bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baseline Diameter Does Not Predict Growth Rate in a Presurgical Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Population
Authors: Marway Prabhvir S. , Tjahjadi Nicasius , Campello Jorge Carlos Alberto , Knauer Heather , Spahlinger Gregory , Masotti Maria , Eagle Kim A. , Hofmann Bowman Marion A. , Patel Himanshu J. , Burris Nicholas S.
Published: October 2024

Background

Patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm are recommended to undergo routine imaging surveillance. Although maximal diameter is the primary metric of disease severity, recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines emphasize the importance of aortic growth in determining surgical candidacy and risk. As diameter increases, it is assumed that aortic growth rate accelerates because of increased wall tension; however, this relationship is poorly studied. We aim to investigate the relationship between ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm diameter and growth rate using vascular deformation mapping, a validated technique for 3‐dimensional growth mapping with submillimeter accuracy.

Methods and Results

We retrospectively identified adult patients with ascending aortic dilation (≥4.0 cm) and serial gated computed tomography angiograms separated by ≥2 years, excluding confirmed heritable thoracic aortic disease. Ascending growth rate was defined as 90th percentile radial wall deformation by vascular deformation mapping. Maximal diameter measurements were derived from the baseline computed tomography angiogram, and aortic length and body size–adjusted indexes were calculated. Among 258 included patients (63.2% men; age of 63 years [interquartile range, 55–69 years]), mean±SD baseline diameter was 46.3±3.6 mm and median growth rate was 0.21 mm/year (interquartile range, 0.13–0.38 mm/year). No correlation was noted between growth rate and baseline diameter (
r
=0.02,
P
=0.74) or other aortic size metrics. On multivariate analysis, age was independently predictive of growth rate (β=−0.007,
P
=0.021), alongside weight (β=0.003,
P
=0.016) and the presence of moderate or severe aortic valve insufficiency (β=0.146,
P
=0.049).

Conclusions

Maximal aortic diameter is not predictive of aortic growth rate, in this contemporary cohort of patients with sizes under current surgical thresholds (<55 mm).
Association Between Cerebral Microbleeds and Neurological Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Xu Zhipeng , Zhang Jingchen , Fang Xing , Yu Yongwei , Xu Mi , Li Tong , Yan Jueyue
Published: October 2024

Background

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are common and varied in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Here, the authors describe CMB findings in patients receiving ECMO and their association with clinical factors.

Methods and Results

A total of 138 patients receiving ECMO were enrolled and categorized as venovenous and venoarterial. Blood coagulation profiles during ECMO support and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores within 7 days were recorded. Patients with CMBs exhibited prolonged activated clotting time (
P
<0.001), decreased fibrinogen levels (
P
<0.001), reduced platelet counts (
P
<0.001), and extended prothrombin time (
P
<0.001). A significant correlation (
P
<0.05) was observed between the presence of CMBs and most coagulation parameters among all patients. Patients with venoarterial ECMO had significantly higher activated partial thromboplastin time, activated clotting time, and prothrombin time compared with those with venovenous ECMO (all
P
<0.05). Patients with a less severe CMB burden exhibited higher GCS scores and better neurological injury outcomes at both 7 and 90 days. CMB burden in all patients with ECMO was significantly correlated (
P
<0.05) with most blood coagulation profiles and neurological injury.

Conclusions

CMB burdens after ECMO are common, varied, and associated with a variety of clinical conditions. These findings may guide ECMO management.
How Brains Perceive the World
Authors: Adami Christoph
Published: October 2024

Then knowledge is to be found not in the experiences but in the process of reasoning about them; it is here, seemingly, not in the experiences, that it is possible to grasp being and truth. Plato, Theaetetus

Can machines ever be sentient? Could they perceive and feel things, be conscious of their surroundings? What are the prospects of achieving sentience in a machine? What are the dangers associated with such an endeavor, and is it even ethical to embark on such a path to begin with? In the series of articles of this column, I discuss one possible path toward “general intelligence” in machines: to use the process of Darwinian evolution to produce artificial brains that can be grafted onto mobile robotic platforms, with the goal of achieving fully embodied sentient machines.
(A)Life as It Could Be
Authors: Beer Randall D.
Published: October 2024

On this 30th anniversary of the founding of the Artificial Life journal, I share some personal reflections on my own history of engagement with the field, my own particular assessment of its current status, and my vision for its future development. At the very least, I hope to stimulate some necessary critical conversations about the field of Artificial Life and where it is going.
Holiness in Pentecostal Discourse
Authors: Coulter Dale M.
Published: October 2024

This essay offers a theological reflection on sanctification and holiness within the Pentecostal tradition, while presenting the argument that a Pentecostal understanding of holiness best proceeds by viewing it as the means and goal of participation in God’s life. Holiness is understood as the sum total of divine perfection, being eternally realized through the dynamic triune communion of loving relationality. As the plenitude of divine perfection, holiness expresses an ontology. Glory is the radiance of holiness while righteousness and justice are the enactment of holiness. Rather than confining holiness to the doctrine of sanctification, then, it should be understood as the divine purpose for creation.
A Political Theology of Glossolalia
Authors: Vondey Wolfgang
Published: October 2024

This article examines three biblical events with focus on the politics of language: the confusion of languages at Babel, the speaking in tongues at Pentecost, and the conflict of tongues and prophecies at Corinth. By identifying the ideology inherent in these passages and bringing them into conversation, the comparison aims at constructing a political theology of glossolalia that engages with the intersecting concerns of the sociopolitical and ideological identity of charismatic speech. The successive ideology found in the three events allows for the reading of the Babel narrative to inform the reading of Pentecost, and the two events together to inform the reading of Paul. The result highlights the importance of heteroglossia for resisting the reduction of inspired language to simply one tongue or many tongues and the suppression of any form of inspired speech to the quality of another.
‘Can You See Me?’
Authors: Ellington Scott A.
Published: October 2024

This article explores the transformation from presenting Judah as an object, to be undervalued and held at a distance, to actively ‘re-humanizing’ and populating Daughter Zion with the suffering that the people experienced and which continues to define them as a result of God’s unabated judgment on Judah. A key literary tag propelling this transformation from object to subject is the call to be ‘seen’ by God. The generation who lament here, unlucky enough to be the last generation, carries the weight not only of their own sins, but those of others long gone. The God who has brought about their destruction poured out the wrath of centuries, stored up since the people’s first grumblings in the wilderness. In the end, the people bet everything on the conviction that God is worthy of praise and leave open the question of whether He will look and see. Lamentations concludes with the future uncertain and God’s answer yet to be heard.
Correlativity Between Human Rights and Positive Obligations and Its Role for the Execution of Judgments Delivered by the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Stoyanova Vladislava
Published: October 2024

States have discretion what concrete measures to undertake to fulfil their positive obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (echr). If a violation is found, states also have discretion how to execute the judgment. Yet, when the European Court of Human Rights reasons to conclude whether there has been a violation, it necessarily specifies possible measures that could have been undertaken in the past so that the state could have complied with its obligations. The question at the heart of this article is whether this specification assists in the identification of future measures for the purposes of the execution of the judgment. Hohfeld’s correlativity model and the interest-based theory of rights are invoked. The specified measures indicated in the reasoning do not correlate back to rights. Consequently, any measures that might be commanded by the echr obligations remain vague, which does not assist states in their efforts to execute judgments.
Ancient Greek and Indian Social Contract Theories: a Comparison
Authors: Linderborg Otto
Published: October 2024

This article analyses and compares ancient Greek and Indian social contract theories. On the Greek side, social theories comprising a contractual understanding of the origins of society are encountered, inter alia, in the works of Herodotus, Plato and Polybius – while comparable Indian accounts may be gathered from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, the Dīgha Nikāya and the Mahābhārata. Through close readings of these and other texts, it is shown that both the Greek and Indian theories largely rely on the concept of monarchy as the cornerstone of social order. The Greek and Indian accounts also incorporate certain elements reoccurring in early modern European social contract theories, yet in other respects the former fundamentally differ from the latter.
A New Heat Stress Index for Climate Change Assessment
Authors: Lanzante John R.
Published: October 2024

The heat index (HI), based on Steadman’s model of thermoregulation, estimates heat stress on the human body from ambient temperature and humidity. It has been used widely both in applications, such as the issuance of heat advisories by the National Weather Service (NWS) and for research on possible changes in the future due to climate change. However, temperature/humidity combinations that exceed the applicable range of the model are becoming more common due to climate warming. Recent work by Lu and Romps has produced an extended heat index (EHI), which is valid for values outside the range of the original HI. For these values, the HI can underestimate the EHI by a considerable amount. This work utilizes observed data from 15 U.S. weather stations along with bias-adjusted output from a climate model to explore the spatial and temporal aspects of the disparity between the HI and the EHI from the recent past out to the end of the twenty-first century. The underestimate of human heat stress by the HI is found to be the largest for the most extreme cases (5°–10°C), which are also the most impactful. Conditions warranting NWS excessive heat warnings are found to increase dramatically from less than 5% of days historically at most stations to more than 90% in the future at some stations. Although, by design, the scope of this work is limited, it demonstrates the need for the adoption of the EHI for both applications and research.
Subtotal Versus Total Parathyroidectomy for the Management of Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Optimal Surgical Modality
Authors: Albuck Aaron L. , Landau Madeleine B. , LaForteza Alexandra C. , Hussein Mohammad , Issa Peter P. , McCarthy Christina , Shama Mohamed , Toraih Eman , Kandil Emad
Published: October 2024

Background: Surgery is the definitive treatment option for tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT), however, the optimal surgical approach remains unclear. We aimed to compare total parathyroidectomy (PTX) with auto-transplantation vs subtotal PTX for THPT through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies comparing outcomes of total vs subtotal PTX for THPT. A total of 28 studies (n = 1000 patients) met the inclusion criteria.

Results: The mean age was 46.5 years and 53% were female. The proportion of females (59% vs 49%) was higher in the total PTX with auto-transplantation cohort ( P = .008). Both procedures had similar preoperative calcium and PTH levels. Postoperative and 6-month calcium and PTH were also comparable between groups, except transiently higher post-operative PTH in the total PTX with auto-transplantation cohort ( P = .03). Hypercalcemia cure rates were 98%-100% with no difference between surgical techniques ( P = .67). Safety profiles were comparable and low.

Conclusions: Total PTX with auto-transplantation and subtotal PTX yield similar efficacy and safety for THPT, with no significant differences in cure rates, recurrence, complications, or biochemical control.
Trauma, resilience and significant relationships: Sex differences in protective factors for military mental health
Authors: Dell Lisa , Madden Kelsey , Baur Jenelle , Sbisa Alyssa , McFarlane Alexander , VanHooff Miranda , Bryant Richard , Lawrence-Wood Ellie
Published: October 2024

Background:

Military service is historically a male-dominated occupation, as such, the majority of research examining the development of mental disorder in Australian Defence Force members has had primarily male samples. While there have been mixed findings internationally regarding sex differences in rates of mental disorder and subthreshold symptoms among military personnel, across studies, the evidence tends to suggest that female military members are at least as likely as males to experience subthreshold mental health symptoms and have similar or higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder despite the differences in roles during service. What is less understood is the impact of sex differences in symptom emergence over time and in predictors of clinical disorder.

Method:

The sample included a longitudinal cohort of Australian Defence Force members ( N = 8497) surveyed at Time 1 (2010) and followed up at Time 2 (2015) on measures of anger, self-perceived resilience, trauma exposure, deployment exposure, suicidality, help-seeking, relationship satisfaction and mental health disorder symptoms. Outcomes included Subthreshold Disorder (above the optimal screening cut-off on the 10-item Kessler distress scale or posttraumatic stress disorder checklist) and Probable Disorder (above the epidemiological cut-off on the 10-item Kessler distress scale or posttraumatic stress disorder checklist).

Results:

Results found that while lifetime trauma exposure remained the strongest predictor of later probable disorder emergence among both males and females, for females specifically, self-reported resilience was also a significant protective factor. In contrast, being in a significant relationship at Time 1 was a protective factor against the development of subthreshold disorder in males.

Conclusion:

For the first time, sex differences in mental health symptom emergence over time have been explored in a large Australian cohort of military members. The capacity to adapt and bounce back after adversity emerged as a proactive factor against poor mental health for females in the military and could be addressed as part of routine skills training. Social support from significant relationship was particularly important for males’ mental health, suggesting that maintaining positive relationships and supporting military spouses and partners are critical for males’ mental health.
Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Tourism Using Quality Control Tools
Authors: Lesar Laura , Weaver David B.
Published: October 2024

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are increasingly prevalent in research and practice. Because they help businesses build sustainability, quality control tools offer actionable solutions for addressing the Goals. However, tourism research has yet to systematically investigate the diversity of tools that facilitate business-level contributions to the Goals and Targets. This work addresses this gap through the lens of diffusion of innovations theory, an in-depth instrumental case study, and multiple qualitative methods. Findings contribute to research and practice by revealing 10 tools that enable Goal contributions, including 4 new tools hitherto unacknowledged for this purpose. Outcomes also include a literature-based and empirically enhanced framework of tools to address the Goals, and a fit-for-purpose toolkit that enables contributios to multiple Goals. Theoretically, findings reveal the characteristics of tools that facilitate Goal contributions, including Fordism (post-Fordist, Fordist), function (e.g., measurement), strength (e.g., basic/advanced), administering organization (e.g., internally/externally created), and industry applicability (e.g., sector-specificity).
Indigenous Autonomies in Latin America in the Face of Contemporary Capitalism: Overview, Perspectives, and Dilemmas: Part 2
Authors: Martínez Navarrete Edgars , Stahler-Sholk Richard
Published: October 2024

This is the second part of a two-part series, beginning with the July 2024 issue of this journal, exploring the diversity of Indigenous autonomies confronting neoliberal capitalism and their dilemmas and strategic choices.

Esta es la segunda parte de una serie de dos, comenzando con el número correspondiente a julio de 2024 de la presente revista, que exploran la diversidad de autonomías indígenas frente al capitalismo neoliberal, así como sus dilemas y opciones estratégicas.
A Novel Screening Tool for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Kubilay Utku , Agayarov Ozlem Yagız , Arslan Burcu Oktay , Sancaktar Omer , Cevher Kutluhan , Ucar Zeynep Zeren , Cukurova Ibrahim
Published: October 2024

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition with long waiting lists for the gold standard polysomnography (PSG) test. Screening tests are essential to identify and prioritize patients with severe OSA. Current questionnaires do not accurately detect severe cases. This study aims to develop an alternative screening tool based on anthropometric and morphological characteristics to determine the severity of OSA. Methods: The study included 149 patients with sleep apnea symptoms who did not have additional diseases. The obstructive sleep apnea morphologic scale (OSAMS) was created using 5 parameters: 3 internal parameters related to the upper respiratory tract (tonsil size, oropharyngeal passage, and hypopharyngeal-laryngeal examination) and 2 external parameters (neck circumference and body mass index). Each parameter was scored, and the total scores were correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of PSG to determine the severity of OSA. Results: A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between AHI and OSAMS scores (rho = .491; P < .001). A grand total score >4 provided 80.3% sensitivity and 53.9% specificity to identify patients with severe OSA. OSAMS demonstrated superior results compared to existing questionnaires for OSA screening in our study group. Conclusions: OSAMS is a potential alternative to existing questionnaires to screen patients with severe OSA, offering a practical approach based on morphology during physical examinations.
Catalysts for Change: The Impact of Reflective Conversations on Leaders’ Hope and Change-Oriented Behaviors
Authors: Lee Hun Whee , Kim Sooyeol
Published: October 2024

How can leaders effectively navigate challenges and drive positive change in the workplace? This research introduces reflective conversations as a powerful catalyst for leaders’ change-oriented initiatives. Integrating transformative learning theory and hope theory, we suggest that reflective conversations improve leaders’ sense of hope and subsequently facilitate their transformational leadership and creative behaviors. We further introduce hardships (Study 1) and relationship quality (Studies 2 and 3) as key boundary conditions. We conducted a content validation study to validate our measure of reflection conversation and further conducted two experience sampling studies and one online experiment to test the transformational power of daily reflective conversations. The results reveal that when leaders experience hardships or have high-quality relationships with others, reflective conversations can be a powerful force in terms of fueling their sense of hope and inspiring them to exercise transformational leadership and creative behaviors.
Relationships Between Family Resilience, Individual Resilience, and Quality of Life in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Liu Yuan-Yuan , Shen Xia , Yang Fei , Song Shao Zheng , Huang Jian Feng
Published: October 2024

Background:

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) have to cope with a multitude of treatment-related adverse effects that impact their quality of life (QoL) post-treatment completion. The presence of family resilience could potentially foster individual resilience and might contribute to patients’ QoL. However, this interconnection has not been confirmed.

Objective:

To explore the relationships between family resilience, individual resilience, and QoL in patients with HNC and to determine whether individual resilience in HNC patients functions as a mediator between family resilience and QoL.

Methods:

From September 2022 to June 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 185 patients with HNC recruited through convenience sampling from a tertiary care hospital in Jiangsu Province, China. Self-report measures of family resilience, individual resilience, and QoL were assessed. Relationships were examined by Pearson’s correlations. Structural equation models were used to assess whether individual resilience played a mediating role between family resilience and QoL.

Results:

There were significant positive correlations between QoL and both family resilience ( r = 0.43, P < .01) and individual resilience ( r = 0.59, P < .01). Moreover, family resilience had an indirect influence on QoL through its effect on individual resilience (β = 0.319, 95% CI: 0.336-0.815).

Conclusion:

Family resilience emerges as a significant positive factor capable of enhancing QoL for patients with HNC by bolstering their resilience. To mitigate the detrimental effects of inadequate individual resilience on QoL of patients with HNC, it is advised to implement interventions focused on enhancing family resilience.

China Clinical Trials Registry number:

ChiCTR2300067612
Electricity Price and Inflation: Macroeconomic Implications of Real-Time Pricing
Authors: Garzon Antonio J. , Hierro Luis A.
Published: October 2024

Electricity prices can be an important driver of inflation. However, the transmission from wholesale electricity price to inflation depends on the type of pricing mechanism in the retail market. Using the introduction of Real-Time Pricing (RTP) in the Spanish retail electricity market, we analyze the transmission of wholesale electricity price shocks to inflation dynamics and how this transmission is affected by the introduction of RTP. The main findings are that—after RTP was rolled out—electricity price shocks display a swifter transmission to inflation while the maximum impact is around three times higher than in the previous period. This higher transmission is not only generated by a more pronounced reaction of the retail electricity price but is also caused by a greater transmission of these shocks to core inflation. These results imply that introducing RTP impacts inflation dynamics and, therefore, affects how central banks should react to this type of shock.

JEL Classification: E31, Q43, Q48
Mindfulness and attachment security in romantic relationships: The role of emotion regulation as a mediator
Authors: Ng Melody C. Y. , Wang Iris Yili , Cheung Rebecca Y. M.
Published: October 2024

Research suggests that mindfulness is positively related to attachment security in romantic relationships. However, studies on the processes underlying this association are relatively scarce. In this longitudinal study, we investigated the mediating role of emotion dysregulation between mindfulness and attachment insecurity. A total of 333 Chinese university students were recruited for three time points, with a 6-month lag between time points, to complete self-report questionnaires of mindfulness, emotion dysregulation, attachment avoidance, and attachment anxiety. Cross-lagged mediation analysis showed that greater mindfulness was indirectly associated with lower attachment anxiety via lower emotion dysregulation, after controlling for age, gender, and autoregressive control variables, indicating emotion dysregulation as a mediator. However, emotion dysregulation did not mediate the longitudinal association between mindfulness and attachment avoidance. The present findings inform researchers of the importance of cultivating mindfulness and emotion regulation to enhance attachment security in romantic relationships.
Navigating industry 4.0: Crafting a responsive curriculum for library and information science
Authors: Livi Yanga , Gabriel Salubi Oghenere
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a nascent conceptual framework (The LISI4C framework) for designing a Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum tailored to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 (4IR) in particularly South Africa, with global applicability. The framework is developed through an extensive literature review, drawing from a diverse range of sources. It integrates technical proficiencies, soft skills, adaptability, a global perspective, stakeholder collaboration, experiential learning, predictive skills, and a commitment to continuous curriculum updates to create a holistic educational model. The conceptual framework places technical skills at its core, and expertise in emerging technologies. Soft skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, are integrated to foster a well-rounded skill set. A transdisciplinary approach encourages exploration beyond traditional LIS boundaries. The LISI4C framework also underscores the importance of sense-making, adaptability, and a global perspective in preparing graduates for the dynamic 4IR landscape. This paper contributes to the LIS education field by offering a forward-looking LISI4C framework that aligns LIS curriculum with the requirements of 4IR. The framework draws upon key elements, including technical proficiencies, soft skills, adaptability, a global perspective, stakeholder collaboration, experiential learning, predictive skills, and continuous curriculum updates, to create a holistic and forward-looking educational model.
Definition and recommendations of advance care planning: A Delphi study in five Asian sectors
Authors: Mori Masanori , Chan Helen Y. L. , Lin Cheng-Pei , Kim Sun-Hyun , Ng Han Lip Raymond , Martina Diah , Yuen Kwok Keung , Cheng Shao-Yi , Takenouchi Sayaka , Suh Sang-Yeon , Menon Sumytra , Kim Jungyoung , Chen Ping-Jen , Iwata Futoshi , Tashiro Shimon , Kwok Oi Ling Annie , Peng Jen-Kuei , Huang Hsien-Liang , Morita Tatsuya , Korfage Ida J. , Rietjens Judith A. C. , Kizawa Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2024

Background:

In Confucian-influenced Asian societies, explicit end-of-life conversations are uncommon and family involvement in decision-making is crucial, which complicates the adoption of culturally sensitive advance care planning.

Aim:

To develop a consensus definition of advance care planning and provide recommendations for patient-centered and family-based initiatives in Asia.

Design:

A five-round Delphi study was performed. The rating of a definition and 84 recommendations developed based on systematic reviews was performed by experts with clinical or research expertise using a 7-point Likert scale. A median = 1 and an inter-quartile range = 0–1 were considered very strong agreement and very strong consensus, respectively.

Setting/participants:

The Delphi study was carried out by multidisciplinary experts on advance care planning in five Asian sectors (Hong Kong/Japan/Korea/Singapore/Taiwan).

Results:

Seventy-seven of 115 (67%) experts rated the statements. Advance care planning is defined as “a process that enables individuals to identify their values, to define goals and preferences for future medical treatment and care, to discuss these values, goals, and preferences with family and/or other closely related persons, and health-care providers, and to record and review these preferences if appropriate.” Recommendations in the domains of considerations for a person-centered and family-based approach, as well as elements, roles and tasks, timing for initiative, policy and regulation, and evaluations received high levels of agreement and consensus.

Conclusions:

Our definition and recommendations can guide practice, education, research, and policy-making in advance care planning for Asian populations. Our findings will aid future research in crafting culturally sensitive advance care planning interventions, ensuring Asians receive value-aligned care.
Pharmacological treatment of pain, dyspnea, death rattle, fever, nausea, and vomiting in the last days of life in older people: A systematic review
Authors: Biesbrouck Tim , Jennes Dine AD , Van Den Noortgate Nele , De Roo Maaike L
Published: October 2024

Background:

Evidence based guidelines for treatment of physical symptoms during the last days of life in older people are not available.

Aim:

We wanted to synthesize the existing evidence on the pharmacological treatment of pain, dyspnea, death rattle, fever, nausea, and vomiting during the last days of life in older people to develop recommendations that can help guide clinical practice.

Design:

A systematic review was conducted (PROSPERO #CRD42023406100) and reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Data sources:

MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from inception till March 2023, together with national and international guideline databases.

Results:

Four predominantly descriptive studies on opioid use were included for the treatment of pain and four for dyspnea, without clear evidence for the choice of one specific opioid, nor a specific opioid dose. For death rattle, five randomized controlled trials and two retrospective studies were included. These provide evidence for the prophylactic treatment of death rattle with hyoscine butylbromide. For fever, nausea, and vomiting, no articles met the inclusion criteria.

Conclusion:

Limited evidence exists to guide the pharmacological treatment of pain, dyspnea, death rattle, fever, nausea, and vomiting in the last days of life of older people. Other than the use of opioids for treatment of pain and dyspnea and prophylactic administration of hyoscine butylbromide to decrease the likelihood of developing death rattle, no specific recommendations can be formulated for use in clinical practice. This demonstrates the challenging nature of research in the last days of life of older people, despite its pressing need.
Real-time reactive task allocation and planning of large heterogeneous multi-robot systems with temporal logic specifications
Authors: Chen Ziyang , Kan Zhen
Published: October 2024

Existing methods for the task allocation and planning (TAP) of multi-robot systems with temporal logic specifications mainly rely on optimization-based approaches or graph search techniques applied to the product automaton. However, these methods suffer from high computational cost and scale poorly with the number of robots and the complexity of temporal logic tasks, thus limiting the applicability in real-time implementation, especially for large multi-robot systems. To address these challenges, this work develops a novel TAP framework that can solve reactive temporal logic planning problems for large-scale heterogeneous multi-robot systems (HMRS) in real time. Specifically, we develop a planning decision tree (PDT) to represent the task progression and task allocation specialized for HMRS with temporal logic specifications. Based on the PDT, we develop two key search algorithms—the planning decision tree search (PDTS) and the interactive planning decision tree search (IPDTS)—where PDTS generates an offline plan which will be modified online by PDTS and IPDTS jointly to enable fast reactive planning if environmental changes or temporary tasks occur. Such a design can generate satisfying plan for HMRS with multiple orders of magnitude more robots than those that existing methods can manipulate. Rigorous analysis shows that the PDT-based planning is feasible (i.e., the generated plan is applicable) and complete (i.e., a feasible plan, if exits, is guaranteed to be found). The algorithm complexity further indicates that the solution time is only linearly proportional to the robot numbers and types. Simulation and experiment results demonstrate that reactive plan can be generated for large HMRS in real-time, which outperforms the state-of-the-art methods.
Encephalomyelitis and serositis caused by Chlamydia pecorum in buffalo calves from Brazil
Authors: de Souza Larissa L. , Pavarini Saulo P. , Bandinelli Marcele B. , Borel Nicole , Pupin Rayane C. , Ramos Carlos A.N. , Lemos Ricardo A.A. , Gomes Danilo C.
Published: October 2024

Chlamydia pecorum causes subclinical infections in cattle, but sporadic, bovine encephalomyelitis cases have been reported in calves and documented in two instances in European buffalo. An outbreak of Chlamydia pecorum-induced encephalomyelitis and serositis occurred in 3-month-old buffalo calves from Brazil. Initially presenting with pelvic limb incoordination, the calves progressed to lateral recumbency, depression, and death. Necropsies of two calves revealed encephalomyelomalacia, fibrin deposition on the external surface of the pericardium (case 1) and pleural and pericardial fibrosis (case 2). Microscopically, a multifocal to coalescing, necrotizing, neutrophilic and lymphocytic meningoencephalomyelitis with fibrinoid vasculitis and thrombosis was present. Anti- Chlamydia antibody labeling was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Bacteriological examination yielded no pathogenic bacteria in the brain or lungs. Chlamydia pecorum was confirmed by PCR. This work describes the gross, histopathological, microbiological, and molecular findings in two cases from an outbreak of Chlamydia pecorum-induced disease in buffalo calves.
The Role of Health Systems in Cross-Sector Collaboration in Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Promoting Health and Well-Being
Authors: Ault-Brutus Andrea , John Sashane
Published: October 2024

The articles featured underscore the critical role of trust, strategic planning, and cross-sector partnerships in addressing health inequities, while emphasizing the need for further research on sustainable and cost-effective collaboration models. Tocco and colleagues from Northwell Health describe the formation of the Health Equity Taskforce (HET), initially aimed at equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution on Long Island. The HET has since expanded to address broader health disparities, focusing on community involvement, strategic partnerships, and sustainability. Nemiroff and colleagues discuss collaborations with community partners and payors to address social determinants of health in underserved populations, highlighting opportunities that can facilitate collaborations such as the New York State’s Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver.
Trajectory planning for intelligent vehicle obstacle avoidance in rainy and snowy conditions
Authors: Zhu Lan , He Yuchao , Liu Zhuofan
Published: October 2024

To address the problems of intelligent vehicles navigating obstacles on rainy and snowy road surfaces, this study establishes a two-layer model comprising of an upper-level local path planning layer and a lower-level trajectory tracking control layer. The aim is to enhance the safety and stability of intelligent vehicles during lane changes and obstacle avoidance. In the local path planning layer, an obstacle avoidance function is introduced and optimized using the repulsive force function of the artificial potential fields method, followed by analysis using nonlinear model predictive control. In the trajectory tracking control layer, constraints are designed on front-wheel steering angle, steering angle increment, center of mass lateral deviation angle, lateral acceleration, yaw angle, and yaw angular velocity based on model predictive control and two-degree-of-freedom vehicle dynamics constraints. To validate the effectiveness of the model, this study utilized the CarSim/Simulink joint simulation platform to establish three different vehicle speeds of 36, 72, and 108 km/h, and designed two typical experimental scenarios of single obstacle avoidance and multiple obstacle continuous avoidance. The results indicate that optimizing the obstacle avoidance function using the repulsive force function of the artificial potential field method can reduce the lateral displacement of the intelligent vehicle by an average of 0.079 and 0.118 m in both scenarios, resulting in smoother trajectories. Additionally, the yaw angle is reduced by an average of 0.392° and 0.407°, making the vehicle more stable.
Genetic algorithm-based shape optimization of rubber mount for tractor-cabin mounting system
Authors: Kang Min-woo , Han Hyun-woo , Park Jung-ho , Cho Seung-je , Park Young-jun
Published: October 2024

Tractors are widely used for agricultural activities worldwide by farmers. The cabin mount of a tractor supports the weight of the cabin and isolates vibrations from the chassis. In this study, the cabin mount-shape parameters were optimized considering its design characteristics to reduce vibration and noise inside the cabin. Additionally, vibration and noise tests were conducted to evaluate the improvement in isolation performance owing to the optimization. The nonlinear material constants of the Mooney–Rivlin hyperelastic model were obtained through tensile tests on rubber materials. A finite element model of the cabin mount was developed, and an analysis model was constructed to derive the vertical and lateral stiffness and displacement transmissibility through static and dynamic analyses using the ABAQUS program. The shape parameters influencing vertical and lateral stiffness were determined, and an objective function to minimize displacement transmissibility was defined for optimization. The vertical and lateral displacement transmission rates of the mount were successfully decreased through the optimization. The noise and vibration test results indicate that the cabin noise decreased by approximately 1–2 dB, while vibrations in the frequency range below 100 Hz were reduced by more than 3 dB in all directions. The proposed technique can help engineers and manufacturers improve driver comfort and mitigate the adverse effects of excessive noise and vibrations on their mental and physical health.
Towards a trusted genomics repository: Identifying commercialisation fears and preferred forms of governance across segments of the community
Authors: Elphinstone Brad , Walshe Jarrod , Nicol Dianne , Taylor Mark
Published: October 2024

A latent class analysis on a nationally representative Australian sample ( N = 1000) identified four subgroups (i.e. classes), ranging from high to low concern about, and willingness to donate to, a national genomic repository under different forms of public and commercial management and access. The distribution of concerns and governance preferences across these classes was investigated. This added to previous research by indicating the degree to which extant concerns (e.g. corporate profiteering, discrimination by insurers) are held by different segments of the community. Based on the governance mechanisms that had widespread support across segments, the following recommendations are made to develop a trusted Australian genomic repository: the repository cannot be solely profit-driven; can utilise an access committee; protections (e.g. ensuring confidentiality of donors) may not require new legislation; data users cannot retain data for future research; the public should remain informed about the intended and/or actual benefits of research.
The Moderating Role of Proposed External Incentives on COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions in an Emerging Economy Context
Authors: Akhtar Mohammed Anam , Khan Khurram Ajaz , Fatima Shaista , Tripathi Pankaj Kumar
Published: October 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for widespread vaccination to combat the spread of the virus and protect public health. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence COVID-19 vaccination intentions and examine the moderating role of proposed external incentives in an emerging economy context. Specifically, the study explores the impact of attitude, subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioural (PB) control on vaccination intentions and examines how external incentives interact with these factors to strengthen vaccination intentions. Data was collected through 318 structured self-report questionnaires administered to individuals. The collected data underwent statistical analysis using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0. The analysis fulfilled all the necessary assumptions and criteria for data quality and model robustness. The findings indicate that attitude, SN and PB control significantly influence individuals’ intentions to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the main contribution of this study lies in its revelation that proposed external incentives positively impact the relationship between attitude and vaccination intentions. This suggests that external factors, such as monetary and non-monetary incentives, play a crucial role in attracting individuals towards preventive vaccination. The findings hold practical implications for policymakers and medical service providers, as they highlight the importance of external incentives in positively influencing vaccination intentions. These insights can aid in designing effective strategies to encourage vaccine uptake and reduce the likelihood of future pandemics.
Investigating the Antecedents of Corporate Governance Influencing the Investment Efficiency of Firms: A Synthesis of Literature and Future Research Agenda
Authors: Bhullar Pritpal Singh , Gupta Pradeep Kumar
Published: October 2024

This review study investigates the critical antecedents of corporate governance affecting firms’ investment efficiency. It proposes a comprehensive framework encompassing corporate governance’s multifaceted aspects for all stakeholders’ benefit. A thorough literature evaluation has been conducted using the SCOPUS database, encompassing all publications published between 2010 and June 2023. The existing body of literature has also been examined through the theoretical frameworks, journals, authors, articles and research construct questions. After synthesising 154 articles through bibliometric analysis, four key antecedents (financial reporting quality, auditing and accounting quality, environmental, social and governance (ESG), institutional ownership and board structure) of corporate governance were identified as primary influencers of investment efficiency. New corporate governance perspectives, such as ESG and carbon taxation in the context of investment efficiency, have been identified and can be explored in depth by future researchers. The review provides a holistic framework for corporate governance, which defines the association with investment efficiency. The study presents potential future research areas where scholars can extend the scope of corporate governance from the perspective of investment efficiency.
Management of Lumbar Radiculopathy with Ayurveda: A Single Case Study
Authors: Makode Ankush , Parwe Shweta , Nisargandha Milind , Sawarkar Punam
Published: October 2024

Background

Lumbar radiculopathy refers to the compression of a nerve root as it exits the lumbosacral column. The word “radiculopathy” describes symptoms that develop when the lumbosacral nerve roots are compressed. This comprises varying degrees of radiating pain, numbness or tingling, weakness, and irregular gait. The patient was treated with Panchakarma procedures and Ayurvedic oral medications, resulting in satisfactory outcomes with no reported side effects.

Purpose

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Panchakarma and Ayurvedic oral medications in treating lumbar radiculopathy.

Methodology

A single case study of a 21-year-old male suffering from pain in the lumbar region radiating to the right leg, restricted movement, and difficulty walking and standing for nine months. He was treated with Panchakarma, including local massage, Katibasti, Matravasti, Niruha Vasti, and Patrapottali Sweda, followed by oral medications. Treatment was continued for 14 days.

Results

The patient’s symptoms have been monitored for 14 days. The outcome was satisfactory, and the patient’s quality of life significantly improved.

Conclusion

Interventions stated earlier give significant relief in the management of lumbar Radiculopathy.
Modelling the effects of the reading medium on L2 Spanish reading emotions: The moderating role of individual difference variables
Authors: Yang Fan , Yang Xiaoming
Published: October 2024

While existing research has documented that the reading medium significantly impacts language learners’ reading comprehension processes and outcomes, empirical evidence on how the reading medium influences reading emotions is lacking. The present study contributes to the field by investigating whether reading emotions (i.e. enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom) of learners of Spanish as a second language (L2) differ between mobile-assisted and paper-based reading processes. In addition, it explores whether individual difference variables (i.e. L2 Spanish proficiency and preferences for the reading medium) moderate the relationship between the reading medium and reading emotions. The instruments used are reading comprehension tests and questionnaire surveys administered to a sample of 245 first-year college students majoring in Spanish. Paired samples t-tests indicate that L2 Spanish learners perceive more enjoyment and less negative emotions when reading from a paper-based format than those from a mobile-assisted mode. In addition, moderation analyses indicate that both L2 Spanish proficiency and preferences for the medium are moderators of the relationships between the medium and reading emotions. More proficient L2 Spanish readers perceive more enjoyment and less anxiety and boredom when reading from paper than those from mobile phones; less proficient L2 readers demonstrate the opposite pattern. Students’ preference for mobile-assisted language reading would significantly enhance their reading enjoyment while reducing reading anxiety and boredom when they engage in such a type of reading mode. These results imply that individual differences are crucial factors in shaping students’ emotions across different reading modes. Reasons for differences in reading emotions across mediums and the moderating roles of individual variables are discussed.