bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Pharmacist-led Transitions-of-care Medication Management around Hospital Discharge Adds Modest Cost Relative to Usual Care: Time-and-Motion Cost Analysis
Authors: Nuckols Teryl K. , Berdahl Carl T. , Henreid Andrew J. , Schnipper Jeffrey L. , Rauf Asad , Ko EunJi M. , Nguyen An T. , Co Zoe , Fanikos John , Kim Ji-Hyun , Leang Donna W. , Matta Lina , Mulligan Kathleen , Ray Avik , Shane Rita , Wassef Kirollos , Pevnick Joshua M.
Published: December 2023

Optimal medication management is important during hospitalization and at discharge because post-discharge adverse drug events (ADEs) are common, often preventable, and contribute to patient harms, healthcare utilization, and costs. Conduct a cost analysis of a comprehensive pharmacist-led transitions-of-care medication management intervention for older adults during and after hospital discharge. Twelve intervention components addressed medication reconciliation, medication review, and medication adherence. Trained, experienced pharmacists delivered the intervention to older adults with chronic comorbidities at 2 large U.S. academic centers. To quantify and categorize time spent on the intervention, we conducted a time-and-motion analysis of study pharmacists over 36 sequential workdays (14 519 min) involving 117 patients. For 40 patients’ hospitalizations, we observed all intervention activities. We used the median minutes spent and pharmacist wages nationally to calculate cost per hospitalization (2020 U.S. dollars) from the hospital perspective, relative to usual care. Pharmacists spent a median of 66.9 min per hospitalization (interquartile range 46.1-90.1), equating to $101 ($86 to $116 in sensitivity analyses). In unadjusted analyses, study site was associated with time spent (medians 111 and 51.8 min) while patient primary language, discharge disposition, number of outpatient medications, and patient age were not. In this cost analysis, comprehensive medication management around discharge cost about $101 per hospitalization, with variation across sites. This cost is at least an order of magnitude less than published costs associated with ADEs, hospital readmissions, or other interventions designed to reduce readmissions. Work is ongoing to assess the current intervention’s effectiveness.
Liquid concrete as a gastrointestinal tract foreign body
Authors: Qiu Xiaowen , Wang Fengyan , Li Tao
Published: December 2023

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies present a common clinical challenge. We present an unusual case of a 58-year-old construction worker who ingested liquid concrete that risked solidifying in his stomach. Gastroscopy revealed only partial solidification and pyloric obstruction, which were successfully resolved through endoscopic fragmentation and mechanical removal. To protect the gastric mucosa during elimination, liquid paraffin and a cellulose-based formula were administered. Complete gastrointestinal evacuation was achieved within 3 days, with no complications observed. This case emphasises the urgency of the early removal of concrete.
On the Egalitarian Value of Electoral Democracy
Authors: Klein Steven
Published: December 2023

Within democratic theory, electoral competition is typically associated with minimalist and realist views of democracy. In contrast, this article argues for a reinterpretation of electoral competition as an important element of an egalitarian theory of democracy. Current relational egalitarian theories, in focusing on the equalization of individual power-over, present electoral institutions as in tension with equality. Against this view, the article contends that electoral competition can foster equality by incentivizing the equalization of cooperative power. The article develops the normative category of equal opportunity to access cooperative power and shows how it can generate an egalitarian defense of electoral competition. Yet this ideal is not an affirmation of the status quo. Rather, it points to the need to reform electoral systems to make them more competitive and so more likely to foster cooperative power, as well as reforms to provide direct support to associations like unions that equalize cooperative power.
New Wine in an Old Bottle? Exposure to Bullying-Related Media and Bullying Perpetration Behavior in Daily Life Among Adolescents
Authors: Teng Zhaojun , Nie Qian , Stomski Meg , Liu Chuanjun , Guo Cheng
Published: December 2023

Although the effect of media violence on aggression has garnered major attention, little is known about the link between bullying-related media exposure and bullying behaviors. Across three studies, we examined this association among Chinese adolescents. Study 1 used a large sample of adolescents ( n=10,391, 51.4% boys) to investigate the link between bullying-related media exposure and bullying perpetration. Using another adolescent sample ( n=3,125, 49.5% boys), Study 2 replicated the findings from Study 1 and extended the investigation from traditional bullying to cyberbullying perpetration. Study 3 examined the longitudinal associations between bullying-related media exposure and (cyber)bullying perpetration 6 months later ( n = 2,744, 47.0% boys). The results suggested a positive, albeit small, association between exposure to bullying-related media and (cyber)bullying perpetration. Importantly, personal anti-bullying attitudes moderated this link, with a significant association observed among adolescents holding weak anti-bullying attitudes. Findings are discussed with respect to the media’s effect on bullying behaviors.
Mattering and Self-Esteem as Bulwarks Against the Consequences of Financial Strain for Loneliness in Later Life: Differentiating Between- and Within-Person Processes
Authors: Bierman Alex , Upenieks Laura , Lee Yeonjung , Mehrabi Fahimeh
Published: December 2023

Financial strain likely constitutes a principal risk for loneliness in later-life, but a strong sense of mattering and self-esteem may mitigate these consequences by both offsetting and buffering the influence of financial strain. We test these arguments using data from a national longitudinal survey of older adults gathered between 2021 and 2022 ( N = 2384), as nations emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. Application of a within-between modelling strategy facilitates differentiation of inter-individual (i.e., between-person) and intra-individual (i.e., within-person) factors. Between-person financial strain is associated with greater loneliness, but within- and between-person mattering and self-esteem offset this association by forestalling loneliness. Between-person mattering buffers between-person financial strain, but between-person self-esteem buffers within-person financial strain. Consequently, within-person financial strain is associated with greater loneliness only at low levels of between-person self-esteem. In summary, accruing a strong sense of worth contributes to protecting older adults from the adverse consequences of financial strain for loneliness.
From Dust to Buzz: Reconfiguring space for organization-creation
Authors: Kuismin Ari , Wickström Alice , Hietanen Joel , Katila Saija
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we examine the relationship between space and entrepreneurship, understood as organization-creation, by drawing on Deleuze and Guattari’s spatial theorizing. Building on an ethnographic study of the Nordic Start-Up Incubator, we focus on the ongoing material, discursive and affective reconfiguration of space to promote entrepreneurial ‘buzz’. We show how emancipatory promises (smoothings) are entangled with a logic of enterprise (striations), and how this ambiguity is enacted (folds) as organization-creation emerges spatially. This allows us to problematize the distinction often made between entrepreneurial spaces of emancipation and managerial spaces of control and to consider how they may co-constitute each other through subtle twists and turns. We conclude by discussing this multiplicity and ambiguity with regard to the politics of entrepreneurial spaces.
Revisiting Entrepreneurship as Emancipation: Learning from subalternized women in post-revolutionary Tunisia
Authors: Benali Amira , Villesèche Florence
Published: December 2023

In this article, we investigate how women beneficiaries in a social enterprise in post-revolutionary Tunisia are agents in their emancipation, including through infrapolitical tactics. We conceptualize their position as beneficiaries as a form of subalternity induced from social, economic and political injustice. We deploy the extended case method in a Tunisian ecotourism social enterprise, connecting the micro-level experiences of the women beneficiaries to the macro-level context. Our findings show how beneficiaries engage in three forms of emancipation: affirming their dreams; navigating gender relations; and defending their interests. We thus contribute to existing research by theoretically extending the emancipation–entrepreneurship locus beyond the lead entrepreneur. We also contribute by extending our understanding of subalternized people’s resistance repertoire beyond the hidden vs public resistance dichotomy. Finally, we challenge the representation of ‘subalterns’ as a homogeneous and passive category by showing the intersectional differences that affect these women’s agentic possibilities and, thus, their pathways to emancipation.
Populism in power and its hybridizations
Authors: Diehl Paula
Published: December 2023

According to the authors of Populism and Civil Society, ‘populism is situated within the democratic imaginary’ but its logic is authoritarian. This article agrees with the first but challenges the second argument by focussing on the question of representation. In the case of ‘populism as government’ the tensions between bottom-up and top-down articulations seem to be more or less resolved by the repression of bottom-up organization, but in so doing, so the argument of this article, populism is mutating into something else. Furthermore, ‘populist dictatorship’ seems to be closer to a dictatorship strategically using populist tools than to an intrinsic populist logic. While I agree with the authors on the authoritarian cases of populism in government, my argument diverges from the book when it comes to populism as government and introduces a discussion about the nature of populism. To this purpose, I first propose a complex definition of populism which understands populism not as the essence, but as one component of hybrid authoritarian formations, thus enabling the disentanglement of populism, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism. Second, I examine two components of populism that Arato and Cohen lay out in the book: the specific representation pars pro toto and embodiment. Building on Lefort, I argue that these components are not populist but totalitarian and that the empirical manifestations of populism are always hybrid, mixing populist and authoritarian or even totalitarian components.
Calibrating Items Using an Unfolding Model of Item Response Theory: The Case of the Trait Personality Questionnaire 5 (TPQue5)
Authors: Mitropoulou Eirini M. , Zampetakis Leonidas A. , Tsaousis Ioannis
Published: December 2023

Unfolding item response theory (IRT) models are important alternatives to dominance IRT models in describing the response processes on self-report tests. Their usage is common in personality measures, since they indicate potential differentiations in test score interpretation. This paper aims to gain a better insight into the structure of trait personality, by investigating whether the dominance or alternatively the unfolding IRT model are better descriptors of the response processes on a personality measure constructed under the dominance response theorem. For the assessment of the dominant model, the Graded Response Model (GRM) is used; while for the unfolding model, the Generalized Graded Unfolding Model (GGUM) was examined. All analyses are conducted with the freely available R. A sample of 1340 Greek adults, employed in private and public organizations, fulfilled the Trait Personality Questionnaire 5 short-form (TPQue5). Findings contradict previous research on trait personality. In accordance to the construction method employed, the TPQue5 items are best understood by monotonically increasing item response functions (IRFs). Individuals responding to the TPQue5 increase their probability of endorsing its items as their trait level increases; this stands for all personality dimensions, although Openness to Experience exhibited mixed type of item response patterns. Further research directions, implications and limitations are also discussed.
Cognitive Interview Validation of a Novel Household Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Instrument
Authors: Amberson Taryn , Ndayishimiye Olive , Cloud Quanah Yellow , Castner Jessica
Published: December 2023

Background:

Weather and climate disasters are responsible for over 13 000 US deaths, worsened morbidity, and $1.7 trillion in additional costs over the last 40 years with profound racial disparities.

Objectives:

This project empirically generated items for a novel survey instrument of household hazard vulnerability with initial construct validation while addressing racial bias in the data collection process.

Methods:

Cognitive interviews facilitated understanding regarding the performance of drafted survey questions with transdisciplinary expert panelists from diverse US regions on unique hazard/disaster/event items. To prevent representation bias in data collection, those with Black and/or African American racial, biracial, or multiracial identities were over-sampled. Interview video recordings were qualitatively analyzed using thematic and pattern coding.

Results:

A cognitive process mapped to themes of disaster characteristics, resources, individual life facets, and felt effects was revealed. We identified 379 unique instances of linked terms as synonyms, co-occurring, compounding, or cascading events. Potential for racial bias in data collection was elucidated. Analysis of radiation exposure, trauma, and criminal acts of intent items revealed participants may not interpret survey items with these terms as intended.

Conclusion:

Potential for racial bias exists relative to water dam failure, evacuation, external flood, suspicious packages/substances, and transportation failure. Hazard terms that were not interpreted as intended require further revision in the validation process of individual or household disaster vulnerability assessments. Several commonalities in the cognitive process and mapping of disaster terms may be utilized in disaster and climate change research aimed at the individual and household unit of analysis.
Coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular disorders among the physicians
Authors: Wanishsawad Chad , Tangjitgamol Siriwan , Udayachalerm Wasan , Bunsiricomchai Paisan , Panyarachun Sureerat , Preeyanont Piyanart , Kaewwanna Watcharagan , Parinyachet Supattra , Ativanichayapong Natapon
Published: December 2023

Background

To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), specifically coronary artery disease (CAD), among Thai physicians, and the cardiac testing being used. The associated or risk factors of CAD were also studied.

Methods

Data of Thai physicians who participated in the hospital's corporate social responsibility “Save Doctors’ Heart” project conducted between February 14, 2022, and October 31, 2022, were collected: personal illness, family history of CAD, workplace, work hours, dietary habits, exercise, stress, body mass index, laboratory and cardiac testing.

Results

Of 1231 physicians, the median age was 48.0 ± 10.34 years, with 55.2% were female; 83.1% reported working <55 h per week, 29.7% exercised ≥3 days a week, and 28.0% were overweight or obese. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were found in 46.3%, 30.5%, and 75.8%, respectively. Abnormal findings were observed in 29.7% of chest X-rays, 17.7% of electrocardiograms, 33.0% of echocardiograms, 10.6% of exercise stress tests, and 3.8% of stress echocardiograms. Moderate/extensive coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were present in 12.7%. The prevalence of CVDs or CAD were 51.7% and 11.2%, respectively. Independent risk factors for CAD included older age, male gender, history and/or new findings of DM, and moderate to extensive CAC scores.

Conclusion

The prevalence of CVDs and CAD among Thai physicians is 51.7% and 11.2%, respectively. The independent risk for CAD was older age, male, having DM, and moderate to extensive CAC scores. The physicians who are at risk should be cautious, modify their lifestyle, and have appropriate screening/diagnostic testing for cardiac abnormality.
Impact of thrombocytopenia on short-term outcomes in patients undergoing mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support
Authors: Krasivskyi Ihor , Großmann Clara , Aswadi Wasil , Ivanov Borko , Gerfer Stephen , Gaisendrees Christopher , Elderia Ahmed , Mihaylova Mariya , Eghbalzadeh Kaveh , Deppe Antje-Christin , Sabashnikov Anton , Rahmanian Parwis Baradaran , Mader Navid , Wahlers Thorsten , Djordjevic Ilija
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The prolonged use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is associated with increased consumption of platelets and hemolysis. The prognostic impact of thrombocytopenia prior to and during ECMO support on patient’s short-, mid- and long-term outcomes has been critically evaluated and discussed over the last years. However, only few data have been published on thrombocytopenia caused by mobile ECMO support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of thrombocytopenia on short-term outcomes and predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients supported by mobile ECMO for transportation and subsequent weaning in a tertiary centre.

Methods

This retrospective single-centre study analyzed a total of 117 patients requiring mobile veno-arterial (va) ECMO support and subsequent transportation from referral hospitals to our department from January 2015 until December 2021. A total of 15 patients had to be excluded from the analysis for missing data regarding baseline platelet count. Patients were divided into two groups: thrombocytopenia group (<130 × 109/L, n = 44) and non-thrombocytopenia group (≥130 × 109/L, n = 58). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were successful ECMO-weaning, and the incidence of associated complications (bleeding, acute hepatic failure, acute renal failure, dialysis, and septic shock).

Results

The dialysis rate before ECMO initiation was significantly higher ( p = .041) in the thrombocytopenia group compared to the non-thrombocytopenia group. The rates of bleeding complications ( p = .032) and limb ischemia ( p = .003) were significantly higher in patients with low platelet count. Moreover, complication rates of acute hepatic failure ( p < .001), acute renal failure ( p < .001) and dialysis ( p = .033) were significantly higher in the thrombocytopenia group. Also, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher ( p = .002) in patients with low platelet count before initiation of ECMO support.

Conclusion

Based on the results of the present study, patients with thrombocytopenia prior to mobile vaECMO support may be at significantly higher risk for associated complications and short-term mortality.
Post-Pandemic Engagement of Youth in Virtual Environments: Reflections and Lessons Learned From the Development of a Youth Education Program
Authors: Donnan Jennifer , Howells Rachel , Drakes Dalainey H. , Bishop Lisa D.
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new landscapes for research and public engagement participation. This shift was accompanied by significant challenges and unique opportunities for engaging youth as active participants and collaborators. This commentary will reflect on insights gained from conducting a variety of virtual youth engagement activities during the pandemic, within a rights-based and empirical approach. The team reflected on challenges, opportunities, and suggestions for engaging youth as participants and collaborators in research using virtual platforms. This commentary outlines opportunities for growth and challenges worthy of consideration for future virtual youth engagement activities. These considerations are put forth with the goal of upholding autonomy, diversity, and amplifying the voices of youth in research through virtual environments. Considering our insights on engaging youth, we hope to contribute to the expanding field of youth engagement, and advance future research that utilizes virtual modalities.
Functional MRI evaluation of blood oxygen dependent (BOLD) in renal allograft dysfunction: a prospective study
Authors: Farg Hashim Mohamed , El-Diasty Tarek , Ali-El-Dein Bedeir , Refaie Ayman , Abou El-Ghar Mohamed
Published: December 2023

Background

Blood oxygen level dependent-magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-MRI) is a non-invasive functional imaging technique that can be used to assess renal allograft dysfunction.

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of BOLD-MRI using a 3-T scanner in discriminating causes of renal allograft dysfunction in the post-transplant period.

Material and Methods

This prospective study was conducted on 112 live donor-renal allograft recipients: 53 with normal graft function, as controls; 18 with biopsy-proven acute rejection (AR); and 41 with biopsy-proven acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Multiple fast-field echo sequences were performed to obtain T2*-weighted images. Cortical R2* (CR2*) level, medullary R2* (MR2*) level, and medullary over cortical R2* ratio (MCR) were measured in all participants.

Results

The mean MR2* level was significantly lower in the AR group (20.8 ± 2.8/s) compared to the normal group (24 ± 2.4/s, P <0.001) and ATN group (27.4 ± 1.7/s, P <0.001). The MCR was higher in ATN group (1.47 ± 0.18) compared to the AR group (1.18 ± 0.17) and normal functioning group (1.34 ± 0.2). Both MR2* (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.837, P <0.001) and MCR (AUC = 0.727, P = 0.003) can accurately discriminate ATN from AR, however CR2* (AUC = 0.590, P = 0.237) showed no significant difference between both groups.

Conclusion

In early post-transplant renal dysfunction, BOLD-MRI is a valuable non-invasive diagnostic technique that can differentiate between AR and ATN by measuring changes in intra-renal tissue oxygenation.
Synergizing photon-counting CT with deep learning: potential enhancements in medical imaging
Authors: Mese Ismail , Altintas Taslicay Ceylan , Sivrioglu Ali Kemal
Published: December 2023

This review article highlights the potential of integrating photon-counting computed tomography (CT) and deep learning algorithms in medical imaging to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve image quality, and reduce radiation exposure. The use of photon-counting CT provides superior image quality, reduced radiation dose, and material decomposition capabilities, while deep learning algorithms excel in automating image analysis and improving diagnostic accuracy. The integration of these technologies can lead to enhanced material decomposition and classification, spectral image analysis, predictive modeling for individualized medicine, workflow optimization, and radiation dose management. However, data requirements, computational resources, and regulatory and ethical concerns remain challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of this technology. The fusion of photon-counting CT and deep learning algorithms is poised to revolutionize medical imaging and transform patient care.
Diagnosis and treatment status of suprasellar optic pathway cavernous malformations
Authors: Xu Songbai , Yang Liu
Published: December 2023

Cerebral cavernous malformations constitute a subtype of cerebral vascular malformation typically located in the cerebral cortex. However, their occurrence in the suprasellar optic pathway is relatively rare. There is some uncertainty surrounding the clinical diagnostic methods and optimal treatment strategies specific to suprasellar optic pathway cavernous malformations. In this narrative review, we retrospectively analyzed relevant literature related to suprasellar visual pathway cavernous malformations. We conducted a study involving 90 patients who were postoperatively diagnosed with cavernous malformations, including the 16-year-old male patient mentioned in this article. We have summarized crucial clinical data, including the patient age distribution, sex ratio, lesion locations, primary symptoms, and surgical approaches. The comprehensive analysis of this clinical information underscores the critical importance of timely intervention in relieving symptoms and improving neurological deficits in affected patients. These findings provide valuable guidance and insight for clinical practitioners and researchers dealing with this specific medical condition.
Characterization of cutaneous lesions caused by natural tick infestation in cattle
Authors: Melo Stella Maris P. , Santos Igor R. , Almeida Bruno A. , Sonne Luciana , Panziera Welden , Driemeier David , Pavarini Saulo P.
Published: December 2023

Although tick infestation is a significant health problem in livestock, there are limited studies on the dermatopathological aspects of natural tick infestation in cattle. This study aimed to describe the gross and histologic aspects of cutaneous lesions caused by tick infestation in cattle. Thirteen cases were selected based on necropsy data from a 10-year retrospective study. Predispositions were observed in beef cattle ( P = .049) and the Angus breed ( P = .012), and lesions occurred mainly in the fall ( P = .007). Gross lesions included hypotrichosis (13/13; 100%), scales (12/13; 92%), alopecia (11/13; 85%), ulcers (7/13; 54%), crusts (7/13; 54%), and erosions (2/13; 15%). These gross lesions were mainly located in the thorax (12/13; 92%), head (11/13; 85%), abdomen (10/13; 77%), neck (9/13; 69%), limbs (9/13; 69%), and perineum (9/13; 69%). Histologically, all cases had ticks adhered to the epidermis with erosions (13/13; 100%), ulcers (11/13; 85%), orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis (13/13; 100%), irregular acanthosis (13/13; 100%), intraepidermal pustules (13/13; 100%), crusts (10/13; 77%), and ballooning degeneration (4/13; 31%). In the dermis, just below the tick insertion site, there was coagulation necrosis, fibrin deposition, and inflammatory infiltrate composed of mixed cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, and few eosinophils) (9/13; 69%), neutrophils (3/13; 23%), or eosinophils (1/13; 8%). This study reinforces the different patterns of cutaneous lesions caused by tick infestation in cattle, which should be considered as a potential cause of dermatitis in this species.
Assessing the Effectiveness of a Specialized, Field-Based Treatment Program for Youth Who Have Committed Sexual Offenses in an Australian Jurisdiction
Authors: Ogilvie James M. , McKillop Nadine , Cale Jesse , Allard Troy , Rynne John , Smallbone Stephen
Published: December 2023

This study provides an evaluation of recidivism outcomes for a specialized, field-based treatment program for youth who perpetrate sexual offenses in an Australian jurisdiction. Using survival analyses, recidivism outcomes for the treatment group ( n = 200), who were followed for an average of 5.07 years ( SD = 3.13), were contrasted with a sample of sexually offending youth who were either referred but not accepted or not referred to the program ( n = 295). Rates of sexual recidivism were low and not significantly different between the groups (9.5% for treated and 10.8% for untreated). Unadjusted Cox regression results indicated that the treated group were less likely to violently recidivate compared to the untreated group (HR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.01, 1.96]), but this effect became nonsignificant when controlling for offense history covariates (HR = 1.22, 95% CI [0.87, 1.72]). Both groups exhibited high rates of nonsexual offending during the follow-up period, and treatment factors including clinician-rated success, were found to be associated with a lower frequency of reoffending after treatment. Findings highlight important considerations for both practice and research. First, findings suggest the need for specialized programs to ensure factors associated with general recidivism are also addressed in treatment; second, findings reinforce potential utility for clinician-rated and structured assessments to inform treatment planning and outcomes. Finally, the findings raise the importance of appropriate comparison groups when designing evaluation studies, to accurately inform policy and practice.
The magnitude rule in geoheritage site inventories
Authors: Ferrer Nicolás , Vegas Juana , Díez-Herrero Andrés
Published: December 2023

Since the 1990s, an international consensus has been emerging with respect to the methods used to identify and assess geosites. These conventional methodologies generally differentiate between the intrinsic or scientific-natural dimension and the social dimension in the potential value of the geological elements. The aim of this article is to analyse the possible existence of other concepts that may underlie these criteria and that could be operating as evaluation parameters even though they are not explicitly and formally described as such in the published studies. An exhaustive analysis of articles on geosite inventories published in Science Citation Index journals in the last 15 years revealed a systematic reference to conceptions of magnitude (in the sense of degree of development and physical prominence) in geosite descriptions around the world, and in particular with respect to sites of geomorphological interest. To contrast this indication, we subjected the geosites inventory of Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) to a Magnitude Rule hypothesis. This inventory is part of the Spanish Geosites Inventory (IELIG, for its initials in Spanish), which was carried out using conventional assessment procedures. Applying this rule, according to which each geosite is the most prominent example of its typology within the reference geological domain, we obtained an almost complete match. That is, geomorphological sites that were selected, a priori, according to intrinsic and social dimension were also (or one could even say ‘actually’) selected, implicitly, on the predominant basis of magnitude. This paper discusses why and how the magnitude parameter may be playing a key role as a subliminal non-explicit driver in the evaluation of geosite relevance, and how this finding may open new perspectives and bring methodological advantages in the inventory of geological heritage.
Seismic Ground-Motion Design Criteria for Highway Bridges from the Perspective of Design Engineers
Authors: (Po) Lam Ignatius , Law Hubert , Maroney Brian
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the history and development of criteria for both the design response-spectrum method for ordinary, common bridges analyzed by the modal-superposition method, and the ground-motion time-history analysis method and inputs for designing major, important long-span bridges. This paper addresses various challenges encountered by the designers related to implementation of ground-motion design criteria.
Alliance or Independence? Optimal Operation of Commuter Buses by Suburban Employers Based on Cooperative Game Theory
Authors: Chen Dongxu , Tang Shuai , Lin Yu , Li Xudong , Yang Zhongzhen
Published: December 2023

To reduce commuting expenses incurred by suburban employers and their urban employees, this paper proposes the operation of commuter buses by an employer alliance and builds a bi-level programming model to optimize their operation. The upper model determines the composition of the alliance with the objective of minimizing total commuting expenses. The lower model optimizes the commuter bus routes so as to minimize the total commuting expenses of the alliance through a consideration of differences in the value of employees’ time. We fairly allocate total operating costs among alliance members based on cooperative game theory, which reinforces the optimized alliance’s stability. This paper then takes Meishan District in Ningbo as a numerical case study. The analysis shows the following: (1) under the alliance model, the total commuting expenses of three allied employers will be reduced by 8.09% per day; (2) the total commuting time of employees can be reduced by 3.75% per day; moreover, (3) the spatial distribution of the bus stops has a significant impact on employers’ willingness to participate in an alliance as opposed to operating an independent commuter bus service. Specifically, the farther dispersed the bus stops and the fewer the employees at each stop, the greater the likelihood that the employer will participate in an alliance.
Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneous Graph-Based Convolutional Networks for Traffic Flow Forecasting
Authors: Ma Zhaobin , Lv Zhiqiang , Xin Xiaoyang , Cheng Zesheng , Xia Fengqian , Li Jianbo
Published: December 2023

Traffic flow forecasting plays a crucial role in the construction of intelligent transportation. The aims of this paper are to fully exploit the spatial correlation between nodes in a traffic network and to compensate for the inability of graph-based deep learning methods to model multiple relationship types, resulting in inadequate extraction of spatially correlated information about the traffic network. In this paper, we propose a deep spatio-temporal recurrent evolution network based on the graph convolution network (STREGCN) for heterogeneous graphs. Specifically, we transform the traffic network into a multi-relational heterogeneous graph to improve the information representation of the graph. This allows our model to capture multiple types of spatially relevant information. In the temporal dimension, we use one-dimensional causal convolution based on the gated linear unit to extract the temporal correlation information of the traffic flow. In addition, we designed the output of the spatio-temporal convolution module to obtain the final traffic flow predictions after a fully connected layer. Experiments on real datasets illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed STREGCN model and show the importance of representing information through heterogeneous graphs for the task of traffic flow prediction.
Shared Responsibility for Shared Mobility: Community-Based Transportation in Germany
Authors: Schiefelbusch Martin
Published: December 2023

To serve rural areas efficiently and effectively, public transportation must have tools suitable to serve the small-scale and dispersed mobility needs typical of countryside settings. One way of achieving this is by giving more space to locally planned and operated services, to achieve better-tailored solutions and more cost-efficient ways of service provision. In the English-speaking world, this approach is known as “community transport” (CT). In Germany, “Gemeinschaftsverkehr” (as a loose translation of community transport) is a much more recent concept, although certain elements of CT have been in use for some time. This paper synthesizes and discusses how CT has evolved and (in part) been reinterpreted in Germany over recent years, in particular in the state of Baden-Württemberg. In addition to an overview of service models, the paper discusses some more general questions linked to the idea of CT, such as the potential tensions between “top-down” and “bottom-up” views on planning, formal/regulatory challenges, and the implications of a more heterogeneous set of stakeholders. The paper is based in part on dedicated research activities, but mainly on the author’s direct involvement as consultant and policy advisor.
Book review: J. S. Grewal, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk
Authors: Chatterjee Chhanda
Published: December 2023

J. S. Grewal, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2019, xv + 297 pp., ₹1,100, ISBN 9780199494941.
Book review: Sunita Lall, Neeraj Kumar and Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff, BIHAR: Crossing Boundaries
Authors: Ranjan Rajeev
Published: December 2023

Sunita Lall, Neeraj Kumar and Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff, BIHAR: Crossing Boundaries. New Delhi: Primus Books: 2020, 374 pp., ₹1395, ISBN: 9789390022281.
Beyond the Colonial Lens: An Investigation into the Chequered History of Assam Tea
Authors: Dutta Dibyajyoti , Hazarika Dibyanjoly
Published: December 2023

This article presents a fresh perspective on tea cultivation in Assam, negating the widely held belief that the British Empire’s introduction to Assam tea symbolised societal advancement and economic growth. This article argues that the primary intention of the British was pure economic that catapulted the destruction of the thick forested areas, marginalised the native population and abolished their kingdoms. Despite this, colonial Assamese elites and mainstream industrialists have glorified the British tea venture. In this attempt of reviewing the history of Assam tea from an alternative point of view, efforts have also been made to analyse how the East India Company’s desire to maintain its monopoly in the Chinese tea trade, the Calcutta Botanical Garden’s desire to uphold the supremacy of the Chinese tea plant, and the military personnel’s quest for new sources of tea played their roles in it.
Micronutrient Deficiencies in Older Adults in Latin America: A Narrative Review
Authors: De la Cruz-Góngora Vanessa , Palazuelos-González Rosa , Domínguez-Flores Omar
Published: December 2023

Background:

The population in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) has experienced a major demographic transition with increased numbers of older adults (OA). This change brings opportunities in the public health sector to implement health prevention interventions and delay the onset of geriatric syndromes. Micronutrients play an important role in the maintenance of biological function which contributes to longevity. Micronutrient deficiencies (MD) in OA increase the risk for onset of chronic comorbidities and geriatric syndromes.

Aim:

To review and summarize the existing data on micronutrient status in OA in the LAC region and discuss the gaps and challenges in public health approaches to address deficiencies.

Methods:

Literature review in Medline for records describing nutritional biomarkers in older adults (≥ 60y) from community dwelling and population-based studies in LAC.

Results:

Few countries (including Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Mexico) have documented one or more nutritional deficiencies for OA in national health surveys, however across the entire region, evidence of micronutrient levels is scarce. Some surveys have documented a high prevalence and large heterogeneity in the prevalence of vitamin D followed by B12 deficiency, being the 2 MDs most studied due their effects on cognition, frailty, and bone mineral density in the OA population. Other MD including C, E, A, copper, zinc, iron, and selenium have also been reported.

Conclusion:

Information on the micronutrient status in OA from LAC is poorly documented. Research and capacity building initiatives in the region are crucial to develop tailored strategies that address the specific nutritional needs and challenges faced by the ageing population in Latin America.
Effect of nozzle aperture on glass fiber reinforced polypropylene fabricated by DFFIM
Authors: Zhang Yajun , Wu Mingsheng , Zheng Shuokun , Xie Yumeng , Jin Zhiming
Published: December 2023

Fiber length and interfacial bonding properties are important factors in determining the mechanical properties of the composites. As an emerging fiber-reinforced thermoplastic molding method, DFFIM can reduce the fiber breakage during the molding process and thus improve the mechanical properties, while the fiber length and interfacial bonding properties of the composites fabricated by DFFIM are mainly affected by the equipment structure. This paper takes nozzle as the research object to investigate the effect of nozzle on the properties of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GF/PP) fabricated by DFFIM. First, GF/PP composites at three positions of nozzle flange, nozzle air-injection outlet and mold cavity were selected for fiber length detection, and it was found that the nozzle would lead to more severe fiber breakage in GF/PP composites; POLYFLOW was subsequently used to analyze the shear stress of GF/PP mixed flow fields in different aperture nozzles; DFFIM experiments were carried out to analyze the fiber length, micromorphology, and mechanical properties of GF/PP composites using the nozzle aperture as the test factor, and the results were consistent with the simulation results, as the nozzle aperture increased, the fiber length and interfacial bonding properties of GF/PP composites gradually increased, hence improving the mechanical properties.
The Role of Dual-Energy CT in Solid Organ Injury
Authors: Abu-Omar Ahmad , Murray Nicolas , Ali Ismail T. , Khosa Faisal , Barrett Sarah , Sheikh Adnan , Nicolaou Savvas , O’Neill Siobhán B.
Published: December 2023

The liver, spleen, and kidneys are the commonest injured solid organs in blunt and penetrating trauma. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Organ Injury Scale (OIS) is the most widely accepted system for categorizing traumatic injuries. Grading systems allow clear communication of findings between clinical teams and assign a measurable severity of injury, which directly correlates with morbidity and mortality. The 2018 revised AAST OIS emphasizes reliance on CT for accurate grading; in particular regarding vascular injuries. Dual-Energy CT (DECT) has emerged as a promising tool with multiple clinical applications already demonstrated. In this review article, we summarize the basic principles of CT attenuation to refresh the minds of our readers and we scrutinize DECT’s technology as opposed to conventional Single-Energy CT (SECT). This is followed by outlining the benefits of various DECT postprocessing techniques, which authors of this article refer to as the 3Ms (Mapping of Iodine, Material decomposition, and Monoenergetic virtual imaging), in aiding radiologists to confidently assign an OIS as well as problem solve complex injury patterns. In addition, a thorough discussion of changes to the revised AAST OIS focusing on definitions of key terms used in reporting injuries is described.
Limitations of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 in Applying Fleischner Society Guidelines to Incidental Lung Nodules
Authors: Gamble Joel L. , Ferguson Duncan , Yuen Joanna , Sheikh Adnan
Published: December 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and a fine-tuned GPT-3.5 model in applying Fleischner Society recommendations to lung nodules. Methods: We generated 10 lung nodule descriptions for each of the 12 nodule categories from the Fleischner Society guidelines, incorporating them into a single fictitious report (n = 120). GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 were prompted to make follow-up recommendations based on the reports. We then incorporated the full guidelines into the prompts and re-submitted them. Finally, we re-submitted the prompts to a fine-tuned GPT-3.5 model. Results were analyzed using binary accuracy analysis in R. Results: GPT-3.5 accuracy in applying Fleischner Society guidelines was 0.058 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.12). GPT-4 accuracy was improved at 0.15 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.23; P = .02 for accuracy comparison). In recommending PET-CT and/or biopsy, both GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 had an F-score of 0.00. After explicitly including the Fleischner Society guidelines in the prompt, GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 significantly improved their accuracy to 0.42 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.51; P < .001) and to 0.66 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.74; P < .001), respectively. GPT-4 remained significantly better than GPT-3.5 ( P < .001). The fine-tuned GPT-3.5 model accuracy was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.55), not different from the GPT-3.5 model with guidelines included ( P = .53). Conclusion: GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 performed poorly in applying widely known guidelines and never correctly recommended biopsy. Flawed knowledge and reasoning both contributed to their poor performance. While GPT-4 was more accurate than GPT-3.5, its inaccuracy rate was unacceptable for clinical practice. These results underscore the limitations of large language models for knowledge and reasoning-based tasks.
Romantic Attachment and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrated by Men: The Role of Affect Dysregulation and Gender Hostility
Authors: Douadi Myriam , Brassard Audrey , Godbout Natacha , Savard Claudia , Daspe Marie-Ève , Lafontaine Marie-France , Péloquin Katherine
Published: December 2023

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem, associated with considerable consequences for the victims. Among the risk factors associated with the perpetration of male IPV, attachment insecurities (avoidance, anxiety) and affect dysregulation (AD) have received strong empirical support. A few studies showed that hostility toward women (HTW) is a correlate of IPV perpetration, but none have explored hostility toward men (HTM). This study’s aim was to test direct and indirect associations between romantic attachment insecurities and IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual coercion) through AD in men seeking help, and to examine the moderator role of HTW and HTM in theses links. A sample of 1,845 men aged between 18 and 88 years and from a diverse population (e.g., cultural background, education, and sexual orientation) were recruited through 18 community organizations providing IPV services in a Canadian province. As part of the systematic assessment protocol of each organization, participants answered a series of online questionnaires. Results from a path analysis model showed indirect associations between attachment insecurities (avoidance and anxiety) and IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual coercion) through AD. Beyond these links, attachment avoidance was also directly associated with psychological violence, attachment anxiety with sexual coercion, and HTM with sexual coercion. The results revealed two moderation effects: higher HTW amplified the link between AD and physical IPV, whereas higher HTM amplified the link between AD and sexual coercion. Results highlight the relevance of assessing attachment, AD, and gender hostility in IPV programs. They also highlight the relevance of targeting HTM as a risk marker for IPV perpetration in men.
Soft Biometrics in Retail Service: Understanding Privacy Paradox and Cross-Cultural Differences Regarding 3D Body Scanning Technology
Authors: Youn Song-yi , Luan Chi-Cheng
Published: December 2023

This study aims to explore the privacy paradox and cultural difference associated with integrating soft biometric information through 3D body scanning technologies into personalized shopping services. By incorporating the theory of Concerns for Information Privacy and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology into the Privacy Calculus Theory, the purpose of this study is to understand fashion consumers’ privacy paradox and investigate cultural differences (U.S. vs. China). A partial least squares structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis was conducted from two data sets collected online (N U.S.= 525, N China = 484). Results show that consumer concerns toward data management (i.e., collection, error, secondary use) and service excellence expectations (i.e., perceived expectance, facilitation condition, hedonic motivation) explain the privacy calculus (i.e., risk and benefit) in consumer decisions. The results indicate that error management is critical to understanding Chinese consumers’ privacy calculus, while secondary use is important for U.S. consumers.