bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do I Participate in the Discourse of Respectability? Reflecting upon Histories of Female Homoeroticism and Enslavement
Authors: Brooten Bernadette J.
Published: August 2024

My research challenges and participates in discourses of respectability, focusing on female homoerotic desires, the intertwining of religiously endorsed enslavement with sexual violence, and the intersection of race, ethnicity, and religion with sexual violence. I argue for the freedom of academic writing to present evidence-based conclusions and personal insights, drawing on contemporary figures like Sudanese anti-slavery activist Mende Nazer. Respecting biblical texts involves differentiating between plausible historical readings and personal ethical views. Misreadings of biblical passages are common, but interpretations such as that Rom 1:26–27 condemns same-gender relations or that Col 3:22 condones enslavement are not among them. The early Christian groups rejecting slavery were labeled heretics, prolonging slavery’s existence. A hard, critical examination of where things went wrong both within the Bible and beyond may help to prevent future Christians from supporting new forms of slavery. I hope that my feminist intersectional interpretations are compatible with the womanist biblical interpretation and ethics that are central to all future research on these topics.
Biblical Studies, Queer Affect, and the Politics of Respectability
Authors: Stone Ken
Published: August 2024

This essay uses autobiographical, queer, and affective criticism to consider the implications of respectability politics for openly gay white men in biblical studies. Several anecdotes are narrated as a way of engaging the role of respectability politics in contemporary LGBTQ cultures, in queer biblical scholarship, in theological education, and in the affective life of a gay biblical scholar and teacher. A theoretical conclusion engages Michel Foucault and Judith Butler to suggest that LGBTQ biblical scholars might wish to practice “not being governed quite so much” by the norms and methods of mainstream academic biblical scholarship.
Out of Sync: The Making and Remaking of Data and Regulations on Greenhouse Gases at the International Maritime Organization
Authors: Aalbu Kjersti
Published: August 2024

This article explores the entanglements of the making of data and climate regulations at a specialized UN agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Based on observant participation, document analysis, and interviews, I examine the politics of making and remaking a new data infrastructure—the Data Collection System (DCS)—and how the limitations and hopes invested in this infrastructure shape the global governance of greenhouse gas emissions in international shipping. I analyze how the DCS shapes the design and pacing of new regulations based on what data are available and when they are available, and how at the same time the politics and regulatory process of the IMO shapes the making and remaking of the DCS and how the data can be used. I unpack the politics that unfold when the production of data and regulations are coupled but are out of sync and shed light on the present and future roles of data in international negotiations. As the DCS and regulatory development at the IMO become entangled, I argue this creates a form of governance-through-data which slows down the regulatory process but nonetheless supports consensus-building among parties at a time marked by deep political tensions.
Comparison of different radiographic methods to measure the slip angle in children with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
Authors: Lindell Mikael , Nilsson Jens , Herngren Bengt , Örtegren Jakob , Stenmarker Margaretha , Tiderius Carl Johan , Michno Piotr
Published: August 2024

Background

The management of patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) requires imaging diagnostics of good quality and accurate measurement of the degree of slippage. In Sweden, three different radiological methods are commonly used: the calcar femorale method; the Billing method; and the Head-shaft angle described by Southwick.

Purpose

To evaluate whether any of the three most common methods used in Sweden to measure the slip angle was more useful and reproducible than the others.

Material and Methods

Two experienced orthopaedists measured the slip angle in preoperative hip radiographs. Intra- and inter-observer variability between the two experienced observers and the reported value by clinicians who treated the child with SCFE was evaluated.

Results

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) confidence interval (CI) between the two experienced observers and the reporting clinicians overlapped for the three methods. In 37% of the cases, the difference was more than 5° between the experienced observers’ measurement and the reported value by clinicians. The two experienced orthopaedists' intra- and inter-observer variability was low.

Conclusion

The observer's experience is more important than the method of choice when measuring the slip angle in SCFE. The research group recommends the calcar femorale method due to its feasibility on the versatile and commonly used frog leg lateral view.
Complexities in diesel oil inhalation: case study of respiratory injury and coagulation anomalies
Authors: Zhao Mingyang , Wang Meixue , Hu Xuemei , Li Han , Wu Qingjian
Published: August 2024

Diesel inhalation poisoning represents a rare yet critical medical condition necessitating prompt medical attention due to its potential to induce severe respiratory distress and coagulation dysfunction. The present case study describes the distinctive clinical presentation of a male patient in his early 40s who experienced acute respiratory distress and manifested coagulation factor VII deficiency subsequent to unintentional inhalation of diesel oil during engine repair. The patient demonstrated symptoms including chest tightness and dyspnea, indicative of chemical aspiration pneumonia, alongside an unforeseen coagulation abnormality. Treatment involved rigorous intervention, comprising endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and administration of pharmacotherapy, including ambroxol, dihydroxypropylline, and methylprednisolone. Moreover, procedural measures, such as repeated bronchoscopic alveolar lavage, pathogen culture, and targeted antibiotic therapy, were employed to mitigate respiratory complications. The patient’s clotting disorder was treated with blood transfusions, and he was discharged with improvement. The present case highlights the imperative nature of immediate medical intervention in instances of diesel inhalation to avert further clinical deterioration and unfavorable outcomes. Additionally, it underscores the necessity for expanded research endeavors aimed at elucidating the indirect repercussions of diesel inhalation on the coagulation cascade, an area that remains relatively underexplored within the medical literature.
Effect of B2O3 on structure of CaO–Al2O3–CaF2–B2O3 molten slag using molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Xu Zhaolong , Zhang Yongjiao , Chi Yunguang , Yang Jie , Zang Ximin , Kong Lingzhong
Published: August 2024

To investigate the influence of B2O3 on the microstructure of the CaO–Al2O3–CaF2 slag, molecular dynamics were employed. Various performance parameters such as radial distribution functions, coordination numbers, oxygen distribution, and Q n distributions were considered. The results indicate that Al3+ predominantly adopts a [AlO4]5– tetrahedral structure within the slag, with a minority of Al3+ existing in the forms of [AlO5]7– and [AlO6]9–. B3+ primarily manifests as a [BO3]3– planar triangular structure in the CaO–Al2O3–CaF2 slag. The microstructure of the CaO–Al2O3–CaF2 slag is characterised by a simple network of Al–O–F. The addition of B2O3 content in the slag promotes the incorporation of [BO3]3– into the O–Al–F simple network, thereby displacing F– ions, and leading to the emergence of a substantial amount of complex BIII–O–AlIV network structures within the Al–O–F simple network. This leads to an increase in the degree of polymerisation of the slag structure. Furthermore, the viscosity of slag system increases.
Cellular substructure of Invar alloy with different modifiers
Authors: He Jun , Ma Bin , Gao Guilong , Ding Jiale , Liu Baoxi , Chen Cuixin
Published: August 2024

Utilizing vacuum arc remelting, Ti, Nb, and Ti-Nb (0.2 wt%) oxides were incorporated into Fe-36Ni Invar alloy plates. The materials were characterized using SEM, EBSD, EPMA, TEM, and XRD. Results show that oxide modifiers effectively refine the cellular-like substructure and grain size, with the cellular substructure becoming more pronounced and forming a cross shape. This is due to the nucleation and pinning effects of the oxides and the unstable bifurcation growth mode from heat flow. The Ti-Nb-modified Invar alloy exhibits superior mechanical properties (160 GPa Young's modulus, 175 HV Vickers hardness) and a thermal expansion platform (Δ T = 150 K), which is due to refined grain (3–5 mm) and substructure sizes (20 μm to 8 μm), increased dislocation density, and low-angle grain boundaries. The study also reveals that austenite grain boundary formation lags behind the cellular substructure, indicating that eutectic cell segregation and cellular substructure precede grain boundaries.
The Place and the Stone: Reassessing the Priestly Writing’s relationship to Bethel
Authors: Rice John Will
Published: August 2024

The Priestly story of Jacob at Bethel in Gen. 35.9–15 is commonly interpreted as a Priestly delegitimization of the pre-Priestly Jacob/Bethel story in Gen. 28.10–22*. This interpretation has arisen largely from the different ways in which the texts conceptualize the maqôm and maṣṣēbôt, with the Priestly text supposedly desacralizing the standing stone and turning the ‘place’ into merely a location of remembrance, not the dwelling of the deity. This article challenges this assumption, especially addressing the similarities between the Priestly conceptions of Bethel and the redactional ‘vow narrative’ in Gen. 28.20–22*. It then relates the redaction-critical findings with the historical situation at sixth-century Bethel, which seems to have been the main cultic site in Yehud during the Neo-Babylonian and early Persian periods. On the basis of this analysis, the article concludes with the suggestion that Bethel be taken more seriously as a possible compositional context of P.
Load Distribution After Serial Resection of the Posterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus and Subsequent Meniscal Allograft Transplant: A Biomechanical Study
Authors: Ambra Luiz Felipe , Mestriner Alexandre Barbieri , Ackermann Jakob , Mameri Enzo S. , Gomoll Andreas H.
Published: August 2024

Background:

Data are lacking as to when a meniscal allograft transplant (MAT) may be biomechanically superior to a partially resected lateral meniscus.

Hypothesis:

Lateral MAT using a bone bridge technique would restore load distribution and contact pressures in the tibiofemoral joint to levels superior to those of a partial lateral meniscectomy.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Eleven fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were evaluated in 5 lateral meniscal testing conditions (native, one-third posterior horn meniscectomy, two-thirds posterior horn meniscectomy, total meniscectomy, MAT) at 3 flexion angles (0°, 30°, and 60°) under a 1600-N axial load. Pressure sensors were used to acquire contact pressure, contact area, and peak contact pressure within the tibiofemoral joint.

Results:

Limited (one-third and two-thirds) partial lateral posterior horn meniscectomy showed no significant increase in mean and peak contact pressures as well as no significant decrease in contact area compared with the intact state. Total meniscectomy significantly increased mean contact pressure at 0° and 30° ( P = .008 and P < .001, respectively), increased peak contact pressure at 30° ( P = .04), and decreased mean contact area in all flexion angles compared with the native condition ( P < .01). Lateral MAT significantly improved mean contact pressure compared with total meniscectomy at 0° and 30° ( P = .002 and P = .003, respectively) and increased contact area at 30° and 60° ( P = .003 and P = .009, respectively), although contact area was still significantly smaller (24.1%) after MAT relative to the native meniscus (P = 0.015). However, allograft transplant did not result in better tibiofemoral contact biomechanics compared with limited partial meniscectomy ( P > .05).

Conclusion:

The peripheral portion of the lateral meniscus provided the most important contribution to the distribution of contact pressure across the tibiofemoral joint in the cadaveric model. Total meniscectomy significantly increased mean and peak contact pressure in the cadaveric model and decreased contact area. Lateral MAT restored contact biomechanics close to normal but was not superior to the partially meniscectomized status.

Clinical Relevance:

Surgeons should attempt to preserve a peripheral rim of the posterior lateral meniscus. Meniscal allograft transplant appears to improve but not normalize mean contact pressure and contact area relative to total lateral meniscectomy.
Effects of Activities on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers of Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Won Sarah , Cotter Valerie T. , Regier Natalie G.
Published: August 2024

Given that approximately 41.8 million Americans provide unpaid care to older adults and caregiving roles are often associated with decreased well-being, it is critical to identify strategies to maximize their well-being. The purpose of this review was to explore which activities significantly improve well-being among caregivers of older adults. A systematic literature review was conducted using PsycINFO and 24 research articles met inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Eight cohesive activity categories were identified: Social ( n = 5), Psychoeducation ( n = 3), Arts/entertainment in the home ( n = 2), Psychotherapy ( n = 5), Religious/Spiritual ( n = 4), Multimodal ( n = 4), Physical ( n = 5), and Arts/entertainment outside the home ( n = 2). Findings suggest that caregivers of older adults should seek opportunities for engagement in meaningful activities, particularly social, psychoeducational activities, arts/entertainment activities in the home, which showed positive impacts, as well as psychotherapy, religious/spiritual, multimodal, and physical activities, which showed mixed impacts on caregivers’ psychological well-being.
Exploring Social Support Experiences of Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia in Hospice Care
Authors: Cho Hannah , Sefcik Justine S. , Washington Karla , Parker Oliver Debra , Demiris George
Published: August 2024

As the number of persons living with dementia (PLWD) enrolling in hospice care rises, caregiver support becomes increasingly crucial. While social support can help buffer caregiver stress, many caregivers report feeling isolated and having unmet needs, highlighting the limited research on this population. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to better understand caregivers’ social support during the period when the PLWD is enrolled in hospice care. Analyzing qualitative data from 22 caregivers of PLWD using conventional content analysis, we identified the theme “Variations in Social Connections.” This theme encompasses two subthemes: “never completely alone,” indicating social support from family, friends, and neighbors, and “disappointed sometimes,” reflecting instances when some individuals in the caregivers’ lives couldn’t provide regular support. These findings underscore the need for individualized interventions, as each caregiver experiences social support uniquely. Future research should consider the variations in social support among caregivers of PLWD to inform caregiving practices effectively.
Poly (β-amino esters)/Mobil Composition of Matter 41-mediated delivery of siIL-1β alleviates deep vein thrombosis in rat hind limbs
Authors: Zheng Bingru , Chen Jinjie , Xu Yizhou , Wu Wanrui , Zhu Yu , Cai Wei , Lin Weili , Shi Changsheng
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major cause of cardiovascular disease-related deaths worldwide and is considered a thrombotic inflammatory disorder. IL-1β, as a key promoter of venous thrombus inflammation, is a potential target for DVT treatment. Constructing a nanocarrier system for intracellular delivery of siIL-1β to silence IL-1β may be an effective strategy for alleviating DVT. Methods: ELISA was used to detect the expression levels of IL-1β and t-PA in the serum of DVT patients and healthy individuals. In vitro, HUVEC cells were treated with IL-1β, and changes in VWF and t-PA expression levels were assessed. PBAE/MCM-41@siIL-1β (PM@siIL-1β) nano-complexes were synthesized, the characterization and biocompatibility of PM@siIL-1β were evaluated. A rat hind limb DVT model was established, and PM@siIL-1β was used to treat DVT rats. Morphology of the inferior vena cava, endothelial cell count, IL-1β, vWF, and t-PA levels, as well as changes in the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways, were examined in the different groups. Results: IL-1β and t-PA were highly expressed in DVT patients, and IL-1β treatment induced a decrease in VWF levels and an increase in t-PA levels in HUVEC cells. The synthesized PM@siIL-1β exhibited spherical shape, good stability, high encapsulation efficiency, and high drug loading capacity, with excellent biocompatibility. In the DVT model rats, the inferior vena cava was filled with blood clots, endothelial cells increased, IL-1β and VWF levels significantly increased, while t-PA levels were significantly downregulated. Treatment with PM@siIL-1β resulted in reduced thrombus formation, decreased endothelial cell count, and reversal of IL-1β, VWF, and t-PA levels. Furthermore, PM@siIL-1β treatment significantly inhibited p38 phosphorylation and upregulation of NF-κB expression in the DVT model group. Conclusion: IL-1β can be considered a therapeutic target for suppressing DVT inflammation. The synthesized PM@siIL-1β achieved efficient delivery and gene silencing of siIL-1β, demonstrating good therapeutic effects on rat hind limb DVT, including anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects, potentially mediated through the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways.
Educational Philanthropy’s “Racial Reckoning” in the Wake of 2020: Understanding Grantmakers’ Responses to Racialized Crises
Authors: McCambly Heather , Villanosa Krystal , Mackevicius Claire L.
Published: August 2024

The intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Black violence prompted talk of racial reckoning among educational grantmakers in 2020 to 2021. This study examines the nature and extent of this reckoning, offering insights into policy actors’ responses to racialized crises. Through an analysis of grantmakers’ professed policy repertoires—consisting of administrative practices, sites of intervention, and sources of expertise—we delineate the mechanisms shaping grantmaker responses to sociopolitical crises. While some grantmakers temporarily shifted administrative practices in response to COVID-19, deeper changes remained elusive. The study highlights how institutionalized white-centered norms and practices persist within educational policymaking, constraining material progress toward racial equity. Moreover, it underscores the pivotal role of proximity to racial injustice in motivating substantive changes to policy repertoires. We conclude with an appeal to grantmakers and other policy actors to shift from performative reckoning to tangible reparative actions that can weaken racialized structures.
Successful Refugee Cohabitation With Host Families: A Concept Analysis and Model Development
Authors: Al-Hamad Areej , Yasin Yasin M. , Metersky Kateryna , Guruge Sepali , Gare Caitlin , Hingorani Molly
Published: August 2024

Purpose: This concept analysis aims to address the gap in knowledge regarding the concept of successful refugee cohabitation with host families. It seeks to develop a conceptual model that integrates holistic nursing and healthcare practices into refugee cohabitation settings to enhance refugee well-being. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Walker and Avant's methodology for concept analysis. Findings: Successful refugee cohabitation with host families concept characterized by peaceful coexistence, power dynamics, hospitality, and cultural tolerance. Antecedents include refugee shelter needs, societal acceptance, humanitarian solidarity, and legal support. Consequences include refugee inclusion and integration, societal cohesion, psychological well-being, and refugee–host acceptance. Conclusions: Successful refugee cohabitation is defined as a private hosting arrangement that embodies shared living spaces and peaceful coexistence amid conflict or crises, fostering resilience and support for displaced individuals by local citizens. It combines hospitality, balanced power, and cultural tolerance, driven by refugee needs for shelter and a commitment to successful refugee settlement and integration. This hosting arrangement promotes societal development and cohesion, economic growth, psychological well-being, and foster inclusion and intergroup tolerance. The integration of holistic nursing principles into refugee cohabitation practices can foster more inclusive and healthy communities.
A review on recent advancements in additive manufacturing techniques
Authors: Dubey Dushyant , Singh Satinder Paul , Behera Bijoya Kumar
Published: August 2024

This review paper systematically classifies additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing techniques according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, which categorize these technologies into seven main groups: vat photopolymerization, material extrusion, powder-bed fusion, material jetting (MJT), binder jetting, direct energy deposition, and sheet lamination. Each of these categories is further subdivided into specific subcategories, providing a comprehensive framework to understand the diverse landscape of AM technologies. By leveraging these ASTM standards, our review aims to offer a structured and detailed overview of the capabilities and advancements within each AM technique. Recent studies and developments are incorporated to highlight the evolution of these technologies, showcasing innovations that have improved precision, material compatibility, and efficiency in manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the review critically examines the materials used, advantages, and limitations associated with each technique, exploring their applications across various industries such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, defense, and consumer goods.
Experimental and numerical investigations of aerospace alloys: Effect of machining
Authors: Peddaiah Pujari Chinna , Dodla Srihari
Published: August 2024

Aerospace materials like Ti6Al4V and Inconel 718 have exceptional abilities such as high strength, good corrosion resistance, and low specific weight. These properties make them difficult to machine due to rapid tool wear, high cutting forces, and heat generation. Microstructural characterization has been performed for these alloys to identify the phases and precipitates. With the help of machining simulations, experimental trial and error can be avoided. Numerical simulations predict the behavior of materials like Ti6Al4V and Inconel 718 under various machining conditions. They provide insights into stress distribution, temperature rise, and chip formation, which are crucial for understanding how these materials respond to machining. By simulating different cutting parameters (e.g. speed, feed rate, and depth of cut), optimal conditions can be identified to minimize tool wear, improve surface finish, and reduce machining time. Achieving a high-quality surface finish is challenging with these materials. Simulations can predict the impact of different machining parameters on surface integrity, allowing for adjustments before actual machining. Three-dimensional finite element-based machining simulations are performed using the ABAQUS. The current work includes Johnson-Cook damage model parameters included in the simulation with the aid of the program ABAQUS/EXPLICIT. The numerous sets of tests carried out are also stated, along with the workpiece and tool-optimized geometry. The outcomes for cutting forces about time for Ti6Al4V and Inconel 718 are retrieved. The arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian approach has been used for these simulations. A coupled thermo-mechanical study is conducted on different sets of materials under various machining conditions. In addition, ultrasonic-assisted cutting on aerospace materials is also being studied, along with a comparison of the cutting forces used by conventional cutting. On the surfaces of aerospace materials that have been machined, temperature and von Mises stress distribution are discussed for both ultrasonic-assisted cutting and conventional cutting. The reaction forces generated for titanium alloy Ti6Al4V under conventional cutting are cutting force (RF3), and the thrust force (RF2) were 56 and 14 N, respectively. For the Inconel 718, the cutting and thrust forces are 75 and 27 N, respectively. The maximum temperature and stress under conventional cutting attained in Ti6Al4V are 670 K and 1.74 GPa, respectively. For the Inconel 718, the maximum temperature and stress under conventional cutting are 596 K and 1.65 GPa. There is a reduction in the forces, maximum temperature, and stress for the ultrasonic-assisted cutting.
COVID-19 hits care homes: A cross-national study of mortality rates
Authors: Estévez-Abe Margarita , Ranci Costanzo
Published: August 2024

The COVID-19 outbreak, which most severely impacted older citizens, served as a stress test for residential eldercare facilities. The mortality rates of care home residents varied widely across countries in 2020 before vaccinations became available. Why have some countries been better (or less) able to protect their older citizens in care homes? This article examines the role of specific characteristics of national systems of residential care in enhancing or weakening the capacity of these systems to protect their residents from the pandemic and seeks to draw some lessons for the future. Because the mortality rate in care homes strongly correlates with the overall infection rate within the community, this article adopts an innovative approach to conceptualize and measure the protection capacity of national residential care systems more specifically – that is net of mortality rates within the community. The study makes important contributions to the care policy field. The traditional care regime typology fails to explain cross-national variations in the protective capacity of care homes. Governmental spending on long-term care systems certainly matters for protective capacity but we find that a factor previously neglected by care regime scholars also matters. More specifically, we show that the pattern of staff organization affects protective capacity. Our findings call for a rethinking of care systems in the face of future pandemics.
Delayed kernels for longitudinal survival analysis and dynamic prediction
Authors: Davies Annabel Louisa , Coolen Anthony CC , Galla Tobias
Published: August 2024

Predicting patient survival probabilities based on observed covariates is an important assessment in clinical practice. These patient-specific covariates are often measured over multiple follow-up appointments. It is then of interest to predict survival based on the history of these longitudinal measurements, and to update predictions as more observations become available. The standard approaches to these so-called ‘dynamic prediction’ assessments are joint models and landmark analysis. Joint models involve high-dimensional parameterizations, and their computational complexity often prohibits including multiple longitudinal covariates. Landmark analysis is simpler, but discards a proportion of the available data at each ‘landmark time’. In this work, we propose a ‘delayed kernel’ approach to dynamic prediction that sits somewhere in between the two standard methods in terms of complexity. By conditioning hazard rates directly on the covariate measurements over the observation time frame, we define a model that takes into account the full history of covariate measurements but is more practical and parsimonious than joint modelling. Time-dependent association kernels describe the impact of covariate changes at earlier times on the patient’s hazard rate at later times. Under the constraints that our model (a) reduces to the standard Cox model for time-independent covariates, and (b) contains the instantaneous Cox model as a special case, we derive two natural kernel parameterizations. Upon application to three clinical data sets, we find that the predictive accuracy of the delayed kernel approach is comparable to that of the two existing standard methods.
Challenges of Managing the Employability of Differently Abled in South India: Experiences of Two Non-governmental Organizations
Authors: Kurian Shaji , Sutradhar Pooja , Chowdary Sandeep
Published: August 2024

More than 500 million people worldwide are affected by mental, physical or sensory disabilities. These individuals are entitled to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. This case explores the challenges and opportunities of managing disabilities, particularly regarding employability. It presents two case studies from Indian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Bhagavatula Charitable Trust and Riya Foundation, highlighting their efforts to address the concerns of differently-abled individuals. It aims to describe the challenges of managing the employability of disabled children, providing insights that can be applied elsewhere for better results. Data were collected during social immersion internships by participants in these two NGOs.
Factors Influencing Mental Well-being Among Older Malaysians
Authors: Apalasamy Yamunah Devi , Awang Halimah , Mansor Norma , Othman Azmah , Jani Rohana , Nik Osman Nik Noor Ainoon , Tan Chin Lung
Published: August 2024

Older adults are at greater risk of mental health issues. This study examined the factors influencing mental well-being among 2230 Malaysian older adults, using data from the 2018 to 2019 Malaysia Ageing and Retirement Survey. The World Health Organization–Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to assess mental well-being, and linear regression analysis identified the significant factors. Women had lower mental well-being scores than men ( P = .012, β = −0.016). Chinese ( P = .024, β = −0.020), Indian ( P < .001, β = −0.043), and other ethnicities ( P < .001, β = −0.031) reported lower scores than Malays. The factors associated with better well-being were secondary ( P = .001, β = 0.032) and tertiary education ( P < .001, β = 0.063), and good ( P < .001, β = 0.081) and moderate ( P < .001, β = 0.038) health status. Diseases-limiting activities were associated with poor well-being ( P < .001, β = −0.030). Support from family ( P < .001, β = 0.062) and friends ( P < .001, β = 0.032), social activity participation ( P < .001, β = 0.026), and functional ability ( P < .001, β = 0.043) were significant positive factors. There is a need for targeted interventions to enhance mental health among Malaysian older adults.
Identification of risk factors and clinical outcomes for symmetric peripheral gangrene: A new scoring system using a common data model database
Authors: Deslivia Maria Florencia , Kim Do-Hoon , Lee Suk-Joong , Kim Hee-June , Kholinne Erica , Lee Hyun-Joo
Published: August 2024

Background: Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a destructive clinical condition where amputation is often the final treatment option. We aimed to identify the predictors of SPG using the common data model (CDM) and propose a new scoring system for predicting hospitalized patients at risk of developing SPG. Methods: A cohort of patients treated with intravenous noradrenaline, epinephrine, and vasopressin between 2011 and 2020 was retrospectively analyzed using the CDM database. The main outcome was amputation performed as a resuscitation measure. We investigated risk factors including demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and preoperative laboratory values. Based on demographic variables such as age and sex, a 1:10 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Amputation was performed in 308 (0.4%) patients out of a cohort of 73,902 patients. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), renal disease (RD), heart failure, anemia, hypercholesterolemia, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and laboratory markers such as albumin, eosinophils, hematocrit, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, ESR, aPTT, creatinine, and BUN were statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant differences in DM (OR 5.51), RD (OR 2.90), PVD (OR 9.67), and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (OR 0.49). Compared to the group without amputation, logistic regression analysis after matching the age and sex group with 1:10 PSM showed statistically significant results in DM (OR 3.59), RD (OR 2.59), PVD (OR 7.76), and CVD (OR 0.40). Conclusion: Early recognition of high-risk patients may help medical providers prevent severe outcomes, including amputation surgery.
Comparative effectiveness of oblique lumbar interbody fusion with anterior screw fixation versus percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for treating lumbar degenerative diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fatima Laveeza , Tebha Sameer S , Farid Rabeya , Kamran Aemen , Edamakanti Sravan KR , Farrukh Mohammad F
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Lumbar degenerative diseases impose a substantial health burden, prompting the exploration of advanced surgical approaches such as Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF). This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy of OLIF with anterior screw fixation (OLIF-AF) against OLIF with posterior pedicle fixation (OLIF-PF) in addressing these conditions.

Methods

A systematic search across multiple databases identified five studies meeting inclusion criteria, incorporating a total of 271 patients. Comparative analysis encompasses primary and secondary outcomes related to fusion rates, intraoperative parameters, patient-reported measures, and radiographic assessments.

Results

Primary outcome analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in total fusion rates between OLIF-AF and OLIF-PF. However, secondary outcomes revealed distinct advantages in OLIF-AF, showcasing lower intraoperative blood loss and reduced operative times compared to OLIF-PF. Nonetheless, patient-reported outcomes, encompassing measures such as pain scores and functional assessments, as well as radiographic parameters, exhibited no significant variations between the two techniques.

Conclusion

While OLIF-AF displayed favorable results in intraoperative parameters, such as reduced blood loss and shorter operative times, it did not significantly differ in patient-reported outcomes and radiographic assessments compared to OLIF-PF. Interpretation of findings must consider limitations in sample sizes and study heterogeneity. Future investigations with larger, more diverse cohorts and extended follow-ups are imperative to confirm these preliminary findings and comprehend the actual clinical impact of these OLIF techniques in managing lumbar degenerative diseas.
A low-frequency multidirectional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester using a universal joint structure
Authors: Kan Junwu , Wu Silei , Lin Yazhi , Kuang Zhenli , Wu Wenchao , Cao Zhenxin , Zhang Zhonghua
Published: August 2024

Vibration energy harvesting using piezoelectric mechanism has attracted much attention for powering wireless sensors over the last decade. This paper proposes a low-frequency multidirectional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (LM-PVEH) using a universal joint structure. Unlike conventional PVEHs, LM-PVEH utilized a pendulum instead of a proof mass in a typical piezoelectric beam and employed a universal joint to indirectly pluck the piezoelectric beam, ensuring the beam was only subjected to compressive stress. With the multidirectional rotation characteristic of the universal joint, the harvester efficiently scavenged multidirectional energy. To verify the feasibility of principle and investigate the effect of structural parameters on the power generation performance of LM-PVEH, theoretical analysis and experimental test were conducted. The results demonstrated that LM-PVEH exhibited different power-generating characteristics in various vibration directions. The resonant frequency of LM-PVEH could be efficiently tuned by adjusting proof mass and mass distance to accommodate low-frequency environments. The proposed harvester achieved a maximum power of 4.99 mW with the load resistance of 300 kΩ at 7.3 Hz. The LM-PVEH could power 100 LEDs, a temperature sensor, and a transmitting module. Additionally, the successful demonstration of powering a calculator from human motion highlights the practical application of the proposed harvester.
When Does Entrepreneurs’ Impression Management Enhance Their Networking Performance? The Cross-Level Moderating Role of Collective Altruism
Authors: Flynn Patrick J. , Kirkman Bradley L. , McFarland Lynn A. , Pollack Jeffrey M.
Published: August 2024

There is debate in the literature regarding when impression management motivates networking performance for self and others, and how well individuals perform tasks when the driving motivation is to look good. We take a novel approach to this quandary, integrate social exchange with sensemaking theories and research, and examine how networking group characteristics enable entrepreneurs to make sense of, and interpret, their collective environment and subsequently determine how they should behave to look their best. We identify collective altruism as an important group characteristic affecting how impression management tactics influence entrepreneurs’ willingness to help fellow group members. Findings from a sample of entrepreneurs ( n = 189) engaged in Business Network International (BNI) groups ( k = 24), illustrate that the relationship between entrepreneurs’ exemplification and the revenue they generate for others’ ventures and their own was more strongly positive when collective altruism was higher. Similarly, the effects of entrepreneur supplication and intimidation on revenue generated for others’ ventures were positive in groups with higher collective altruism. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
Perspectives of Rural High School Students Involved in a Multi-Component, After-School Physical Activity Intervention
Authors: Palmer Karla , Robbins Lorraine B. , West Patricia , Ling Jiying , Kao Tsui-Sui Annie , Pathak Dola , Smith Alan L.
Published: August 2024

After-school physical activity interventions can assist high school students in meeting physical activity recommendations; however, little is known about what kinds of programs work best for students in rural settings. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore rural high school students’ perceptions of a multi-component, after-school physical activity intervention. Interviews were conducted with 10 students who had participated in a physical activity intervention. Thematic analysis was conducted on the interviews. Participants indicated that the intervention provided a supportive and motivating environment through the use of innovative technology and peer relatedness/involvement. Although barriers such as time constraints often prevented them from achieving their weekly goals, students expressed overall satisfaction with the intervention and a heightened self-motivation for physical activity. The qualitative approach provides a greater understanding of the perspectives of rural adolescents participating in a physical activity intervention. Findings can be useful to school nurses and inform the development of future physical activity interventions.
Anthropometric Fit Test Methods: Three Case Studies
Authors: Bradtmiller Bruce , Wiggermann Neal , Hubbard Amelia
Published: August 2024

There is not a universally accepted fit test procedure because test protocols need to be customized for specific products or research questions. A fit test protocol can vary significantly based on the product tested, but often includes these steps: define fit criteria, select anthropometric dimensions of interest, perform testing, collect quantitative and qualitative feedback, identify design recommendations, and develop or refine a sizing chart. To illustrate general approaches to human fit testing, case studies of fit tests are described for three different product types: a multi-layered protective clothing ensemble, a therapeutic airway clearance vest, and a patient transfer sling.
Navigating Simulator Sickness: The Effect of Flight Maneuvers in Fixed-Base Flight Simulators
Authors: Martin Calderon Claudia , Bae Junhan , Cao Shi , Barnett-Cowan Michael
Published: August 2024

Flight simulator sickness (SS) is a well-known phenomenon in aviation training, which can impact the safety and effectiveness of pilot training programs. Identifying and characterizing which flight maneuvers result in increased SS symptoms could help instructors tailor training to increase pilot retention and potentially improve training. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of different flight maneuvers on SS in a fixed-base simulator (ALSIM AL250). Our results indicate that a flight session with more intense flight maneuvers (landing with wind and taxiing) resulted in an increase in sickness symptoms (Total Sickness [ p = .012] and Oculomotor Disturbance [ p = 0.035] of the SSQ) compared to no changes after a session with less intense flight maneuvers (steep turn). These results demonstrate a need to explore which flight maneuvers are more likely to result in increased sickness symptoms and its effects on training and retention of student pilots.
A Novel Experiment Design for Studying Multiple Cognitive Factors in Conditionally Automated Driving Contexts
Authors: Jeevanandam Sibibalan , Williamson Tabango Michael , Wang Xipeng , Jain Neera
Published: August 2024

Development of responsive automation necessitates a framework for studying human-automation interactions in a broad range of operating conditions. This study uses a novel experiment design involving multiple binary perturbations in different stimuli to elicit measurable changes in cognitive factors that affect human-decision making during conditionally-automated (SAE Level 3) driving: trust in automation, mental workload, self-confidence, and risk perception. To infer changes in these factors, psychophysiological metrics such as heart rate variability and galvanic skin response, behavioral metrics such as eye gaze and reliance on automation, and self-reports were collected. Findings from statistical tests revealed significant changes, particularly in psychophysiological and behavioral metrics, for some treatments. However, other treatments did not elicit a significant change, highlighting the complexities of a between-subject experiment design with variations in multiple independent variables. Findings also underscore the importance of collecting heterogeneous human data to infer changes in cognitive factors during interactions with automation.
Post-Trip Mind-Wandering Assessment: A Scale and Protocol for Evaluating Train Driver Focus Across Multiple Journey Phases
Authors: Von Berg J. A. M , Van Doorn E. C
Published: August 2024

In professional driving, maintaining alertness throughout the journey can be challenging. Despite efforts to address decreased alertness, there is no agreed method to investigate mind-wandering in transportation. Trigger-based data collection methods are most common, but can influence participants’ mental condition, reducing mind-wandering occurrences. Besides, in real-life test rides it is not desirable to interrupt and question drivers. Building upon existing research, a mind-wandering investigation protocol and questionnaire were developed to address this. The protocol was tested and refined by querying train drivers about their mind-wandering experiences on a train simulator, allowing drivers to assess mind-wandering across multiple journey phases. The results show that the proposed protocol can provide greater insight into driver alertness and mind-wandering in professional driving settings.
Evaluation of Risk Shift Between Individuals and Teams in an Operational Task
Authors: Ragsdale Lee Hannah , Dorneich Michael C.
Published: August 2024

This study sought to find a polarized risk shift between individual risk decisions and team risk decisions in an operational task. Risk shift theory has been explored in behavioral psychology and teamwork literature and is defined as the propensity of teams to make riskier decisions when compared to individuals. However, the findings from previous work were based on participant responses to hypothetical, abstract thought problems. These previous tasks lacked attributes present in an operational domain, including complexity, accountability, realism, and measurable risk. This study sought to bridge this gap by investigating whether this risk shift phenomena occurs in an operational task. Humans often work in teams in these domains, and increasingly, humans are also working with agents. Thus, an evaluation was done to first establish the existence of risk shift in human-only teams in an operational setting. The study had one independent variable: decision-maker with two levels, individual and team. The task design involved an aviation dispatch task, where participants simulated the role of a flight dispatcher. Participants were responsible to make dispatch decisions on whether to divert, hold, or send 25 airplanes, while weighing the potential consequences of incurring policy violations based on the possibility of an approaching storm. Results from the study showed the absolute value of the shift was significantly different than zero. Additionally, a thematic analysis found that groups varied in their decision-making strategies, using approaches like deferring to an influential teammate, averaging decisions amongst teammates, and collaborating to come to a new team decision. Establishing operational HHT risk shift in a realistic scenario provides the foundation for future experiments to examine how humans and autonomous agents perform teaming tasks in dynamic contexts involving risk.
Automating the Analysis of Speech Acts in Teams to Understand Distributed Sensemaking
Authors: Baber Chris , Mustafa Reem , Leggett Andrew , Attfield Simon , Gibson W. Huw , Raywood-Burke George , Roberts Holly V. , Amey Donna
Published: August 2024

We extend previous work on applying computational linguistics in understanding distributed sensemaking. In an experiment, teams of three respond to incidents in the C3Fire simulation under different levels of shared information, and radio communications were automatically transcribed (with an overall accuracy of around 80% for these recordings). The transcription was analyzed by computer to classify speech acts. We compared heuristics and regular expressions, supervised machine learning (using linear SVM), and unsupervised learning (using BERT). For this small corpus of utterances, SVM provides acceptable performance (around 79% accuracy) with minimal computational demand compared with the other approaches. In terms of team communication, differences in information conditions are identified (particularly in terms of speech acts relating to statements about “fire” and “rescue,” and statements about “reasoning and planning”). The study demonstrates the potential of automated analysis of team communications and indicates when teams might struggle with sensemaking.