bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lest we forget: Dr Paul Farmer (1959–2022) ‘A Global Health Leader at Harvard’
Authors: Roy Subham , Roy Sakshi
Published: February 2024

In the chronicles of medical advancement, Dr Paul Farmer stands out as a transformative figure whose unwavering commitment to healthcare equity has reshaped treatments for the disenfranchised. An American anthropologist and physician, Farmer has had a profound impact on global health which encapsulates a legacy driven by the steadfast belief that healthcare is an inalienable human right. This article explores Farmer’s monumental contributions, showcasing how his dedication has revolutionized the landscape of healthcare, particularly for those marginalized and underserved. As the architect of Partners In Health and a guiding force at Harvard Medical School, he fostered a novel paradigm of enduring, community-focused medical care. His unyielding advocacy from Haiti to Rwanda confronted entrenched health disparities and galvanized support for increased access to primary and secondary care. His poignant critiques and policy recommendations during the COVID-19 crisis highlighted his relentless pursuit of health justice – advocating for equitable vaccine distribution and tackling racial health disparities. His scholarly works on overlooked health dilemmas and the urgency of global healthcare reflect a legacy that transcends his lifetime. While his passing is deeply felt, Farmer’s visionary ethos continues to inspire, beckoning us toward a more equitable healthcare horizon.
A re-assessment of Dr Robert Knox and his contribution to early evolution science
Authors: Donaldson Ken , Henry Christopher
Published: February 2024

Dr Robert Knox was publicly scorned and disgraced for his unwitting involvement in the Burke and Hare serial murders in 1828. Far less appreciated is his brilliance as an anatomist and he espoused the European movement in Transcendental Anatomy, which aimed to uncover the laws governing what we now know as evolution and the origin of species. Knox fully embraced Transcendental Anatomy during a sojourn in Paris and taught it on his return to Edinburgh, where there was a critical mass of like-minded Transcendental Anatomists. Charles Darwin spent 1825–1827 as a medical student in Edinburgh when Transcendental Anatomy was at its peak amongst the city's anatomists, and evolution – then known as transmutation – was a source of great interest and controversy. Knox intended to research Transcendental Anatomy, but this was thwarted by conflicting demands on his time in the second half of the 1820s decade and the Burke and Hare tragedy. He did, however, go on to champion Transcendental Anatomy and write extensively on it.
Nurses’ ethical responsibilities: Whistleblowing and advocacy in patient safety
Authors: Ibrahim Ateya Megahed
Published: February 2024

Background

In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, nurses play a crucial role as ethical stewards, responsible for whistleblowing, nurse advocacy, and patient safety. Their duties involve ensuring patient well-being through ethical practices and advocacy initiatives.

Aim

This study investigates the ethical responsibilities of nurses regarding whistleblowing and advocacy in reporting concerns about patient safety.

Research Design

A cross-sectional study utilized cluster and simple random sampling to gather a representative sample of actively practicing registered nurses. Data collection involved a demographic form, Nurse Whistleblowing Intentions Scale, Nursing Advocacy Scale, and Clinical Decision-Making Scale.

Participants and Research Context

The study utilizing a robust sample size determination formula for reliable findings included 96 diverse nurses, predominantly females. Engaged actively in direct patient care across various outpatients clinics. The recruitment process specifically sought individuals with expertise in safety protocols and reporting, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the study’s focus.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee of the university and the hospitals involved. Written consent was obtained from the participants. A thorough ethical review was conducted to guarantee participant protection and adherence to ethical principles.

Results

Surveyed nurses demonstrated positive whistleblowing (Overall Mean Score: 3.58), high advocacy (Overall Mean Score: 12.2), and nuanced ethical decision-making for patient safety (Overall Mean Score: 15.78). Demographic factors, such as nationality and ethical training, significantly impacted whistleblowing intentions, while age, gender, and ethical training correlated with nursing advocacy behavior. Associations with experience and qualification emerged in ethical decision-making.

Conclusion

The gained insights foster targeted interventions, improving ethical practices, advocacy, and informed decision-making in nursing. This study explores the intricate link between demographics and ethical considerations among surveyed nurses, acting as a catalyst for ongoing initiatives to strengthen the ethical foundation in healthcare sector.
Two bovine hepacivirus genome sequences from U.S. cattle
Authors: Workman Aspen M. , Harhay Gregory P. , Groves John T. , Vander Ley Brian L.
Published: February 2024

Bovine hepacivirus (BoHV) is closely related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in humans and can cause both acute and chronic liver infections in cattle. BoHV was first identified in Ghana and Germany in 2015 and since then it has been detected and characterized in other countries around the world, but no strains have been sequenced from U.S. cattle. To date, BoHV has been classified into 2 genotypes (1 and 2), with genotype 1 being further divided into 11 subtypes (A–K). However, the true genetic diversity of BoHV is likely underestimated given limited surveillance and a lack of published genome sequences. Here, we sequenced 2 nearly complete BoHV genomes from serum samples collected in 2019 from beef cattle in Missouri. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis showed that isolate MARC/2019/60 had high sequence homology with genotype 1, subtype E isolates from China. In contrast, isolate MARC/2019/50 represented a novel BoHV subtype within genotype 2. Thus, we report the first genomic characterization of BoHV isolates from U.S. cattle, and the second complete BoHV2 genome worldwide. This work increases our knowledge of the global genetic diversity of BoHV and demonstrates the co-circulation of divergent BoHV strains in U.S. cattle.
Three-dimensional Analysis of Maxillary Morphology in Infants with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Zheng Jie , Kuang Wenying , Yuan Shiyu , He Hong , Yuan Wenjun
Published: February 2024

Objective

To three-dimensionally (3D) analyze the maxillary morphology of infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and preliminarily classify the alveolar arch to assist in personalization of sequence therapy.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Patients with UCLP referred to outpatients’ clinic.

Participants

84 nonsyndromic infants with complete UCLP were recruited (58 boys, 26 girls, mean age 29.48 days).

Main Outcome Measure

Morphometric analysis was conducted on 3D maxillary models. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were combined to classify maxillary phenotypes preliminarily. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare differences between variables. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The maxilla was divided into three types: narrow, homogenous and broad, accounting for 9.52%, 23.81% and 66.67% respectively. The alveolar cleft site (median value) was located in 61% of the total length of the alveolar arch. In the comparison of anterior and total alveolar lengths, the non-cleft side had longer alveolar bone than the affected side, a difference of approximately 2 mm. Pairwise comparisons of variables describing alveolar symmetry revealed significant differences in all subjects; whereas type C had poorer arch symmetry than types A and B, mainly in terms of anterior and overall symmetry.

Conclusions

In infants with UCLP, the maxillary alveolar arch was inherently asymmetrical with partially bone missing (about 2 mm). Significant differences in alveolar bone morphology and symmetry exist between different types of infants, with individuals with broad clefts (type C, the largest proportion) having the worst maxillary development.
Experimental and numerical study on projectile impact damage of EBC-SiC/SiC
Authors: Liu Bin , Liu Yancheng , Ao Qiyun , Yang Tengfei , Yan Rui , Liu Yongsheng
Published: February 2024

The ingested particles or debris will cause high-speed & low-energy impact to the hot end components of aeroengine. Few literature focus on the projectile impact of SiC/SiC with Environmental Barrier Coating(EBC). The impact of 2 mm projectile was specially studied for Si/Yb2Si2O7/Yb2SiO5-SiC/SiC. Gas gun system was used to conduct impact testing at the speed of 3 m/s∼353m/s. The optical microscope, Scanning Electronic Microscope(SEM), micro CT were used to observe the impact and tension after impact(TAI) damage. For TAI, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was used to conduct the full-field strain detection around the impact point. Meanwhile, the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) methodology was programmed in C++ and developed to simulate SiC/SiC impact problem by introducing modified Hashin-Rotem criteria, extending interface method to 3D and adding GPU accelerated algorithm. The results indicate that threshold velocities of EBC huge peeling and SiC/SiC penetration are different, TAI residual strength also has extinct threshold at the velocity of 246 m/s with 37.1% declining extent, and the impact pit depth of SPH simulation is in good agreement with the experiment.
“Dialling up the Testosterone”: A Sociological Exploration of How South African Gay Rugby Players Mitigate Homohysteria
Authors: Meiring Nadia , Rothmann Jacques
Published: February 2024

Increases in overt displays of homosocial tactility among men and declines in homophobia and homohysteria are contributing globally to changes in the social dynamics of masculine expressions. Said changes spill over into various social institutions, including that of contact sport. Long regarded as a hypermasculine context, studies show that rugby has become more inclusive. Although research conducted in the US and UK is well-documented, the topic remains under-researched in South Africa. To this end, the article relates findings of a qualitative sociological exploration of seven self-identified gay rugby players and their experiences of homohysteria. The findings showed that the participants mitigate homohysteria through accruing gender and body capital and establishing horizontal homosocial brotherhoods with their gay and heterosexual teammates.
Examining avascular tumour growth dynamics: A variable-order non-local modelling perspective
Authors: Almudarra Mariam Mubarak , Ramírez-Torres Ariel
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the growth of an avascular tumour described through the interchange of mass among its constituents and the production of inelastic distortions induced by growth itself. A key contribution of this research examines the role of non-local diffusion arising from the complex and heterogeneous tumour micro-environment. In our context, the non-local diffusion is enhanced by a variable-order fractional operator that incorporates crucial information about regions of limited nutrient availability within the tissue. Our research also focuses on the identification of an evolution law for the growth-induced inelastic distortions recast through the identification of non-conventional forces dual to suitable kinematic descriptors associated with the growth tensor. The establishment of such evolution law stems from examining the dissipation inequality and subsequently determining a posteriori connections between the inelastic distortions and the source/sink terms in the mass balance laws. To gain insights into the dynamics of tumour growth and its response to the proposed modelling framework, we first study how the variables governing the tissue evolution are affected by the introduction of the new growth law. Second, we investigate how regions of limited diffusion within the tumour, encoded into a fractional operator of variable-order, influence its growth.
Effect of tertiary processing on physical, optical, phytochemical as well as rheological properties of high-protein rice
Authors: Priyadarsani Supriya , Sanghamitra Priyadarsini , Kumar Gaurav , Basak Nabaneeta , Sarkar Sutapa , Chattopadhyay Krishnendu
Published: February 2024

The first high-protein rice variety of India, CR Dhan 310, developed at ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack is being selected for the study. It contains 10.1% protein in milled rice as compared to 6–7% protein content in the milled rice of any other normal variety. It has intermediate amylose content (25.1%), medium bold grains rich in protein (10.1%) The significant changes in properties of raw and parboiled rice on processing were studied at statistical differences of p ≤ 0.05. These properties included physical, optical, antioxidant and rheological properties which changed with different processing techniques. All the three processes namely, puffing, popping and flaking increased the dimensions as compared to the raw rice. Peak viscosity measurements demonstrated the breakdown of starch molecules, with white rice having the greatest value (4145 cP) and popped rice having the lowest value (2017 cP) as a result of the starch granules being gelatinized during the production of popped rice. Highest anthocyanin content (2.93 mg/100 g) was observed in puffed rice, phenolic content (347.93 mg/100 g) was highest in popped rice and flaked/flattened rice showed highest flavonoid content (127.12 mg/100 g) indicating that tertiary processing of rice obtained higher values of phytochemicals when compared to the plain high-protein rice. This indicates that the processed products of rice can be consumed directly as ready-to-eat or can be used in preparation of other functional foods to combat malnutrition and build nutritional security. The study indicates that processing could improve the nutritional quality of the rice products.
Identity Reconstruction Following Injury in Dancers
Authors: Shiloh Shoshana , Halfon Aviv
Published: February 2024

Objectives: To explore reconstructed identities of dancers who experienced an injury, using a model of identity reconstruction post-injury. Methods: An online questionnaire study with 145 dancers who had experienced a significant dance-related injury. Measures included a questionnaire measuring dancers’ reconstructed identities, injury perceptions and injury centrality to self-concept. Statistical analyses included factor analysis, regression analyses and discriminant analysis. Results: Four latent variables discovered “supernormal self,” “former self,” “middle self,” and “resentful self” reconstructed identities. Injury centrality to the self and specific injury perceptions were correlated with reconstructed identity scales in the predicted directions. Conclusions: The findings validated the existence of 4 distinct reconstructed identities associated with time distance from the injury. Classifying injured dancers according to these identities can help dance educators, practitioners and counselors detect dancers needing help and tailor counseling methods to modify the relevant injury perceptions.
From fan citizenship to ‘fanspiracies’: Politics and participatory cultures in times of crisis?
Authors: Driessen Simone , Jones Bethan , Litherland Benjamin
Published: February 2024

Fan practices and behaviours have increasingly moved beyond fan communities into the political, economic and cultural structures of every day life. The proliferation of social media platforms has allowed both the progressive and reactionary aspects of fandom to converge in the public sphere, drawing on similar techniques, pleasures, and practices in order to interpret the world in a culture where the boundaries between popular and political communication are blurrier than they have ever been. This special issue of Convergence explores the synergies, tensions and conflicts at play in this new cultural terrain. It explores how ‘fan studies can be used to make sense of the seeming growth of conspiracy theory communities and right-wing movements, examines political participation as a form of fandom, and the ways in which social media can be used to organize against discriminatory cultures.
Anxiety, depression, and infertility-specific distress among women with female factor infertility
Authors: Hecht Leah M , Joseph-Mofford Geneviève , Iacobelli Rory , Ahmed Marwa , Haley Erin , Loree Amy M , Miller-Matero Lisa R
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to evaluate whether anxiety, depression, and infertility-specific distress differ among women with female infertility who are trying to conceive and/or seeking infertility treatment. Women with diagnosed female factor infertility in the past 2 years ( N = 188) completed demographic questions, and measures of infertility-specific distress, anxiety, and depression. The majority of the sample were actively trying to conceive (78.7%, n = 148) and approximately one third (33.5%, n = 63) were undergoing fertility treatment. Anxiety and depression scores did not differ based on trying to conceive or treatment-seeking, although these subgroups reported higher levels of need for parenthood and rejection of a childfree lifestyle. High levels of mood and anxiety are experienced by women with female infertility. Although infertility-specific distress is experienced more so by women with anxiety and depression, a substantial proportion of those without mental health conditions had high levels of distress, underscoring the need for screening and treatment.
Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of fine particulate matter and its metal elements during Chinese New Year
Authors: Liu Xinru , Bai Li , Cui Yongbo , Xu Xiuling
Published: February 2024

The Chinese Lunar New Year is a significant festival in China that leads to indoor and outdoor air pollution with distinct characteristics compared to normal times. In this study, indoor and outdoor air samples were collected and analysed to investigate the indoor and outdoor pollution of PM2.5 and its metal elements during the Chinese New Year. The findings reveal that there is a notable positive correlation between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations during the Chinese New Year, with outdoor concentrations being higher on average. The levels of PM2.5 concentrations indoors and outdoors started to increase on Chinese New Year’s Eve and peaked after the early hours of the Chinese New Year. The total concentrations of six metal elements (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb and Zn) in indoor and outdoor PM2.5 during the Chinese New Year in 2022 were 738.73 ± 134.93 mg/kg and 1124.38 ± 553.14 mg/kg, respectively. Principal component analysis suggests that the main sources of indoor metal elements were from outdoor combustion sources and human activities, while outdoor sources were fireworks displays and emissions from coal combustion. Based on the U.S. EPA risk assessment carried out, both indoor and outdoor PM2.5 metal elements could pose a carcinogenic risk to adults.
Episodic mistrust and selective system trust: Insights from Chinese alternative food networks
Authors: Hansen Anders Sybrandt , Bunkenborg Mikkel , Sandal Meina Jia
Published: February 2024

This article contributes to comparative anthropological theory by analyzing the conceptual dynamics of episodic mistrust and selective system trust that emerge from ethnographic cases. Following the cue from recent studies that cast mistrust as a productive category in its own right, we explore this idea in the context of a complex modern society suffering from recurrent food safety scandals. We study how people in China allay anxieties about the food they and their dependents eat. In our cases, mistrust has no anchoring in an ideology of opacity and yet is shown to be highly socially productive as people deploy, anticipate and attempt to alleviate mistrusting attitudes. While constant mistrust may give rise to ambitions of total surveillance and control, the ethnography illustrates the benefits of episodic mistrust for actors when attempting to establish confidence in both personal relations and systems. The cases reveal the existence of selective trust in particular systems, which differs both from trust in direct personal relations and from social trust as measured in surveys. The article concludes that system trust must be qualified and conceptually disentangled from a general social trust, as selective trust in exclusive systems may allay anxieties exactly because it insulates the actor from involvement in more comprehensive systems that are seen as overly risky.
Aspired communities: Reconsidering community in light of the temporal dimensionality of social life
Authors: Posio Pilvi
Published: February 2024

I argue in this article that our understanding of community is enhanced by examining the formation of collective aspirations for a shared future. Using examples from my fieldwork on long-term community recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 in the town of Yamamoto, I illustrate the potential of using the social process of collective aspiring as an analytical tool in theorizing and studying community. Instead of treating community as a particular grouping or identity, I approach the concept of community as a processual analytical frame for understanding various forms of sociality constituted by continuous and mutually constitutive enacting and envisioning within social practices. This practice approach not only overcomes the tensions between the agency, structure, actualization, and abstraction characteristic of conceptualizations of community, but also enables us to explore the significance of the future dimension of social life. The concept of future orientation of collective aspiring allows us to ethnographically grasp the contingent formation of community in the dynamic process of striving toward the desired futures in contrast to anticipation of uncertain futures. To capture the many aspects of this process, aspiring is explored as shared objectives, action-oriented pursuing, and affectively charged yearning. This proposed analytical tool sheds light on ever-evolving forms of sociality not only in their unity and togetherness but particularly in their ambiguities, conflicts, and power relations.
Copula-based pairwise estimator for quantile regression with hierarchical missing data
Authors: Verhasselt Anneleen , Flórez Alvaro J. , Molenberghs Geert , Van Keilegom Ingrid
Published: February 2024

Quantile regression can be a helpful technique for analysing clustered (such as longitudinal) data. It can characterize the change in response over time without making distributional assumptions and is robust to outliers in the response. A quantile regression model using a copula-based multivariate asymmetric Laplace distribution for addressing correlation due to clustering is introduced. Furthermore, we propose a pairwise estimator for the parameters of the model. Since it is based on pseudo-likelihood, it needs to be modified to avoid bias in presence of missingness. Therefore, we enhance the model with inverse probability weighting. In this way, our proposal is unbiased under the missing at random assumption. Based on simulations, the estimator is efficient and computationally fast. Finally, the methodology is illustrated using a study in ophthalmology.
Association of Childhood Emotional Maltreatment with Adolescents’ Psychopathology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hashim Mohammad , Alimoradi Zainab , Pakpour Amir , Pfaltz Monique , Ansari Sameer , Asif Resham , Iqbal Naved
Published: February 2024

Childhood Emotional Maltreatment (CEM) is a significant but under-studied risk factor for impaired mental health, with adolescents being particularly susceptible. This systematic review and meta-analysis, prospectively registered in PROSPERO as CRD42022383005, aims to synthesize the findings of studies investigating the association between CEM and adolescent psychopathology, making it the first attempt to the best of our knowledge. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Embase, and ProQuest) yielded 12,224 studies, from which 72 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The meta-analysis was conducted on 76 effect sizes (ranging from 0.01 to 0.57) extracted from 56 studies. The assessment of publication bias utilized funnel plots, Egger’s regression test, and the trim and fill method, if required. Additionally, a predictor analysis investigated the influence of study-level variables on the CEM-psychopathology association. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between CEM and adolescent psychopathology (Pooled association: 0.24–0.41) Furthermore, assessment of publication bias indicated no significant bias. The predictor analysis suggested minimal influence of study-level variables. The study underscores the urgent need to address CEM as a crucial risk factor for adolescent psychopathology. The significant positive correlation between CEM and psychopathological outcomes highlights the detrimental effects of CEM on adolescents. Awareness, prevention efforts, and targeted interventions are essential to mitigate these effects. Further studies with culturally diverse and larger sample sizes are required, with emphasis on methodological rigor, given that most of the identified studies showed a high risk of bias.
Site of Social Justice Advocacy, or Home of Godly Women? Interpreting Women’s Work at the Frances Willard House Museum
Authors: Maxwell Fiona
Published: February 2024

In 1900, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) transformed the Evanston, Illinois home of their late president, Frances Willard, into one of the first house museums dedicated to a woman in the United States. For over ninety years, WCTU members used the collections to situate Willard’s social reform career in the framework of domestic and religious duty. Recent efforts by historians and community members to reinterpret the collections to demonstrate Willard’s significance to a progressive, nondenominational, and diverse audience has sparked contentious debate over the ownership of the museum. Drawing on archival materials, published texts, and oral history interviews, this case study examines the use of space and artifacts, as well as the verbal sparring such choices have provoked. The controversy over the Willard House collections suggests that when women’s political and professional activity is central to a house museum’s significance, it becomes an especially contested commemorative site.
Moving On: Rethinking Practice and Transforming Data at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge
Authors: Carreau Lucie , Gunn Imogen
Published: February 2024

Scholarly attention is increasingly focusing on museum catalogues: their histories, challenges and, as this paper explores, their potential. Many databases contain outdated information and offensive language, the legacy of colonial-era knowledge production and digitization processes that translated catalogue cards into database entries. Much has been written about the potential of catalogues to act as sites of contact and collaboration, as well as how institutions can and should mitigate harm stemming from discriminatory language within their catalogues. Yet as museum practitioners are acutely aware, the extensive work required to enact change throughout a database is rarely perceived as exciting enough to garner dedicated project funding. This paper uses the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Stores Move Project (2020–2024) as a case study to illustrate how museums can, and realistically must, integrate critical documentation work into larger projects in order to achieve these objectives. The authors first engage with MAA’s own history of collecting and cataloguing, before detailing how collections staff have incorporated documentation priorities (re-cataloguing, historicizing data, and addressing bias) into the larger Project. They conclude with the hope that by making this work more visible and demonstrating its value, such projects might attract dedicated funding in the future.
Hosting and Integrating a Hawaiian Language Taxonomy in the British Museum’s Collection Database
Authors: Christophe Alice , Solomon N. Haʻalilio , Kneubuhl Hina , Donnellan Victoria , Caldeira Leah
Published: February 2024

With more than 2.5 million catalogue records the British Museum’s digital collection database is one of the largest museum databases in the world, constituting a primary point of access to the collections both internally and externally. But its recording systems, developed over multiple generations, contain problematic data in a structure dominated by a single language. This article focuses on efforts to transform a portion of the data within the structural complexities. In 2021, a Hawaiian language research group was formed at the British Museum. Named Keaukānaʻi, this group supports the development and integration of a new taxonomy in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) for describing Hawaiian ancestral treasures physically at the museum. The authors reflect on the work initiated to deconstruct taxonomical violence, and to build a new path forward for hosting, integrating and centering an indigenous language and associated knowledge at the British Museum. The article presents key steps while also discussing the challenges and limitations encountered.
Flexural behavior of glass fiber reinforced cement incorporating foam
Authors: Cheng Congmi , He Juan , Li Xiaosen , Hong Silei
Published: February 2024

Glass fiber reinforced cement (GRC) incorporating foam has good thermal insulation. Micro pores not only lowered the strength of the cement matrix but also changed the friction between the fiber and the matrix. It has an influence on modulus of rupture (MOR) and fracture energy of GRC. In this work, the effect of the glass fiber and foam contents of GRC on the MOR and fracture energy were evaluated using four-point flexural tests. The results show that glass fiber content has little influence on MOR of GRC. However, the MOR decreased significantly with increasing foam content. The empirical formula summarized by experiments can well characterize the relationship between the MOR and density of foamed GRC. The content of glass fiber and foam has a significant influence on the fracture energy of GRC. The fracture energy of foamed GRC decreased with the decrease of dry bulk density, and the decrease was fast and then slow.
Radial clearance influence on strain and stress distribution of the polygonal shape deep-drawing operation
Authors: Mukhirmesh KH , Dalfi HK , Al-Abedy Hiydar KK
Published: February 2024

In the existing research, polygonal -shaped dies were manufactured based on the dimensions of the design. These dies were then assembled on the deep-drawing device to create polygonal cups (specifically heptagonal cups) for conducting experimental work tests. The process was achieved via a deep-drawing operation to create heptagonal cups with dimensions (diameter D = 40mm and height L = 31.5 mm). For both experimental work and finite element analysis, the cups of heptagonal shapes were formed from flat circular blanks of Low Carbon Steel (thickness to = 0.7 mm) and diameter D = 80mm. A commercial software program, ANSYS, was employed to perform this finite element analysis. The research aims to study the effect of different radial clearance ( RC = 1.1 to,1.2 to, and 1.3 to) between die and punch for heptagonal shape DD operations on the forming load, the height of the cup, thickness distribution, strain and stress distribution along the cup wall (side-wall and wall curvature). The analysis outcomes indicate that the maximum forming force was 51.250 kN with the wall curvature, the maximum effective strain was 0.8231, and the maximum stress was 676 MPa when the [Formula: see text]1.1 to). Additionally, the squeezing process in the mug wall occurred with [Formula: see text]1.1 to).
The interplay of contextual leadership and teacher-related organizational outcomes: The mediating role of group cohesion
Authors: Noman Mohammad , Xu Jianmei , Kaur Amrita , Fang Kaili
Published: February 2024

Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the need for contextual leadership practices within educational settings, however, there remains a notable lack of clarity regarding the specific influence of these practices on crucial organizational outcomes. The present study seeks to address this gap by investigating the relationships between contextual leadership and three key school outcomes: organizational citizenship behavior, group identity, and autonomous motivation for teaching. Additionally, the study examines group cohesion as a potential mediator in these relationships. To achieve this, a cross-sectional survey involving 1617 teachers was conducted, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate positive correlations between contextual leadership and the three targeted outcomes: Organizational citizenship behavior, group identity, and autonomous motivation for teaching. Moreover, the study confirms the mediating role of group cohesion in these relationships. The finding underscores the importance of fostering shared identity and purpose within educational institutions to enhance desired outcomes. This study's implications extend to theoretical and practical domains, offering valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. Ultimately, the study advocates for a strategic focus on cultivating a cohesive and purpose-driven community to optimize educational achievements and teacher engagement.
Validating and identifying KPIs in ATP/WTA hard court tennis match play (2019–2023) using the PWOL method
Authors: Venn-Moncur Matthew J , Parmar Nimai , White Chris J , Callingham Tom , Nicholls Scott B
Published: February 2024

The study provided further validity for the use of the PWOL (percentage of matches which the winner outscored the loser) method within elite hard-court tennis. Over half of the ATP/WTA competitive calendar (January-March and August-November) is played on hard courts so is an important progression. Data from 810 men's and 586 women's hard-court matches across Grand Slams and ATP/WTA World Tours (i.e. Masters, 500s and 250s) between 2019 and 2023 was used for analysis. PWOL was validated alongside two traditionally used statistical methods (paired t-test, point-biserial correlation). Very high agreement between all approaches was shown using Spearman's correlation analysis for both men and women (>0.97). The study further identified the indicators most related to winning performance, identifying baseline points won, first serve points won, points won of 0-4 rally length and Winners:UE Ratio to be most strongly associated with success, whilst forced errors were most associated with losing. Ball three indicators lacked association with match outcome, suggesting any major focus training ‘one-two punches’ on serve should be approached with caution. PWOL has proven to be a valid method for assessing success in elite hard-court tennis (offering potential for wider sports application) to ultimately aid coach decision-making.
Preparedness for infection prevention and control practice among undergraduate health sciences students: A systematic review protocol
Authors: Mukona Doreen M , George Rebecca , James Joemol , Joseph Smitha , Mukasa Jean , Timberlake Charity , Monaco Beatrice , Abdulla Salimbabu , Khalaf Atika , Burnett Emma
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for the strengthening of education and training in infection prevention and control (IPC) in higher educational institutions (HEIs). This is fundamental to ensure health science students are confident and competent in clinical practice.

Aim

Explore the preparedness of undergraduate health science students for IPC practice.

Search strategy

The PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar databases and grey literature will be searched for relevant articles.

Inclusion criteria

Quantitative, and mixed methods studies on teaching and learning, technological methods, strengths and limitations, and challenges of IPC practice in HEI undergraduate curricula.

Participant characteristics

Undergraduate health science students including medical, nursing, pharmacy, dental, physiotherapy, radiology, medical imaging, and paramedicine.

Setting and time frame

Studies published anywhere in the world, in English, and from 2010 to 2023.

Search terms

Preparedness, health science students, infection prevention and control, technology, higher education institutions.

Data extraction

The data extracted will be recorded on a data extraction form.

Assessment of risk of bias

This will be conducted according to the criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical approval was required for this protocol. Interim findings will be presented at relevant local and international conferences and a manuscript will be published in a peer reviewed journal.

Discussion

This systematic review will provide a baseline for recommendations for developing innovative ways to improve IPC teaching and learning in HEI.
Multivariate prognostic index and triplet regimen efficacy predictive index in locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer: pooled analysis from three clinical trials using individual patient data
Authors: Feng Wan-Jing , Zhao Xiao-Ying , He Yi-Fu , Huang Ming-Zhu , Chen Zhi-Yu , Wang Yu-Sheng , Zhu Xiao-Dong , Guo Wei-Jian
Published: February 2024

Background:

To construct an effective prognostic index to predict overall survival (OS) and triplet regimen efficacy for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients treated with platinum-based and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

Objectives:

Between 2011 and 2021, 679 patients from two randomized phase III trials and one phase II trial were enrolled.

Designs:

We collected 11 baseline clinicopathological and 14 hematological parameters to establish a prognostic index.

Methods:

Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were used to screen prognostic factors, and a prognostic index nomogram was conducted.

Results:

Seven prognostic factors were identified: primary tumor site in the non-proximal gastric area, signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC)/mucinous carcinoma, peritoneal metastasis, neutrophil count higher than the upper limit of normal value (ULN), lymphocyte count lower than the lower limit of normal value, lactate dehydrogenase level higher than the ULN, and alkaline phosphatase level higher than the ULN as significant for prognosis. A prognostic nomogram named the Fudan advanced gastric cancer prognostic risk score (FARS) index was constructed, and patients in the high-risk group had significantly shorter OS than those in the low-risk group (median OS, 15.5 versus 8.0 months, p < 0.001). The areas under the curve of the FARS index for 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS were 0.70, 0.72, and 0.77, respectively. A validation and external cohort verified the prognostic value of the FARS index. Moreover, three triplet regimen efficacy parameters were identified: SRCC/mucinous adenocarcinoma, primary tumor location in the non-proximal gastric area, and peripheral neutrophil count higher than the ULN; a TRIS index was subsequently conducted. In patients with any two of the three parameters, the triplet regimen showed significantly longer OS than the doublet regimen ( p = 0.018).

Conclusion:

The constructed FARS index to predict the OS of AGC patients and the TRIS index to screen out the dominant population for triplet regimens can be used to aid clinical decision-making and individual risk stratification.
Landlord opposition to rent control and the politics of class monopoly rent
Authors: Anderson Matthew B. , Zickefoose Graham , Andrie Tate , Newton Tony
Published: February 2024

Housing costs have soared in the United States and beyond in recent years, leading to growing calls for rent control among tenant rights advocates and legislators. This push to enact rent control has been met with substantial opposition by landlord associations, an opposition which is mobilized by long-standing arguments by economists rooted in neo-classical economic principles. The article extends existing criticism of one particular facet of this opposition: the argument that rent control will only worsen any housing crisis as rents increase due to landlords actively reducing supply. We argue that this argument amounts to the pursuit of something that mainstream economists have long ignored or disavowed to counter-act the intended purpose of rent control: class monopoly rent. By drawing on evidence from the statewide rent control legislation passed in Oregon in 2019, we engage with scholarship on the sociology of housing markets and Marxian rent theory to reveal that landlords acting as a collective voice through landlord associations to advance this argument effectively constitutes the discursive deployment of class monopoly power as a political strategy to lobby against tenant rights proponents. As such, we argue that landlords effectively engage in a “politics of class monopoly rent” which functions as a discursive weapon against tenant rights activists and low-income renters otherwise held captive in unaffordable housing markets. We offer this article as a resource for tenant rights activists and legislators who must inevitably confront this opposition in the process of mobilizing rent control legislation.
We’ll be able to hang out when there’s no coronavirus. On safe spaces in Polish pandemic playscapes
Authors: Maciejewska-Mroczek Ewa , Radkowska-Walkowicz Magdalena
Published: February 2024

The outburst of the coronavirus pandemic in Poland has led to specific measures related to covid, which affected unequally different age groups. Children were presented as “spreaders” of the disease, and a threat to the societies’ safety. Such fears led to new disciplining practices, such as prohibiting children from leaving the house without adult’s supervision during the first wave of pandemic in Poland. In the consequence of those special measures, the pandemic crisis challenged and blurred some previously existing boundaries, such as those between home and school, private and public, health and illness, online and offline, etc. In this paper, we examine how Polish children experienced their childhood through playful activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from three different research projects conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, we reflect on the children’s understandings of what is safe. Our focus is on various spaces which either enabled or restrained such activities, and on active work of children in finding and creating a safe space. We argue that, in the circumstances in which known-to-date divisions blurred, children’s seeking of safe spaces, in literal and metaphoric sense, were the means to deal with the new realities. These were primarily negotiable spaces, created through various social practices such as play.
Classification of chronic ankle instability using machine learning technique based on ankle kinematics during heel rise in delivery workers
Authors: Hwang Ui-jae , Kwon Oh-yun , Kim Jun-hee , Gwak Gyeong-tae
Published: February 2024

Objective

Ankle injuries in delivery workers (DWs) are often caused by trips, and high recurrence rates of ankle sprains are related to chronic ankle instability (CAI). Heel rise requires joint angles and moments similar to those of the terminal stance phase of walking that the foot supinates. Thus, our study aimed to develop, determine, and compare the predictive performance of statistical machine learning models to classify DWs with and without CAI using ankle kinematics during heel rise.

Methods

In total, 203 DWs were screened for eligibility. Seven predictors were included in our study (age, work duration, body mass index, calcaneal stance position angle [CSPA] in the initial and terminal positions during heel rise, calcaneal movement during heel rise [CMHR], and plantar flexion angle during heel rise). Six machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, decision tree, AdaBoost, Extreme Gradient boosting machines, random forest, and support vector machine, were trained.

Results

The random forest model (area under the curve [AUC], 0.967 [excellent]; F1, 0.889; accuracy, 0.925) confirmed the best predictive performance in the test datasets among the six machine learning models. For Shapley Additive Explanations, old age, low CMHR, high CSPA in the initial position, high PFA, long work duration, low CSPA in the terminal position, and high body mass index were the most important predictors of CAI in the random forest model.

Conclusion

Ankle kinematics during heel rise can be considered in the classification of DWs with and without CAI.
Perceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccination Within a Convenience Sample of Sudanese Americans
Authors: Freese Jonathan , Abuzaid Fatima , Sayles Harlan , Abdellatif Mujtaba , Fadul Nada
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Sudanese American and other immigrant and refugee communities are at greater risk for exposure to COVID-19. This survey sought to better characterize COVID-19 vaccination practices, motivators, and drivers for hesitancy among Sudanese Americans.

Methods:

We developed an online, cross-sectional survey in English and Arabic distributed by Sudanese American community leaders in April 2022 with data stored anonymously in REDCap. Inclusion criteria were self-reporting being born within Sudan and living in the US within the last 2 years. Descriptive analysis tested survey responses for possible associations between the primary outcome, self-reported vaccination status, and questions regarding vaccination history, perspectives on vaccination, and demographic characteristics using Fishers Exact and Chi Squared Tests.

Results:

Of 111 survey responses received, 107 met inclusion criteria. 93% of respondents reported COVID-19 vaccine uptake with the primary motivation to protect oneself from disease. The most cited reason for vaccine hesitancy was belief it had not been studied enough. The group that reported vaccination had higher levels of education (.032) and were more likely to perceive that COVID-19 vaccinations were able to reduce spread (.001), decrease severe outcomes (.004), and benefits outweighing their risks (.004).

Discussion and Conclusions:

This survey population of Sudanese Americans demonstrated high levels of vaccine uptake (93%), far greater than either the corresponding US (78%) or Sudanese population (15%). It is likely that high levels of educational attainment moderated vaccine uptake, though our survey may not have had the power to fully evaluate vaccine hesitancy.