bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Menus prescribed for diabetes management by Malawian referral hospitals are loaded with calories from carbohydrates and may worsen diabetes condition
Authors: Nkhata Smith G , Chibwana Gracian
Published: August 2022

Background: Management of diabetes demands reduction of carbohydrates and moderation of total calories, fats and protein to promote weight loss while controlling postprandial blood glucose. Hospitals prescribe menus to diabetic patients to achieve these reasons. Whether these menus provide meals that help improve diabetes outcome remains unknown. Aim: Therefore, this study assessed six menus from six different referral hospitals in Malawi. Method: We formulated three separate diets ( n = 3) encompassing breakfast, 10 am snack, lunch, 3 pm snack and super that a diabetic person would consume in a day as prescribed by each menu. We developed nutritionally adequate meals based on foods listed on the menu. We calculated, using the Malawi Food Composition Table (MFCT), total available carbohydrates, energy, protein, total fats, SAFA, MUFA and PUFA that each diet provides. We averaged the nutrient content from the three diets. Results: Menus from QECH and ST Joseph Mission Hospital provide significantly higher total carbohydrates ( p = 0.001), total energy ( p = 0.000) and fats ( p = 0.01) but contain similar proteins ( p = 0.761). The proportion of energy from carbohydrates for all the menus is very high and ranges from 68–81% while protein and fat proportions are lower and range from 7–16% and 7–20%, respectively. Conclusion: These menus have high propensity to increase postprandial blood glucose and promote weight gain that could be harmful to a diabetic person. All the menus deviate from a somehow recommended energy contribution of approximately 50:25:25 from carbohydrates, fat and protein, respectively.
The reflective practitioner in transition. Probation work during reintegration of probation services in England and Wales
Authors: Burrell Anne
Published: August 2022

This article evaluates the recent history of probation services in England and Wales. The author – currently working as a Practice Teacher Assessor in the Probation Service – considers the politicisation of probation, identified as one outcome of a rhetorical narrative to ‘act tough’ on crime and the impact of the New Public Management model of organisational accountability, its focus on performance and targets, and, arguably, the diminution of the professional role. Following semi-privatisation, and currently reintegration, of probation services, the article puts forward an argument for a realignment of practice, to focus on the supervisory relationship, professional autonomy, and the reflective practitioner.
The gendered weight of desistance and understanding the ‘love of a good woman’: Desistance emotional work (DEW)
Authors: Hall Lauren , Harris Lyndsey
Published: August 2022

Despite increasing academic focus on intimate relationships as positive influences on desistance, research has yet to examine the experience and impact of support provision for women who are intimate partners of desisters. This exploratory study draws on six in-depth interviews with partners of desisters to elucidate their experiences of support provision and the impact of desistance. This paper finds that women provide resources to their desisting partners, and that identities and agency can be strained through this provision. The desistance process entails an investment of emotional work and capital from intimate partners which is conceptualised in this paper as Desistance Emotional Work (DEW). Desistance research has not yet acknowledged the support needs of women who invest in their partner’s desistance, and so DEW should be considered further both theoretically and in policy and practice.
Management of acute diarrhea in the emergency department of a tertiary care university medical center
Authors: Jabak Suha J , Kawam Lamees , El Mokahal Ali , Sharara Ala I
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To examine the management of acute diarrhea in the emergency department (ED) of a large university medical center.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study over a 10-month period of adult patients (age ≥18 years) presenting to the ED with acute diarrhea.

Results

Data for 780 patients were reviewed; 101 met the exclusion criteria. Of the 679 patients with acute community-acquired diarrhea, 582 (85.7%) were discharged home and constituted the study cohort of mostly healthy adults (mean age: 32.5 ± 14.5 years). The rate of antibiotic prescription at discharge was 26%. Inappropriate use of antibiotics occurred in 28% of the patients. The presence of fever (odds ratio (OR) = 3.52), leukocytosis (OR = 1.72), and older age (OR = 1.16) were predictors of antibiotic prescription. Patients with dehydration, comorbidities, or bloody diarrhea were more likely to receive antibiotics. Microbiological studies and cross-sectional imaging were ordered in 12.4% and 11.7% of the patients, respectively, but provided very low yield (<10% for both) resulting in significantly higher visit charges. Inappropriately prescribed antibiotics at discharge resulted in higher charges in the ED compared with no antibiotic prescription.

Conclusion

Acute diarrhea management in our ED is suboptimal and does not adhere to practice guidelines, resulting in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, investigations, and cost.
Gross, histopathologic, microbiologic, and radiologic characterization of lesions associated with clinical lameness in a cohort of group-housed sows euthanized for lameness
Authors: Engiles Julie B. , Fanzone Nathan , Wulster Kathryn B. , Schumacher Justin , Pierdon Meghann K.
Published: August 2022

Lameness in sows is reported as the most frequent cause of early culling from commercial farms and results in reduced productivity, economic losses, and a negative impact on animal welfare. Osteochondrosis was reported as the leading cause of lameness in North American sows and, although more recent European studies report infectious arthritis as the leading cause, lameness in US production facilities using group housing for gestating sows has not yet been evaluated. This study’s aim was to characterize lesions associated with lameness in the appendicular musculoskeletal system of 26 sows euthanized for lameness using pathologic, radiologic, and microbiologic analyses. Of 178 total lesions, infectious lesions were most common (54%), predominated in distal limb segments (ie, at or distal to carpi and tarsi) and more often correlated with the clinically lame limb, whereas osteochondrosis and degenerative osteoarthritis predominated in proximal limb segments (ie, at or proximal to cubital and stifle joints) and rarely correlated with the clinically lame limb. The location and characteristics of infectious lesions, including mixed bacterial growth isolated from 22/22 orthopedic sites representing 19 sows with Trueperella pyogenes isolated in 16/22 (73%) of samples, suggest an etiologic component involving trauma. Radiography had a 70.6% sensitivity and 93.9% specificity for detecting infectious lesions affecting tarsocrural, antebrachiocarpal, and digital (ie, claw) regions combined. The frequency, type, and location of infectious lesions identified in this cohort of sows euthanized for lameness differ from previous reports, indicating the need for further investigation of the etiopathogenesis, earlier detection methods, and prevention.
Enhanced vection in older adults: Evidence for age-related effects in multisensory vection experiences
Authors: Murovec Brandy , Spaniol Julia , Campos Jennifer L. , Keshavarz Behrang
Published: August 2022

The illusion of self-motion (vection) is a multisensory phenomenon elicited by visual, auditory, tactile, or other sensory cues. Aging is often associated with changes in sensory acuity, visual motion perception, and multisensory integration, processes which may influence vection perception. However, age-related differences in vection have received little study to date. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate age-related differences in vection during multisensory stimulation. Nineteen younger adults and 19 older adults were exposed to rotating visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli (separately or in combination) at a speed of 45°/s inside a VR laboratory inducing circular vection. The size of the field-of-view (FOV) was large (240°), medium (75°), small (30°), or contained no visuals. Vection intensity and duration were reported verbally after each trial. Overall, older adults experienced significantly stronger and longer vection compared to younger adults. Additionally, there were main effects of FOV and sensory cues, such that larger FOVs and the presence of auditory and tactile stimulation increased vection ratings for both age groups. These findings support the idea that vection is a multisensory experience that can be elicited by visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli and demonstrates these effects for the first time in older adults.
Evaluating an Eco-Cooperative Automated Control System
Authors: Ahn Kyoungho , Du Jianhe , Farag Mohamed , Rakha Hesham A.
Published: August 2022

The paper evaluates an Eco-Cooperative Automated Control (Eco-CAC) system on a large-scale network considering a combination of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and battery-only electric vehicles (BEVs) in a microscopic traffic simulation environment. We used a novel integrated control system that: (1) routes ICEVs, HEVs, and BEVs in a fuel/energy-efficient manner; (2) selects vehicle speeds based on anticipated traffic network evolution; (3) minimizes vehicle fuel/energy consumption near signalized intersections; and (4) intelligently modulates the longitudinal motion of vehicles along freeways within a cooperative platoon to minimize fuel/energy consumption. The study tested the system using the INTEGRATION software on the Los Angeles (LA), U.S., downtown network for three different demand levels: no congestion, mild congestion, and heavy congestion. The results demonstrated that the Eco-CAC system effectively reduces vehicle fuel and energy consumption, travel time, total delay, and stopped delay in heavily congested conditions. However, different vehicle compositions produced different results. In particular, the maximum energy consumption savings for BEVs (36.9%) for a current vehicle composition occurred at a 10% market penetration rate (MPR) of connected automated vehicles (CAVs) in mild congestion, while the maximum savings for a future vehicle composition (35.5%) occurred at a 50% CAV MPR in no congestion. The system reduced fuel consumption for ICEVs and HEVs by up to 5.4% and 6.3% at a 25% CAV MPR in heavy congestion for current and future vehicle compositions, respectively. However, the system increased total fuel consumption by up to 4.6% at a 50% CAV MPR in no congestion for a current vehicle composition. The study demonstrates that the effectiveness of the Eco-CAC system depends on traffic conditions, including congestion level, network configuration, CAV MPR, and vehicle composition.
Profiles and Risk Factors for Teen Dating Violence in Spain
Authors: Valdivia-Salas Sonsoles , Lombas A. Sebastian , Jiménez Teresa I. , Lucas-Alba Antonio , Villanueva-Blasco Víctor J.
Published: August 2022

Teen dating violence (TDV) refers to a wide range of partner-directed harmful behaviors among adolescents. Since it was first documented in the 1980s, there is a growing interest in TDV due to its potentially devastating mid- and long-term consequences. Aiming at the early detection of TDV onset with prevention purposes, research has focused on the detection of typologies of perpetrators and/or victims as well as on identifying risk and protective factors for its occurrence. Research with Spanish adolescents, however, is very limited. To fill this gap, we recruited a total of 2,319 adolescents from different regions in Spain, out of which, 1,079 reported having had a romantic partner during the last year. These filled out measures of TDV (perpetration and victimization), school aggression, hostile and benevolent sexism, empathy, assertiveness, psychological inflexibility (general measures), and psychological inflexibility with prejudice thoughts. A cluster analysis revealed that adolescents could be divided into two clusters as a function of their TDV profile: Cluster 1, including close to 76% of the sample (boys and girls), presented low TDV perpetration and victimization; Cluster 2, including 24% of the sample (boys and girls), presented higher TDV perpetration and victimization. Regression analyses revealed that, as compared to those in Cluster 1, adolescents in Cluster 2 were more likely to be older boys who scored high in benevolent sexism, overt and relational school aggression, and personal distress, and low in behavior regulation skills, perspective taking, and practical personal ability. We discuss the implications of these findings for the design of evidence-based TDV prevention campaigns.
Individual and Situational Factors Influencing Active Behavior in Professional Video Conferences With Strangers
Authors: Reimann Linda-Elisabeth , Utz Sonja , Anderl Christine
Published: August 2022

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of video conferences in professional settings increased rapidly. Here, we examine how individual and situational characteristics jointly predict active behavior in video conferences (i.e., activating one’s webcam, small talk, contacting other attendees) between strangers. We focus on external networking as well as proactive and reactive online networking and social anxiety as individual characteristics and investigate how these interact with social norms (operationalized as proportion of other attendees using the webcam), in predicting our outcome variable active video conference behavior. An online vignette experiment with three conditions (social norms: 25 vs. 75% of other attendees using the webcam vs. offline) was conducted to analyze the self-reported likelihood of active video conference versus active offline behavior. Regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Results indicate that external networking is a positive and social anxiety a negative predictor of self-reported active video conference behavior. Furthermore, the likelihood of engaging in active (video conference) behavior differed between the three scenarios, with highest values in the offline scenario and lowest in the online scenario with only 25% of other attendees using the webcam. However, no interaction effects of social norms with social anxiety were found. Overall, the findings suggest that individual differences in networking tendencies and social anxiety and social norms influence active behavior in video conferences independently.
Influence of Career-Related Parental Support on Adolescents’ Career Maturity: A Two-Wave Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Chen Qishan , Zhong Min , Lu Liuying
Published: August 2022

Based on the career resources model (Hirschi, 2012), the current study examined the mechanism underlying the relationship between career-related parental support and adolescents’ career maturity by investigating the mediating role of future time perspective. In addition, the moderating role of core self-evaluation in the relationship between career-related parental support and future time perspective was explored. A two-wave survey was conducted with 225 Chinese middle school students. The results showed that career-related parental support positively affected future time perspective and career maturity. Moreover, future time perspective was found to play a completely mediating role in the relationship between career-related parental support and career maturity. Furthermore, the mediating effect of future time perspective was moderated by core self-evaluation; for higher levels of core self-evaluation, the mediating effect was more substantial. The results indicated that social and psychological resources could promote adolescents’ career development.
The microcredit mousetrap: A long way from fighting poverty in Mexico
Authors: Orozco Ramos Antonio
Published: August 2022

In Mexico microcredit has deviated from its original purpose of fighting poverty to oppress those whom it was supposed to help through high interest rates and over-indebtedness. There 42% of the population is poor, fighting poverty is paramount. Three decades ago, microcredit (which is different from microfinance), took root as a new, promising tool to help millions of people, who have historically been excluded from the traditional financial system, emerge from the grip of poverty. From the outset, microcredit usurped the place of microfinance in the fight against poverty, as it set aside the most effective financial tool: savings.
Integrated control of electronic stability program and active suspension system using a priority-weighting mechanism
Authors: Tan Bohuan , Zhang Bangji , Zhang Nong , Chen Yuanchang , Qin An
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a novel vehicle dynamic controller for coordinating the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and active suspension system (ASS) to improve the directional performance and roll stability of the vehicle. The controller consists of two levels. The upper level is responsible for monitoring system status, determining control objectives, and distributing the active forces. Also, a priority-weighting mechanism is proposed for model predictive control to generate an adaptive multi-objective cost function. Then, the distribution of active forces is obtained by solving a centralized optimization problem. In the lower level, the dynamics of the suspension actuators are taken into consideration in the control of suspension forces for the ASS, and the desired braking forces are achieved through braking torque control for the ESP. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is verified through numerical simulation by using a nonlinear full vehicle model. The simulation results show that the proposed dynamic controller can significantly improve the yaw and roll performance of the vehicle.
Tribological properties of TiSiVN coatings: The effect of the counterpart on the wear performance
Authors: Fernandes F , AL-Rjoub A , Yaqub TB , Ferreira F , Serra R , Cavaleiro A
Published: August 2022

Self-lubricant coatings are a subject of continual research and improvements. In this research, the tribological performance of TiSiVN coatings produced by increasing V concentration is evaluated. The coatings were deposited by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering in deep oscillation mode, and were tested against three different counterparts (Al2O3, stainless steel and Titanium). The wear mechanisms were identified and the tribolayer was characterized to correlate with different specific wear rates and friction coefficient values. The coatings tested against Al2O3 balls displays a polishing type wear mechanism with some material adhered to the film wear track surface. When V is added to the reference film, V-O formed on the wear track has a beneficial influence by decreasing the friction and the wear of the coatings. For stainless steel balls, the wear track displays a mixture of severe abrasion and adhesion wear. Enclosure of hard particles at the softer stainless steel ball is the cause for the severe abrasion of the coating surface. This harsh abrasion removes the V-O from the contact and consequently decreases the efficiency of reducing friction coefficient and wear when compared to the tests against Al2O3 balls. For tests conducted against Ti ball, a strong adhesion of the material to the counterpart is observed. The adhered material protects the coatings from wear by giving rise to similar friction coefficient values irrespective of the coatings’ chemical composition.
Development of adjustable landing struts for vertical take-off and landing vehicles
Authors: Huang Ming-Yang
Published: August 2022

For many Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicles, sloped landing surfaces have negative effects on their safety in the landing process. In this paper, a set of novel Adjustable Landing Struts containing actuators and absorbers are designed. The actuators can be used to change the attitudes of the landing struts relative to the fuselage of each Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicle, ensuring that all footpads of the Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicle touch the landing surface at the same time. Dynamic simulations and landing tests are performed to verify that the Adjustable Landing Struts can reduce the strut loads of the Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicle. Compared with conventional landing struts, the Adjustable Landing Struts not only reduce the peak loads of the absorbers but also enhance the efficiencies of absorbers. Landing performance shows that the Adjustable Landing Struts are suitable for different Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicles and landing surfaces in various landing conditions.
The Language of Social Touch Is Intuitive and Quantifiable
Authors: McIntyre Sarah , Hauser Steven C. , Kusztor Anikó , Boehme Rebecca , Moungou Athanasia , Isager Peder Mortvedt , Homman Lina , Novembre Giovanni , Nagi Saad S. , Israr Ali , Lumpkin Ellen A. , Abnousi Freddy , Gerling Gregory J. , Olausson Håkan
Published: August 2022

Touch is a powerful communication tool, but we have a limited understanding of the role played by particular physical features of interpersonal touch communication. In this study, adults living in Sweden performed a task in which messages (attention, love, happiness, calming, sadness, and gratitude) were conveyed by a sender touching the forearm of a receiver, who interpreted the messages. Two experiments ( N = 32, N = 20) showed that within close relationships, receivers could identify the intuitive touch expressions of the senders, and we characterized the physical features of the touches associated with successful communication. Facial expressions measured with electromyography varied by message but were uncorrelated with communication performance. We developed standardized touch expressions and quantified the physical features with 3D hand tracking. In two further experiments ( N = 20, N = 16), these standardized expressions were conveyed by trained senders and were readily understood by strangers unacquainted with the senders. Thus, the possibility emerges of a standardized, intuitively understood language of social touch.
Impact of interaction between financial development, urbanization, and energy consumption in China
Authors: Liu Xiaorui , Guo Wen , Feng Qiang , Wang Peng
Published: August 2022

Given the urgent need for China to reduce the growth rate of energy consumption (EC), the relationship between financial development (FD), urbanization (UR), and EC is directly related to the effectiveness of China's current ecological civilization construction. This study analyzes the internal relationship between the three from the perspectives of financial scale (FD1), financial structure (FD2), and financial efficiency (FD3) through the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation, impulse response, and variance decomposition of the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model. The following conclusions are derived. First, the results of the PVAR model show that when FD is measured with FD1, FD2, and FD3, each variable has path dependence, and the lag-phase-one term of each variable has a strengthening effect on itself. Second, based on the pulse response diagram, a positive response occurs after FD1 and FD2 give a standardized shock to EC, but a negative response occurs when FD is characterized by FD3. When FD is measured with FD1, a positive response occurs after UR gives a normalized shock to EC. When FD is measured with FD2 and FD3, there is a weak negative response. Third, the results of the variance decomposition show that the changes of FD, UR, and EC rely more on their own inertia. Although the impact of FD and UR on EC has an increasing trend, the impact is small. Therefore, local governments should rationally control the financial scale, optimize the financial structure, improve the financial efficiency, and strengthen the propaganda of energy conservation.
The prevalence of comorbidity in the lung cancer screening population: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Almatrafi Anas , Thomas Owen , Callister Matthew , Gabe Rhian , Beeken Rebecca J , Neal Richard
Published: August 2022

Objective

Comorbidity is associated with adverse outcomes for all lung cancer patients, but its burden is less understood in the context of screening. This review synthesises the prevalence of comorbidities among lung cancer screening (LCS) candidates and summarises the clinical recommendations for screening comorbid individuals.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews, and CINAHL databases from January 1990 to February 2021. We included LCS studies that reported a prevalence of comorbidity, as a prevalence of a particular condition, or as a summary score. We also summarised LCS clinical guidelines that addressed comorbidity or frailty for LCS as a secondary objective for this review. Meta-analysis was used with inverse-variance weights obtained from a random-effects model to estimate the prevalence of selected comorbidities.

Results

We included 69 studies in the review; seven reported comorbidity summary scores, two reported performance status, 48 reported individual comorbidities, and 12 were clinical guideline papers. The meta-analysis of individual comorbidities resulted in an estimated prevalence of 35.2% for hypertension, 23.5% for history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (10.7% for severe COPD), 16.6% for ischaemic heart disease (IHD), 13.1% for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), 12.9% for asthma, 12.5% for diabetes, 4.5% for bronchiectasis, 2.2% for stroke, and 0.5% for pulmonary fibrosis.

Conclusions

Comorbidities were highly prevalent in LCS populations and likely to be more prevalent than in other cancer screening programmes. Further research on the burden of comorbid disease and its impact on screening uptake and outcomes is needed. Identifying individuals with frailty and comorbidities who might not benefit from screening should become a priority in LCS research.
Co-prescribing of Central Nervous System–Active Medications for COPD Patients: Impact on Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalization
Authors: Sood Akhil , Kuo Yong-Fang , Westra Jordan , Sharma Gulshan , Raji Mukaila A.
Published: August 2022

Background:

Anxiety and chronic pain are common comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are frequently managed with benzodiazepines (BZDs) and opioids, respectively.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether different combinations of opioids, BZD, and their substitutes—gabapentinoids (GABA) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs)—are associated with lower risk of acute respiratory events in COPD patients with co-occurring chronic pain and anxiety.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study used a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries with COPD, chronic pain, and anxiety. Patients were grouped based on drug combination (opioid + BZD/Z-hypnotics, opioid + GABA, opioid + SSRI/SNRI, BZD/Z-hypnotics + GABA, BZD/Z-hypnotics + SSRI/SNRI, GABA + SSRI/SNRI, or ≥3 drugs). The primary outcome was emergency room (ER) visit or hospitalization due to acute respiratory events assessed up to 180 days following initiation of drug combination. Overdose secondary to central nervous system (CNS)–related drugs was also assessed up to 180 days following initiation of drug combination.

Results:

The drug combination opioid + GABA was associated with decreased risk for ER visit (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.61-0.87) and hospitalization (HR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.55-0.85). Opioid + SSRI/SNRI also showed decreased risk for ER visit (HR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.71-0.99). There was no significant difference in risk for CNS-related drug overdose among different drug combinations compared with opioid + BZD/Z-hypnotics.

Conclusion and Relevance:

Opioids in combination with GABA and SSRI/SNRI demonstrate relatively lower risk for acute respiratory events among patients with COPD and comorbid chronic pain and anxiety. The findings emphasize the need for multimodal management in this vulnerable population.
The Association Between High CHA2DS2-VASc Scores and Short and Long-Term Mortality for Coronary Care Unit Patients
Authors: Cheng Long , Kang Sheng , Lin Li , Wang Hairong
Published: August 2022

Background

The CHA2DS2-VASc score has been associated with the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and all-cause mortality in coronary care unit (CCU) patients.

Methods

The study was based on the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III database. CCU patients were divided into two groups according to CHA2DS2-VASc score: 0-3 (low risk)，4-9 (intermediate and high risk). The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and the secondary endpoints included in-hospital, 1-year, and 5-year mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) and sensitivity analyzes for the confounders were also performed. The restricted cubic splines flexibility model was used to demonstrate the relation between red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), platelet, white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin, phosphorus, glucose, potassium, sodium and 30-day mortality in the 0-3 score versus the 4-9 score groups after PSM.

Results

Among 4491 eligible patients, 988 patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc scores and 988 patients with intermediate and high CHA2DS2-VASc scores had similar propensity scores and were included in the analyzes. In the survival analysis, the patients with intermediate and high CHA2DS2-VASc scores were associated with higher 30-day mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02–1.20, P = .014], 1-year mortality [HR: 1.13; 95%CI, 1.06–1.19, P < .001], and 5-year mortality [HR: 1.13; 95%CI, 1.07–1.18, P < .001]. The interaction for 30-day mortality among subgroups was not significant between the 0-3 score versus the 4-9 score groups. The restricted cubic splines for 30-day mortality demonstrated an L-shaped trajectory for platelets and hemoglobin, a J-shaped trajectory for WBC, glucose and potassium, and a U-shaped trajectory for sodium, respectively (all nonlinear P <.001).

Conclusions

A high CHA2DS2-VASc score was an independent risk for 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality for CCU patients.
Team Functioning and Performance in Child Advocacy Center Multidisciplinary Teams
Authors: McGuier Elizabeth A. , Rothenberger Scott D. , Campbell Kristine A. , Keeshin Brooks , Weingart Laurie R. , Kolko David J.
Published: August 2022

The quality of teamwork in Child Advocacy Center (CAC) multidisciplinary teams is likely to affect the extent to which the CAC model improves outcomes for children and families. This study examines associations between team functioning and performance in a statewide sample of CAC teams. Multidisciplinary team members ( N = 433) from 21 CACs completed measures of affective, behavioral, and cognitive team functioning. Team performance was assessed with three measures: team member ratings of overall performance, ratings of mental health screening/referral frequency, and caregiver satisfaction surveys. Linear mixed models and regression analyses tested associations between team functioning and performance. Affective team functioning (i.e., liking, trust, and respect; psychological safety) and cognitive team functioning (i.e., clear direction) were significantly associated with team members’ ratings of overall performance. Behavioral team functioning (i.e., coordination) and cognitive team functioning were significantly associated with mental health screening/referral frequency. Team functioning was not associated with caregiver satisfaction with CAC services. Aspects of team functioning were associated with team members’ perceptions of overall performance and mental health screening/referral frequency, but not caregiver satisfaction. Understanding associations between team functioning and performance in multidisciplinary teams can inform efforts to improve service quality in CACs and other team-based service settings.
Understanding Violence Against Women in the Caribbean Through an Exploration of Men's Perspectives
Authors: Joseph Debra D. , Jones Adele D
Published: August 2022

Qualitative research with 60 males (16–80 years) from two Caribbean countries was carried out to explore men’s perspectives on domestic violence (DV). An inductive latent/thematic approach to data analysis supported by analytic software led to five key domains being identified: (1) meanings of violence; (2) patrinormative culture; (3) normalization of violence; (4) male victimization; and (5) blame attribution and empathy. Patriarchal values, together with childhood exposure to violence, were found to reduce empathic capacity and contribute to the normalization of DV. In addition, the minimization of male victimization and the lack of behavior-change support services for men were identified as contributory factors.
Conceptualising Bhāvana: How do contemplative Hindu traditions inform understanding emotions and well-being?
Authors: Pandit Shilpa Ashok
Published: August 2022

There are more than 150 (grand and micro) theories of emotion. Even as European phenomenological perspectives do mention self and agency, the mainstream discourse on emotion in psychology is quite limited in presenting a coherent theory of affective process. A key aspect of Euro-American theories of emotion is that, these theories are topographically flat, thus, unable to provide mechanisms of transformation of emotion relevant for well-being. In this paper, a theory-based framework for emotional transformation through understanding Indian concepts in āyurveda, yoga sutras and the nātya is discussed. Second, the paper proposes that it is Śānta (the Indian conceptualisation of peace) alone, that permits a substantive possibility to a radical re-emotion or experiencing and articulating well-being. The concept for a radical re-emotion is called Bhāvanā, indicating the possibility of conscious and radical re-creation and re-imagination of affective relationships with objects, concepts, processes and people in the world, re-orienting from the isolated ‘re-appraisal’, ‘self-regulation and control’ of emotion as discussed in the mainstream paradigm. The paper contends that these culturally relevant models educate and inform global psychology theory and applied practice.
Perspectives and feelings of refugee children from Syria and Iraq about places and relations as they resettle in Australia
Authors: Lawrence Jeanette A. , Kaplan Ida , Korkees Dina , Stow Mardi , Dodds Agnes E.
Published: August 2022

Refugee children's experiences are situated in specific places where they interact with significant people. They are not usually asked about their perspectives although they are social agents with distinctive perspectives and feelings about relationships and events. We investigated the perspectives of refugee children on their experiences of places and relations as they resettled in Australia after their families fled from violence in Syria and Iraq and transitioned through Middle Eastern countries. One hundred-and-nine children chose to work with a computer program in either English or Arabic. They sorted feelings associated with home, school, and where they lived before and rated being nurtured at home. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed five subgroups of children with distinctive patterns in their sorting of eight feelings for three places. Three subgroups had patterns of positive feelings about home and school. Two smaller subgroups had mixed, ambivalent feelings about either school or home. One subgroup was strongly positive, and two others were negative about before settlement. Subgroups identified on their sortings of feelings differed in their experiences of being nurtured, with positive feelings of places related to higher ratings of being nurtured at home. The study points to the importance of children's perspectives and feelings in how they interpret experiences with people and places and argues against assuming that refugee children are homogeneous in their experiences or perspectives.
Incidence of child maltreatment diagnosis in electronic health records of a large integrated healthcare system: 2001–2018
Authors: Negriff Sonya
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify the number of children (<18years old) with an International Classification of Disease (ICD) diagnosis code for child maltreatment each year from 2001–2018 and examine differences by age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Data were drawn from the electronic health records of children (birth to <18years old) who were members of a large integrated healthcare system in California. We calculated the incidence rate (1 per 1000 children) for each year from 2001–2018 separately by age groups, gender, and race/ethnicity. Adolescents (11–15years old) had the overall highest incidence of all ages groups. Females had nearly twice the rate of males for the past 5years. Lastly, for race/ethnicity Black children had the highest incidence and Asian children the lowest. The findings demonstrate that maltreatment diagnosis in medical settings may be underused. Understanding the trends of these ICD codes by demographic characteristics yields information that health care providers may use to both increase the identification and documentation of child maltreatment.
Removing a fishing hook from inside the nasal alar: The push through and cut off method
Authors: Mirzadeh Seyed Mojtaba
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Fishing can be problematic for the novice fisherman when the fishing hook sinks into the fisherman’s body. The hook can often not be removed easily because of its specific structure.

Case report

A 12-year-old boy had a fishing hook sunk into his nose after it was thrown towards his face; it inserted into the septum and right lower lateral cartilage of the nose due to inexperience in handling it by the victim.

Discussion

The hook was extracted through the ‘push through and cut off’ method with no damage caused to the lower lateral cartilage, septum and the nasal skin. Deep insertion of the hook in the sensitive areas such cartilage of the nose can cause an irreversible complication if erroneously manipulated.

Conclusion

This is the first report of technique of removed fishing hook with extra teeth from the nasal cartilage. Surgeon knowledge about the hook type and techniques of hook removal can help successful removal from the body without irreversible complication.
Constructing and negotiating the professional identity of ‘leader’ by suggesting and challenging improvement of professional practices: Deontics in a four-part sequential structure
Authors: Tranekjær Louise , Due Brian L , Nielsen Mie Femø
Published: August 2022

The paper contributes to previous studies of identity as locally and interactionally produced by pointing to some of the multimodal resources employed by participants to achieving, challenge and manage the professional identity of ‘leader’ in different workplace settings. We examine professional identity work in sequential environments where it provides a resource for handling the resistance to improvement displayed by another participant. We show how leader identity work gets embedded within a four-part structure of: (1) identifying a problem, (2) proposing improvements, (3) misaligning with others’ proposals, and (4) managing the misalignment. The paper is based on video ethnographic fieldwork and recordings of face-to-face institutional interaction at two different institutional settings in Denmark. The study provides insight about the role of identity work in the interactional achievement of institutional procedures.
Effect of processing parameters and heat treatment techniques on foaming properties of aluminium foam developed by friction stir processing route
Authors: Kumar Mandeep , Raj Singh Ratnesh Kumar , Jain Vivek
Published: August 2022

In the present research friction stir processing has been used to make the precursors. The substrate contains the foamable mixture in a pre-drilled hole and the processing has been done in the centre line of the hole. The developed precursors are then treated by two heating methods, i.e. furnace and microwave heating to produce foam. The effect of different process parameters like the number of friction stir processing passes, volume and composition of foamable mixture, and heat treatment techniques have been investigated. The porous aluminium foam has been found with pore size in the range of 0.24–1.35 mm with a proportion of pores between 41% and 56% with microwave heating, while in case of furnace heating, the pore size is in the range of 0.22–1.49 mm with proportion of pores in between 41% and 61%. Also, the results show that the foam developed in microwave heating is much faster than that of furnace heating.
Immortality of the soul in classical western thought and in Igbo-African ontology: A discourse in existential metaphysics
Authors: Ukwamedua Nelson U
Published: August 2022

In Orphism, through Pythagoras to Plato, the soul survives the death of the body. But for Aristotle it is the form of the body, and this makes its immortality unlikely, since form cannot exist without an individuating matter. Exploring synthesis, the soul is for Aquinas an incarnate spirit whose union with the body creates a unique union. This paper then employing the critical-analytic model argued that these traditions were quite myopic; and this informed the interrogation of another cultural position which is, the immortality of the soul in Igbo-African ontology. The intention is to brace the classical positions towards a holistic idea of the immortality of the soul. This is because, in Igbo ontology, there is no distinction between body and soul, as the attention is on man as a complete being, who at death experiences what this paper called ontological mutation.
An objective fabric pilling evaluation based on wavelet transform and Gabor filter
Authors: Chen Hanqi , Han Yonghua , Li Jingang , Bao Jia , Ma Chenxu , Sun Ziang
Published: August 2022

A new objective fabric pilling detection method is proposed for monochrome fabric without pattern. Firstly, through wavelet multi-resolution decomposition and reconstruction, remove the high-frequency noise such as fluff which is significantly different from the size of pills and low-frequency noise such as uneven illumination. After wavelet multi-resolution decomposition of fabric image, through analyzing the energy change law between each wavelet decomposition layer, and then the fabric is judged whether it is rough or fine texture. Then, according to the different color characteristics of fine texture and rough texture fabrics, the even symmetry two-dimensional Gabor filter with smoothing effect and the odd symmetry two-dimensional Gabor filter with edge extraction ability in different directions are selected for texture removal. Finally, fabric pilling parameters are extracted to realize fabric pilling grade evaluation. The main contribution of this method is: on the premise of removing the noise such as uneven illumination and fluff, on the basis of considering the different color change laws of fine texture and rough texture, using the directionality of fabric texture and the randomness of pills direction to effectively remove the texture noise, so as to improve the accuracy of fabric pilling grade evaluation.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Nutrition Among Physical Therapy Students
Authors: Moore Lydia , Snyder Kailey , Kyvelidou Anastasia
Published: August 2022

Similar to other medical professions, the field of physical therapy is transitioning from a reactive to proactive model of care. This holistic approach to practice largely includes physical activity but also includes the often-overlooked field of nutrition. The purpose of this research study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of nutrition in physical therapy students. Subjects included current students and recent graduates of doctoral physical therapy programs (N = 151). A cross-sectional mixed methods survey was disseminated to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. The survey consisted of 49 questions including demographic information, a nutrition knowledge test (NKT), and questions about attitudes and beliefs regarding nutrition. The mean NKT score of this sample was15.09 ± 3.33 out of 28 total points. Only 19.2% of total respondents agreed or strongly agreed with feeling comfortable counseling clients and only 2.6% agreed or strongly agreed that their nutrition courses adequately provided them with the proper tools to educate clients on nutrition. However, 60.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that an introductory nutrition course should be a requirement of any DPT education. Findings demonstrate a gap in knowledge of nutrition among physical therapy students.
Unpacking Qualitative Methodology to Explore Experiences of Mothers with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the UAE: A Thematic Analysis Inquiry
Authors: Lamba Nishtha , Van Tonder Angelique , Raghavan Archana
Published: August 2022

The current study provides a detailed description of the qualitative research design and methodology, used while exploring challenges and support structures experienced by expat mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United Arab Emirates. In-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were administered with 17 mothers recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Recurrent and relevant themes were generated using thematic analysis. Given there is a greater need for highlighting methodological rigor in qualitative research, we discuss steps such as a) using field knowledge to create an interview protocol, b) administering collaborative qualitative research, c) having strong eligibility criteria for participants, d) incorporating perspectives of multiple coders in the analytical process, e) being reflective and aware of one’s potential biases, f) enhancing interview protocol based on pilot interviews, g) and focusing on the quality of perspectives or information power instead of quantity of perspectives. Interpretation of findings and recommendation of evidence-informed guidelines incorporates strengths and limitations of the qualitative methodology utilized in the study.
Between pressure to act and framework for action – the actors in the German and Swiss vocational education and training systems in the face of digitalisation
Authors: Hippach-Schneider Ute , Rieder Elena
Published: August 2022

The governance of Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems in Germany and Switzerland is determined by a constellation of actors that has grown over many years. This constellation has long-term elements and at the same time it is a flexible system that is subject to constant pressure to change, just like the economic and social structures that support them. One driver of change in recent years is undoubtedly the so-called digitalisation, which has set in motion sustainable processes of change in companies, called Industry 4.0. These dynamic developments can lead to a change in the distribution of roles among the actors. An appropriate analysis contributes to highlighting the differences in the governance structures of the two systems. The article shows the relevance of the different legal frameworks for the actors’ options for action in the context of digitalisation and its consequences on the adaptability of the two VET systems. Furthermore, it points out some areas of conflict in the respective actor constellations.