bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Normal calculation of artillery cradle before the robot arm assisted ultrasonic phased array automatic detection
Authors: Zhang Erqing , Shen Xuewen , Wang Shaofeng , Huang Shunzhou
Published: July 2023

This study is interested in the normal calculation of artillery cradle. When the beam axis of ultrasonic phased array probe cannot detect the workpiece surface vertically, the detection result is usually inaccurate. Thus, in order to determine the normal of the surface to be detected, a method based on visual point cloud to calculate the normal of artillery cradle is proposed in this paper. The proposed method solves two key problems. One is to sparse the point cloud while preserving the tiny information on the surface. A mesh division method along the uv direction is proposed. The disordered point cloud data in 3D space are connected into regular polygon meshes. While establishing the local relationship of point cloud data, it also maintains the overall integrity of point cloud data. The other is to calculate the normal vector of the point cloud. The local plane fitting method based on the least square method calculates the normal at a point of the point cloud. At this time, the calculated normal are nondirective. When there is no abrupt curvature change near the calculated point cloud, the direction of the normal is determined based on the same slope at two adjacent points. The calculated point cloud normal vector is compared with the actual normal vector of the mathematical model. The maximum deviation between the theoretical value and the actual value of the normal vector is 0.465°, and the average deviation is 0.302°. The experimental results show that the proposed method can be used to detect the actual normal of artillery cradle.
Approaching Polish madness: concepts and treatment of psychosis in Polish psychiatry of the inter-war period
Authors: Kornaj Jan
Published: July 2023

The institutional organization of psychiatry in Poland when it became independent faced the problem of the integration of three ex-partition territories having different laws, health-care systems and psychiatric cultures. Due to the high incidence of mental health problems, among which psychosis was the most frequent, psychiatric care facilities had to be organized as quickly and efficiently as possible and had to address the issue of psychosis both conceptually and practically. This study investigates the concept of psychosis and methods of its treatment in inter-war Polish psychiatric care facilities in relation to the sociocultural context of the institutional organization of psychiatry in Poland and the influence of major European concepts and treatment practices regarding psychoses.
Buried Podzols as a pedostratigraphic marker for the Medieval Climatic Optimum: Grębociny soil in the dune deposits of the European Sand Belt
Authors: Ninard Krzysztof , Stolarczyk Mateusz , Łapcik Piotr , Uchman Alfred
Published: July 2023

The paleopedological record documented in aeolian dunes of the eastern European Sand Belt comprises predominantly Arenosols and only occasionally well-developed Podzols. There are several Late Pleistocene pedostratigraphic marker horizons of varied soil types designated in the European dune and loess deposits, but none falls within the range of the Holocene. Buried Podzol occurrences found recently in 10 inland dune sites dispersed throughout Central and Eastern Poland share similar pedological properties, geomorphological setting, and age in the 5th–15th century AD range of the historical Middle Ages. Therefore, they meet the criteria for distinction as a pedostratigraphic marker under the name Grębociny soil, after a locality with the most advanced podzolization of the paleosol dated to the High Middle Ages (1000–1300 AD). Preservation of the soils was enabled by burial during anthropogenically induced dune remobilization. At least some of the investigated dunes were used as pasture during soil development, as evidenced by tetrapod hoofprints recorded in and above the buried Podzols. Prevalent podzolization during the Middle Ages, in contrast to preceding and later times, could be facilitated by not only an impact of agriculture and forestry, but also relative warmth and humidity of the Medieval Climatic Optimum (ca. 900–1400 AD).
Occupational Stress Associated With Technological Diversion Among Pretrial Services Officers: A Qualitative Case Study of GPS Supervision for Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence Cases
Authors: Lawson Spencer G. , Grommon Eric
Published: July 2023

The application of global positioning system (GPS) technology as a pretrial diversion mechanism to monitor intimate partner and domestic violence (IPV/DV) cases has become increasingly common. As more jurisdictions implement GPS technology, there is a need to understand the workplace experiences of community corrections officers with this nascent supervision strategy. This qualitative case study draws upon the experiences gleaned from in-depth interviews with all the pretrial officers assigned to technology caseloads ( n = 8) in a single jurisdiction to explore prevailing occupational stress themes associated with GPS supervision for IPV/DV cases as a diversion from pretrial detention. The results reinforce and extend a range of well-established stressors in the extant literature related to pretrial officers managing a GPS caseload of IPV/DV defendants. The findings highlight that pretrial officers using GPS technology are expected to serve in other unique roles (e.g., critical educator, software engineer, data collection specialist, communication expert, and victim advocate) in the course of their duties that were unanticipated sources of occupational stress. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Seeding Resilience-Building CROPs: Understanding the Impact of Connection and Relationship-Oriented Practices on Educator Intention to Leave
Authors: Strolin-Goltzman Jessica , Haines Shana J. , Ura Sarah , Woodside-Jiron Haley
Published: July 2023

According to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the devastation caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the teacher turnover crisis to one of the most harrowing issues facing our society. Stress and burnout among school professionals have reached new highs, resulting in a need to better understand the individual and contextual factors that can ameliorate stress and improve well-being and resilience. Using a relationship-based framework of resilience, this study shifts our gaze from burnout toward understanding the resilience factors associated with lower stress to inform the field’s pathway toward addressing the workforce crisis while better supporting the resilience of educators, students, families, professionals, and educational systems during the pandemic and beyond. Findings from a logistic regression model show a significant decrease in the likelihood of intention to leave as relationship-based resilience factors increased. Implications discuss the importance of opportunities that increase family–school–community support, social-emotional well-being and safety, and other strategies that build relationships, foster resilience, and improve retention of the school-based workforce.
Modeling and performance analysis of a curve-shaped based doubly clamped piezoelectric energy harvester (CD-PEH)
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Zhang Xuhui , Guo Yan , Zhu Fulin
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a curve-shaped based doubly clamped piezoelectric energy harvester (CD-PEH) is explored for improving the energy harvesting performance. The harvester consists of a composed beam constructed with two arc-shaped structures and a flat beam, as well as two proof masses. A method based on chained beam constraint model theory (CBCM) is first applied to build the nonlinear restoring force model of the CD-PEH, the developed analytical model is validated by the finite element analysis (FEA). Then the electromechanically coupled model for the CD-PEH is built to investigate the effect of excitation amplitudes, geometric parameters and load resistance on the output characteristics. Due to the geometric nonlinearity caused by the arc-shaped configuration, the CD-PEH orderly exhibits quasi-linear, softening nonlinear and mixed hardening & softening nonlinearity behavior with the increasing of excitation level, which could effectively extend the frequency bandwidth of the system. For the excitation of A = 8 m/s2, the effective working bandwidth of the CD-PEH is increased by 633% compared with the effective bandwidth in the case of A = 2 m/s2. Moreover, comparison experiments demonstrate that the output voltage and the effective bandwidth are increased by 225 and 450%, respectively, compared with the typical doubly-clamped piezoelectric energy harvester (T-PEH) under the same excitation amplitude. Overall, this study provides a new way and theoretical framework for the design of high-efficiency doubly clamped piezoelectric energy harvester.
Passive control on deep cavity noise at subsonic speeds by leading-edge grooves
Authors: Lu Weishuang , Zheng Guannan
Published: July 2023

Control effects of leading-edge grooves on deep cavity noise are investigated numerically. The length-to-depth ratio of the grooves are 0.5, 1, and 4, respectively. The freestream Mach number is equal to 0.16, corresponding to the Re based on the cavity length of 7.7 × 105. The Detached Eddy Simulations (DES) combined with Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FW-H) acoustic analogy are adopted to simulate the characteristic information of the flow field and the acoustic field. The analysis results show that all grooves investigated in this paper have a certain noise control effect, and the groove with the most obvious noise reduction effect is the groove with a length-to-depth ratio of 0.5, namely, the deep groove. Narrowband noise generated by the flow-acoustic feedback (100–700 Hz) and the acoustic resonance mechanism (above 300 Hz) and broadband noise caused by the turbulent disturbance in the shear layer of the cavity mouth significantly reduce when the deep groove is used for the noise control. The reason for the noise reduction is that the leading-edge grooves can effectively change the flow characteristics near the mouth of the downstream cavity. When the flow passes the grooves, the groove flow reduces the energy in the fluid, resulting in the significant decrease of flow velocity of the boundary layer of the incoming flow of the cavity. In addition, the use of the deep groove also promotes the vortex concentration position to move towards the bottom of the cavity, pushes the energy in the shear layer of the downstream cavity towards the front-edge as well as the bottom of the cavity, and stabilizes the development of the shear layer near the cavity mouth.
The Efficacy of Health Promotion Program Among Parents Who Had Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder
Authors: Huang Ya-Fang , Chang Shen-Chieh , Purborini Nurul , Lin Yen-Kuang , Chang Hsiu-Ju
Published: July 2023

Objectives:

To explore the effect of health promotion program (HPP) on stress, quality of life, health-promoting lifestyles, and children’s attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in parents of children with ADHD.

Methods:

Sixty parents of children with ADHD were equally randomized into the intervention (health promotion program) and control (usual care) groups. Outcomes included parents’ stress, quality of life, health-promoting lifestyles, and children’s ADHD symptoms before, immediately after, and 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. The GEE was used to evaluate the effectiveness.

Results:

The intervention group reported significant improvement in the children’s hyperactivity/impulse and opposition at the 6- and 3-month, respectively. Parental overall stress significantly improved at 3 and 6 months. Parents’ quality of life had significant effects at the immediate, 3-month, and 6-month. Self-actualization behavior for health-promoting lifestyles had significant effects at the immediate follow-up.

Conclusion:

HPP can promote the mental well-being of parents of children with ADHD.
Running ahead of evolution—AI-based simulation for predicting future high-risk SARS-CoV-2 variants
Authors: Chen Jie , Nie Zhiwei , Wang Yu , Wang Kai , Xu Fan , Hu Zhiheng , Zheng Bing , Wang Zhennan , Song Guoli , Zhang Jingyi , Fu Jie , Huang Xiansong , Wang Zhongqi , Ren Zhixiang , Wang Qiankun , Li Daixi , Wei Dongqing , Zhou Bin , Yang Chao , Tian Yonghong
Published: July 2023

The never-ending emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variations of concern (VOCs) has challenged the whole world for pandemic control. In order to develop effective drugs and vaccines, one needs to efficiently simulate SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) mutations and identify high-risk variants. We pretrain a large protein language model with approximately 408 million protein sequences and construct a high-throughput screening for the prediction of binding affinity and antibody escape. As the first work on SARS-CoV-2 RBD mutation simulation, we successfully identify mutations in the RBD regions of 5 VOCs and can screen millions of potential variants in seconds. Our workflow scales to 4096 NPUs with 96.5% scalability and 493.9× speedup in mixed-precision computing, while achieving a peak performance of 366.8 PFLOPS (reaching 34.9% theoretical peak) on Pengcheng Cloudbrain-II. Our method paves the way for simulating coronavirus evolution in order to prepare for a future pandemic that will inevitably take place. Our models are released at https://github.com/ZhiweiNiepku/SARS-CoV-2_mutation_simulation to facilitate future related work.
Sex Differences Define the Vulnerability to Atherosclerosis
Authors: Poznyak Anastasia V , Sukhorukov Vasiliy N , Guo Shuzhen , Postnov Anton Y , Orekhov Alexander N
Published: July 2023

For several decades, atherosclerosis has attracted the attention of researchers around the world. Even being a major cause of serious cardiovascular disease and events, atherosclerosis is still not fully understood. Despite the fact that the main players in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are well known, many mechanisms of their implementation and interactions remain unknown. The same can be said about the risk factors for atherosclerosis. Many of them are known, but exactly how they work remains to be seen. The main objective of this review is to summarize the latest data on sex as a biological variable in atherosclerosis in humans and animals; to determine what we do not still know about how sex affects the process of growth and complications of atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarized data on sex differences at 3 atherosclerotic aspects: inflammation, vascular remodeling, and plaque morphology. With all overviewed data, we came to the conclusion on the atheroprotective role of female sex.
The Influence of COVID-19 in Endocrine Research: Critical Overview, Methodological Implications and a Guideline for Future Designs
Authors: Rastmanesh Reza , Krishnia Lucky , Kashyap Manoj Kumar
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of people’s lives, including not only individual social behavior, healthcare procedures, and altered physiological and pathophysiological responses. As a result, some medical studies may be influenced by one or more hidden factors brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the literature review method, we are briefly discussing the studies that are confounded by COVID-19 and facemask-induced partiality and how these factors can be further complicated with other confounding variables. Facemask wearing has been reported to produce partiality in studies of ophthalmology (particularly dry eye and related ocular diseases), sleep studies, cognitive studies (such as emotion-recognition accuracy research, etc.), and gender-influenced studies, to mention a few. There is a possibility that some other COVID-19 related influences remain unrecognized in medical research. To account for heterogeneity, current and future studies need to consider the severity of the initial illness (such as diabetes, other endocrine disorders), and COVID-19 infection, the timing of analysis, or the presence of a control group. Face mask-induced influences may confound the results of diabetes studies in many ways.
Neonatal Mortality at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Ethiopia Over 5 years: Trends and Associated Factors
Authors: Kassie Ayalew , Kassie Mulugeta , Bantie Berihun , Bogale Tewodros Worku , Aynalem Zewdu Bishaw
Published: July 2023

Background:

Globally, neonatal mortality remains a serious catastrophic problem for newborns, particularly in a low-resource setting. There were no neonatal mortality trend studies in the study area.

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the trends and risk factors of neonatal mortality at the neonatal intensive care unit of Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods:

An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 870 admitted neonates from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020 in the neonatal intensive care unit by a stratified simple random sampling technique. Data were entered into EpiData and then exported to STATA 14.0 for analysis. A linear regression statistical model was used for trend analysis and binary logistic regression was carried out to identify explanatory variables of neonatal mortality.

Results:

Overall, neonatal mortality averagely increased by 2.1% per year throughout the 5 consecutive years. In this study, rural residency [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.26, 3.06)], birth asphyxia (AOR: 7.73, 95% CI: 4.31, 13.84), congenital deformity (AOR: 3.61, 95% CI: 1.17, 11.18), low birth weight (AOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.67), respiratory distress syndrome (AOR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.97, 5.59), Ambu-bag resuscitation (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.38), taking antibiotics (AOR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.90), glucose (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.72), and oxygen (AOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.41) were associated with neonatal mortality.

Conclusions:

This 5-year trend analysis revealed an increased trend of NMR, indicating more work is still needed to make progress toward meeting the SDG goal by 2030. Rural residency, birth asphyxia, congenital deformity, low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, Ambu-bag resuscitation, taking antibiotics, glucose, and oxygen were associated with neonatal mortality. Therefore, all stakeholders shall give due attention to reducing this timely-increasing trend of neonatal mortality.
Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy for a Child With Rett Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Rocco Karen , Drobnyk Wendy` , Bruce Susan , Soumerai Stephen B
Published: July 2023

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe dyspraxia, hand stereotypies, and sensory processing issues for which there is no known treatment. This case describes a child with classic RTT and the child’s responses to an Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) treatment intervention (36 one-hour sessions, 3 per week). We coded and analyzed 36 detailed treatment notes to answer the following questions: What strategies and factors facilitated or interfered with participation in the intervention? What critical elements of treatment documentation might detect small changes in praxis and participation? How do patterns of motor or praxis milestones that emerge over time relate to this child’s level of participation? We observed an increase in participation when the therapist incorporated elements of neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and motor learning theory– treatment strategies commonly used with children who have neuromotor conditions. This increase in participation in the ASI intervention emerged at approximately the same time that the therapist documented acquisition of new motor and praxis skills. We observed the importance of using: lateral movement activities to develop weight-shifting and bilateral coordination, rotary play to increase trunk rotation and improve postural transitions, and rhythm to promote continuing or initiating actions. The documentation of the specific amounts of assistance and prompting needed during treatment sessions was an important tool for tracking small yet meaningful responses to treatment. This case illustrates a novel use of ASI intervention supplemented with strategies that developed foundational skills, and the emergence of praxis and participation in the therapeutic intervention. We suggest further research is needed to determine efficacy of ASI for other children with this rare disorder.
Taking credit for stupidity: On being a student in the performative university
Authors: Spoelstra Sverre
Published: July 2023

Stupidity is generally thought of as a hindrance to learning: an epistemic vice that stands in the way of knowledge and understanding. In this article, I challenge this idea by exploring some of the meanings of stupidity that place it in a positive relation to learning. In this light, the article discusses two notions of stupidity: stupidity as unfinished thought and stupefaction through study. I show how these forms of stupidity, rather than indicating a lack of learning, can be considered as a crucial part of the learning process. These types of desirable stupidity have come under increasing threat in academic cultures that are dominated by performance criteria. On the basis of this analysis, the article argues for the importance of academic practices that make room for these positive forms of stupidity and thereby facilitate what it means to be a student.
Identifying Hashtag Cultures to Study the Construction of Childhood Image and Parents’ Aspirations
Authors: Benevento Ayşenur
Published: July 2023

This study considers posting behavior as a cultural practice as enacted with Instagram postings marked by hashtags #fashionkids and #letthekids and examines whether and how the two hashtags reflect two distinct online cultures about childhood. The study is important for two reasons. First, it offers socio-cultural theory to the study of social media and provides researchers with a theory-based method of using Instagram as a data source to detect and study digital cultures. Second, it contributes to the research activities on the phenomena of sharenting and the changing narrative of childhood in domestic contexts. The inquiry included analyses of the scale of a sample of Instagram postings with hashtags of #fashionkids and #letthekids posted in a 12-day period in 2016, geographical locations where the postings were made, searches of words with linguistic functions in captions, and networking strategies. Analysis of the scale, the networking patterns, the verbal accounts, and the geographical locations where the postings happened help inform us about the magnitude and diverse purposes of the hashtags. Overall, the findings underscore greater diversity among #letthekids posts compared to the more focused content of #fashionkids’ postings.
Weaving the network of collectivism –Kuqingas affective glue in China: Analyzing the reality showX-Change
Authors: Dong Wei , Lünenborg Margreth
Published: July 2023

This article examines the ways in which kuqing – bitter emotions – are performed, amplified and circulated in the Chinese reality show X-Change (2006–2008). Taking a social relational approach to affect, we understand kuqing as an embodied, socially informed and relationally inscribed affective response to suffering and pain. Building on the historical roots of kuqing, textual and audiovisual analysis is applied to capture its expressions and affective registers in the program. The analysis reveals that, while claiming to reduce the alarming urban–rural divide, the program engages in two juxtaposed and competing affective arrangements. The first recruits kuqing into neoliberal logics and individualistic subjectivity, but is counterproductive in that it reproduces structural class inequalities. The second results in a rearrangement in which kuqing circulates relationally and articulates with Confucian filiality and family ethics, weaving both the rural bitter underclass and the urban middle class into an intersubjective collectivist identity and relationship, thereby strengthening social cohesion and managing social division. Based on the analysis, we offer new insights into relationships between reality TV, power structures and the complex ‘emotional regime’ in a contemporary China challenged by its social ruptures.
Humour under occupation: Jokes and humorous anecdotes and their reflections in Palestine
Authors: Kamal Noura
Published: July 2023

Humour plays a substantial role in the dissemination of ideas, beliefs and practices. In particular, it can offer an alternative framework for addressing situations of struggle, stress and suffering, such as war, political strife and social upheaval. In Palestine, humour is manifested in many everyday interactions, functioning as a coping mechanism and offering a way to confront both the Israeli Occupation and the dire political and economic situation. This article engages with humour as it occurs in the everyday lives of Palestinians, looking at the role of humour in a specific context, in a time of political violence. One of the arguments I wish to make is that each new atrocity or each further erosion of rights is reflected in a new series of ‘in-jokes’, which enable Palestinians to refer to, make sense of and adapt to the painful realities they encounter in everyday life. The narratives of individuals’ lives in Palestine are reflected upon via the exploration of humorous daily discourse which is displayed in jokes and humorous anecdotes. I explore what thoughts, desires and fears individuals and families in Palestine share within their social networks in the form of jokes. In addition, the article traces what kind of jokes are circulated and how people in various situations react to different kinds of jokes.
Markers of self-identities for young Polish diasporic female viewers of The Magnificent Century (Turkish TV series, 2011–2014)
Authors: Özalpman Deniz
Published: July 2023

This study focuses on young Polish viewers living in Vienna, the capital city of Austria, and their reception of Turkish television series. This is an under-researched audience group. The analysis gives voice to viewers’ comments through the use of semi-structured interviews to gain deep insight into their viewer experiences. The study introduces another, less-studied component of analysis by scrutinising the ways in which audiences deploy the media text of Turkish series in defining markers of their own self-identities. The analysis of this reveals ways in which viewers were able to negotiate their placement in diasporic lands and in cultural imaginaries.
Small stories of a key moment: Exploring discursive construction in digital quarantine stories
Authors: Ho Janet , Gu Jiapei
Published: July 2023

This study examines the narratives presented on Quarantine Stories, an online platform where users posted their home-quarantine experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigates the recurrent themes in quarantine stories and how tellers constructed their lives in isolation. Quarantine stories submitted worldwide were examined via semantic tag and concordance analyses to identify their recurrent themes and narrative elements. The results reveal that digital storytelling allowed tellers and readers to form a community of shared support beyond spatiotemporal boundaries. Most quarantine stories were characterised by fragmentation and simultaneity, whereas others had Labovian narrative structures. The recurrent themes found (quarantine duration, favourite quarantine spots and self-healing) demonstrated how tellers used time stamps to create meaning. The present study contributes to social media research by suggesting the further categorisation of breaking stories into major and minor and by regarding self-reflection as a sub-type of evaluation.
Negotiating interpretive power: Interpretive practices in journalist-scientist interactions
Authors: Verkest Sofie
Published: July 2023

This study critically examines the notion of interpretation and interpretive practices within journalist-scientist interactions in the news production process. The linguistic ethnographic work in this paper offers rare insights into an intense and lengthy collaboration between a newspaper, university, and government agency as they set up a citizen science project on air quality in Belgium. Our analysis focuses on how journalists and scientists interpret scientific results and how they actively reflect on that interpretation. Beeman and Peterson’s (2001) notion of interpretive practice is adopted as an analytical framework and operationalized by looking into how routine procedures, cultural categories, and social positions from the fields of journalism and science are adapted, negotiated or reflected on in the dataset. The findings show that the scientists go beyond providing data and expertise and are heavily engaged in the interpretive work within the news production process. The close-knit interaction between the scientists and journalists brings about a struggle over whose interpretation should be a part of the final news product and limits the interpretive power of the journalist.
Dual-Lumen Stenting of Dissected Superior Mesenteric Artery During Fenestrated Branched Endovascular Repair of a Post-dissection Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: DiBartolomeo Alexander D. , Miranda Elizabeth , Pyun Alyssa J. , Magee Gregory A. , Ziegler Kenneth R. , Paige Jacquelyn , Han Sukgu M.
Published: July 2023

Purpose:

Long-segment aortic branch dissections have been considered a relative contraindication for fenestrated-branched endovascular aneurysm repair (FB-EVAR). This case report describes a technique of dual-lumen stenting of a fully-dissected superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to preserve patency of the true and false lumens during FB-EVAR.

Case Report:

A 67-year-old man presented with a 6.0 cm extent III chronic post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient had highly-complex anatomy including dissection of the entire SMA. The true and false lumens of the dissected SMA were noted to be supplying different branches, requiring preservation of both lumens. The patient underwent a staged physician-modified FB-EVAR. A modified endograft containing 5 fenestrations and 1 branch cuff was introduced and the celiac, true-lumen SMA, and 3 renal arteries were sequentially catheterized using staggered deployment of the modified endograft. The false lumen SMA stent was catheterized via the branch cuff. Molded parallel grafting (“eye-of-the-tiger”) technique was used to achieve double D configuration between the true and false lumens of the SMA.

Conclusion:

This case demonstrates feasibility of dual-lumen stenting to incorporate dissected target vessels during FB-EVAR while preserving flow to both the true and false lumens and the second-order branches they supply.

Clinical Impact

We report a novel technique that allows incorporation of branch vessels affected by long segment dissection during fenestrated branched endovascular aortic repairs. This has potential advantage of preserving flow to all secondary branches of the dissected target vessels, while reducing the risk of type Ic endoleak.
Peristaltic pumping of ternary hybrid nanofluid between two sinusoidally deforming curved tubes
Authors: Abbas Zaheer , Mehboob Rabia , Rafiq Muhammad Yousuf , Khaliq Sabeeh , Ali Amjad
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to inspect the mixed convective peristaltic transport of ternary hybrid nanofluids between two sinusoidally deforming lubricated curved concentric tubes. Titanium, Alumina, and copper nanoparticles are taken for the current problem with blood as a base fluid. The heat equation is also modeled in the presence of heat generation/absorption. The curved shape structure of flow geometry from the external side with a flexible complex nature of the peristaltic endoscope present inside that is similar to the endoscopy of a living organ. The governing expressions of the proposed model are followed under the long wavelength and small Reynolds number hypothesis. The exact solutions for flow fields that is, velocity, temperature, pumping phenomenon, and streamlines are attained by utilizing the separation of variable technique. Furthermore, graphs are used to examine and discuss different parameters outcomes. The outcomes reveal that liquid velocity enhances near the outer wall of the sinusoidal curved tube but it declines with the peristaltic endoscope for enhancing curvature parameter. The fluid temperature is reduced by enhancing the values of curvature parameter.
HORMONET: a phase II trial of tamoxifen for estrogen/progesterone receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Barros Milton J. , Strosberg Jonathan , Al-Toubah Taymeyah , de Jesus Victor Hugo F. , Durant Lais , Mello Celso A. , Felismino Tiago C. , De Brot Louise , Taboada Rodrigo G. , Donadio Mauro D. , Riechelmann Rachel P.
Published: July 2023

Background:

Nearly 30% of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have evidence of immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of estrogen (ER) and/or progesterone (PR) receptors. Therefore, targeting ER/PR may offer an effective NET-directed treatment to select patients.

Methods:

We conducted a multicenter Simon two-stage single-arm phase II trial of tamoxifen in patients with metastatic, progressive NETs. Eligible patients had positive IHC expression of ER and/or PR ⩾ 1%. Prior therapy with somatostatin analogs was required for progressing/functioning cases. Main exclusion criterion was aggressive disease requiring cytotoxic therapy. The primary end point was disease control rate (DCR) at week 24 by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. We planned to enroll 23 patients in the first stage, to reach a DCR at week 24 of 70% ( versus 50%); if ⩾12 patients reached the primary end point, a total of 37 would be included.

Results:

From February 2019 to February 2022, 23 out of 59 patients were eligible and enrolled: 15 (65%) were females; the most common sites were pancreas (11; 48%) and small bowel (6; 26%). In all, 13 patients (56.5%) had G2 NETs. At a median follow-up of 27 months, 13 patients (56.5%) had stable disease at week 24 and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.9 months [interquartile range (IQR): 3.7–12.1]. The best response was stable disease in 13 patients, with most patients experiencing minor tumor growth. Median PFS times were not significantly different according to ER/PR < or ⩾30% ( p = 0.49) or ER versus PR expression ( p = 0.19). One patient experienced grade 2 constipation.

Conclusion:

Tamoxifen for ER-/PR-positive NETs patients is safe but offers modest antitumor effects.

Trial registry name:

Study of Tamoxifen in Well Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors and Hormone Receptor Positive Expression (HORMONET).

URL:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03870399?term=03870399&draw=2&rank=1

Registration number:

NCT03870399
Oral enzyme combination with bromelain, trypsin and the flavonoid rutoside reduces systemic inflammation and pain when used pre- and post-operatively in elective total hip replacement: a randomized exploratory placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Vosáhlo Jiří , Salus Adam , Smolko Michael , Němcová Barbora , Nordmeyer Veit , Mikles Milos , Rau Stefanie M. , Erik Johansen Odd
Published: July 2023

Background:

Early mobilization after total hip replacement (THR) is key for fast recovery but is often limited by pain. Oral enzyme combinations (OECs) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.

Objectives and design:

This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory trial evaluated the effects of pre- and post-operative use of OEC (90 mg bromelain, 48 mg trypsin, 100 mg rutoside) following elective THR, on post-operative recovery.

Methods:

Candidates for primary elective cementless THR owing to osteoarthritis were eligible for participation [age ⩾50 years, body mass index 25–35 kg/m2, C-reactive protein (CRP) ⩽6 mg/L]. Following randomization to OEC or placebo, intervention started pre-operatively and continued onwards until day 42. Main outcomes included post-operative CRP levels (days 1–7), self-reported hip pain at rest (by 0–10 cm visual analogue scale on post-operative days 1–42), post-operative analgesic use [by cumulative analgesic consumption score (CACS) days 7–42], tolerability and adverse events.

Results:

Patients ( N = 34) were recruited from a tertiary orthopaedic hospital in the Czech Republic, of whom 33 completed the study (OEC/placebo: n = 15/18). Baseline characteristics across the groups were comparable. Compared with placebo, the OEC group had numerically lower CRP levels on post-operative days 1–7, including peak level [mean (standard deviation) OEC versus placebo: 81.4 (28.3) versus 106.7 (63.3) mg/L], which translated into a significant 32% lower CRP area under the curve ( p = 0.034). The OEC group reported significantly less pain during post-operative days 1–7 versus placebo (analysis of variance treatment × visit [ F(4) = 3.989]; p = 0.005). Analgesic use was numerically reduced as assessed through an accumulated CACS. No deleterious effects on haemorheological parameters were observed in either group.

Conclusions:

Pre- and post-operative use of OEC significantly reduced CRP levels and patient self-reported pain. OEC may be an efficacious and safe treatment option to facilitate post-operative recovery following THR.

Trial registration:

EudraCT number 2016-003078-41
New insights in lower limb reconstruction strategies
Authors: Toro Giuseppe , Cecere Antonio Benedetto , Braile Adriano , Cicco Annalisa De , Liguori Sara , Tarantino Umberto , Iolascon Giovanni
Published: July 2023

High Energy Musculoskeletal Traumas (HEMTs) represent a relevant problem for healthcare systems, considering the high social costs, and both the high morbidity and mortality. The poor outcomes associated with HEMT are related to the high incidence of complications, including bone infection, fracture malunion and non-union. The treatment of each of these complications could be extremely difficult. Limb reconstruction often needs multiple procedures, rising some questions on the opportunity in perseverate to try to save the affected limb. In fact, theoretically, amputation may guarantee better function and lower complications. However, amputation is not free of complication, and a high long-term social cost has been reported. A comprehensive literature review was performed to suggest possible ways to optimize the limb preservation surgeries of HEMT’s complications in order to ameliorate their management.
Graduate Students’ Perceptions of Instructor Power in the U.S. Higher Education Classroom
Authors: Delgado Antonio , McGill Craig M.
Published: July 2023

Higher education is a distribution center of knowledge and economic, social, and cultural power. The instructor’s power is usually unquestioned, particularly by students who must comply with instructors who are the gatekeepers to resources they need. Understanding alienation in higher education classrooms illuminate how power influences educational transactions and the interests of both students and instructors. Literature on student alienation in higher education has primarily focused on depersonalized discourses or persistence/retention, which avoids the central and most basic unit of the system: the instructor-student relationship. This study explored graduate students’ understandings of their experiences involving the power of their instructors in the higher education classroom. The findings of this study revealed that students understood their experiences involving instructor power in connection to the instructor-student relationship, and they responded to power and alienation through strategies for self-preservation. To understand how instructor power shapes students’ higher education experience and the methods by which this power takes shape, instructors must enable students to recognize, discuss, and challenge that power.
Reporting on Black Lives Matter in 2020: How Digital Black Press Outlets Covered the Racial Uprisings
Authors: Williams Fayne Miya , Richardson Allissa V.
Published: July 2023

George Floyd’s fatal police encounter sparked the largest social justice movement in American history. Black press journalists in the United States found themselves documenting and coping with Black trauma as they performed their duties in pandemic-mandated isolation. Through semi-structured interviews with digital Black press journalists, this study, which was conducted between 2020 and 2021, explores the reporting and personal strategies these journalists deployed during tumultuous times. We found they (1) provided humanizing and ongoing social justice coverage; (2) relied on Black experts, activists, and their readers as sources; (3) created social media content that appealed to Black and non-Black audiences; and (4) cared for each other and readers to build intracultural support. Our findings illuminate how the digital Black press practiced “movement journalism,” an approach that centers oppressed people and counters protest paradigm-style coverage.
Investigating the Futures Triangle with ChatGPT
Authors: Inayatullah Sohail
Published: July 2023

A chat with ChatGPT about the Futures Triangle led by Sohail Inayatullah, who created the method.
Finding its place on the spectrum of pituitary duplication disorders, duplication of pituitary stalk: A case report with brief review of literature
Authors: Sethi Humsheer Singh , Agarwal Beena , Mohapatra Satya , Panda Adyakinkar
Published: July 2023

Pituitary gland duplication is a rare abnormality and isolated duplication of the pituitary stalk without any pituitary anomaly is an even rarer entity with this case being the first documented case till date. Although incidentally discovered cases of duplication of pituitary gland (DPG) have been reported, sometimes with a duplicated pituitary stalk, patients with this disorder usually present with other craniofacial abnormalities. Consequently, DPG plus syndrome is used as it is often accompanied by endocrine disturbances and pathologies such as median cleft face syndrome, ocular disorders, craniocervical bony abnormalities, vascular anomalies and tuberomammillary masses. Since this is the first reported case without any additional pituitary gland anomaly, we propose the acronym DPS (duplication of pituitary stalk) to be used to unify this entity as we are certain that much like the previously described pituitary duplication disorders, more cases will be documented independently rather than under the umbrella of pituitary duplication disorders. This is critical as the life expectancy (age of diagnosis) in the cases reviewed in our study is as good as normal population with no obvious increase in mortality as compared to existing pituitary duplication syndromes. We present a case report of a 2 year 7 month old girl who was referred by the paediatrician for evaluation of premature thelarche. The duplication of the pituitary stalk along with mega cisterna magna and tuberomammillary fusion was the only positive finding on imaging with the pituitary gland being absolutely normal.
Candida auris in skilled nursing facilities
Authors: Yune Philip S. , Coe Jared , Rao Mana , Lin Michael Y.
Published: July 2023

Candida auris is a fungal organism resistant to several classes of antifungals. Since its identification in 2009, it has gained worldwide attention in healthcare for its virulence and resistance to commonly used antifungal therapeutics. Although its origin and mechanisms of transmission are not fully elucidated, it is widely recognized as a high priority healthcare-associated pathogen. Infection control efforts in skilled nursing facilities have been very challenging due to the tendency of C. auris to persist in the environment and colonize residents. In this narrative review, we discuss the epidemiology and infection prevention of C. auris in skilled nursing facilities. We also identify challenges in the diagnosis and management of both symptomatic infections and asymptomatic colonization.
A case report of gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm and giant pancreatic pseudocyst following acute pancreatitis revealed by obstructive jaundice
Authors: Barka Malek , Rguez Arib , Ben Cheikh Yasser , Chaouch Mohamed Ali , Jarrar Mohamed Salah , Ben Abdessalem Zied , Hamila Fehmi , Youssef Sabri
Published: July 2023

Acute necrotic pancreatitis is an emergency of evolution and is often unpredictable because of the potentially life-threatening complications it can cause. We report a unique case of a 56-year-old woman hospitalized for acute necrotic pancreatitis. The evolution of the latter was characterized by the occurrence of two very rare complications, of which the clinical presentations were atypical. The first complication was a gastroduodenal pseudoaneurysm compressing the main biliary tract and causing obstructive jaundice, which evolved well following percutaneous embolization. The second complication was a giant 20 cm pancreatic pseudocyst revealed by obstructive jaundice secondary to biliary compression, which progressed well following surgical treatment.
A 78-year-old man diagnosed with single atrium as congenital heart disease
Authors: Azaje Andinet , Abebe Alula , Fentahun Shibabaw , Molalegn Befekadu , Tadesse Abilo
Published: July 2023

Single atrium is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by complete absence of the interatrial septum. It occurs as an isolated cardiac defect, or as a part of skeletal, muscular, ophthalmologic, and vascular malformations to signify congenital syndromes. A 78-year-old male patient presented with generalized body swelling of 2 weeks duration. He had associated shortness of breath, orthopnea, productive cough, and palpitation. Upon physical examination, blood pressure = 150/75 mmHg, pulse rate = 50 bpm, respiratory rate = 24 bpm, and T° = 36.7 °C. He had signs of pleural effusion on left lung field. Cardiovascular examination revealed mean heart rate of 50 beats/min with irregularly irregular pulse rhythm, raised jugular venous pressure, and pansystolic murmur at left lower sternal border. He had tender hepatomegaly, ascites, and pitting leg edema. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly, prominent pulmonary trunks, and left-sided pleural effusion. Electrocardiography revealed atrial fibrillation, bifascicular block (right bundle branch block and left anterior fascicular block) with mean heart rate of 50 beats/min. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography showed complete absence of interatrial septum (single atrium) without atrioventricular defect and interventricular communication. Diagnosis of heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease (single atrium) with atrial fibrillation and bifascicular block was made based on clinical and imaging evaluation. Well-tolerated symptoms of a single atrium until late adulthood could be explained by the presence of streaming or incomplete mixing of blood within the atrium, in which the more oxygenated blood is directed to the systemic circuit.
Countering terrorism on social media: An analysis of online anti-terrorism movement in Indonesia
Authors: Oktavianus Jeffry , Davidson Brenna
Published: July 2023

This study scrutinizes the nature of online citizen-driven collective actions aimed at countering terrorism following bombing attacks in Indonesia. In particular, this study illuminates the framing processes, public sentiments, and actors involved in the movement. An analysis of 10,000 tweets bearing the hashtag #KamiTidakTakut (we are not afraid) showed that the participants predominantly employed motivational frames to encourage others to engage in anti-terrorism efforts and defy terror by bolstering collective identity. Moreover, while the tweets were mainly conveyed in a positive tone, a considerable number of tweets voiced negative sentiments, including criticism of the movement. In addition, most tweets came from citizens, and some were from media outlets, civil society organizations, government agencies, and public figures. The study enriches the literature on online collective actions in the context of terrorism and offers practical insights into the design of public anti-terrorism campaigns.