bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Alexithymia, Attention, and Pain Characteristics on Mentalizing Abilities Among Adults With Chronic Pain
Authors: Šalčiūnaitė-Nikonovė Laura , Leonas Linas , Sapranavičiūtė-Zabazlajeva Laura
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Impaired mentalizing abilities are found among persons with chronic pain, yet it is still unknown why. The current study focuses on mentalizing abilities and how these could be affected by different pain factors, alexithymia traits, and other aspects of psychological functioning (depression, anxiety, attention) in persons experiencing chronic pain.

Methods: 71 participants (80.3% female; mean age 56.1 (SD = 13.1)) with subjectively reported chronic pain conditions participated in the study. Mentalizing abilities were assessed using an objective assessment of the Frith-Happé animations test. Alexithymia was measured using Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Subjectively reported data on various pain characteristics and other related psychological factors (depression, anxiety, attention) were collected. Bivariate linear regression analyses were used to identify variables that had statistically significant relationships with Frith-Happé test scores as dependent variables, which were then used to build multivariate models.

Results: Mentalization task scores had no significant associations with alexithymia. However, in bivariate models, greater Frith-Happé animations categorisation score was associated with higher attention task scores (βs = .332, p = .005), higher education (βs = .317, p = .007), and lower level of depressiveness (βs = −.234, p = .049). Greater animations feelings scores were associated with less severe pain intensity (βs = −.322, p = .006), younger age (βs = −.399, p = .001), and better attention (βs = .383, p = .001). In multivariate analysis models predicting both animations categorisation and feelings scores, attention was found to be the only statistically significant factor (respectively, βs = .257, p = .029 and βs = .264, p = .035).

Conclusions: No significant correlations were found between mentalizing abilities and alexithymic features in persons with chronic pain. Disruptions of attention was the most significant factor leading to lower mentalizing abilities in persons with chronic pain.
Data assimilation for online model calibration in discrete event simulation
Authors: Hu Xiaolin , Yan Mingxi
Published: January 2024

The increasing availability of real-time data collected from dynamic systems brings opportunities for simulation models to be calibrated online for improving the accuracy of simulation-based studies. Systematical methods are needed for assimilating real-time measurement data into simulation models. This paper presents a particle filter-based data assimilation method to support online model calibration in discrete event simulation. A joint state-parameter estimation problem is defined, and a particle filter-based data assimilation algorithm is presented. The developed method is applied to a discrete event simulation of a one-way traffic control system. Experiments results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed method for calibrating simulation models’ parameters in real time and for improving data assimilation results.
John Witherspoon and Slavery
Authors: DeYoung Kevin
Published: January 2024

Like many of the American Founders, Witherspoon was influential and successful in several different pursuits. We are right to remember him as an important Christian pastor, as an American patriot, and as Princeton's first great president. The question we must ask, then, is whether this man and his accomplishments are rendered suspect, or at least made moot, because of one issue: slavery. On the one hand there is much in what Witherspoon said and did that shows him to be an opponent of slavery. While a pastor in Scotland, he baptized a runaway slave belonging to one of the leading members of his church. Later at Princeton, Witherspoon gladly taught free Blacks. His stated opinions—in writing and in lectures—were uniformly against slavery. He voiced objections to mistreating slaves and urged masters to instruct their slaves and equip them for future freedom. On the other hand, Witherspoon owned slaves. For many, that's all we need to know to denounce Witherspoon as self-serving hypocrite. Yet, we should look more closely at the historical record. Until now, Witherspoon has been condemned as an enslaver on mainly one piece of paper: an inventory prepared after his death that listed among his property two slaves. Even this line has not been quoted in its entirety or considered alongside the other contemporaneous account of his possessions. The full record needs a fuller explanation. Despite his flaws, there is little doubt that Witherspoon was, on the whole, more enlightened on the issue of slavery than many of his generation, and less personally complicit in the evils of slavery than many of our country's most celebrated founders.
Slovenian COVID-19 discourse in the context of verbal as well as physical violence against medical professionals
Authors: Ramšak Mojca
Published: January 2024

During the Coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia (March 2020 to June 2021) and during the period of global public health emergency due to COVID-19 (January 2020 to May 2023), public discourse about physicians in the Slovenian media and on social media fluctuated between extremes ranging from idolisation, hero worship and contempt to verbal and physical threats. These diametrically different images of doctors coincided with the measures taken in the country to contain the epidemic and the consequences for the lives of people who suddenly lost their livelihoods and sense of freedom. The discourse observed in comments under media reports and on social media about physicians between January 2020 and May 2023 shows that the entire burden of staff shortages and otherwise poorly organised healthcare fell on medical personnel, who had to deal with long queues, exhaustion and escalated verbal and physical aggression. The depriving of the right to treatment for anyone within a reasonable period of time, which loomed over the entire healthcare system due to the Coronavirus, together with the circulation of different conspiracy theories, caused intense anger, vulgar insults and comparisons of all kinds, physical harassment and death threats against individual physicians, as well as an unjustifiably growing distrust of medicine in general. This article analyses the hostile and abusive online communications that, in real life, were unleashed in occasional physical attacks and other forms of violence against medical personnel in Slovenia. It highlights the complicated interplay between medicine and the social and cultural context during the COVID-19 pandemic and illustrates the complexity of medicine beyond biological understanding.
Matching Crisis Event With Destination Response Strategy
Authors: Su Lujun , Jia Bocong , Swanson Scott R.
Published: January 2024

A conceptual model is tested across four studies that examine how tourist destination crisis types (external/internal) impact the information processing mode (heuristic/systematic), internal state (empathy/animosity), and boycott intentions of tourists. The matching effect between destination crisis event type and response strategy (defensive/accommodative) are also examined. Results suggest that internally attributed destination crisis events may be more likely to lead to boycott, and tourists tend to employ a heuristic information processing mode for externally attributed crises but a systematic mode for internally attributed crises. The matching effect of destination crisis type with response strategy indicated that a defensive (accommodative) strategy may effectively weaken the negative effects of externally (internally) attributed crises. Discerning the nature and perceived causes of crisis events offers a means to pinpoint approaches for guiding response strategies to mitigate the likelihood of boycotts and inform effective strategies for handling a destination crisis.
Conversion Through the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola
Authors: Radvan Iain
Published: January 2024

The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola functions as a unique program for spiritual conversion in Christianity. Despite being effective for over 500 years, there have been few formal studies of individuals’ experience of the Exercises. Based on psychological and philosophical literature on conversion through the Exercises, on practitioners’ reports, and on an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of survey responses and interviews with Jesuits, this research proposes a heuristic framework by which to understand the process of conversion through the Exercises as a change in the meaning system of the exercitant. The findings reveal those factors that support this change following the Exercises, and the absence of “struggle” that features in the literature. This study is a contribution to the research on conversion, validating the proposed framework.
Analysis of tensile behavior of Nylon-CF fabricated using material extrusion
Authors: Singh Shamsher , Darji Vishal , Mali Harlal Singh
Published: January 2024

Nylon-CF is an important thermoplastic 3D printable material that can be used to develop high-quality functional parts with slight modifications in low-cost machines like material extrusion (MEX) technology. This paper investigates the tensile behavior of Nylon-CF samples produced by material extrusion. The influence of seven process parameters is studied on response characteristics. The Taguchi design is used to investigate the effect of process parameters on Young’s modulus and yield strength of specimens fabricated as per ASTM D-638. A two-level fractional factorial design supplements the L27 design results. The results show that the layer height, infill pattern, density, and raster angle significantly affect the tensile behavior. The apparent Young’s modulus is also significantly affected by the interaction between layer height, infill pattern, and infill density.
Boundary Spanning in Local Governance: A Scoping Review
Authors: Stephens William , van Steden Ronald , Schoonmade Linda
Published: January 2024

Complex societal challenges require collaboration between organizations, often with conflicting priorities and ways of working. Connecting organizations has come to be referred to as boundary-spanning. There is a need to understand the features of boundary-spanning at the local level, since policy-makers and practitioners from different sectors need not only to work together but also to relate to the recipients of their interventions. Addressing this gap, a scoping review was conducted. The review highlights the need to carve out a contextualized conceptualization of boundary-spanning that accounts for the distinctive features of this work when embedded in local community context.
A linguistically asymmetric similarity decision model integrating item tendency for rating predictions
Authors: Jiangzhou Deng , Songli Wang , Qi Wu , Jianmei Ye , Yong Wang
Published: January 2024

Neighbourhood-based collaborative filtering (CF) methods typically rely only on user rating information for similarity calculation, without considering linguistic concepts (terms) that reflect user fuzzy preferences. However, in real-world decision-making processes, users often prefer to express their preferences for items linguistically rather than numerically. Inspired by this, we propose a probabilistic linguistic term set–based item similarity method that transforms absolute ratings into linguistic terms to capture the degree of importance users place on explicit aspects and opinions. Furthermore, we take into account the positive impact of users’ preferred consistency towards items on similarity results and introduce a Bhattacharyya coefficient–based item tendency to adjust semantic similarities, enhancing the reliability of predictions. In addition, we account for the asymmetric relation between items when selecting appropriate neighbours to optimise rating predictions. The experiments on two benchmark data sets indicate that our method outperforms existing similarity methods across various evaluation metrics. Specifically, compared with the state-of-the-art method, intuitionistic fuzzy set–based hybrid similarity model (IFS-HSM), the proposed model improves the performance by at least 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively, within the metrics mean absolute error ( MAE) and F1. Moreover, our approach provides a new insight for measuring similarity between items from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives.
Sensory approaches for adults with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities: A systematic literature review
Authors: Humpheson Jennifer
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Sensory approaches are often used by Occupational Therapists working with clients with a severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities (SLD/PMLD). The aims of this review were to synthesise the outcomes of sensory approaches for adults with an SLD/PMLD and describe the key intervention components.

Method:

A mixed methods literature review of three databases was completed to identify studies where sensory approaches were used for clients with an SLD/PMLD. Peer-reviewed research articles published between January 1990 and April 2021 were included. Data quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A convergent-segregated approach to synthesis was taken, including thematic analysis of qualitative data and a narrative review of quantitative data.

Results:

Eighteen studies were included. Positive outcomes were reductions in challenging behaviour, stress and improved engagement, attention and communication. Three themes emerged, suggesting important components of sensory approaches for clients with an SLD/PMLD: matching sensory stimuli to the needs of the individual, sensory integration therapists and caregivers as facilitators and increased intervention duration and frequency.

Conclusion:

Evidence suggests that sensory approaches support positive social, emotional and cognitive outcomes for individuals with an SLD/PMLD. Essential features of sensory approaches for this client group are sensitive use of sensory stimuli, skilled facilitators and more intensive intervention protocols.
A wind speed interval prediction method for reducing noise uncertainty
Authors: Li Kun , Liu Yayu , Han Ying
Published: January 2024

Due to the noise uncertainty, the conventional point prediction model is difficult to describe the actual characteristics of wind speed and lacks a description of the wind speed fluctuation range. In this paper, the kernel density estimation according to its error value is given, and then its fluctuation range is found to combine the prediction results of the test set to get its prediction range. Firstly, the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) is introduced to conduct the noise reduction, and variational modal decomposition (VMD) is performed to handle the sequences, then an improved slime mold algorithm (SMA) is proposed to optimize the VMD, and the stochastic configuration networks (SCNs) is applied to perform the prediction. Finally, the interval prediction results are calculated by fusing the point prediction error and kernel density estimation. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively reduce the noise interference in the wind speed prediction.
No wearing-off effect of erenumab or fremanezumab for chronic migraine prevention: a single-center, real-world, observational study
Authors: Florescu Anna Maria , Lannov Lærke Vig , Younis Samaira , Cullum Christopher Kjaer , Chaudhry Basit Ali , Do Thien Phu , Amin Faisal Mohammad
Published: January 2024

Background

The present study investigates the wearing-off effect in adults with chronic migraine treated with erenumab or fremanezumab.

Methods

This real-world observational study was based on pre-collected headache diaries from chronic migraine patients in treatment with either monthly injections of 140 mg of erenumab or 225 mg of fremanezumab. Consistent wearing-off was defined as an increase of ≥2 weekly migraine days in the last week compared to the second week over two consecutive 4-week treatment periods. The primary endpoint was wearing-off in the total population. The secondary endpoints were difference in wearing-off in (i) a subgroup of patients treated with erenumab and fremanezumab and (ii) consistent wearing-off in patients with a ≥30% reduction in monthly migraine days, compared to baseline, in the two consecutive treatment months.

Results

In total, 100 patients (erenumab: n = 60, fremanezumab: n = 40) were included. Sixty-two out of 100 (62%) patients had consistent ≥30% treatment response on antibody therapy in both months (erenumab: n = 36, fremanezumab: n = 26). There was no consistent wearing-off over the two consecutive months from week 2 to week 4 (3.04%, p = 0.558). There was no wearing-off within the erenumab ( p = 0.194) or the fremanezumab ( p = 0.581) groups. Among the ≥30% treatment responders, there was no consistent wearing-off over the two consecutive months (2.6%, p = 0.573).

Conclusions

There was no wearing-off in treatment responders, which is in alignment with premarketing data from placebo-controlled phase III studies. These data suggest that patients should be informed upfront that no wearing-off effect is expected because anxiety for attacks at the end of the month per se may generate migraine attacks.
Childhood primary stabbing headache: A double center study
Authors: Monte Gabriele , Papetti Laura , Ursitti Fabiana , Sforza Giorgia , Tarantino Samuela , Checchi Proietti Martina , D'Agnano Daniela , Sciruicchio Vittorio , Valeriani Massimiliano
Published: January 2024

Background

Primary stabbing headache (PSH) is an idiopathic headache disorder characterized by head pain occurring as a transient and localized single stab or a series of stabs. The present study aimed to examine the characteristics of childhood PSH and whether they fit the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria. We also investigated the association with migraine and episodic syndromes.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we included 60 patients seen at two headache clinics (Rome and Bari) between 2016 and 2022. A headache-focused history was obtained. All patients had normal neurological examination. PSH was defined according to ICHD-3 criteria.

Results

Twenty-three patients were male (38%) and median (range) age at disease onset was 8 (3–17) years. Stabs recurred with irregular frequency and their duration varied from a few seconds up to 30 minutes. Stabs were located in different head regions. Twenty-five patients (42%) underwent neuroimaging exams. Five children reported a limitation of daily activities and none had a chronic pattern. Forty-seven patients (78%) reported a family history of primary headache, especially migraine, and forty-three had episodic syndromes (i.e. infantile colic, benign paroxysmal vertigo, motion sickness, recurrent abdominal pain, cyclic vomiting). Twenty patients had an associated primary headache: 16 suffered from migraine and four suffered from tension type-headache. According to ICHD-3 criteria, thirty-one patients had a diagnosis of probable PSH as a result of a duration of stabs longer than a few seconds (>3 seconds).

Conclusions

Features of childhood PSH can vary widely. As seen in previous studies, several patients reported a stab duration longer than a few seconds and this might suggest that current ICHD-3 criteria may need adjustments to be suitable for children. High frequency of associated migraine and episodic syndromes could suggest a common pathophysiological mechanism between PSH and migraine. We can hypothesize that PSH and migraine attacks may be part of a spectrum of the same disease, although further evidence is needed. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed to improve understanding of this condition.
The long-term effect of work schedule, shift work disorder, insomnia and restless legs syndrome on headache among nurses: A prospective longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Kristoffersen Espen Saxhaug , Pallesen Ståle , Waage Siri , Bjorvatn Bjørn
Published: January 2024

Background

The preset study aimed to explore whether work schedules and sleep disorders predict the onset of headache.

Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted with questionnaire data from 2014 (baseline) and 2017 (follow-up) on work schedule, number of night shifts, number of quick returns, insomnia, shift work disorder (SWD), restless legs syndrome (RLS) and validated headache diagnoses among 1560 Norwegian nurses. Associations were explored by multivariate regression analyses.

Results

Work related factors at baseline did not predict onset of headache three years later. In the adjusted logistic regressions, insomnia at baseline predicted increased risk of new onset of migraine (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–2.33), chronic headache (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.04–4.66) and medication-overuse headache (OR = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.26–11.42) at follow-up. SWD at baseline predicted new onset of migraine (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.07–2.50) and RLS at baseline predicted new onset of headache ≥1 day per month (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.01–2.36) and migraine (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.03–2.32) at follow-up. No factors predicted tension-type headache.

Conclusions

Overall, work related factors did not predict the onset of headache three years later, whereas insomnia, SWD and RLS at baseline all increased the risk of future headaches.
Mathematical Model to Quantify the Impact of Accommodating Pedestrian Timings in Coordinated Signal Systems
Authors: Gholami Ali , Wang Daobin , Tian Zong
Published: January 2024

This research aimed to develop a quantitative-based model for determining the delay of pedestrian timing accommodation (PTA) into coordinated signals compared with the nonaccommodation (PTN) alternative. The idea for the research came from the need for a tool sought by practicing traffic signal engineers by which empirical judgments have chosen pedestrian accommodation. Practitioners can ascertain the best option (PTA or PTN) for a series of coordinated signals using the proposed model. The model was implemented into an open-source software available for general use. The proposed delay model was validated and its accuracy demonstrated using simulation. The model and related software will make it an easier and more systematic process for practitioners to choose between PTA and PTN at coordinated signals.
Firm-Level and Public-Sector Costs Make Small-Scale Maize Flour Fortification Challenging in Uganda
Authors: Vosti Stephen , Baker Emily , Moorthy Denish , Mazinga Mike , Dary Omar
Published: January 2024

Background:

Maize flour in Uganda is milled by hundreds of enterprises, mostly small- (5-20 metric tons [MT]/day) and micro-scale (<5 MT/day) mills or firms. A mandatory maize flour fortification program exists for medium-scale mills (>20 MT/day) and policymakers are considering including smaller-scale millers.

Objective:

We estimated the private and public costs of maize flour fortification at different scales and explored their implications for extending the mandatory fortification to include smaller-scale mills.

Methods:

We used secondary data on the structure of the maize flour market and primary data on milling and fortification costs to estimate mill and regulatory costs at 3 scales of flour production: micro, small, and medium.

Results:

For micro-, small-, and medium-size operations, respectively, operational costs of fortification were US$13, US$9, and US$7 per metric ton (MT) of maize flour, which represented 20%, 16%, and 16% of annual operating costs, and the ratio of fortification equipment cost to mill equipment costs was higher for micro-scale mills (2.7) than for small- (0.38) and medium-scale (0.54) maize mills. Governmental regulatory costs rise if smaller-scale mills are included due to the increased number of facility inspections.

Conclusions:

Fortification and regulatory costs increase as production scale decreases. Up-front capital costs of fortification would be daunting for micro- and small-scale mills. Medium-scale mills, which supply social protection programs, might be able to manage fortification costs and other challenges. Decision-makers should consider all costs and cost burdens, and the realities of enforcement capabilities before expanding fortification programs to include smaller-scale operations.
Short time (10 min) Catheter Traction Following TURP: IS it helpful with less morbidity?
Authors: Maiti Krishnendu , Dey Pankaj Kanti , Pal Dilip Kumar
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP) is the most common treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Blood loss during and after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a potential cause of morbidity and clot retention. Usual practise is to apply traction in every case of TURP to reduce early postoperative hematuria and clot retention. There are very few studies in the literature and they have mainly concentrated on the effect of traction on reducing blood loss but there is scanty data regarding the morbidity associated with the use of traction. Various authors have described their method of traction application. So, in this study, we will compare the result of short term (10 min) traction with standard (4–6 h) traction.

Materials and methods:

It is a prospective comparative study with 50 participants, conducted at the department of Urology of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India after taking ethical clearance and consent from the patient. The patients attending urology O.P.D. with LUTS and diagnosed as BPH and planned for elective TURP and who had prolonged traction after TURP were excluded. Study period was one and the half year.

Results:

Post operatively 25 patients were managed with catheter traction while 25 patients were managed with short term traction of 10 min. Pain which is assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) at 2 and 4 h post operatively is statistically significant with p value of <0.05 and cut off of 65 g prostate volume is drawn below which the successful outcome of short term traction is feasible without any complications.

Conclusion:

If hemostatsis is done properly then short term traction is preferable, safe and had fewer complications for prostate volume <65 g in comparison to standard traction TURP comparing the overall factors. Although, VAS score at 2 and 4 h post operatively shows patient experienced less pain even in prostate volume >65 g.
Investigation on the physicochemical properties of poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/mesoporous silica nanocomposites: Effects of content and surface functionalization
Authors: Lasmi Sofiane , Zoukrami Fouzia , A Marcos Fernández Ángel
Published: January 2024

In this study, poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/mesoporous silica EVA/SBA-15 nanocomposites, containing 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 wt% of unfunctionalized and functionalized SBA-15 were prepared by melt blending in an internal mixer. Mesoporous silica was synthesized through the sol-gel method and modified by hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS). Several characterizations were performed; including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and dielectric study to characterize the physicochemical properties of elaborated materials. The results revealed the successful synthesis and functionalization of mesoporous silica, as confirmed by the FTIR and SEM. The crystallinity of the nanocomposites decreased and the elastic modulus increased with the incorporation of the mesoporous silica. Measurement of tensile properties shows that the tensile strength of the nanocomposite content of 1.5 wt% F-SBA-15 is 17.2% is higher as compared to pure EVA. DMA analysis validates the improvement in mechanical properties of the EVA/SBA-15 samples. SEM images displayed well-dispersed F-SBA-15 nanoparticles and enhanced interfacial adhesion between the phases. TGA indicates the enhancement of the thermal stability of nanocomposites as compared with the pure EVA matrix. The surface functionalization presented an approach to preparing nanocomposites with enhanced thermal stability and a low dielectric constant.
Effect of the timing of antiretroviral treatment initiation on CD4 count in children and youths living with HIV in North India
Authors: Singh Mukesh Vir , Sharma Sukesh , Shrivastava Anubha , Shukla Santosh Kumar , Siddiqui Shahid Akhtar , Maurya Manisha , Mishra Nandita , Yadav Rajesh Kumar
Published: January 2024

Background

Immediate start of antiretroviral treatment (ART) among non-hospitalized outpatient children living with HIV may improve or worsen clinical outcomes due to immune reconstitution.

Objective

Role of immediate versus post-stabilization start of antiretroviral treatment in children and youths living with HIV on CD4 count and viral load suppression.

Methods

This was a single blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted on outpatients attending a tertiary care hospital associated HIV clinic in North India. We enrolled ART-naive children and youths living with HIV aged 18 months to 21 years in a 1:1 ratio. Block randomization was done using computerized software. Children and youths living with HIV were either started with ART on diagnosis immediately within 24 h (Group A) or post stabilization at 2 weeks (Group B) as per National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) India guidelines. Both groups were comparable for baseline characteristics.

Results

There was no significant difference seen in CD4 counts between two groups at 6 months follow up. CD4 count increased significantly in immediate group but not in post-stabilization group at 6 months. No significant changes/differences was seen in WHO clinical staging or anthropometry; one patient developed tuberculosis in both groups. Viral load at 6 months in both the groups did not differ significantly.

Conclusion

Immediate ART in children and youths living with HIV results in significant increase in CD4 count at 6 months follow up exemplifying immunological response to ART.
The potential causal association between systemic lupus erythematosus and endocrine and metabolic disorders in the East Asian population: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Tingliang , Zhang Yun , Chen Xuelan , Huang Zhenxing , Liang Xinghuan , Qin Yingfen , Luo Zuojie
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Observational studies indicate a significant correlation between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and endocrine and metabolic disorders, but the causal association between SLE and endocrine and metabolic disorders remains unclear due to the reverse causality and confounding biases commonly presented in conventional observational research. This study endeavors to uncover the causal association between SLE and three common endocrine and metabolic disorders, including Graves’ disease (GD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and osteoporosis (OP).

Methods

We used genome-wide association study data for SLE and three endocrine and metabolic disorders in an East Asian population, employing bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and sensitivity analysis to ascertain the causal association between SLE and endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Results

A multiplicative random-effect inverse-variance weighted approach revealed a significant positive correlation between SLE and an elevated risk of GD with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04–1.22, p < .01), and inverse-variance weighted (IVW) analysis also indicated that SLE increased the risk of OP with an OR of 1.035 (95% CI: 1.003–1.068, p < .05). Additionally, GD causally affected SLE in an IVW analysis after Bonferroni correction, with an OR of 1.33 (95% CI: 1.19–1.49, p < .05/3), but the application of multivariable MR analysis resulted in the absence of a causal association of GD on SLE (OR 1.047, 95% CI: 0.952–1.151, p > .05). Lastly, the robustness and validity of the findings were verified through a sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

We confirmed that SLE has a causal effect on GD as well as OP, but no evidence exists to substantiate a causal link between SLE and T2DM. Our study offers valuable contributions for uncovering the etiology of SLE and endocrine and metabolic disorders and furthering disease risk research while providing potential targets for disease monitoring and therapeutic intervention.
Estimating Tax Evasion in the Medical Sector in Comparison with Other Human-to-human (Η2Η) Life Services
Authors: Stasinopoulos D. , Goula A. , Kastanioti C. , Sarris M. , Soulis S.
Published: January 2024

This paper attempts to measure and report the extent and magnitude of tax evasion in the medical sector and to be compared with other selected human-to-human (Η2Η) life services in the Greek economy. Specific household expenditures for human (Η2Η) services for the period 2011–2017 were analysed, using data from the annual ‘Household Budget Survey (HBS)’ of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) and were compared with the financial administrative data from the ‘Statistical Business Register (SBR)’, which is updated on an annual basis with data provided by the tax authority, depending on the case-specific characteristics of each sector under study that have been taken into account in the calculations.

The research showed that the participation of doctors in the phenomenon of tax evasion as a whole has been declining in recent years while other human economic activities are responsible many times over for the perpetuation and exacerbation of the phenomenon. The annual tax evasion on average for the period 2011–2017, for the medical sector, is estimated to amount to €565.6 million (0.31% of the Greek GDP – mean value of the same period), while for the ‘accommodation services (hotels)’ sector, it is estimated to €3.3 billion (1.84% of GDP), to €6.8 billion for the catering sector (3.76% of GDP), to €2.1 billion for the education sector (1.18% of GDP), to €87.3 million for the hairdressing/other beauty treatment services of the personal service sector and finally to €50.3 million for the funeral and related services sector.
Management of Velopharyngeal Dysfunction (VPD) Following Cleft Palate Repair: A Comprehensive Decision-Making Process Based on Severity and Structural Deficiencies
Authors: Hussain Syed Altaf , Vijayakumar Charanya , Balasubramanian Subramaniyan , Rahavi-Ezabadi Sara , Sundar Vishnu , Sybil Deborah , Hussain Zaid
Published: January 2024

Objective

To describe a comprehensive decision-making process for surgical correction of structural Velopharyngeal Dysfunction (VPD) following cleft palate repair and evaluate its efficacy.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital.

Patients

300 consecutive patients with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP) or isolated cleft palate (CP) diagnosed with clinical VPD following cleft palate repair between 2009 and 2014. Of these 206 patients had structural VPD and underwent surgical correction.

Interventions

Surgical corrections were carried out according to the comprehensive two stage decision making process developed by the investigators. Step 1 of decision-making involved visualisation of the VP sphincter function by nasoendoscopy. This was followed by step 2 which involved per-operative identification of scarring, tissue loss, hypoplasia and other structural deficiencies in the soft palate and septal mucoperiosteum. The choice of operation was then made from a repertoire of interrelated and escalating surgical procedures consisting of palate revision and pharyngoplasties ranging from most anatomical to the least.

Main outcome measures

Evidence of postoperative restoration of VP function on nasoendoscopy, evaluation of speech for hypernasality, understandability, acceptability and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

Results

Complete VP closure was demonstrated in 94% of patients treated using this algorithm. There was significant improvement in all speech parameters (p < 0.00001).

Conclusion

Our comprehensive decision-making process is designed to effectively correct structural VPD according to the severity of structural and functional deficiencies in the soft palate and avoid over treatment.
Cobots, Complexities, and Campfire: Report on the 4th HRI Summer School
Authors: Bacaro Martina , Dziok Mikołaj , Możaryn Jakub , Schweidler Paul , Rączaszek-Leonardi Joanna
Published: January 2024

The 4th Summer School on Social Human-Robot Interaction in Chȩciny, Poland, sponsored by IEEE RAS and the EU’s Horizon 2020, assembled nearly 100 professionals and students from various fields to explore human–robot communication. This year’s edition emphasized the human–human interactions in which human–robot interactions are embedded. On this background participants addressed essential themes such as robots’ agency, gestures, speech, and likeness to humans and the program featured expert lectures, practical workshops, and analysis sessions, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to learning. The successful integration of educational content and community building was evident in the positive testimonials, highlighting the importance of in-person exchanges and the combination of diverse views for progress in HRI research. This paper reflects on the accomplishments of the summer school, illustrating how it became a crucible for thought leadership and collaborative innovation in the HRI space.
Nonlinear response of hydraulic turbine generator set caused by unbalanced magnetic pull and oil film force
Authors: Sun Weipeng , Hu Shen , Ma Chenyuan , Zhao Daoli , Ma Wei , Guo Pengcheng
Published: January 2024

Hydraulic turbine generator sets are crucial for harnessing water energy. However, the nonlinear phenomena resulting from the combination of unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) and oil film forces remain unclear. A mathematical model of the rotor-bearing system is introduced to investigate the effects of UMP and the nonlinear oil film force on system. The UMP and nonlinear oil film force are derived from the air-gap magnetic energy and short bearing theory, respectively. The proposed model is verified by the stability experiments of hydraulic turbine generator set in the idling, no-load, and load conditions. The results show that, firstly, the system turns unstable for oil whip and oil swirl, and which experiences bifurcation and undergoes dynamical motions such as period-1 to period-5, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motions. Then, at moderate speeds, the rotor eccentricity has the greatest effect on the bifurcation at idle. While the nonlinear characteristics of the system are most sensitive to the rotor eccentricity at loaded condition. Finally, the existence of UMP reduces the instability caused by oil film forces.
Prevalence of Diverse Genders and Sexualities in Australia and Associations With Five Forms of Child Maltreatment and Multi-type Maltreatment
Authors: Higgins Daryl J. , Lawrence David , Haslam Divna M. , Mathews Ben , Malacova Eva , Erskine Holly E. , Finkelhor David , Pacella Rosana , Meinck Franziska , Thomas Hannah J. , Scott James G.
Published: January 2024

This study presents the most comprehensive national prevalence estimates of diverse gender and sexuality identities in Australians, and the associations with five separate types of child maltreatment and their overlap (multi-type maltreatment). Using Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) data ( N = 8503), 9.5% of participants identified with a diverse sexuality and .9% with a diverse gender. Diverse identities were more prevalent in the youth cohort, with 17.7% of 16–24 years olds identifying with a diverse sexuality and 2.3% with a diverse gender. Gender and sexuality diversity also intersect – for example, with women (aged 16–24 and 25–44) more likely than men to identify as bisexual. The prevalence of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence was very high for those with diverse sexuality and/or gender identities. Maltreatment was most prevalent for participants in the youth cohort with diverse gender identities (90.5% experiencing some form of child maltreatment; 77% multi-type maltreatment) or diverse sexualities (85.3% reporting any child maltreatment; 64.3% multi-type maltreatment). The strong association found between child maltreatment and diverse sexuality and gender identities is critical for understanding the social and mental health vulnerabilities of these groups, and informing services needed to support them.
Dynamic response and energy absorption of aluminum foam sandwich under low-velocity impact
Authors: Wang Huihui , Xiao Wei , Zhao Mingkai , Pang Lisha , Jia Jie , Song Xuding
Published: January 2024

Aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) are widely used in energy absorption because of their light weight and excellent energy dissipation capabilities. In this study, energy absorption, deformation modes, and dynamic response of AFS under low-velocity impact are investigated using experimental and numerical approaches. Dynamic impact tests are performed utilizing a drop hammer impact test on AFS with different core densities, face sheet thicknesses, and impact energy. Based on the 3D Voronoi foam model, a full-scale finite element model (FEM) is developed to simulate the mechanical response of AFS under low-velocity impact, and verified by experimental results. The contributions of different AFS components to energy absorption at various impact velocities are further analyzed, along with the effects of face sheet thickness distribution. The results indicate that the performance of the face sheet and core and the impact energy have a remarkable influence on the low-velocity impact response and damage modes of the AFS. The type of structure configuration, “thin top and thick bottom,” enables the AFS better play its energy absorption while ensuring the overall light weight. This study provides a reference for the design and optimization of the face sheet thickness of AFS when it is used as an energy-absorbing member and improves their design efficiency.
Office gossip related to gays and lesbians: An ‘otherness’ perspective
Authors: MH Carrim Nasima , Nel Juan A , Morakile Baipidi
Published: January 2024

Cross-cultural encounters with diverse individuals, such as gays and lesbians, has resulted in these persons often encountering a sense of otherness. Within the workplace context, there exists a preferable cultural identity of heteronormativity, where heterosexual individuals dominate and represent the ‘we,’ while those who are ‘different,’ including gays and lesbians, represent the ‘cultural other.’ The study that informs this article investigated how Black African gay and lesbian people, as the ‘cultural other,’ experience otherness through workplace gossip, and why gossipers engage in such behavior. Using a qualitative research approach comprising semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 18 Black African gay and lesbian persons, in various South African organizations, thematic analysis was the basis for data analysis. Findings suggest that Black African lesbian women at lower organizational levels experience greater marginalization in the form of gossip compared to Black African gay men. Furthermore, the perception among gay and lesbian participants is that gossip related to the sexual orientation of the other is more rooted in the Black African than the White, Coloured and Indian South African communities. It was also found that intersecting identities (socio-economic class; educational qualifications; geographic location) result in marginalized, lower educated employees from Black African townships gossiping to a greater extent about gay and lesbian people, than those with higher qualifications and socioeconomic profiles residing in suburbs. Organizational cultures where people were rooted in religious beliefs produced more intense office gossip than workplace cultures where managers and peers embraced diversity. We recommend that in embracing cross-cultural management practices, training of employees regarding cross-cultural adjustment and understanding the other, will bring positive outcomes in the workplace environment.
Global-local optimization layout method for active piezoelectric sensor driven by structural critical areas
Authors: Ding Xuyun , Cheng Honggang
Published: January 2024

The optimal sensor placement is critical to ensure the integrity of the aircraft composite structures. The active piezoelectric sensors are crucial due to their ability to detect damage through guided wave (GW). However, the current optimization methods for piezoelectric sensor placement do not consider the simultaneous monitoring of the global and local critical areas of damage. Therefore, this study aims at performing the optimal placement of piezoelectric sensors by considering objective constraints and a combination of features that quantify the criticality of different parts of the structure and the global scanning ability of the GW. A novel global-local optimization model incorporating multiple constraints is proposed. It enhances the monitoring ability of the regional and global damage, and optimizes the placement of a limited number of piezoelectric sensors. The feasibility, accuracy, and practicality of the proposed approach are then verified using numerical and experimental cases. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed model is compared with that of public traditional models. The obtained results show the outperformance of the proposed approach.
Changing environments to promote safety in libraries
Authors: Ceccato Vania , Ariel Barak , Ercin Emrah , Sampaio Adriana , Hazanov Julia , Elfström Sara
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this article is to investigate how changes in the environment of a library affect the safety conditions of both visitors and staff. Using principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, crime and incidents of public disturbance from 2017 to 2020 from libraries in Stockholm, Sweden, are analyzed and later mapped using 3D models in CAD. These findings are inspected via fieldwork visits and then compared with answers from a safety survey with library visitors ( N = 112) and interviews with library personnel ( N = 6). Analysis of variance shows that crime and incidents of public disturbance decrease after these interventions, with clear impacts on their geography. A third of visitors indicate that there have been fewer problems after changes in the library are introduced while staff suggests that training prepares them to manage conflict situations more efficiently. The study concludes with a critical assessment of the methodology and makes suggestions to improve safety conditions in libraries.
Aseptic meningitis following spinal anaesthesia: An uncommon and challenging diagnosis
Authors: Dasgupta Sugata , Chatterjee Anurag , Chandra Atanu
Published: January 2024

Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM) or chemical meningitis following spinal anaesthesia has rarely been reported. DIAM is caused by meningeal inflammation due to intrathecally administered drugs or secondary to systemic immunological hypersensitivity. We hereby present a case of a young adult with aseptic meningitis following neuraxial anaesthesia possibly provoked by bupivacaine. The initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) picture revealed neutrophilic pleocytosis and normal glycorrhachia. CSF culture was negative. The patient was put on invasive mechanical ventilation and started on intravenous antibiotics. There was a rapid improvement in clinical condition without any residual neurological deficit within the next few days. Aseptic meningitis following neuraxial anaesthesia can be prevented by strict aseptic protocols and careful inspection of visible impurities while administering the intrathecal drug. Detailed history taking, clinical examination, and focused investigations can distinguish between bacterial and chemical meningitis. Appropriate diagnosis of this entity may guide the treatment regimen, reducing hospital stay and cost.