bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workforce management and patient outcomes in the intensive care unit during the COVID‐19 pandemic and beyond: a discursive paper
Authors: Wynne Rochelle , Davidson Patricia M. , Duffield Christine , Jackson Debra , Ferguson Caleb
Published: June 2021

Aims

To highlight the need for the development of effective and realistic workforce strategies for critical care nurses, in both a steady state and pandemic.

Background

In acute care settings, there is an inverse relationship between nurse staffing and iatrogenesis, including mortality. Despite this, there remains a lack of consensus on how to determine safe staffing levels. Intensive care units (ICU) provide highly specialised complex healthcare treatments. In developed countries, mortality rates in the ICU setting are high and significantly varied after adjustment for diagnosis. The variability has been attributed to systems, patient and provider issues including the workload of critical care nurses.

Design

Discursive paper.

Findings

Nursing workforce is the single most influential mediating variable on ICU patient outcomes. Numerous systematic reviews have been undertaken in an effort to quantify the effect of critical care nurses on mortality and morbidity, invariably leading to the conclusion that the association is similar to that reported in acute care studies. This is a consequence of methodological limitations, inconsistent operational definitions and variability in endpoint measures. We evaluated the impact inadequate measurement has had on capturing relevant critical care data, and we argue for the need to develop effective and realistic ICU workforce measures.

Conclusion

COVID‐19 has placed an unprecedented demand on providing health care in the ICU. Mortality associated with ICU admission has been startling during the pandemic. While ICU systems have largely remained static, the context in which care is provided is profoundly dynamic and the role and impact of the critical care nurse needs to be measured accordingly. Often, nurses are passive recipients of unplanned and under‐resourced changes to workload, and this has been brought into stark visibility with the current COVID‐19 situation. Unless critical care nurses are engaged in systems management, achieving consistently optimal ICU patient outcomes will remain elusive.

Relevance to clinical practice

Objective measures commonly fail to capture the complexity of the critical care nurses’ role despite evidence to indicate that as workload increases so does risk of patient mortality, job stress and attrition. Critical care nurses must lead system change to develop and evaluate valid and reliable workforce measures.
Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on repair and receptivity of damaged endometrium in rats
Authors: Wang Guiling , Ren Chun'e , Jiang Junyi
Published: June 2021

Aim

This study was to investigate whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can repair damaged endometrium in rats and its effect on endometrial receptivity.

Methods

A rat model of endometrial damage was established by heat injury. BMSCs were labeled with PKH26 and were transplanted into the right uterine cavity. The endometrial thickness and fertility testing were examined to assess the repair of damaged endometrium. The mass on trichrome staining was used to assess the endometrium fibrosis. The expression of integrin avβ3 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in rat endometrium was used to evaluate the endometrial receptivity.

Results

After transplantation of BMSCs, the distribution of PKH26 positive cells was mainly on the damaged side in the endometrial tissues. Compared to control group, the endometrial tissue structure recovered after treatment with BMSCs. BMSCs transplantation improved the fertility of endometrial injury model rats. BMSCs decreased the area of endometrial fibrosis. The expression of integrin avβ3 and LIF in endometrium was the stronger in BMSCs treatment group than control group.

Conclusion

BMSCs can migrate to the endometrium and repair damaged endometrium and improve endometrium receptivity.
Disturbed sleep may be a core risk factor for jaw functional limitation in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders
Authors: Kim Hye Kyoung , Kim Mee Eun
Published: June 2021

Background

Pain related to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) usually affects jaw function. In patients with TMD, little is known about the biopsychosocial relevance to jaw functional limitations.

Objective

This study explored the impact of biopsychosocial risk factors on jaw functional limitation in patients with painful TMD.

Methods

A comprehensive set of patient‐reported outcomes (PROs), consisting of pain severity (Brief Pain Inventory), psychological stress (Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised), catastrophising thought (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia‐TMD), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and jaw functional limitation (Jaw Functional Limitation Scale‐20), were administered, and clinical examinations were performed in patients with TMD.

Results

This study included the data obtained from 131 patients with painful TMD. In the logistic regression analysis, biomedical factors (age, sex, pain duration and TMD phenotype) were not associated with jaw functional limitation. Correlations were higher in the order of sleep quality (ρ = 0.946), pain severity (ρ = 0.582), pain catastrophising (ρ = 0.535), kinesiophobia (ρ = 0.486) and emotional distress (ρ = 0.268). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated three predictors, including pain severity (p = .001), kinesiophobia (p = .023) and sleep quality (p < .001) for jaw functional limitation. In the mediation analysis, the indirect effect of pain severity on the association between sleep and limitation was significant (p < .0001).

Conclusion

Jaw functional limitation is associated with biopsychosocial factors. In particular, sleep may be a core risk factor for functional limitation in patients with painful TMD.
Every Intervention Emerges from an Encounter: Translation and Contextualization as Treatments for Recurrent Depression
Authors: Denig Carl , Lawrie Stephen
Published: June 2021

What is known on the subject?

Psychiatric treatment is commonly seen as not treating the whole person, but as using technical fixes for symptoms.

Both in treatment and when reading their medical files, lay people often feel personally disrespected.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge?

We suggest that some practitioners are aware of their patients as humans: They respect the service user's understandings and relationships, including the one between patient and practitioner.

Two mechanisms for bonding and building mutual respect (translation and contextualization) are described.

What are the implications for mental health nursing?

Every intervention emerges from an encounter, and therefore, talk cannot merely be instrumental but must also be an exchange.

Translation means that the service user understands the provider, and vice versa. Contextualization means that patients and practitioners interact not only in those roles, but as people with a broader history and network of relationships. Neither technical nor personal understandings are privileged, but used flexibly and as needed.
Long‐term outcomes of viral eradication in patients with hepatitis C virus infection and mild hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Kumada Takashi , Toyoda Hidenori , Yasuda Satoshi , Tada Toshifumi , Ito Takanori , Tanaka Junko
Published: June 2021

The impact of antiviral therapy on clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and mild liver fibrosis (FIB‐4 score <1.45) is not well understood. We aimed to clarify the impact of viral eradication on hepatocarcinogenesis and mortality in patients with mild fibrosis.The subjects were 657 patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) (Clearance group) and 586 patients who did not receive antiviral therapy or did not achieve SVR (No clearance group). We applied inverse probability weighting because the groups had different baseline characteristics. Multivariate proportional hazards models were used to analyse factors associated with hepatocarcinogenesis and mortality using a time‐dependent covariate. In addition, we compared the mortality rate of the Clearance group stratified by age to the mortality rate of the general population.Clearance of HCV RNA was significantly associated with hepatocarcinogenesis and all‐cause, liver‐related and non–liver‐related mortality (adjusted hazard ratios [95% confidence interval], 0.2653 [0.1147–0.6136, p = 0.0019], 0.3416 [0.2157–0.5409, p < 0.0001], 0.2474 [0.0802–0.8917, p = 0.0381] and 0.4118 [0.2449–0.6925, p = 0.0008], respectively). The Clearance group had significantly higher mortality than the general population matched by age, sex and follow‐up duration (p < 0.0001). However, there were no significant differences between patients who achieved SVR before age 50 and the general population matched by age, sex and follow‐up duration (p = 0.1570). HCV eradication in patients with mild fibrosis reduces liver‐related and non–liver‐related mortality. If HCV is eradicated before age 50, prognosis is likely be similar to that of the age‐matched and sex‐matched general population. (249 words).
Habitat conservation state and plant diversity respond to different drivers in semi‐natural grasslands
Authors: Napoleone Francesca , Giarrizzo Eleonora , Burrascano Sabina
Published: June 2021

Questions

Semi‐natural habitats are threatened by shifts in management with worrying effects on multiple facets of biodiversity. We revisited sites once representing a reference for a calcareous semi‐natural grassland habitat aiming to: (a) identify the drivers of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity, and habitat conservation state; (b) assess the role of characteristic and derived diversity in determining these patterns; and (c) discuss the possibility of reconciling the goals of habitat conservation and enhancement of different facets of plant diversity.

Location

Seven sites along the Apennines (Italy), from Mt. Catria (43.46206° N, 12.70397° E) to Mt. Alpi (40.11768° N, 15.98341° E).

Methods

For 132 revisited plots, we calculated vascular plant taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity using Hill numbers, and used boosted regression trees to investigate their response to the compositional dissimilarity from historical plots, to grazing intensity and to environmental variables. We identified characteristic and derived diversity and summarized them in an index of habitat conservation state whose drivers were investigated using the same approach.

Results

Plant diversity was influenced by the site, whereas the habitat conservation state responded more markedly to vegetation type. Grazing intensity, slope and soil variables drove taxonomic and functional diversity, and the habitat conservation state, with some differences in their relative importance. Phylogenetic diversity responded only partly to grazing intensity, while it showed a major response to increasing temperatures.

Conclusions

Patterns and drivers of different facets of plant diversity partially differ from those of the habitat conservation state, suggesting that the management of semi‐natural habitats should be carefully tailored on specific conservation objectives. Generalized actions on grazing regimes and litter removal can promote habitat conservation, whereas the outcomes of these actions for plant diversity may differ across sites. Identifying areas particularly subjected to land‐use changes and/or climate warming may drive conservation actions.
Productivity changes in the Mediterranean Sea drive foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan from the core of its global breeding range
Authors: Pezzo Francesco , Zenatello Marco , Cerritelli Giulia , Navone Augusto , Giunchi Dimitri , Spano Giovanna , Pollonara Enrica , Massolo Alessandro , Gagliardo Anna , Baccetti Nicola
Published: June 2021

Pelagic seabirds are tied to their breeding colonies throughout their long‐lasting breeding season, but at the same time, they have to feed in a highly dynamic marine environment where prey abundance and availability rapidly change across space and seasons. Here, we describe the foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that spends its entire life cycle within this enclosed basin and whose future conservation is intimately linked to human‐driven and climatic changes affecting the sea. The aim was to understand the main factors underlying the choice of foraging locations during the reproductive phases. A total of 34 foraging trips were obtained from 21 breeding adults tagged and tracked on Tavolara Archipelago (N Sardinia, Italy). This is the largest and most important breeding area for the species, accounting for more than 50% of the world population. The relationships between foraging movements during two different breeding stages and the seasonal changes of primary productivity at sea were modeled. Movements appeared to be addressed toward inshore (<20 km), highly productive, and relatively shallow (<200 m) foraging areas, often in front of river mouths and at great distances from the colony. During incubation, the Bonifacio Strait and other coastal areas close to North and West Sardinia were the most preferred locations (up to 247 km from the colony). During the chick‐rearing phase, some individuals reached areas placed at greater distances from the colony (up to 579 km), aiming at food‐rich hotspots placed as far north as the Gulf of Lion (France). The need for such long distance and long‐lasting foraging trips is hypothesized to be related to unfavorable conditions on the less productive (and already depleted) Sardinian waters.
Underwhelming force: Evaluating the neuropsychological evidence for higher‐order theories of consciousness
Authors: Kozuch Benjamin
Published: June 2021

Proponents of the higher‐order (HO) theory of consciousness (e.g., Lau and Rosenthal) have recently appealed to brain lesion evidence to support their thesis that mental states are conscious when and only when represented by other mental states. This article argues that this evidence fails to support HO theory, doing this by first determining what kinds of conscious deficit should result when HO state‐producing areas are damaged, then arguing that these kinds of deficit do not occur in the studies to which HO theorists appeal. The article also develops an apparatus that can be used to evaluate whether other lesion evidence confirms or disconfirms HO theory.
Foliar anatomy of some Prunus L. subgen. Cerasus Mill. (Rosaceae) taxa
Authors: Bostanci Ordu Pınar İdil , Çiftçi Almila , Mollman Rachel , Yazıcı Ceyda , Abudurusuli Aihaiti , Şık Levent , Erol Osman
Published: June 2021

Prunus L. subgen. Cerasus Mill. (Rosaceae) contains numerous economically important species, including fruit trees and ornamental plants. This study compares the leaf anatomy and calcium oxalate crystal types of 98 individuals of 14 Prunus subgen. Cerasus taxa from Turkey. We stained leaf sections with Safranin‐Alcian Blue double stain and mapped calcium oxalate crystals under light microscope with polarized light. We used one‐way ANOVA to determine the statistical significance of quantitative data. Significant quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using PCoA to establish relationships among taxa. We observed three different crystal distribution patterns and three crystal types, finding druses present in all taxa, while some taxa also have sand or prismatic forms. Most characters showed high variation. Our analysis shows that vascular bundle, midrib, upper epidermis and lower epidermis width/length ratios; midrib epidermis, upper epidermis and phloem cell lengths; upper epidermis and lower epidermis cell widths and lower cuticle thickness are not taxonomically useful, while features of the bundle sheath, epidermis cell surface, phloem fibers, mesophyll layers and angle of blade between the midrib can be used in conjunction with other characters to distinguish certain taxa. Overall, PCoA delineated two rough groups, separating P. avium, P. cerasus and P. mahaleb from the rest of the studied taxa. In investigating the anatomical variation between different individuals of these taxa, we found that some features previously used in infraspecific taxa, such as trichomes, varied sometimes even within an individual, casting doubt on the wisdom of using these for systematic work in subgenus Cerasus.
Temperature modulates virus‐induced transcriptional gene silencing via secondary small RNAs
Authors: Fei Yue , Pyott Douglas E. , Molnar Attila
Published: June 2021

Virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) can be harnessed to sequence‐specifically degrade host transcripts and induce heritable epigenetic modifications referred to as virus‐induced post‐transcriptional gene silencing (ViPTGS) and virus‐induced transcriptional gene silencing (ViTGS), respectively. Both ViPTGS and ViTGS enable manipulation of endogenous gene expression without the need for transgenesis.

Although VIGS has been widely used in many plant species, it is not always uniform or highly efficient. The efficiency of VIGS is affected by developmental, physiological and environmental factors. Here, we use recombinant Tobacco rattle viruses (TRV) to study the effect of temperature on ViPTGS and ViTGS using GFP as a reporter gene of silencing in N. benthamiana 16c plants.

We found that unlike ViPTGS, ViTGS was impaired at high temperature. Using a novel mismatch‐small interfering RNA (siRNA) tool, which precisely distinguishes virus‐derived (primary) from target‐generated (secondary) siRNAs, we demonstrated that the lack of secondary siRNA production/amplification was responsible for inefficient ViTGS at 29°C. Moreover, inefficient ViTGS at 29°C inhibited the transmission of epigenetic gene silencing to the subsequent generations.

Our finding contributes to understanding the impact of environmental conditions on primary and secondary siRNA production and may pave the way to design/optimize ViTGS for transgene‐free crop improvement.
Socioeconomic inequalities in overweight and obesity among 6‐ to 9‐year‐old children in 24 countries from the World Health Organization European region
Authors: Buoncristiano Marta , Williams Julianne , Simmonds Philippa , Nurk Eha , Ahrens Wolfgang , Nardone Paola , Rito Ana Isabel , Rutter Harry , Bergh Ingunn Holden , Starc Gregor , Jonsson Kenisha Russell , Spinelli Angela , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Mäki Päivi , Milanović Sanja Musić , Salanave Benoît , Yardim Mahmut S. , Hejgaard Tatjana , Fijałkowska Anna , Abdrakhmanova Shynar , Abdurrahmonova Zulfiya , Duleva Vesselka , Farrugia Sant'Angelo Victoria , García‐Solano Marta , Gualtieri Andrea , Gutiérrez‐González Enrique , Huidumac‐Petrescu Constanta , Hyska Jolanda , Kelleher Cecily C. , Kujundžić Enisa , Peterkova Valentina , Petrauskiene Ausra , Pudule Iveta , Sacchini Elena , Shengelia Lela , Tanrygulyyeva Maya , Taxová Braunerová Radka , Usupova Zhamilya , Maruszczak Katharina , Ostojic Sergej M. , Spiroski Igor , Stojisavljević Dragana , Wickramasinghe Kremlin , Breda João
Published: June 2021

Childhood overweight and obesity have significant short‐ and long‐term negative impacts on children's health and well‐being. These challenges are unequally distributed according to socioeconomic status (SES); however, previous studies have often lacked standardized and objectively measured data across national contexts to assess these differences. This study provides a cross‐sectional picture of the association between SES and childhood overweight and obesity, based on data from 123,487 children aged 6–9 years in 24 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European region. Overall, associations were found between overweight/obesity and the three SES indicators used (parental education, parental employment status, and family‐perceived wealth). Our results showed an inverse relationship between the prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity and parental education in high‐income countries, whereas the opposite relationship was observed in most of the middle‐income countries. The same applied to family‐perceived wealth, although parental employment status appeared to be less associated with overweight and obesity or not associated at all. This paper highlights the need for close attention to context when designing interventions, as the association between SES and childhood overweight and obesity varies by country economic development. Population‐based interventions have an important role to play, but policies that target specific SES groups are also needed to address inequalities.
Effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the policy response on childhood obesity risk factors: Gender and sex differences and recommendations for research
Authors: Knebusch Veronika , Williams Julianne , Yordi Aguirre Isabel , Weber Martin W. , Rakovac Ivo , Breda João
Published: June 2021

Childhood obesity is a public health concern globally, with generally higher prevalence rates in boys compared to girls. Although biological sex is an important determinant, gender roles and norms influence the exposure and vulnerability to risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. Norms and roles might be reinforced or change due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) related measures as well as the exposure to risk factors for childhood obesity. COVID‐19 related changes, such as home confinement, influence a child's risk of obesity. Using Dahlgren and Whitehead's model of the main determinants of health, this paper aims to provide a roadmap for future research on sex, gender, and childhood obesity during the time of COVID‐19. It examines how COVID‐19 has led to important changes in children's general socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental conditions, social and community networks, and individual lifestyle factors and how these may affect a child's risk for obesity. It focuses on the influence of gender and sex and outlines key considerations and indicators to examine in future studies concerned with promoting health and gender equity and equality. We need to understand the differential impact of COVID‐19 related measures on girls' and boys' risk for obesity to adequately react with preventive measures, policies, and programs.
Strategies to increase the INGEVITY lead strength during lead extraction procedures based on laboratory bench testing
Authors: Vatterott Pierce , De Kock Andrew , Hammill Eric F. , Lewis Robert
Published: June 2021

Background

The INGEVITY lead (Boston Scientific, St Paul, MN, USA) has excellent clinical performance. However, its single filar design results in decreased lead tensile strength and a possible challenging extraction. This study's goal is to evaluate techniques for extracting the INGEVITY lead.

Methods

Two‐ and three‐dimensional models were created to simulate lead extraction from a right atrial appendage lead implant with a left subclavian approach and lead/fibrosis attachment sites. Standard and unique lead extraction preparation strategies were evaluated. Traction forces were measured from a superior approach alone or in combination with a femoral approach.

Results

For lead extraction via the superior approach, leaving the terminal on the lead was the only factor influencing maximum tolerated load (p‐value = .0007). Scar attachment provided greater lead tensile strength by transferring traction loading forces to the polyurethane outer insulation but dependent on insulation integrity. The strongest extraction rail was seen with a simulated femoral snaring of a locking stylet within the INGEVITY lead. Deployed screw retraction was most successful by rotating a Philips LLD#2 stylet (Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, Netherlands) within the lead.

Conclusion

Results from in vitro simulations of INGEVITY lead extraction from an atrial location found the lead has low maximum tensile strength resulting in a poor extraction rail with common extraction tools and methods. However, the strength of the INGEVITY Lead extraction rail can be significantly increased by leaving the lead terminal intact and femoral snaring of the locking stylet within the lead. Such techniques may improve extraction of the INGEVITY lead.
To Pool or Not to Pool? The Effect of Loss Aversion on Queue Configurations
Authors: Zhou Wenhui , Wang Dongmei , Huang Weixiang , Guo Pengfei
Published: June 2021

This study studies the impact of loss aversion on queue configurations in a doubled‐ended queueing system such as taxi stations. We assume that there exist two types of demands/passengers, namely, the short‐haul and long‐haul, with long‐haul demand offering a larger monetary reward for drivers. Loss‐averse drivers decide to either join or balk based on their overall utility. We first consider the passenger‐side system to be a loss system; that is, an arriving passenger balks if there is no taxi waiting for her. We derive the system performance of two queue configurations, that is, a pooled queue and two dedicated queues. By comparing the total passenger boarding rates, we find that the pooled queue is not always preferable. From the drivers’ perspective, the pooled queue generates a rather stable waiting time and hence mitigates their loss aversion in the waiting time dimension; nevertheless, it creates uncertainty in the reward dimension and thus brings about potential loss. We also compare the two configurations regarding the boarding rate of each type of passengers. We show that dedicated queues can achieve a Pareto improvement; that is, they can generate a higher boarding rate for each type of passenger when drivers are sufficiently loss averse in the reward dimension and not so in the waiting time dimension. Nevertheless, dedicated queues may decrease both passenger boarding rates. We then extend our setting by incorporating passengers’ joining/balking decisions and find that our managerial insights derived from the lost‐demand system still hold.
Caregivers' experiences of patients with moderate‐stage Alzheimer's disease: a qualitative study
Authors: Ozcan Munevver , Akyar İmatullah
Published: June 2021

Background

Caregivers experience challenges in the longest stage of Alzheimer disease, the moderate stage, due to all day demanded caregiving, added with neuropsychiatric symptoms, and communication difficulties. Supporting challenges of caregiving is more effective when specific needs are assessed and real‐life experiences are appreciated. This study sought to explore caregivers' experiences and support needs for moderate‐stage Alzheimer's disease patients.

Methods

This study had a qualitative phenomenological design. In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 46 caregivers via face‐to‐face interviews. Following transcription, an analysis was done with Colaizzi's steps by coding and defining the main themes and subthemes.

Results

Caregivers stated they faced difficulties in the care activities of patients and needed support. Three themes were identified: (i) changes related to Alzheimer's disease; (ii) change in caregivers' life; and (iii) support needs and coping strategies about the care process.

Conclusions

Current study confirmed that caregivers of moderate‐stage Alzheimer's disease patients need proper support to cope with daily care activities and systems that help them overcome life challenges. The development of a system based on the stage‐specific caregivers' need to decrease daily care challenges and overwhelming economic and emotional stress can be recommended.
Tubular ectasia of the rete testis in an Angus bull
Authors: Waters Katelyn , Schnuelle Julie Gard , Cofield Lawerence Grady , Rush Jessica , Boakari Yatta , Cowley Jessica , Horzmann Katharine
Published: June 2021

An 18‐month‐old Angus bull presented to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for a routine breeding soundness evaluation and lameness evaluation. He was classified as deferred potential breeder due to a lameness and was donated to the university. Following treatment, the bull's lameness resolved. He passed the breeding soundness examination in accordance with the Society for Theriogenology standards. However, avascular dilated areas at the level of the mediastinum testis of the right testicle were detected via Doppler ultrasonography. A high level of vascularity is routinely seen with neoplasia, such as teratomas. Due to the lack of vascularity, a presumptive diagnosis of tubular ectasia of the rete testis was made. The bull was castrated. The right testicle was submitted for histopathology revealing a definitive diagnosis of tubular ectasia of the rete testis.
Health care disparities for incarcerated adults after a suicide attempt
Authors: Fedock Gina , Garthe Rachel , Higgins George E. , Lewis Cashell , Blank Wilson Amy
Published: June 2021

Objective

Incarcerated adults have high rates of fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Suicide prevention recommendations stress the need for the provision of health care for incarcerated adults after suicide attempts, yet prison policies and practices often focus instead on punitive responses to suicidal behaviors. Existing research is limited regarding factors that predict the provision of health care to incarcerated adults post‐suicide attempt. The current study examined individual, incident, and institutional factors as predictors of health care to incarcerated adults post‐suicide attempt.

Method

We used data from critical incidents reports for suicide attempts (N = 495) to conduct mixed‐effects logistical regression models.

Results

Staff responded to suicide attempts by placing incarcerated adults under direct observation (with no care) or in segregation at odds two and three times higher than of providing health care, particularly in prisons for men. Race was a significant factor; incidents involving Black men were less likely than incidents involving white men to include staff requesting health care, and incidents involving Black women were less likely than incidents involving white women to include requesting and providing health care.

Conclusions

This study's findings highlight factors predicting health care responses to suicide attempts and the need to address and prevent health care disparities in prisons.
Masculinity's association with the interpersonal theory of suicide among military personnel
Authors: Daruwala Samantha E. , Houtsma Claire , Martin Rachel , Green Bradley , Capron Daniel , Anestis Michael D.
Published: June 2021

Objective

Given that the majority of those who die by suicide are male, masculine traits have been examined as a potential link to the development of capability for suicide. However, research has not examined if such traits influence suicidal desire (i.e., thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness). This study examined the influence of stereotypically masculine traits of stoicism, sensation seeking, physical aggression, verbal aggression, and self‐reliance on all three components of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide within a sample of male and female service members.

Methods

A total of 953 service members were recruited as part of a larger study.

Results

Sensation seeking and stoicism were positively associated with capability for suicide. With regard to suicidal desire, self‐reliance and verbal aggression were positively associated with both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Stoicism was positively associated with thwarted belongingness.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that different masculine traits are associated with the three components of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in various ways. Stoicism may be an especially important masculine trait that influences a component of suicidal desire and capability for suicide.
Legionella pneumophila LegC7 effector protein drives aberrant endoplasmic reticulum:endosome contacts in yeast
Authors: Glueck Nathan K. , O'Brien Kevin M. , Seguin Danielle C. , Starai Vincent J.
Published: June 2021

Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen, causing the severe form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. Legionella actively alters host organelle trafficking through the activities of “effector” proteins secreted via a type‐IVB secretion system, in order to construct the bacteria‐laden Legionella‐containing vacuole (LCV) and prevent lysosomal degradation. The LCV is created with membrane derived from host endoplasmic reticulum (ER), secretory vesicles and phagosomes, although the precise molecular mechanisms that drive its synthesis remain poorly understood. In an effort to characterize the in vivo activity of the LegC7/YlfA SNARE‐like effector protein from Legionella in the context of eukaryotic membrane trafficking in yeast, we find that LegC7 interacts with the Emp46p/Emp47p ER‐to‐Golgi glycoprotein cargo adapter complex, alters ER morphology and induces aberrant ER:endosome interactions, as measured by visualization of ER cargo degradation, reconstitution of split‐GFP proteins and enhanced oxidation of the ER lumen. LegC7‐dependent toxicity, disruption of ER morphology and ER:endosome fusion events were dependent upon endosomal VPS class C tethering complexes and the endosomal t‐SNARE, Pep12p. This work establishes a model in which LegC7 functions to recruit host ER material to the bacterial phagosome during infection by driving ER:endosome contacts, potentially through interaction with host membrane tethering complexes and/or cargo adapters.
The Implementation of Contract Farming of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV) for Smallholders in Malaysia: Government Roles and Initiatives
Authors: Mohamad Baqutayan Shadiya , Mohamad Ruhaizah , Azman Rozaidatul Rahizah , AbuHassan Norihan
Published: June 2021

Contract Farming (CF) in Malaysia has been identified as a system capable of stimulating agricultural production and was given a central role in the latest strategy by the government to encourage the production of vegetables and fruits. It is also seen as a means of fostering smallholder participation in new high-value product markets and improving quality standards, thus the application of CF is increasing the smallholder incomes. This paper is a review study that contributes to defining the role of the government in fostering the CF in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV) for smallholders in Malaysia. The purpose is to understand the relation between CF and the country’s economic growth as well as farmers’ standards of living. The findings of this paper indicated that the government plays an important role in fostering the CF of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV) of smallholders in Malaysia. Indeed, the development of programs (Contract Farming Programme), effective management method, and strong commitment from the players, and strong support from the government are considered as the strongest tools for facilitating economic growth and improving farmers’ standards of living in Malaysia.
The Role of the Big Five Personality Factors on Accident: A Case of Accidents in Construction Industries
Authors: Pourmazaherian Mehdi , Mohammed S. Baqutayan Shadiya , Idrus Durishah
Published: June 2021

Limited research has been undertaken to explore how construction workers’ personality affects safety behavior. Most of the previous literature in the field of health and safety especially in the construction industry has been focusing on managerial, non-occupational accident,s or somewhat other aspect accident causation. Indeed, construction is known as one of the most dangerous industries globally, therefore, this study estimates the importance of personality traits in relation to risk behavior in the workplace. The objective is to review and identify which dimension of personality traits (big five models) are more effective on occupational accident to suggest a new model that is helpful in the construction industry in order to reduce the accident rate. The finding showed that neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness compare to the other personality traits are more effective on both occupational/non-occupational accidents, while, the effect of agreeableness and conscientiousness on improving safety performance was overwhelming. On the other hand, there is little evidence to show the meaningful and efficient connection between occupational accidents and extraversion. Extraversion and openness were appropriate only to affect non-occupational accidents. Finally, this research presents the appropriate model which is worthwhile to improve the safety performance in the construction industry.
Mechanical Characterization of Porcine Skin Starting Material
Authors: Zhang Bin , Chester Shawn A. , Nadimpalli Siva P. V. , Suriano Justin T. , Theis David P. , Lieber Samuel C.
Published: June 2021

Porcine skin has been used as a starting material in several released mesh medical devices. Although this controlled animal derived material is prevalent in tissue engineered medical devices, little is known about its mechanical properties. This study mechanically characterized porcine skin starting material (PSSM), provided by Midwest Research Swine. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on samples cut from different regions (back and neck) and orientations (parallel and perpendicular to the spine) on the PSSM. The stress–stretch relationship was determined for each sample utilizing a load frame equipped with a Digital Image Correlation measurement system. The PSSM skin demonstrates the classic nonlinear and linear regions seen in other biologic tissues. A bilinear curve fit method was used to separate the nonlinear and linear regions of the tensile curve, and each region was analyzed with an Ogden and linear model, respectively. The results show that the tensile curve is better described with this method as opposed to analyzing the full curve with one model. A comparison was made between samples cut from the different regions and orientations. There were significant differences between the failure measures and mechanical indices from the two regions, and on average the back behaved anisotropically and the neck isotropically. The PSSM mechanical properties from this study could serve as a preliminary guide for those exploring devices or processes in the tissue engineering field. The methods demonstrated in this study could also help characterize other biologic materials, and be used toward the development of tissue specific industrial standards.
Numerical Computation on Natural Convection Heat Transfer From an Isothermal Sphere With Semicircular Ribs
Authors: Garnayak Subrat , Rath Subhasisa
Published: June 2021

For the very first time, this study attempts to address the heat dissipation from an isothermal ribbed sphere under the action of pure natural convection. Semicircular ribs of different radii are superimposed azimuthally on the outer surface of a sphere. The addition of ribs on the sphere serves a dual purpose in its practical applications: beautification of electronic devices such as spherical light sources as well as an increase in heat dissipation from the hot surface, which prevents the electronic component from getting overheated. Finite volume method-based axisymmetric numerical simulations are performed in the laminar flow regime for the following ranges of nondimensional parameters: Rayleigh number (102 ≤ Ra ≤ 108), inter-rib-spacing to sphere diameter (0.191 ≤ P/D ≤ 0.785), and rib-radius to sphere diameter (0.03 ≤ R/D ≤ 0.083). The main target of this study is to identify the critical parameters for heat transfer enhancement from the ribbed sphere compared to a conventional plane sphere. The results obtained from this work show that the average Nusselt number increases with an increase in Ra and P/D, whereas it decreases as R/D increases. Effectiveness of the ribs (εrib) and critical Rayleigh numbers (Racr), corresponding to εrib = 1, are also calculated. Ribs are more effective in heat dissipation at low Ra and P/D and high R/D. A correlation for the average Nusselt number is also developed in this work, which would help design a better thermal management system.
Pressure Effects on the Lifetime of Gas High Density Polyethylene Pipes
Authors: Wang Yang , Lan Hui-qing , Meng Tao , Wang Bing , Guo Du-du , Zhuang Li-jun
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study was to propose low gas pressure effects on lifetime of natural gas high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes by thermal-oxidative aging. The new method to assess the lifetime of HDPE natural gas pipes is based on gas pressure testing. An approach to monitor oxidative induction time (OIT) has been used to predict lifetime. Natural gas HDPE pipes were used to evaluate the effects of low gas pressures on oxidative induction time. In order to emphasize the pressure effects, relatively low temperatures at 45, 55, 65, and 75 °C were utilized for the exposure. The low-pressure conditions were created using air at levels of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 MPa. The property of high density polyethylene pipes was effectively monitored using the low pressure OIT test. The results show that the aging reaction rate of high density polyethylene pipes increased exponentially with temperature and gas pressure according to the Arrhenius equation. Analytical models were developed to predict the aging reaction rate and lifetime of natural gas HDPE pipes.
Modeling of Novel Arc Shaped SMA Actuator
Authors: Khan Abdul Manan , Mansour Nader A. , Kim Youngshik , Shin Buhyun , Ryu Bongjo
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we present modeling of a novel arc shaped Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator. The arc shaped SMA actuator is developed to provide rotational motion with compliance for bio-inspired soft robots. We modeled the dynamics of proposed SMA actuator using Elahinia’s method. The dynamic modeling is useful to understand the behavior of SMA and for controller tuning. The response from the simulation and experimental system showed similar behavior.
Computational study of plasma dynamics and reactive chemistry in a low-pressure inductively coupled CF4/O2 plasma
Authors: Levko Dmitry , Shukla Chandrasekhar , Upadhyay Rochan R. , Raja Laxminarayan L.
Published: June 2021

Plasma etching continues to play a central role in microelectronics manufacturing. As the semiconductor industry continues to shrink critical feature sizes and improves device performance, etch challenges continue to increase due to the requirement of processing smaller features along with new device structures. With their high density and high-aspect ratio features, these structures are challenging to manufacture and have required innovation in multiple areas of wafer processing. Innovations in this technology are increasingly reliant on comprehensive physical and chemical models of plasma etch processes. In the present paper, we develop a new mechanism of plasma chemical reactions for a low-pressure CF4/O2 plasma. We validate this mechanism against available experimental data using the self-consistent axisymmetric fluid model of inductively coupled plasma discharge. We show that this mechanism is in reasonable agreement with the results of experiments both quantitively and qualitatively. Using this mechanism, we analyze the influence of oxygen fraction in the feed gas mixture on the kinetics of the ion species and the fluorine and oxygen atom yield.
Determining valence band offsets in heterojunctions using a single core-level x-ray photoelectron spectrum
Authors: Wang Le , Du Yingge , Chambers Scott A.
Published: June 2021

The behavior and functionality of semiconductor heterojunctions depend critically on the alignments of the valence and conduction bands at the various interfaces. Traditionally, band alignment has been measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using pairs of distinct core levels, one from each side of the interface, to track the valence band maxima in the two materials. Here, we demonstrate that band alignment across an interface can also be determined using a single core-level photoelectron spectrum for an element that is common to both materials. The energy splitting between the photoemission features originating in the two materials is shown to be dominated by the difference in electrostatic potential across the interface, thereby leading to a reliable determination of the band alignment.
High-Acceleration Movement, Muscle Damage, and Perceived Exertion in Basketball Games
Authors: Koyama Takeshi , Rikukawa Akira , Nagano Yasuharu , Sasaki Shogo , Ichikawa Hiroshi , Hirose Norikazu
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the number of high-acceleration movements on muscle damage and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in basketball games. Methods: Twenty-one male collegiate basketball players (mean age, 20.0 [1.0] y) were included. A triaxial accelerometer was used to measure acceleration in basketball-simulated scrimmages. To detect higher physical load during the actual game, the resultant acceleration was calculated, and 3 thresholds were set: >4G, >6G, and >8G resultant accelerations. The number of the extracted movements was calculated at each acceleration threshold. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels (marker of muscle damage) were estimated before and 24 hours after the match, and the session-RPE load was calculated within 30 minutes after the match. Pearson product-moment correlations with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the relationships between the number of high-acceleration movements and plasma CK and session-RPE load. Results: Significant correlations were observed between the number of high-acceleration movements >8G and CK level (r = .74; 95% confidence interval, 0.44–0.89; P < .0001). Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between acceleration and CK increased with increased acceleration threshold (>4G: r = .65; >6G: r = .69). Contrastingly, the correlation coefficient between acceleration and the session-RPE load decreased with increased acceleration threshold (>4G: r = .72; >6G: r = .52; >8G: r = .43). Conclusions: The session-RPE reflects the total amount of movement, while the high-acceleration movement reflects the momentary large impact load or intensity, and they evaluated different factors. Basketball coaching and conditioning professionals recommended combining acceleration and session-RPE when monitoring the load of athletes.
Peak Age and Relative Performance Progression in International Cross-Country Skiers
Authors: Walther Jacob , Mulder Roy , Noordhof Dionne A. , Haugen Thomas A. , Sandbakk Øyvind
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To quantify peak age and relative performance progression toward peak age in cross-country skiing according to event type, sex, and athlete performance level. Methods: International Ski Federation (FIS) points (performance expressed relative to the best athlete) of athletes born between 1981 and 1991, competing in junior world championships or finishing top 30 in world championships or Olympics, were downloaded from the FIS website. Individual performance trends were derived by fitting a quadratic curve to each athletes FIS point and age data. Results: Peak age was 26.2 (2.3) years in distance and 26.0 (1.7) years in sprint events. The sex difference in peak age in sprint events was ∼0.8 years (small, P = .001), while there was no significant sex difference in peak age in distance events (P = .668). Top performers displayed higher peak ages than other athletes in distance (mean difference, ±95% confidence limits = 1.6 y, ±0.6 y, moderate, P < .001) and sprint events (1.0, ±0.6 y, moderate, P < .001). FIS point improvement over the 5 years preceding peak age did not differ between event types (P = .325), while men improved more than women in both events (8.8, ±5.4%, small, P = .002 and 7.5, ±6.4%, small, P = .002). Performance level had a large effect on improvement in FIS points in both events (P < .001). Conclusion: This study provides novel insights on peak age and relative performance progression among world-class cross-country skiers and can assist practitioners, sport institutions, and federations with goal setting and evaluating strategies for achieving success.