bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplemental intervention for third-grade English learners with significant problem-solving challenges
Authors: Orosco Michael J. , Reed Deborah K.
Published: March 2024

This study examined the effect of comprehension strategy instruction on third-grade English Learners’ word-problem-solving performance. The supplemental intervention included modeling how to read the word problem to identify and restate the question, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information, and collaborating with peers on applying the steps of the strategy to solve word problems. Sixty-six students demonstrating math learning difficulties (MLD) participated in the intervention for 30 min twice a week for 10 weeks (20 total sessions). Trained tutors delivered scripted lessons and checked students’ understanding by asking them questions orally and providing feedback on their answers. Students in the control group ( n = 73) received only general instruction. Results of multilevel regression indicated a significant effect favoring the treatment, suggesting that the approach may facilitate the development of problem-solving skills among students with MLD. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Loss of efficiency in flat belt quarter-turn drive system
Authors: Zheng Zhaoqi , Li Jianfei , Wang Yonghong , Guo Miaomiao , Liu Xinyu
Published: March 2024

In the flat belt quarter-turn drive systems, the drive efficiency loss is a noteworthy problem. However, many factors can lead to a loss of efficiency, such as large load, insufficient tension, and belt misalignment, but in the flat belt quarter-turn drive system, because of its special design principles, the belt misalignment becomes a very important factor. To address this issue, a set of flat belt quarter-turn drive devices and test systems are designed and built. To further study the causes of efficiency loss, a series of tests are carried out with the slip rate as the index and the belt misalignment, braking torque, motor speed, and pre-tension as the experimental factors. In the process of research, the OFAT experimental method and quaternary quadratic rotation orthogonal test are adopted. Through response surface analysis and variance analysis, the significance of these four factors on slip rate and the complex association is proved. Using the response surface plots, it is possible to estimate the extent of the speed loss of the flat belt quarter-turn drive under the range of operating conditions considered in this study.
Tribological behaviors and mechanical properties of novel Al-5Cu hybrid composites under dry sliding conditions
Authors: Şap Serhat , Değirmenci Ünal , Usca Üsame Ali , Uzun Mahir
Published: March 2024

This study aims to develop aluminum composites, which are widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries. For this purpose, novel Al-5Cu/Al2O3-SiC hybrid composites were produced, and their mechanical and tribological performances were investigated. Hardness, density, and three-point bending analyses of hybrid composites were performed. In addition, wear and friction analyses were carried out under dry sliding conditions and applying different loads (5-10-15 N). In addition, the morphological properties of the produced hybrid composites were determined by microstructural analysis (SEM/EDS). High density, hardness, and strength values were obtained in hybrid composites produced using powder metallurgy and hot pressing methods. As a result of the wear test, it was determined that the hybrid reinforcements showed positive effects on the wear resistance. The lowest specific wear rate (SWR) value was 2.09 × 10−6 mm3/N.m. It was determined that the SWR values of the hybrid composites decreased with the increase of the applied load. In addition, plastic deformation and adhesion wear were observed as a result of SEM/EDS analyses taken from the worn surfaces.
Book review: Amit Tiwari. 2023. Mar-Tech: A Marriage Made on Earth
Authors: Guru Vikas
Published: March 2024

Amit Tiwari. 2023. Mar-Tech: A Marriage Made on Earth. Notion Press, 202 pp. ₹349, ISBN-13:979-8890668738 (Paperback).
Estimating Marketing Efficiency of Organic Farmers: Evidence from Districts of West Bengal, India
Authors: Koner Nilojyoti , Laha Arindam
Published: March 2024

The growing organic food market offers considerable trading opportunities for organic farmers in India. In this context, this article intends to find out whether the organic farmers are exploring these marketing opportunities in the three districts (namely, Purulia, Purba Bardhaman and Nadia) of West Bengal. Farm-level marketing efficiency is measured in a framework of data envelopment analysis. Evidence reveals that farmers’ marketing activities determine the level of marketing efficiency. Results show that organic farmers in Nadia district are relatively marketing efficient in comparison to the farmers in Purulia and Purba Bardhaman districts. Moreover, an attempt has been made to identify the determinants of marketing efficiency. The result shows that marketing efficiency is affected by the economic status, level of education, years of farming experience, size of landholding of the farmer household and the type of marketing arrangement.
Countering Cultural Hegemony: The Bharia Community in Central India
Authors: Sunny Yemuna
Published: March 2024

Researching with the Bharia in Central India was a rare opportunity as it is perhaps the only tribal community in the region who are not dispossessed from their habitat in Madhya Pradesh, the Indian province with the largest number of tribal people. Dominant debates rarely take cognisance of the perceptions of the tribal communities. The article tries to map the Bharia voices, their worldview and knowledge that counter the processes of hegemony thrust upon them by the state, the market and non-state players.
Multiple sources of right to an effective remedy in EU migration and asylum law: Towards common standards on judicial protection?
Authors: Słowik Alicja
Published: March 2024

Along with the progressive insertion of the right to an effective remedy in instruments of secondary legislation in different sub-areas of EU migration and asylum law, the question of interplay between the right to an effective remedy guaranteed at the level of primary law (Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights) and secondary law has been gaining more and more importance for the determination of boundaries between matters covered by EU law and those governed by national legislation. The present contribution will seek to examine the interactions between Article 47 of the Charter and the relevant provisions of secondary law in the field of migration and asylum. It will demonstrate that despite dense codification of the right to an effective remedy in different instruments of secondary law, Article 47 of the Charter continues to play a significant role in the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU concerning procedural guarantees conferred upon migrants and asylum seekers. A particular emphasis will be put on the analysis of recent case law developments that reveal the potential of Article 47 of the Charter to serve as a main tool for readjustment of national procedural rules.
Comparison of the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare-funded telepsychiatry and face-to-face consultations: A descriptive study
Authors: Woon Luke S-C , Allison Stephen , Bastiampillai Tarun , Kisely Steve , Maguire Paul , Pring William , Reay Rebecca , Looi Jeffrey CL
Published: March 2024

Objective

Telepsychiatry items in the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) were expanded following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their out-of-pocket costs have not been examined. We describe and compare patient out-of-pocket payments for face-to-face and telepsychiatry (videoconferencing and telephone) MBS items for outpatient psychiatric services to understand the differential out-of-pocket cost burden for patients across these modalities.

Methods

out-of-pocket cost information was obtained from the Medical Costs Finder website, which extracted data from Services Australia’s Medicare claims data in 2021–2022. Cost information for corresponding face-to-face, video, and telephone MBS items for outpatient psychiatric services was compared, including (1) Median specialist fees; (2) Median out-of-pocket payments; (3) Medicare reimbursement amounts; and (4) Proportions of patients subject to out-of-pocket fees.

Results

Medicare reimbursements are identical for all comparable face-to-face and telepsychiatry items. Specialist fees for comparable items varied across face-to-face to telehealth options, with resulting differences in out-of-pocket costs. For video items, higher proportions of patients were not bulk-billed, with greater out-of-pocket costs than face-to-face items. However, the opposite was true for telephone items compared with face-to-face items.

Conclusions

Initial cost analyses of MBS telepsychiatry items indicate that telephone consultations incur the lowest out-of-pocket costs, followed by face-to-face and video consultations.
A Qualitative Analysis of Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of an Interprofessional Counseling Service on Complementary and Integrative Healthcare
Authors: Dürsch Helena , Boltenhagen Ursula , Mahler Cornelia , Joos Stefanie , Szecsenyi Joachim , Klafke Nadja
Published: March 2024

Medical guidelines recommend actively addressing patients’ information needs regarding complementary and integrative healthcare (CIH). Within the CCC-Integrativ study, an interprofessional counseling program on CIH was developed and implemented at four comprehensive cancer centers (CCCs) in Germany. As part of the process evaluation, this study examines cancer patients’ experiences with interprofessional CIH counseling sessions conducted by a physician and a nurse. Forty problem-centered interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using deductive–inductive content analysis based on Kuckartz and Rädiker’s approach. Findings revealed that most participants had prior experience with CIH approaches and were burdened by physiological and psychological symptoms. Counseling sessions focused on cancer- and treatment-related symptoms and appropriate CIH recommendations (e.g., herbal poultice against anxieties and acupressure against nausea). Participants appreciated the mutual exchange and integration of perspectives from different healthcare professions within the interprofessional approach. They noted that the counseling team comprehensively addressed their healthcare and CIH information needs. Suggestions for improvement included the specificity of the CIH recommendations. As the participants only received counseling and no CIH treatments, information about reputable CIH providers was particularly important to many seeking advice. Patients with cancer receiving tailored CIH counseling from two healthcare professionals experienced benefits in CIH counseling for symptom management. The interprofessional teams offered a comprehensive perspective on patients’ needs, proposing personalized recommendations for symptom control. These insights may foster collaboration between healthcare professionals interested in CIH counseling, enabling them to expand and consolidate their counseling services.
Unveiling the Strong Black Woman Schema—Evolution and Impact: A Systematic Review
Authors: Parks Ashley K. , Hayman Laura L.
Published: March 2024

The Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema is described as a statue of unrelenting strength, resilience, and self-sufficiency, serving as a shield of protection and cultural adaptation to suppress and control manifestations of racial and gender oppression. Stemming from superwoman syndrome, a conceptual model exploring the multifactorial roles women hold and their impact, the SBW extends beyond gender roles to the sociopolitical context of the Black woman’s lived experience. Endorsement of the SBW posits risk for health disparities including stress, anxiety, depression, and obesity. This review was conducted to explore the SBW schema and experiences of Black women who endorse it, to delineate how Black women describe themselves in relation to the SBW persona, and to inform further inquiry, nursing practice, and clinical approaches to improving health outcomes of this population. A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted with a literature search from CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, and SocINDEX databases yielding seven relevant papers for this analysis. Studies using the superwoman schema and the SBW schema with participants who identified as Black women were included in the review. Consistent with the SBW phenomenon, many participants described examples and consequences of being an SBW. While most women identified with SBW, not all endorsed the persona entirely, challenging its ideal and reinforcing positive self-care. Themes include (a) Strength by nature, not choice, (b) Suppressed emotion, (c) Success over everything, and (d) Prioritizing others over self. Additional emerging themes are also included. Black women increasingly recognize the negative impacts of the SBW schema, pinpointing how their internal feelings manifest in their external world. The conceptual framework itself is an anomaly, incongruently impacting both the mental and physical health of Black women, further contributing to the long-term health and sociopolitical disparities that Black women experience. Simply acknowledging and understanding these experiences by healthcare practitioners are not enough to prevent or eliminate the risks involved with the endorsement of the SBW schema but rather intentionally addressing these as a contributing social determinant of health that predisposes them to long-term chronic conditions.
“It's On Your Shoulders Now” Transitioning from Child-to-Adult UK Cleft Lip/Palate Services: An Exploration of Young Adults’ Narratives
Authors: McWilliams Danielle , Thornton Maia , Hotton Matthew , Swan Marc C , Marie Stock Nicola
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Treatment for cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in the United Kingdom is administered on a standardised pathway from diagnosis to early adulthood, with options to be re-referred in later life. At age 16, patients become responsible for their treatment decisions. Evidence from the wider health literature indicates this transition can be challenging and that this population may require additional support. The present study explored young people's experiences of transition to adult care in the context of CL/P services, with the aim of identifying support needs and informing future service delivery.

Design

Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 individuals with CL/P (aged 17–25 years) to explore transition experiences. Interviews lasted an average of 69 min and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes, with subthemes, were identified: 1) Readiness for Transition covered feelings of preparedness and how health professionals approached transition; 2) Making Decisions as an Adult described concerns and considerations when making treatment decisions; 3) Finding and Using Support, reflected the roles of caregivers and peers in developing self-advocacy; and 4) Reflections on Transition Care offered insight into how care could be improved.

Conclusion

Individuals born with CL/P may experience challenges in becoming responsible for their own care and treatment decisions. The findings of this study indicate that a dedicated transition protocol may be beneficial, such that adolescents are prepared to confidently access and manage their care into adulthood. Opportunities for improvements in transition planning and provision are discussed.
Pricing and Capacity Design for Profit-Driven and Welfare-Driven Healthcare Providers
Authors: Hua Shengya , Lei Ying , Zhai Xin
Published: March 2024

In choosing healthcare services, price and waiting time are two important factors that matter to patients. Price is set by healthcare providers, while waiting time is usually endogenously determined by patient choice and the healthcare provider's capacity investment. We study the pricing and capacity design for profit-driven hospitals offering two types of healthcare services—regular and premium—serving heterogeneous patients who choose from either of the two types of services. Patients make their choices based on both price and endogenously determined equilibrium waiting time. We then benchmark profit-driven hospitals to welfare-driven hospitals to reveal how the behaviors of for-profit hospitals deviate from the socially optimal outcomes in patients waiting, service capacity, and price. We find that fewer patients are treated by premium services in profit-driven hospitals, and thus profit-driven hospitals invest less in premium service capacity and charge a higher premium for premium services than welfare-driven hospitals. These inefficiency distortions exist in profit-driven hospitals primarily because they are incentivized to differentiate between the waiting times of the two types of service to induce patients to pay a higher premium for premium services. Our results also show that if the inefficiency in patient partition is corrected, profit-driven hospitals would choose the welfare-maximizing level of premium service capacity and thus achieve socially optimal results. However, we also find that regulations such as price ceiling and capacity regulation cannot fully correct the inefficiency in patient partition and capacity decisions of profit-driven hospitals. Lastly, the model is extended in several ways to ensure robustness.
Made Better by Others? When Having More Diverse Colleagues Improves Individual Outcomes
Authors: Goradia Deepa , Byron Kris
Published: March 2024

Research suggests that workgroup diversity influences various group and organizational-level outcomes. However, few studies consider its impact at the individual level, particularly in knowledge-related work, where workers have considerable discretion in making decisions. Our study aims to fill this gap by examining two significant types of workgroup diversity—gender diversity, a kind of bio-demographic diversity, and specialization diversity, a kind of job-related diversity—in a healthcare setting. Using detailed data on the entire patient population of Florida hospitals (10.14 million patients), including 25,187 physicians across 240 hospitals over a period of 4 years, we find that physicians who work in departments with more diverse colleagues (in terms of gender and specialization) have better patient outcomes, for example, a shorter stay, lower cost of treatment and increased likelihood of discharge to home. We find that the impacts of colleague diversity are contingent on departmental focus. Our research shows that specialization diversity, a type of job-related and deep-level difference, especially helps physicians who work in more specialization-diverse departments perform better when their departments are less focused. In contrast, we find that physicians in more gender-diverse departments perform even better when in more focused departments. Our results are robust to alternate explanations and biases arising from patient selection, population demographics, and endogeneity in diversity measures. Our study adds to a relatively small literature in operations management that considers how workgroup diversity (beyond diversity in on-the-job experience) might influence individual performance. Our research also contributes to the emerging conversation on why hiring managers should actively work toward improving workplace diversity.
How to Reduce Microaggression and Other Negative Racial Experiences at Work with Continuous Improvement
Authors: Sodhi ManMohan S
Published: March 2024

While government regulation or company policy can be used to curtail discrimination at work, it is hard to regulate away negative experiences like microaggression or perceptions of discrimination against minority employees in hiring and promotion. Using data from interviews with minority ethnic staff at a UK university, I present evidence of microaggression and minority employees feeling excluded and posit that perceptions of discriminatory policy engender negative perceptions of the organization. I further show the link between employee engagement and organizational performance and propose that minority employees’ negative experiences and perceptions lower their job and organizational engagement and, eventually, impact organizational performance. I offer a solution in the form of an enterprise-wide continuous improvement program that would directly improve organizational performance by improving business processes and indirectly by improving minority employees’ experience, perceptions, and engagement.
Rainbow Operations: Let's Add LGBTQ+ Colors to “Doing Good with Good Operations”
Authors: Arora Priyank
Published: March 2024

Scholars in management science and operations management (MS and OM) continue to make significant contributions to the notion of “doing good with good operations.” Impressively, the MS and OM literature has developed several pro-social sub-streams, such as healthcare operations, sustainability, and nonprofit operations; however, to the best of my knowledge, there are only two studies in the top MS and OM journals that mention LGBTQ+-related terms in their abstracts, keywords, or introductions (one appeared in 1989 and the other in 2021). The LGBTQ+ community is an integral part of society, and the field has significant potential to impact the lives of its members economically and socially. MS and OM scholars could pay greater attention to research problems at the interface of operational decision-making and the LGBTQ+ community, which I term “rainbow operations.” This study advances LGBTQ+ diversity, equity, and inclusion within the MS and OM literature by invoking several existing studies and showcasing how similar state-of-the-art techniques and tools can be used to answer interesting, rich, and impactful research questions concerning rainbow operations. I present motivating examples and supporting statistics, discuss related work by MS and OM scholars, and suggest several avenues for future research around the following three themes: LGBTQ+ clients in service delivery settings, LGBTQ+ employees in contemporary workplaces, and LGBTQ+ community in global supply chains. My goal is to inspire MS and OM scholars to think more broadly about our discipline and offer valuable operations-related perspectives on research problems of relevance to the LGBTQ+ community.
Auricular Acupressure Improve Constipation of Patients With Schizophrenia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Gong Ciao-Min , Huang Hui-Chuan , Liu Ju-Han , Yu Shiou-Shiun , Chen Yu-Ting
Published: March 2024

Background. Constipation is a common distressing problem in patients with schizophrenia that can cause complications and impair quality of life. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of applying auricular acupressure (AA) treatment in improving constipation in patients with schizophrenia. Methods. A crossover randomized controlled trial design was performed from April 2022 to December 2023 at four psychiatric rehabilitation care centers. A total of 23 patients with schizophrenia received an AA intervention or usual care according to the designated treatment sequences. Measurements comprised subjective assessment of constipation by the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire, an objective assessment of the stool pattern rated by a Bristol stool form scale, and heart rate variability. A generalized estimating equation model was used for data analyses. Results. After completing an 8-week AA intervention stimulating the Shenmen, San Jiao, Large intestine and Rectum, the AA group exhibited lower scores in the PAC-SYM total score (difference = −12.66, ,0.001), and the subscales: abdominal (difference = −3.36, p < .001), rectal (difference = −3.51, p < .001), and stool (difference = −5.79, p < .001), compared to those receiving usual care. The cases of constipation indicated by type 1 and type 2 of the BSF scale significantly decreased after the 8-week AA intervention. Moreover, the AA group displayed more parasympathetic dominance compared to the usual care group, with a low frequency to high frequency ratio of −1.15. Conclusion. AA is an effective non-pharmacological method for improving subjective constipation symptoms and objective stool pattern in patients with schizophrenia.
E-Cigarette Brand Trends in the United States: An Investigation of Data From a Youth and Young Adult Sample and the E-Cigarette Retail Market (2022)
Authors: Do Elizabeth K. , Diaz Megan C. , Bertrand Adrian , Liu Shiyang (Michael) , Hair Elizabeth C.
Published: March 2024

Background

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) remain the most used tobacco product among young people in the United States (US). Given the need for current data on popular e-cigarette products, the current study leverages data from a rapid surveillance survey of young people and examines whether the top e-cigarette brands identified from this source align with US market data.

Methodology

Data were obtained from current e-cigarette users (N = 4145) participating in the Truth Continuous Tracker Online (CTO; a cross-sectional tracking survey of 15-24 year-olds sourced from the national Dynata panel) and NielsenIQ retail scanner data, collected in 2022 and aggregated by quarter (Q1, Q2, and Q3). The top 15 e-cigarette brands were determined from respondents’ endorsement in the Truth CTO and ranked total sales in NielsenIQ in nominal dollars.

Results

Overall, 58% of e-cigarette brands overlapped across the Truth CTO and NielsenIQ data (60% for Q1, 47% for Q2 and 67% for Q3). Pod-based (JUUL; VUSE) and disposable (Hyde; Breeze Smoke) brands appeared as top brands in both datasets. Top brands were fairly consistent within and across quarters; though, more variability was found in the Truth CTO, relative to NielsenIQ. Many top brands were disposable.

Conclusions

Results suggest that data from rapid surveillance and retail data can be used complementarily to characterize the popular e-cigarette brands currently on the US market. Many of these popular e-cigarette brands have yet to receive marketing granted orders under the US Food and Drug Administration, suggesting the need to continue monitoring e-cigarette brands among young people.
Children and adolescents’ quality of life in repeated cross-sectional studies during the COVID-19
Authors: de Paiva Rachel Elisa Rodrigues Pereira , de Paula Jonas Jardim , Costa Danielle de Souza , da Silva Lucas Gomes , Malloy-Diniz Leandro Fernandes , Romano-Silva Marco Aurélio , de Miranda Débora Marques
Published: March 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, internalizing and externalizing symptoms have impacted the quality of life of children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study evaluated children’s quality of life using parental reports, observing associations with mental health problems and sociodemographic variables. Some behavioral measures were linked to lower quality of life, particularly depression symptoms, relationship problems, and inattention. Multiple regression models indicated that reduced children’s quality of life ( R2 = 36%) was associated with higher levels of internalizing ( r = −0.46) and externalizing ( r = −0.23) behavioral problems and younger parents ( r = −0.08). Children with previous mental disorder diagnoses had lower quality of life than those without ( p < 0.001). In summary, children’s quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to current mental health, parental age, and previous history of mental disorders.
The geopolitics of queer archives: Contested Chineseness and queer Sinophone affiliations between Hong Kong and Taiwan
Authors: Liu Wen , Li Eva Cheuk-Yin
Published: March 2024

Hong Kong and Taiwan, two Sinophone societies peripheral to continental China, have divergent colonial pasts and distinct cultures. Yet, their fates have been increasingly intertwined since the rise of China in the global economy. We propose the geopolitics of queer archives to trace minor–minor exchanges of queer knowledge and activism that are neither officially recognized by the state nor mapped into mainstream discussions of international relations. Through a conjunctural analysis of queer scholarship in Hong Kong and Taiwan since the 1980s, we contest the notion of Chineseness in shaping the knowledge of queer sexualities and argue that a wholesale recycling of postcolonial critique on these two societies’ resistance to China risk reproducing US-centrism.
Study on structural performance of repaired reinforced concrete beams with partially debonded longitudinal rebars
Authors: Hattori Tsubasa , Sakata Hiroyasu , Maida Yusuke , Kawahara Akihiro , Maegawa Toshio
Published: March 2024

In order to evaluate the structural performance of repaired RC beams with partially debonded longitudinal rebars, structural experiments were conducted. In the experiments, real-scale and half-scale RC beam specimens underwent cyclic loading of 1.0% or less in terms of deformation angle, repaired with epoxy resin injection method, and multiple cyclic loading again. As a result of the experiments, damage was suppressed in specimens with partially debonded longitudinal rebars even after repairs. Further, the specimens with partially debonded longitudinal rebars exhibited high recovery of initial stiffness after repair compared to the specimen with bonded longitudinal rebars. In addition, from study of the costs required to repair cracks, it was confirmed that RC beams with partially debonded longitudinal rebars used smaller quantities of materials used for repairs and could potentially reduce repair cost by approximately 50% compared to RC beams having standard bonding properties.
Influence of Ni and PWHT on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of GTA-welded duplex stainless steel and super duplex stainless steel joints: A comparative investigation
Authors: Abbasi Mahmoud , Vanani Behrouz Bagheri , Tahaei Ali , Garagnani Gian Luca
Published: March 2024

In the present investigation, a new endeavor has been made to analyze the impact of the secondary process (post-weld heat treatment (PWHT)) as well as Ni addition on the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of welds. Welds between similar joining materials from duplex stainless steels (DSS), as well as super DSS (SDSS), were made by the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. For DSS, after PWHT with the addition of Ni element, the amount of austenite rises and becomes more uniformly distributed with curved boundaries, while for SDSS, the microstructure mainly consists of intergranular and Widmanstätten austenite. According to the comparison of phase percentages obtained based on both ASTM E1245 and ASTM E562, a good balance between ferrite and austenite phases of joint materials was achieved. X-ray diffraction analyses on both joints revealed that phases are mainly ferrite and austenite with different lattice parameters without evidence of unwanted intermetallic phases. The addition of Ni increases the hardness values of DSS weld metal compared to the base metal due to an increased amount of Widmanstätten austenite and ferrite in the microstructure. The lowest ductility was obtained for the SDSS weld sample with the addition of Ni and PWHT because of the existence of secondary austenite in the weld metal and the Widmanstätten morphology of the austenite. The effect of PWHT on the development of microstructure and mechanical behaviors was more than the effect of nickel powder on weld samples.
The experiences and perspectives of older adult mental health professional staff teams when supporting people with young-onset dementia
Authors: Faulkner Thomas , Dickinson Julie , Limbert Stan , Giebel Clarissa
Published: March 2024

Background. The diagnosis of young-onset dementia presents significant challenges both for the person and their families, which often differ from the challenges faced with late-onset dementia. Evidence of the experience of service users and carers tends to reveal a negative appraisal of the care received, citing longer diagnosis times, poor clinician knowledge and lack of age-appropriate care. However, evidence looking into staff experiences of supporting someone with young-onset dementia is relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and reflections of health and social care staff who support people with young-onset dementia within older adult mental health services, and whether their knowledge of the systems they work in could reveal the existence of barriers or facilitators to young-onset dementia care. Methods. Health and social care professionals working with people and carers with young-onset dementia across England were remotely interviewed between September and December 2021. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings. Sixteen staff members were interviewed. Three themes were constructed with six sub-themes. The first theme related to the perception of greater complexity around young-onset dementia support. The second theme describes staff fears around their ability to effectively support people with young-onset dementia, including the perception that young-onset dementia requires specialist input. The final theme describes systemic and structural inefficiencies which provide additional challenges for staff. Conclusions. Providing effective support for people with young-onset dementia and their families requires adjustments both within the clinician role and mental health services. Staff considered young-onset dementia support to be a specialist intervention and felt the services they work for are suited to generic mental health and dementia provision. Findings are discussed with recommendations relating to developing a standardised model of dementia care for young-onset dementia which recognises and responds to the unique experiences of young-onset dementia.
Moral foundations in gender violence cases decided in Portuguese courts
Authors: Martinho Andreia , Kroesen Maarten , Chorus Caspar
Published: March 2024

Gender violence encompasses a multitude of morally problematic psychological, physical, and sexual behaviors that, in most countries, constitute criminal offenses. In this study, we investigate the association between moral foundations ( Care, Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity) and punitive responses to gender violence offenses. Our case study focuses on gender violence in Portugal, a country in which these offenses are a prevalent social problem. We collected data on gender violence legal cases decided in Portuguese courts between 2002 and 2022, and we used a latent class cluster analysis model to identify the complex patterns in the data and reduce such patterns to a distinct number of clusters. Four main clusters unravel latent relations between the foundations mapped in the legal narratives and corresponding punitive responses: (i) Affirmative with suspended prison time (moral rhetoric rooted in Authority); (ii) Mixed outcomes but no prison time (moral rhetoric rooted in Sanctity); (iii) Affirmative with lengthy prison time large compensation (moral rhetoric rooted in Loyalty and Care); and (iv) Affirmative with court fines (moral rhetoric rooted in Fairness). The moral foundations provide a valuable lens to understand the problem of gender violence, but further research is needed to establish the causal mechanisms between morality and punitive responses to gender violence.
The Culturally Infused Curricular Framework (CICF) for Suicide Prevention Trainings
Authors: Chiu Lorna , Corpus Gabriel H. , Lien Mego , Chu Joyce P.
Published: March 2024

Although suicide prevention trainings (SPT) have been a standard approach for suicide prevention for years, researchers have noted a need for more clarity in the definition of core competencies for SPTs, particularly in the areas of diversity and culture. Recent research has identified key theoretically- and empirically-based cultural considerations for suicide prevention, but translation is needed to infuse these standards for culture-related competencies into SPTs. This study performed a systematic literature review with a thematic synthesis analytic approach to establish a set of curricular guidelines for infusion of cultural considerations into SPTs. The study also examined the extent to which existing community trainings already incorporate cultural components. Based on the thematic synthesis of 39 SPT studies from 2010 to 2020 and seminal reviews of the cultural and suicide literature, results identified three overarching categories of cultural curricular competencies (suicide knowledge and awareness, suicide intervention skills, and curriculum delivery) and 14 core cultural curricular subthemes for community trainings (e.g., culturally informed risk factors and warning signs, systemic inequities, etc.). These three categories with 14 core cultural curricular competencies comprise the Culturally Infused Curricular Framework (CICF) for Suicide Prevention Trainings. The majority of trainings (62%) included five or less out of 14 total possible core cultural competencies in their training curricula, pointing to insufficient integration of cultural components in existing community trainings. This study’s research-based guideline establishes a culture-inclusive framework to strengthen content and approach of community trainings and suicide prevention across cultural groups.
Interaction of material- and structural elasticity – an approach towards a physiological compliance in small-caliber vascular grafts
Authors: Loewen Alexander , Gesché Valentine , Kossel Klas , Paar Georg , Andre Dominic , Jockenhoevel Stefan
Published: March 2024

Research purpose: The low patency rate (less than 50% at a 5-years follow-up) of commercial vascular grafts is strongly associated with compliance mismatch between graft und native artery. To address this deficit, we investigated the influence of the material and structural elasticity on the compliance behavior of small caliber vascular graft gaining for a stress-strain behavior adapted to the native vessel. Material & Methods: By combining different thermoplastic polycarbonate urethanes (TPU) fibers with different elasticity and non-elastic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers in different warp knitted tubular textile structures, we incorporate material and structural elasticity in a vascular graft (I.D. < 6 mm). The evaluation of the tubular fabrics is performed by determining the compliance properties in a mean pressure range between 20 and 120 mmHg by tensile testing. Results: We identified the draw ration of the TPU fiber production, the stitch course density of the fabric and the thread tension of the TPU yarn during the warp knitting process as statistically highly significant effects ( p < .005) on the compliance. With an adapted setting of those parameters, we were able to improve the compliance of the textile vascular grafts over the entire physiological pressure range (20–120 mmHg) by 400–630 % compared to current clinical ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) grafts towards native vessels. Conclusion: By combining material and structural elasticity in a warp knitted textile structure, we were able to biomimic the compliance towards physiological properties. Our approach can be seen as blueprint to adapt elasticity properties in other implant applications.
Clopidogrel versus newer P2Y12 inhibitors in the dual antiplatelet therapy for stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms: A meta-analysis
Authors: Batista Sávio , Camerotte Raphael , Pinheiro Agostinho C. , Costermani Igor , Bishay Anthony , Almeida Filho José Alberto , Palavani Lucca B. , Bertoli Edmundo Damiani , Bertani Raphael , Ellis Jason A. , Serulle Yafell , Ferreira Christian
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) for cerebral aneurysms requires dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), commonly clopidogrel plus aspirin is preferable to ticagrelor or prasugrel plus aspirin. However, there are few studies assessing the safety of the association of ticagrelor or prasugrel plus aspirin.

Objectives

Compare the safety of newer P2Y12 inhibitors with clopidogrel in patients that underwent a SACE for cerebral aneurysms.

Methods

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, we searched PubMed and Embase for studies comparing newer P2Y12 inhibitors with clopidogrel in patients undergoing DAPT for SACE. Outcomes were total number of complications, number of hemorrhagic complications, and number of thromboembolic complications both intraoperative and follow-up. A random effects model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

We included 1026 patients from six studies. Newer P2Y12 inhibitors were used in 562 (54,77%) patients. There were no significant differences between groups in total number of complications (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.32, 1.99; p < 0.01; I2 = 78%), in intraoperative hemorrhagic complications (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.09, 4.71; p = 0.68; I2 = 0%), follow-up hemorrhagic complications (OR 1.23; 95% CI 0.70, 2.15; p = 0.49; I2 = 0%), intraoperative thromboembolic complications (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.14, 1.35; p = 0.25; I2 = 24%), and in follow-up thromboembolic complications (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.33, 2.39; p = 0.03; I2 = 59%).

Conclusion

In patients who underwent a SACE, newer P2Y12 inhibitors showed no differences in intraoperative and follow-up complications compared with clopidogrel.
Optimizing platelet inhibition in peripheral artery disease: A comparison of mono-antiplatelet therapy and dual-antiplatelet therapy using thromboelastography
Authors: Lee Ivy , Suarez Sasha , Hall Ryan , Majumdar Monica , Bellomo Tiffany , Jessula Samuel , Nuzzolo Kathryn , Jefferson Douglas M. , Zacharias Nikolaos , Dua Anahita
Published: March 2024

Background

Antiplatelet therapy is used to prevent thrombosis in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) following revascularization. However, the current standard of care for these patients remains at the physician’s discretion, varying from mono-antiplatelet therapy (MAPT) to dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Viscoelastic assays such as Thromboelastography with Platelet Mapping (TEG-PM) provide insight into individual coagulation profiles and measure real-time platelet function. This prospective, observational study looks at the differences in platelet function for patients on MAPT versus DAPT using TEG-PM.

Methods

Patients with PAD undergoing revascularization were prospectively evaluated between December 2020 and June 2023. TEG-PM analysis compared platelet function for patients prescribed MAPT (aspirin or clopidogrel) at the initial encounter and DAPT (aspirin and clopidogrel) at the next visit. Platelet function measured in percent inhibition was evaluated at these visits, and within-group t-tests were performed.

Results

Of the 195 patients enrolled, 486 samples were analyzed by TEG-PM. Sixty-four patients met the study criteria. At the initial visit, 52 patients had been prescribed aspirin, and 12 patients had been prescribed clopidogrel. For patients initially prescribed aspirin MAPT, an increase of 96.8%in the mean ADP platelet inhibition was exhibited when transitioning to DAPT [22.0% vs. 43.3%, p < .01], as well as an increase of 34.6%in the mean AA platelet inhibition when transitioning to DAPT [60.9% vs. 82.0%, p < .01]. For patients prescribed initial clopidogrel MAPT, an increase of 100% in AA platelet inhibition was exhibited on DAPT compared to the MAPT state [42.3% vs. 84.6%, p < .01].

Conclusions

Patients on DAPT showed a significant increase in platelet inhibition when compared to initial aspirin MAPT. A significant difference in AA %platelet inhibition was shown for patients on DAPT when compared to initial clopidogrel MAPT. The results show that patients may benefit from DAPT post-revascularization. Personalizing antiplatelet therapy with objective viscoelastic testing to confirm adequate treatment may be the next step in optimizing patient outcomes to reduce thrombosis in PAD patients.
Short-term patency of iliofemoral to tibial bypass with vascular allografts in a minority population: A retrospective analysis of a single center acute care facility
Authors: Murray-Ramcharan Max , Donaldson Brian , Rizvi Syed Ali Raza
Published: March 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the short-term patency rates and associated factors of open lower limb, iliofemoral to tibial bypass using cryopreserved saphenous vein (CSV) in a minority population at an acute care hospital in New York City.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing infra-inguinal bypass from iliofemoral vessels to tibial arteries with CSV between March 2020–April 2022 at an acute care facility (Harlem Hospital Center, Harlem, New York) was performed. Data including patient demographics, comorbidities, type of operation, follow-up surveillance, and salvage procedures were collected. Results were presented in patency line graphs and a life table. Target limb revascularization (TLR) and amputation free survival (AFS) were also calculated.

Results

Eleven bypass procedures were included in the analysis. Patients were followed for a mean of 10.8 months. Cumulative primary patency rates at 1, 6, and 12 months were 72.7%, 54.5%, and 40.9%, respectively. TLR was 36.4% and the AFS was 66.67% at the mean 10.8-month follow-up.

Conclusions

The patency rates of minority patients undergoing bypass with CSV were analyzed with creation of a life table and calculation of patency rates, TLR and AFS. The short-term primary patency rates and post-operative outcomes were found to be comparable to larger studies in non-minority cohorts. These results suggest that larger studies as well as prospective analyses and randomized controlled trials in this patient cohort and demographic are needed, as well as optimal selection of patients to determine true clinical implications.
Effects of inflammation on the properties of Nav1.8-ChR2-positive and Nav1.8-ChR2-negative afferent mechanoreceptors in the hindpaw glabrous skin of mice
Authors: Yamada Akihiro , Yamada Ayaka , Ling Jennifer , Furue Hidemasa , Gu Jianguo G
Published: March 2024

We recently used Nav1.8-ChR2 mice in which Nav1.8-expressing afferents were optogenetically tagged to classify mechanosensitive afferents into Nav1.8-ChR2-positive and Nav1.8-ChR2-negative mechanoreceptors. We found that the former were mainly high threshold mechanoreceptors (HTMRs), while the latter were low threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs). In the present study, we further investigated whether the properties of these mechanoreceptors were altered following tissue inflammation. Nav1.8-ChR2 mice received a subcutaneous injection of saline or Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) in the hindpaws. Using the hind paw glabrous skin-tibial nerve preparation and the pressure-clamped single-fiber recordings, we found that CFA-induced hind paw inflammation lowered the mechanical threshold of many Nav1.8-ChR2-positive Aβ-fiber mechanoreceptors but heightened the mechanical threshold of many Nav1.8-ChR2-negative Aβ-fiber mechanoreceptors. Spontaneous action potential impulses were not observed in Nav1.8-ChR2-positive Aβ-fiber mechanoreceptors but occurred in Nav1.8-ChR2-negative Aβ-fiber mechanoreceptors with a lower mechanical threshold in the saline goup, and a higher mechanical threshold in the CFA group. No significant change was observed in the mechanical sensitivity of Nav1.8-ChR2-positive and Nav1.8-ChR2-negative Aδ-fiber mechanoreceptors and Nav1.8-ChR2-positive C-fiber mechanoreceptors following hind paw inflammation. Collectively, inflammation significantly altered the functional properties of both Nav1.8-ChR2-positive and Nav1.8-ChR2-negative Aβ-fiber mechanoreceptors, which may contribute to mechanical allodynia during inflammation.