bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Perfectionism and Parental Expectations in the School Stress and Health Complaints of Secondary School Students
Authors: Díez Marta , Jiménez-Iglesias Antonia , Paniagua Carmen , García-Moya Irene
Published: October 2023

Increases in school stress among adolescents are a growing concern. Although perfectionism and parental expectations have an important role in school stress, their joint influence has not been evaluated nor have analyses taken a multidimensional perspective of school stress into consideration. The aims of this study were to analyze the role of self-oriented perfectionism and parental expectations in school stress, and to explore their potential moderation effect in the associations between school stress and health complaints in adolescence. Sample consisted of 4,768 secondary-school students (52.1% girls; M = 13.74) aged 11 to 17 years ( M = 13.74) from 54 high schools in Andalusia (Spain), and school stress was measured using ASQ-S questionnaire. Results show that high self-oriented perfectionism and parental expectations were significantly associated with higher levels of school stress. In addition, the three variables school stress, self-oriented perfectionism and parental expectations were significantly associated with health complaints, and self-oriented perfectionism moderated the relationship between stress of school-leisure conflict and health complaints. These findings should be taken into consideration for future research and the development of interventions aimed at reducing school stress among adolescent students.
Rightful Power and an Ideal of Free Community: The Political Theory of Steve Biko
Authors: Ṣóyẹmí Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́
Published: October 2023

Steve Biko is one of the most important liberation activists of his time. Yet, his theoretical contribution is not well understood or appreciated. This article reconstructs Biko’s political ideas and introduces a new integrated reading and interpretation of his writings, speeches, and recorded interviews. It argues that Biko’s Black consciousness ideal should not only be read as engaging an activist movement or programme but, also, as encompassing an original theoretical framework grounded in a communalist ethos of Biko’s own conceptual development. It argues that Biko’s Black consciousness ideal sought to relate racialised oppression to a historically centred communalist solution framed by two interlocking structural elements—rightful power and free community. The article argues that only by a theoretical and normative consideration of these elements, on Biko’s own conceptual terms, do we get a coherent understanding of Biko’s distinctive view of free postcolonial society.
Compound fault separation and diagnosis method for online rolling bearings based on RSEUnet and 1DCNN
Authors: Wang Xiufang , Sun Shuang , Jiang Chunlei , Bi Hongbo , Yan Wendi
Published: October 2023

Compound fault signals interfere with one another, resulting in an inconspicuous feature extraction that requires sophisticated signal processing techniques and expert experience. However, good online diagnostic methods are not available to carry out this process. This paper proposes a method based on Residual Connection and Squeeze-and-Excitation Unet (RSEUnet) and one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1DCNN). The process includes fault separation and diagnosis. First, the feature extraction module of the RSEUnet network introduces an attention mechanism and a residual connection that adaptively assigns various weights to different channels. This model is used to train the maps of the fault signal after time-frequency transformation. Ideal binary masks with excellent performance are the training targets to complete the intelligent separation of compound faults. Second, the 1DCNN is used as a feature learning model to efficiently learn the features of single faults from time-domain signals. An embedded system consisting of a Jetson Nano and a signal acquisition circuit is then built to perform online diagnosis. The test is carried out on the fault experimental platform. Results show that the method has an accuracy of 99.71%, making it highly suitable for the diagnosis of bearing compound faults.
Sexual exchanges explain the association between attachment insecurities and sexual satisfaction in long-term couples
Authors: Péloquin Katherine , Byers E. Sandra , Beaulieu Noémie , Bergeron Sophie , Brassard Audrey
Published: October 2023

Although attachment insecurity has been linked to sexual dissatisfaction in cross-sectional research, little is known about the mechanisms by which attachment is associated with sexual satisfaction over time. This study examined the role of attachment insecurities in sexual satisfaction over time using the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (IEMSS) as a theoretical framework. Participants were 151 Canadian mixed-gender couples in a long-term relationship ( M = 9.7 years) who completed questionnaires at two time points. The results demonstrate that sexual exchanges explained the associations between attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance) and sexual satisfaction in both men and women in long-term relationships, although the specific pathways differed by gender. These results are discussed in the context of the IEMSS and attachment theory.
A novel view to varicose veins pathogenesis: Proteomic profiling suggests a pivotal role of extracellular matrix degradation
Authors: Urbonavicius Sigitas , Srinanthalogen Reshaabi , Sandermann Jes , Valius Mindaugas , Kaupinis Algirdas , Ludvigsen Maja
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Although morphological and anatomical studies indicate that venous wall weakening and subendothelial fibrosis characterize varicose veins (VV), the pathogenesis of VV remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to obtain protein expression profiles in patients with VV and thereby get a step closer to understanding the pathogenesis of VV.

Methods

Specimens were obtained from total of 10 patients, that is, from 5 patients undergoing VV surgical stripping and from 5 non-VV patients undergoing bypass surgery. Specimens were collected from the same layers of venous wall. Proteins were extracted from each specimen and analyzed by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS-MS). In total, 1387 were identified and 486 proteins were identified in all samples. From these, 15 proteins were differentially expressed between VV and non-VV samples ( p < .05) and 12 of these showed a fold change >1.5.

Results

Interestingly, among the differentially expressed proteins, only two proteins were significantly increased in the VV tissue, that is, GAPDH ( p = .028, fold change 2.74), where several proteins involved in maintaining the homeostasis in the extracellular matrix, that is, the CXXC zinc finger protein 5 ( CXXC5) and nucleoporin ( SEH1) were prominently downregulated ( p = .049, fold change 37.8, and p = .040, fold change 3.46). The downregulation in protein expression of CXXC5 and SEH1 as well as upregulation of GAPDH were validated by Western blotting.

Conclusion

The identified differentially expressed proteins suggest an altered profile of the connective tissue proteins as well as an increased proteolytic enzyme activity which both may be central in the pathophysiology of varicose veins.
Impact-aware task-space quadratic-programming control
Authors: Wang Yuquan , Dehio Niels , Tanguy Arnaud , Kheddar Abderrahmane
Published: October 2023

Robots usually establish contacts at rigid surfaces with near-zero relative velocities. Otherwise, impact-induced energy propagates in the robot’s linkage and may cause irreversible damage to the hardware. Moreover, abrupt changes in task-space contact velocity and peak impact forces also result in abrupt changes in robot joint velocities and torques; which can compromise controllers’ stability, especially for those based on smooth models. In reality, several tasks would require establishing contact with moderately high velocity. We propose to enhance task-space multi-objective controllers formulated as a quadratic program to be resilient to frictional impacts in three dimensions. We devise new constraints and reformulate the usual ones to be robust to the abrupt joint state changes mentioned earlier. The impact event becomes a controlled process once the optimal control search space is aware of: (1) the hardware-affordable impact bounds and (2) analytically computed feasible set (polyhedra) that constrain post-impact critical states. Prior to and nearby the targeted contact spot, we assume, at each control cycle, that the impact will occur at the next iteration. This somewhat one-step preview makes our controller robust to impact time and location. To assess our approach, we experimented its resilience to moderate impacts with the Panda manipulator and achieved swift grabbing tasks with the HRP-4 humanoid robot.
Life next to a landfill: urban marginality, environmental injustice and the Roma
Authors: Škobla Daniel , Filčák Richard
Published: October 2023

The site known as Lipnica is a segregated Roma settlement built on the edge of a municipal landfill in the district town of Turčany, central Slovakia (fictitious names have been used for the site and the town). The settlement emerged as a result of processes rooted in neoliberal economic restructuring, accompanied by a sharp rise in unemployment in the 1990s. The settlement was originally built to provide temporary housing for those who were in arrears for rent in municipal flats, and originally consisted of one apartment building and several modular cabins. In the following years it expanded, and today it is an ethnic quasi-ghetto for approximately 400 Roma inhabitants. From a theoretical perspective, an analysis of the Lipnica settlement is situated at the intersection of critical race theory and environmental justice theory. In this article, we describe the trajectory leading to the formation of the settlement and analyse how the impoverishment of the Roma, coupled with the construction of the community as ‘maladjusted’ anti-social others, facilitated their spatial exclusion. We conclude that the case demythologises culturising explanations for the emergence of Roma settlements, by using empirical data to show how Lipnica developed as a result of intentional discriminatory policies of the local ruling class used against an ethnic minority.
Reimagining landscape: Materiality, decoloniality, and creativity
Authors: Mason Olivia , Riding James
Published: October 2023

Geographers have been engaging with landscape since the beginning of the modern discipline of geography. A series of concurrent turns have taken place in human geography in recent years that are influencing the ways in which geographers approach landscape. We take forward new material, decolonial, and creative shifts in the discipline to reimagine landscape. Landscape is a geographical concept that has historically excluded a range of other voices and perspectives. To build a radically inclusive agenda for landscape research in geography, we put forward a generative conceptualisation of landscape that brings together (i) materiality; (ii) decoloniality; and (iii) creativity.
Prognostic and immunological role of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 in human tumors: A pan-cancer analysis
Authors: Kuang Yong , Feng Jiahao , Jiang Yuhong , Jin Qianqian , Wang Qi , Zhang Changhua , He Yulong
Published: October 2023

Acetaldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) 1B1 is associated with a poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and osteosarcoma. Overexpression of ALDH also impairs tumor immunity. However, it is unclear how ALDH1B1 is associated with patient prognosis and immune infiltration in different cancer types. This is an original research based on bioinformatics analysis. In this study, we investigated the expression and prognostic value of ALDH1B1 in pan-cancer specimens using several databases, including GEPIA2 and Kaplan–Meier Plotter. The GEPIA2 and TIMER2 databases were used to explore correlations between ALDH1B1 expression and immune infiltration in cancers, especially head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). Finally, the expression of ALDH1B1 was validated by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The expression of ALDH1B1 differed in most cancers compared to normal tissue controls. ALDH1B1 has an important impact on the prognosis different cancer types, and the high expression of ALDH1B1 is inversely associated with survival in patients with HNSC. A significant positive correlation was identified between ALDH1B1 expression in HNSC and immune infiltration. The poor prognosis associated with high expression of ALDH1B1 may be related to the promotion of M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. Furthermore, markers of immune cell infiltration, such as exhausted T cells and regulatory T cells showed different patterns of ALDH1B1-associated immune infiltration. ALDH1B1 can serve as a prognostic biomarker in pan-cancer types and is correlated with immune infiltration.
A Summary of Relevant Demographic Characteristics of Multiple-Baseline Designs Targeting Academic Skills
Authors: Van Norman Ethan R. , Klingbeil David A. , Boorse Jaclin , Sturgell Adelle K.
Published: October 2023

Educators are required to use evidence-based practices to support student development of academic skills. Results from single-case experimental designs are well suited for this purpose and may be more flexible for applied use than group-based designs. However, educators also require information about which interventions work for whom and under what conditions. Although previous reviews of single-case experimental designs exist, most focused on design characteristics related to internal validity. The purpose of this U.S. study was to determine the participant characteristics within multiple-baseline and multiple-probe across participant designs targeting academic skills. Representation of various demographic subgroups differ between studies targeting different academic skill areas (mathematics, reading, and writing). However, reporting was often inconsistent, with a substantial proportion of records omitting information about participants’ race/ethnicity, economic status, and English learner status. This finding was divergent from best practice recommendations. Implications for future research are discussed within the context of the study’s limitations.
Who Gets the Credit for Success and the Blame for Failure? On the Links Between Narcissism and Self- and Group-Serving Biases
Authors: Kraft Livia , Zimmermann Johannes , Schmukle Stefan C , Czarna Anna Z , Sekerdej Maciej , Dufner Michael
Published: October 2023

People often attribute success to themselves and failure to others. Past research indicates that this tendency toward self-serving attributions is pronounced among individuals high in trait narcissism. The aim of this registered report was to re-visit the link between narcissism and self-serving attributions by studying attributions in a group context and by distinguishing between two major dimensions of grandiose narcissism, admiration, and rivalry. We conducted a group study, ( N = 422 participants nested in 54 groups), in which participants of each group were randomly assigned to one of two teams which then engaged in an intergroup competition. In line with our hypotheses, admiration predicted the tendency to take personal credit for success. Contrary to our hypotheses, rivalry did not uniquely predict the tendency to blame others for failure. Instead, admiration uniquely predicted the tendency to attribute negative team outcomes to unfairness of the competing outgroup. Explorative analyses further revealed that both admiration and rivalry were associated with the tendency to attribute negative, rather than positive, team outcomes to chance. Taken together, the findings indicate that narcissism goes along with an increased propensity for self-serving attributions in competitive intergroup settings and that this tendency is mainly driven by the admiration dimension.
Improvement on the wire EDM characteristics of zirconia filled Al7050 (Al-Zn-Cu-Mg) alloy composite using Taguchi coupled TOPSIS method
Authors: Ezhilan M. , Kailainathan S. , Alagarsamy S.V. , Deepak D.
Published: October 2023

Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is an cutting edge non-traditional techniques for producing complicated 3D forms in rigid materials with greater dimensional accuracy. The aim of the investigation was, to predict the WEDM characteristics of ZrO2 ceramic addition of Al7050 alloy composite by employing Taguchi coupled Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach. The work material was manufactured by stir casting process utilizing 12 wt.% of ZrO2 particulates in Al7050 alloy matrix. The experimental work was carried out as per the L9 (33) orthogonal array design by taking input parameters like pulse current ( Ip), pulse on-time ( Ton) and pulse off-time ( Toff), respectively. The impact of the WEDM parameters on the material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) were determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Based on the TOPSIS approach, the higher MRR (0.32251 g/min) with lesser SR (3.982 µm) were achieved at the ‘ Ip’ of 25 amps, ‘ Ton’ of 115 µs and ‘ Toff’ of 60 µs. ANOVA results explored that the ‘ Ton’ was identified as the primary impact factor on MRR and SR, subsequently by ‘ Ip’ and ‘ Toff’ with contribution of 44.23%, 36.53%, and 12.16%, respectively. Moreover, the surface topography of the machined composite surface was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was clearly revealed the formation of surface defects such as craters, micropores, cracks and also the appearance of a recast layer on the machined surface.
Fluid-structure interaction and structural simulation of high acceleration effects on surgical repaired human mitral valve biomechanics
Authors: Khalili Omid , Asgari Masoud
Published: October 2023

Mitral valve dynamics depend on force stability in the mitral leaflets, the mitral annulus, the chordae tendineae, and the papillary muscles. In chordal rupture conditions, the proper function of the valve disrupts, causing mitral regurgitation, the most prevalent valvular disease. In this study, Structural and FSI frameworks were employed to study valve dynamics in healthy, pathologic, and repaired states. Anisotropic, non-linear, hyper-elastic material properties applied to tissues of the valve while the first-order Ogden model reflected the best compatibility with the empirical data. Hemodynamic blood pressure of the cardiovascular system is applied on the leaflets as uniform loads varying by time, and exposure to high acceleration loads imposed on models. Immersed boundary method used for simulation of fluid in a cardiac cycle. In comparison between healthy and pathologic models, stress values and chordal tensions are increased, by nearly threefold and twofold, respectively. Stress concentration on leaflets is reduced by 75% after performing a successful surgical repair on the pathological model. Crash acceleration loads led to more significant stress and chordae tension on models, by 27% and 23%, respectively. It is concluded that a more sophisticated model could lead to a better understanding of human heart valve biomechanics in various conditions. If a preoperative plan is developed based on these modeling methods, the requirement for multiple successive repairs would be eliminated, operative times are shortened, and patient outcomes are improved.
Identify the influences of systemic lupus erythematosus on acquired ADAMTS13-deficient thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura using comprehensive bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Zhang Jian
Published: October 2023

Background

The association between acquired ADAMTS13-deficient thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been studied; however, the underlying molecular causes remain poorly understood. This research aimed to employ bioinformatics approaches to elucidate potential molecular mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of SLE and aTTP.

Material and methods

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database yielded GSE121239 and GSE36418 to get mutual different expression genes (DEGs). Subsequently, DEGs were subjected to process Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Then, the DEGs were used for protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis and screened for hub genes and drugs by the DGIDB drug database.

Results

A total of 87 DEGs between the SLE and TTP datasets were identified. In the GO and KEGG analyses, DEGs were mainly enriched in the “regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II” and “signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells.” After a PPI analysis, three hub genes (BMPR2, SMAD5, and ATF2) were identified. Finally, two drugs targeted to ATF2 were predicted by the DGIDB drug database.

Conclusions

Three core genes were linked to the molecular pathogenesis of SLE and aTTP, and two drugs may be viable treatments for both diseases.
Resourcefulness Enactment: The Sensemaking Process Underpinning Resourceful Actions
Authors: Fisher Greg
Published: October 2023

Prior research highlights how entrepreneurs depend on resourceful actions to overcome constraints in value-creation situations. Yet, most resourcefulness research has examined its external manifestations. To complement this, I examine the cognitive and embodied sensemaking process that underpins resourceful actions. Using an autoethnography of a 1430-mile mountain bike ride across South Africa, I distill a microfoundational sensemaking perspective underpinning resourcefulness, highlighting how actors who confront resource-constrained situations find creative ways to overcome such constraints to move forward in their endeavors. Furthermore, I specify how resourcefulness is impacted by priming, learning, and contagion within a challenging context.
Advanced Cancer in Young Adults (YAs): Living in a Liminal Space
Authors: Avery Jonathan , Campbell Kristin L. , Mosher Pamela , Al-Awamer Ahmed , Goddard Karen , Edwards Annemarie , Burnett Laura , Hannon Breffni , Gupta Abha , Howard A. Fuchsia
Published: October 2023

Young adults (YAs), defined as individuals between the ages of 18 and 39 years, experience unique challenges when diagnosed with advanced cancer. Using the social constructivist grounded theory approach, we aimed to develop a theoretical understanding of how YAs live day to day with their diagnosis. A sample of 25 YAs (aged 22–39 years) with advanced cancer from across Canada participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings illustrate that the YAs described day-to-day life as an oscillating experience swinging between two opposing disease outcomes: (1) hoping for a cure and (2) facing the possibility of premature death. Oscillating between these potential outcomes was characterized as living in a liminal space wherein participants were unsure how to live from one day to the next. The participants oscillated at various rates, with different factors influencing the rate of oscillation, including inconsistent and poor messaging from their oncologists or treatment team, progression or regression of their cancer, and changes in their physical functioning and mental health. These findings provide a theoretical framework for designing interventions to help YAs adapt to their circumstance.
Couple-Oriented Interventions for Mental Health: A Scoping Review
Authors: Gil Minji , Kim Suk-Sun , Kim Daeun , Han Hyunmin , Lim Boram , De Gagne Jennie C.
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this research was to systematically examine and collate evidence on couple-oriented interventions for mental health to identify trends in the literature, review research strategies, and suggest directions for future research. A systematic search included studies relating to couple-oriented interventions for preventing mental disorders and/or promoting mental health. We identified a total of 52 studies, which included 55 articles. Our findings revealed that interventions were delivered through various modes, including face-to-face, telephone, and online, with the majority of couple-oriented interventions operating in conjoint sessions. The most common intervention was for selective prevention, targeting patients with cancer and their partners. This review provided evidence of the applicability of theoretical frameworks, dyad analysis, and measurements associated with couple-oriented interventions. Findings can help family nurse practitioners and health care professionals advance strategies to develop and implement evidence-based, couple-oriented interventions for primary prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.
Multi-objective parameter optimization of electromagnetic shunt damper for high-Temperature superconducting maglev vehicle system
Authors: Huang Yuxing , Li Haitao , Chen Kang , Deng Zigang
Published: October 2023

High-temperature superconducting pinning maglev technology has great potential for high-speed transportation due to its passive stability and friction-free characteristics. However, at high speeds, the weak damping characteristics of the system make it challenging to attenuate system vibrations caused by external excitation effectively. An electromagnetic shunt damper can be added to the high-temperature superconducting vehicle system to address this challenge. However, due to the complexity of the high-temperature superconducting vehicle system and external excitation, it is challenging to determine the optimal electromagnetic shunt damper parameters through analytical calculation. This study proposes a method for optimizing electromagnetic shunt damper parameters based on the NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm. The high-temperature superconducting vehicle dynamic simulation model with electromagnetic shunt damper is established, and the dynamic simulation is carried out according to the actual operation conditions. Taking the dynamic indexes as the objectives, the optimal electromagnetic shunt damper parameters are then selected within a reasonable range based on dynamic indexes used as objectives in the NSGA-II algorithm. The effectiveness of the optimization method is verified through simulations and experiments on a levitation model vehicle with electromagnetic shunt damper under random vibration conditions. Finally, the optimized electromagnetic shunt damper parameters are applied to an engineering high-speed high-temperature superconducting pinning maglev vehicle through simulation. The calculation results demonstrate that various performance indexes are improved after optimization. This optimization design provides a reference for applying electromagnetic shunt damper in high-temperature superconducting pinning maglev vehicles.
Pornography Use and Sexual Objectification of Others
Authors: Bridges Ana J. , Willis Malachi , Ezzell Matthew B. , Sun Chyng-Feng , Johnson Jennifer A. , Wright Paul J.
Published: October 2023

Researchers have demonstrated associations between use of pornography and sexual objectification of women. We examine whether self-reported preference for degrading pornography moderated the relation between use frequency and sexual objectification of others. Participants were 1,342 heterosexual women and men residing in the United States. In women and men, pornography use frequency was associated with the sexual objectification of others, even after controlling for interest in generally explicit content. In men, interest in degrading pornography content significantly predicted sexual objectification of women. Our results suggest greater pornography use is associated with greater sexual objectification of others, across a variety of content categories.
Out-of-hours admissions in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and their primary management with steroids
Authors: Awan Sidra , Bharucha Pooja , Steventon Luke , Simpson Helen , AHMAD Tanya , Benafif Sarah , Shaw Heather , Chambers Pinkie
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is well described. However, the impact on emergency care services is not. This study investigated the incidence of irAEs out-of-hours, and the management used to mitigate symptoms and side effects.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study reviewed all emergency presentations triaged by the acute oncology team between December 2021 and June 2022, between 5 pm and 9 am. Patients were identified from triage audit sheets and remaining data points were retrieved from electronic health records. Inclusion criteria included all adult patients admitted on an ICI at one tertiary centre.

Results

In 7 months, 970 patients called the acute oncology helpline 11% (n = 109) of patients were on an ICI treatment. After clinical review, 78% (n = 70) resulted in hospital admissions, with length of stay cumulating to 496 bed days. 56% (n = 39) of patients delayed reporting symptoms, ranging between 12 hours and 10 days from symptom onset to seeking support. 49% (n = 34) patients received steroids to manage suspected irAEs. Dexamethasone was the most common steroid used in 71% (n = 24) of patients, and variation was found in prescribed doses.

Conclusions

These results underline the urgent need to address patient and staff education on adverse effects related to ICI. Patients require a comprehensive understanding of the symptoms and importance of prompt reporting. Staff education on recognition and treatment management is needed to reduce variation in practice. Further research is needed to identify barriers in symptom reporting and focus on realtime reporting to reduce the out-of-hours burden on services.
Smoking Cessation Counseling in Practice: A Qualitative Analysis of Quitline Conversations in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Bendotti Hollie , Lawler Sheleigh , Gartner Coral , Ireland David , Marshall Henry M.
Published: October 2023

Telephone-based services are a practical and effective behavioral support for smoking cessation, yet no in-depth analyses of this counseling have been conducted. Understanding the general content of Quitline conversations can help to improve current practices and may inform future interventions. Therefore, we aimed to independently explore conversation themes, topics, and client questions during Quitline counseling sessions with Quitline clients in Queensland, Australia. A purposive sample of 30 recorded counseling sessions, completed between January and March 2019, were de-identified, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Seven themes, encompassing 35 topics, were derived from 26 initial calls and four follow-up calls: (1) Client details and building rapport; (2) Client history and motivation to quit; (3) Pharmacotherapy; (4) Behavioral aspects of quitting and relationship with smoking; (5) Understanding nicotine dependence and other important considerations; (6) Additional support and smoking cessation resources; and (7) Planning, goal setting and follow-up. Three themes emerged from 18 client questions including (1) Pharmacotherapy safety and contraindications; (2) Pharmacotherapy instructions and mechanism of action; and (3) Physiology of nicotine dependence. This is the first qualitative analysis of the content of Quitline counseling sessions in Australia. Counselors collect and deliver a breadth of information to provide tailored, evidence-based health care, while building rapport and trust. Findings may be translatable into personalized self-help interventions that are more accessible or appealing to people reluctant to contact Quitline. Harnessing educational opportunities regarding pharmacotherapy adherence and misconceptions can improve client confidence in the product and smoking cessation outcomes. Further research will map conversations to motivational interviewing and behavior change techniques.
On infinite group velocity in composite plates
Authors: Kuznetsov Sergey V
Published: October 2023

The analytical and geometrical conditions for the possible appearance of the infinite group velocity (IGV) points belonging to the dispersion curves of Lamb waves propagating in traction-free plates are studied by a combined method comprising Cauchy sextic formalism and the exponential fundamental matrix method. According to the obtained geometrical condition, the IGV corresponds to the coincidence of a tangent line to any of the dispersion curves with a straight line passing through the origin. The developed technique is demonstrated by applying to the analysis of Lamb wave dispersion in three-layered plates with a soft inner core.
Comparison of Body Composition Variables between Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients and Non-Operative Controls
Authors: Tangjittrong Sirinrat , Udomsawaengsup Suthep , Boonchaya-anant Patchaya
Published: October 2023

Background:

Since bariatric surgery results in massive weight loss, it may be associated with a disproportionate decrease in lean body mass.

Objective:

To evaluate body composition in post-bariatric surgery patients who had a successful weight loss at 12 months (>50% excess weight loss) with comparisons to healthy controls who were matched for age, sex and BMI.

Methods:

This is an observational analytic study using data from post-bariatric surgery patients who had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Patients who had percentage excessive weight loss (%EWL) >50% and achieved a BMI of <30 kg/m2 within 12 months after the surgery were included. Non-operative healthy controls matched for sex, age, and BMI (1:1) were recruited. The 12-month post-bariatric surgery BMI was used to match the BMI of the control subjects. A single bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (Inbody 770) machine was used for the entire study.

Results:

Sixty participants were included in this study. There are 30 post-bariatric surgery patients (female n = 19, male n = 11) and 30 non-operative controls (female n = 19, male n = 11). The 12-month post-bariatric surgery patients had lower percentage of body fat (PBF) (30.6% vs 35.9%, P-value .001) and trunk fat mass (10.3 vs 12.4 kg, P-value .04) than non-operative controls. The 12-month post-bariatric surgery patients also were found to have more soft lean mass (SLM) (47.7 vs 39.9 kg, P-value .001), fat free mass (FFM) (51.1 vs 42.3 kg, P-value .001), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (27.5 vs 23 kg, P-value .003), and trunk lean mass (21.2 vs 19 kg, P-value .02).

Conclusion:

Despite the significant reductions in all body composition variables in post-bariatric surgery patients at 12-month follow-up, both fat free mass and skeletal muscle mass were found to be higher in the surgical patients compared to the control group.

Clinical trials:

Thai Clinical Trials Registry, https://thaiclinicaltrials.org/ ID:TCTR20200223003
Theorizing a way out of reformist reforms: Gladue reports and penal abolition
Authors: Oudshoorn Judah
Published: October 2023

One of the central concerns of abolitionists is not falling into the trap of implementing reforms in the criminal punishment system that maintains hegemonic, oppressive power structures. The challenge is determining which reforms lead toward abolition and which are reformist reforms, entrenching the status quo. This critical, narrative study analyzed a reform in Canada, Section 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code (e.g., Gladue), intended to remediate systemic anti-Indigenous racism at sentencing by requiring judges to consider all alternatives to incarceration when sentencing Indigenous peoples. Yet despite the reform in place, Indigenous incarceration rates continue to rise precipitously in Canada. How is it that the Canadian state, even when claiming “remediation,” keeps producing the same—oppressive—result toward Indigenous peoples? Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with judges from the Ontario Court of Justice ( n = 12) and Gladue report writers ( n = 9) about the utility of Gladue reports. The findings indicate that Gladue is mostly a reformist reform. The article theorizes that a way out of the reformist reform of Gladue, toward abolition, is through honoring Indigenous self-determination and providing reparations in support of Indigenous-led justice.
Majoritarian and consensual patterns in political news: A longitudinal British-Dutch study of expressions of media logic (2000-2020)
Authors: Ergün Erkan , Karsten Niels , Hendriks Frank
Published: October 2023

Much of the mediatization literature argues that the increased occurrence of expressions of media logic in political news coverage is driven by supranational factors including marketization, and postulates that contextual factors such as the national democratic model can explain the marked variations between countries. However, the relationship between such structural conditions and the occurrence of media-content elements in news coverage remains underexplored. In response, we compare the incidences of seven content expressions of media logic across a classic majoritarian democracy (UK) and a classic consensual democracy (the Netherlands). Innovatively, we additionally incorporate the dynamic political constellation of the two national governments. Our logistical regression analysis of 1463 newspaper articles shows that, as expected, these content expressions of media logic occur more often under majoritarian than under consensual styles of government. Our results further reveal that the political constellation of national governments offers a more refined explanation for how coverage behaves than the less dynamic variable of adopted democratic model.
Thematic analysis of observed interviewer misbehaviours: An audit approach
Authors: Neo Loo Seng , Tan Kelly , Tan Heng Hong , Teo Edrea , Ng Lay Ling , Tan Wei Liang
Published: October 2023

While survey research has expanded rapidly in recent times, little scholarly work has examined interviewer misbehaviour. Inspired by audit principles, this paper aims to identify themes of misbehaviours associated with interviewing. Using thematic analysis, it provides exploratory insights into misbehaviours vis-à-vis audit reports prepared by auditors through their observations of interviewers administering face-to-face surveys. 398 audit reports were reviewed and scrutinised for depictions of misbehaviour, and a total of eight themes were derived. These themes were then aggregated into three domains: issues with asking questions (78%), issues with probing answers (16%), and issues with conduct (5%). Analysis of the themes reveals behavioural patterns that point to actionable areas that researchers and market research agencies can adopt to curb misbehaviour. The findings are also discussed with respect to the utilisation of the audit perspective in deepening our understanding of interviewers and their behaviours.
The work of repair: land, relation, and pedagogy
Authors: Bruno Tianna , Curley Andrew , Gergan Mabel Denzin , Smith Sara
Published: October 2023

Geographers center space and place in our understanding of power, arguing that relationships to place matter, that space is a result of power relations, and that how we represent the world makes the world. But to what extent do we turn these methods of analysis to understanding our relations to the land beneath our feet? We consider the experience and limits of repair across four sites, approaching land and place-making as political and cultural practices that orient us toward action and building relations. In this plenary lecture, furthering land-as-pedagogy, work on Black place-making and the afterlives of slavery we propose that geographers take up more seriously and more materially, the work of repair. We are bound up in institutions that stole land from Indigenous peoples, benefitted from enslaved peoples, and built a world of knowledge that shored up the logics and tools of empire; moreover, we must grapple with the afterlives of these practices in their extractive relations to people and land both near and far. As geographers, we can and should be pushing for different kinds of partnerships with the Native nations whose land we are on, toward reparations in the form of material redistribution and restructured power structures, and toward better relations with all workers at our institutions as well. We have an uneven responsibility to devote not only words but also resources and labor to understanding what justice and repair might look like in our fieldsites, discipline, and in our home institutions. We discuss examples of this in our work and at our institutions, propose guiding questions, and invite geographers to reflect on how to do the material work of repair.
Analytic philosophy of education: Some suggested questions and directions
Authors: Norefalk Christian , Papastephanou Marianna
Published: October 2023

This article investigates whether there is any place for the school of thought that is known as analytic philosophy of education in the aftermath of postmodernism, and whether analytic philosophy of education can be treated as a ‘method’, among other alternative ‘methods’, that can be applied regardless of what kind of ‘-ism’ or ideology one embraces. An additional aim is to suggest some important questions for analytic philosophy of education to take into consideration. We argue that conceptual engineering may be a promising avenue for analytic educational theory if it is used with a critical intent that is more heuristic and inconclusive than prescriptively ideal.
Student Retention: An Integrated Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Campus Social Environment
Authors: Pitas Nicholas , Antwi Godfred , Haines Scott , Banerjee Priya
Published: October 2023

The goal of this study is to contribute to the significant body of research focused on student retention in higher education, specifically by integrating the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with measures of campus place attachment and campus social capital. Using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to analyze survey data collected at a mid-sized American college, our results show that TPB constructs (i.e., attitude toward major, attitude toward campus, perceived graduation-related norms, perceived behavioral control) were strong predictors of intention to re-enroll. Additionally, both emotional and functional institutional attachment significantly predicted TPB constructs, and bridging social capital significantly predicted campus place attachment. We discuss the potential implications of these results for both administration/policy and future research.
SWOT Analysis and Recommendations for Community Health Workers and Stakeholders Responding to COVID-19 Health Inequities
Authors: Zoschke I. Niles , Betancur Alejandro , Ehsan Sara , TenHaken Jill D. , Rahman Justin R. , King-Tezino Kim , Kramer-Najjar Megan , Bravo Carlos A. , Wilkerson J. Michael
Published: October 2023

Background. By 2023, 1,080,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Harris County. Systemic inequity and vaccine hesitancy have contributed to COVID-19 disparities. Community Health Workers provide health education and instrumental support to alleviate health disparities among vulnerable communities. We conducted an analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis in June 2022 among a broad coalition of Community Health Work stakeholders to better understand the local landscape in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. We recruited 33 community health workers and industry stakeholders in Harris County, Texas, to participate in the SWOT analysis. Participants were asked to describe their opinions on the SWOT facing the Community Health Work landscape and then rank the outcomes of the analysis to prioritize action. Results. A total of 19 themes were identified. Weaknesses included lack of respect and resources for Community Health Workers and poor coordination and capacity among the workforce infrastructure. Limited funding and lack of appreciation for Community Health Workers were deemed important threats. Diversity and community connection were critical strengths, and strong education, training, and raising awareness for community health work were considered opportunities to overcome identified weaknesses and threats. Discussion. Increased funding, greater coordination, greater respect, and amplified training can improve capacity for Community Health Workers and, therefore, improve public health outcomes for respiratory illness and viral infections such as COVID-19. This analysis helps fill an important research gap on the topic Community Health Workers responding to public health crises with racially disparate outcomes.
Single-Center Experience With Inner-Branched Endograft for the Treatment of Pararenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Yazar Ozan , Huysmans Michaël , Lacquet Mathieu , Salemans Pieter B. , Wong Chun-Yu , Bouwman Lee H.
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

To report a single-center result of patients with pararenal aneurysms treated with inner-branched endograft.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective study analyzed prospectively collected data of patients treated with elective inner-branched endovascular aneurysm repair (iBEVAR) using an Artivion® E-xtra custom-made endograft. Primary endpoints were clinical and technical success after iBEVAR. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, target vessel patency during follow-up, aneurysm-related mortality, and freedom from reintervention.

Results:

Over a 56-month period, a total of 23 patients (19 men; 72.3±7.2 years) were treated with iBEVAR with a mean follow-up of 15 months. Technical success was achieved in 96% of procedures, incorporating 87 inner branches. Two (8.3%) intraoperative complications (target vessel dissection) were reported, without additional reinterventions needed. Two (8.3%) patients died within 30 days after initial procedure. One due to respiratory failure and the other from an ischemic stroke. During follow-up, 3 patients (13%) required reintervention, either to repair a type I or type III endoleak (n=2) or to place an iliac-branched device, that did not succeed during the initial iBEVAR procedure (n=1). Primary target vessel patency and freedom from reintervention during follow-up was, respectively, 98.9% and 87%. We revealed no aneurysm-related mortality. Overall survival was 78.3%.

Conclusion:

The present study confirms previous findings that iBEVAR on the Artivion® E-xtra design platform is an effective and safe procedure achieving high technical success rate in the treatment of pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Clinical Impact

Inner branched stent-graft configuration combines the benefits of FEVAR and outer-branched stent-graft technology. Implementation of inner branches in stent-grafts is gradually becoming more widespread for the treatment of aneurysms. This report supports the safe and high technical success rate of inner branched stent-grafts in treatment of pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.