bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two Cases of Acute Focal Bacterial Nephritis With Central Nervous System Manifestations in Children and Literature Review
Authors: Lin Tiantian , Chen Chaoying , Tu Juan , Li Huarong
Published: March 2023

Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is a kidney disease characterized by a localized bacterial infection that manifests as an inflammatory mass. Most children with AFBN have nonspecific symptoms including fever, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort, and some develop neurological symptoms such as meningeal irritation, unconsciousness, and seizures as their condition worsens. This was 2 cases of AFBN with central nervous system manifestations in children, and we analyzed its possible mechanisms of the clinical and radiographic features. We experience 2 very unusual cases of AFBN which were linked to central nervous system abnormalities. A 6-year-old boy with AFBN and clinically moderate ncephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) presented with neurological symptoms, including unconsciousness and convulsions. The second case involved an 8-year-old child with AFBN-associated acute encephalopathy who exhibited neurological symptoms, including unconsciousness. According to previous research, AFBN is linked to central nervous system impairment. As a result, when a clinician meets a patient with an inexplicable fever caused by a neurological condition, he should pay attention to this diagnosis of AFBN and follow it in the abdominal graph.
Lower Respiratory Infections in Children With Febrile Neutropenic Leukemia: A Case in a Jordanian Hospital
Authors: Nimer Nabil , Kahder Maher , Oudat Raida , Hazaima Ruba , Alkaabna Awatif
Published: March 2023

The study aimed to examine the prevalence of pneumonia in pediatric children diagnosed with leukemia at King Hussein Medical Center, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan. The study was conducted from January 2019 to March 2020. A total of 100 hospitalized leukemia patients with febrile neutropenic episodes were evaluated for the presence of pneumonia. Samples were collected from all patients and tested for microbial growth. Univariate analysis revealed that age ( P = .033) and packed cell volume ( P = .006) were statistically significant risk factors, associated with the prevalence of pneumonia in leukemia patients with febrile neutropenia episodes. Similarly, as the absolute neutrophil count counts increased with an odds ratio and a 95% confidence interval of 2.386 (0.859-6.625), the odds of pneumonia in febrile neutropenic patients were more prevalent. The study reported the prevalence of pneumonia in immunocompromised febrile neutropenic patients with leukemia, which could lead to the development of evidence-based febrile neutropenic treatment protocol development. It will assure more responsive patient management and treatment.
Adverse Outcomes in Topical Lidocaine Exposure: A Pediatric Case Series From the United States National Poison Data System
Authors: Eisenberg Jonathan , Tedford Natalie J. , Weaver Nicholas , Becker Sarah , Moss Michael J.
Published: March 2023

To examine the clinical outcomes of topical lidocaine exposures in pediatric patients reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS). We performed a retrospective review of the NPDS in pediatric patients with topical lidocaine toxicity from 2000 to 2020. Specific data analyzed were age, exposure chronicity, medical outcome, clinical effects, treatments, and disposition. Narrative case records were requested from poison centers. Of 37 cases identified, mean age was 5 years with age distribution of 1- to 0 days (n = 8), 1 to 24 months (n = 11), and 2-18 years (n = 18). Exposure chronicity was acute in 33 (89.2%) or chronic in 4 (10.8%). Moderate effects were seen in 25 (67.6%), major effects in 10 (27%), and 2 deaths (5.4%). The most common clinical effects included cyanosis (29.7%), seizures (18.9%), central nervous systems (CNS) depression (13.5%), drowsiness/lethargy (13.5%), and tachycardia (10.8%). The most common treatments were dilution/irrigation (35.1%), intravenous (IV) fluids (29.7%), oxygen (29.7%), methylene blue (27%), benzodiazepines (13.5%), and intubation (10.8%). Non-intensive care unit (ICU) disposition occurred for 23 patients (62.2%) and ICU admission for 14 (37.8%). Case details were requested for 37 cases, 16 cases (43.2%) were provided. Of the 2 deaths, 1 had significant cardiac history. The most common use of topical lidocaine was at home prior to a dermatologic procedure (37.5%). Topical lidocaine can induce serious outcomes resulting in ICU level care or death; however, moderate/major effects were well tolerated without comorbidities. Most patients discharged home. Given frequent use of topical, especially in outpatient settings, greater vigilance should be taken with prescriptions, instructions for use, and anticipatory guidance.
Pandemic racism and sexism in Australia: Responses and reflections among Asian women
Authors: Ang Sylvia , Song Jay , Pan Qiuping
Published: March 2023

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have emerged to address either racism or women’s issues. Studies that address the intersection of pandemic racism and sexism are lacking and the experiences of Asian women have been neglected. Drawing on interviews with 20 Asian women living in Victoria, Australia, this article aims to bridge the gap between studies of pandemic racism and the issues women faced during the pandemic. The article’s intervention is threefold, we ask: first, how have Asian women in Australia experienced racism? Second, how have their experiences of racism intersected with sexism? Third, how do they make sense of their experiences and thoughts about the future? Our analysis argues three points: first, the lack of attention to Asian women’s experiences of racism obscures the fact that Asian women can encounter racism more than their male counterparts. Second, the lack of attention to how sexism intersects with Asian women’s experiences of racism causes them the inability to make sense of their experiences and prevents them from stopping mistreatment. Third, participants’ reflections show that there is potential for women of colour in general to form coalitions based on sharing intersectionality and offer valuable insights for feminist and antiracist studies and initiatives.
Sex-specific Neural Strategies During Fatiguing Work in Older Adults
Authors: Tyagi Oshin , Mehta Ranjana K.
Published: March 2023

Background

Historical biases in ergonomics-related studies have been attributed to lack of participant diversity and sensitivity of measurements to capture variability between diverse groups. We posit that a neuroergonomics approach, that is, study of brain-behavior relationships during fatiguing work, allows for unique insights on sex differences in fatigue mechanisms that are not available via traditional “neck down” measurement approaches.

Objective

This study examined the supraspinal mechanisms of exercise performance under fatigue and determined if there were any sex differences in these mechanisms.

Methods

Fifty-nine older adults performed submaximal handgrip contractions until voluntary fatigue. Traditional ergonomics measures, namely, force variability, electromyography (EMG) of arm muscles, and strength and endurance times, and prefrontal and motor cortex hemodynamic responses were recorded.

Results

There were no significant differences observed between older males and females in fatigability outcomes (i.e., endurance times, strength loss, and EMG activity) and brain activation. Effective connectivity from prefrontal to motor areas was significant for both sexes throughout the task, but during fatigue, males had higher interregional connectivity than females.

Discussion

While traditional metrics of fatigue were comparable between the sexes, we observed distinct sex-specific neuromotor strategies (i.e., information flow between frontal-motor regions) that were adopted by older adults to maintain motor performance.

Application

The findings from this study offer insights into the capabilities and adaptation strategies of older men and women under fatiguing conditions. This knowledge can facilitate in the development of effective and targeted ergonomic strategies that accommodate for the varying physical capacities of diverse worker demographics.
Asset Portfolios in Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security: Lessons From Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Jaison Chatsiwa , Reid Memory , Simatele Mulala Danny
Published: March 2023

Climate variability and change are projected to continue impacting many of the poor and small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to examine how small-scale farmers in the Gokwe South district of Zimbabwe are building their adaptive capacity and resilience against climate change and achieving food security. Primary data was collected using questionnaires both in structured and semi-structured interviews, and participatory observations through a transect walk for physical observations. The study utilised the participatory climate change asset adaptation appraisal (PCCAA), as a methodological and analytical framework, to explore the different ways in which the small-scale farmers in the Gokwe South district of Zimbabwe are building their adaptive capacity and resilience against climate change. The study also explores the factors that influence small-scale farmers’ adoption of climate change adaptation and food security. The small-scale and rural farmers in Zimbabwe are not passive actors but are actively involved in developing innovative local adaptation strategies using an array of available assets. Findings from this study noted that asset absence or its replacement with the ‘wrong’ mix of assets and asset erosion exacerbated the food insecurity in the Gokwe South district.
Diabetes, Edentulism, and Cognitive Decline: A 12-Year Prospective Analysis
Authors: Wu B. , Luo H. , Tan C. , Qi X. , Sloan F.A. , Kamer A.R. , Schwartz M.D. , Martinez M. , Plassman B.L.
Published: March 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a recognized risk factor for dementia, and increasing evidence shows that tooth loss is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. However, the effect of the co-occurrence of DM and edentulism on cognitive decline is understudied. This 12-y cohort study aimed to assess the effect of the co-occurrence of DM and edentulism on cognitive decline and examine whether the effect differs by age group. Data were drawn from the 2006 to 2018 Health and Retirement Study. The study sample included 5,440 older adults aged 65 to 74 y, 3,300 aged 75 to 84 y, and 1,208 aged 85 y or older. Linear mixed-effect regression was employed to model the rates of cognitive decline stratified by age cohorts. Compared with their counterparts with neither DM nor edentulism at baseline, older adults aged 65 to 74 y (β = −1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.56 to −0.65; P < 0.001) and those aged 75 to 84 y with both conditions (β = −1.35; 95% CI, −2.09 to −0.61; P < 0.001) had a worse cognitive function. For the rate of cognitive decline, compared to those with neither condition from the same age cohort, older adults aged 65 to 74 y with both conditions declined at a higher rate (β = −0.15; 95% CI, −0.20 to −0.10; P < 0.001). Having DM alone led to an accelerated cognitive decline in older adults aged 65 to 74 y (β = −0.09; 95% CI, −0.13 to −0.05; P < 0.001); having edentulism alone led to an accelerated decline in older adults aged 65 to 74 y (β = −0.13; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.08; P < 0.001) and older adults aged 75 to 84 (β = −0.10; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.03; P < 0.01). Our study finds the co-occurrence of DM and edentulism led to a worse cognitive function and a faster cognitive decline in older adults aged 65 to 74 y.
Are the “Big 5” Personality Traits Associated With Substance Use Self-Stigma?
Authors: Brown Seth A.
Published: March 2023

Self-stigma among individuals with substance use problems is notably high, but not all individuals with substance use problems experience elevated self-stigma. Unfortunately, there is limited research to account for such variation. A few studies have examined the association between personality traits from the five-factor model (FFM; “Big 5”) and self-stigma among those with mental illness, but no research exists among individuals with substance use disorders. Based on data from 125 individuals residing in a substance use treatment unit, the FFM personality traits collectively account for 33% to 56% of the variance across four components of self-stigma. More specifically, individuals with high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, and/or low extraversion experience greater self-stigma. The identification of at-risk individuals, via personality traits, could allow for development of targeted interventions to address self-stigma, and ultimately improve treatment retention and outcomes.
Health Lifestyle Theory in a Changing Society: The Rise of Infectious Diseases and Digitalization
Authors: Cockerham William C.
Published: March 2023

Social change produces alterations in society that necessitate changes in sociological theories. Two significant changes affecting health lifestyle theory are the behaviors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the digitalization of society. The health-protective practices emerging from the ongoing pandemic and the recent parade of other newly emerging infectious diseases need to be included in the theory’s framework. Moreover, the extensive digitalization of today’s society leads to the addition of connectivities (electronic networks) as a structural variable. Connectivities serve as a computational authority influencing health lifestyle practices through health apps and other digital resources in contrast to collectivities (human social networks) as a normative authority. The recent literature supporting these features in an updated and expanded model of health lifestyle theory is discussed.
The Within-Individual Effects of U.S. Immigration on Individual-Level Offending During Adolescence and Early Adulthood
Authors: Widdowson Alex O. , Ramos Javier , Alaniz Kayla , Swartz Kristin
Published: March 2023

Objectives: Prior contextual-level studies suggest that individuals who reside in areas with higher concentrations of foreign-born residents engage in less crime and delinquency. Yet, this work has relied on either cross-sectional models or longitudinal data with only baseline measurements of immigration, which tells us little about whether temporal changes in immigrant concentration affect changes in individual-level offending. We addressed this shortcoming by conducting a contextual-level study that uses a within-individual research design. Methods: Using public and restricted data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and U.S. Census data, we employed Bayesian random-effects models to examine the within-individual associations between the percentage of the population that is foreign-born in respondents’ county of residence and two indicators of criminal offending during adolescence and early adulthood. Results: Findings indicated that percent foreign-born was associated with subsequent reductions in criminal arrest but not self-reported offending. Moreover, we found that these effects were similar regardless of whether respondents moved or remained in place over time. Finally, for self-reported offending, the effects of percent foreign-born were stronger for first-generation immigrants, but for arrest, they were similar across generation. Conclusions: Immigrant concentration is a time-varying phenomenon that has the potential to reduce individual-level offending.
Death Anxiety During COVID-19 and its Related Factors among Chinese Elderly People
Authors: Yang Dengle , Xia Yiyun , Wu Wenyuan , Feng Yuanming , Liang Jingyu , Zhang Jin
Published: March 2023

This study aimed at investigating death anxiety and its related factors in Chinese elderly people during COVID-19. This study totally interviewed 264 participants from four cities in different regions of China. Death anxiety scale (DAS), NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (Neo-FFI) and Brief COPE were scored on the basis of one-on-one interviews. Quarantine experience didn’t make significant difference in death anxiety among the elderly; Elderly people with high death anxiety had higher scores of neuroticism, and were more likely to use a Behavior Disengagement coping strategy; Multiple linear regression analysis showed that neuroticism, openness and COVID impact predicted 44.6% of the variance in the death anxiety among elderly people. The results support both theories of vulnerability-stress model and terror management theory (TMT). In the post-epidemic era, we suggest to pay attention to the mental health status of elderly people with personality susceptibility to handling the stress of infection badly.
COVID-Pandemic in Nepal: An Opportunity to Institutionalise Local Governance in School Education
Authors: Adhikari Devendra , Chandra Sharma Poudyal Dr , Binayek Pasa Dr Rajan
Published: March 2023

The 2015 constitution of Nepal declared Nepal to be a Federal, Democratic, and Republic nation. The constitution has provided local governments the right to manage school education, and the 2017 Local Government Operation Act of Nepal has outlined the roles and responsibilities of local governments in taking guardianship of school education. Since 2017, Nepal has been in the process of institutionalising decentralised governance practices, but this is proceeding at a slow pace. Unprecedently, from early 2020, the COVID-pandemic hit hard the lives of Nepali people, and Nepali education suffered greatly. The pandemic has brought several opportunities for the government to devolve the management system of school education to local levels. This article is based upon the analysis of the six newly introduced plans, regulations, and guidelines in Nepali education, that aim to continue school education amid the COVID-pandemic. These newly introduced polices have significantly acknowledged and mobilised the local strengths in educational management. This research supports a new academic discussion on governance ideas of the Nepalese education system, induced by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Intraoperative feedback: A survey of surgical trainees’ perspective
Authors: Fadelalla Mohammed Gadoora , Elbakri Sabreen , Poon Michael
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Intraoperative feedback can be associated with improved surgical performance. Quality feedback can reduce the time required by trainees to achieve proficiency in psychomotor skills. Operative training time has become increasingly limited, and it has become imperative to use surgical training time effectively.

Aim

In this survey, we assessed trainees’ perspectives of intraoperative feedback. We included several aspects of feedback including its occurrence, quality, and potential barriers.

Methods

All surgical trainees in a single centre were invited to complete an electronic questionnaire. Participants were anonymised. We summarised data using descriptive statistics.

Results

Most trainees (85%) reported they had the opportunity to share their training goals with trainers. Just under three-quarters of trainees felt they always or sometimes got timely feedback. Only half of the trainees were signposted to feedback and 23% felt feedback was not part of their department's culture. Half of the trainees did not always feel comfortable asking for feedback from their trainers stating their reasons as fear of criticism, lack of time and competing clinical commitments.

Conclusion

There is no denying the importance of feedback on operative performance, however, this survey shows that many of the pillars of quality feedback are poorly adhered to.
What Motivates High School Youths to Want to Teach? Narratives of Homegrown Aspiring Teachers
Authors: Chu Yiting
Published: March 2023

This qualitative study examined how a group of aspiring teachers who had completed a Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher program in high school explained their motivations for teaching. Findings revealed that homegrown aspiring teachers attributed their initial teaching aspirations to their own inequitable schooling experiences and societal perceptions of the teaching profession and explicitly described their decision to teach as a way to improve educational equity for socially and culturally marginalized students in their communities. Learning about teaching in the GYO program with caring and culturally responsive GYO teacher mentors embraced and affirmed their community-oriented, equity-focused teaching motivations.
Regional Heterogeneity in the Individual Unemployment Vulnerability After COVID-19 Outset
Authors: Lopes Ana Sofia , Sargento Ana
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 crisis increased unemployment all over the World, with significant regional heterogeneity. This paper intends to analyze this territorial heterogeneity for the Portuguese case and investigate which regional factors complement personal and job characteristics in explaining individual vulnerability to COVID-19 unemployment. By considering personal, job and regional dimensions, we extended the literature and provided a more comprehensive understanding of this new phenomenon in the immediate and medium-term. Furthermore, this knowledge is essential to support policy suggestions for quick and effective action in preventing job losses in the current and future crises. Detailed information on all individuals that lost their jobs in Portugal 1 year after (and before) the COVID-19 outset was used to estimate three logit models that compare the odds of losing a job after and during the pandemic. Significant territorial heterogeneity of the COVID-19 impact on unemployment is obtained. Along with personal and job characteristics, we conclude that regional characteristics are essential for explaining individual vulnerabilities. In particular, workers are more prompted to lose their jobs if they live in regions with higher population densities, lower pre-crisis unemployment, and more dependable international flow. Conversely, individual and regional human capital investment contributes to protecting employment, revealing the existence of external effects.
Mapping the Content of Asian Stereotypes in the United States: Intersections with Ethnicity, Gender, Income, and Birthplace
Authors: Benard Stephen , Manago Bianca , Acosta Russian Anna , Cha Youngjoo
Published: March 2023

How are people of Asian origin perceived in contemporary U.S. culture? While often depicted as a “model minority”—competent and hardworking but also quiet, unsociable, or cold—little work measures whether and how these stereotypes vary for Asians in different social locations. We use a large (n ≈ 4,700) quota sample of the United States, matched to key U.S. demographics, to map the content of Asian stereotypes across ethnicity, gender, income, and birthplace. We find that some stereotypes are largely consistent across subgroups—such as the perception that Asians lack sociability, but not warmth, relative to White Americans—while others vary substantially. Perceptions of dominance vary by income, while perceptions of competence are moderated by income and ethnicity in complex ways. Stereotypes have important consequences, ranging from everyday frustrations to depressive symptoms and employment discrimination. Our work provides a detailed picture of how stereotypes vary across social locations.
Parents’ Family Coping Strategies during the Pandemic: Effects on Parent and Child Well-Being
Authors: Gedaly Lindsey R. , Cifelli Joseph A. , Feinberg Mark E. , Hostetler Michelle L.
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to understand the strategies families used to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effects on family, parent, child, and couple functioning and well-being. In April and May 2020, and again one month later, 277 parents from 174 families who previously participated in a trial of a family preventive intervention were invited to participate in an online survey regarding the pandemic. Parents completed measures regarding family cohesion, couple coparenting and relationship quality, parenting quality, and parent and child mental health and well-being. Parents were asked to share the coping strategies they found most effective, and responses were coded into four groups: Family Unity, Healthy Habits, Adaptability, and Child-Focused. Adaptability was associated with increases in couple relationship quality but also in child internalizing and externalizing behaviors from Month 1 to Month 2. The results suggest that the strategies parents use may have differing effects on parents and children.
The relationship among accent familiarity, shared L1, and comprehensibility: A path analysis perspective
Authors: Miao Yongzhi
Published: March 2023

Scholars have argued for the inclusion of different spoken varieties of English in high-stakes listening tests to better represent the global use of English. However, doing so may introduce additional construct-irrelevant variance due to accent familiarity and the shared first language (L1) advantage, which could threaten test fairness. However, it is unclear to what extent accent familiarity and a shared L1 are related to or conflated with each other. The present study investigates the relationship between accent familiarity, a shared L1, and comprehensibility. Results from descriptive statistics and Mann–Whitney U test based on 302 second language (L2) English listeners’ responses to an online questionnaire suggested that a shared L1 meant high accent familiarity, but not vice versa. A path analysis revealed a complex relationship between accent familiarity, a shared L1, and comprehensibility. While a shared L1 had a direct effect on accent familiarity, and accent familiarity had a direct effect on comprehensibility, a shared L1 did not predict comprehensibility when accent familiarity was controlled for. These results disentangle accent familiarity from a shared L1. Researchers should consider both constructs when investigating fairness in relation to World Englishes for listening assessment.
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19 associated severe respiratory failure: Case series from a Hungarian tertiary centre
Authors: Zöllei Éva , Rudas László , Hankovszky Péter , Korsós Anita , Pálfi Alexandra , Varga Zoltán , Tomozi László , Hegedüs Zoltán , Bari Gábor , Lobozárné Szivós Brigitta , Kiszel Attila , Babik Barna
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) is recommended for the support of patients with severe COVID-19 associated severe respiratory failure (SRF). We report the characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients supported with V-V ECMO in a Hungarian centre.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data on all patients admitted with proven SARS CoV-2 infection who received V-V ECMO support between March 2021 and May 2022.

Results

Eighteen patients were placed on ECMO during this period, (5 women, age (mean ± SD) 44 ± 10 years, APACHE II score (median (interquartile range)) 12 (10–14.5)). Before ECMO support, they had been hospitalised for 6 (4–11) days. Fifteen patients received noninvasive ventilation for 4 (2–8) days, two patients had high flow nasal oxygen therapy, for one day each. They had already been intubated for 2.5 (1–6) days. Prone position was applied in 15 cases. On the day before ECMO initiation the Lung Injury Score was 3.25 (3–3.26), the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 71 ± 19 mmHg. The duration of V-V ECMO support was 26 ± 20 days, and the longest run lasted 70 days. Patients were mechanically ventilated for 34 ± 23 days. The intensive care unit (ICU) and the hospital length of stay were 40 ± 28 days and 45 ± 31 days, respectively. Eleven patients were successfully weaned from ECMO. The ICU survival rate was 56%, the in-hospital survival was 50%. All patients who were discharged from hospital reported a good health-related quality of life Rankin score (0–2) at the 5–16 months follow-up.

Conclusions

During the last three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, we achieved a 56% ICU and a 50% hospital survival rate at our low volume centre.
Construction and Initial Validation of the DECCS Questionnaire to Assess How Students Deal with Emotionally Challenging Classroom Situations (Grades 4–7)
Authors: Schlesier Juliane , Raufelder Diana , Moschner Barbara
Published: March 2023

This paper describes the development and validation of an instrument to assess how students deal with emotionally challenging classroom situations (the DECCS Questionnaire). The questionnaire is based on a vignette with one learning and one performance situation in a classroom, and is intended for students in grades 4 to 7. On a sample of N = 639 students ( M age = 10.6 years; SD = 1.25, 52.4% girls) in northwest Germany, factor analytic procedures for the subdimensions of students dealing with emotionally challenging classroom situations show that two factors can be distinguished each for students’ appraisals, for students’ adaptive behavior, for students’ maladaptive behavior, and for students’ desired teacher behavior. The questionnaire and subscales demonstrate good reliability and validity values. Thus, the DECCS questionnaire shows good psychometric properties and is well suited for determining how students deal with emotionally challenging classroom situations.
Deterritorialized Threats and the “Territorial Trap”: The Geographical Imaginaries of Piracy in the Gulf of Aden
Authors: McNeill Casey
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates how modern theories of international security are being revised in relation to a perceived “deterritorialization” of the global security environment. Using the case of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, I examine how geographical imaginaries of security and insecurity are reproduced in relation to non-state, global threats. I show that while the objects to be secured from threats like piracy are interpreted in relation to networked and deterritorialized space, diagnoses of threats themselves, their origins, and their movement, rely on a territorial imaginary of political order. This attributes a one-way spatio-political directionality to global threats, as incubating in zones of local disorder before crossing into the complex, networked space of the global. Drawing on recent research into the territorialization of modern sovereignty and its relationship to European colonization and imperialism, I underscore continuities between contemporary geographical imaginaries of security and threat and those of the early 20th century. This analysis helps make explicit the spatial heuristics that are usually implicit in global security research and highlights the kinds of empirical and political questions that these heuristics sideline. The case of Gulf of Aden piracy foregrounds the material effects of these threat diagnoses, which shape particular geographies of bordering, surveillance, and state and non-state violence.
“Why Moan About It?” An IPA Analysis of Ex-Core Members’ Experience of a Pandemic Without a CoSA
Authors: Furse Gracie , Kitson-Boyce Rosie
Published: March 2023

Successful reintegration following prison for those with sexual convictions is a key aim of criminal justice policy. Whilst there is a wealth of research detailing the desistance and reintegration process of current Core Member’s (CMs) within Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), there is limited research that captures the experiences of ex-CMs once the support of the volunteers had ceased. In addition to this, there is limited research that focuses on the impact COVID-19 has had upon those convicted of sexual offences, living within the community following a CoSA. This study aimed to explore these experiences finding that whilst volunteers helped some ex-CMs to form their own support networks, some ex-CMs appeared to rely more upon informal community support. Participants also maintained fears of their past being discovered and thus, avoided transparency, which is valuable for reintegration. In relation to the pandemic, COVID-19 was recognized as having some detrimental effects for ex-CMs, however, positive impacts and adaptability were also discussed. Conclusions drawn from the analysis provide implications for future multi-perspective and longitudinal research.
Stability Evolution of Car-Following Models Considering Asymmetric Driving Behavior
Authors: Sun Jie , Zheng Zuduo , Sun Jian
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we relax an unrealistic assumption that is commonly adopted in the stability analysis of car-following (CF) models, that is, the equilibrium state is fixed. Specifically, the influence mechanism of the equilibrium state and equilibrium state change on the stability of CF models is studied considering the impact of asymmetry in CF models. Two state change processes are considered: acceleration and deceleration processes for symmetric and asymmetric CF models. The results reveal that significant differences exist between the two types of CF models: while the acceleration process would significantly destabilize the traffic with the asymmetric CF model, the influence of acceleration and deceleration on its stability change is identical and relatively unsignificant for the symmetric CF model.
Improvements in the anaerobic digestion of biological sludge from pulp and paper mills using thermal pretreatment
Authors: Goycoechea Nicolás , Borges Ignacio , Castello Elena , Borzacconi Liliana
Published: March 2023

The current disposal of biosludge generated in wastewater treatment has high costs and causes environmental problems, anaerobic digestion (AD) of solid waste is a promising alternative. Thermal hydrolysis (TH) is an accepted technology to enhance anaerobic biodegradability of sewage sludge, but this technology has not been developed to be used with biological sludge from industrial wastewater treatment. In this work, the improvements to the AD of biological sludge from cellulose industry when thermal pretreatment is carried out were experimentally determined. The experimental conditions for TH were 140 °C and 165 °C for 45 minutes. Batch tests were carried out to quantify methane production evaluated as biomethane potential (BMP), anaerobic biodegradability according to volatile solids (VS) consumption and kinetic adjustments. An innovative kinetic model based on the serial mechanism of fast and slow biodegradation fractions was tested for untreated waste, and parallel mechanism was also evaluated. Increases in BMP and biodegradability values according to VS consumption were determined with increasing TH temperature. The results of 241 NmL CH4 gVS substrate−1 for BMP and 65% biodegradability are reported for the 165 °C treatment. AD rate increased for the TH waste compared to the untreated biosludge. Improvements of up to 159% for BMP and 260% for biodegradability according to VS consumption were quantified for TH biosludge compared to untreated biosludge.
Development of a three-dimensional in vitro blood-brain barrier using the chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex as the extracellular matrix
Authors: Bayir Ece
Published: March 2023

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) consist of a spontaneous assembly of oppositely charged polysaccharides. PECs can be used to obtain a hydrogel tissue scaffold in tissue culture. In this study, it is aimed to use PEC as a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model scaffold. By mixing polycationic chitosan and polyanionic alginate solutions at a certain ratio it was obtained a 3D hydrogel scaffold and mimicked in vivo environment of the tissue. The PEC hydrogel scaffold’s chemical, physical, and mechanical characterizations were performed with FTIR, DSC, DMA, and Micro-CT analyses. In order to develop an in vitro BBB model, the human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) and mouse astrocyte cell line (C8-D1A) were mixed into a hydrogel, which is the abluminal side of the BBB. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HBEC-5i) were seeded on the hydrogel, and it was aimed to mimic the luminal side of the BBB. The characterization of the BBB model was determined by measuring the TEER, observation of the cell morphology with SEM, performing the permeability of Lucifer Yellow, and observation of tight junction proteins with immunofluorescence staining. As a result, HBEC-5i cells expressed tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Claudin-5), showed TEER of 340 ± 22 Ω.cm2, and the Lucifer Yellow permeability of 7.4 × 10−7 ± 2.7 × 10−7 cm/s, which was suitable for use as an in vitro BBB model. Using a hydrogel PEC composed of chitosan and alginate as an extracellular matrix increased the direct interaction of endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons with each other and thus obtained a much less permeable model compared to other standard transwell models.

Graphical abstract

[Formula: see text]
A Prescription for Wellness in Early PD: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Authors: McDaniels Bradley , Pontone Gregory M. , Keener Adrienne M. , Subramanian Indu
Published: March 2023

Background

Being diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease is a life-changing event and a critical time to help patients cope and move forward in a proactive way. Historically, the main focus of Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment has been on the motor features with limited attention given to non-motor and mental health sequelae, which have the most impact on quality of life. Although depression and anxiety have been described at the time of PD diagnosis, demoralization, intolerance of uncertainty, decreased self-efficacy, stigma and loneliness can also present and have negative effects on the trajectory of the disease. Hence, understanding the psychological impact of the diagnosis and how to provide better counselling at this critical time point may be the key to a better long-term trajectory and quality of life.

Focus

There has been a paradigm shift in the treatment of chronic illness moving beyond the medical model, which focuses on fighting illness with the physician being in charge of the treatment process and the patient being the passive recipient, toward a more holistic (i.e., physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health) biopsychosocial approach that emphasizes behavioral factors with the patient being an active collaborator in their treatment. Hence, we propose that fostering resilience, social support, and psychological flexibility offer promise toward attenuating negative reactions and improving overall well-being.

Conclusion

Through a proactive wellness approach incorporating lifestyle choices, people with PD (PwP) can not only achieve improved states of health, well-being, and quality of life, but actually thrive.
A systematic review of the International School Leadership Development Network, social justice strand research, 2010–2021
Authors: Flood Lee D , Angelle Pamela , Koerber Nate D
Published: March 2023

This systematic review provides an overview of findings gleaned from the International School Leadership Development Network (ISLDN) cross-comparative research published since 2010. The purpose of this review considers outcomes linked to cross-national context and culture, rather than in-country outcomes linked to local context and respondent differences. The research question which guided this study was: How does ISLDN cross-national comparative research inform us about socially just leadership? All studies, without regard to country or the macro policies under which the schools operated, centered on the importance of the school principal as the impetus for the extent to which social justice was practiced. The principal's innate value system, the influence of the principal's biography, and the fidelity with which the principal implemented policy while meeting the needs of all children carried more weight for social justice than the macro and meso levels.
Development of LiDAR operated inventory control and assistance robot
Authors: Sharma Rishabraj , Patange Abhishek D , Padalghare Rohan , Kale Ranjeet C
Published: March 2023

The cordial existence of robots and humans in the same workstation is an important aspect of the deployment of autonomous systems. Usually, robots are integrated with auxiliary sensors for monitoring the surroundings and tackling unexpected actions. The incorporation of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) has gained the researcher’s attention these days. The current study aims at developing a collision-free motion for an autonomous robot to ensure the least possible travel period at internodes. First, a SLAM-based algorithm for a static environment is proposed. A low-cost microcontroller Arduino UNO is used here along with LiDAR VL53L0X and is integrated with MATLAB to store and display the acquired data. The A* algorithm is used to navigate between the shortest paths on the obtained map. The robot is also integrated with radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors to automate the process. The proposed system would be useful for material handling, assistance, and cleaning purpose in large warehouses or households.
Monohydric aliphatic alcohols as liquid fuels for using in internal combustion engines: A review
Authors: Altun Şehmus , Adin Mehmet Şükrü , İlçin Kudbettin
Published: March 2023

The environmental and air pollution brought about by the increasing energy consumption has increased the interest in the use of renewable energy sources in the transportation sector, where internal combustion engines are used, which is responsible for a large part of the exhaust emissions. Alcohol fuels have been evaluated as renewable energy sources for utilising in internal combustion engines and they are reported to have lowering exhaust emissions and costs. This study analyses four monohydric aliphatic alcohol fuels (methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol) by reviewing the available literature to represent their applicability as an alternative fuel in internal combustion engines. In the study, researches on the directly use of acetone–butanol–ethanol and isopropanol–butanol–ethanol as alcohol fuel were also examined because the production of butanol by acetone–butanol–ethanol and isopropanol–butanol–ethanol distillation is costly, and isopropanol–butanol–ethanol is more preferred due to the corrosive feature of acetone. The higher fuel consumption of alcohol fuels than fossil fuels was the most common result, with reductions in NOx and smoke emissions except for isopropanol–butanol–ethanol, which had higher NOx emissions. It has been reported that less carbon and high oxygen content, low cetane number and high latent heat of alcohol fuels are responsible for the above results. The increase in thermal efficiency with the use of acetone–butanol–ethanol and isopropanol–butanol–ethanol in contrast to other alcohol fuels was a notable result. A comparison among the alcohol fuels showed that methanol was more effective than ethanol in reducing CO, unburned HC and smoke emissions while isopropanol–butanol–ethanol demonstrated high NOx emissions. A simultaneous reduction of NOx and Smoke emissions, which was commonly reported for most of alcohol fuels, makes a significant contribution to the development of internal combustion engines. This study gains importance in terms of comparing the individual effects of the use of alcohol fuels on exhaust emissions and better understanding the current status of these fuels.
A degraded adhesion model for creep force calculation based on the CONTACT algorithm
Authors: Shi Zhiyong , Meacci Martina , Porcelli Margherita , Meli Enrico , Rindi Andrea
Published: March 2023

Degraded adhesion is observed extensively during the braking or traction process. An accurate degraded adhesion law, on the other hand, is difficult to acquire since it is characterized by a complicated non-linear behaviour involving various surface phenomena. This work provides a new local degraded adhesion model, its implementation in a wheel-rail contact model, and its application in a multibody railway vehicle model. The present degraded adhesion model takes into account large sliding and adhesion recovery phenomena, which are strictly related to the power dissipated at the contact interface. Implementation of the current local degraded adhesion model enhances Kalker’s CONTACT algorithm. The application into multibody dynamics simulation demonstrates the high accuracy of computations. The model is validated by comparing it to experimental findings obtained from on-field tests. Simulated results regarding the tangential pressures, the slip velocity, and the dissipated power under degraded adhesion and partial adherence conditions are reported.
Monitoring of traffic noise pollution in urban Patna, Bihar, India
Authors: Ranjan Rajeev , Kumar Saurabh , Singh Reena
Published: March 2023

Road traffic noise is a major environmental issue that has been faced by many people around the world, including in Patna city. There is a need to investigate noise regularly because of the rapidly increasing traffic volume. This study focuses on the estimation of the urban traffic noise level in Patna, Bihar, India. Based on a preliminary survey of traffic volume, 12 stations were selected. A sound meter was used to measure the “A”-weighted noise level. Noise parameters like L10, L50, and L90 were evaluated from the collected noise data. And these noise parameters were used for the calculation of noise pollution indices like Noise Climate (NC), Equivalent Continuous Noise Level (Leq), Noise Pollution Level (NPL), and Traffic Noise Index (TNI). These noise indices compare with the standard limit of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The equivalent continuous noise level (Leq) measured at different locations in the commercial cum residential zones varies from 77.7 dBA to 92.5 dBA, which is higher than the prescribed noise level limit of the CPCB. Other noise indices, such as the NPL and TNI, are found to range from 88.2 dBA to 111.5 dBA and 77.9 dBA to 125.9 dBA, respectively, at various sampling locations and are also higher than the prescribed limit of the CPCB. The noise level of all stations was found to exceed the prescribed limit of the CPCB. There is a strong correlation exists between NPL with TNI and NC (r > 0.5). Also, there is a strong correlation exists between Leq with NPL (r > 0.5). Using NPL as a dependent variable and TNI, NC, and Leq as independent variables, the regression model was completely validated.
‘I’m not blue or green. I’m black’. The participatory entextualization of translingual memes and metapragmatic comments in transnational sociopolitical discourse
Authors: Liang Mei-Ya , Pan Shiou-Ping John , Tsai I-Ting
Published: March 2023

This article examines sociopolitical discourse in the democratic network society of Taiwan from translingual and transnational perspectives. Ten multimodal memes from two YouTube videos and the associated metapragmatic comments were analyzed. This study combined a discourse-historical approach and translingual analyses of YouTube users’ meme-related discursive strategies, which link historical and political rhetoric to recently circulated linguistic ideologies and cultural stereotypes. This study suggests that the discursive processes of meme-making and interpreting on social media can be understood as networked publics’ performative acts in participatory entextualization with larger sociohistorical formations. The results may provide insights into the translingual practices in the specific multilingual society of Taiwan and into broader everyday democratic participation in a globalized transnational network.