bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Migration for Business: A Case Study of Goa
Authors: Devi P. S. , Sudarsan P.K.
Published: August 2024

Goa is a popular destination for migrants from other states. However, according to Census 2011, migration for business comprises only 2.7% of all migration. Using Census data, this study seeks to identify the factors that determine business migration to Goa. It is found that while the size of population of the home state positively influences outmigration, distance has a dampening effect, though its importance as a deterrent is declining over time. The variables of literacy and GSDP do not exert much influence on the volume of migration. A field study conducted to gain insights into the experiences of the business migrant community in Goa shows that most of the respondents have a favourable opinion about Goa, with very few cases of discrimination and abuse.
Employer–Domestic Worker Dynamic in Kolkata: From Maternalism to Transactionalism
Authors: Ghosh Sweta
Published: August 2024

Domestic workers used to be treated virtually as members of the family in South Asian contexts, with much evidence of various forms of exploitation. Presently, the increasing prevalence of formal patron–client dynamics among part-time domestic labourers in urban India takes specific hybrid forms that require further research. The article examines to what extent efforts to establish purely commercial arrangements in the domestic service sector may avoid traditional forms of exploitation. Or do more formal professional relationships still tend to benefit employers more, allowing them to assign additional tasks without offering corresponding extra benefits? The findings identify that establishing and maintaining purely professional relationships remains challenging in India due to deep-rooted ethical and cultural considerations and adaptability issues. Employers often unwittingly perpetuate traditional personalised domestic work settings. The article shows how both sides in this complex relationship struggle to identify and practice new modalities of fair interaction.
The impact of top-down and bottom-up factors in shaping the status of the victim: A study of recent victim empowerment shifts in Slovenia
Authors: Peršak Nina
Published: August 2024

Victims of crime have seen a significant shift in the criminal justice approaches towards them over time: from rather passive observers of the conflict between the state and the offender to more active agents whose thoughts, wishes and emotions are allowed to be voiced and whose participation is recognised as legitimate in its own right within the criminal process. The article analyses to what extent this empowerment shift is reflected in Slovenia, specifically how the criminal law acknowledges and defines the victim in the criminal justice setting. While the European Union (EU) legislation in this area, as a top-down factor in shaping the rights and status of the victim, has provided an important impetus for legislative changes, particularly in relation to certain aspects, rights and categories of crime victims, as well as the definition of the victim, the more conceptual recent transformations (e.g. an altered model of rape) arose out of changed societal sensitivities spurred by triggering events and a wider social and political context. Implications and outstanding challenges are discussed in the concluding section.
Cycle Fluctuations in the U.S. Real GDP and National Income and Product Accounts Aggregates
Authors: Chen Baoline , Hood Kyle , McElroy Tucker , Trimbur Thomas
Published: August 2024

This article provides a new set of empirical regularities describing the U.S. macroeconomy, focusing on business cycle fluctuations in the real GDP and eleven major aggregates from the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs). Patterns of the cyclical fluctuations are assessed using filtering methodologies that adapt to the properties of the series being studied. We employ a recent dataset that includes the Great Recession caused by the 2008 financial crisis and the ensuing recovery. We aim to (1) examine the lead-lag relations via cross-correlations between the aggregate cycle in the U.S. real GDP and the cyclical movements in the eleven major NIPA aggregates; (2) investigate econometrically the inter-linkage between the cyclical component of real GDP and that of each NIPA aggregate by way of the Granger-causality test; and (3) evaluate the capability or the predictive power of each NIPA aggregate to forecast real GDP growth via three forecasting models. Comparisons are made with popular nonparametric HP and Baxter-King (BK) filters. The basic conclusion from the empirical analysis is that the adaptive model-based filters have demonstrated advantages over the commonly used HP and BK filters for business cycle analysis across very diverse economic series from the U.S. national accounts, and the structural time series model using smoothed trend and cycle estimates produced more accurate forecasts than the AR(p) model that forecasts directly using the unfiltered time series.
A Mixed Methods Study of Barriers to Help-Seeking for Intimate Partner Aggression in the LGBTQIA+ Community
Authors: D’Cruz Chelsea R. , Hammond Matthew D. , Dixon Louise
Published: August 2024

People in the LGBTQIA+ community (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other gender/sexual minorities) experience greater rates of intimate partner aggression (IPA) than the general population and have fewer help-seeking pathways available. The current research examined the extent to which LGBTQIA+ people’s perceptions of barriers to help-seeking were associated with perceptions of societal heteronormativity—the belief that being cisgender and heterosexual is the norm—and whether the source of support was formal (e.g., police, counselors) versus informal (e.g., friends, family). The current research was conducted in two parts. In the first part of the study (Study 1a), structural equation modeling indicated a significant positive association between perceived societal heteronormativity and self-focused barriers (e.g., feeling too ashamed or guilty to seek help) but not with other-focused barriers (e.g., expecting unfair treatment). Instead, LGBTQIA+ people perceived greater other-focused barriers when considering formal compared to informal sources of support. In the second part of the study (Study 1b), we interviewed 10 LGBTQIA+ people about barriers to help-seeking for IPA. A reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) Who can hold the status of being a “victim”?; (2) The heightened importance of autonomy; (3) Formal supports need LGBTQIA+ competency; and (4) Judged by the outside in. The themes illustrated unique barriers experienced by LGBTQIA+ people when judging possible harm, choosing whether to seek help, and actual help-seeking. Altogether, current help-seeking pathways for IPA are generally inaccessible to people in the LGBTQIA+ community. IPA interventions for the LGBTQIA+ community require awareness of stigma, improved education for informal and formal support pathways, and the development of community-led interventions.
A Successful Sexual Assault Resistance Program Also Reduced Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Barata Paula C. , Samardzic Tanja , Eliasziw Misha , Senn Charlene Y. , Radtke H. Lorraine , Hobden Karen L. , Thurston Wilfreda E.
Published: August 2024

Despite several parallels between intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA), programs designed to reduce either of these forms of violence against women rarely evaluate the impact on both IPV and SA. Accordingly, we investigated whether one such program (the Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance program), designed to help university-aged women resist SA, could also reduce subsequent IPV. Women university students who were enrolled in the Sexual Assault Resistance Education (SARE) randomized controlled trial examining the impact of the EAAA program on SA, were recruited immediately after completing the last survey in the SARE trial. From this trial, 153 women completed the IPV substudy, which included an additional survey. Occurrence of IPV was assessed using the Composite Abuse Scale. Of the 93 new relationships reported by 66 women in the control group, the 1-year risk of IPV was 26.8%. In contrast, of the 113 new relationships reported by 87 women in the EAAA program group, the 1-year risk of IPV was 12.2%. Effectively, the EAAA program significantly reduced the 1-year risk of IPV by 54.4% ( p = .037, 95% CI [2.9%, 79.8%]). Our findings suggest that the EAAA program is effective in reducing the risk of IPV and highlights the generalizability of programming that targets the foundational underpinning of multiple forms of gender-based violence.
Should I Stay, or Should I Go Now? Neighborhood, Family, and Youth Predictors of Intracity Mobility
Authors: Antunes Maria João Lobo , Ahlin Eileen M.
Published: August 2024

The effects of residential mobility on youth development outcomes related to violence and victimization have traditionally been understood from an outward mobility perspective. Less attention has been paid to predictors of intracity moves, a more common mobility practice. Research, however, should identify factors associated with intracity mobility before scholars can explore and fully understand the impacts of moving within the city on youth development outcomes such as violence and victimization and whether they are akin to those identified for moves beyond city limits. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, we apply a multilevel ecological framework to assess neighborhood, family, and youth factors associated with intracity mobility. We employed hierarchical generalized linear modeling to examine within and between-neighborhood models of intracity mobility among youth and their families who moved within Chicago ( N = 426) and those who did not ( N = 867). Our investigation highlights as important factors family dynamics instability and aggression and violence at the neighborhood level. Findings show that parental divorce/separation, harsh disciplinary practices, negative school experiences such as racial/ethnic conflict, gangs, or heightened security measures, and exposure to violence predict intracity mobility. Critically, negative school experiences proved to be a robust determinant of moving as cross-level interactions suggest neighborhood crime significantly shapes how these experiences inform intracity mobility. This study emphasizes the importance of examining mobility beyond urban city limits, noting distinct predictors of intracity mobility across systemic levels. The findings fill a gap in our understanding of neighborhood turnover and stability, while also providing a foundation for exploring within and between-neighborhood differences in intracity mobility.
How Effective Are the Post-9/11 U.S. Counterterrorism Policies Within and Outside the United States?
Authors: Guler Ahmet , Demir Mustafa
Published: August 2024

This study examined the effectiveness of post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism policies in preventing terror attacks and reducing casualties against American targets within and outside the United States. Monthly data on terrorism incidents from July 1981 through December 2020 were obtained from the Global Terrorism Database ( N = 462). The results of monthly interrupted time-series analyses showed that within the United States, after the 9/11 attacks, the number of attacks, the number of successful attacks, and the successful attack rate statistically significantly decreased in the first month following 9/11; then, no significant increase was observed in the trend of those outcomes. Outside the United States, after the 9/11 attacks, the trend of the number of successful attacks, the number of victims, the number of nonfatal victims, and the victim rate statistically significantly decreased. The results suggest that post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism policies are effective both domestically and internationally. These findings and their policy implications are discussed.
Enhancing university-industry collaboration in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Motlak Julian Barona , Ahmed Intesar , Griffin Mamie , Alalawi Tif Khamis , Al Zaabi Dana Humaid
Published: August 2024

This study examines the nature of University-Industry collaborations (UI collaboration) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and proposes policy recommendations to enhance the collaboration process. Despite the importance of UI collaborations for nations to improve education, foster economic growth, and innovation, there is limited research on UI collaboration development and management in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The study uses qualitative research methods to explore the perspectives and experiences of university faculty and industry practitioners involved in UI collaborations. The findings identify drivers of effective collaborations, such as institutional policies, funding opportunities, and research interests, as well as barriers including organizational culture, limited development of collaboration culture, and trust issues. To improve outcomes, institutions must change mindsets, seek partnerships, and prioritise relationship-building based on trust and the exchange of ideas.
Promoting public sector innovation: who does what, when and how?
Authors: Fred Mats , Mukhtar-Landgren Dalia
Published: August 2024

A strong and prevailing innovation imperative is sweeping across the public sector and despite a growing literature on public sector innovation (PSI), the actors driving these processes tend to end up in the background of analysis. Based in an analytical framework of narrative theory and organization studies, and the efforts to introduce Social Impact Bonds (SIB) in Sweden as empirical case, the aim of this article is to unpack and analyze the neglected initial stages of PSI. Building on a 4-year qualitative study, the analysis shows that actors promoting PSI narrate the public sector as in need to “open up” for (1) new actors; (2) new services and solutions; and (3) new forms of knowledge. Our findings suggests that the initial stages of PSI are substantially more formative than previously indicated. We show how the innovation at hand function as a discursive node towards which the actors’ storylines gravitate. Despite differences, the actors involved narrate their world similarly constituting discourse coalitions that connects and aligns their interests and objectives. We argue that the early stages of PSI are to be understood as cognitive and narrative struggles, or negotiations. The potentially good news here is that change continuously takes place in processes of PSI, despite narratives of inertia. The potentially bad news is that the same change is difficult to predict, control and govern.
Effects of antioxidant addition and catalytic converter on emissions in off-road motors running on diesel tire oil blend
Authors: Balaji Gnanasikamani , Wan Abdullah Wan Nazwanie , Yadav Ojjas , Sahil
Published: August 2024

Repurposing used tires into fuel could help address environmental degradation and the fast depletion of fossil fuel resources to some extent. In this work, an attempt has been made to control the emissions by combining fuel modification and after treatment techniques. Fuel modification is done through antioxidant additive addition with the fuel blend to mitigate the prompt NOx emission and catalytic converter for additional emission reduction. The test results indicate that used tire oil may be a good substitute for fossil fuels. NO emissions were reduced by 15.3% for the 300 ppm antioxidant addition at full load. Whereas NO emissions were reduced by 21.1% with the incorporation of the catalytic converter. However, the maximum NO emission reduction achieved was 30.5% by combining antioxidants with fuel and incorporating a catalytic converter.
People Place Larger Bets When Risky Choices Provide a Postbet Option to Cash Out
Authors: Bennett Daniel , Albertella Lucy , Forbes Laura , Hayes Ty , Verdejo-Garcia Antonio , Walasek Lukasz , Ludvig Elliot A.
Published: August 2024

After a risky choice, decision makers must frequently wait out a delay period before the outcome of their choice becomes known. In contemporary sports-betting apps, decision makers can “cash out” of their bet during this delay period by accepting a discounted immediate payout. An important open question is how availability of a postchoice cash-out option alters choice. We investigated this question using a novel gambling task that incorporated a cash-out option during the delay between bet and outcome. Across two experiments ( N = 240 adults, recruited via Prolific), cash-out availability increased participants’ bet amounts by up to 35%. Participants who were more likely to cash out when odds deteriorated were less likely to cash out when odds improved. Furthermore, the effect of cash-out availability on bet amounts was positively correlated with individual differences in cash-out propensity for bets with deteriorating odds only. These results suggest that cash-out availability may promote larger bets by allowing bettors to avoid losing their entire stake.
Secondary air induced flow structures and their interplay with the temperature field in fixed bed combustors
Authors: Junejo Awais , Chapela Sergio , Porteiro Jacobo , Al-Abdeli Yasir M.
Published: August 2024

Air staging in solid fuel combustion features widely in small scale domestic boilers to large scale moving grate combustors. Whilst the effects of air staging on the combustion characteristics of these systems are generally known, there is very little insight available into the role of secondary air on the flow and temperature field in the freeboard of batch-type fixed bed biomass combustors. Three-dimensional gas phase simulations using the Transition 𝑘kl-𝜔 and Finite Rate/Eddy Dissipation models were validated against freeboard temperatures and emissions (CO2 and O2) measured on the same set-up. Results show that secondary air at Qs/Qt ≥0.25 induces two recirculation zones, upstream and downstream of its injection point with maximum freeboard temperatures generally observed around these recirculation zones, if Qs/Qt drops to 0.12-0.18 only an upstream recirculation zone is observed until it diminishes by Qs/Qt = 0.06. However, there is a trade-off caused by what appears to be a cooling effect if Qs/Qt is increased between 0.25 and 0.71. Modelling results show that in reacting cases, unlike non-reacting modelling on the same geometry, the strength of the secondary air induced upstream recirculation zone appears significantly stronger.
Exploring gastrointestinal manifestations in childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus - Insights from a multicenter study
Authors: Sönmez Hafize Emine , Batu Ezgi Deniz , İşgüder Rana , Şahin Nihal , Aliyev Emil , Aslan Esma , Çoban Sümeyra , Güngörer Vildan , Karadağ Şerife Gül , Karaçayır Nihal , Kısaoğlu Hakan , Yekedüz Bülbül Aydan , Garip Sevinç , Karalı Yasin , Ayduran Semra , Demir Selcan , Kaya Akça Ümmüşen , Başaran Özge , Şahin Sezgin , Kasap Belde , Kilic Sara Sebnem , Kışla Ekinci Rabia Miray , Kısaarslan Ayşenur Paç , Kalyoncu Mukaddes , Bakkaloğlu Sevcan , Yüksel Selçuk , Aktay Ayaz Nuray , Çelikel Acar Banu , Sözeri Betül , Kasapçopur Özgür , Ünsal Erbil , Özen Seza
Published: August 2024

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constitutes an autoimmune disorder with potential involvement of the gastrointestinal system (GIS). Our objective was to assess the gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in patients diagnosed with childhood onset SLE.

Methods

The study cohort consisted of 123 patients with childhood onset-SLE and GIS involvement from 16 referral departments of pediatric rheumatology. All participants met the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria.

Results

Out of 123 patients, 78 (63.4%) exhibited GIS involvement at the initial SLE diagnosis, whereas the remaining 45 (36.6%) developed GI symptoms after a median duration of 12 (3–140) months. Eighty-two (66.7%) individuals experienced symptoms related to the GI tract, whereas the remaining patients received a diagnosis of GI involvement through laboratory assessments. The predominant initial GIS involvement symptom was abdominal pain, observed in 77 (62.6%) patients, followed by elevated hepatic transaminases in 70 (56.9%), hepatomegaly in 40 (32.5%), diarrhea in 26 (21.1%), and jaundice in 11 (8.9%) patients. The GIS involvement was associated with SLE in 82 (78.6%), while it resulted from drug-related adverse events in 35 (28.5%) patients or comorbidities in 6 (0.5%) patients.

Conclusion

GIS involvement should be considered in all childhood onset-SLE patients, especially in the presence of suggestive symptoms or elevated hepatic transaminases. It is also crucial to consider SLE in the differential diagnosis of GIS manifestations in children. Apart from GIS involvement directly associated with SLE, adverse events of drugs should be kept in mind.
High Visual Complexity or Low Visual Complexity: A Study Related to Food Advertising on Instagram
Authors: Farhat Kashif , Aslam Wajeeha , Mogaji Emmanuel , Shah Syed Shariq Habib
Published: August 2024

This article examines the impact of visual complexity (V-complexity) (high/low) on consumer pleasure, arousal and purchase intention when exposed to food advertisements on Instagram. Initially, a manipulation check was performed by getting several Instagram food advertisements rated by 100 Instagram users based on V-complexity. Later, an online questionnaire link was sent to the respondents with pictures of advertisements with high and low V-complexity. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used on 215 usable responses with the use of the SMART-PLS software. The findings revealed that high levels of V-complexity generate arousal and pleasure and influence purchase intention. In contrast, low V-complexity doesn’t influence arousal and pleasure but affects purchase intention. This is the first study that explores the role of V-complexity in Instagram food advertising performed in a developing economy. This research also contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the V-complexity of social media food marketing.
Let Us Excite and Inspire Consumers to Recycle! Spokescharacters as Effective Environmental Communicators
Authors: Jain Ritesh , Luck Edwina
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the role of fictional spokespersons (i.e., spokescharacters) in enhancing environmental communication persuasiveness using stimuli–organism–response as a theoretical framework. Specifically, the study explored how the excitement, attractiveness and role model traits (stimulus) of spokescharacters influence consumers’ cognitive and affective recycling attitudes (organism), resulting in augmented recycling intentions (response). Theoretical relationships were derived after reviewing relevant literature and tested by collecting data through an online survey administered to 314 U.S. consumers. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling, and findings suggest that the excitement trait positively influences recycling intentions only through affective recycling attitudes. In contrast, the role model trait is suitable for enhancing consumers’ cognitive (directly) and affective (indirectly) recycling attitudes. The attractiveness trait has no standalone role in enhancing recycling intentions but can augment the effect of the excitement trait on affective recycling attitudes. Overall, the findings suggest that spokescharacters can be a promising communication strategy for environmental marketers.
Visa-on-arrival, ECOWAS-free Mobility and the Securitisation of the Intra-African Migration in Nigeria
Authors: Omotuyi Sunday , Apeloko David Olubunmi , Bello Moruf Ayodele , Chukwudi Celestina Ekene
Published: August 2024

Over the years, Nigeria’s regional hegemonic leadership in (West) Africa, especially within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, has been debated within academic and foreign relations circles. A major component of this regional leadership aspiration was its quest for a ‘borderless Africa’. As an important arrowhead of its pro-African foreign policy, the Nigerian government proactively crafted a benign national border policy to give practical expression to the free mobility of persons and goods within the West African subregion. Despite a demonstrable commitment to free mobility within Africa over the years, Abuja suddenly imposed a restrictive border policy shortly after it signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and approved the contentious visa-on-arrival for African migrants. Considering this context, this study makes three arguments: First, it interrogates the rationale behind the liberal border diplomacy of the Nigerian government. Secondly, the paper contends that the inability to ‘silence the guns’ in Africa despite all efforts has seriously militated against the aspiration for intra-African mobility and borderless Community in West Africa. Lastly, the study examines the dire implications of Nigerian nationalistic border diplomacy and its declining soft power for the future of ‘borderless West Africa’.
A Twin Case Report of Xanthogranulomatous Oophoritis: A Rare Histological Finding
Authors: Somani Kavita , Singh Pretty
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

Xanthogranulomatous oophoritis is a rare ovarian inflammatory disorder characterised by the extensive infiltration of foamy macrophages and chronic inflammation in the ovarian stroma.

Background:

We report two cases of xanthogranulomatous oophoritis, both of 34 years of age with complaints of chronic pelvic pain with infertility and with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Aim:

This case study aims to explore the clinical and pathological features of this rare condition while highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and management.
“Keeping it lowkey”: Exploring the experiences of Korean women fans of women's volleyball
Authors: Kim Hyeeun , Kim Yunjung , Kwon Sun-Yong
Published: August 2024

Recently, there has been a significant increase in female audiences and fans at professional sport events in South Korea (hereafter Korea), particularly women's volleyball. This growth in higher viewer ratings and stadium attendance is attributed to elements such as athletes’ sportsmanship and their dynamic athletic performances. However, there is little known about the Korean women's volleyball league's fanbase. Previous studies have focused on the experiences of male and female fans’ interpretations of sport fan characteristics, experiences of female fans, or those of traditionally male-dominant sports such as ice hockey and football. Therefore, this study explores the experiences of self-identified women fans of women's professional volleyball in Korea. We seek to understand how research participants were introduced to volleyball, how they express their fanship, and how they define sport fans. According to the findings, a combination of structural systems in higher education and media streaming during pandemic restrictions has allowed volleyball content to become more accessible to research participants. Furthermore, the study examines how dukjil and fan service play significant roles in maintaining fanship, and the influence of generational characteristics on how women fans perceive and define sport fans.
Community Participation in Development Planning: A Socio-Historical Analysis of Its Strengths and Weaknesses
Authors: Ananga Erick O. , Naiga Resty
Published: August 2024

Numerous studies and development theorists have identified the potential of community participation (CP) in development planning. However, limited studies have synthesised existing literature to compare its strengths and weaknesses. This article, therefore, fills this knowledge gap by synthesising critical academic perspectives to (a) contrast the case for and against the promotion of CP theory in development planning and (b) detail its historical effects and contributions to the water service delivery sector. Overall, findings on the weakness reveal that (a) participation at times overrides existing legitimate decision-making processes, (b) reinforces the interest of the already powerful through knowledge acquisition and manipulation, (c) drives out those advantages participation cannot provide, and (d) leads to opportunistic behaviours, that is, free-rider syndrome. On the strengths, participation can lead to the realisation of (a) improved project design, (b) increased project acceptability, (c) a more equitable distribution of benefits, (d) increased resource mobilisation, and (e) improvements in sustainability parameters. Taken together, the authors premise that unless these strengths and weaknesses are fully documented and appreciated from a historical standpoint, efforts to take full advantage of CP as a theory in development planning will remain futile.
Causes of mortality in farmed white-tailed deer in the midwestern United States, 2004–2023
Authors: Smith Amanda C. , Kuroki Keiichi , Ierardi Rosalie A. , Delaney Lauren E. , Gull Tamara B. , Ogunbadewa Anthony J. , Schultz Loren G.
Published: August 2024

Farmed cervids are of growing economic importance in the midwestern United States. Although diseases of wild and captive cervids have been examined in more northerly climates, little information exists on the health challenges of deer in the Midwest. We characterized and summarized the causes of mortality in farmed white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) submitted to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Columbia, MO, USA) over a 19-y period (2004–2023). Of 388 cases examined, 253 (65%) were carcasses submitted for autopsy, and 135 (35%) cases were tissue samples harvested by field veterinarians. Infectious disease was the most common cause of mortality ( n = 335; 86.3%). Of infectious causes, primary pneumonia was most common ( n = 140; 41.7%), followed by septicemia ( n = 68; 20.1%), and primary enteritis ( n = 64; 19.1%). Viruses were detected in 18% of pneumonia cases. The most common non-infectious diagnoses were emaciation and trauma (both 4 each; 1%). Thirteen animals (3.4%) died of unknown causes. Forty-nine percent of cases were juvenile deer <1-y-old. Most cases were received in the summer (212; 54.6%). Infectious diseases, particularly bacteria and viruses, pose a significant health challenge to farmed deer in the midwestern United States.
Delirium Mediated the Association Between a History of Falls and Short-Term Mortality Risk in Critically Ill Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Cheng Hongtao , Xu Xiaozhen , Tang Yonglan , Yang Xin , Ling Yitong , Tan Shanyuan , Wang Zichen , Ming Wai-kit , Lyu Jun
Published: August 2024

Patients with ischemic stroke have an increased propensity to fall, resulting in significant physical and psychological distress. This study examined the association between falls in the 3 months prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality within 28 days among 2950 adult ICU patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke from 2008 to 2019, focusing on the potential mediating role of delirium. The primary outcomes were short-term mortality (28, 60, and 90 days) and the risk of delirium. Each patient was followed for at least 1 year. Delirium was primarily assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU and by reviewing nursing notes. Group differences between patients with and without a history of falls were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or the chi-squared test. Cox proportional risk or logistic regression models were used to explore the association between fall history and outcomes, and causal mediation analysis was performed. Results showed that patients with a recent fall history had a significantly increased risk of 28-day (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–1.94), 60-day (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.42–1.98), and 90-day mortality (HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.41–1.95), as well as an increased risk of delirium (odds ratio: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.66–2.42). Delirium significantly mediated the association between fall history and 28-day mortality (total effect: HR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.45–2.16; natural indirect effect: HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05–1.21; proportion mediated: 24.6%). These findings suggest that ischemic stroke patients with a recent fall have an increased risk of short-term mortality, partly mediated by delirium. Strategies aimed at preventing delirium may potentially improve prognosis in this patient population.
Exploring Methods in Crime and Safety Analysis
Authors: Ceccato Vania
Published: August 2024

Understanding the spatial distribution of crime patterns or poor safety perceptions equips us with valuable insights to guide resource allocation. In this special issue, we present examples of articles in environmental criminology, focusing on the use of spatial and temporal-based methods for crime and safety analysis. The contributions are from Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, and Pakistan, showcasing a diverse array of data and methods. Almost all articles are from sessions presented in the International Symposium in “Environmental Criminology and Crime Analysis” ECCA 2023, organized by the guest editor's university, and in “the Stockholm Criminology Symposium” that took place in Stockholm in June 2023. This introduction finishes with a summary of the articles of this collection.
Examining the Ethical Considerations of Humanitarian Drones
Authors: Bradley Savannah , Chiou Erin
Published: August 2024

This paper aims to investigate the ethical considerations of using drones in humanitarian contexts and develop recommendations to address safety, privacy, and regulatory concerns. Humanitarian drones are predominately used to support disaster prevention, relief, and global health missions. Despite clear benefits of using drones for humanitarian missions, evidence of drones’ military past is still present, raising serious ethical concerns. Due to the rapid evolution of this technology, drone regulations are lagging, which only adds to these collective concerns. Widespread regulatory change is needed to guide ethical drone use. The recommendations developed in this paper can be used by public agencies and volunteer organizations to guide their drone use in humanitarian contexts. These recommendations include implementing standards that combine the principles outlined in the Framework for the Ethics Assessment of Humanitarian Drones (FEAHD) and proactive aviation Safety Management Systems (SMSs) to address safety and privacy concerns.
Can Exoskeletons Make Older Workers More Confident? Investigating the Impact of Exoskeletons on Aging Workers’ Self-Efficacy and Perceived Work Ability
Authors: Khanpour Sahar , Valentin Yves , Choi HeeSun
Published: August 2024

Exoskeletons have the potential to help older workers with physical declines regain their functional capabilities and successfully meet task demands in physically demanding workplaces. This study investigated if the introduction of exoskeletons affected occupational self-efficacy and perceived work ability among manual labor workers aged 55 or older. An online survey measured changes in occupational self efficacy and perceived work ability after respondents learned about the innovative exoskeleton technology. Although it was not statistically significant, the trend showed that aging manual labor workers anticipated increased self-efficacy if exoskeletons were introduced to their workplaces. This finding suggests that exoskeletons not only help reduce injury risks and improve productivity of older workers but could also enhance their confidence at work, potentially extending their time in the workforce and improving their overall quality of life.
Utilization of a Novel Scoring System in Predicting 30-day Mortality in Acute Pulmonary Embolism, the CLOT-5 Pilot Study
Authors: Marginean Alexandru , Arora Punit , Walsh Kevin , Bruno Elizabeth , Sawalski Cathryn , Gupta Riya , Greathouse Frances , Clarke Jacob , Mallery Quinn , Choi Myoung Hyun , Malas Waddah , Shah Parth , Sutherland David , Kumar Amudha , Wroblewski Igor , Elkaryoni Ahmed , Desai Parth , Brailovsky Yevgeniy , Darki Amir
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To construct a new scoring system utilizing biomarkers, vitals, and imaging data to predict 30-day mortality in acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Background

Acute PE, a well-known manifestation of venous thromboembolic disease, is responsible for over 100,000 deaths worldwide yearly. Contemporary management algorithms rely on a multidisciplinary approach to care via PE response teams (PERT) in the identification of low, intermediate, and high-risk patients. The PESI and sPESI scores have been used as cornerstones of the triage process in assigning risk of 30-day mortality for patients presenting with acute PE; however, the specificity of these scoring systems has often come into question.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 488 patients with acute PE who were managed at a tertiary care institution with either conservative therapy consisting of low molecular weight or unfractionated heparin, advanced therapies consisting of catheter directed therapies, aspiration thrombectomy, or a combination of these therapies, or surgical embolectomy. The CLOT-5 score was designed to include vital signs, biomarkers, and imaging data to predict 30-day mortality in patients presenting with acute PE.

Results

The CLOT-5 score had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.901 with a standard error of 0.29, while the PESI and sPESI scores had an AUC and standard errors of 0.793 ±­ 0.43 and 0.728 ± 0.55, respectively.

Conclusions

When incorporated into the management algorithms of national PERT programs, the CLOT-5 score may allow for rapid and comprehensive assessment of patients with acute PE at high risk for clinical decompensation, leading to early escalation of care where appropriate.
Specific Reversal Agents for Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Acute Stroke
Authors: Frol Senta , Pretnar Oblak Janja , Šabovič Mišo , van Zwam Wim H. , Ntaios George , Lövblad Karl Olof , Gruber Andreas , Kermer Pawel
Published: August 2024

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) changed stroke prevention and decreased the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications in patients on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy. The numbers of patients prescribed DOACs has increased rapidly. Availability of specific reversal agents opened new avenues in the prevention and management of DOAC complications. An ideal specific reversal agent for a DOAC in acute stroke is an agent which lacks safety concerns and immediately reverses DOAC anticoagulation activity, thereby enabling effective treatment. Reversal of anticoagulant activity is mandatory in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) before performing therapeutic procedures such as intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and neurosurgery in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in order to improve clinical outcomes. In this manuscript we pursue an interdisciplinary approach in discussing advantages and concerns of specific reversal agents in acute stroke DOAC-treated patients in everyday clinical practice.
A new multi-modal time series transformation method and multi-scale convolutional attention network for railway wagon bearing fault diagnosis
Authors: Men Zhihui , Li Yonghua , Tang Wuchu , Wang Denglong , Cao Jiahong
Published: August 2024

To align with the evolving trends in intelligent railway wagon operation and maintenance and to enhance the precision of railway wagon bearing fault diagnosis, this paper introduces a novel method for bearing fault diagnosis. The method comprises two key innovations. Firstly, a multi-modal time series transformation method is proposed. This method extracts time series data from the original time domain signals via self-adaptive ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise, transforms them into 2D matrices, and captures inter- and intra-period information relationships through convolution. Secondly, a multi-scale convolutional attention network is introduced, enriching fault information by utilizing parallel multi-scale convolution for down-sampling. To prevent feature loss, sliding convolution is adopted instead of pooling. Additionally, the model incorporates the convolutional block attention module to focus on critical information. Experimental validation conducted in a laboratory using a self-developed railway wagon bearing dynamic performance tester demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy and strong overall performance. The method’s generalizability is further confirmed through validation using publicly available datasets. This method could find practical use in railway maintenance, improving the accuracy of bearing fault diagnosis, and making operations more efficient.
From Susceptibility to Immunity: The Pandemic of Homicide Grief
Authors: Sharpe Tanya L. , Bailey Annette , Richardson Monte-Angel
Published: August 2024

Grief from homicide is a global phenomenon. A pattern of structural racism and systemic inequities have shaped Black homicide deaths and have increased the prevalence, susceptibility, spread, and impact of homicide grief for Black communities throughout the global diaspora. A complex interplay of structural vulnerabilities has constituted a worldwide pandemic of homicide grief for Black communities. In this paper, homicide grief is conceptualized as a pandemic. Historical and structural factors that create vulnerability to homicide loss, enhance susceptibility, and facilitate the spread of homicide grief for Black communities is described. A public health framework incorporating prevention, protection, and mitigation strategies is critical to addressing pandemics. A public health framework that incorporates anti-Black racism and other sociopolitical factors that render Black communities disproportionately vulnerable to homicide grief is proposed. Recommendations for reducing the prevalence and interrupting the inequitable spread of homicide grief within Black communities is discussed, including improved access to culturally responsive grief and bereavement services, influencing policy structures, and increasing culturally attuned research efforts.
Lateral femoral wall thickness in trochanteric hip fractures: a systematic review
Authors: Selim Amr , Ponugoti Nikhil , Daoub Ahmed , Johnson-Lynn Sarah , Rhee Shin Jae
Published: August 2024

Background:

Thin lateral femoral wall has been investigated as a sign of instability in trochanteric hip fractures, necessitating lateral wall reconstruction or the use of a cephalomedullary nail (CMN). Various cut-off values have been proposed to guide implant choice. This review aims to determine the clinical significance of the lateral femoral wall thickness (LWT) in trochanteric hip fractures and identify an optimal cut-off value for increased risk of lateral wall (LW) fracture when using Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS).

Methods:

A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library up to July 2023. A predefined strategy was employed, with 5 eligible studies critically appraised using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) criteria. Outcomes assessed encompassed the standardised mean difference (SMD) of LWT between the LW fracture and non LW fracture groups, aggregate LWT mean in LW fracture group, and the relation between AO/OTA fracture type with LW fracture utilising the chi-square test.

Results:

Among 481 patients from 5 studies, 112 experienced LW fractures, while 369 did not postoperatively. Analysis indicated a significantly lower LWT in the LW fracture group (SMD −1.13, I² = 41.3%, p = 0.146). The mean LWT in the LW fracture group was 18.2 mm, with a 95% confidence interval of 17.29–19.10 mm.

Conclusions:

A preoperative thin lateral femoral wall is a critical predictor of fixation failure and suboptimal functional outcomes when using a DHS. Thorough evaluation of pre- and intraoperative x-rays is essential. CMN is recommended over DHS in cases with LWT measurements <19 mm.
Physical and Psychosocial Correlates of Occupational Physical Injury in the Global Construction Industry: A Scoping Review
Authors: Howe Aaron S , Tan Jeremy , Yuen Beatrice , Saini Harseerat , Saade-Cleves Natalia , Obeidat Donia , Shahzad Maryam , Chattu Vijay Kumar , Fatemi Ali-Bani , Nowrouzi-Kia Behdin
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

The construction industry is a diverse sector with exposure to multiple psychosocial and environmental workplace hazards that increase the risk of injury. This scoping review aims to consolidate the existing literature on the physical and psychosocial determinants influencing the risk of occupational physical injuries among construction workers globally.

Methods:

A scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA extension checklist guided. Literature searches were performed between June and October 2023 in electronic academic databases.

Results:

A total of 77 studies were identified, encompassing various geographical regions, including North America (n = 29), Africa (n = 18), Europe (n = 12), Asia (n = 9), the Middle East (n = 5), and Oceania (n = 4). The review identified physical and psychosocial factors in 3 domains influencing occupational physical injuries: workplace physical environment (eg, exposure to physical hazards, availability and utilization of personal protective equipment, company size, and job type), workplace culture (eg, psychosocial stressors, gender-related barriers, migrant and ethnic disparities, educational background), and physical wellbeing, health and aging (eg, age, obesity, sleep quality, marital stats, and physical health status). Notably, workers from social minority groups (eg, women, ethnic and migrant workers) of young (<25 years old) or older ages (45-55 years old) employed in smaller construction companies are vulnerable to increased injury risk and exposure to physical and psychosocial hazards in the workplace.

Conclusion:

The review emphasizes a global paucity of research examining the implications of physical and psychosocial factors on injury risk within the construction industry. Future research should prioritize investigating the impact of psychosocial hazards on younger and older workers to detect age-related differences in injury rate, treatment access, and work-related health outcomes.