bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production of Fit City: Physical (In)Activity, Body and Everyday Space in Delhi
Authors: Lakshyayog
Published: June 2023

The article intends to map the emerging critical geography of physical activity, everyday spaces and the body in the context of recently installed open gyms in public parks of Delhi. By employing fit city as a heuristic device, the case study of open gyms is set against a dual backdrop of policy modes of thinking through which physical (in)activity has emerged as a ‘legitimate policy issue’ and the embeddedness of physical (in)activity at an individual level. This article brings these two views in juxtaposition to each other through the lens of governmentality by proposing three logics to the open gym—as a social infrastructure, as a social space and as a device for the body. It argues that the production of a fit city is rooted in the conceptions of a fit, productive, healthy and disciplined body driven by nationalistic imagination that is reproduced through initiatives such as open gyms.
Role of N-acetylcysteine in liver injury due to dengue fever
Authors: Gupta Monica , Gupta Samiksha , Sood Dhriti , Gupta Akanksha , Jesrani Gautam
Published: June 2023

Dengue fever (DF) is a common mosquito-borne viral infection which is endemic in Southeast Asia. Liver involvement may vary from asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes to fulminant hepatitis. Although the valuable effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in paracetamol toxicity and non-paracetamol liver failure have been extensively studied, its use in DF-associated hepatitis remains unclear. We made a literature search in an online format from libraries such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE, and selected 33 articles including original research articles, case reports, and systemic analyses. The majority of the articles reviewed had a positive outcome but treatment strategies involved NAC together with supportive care. Hence, data on sole use of NAC from large randomised control trials remain unclear.
The Shanghai Elbow Dysfunction Score: Psychometric Properties, Reliability and Validity Study of the Turkish Version
Authors: Birinci Tansu , Altun Suleyman , Ziroğlu Nezih , Kaya Mutlu Ebru
Published: June 2023

The Shanghai Elbow Dysfunction Score (SHEDS) is a self-reported assessment of post-traumatic elbow stiffness that measures elbow-related symptoms and elbow motion capacities. This study aimed to (1) translate and cross-culturally adapt the SHEDS into Turkish and (2) investigate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the SHEDS (SHEDS-T) were tested in 108 patients (72 male; mean age, 43.2 ± 11.2 years) with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficients were used to estimate test-retest. Construct validity was analyzed with the Turkish version of the Disabilities Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and the Short Form-12 (PCS-12 and MCS-12). The SHEDS-T showed sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient = 0.83) and test-retest reliability (ICC = .96). The correlation coefficients between the SHEDS-T, the DASH, and the MEPS were .75 and .54, respectively ( p < .001). There was a moderate correlation between the SHEDS-T and PCS-12 (r = .65, p = .01) and a weak positive correlation between the SHEDS and the MCS-12 (r = .40, p = .03). The SHEDS-T has sufficient reliability and validity to measure elbow-related symptoms and elbow motion capacities for Turkish-speaking individuals with post-traumatic elbow stiffness.
Discourse markers in L1 and L2 Italian: A cartographic analysis of the sentence-internal position
Authors: De Cristofaro Elisa , Badan Linda , Belletti Adriana
Published: June 2023

This article compares the use of discourse markers (DMs) in Italian as a second language (L2) produced by Belgian-Dutch learners, with the DMs produced by Italian native (L1) speakers. The quantitative analysis of the data shows that L1 speakers produce more DMs than L2 speakers, whereas the comparison between the levels of proficiency in L2 reveals an effect of the type of task on the frequency of DMs. From the qualitative analysis, interesting discrepancies emerge between the L1 and the L2 use of DMs, especially those uttered in sentence-internal position. We offer an analysis within the cartographic approach and we demonstrate that the sentence-internal DMs with an epistemic value realize specific syntactic positions dedicated to the expression of modality within the IP layer. We also show that the L2 learners, despite projecting the correct syntactic structure, realize it with pragmatically infelicitous forms as a result of linguistic interference with their L1. Our study brings original evidence on the syntactic status of DMs: given their multifunctionality, more syntactic options are available depending on the markers’ discursive and pragmatic import. Furthermore, sentence-internal DMs reveal intriguing properties of the L2 acquisition at the syntax and discourse–pragmatics interface.
Acute neurocognitive and subjective effects of oral methamphetamine with low doses of alcohol: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hayley Amie C , Shiferaw Brook , Rositano Joanna , Downey Luke A
Published: June 2023

Background:

Methamphetamine is often recreationally co-consumed with alcohol due to desirable off-target effects; however, the acute neurocognitive and subjective consequences of combined use are unclear.

Methods:

In a randomised, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, cross-over study design, the effects of acute oral methamphetamine (0.42 mg/kg) were assessed with and without low doses of alcohol (target 0.04% blood–alcohol concentration, BAC) on subjective intoxication, alertness, physiological outcomes and neurocognition during the ascending and descending phases of the BAC curve. Sixteen healthy adults (mean age = 30.4 years, SD ± 4.4, 67% male) completed four experimental sessions over 4 weeks involving a one-week washout period.

Results:

Cardiovascular measures [heart rate (beats/minute), blood pressure (mmHg)] were predictably elevated following methamphetamine, but unaffected by combined alcohol use. Methamphetamine and alcohol produce divergent effects on subjective alertness and sedation across time, yet their combination produced predominantly sustained stimulative effects independent of the biphasic alcohol curve. At a peak BAC of 0.029%, alcohol alone impaired performance across most functional neurocognitive domains relative to placebo and methamphetamine only, and the addition of methamphetamine attenuated these effects. Methamphetamine alone produced isolated improvement in psychomotor speed consistent with peak drug effects.

Conclusion:

Methamphetamine combined with alcohol does not substantially alter the physiological or metabolic profile compared to either drug alone. Strong stimulative effects of methamphetamine appear to mask the biphasic sedative and performance effects of low doses of alcohol, which may underlie motivations for co-consumption in recreational settings and increase propensity for harm.
Peripheric and central olfactory measurements in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Kocakaya Hanife , Bayar Muluk Nuray , Bekin Sarikaya Pelin Zeynep
Published: June 2023

Background

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mental health disorder.

Purpose

To investigate the peripheric and central olfactory measurements in patients with BD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Material and Methods

This study was conducted retrospectively. Group 1 consisted of 27 euthymic patients with BD (14 men, 13 women) and Group 2 consisted of 27 healthy controls (14 men, 13 women). Olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory sulcus (OS) depth (peripheric), and corpus amygdala and insular gyrus area (central) measurements were performed using cranial MRI.

Results

OB volume and OS depth value of the bipolar group were lower than the control group, but there were no significant differences between the groups ( P > 0.05). The corpus amygdala and left insular gyrus area of the bipolar group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between OB volumes and OS depths, the insular gyrus areas, and the corpus amygdala areas ( P < 0.05). As the number of depressive episodes and duration of illness increased in bipolar patients, the depth of the sulcus decreased ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In the present study a correlation was detected between OB volumes and the structures, known as emotional processing (e.g. insular gyrus area, corpus amygdala), and clinical features. Accordingly, new treatment techniques, such as olfactory training, may be considered an option in the treatment of such patients with BD.
Preoperative prediction of lymphovascular space invasion in endometrioid adenocarcinoma: an MRI-based radiomics nomogram with consideration of the peritumoral region
Authors: Yan Bin , Jia Yuxia , Li Zhihao , Ding Caixia , Lu Jianrong , Liu Jixin , Zhang Yuchen
Published: June 2023

Background

Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) of endometrial cancer (EC) is a postoperative histological index, which is associated with lymph node metastases. A preoperative acknowledgement of LVSI status might aid in treatment decision-making.

Purpose

To explore the utility of multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiomic features obtained from intratumoral and peritumoral regions for predicting LVSI in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EEA).

Material and Methods

A total of 334 EEA tumors were retrospectively analyzed. Axial T2-weighted (T2W) imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping were conducted. Intratumoral and peritumoral regions were manually annotated as the volumes of interest (VOIs). A support vector machine was applied to train the prediction models. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop a nomogram based on clinical and tumor morphological parameters and the radiomics score (RadScore). The predictive performance of the nomogram was assessed by the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) in the training and validation cohorts.

Results

Among the features obtained from different imaging modalities (T2W imaging and ADC mapping) and VOIs, the RadScore had the best performance in predicting LVSI classification (AUCtrain = 0.919, and AUCvalidation = 0.902). The nomogram based on age, CA125, maximum anteroposterior tumor diameter on sagittal T2W images, tumor area ratio, and RadScore was established to predict LVSI had AUC values in the training and validation cohorts of 0.962 (sensitivity 94.0%, specificity 86.0%) and 0.965 (sensitivity 90.0%, specificity 85.3%), respectively.

Conclusion

The intratumoral and peritumoral imaging features were complementary, and the MRI-based radiomics nomogram might serve as a non-invasive biomarker to preoperatively predict LVSI in patients with EEA.
Association between neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio and 28-day mortality in Chinese patients with sepsis
Authors: Hu Chunying , He Yinyan , Li Jinfeng , Zhang Cuicui , Hu Qinghe , Li Wei , Hao Cuiping
Published: June 2023

Objective

To assess the association between neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) and 28-day mortality in severely ill Chinese patients with sepsis.

Methods

In this retrospective, single-centre study, sepsis patients admitted to the ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University between May 2015 and December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. The relationship between NPAR and 28-day mortality was examined using Cox proportional-hazards model.

Results

In total, 741 patients with sepsis were included. Multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol drinking history, showed an association between elevated NPAR and a high risk of 28-day mortality. After removal of additional confounders, moderate and high NPAR values remained significantly associated with 28-day mortality in comparison with low NPAR values (tertile 2 vs 1: HR, 95% CI: 1.42, 1.06–1.90; tertile 3 vs 1: HR, 95% CI: 1.35, 1.00–1.82). Survival curves stratified by NPAR groups showed that high NPAR levels had lower survival probabilities than lower NPAR levels. Subgroup analysis did not show any significant interactions between NPAR and 28-day mortality.

Conclusions

Elevated NPAR values were linked to increased 28-day mortality in severely ill Chinese patients with sepsis. The findings require verification by large, prospective, multi-centre studies.
Report of amoebic disease in a colony of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Iredale Marley E. , Viadanna Pedro H. O. , Subramaniam Kuttichantran , Tardif Etienne , Bonning Bryony C. , Ellis James D.
Published: June 2023

The amoeba Malpighamoeba mellificae is the etiologic agent of amoebic (amoeba) disease of Western honey bees ( Apis mellifera). M. mellificae damages the Malpighian tubules, which is believed to weaken and kill the host bee. Here, the authors describe the detection of this organism in a honey bee colony in the Yukon Territory, Canada. The Malpighian tubules of 14% (7/50) of the adult worker bees were discolored dark brown. Fifteen bees screened using conventional polymerase chain reaction for the 18S gene of M. mellificae were positive for the pathogen. Histologically, the lumens of Malpighian tubules were packed with amoebae, causing dilation of the tubules and attenuation and loss of the tubular epithelium. This phylogenetic analysis places M. mellificae in a new clade, a sister group to the Entamoebidae. This work provides a foundation for further investigation into the distribution, prevalence, and pathology associated with M. mellificae infection.
Leaving Their Drugs at the Gate? Exploring Changes in Drug Use From Before to During Incarceration in Norway
Authors: Andersen Synøve N. , Hyatt Jordan M. , Lobmaier Philipp , Stavseth Marianne Riksheim , Bukten Anne
Published: June 2023

As the number of incarcerated persons who use drugs increases in many countries, it is important to understand the nature of drug use in prison by exploring how substance use patterns change from before to during incarceration. In this study, we rely on cross-sectional, self-report data from The Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction (NorMA) study to identify the nature of changes in drug use among incarcerated respondents who reported having used either narcotics, non-prescribed medications, or both, during the 6 months before their incarceration ( n = 824). Results show that about 60% ( n = 490) stop using drugs. Of the remaining 40% ( n = 324), about 86% changed their use patterns. Most commonly, incarcerated people stopped using stimulants and started using opioids; switching from cannabis to stimulants was the least common change. Overall, the study illustrates that the prison context leads most individuals to change their use patterns, some in unanticipated ways.
Triggers for medical emergency team activation after non-cardiac surgery
Authors: Douglas Ned WR , Coleman Olivia M , Steel Amelia CA , Leslie Kate , Darvall Jai NL
Published: June 2023

Deterioration after major surgery is common, with many patients experiencing a medical emergency team (MET) activation. Understanding the triggers for MET calls may help design interventions to prevent deterioration. We aimed to identify triggers for MET activation in non-cardiac surgical patients. A retrospective cohort study of adult patients who experienced a postoperative MET call at a single tertiary hospital was undertaken. The trigger and timing of each MET call and patient characteristics were collected.

Four hundred and one MET calls occurred after 23,258 surgical procedures, a rate of 1.7% of all non-cardiac surgical procedures, accounting for 11.7% of all MET calls over the study period. Hypotension (41.4%) was the most common trigger, followed by tachycardia (18.5%), altered conscious state (11.0%), hypoxia (10.0%), tachypnoea (5.7%), ‘other’ (5.7%), clinical concern (4.0%), increased work of breathing (1.5%) and bradypnoea (0.7%). Cardiac and/or respiratory arrest triggered 1.2% of MET activations. Eighty-six percent of patients had a single MET call, 10.2% had two, 1.8% had three and one patient (0.3%) had four. The median interval between post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) discharge and MET call was 14.7 h (95% confidence interval 4.2 to 28.9 h). MET calls resulted in intensive care unit (ICU) admission in 40 patients (10%), while 82% remained on the ward, 4% had a MET call shortly after ICU discharge and returned there, 2% returned to theatre, and 2% went to a high dependency unit.

Hypotension was the most common trigger for MET calls after non-cardiac surgery. Deterioration frequently occurred within 24 h of PACU discharge. Future research should focus on prevention of hypotension and tachycardia after surgery.
Migrations in postcolonial Italian literature: Quali-quantitative analysis in a social representation framework
Authors: Chiara Giacomo , Romaioli Diego , Contarello Alberta
Published: June 2023

Published studies on social representations of migration in the media offer two pictures that have become crystallized over time. On the one hand, migration is constructed as a social threat for hosting countries; on the other, victimization of migrants is emphasized. This study aims to investigate how literary texts written by the protagonists of migratory experiences contribute to creating a possible alternative view of migrants. The results highlight a tension in the discourse on migration. They show that this literature conveys different worldviews, which can be arranged in two macro-groups. Narratives of victimization emerge, but are counterbalanced by narratives of resilience, post-traumatic growth, and the ability to react and cope with difficulties, and also by narrative of resistance oriented toward ensuring the recognition of the identity of second-generation Italians. This contribution concludes with reflections on the pragmatic value of conducting psychosocial research on literary texts.
Marginal Gentrification and Racial Capitalism in a Post-chocolate City
Authors: Oh Hyunsu , Golash-Boza Tanya , Rajabally Waleed , Salazar Carmen
Published: June 2023

Researchers have found that gentrification is less likely in Black neighborhoods than in White or Latinx neighborhoods, and that gentrification looks different in Black neighborhoods. For example, researchers have found that Black neighborhoods experience marginal gentrification—changes in the educational level but not the income of residents. This study uses Census and National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) data to explore the relationship between gentrification and racial change in Washington, DC between 2000 and 2019. We measure gentrification using four distinct but related measures: change in home value, rent, average educational level, and household income. The results show a positive association between changes in the percentage of residents with college degrees and the percentage of White residents in neighborhoods that were majority Black in 2000. We also find a positive association between changes in the percentage of Latinx residents and the average rent. We do not find a significant relationship between racial change and changes in home value and average income. Our findings point to the importance of including race in models of gentrification as well as using different measures of gentrification to capture it more fully.
Characterization of different solid fuels from waste for an advanced online fuel control system designed for large-scale incineration plants
Authors: Oischinger Jürgen , Kohl Markus , Meiller Martin , Walberer Julian , Daschner Robert , Hornung Andreas , Grafmans Florian , Warnecke Ragnar , Breitenberger Robert , Dannerbeck Franz , Zwiellehner Martin
Published: June 2023

Despite many years of experience in the incineration of solid fuels from waste, the heterogeneity of solid fuels and their varying properties still pose a challenge for a stable and clean combustion in large-scale incineration plants. In modern facilities such as municipal waste incineration plants there still exists a lack of knowledge on the exact amount and calorific value of waste entering onto the grate. Based on the works of Warnecke et al. and Zwiellehner et al., in our project ‘AdOnFuelControl’, we determined the initial bulk density at the feed hopper by measuring the weight of the waste via the crane weigher and the volume via a high-performance 3D laser scanner. With the help of the determined bulk density, the lower heating value (LHV) and the compression in the feed hopper were calculated. All this information was integrated into the combustion control system, which provided a high potential for an optimized operation of the plant. In this article, six different fuels (fresh and aged municipal solid waste, refuse-derived fuel (fluff), refuse-derived fuel (fine grain), waste wood and dried, grained sewage sludge) were examined for the elemental composition, the LHV, fuel-specific parameters and the compression behaviour. In addition, initial tests with the 3D laser scanner as well as formulas for the calculation of the density in the feed hopper were presented. Based on the results of the experiments, the chosen approach seems very promising for optimized combustion control in large-scale incineration plants. As a next step, the gained knowledge and technology should be integrated in the municipal waste incineration plant.
Game-Based Learning for Students’ Computational Thinking: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ma Jingsi , Zhang Yi , Zhu Zhifang , Zhao Sunan , Wang Qiyun
Published: June 2023

Computational thinking (CT) education has drawn increasing attention from educators and researchers. This study conducted a meta-analysis of 27 empirical studies to examine the effectiveness of game-based learning (GBL) for fostering students’ CT. The effects of various factors on the learning process for acquiring CT were also examined. The results showed that (a) conducting GBL can foster students’ CT, and the overall effect was at the upper-middle level (Hedges’ g = .600, 95% CI [.465, .735], p < .001). (b) Furthermore, conducting GBL can improve students’ CT concepts (Hedges’ g = .916, 95% CI [.410, 1.423], p < .001), CT skills (Hedges’ g = .494, 95% CI [.389, .600], p < .001), and CT perspectives (Hedges’ g = .927, 95% CI [.039, 1.816], p < .05). (c) Additionally, game mode, teaching context, and participant characteristics have positive effects on CT. Based on the findings, it is suggested that using more unplugged games and video games, designing collaborative game activities, and tailoring approaches according to gender difference and programming experience can effectively promote CT. The results have significance for fostering students’ CT in GBL; it is further suggested that instruction processes be rationally designed.
Insecure fisheries: How illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing affects piracy
Authors: Mitchell Sara McLaughlin , Schmidt Cody J
Published: June 2023

We examine greed and grievance mechanisms that connect illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and piracy. We use several cases (e.g. Somalia, Nigeria) to illustrate these mechanisms and empirically examine the relationship between IUU fishing and state-year piracy events from 1990 to 2015. We find that countries experiencing significant levels of IUU fishing face much greater risks for piracy. We also evaluate several mediating conditions of our theory with interaction terms (state capacity, state fragility, and legal fishing incentives) and find that the relationship between IUU fishing and piracy is strongest for moderately developed states with greater state fragility and higher fish catch values.
Contending Temporalities: Stretching the Temporal Reach of Lustration in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Horne Cynthia M.
Published: June 2023

As part of de-Communization, states in central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union used lustration measures to remove Communist officials and secret police collaborators from positions of power and to bring to light Communist-era abuses. As a form of transitional justice, lustration is unusually temporally tethered to the Communist past. However, in practice some states stretched lustration’s temporal parameters, reaching back up to eighty years to pre-Soviet and Nazi World War II (WWII) abuses, and extending forward decades into the post-Communist present. This temporal stretching expanded lustration’s goals beyond vetting mechanism to corruption fighter, historical memory marker, and nation-state (re)builder. Lustration’s temporal stretching conflicts with Venice Commission, Council of Europe, and European Court of Human Rights guidelines and legal rulings on lustration. This article presents three temporal approaches to the window of time covered by lustration in eleven post-Communist states between 1990 and 2018: lustration focused on a single, elongated Communist past, lustration covering multiple pasts, and lustration spanning both Communist and post-Communist abuses. Comparative cases in these three temporal categories illustrate significant variation within states surrounding the temporal purview of lustration. This regional variation is juxtaposed with Council of Europe guidelines, related court rulings, and Venice Commission amicus briefs to illustrate contending temporalities surrounding the use of lustration as an “extraordinary” justice measure in consolidated democracies. This study highlights the importance of time as a variable and invites more empirical work on the conditional effects of time on transitional justice.
Research on die steel after turning heat treatment of built-in actuation ultrasonically assisted turning system
Authors: Huang Wei-Tai , Chen Yi-Siang
Published: June 2023

In this research, a built-in actuated ultrasonically assisted turning (UAT) system was developed. The structure design and turning parameters of the system were optimized to improve its efficiency. Finite element analysis and robust design are used in the system structure design to optimize the system structure. The primary purpose of this optimization is to achieve the best tooltip vibration displacement of the system. When the natural frequency mode of the system is 23.7 kHz, the best-simulated tool tip vibration displacement for computer-aided engineering is 4.16 μm; at an input voltage of 100 V, it is 3.91 µm, the error percentage is 6.39%, and the accuracy is very high. Afterward, we conducted an optimization study on the turning parameters of heat-treated die steel. The best turning force is 8.658 N, the turning temperature is 354.9°C, and the surface roughness is 0.394 μm. Compared with conventional turning, our UAT system can reduce the turning force by 92.32%, the turning temperature by 30.43%, the surface roughness by 42.89%, and the tool wear by 95.22%. The comparison results show that our UAT system can significantly improve the efficiency of post-hot die steel turning.
Analysis and determination of bolt tightening process factors for composite structures under multiple working conditions
Authors: Yue Xuande , Xie Ying , Liu Lei , Fu Jianchao , Geng Tao , Long Guangying , Lian Zhimin
Published: June 2023

When developing the tightening process for composite bolts, ensuring that the target preload( F) required by design is achieved is a key scientific issue in meeting the mechanical properties of the connected structure. Variations in complex process factors during tightening have a large effect on the tightening torque( T)-preload curve( F), and the mechanism by which the tightening process factor affects the target preload must be considered. Using experimental means, the significance and coupling effects of tightening speed, lubrication conditions, tightening areas, joint sealants and washers have been systematically investigated. The tightening torque( T), torque coefficient( K), preload( F) and the peak stress coefficients X( σ) and interlaminar stress coefficients Y( σ) within the composite laminate are used as the main response variables, and a mathematical model between each response variable and the process factor is established to analyse the effect of significant factors on the response variables from a quantitative perspective. Finally, with a certain size of preload( F) as the optimisation target, the optimisation analysis of the tightening speed is carried out for four working conditions with different sealing conditions and different tightening area, and the optimum tightening speed for each working condition is determined. Based on the above study, an analytical method was proposed to determine the reasonable interval of tightening process parameters in this paper.
Fluid-solid coupling simulation study on fuel leakage and deformation characteristics of precision coupling component in common rail injector and influence of pressure equalizing structure
Authors: Zhou Yu-Hao , Li Guo-Xiu , Li Hong-Meng , Xu Chun-Long , Wu Xiao-Jun
Published: June 2023

In the foreseeable future, the use of fossil energy is still irreplaceable, makes efficient use of fossil energy and reduce emissions became important topics. Diesel engines have a very high share in the transportation field, and high-pressure common rail system has highly improved the performance of diesel engines. As the most important component of common rail system, the performance of common rail injector directly affects the engine. Precision coupling components are composed of moving parts with very precise clearance fit in the injector. With the wear of parts, fuel leakage of precision coupling components may reach the same level as injection quantity, which will seriously affect the injection pressure actually established, and then affect the power, efficiency, and emission performance of diesel engine. Many researchers have studied fuel leakage of precision coupling components, and put forward different methods to reduce fuel leakage, including improving the machining accuracy and machining annular grooves on parts. However, the wear of parts makes it a high-cost and low-effective method to improve machining accuracy. Besides, researchers have not fully considered the deformation of parts. In this work, fluid-solid coupling simulations were performed to analyze deformation and static fuel leakage characteristics, and to investigate effects of pressure equalizing structure on deformation and leakage of precision coupling component in common-rail injector. Different from the previous researches, the influence of machining the annular groove on the plunger sleeve instead of on the plunger, and influence of coexistence of annular groove and deformation were considered. The results show the deformation characteristics of the parts, the fuel flow characteristics in the gap, and the influence of the annular groove on the fuel leakage. The connection between the deformation of parts and fuel leakage, and potential methods to reduce the leakage are also discussed.
A comprehensive experimental framework based on analysis of the pilot’s EEG and NASA-TLX questionnaire in a VR environment
Authors: Ji Li , Zhang Chen , Li Haiwei , Zhang Ningning , Guo Changhao , Zhang Yong , Tang Xiaoyu
Published: June 2023

The relationship framework between electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and subjective perception during pilots’ missions was established to improve pilots’ training efficiency and flight safety. Primarily, this study constructs a real flight scene through virtual reality (VR) and then obtains EEG data in simulated scenes. Researchers use VR technology to build a mission simulation room and then acquire EEG data from participants wearing EEG acquisition devices in the simulated room. The experimental process is divided into flight simulation and a questionnaire survey. Based on the participants’ EEG analysis, the researchers verified the changes of β rhythm under a high-difficulty operation mission. In addition, this study infers the mechanism of affecting pilots’ mental workload under high-difficulty operation by analyzing the correlation between subjective questionnaire results and β rhythms. The results showed that in the context of pilots performing flight missions in the aircraft space environment, the pilots’ mental load had the most excellent rhythmic relationship with the regions representing β rhythm. Therefore, a comprehensive experimental framework constructed in this study based on virtual simulation space to analyze the relationship between EEG and NASA-TLX subjective questionnaire provides a set of more accurate reference information for the design of a pilot training system based on pilot training efficiency and flight safety.
Exploring the dynamic nexus between urbanization, energy efficiency, renewable energies, economic growth, with ecological footprint: A panel cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag evidence along Middle East and North Africa countries
Authors: Satari Yuzbashkandi Saeid , Mehrjo Amir , Eskandari Nasab Mohammad Hadi
Published: June 2023

The release of greenhouse gases (GHG) is acknowledged as a serious hazard that fuels climate change (CC). The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries face particular environmental challenges due to its contribution to carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). There is, however, a scarcity of literature about the region's environmental challenges, despite its vulnerability to the consequences of CC. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to look at various solutions to the CC issue in the MENA area, that is, energy efficiency (EE), economic development, urbanization, fossil fuel (FF) usage, and renewable energies (RE). Further, the study seeks to evaluate CO2 emissions in the region by establishing a RE index. By applying the fresh technique known as the cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag estimator to panel data for 18 MENA countries from 1990 to 2019, this study quantifies the impact of these variables on CO2 emissions. The findings reveal that the explanatory variables’ significance varies across regional panel clusters, with economic growth having a significantly positive effect on CO2 emissions in the long run. Moreover, the study rejects the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis validation and highlights the importance of EE in boosting environmental quality in the long and short runs. Additionally, the outcomes suggest that RE contributes to reducing CO2 emissions, while the urbanization level and FF consumption adopted by MENA countries do not improve their environment. Thus, mitigating the negative consequences of CC in the MENA area necessitates encouraging EE and lobbying for a shift from FF to RE sources.
The information needs and practices of Australian adult prisoners
Authors: Garner Jane
Published: June 2023

This paper describes the findings of a research project conducted in six adult prisons in New South Wales, Australia that sought to study the information needs and information seeking practices of adult Australian prisoners. Through data gathered from 106 prisoner surveys, the paper identifies the information needs of Australian adult prisoners across six information domains: legal, education, spirituality, health, prison life, and re-integration. For each information domain, participants were asked to identify their preferred source or sources of information from eight possible information sources: prison libraries, tablet devices, staff, family/friends, health services, television/radio, books etc. not from the prison library, or other. The number and nature of unmet information needs are also explored and described. The data gathered enables a study of the different information needs and behaviours of female and male prisoners, and prisoners from across various security levels. The paper finds a significant level of unmet information need in the lives of Australian adult prisoners across all information domains studied. Prisoners are heavily reliant on sources of information that are likely to be non-expert such as custodial staff, other inmates, and family and friends to attempt to meet their information needs about significant critical issues such as their ongoing legal matters and their health. The information needs are similar for female and male prisoners, however their information seeking practices differ, with male prisoners being more likely to have support from family and friends as information sources than female prisoners. Prisoners living in minimum security prisons are least likely to identify a need for spirituality-related information compared with prisoners living in other security classifications and are most likely to seek information regarding their reintegration back into their communities as they plan for their release.
Augmented Reality: New Future of Social Media Influencer Marketing
Authors: Sinha Mudita , Srivastava Mallika
Published: June 2023

The advent of social media as a marketing tool has transformed how businesses connect and share information about their brands with their consumers. Amplified consumer engagement has created novel relationships between consumers and companies. People’s reliance on seeking information from other online users and reviews has increased, and this is where social media influencers play an important role in shaping consumers’ opinions. Augmented reality will revolutionize the influencer marketing environment due to its ability to engage consumers. This research involved an online survey with questions established on a 7-point Likert scale. Later, exploratory factor analysis was used to summarize data better to understand associations between dependent and independent variables. Later principal component analysis was espoused for the extraction process. Varimax rotation congregated 39 items into various factors. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test was administered to justify the adequacy of the sample.. The findings suggest that augmented reality moderates user engagement and is the future of influencer marketing.
Patient and caregiver experience with telepharmacy in cancer care to support beginning systemic therapy: A qualitative study
Authors: Nguyen Oliver T. , Mason Arianna , Charles Dannelle , Sprow Olivia , Naso Cristina , Turner Kea , Nahleh Omar Abu , Khanna Neel , Hong Young-Rock , Tabriz Amir Alishahi , Spiess Philippe , Bottiglieri Salvatore
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Although the COVID-19 pandemic spurred telehealth adoption for many specialties and care team roles, the patient and caregiver experience for telepharmacy visits has been relatively understudied. To our knowledge, there is a paucity of studies that have attempted to qualitatively evaluate this. This study aimed to qualitatively assess the patient and caregiver experience of telepharmacy visits in a cancer center.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 21 patients with cancer and seven caregivers that had attended a telepharmacy visit between December 1, 2021, and May 24, 2022. The interviews assessed visit content, overall satisfaction, system experience, visit quality, and future preferences for pharmacy visits as telehealth versus in-person. We used both deductive and inductive coding to identify themes.

Results

Telepharmacy delivery was generally well-received. Reasons for having the telepharmacy visit included reviewing chemotherapy procedures, side effects to expect during treatment, providing education on recently prescribed medications, offering dietary recommendations (e.g., avoiding grapefruit juice), and performing medication reconciliation. Participants were receptive to having pharmacy visits through telehealth due to the perceived lack of a need to have a physical exam and prior relationship with the pharmacist. Participants also highlighted the main reason for the telepharmacy visits was primarily to provide patient education, which participants felt was suitable for telehealth.

Conclusions

The patient and caregiver experience of telepharmacy is influenced by several factors, such as ease of connectivity, communicating effectively with the pharmacist, and timing of the telepharmacy visit (e.g., immediately after picking up medications from the pharmacy). Participants’ recommendations to improve telepharmacy delivery included health systems raising awareness of telepharmacy services and providing a list of questions to patients to guide discussions.
Enhanced H2S biogenesis followed by its postharvest application retarded senescence development by promoting multiple antioxidant protection systems in button mushroom during cold storage
Authors: Moradi Digehsara Mahtab , Naghshiband Hassani Rahim , Mahna Nasser , Nicola Silvana
Published: June 2023

Rapid postharvest quality deterioration of button mushroom as fruit body surface browning brings about senescence development and limits its distribution potential and postharvest storage. In this investigation, 0.5 mM of NaHS as the optimum concentration for H2S fumigation was applied to retain the quality of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms concerning some qualitative and biochemical attributes evaluation throughout 15 storage-day at 4 °C and 80–90% relative humidity. In H2S fumigated mushrooms, pileus browning index, weight loss and softening decreased, concomitant with higher cell membrane stability as revealed by subsidiary electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 contents compared to the control during the cold storage period. H2S fumigation boosted total phenolics, as presented by the enhanced phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity and total antioxidant scavenging activity, while polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity diminished. Moreover, in H2S fumigated mushrooms not only peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities but also ascorbic acid and glutathione (GSH) contents increased, even though glutathione (GSSG) content declined. The raised endogenous H2S level prompted by greater cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS), cystathionine ?-lyase (CSE), cysteine synthase (CS), L-cysteine desulfhydrases (LCD) and D-cysteine desulfhydrases (DCD) enzymes activities until 10d in fumigated mushrooms. In general, the increase in endogenous H2S biogenesis promoted by H2S fumigation in button mushrooms resulted in retarding senescence development, maintaining redox balance by boosting multiple enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants defense parameters.
Demographic Inference in the Digital Age: Using Neural Networks to Assess Gender and Ethnicity at Scale
Authors: Chekili Amal , Hernandez Ivan
Published: June 2023

Gender and ethnicity are increasingly studied topics within I-O psychology, helpful for understanding the composition of collectives, experiences of marginalized group members, and differences in outcomes between demographics and capturing diversity at higher levels. However, the absence of explicit, structured, demographic information online makes applying these research questions to Big Data sources challenging. We highlight how deep neural networks can be used to infer demographics based on people's names, which are commonly found online (e.g., social media profiles, employee pages, and membership rosters), using broad international data to train and evaluate the effectiveness of these models and find that validity coefficients meet minimum reliability thresholds at the individual level ( rgender  =  .91, rethnicity  =  .80) highlighting their ability to contextualize and facilitate Big Data research. Using empirical data extracted from databases, websites, and mobile apps, we highlight how these models can be applied to large organizational data sets by presenting illustrative demonstrations of research questions that incorporate the information provided by the model. To promote broader usage, we offer an online application to infer demographics from names without requiring advanced programming knowledge.
Controversies around hip fracture treatment: clinical evidence versus trends from national registries
Authors: Schmitz Peter P , Somford Matthijs P , Jameson Simon S , Schreurs B Willem , van Susante Job L C
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

Several controversies in the optimal treatment of femoral neck fractures persist, together with large variations in clinical practice.

Methods:

A narrative literature review covering 4 current controversies in the surgical management of femoral neck fractures (total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA), cemented versus uncemented HA, internal fixation versus arthroplasty, operative versus non-operative) was performed. Available literature was balanced against annual trends in the management of femoral neck fractures from the public domain of several national registries (Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand).

Results:

For most controversies, the literature provides stronger evidence than is reflected by variations encountered in daily practice. Implementation of clinical evidence tends to lag behind and important differences exist between countries.

Conclusions:

Trends of clinical practice from national registries indicate that implementation of available clinical evidence needs to be improved.
Factors Affecting 2-Year Survival in Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastases: Evidence from Indonesia’s National Cancer Center, Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Andriani Rini , Rosewitasari Joice , Hanif Muhammad Alfin , Mulawarman Achmad , Kurniawati Sri Agustini , Fachri Achmad
Published: June 2023

Background:

Brain metastases are a common complication in a wide range of cancers but are ubiquitous among patients with lung cancer. Limited data are available on the survival of patients with lung cancer and brain metastases in Indonesia. In this study, we aimed to identify the factors that might contribute to and predict survival in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that resulted in brain metastases.

Methods:

This retrospective study on patients with NSCLC and brain metastases was conducted using data available from the medical records of the Dharmais National Cancer Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. The study outcome was survival time, which was associated with sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, number of brain metastases, tumor location, systemic therapy, and other therapies. Descriptive statistics, median survival, Kaplan-Meier graphs, and Cox regression were analyzed using SPSS version 27.

Results:

We included 111 patients with NSCLC and brain metastases in this study. The median patient age was 58 years. Long survivorship was observed among women (median: 95.4 weeks; P < .0003), patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (median: 41.8 weeks; P < .0492), those who received chemotherapy (median: 58 weeks; P < .000), and those who received a combination of surgery and whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT; median: 64.7 weeks; P = .0174). Multivariate analysis showed consistent results for the following factors: sex, EGFR mutations, systemic therapy, and surgery plus WBRT.

Conclusions:

Female sex and EGFR mutations in patients with NSCLC and brain metastases are associated with a high survival rate. Patients who have NSCLC with brain metastases will benefit from treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, chemotherapy, and surgery plus WBRT.