°C in H2-air. In addition, PMDBP is provided with excellent durability, including NMR spectral consistency and over 90% ion conductivity retention in 1 M NaOH at 60°C for 720 h. This study provided a copolymer structure suitable for anion exchange membrane that can provide excellent performance for fuel cells and electrolyzers.
Diesel engine quality abnormal patterns recognition based on feature fusion and adaptive decision fusion
Authors: Wang Duan-Yan , Wang Zhan , Zhang Sheng-Wen , Cheng De-Jun
Published: January 2024

The current assembly process of marine diesel engines is low in intelligence and the control chart pattern classifier with unstable performance, which makes it difficult to control and identify the quality control chart pattern. This paper proposes a new assembly quality control diagram recognition method based on an adaptive decision model to address these problems. Through characteristics and changes of the diesel engine assembly process analyses, the triangular norm is used to fuse the extracted shape features and statistical features to reduce the influence of data fluctuation and imbalance on pattern recognition. An adaptive decision fusion model of the assembly process is established by defining multiple weights with considering the complexity and uncontrollability of the diesel engine assembly process. Based on these, the fusion coefficients within the adaptive decision model are optimized by the Ant Lion Optimization algorithm (ALO) to improve the decision efficiency and classification precision. To validate the proposed model, diesel engine exhaust pressure is selected as a case for abnormal pattern recognition, and the ability of the model is discussed in terms of recognition accuracy and stability.
Experimental study on electrical discharge machining of porous and pure 316L stainless steel
Authors: Duan Liuyang , Hu Meng , Kun Liu , He Wenbin , Du Jinguang
Published: January 2024

Porous metal materials are widely used in heat-absorbing, biomedical parts and other fields because of their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Further applications of porous metal materials are inseparable from secondary precision machining. However, traditional cutting methods tend to compromise the original porosity of the material surface. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a type of non-conventional machining method which is more preferable to overcome these defects. In the present study, the main target is to investigate the effect of four input electrical machining parameters (current, frequency, efficiency and gap voltage) on the five output responses (material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear, surface roughness (SR), noise and time consumption value of environmental particulate matter (PM2.5)) when electrical discharge machining porous 316L stainless steel and compared with that of pure 316L stainless steel. The Taguchi method was employed to determine the relationship between electrical discharge machining parameters and output responses. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the effect of input parameters on output responses. The effects of electrical machining parameters on above responses were analyzed by main effects, and the order of influence was obtained, respectively. Finally, the surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the effect of electrical machining parameters on the characteristics and formation of machined surface of porous stainless steel was mainly analyzed.
Dynamic modeling of spur gear system considering the coupling effect between bearing deflection and gear mesh stiffness
Authors: Xu Zhiliang , Yu Wennian , Xu Huachao , Li JinJin
Published: January 2024

Bearing deflection has a direct impact on the mesh condition of gear systems via the center distance of the gear pair and corner contact. These factors need to be considered to accurately model the time-varying mesh stiffness and dynamic responses of gears. To address this issue, a spatial coordinate conversion is used to obtain the instantaneous spatial position of the gear pair under the bearing deflection. The tooth pair separation distance is derived through the geometric relationship analysis to model the corner contact effect. A dynamic model is established which employs a step-to-step time integration algorithm that considers the coupling effect between bearing deflection and time-varying mesh stiffness to obtain the dynamic response of the spur gear system. The simulation results of the proposed model show good agreement with the experimental results which demonstrate that the proposed model enables a proper analysis of the influence of bearing deflection on gear mesh behavior. This study provides an original dynamic model for analyzing the dynamic performance of the gear system considering the influence of bearing deflection.
Effect of different ceramic fillers filled with GF/PTFE on the tensile and compressive properties of the composites
Authors: Yang Guang-hui , Ji Xin
Published: January 2024

In this article, six ceramic-filled glass fiber (GF)/PTFE-based composites were fabricated using 15 wt.% mass fraction GF and 80 wt.% PTFE as matrix materials and 5 wt.% mass fraction ceramic materials such as Al2O3, MoS2, TiO2, BaSO4, hollow glass beads (HGB), and solid glass beads (SGB) as filler materials, respectively, at 44 MPa molding pressure and sintering temperature of 370°C. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and compressive strength at room temperature and 250°C were investigated for six composites. Finally, the surface morphology of the composites was characterized using the ultradeep field electron microscope. The results show that MoS2 has the best synergistic strengthening effect with GF in PTFE matrix, but the toughening effect is less obvious, so MoS2/GF/PTFE exhibits the maximum hardness (66) and tensile strength (18.16 MPa) and the minimum elongation at break (94.72%), while HGB/GF/PTFE composites exhibit the minimum hardness (61) and tensile strength (15.04 MPa) and the maximum elongation at break (360.36%). In addition, the MoS2/GF/PTFE exhibited the maximum compressive strength (9.29 MPa) at 250°C, but then the SGB/GF/PTFE composite exhibited the maximum compressive strength (24.28) at room temperature. A comprehensive analysis of the modification mechanism shows that the type, morphology, particle size, strength, and interfacial bonding with the PTFE matrix of the ceramic filler all influence the filling effect of the composite.
3D-printed honeycomb structure filled with nanofillers for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding performance
Authors: Subramanian Jeyanthi , Selvaraj Vinoth Kumar , Saxena Kuldeep K , Jayamani Elammaran , Singh Rohan , Prakash Chander , Buddhi Dharam
Published: January 2024

The novelty of this research aims to fabricate effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials to prevent electrical components from EMI. In this work, Solidworks was used to design a honeycomb structure with different distances between parallel edges of the structure. All honeycomb structures were manufactured using Creality Ender-3, a 3D printer. The holes of the structure were filled with plasticine/carbon black/aluminum powder. SEM and FTIR tests were used to showcase the presence of nanofillers in the plasticine. The Central Composite design, a response surface methodology method, has been used to design and analyze the EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) experiments. Mathematical models have been developed using the EMI SE results to predict the outcomes and verify them with error estimation. By incorporating the carbon black/aluminum/plasticine composite into the 3D-printed honeycomb structures, the honeycomb structure with a thickness of 6 mm shows a considerably high total EMI SE of 23.8 dB in the 8–12 GHz frequency range. According to the results of an optimization study, 1.5 wt.% of carbon black, 0.5 wt.% of aluminum powder, and a 4-mm distance between parallel edges are the optimal parameters for achieving the highest total EMI SE. Overall, the results show a 3D-printed honeycomb structure filled with nanofillers is a fantastic material employed in various fields, including defense and aviation, where lighter weight and EMI SE properties are critical.
Multi-material additive manufacturing via fused deposition modeling 3D printing: A systematic review on the material feeding mechanism
Authors: Wang Zhaogui , Wang Lihan , Tang Feng , Chen Jingdong
Published: January 2024

The rapid advancements in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing methods have unlocked new opportunities in multi-material additive manufacturing (AM). This technique offers a viable solution for creating high-performance, multi-functional graded materials, parts, and tooling. Despite the extensive efforts invested in exploring the potential of the FDM-type multi-material additive approach, there is a noticeable lack of discussion specifically centered around the material feeding mechanism of this extrusion-based 3D printing method. This work provides a systematic review on the current studies related to the multi-material FDM 3D printing. It is found that the interlayer adhesion quality of different feedstock materials is a first and foremost feature in determining the strength of the entire print. To this end, we particularly focus on analyzing the feeding system of multiple materials and the strategy for material alternation. From our analytical evaluations, it is noticed that the single-nozzle/multi-feed and multi-nozzle/multi-feed FDM printers present unique pros. and cons., respectively. Inspired by multi-material applications of direct ink writing extrusion-based 3D printing, we also suggest to choose a suitable method based on the material rheology and thermal properties of the constituent materials. This can be a chance to gain further benefits from the multi-material AM.
Measurement of additively manufactured part dimensions using OpenCV for process monitoring
Authors: Castro Pradeep , Pathinettampadian Gurusamy , Thanigainathan Sarankumar , Prabakar Vignesh , Krishnan Rahul Anandha , Subramaniyan Mohan Kumar
Published: January 2024

Dimensional accuracies are affected due to various factors which include warping, ambient temperature, material properties, etc. In-situ process monitoring and controlling in additive manufacturing is one of the ways to reduce defects in three-dimensional (3D) printed parts through continuous monitoring and correcting the process parameters. By considering the dimensions of a printed part, the part is usually inspected after completing the printing process. In this study, a new method for determining dimensional values of fused deposition modeling printed parts during the printing process is proposed using the Open-source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV). This method of determining the dimensions of a part would be useful for a user to verify the dimensions of the part being built at various stages. This could ensure the dimensional accuracy of the part is constant throughout the printing. By adopting this method to measure the dimensions, prevents wastage of material with poor dimensional accuracy and saves time by producing only accurate parts.
Prevalence, risk factors and genotyping of chlamydia trachomatis from endocervical specimens of infertile women at a tertiary care hospital, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hoa , Do Ngoc Anh , Nguyen Le Van , Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh , Hoang Thi Yen , Hoang Canh Dinh , Tran Quang Phuc , Vu Van Du
Published: January 2024

Background

To our knowledge, the prevalence, risk factors and distribution of C. trachomatis genotypes are rarely mentioned in Vietnam. This study aimed to find the prevalence, risk factors and distribution of C. trachomatis genotypes in infertile Vietnamese women.

Methods

Endocervical swabs were collected from infertile women at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vietnam, between January 2020 and December 2021. All samples were analyzed for C. trachomatis presence by Cobas 4800 CT/NG Test. Sequencing methods of ompA gene were used to determine the C. trachomatis genotypes. An approximately 1200 bp ompA fragment was aligned with reference sequences from GenBank to identify the corresponding genotype.

Results

The prevalence of endocervical C. trachomatis infection was 15.6% of 761 participants. Factors independently associated with CT infection among infertile women, obtained by multivariate analysis, included abnormal vaginal discharge, cervicitis, lower abdominal pain, a history of ectopic pregnancy, having more than one sex partner, and age at first intercourse. Among the samples, genotype E (25.93%) was most frequently found, followed by genotypes D/Da (22.23%), F (13.58%), G/Ga (12.35%), J (12.35%), H (6.17%), K (3.70%), B/Ba (2.47%), and I/Ia (1.23%), respectively. Genotype F was related to types of infertility, and genotype H was associated with a history of miscarriage.

Conclusions

The present study indicated a high prevalence of C. trachomatis in infertile Vietnamese women. The most common genotypes found in this population were E, D, and F. Our findings suggest that routine screening is necessary for early detection and performance of infection control methods.
Role of eco-innovation and financial globalization on ecological quality in China: A wavelet analysis
Authors: Zhang Huiwen , Khan Khatib Ahmad , Eweade Babatunde Sunday , Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday
Published: January 2024

Today, pressing environmental concerns such as addressing climate change and countering global warming have taken center stage among policymakers and diverse organizations. The 2016 Paris Agreement underscores the urgency of decarbonization and the criticality of reducing CO2 emissions for fostering sustainable development. Given that environmental policies can yield diverse impacts across short-, medium-, and long-term periods, it becomes pivotal for policymakers to grasp the underlying causes of ecological footprint by scrutinizing their effects across these different timeframes and periods. Consequently, our investigation delved into the correlation and lead/lag interrelationship between ecological footprint, financial globalization, urbanization, eco-innovation, and economic growth in China spanning from 1985q1 to 2022q4. Leveraging on series of wavelet tools, our study aimed at formulating precise policies. The economic perspective derived from the wavelet analysis indicated a negative correlation between urbanization and eco-innovation with the ecological footprint, whereas economic growth and financial globalization exhibited a positive correlation with the ecological footprint. Consequently, we advocate for the implementation of appropriate policy measures to ensure that the Chinese economy charts a course toward sustainability.
Robust state and output feedback stabilization for Lipschitz nonlinear systems in reciprocal state space: Design and real-time validation
Authors: Thabet Assem , Gasmi Noussaiba , Bel Haj Frej Ghazi
Published: January 2024

In many engineering problems, modelling the state and output derivative variables in reciprocal state space form can be generated more easily than in standard state space one. The formulation of a robust [Formula: see text] control problem using feedback principle for continuous Lipschitz nonlinear systems with uncertainties in reciprocal state space is presented in this article. In contrast to the existing approaches, the considered model is affected by unknown disturbances, parameter uncertainties and derivative Lipschitz nonlinearities. The asymptotic stability based on the proper Lyapunov functions of the closed-loop system is guaranteed. The [Formula: see text] control design resolution problem is ensured through the linear matrix inequality technique, the lemmas and the use of new variables with S-procedure. The performance of the proposed approach is shown through the experimental results using real-time implementation with a digital signal processing device (DSpace DS 1104).
T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain as a promising immune checkpoint target for the treatment of SLE
Authors: Zhao Junpeng , Li Liming , Feng Xiwei , Fan Xinyu , Yin Huiqi , Lu Qianjin
Published: January 2024

Immune checkpoints (ICs) play a pivotal role in orchestrating immune regulation, crucial for the maintenance of immune tolerance and prevention of autoimmune diseases. One noteworthy example among these immune regulators is T cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) domain (TIGIT). The TIGIT pathway’s inhibition or the absence of TIGIT has been linked to the hyperactivation and excessive proliferation of T cells, rendering individuals more susceptible to autoimmune diseases and exacerbating inflammatory responses. Conversely, the activation of TIGIT has exhibited promising outcomes in ameliorating autoimmune disorders, as observed in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Consequently, a judicious exploration of the co-inhibitory axis appears warranted for the effective management of pathogenic immune responses in SLE. In light of compelling evidence, this review undertakes a comprehensive examination of TIGIT’s characteristics within the context of autoimmunity, offering insights into its potential as a therapeutic target for SLE.
Pharmacotic wargames: Military play as ritual sacrifice
Authors: Hirst Aggie , George Larry N
Published: January 2024

This article argues that the analytic of pharmacotic war can render visible a logic of ritual sacrifice in the US military’s use of games to attract, produce, and recycle war-fighters. Identifying the ancient framing of the pharmakon – a substance or process that functions as at once drug, poison, and cure – it shows how games function paradoxically to draw in, produce, and rehabilitate military life. The article makes this case by tracing the roots of Kenneth MacLeish’s ‘churn of mobilization and demobilization’ beyond the military’s instrumental calculations of institutional self-perpetuation, showing that this churn functions according to a logic of pharmacotic sacrifice that is not incidental to, but rather built into, their routine operation. It argues that (ex-)war-fighters function as a contemporary equivalent of the ancient pharmakoi, scapegoated and sacrificed figures into whom a polis poured its guilt and dysfunction in an act of ritual purification. Though rejecting any linear genealogy or transhistorical Western way of war, it identifies powerful resonances between the ancient pharmakoi and (ex-)war-fighters today. Drawing on extensive interviews with US military gamers and veterans, the article sheds light on the growing influence of games on the attraction, production, and recycling of (ex-)war-fighters in the 21st century. At the same time, by tracing the purificatory expulsion of war-fighters, it contributes a novel theorization of the pharmacotic logic of the US military’s war-making apparatus.
The prognostic potential of mammographic growth rate of invasive breast cancer in the Nijmegen breast cancer screening cohort
Authors: Peters Jim , van Dijck Jos A.A.M. , Elias Sjoerd G. , Otten Johannes D.M. , Broeders Mireille J.M. ,   on behalf of the IMAGINE Consortium
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Insight into the aggressiveness of potential breast cancers found in screening may optimize recall decisions. Specific growth rate (SGR), measured on mammograms, may provide valuable prognostic information. This study addresses the association of SGR with prognostic factors and overall survival in patients with invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST) from a screened population.

Methods

In this historic cohort study, 293 women with NST were identified from all participants in the Nijmegen screening program (2003–2007). Information on clinicopathological factors was retrieved from patient files and follow-up on vital status through municipalities. On consecutive mammograms, tumor volumes were estimated. After comparing five growth functions, SGR was calculated using the best-fitting function. Regression and multivariable survival analyses described associations between SGR and prognostic factors as well as overall survival.

Results

Each one standard deviation increase in SGR was associated with an increase in the Nottingham prognostic index by 0.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.46]. Each one standard deviation increase in SGR increased the odds of a tumor with an unfavorable subtype (based on histologic grade and hormone receptors; odds ratio 2.14 [95% CI: 1.45–3.15]) and increased the odds of diagnosis as an interval cancer (versus screen-detected; odds ratio 1.57 [95% CI: 1.20–2.06]). After a median of 12.4 years of follow-up, 78 deaths occurred. SGR was not associated with overall survival (hazard ratio 1.12 [95% CI: 0.87–1.43]).

Conclusions

SGR may indicate prognostically relevant differences in tumor aggressiveness if serial mammograms are available. A potential association with cause-specific survival could not be determined and is of interest for future research.
The Exploration of Workplace Spirituality Research: A Scoping Review
Authors: Barik Satyajit , Nayak Tanaya
Published: January 2024

Workplace spirituality has received widespread acceptance among scholars and practitioners due to its value-laden approach in all organizations. Despite substantial efforts to unite the literature, scholarly knowledge on workplace spirituality appears scattered and incoherent. The study aims to undertake a scoping review of the existing literature on workplace spirituality to track the evolution of the concept and point out the research gaps for future studies. The sample papers for review are assembled from the SCOPUS database using a two-step manual screening procedure. This article examines 135 conceptual, review and empirical works associated with more than 50 journals published between 2000 and 2023. The main finding is that the concept of workplace spirituality is complex, with conflicting dimensions, and lacks a clear definition. Workplace spirituality is a multifaceted construct comprising individual, organizational, psychological and social variables. The assessment provides an in-depth understanding of the current state of workplace spirituality. In addition, we offer potential research gaps which will serve as a beacon of light for future workplace spirituality research.
Impact of Home-based Teleworking During Pandemic on Telecommuters’ Organizational Commitment: Interaction of Gender and Family Status
Authors: Kamarapu Suresh , Swami P. Sujendra , Chaturvedi Shakti
Published: January 2024

Organizations arrange telecommuting work conditions for their employees during unprecedented times but do not want to see employees with lower commitment levels. The present study finds how home-based teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced telecommuters’ organizational commitment. Using quantitative research techniques, the study approached 412 telecommuters working in the Indian IT sector to collect the responses to the survey questionnaire statements. A purposive sampling method was applied to select the sample. The structural equation model technique was used to test the hypothesized model. Results from the study indicate that home-based teleworking as a current working condition of the telecommuter showed a significant adverse effect on affective commitment. Organizational commitment may result in employee psychological connection with an organization, feeling obligated to stay with an organization, and perceived benefits from the organization, but when an organizational work environment shifted from a physical location to work from home, these commitments resulted in different ways. In contrast, it positively impacted telecommuters’ normative and continuance commitment. Further, the telecommuter’s gender moderates the relationship between telecommuting working conditions and normative and continuance commitment but not affective commitment. However, the telecommuter’s family status moderates the relationship between teleworking working conditions and affective and continuance commitment but not normative commitment. It is recommended that organizations that are interested in having more employee commitment during unprecedented times should induce a rich communication technology to enrich the emotional connection (affective commitment), make feel responsibility and responsible (normative commitment), and nurture the policies and structures to see employee perceive more benefits for career and professional development.
Renewable Energies in India and Mexico: Social and Territorial Issues
Authors: Beltrán Yolanda Mexicalxóchitl García
Published: January 2024

This article aims to analyse the causes and effects of the proliferation of renewable energy megaprojects in Mexico and India, delving more specifically into wind and solar power projects. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that their presence is part of a planetary phenomenon, one that caters to global environmental and economic interests but is simultaneously guided by national contexts and policies. In this context, this article uses Andreas Malm’s (2020) concept of fossil capital, drawing a close connection between the inception of capitalism, which he locates at the start of the Industrial Revolution, and the proliferation of fossil fuel use. However, in recent years, clean energies have gathered momentum and attained a certain preponderance, yet the question of what actually is the role that these energies have come to play remains. This article frames the generation of energy as a structural matter to engage with this question. It is based on qualitative methodology, drawing on information from the author’s fieldwork experiences in Mexico as well as bibliographic and hemerographic review.
The Effect of Violent Extremism on Local Conflicts and Vice Versa: Differences and Similarities among Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger
Authors: Kim Eun Kyung , Kim Kwang-Su
Published: January 2024

Research on violent extremism in Africa argues that jihadi insurgents exploit inter-ethnic cleavages and local grievances in order to recruit and gain support from the region because such political mobilisation leads to an escalation of clashes and violence among communal groups. On the other hand, local militias, especially those aided by governments, incite acts of anti-government terrorists. Using the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) data set, we explore at which duration-area level the jihadist and militia attacks affect each other’s atrocities and how the effects vary in three Francophone Sahelian countries—Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. We find that violent acts by militias (or jihadists) tend to be reactive to terrorist attacks (or militia movements) rather than happening concurrently or against one another. More specifically, violent incidents by jihadi insurgents and local militias have an aggravating effect on each other’s violent acts in sub-regional administrative units over a week at the highest rate in Mali and Burkina Faso. Further, results from a cross-country analysis suggest that homegrown factors, including terrorist group rivalry, government responses to terrorism and self-defence militias’ intentions and determination, might affect how the jihadists’ exploitation of the cleavages and the growing challenges posed by ethnic militias to the extremists exacerbate the situation.
Experiences of Amish and Old Order Mennonite Families in Providing Foster Care for Children
Authors: Harder Jeanette , Gabel Jodi , Bharwani Sara W.
Published: January 2024

This inductive, exploratory research project used thematic analysis to examine the experiences of Amish and Old Order Mennonite (Plain Anabaptist) foster parents in providing foster care to mainstream (non-Plain) children, including factors related to children’s trauma and disabilities, discipline, and families’ perceptions of support from their communities. Through purposive and snowball sampling, researchers gathered data from 24 families in either focus groups or dyad interviews in four U.S. states. The experiences of Plain Anabaptist foster families were characterized by participants as both satisfying and challenging. Plain Anabaptist families were receptive to learning and adapting to provide foster care, especially for babies, young children, and children with disabilities. Research findings illuminate several areas in which those recruiting or working with Plain Anabaptist foster parents should be aware.
Day Camp Leadership: Women's Experiences with Gender Bias, Inequity, and Double Binds
Authors: DeVona Kiah , Weiner Jennie M.
Published: January 2024

Background: Despite representing half of approximately 1.5 million camp counsellors in the United States, women in outdoor experiential education (OEE) continually face barriers that constrain them to lead according to restrictive gendered expectations. While scholars have studied this issue across a variety of OEE contexts, summer day camps are largely absent from empirical dialogue about gender and leadership. Purpose: Presently, we explore the impact of gender stereotypes on women's experiences as leaders inside one summer day camp. Methodology/Approach: We employ a qualitative, single-case study to interview five camp professionals about their experiences with gender and leadership. Findings/Conclusions: We find the construction of leadership within the camp rewarded men's agentic behaviors and punished women who led similarly. In addition, men who showed communally-oriented leadership traits were recognized as exceptional leaders, while women lost promotions and were reprimanded for the same behaviors. This gendered construction of leadership manifested as women having inequitable access to leadership development pipelines compared to men, especially related to representation, informal mentoring, and promotion. Implications: Considering these biased constructions and their impact on women leaders, we present opportunities for organizational and systemic change within day camps.
Acceptability, Preferred Medium, and Components of Nurse-Led Cardiac Telerehabilitation: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hong Chaochao , Yan Qiong , Qi Hongmei , Zhang Yaoyao , Yu Ling , Dong Lijie , Wang Jing
Published: January 2024

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary secondary prevention care in coronary heart disease (CHD). There are barriers at the patient and health system levels that prevent CR from being utilized. Cardiac telerehabilitation led by nurses (Ne-CTR) can alleviate the obstacles to participation in CR. A patient perspective can improve CR access. This study was the first pre-program investigation to clarify the status of knowledge and participation in CTR. We sought to clarify the acceptability, the reasons for rejection, the desired form, components, and associated factors with the components needed for (Ne-CTR) in patients with CHD. The study aimed to help develop a protocol for Ne-CTR for Chinese patients with CHD. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2020 and 2021. Hospitals in four provinces in China were included. The participants were 671 patients with CHD in hospitals located in three regions of China. A self-administered questionnaire collected information about demographics, knowledge, and participation in CTR, acceptability, preferred medium, and components of Ne-CTR. Student’s t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analyzed the factors associated with component needs. All the analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Most participants ( n = 434, 66.77%) had a poor understanding and participation in CTR. In addition, 65.38% ( n = 439) of participants were willing to accept the Ne-CTR program, and 43.56% ( n = 98) identified safety as reasons for not accepting such a program. In the group accepting Ne-CTR, 35% chose hospital-designed professional applications as a medium for Ne-CTR when offered. Education (4.44 ± 1.056) and drug information (4.44 ± 1.040) had the highest average need score. Education, monthly income, marital status, previous CTR participation, and health insurance were associated with the demand level scores of Ne-CTR. This study demonstrated high levels of need for Ne-CTR among patients with CHD and identified the desired medium, components, and associated factors of Ne-CTR. These findings provide reference information for the construction of a Ne-CTR program.
Cortical Bone Thickness and Morphology at the Infrazygomatic Crest Area in Growing Thai Patients with UCLP: A CBCT Study
Authors: Phusantisampan Ploypailin , Chaiworawitkul Marasri
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To determine and compare buccal cortical bone thickness and morphology (in terms of shape and height) at the infrazygomatic (IZ) crest in growing Thai patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with the ultimate goal of identifying potential sites that are suitable for the placement of miniplates.

Design

Prospective study.

Settling

Institutional research.

Patients

Twenty-four Thai patients with non-syndromic complete UCLP with Class III skeletal discrepancy aged 10-14 years.

Interventions

A total of 48 CBCT images captured the IZ crest. Five horizontal and six vertical reference planes were established in the IZ crest area.

Main Outcome Measure

The mean buccal cortical bone thickness of the cleft and non-cleft sides were 1.13 ± 0.45 mm and 1.15 ± 0.46 mm, respectively. The most frequently observed shape for the IZ crest was the external concave contour. There were no statistically significant differences in cortical bone thickness and shape distribution between the cleft and non-cleft sides. ( P > .05).

Results

The thickness of the buccal cortical bone increased anteriorly and superiorly from V + 0 and H + 0. The average height of IZ crest on the cleft side was 16.20 ± 1.59 mm and 16.78 ± 1.84 mm on the non-cleft side. Notably, significant differences were detected in terms of height between the cleft and non-cleft side and cortical bone thickness by gender ( P < .05).

Conclusions

The IZ crest was found to provide sufficient support for the insertion of a miniplate, particularly in the superior and anterior regions, ensuring primary stability in growing Thai patients with UCLP.
Exploring the Factors Affecting Massive Open Online Course Learning in Higher Education
Authors: Huang Hao , Jew Lihjen
Published: January 2024

Massive open online course (MOOC) has been widely used as a supplementary education tool in higher education. However, MOOC efficacy was doubted for its low completion rate compared with traditional face-to-face courses. To explore the factors affecting MOOC learning in higher education, our study presents a constructivist grounded theory on the process of how college students learned MOOC. Sixteen participants from a college in China were interviewed. After analyzing the transcripts of interviews by open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, the findings indicate that college students studied MOOC because of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and enhanced motivation. MOOC learners encountered barriers of learning devices and learning locations. MOOC learning behaviors had characteristics of fragmented, unplanned, and low priority. MOOC has birth defects in learning motivation and learning environment which lead to poor learning behavior. A conceptual model was built to reflect the relationships among motivation defect, environment defect, behavior, and college. Implications are provided for college instructors and administrators to improve MOOC teaching and learning effectiveness.
School Nurses’ Experiences of Organizational Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tanner Andrea , Thompson Mary , Stanislo Kim , Crowell Nancy
Published: January 2024

School nurses encountered many workplace struggles while providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several struggles involved organizational support, including having sufficient time, resources, compensation, and school leadership support. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the experiences of school nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic as they related to sufficient time to complete COVID-related activities, sufficient COVID-19 resources, compensation, and perceived organizational (school leadership) support. We obtained data from 1,564 National Association of School Nurses members regarding respondent characteristics, school characteristics, measures of organizational support, and qualitative perceived organizational support using a 17-question survey. Perceptions of having sufficient time to complete COVID-related tasks and infringement of these tasks on routine activities were worse for those with greater years of experience and education. Compensation for additional COVID-related work was more favorable for LPNs. School leaders should be aware of their role in bolstering organizational support and its impact.
The Impact of School Closures on Childrens Stress Perception During the Covid-19 Lockdown in Germany
Authors: May Isabelle , Hörl Lena
Published: January 2024

The present study addresses the effects of school closures during the second COVID-19 lockdown in January and February 2021 on children's feelings of stress. Numerous quantitative studies have already proven the adverse effects of school closures during the first lockdown on the stress perception of children and adolescents. In contrast, the present study uses a qualitative research format to take a closer look at the personal perspectives of children during the second lockdown. Twelve telephone interviews were conducted between February 4, 2021, and February 22, 2021, to collect data on the organization of distance learning, leisure behavior, stress symptomatology, current concerns, perceptions of school under distance learning, and perceptions of school before the school closures. Data analysis demonstrated a strong influence of loneliness, classroom management, and leisure behavior on children's perceptions of stress. Furthermore, correlations were found between school closures, stress vulnerability, and stress perception.
Atrophic Kidney-Like Lesion—Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Wang Xin , Lovelace Elizabeth , Pacheco Richard R. , Pacheco Robert , Schuster Michael E. , Bernstein Adrien , Akgul Mahmut , Lightle Andrea
Published: January 2024

Atrophic kidney-like lesion (AKLL) is a rare kidney lesion, which was recently suggested by the Genitourinary Pathology Society as a provisional entity. As of now, 16 examples of AKLL have been described in the literature. Here we report a new tumor which shows similar clinicopathologic characteristics with those previously reported in AKLL. Immunohistochemical (IHC) studies in the current lesion identified a biphasic staining pattern consisting of a mixture of WT1+/KRT7-/PAX8- large dilated cysts and WT-/KRT7+/PAX8+ small atrophic cysts. Histomorphologic features of AKLL overlap with several neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities which can lead to mischaracterization. Awareness of the differentiating features is likely important when evaluating these lesions.
A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Kaposi's Sarcoma: Is There a Relationship Between Emmprin/CD147 Expression and Biological Behavior?
Authors: Yusifli Zarifa , Ismayilov Rashad , Kosemehmetoglu Kemal , Gedikoglu Gokhan
Published: January 2024

Objectives. Emmprin (CD147/BSG) protein is estimated to play a key role in cell migration and chemoresistance in viral carcinogenesis. However, there are very limited studies investigating the CD147 in the oncogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. This study aims to reveal the relationship between CD147 expression with histopathological parameters, disease pattern, and recurrence in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Methods. The study included 67 patients diagnosed with KS between January 1982 and September 2023. Clinical and histopathological features were analyzed retrospectively. HHV-8, CD31, and CD147 expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results. Sixteen (24%) female and 51 (76%) male patients with median age of 64 (10-86) were included in the study. CD147 was positive in 57 (85%) cases and associated with nodular pattern ( P = .001), presence of solid/fibrosarcomatous area ( P = .005), and high mitotic activity ( P = .035). The disease relapsed in 17 (27%) of the 63 patients with median 2 (0-12) years follow-up. While a 5-year relapse-free survival was 48.5% in the CD147 diffuse positive group, it was 83.4% in focal positive and 100% in negative cases ( P = .029). Conclusion. Our study exhibited the relationship between CD147 overexpression and recurrence in KS, but the inhomogeneity of the treatment groups and the small number of patients should also be considered. These findings may provide insight into the pathogenesis of KS and the development of targeted therapies in the future.
Always Consider Culture: Incorporating Cultural Responsiveness into Functional Communication Training
Authors: Shen Guofeng , Gershwin Tracy
Published: January 2024

Functional communication training (FCT) is an evidence-based practice that can be applied across multiple populations of students. Despite extensive research support for FCT, its use can be impractical or ineffective if utilized with students who are from culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse backgrounds. That is because cultural implications are not considered through all intervention stages. In this article, we present culturally responsive strategies across each FCT step with the intent to improve (a) the implementation of FCT in schools and (b) the behavior of students with disabilities who can benefit from this intervention.
The Student-to-Journalist Pipeline: Attitudes, Motivations, and Expressed Likelihood of Choosing a Journalism Career
Authors: Cretser-Hartenstein Jessie , Gold Gregg J. , Belt Kelli Grace
Published: January 2024

Credible journalism is a vital component of a successful democracy, but enrollment in journalism programs has been declining for years. We surveyed 288 students in 24 different majors from 14 California State University campuses to predict the likelihood of them pursuing a career in journalism. Using regression analysis, for journalism students, social justice concerns were the best predictor, for other majors, perceptions regarding fairness and accuracy of the media were the best predictors. Educators focusing on the contribution journalism makes to social justice and mitigating skepticism about the media are recommended to increase recruitment and retention of journalism majors.
Challenges to the Provision of Services for Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Nationwide Web-Based Survey
Authors: Michaelsen Sonia , Jordan Sonia Parra , Zarowsky Christina , Koski Alissa
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic increased women's vulnerability to intimate partner and sexual violence (IPV/SV), as well as challenging organizations’ ability to respond. This research is based on a 2021 nationwide survey about the impacts of COVID-19 on IPV/SV services across Canada. Nationwide, organizations adopted several measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, including scaling back services, reducing or stopping their volunteers, and reducing the number of in-shelter clients. Organizations detailed several financial challenges including increased costs and cancelation of fundraising events. Organizations also reported many staffing challenges, from increased workloads to staff leaves of absence due to childcare responsibilities, mental health reasons, or contracting COVID-19. Policies ensuring adequate financial support to IPV/SV services in nonemergency times could help minimize disruption to service delivery during crisis situations.
Defying Stereotypes, Populism, and Neoliberal Discourse: Municipal Agility and Innovation During COVID
Authors: Seker Merdan , Shearmur Richard , Beaudet Gérard
Published: January 2024

Local governments are often viewed as basic service and infrastructure providers that are neither particularly proactive nor innovative: in certain influential circles, this view has taken on the trappings of “common-sense,” and underpins the protracted undermining of public-sector organizations, a hallmark of neoliberalism. However, the COVID crisis required municipalities to act with agility and speed, belying this “common sense.” We examine 54 examples of how municipalities in Québec adapted to the pandemic. The range of adaptation and innovation that we report illustrates that local government can be flexible, agile, and innovative when necessary. Our analysis suggests that innovation is not always desired by the innovator, that the impact of a project should be distinguished from its innovativeness, and that any assessment of municipal innovativeness and its impact requires careful consideration of who it is evaluated for, who it is evaluated by, and in what context.
Concordance analysis of two databases to search for potential drug interactions in onco-hematologic patients
Authors: Moreira Pryscila Rodrigues , de Farias Leonardo Teodoro , Feitosa Amanda Ribeiro , Silva Lunara Teles , Ferreira Tatyana Xavier Almeida Matteucci , Provin Mércia Pandolfo , Amaral Rita Goreti , Modesto Ana Carolina Figueiredo
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Potential drug interactions exert a significant impact on patient safety, especially within intricate onco-hematological treatments, potentially resulting in toxicity or treatment failures. Despite the availability of databases for potential drug interaction investigation, persistent heterogeneity in concordance rates and classifications exists. The additional variability in database agreement poses further complexity, notably in critical contexts like onco-hematology.

Aim

To analyze the concordance of two databases for researching potential drug interaction in prescriptions for hematological patients at a University Hospital in the Midwest region of Brazil.

Method

Cross-sectional study developed in a Brazilian hospital. The search for potential drug interaction was conducted in Micromedex® and UpToDate®. The variables were: the presence of potential drug interaction, severity, mechanism, management, and documentation. Data was analyzed in terms of frequency (absolute and relative), Cohen's kappa, and Fleiss kappa .

Results

The presence of potential drug interaction, showed a lack of concordance between the databases ( k = −0.115 [95% CI: 0.361–0.532], p = 0.003). Regarding the mechanism, a strong agreement was observed ( k = 0.805, p < 0.001 [95% CI: 0.550–0.941]). The management concordance showed a fair agreement, 46.8% ( k = 0.22, p < 0.001 [95% CI: 0.099–0.341]). Stratifying the categories, significant concordance was observed in “Adjustment of dose + Monitoring” ( k = 0.302, p = 0.018) and “Monitoring” ( k = 0.417, p = 0.001), while other categories did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

Our study emphasizes the variability in potential drug interaction research, revealing disparities in severity classification, management recommendations, and documentation practices across databases.