bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sleep Profiles of Caregivers for Persons Living with Dementia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Brewster Glenna S. , Pierpaoli Parker Christina , Epps Fayron , Bonds Johnson Kalisha , Yeager Katherine A.
Published: May 2023

Sleep disturbance is prevalent among caregivers of people living with dementia. However, gaps exist about caregivers’ sleep patterns before and during their caregiving trajectory. This exploratory secondary analysis using a qualitative descriptive approach aimed to (1) identify and describe current caregivers’ patterns of change in sleep before and during caregiving, and (2) understand caregivers’ perceptions of their current sleep compared to their pre-caregiving sleep. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 caregivers taking part in a larger randomized controlled trial. Participants were female (n = 11), white (n = 13) and on average 63 years of age. Interview questions focused on caregivers’ sleep patterns. The interviews were audio-recorded using a videoconferencing platform and ranged from 20 to 45 minutes. We conducted thematic analysis of the interview transcripts. Three distinct caregiver-sleep profiles emerged from the qualitative data: changed and dissatisfied, changed and satisfied, and unchanged and dissatisfied. Caregivers whose sleep was categorized as changed reported a difference when comparing their current sleep pattern to their pre-caregiving sleep pattern. This was usually a change from good to poor sleep. Caregivers whose sleep was unchanged had poor sleep pre-caregiving and continued to have poor sleep during caregiving. Caregivers also reported being satisfied or dissatisfied with their current sleep pattern, defined in terms of distress and impairment. These three subtypes highlight the heterogeneity of caregivers’ sleep experiences and debut a useful clinical framework with which to identify, categorize, and target caregivers at risk for sleep disturbance, many who may be ready to engage in behaviors to improve their sleep. Knowing caregivers’ sleep profiles will enable health care providers and researchers to determine caregivers’ needs and readiness for interventions then work collaboratively with them to improve their sleep problems.
Disseminated neoplasia in cultured hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria)
Authors: Miller Bryce , Sturmer Leslie , Roberts John
Published: May 2023

Marine bivalves are commonly affected by disseminated neoplasia of presumed hemocytic origin (i.e., hemic neoplasia and hemocytic neoplasia). Histopathology of 520 cultured hard clams ( Mercenaria mercenaria) from Florida was performed for health surveillance over a consecutive 13-month period. Disseminated neoplasia was identified in 9 of 520 animals (1.7%). The neoplasia was characterized by the presence of large, round to oval, anaplastic cells within hemolymphatic vessels and sinusoids with variable infiltration into adjacent connective tissues of the visceral mass, mantle, foot, and/or adductor muscles. Frequent involvement and/or infiltration of the gill was also identified (5/9). Disseminated neoplasia in other species of clams, mussels, and cockles is considered a transmissible disease. At this time, it is unknown if these hard clams represent de novo development of the disease or potential transmission; however, this report expands both the geographic and host range for this condition.
Does being Indigenous imply being religious? Anthropology, heritage, and historiography in Mexico
Authors: Jacobsen Casper
Published: May 2023

For decades, indigenist anthropology has been considered indefensible in Mexico. Its conception of Indigeneity persists, however, as a resource for national heritage and identity construction. This article analyses works on Indigenous peoples by prominent Mexican scholars and traces their links to contemporary heritage narratives and practices. It discusses how a national anthropological historiography, embedded in a secularizing ideology and state project, has generated a popular, transhistorical view of Indigenous peoples as embedded in a world of religious belief. I contend that this gaze has a dematerializing discursive effect, dissociating Indigenous peoples, past and present, from material agendas and practices. This is a dispossessive narrative tradition that is being regenerated through the framework of intangible heritage.
Banking on alternative credit scores: Auditing the calculative infrastructure of U.S. consumer lending
Authors: McCanless Michael
Published: May 2023

Alternative credit scores have become an increasingly important tool for lenders to assess risk and authorize investment in consumer debt. Using alternative data and processing techniques that leverage machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), these models are designed to bypass existing barriers to risk-based pricing, which is the idea that financial institutions offer different interest rates to consumers based on their likelihood of default. Through an algorithmic audit of one lender's (Upstart) credit scoring model, I find that alternative data, particularly whether an applicant has a bachelor's degree, strongly impacted loan outcomes. This raises important equity concerns about overhauling lending criteria via opaque models that restructure the logic of risk assessment. In following the logic of risk assessment generated by Upstart's model, I also audit three fintech-bank partnerships and examine the balance sheets of banks providing capital via Upstart's platform. This is done to demonstrate rising capital allocation to these types of loans at banks engaged in fintech-bank partnerships, in one case rising from 0.14% to 15.6% of the banks’ balance sheet over three years. My analysis shows that alternative credit scoring systems function as a key piece of calculative infrastructure, which allows some institutions to bypass barriers to risk-based pricing, and becomes an infrastructural site for tech startups to partner with financial institutions seeking out new sources of revenue.
‘Arán an Lae Amáireach’: Flour Extraction and Fortification in Emergency Ireland, 1939–1948
Authors: Adamson Kelly
Published: May 2023

During the Second World War (1939–1945), the rate that flour was extracted from wheat to make wholemeal bread was continuously increased to save wheat supplies in Ireland. Once the dangers of eating this bread became known, doctors and scientists advocated that extraction rates be reduced alongside the fortification of flour to counteract the potential side effects. Despite several calls for action, no changes were made until connections were drawn between calcium deficiency, rickets and tuberculosis (TB). This article uses flour as a case study to understand the complexities of introducing health policy at critical periods, such as war. While interest in public health was raised due to the war, the war also ensured that attempts at sound food policies were limited. Higher extraction rates temporarily relieved wartime pressures, but this had severe health effects on the wider population. By mapping flour extraction rates alongside the incidence of disease, this article argues that political short-terminism exacerbated public health problems as symbolised in the black loaf. It was the medical profession that managed to successfully encourage action on the sole basis that flour extraction had created a health crisis among children and the poor.
Unmasked: A History of the Individualization of Risk
Authors: Krippner Greta R.
Published: May 2023

In this article, I explore how risk transformed from being understood as a property of groups to being understood as a property of individuals by examining the history of public and private insurance in the United States. Rather than locate changes in how risk is managed in our society in the “great risk shift” that occurred with the emergence of neoliberalism, I suggest the individualization of risk in recent decades is only the latest instantiation of a recurrent conflict between security and freedom that has marked the evolution of capitalism. Seen from this longer historical perspective, the “personal responsibility revolution” appears not as the handiwork of neoliberal policymakers but, rather, as the unintended result of social movements that contested discriminatory practices in insurance markets. Thus, paradoxically, my account suggests that struggles against discrimination seeded the individualization of risk that is now the hallmark of neoliberal capitalism.
Youth Perception of Urban Vitality: A PhotoVoice Study on the Everyday Experiences of Public Space
Authors: Gómez-Varo Irene , Delclòs-Alió Xavier , Miralles-Guasch Carme , Marquet Oriol
Published: May 2023

Promoting urban vitality has become an increasingly important focus among urban planners in the last decade. However, most definitions about what urban vitality consists of are based on quantitative methods, while the meaning and implications of vitality also need to be understood qualitatively. We conducted a study based on the PhotoVoice method in a low-income district in Barcelona, Spain, to explore how vitality is constructed among young people, a traditionally underrepresented group within the urban discussion and decision-making. The method, based on photography and group discussion, has proven effective to incorporate subjective perceptions and everyday life experiences on the understanding of the elements that contribute to urban vitality.
An empirical study of CMT-welded interface features and corrosion characteristics of dissimilar joints
Authors: Selvamani S.T. , Bakkiyaraj M. , Yoganandan G. , N Dilip Raja
Published: May 2023

The goal of this work is to investigate the interface microstructure of the cold metal transfer (CMT) welded dissimilar (AA6061 sheet-galvanized steel sheet) joint at maximum tensile strength (TS) by optimizing the welding parameters using response surface methodology. To attain maximum strength, CMT process variables like voltage (V), current (I), and wire feed rate (WFR) are used to rotate against the output response. The optimized dissimilar joint exhibited a sound appearance without any visible defects and better TS of 141 Mpa as the voltage of 13.9 volts, current of 100 amps, and WFR of 6.2 m/min was given as input. Furthermore, the third intermetallic compound formed at the weld interface at optimized conditions due to controlled heat input was found to be well-controlled and less than 9 um. The weld interface and base metal on the aluminium side of the joints fabricated under various conditions showed larger grains than on the steel side. In addition, the optimized joint was performed to evaluate the corrosion rate, and the results showed 6.8 µA/cm2. The fracture morphology of the joint reveals that the Fe2Al5 compound layer on the aluminium WZ was where joint fractures were most often seen. The aluminium particles on the steel side were found to be unaffected and were observed in the majority of the dissimilar joints at the WZ owing to the intact bonding between the aluminium particles and steel matrix.
Pressure drop of turbulent flow across pipe bends
Authors: Al-Tameemi Wameedh TM , Kader Ekhlas Edan
Published: May 2023

Pressure drop of turbulent flow across 90[Formula: see text] round bends with 10mm inside diameter investigated by employing the shear stress transport [Formula: see text] turbulent model for numerous curvature ratios and flow conditions. A total of 10 flow velocities varied from 1 to 10 m/s and 17 curvature radii between 5 and 300  mm were examined. Velocity profiles were evaluated at eight locations to examine the entrance effect. The simulation results were verified by comparing the evaluated Darcy friction factor with a well-known published correlation. The obtained results of bend pressure drop demonstrate the domination of the curvature ratio effect on the pressure drop over the influence of other factors. The computed pressure loss across the bend in terms of pressure loss coefficient [Formula: see text] and equivalent length to diameter ratio [Formula: see text] shows a good agreement with various published data in the literature with [Formula: see text] maximum average error. The coincidence between the results and the published data verifies the accuracy of the employed model to evaluate the pressure drop of turbulent flow throughout 90[Formula: see text] bends for the applied boundary conditions.
Development of numerical scheme using boundary element method for heat conduction problems
Authors: Asghar Ali , Ahmad Muhammad O , Bashir Muhammad N , Ramzan Muhammad , Bashir Muhammad Aun , Shehzad Sabir Ali
Published: May 2023

This paper deals with the boundary element method solution of set of parabolic differential equations of heat conducting problems with continuous and discontinuous boundary conditions. Time-dependent terms have been used as a non-homogeneous forcing function by changing a parabolic differential equation into a Poisson's equation. The suggested approach for solving the Poisson equation has been modified which decreases the number of algebraic equations and reduces the computational time. The constant coefficient matrix and LU decomposition provide an economical means for the solution of the concern problem. The discretization of the boundary of parabolic differential equations with respect to (w.r.t.) time is one of the main features of this article. Direct determination of unknown at interior points is also trademark of the proposed method. The method has been supported by examples, which include discontinuous boundary conditions and non-homogeneous forcing terms to highlight its effectiveness and accuracy.
Synergistic effects of TiC/GNP strengthening on the mechanical and tribological properties of Al6061 matrix composites coupled with process optimization by artificial neural network
Authors: Turkoglu Turker , Celik Sare
Published: May 2023

This study presents the strengthening of Al6061 alloy with titanium carbide (TiC) and graphene nano-platelets (GNPs), and the synergetic effect of these reinforcements on the microstructure, mechanical, and wear properties. The raw materials were combined in powder form in a hot press under a range of conditions (sintering temperature: 450 °C, 500 °C, or 550 °C, sintering time: 15, 30, or 45 minutes; and sintering pressure: 50, 100, or 150 MPa) to produce strengthened alloys containing 4, 8, or 12 wt.% TiC and 0.5, 1, or 1.5 wt.% GNP. A range of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the reinforcement was uniformly distributed across the matrix. Raman spectroscopy showed that not there were no structural defects introduced into GNP during the mixing process of composite powders. Wear tests showed that minimum wear loss was obtained with an Al6061/TiC (8 wt.%)/GNP (1 wt.%) composite sintered at 500 °C and 100 MPa for 15 minutes. This same composite also displayed a decrease in the coefficient of friction (COF) of up to 69% when compared to unreinforced material. Examination of the areas of wear by SEM showed mixed type wear to be the dominant wear mechanism. Artificial neural network (ANN) was used to identify the impacts of different production parameters on wear loss. The trained ANN model was found to be highly accurate in predicting the wear properties of Al6061/TiC/GNP composites and could be used to generate an optimum set of production parameters to minimize wear loss without the need for costly and time-consuming experimentation.
Post COVID-19 workplace ostracism and counterproductive behaviors: Moral leadership
Authors: Ali Awad Nadia Hassan , Mohamed El Sayed Boshra Karem
Published: May 2023

Background

The wide proliferation of Covid-19 has impacted billions of people all over the world. This catastrophic pandemic outbreak and ostracism at work have posed challenges for all healthcare professionals, especially for nurses, and have led to a significant increase in the workload, several physical and mental problems, and a change in behavior that is more negative and counterproductive. Therefore, leadership behaviors that are moral in nature serve as a trigger and lessen the adverse workplace effects on nurses’ conduct.

Aim

this research is directed to explore the impact of post-COVID-19 workplace ostracism on nurses’ counterproductive behavior and examine the role of moral leadership as a mediating factor in post-COVID-19 workplace ostracism and nurses’ counterproductive behavior.

Ethical consideration

Ethical review and approval Was received from Ethical Committee at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Methods

A cross-sectional and correlation study was implemented in all units of medical, surgical, critical and intensive care units by using three tools; moral leadership questionnaire, Workplace Ostracism Instrument (WOS), and Counterproductive Work Behaviors Questionnaire (CWBs). A convenient sample of 340 from 699 bedside nurses was granted.

Results

This study revealed that nurses’ perceived moderate mean percent (55.49 ± 3.46) of overall workplace ostracism and counterproductive behavior (74.69 ± 6.15). However, they perceived a low mean percentage of moral leadership. There was a significant positive correlation between workplace ostracism and counterproductive behavior. Otherwise, a significant negative correlation was found between moral leadership, workplace ostracism and counterproductive behavior. Also, this study proved the mediating effect of moral leadership in decreasing workplace ostracism by 79.3% and counterproductive behavior by 36.7%.

Conclusion

Hospital administrators need to be aware of the significance of moral leadership and apply integrity in the clinical setting to reduce the drawback of isolation on nurses' conduct and increase value for the organization as a whole and nurses in particular.
Barriers Preventing the Reporting of Incidents and Near Misses Among Healthcare Professionals
Authors: Almansour Husam
Published: May 2023

Reporting of incidents and near misses among healthcare professionals can help target improvement efforts and system changes to reduce the likelihood of patient injury. This study explored barriers that hinder healthcare professionals’ disclosure of incidents and near misses in hospital settings in Saudi Arabia. Cross-sectional data were collected using a qualitative semi-structured interview with 30 participants, including surgeons, physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, and healthcare quality staff during January and February 2020. Barriers reported by the participants were classified across six themes: fear, lack of knowledge, lack of leadership support, workload, reporting system, and lack of motivation. Health leaders must ensure that the reporting process is planned, designed, and implemented in a nonpunitive manner. When selecting middle-level managers, their knowledge regarding quality of care and patient safety practices should be assessed. The findings of this study add to existing knowledge regarding the barriers preventing the reporting of incidents and near misses among healthcare professionals.
Assessment of Feelings Towards Advanced Care Planning in the Latino Community
Authors: Caplan Holden , Santos Jasmine , Bershad Mariya , Spritzer Kathleen , Liantonio John
Published: May 2023

Background

Previous studies have noted that participation in advanced care planning (ACP) and end-of-life (EOL) discussions remain low among Latino communities. Various studies have found that interventions within Latino communities can positively improve engagement in ACP, however, minimal research exists regarding patient satisfaction of ACP discussions with healthcare providers outside of preorganized educational interventions. Our study aims to understand how conversations about ACP are perceived by Latino patients in a primary care setting.

Methods

Subjects were identified from the institution's family medicine clinic from October 2021 to October 2022. Participants were those over the age of 50 who identified as Latino and were available at the clinic on the day of survey administration. An 8-question, 5-point, Likert scale survey assessed perceptions about ACP planning and gauged satisfaction of conversations with health care providers. The survey concluded with a multiple-choice question inquiring about individuals whom patients have spoken to regarding ACP/EOL wishes. Survey data was gathered through Qualtrics.

Results

Of the 33 patients, the majority have at least somewhat thought about their EOL wishes (avg = 3.48/5). Most usually felt they were given enough time with their doctor (avg = 4.12/5) and comfortable speaking about ACP and EOL decisions (avg = 4.55/5). Generally, participants felt somewhat happy with how their doctor has spoken about ACP/EOL care (avg = 3.24/5). However, patients only felt a little to somewhat satisfied with the explanation of ACP/EOL from providers (avg = 2.82/5) and a little to somewhat confident in having the proper forms in place (avg = 2.76/5). Religious officials were a little to somewhat important to these conversations (avg = 2.55/5). Overall, patients have discussed ACP more frequently with family members and friends than health care providers, lawyers, or religious leaders.

Conclusions

The initial data demonstrates that many Latino patients are engaging in ACP conversations, both with healthcare providers and loved ones. Patients largely feel comfortable discussing EOL wishes with their doctor suggesting a trustful relationship. However, patients are only somewhat happy with these ACP conversations. Our study highlights a need for enhanced ACP education to improve satisfaction and confidence in formal documentation. Physicians should continue to engage and individualize ACP discussions to increase EOL preparedness among Latino patients.
Online Modules to Alleviate Burnout and Related Symptoms Among Interdisciplinary Staff in Long-Term Care: A Pre-post Feasibility Study
Authors: Puyat Joseph H. , Pott Karen , Leclerc Anne , Song Annes , Choi You Na , Chan Kit , Bernard Chris , Rodney Patricia
Published: May 2023

Background

The rising trend of providing palliative care to residents in Canadian long-term care facilities places additional demands on care staff, increasing their risk of burnout. Interventions and strategies to alleviate burnout are needed to reduce its impact on quality of patient care and overall functioning of healthcare organizations.

Aim

To examine the feasibility of implementing online modules with the primary goal of determining recruitment and retention rates, completion time and satisfaction with the modules. A secondary goal was to describe changes in burnout and related symptoms associated with completing the modules.

Setting

This single-arm, nonrandomized feasibility study was conducted in five long-term care sites of a publicly-funded healthcare organization in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Eligible participants were clinical staff who worked at least 1 day per month.

Results

A total of 103 study participants consented to participate, 31 (30.1%) of whom were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 72 participants, 64 (88.9%) completed the modules and all questionnaires. Most participants completed the modules in an hour (89%) and found them easy to understand (98%), engaging (84%), and useful (89%). Mean scores on burnout and secondary traumatic stress decreased by .9 (95% CI: .1-1.8; d = .3) and 1.4 (95% CI: .4-2.4; d = .4), respectively; mean scores on compassion satisfaction were virtually unchanged.

Conclusions

Modules that teach strategies to reduce burnout among staff in long-term care are feasible to deliver and have the potential to reduce burnout and related symptoms. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess effectiveness and longer-term impact.
Pre-Service Principals in a Principal Preparation Program: Leadership Practices as a Response to COVID-19
Authors: Irby Beverly J. , Abdelrahman Nahed , Lara-Alecio Rafael , Tong Fuhui , Elfarargy Hamada
Published: May 2023

The COVID 19 pandemic affected individuals and institutions globally, especially schools. As schools temporarily closed, teachers and administrators worked to develop innovative solutions to the problems generated by the crisis. In this qualitative case study, we examined the impact of leadership practices and responses to the COVID 19 pandemic as perceived by the pre-service principals who were enrolled in a university principal preparation program. Forty-four pre-service principals participated in an open-ended survey to identify leadership practices during the pandemic. Pre-service principals, in the findings, identified five main practices they experienced to overcome the pandemic’s challenges: (a) distributing meals for students and their families; (b) issuing learning materials and devices; (c) coordinating online instructions; (d) assisting leadership teams; and (e) leading professional development sessions to integrate the school teams’ experiences. The research team expects that these findings could assist decision makers in creating new leadership strategies to respond to the natural crisis that society is experiencing.
Implementation of a Population-Based Cancer Family History Screening Program for Lynch Syndrome
Authors: Lahiri Sayoni , Pirzadeh-Miller Sara , Moriarty Kelsey , Kubiliun Nisa
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Lynch syndrome increases risks for colorectal and other cancers. Though published Lynch syndrome cancer risk-management guidelines are effective for risk-reduction, the condition remains under-recognized. The Cancer Genetics Program at an academic medical center implemented a population-based cancer family history screening program, Detecting Unaffected Individuals with Lynch syndrome, to aid in identification of individuals with Lynch syndrome.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, simple cancer family history screening questionnaires were used to identify those at risk for Lynch syndrome. Program navigators triaged and educated those who screened positive about hereditary cancer, and genetic counseling and testing services, offering genetic counseling if eligible. Genetic counseling was provided primarily via telephone. Genetic counselors performed hereditary cancer risk assessment and offered genetic testing via hereditary cancer panels to those eligible. Remote service delivery models via telephone genetic counseling and at-home saliva testing were used to increase access to medical genetics services.

Results

This program screened 212,827 individuals, over half of whom were considered underserved, and identified 133 clinically actionable genetic variants associated with hereditary cancer. Of these, 47 (35%) were associated with Lynch syndrome while notably, 70 (53%) were not associated with hereditary colorectal cancer. Of 3,344 patients offered genetic counseling after initial triage, 2,441 (73%) elected to schedule the appointment and 1,775 individuals (73%) completed genetic counseling. Among underserved patients, telephone genetic counseling completion rates were significantly higher than in-person appointment completion rates ( P < .05). While remote service delivery improved appointment completion rates, challenges with genetic test completion using at-home saliva sample collection kits were observed, with 242 of 1592 individuals (15%) not completing testing.

Conclusion

Population-based cancer family history screening and navigation can help identify individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes across diverse patient populations, but logistics of certain downstream service delivery models can impact outcomes.
A Social Informational Processing Lens on Multi-Foci Mistreatment: Roles of Customer Orientation and Power Distance
Authors: Wang Xingyu , Shi Xiaolin (Crystal) , Hwang YooHee , Yan Jingwen , Gip Huy (Robert)
Published: May 2023

Drawing on social information processing theory, this set of studies aims to examine hospitality frontline employees’ sabotage toward customers following workplace mistreatment, namely customer incivility and abusive supervision. In addition, employees’ power distance belief and customer orientation are identified as individual contingency factors that alter employees’ sabotage behavior following mistreatment. A multi-method approach with cross-sectional and experimental designs was adopted. In Study 1, 347 Chinese hospitality frontline employees provided survey data in a cross-sectional design. In Study 2, 191 U.S. hospitality frontline employees were recruited for a between-subjects scenario-based experiment. The findings reveal the complementary roles of customers and supervisors as informational sources that jointly determine employees’ sabotage behaviors. In addition, in line with social information processing theory, employees’ personal characteristics regarding the perception of informational sources (power distance belief and customer orientation) were found to significantly alter employees’ sabotage behavior derived from multi-foci workplace mistreatment.
Nonfatal Occupational Injuries Among Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining Workers in Ethiopia
Authors: Abebil Fentayehu , Tefera Yifokire , Tefera Worku , Kumie Abera , Mulugeta Hailemichael , Kassie Genanew
Published: May 2023

Background:

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is widely practiced in Ethiopia. Injuries are among the public health concerns in the mining sector. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of nonfatal occupational injuries and associated factors among workers in ASGM in Ethiopia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study design was employed from April to June 2020. A total of 403 participants were selected with a simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was utilized for the data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the information and binary logistic regression was applied to test the association. Predictor variables with P-value < .05 with an Odds ratio of 95% CI in multivariable analysis were considered as associated factors.

Results:

A total of 403 participants were interviewed with a response rate of 95.5%. The prevalence of nonfatal occupational injury was 25.1% in the past 12 months. About one-third of the injuries, 32 (31.7%), were on the upper extremity and feet, 18 (17.8%). Symptoms of mercury toxicity (AOR: 2.39, 95% CI [1.27-4.52]), 1 to 4 years of work experience (AOR: 4.50, 95% CI [1.57-12.9]), full work shift (AOR: 6.06, 95% CI [1.97-18.7]), and job in the task of mining activities (AOR: 4.83, 95% CI [1.48-15.7]) were associated with the injury.

Conclusion:

A substantially high prevalence of injuries was observed. Work-related factors were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of injury. The government body, mining sector, and workers are advised to apply interventions focusing on the improvement of working conditions and safety practices to minimize injury.
All-cause mortality and suicide mortality in autistic individuals: An entire population longitudinal study in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Shih-Jen , Chang Wen-Han , Cheng Chih-Ming , Liang Chih-Sung , Bai Ya-Mei , Hsu Ju-Wei , Huang Kai-Lin , Su Tung-Ping , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Chen Mu-Hong
Published: May 2023

Evidence suggests increased mortality rates among autistic individuals. However, risks of mortality, including natural-cause, suicide, and accident mortalities, among autistic individuals remain unclear. Among the entire Taiwanese population ( N = 29,253,529), between 2003 and 2017, 45,398 autistic individuals were identified and 1:4 matched to 181,592 non-autistic individuals based on birth year and sex. All-cause mortality, including natural-cause, accident, and suicide mortalities, was assessed from 2003 to 2017 between the two cohorts. Cox regression models were used to investigate the mortality risk between autistic and non-autistic individuals. Autistic individuals had increased likelihoods (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) of all-cause mortality (3.43, 3.00–3.92), natural-cause mortality (4.73, 3.99–5.60), and suicide mortality (3.67, 2.37–5.68) compared with non-autistic individuals. In particular, autistic males were more likely to die by suicide (hazard ratio: 3.81, 95% confidence interval: 2.37–6.13), and autistic females were more likely to die of accident (hazard ratio: 5.07, 95% confidence interval: 2.54–10.13) compared with non-autistic individuals. Appropriate and effective medical and mental health care is recommended for autistic individuals.

Lay abstract

Our study was the first population-based study in an Asian country to investigate the mortality rates among autistic individuals. Among the entire Taiwanese population ( N = 29,253,529), between 2003 and 2017, 45,398 autistic individuals were identified and 1:4 age-/sex-matched to 181,592 non-autistic individuals. We found that autistic individuals had increased risks of all-cause mortality, natural-cause mortality, and suicide mortality compared with non-autistic individuals. Furthermore, autistic males were more likely to die by suicide, and autistic females were more likely to die of accident compared with the non-autistic individuals.
Barriers to healthcare for Australian autistic adults
Authors: Arnold Samuel RC , Bruce Georgia , Weise Janelle , Mills Caroline J , Trollor Julian N , Coxon Kristy
Published: May 2023

Barriers to healthcare experienced by Australian autistic adults have not been previously explored. We conducted a cross-sectional investigation of barriers to healthcare and associated factors from a subtle realism perspective. Perceived barriers to healthcare were obtained from the Barriers to Healthcare Checklist Short-Form (BHC). A total of 263 autistic and 70 non-autistic individuals completed the BHC. On average, autistic adults reported more barriers to healthcare (4.58) than non-autistic adults (0.76). Gender diversity, higher levels of generalised anxiety, greater global disability and less satisfaction with social support contributed to the experience of barriers to healthcare in autistic participants in regression modelling. Australian autistic adults face substantial barriers to healthcare. Understanding these barriers provides an opportunity to develop approaches to improve access; such as co-designing a healthcare access roadmap for autistic adults, with co-designed policies and practices which advocate for the needs of autistic adults.

Lay abstract

This study looked at how Australian autistic and non-autistic adults experience barriers to healthcare. We asked autistic and non-autistic adults to complete the Barriers to Healthcare Checklist Short-Form (BHC). We analysed data from 263 autistic adults and 70 non-autistic adults. We found that autistic adults experienced more barriers to healthcare than non-autistic adults. Gender diversity, feeling more anxious, having greater disability and feeling unsatisfied with social support contributed to barriers to healthcare in autistic participants. We recommend interventions such as developing and implementing a national action plan, similar to the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability (2021) to reduce barriers and address unmet healthcare needs of Australian autistic adults. We also recommend working with autistic adults to develop new policies and strategies, implementing environmental adaptations to health care facilities, and increasing Autism education opportunities for health professionals to address gaps in knowledge.
Closed-form solutions to investigate the nonlinear response of foundations supporting operating machines under blast loads
Authors: Abd-Elhamed Ayman , Alkhatib Soliman , Dagher Mohamed A
Published: May 2023

Machine foundations are subjected to significant dynamic impacts. These impacts could spread to the surrounding regions, affecting workers, sensitive equipment in the same institution, or nearby areas. This study analyzes the response of machine-supporting foundations to harmonic and explosive loads under operational conditions and provides closed-form solutions for predicting responses in terms of displacement, velocity, and acceleration time-histories to two common types of blast loads: a more accurate typical profile and simplified triangular profile. The soil-machine foundation system is regarded as a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system that exhibits elastic–perfectly flexible resistance behavior. For the analysis of the SDOF system, two cases are considered: one assumes that the supporting soil keeps elastic during the explosion, and the peak displacement is less than the elastic one, while the other assumes that the blast occurs in an elastic state, and the peak displacement occurs in a plastic state. By using the closed-form analytical solutions, a detailed parametric analysis is carried out to evaluate the impacts of significant soil-foundation system characteristics such as mass, stiffness, and damping ratio on the response-time history of machine foundations. The findings are compared to those reported in the literature, and relevant conclusions are derived. Obtained results demonstrated that, despite its simplicity and usage of only positive phase to simulate blast loads, the simplified model’s response behavior differs significantly from the typical one. Furthermore, the derived solutions are utilized to design the foundations supporting vibrating machines for both harmonic and blast loads in a variety of conceivable scenarios depending on the blast magnitude.
Underwater bolted flange looseness detection using percussion-induced sound and Feature-reduced Multi-ROCKET model
Authors: Chen Jian , Chen Zheng , Zhu Weihang , Song Gangbing
Published: May 2023

Recently, in the field of structural health monitoring, the detection of bolted connection looseness through percussion-based method and machine learning technology has received much attention due to the advantages of removing the requirement of sensor installation and potential for automation. However, there are few such research which are performed in the underwater environment. The paper proposes a new method, Feature-reduced Multiple Random Convolution Kernel Transform (FM-ROCKET), to identify the looseness level of the underwater bolted connections based on the percussion-induced sound (audio signal). By integrating deep learning (DL) and shallow learning, the FM-ROCKET model uses the 1D convolutional layer (a DL method) to extract features from the percussion-induced audio signal and adopts the rigid classifier (linear classifier, a shallow learning method) to classify the features. Five different preload levels of the bolted flange are considered. A hammer is utilized to tap the flange surface and the continuous percussion-induced audio signal is collected by a smartphone in an underwater environment. After the audio signal segmentation, single-hit audio signals are fed into the FM-ROCKET model. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, three case studies are conducted on two flanges. In case study I, the proposed method slightly outperforms other DL-based methods under different training/test splitting ratios. In case studies II and III, the proposed method is far more effective than other DL-based methods on independent and different test sets. The results demonstrate the superiority of the FM-ROCKET model in the underwater detection of bolted flange looseness. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first attempt to address the detection of bolted flange looseness in the underwater environment by combining percussion-based method, DL, and shallow learning.
Talk Local to Me: Assessing the Heterogenous Effects of Localistic Appeals
Authors: Munis B. Kal , Burke Richard
Published: May 2023

Contemporary public opinion in the United States has been characterized by affective polarization and the nationalization of political behavior. In this paper, we examine whether local framing can decrease voters’ reliance on national partisan identities when evaluating their representatives in the United States Congress. Relying on both an experimental study and observational data from senators’ Facebook posts, we find evidence that “talking local” is an effective means for representatives to bypass the “perceptual screen” of partisanship . Candidates who “go local” in their communication style are able to expand their electoral coalition by appealing to independents and outpartisans alike. Observational findings suggest that many politicians, especially those representing competitive districts, are aware of this and “go local” strategically.
Filling the gap in service provision. Partners as family carers to people with Parkinson's disease: A Scandinavian perspective
Authors: Hjelle Ellen Gabrielsen , Rønn-Smidt Helle , Haahr Anita , Haavaag Silje Bjørnsen , Sørensen Dorthe , Navarta-Sánchez Maria Victoria , Portillo Mari Carmen , Bragstad Line Kildal
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to explore the expectations of and experiences with the public healthcare system of domestic partners of people with Parkinson`s disease (PD) in Denmark and Norway.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory design was applied. The sample consisted of 14 people from Denmark ( n = 9) and Norway ( n = 5) living with a partner with PD. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted between June and September 2020, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach combining inductive and deductive approaches.

Results

The main themes were ‘negotiating systems of support’ and ‘balancing being both a partner and a family carer’. Partners take responsibility for the people with whom they live and attempt to fill gaps in the public healthcare system. The most frequently described needs were more information, service coordination as the illness progressed and acknowledgement of the complex role.

Discussion

A recommendation for practice is recognition of the complex roles of partners to people with PD and reaching out to both regularly to determine needs. This may enhance the collaboration between partner carers, people with PD and healthcare providers, ensure sustainability of the system and optimise living with PD in the family.
Analyzing intermedia citations in the press of India and Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Shabir , Wani Mohammad Ashraf , Rehman Haseeb ur
Published: May 2023

In this study, the researchers have investigated the practice of intermedia citations in the leading newspapers of India and Pakistan over an extending time period from 2005 to 2022. The case of these two countries is important because relationships between them have been acrimonious since the division of the subcontinent in 1947 over a number of contentious issues. In line with the existing literature, we found that the press of two countries relied on each other to provide information about the happenings on the other side of the border. Intermedia citations increased when important events happened like eruption of violence or initiation of peace process. However, despite the practice of intermedia citation, the press of the two countries expressed reservations about the authenticity of such information. Moreover, we found that reservations were expressed more on security issues as compared to the non-security issues like socio-cultural events. The press of the two countries do not objectively inform readers about the perspective of opponent side on critical bilateral issues.
Sleep outcomes and related factors in Parkinson’s disease after subthalamic deep brain electrode implantation: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ma Ruoyu , Yin Zixiao , Chen Yingchuan , Yuan Tianshuo , An Qi , Gan Yifei , Xu Yichen , Jiang Yin , Du Tingting , Yang Anchao , Meng Fangang , Zhu Guanyu , Zhang Jianguo
Published: May 2023

Background:

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) improves sleep qualities in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients; however, it remains elusive whether STN-DBS improves sleep by directly influencing the sleep circuit or alleviates other cardinal symptoms such as motor functions, other confounding factors including stimulation intensity may also involve. Studying the effect of microlesion effect (MLE) on sleep after STN-DBS electrode implantation may address this issue.

Objective:

To examine the influence of MLE on sleep quality and related factors in PD, as well as the effects of regional and lateral specific correlations with sleep outcomes after STN-DBS electrode implantation.

Study Design:

Case–control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Data Sources and Methods:

In 78 PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS surgery in our center, we compared the sleep qualities, motor performances, anti-Parkinsonian drug dosage, and emotional conditions at preoperative baseline and postoperative 1-month follow-up. We determined the related factors of sleep outcomes and visualized the electrodes position, simulated the MLE-engendered volume of tissue lesioned (VTL), and investigated sleep-related sweet/sour spots and laterality in STN.

Results:

MLE improves sleep quality with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) by 13.36% and Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2) by 17.95%. Motor ( P = 0.014) and emotional ( P = 0.001) improvements were both positively correlated with sleep improvements. However, MLE in STN associative subregions, as an independent factor, may cause sleep deterioration ( r = 0.348, P = 0.002), and only the left STN showed significance ( r = 0.327, P = 0.004). Sweet spot analysis also indicated part of the left STN associative subregion is the sour spot indicative of sleep deterioration.

Conclusion:

The MLE of STN-DBS can overall improve sleep quality in PD patients, with a positive correlation between motor and emotional improvements. However, independent of all other factors, the MLE in the STN associative subregion, particularly the left side, may cause sleep deterioration.
Femoral nerve palsy during Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip is not an indication for harness abandonment
Authors: Ghanem Ismat , Karam Geoffrey , Ghanem Diane , Saliba Ibrahim
Published: May 2023

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to report the incidence of femoral nerve palsy in developmental dysplasia of the hip children treated with Pavlik harness, to identify any possible associated risk factors, and to evaluate its outcome without any specific strap release.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted on all cases of femoral nerve palsy in a consecutive series of children who underwent Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip. In unilateral cases, the developmental dysplasia of the hip was compared to the contralateral side. All hips with femoral nerve palsy were compared to the remaining hips of the series and any possible risk factor for paralysis was recorded.

Results:

In total, 53 cases of femoral nerve palsy of various severity were identified from a group of 473 children with 527 hips treated for developmental dysplasia of the hip at an average age of 3.9 months. However, 93% occurred during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Femoral nerve palsy was more common in older and larger children with the most severe Tonnis type, and a hip flexion angle in the harness above 90° (p < 0.03 for all). All of them resolved spontaneously before completion of treatment without any specific measures. We found no correlation between the presence of femoral nerve palsy or the time taken for spontaneous resolution and treatment failure using the harness.

Conclusion:

Femoral nerve palsy is most observed with higher Tonnis types and high hip flexion angles in the harness, but its presence by itself is not predictive of treatment failure. It resolves spontaneously before completion of treatment and does not require any strap release or harness discontinuation.

Level of evidence:

Level III.