bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reference intervals for clinical biochemistry and haematology tests during normal pregnancy
Authors: Groenendijk Wendy , Bogdanet Delia , Dervan Louise , Finn Oisin , Islam Md Nahidul , Doheny Helen , Griffin Tomás P. , Blake Liam , Lyons Mark , Kilcooley Mary , Krawczyk Janusz , Gilmore Ruth , Griffin Damian G. , Gaffney Geraldine , Dunne Fidelma P. , O’Shea Paula M.
Published: September 2022

Background

Pregnancy induces physiological changes which affect biochemical and haematological parameters. As the significance of laboratory test results change throughout pregnancy, the reference interval (RI) or key result interpretive guide should be specific to pregnancy. This study sought to establish trimester-specific-RIs for routine biochemical and haematological tests in healthy white European women with singleton pregnancies with comparison to RIs for non-pregnant European adults.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of a prospective longitudinal single-centre study of healthy pregnant women conducted between November 2018 and December 2020 in a tertiary academic hospital with approximately 3000 births annually. Inclusion criteria: signed informed consent, age ≥18 years, white European, body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, blood pressure <140/90mmHg, non-smoker, no previous pathology or gestational diabetes. Trimester defined as T1: up to 13 weeks + 6 days, T2: 14–27 weeks + 6 days and T3: ≥28–41 weeks + 6 days. Baseline demographics, anthropometric and laboratory measurements were recorded. In total, 31 biochemical and 10 haematological ISO15189:2012 accredited tests were measured using Roche Cobas® and Sysmex XN-9100™ analysers, respectively. RIs were established according to the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) recommended method.

Results

Apparently healthy pregnant women ( n = 124) with bio-banked serum samples in each trimester were recruited. At the booking visit, 49.2% ( n = 61) of participants were nulliparous, with median age of 34.4 (IQR: 31.3–37.3) years, gestational age of 89 (IQR: 84–93) days, BMI of 22.5 (IQR: 21.0–23.7) kg/m2 and systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 116 (110–125) mmHg and 67 (61–75) mmHg, respectively.

Conclusions

Normative trimester-specific biological intervals for routinely requested biochemical and haematological medical laboratory tests were established. These RIs will be invaluable to result interpretation and the management of pregnant women.
Renewal of academic psychiatry without addressing gender equity will render it Jurassic rather than endangered
Authors: Galbally Megan , Eggleston Katherine , Northwood Korinne , Siskind Dan , Berk Michael , Suetani Shuichi , Gill Neeraj , O’Connor Nick , Harvey Samuel B , Every-Palmer Susanna
Published: September 2022

While two editorials have raised concerns about the decline in Australian academic psychiatry, for a genuine rejuvenation to ever occur, we will need to re-examine how women can be better included in this important endeavour. While attainment of fellowship has reached gender parity, academic psychiatry has disappointingly lagged, with 80% of its senior leadership roles across Australia and New Zealand still held by men, with a similar situation in the United Kingdom and the United States as well as many other countries. Encouraging women into academic psychiatry is not only critical to progress as a profession but also will help address the current blindness to sex differences in biological psychiatry, as well the social impact of restrictive gender norms and the effects of gender-based violence on mental health. This potentially creates opportunities for significant gains and insights into mental disorders. However, addressing the barriers for women in academia requires tackling the entrenched disparities across salaries, grant funding, publications, teaching responsibilities, keynote invitations and academic promotions alongside the gender-based microaggressions, harassment and tokenism reported by many of our female academics. Many women must grapple with not just a ‘second shift’ but a ‘third shift’, making the burden of an academic career unreasonable and burnout more likely. Addressing this is no easy task. The varied research in academic medicine reveals no quick fixes, although promoting gender equity brings significant potential benefits. Areas such as academic psychiatry need to recognise our community’s growing discomfort with workplaces that choose to maintain status quo. Gender equity must be a critical part of any quest to revive this important area of practice for our profession.
Appropriateness of Empirical Antibiotic Therapy for Cervicitis and Urethritis Prescribed in the Emergency Department
Authors: de Lorenzo-Pinto Ana , Ortega-Navarro Cristina , Torroba-Sanz Beatriz , Fernández-Llamazares Cecilia M. , Taladriz-Sender Irene , Castuera-Gil Ana , A. Andueza Lillo Juan , Sanjurjo-Sáez María
Published: September 2022

Objectives:

Sexually transmitted infections are a prevalent global health care problem. Treatment guidelines have recently been updated as a result of antimicrobial resistance and public health trends. The aim of the study was to assess the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy prescribed for cervicitis and urethritis in the emergency department.

Methods:

We designed a retrospective observational cohort study. We included adult patients with suspected cervicitis or urethritis who attended the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in 2020. We excluded patients with suspected pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy or prostatitis and those requiring admission to hospital. Appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy was evaluated taking into account 4 aspects: indication, dosing, duration of therapy, and route of administration. Data were obtained from the electronic medical record, the electronic prescription program, and the discharge summary.

Results:

The study population comprised 176 patients; mean age was 28.9 years (SD = 7.7), and 90.9% were men. The most prescribed treatment was the combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin (83.0%). Treatment was inappropriate in 71.6% of patients. A total of 159 drug errors were recorded. The most frequent cause was undertreatment (36.4%) related to underdosing (46.5%), particularly with regard to ceftriaxone. The percentage of errors was 11.9% for indication, 84.9% for dosing, 3.1% for duration, and 0% for route of administration.

Conclusions:

A high percentage of patients who attended the emergency department for suspected cervicitis or urethritis received an inappropriate empirical antibiotic regimen. The main reason was undertreatment due to underdosing.
Determinants of Climate-Smart Adaptation Strategies: Farm-Level Evidence from India
Authors: Sahoo Dibakar , Moharaj Prasanta
Published: September 2022

The paper attempts to examine the factors that influence climate-smart adaptation (CSA) strategies. The study used binary logit and multivariate probit models to understand the dynamics and factors of agricultural households’ behavioural decisions on CSA strategies. Based on the results of the binary logit model, the study indicated that factors such as access to extension services and training, gender, educational level, land ownership, access to irrigation, access to credit and crop damage level positively and significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to use CSA strategies. Similarly, the results of the multivariate probit model reveal that factors such as educational level, access to extension services and training, and land ownership had significant impacts on the adoption of the majority of CSA strategies. To improve the intensity of CSA strategies, the study recommends expanding training and extension services to farming masses, the expansion of irrigation facilities and weather information at the farm level.
A Multiclass Classification Model for Tooth Removal Procedures
Authors: de Graaf W.M. , van Riet T.C.T. , de Lange J. , Kober J.
Published: September 2022

Surprisingly little is known about tooth removal procedures. This might be due to the difficulty of gaining reliable data on these procedures. To improve our understanding of these procedures, machine learning techniques were used to design a multiclass classification model of tooth removal based on force, torque, and movement data recorded during tooth removal. A measurement setup consisting of, among others, robot technology was used to gather high-quality data on forces, torques, and movement in clinically relevant dimensions. Fresh-frozen cadavers were used to match the clinical situation as closely as possible. Clinically interpretable variables or “features” were engineered and feature selection took place to process the data. A Gaussian naive Bayes model was trained to classify tooth removal procedures. Data of 110 successful tooth removal experiments were available to train the model. Out of 75 clinically designed features, 33 were selected for the classification model. The overall accuracy of the classification model in 4 random subsamples of data was 86% in the training set and 54% in the test set. In 95% and 88%, respectively, the model correctly classified the (upper or lower) jaw and either the right class or a class of neighboring teeth. This article discusses the design and performance of a multiclass classification model for tooth removal. Despite the relatively small data set, the quality of the data was sufficient to develop a first model with reasonable performance. The results of the feature engineering, selection process, and the classification model itself can be considered a strong first step toward a better understanding of these complex procedures. It has the potential to aid in the development of evidence-based educational material and clinical guidelines in the near future.
Masticatory Behavior Change with a Wearable Chewing Counter: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hori S. , Hori K. , Yoshimura S. , Uehara F. , Sato N. , Hasegawa Y. , Akazawa K. , Ono T.
Published: September 2022

Because a relationship has been reported between masticatory behavior, obesity, and postprandial blood glucose, it is recommended to chew well and take a longer time to eat. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of changing masticatory behavior using a small ear-hung wearable chewing counter, which can monitor masticatory behavior without disturbing daily meals. In total, 235 healthy volunteers participated in a 4-wk randomized controlled trial and were divided into 3 groups. All participants were instructed about the importance of mastication at the first visit. During the intervention, group B used the chewing counter without an algorithm during each meal (notification of the number of chews after meal), and group C used the chewing counter with a masticatory behavior change algorithm (setting a target value and displaying the number of chews in real time). Group A was set as the control group. The number of chews and the meal time when consuming 1 rice ball (100 g) were measured before and after the intervention using the chewing counter, and the rate of change in these values was evaluated. Participants also provided a subjective evaluation of their changes in masticatory behavior. The number of chews and the meal time of 1 rice ball increased significantly in groups B and C compared with before the intervention, and the rate of change was significantly higher in group C than in group A and group B. In addition, the subjective evaluation of the change in the number of chews was highest in group C. Self-monitoring of masticatory behavior by providing a target value and the degree of achievement for the number of chews using a wearable chewing counter with a behavioral change algorithm could promote effective change in masticatory behavior and lead to an increased number of chews. (Trial ID: UMIN000034476)
“Si Mis Papás Estuvieran Aquí”: Unaccompanied Youth Workers’ Emergent Frame of Reference and Health in the United States
Authors: Canizales Stephanie L.
Published: September 2022

Relying on in-depth interviews and ethnographic data in Los Angeles, California, this study examines the health experiences of unaccompanied, undocumented Latin American-origin immigrant youth as they come of age as low-wage workers. Findings demonstrate that unaccompanied, undocumented youth undergo cumulative physical and mental health disadvantages in the United States’s secondary labor market and during critical developmental life stages while lacking the parental monitoring and guidance to navigate them. Developing comparisons between their past and present living conditions and between themselves and other youth in Los Angeles—what I refer to as an emergent frame of reference—youth workers come to perceive family disruptions, and especially separation from their parents, as the most salient factor affecting their health. While some youth ultimately resign themselves to short-term attempts to assuage illness, injury, or distress through activities like substance abuse, others pursue community connections and support groups that can sustain them long term.
Paying Twice for Aesthetic Customization? The Negative Effect of Uniqueness on a Product's Resale Value
Authors: Fuchs Matthias , Schreier Martin
Published: September 2022

Customers frequently gravitate toward unique products, and firms increasingly utilize mass customization strategies allowing customers to self-customize products according to their unique preferences. While existing research shows that customers are willing to pay extra for this uniqueness, the present investigation points to a potential cost of self-customization that has been largely overlooked thus far. Specifically, the authors argue that what creates value for the individual consumer-designer (i.e., the original customer of the self-customized product) might conversely be detrimental to potential customers on the secondhand market, particularly in the context of aesthetic (vs. functional) customization. Results of three distinct data sets (including an analysis of more than 500,000 preowned car sales listings) support this uniqueness-hurts-resale hypothesis and provide a series of more nuanced findings. Consistent with the theorizing and empirical studies, three follow-up experiments show that although consumer-designers’ valuations are positively affected by uniqueness, uniqueness indeed negatively affects secondhand-market customers’ willingness to pay. This is because the more unique a given configuration is to a given consumer-designer, the lower the likelihood that said design will meet secondhand-market customers’ taste preferences. The findings point to a tension between maximizing utility at first purchase and minimizing the related cost of aesthetic customization at resale.
Characteristics and Formative Experiences of DEI Leaders in Music Education Professional Associations
Authors: Salvador Karen , Sierzega Amy
Published: September 2022

In music education professional associations (MEPAs), volunteer member-leaders collaborate to guide music education and provide services such as professional development. Recently, we observed some MEPAs creating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, positions, or committees. The purpose of this survey study was to examine the characteristics and formative experiences of the people leading these efforts. Survey participants ( n = 62) were representative of the music educator profession in terms of gender. Regarding other characteristics, respondents were older, more educated, and more racially diverse than music educators as a group. Respondents were nearly all practicing music educators who taught a variety of content areas in PK–16 settings. Most did not feel prepared to lead DEI initiatives. While few respondents described their undergraduate education as relevant to DEI leadership, some named graduate education as an important formative experience. Respondents described life experiences as catalysts and preparation for leadership and indicated they taught themselves about DEI through reading, social media, and attending optional professional development. We discuss how these findings illustrate a leadership conundrum and exemplify structural issues in MEPA DEI action. We conclude with implications for teacher education and professional development.
Gendering Constitutional Change in Northern Ireland: Participation, Processes and Power
Authors: Ashe Fidelma
Published: September 2022

Constitutions reflect national values and set out the foundational principles of governance. Traditionally, those values and principles have been male-defined. As such, constitutions often form the basis of the ‘gendered state’ with all its attendant inequities. Feminist constitutionalism challenges the wider domain of constitution-making to consider questions relating to gender inequality in constitutional debate, design and redesign. Through a case study approach, this article utilises a feminist lens to examine on-going constitutional debates in Northern Ireland that have been deepened by Brexit. Any new constitutional arrangements on the island of Ireland will drive multiple transformations in social, legal and economic life that will impact on the lives of women. Subsequently, this article explores the gender dynamics of current debates to contribute to the broader feminist literature on constitutional transitions in deeply divided societies.
North Korean Christian refugee understanding of evil
Authors: Klejment-Lavin Ryan
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this article is to describe how North Korean refugee understanding of evil can shape missionary practice in the Korean Peninsula. The central research question guiding this study was, how do North Korean Christian refugees describe evil based on their lived experiences? Using purposeful sampling and snowball sampling, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 North Korean Christian refugees who were living in South Korea in 2021. The findings indicated that North Korean Christian refugees understand evil as the oppression of the vulnerable, primarily due to human activities, and as exemplified through governmental actions, human trafficking, and sexual violence. This study also discusses how North Korean Refugees understand evil in light of theology, specifically teleology and theodicy, and explores how their understanding resonates with historic Christian beliefs in Korea as found in the views of Augustine Chong Yak-Chong, Alexander Sayong Hwang, and Thomas An Chunggun. Furthermore, this study’s findings provide practical implications for Christian ministry and theodicy as well as the sensitization of practitioners who work with North Korean refugees, specifically, to encourage practitioners to subvert the oppressive narratives that North Koreans are responsible for the evil that befalls them, and to be aware that refugees may have been traumatized by their own compatriots.
Solidarity as slow conversion
Authors: Reynolds Susan Bigelow
Published: September 2022

How can insights from the international Slow movement deepen our understanding of moral conversion in the face of injustice? This article proposes an understanding of solidarity with the marginalized as slow conversion, that is, as ongoing conversion to the neighbor that is relational, costly, and enduring. After distinguishing “slow conversion” from what some have termed “epiphanic conversion,” I illustrate the distinction by contrasting two efforts to construct parish-based interracial solidarity in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston during the 1960s: the Roxbury Apostolate, a clergy mission to the inner-city developed from outcomes of a summer urban immersion trip for seminarians, and the St. Mary of the Angels Parish Pastoral Council, a participatory lay advisory board established after Vatican II. While the former initiative articulated a grander vision and more sweeping goals, it was the latter, more mundane structure that ultimately proved to be a source of relational, costly, and enduring solidarity between church and neighborhood. Slow conversion can thus be understood as the work not of a single moment of insight or encounter but the project of a lifetime, sustained over generations through community practices and structures.
Mental Health of Incarcerated Veterans and Civilians: Latent Class Analysis of the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates
Authors: Edwards Emily R. , Greene Ashley L. , Epshteyn Gabriella , Gromatsky Molly , Kinney Adam R. , Holliday Ryan
Published: September 2022

Using data from the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates, this study used latent class analysis to examine patterns of mental health comorbidity within a large, nationally-representative sample of incarcerated adults ( N = 24,848), including 7.6% with prior military service. Classes were compared on Veteran status, military service-related variables, and treatment-related variables. Results suggest four latent mental health patterns—“Low Psychopathology” (70% of the total sample), “Internalizing + Thought Disorder” (8%), “Internalizing” (14%), and “High Psychopathology” (8%). The High Psychopathology class had the highest rates of prior psychiatric/psychological treatment. Incarcerated Veterans were more likely to be in the Internalizing class, and rates of combat exposure, military service-related injury, and less-than-honorable military discharge were highest in Internalizing and High Psychopathology classes. Results attest to the importance of person-centered mental health care within correctional settings and suggest a “treatment track” or “step-based” approach may best address the needs of individuals in these settings.
Malleable Masculinity: Rethinking Paul’s Masculinity in Light of Valerius Maximus
Authors: Hylen Susan E.
Published: September 2022

Scholarly appraisals of Paul’s masculinity differ widely. Some conclude that Paul is presented (by himself or another author) as an ideal man. Others argue that Paul rejects dominant norms of manliness or that he offers a countercultural alternative. This article draws on the work of Valerius Maximus, whose writing has been neglected in this conversation, to argue that Roman imperial culture offered a variety of measures of elite masculinity. Scholars often mention control of self and others as norms of manliness, and of these Valerius emphasizes practices of self-control. Even with this knowledge, however, evaluating masculinity requires discernment. An individual’s motivations and circumstances are essential factors in Valerius’s application of the social norms. The article encourages scholars to consider this more complex set of cultural norms in assessing the manliness of Paul or other New Testament figures.
Contralateral Sinonasal Symptoms Following Unilateral Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Authors: Gulati Reeti K , Hur Kevin , Schneider Alexander L , Price Caroline PE , Welch Kevin C
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To explore the degree to which patients undergoing unilateral endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) experience post-operative contralateral sinonasal symptoms and determine risk factors for contralateral symptomatology following unilateral ESS.

Methods

Patients who underwent unilateral surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) were contacted and asked if they felt symptomatic on the contralateral side at that point in time. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores were obtained based on contralateral symptomatology they recalled at the following time points: pre-ESS, 1 month post-ESS, and 3 months post-ESS. Demographics, contralateral symptomatology, and NOSE scores were compared between those with 2 or fewer sinusotomies versus 3 or more sinusotomies.

Results

Of the 97 patients included in this study, 24% of patients reported contralateral congestion, a median of 24 months post-ESS, and more than 10% of patients reported other contralateral symptoms including swelling, rhinorrhea, difficulty breathing, and hyposmia post-ESS. Those with 2 or fewer sinusotomies were more likely to feel that they had developed worsened sensation of contralateral sinus swelling ( P = .008). The median amount of time from the participants’ index surgery until the time they were interviewed was 24 months. There were no differences in long-term contralateral symptomatology between those who did and did not have septoplasty (27%).

Conclusion

Patients who have unilateral ESS for CRS may experience long-term contralateral symptoms. Having a septoplasty did not affect contralateral symptoms.
Pathogenesis of Bohle iridovirus infection in Krefft’s freshwater turtle hatchlings (Emydura macquarii krefftii)
Authors: Wirth Wytamma , Forzán María J. , Schwarzkopf Lin , Ariel Ellen
Published: September 2022

Ranaviruses have been detected in over 12 families of reptiles including many genera of turtles, tortoises, and terrapins, but the pathogenesis of these infections is still poorly understood. Krefft’s river turtle hatchlings ( N = 36; Emydura macquarii krefftii) were inoculated intramuscularly with Bohle iridovirus (BIV, Ranavirus, isolate) or saline, and euthanized at 9 timepoints (3 infected and 1 control per timepoint) over a 24-day period. Samples of lung, liver, kidney, and spleen were collected for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR); internal organs, skin, and oral cavity samples were fixed for histopathological examination. The earliest lesions, at 8 days postinoculation (dpi), were lymphocytic inflammation of the skin and fibrinoid necrosis of regional vessels at the site of inoculation, and mild ulcerative necrosis with lymphocytic and heterophilic inflammation in the oral, nasal, and tongue mucosae. Fibrinonecrotic foci with heterophilic inflammation were detected in spleen and gonads at 16 dpi. Multifocal hepatic necrosis, heterophilic inflammation, and occasional basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were observed at 20 dpi, along with ulcerative lymphocytic and heterophilic tracheitis and bronchitis. Tracheitis, bronchitis, and rare bone marrow necrosis were present at 24 dpi. Of the viscera tested for ranaviral DNA by PCR, the liver and spleen had the highest viral loads throughout infection, and thus appeared to be major targets of viral replication. Testing of whole blood by qPCR was the most-effective ante-mortem method for detecting ranaviral infection compared with oral swabs. This study represents the first time-dependent pathogenesis study of a ranaviral infection in turtles.
The ProtekDuo for percutaneous V-P and V-VP ECMO in patients with COVID-19 ARDS
Authors: El Banayosy Ahmed M , El Banayosy Aly , Brewer Joseph M , Mihu Mircea R , Chidester Jaclyn M , Swant Laura V , Schoaps Robert S , Sharif Ammar , Maybauer Marc O
Published: September 2022

Objective:

The ProtekDuo with oxygenator mimics veno-venous (V-V) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in veno-pulmonary (V-P) configuration. We have recently developed a new configuration by utilizing a 25 Fr multistage femoral venous drainage cannula and by returning oxygenated blood through both lumina of the double lumen ProtekDuo cannula (V-VP configuration), thereby creating partial right ventricular bypass and oxygenated blood flow of up to seven LPM. We investigated our experience with V-P and V-VP ECMO in patients suffering from COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods:

Single center, retrospective observational study.

Results:

Of nine patients, one was initiated on V-A, two on V-P, and six on V-V ECMO. All patients were reconfigured to V-P and five patients in addition had V-VP ECMO configuration. All patients had at least one and up to three circuit exchanges. Patients were on ECMO support between 20 and 122 (55 ± 29) days, were in ICU between 46 and 161 (78 ± 40) days with a total hospital length of stay between 35 and 171 (82 ± 42) days. Six of nine (67%) patients could successfully be weaned off ECMO, survived, and were discharged.

Conclusion:

The ProtekDuo cannula in V-P configuration provides ECMO blood flow while reducing RV flow, wall-stress and dilatation, as well as oxygen consumption. The V-VP configuration is useful to provide high blood flows of up to seven LPM of oxygenated blood, and partial RV support without over-circulating the pulmonary vascular bed. Our results show that V-P and V-VP ECMO configurations are feasible, have good outcome and are without complications.
Upon a potential approach to regulate the targeting region of inhalable liposomes
Authors: Shu Lei , Huang Zhengwei , Huang Ying , Wu Chuanbin , Pan Xin
Published: September 2022

Liposomes for inhalation have high biosafety and can achieve slow and controlled delivery, which are especially suitable for the treatment of lung diseases and have a promising clinical application prospect. However, liposomes for inhalation have the key bottleneck problem of the lack of strategies to control the targeting region, which restricts its clinical transformation. The root cause is the inability to control the bio-corona (BC) generation upon liposomes, which dominates the specific targeting regions. In order to overcome the above bottleneck, a high density hybrid liposome system based on distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)] (DSPE-PEG) may be a potential choice. The PEG chain in DSPE-PEG has “stealth” effect that can hinder the adsorption of biological molecules. When the density of DSPE-PEG hybridization is high, the “stealth” effect is more significant, and the total adsorption amount of liposomal BC can be effectively reduced. By optimizing the PEG chain structures of DSPE-PEG, viz PEG chain length and terminal group modification, DSPE-PEG high density hybrid liposomes can be endowed with the function of targeting site regulation based on BC domination effect. It is believed that this proposed system can promote the profound reform of the research paradigm of inhalational liposomes, and accelerate the development of related products.
Sending of Unwanted Dick Pics as a Modality of Sexual Cyber-Violence: An Exploratory Study of Its Emotional Impact and Reactions in Women
Authors: Durán Mercedes , Rodríguez-Domínguez Carmen
Published: September 2022

The sending of sexually explicit images by men to women without prior request, a practice commonly referred to as sending or receiving a “dick pic,” is a fairly common manifestation of sexual cyber-violence that has grown in recent times. As research on this type of sexual cyber-violence is limited, the current study analyzed the prevalence of this phenomenon in a sample of 347 Spanish women between 18 and 30 years of age, studying the factors that influence the emotional impact reported by women if they received an unsolicited dick pic (using a hypothetical scenario) and exploring the various coping strategies that women would use in that situation. Results showed a significant prevalence of this type of cyber-violence in the sample, as 48.1% of the participants had received an unsolicited dick pic from an unknown man at some point. Women with lower levels of hostile sexism—but not of benevolent sexism—reported a higher depressed and angry/annoyed emotional impact of the sexual cyber-violence scenario. This was also the case for women with a less conservative political ideology, with less religious beliefs, as well as those women who perceived that their female friends receive this type of images frequently (descriptive norm) and who perceived that their female friends are less accepting of these situations (injunctive norm). In addition, from the strategies presented to the participants to cope with this situation of sexual cyber-violence, it was observed that a significant percentage of women would choose strategies, such as talking about the incident with other people and blocking the sender’s access. Yet, fewer women would employ effective strategies, such as reporting the perpetrator’s profile to the managers or administrators of the social network or reporting the incident to the police. This study is one of the first studies in Spain that addresses this new form of sexual cyber-violence against women by unknown men and suggests that, in online social networks, women experience the same situations of abuse, harassment, and sexual objectification that they have faced offline in everyday life. Therefore, more work needs to be done to raise awareness and try to prevent these situations, while also providing more support to these women so that they can adopt effective coping strategies.
Thermoplastic polyurethane composites based on iron tailings: An effective strategy for industrial solid waste utilization
Authors: Liu Xinliang , Yang Sujie , Zhou Xiangyu , Liu Chunlin , Liu Mengru , Tang Gang , Kan Yongchun , Deng Dan , Wen Panyue
Published: September 2022

The massive production and accumulation of industrial solid waste-iron tailings not only occupy valuable land resources but also easily cause environmental pollution and personnel injury. Based on this, the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/modified iron tailings (MIT) composites were prepared by surface modification of iron tailings (MIT) and adding it as flame retardant to TPU. The combustion performance and smoke toxicity of TPU/MIT composites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), thermogravimetric-spectroscopy (TG-IR) and cone calorimetry (CCT). The morphology and structure of the carbon slag of the composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the initial thermal decomposition temperature (T-5%) of TPU/MIT30 composite increased at about 7oC, and the residual carbon content at 700oC increased from 3.13 wt% to 32.17 wt%. The peak heat release rate(PHRR), total heat release(THR) and total smoke release(TSR) of TPU/MIT30 composite decreased from 800.6 kW/m2, 83.1 MJ/m2 and 827.6 m2/m2 of pure TPU to 488.0 kW/m2, 63.6 MJ/m2 and 517.4 m2/m2, respectively. The SEM and Raman1 spectroscopy of char residue showed that the compactness and graphitization degree of char residue for TPU/MIT30 composite was the highest, indicating that the MIT could effectively improve the fire safety of TPU composites. This study provided some ideas for the high-value utilization of iron tailings.
Biomechanical effect of age-related structural changes on cervical intervertebral disc: A finite element study
Authors: Zeng Hui-Zi , Zheng Liang-Dong , Xu Meng-Lei , Zhu Shi-Jie , Zhou Liang , Candito Antonio , Wu Tao , Zhu Rui , Chen Yuhang
Published: September 2022

Previous literature has investigated the biomechanical response of healthy and degenerative discs, but the biomechanical response of suboptimal healthy intervertebral discs received less attention. The purpose was to compare the biomechanical responses and risk of herniation of young healthy, suboptimal healthy, and degenerative intervertebral discs. A cervical spine model was established and validated using the finite element method. Suboptimal healthy, mildly, moderately, and severely degenerative disc models were developed. Disc height deformation, range of motion, intradiscal pressure, and von Mises stress in annulus fibrosus were analyzed by applying a moment of 4 Nm in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation with 100 N compressive loads. Disc height deformation in young healthy, suboptimal healthy, mildly, moderately, and severely degenerative discs was 40%, 37%, 21%, 12%, and 8%, respectively. The decreasing order of the range of motion was young healthy spine > suboptimal healthy spine > mildly degenerative spine > moderately degenerative spine > severely degenerative spine. The mean stress of annulus ground substance in the suboptimal healthy disc was higher than in the young healthy disc. The mean stress of inter-lamellar matrix and annulus ground substance in moderately and severely degenerative discs was higher than in other discs. Age-related structural changes and degenerative changes increased the stiffness and reduced the elastic deformation of intervertebral discs. Decreased range of motion due to the effects of aging or degeneration on the intervertebral disc, may cause compensation of adjacent segments and lead to progressive degeneration of multiple segments. The effect of aging on the intervertebral disc increased the risk of annulus fibrosus damage from the biomechanical point of view. Moderately and severely degenerative discs may have a higher risk of herniation due to the higher risk of damage and layers separation of annulus fibrosus caused by increased stress in the annulus ground substance and inter-lamellar matrix.
A developed multibody knee model for unloading knee with cartilage penetration depth control
Authors: Javanfar Amirhosein , Bamdad Mahdi
Published: September 2022

Unloader knee braces could relieve pain by decreasing the medial knee loading. Particularly for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients, this study investigates the relevance of the knee model after identifying the most influential parameter. Since KOA causes the cartilage in a joint to lose its elasticity and thickness, the lack of normal bone-to-bone separation can be painful. We believe that cartilage penetration depth control is an impactful strategy in this research. Moreover, the knee contact force in KOA is fewer than in healthy knees, confirming that the contact force control cannot be a straight factor. Therefore, a biomechanical human knee model is developed, and a generic procedure for dynamic analysis of contact problems in combination with the musculoskeletal model is introduced. The developed model includes the geometric expression of collision curves and an algorithm for determining collision points. This presentation addresses cartilage penetration depth and contact force calculation through nonlinear discontinuous contact law. In view of this, femur and tibia’s relative motion is analyzed through the combined collision reactions of cartilage and bone in the knee. In the simulation, maximum penetration depth in a healthy knee is reported to be 0.795 mm, while in a 75% KOA is 0.521 mm, including 0.5 mm cartilage-cartilage contact and 0.021 mm bone-bone contact. The top unloading 852 N is achieved, reducing penetration depth to 0.45 mm, avoiding bone-bone contact. This proposed procedure with low computation gives us a suitable analysis method for designing knee assistive devices.
Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood–Derived Mononuclear Cell Therapy Promotes Cardiac Proliferation and Adaptation in a Porcine Model of Right Ventricle Pressure Overload
Authors: Oommen Saji , Cantero Peral Susana , Qureshi Muhammad Y. , Holst Kimberly A. , Burkhart Harold M. , Hathcock Matthew A. , Kremers Walter K. , Brandt Emma B. , Larsen Brandon T. , Dearani Joseph A. , Edwards Brooks S. , Maleszewski Joseph J. , Nelson Timothy J. ,   Wanek Program Pre-Clinical Pipeline
Published: September 2022

Congenital heart diseases, including single ventricle circulations, are clinically challenging due to chronic pressure overload and the inability of the myocardium to compensate for lifelong physiological demands. To determine the clinical relevance of autologous umbilical cord blood–derived mononuclear cells (UCB-MNCs) as a therapy to augment cardiac adaptation following surgical management of congenital heart disease, a validated model system of right ventricular pressure overload due to pulmonary artery banding (PAB) in juvenile pigs has been employed. PAB in a juvenile porcine model and intramyocardial delivery of UCB-MNCs was evaluated in three distinct 12-week studies utilizing serial cardiac imaging and end-of-study pathology evaluations. PAB reproducibly induced pressure overload leading to chronic right ventricular remodeling including significant myocardial fibrosis and elevation of heart failure biomarkers. High-dose UCB-MNCs (3 million/kg) delivered into the right ventricular myocardium did not cause any detectable safety issues in the context of arrhythmias or abnormal cardiac physiology. In addition, this high-dose treatment compared with placebo controls demonstrated that UCB-MNCs promoted a significant increase in Ki-67-positive cardiomyocytes coupled with an increase in the number of CD31+ endothelium. Furthermore, the incorporation of BrdU-labeled cells within the myocardium confirmed the biological potency of the high-dose UCB-MNC treatment. Finally, the cell-based treatment augmented the physiological adaptation compared with controls with a trend toward increased right ventricular mass within the 12 weeks of the follow-up period. Despite these adaptations, functional changes as measured by echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging did not demonstrate differences between cohorts in this surgical model system. Therefore, this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pre-clinical trial establishes the safety of UCB-MNCs delivered via intramyocardial injections in a dysfunctional right ventricle and validates the induction of cardiac proliferation and angiogenesis as transient paracrine mechanisms that may be important to optimize long-term outcomes for surgically repaired congenital heart diseases.
Territoriality and Status in Human Rights Litigation: The Case of Israel/Palestine
Authors: Ballas Irit
Published: September 2022

Both territoriality and political status serve as parameters for determining the extent of a state's obligation to uphold human rights. Scholars have shown that different actors may manipulate the scope of these parameters to serve their particular purposes. Based on interviews with lawyers from Israeli human rights organizations, this article shows how they also manipulate the relationships between these parameters. When representing different clients, lawyers from Israeli human rights organizations accentuate one parameter over the other, demand congruity between them, or reject both. The findings highlight how the movable intersections between territoriality and political status facilitate a multitude of discursive strategies from which lawyers can pick and choose, to address political predicaments they face in their praxis. Furthermore, by judiciously applying these strategies, lawyers are able to mobilize the indeterminate relationship between political status and territoriality to destabilize what they perceive to be the unjust boundaries promoted by the state.
Different methods for determining the yield stress of ferrofluids
Authors: Dong Jiahao , Li Decai , Li Zhenkun
Published: September 2022

The yield stress of ferrofluids has been a hot topic in their rheological studies, and it is still controversial which method could obtain the more accurate yield stress value. In this work, we used varieties of methods to obtain the yield stress of the ferrofluid, including steady shear and oscillatory shear. We obtained the static yield stress and dynamic yield stress of the ferrofluid by Herschel–Bulkley fitting of the flow curves measured by the controlled shear rate mode and the controlled shear stress mode, and found that at any magnetic field strength, the static yield stress was always significantly greater than the dynamic yield stress. We then performed oscillatory shear of the ferrofluid and determined the yield stress using three methods, where the yield stress value corresponding to the intersection of the storage modulus G′ and the loss modulus G″ is similar to the static yield stress value fitted by H-B at low magnetic field strength. The power law function and shear stress as a function of shear strain consistently gave the maximum value of the yield stress. Ultimately, we believe that which method is ultimately chosen depends on the practical application conditions of interest.
Challenges With Using a Weight-Based Approach to Bolus Fluid Dosing in Obese Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Erstad Brian L. , Barletta Jeffrey F.
Published: September 2022

At least 30 mL/kg of crystalloid fluid administration within the first 3 hours of resuscitation is suggested by the current Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock. This commentary discusses the challenges with using a weight-based approach to bolus fluid dosing during the early phase of resuscitation of adult, obese patients. Based on the available literature, arguments can be made for the use of either ideal or adjusted body weight for weight-based fluid dosing, but there are concerns with fluid overload if using actual body weight to dose patients with more severe forms of obesity.
Implementing a Child Mental Health Intervention in Child Welfare Services: Stakeholder Perspectives on Feasibility
Authors: Gopalan Geetha , Lee Kerry A. , Pisciotta Caterina , Hooley Cole , Stephens Tricia , Acri Mary
Published: September 2022

This pilot study integrated quantitative and qualitative data to examine the feasibility of implementing a modified version of a multiple family group behavioral parent training intervention (The 4Rs and 2Ss for Strengthening Families Program [4Rs and 2Ss]) in child welfare (CW) placement prevention services from the perspectives of participating caregivers ( n = 12) and CW staff ( n = 12; i.e., 6 caseworkers, 4 supervisors, and 2 administrators). Quantitative surveys were administered to caregivers and CW staff followed by semi-structured interviews to examine the feasibility of implementing the modified 4Rs and 2Ss program as well as factors impacting feasibility. Results indicated that quantitative benchmarks for high feasibility were met in all assessed areas (e.g., family recruitment, caseworker fidelity ratings, CW staff feasibility ratings) except for family attendance, which was markedly lower than desired. Factors facilitating feasibility included agency and research support, intervention ease-of-use, perceived benefits to existing CW practice, and logistical support (e.g., food, transportation, child care) promoting attendance. Factors hindering feasibility included conflicts between research-based eligibility criteria and existing client population demographics, research-related processes resulting in delays, CW staff role conflicts, added workload burden, complex family issues, and power differentials inherent to CW services which complicated families’ voluntary participation.
Subject-Based Acceleration
Authors: Riegel Bruce D. , Behrens Wendy A.
Published: September 2022

In its various forms, acceleration continues to be an evidence-based and widely used service provided to gifted students but remains controversial and unsupported in legislation in most states. Case studies, current legislation, interviews with state directors of gifted education programs, and a deep dive into the 2018–2019 State of the States in Gifted Education revealed vast differences in state policies and approaches to providing gifted services especially when it comes to acceleration. Of the 44 state responses regarding content-based acceleration, nine indicated it is required, 12 said it is not, and 23 deemed it a local decision. When coupled with professional learning, subject acceleration triumphs as an effective method supporting student growth and talent development. With careful planning, the perceived barriers to subject acceleration can be overcome.
Assumptions About Schooling: The Myths of Advanced Learning
Authors: VanTassel-Baska Joyce
Published: September 2022

The author identifies six myths that pervade educational thinking about advanced learning and constrain educational opportunities for gifted students. These myths relate to higher-level thinking, differentiated learning outcomes, accelerated work, limitations on other students, standards, and students from low-income backgrounds. The author concludes that all students deserve to advance their learning, to find their own life themes in whatever creative area they can find or devise.