bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imbalance compensation of active magnetic bearing systems using model predictive control based on linear parameter-varying models
Authors: Morsi Abdelrahman , Abbas Hossam S , Ahmed Sabah M , Mohamed Abdelfatah M
Published: May 2022

Active magnetic bearing (AMB) is a suspension system to levitate a rotating shaft freely without any physical contact which allows extremely fast rotation speeds. One big control challenge of the AMB systems, which appears during high rotation speeds, is the non-uniform distribution of the rotor weight about its rotating axis. This is usually referred to as the rotor imbalance problem which produces sinusoidal disturbance forces. These disturbances lead to undesirable vibrations and large deviations of the rotor shaft from its desired trajectories. We adopt in this work model predictive control (MPC) to reduce the effect of these sinusoidal disturbances and to achieve a stable levitation of the rotor shaft while tracking a reference trajectory. Owing to the MPC capability of handling constraints in an optimal manner, physical input constraints can be committed. Moreover, state constraints can be imposed to ensure safety of operation. For tractable implementation, we embed the nonlinear dynamics of the system in a linear parameter-varying (LPV) representation. To guarantee stability of the closed-loop system, a terminal cost and a terminal constraint set are included in the MPC optimization problem. For tractable computations of these terminal ingredients, a reduced LPV model is considered. The performance of the proposed LPV-MPC scheme is validated via simulation on the nonlinear model of an experimental setup of an AMB system and it is compared with two other classical controllers commonly used for these AMB systems in practice.
A blending control for broadband vibration isolation considering zero-infinite stiffness and damping
Authors: Zhou You , Tao Yeying , Zhang ZhengGuang , Li Xiaoqing
Published: May 2022

Active vibration isolation system (AVIS) using the traditional vibration isolation technology, such as reducing suspending stiffness and adding absolute damping, has performance defects due to the residual low-frequency disturbances which still severely restrict the precision machine accuracy. This paper proposes a novel vibration control method combining inertial absolute sensor feedback (ASF) and positive relative sensor feedback (RSF), which can highly improve the low-frequency vibration isolation performance, and the blending control method is analyzed according to the vibration transmission. The results show that ASF strengthens the connection between the payload and the absolute space, while positive RSF weakens the connection between the payload and the base. By introducing ASF and positive RSF blended, the stiffness and damping between the payload and the absolute space can be increased to near infinity, while the stiffness and damping between the payload and the base can be attenuated to near zero. The blending control method includes absolute displacement feedback (ADF), positive relative displacement feedback (RDF), absolute velocity feedback (AVF), and positive relative velocity feedback (RVF). ADF combined with RDF improves the vibration isolation performance at low-frequency, while AVF combined with RVF improves the performance around the inherent frequency and high-frequency. In this way, the payload is hard to be affected by disturbances in a broad frequency region. Finally, the proposed method is verified by experiments and compared with the commonly used sky-hook damping method. It shows that the initial frequency of vibration isolation is reduced from 5.6 Hz (sky-hook damping method) to 1 Hz (the proposed method), the magnitude of vibration transmission starts with −11.1 dB (at 1 HZ), and the maximum magnitude is always below 0 dB from 1 Hz to 50 Hz.
Attitudes Toward People With Schizophrenia Among Undergraduate Nursing Students
Authors: Chen Yi-Han , Hsiao Chiu-Yueh , Chien Hui-Wen
Published: May 2022

Background:

Negative attitudes toward mental disorders are not only an interpersonal issue but also a concern of mental health care. Given that nursing students are future health care providers, it is pivotal to improve their attitudes toward individuals with mental disorders prior to their transition into clinical practice. However, research on nursing students’ attitudes in relation to schizophrenia in Taiwan remains unexplored.

Aim:

The aim of this article is to examine the correlates of attitudes toward individuals with schizophrenia among Taiwanese undergraduate nursing students.

Method:

A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was adopted. Self-reported questionnaires were conducted with a convenience sample of 306 Taiwanese undergraduate nursing students. Descriptive statistics, independent t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlations, and a stepwise regression analysis were performed.

Results:

Nursing students expressed negative attitudes toward individuals with schizophrenia. Nursing students, who were female, had contact with individuals with mental disorders, and expressed greater empathy and personality traits held more favorable attitudes toward individuals with schizophrenia. The study found that empathy, personality traits, and academic year were the most crucial attributes contributing to attitudes of nursing students toward individuals with schizophrenia.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest that nursing education programs with empathy- and personality-tailored modules in mental health are pivotal to provide humanistic approaches with supportive attitudes regarding schizophrenia.
Semi-Automated Computational Assessment of Cancer Organoid Viability Using Rapid Live-Cell Microscopy
Authors: Buehler Joseph D , Bird Cylaina E , Savani Milan R , Gattie Lauren C , Hicks William H , Levitt Michael M , El Shami Mohamad , Hatanpaa Kimmo J , Richardson Timothy E , McBrayer Samuel K , Abdullah Kalil G
Published: May 2022

The creation of patient-derived cancer organoids represents a key advance in preclinical modeling and has recently been applied to a variety of human solid tumor types. However, conventional methods used to assess in vivo tumor tissue treatment response are poorly suited for the evaluation of cancer organoids because they are time-intensive and involve tissue destruction. To address this issue, we established a suite of 3-dimensional patient-derived glioma organoids, treated them with chemoradiotherapy, stained organoids with non-toxic cell dyes, and imaged them using a rapid laser scanning confocal microscopy method termed “Apex Imaging.” We then developed and tested a fragmentation algorithm to quantify heterogeneity in the topography of the organoids as a potential surrogate marker of viability. This algorithm, SSDquant, provides a 3-dimensional visual representation of the organoid surface and a numerical measurement of the sum-squared distance (SSD) from the derived mass center of the organoid. We tested whether SSD scores correlate with traditional immunohistochemistry-derived cell viability markers (cellularity and cleaved caspase 3 expression) and observed statistically significant associations between them using linear regression analysis. Our work describes a quantitative, non-invasive approach for the serial measurement of patient-derived cancer organoid viability, thus opening new avenues for the application of these models to studies of cancer biology and therapy.
Professional Quality of Life and Occupational Stress in Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece
Authors: Latsou Dimitra , Bolosi Fevronia-Maria , Androutsou Lorena , Geitona Mary
Published: May 2022

Background:

Health professionals (HPs) coping with the coronavirus pandemic are at risk of working under stressful conditions impacting their professional well-being. The aim of this paper was to explore HP’s professional quality of life and occupational stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was conducted (from October to December 2020) in a COVID-19 reference hospital, one of the biggest in Attica. The method of convenience sampling has been used. Data collection was carried out through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire including, apart from HPs’ demographic and occupational characteristics, Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQoL) and Job Stress Measure. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed to physicians and nurses. One hundred eighty-six questionnaires were fully completed (response rate = 78.8%). The analysis was based on descriptive and inductive statistics, using SPSS v25.

Results:

Participants’ mean age was 41.5 ± 10.4 years; 75.3% were women and 62.4% was nursing staff. ProQoL analysis showed that the majority had moderate compassion satisfaction (74.2%) and burnout (78.5%), while 48.8% had moderate level of secondary post-traumatic stress. The mean value of occupational stress was estimated at 2.76, showing a moderate level of stress. HPs’ demographic and occupational characteristics seemed to affect both work stress and ProQoL ( P ⩽ .05). Occupational stress was positively correlated with both burnout ( r = 0.461, P = .001) and secondary post-traumatic stress ( r = 0.596, P = .001), indicating that an increase in health professionals’ stress at work corresponds to a simultaneous increase in ProQoL.

Conclusions:

HPs’ professional quality of life and occupational stress seemed to be moderate during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. In order to achieve an improvement in HPs’ overall professional well-being, priority should be given to the strengthening of the capacity of the healthcare system as well as to supporting HPs in both stress management and psychological resilience.
WeChat as the coordinator of polymedia: Chinese women maintaining intercultural romantic relationships
Authors: Xiong Yutian , Liu Tingting
Published: May 2022

This article considers the ways in which the super-sticky all-in-one platform WeChat acts as the coordinator of a polymedia environment – and not just part of the polymedia environment – in mediating intercultural romantic relationships in the Greater Bay Area of China. Based on qualitative interviews, the article explores how WeChat coordinates a diverse range of digital communication tools for typical intercultural couples (Chinese women and foreign men) to mediate and maintain intimacy. The article contends that WeChat mainly derives its coordinator legitimacy and power from the government's prohibition of non-Chinese social media, WeChat's multi-functionality and its ‘local’ nature – Chinese language, social networking capacities and connectivity to other Chinese applications. Finally, this article finds that the power asymmetry caused by WeChat coordinating ecosystem of converged communication has significantly empowered middle-class Chinese women to take control of their intimate intercultural relationships. Research limitations and theoretical implications are discussed.
‘Saying it like it is’: Right-wing populism, international politics, and the performance of authenticity
Authors: Lacatus Corina , Meibauer Gustav
Published: May 2022

Populist leaders base their electoral appeal on underlying their agenda with claims to authenticity reflected both in the content and in the style of their political communication. Based on a conceptualisation of authenticity as discursive performance, we conduct a comparative analysis of the authenticity claims of two right-wing populist leaders, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. We focus on authenticity claims associated with international politics. International issues are central to populist exclusionary narratives, but also difficult for populist incumbents to narrate authentically. We find that despite differences in their public personas, Johnson and Trump show considerable similarities in both content and style of their authenticity performances. In particular, they ‘domesticate’ international politics to reinforce domestic issues assumed closer to ‘ordinary’ voters, all the while employing rhetorical styles suggestive of their authenticity. These findings highlight the centrality of authenticity performances to populist politics and electoral appeal.
Max Weber and his conservative critics: Social science and the problem of value relativism
Authors: Hammersley Martyn
Published: May 2022

In this paper some fundamental criticisms of Max Weber’s conception of the vocation of science are addressed. These well-known criticisms focus on his admission that science cannot demonstrate its own value, and his broader claim that there can be no rational basis for committing oneself to one set of ultimate values as against another. Instead, he insisted that the adoption of such values is necessarily a matter of individual decision. Influential critics have argued that this amounts to relativism, or even nihilism: that, if it were true, neither science nor anything else could have genuine value, all value-judgements would be arbitrary or entirely instrumental (e.g. a matter of self-interest). I will outline Weber’s position, and then examine the arguments of some of his critics: focussing particularly on Midgley and Strauss. This provides the basis for a careful reassessment of Weber’s position, and for some suggestions about how he could respond to these critics. It is argued that fundamental values operate in a dialectical relationship with specific evaluations, and that they arise naturally out of more or less universal features of human beings’ life experience. While this does not provide a compelling rational basis for commitment to those values, even less for prioritising one over another, it tells us why we often feel a need to uphold them. Furthermore, despite the fact that it does not guarantee agreement, rational clarification of these values and their implications, as well as appraisal of their relative significance in particular cases, is possible.
Study on cage slip for rolling bearing under speed variation conditions
Authors: Zhan Liwei , Li ZhengHui , Zhuo Shi , Gong Ping , Luan Jingyan , Feng Xu , Li Chengwei
Published: May 2022

The rolling bearing failure from cage slip under fast speed variation is an important issue that has drawn a wide interest. To ensure the safe operation, cage slip needs to be detected. However, due to the limit of bearing working environment of high temperature, oil mist, and small mounting space, the conventional methods such as optical fiber, ultrasound, and eddy current detection are not always feasible. This paper presents a novel method to detect cage slip based on weak magnetic detection under the speed variation. The rolling bearing, which is in the earth magnetic field, can be magnetized weakly. By the detection of the weak magnetized bearing on the earth magnetic field disturbance, the roller speed information can be obtained. This method is not affected by the bearing work environment. Then, the signal processing technology based on the ridge detection is proposed. By the speed spectrum of inner raceway, the searched path can be re-grouped. And the searched boundary is determined by assuming the roller pure rolling. Combining the searched path and the boundary, the local neighborhood of the roller rotational instantaneous frequency (IF) is determined. By finding the magnitude maximum of the local neighborhood, the roller IF can be extracted. Finally, the time-varying spectrum of the cage slip can be evaluated under the speed variation. By the comparison with the traditional optical method, it illustrates that the cage slip goes through dramatic changes under speed variation and is almost unchanged under the stabilization stage.
A novel spectral coherence-based envelope spectrum for railway axle-box bearing damage identification
Authors: Chen Bingyan , Song Dongli , Zhang Weihua , Cheng Yao
Published: May 2022

Damage identification of axle-box bearings is essential to ensure the safe operation of railway trains. The envelope spectrums generated by spectral coherence are effective bearing damage identification tools, but the traditional spectral coherence-based envelope spectrums cannot effectively reveal the bearing damage features under strong interference noise or cannot fully extract the damage information distributed in multiple spectral frequency bands. To solve these problems, a weighted combined envelope spectrum (WCES) based on spectral coherence is proposed as an enhanced bearing damage detector in this paper. First, the frequency domain signal-to-noise ratio (FDSNR) is devised to measure the damage information in each spectral frequency component of spectral coherence. Then, an information threshold is introduced into the estimated FDSNR to construct a weighting function to enhance the informative spectral frequency components and eliminate the interference components. Eventually, the spectral coherence normalized by the weighting function is integrated to generate WCES for bearing damage identification. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed method can effectively excavate the fault-related information and detect railway axle-box bearing damages, and the comparisons with the state-of-the-art methods demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method.
A novel adaptive boosting algorithm with distance-based weighted least square support vector machine and filter factor for carbon fiber reinforced polymer multi-damage classification
Authors: Sheng Wenjuan , Liu Yutao , Söffker Dirk
Published: May 2022

Adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) algorithms fuse multiple weak classifiers to generate a strong classifier by adaptively determining the fusion weights of the weak classifiers. According to incorrect or correct classification results, sample weights become larger or smaller. However, this weight update scheme neglects valuable information in the results. Moreover, an important requirement for weak classifiers is an accuracy higher than random guessing. This requirement is likely to lead to an unexpected result. This means that several generated weak classifiers with similar classification results cannot learn from each other. Consequently, the advantage of fusing multiple weak classifiers disappears. The classification and therefore distinction of different failure modes in materials is a typical task for classical nondestructive testing approaches as well as for new approaches based on machine learning methods. In the case different approaches can be applied, the main question is, which and how tuned approaches provide the best results in terms of accuracy or similar metrics. In the multi-damage classification task distinguishing different physical failure mechanisms in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), the above two aspects complicate the application of AdaBoost algorithms. To improve the results, a novel AdaBoost with distance-based weighted least square support vector machine (WLSSVM) and filter factor is proposed. The distance-based WLSSVM is employed to increase the diversity of weak classifiers, the distances of the classification plane and samples are used to measure the classification task. The filter factor is proposed to filter out unnecessary classifiers contributing less to the final decision. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved AdaBoost schemes with distance-based WLSSVM and filter factor outperform state-of-the-art algorithms. The effects of the scheme using the new weighted update and the filter factor on the algorithm are discussed, respectively. The experimental results show that the combination of the two schemes perform better than other schemes.
Comparison of antibacterial property of herbal plant–based bio-active extract loaded polymer electrospun nanofibrous mat wound dressings
Authors: Adamu Biruk Fentahun , Gao Jing , Tan Shaojie , Gebeyehu Esubalew K
Published: May 2022

Treating wound is challenging if there is microbial colonization. In this paper, we tried to review comparison of bacterial inhibition zone of different herbal plant bioactive loaded polymer electrospun nanofibrous wound dressings. A systematic literature search called preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was used to review bacterial inhibition zone of the different herbal plant bioactive loaded polymer electrospun nanofibrous mats used for wound dressing applications. The literatures were searched from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases published in English from 2010 to 2021. Two hundred articles were searched out; from these, 93 articles are selected and studied their bacterial inhibition zone, among them eight have the highest bacterial inhibition zone greater than or equal to 20 mm. From the studied plant bioactive extract loaded polymer electrospun nanofibrous mat wound dressings, PVA/ Tridax procumbensviz have the highest antibacterial property (42 mm and 35 mm bacterial inhibition zone to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively). The second highest antibacterial property is PVA /honey/Curcuma longa with bacterial inhibition zone of 38 mm to S. aureus and the third one is PCL/carboxyethyl chitosan/PVA/ Matricaria chamomile L. with an inhibition zone of 37.5 mm to E. coli bacteria.
A Developmental Perspective on Girls’ Delinquency: Testing the Family Stress Model
Authors: Gordon Simons Leslie , Brown Alyssa L.
Published: May 2022

Although there has been an increased focus on identifying causes of delinquency among girls, this is still a relatively understudied area of research, particularly among young women of color and those on the economic margins. Past research has identified economic disadvantage, exposure to maltreatment, and lack of positive parental supervision as antecedents in the development of delinquency, with family factors being especially influential for girls. There has been less attention on how these factors combine to produce a developmental cascade. The current study addresses this gap by implementing the family stress model, a conceptual paradigm that emphasizes the impact of economic hardship on family processes and, ultimately, youth outcomes. We address the study hypotheses with prospective, longitudinal data from a sample of Black girls ( N = 421) from two-caregiver and single-mother families. Results demonstrate support for the family stress model in both household types. Specifically, economic stress was associated with an increase in caregivers’ psychological distress, conflict between caregivers, and disrupted parenting, which was, in turn, associated with increased delinquent behavior. The current study adds to the literature on the negative effects of economic hardship on families and youth by illustrating how economic stress indirectly influences girls’ delinquent behavior through its detrimental impact on family processes.
Advancing Quality Standards in Mixed Methods Research: Extending the Legitimation Typology
Authors: Perez Analay , Howell Smith Michelle C. , Babchuk Wayne A. , Lynch-O’Brien Louise I.
Published: May 2022

Several scholars have proposed frameworks for assessing the quality of mixed methods research (MMR) studies. However, no general consensus has emerged. The legitimation typology developed by Onwuegbuzie and Johnson (2006) is one promising approach that addresses quantitative, qualitative, and MMR elements. The aim of this intrinsic, exploratory case study is to explore the use of the legitimation typology in empirical MMR studies and through interviews with the developers, MMR scholars, and researchers who applied the legitimation typology to an empirical MMR study. We conducted a systematic methodological review using multiple databases and identified 49 empirical MMR studies that addressed the legitimation typology. Using a critical case sampling approach defined by participants’ unique experiences with the legitimation typology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five authors of empirical MMR studies, a mixed methods researcher who has written about the typology, and one of the authors of the original legitimation typology to expand on ways the legitimation typology is used in practice. Four overarching themes were identified: (a) comprehensive approach to assessing quality, (b) researchers’ interpretation of legitimation types, (c) value of divergent findings, and (d) strategies for applying the legitimation typology. This case study adds to the MMR literature by clarifying the use of emic-etic and conversion legitimations and by proposing a new legitimation type: divergent findings legitimation. Hence, this study elucidates the application of one quality framework (i.e., legitimation) in MMR and provides recommendations to the field to further advance discussions on quality criteria and their implementation in mixed methods research.
Mechanical properties of coated fabric membranes at high temperature
Authors: Xue Suduo , Yan Fei , Sun Guojun
Published: May 2022

A model about the strength of polyvinyl chloride coated polyester at high temperature was proposed in this paper. The model can predict the warp-direction strength, weft-direction strength, and off-axis strength at high temperatures according to the uniaxial tensile strength in warp direction at room temperature. In this paper, the strength model of coated fabric membrane bearing biaxial tension was established by off-axis tensile test. Next, the strength of weld joints of coated fabric membrane at normal and high temperature were compared. Then, a strength predicting method for symmetric and asymmetric weld joints at high temperatures was proposed. Finally, the relation between temperature and fracture energy of weld seam was proposed.
Severe pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila detected by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay and confirmed by serology
Authors: Jovanović Milica , Mitrović Nikola , Beraud Letitia , Trboljevac Nikola , Milošević Branko , Radovanović Spurnić Aleksandra , Jovanović Snežana , Marić Dragana
Published: May 2022

Legionella pneumophila is a rarely diagnosed microorganism in Serbia. It causes legionellosis, usually a mild respiratory infection. However, in some cases it can be severe and even life threatening. In June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a patient with symptoms of the aforesaid infection, namely severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, was admitted to the hospital. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (The BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel plus) detected the presence of L. pneumophila in the patient’s bronchial secretions. The specific culture for the detection of that organism, however, remained sterile. The patient’s paired sera had been sent for serology and the results in both of them came back positive for Legionella spp. 1–6, while the assays specific for each one of the 10 serogroups detected more than a fourfold increase of antibody titers in an uncommon serogroup 2 only. The patient was treated with moxifloxacin; he recovered well and was discharged after 26 days of hospitalization. Having being diagnosed with the L. pneumophila infection correctly through the multiplex PCR test, the patient was given the right therapy with moxifloxacin. The serologic assays corroborated this result and revealed the uncommon group 2, thus confirming the necessity of carrying out all the tests available to attain the exact diagnosis of legionellosis.
Social support and diabetes distress: Does the messenger matter as much as the message?
Authors: Seddigh Sorayya , Tang Tricia S.
Published: May 2022

We explored the relationship between social support (family/friends and health care team) and four diabetes distress subscales in 196 adults with type 2 diabetes in a specialty care setting. Health care support was associated with lower physician- and regimen-related distress, while friends/family support was related to lower interpersonal distress. The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02804620).
Safety and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning combined with intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke: A multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial (SERIC-IVT) Study design and protocol
Authors: Abuduxukuer Reziya , Guo Zhen-Ni , Zhang Peng , Qu Yang , Yang Yi
Published: May 2022

Rationale:

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) combined with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) may improve functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Aim:

To assess the efficacy and safety of RIC combined with IVT for AIS.

Methods and design:

SERIC-IVT is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, blinded endpoint clinical trial. A total of 558 patients with AIS who underwent IVT therapy will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive RIC or sham-RIC plus standard medical therapy. The cuff pressures of the RIC group and the sham-RIC group will be 200 mm Hg and 60 mm Hg, respectively, performed twice a day for seven consecutive days.

Study outcomes:

The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of patients with a favorable functional outcome as defined as a modified Rankin Scale ⩽ 1 at 90 days. Safety outcomes include mortality and adverse events within 90 days.

Sample size estimates:

A sample size of 558 patients with AIS (279 in each group) will allow detection of a shift of 13.14% toward favorable functional outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale ⩽ 1) with 5% significance and 80% power.

Discussion:

RIC is a promising adjuvant treatment for AIS. SERIC-IVT will inform on whether RIC treatment combined with IVT improves functional outcomes in AIS patients and identify any safety issues.
Possible additional criteria for the diagnosis of preeclampsia with severe features
Authors: Morton Adam
Published: May 2022

Preeclampsia is a disorder affecting multiple organ systems. Preeclampsia with severe features may prompt consideration of delivery. The diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia with severe features, while focusing upon maternal cardiopulmonary, neurological, hepatic, renal and haematological systems, vary considerably in international practice guidelines. In the absence of alternative causes, severe hyponatraemia, pleural effusions and ascites, and abrupt severe maternal bradycardia are proposed as possible additional criteria for the diagnosis of preeclampsia.
Acute and chronic coronoid reconstruction using the olecranon Tip
Authors: Dirckx Margo , Phadnis Joideep
Published: May 2022

Post-traumatic coronoid deficiency in the elbow can lead to chronic pain, instability and arthritis. A variety of osteochondral grafts have been used to reconstruct the coronoid, and restore elbow stability. The radial head and iliac crest grafts are the most common in the literature but have limitations. The olecranon tip is a promising alternative, with both cadaveric and computer models demonstrating superior congruency, without compromising elbow stability or disrupting the extensor mechanism. We present a small, case series demonstrating the technique for contralateral and ipsilateral grafts in both the acute and chronic setting.
Integration of cooperative learning strategies in online settings
Authors: Barreto Daisyane , Oyarzun Beth , Conklin Sheri
Published: May 2022

Although online learning has increased as a delivery method of instruction in higher education, learners may still feel isolated from the instructor and peers due to a lack of physical presence. Thus, intentional and purposeful online course design is necessary. To remediate feelings of isolation, cooperative learning strategies have been implemented in online courses, resulting in positive outcomes. A long-term cooperative learning project based on social interdependence theory (SIT) has been implemented into two asynchronous online courses at two different higher education institutions. A mixed-method, design-based research study was conducted to examine students’ attitudes towards cooperative learning. Participants of this study included undergraduate and graduate students who completed pre-and post-surveys. Classroom artifacts were also collected to analyze the group work and dynamics. Even though the quantitative results showed a decrease in students’ attitudes towards cooperative learning, qualitative data indicated that students benefited from this experience. Qualitative data also provided further insights on the group dynamics. Students’ high expectations of group work, faculty support, and shared sense of responsibility among group members could have affected their perceptions of cooperative learning. This study was the first cycle of a multi-cycle effort to develop a robust cooperative learning activity that will benefit learners in future courses.
The effects of vitamin E on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Are they sustainable with 12 months of therapy
Authors: Ho J-Ian , Ng En Yng , Chiew Yilynn , Koay Yan Yi , Chuar Pei Fen , Phang Sonia Chew Wen , Ahmad Badariah , Kadir Khalid Abdul
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Prolonged uncontrolled hyperglycaemia has shown to cause oxidative stress, inflammation, thrombosis and upregulation of angiogenesis in diabetics, which all contributes to diabetic retinopathy development and progression. Vitamin E is found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-thrombogenic and anti-angiogenesis which could play an important role in early treatment of diabetic retinopathy. This study aims to investigate the effect of Tocotrienol-rich vitamin E (Tocovid) on the progression of retinal microhaemorrhages and diabetic macular oedema in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Method:

This is a multi-centred, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial which involved 55 eligible participants. The participants in the treatment group ( n = 22) received Tocovid 200 mg twice daily while those in the placebo group ( n = 23) would receive placebo twice daily. Both groups will be on the treatment for a total duration of 12 months. Both retinal signs will be assessed at baseline, 2 months, 6 months and 12 months of treatment to determine the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor which reflects on the angiogenesis process in the eye was analysed as well at similar time points as the retinal findings.

Results:

After 12 months of treatment, the placebo group had a significant increase of 23.42% in retinal microhaemorrhages ( p < 0.05), but the Tocovid group had no significant changes. Moreover, the Tocovid group showed a significant decrease of 48.38% in area of diabetic macular oedema over the 12 months period ( p < 0.05), but the placebo group had no significant changes. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in serum vascular endothelial growth factor level when comparing between both groups.

Conclusion:

These findings could indicate that Tocovid has an important role in preventing early diabetic retinopathy progression.
Survival and recovery modeling of acute kidney injury in critically ill adults
Authors: Brothers Todd N , Strock Jacob , LeMasters Traci J , Pawasauskas Jayne , Reed Ronald C , Al-Mamun Mohammad A
Published: May 2022

Objectives:

Acute kidney injury is common among the critically ill. However, the incidence, medication use, and outcomes of acute kidney injury have been variably described. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study to examine the risk factors and correlates associated with acute kidney injury in critically ill adults with a particular focus on medication class usage.

Methods:

We reviewed the electronic medical records of all adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit between 1 February and 30 August 2020. Acute kidney injury was defined by the 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines. Data included were demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, laboratory parameters, interventions, and outcomes. The primary outcome was acute kidney injury incidence. A Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression model was used to determine risk factors associated with acute kidney injury. Secondary outcomes including acute kidney injury recovery and intensive care unit mortality were analyzed using a Cox regression model.

Results:

Among 226 admitted patients, 108 (47.8%) experienced acute kidney injury. 37 (34.3%), 39 (36.1%), and 32 patients (29.6%) were classified as acute kidney injury stages I–III, respectively. Among the recovery and mortality cohorts, analgesics/sedatives, anti-infectives, and intravenous fluids were significant ( p-value < 0.05). The medication classes IV-fluid electrolytes nutrition (96.7%), gastrointestinal (90.2%), and anti-infectives (81.5%) were associated with an increased odds of developing acute kidney injury, odd ratios: 1.27, 1.71, and 1.70, respectively. Cox regression analyses revealed a significantly increased time-varying mortality risk for acute kidney injury-stage III, hazard ratio: 4.72 (95% confidence interval: 1–22.33). In the recovery cohort, time to acute kidney injury recovery was significantly faster in stage I, hazard ratio: 9.14 (95% confidence interval: 2.14–39.06) cohort when compared to the stage III cohort.

Conclusion:

Evaluation of vital signs, laboratory, and medication use data may be useful to determine acute kidney injury risk stratification. The influence of particular medication classes further impacts the risk of developing acute kidney injury, necessitating the importance of examining pharmacotherapeutic regimens for early recognition of renal impairment and prevention.
Effect of the whole seamless connection of nursing from WeChat interactive platform on stigma and quality of life in patients with urinary system cancer
Authors: Hao Haiyan , Yang Xinyu , Zhu Huixia , Wang Ziheng , Zhang Haiyan , Huang Chunxia
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the effects of intervention by “whole seamless connection of nursing from WeChat interactive platform” on stigma and quality of life of the patients with urinary system cancer.

Methods

Overall, 80 patients with urinary cancer were randomly divided (40 cases per group) into control and observation groups. Routine nursing was provided to the control group, whereas positive psychological intervention was provided to the intervention group through a “whole seamless connection of nursing from the WeChat interactive platform” in addition to routine nursing. The Chinese version of social impact and cancer patients’ quality of life scales were used to evaluate the effects before and after the intervention.

Results

After the intervention, the total score for stigma was significantly lower ( p < 0.01), while that of quality of life was higher ( p < 0.05) in the observation group relative to the control group.

Conclusions

The whole seamless connection of nursing from the WeChat interactive platform could reduce stigma and improve the quality of life of patients with urinary cancer.
Running on the treadmill: Practitioner experiences of mass supervision
Authors: Cracknell Matt
Published: May 2022

This article explores the impacts that the addition of individuals serving short sentences has had on daily practice and working culture for probation workers. These practitioner perspectives are explored through the lens of ‘mass supervision’, providing a new insight into the harms and implications for its inherent deskilling qualities and constraints. This empirical research underlines three main themes related to the harms caused by mass supervision: firstly, that it inhibits innovative practice; secondly, that it necessitates a more limited model of supervision that undermines practitioner autonomy and the reach and scope of the supervisory relationship; and thirdly, that mass supervision corrodes the values of probation staff, leaving many experienced practitioners struggling ethically, practically and emotionally. The experience of mass supervision is compared to a treadmill by several practitioners and employed as a metaphor to analyse practice in the confines of mass supervision as generic, monotonous and relentless.
Telling China's story through reports on major manned space activities: A case study of the coverage of Shenzhou spacecraft in Chinese and Western media
Authors: Zhou Min , Chen Liwen , Zhao Ji
Published: May 2022

The Shenzhou spacecraft have been independently developed by China, and the country has complete intellectual property rights to this technology. The spacecraft are examples of China's achievements in space technology, are representative of the country having reached or surpassed international technological standards for third-generation manned spacecraft, and have garnered widespread interest among international media and audiences. Our study found that there are many differences between Chinese and Western media in their coverage of this major topic. China's reporting system on this issue is well established but still has room for improvement. Western media have considered both positive and negative angles when reporting on this issue, and that deserves attention. In these circumstances, it is important for China to improve its communicators, communication content, information release mechanisms, narrative style and response mechanism through targeted measures, such as cultivating new communicators, developing new content and minimizing cultural discounts in cross-cultural communication in order to enhance China's voice on the world stage.
Transformational, Transactional, Laissez-faire Leadership Styles and Employee Engagement: Evidence From Vietnam’s Public Sector
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Hai , Quang Nguyen Van
Published: May 2022

Leadership style is considered one of the critical factors in employee engagement with the leader, the organization, and the organization’s success. So far, there have been studies on the relationship between leadership style and employee engagement. However, there has been no research on the relationship between leadership style and the engagement of civil servants in Vietnam’s provincial public sector, which is a gap that needs to be researched. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between three leadership styles, namely transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and laissez-faire leadership concerning engagement to work and performance of public sector employees, and at the same time determines the relationship of leadership styles with demographic variables and with employee engagement in the Vietnamese public sector. The study data were collected from a convenient sample of leaders from the departmental level to the board of directors, and the survey sample was also collected from employees in state agencies who were feedback by answering questionnaires at a time. A total of 325 people, who are leaders and civil servants in the provincial public sector in Vietnam, responded. SPSS statistical software version 26.0 was used to process the data obtained through surveying the opinions of respondents in the leadership style questionnaire and the employee participation questionnaire. The results of the analysis show that leadership styles are closely related to employee engagement. The study also discovered that the level of an employee’s engagement to work depends largely on leadership style. Recommendations are made when a leader practices the right leadership style to increase employee engagement and vice versa.
Workplace Psychological Distress: A Concept Analysis
Authors: Mopkins Dawn
Published: May 2022

Background:

Workplace psychological distress (WPD) significantly impacts employees’ mental and physical well-being. However, WPD has not been well-defined in the literature as a concept. This concept analysis aims to clarify the concept of WPD and promote the use of the term in occupational health nursing research.

Methods:

Strategies introduced by Walker and Avant’s conceptual analysis method will be utilized to conceptualize WPD and its impact on employees. A literature search was conducted using Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Business Source Complete, and APA PsycArticles. The keyword search included the terms “workplace” AND “employee” AND “psychological distress.”

Results:

Antecedents of WPD are an increase in job demands, lack of control, low support, and workplace bullying. Defining attributes for WPD are extreme fatigue, role conflict, and time pressures. Consequences of WPD were identified as mental disorders, physical disorders, and loss in productivity. This concept was further illustrated using a model, borderline, and contrary case.

Discussion/Conclusion:

Identifying signs of WPD is of great importance in caring for employees in the workplace. Occupational health nurses can use information obtained from a workplace assessment to develop policies, implement well-being programs, and provide employee referrals.
Preparation and properties of N-glycosylated chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels for use in wound dressings
Authors: Yi Yu , Huang Ting , Xu Yunxia , Mei Jianfeng , Zhang Yanlu , Wang Xudong , Chen Jianshu , Ying Guoqing
Published: May 2022

Chitosan and its derivatives show potent biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, hemostatic effects, and wound healing properties. Their application in wound dressings has garnered substantial research interest. In this work, we prepared a drug-loaded hydrogel by mixing N-glycosylated chitosan with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), followed by loading of ofloxacin. A 2:1 volume ratio of chitosan to PVA was found to be optimal based on swelling and water evaporation rates. The slow-drug-release performance of the blended hydrogel was best when the ofloxacin loading was 5.0%. The ofloxacin-loaded hydrogel shows excellent antimicrobial properties in vitro and wound healing ability in an in vivo rabbit full-thickness excision wound model. The chitosan/PVA blended hydrogel has great potential for use in wound dressings and sustained drug release.
An Economic Analysis of Stalking
Authors: Allen W. David
Published: May 2022

When does ordinary, legal interpersonal attention behaviour become aberrant, illegal stalking behaviour? How do we stop it when it does? As a society, we have only recently recognized stalking (episodic, continued unwanted contact of one person by another) as criminal behaviour—that it ranges well beyond the merely bothersome and creates real hardships for victims, famous or not. In the United States, formally codified anti-stalking law first appeared in the 1990s, and it continues to evolve. In part because of the relative newness of the law, scholarly analysis of stalking remains rare and confined primarily to clinical studies by psychologists and psychiatrists. But a pursuer’s interpersonal attention, a target’s reciprocation, and the evolution of these behaviours into patterns of stalking reflect systematic economic choices made by those agents. The economic model of stalking developed in this paper analyses the causes and consequences of these choices by considering interpersonal pursuit and reciprocation as a sequential game. The analysis allows us to understand stalking within the broader context of economic behaviours characterized by episodic interpersonal encounters, legal and otherwise, and facilitates economic explanations for several stylized patterns commonly observed in real stalking cases. Some of these carry relevance for policy and may serve as a foundation for future empirical study.
Can Feminist Legal Theory Transcend Vietnamese Legal Education and Legal Research Towards the Goal of Addressing Women’s Issues?
Authors: Hai Doan Thanh , Diep Doan Thi Phuong , Duong Nguyen Nu Hong
Published: May 2022

This article aims to figure out why feminist legal theory is called for being studied in Vietnam and what are the possible implications of the movement of adopting feminist legal theory in Vietnam, specifically, for Vietnamese academia legal education and scholarship. This article first argues that Vietnamese legal scholarship and education lacks a soul regarding gender-related issues—a feminist insight. This article points out that finding a feminist legal theory has long been a quest for Vietnamese scholars. It would follow from this that the recognition and adoption of feminist legal scholarship can have overall positive impacts on the Vietnamese legal academia and its scholarship and contribute to addressing the need for gender equality in legal academia and the whole society.