bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravenous Drug Use‐Associated Endocarditis Leads to Increased Intracranial Hemorrhage and Neurological Comorbidities
Authors: Hoang Alex N. , Shah Varun , Granger Jessica , III David Dornbos , Youssef Patrick P. , Powers Ciaran J. , Tanweer Omar , McCullough Louise D. , Nimjee Shahid M.
Published: June 2023

Background

The United States is experiencing a rapidly increasing rate of opioid drug abuse. Intravenous drug use (IVDU)‐related endocarditis can lead to significant neurological complications with high morbidity and mortality. When patient care necessitates anticoagulation, the standards for radiographic screening and the risk for intracranial hemorrhage are not clearly elucidated.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients treated for infective endocarditis at a single institution from 2014 to 2018. Patients were grouped based in history of IVDU and their demographics and clinical predictors for intracranial hemorrhage were analyzed.

Results

A total of 351 patients met inclusion criteria for this study, of whom 170 patients (48%) had a history of IVDU‐associated endocarditis. IVDU was associated with an increased prevalence of intracranial hemorrhage (25.9% versus 13.9%;
P
=0.005), including intraparenchymal hemorrhage (12.4% versus 5.1%;
P
=0.012), subarachnoid hemorrhage (17.6 versus 4.4%;
P
=0.001), and cerebral microbleeds (14.1% versus 7.2%;
P
=0.022). IVDU was also associated with an increased incidence of infectious intracranial aneurysm (10.6% versus 1.8%;
P
=0.001) and brain abscesses (4.7% versus 1.1%;
P
=0.025). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of intracranial septic emboli (odds ratio [OR], 18.47 [8.4–40.250];
P
=0.001) and infectious intracranial aneurysm (OR, 12.38 [3.24–47.28];
P
=0.001) as significant predictive factors for intracranial hemorrhage after presenting with endocarditis.

Conclusion

The opioid epidemic has increased the incidence of infective endocarditis and resultant neurovascular complications. IVDU‐associated endocarditis is associated with increased hemorrhagic stroke and more frequent neurodiagnostic imaging.
LncRNA XIST Inhibits Gastric Cancer Progression Through the Wnt Pathway by Regulating the miR-30a-5p/SOX9 Axis
Authors: Gao Wei , Qu Fei
Published: June 2023

We aimed to investigate the impact of XIST on the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC). We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to determine the expression levels of XIST, SOX9, and miR-30a-5p in GC cells. Western blot assay was used to measure the protein
levels of SOX9, β-catenin, and c-Myc. We also performed MTT and transwell assays to assess proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to confirm the interaction between miR-30a-5p and XIST or SOX9.
We found that GC tumor cells express high levels of XIST and SOX9, which promote cell proliferation, invasion, and resistance to apoptosis. Specifically, we observed that XIST acts as a sponge for miR-30a-5p in GC cell line SGC-7901, while miR-30a-5p targets SOX9. SOX9 expression is regulated
by XIST via miR-30a-5p acting as a competitive endogenous RNA. Furthermore, we identified a miR-30a-5p/SOX9 axis that modulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that LncXIST interacts with miR-30a-5p as a competitive endogenous RNA to promote
GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis through the regulation of SOX9 expression.
Look Who’s Watching: Platform Labels and User Engagement on State-Backed Media Outlets
Authors: Bradshaw Samantha , Elswah Mona , Perini Antonella
Published: June 2023

Recently, social media platforms have introduced several measures to counter misleading information. Among these measures are “state-media labels” which help users identify and evaluate the credibility of state-backed news. YouTube was the first platform to introduce labels that provide information about state-backed news channels. While previous work has examined the efficiency of information labels in controlled lab settings, few studies have examined how state-media labels affect users’ perceptions of content from state-backed outlets. This article proposes new methodological and theoretical approaches to investigate the effect of state-media labels on users’ engagement with content. Drawing on a content analysis of 8,071 YouTube comments posted before and after the labeling of five state-funded channels (Al Jazeera English [AJE], China Global Television Network, Russia Today [RT], TRT World, and Voice of America [VOA] News), this article analyses the effect that YouTube’s labels had on users’ engagement with state-backed media content. We found that the labels had no impact on the amount of likes that the videos received before and after the policy introduction, except for RT which received less likes after it was labeled. However, for RT, comments left by users were associated with 30% decrease in the likelihood of observing a critical comment following the policy implementation, and a 70% decrease in likelihood of observing a critical comment about RT as a media source. While other state-funded broadcasters, like AJE and VOA News, received fewer critical comments after YouTube introduced its policy; this relationship was associated with how political the video was, rather than the policy change. Our study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the efficacy of platform governance in relation to state-backed media, showing that audience preferences impact the effectiveness of labels.
Clinicians’ views on cognitive assessment with Aboriginal Australians
Authors: Hindman Emily , Hassmén Peter , Orchard Abbey , Radford Kylie , Delbaere Kim , Garvey Gail
Published: June 2023

Background:

A shortage of standardised cognitive assessment tools for use with Aboriginal Australians is evident. Clinicians also miss the range of guidelines necessary to inform test selection and interpretation for all Aboriginal clients. This mixed methods study examines clinicians’ confidence, views and current practices when conducting cognitive assessments with Aboriginal Australian clients.

Methods:

Clinicians were asked about factors that influence their likelihood of using standardised testing in Aboriginal vs non-Indigenous Australian people. Twenty-one health professionals with experience conducting cognitive assessments with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians participated. Clinicians were presented with a series of different scenarios per the client’s level of education and language of origin via an online survey. Clinicians rated their likelihood and confidence using standardised cognitive assessment for each scenario. Open-ended questions captured clinicians’ views and information about their current clinical practices.

Results:

Clients’ age, education and language of origin influence the likelihood of clinicians’ use of standardised cognitive assessment measures with Aboriginal people. Overall, clinicians reported feeling only slightly more confident working with non-Indigenous clients than Aboriginal clients. Qualitative data indicate a lack of consistency regarding test selection.

Conclusion:

Clinicians expressed concerns about the validity of available cognitive assessment tools for use with Aboriginal Australians and the absence of evidence to assist decision-making. Cited barriers included language, educational attainment and cultural factors.
Addressing Driving in Acute Care: Perceived Relevance and Competence
Authors: Vander Veen April , Holmes Jeffrey , Tucker Patricia , Alvarez Liliana
Published: June 2023

Background. Recent legislation has expanded the responsibilities of occupational therapists regarding fitness to drive in the Canadian province of Ontario. To date, little is known about the practice of acute care occupational therapy with addressing driving, or how such responsibilities have affected clinical practice. Purpose. The objective of this study was to understand the relevance of driving-related knowledge areas to acute care occupational therapists and examine their self-reported competency for these areas. Method. Anonymous online surveys were administered to 41 occupational therapists working in acute care hospitals in Ontario. Findings. Therapists reported many driving-related knowledge areas are relevant to acute care practice yet consistently reported lower levels of competence for addressing such areas. Implications. Findings support the need for further competency development regarding driving-related practice in acute care. Occupational therapy curriculum and continuing education initiatives are avenues for capacity-building. Future research to identify effective competency development strategies is warranted.
Grounding Identity and Mission in Catholic Universities: A Relational Approach
Authors: Gourlay Thomas V.
Published: June 2023

Since at least the 1960s, responding to changes both in the world and in the Church the project of Catholic university education in the United States and elsewhere has undergone a significant alteration in structure, and subsequently of its own sense of identity, purpose, and mission. Concerns about the integrity of Catholic universities both as Catholic and as university abound and have done for some time.

Providing a brief review of some of the existing literature, this paper argues that the contemporary discussion regarding identity and mission for Catholic colleges and universities suffers from a decidedly modern inability to the address first order questions. This failure to properly treat questions pertaining to metaphysics render Catholic institutions of higher learning locked within the superficial plane in terms of how they address their own sense of identity and mission.

In response to this, this paper argues that there exists within the Catholic tradition adequate metaphysical richness that can and should more faithfully ground the essence of the Catholic college or university. Drawing on the metaphysical work of such figures as David L. Schindler and others, the author argues that a relational ontology, characterized by an understanding of the metaphysics of gift can not only save the project of Catholic university education but is in fact central to its mission.
The ballistic and quasi-static puncture resistance of 3D fabrics impregnated with novel shear thickening fluids and modeling quasi-static behavior using artificial intelligence
Authors: Hai Tao , Alhomayani Fahad Mohammed , Kh Teeba Ismail , Chaturvedi Rishabh , Ali Masood Ashraf
Published: June 2023

The present study deals with the chemical modification of polyethylene glycol (PEG) based on shear thickening fluids (STFs) and their application to improve the ballistic impact and quasi-static resistance performance of 3D E-glass fabrics. The carrier fluid (PEG 200) was modified with two different agents, oxalic acid and glutaric acid. The modified PEGs were then characterized by FTIR analysis. The rheological analysis of modified STF using glutaric (G/STF) and oxalic acid (O/STF) showed an improvement in peak viscosity by 10.33 and 3.28 times compared to pure STF (P/STF), respectively. Moreover, PEG modification resulted in higher chain length and a higher number of hydrophilic functional groups, representing superior media-particle interaction through abundant H-bonding. As a result of improved viscosity, the ballistic resistance and quasi-static performance of modified STF-treated fabrics were enhanced compared to that of P/STF-treated fabrics. A two-step artificial intelligence regression analysis was performed to predict quasi-static puncture resistance at different puncture speeds. The results showed a strong correlation between the load-deformation behavior and the loading speed.
Imperial Ruin and Military Waste on Johnston Atoll
Authors: Patel Rohini
Published: June 2023

In 1970, the United States military was ordered to halt the use of herbicides in the Vietnam War. The suspension pre-empted a series of considerations by the military to determine what to do with the millions of gallons of surplus herbicides, such as Agent Orange, White, and Blue. In 1972, in response to a directive to return all Agent Orange stock to the continental United States for disposal, officials moved the herbicides to Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. In the 1980s, Johnston Atoll was slowly transformed into the site of the US military's first chemical munitions incineration facility. The military's use of the Atoll as a munitions waste site offers material and historical traces of the vast and continued global circulation of US military waste, how the military conceptualized the ‘destruction’ of such waste, and where it was deemed acceptable to house and carry out these attempts of waste removal. Drawing from primary sources including military scientific studies and correspondence, and situated within environmental justice and postcolonial science studies scholarship, I offer a reading of the Atoll as a place that was used to obscure, yet laid bare, several unattended histories and contemporalities of US empire.
Structural Change Through ‘Collective Action as Democratic Practice’: Linking Grassroots Democracy With Social Justice
Authors: Endo Chikako
Published: June 2023

Iris Marion Young argued that tackling structural injustices that arise from complex interactions requires collective, political action. Nevertheless, it remains unclear what kind of collective action leads to social justice and how. This article aims to fill this gap by developing the idea of ‘collective action as democratic practice’ that emphasises crafting democratic institutions from the bottom-up to re-orient structural processes in ways that resist oppression and domination. This departs from Young’s own account of collective action as engaging in communicative action to pressure powerful agents. It also departs from previous attempts to conceptualise structural change through the cumulative, rather than collective, actions of individuals changing their behaviours independently of one another. I argue that my approach is a more promising way to theorise collective action from a structural perspective. This approach has wider implications for understanding the outward-looking political potential of self-organised projects by citizens.
The impact of the monetary gold principle on the determination of jurisdiction in the mixed maritime disputes
Authors: Liao Boyu , Chang Yen-Chiang , Khan Mehran Idris
Published: June 2023

Mixed maritime disputes are maritime disputes that involve the concurrent consideration of any dispute concerning sovereignty or other rights over continental or insular land territory, which according to Article 298(1)(a)(i) of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, should be excluded from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal referred to in Article 287. However, by means of treaty interpretation or consensus of two parties, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and other Annex VII tribunals have increasingly broken through the limits to actively exercise jurisdiction. Judgements under the influence of this tendency will be firmly resisted by states whose sovereign interests are damaged. Moreover, these judgements will not only fail to resolve disputes, but will create more serious international law and international political disputes, such as the judgement on preliminary objections of Mauritius v. Maldives delimitation case. In this judgement, the Special Chamber of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea circumvented the Monetary Gold principle by citing the International Court of Justice advisory opinion and United Nations General Assembly resolution, which had no legally binding force. It is proposed that this judgement could open Pandora's box of challenges to general principles of international law and jurisdiction over sovereignty disputes. For States with mixed maritime disputes to resolve the issues mentioned above, it is necessary to respond to lawsuits actively, avoid adverse consequences caused by default judgements and reach regional consensus, and avoid unfavourable International Court of Justice advisory opinions and United Nations General Assembly resolutions.
Evidence as a Specific Knowledge to Inform Humanitarian Decision-Making in Migration Crisis Contexts: The Case of Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Authors: Promsopha Gwendoline , Tucci Ingrid
Published: June 2023

To fulfill their missions, humanitarian organizations are engaged in the production and dissemination of a specific form of knowledge about refugees—namely, evidence. Yet relatively little scholarly work has been done on evidence as a basis for humanitarian decision-making in refugee crises. In this article, we analyze the evidence produced on Syrian refugees in Jordan between 2012 and 2017 by humanitarian actors, its appropriateness and relevance, to assess (a) potential side-effects for refugees and (b) functions for humanitarian organizations. Drawing on 234 documents on Syrian refugees in Jordan collected on major humanitarian platforms and interviews with experts from international organizations, this article shows that, due to the type of evidence produced, Syrian refugees living outside camps are invisibilized and their needs might be less considered in aid projects. The article also shows that some evidence practices are related to the outsourcing of data collection and analysis to specialized actors, and to quantification and standardization of evidence that plays a part in consolidating the legitimacy of humanitarian organizations. Our results highlight the importance of considering this specific form of knowledge when studying humanitarian interventions in international migration and refugee governance.
Against Posthumanism: Notes towards an Ethopolitics of Personhood
Authors: Osborne Thomas , Rose Nikolas
Published: June 2023

Are we humans destined to become ‘posthuman’? In this paper, we question the claims of posthumanism, accepting some of its broader insights whilst proposing a more empirically and ethically appropriate ‘vitalist’ response. We argue that despite recent changes in styles of thought that question the uniqueness of ‘the human’, and despite novel technological developments for augmenting human bodies, we remain – fundamentally – persons. Humans, as persons, are constitutively embedded in and scaffolded by the material, social, semantic and cultural niches they have constructed for themselves. An ‘ethopolitical’ response to our present that recognizes this fact not only requires us to engage with the consequences of making lives in the unequal niches that restrict and stunt the personhood of so many human beings at present, but also requires us to broaden the bandwidth of those who are recognized fully as persons. In our conclusion we briefly develop the theme that this emphasis on personhood can be seen as a vitalist – rather than a humanist – stance.
Bourdieu, Lacan and Field Theory: Neoliberal Doxa in the Economic Field
Authors: Scott Tim
Published: June 2023

This article describes the conditions under which it is possible for neoliberalism to render itself invisible to the economic field that created it, allowing that field to define the discourse as a paranoid construction of the left. In addressing the issue, the text aims to extend the reach of Bourdieu’s field theory by infusing it with aspects of Lacanian psychoanalysis. This construction facilitates the use of the example of neoliberal economics to suggest wider principles of field functionality. It is suggested that the main purpose of any field is not the generation of new knowledge but the preservation of its doxa, which is protected by a series of self-legitimation strategies. In the example of neoliberal economics, the strength of these systems has allowed that field to close its eyes to the catastrophic failure of its knowledge.
Development of a new curriculum framework for children and young people with vision impairment: A United Kingdom consultation using the Delphi approach
Authors: Hewett Rachel , Douglas Graeme , McLinden Mike , James Linda
Published: June 2023

This article presents the research and development that underpins the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI): a new unifying framework that outlines the breadth of support that should be received by children and young people with vision impairment (CYPVI) in the United Kingdom (UK). The study used the Delphi method as a systematic process of participatory consultation with key stakeholders. Three rounds of consultation took place with a panel of 48 participants including young people, parents, professionals, and professional training providers. This process resulted in the agreed 11 curriculum areas of the CFVI with high levels of agreement and satisfaction among participants. The development of the CFVI responds to established evidence of the distinctive challenges to learning associated with childhood vision impairment, and the importance of addressing these through targeted intervention approaches. Drawing on a dual model of access (‘access to learning’ and ‘learning to access’), the framework acknowledges that these approaches should promote inclusive education by balancing universal inclusive practice with specialist skills-based interventions. Such an approach captures ‘what matters’ to the field of vision impairment education – ensuring fair access to a shared curriculum and education system while developing the specialist skills to develop personal agency and increase independence. The article is original in reporting on the development of the first curriculum framework for CYPVI in the UK. The CFVI was launched in March 2022 and provides clarity about what should be taught, when, and by whom. The CFVI promises a transformative contribution to UK policies and practice in ensuring CYPVI and their families will more easily be able to navigate complex education systems and secure equitable access to the services to which they are entitled.
Escalation from impella 5.5 to ECPELLA support as a bridge to mitral valve surgery in a patient with degenerative mitral regurgitation
Authors: Gregory Vasiliki , Grunfeld Matan , Kanwal Arjun , Bali Atul D , Pan Stephen , Spielvogel David , Kai Masashi , Ohira Suguru
Published: June 2023

Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is an important cause of acute heart failure and significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices such as Impella are readily used to hemodynamically stabilize patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) secondary to this valvular pathology. Impella can also be combined with VA-ECMO to an “ECPELLA” configuration if further escalation of hemodynamic support is needed. We report a case of a 57-year-old female who presented with CS secondary to a perforated anterior mitral valve leaflet and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy that did not stabilize with initial choice of Impella 5.5. She required further escalation from axillary Impella 5.5 to the combined ECPELLA configuration, which allowed hemodynamic stabilization and ultimately a successful high-risk isolated mitral valve replacement. Despite adequate Impella flow, escalation to a combined MCS configuration, such as ECPELLA, may need to be considered upfront for acute valvular insufficiency in the setting of pre-existing cardiomyopathy.
Digital-social construction of willingness to pay in online marketplace: Economic sociology of the digital functional food market in Indonesia
Authors: Fauzi Ahmad , Hardjosoekarto Sudarsono , Radhiatmoko Radhiatmoko , Herwantoko One , Darwan Darwan , Manik Ewina Efriani , Romli Zainur
Published: June 2023

This study explores the phenomenon of digital-social construction in the form of anonymous transactions, asymmetric information, and unlimited access in online marketplace. The study was conducted by processing digital data of 5131 comments, descriptions, and rating records of 1988 IDs of functional food products sold at Bukalapak, one of the largest marketplaces in Indonesia. Using Python and Google Studio software, digital-social interactions are mapped and visualized based on four conceptual frameworks of economic sociology, namely social embeddedness of market, product standardization, intersubjective construction of symbolic value, and willingness to pay. This study marks a new chapter in the study of contemporary economic sociology, in which conventional conceptual frameworks are applied to uncover digital market phenomena using research methods that fully process and analyze big data in the business field.
The role of risperidone in the treatment of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Pruccoli Jacopo , Bergonzini Luca , Pettenuzzo Ilaria , Parmeggiani Antonia
Published: June 2023

Background:

Current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5-based research provides limited data on the use of risperidone on children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) mainly in small-sample/case report studies.

Aim:

To report the use of risperidone in a group of children and adolescents with feeding and eating disorders, specifically with AN.

Methods:

Observational, naturalistic study. Psychopathology was assessed with Eating Disorders Inventory-3, Beck’s Depression Inventory-II, and Symptom Checklist-90-R. Data were reported for the whole sample, for patients treated with risperidone, and finally compared between patients with AN treated with risperidone and those receiving no atypical antipsychotics. Potential differences in admission–discharge changes in body mass index (BMI) and psychopathology were assessed with analyses of covariance corrected for baseline measures. Kaplan–Meier analyses were conducted to assess retention rates of risperidone (at 3 months and 1 year) and rates of rehospitalization on 1-year follow-up.

Results:

The study enrolled 120 patients with AN (42 treated with risperidone). Risperidone was used for 116.7 (±122.8) days (total exposure = 3979 days) and well-tolerated (nausea, asthenia in one case). No significantly different admission–discharge improvements for BMI or psychopathology were documented for patients treated with risperidone. Risperidone showed a 3-month retention rate of 50.0% (1 year: 9.5%) and was discontinued mainly for the resolution of target symptoms. Cumulative freedom from rehospitalization at 12 months was comparable for treated and untreated patients (hazard ratio = 1.088; Log-rank p = 0.908).

Conclusions:

This study reports real-life evidence of the use of risperidone in AN children and adolescents in the widest described sample so far. Longitudinal research should assess long-term prognostic factors and tolerability.
Effective method for upcycling construction and demolition waste into concrete: A life cycle approach
Authors: Mistri Abhijit , Ravi Sankar Cheela Venkata , Dubey Brajesh Kumar , Dhami Navdeep , Bhattacharyya Sriman Kumar , Mukherjee Abhijit , Barai Sudhirkumar V
Published: June 2023

Different property enhancement techniques have already been established to support upcycling of construction and demolition waste as aggregate in concrete. However, the most suitable and sustainable method is still unknown. Quality improvement of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) after any treatment method and its environmental impact is estimated using life cycle analysis (LCA). This article compares the environmental impacts of such treatment methods on RCA and aims to find out the most suitable method with minimum impacts. The functional unit of this study is considered the preparation of 1 tonne of treated aggregate (recycled), considering reduction in water absorption after the treatment. An LCA is carried out using the SimaPro software ( https://simapro.com/ ) followed by ISO 14040/44 guidelines. Based on the LCA environmental profiles, thermal treatment is the highest emission contributing removal method followed by mechanical grinding. In strengthening of attached mortar methods, accelerated carbonation process is the major emission contributing method followed by a specific microbial treatment. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the energy mix with a focus on renewable-based energy mix. The sensitivity analysis shows a shift on selection for the suitable treatment method and other possibilities considering renewable-based energy mix. A preliminary assessment and probable impact prediction could be conceptualized before the adoption of any treatment method on RCA for a particular location.
COVID-19 Infection Is Associated With Increased In-Hospital Mortality and Complications in Patients With Acute Heart Failure: Insight From National Inpatient Sample (2020)
Authors: Hashem Anas , Khalouf Amani , Mohamed Mohamed Salah , Nayfeh Tarek , Elkhapery Ahmed , Elbahnasawy Mohammad , Rai Devesh , Deshwal Himanshu , Feitell Scott , Balla Sudarshan
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Patients with acute heart failure (AHF) exacerbation are susceptible to complications in the setting of COVID-19 infection. Data regarding the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients admitted with AHF is limited. Methods: We used the national inpatient sample database by utilizing ICD-10 codes to identify all hospitalizations with a diagnosis of AHF in 2020. We classified the sample into AHF with COVID-19 infection versus those without COVID-19. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were acute myocardial infarction, need for pressors, mechanical cardiac support, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest. Also, we evaluated for acute pulmonary embolism (PE), bacterial pneumonia, need for a ventilator, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Results: We identified a total of 694,920 of AHF hospitalizations, 660,463 (95.04%) patients without COVID-19 and 34,457 (4.96%) with COVID-19 infection. For baseline comorbidities, diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure, ESRD, and coagulopathy were significantly higher among AHF patients with COVID-19 ( P < .01). While CAD, prior MI, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and peripheral vascular disease were higher among those without COVID-19. After adjustment for baseline comorbidities, in-hospital mortality (aOR 5.08 [4.81 to 5.36]), septic shock (aOR 2.54 [2.40 to 2.70]), PE (aOR 1.75 [1.57 to 1.94]), and AKI (aOR 1.33 [1.30 to 1.37]) were significantly higher among AHF with COVID-19 patients. The mean length of stay (5 vs 7 days, P < .01) and costs of hospitalization ($42,143 vs $60,251, P < .01) were higher among AHF patients with COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection in patients with AHF is associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, septic shock, and AKI along with higher resource utilization. Predictors for mortality in AHF patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 infection, patients with end-stage heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Studies on the impact of vaccination against COVID-19 in AHF patients are needed
Leading schools during a pandemic and beyond: Insights from principals in the Philippines
Authors: Adams Donnie , Namoco Sarah O , Ng Ashley Yoon Mooi , Cheah Kenny S.L
Published: June 2023

The Philippines is one of very few countries in the world where schools have continuously remained closed since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2019. There is little known about how school principals face the challenges that arise from the pandemic, and the future goals for the new normal. The purpose of this article is to explore the school principals’ management practices, leadership styles, challenges encountered, and future goals in response to the pandemic in the context of Philippine schools. This study employed a qualitative research approach using an open-ended online survey with 52 school principals. Findings rendered a contextualisation of their school management practices, leadership styles, challenges encountered during the pandemic, and future goals for the new normal. This study contributes to the knowledge base on school leadership during the pandemic by providing unique insights into the Philippines.
Influence of filler topology on the thermal transport of composite materials based on similarity principle modeling: A cross-scale simulation study
Authors: Liu Xiangyu , Ai Qing , Xu Jiazhe , Shuai Yong
Published: June 2023

The thermal conductivity parameter of the materials is a fundamental parameter for thermal design and study of heat transfer processes. In our study, we combined the homogenization theory based on the finite element with the thermal conductivity order-of-magnitude analysis and similarity principle, to construct structural models of fibers, spheres, ellipsoids, sheets, and interfaces, and establish the topology of intermingling and encapsulation of different structures. Combined thermal conductivity calculations of mesoscopic composites and microscopic interface models using finite element and molecular dynamics methods. The anisotropy model of thermal conductivity was established by coordinate transformation. Based on the numerical verification of the reliability of the method, the mechanisms of the influence on the thermal transport of composites were analyzed for parameters such as volume fraction of different structural fillers, structural shape, thermal conductivity ratio, thickness of highly thermally conductive coatings, and spatial orientation distribution. The results showed that the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of the continuous structural reinforced composite was mainly influenced by the volume fraction of the filler; the modulation of ETC with ellipsoidal particle structure form and distribution mode was comparable to the effect of changing the volume fraction modulation; the mutual fusion between ellipsoids randomly distributed in the plane could effectively enhance the heat transport effect of the composite, and as the volume fraction increased to more than 3%, the heat transport gain from mutual fusion was more obvious; spraying high thermally conductive copper coating on ellipsoidal particles could significantly enhance the ETC of the composites. The present work could provide reference for composites in terms of structural improvement and thermal performance enhancement.
Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism Among Commonly Prescribed Second-Generation Antipsychotics
Authors: Paulmann Rachel , Backe Kristen , Pinsonnault John , Humble Melissa , Kelly Kevin
Published: June 2023

Background: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are commonly prescribed medications used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. Recent data has correlated antipsychotic medications with venous thromboembolism (VTE). SGAs have diverse side effect profiles, which may contribute to differences in incidence of VTE. It is unknown which SGAs confer the most risk, and what the mechanism of increased risk is. Objective: Determine incidence of VTE in Veterans at Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System (VA-NTX HCS) between SGAs aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone. Methods: Retrospective chart review of adult Veterans at VA-NTX HCS between October 2015 to December 2019 prescribed aripiprazole, olanzapine, or risperidone. Results: Of 823 Veterans, incidence of VTE was lowest in aripiprazole group at .4%, increased to 1.7% in the olanzapine group, and was highest at 2.5% in the risperidone group. However, differences in incidence of VTE between SGAs were not statistically different, indicating no between-group differences. Conclusion: There was no difference in the incidence of VTE between risperidone, olanzapine, or aripiprazole. Given multiple limitations with this study, higher-powered studies should be conducted to investigate the possibility of differences in the incidence of VTE between the SGAs.
Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Later-Life Pain Outcomes: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Yang Yulin , Sims Kendra D. , Lane Nancy E. , Duchowny Kate A. , Torres Jacqueline M.
Published: June 2023

Objectives: This study examines whether perceived neighborhood characteristics relate to pain outcomes among middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Data were from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2014; n = 18,814). Perceived neighborhood characteristics were physical disorder, social cohesion, safety, and social ties. We fitted adjusted generalized estimating equation models to evaluate prevalence, incidence, and recovery of moderate-to-severe limiting pain 2 years later. Results: The mean age of our sample was 65.3 years; 54.6% were female and 24.2% reported moderate-to-severe limiting pain at baseline. Positive neighborhood characteristics were associated with low prevalence (e.g., prevalence ratio [PR]: .71 for disorder) and reduced incidence (e.g., PR: .63 for disorder) of moderate-to-severe limiting pain. Positive neighborhood characteristics were associated with a high recovery rate from moderate-to-severe limiting pain (e.g., PR = 1.15 for safety), though the 95% CIs for disorder and cohesion crossed the null. Discussion: Neighborhood characteristics may be important determinants in predicting pain in later life.
A retrospective study on 198 mpox cases in South Florida: Clinical characteristics and outcomes with focus on human immunodeficiency virus status
Authors: Kim Myeongji , Acevedo Martinez Elsa , Suárez Moscoso Nathalie P , Niu Jinali , Abbo Lilian M , Rosa Rossana , Cifuentes Renzo , Eckardt Paula A
Published: June 2023

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) were disproportionately affected by global mpox outbreak in 2022. In this retrospective review, we describe epidemiology and clinical characteristics of mpox infection in South Florida with a focus on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of 198 adult patients with confirmed diagnosis of mpox between 01 January 2020, and 10 September 2022, in two large health systems in South Florida. A descriptive analysis was performed to summarize demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and outcomes of the patients.

Results

Young male patients and PLWH were disproportionately represented among patients with mpox. HIV positive patients were less likely to have adenopathy and myalgia and were more likely to have oral or facial lesions. 22.7% of studied patients were diagnosed with one or more concurrent STI at the time of mpox diagnosis.

Conclusions

We suggest screening for sexually transmitted infections and HIV for patients diagnosed with mpox. We suggest prompt consultation or referral to infectious disease specialist if needed for the patients who are diagnosed with mpox especially in the severely immunocompromised host.
Equalizing or not? Public childcare and women’s labour market participation
Authors: Scherer Stefani , Pavolini Emmanuele
Published: June 2023

Within the scientific literature and debate on social investment, public childcare provision plays a pivotal role. At the same time, critics have argued that social investment is often unable to reduce social inequalities and, to the contrary, tends to reproduce them (the so-called ‘Matthew effect’). The article focuses on a specific facet of social investment policies: their capacity to support mothers’ employment and its effect on social inequality, by investigating empirically to what extent an expansion of public childcare can help to increase women’s labour market participation and how this eventual support is homogenously distributed among different mothers’ profiles. To give a convincing answer to such a question requires careful attention to methodology, in order to avoid drawing the wrong conclusions. Whereas existing research has predominately focused on cross-national variation and has often been static in nature, the present study assesses the effects of public childcare expansion on women’s labour market participation and employment by examining region-specific within-variation over time of public childcare coverage. The study relies on data from the European Social Survey (2002–2018) that were integrated with an original collection of regional-level information on public childcare. It finds a positive association between increases in public childcare coverage and mothers’ labour market participation. Furthermore, it shows that public childcare helps to fight social inequalities among households with young children. Low-educated mothers are the ones who profit most from an increase in public childcare, and positive employment effects are most pronounced at lower levels of childcare coverage. Therefore, this contribution highlights the importance of public childcare policies as an equalizer in society, especially in contexts in which an intervention is most needed, because expanding childcare fosters mothers’ labour market participation
High-efficiency regenerative shock absorbers considering twin ball screws transmission for increasing the vehicles’ driving range using a hybrid approach
Authors: Swamy V. M. M. , Vidyasagar S.
Published: June 2023

This article proposes a hybrid system for increasing the electric vehicles’ (EVs) driving range considering regenerative shock absorbers. The proposed hybrid approach is a combination of atomic orbital search (AOS) and wild horse optimizer (WHO); later, it was called AOSWHO method. The major objectives of the proposed work are to extend vehicle range, reduce the charging time of the vehicle, reduce the battery size, and increase the efficiency of vehicle. In this proposed work, linear Permanent magnet (PM) generators are used as the sole instrument and on-board source is utilized to absorb vibration energy of the moving vehicle. Here, the proposed method has four key modules: (a) suspension vibration input, (b) transmission mechanism, (c) generator module, and (d) power storage. A suspension vibration is mostly pretentious by road roughness and speed vibration, which is optimally handled by the proposed hybrid technique. The conversion of the alternating linear vibration into unidirectional rotation of generator shaft is processed by proposed hybrid technique. Based on the volume and efficiency of the dampers, a small volume, brushless DC motor with low rotor inertia is selected to produce electricity. By then, the proposed AOSWHO run on MATLAB site and its performance is related to several existing systems. From the simulation result, it is concluded that proposed system delivers an State of Charge (SOC) of 40.33, which is high compared to existing approaches.
Lost for Words? Gadamer and Benjamin on the Nature of Language and the ‘Language’ of Nature
Authors: Smith Mick
Published: June 2023

Language is commonly regarded as an exclusively human attribute and the possession of the word ( logos) has long served to demarcate culture from nature. This is often taken to imply that nature is incapable of meaningful expression, that any meaning it acquires is merely bestowed upon it by humanity. This anthropic logocentrism seriously undermines those forms of ‘environmental advocacy’ which claim to find and speak of the meaning and value of nature per se. However, shorn of their own anthropocentric presuppositions, the expressivist hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer and Walter Benjamin might offer an alternative understanding of the nature of language and the language of nature.
The Indifference Curve, Motivation, and Morality in Contingent Valuation
Authors: Hart Rob , Latacz-Lohmann Uwe
Published: June 2023

Contingent valuation surveys have tended to yield results that seem to go contrary to what is standardly seen as ‘rational choice’. We argue that some of the inconsistencies arise because bids for public environmental goods in contingent valuation surveys are often (at least partly) motivated by moral considerations and ethical beliefs. We analyse the expected results of CV surveys given the existence of such ethical motivations, including the valuation of actions as well as states. It is found that we cannot expect bids made on this basis to reveal preferences which obey the rules commonly assumed in the theory of consumer choice. The two standard reactions to these anomalies have been to attack the validity of the method, or to urge greater rigour in survey design and application. By contrast, we conclude that the usefulness of the method for evaluating options concerning environmental public goods depends critically on the problem definition. The method should be used for the direct evaluation of realistic policy packages, rather than to try to extract abstract values for invaluable goods. The conclusion accords with current trends, including the move towards the use of deliberative methodologies.
A Humean Argument for the Land Ethic?
Authors: Lo Y. S.
Published: June 2023

This article examines an allegedly Humean solution provided by J. Baird Callicott to the problem of the is/ought dichotomy. It also examines an allegedly Humean argument provided by him for the land ethic's summary moral precept. It concludes that neither the solution nor the argument is Humean or cogent.
Cost-Benefit Analysis, Incommensurability and Rough Equality
Authors: Aldred Jonathan
Published: June 2023

A recurring question about cost-benefit analysis (CBA) concerns its scope. CBA is a decision-making method frequently employed in environmental policy-making, in which things which have no market price are treated as if they were commodities. They are given a monetary value, a form of price. But it is widely held that some things cannot be meaningfully priced, thus substantially limiting the scope of CBA. The aim of this paper is to test some aspects of this broad claim, focusing on problems of incomparability and incommensurability. In particular, the role of rough equality as a putative form of comparison is investigated. I argue that while an assessment of the full significance of rough equality for practical decision-making awaits resolution of a number of important technical questions, it does not provide a strong enough form of comparison to support CBA.
‘Other Animal Ethics’ and the Demand for Difference
Authors: Aaltola Elisa
Published: June 2023

Traditionally animal ethics has criticised the anthropocentric worldview according to which humans differ categorically from the rest of the nature in some morally relevant way. It has claimed that even though there are differences, there are also crucial similarities between humans and animals that make it impossible to draw a categorical distinction between humans who are morally valuable and animals which are not. This argument, according to which animals and humans share common characteristics that lead to moral value, is at the heart of animal ethics. Lately the emphasis on similarity has been under attack. It has been claimed that the search for similarity is itself part of anthropocentric morality, since only those like us are valuable. It also has been claimed that true respect for animals comes from recognising their difference and ‘otherness’, not from seeing similarities. This paper analyses the new ‘other animal ethics’ by critically examining its basis and consequences. The conclusion is that despite the fact that other animal ethics is right in demanding respect also for difference, it remains both vague and contradictory in its theoretical basis, and leads to undesirable consequences from the perspective of animal welfare.
New Modernities: Reimagining Science, Technology and Development
Authors: Jasanoff Sheila
Published: June 2023

‘Development’ operates as an allegedly value-neutral concept in the policy world. This essay describes four mechanisms that have helped to strip development of its subjective and meaning-laden elements: persistent misreading of technology as simply material and inanimate; uncritical acceptance of models, including economic ones, as adequate representations of complex systems; failure to recognize routine practices as repositories of power; and erasing history and time as relevant factors in producing scenarios for the future. Failure to take these elements into account has led to inequality, injustice and unintended consequences in many development projects. Interpretive analysis of development tools and concepts is a much-needed corrective.