bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remote Hemodynamic‐Guided Therapy of Patients With Recurrent Heart Failure Following Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Varma Niraj , Bourge Robert C. , Stevenson Lynne Warner , Costanzo Maria Rosa , Shavelle David , Adamson Philip B. , Ginn Greg , Henderson John , Abraham William T. ,   the CHAMPION Investigator Group
Published: February 2021

Background

Patients with recurring heart failure (HF) following cardiac resynchronization therapy fare poorly. Their management is undecided. We tested remote hemodynamic‐guided pharmacotherapy.

Methods and Results

We evaluated cardiac resynchronization therapy subjects included in the CHAMPION (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in New York Heart Association Class III Heart Failure Patients) trial, which randomized patients with persistent New York Heart Association Class III symptoms and ≥1 HF hospitalization in the previous 12 months to remotely managed pulmonary artery (PA) pressure‐guided management (treatment) or usual HF care (control). Diuretics and/or vasodilators were adjusted conventionally in control and included remote PA pressure information in treatment. Annualized HF hospitalization rates, changes in PA pressures over time (analyzed by area under the curve), changes in medications, and quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores) were assessed. Patients who had cardiac resynchronization therapy (n=190, median implant duration 755 days) at enrollment had poor hemodynamic function (cardiac index 2.00±0.59 L/min per m
2
), high comorbidity burden (67% had secondary pulmonary hypertension, 61% had estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
), and poor Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores (57±24). During 18 months randomized follow‐up, HF hospitalizations were 30% lower in treatment (n=91, 62 events, 0.46 events/patient‐year) versus control patients (n=99, 93 events, 0.68 events/patient‐year) (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51–0.96;
P
=0.028). Treatment patients had more medication up‐/down‐titrations (847 versus 346 in control,
P
<0.001), mean PA pressure reduction (area under the curve −413.2±123.5 versus 60.1±88.0 in control,
P
=0.002), and quality of life improvement (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire decreased −13.5±23 versus −4.9±24.8 in control,
P
=0.006).

Conclusions

Remote hemodynamic‐guided adjustment of medical therapies decreased PA pressures and the burden of HF symptoms and hospitalizations in patients with recurring Class III HF and hospitalizations, beyond the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT00531661.
Six new species of the genus Bellulia Fibiger, 2008 from China and Cambodia (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Hypenodinae). Taxonomic study of Micronoctuini. Contribution III
Authors: HAN HUI LIN , KONONENKO VLADIMIR S.
Published: February 2021

Six species of the genus Bellulia Fibiger, 2008: B. tenebrosa sp. n., B. clara sp. n., B. jiaxuanae sp. n., B. jiayiae sp. n., B. fuscis sp. n. and B. diannana sp. n. are described from China and Cambodia. Two species, Bellulia suffusa Fibiger, 2008 and B. basalia Fibiger, 2010 are reported for the first time from Cambodia. Keys for identifying species in the kareni, bella and suffusa species-groups and a complete checklist of the genus Bellulia are presented.
Movement-oriented labor organizations in an authoritarian regime: The case of China
Authors: Hui Elaine Sio-ieng
Published: February 2021

How do labor organizations with a movement orientation arise in an authoritarian regime? How do they organize workers collectively in a repressive society? What movement roles do they play? What challenges do they face? To answer these questions, I use synthesized social movement theories to examine movement-oriented labor non-governmental organizations in China. Based on qualitative data collected through triangulated sources, I find that movement-oriented labor non-governmental organizations use political opportunities to promote one type of modular collective labor action, which consists of three tactics, namely the election of worker representatives, collective negotiation, and protest. They guide workers to build mobilizing and connective structures, formulate collective action frames, and amass movement resources. However, the movement roles of this type of labor non-governmental organization have weakened, owing to diminishing political opportunities caused by changes in government administration. This research contributes to our understanding of social movement theories, labor organizations in China, labor non-governmental organizations and worker centers generally, and state–society relations in non-democracies.
English spoken stress recognition based on natural language processing and endpoint detection algorithm
Authors: Yue Tieyan
Published: February 2021

Nowadays, there are more and more researches on the application of natural language processing technology in computer-aided language system, which can provide a good assistant role for foreign language learners. However, in the research of computer-aided language system, there are still some deficiencies in the recognition of English spoken stress nodes, which cannot be well recognized. Based on this, this paper proposes a method of English spoken accent recognition based on natural language processing and endpoint detection algorithm, which aims to promote the accuracy of accent recognition in the computer-aided language system and improve the performance of the computer-aided language system. In order to avoid the interference of background noise, this paper proposes a short-term time-frequency endpoint detection algorithm which can accurately judge the beginning and end of speech in complex environment. Then, on the basis of traditional speech feature extraction and fractal dimension theory, a nonlinear fractal dimension speech feature is extracted. Finally, RankNet is used to process the extracted features to realize the recognition of English spoken stress nodes. In the simulation analysis, the application effect of the short-term time-frequency endpoint detection algorithm proposed in this paper in the complex background noise and the effect of non-linear fractal dimension speech features on the recognition of English spoken stress nodes are verified. Finally, the performance and good application effect of the method designed in this paper are illustrated.
“If you and I and our Lord . . .”: A qualitative study of religious coping in Hodgkin’s disease
Authors: Torbjørnsen Tor , Pargament Kenneth I , Stifoss-Hanssen Hans , Hestad Knut A , Danbolt Lars Johan
Published: February 2021

Religious coping and spiritual struggles were qualitatively analyzed in 15 semi-structured interviews with Norwegian Hodgkin’s disease survivors. We asked, How is religious coping expressed in 15 Norwegian Hodgkin’s disease survivors? The analyses were theory-driven, using religious coping and spiritual struggles theories as explorative tools. Especially we focused on coping processes, coping dynamics, coping styles, and coping activities. The analyses show that religiousness functioned as a positive factor in coping with cancer in 14 of the 15 participants, equally distributed as conservational and transformational coping. The combination of the belief in a good, present God, eventually positive divine power, accessible through prayer, and religious support from people around the participants, were the most prominent activities in the religious coping processes. The religious coping had a character of being collaborative for almost all of the participants. Many participants had severe spiritual struggles. For many of the participants, it was difficult not only to be sick, but also to be a survivor. Theories on religious coping and spiritual struggles were useful and adaptable to a Norwegian sample regarding the main dynamics in the religious coping and spiritual struggles processes. The analyses detected a few different religious coping activities in this Norwegian sample compared to those identified in American samples, with the importance of meeting God in nature as the most significant difference.
Nonlinear lateral motion stability control method for electric vehicle based on the combination of dual extended state observer and domination approach via sampled-data output feedback
Authors: Meng Qinghua , Xu Hao , Sun Zong-Yao
Published: February 2021

This paper studies lateral motion stability control method for an electric vehicle (EV) with uncertain disturbances. Aiming to suppress the influence of uncertain disturbances, a novel method based on the combination of dual extended state observer (dESO) and domination approach is proposed. The proposed method enables the designed controller just to adopt a smaller scaling gain than the classic domination method, which is more practical for the controller in engineering. Firstly, a dESO is proposed to estimate the uncertain disturbances of the system. Also, a sampled-data output feedback domination approach is designed to dominate the disturbances by using a scaling gain. Then, the sampled-data output feedback control law is constructed based on the dESO and domination approach called dESOD. Furthermore, the stability analysis is presented to show that the proposed sampled-data controller can guarantee the closed-loop system globally asymptotically stable. Finally, the simulations and experiment results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Image-based Texture Features Extracted from Static B-mode Ultrasound Images in Distinguishing between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Masses
Authors: Al-karawi Dhurgham , Al-Assam Hisham , Du Hongbo , Sayasneh Ahmad , Landolfo Chiara , Timmerman Dirk , Bourne Tom , Jassim Sabah
Published: February 2021

Significant successes in machine learning approaches to image analysis for various applications have energized strong interest in automated diagnostic support systems for medical images. The evolving in-depth understanding of the way carcinogenesis changes the texture of cellular networks of a mass/tumor has been informing such diagnostics systems with use of more suitable image texture features and their extraction methods. Several texture features have been recently applied in discriminating malignant and benign ovarian masses by analysing B-mode images from ultrasound scan of the ovary with different levels of performance. However, comparative performance evaluation of these reported features using common sets of clinically approved images is lacking. This paper presents an empirical evaluation of seven commonly used texture features (histograms, moments of histogram, local binary patterns [256-bin and 59-bin], histograms of oriented gradients, fractal dimensions, and Gabor filter), using a collection of 242 ultrasound scan images of ovarian masses of various pathological characteristics. The evaluation examines not only the effectiveness of classification schemes based on the individual texture features but also the effectiveness of various combinations of these schemes using the simple majority-rule decision level fusion. Trained support vector machine classifiers on the individual texture features without any specific pre-processing, achieve levels of accuracy between 75% and 85% where the seven moments and the 256-bin LBP are at the lower end while the Gabor filter is at the upper end. Combining the classification results of the top k ( k = 3, 5, 7) best performing features further improve the overall accuracy to a level between 86% and 90%. These evaluation results demonstrate that each of the investigated image-based texture features provides informative support in distinguishing benign or malignant ovarian masses.
Explicit Instruction in Mathematics: Considerations for Virtual Learning
Authors: Long Holly M. , Bouck Emily C. , Jakubow Larissa N.
Published: February 2021

A large number of students with and without disabilities—including students at-risk—are currently learning online through synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction. As such, it is important for educators to be equipped with evidence-based practices—or at the minimum research-based practices—that can be adapted or modified to teach students online, including the area of mathematics. This article discusses how educators can adapt and implement explicit instruction—an evidence-based practice for teaching students with disabilities in mathematics—to educate students with disabilities and those struggling or at-risk in mathematics within an online environment. In addition, this article presents resources for free and paid technology as well as additional considerations when implementing explicit instruction in an online environment.
Grandchildren’s food workshop: Impact of an intergenerational cooking program on dietary habits, food courage, cooking skills and two-way interaction in Danish children and their grandparents
Authors: Beck Anne Marie , Nielsen Stine B. , Bjørnsbo Kirsten S.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Good nutrition is a key aspect of health. Cooking activities can improve dietary habits, cooking skills and food courage in terms of courage to cook and taste new foods, in individuals of all ages. However, targeting both grandchildren and grandparents at the same time through intergenerational cooking activities, is new.

Aim:

This paper aims to present the impact of intergenerational cooking activities on dietary habits, food courage, cooking skills and two-way interaction between young and old participants in The Grandchildren’s Food Workshop.

Methods:

In this observational pilot study, the Danish Heart Foundation’s experimental cooking program for grandchildren and grandparents was developed and tested. The influence of the food workshop on the participants’ dietary habits, food courage, cooking skills and two-way interaction was assessed by a before and after questionnaire. McNemar’s and chi-squared tests were used to evaluate the effects.

Results:

A total of 180 grandchildren (10 to 12 years) and 183 grandparents participated in The Grandchildren’s Food Workshop. A total of 82 (46%) grandchildren (71% of which were girls) and 125 (68%) grandparents (83% of which were women) responded to the baseline and follow-up questionnaires. The impact on dietary habits and food courage was limited, while there was an impact on cooking skills in the grandchildren. The already good two-way interaction was unaltered.

Conclusions:

The findings indicate an impact on cooking skills among grandchildren participating in The Grandchildren’s Food Workshop, while the impact on dietary habits, food courage and two-way interaction between age groups was limited. Further research, including more detailed dietary data, should explore the significance of an intergenerational approach.
Intersections Between Awe and the Sublime: A Preliminary Empirical Study
Authors: Clewis Robert R. , Yaden David B. , Chirico Alice
Published: February 2021

This empirical study examines how philosophical work on the sublime relates to contemporary psychological work on awe. We operationalized several aspects of the sublime drawing from prominent philosophical theories and analyzed them in relation to three different measures of awe: the modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES), the awe sub-scale of the Dispositional Positive Emotion Scale (DPES), and the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S). We carried out an Exploratory Factor Analysis on our items on the sublime. We found high correlations between these items and the measures of awe, especially with the self-loss and connectedness dimensions of the AWE-S. By operationalizing aspects of the sublime drawn from influential philosophical theories and comparing them with psychological measures of awe, we find a large degree of overlap between awe and the sublime, suggesting that these two literatures could inform one another.
Shear-wave elastography for detection of placenta percreta: a case-controlled study
Authors: Dokumaci Dilek Sen , Uyanikoglu Hacer
Published: February 2021

Background

Prenatal diagnosis of placenta percreta (PP) is important to be able to provide effective management and a multidisciplinary approach to minimize the complications.

Purpose

To evaluate the role of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in the prenatal diagnosis of PP.

Material and Methods

A total of 18 women with PP and 20 pregnant women with normal placenta in the second or third trimesters were included in this prospective study. SWE was used to determine the elasticities of the placenta (in the maternal edge of the placenta) and myometrium. The obstetric data regarding grayscale and Doppler ultrasonography, and perinatal outcomes were reviewed. A mean placental SW velocity (SWV) cut-off value was determined to predict the presence of placental adherence.

Results

The SWV values of the PP group in the maternal edge of the placenta were significantly higher than those of the control group (1.95 ± 0.19 m/s and 1.69 ± 0.23 m/s; P = 0.001). Myometrial SWV was also higher in the PP group compared to the control group (2.25 ± 0.39 m/s and 1.90 ± 0.71 m/s; P = 0.002). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed and the best cut-off value of placental SWV was determined as 1.92 m/s with sensitivity of 58% and specificity of 80%, to predict the placental adherence in patients with PP.

Conclusion

Placental stiffness was significantly higher in patients with PP than in pregnant women with normally localized placenta. Thus, we thought that SWE of the placenta might be used as an alternative method in the diagnosis of PP.
Performance of TDR-300B and VITEK®2 for the identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in comparison with VITEK®-MS
Authors: Moehario Lucky Hartati , Tjoa Enty , Putranata Hans , Joon Shikha , Edbert Daniel , Robertus Thomas
Published: February 2021

Objective

Automated systems are needed for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of Pseudomonas-associated nosocomial infections among critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit. We assessed the performance of TDR-300B and VITEK®2 for the identification of P. aeruginosa using VITEK®-MS as the gold standard.

Methods

This analytical study employed a cross-sectional approach. First, 44 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were collected and refreshed. Next, a single colony of oxidase-positive, gram-negative rods (30 samples) was inoculated into a TDR-300B NF-64 card and VITEK®2 GN cassette for each isolate. Finally, bacterial identification was performed using VITEK®-MS for comparative analysis.

Results

Compared with the results for VITEK®-MS, the congruence rates for TDR-300B and VITEK®2 were 80.76% (21/26) and 92.30% (24/26), respectively. Further, high sensitivity was observed for TDR-300B and VITEK®2 (95.45% and 100%, respectively). In addition, TDR-300B had a lower positive predictive value and accuracy than VITEK®2, albeit without significance.

Conclusions

Conclusively, there were no significant differences regarding the diagnostic efficiency of TDR-300B and VITEK®2 for P. aeruginosa.
Accuracy of the dynamic signal analysis approach in respiratory mechanics during noninvasive pressure support ventilation: a bench study
Authors: Chen Yuqing , Yuan Yueyang , Zhang Hai , Li Feng , Zhou Xin
Published: February 2021

Objective

To evaluate the accuracy of respiratory mechanics using dynamic signal analysis during noninvasive pressure support ventilation (PSV).

Methods

A Respironics V60 ventilator was connected to an active lung simulator to model normal, restrictive, obstructive, and mixed obstructive and restrictive profiles. The PSV was adjusted to maintain tidal volumes (VT) that achieved 5.0, 7.0, and 10.0 mL/kg body weight, and the positive end-expiration pressure (PEEP) was set to 5 cmH2O. Ventilator performance was evaluated by measuring the flow, airway pressure, and volume. The system compliance (Crs) and airway resistance (inspiratory and expiratory resistance, Rinsp and Rexp, respectively) were calculated.

Results

Under active breathing conditions, the Crs was overestimated in the normal and restrictive models, and it decreased with an increasing pressure support (PS) level. The Rinsp calculated error was approximately 10% at 10.0 mL/kg of VT, and similar results were obtained for the calculated Rexp at 7.0 mL/kg of VT.

Conclusion

Using dynamic signal analysis, appropriate tidal volume was beneficial for Rrs, especially for estimating Rexp during assisted ventilation. The Crs measurement was also relatively accurate in obstructive conditions.
Detailing an Improved Heat Transfer Model for Pavements
Authors: Bryce James , Chattopadhyay Arka , Esmaeilpour Mehdi , Ihnat Zack E.
Published: February 2021

Temperature profiles are a fundamental input into mechanistic-empirical pavement analysis and design, and the enhanced integrated climatic model (EICM) is the state-of-the-practice for calculating those profiles. The EICM has also been used in other applications, such as analysis to evaluate the effects of climate change on pavements and to estimate the effects of pavements on urban heat islands. The calculations in the EICM for pavement temperatures can be viewed as having two primary components that together act as a system: the thermal model describing conductance of temperatures throughout the pavement, and the boundary conditions that include the convective terms at the pavement surface, an energy balance model to predict the solar radiation at the surface of the pavement and a specified lower boundary condition (generally constant temperature at defined depth). As is shown in this paper, the current EICM models overpredict temperatures during hot times and in no-wind conditions, while also underpredicting (albeit to a lesser magnitude) during cold conditions. This result implies that the increases in pavement temperatures predicted to occur with climate change are likewise overestimated. Conversely, because the convection coefficient is incorrect, the predicted amount of energy contributing to urban heat islands will also not be correctly predicted using the current EICM models. Although improvements to the solar model are noted, this paper focuses on improvements to the thermal model and convective boundary condition using modern heat transfer principles and data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance database.
Dual-phase 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT may increase the rate of detected lesions in prostate cancer patients
Authors: Dadgar Habibollah , Seyedi Vafaee Manouchehr , Norouzbeigi Nasim , Jafari Esmail , Gholamrezanezhad Ali , Assadi Majid
Published: February 2021

Background:

This study was conducted to compare the early static (3–6 min post-injection (p.i.)) and standard whole body (1 h, p.i.) 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging for detection of lesions in prostate cancer (PC) patients.

Materials and methods:

In this study, PC patients suspected of recurrence underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Early static images were acquired from the pelvis and the lower abdomen 3-5 minutes after radiotracer injection and, a routine whole body scan was performed from the skull to the mid-thigh 1 h after injection. Quantitative analysis (SUVmax) was evaluated in suspicious lesions.

Results:

Of 19 evaluated PC patients with a median age of 72 ± 1.66 years (range: 55–85 years) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 1.72 ± 6.11 ng/ml (range: 0.1–100 ng/ml) (median ± SE), 16 showed positive in the whole body PET/CT. All of the patients with positive whole body scans due to pelvic involvement had positive early scan results. Totally, 22 lesions were detected in both early and delay scans in the pelvic which 16 were related to prostate involvement, 4 were related to lymph node involvement, and 2 were related to bone involvement. Moreover, in addition to the mentioned 22 lesions, early PET imaging successfully detected local recurrence in a patient who was negative on WB PET/ CT; this lesion was masked in the delay scan due to bladder activity. The median SUVmax values of the early and delay scans were 3.69 ± 1.07 (median ± SE) (range: 1.2–14.5) and 5.85 ± 1.69 (range: 3.1–23.4), respectively. ( p = 0.005).

Conclusion:

Early static 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging might discriminate metastases from urinary bladder activity. Therefore, early static imaging in combination with whole body 60-min p.i. imaging can improve the detection of local involvement pelvic disease.
Antiretroviral treatment initiation among HIV-positive participants in the Bangkok men who have sex with men cohort study, 2006–2016
Authors: Wimonsate Wipas , Sriporn Anuwat , Pattanasin Sarika , Varangrat Anchalee , Promda Nutthawoot , Sukwicha Wichuda , Holtz Timothy H , Ungsedhapand Chaiwat , Chitwarakorn Anupong , Hickey Andrew C , Dunne Eileen F
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Data on HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among key‐affected populations will support reaching the UNAIDS goal to end AIDS by 2030. Methods: We assessed ART initiation among HIV‐positive participants of the Bangkok Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Cohort Study, which enrolled sexually experienced MSM aged ≥ 18 years and included visits every four months for a period of 3–5 years, from 2006–2016. At each visit, participants had HIV testing and completed computer-assisted self‐interviewing on demographics and HIV risk behaviors. If they acquired HIV infection during the study, they received active referral for HIV treatment, continued in the cohort, and were asked about ART initiation. We used logistic regression to determine factors associated with ART initiation. Results: Overall, 632 (36.2%) participants were diagnosed with HIV infection; 463 (73%) had a follow‐up visit reporting information about ART, of those 346 (74%) reported ART initiation, with 323 (93%) on ART initiating ART through their registered national health benefit program. Only 70 (11%) were eligible for ART at time of diagnosis, and 52 (74%) initiated ART, on average, within six months of diagnosis. Multivariable analysis evaluating factors associated with ART initiation demonstrated that low CD4 cell count at time of diagnosis was the only independent factor associated with ART initiation. Conclusions: Most HIV-positive participants in the cohort reported ART initiation through the national health benefit program but limited data suggests there could be improvements in length of time to initiation of ART. Efforts should focus on ART start in MSM and transgender women soon after HIV diagnosis.
Over a third of childbearing women with HIV would like to breastfeed: A UK survey of women living with HIV
Authors: Nyatsanza Farai , Gubbin Jessica , Gubbin Thomas , Seery Paula , Farrugia Pippa , Croucher Adam , Gilleece Yvonne , Rosenvinge Melanie , Roedling Sherie , Sarner Liat , Nayagam Dayawathie , Stradling Clare , Namiba Angelina , Fearnley Nicola , Lyall Hermione
Published: February 2021

The World Health Organisation advice for post-partum women living with HIV (WLHs) in low- and middle-income countries is to breastfeed on suppressive antiretroviral treatment and use infant postnatal prophylaxis. In resource-rich settings, where formula feeding is safe, avoidance of breastfeed is advised. A questionnaire was created to survey attitudes to breastfeeding in WLHs in the United Kingdom. This was offered to all eligible pregnant women in the third trimester or within 3 months post-partum who attended HIV outpatient clinics from 2017 to 2018. Ninety-four women completed the questionnaire, 69% were Black African and 92% had an undetectable HIV viral load. Thirty eight percent stated they would like to breastfeed and 89% said they would breastfeed if they were HIV negative. Sixty two percent had community members question why they did not breastfeed, and 66% felt forced to invent a reason why they were not breastfeeding. Current UK guidelines recommend formula feeding, proposing a harm reduction approach to support women with suppressed HIV who wish to breastfeed. Over a third of respondents said they would like to breastfeed because stigma and secrecy remain an issue for WLHs. This suggests that over time more women may choose this option.
Coupling optimization of casing groove and blade profile for a radial turbine
Authors: Wang Xing , Li Wen , Zhang Xuehui , Chen Haisheng
Published: February 2021

In order to suppress the tip leakage loss and increase the isentropic efficiency in a radial turbine with low aspect ratio blade, a new coupling flow control technology including casing groove and NACA blade profile is proposed and optimized numerically. The coupling effects of casing groove size LS, groove number Numslot, maximum thickness location of profile MLT and leading parameter of profile LP on isentropic efficiency of a radial turbine are obtained with Design of Experiment (DOE) and response surface model. A genetic optimization is achieved and the coupling flow control mechanism is revealed. Complex variation of isentropic efficiency is observed with the coupling effect of groove size and groove number, and maximum isentropic efficiency variation of 0.6% is obtained with the increase of LS when Numslot is 3. The coupling effect between LS and LP, is also significantly influenced by groove number. The lower limit of LP for maximum isentropic efficiency is decreased from 7 to 3 with the increase of groove number. The optimization result illustrates that the isentropic efficiency can be increased by 0.9% at design point when the LS, Numslot, MLT and LP are 0.8 mm, 2, 0.1, and 0.8 respectively. A maximum isentropic efficiency increment of 2.0% is also found when total pressure ratio is 2.1. The optimal casing groove forms a flow opposite to the tip leakage flow to suppress the impact range of the secondary flow near suction surface. At the same time, the optimal NACA profile also decreases the tip leakage velocity near trailing, suppresses the tip leakage vortex generation, and reduces the trailing edge loss.
How Does a Historical System of Meaning Weigh on the Present? Social Representations of Confucianism and Their Role in Young Chinese Lives in the People’s Republic of China
Authors: Xie Tian , Zhou Jue , Liu James H. , Liao Can-can
Published: February 2021

The present study focuses on a new type of social representation: the historical system of meaning embodied by the philosophy and lifeways of Confucianism. Eighteen young and educated Chinese were interviewed face-to-face. Thematic analyses of their transcripts showed that Confucianism representations contained two subthemes, figures (Confucius and Mencius) and thoughts (e.g., propriety and benevolence, etc.). These representations were transmitted by formal education from school and informal education from family, and the influence of Confucianism was often implicit, as evidenced by two subthemes: self-cultivation and social norms. The analyses also showed that almost everything mentioned about Confucianism was more than 2,000 years old and more recent developments were ignored. These results provide insight into how a historically central system of meaning is represented today, when it has lost its institutional bases. It is argued that the social representation of Confucianism is fragmented rather than hegemonic and lacks the systematic coherence that characterises a historical charter. Contributions to social representations theory and implications for how Confucianism could function in the modern world are discussed.
A Linkage Between Biomass Fuel Use, Carbon Monoxide Concentration and Housing Policy: A Case in India
Authors: Roy Poulomi , Banerjee Tanmoyee
Published: February 2021

This article examines the relationship between the indoor carbon monoxide parts per million (CO-ppm) concentration generated from cooking with biomass fuel and the popular housing policy, Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)/Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana of the Government of India that aims at building brick (pucca) houses for a rural population of India. This article is based on a primary survey carried out in two districts of West Bengal, India, covering 360 households. The concentration of CO-ppm in the in-house air was recorded for each surveyed houses at the 10-min interval for an approximately 24-h period using EL-USB-CO data logger (Lascar Electronics, Erie PA, USA). Also, different socio-economic and demographic information was collected using the interview method for each surveyed household. The results indicate positive and significant mean CO-ppm concentration gap for the non-IAY houses over IAY houses over different quantiles of mean CO-ppm distribution. Mean CO-ppm is 4.34 points significantly lower in homes built up under the housing scheme at 50th quantile. The results point out the importance of planned housing and benefit of concrete houses in our survey areas. Housing policies should aim at building a properly designed home with ventilation facilities for minimising CO concentration in dwellings.
Rural Non-farm Sector: Revisiting the Census Towns
Authors: Mitra Arup , Tripathi Sabyasachi
Published: February 2021

The last decade (2001–2011) has witnessed a surge in the number of census towns (CTs) in India, which account for 30% of the country’s urban growth. Though several studies have tried to understand the spatial patterns and factors determining the emergence of these CTs, the all India level has been neglected. Due to an increase in non-farm activities, villages have been transformed into CTs. By considering 2,328 CTs at the all India level, this article investigates the relevant economic determinants of such transformation. To group similar CTs we use cluster analysis by considering several factors such as the size of the population of CTs, rural specific changes, climatic conditions, the growth dynamics of large cities which may spill over to rural hinterland, economic potential, the availability of infrastructures and job opportunities. The analysis suggests that the availability of infrastructure and the growth dynamics of the large cities are important for the emergence of these CTs, whereas rural poverty and unemployment rates do not seem to matter significantly. Finally, we suggest that for higher economic development, the rural to urban transformation is essential. For this purpose, the new CTs can offer an opportunity for increasing non-farm activities and the overall prospects for India. Hence, the policy directives will have to address the requirements of the CTs to emerge as centres of growth.
Increased Australian outpatient private practice psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic: usage of new MBS-telehealth item and face-to-face psychiatrist office-based services in Quarter 3, 2020
Authors: Looi Jeffrey CL , Allison Stephen , Bastiampillai Tarun , Pring William , Reay Rebecca , Kisely Stephen R
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The Australian federal government introduced new COVID-19 psychiatrist Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items to assist with providing private specialist care. We investigate private psychiatrists’ uptake of video and telephone telehealth, as well as total (telehealth and face-to-face) consultations for Quarter 3 (July–September), 2020. We compare these to the same quarter in 2019.

Method:

MBS-item service data were extracted for COVID-19-psychiatrist video and telephone telehealth item numbers and compared with Quarter 3 (July–September), 2019, of face-to-face consultations for the whole of Australia.

Results:

The number of psychiatry consultations (telehealth and face-to-face) rose during the first wave of the pandemic in Quarter 3, 2020, by 14% compared to Quarter 3, 2019, with telehealth 43% of this total. Face-to-face consultations in Quarter 3, 2020 were only 64% of the comparative number of Quarter 3, 2019 consultations. Most telehealth involved short telephone consultations of ⩽15–30 min. Video consultations comprised 42% of total telehealth provision: these were for new patient assessments and longer consultations. These figures represent increased face-to-face consultation compared to Quarter 2, 2020, with substantial maintenance of telehealth consultations.

Conclusions:

Private psychiatrists continued using the new COVID-19 MBS telehealth items for Quarter 3, 2020 to increase the number of patient care contacts in the context of decreased face-to-face consultations compared to 2019, but increased face-to-face consultations compared to Quarter 2, 2020.
Psychiatry in Nazi Germany: an ethical analysis and relevance to psychiatry today
Authors: Gillies Robert Donald , Lim Izaak
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To investigate the war crimes committed by psychiatrists during the German Nazi regime in the twentieth century and better understand the moral arguments used to justify them.

Method:

This article provides a historical review of the crimes committed by psychiatrists in Nazi Germany and ethical analysis from the perspectives of consequentialism and deontology.

Results:

Nazi psychiatrists oversaw the death of more than 200,000 people with mental illnesses and inflicted harm on many more. Consequentialist reasoning may have been used to justify these atrocities. Deontological reasoning proved impervious to exploitation by the Nazi regime, but without codification it was too easily abandoned and thus failed to protect patients.

Conclusions:

A duty-based code of ethics that enshrines universal respect for the humanity, dignity and autonomy of all persons, and condemns the misuse of professional knowledge and skills, may be a safeguard against the future political abuse of psychiatry.
A description of the components of a specialist younger-onset dementia service: a potential model for a dementia-specific service for younger people
Authors: Loi Samantha M , Walterfang Mark , Kelso Wendy , Bevilacqua JoAnne , Mocellin Ramon , Velakoulis Dennis
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

This narrative paper describes the influences behind the development of, and key components of a specialist younger-onset dementia service located in metropolitan Victoria, Australia.

Conclusion:

The Melbourne Young-Onset Dementia Service was established in 2013 and provides diagnosis and ongoing care for people with younger-onset dementia and their families, through collaboration with other medical units, allied health and community services. It is potentially a model for other younger-onset dementia services nationally and internationally.
COVID-19 related mental health issues: a narrative review of psychometric properties of scales and methodological concerns in scale development
Authors: Ransing Ramdas , Dashi Elona , Rehman Sajjadur , Mehta Varun , Chepure Ashish , Kilic Ozge , Hayatudeen Nafisatu , Orsolini Laura , Vahdani Bita , Adiukwu Frances , Gonzalez-Diaz Jairo M , Larnaout Amine , Pinto da Costa Mariana , Grandinetti Paolo , Soler-Vidal Joan , Bytyçi Drita Gashi , Shalbafan Mohammadreza , Nofal Marwa , Pereira-Sanchez Victor , Ramalho Rodrigo
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

The global crisis of COVID-19 and its consequential strict public health measures placed around the world have impacted mental health. New scales and tools have been developed to measure these mental health effects. This narrative review assesses the psychometric properties of these scales and tools and methodological aspects of their development.

Methods:

PubMed, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar were searched for articles published from 15 May 2020 to 15 August 2020. This search used three groups of terms (“tool” OR “scale” AND “mental” OR “psychological”; AND “COVID-19” OR “coronavirus”). The identified scales were further evaluated for their psychometric properties and methodological aspects of their development.

Results:

Though the studies developing these scales ( n = 12) have demonstrated their robust psychometric properties, some methodological concerns are noteworthy. Most of the scales were validated using internet-based surveys, and detailed descriptions of the mode of administration, sampling process, response rates, and augmentation strategies were missing.

Conclusions:

The heterogeneous and inadequate reporting of methods adopted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the identified scales can limit their utility in clinical and research settings. We suggest developing guidelines and checklists to improve the design and testing, and result in reporting of online-administered scales to assess the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Functional outcomes in rural Australia of two continuing care teams: a regional town–city comparison of the 16-item Life Skills Profile
Authors: Husodo Cortney , McDermott Brett , Longhitano Calogero , Matta Gabrielle
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The primary aim was to examine differences in functional health outcomes in consumers entering a regional mental health service compared with a city service.

Method:

A retrospective analysis of consumer outcomes and characteristics was undertaken. Consumer demographics and diagnoses were compared between the two services. Functional outcomes were measured using the 16-item Life Skills Profile (LSP-16). The data analysis plan utilised descriptive statistics. For between-clinic comparisons, relevant inferential statistics was used.

Results:

Patients attending the regional health service were five times more likely to be in the high impairment category on the LSP-16, independent of demographic factors and diagnosis. Other independent contributions to high impairment were being male, Indigenous and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Of the four LSP-16 subscales, regional consumers scored relatively higher on withdrawal, compliance and anti-social but not self-care subscales.

Conclusions:

There was a greater level of functional impairment in consumers attending the regional service. The independent contributions did not explain the higher impairment; therefore, other factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage may explain the difference. Regional clinicians may need to consider recovery-orientated interventions that address a greater burden of functional impairments in regional services.
Modeling and simulation of bonded-type piezoelectric linear motors considering the stress transfer in adhesive layer
Authors: He Ying , Yao Zhiyuan , Dai Shichao , Zhou Lifeng
Published: February 2021

This paper provides a general framework for modeling bonded-type piezoelectric linear motors considering the stress transferred by adhesive layer. A three-dimensional static model of stator is first developed by the principle of minimum potential energy and finite element. The stress transferred by adhesive layer could be simulated and analyzed for arbitrary bonding conditions. Basing on the static stress-transfer analysis, a quasi-static stress acted to substrate by piezoelectric elements is assumed and integrated into the substrate dynamic model. A pure mechanical dynamic model is developed for the electromechanical coupling system of stator. Furthermore, the whole-machine dynamic model of motor is presented by incorporating the frictional contact force into the dynamic model of the stator and an analytical model of the mover. Finally, a bonded-type piezoelectric linear motor with V-shaped stator is investigated as an example for simulations and experiments. The methodology presented here for simulating the transferred load of adhesive layer in bonded-type piezoelectric motor as well as for estimating the vibration characteristics of stator and output performances of motor. It is believed that the proposed method would be helpful to design and manufacture the prototypes due to the wider applicability of allowing for irregular geometry and any bonding conditions.
Choices and Consequences: Recommendations for an Improved Understanding of Cultural Distance in International Marketing Research
Authors: Griffith David A. , Dean Tereza , Hoppner Jessica J.
Published: February 2021

Cultural distance is an important element in the study of international marketing phenomena. However, scholars have voiced significant concerns with its use. Although reviews of cultural distance have been conducted, no research has yet directly addressed how the choices that scholars make in relation to the conceptualization and operationalization of cultural distance influence our understanding of its role in international marketing phenomena. In this work, the authors review concerns pertaining to cultural distance and use them as a foundation to systematically analyze 83 articles referencing cultural distance in the international marketing literature to understand the choices that have been made. They find significant heterogeneity in conceptualization and operationalization of cultural distance. Then, they examine the empirical consequences of this choice heterogeneity within a single data set of 148 suppliers to a European original equipment manufacturer. The findings demonstrate that differences in conceptualizations and operationalizations significantly influence the observed effects of cultural distance and, thus, the understanding of its role in international marketing phenomena. Last, the authors put forth a series of recommendations aimed to enhance the discipline’s ability to build a strong foundation of knowledge of cultural distance’s role in international marketing phenomena.
Predictive Nomogram of Subsequent Liver Metastasis After Mastectomy or Breast-Conserving Surgery in Patients With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Yang Anli , Xiao Weikai , Zheng Shaoquan , Kong Yanan , Zou Yutian , Li Mingyue , Ye Feng , Xie Xiaoming
Published: February 2021

Background:

Metastasis accounts for the majority of deaths in patients with breast cancer. Liver metastasis is reported common for breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to construct a nomogram to predict the likelihood of subsequent liver metastasis in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer, thus high-risk patient populations can be prevented and monitored.

Methods:

A total of 1840 patients with stage I-III breast cancer were retrospectively included and analyzed. A nomogram was constructed to predict liver metastasis based on multivariate logistic regression analysis. SEER database was used for external validation. C-index, calibration curve and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.

Results:

The nomogram included 3 variables related to liver metastasis: HER2 status (odds ratio (OR) 1.86, 95%CI 1.02 to 3.41; P = 0.045), tumor size (OR 3.62, 1.91 to 6.87; P < 0.001) and lymph node metastasis (OR 2.26, 1.18 to 4.34; P = 0.014). The C index of the training cohort, internal validation cohort and external validation cohort were 0.699, 0.814 and 0.791, respectively. The nomogram was well-calibrated, with no statistical difference between the predicted and the observed probabilities.

Conclusion:

We have developed and validated a robust tool enabled to predict subsequent liver metastasis in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer. Distinguishing a population of patients at high risk of liver metastasis will facilitate preventive treatment or monitoring of liver metastasis.
Traumatic abdominal wall rupture in cats: Decision-making and recommended repair techniques
Authors: Hennet Julie M , Williams John
Published: February 2021

Practical relevance:

Traumatic abdominal wall rupture is a potentially serious injury in cats. Feline and general practitioners should be up to date with the significance of these injuries and the procedures required to correct them.

Clinical challenges:

It is essential that the surgeon understands the local anatomy and adheres to Halsted’s principles in order that postoperative morbidity and mortality are kept to a minimum.

Equipment:

Standard general surgical equipment is required together with the facilities to provide adequate pre-, intra- and postoperative patient care.

Evidence base:

The authors have drawn on evidence from the published literature, as well as their own clinical experience, in developing this review aimed all veterinarians who want to update their skills in managing feline abdominal wall trauma.