bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monetary Incentives in Clinician Surveys: An Analysis and Systematic Review With a Focus on Establishing Best Practices
Authors: VanGeest Jonathan B. , Johnson Timothy P. , Kapousouz Evgenia
Published: October 2024

Surveys involving health care providers continue to be characterized by low and declining response rates (RRs), and researchers have utilized various strategies to increase survey participation. An important approach is to employ monetary incentives to improve survey response. Using a systematic review and analyses of 100 randomized comparisons (published in 48 papers) between monetary incentives and a non-incentive condition, this paper seeks to advance the understanding of best practices for using monetary incentives in clinician surveys. These analyses show even small incentives (≤$2) to be effective in improving clinician response relative to non-incentive subgroups, with diminished returns associated with serial incremental increases above that amount up to amounts greater than $25, at which point there is an appreciable improvement, supporting the use of higher incentives in this population. Cash and direct cash equivalents (e.g., cash cards and checks) produced greater odds of survey participation compared to vouchers, lotteries and charitable contributions, with lotteries and charities being the least effective forms of monetary incentive. Survey mode, timing and ethical considerations are also addressed. Noting the challenges associated with surveying clinicians, researchers must make every effort to improve access to this difficult-to-reach population by implementing appropriate incentive-based strategies designed to improve participation rates.
Electricity Price Bubbles and Global Crisis: Does Financial Development Make a Difference?
Authors: Doran Nicoleta Mihaela , Manta Alina Georgiana , Bădîrcea Roxana Maria , Berceanu Dorel , Băndoi Anca , Badareu Gabriela
Published: October 2024

The aim of this study is to investigate the existence of electricity price bubbles and identify the factors that contribute to their formation by conducting a comparative analysis between a developed country, Germany, and an emerging country, Romania. We employ the generalized sup ADF test, utilizing bi-annual data spanning from 2007 to 2022. Our findings reveal the presence of 2 distinct electricity price bubbles in both Germany and Romania. In Germany, the first bubble emerged in the second half of 2008, coinciding with the onset of the global economic crisis. Conversely, Romania did not experience a bubble as a result of the economic crisis during this period. The second electricity price bubble in both countries was primarily driven by Russia’s decision to halt gas supplies to Europe. Additionally, the surge in energy consumption following the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role. This research contributes to the broader discourse on energy economics by elucidating the mechanisms behind electricity price fluctuations in different economic contexts. The comparative approach underscores the importance of tailored policy responses that consider country-specific factors while addressing global challenges. As energy markets continue to evolve, such studies will be instrumental in guiding strategic decisions and fostering sustainable economic growth.

JEL Classification: Q41, E31
The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Ti–1300 alloy during ECAP deformation and subsequent aging treatment
Authors: Meng Qiang , Xi-rong Yang , Xin-han Wang , Xiao-yan Liu
Published: October 2024

The effect of Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) deformation on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and aging behavior of solution treated Ti–1300 alloy was investigated. The results show that the grains are not broken during ECAP deformation due to coordination of grain rotation. The dominant deformation mechanism involved dislocation slip and twinning. The ECAP deformation has a significant effect on the subsequent aging behavior. The microstructure of aged samples comprised αs phase in β matrix. The precipitation of αs phase in the pre-deformed sample is higher than that in the solution treated sample, which is reflected in the improvement of microhardness of the pre-deformed + aging sample. The microhardness of the alloy after ECAP deformation increases with decreasing aging temperature and increasing aging time.
Anesthetics in pathological cerebrovascular conditions
Authors: Hou Yuhui , Ye Wei , Tang Ziyuan , Li Fengxian
Published: October 2024

The increasing prevalence of pathological cerebrovascular conditions, including stroke, hypertensive encephalopathy, and chronic disorders, underscores the importance of anesthetic considerations for affected patients. Preserving cerebral oxygenation and blood flow during anesthesia is paramount to prevent neurological deterioration. Furthermore, protecting vulnerable neurons from damage is crucial for optimal outcomes. Recent research suggests that anesthetic agents may provide a potentially therapeutic approach for managing pathological cerebrovascular conditions. Anesthetics target neural mechanisms underlying cerebrovascular dysfunction, thereby modulating neuroinflammation, protecting neurons against ischemic injury, and improving cerebral hemodynamics. However, optimal strategies regarding mechanisms, dosage, and indications remain uncertain. This review aims to clarify the physiological effects, mechanisms of action, and reported neuroprotective benefits of anesthetics in patients with various pathological cerebrovascular conditions. Investigating anesthetic effects in cerebrovascular disease holds promise for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI with USPIO in evaluating angiogenesis of the peri-infarction zones in subacute ischemic stroke in a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model
Authors: Li Yuanchao , Lu Fang , Zhang Cheng , Xu Huihui , Yang Shuohui
Published: October 2024

Background

Dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) can reflect the angiogenesis of ischemic stroke.

Purpose

To investigate the value of DSC-MRI with ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxides (USPIO) in evaluating angiogenesis in the peri-infarction zones in subacute ischemic stroke in a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) rat model.

Material and Methods

A total of 21 Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the pMCAO and sham operation groups. Every rat in each group underwent DSC-MRI with USPIO at 3, 5, and 7 days. DSC-MRI parameters of the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), relative mean transit time (rMTT), and relative time to peak (rTTP) were measured, calculated, and compared among the different times. Sequential correlations were analyzed among the histopathological indexes with the microvascular density (MVD) and percentage of vascular area (%VA), the serum factors with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and perfusion parameters, respectively.

Results

The rCBV and rCBF in the peri-infarction area of pMCAO rats were significantly higher on day 7 than on day 3, whereas no significant changes in rMTT and rTTP were observed at 3, 5, and 7 days. Significantly positive correlations were found between rCBV and MVD, %VA, VEGF, VCAM-1, between rCBF and MVD, %VA, VEGF, and VCAM-1 at 3, 5, and 7 days in the pMCAO group.

Conclusion

The rCBV and rCBF deriving from USPIO-DSC may be potentially useful for evaluating the angiogenesis of the peri-infarction zones in the subacute phase of ischemic stroke.
Fat necrosis after accelerated partial breast irradiation or hypofractionated whole breast irradiation: A case-control study
Authors: Colciago Riccardo Ray , La Rocca Eliana , Giandini Carlotta , Carnevale Maria Grazia , Bianchi Giulia Valeria , Maugeri Ilaria , Depretto Catherine , Meroni Silvia , Cavallo Anna , Pignoli Emanuele , Lozza Laura , Rancati Tiziana , De Santis Maria Carmen
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to compare the incidence of fat necrosis after accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) vs hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (WBI) in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Materials and methods:

Data from early-stage breast cancer patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy between 2009 and 2022 were retrospectively collected. Radiation therapy consisted of APBI of 30 Gy in 5 daily fractions (Fx) (delivered in one week, consecutively) to the tumour bed or WBI (42.4 Gy in 16 Fx). Reports on fat necrosis were extracted from yearly mammograms and breast ultrasound imaging. The primary endpoint was the incidence of radiologically detected fat necrosis.

Results:

A total of 536 patients were included among the APBI and WBI cohorts, with 268 and 268 patients respectively. The three-year Kaplan-Meier actuarial rate of fat necrosis was 32.8% (95% CI: 30.0% – 35.6%) for APBI and 22.3% (95% CI: 19.7% – 24.9%) for WBI patients. Univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a Hazard Ratio of 1.6 [95% CI: 1.1 – 2.2; p = 0.0055] for the fat necrosis rate within the APBI group compared to WBI. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression confirmed significant associations between fat necrosis and APBI (HR = 2.2 95% CI: 1.2 – 4.0; p = 0.01).

Conclusions:

The occurrence of radiologically diagnosed fat necrosis was higher in the APBI group compared to the WBI. Further investigations aiming to identify a lower-dose schedule with comparable efficacy to 30 Gy in 5 Fx but fewer toxicities, particularly for high-risk patients, are warranted.
Self-healable epoxy/graphene oxide vitrimers and their recyclable glass fiber reinforced composites
Authors: Sharma Harsh , Bijalwan Viranchika , Mourad Abdel-Hamid I , Kumar Ajay , Schlögl Sandra , Rana Sravendra
Published: October 2024

Glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRPs) made from thermoset polymers have been widely used across various industries. However, these composites have significant drawbacks, including poor interfacial adhesion between the fiber and matrix, as well as a substantial contribution to waste and environmental pollution due to the challenges in recycling, reprocessing, and reuse. Herein, firstly graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated in vitrimer matrix to fabricate recyclable vitrimer nanocomposites with improved interfacial interaction, high thermal stability, low dielectric constant, fast stress relaxation as well as rapid self-healing ability. The nanocomposite with 0.2 wt% GO is optimized to achieve excellent remoulding (89% of flexural strength) and self-healing (60 min for a 48 μm scratch) properties due to dynamic disulfide bond exchange mechanism. Furthermore, epoxy/GO matrix was used to develop glass fiber reinforced composites via vacuum assisted resin infusion molding process (VARIM). The developed composites demonstrate tremendous mechanical strength (250 MPa), shape-memory, weldability, and degradable properties. Due to the rapid chemical degradation of epoxy vitrimer under mild conditions in the thiol (2-mercaptoethanol and 1-otanethiol), facilitated by thiol disulfide exchange reaction, glass fibers (GFs) can be effectively recycled. The performance of recycled glass fibers closely matches that of original fibers, exhibiting nearly identical woven structure and mechanical properties. The single yarn of recycled glass fibers can achieve tensile strength of 85% (1-octanethiol) and 72% (2-mercaptoethanol) of the original glass fibers, thus, the recycling of glass fibers would be highly advantageous in terms of achieving the sustainability goals.
Associations Between Testing and Treatment Pathways in a Case of Pediatric Nonlesional Epilepsy: A Census Survey of NAEC Center Directors
Authors: Beatty Christopher W. , Ahrens Stephanie M. , Arredondo Kristen H. , Bagic Anto I. , Bai Shasha , Chapman Kevin E. , Ciliberto Michael A. , Clarke Dave F. , Eisner Mariah , Fountain Nathan B. , Gavvala Jay R. , Perry M. S. , Rossi Kyle C. , Wong-Kisiel Lily C. , Herman Susan T. , Ostendorf Adam P.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Epilepsy surgery is vital in managing of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Noninvasive and invasive testing modalities allow for evaluation and treatment of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Evidence-based algorithms for this process do not exist. This study examines expert response to a vignette of pediatric nonlesional epilepsy to assess associations in evaluation and treatment choices.

Methods

We analyzed annual report data and an epilepsy practice survey reported in 2020 from 135 pediatric epilepsy center directors in the United States. Characteristics of centers along with noninvasive and invasive testing and surgical treatment strategies were collected. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed.

Results

The response rate was 100% with 135 responses included in the analyses. Most used noninvasive testing modalities included Neuropsychology evaluation (90%), interictal brain fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (85%), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (72%) with nearly half obtaining genetic testing. Choosing functional MRI was associated with stereo electroencephalography (EEG) ( P = .025) and selecting Wada with subdural grid/strips ( P = .038). Directors from pediatric-only centers were more likely to choose stereo EEG as opposed to combined centers ( P = .042). Laser interstitial thermal therapy was almost 7 times as likely to be chosen as a treatment modality compared with open resection in dedicated pediatric centers (OR 6.96, P = .002).

Significance

In a vignette of nonlesional childhood drug-resistant epilepsy, epilepsy center directors’ patterns of noninvasive testing, invasive testing, and treatment were examined. Management choices were associated with pediatric versus combined pediatric/adult center characteristics. Expert opinions demonstrated equipoise in evaluation and management of children with drug-resistant epilepsy and the need for evidence-based management strategies.
Development and Initial Validation of a Scale to Measure Social Abuse in Intimate Partner Relationships
Authors: Park Sihyun , Woo Hyunji , Tekkas-Kerman Kader
Published: October 2024

Social abuse represents a distinct form of intimate partner violence characterized by intentional violations of a victim’s social rights and inherent need to belong. This is achieved by tactics such as severing, interfering with, and surveilling the victim’s social connections as well as limiting their social participation. Such abuse often results in victims experiencing social isolation, potentially causing adverse mental health outcomes and failure to seek help. This study aimed to develop and validate the Social Abuse Scale (SAS) to measure social abuse in intimate partner relationships. After generating the preliminary items, content validity testing was performed. Ten international experts reviewed the items and assessed their relevance. Additionally, 17 interview participants assessed the items for clarity and ease of response. Thereafter, the SAS was administered to 251 individuals, either currently in or who had an intimate relationship in the previous year. The final SAS comprised 30 items unified under a single-factor structure, which accounted for approximately 69.77% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the model’s satisfactory fit. The instrument showed excellent internal consistency, as evidenced by Cronbach’s alpha and a McDonald’s omega value of .986. The SAS can be employed to investigate the prevalence of social abuse, its underlying mechanisms, and its impacts, and it can also assist in further development and evaluation of programs aimed at its prevention.
Longitudinal associations between personality traits and cognitive complaints in midlife and older age across 20 years
Authors: Aschwanden Damaris , Allemand Mathias , Kliegel Matthias , Sutin Angelina R. , Luchetti Martina , Stephan Yannick , Schilling Oliver , Wahl Hans-Werner , Olaru Gabriel , Terracciano Antonio
Published: October 2024

Cross-sectional work suggests that higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness are consistently related to more subjective cognitive complaints. Little is known about the longitudinal associations. We used data from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development to examine how personality and cognitive complaints jointly unfolded over 20 years. Participants came from a midlife ( n = 502, Mage = 43.7) and an older age group ( n = 500, Mage = 62.5). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to test the personality-complaint associations at the between-person and within-person levels. Analyses controlled for gender, education, subjective health, objective health, and memory. At the between-person level, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were associated with more cognitive complaints over 20 years, and these associations were stronger in older than middle-aged adults. Among older adults, lower extraversion, openness, and agreeableness were longitudinally associated with more cognitive complaints. At the within-person level, all five traits were concurrently related to cognitive complaints, with small to medium-sized effects, but not across all measurement occasions. Few cross-lagged effects were found, with no consistent pattern across time or age cohorts. This work provides longitudinal evidence of personality-complaint associations and suggests that these associations varied more across individuals than within individuals over time.
Optimization of polypropylene high-strength injection molding welding and interface structure analysis
Authors: Tang Jianhua , Qiu Jianhui , Sakai Eiichi , Zhang Guohong , Wu Haonan , Zhao Wei , Zhang Bin , Wu Hong , Guo Shaoyun
Published: October 2024

Secondary injection molding is an effective method for joining polymer parts, where the weld interface plays a critical role in the overall performance of the part. This study discusses the influence of injection molding parameters on the interface strength of polypropylene and polypropylene (PP-PP) secondary injection molding and analyzes the welding interface structure. The injection molding parameters for PP-PP were optimized using the Taguchi method and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The optimal injection molding parameters were determined to be a mold temperature of 120°C, injection temperature of 350°C, and injection speed of 100 mm/s. The interface tensile strength was measured at 33.42 MPa, corresponding to 98.1% of the tensile strength of the base material. Among these parameters, mold temperature has the greatest influence on the strength of the welding interface. Secondly, polarizing microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to observe and analyze the crystal structure and fracture failure modes at the interface. The results indicate that elevated injection molding parameters promote the formation of crystal nuclei and spherulite growth at the secondary melt interface, with the spherulite size at the interface significantly affecting the interface strength. This study offers valuable reference for the welding of other polymers and fiber-reinforced materials.
A response surface equation for the drag polar for an airplane flying in the vicinity of wavy sea surface
Authors: Eftekhari Siamak , Davari Ali R. , Pazooki F.
Published: October 2024

The drag polar equation is the key issue to calculate the performance-based parameters during various flight phases and determine the optimum conditions. This is an essential feature to be included in airplane flight control system to manage the flight. The aircraft under certain emergency conditions are instructed to land on sea water. This underlines the combinational role of ground effect and the surface wave shape on airplane aerodynamic responses. Up to now, many investigations have described the airfoil and wing aerodynamic behaviors near the ground but none was devoted to an airplane flying near a wavy surface. In this paper, intensive numerical simulations have been carried out on a general aviation airplane flying near the water wavy surface. The effects of ground proximity as well as the wave amplitude have been investigated on airplane 2D longitudinal forces and moment. Some limited wind tunnel tests have also been performed on the same model, in the vicinity of water surface to validate the numerical calculations. A statistical quadratic equation based on Response Surface Model, RSM, has been proposed for the airplane flying in the vicinity of the wavy water in which, the wave shape deterioration due to both the airplane flowfield and the viscous dissipation has been taken into account. The statistical measures approve the model quality and accuracy in comparison to the numerical simulation data. The results show that the oscillations in aerodynamic forces are strong functions of the wave amplitude. The time variations of both CL and CD follow the shape of the surface wave while it does not have any remarkable effect on their mean values.
Cognitive Maps for a Non-Euclidean Environment: Path Integration and Spatial Memory on a Sphere
Authors: Kim Misun , Doeller Christian F.
Published: October 2024

Humans build mental models of the world and utilize them for various cognitive tasks. The exact form of cognitive maps is not fully understood, especially for novel and complex environments beyond the flat Euclidean environment. To address this gap, we investigated path integration—a critical process underlying cognitive mapping—and spatial-memory capacity on the spherical (non-Euclidean) and planar (Euclidean) environments in young healthy adults ( N = 20) using immersive virtual reality. We observed a strong Euclidean bias during the path-integration task on the spherical surface, even among participants who possessed knowledge of non-Euclidean geometry. Notably, despite this bias, participants demonstrated reasonable navigation ability on the sphere. This observation and simulation suggest that humans navigate nonflat surfaces by constructing locally confined Euclidean maps and flexibly combining them. This insight sheds light on potential neural mechanisms and behavioral strategies for solving complex cognitive tasks.
Settler militarism: Affective colonial pursuits and the militarized atmosphere of war commemoration
Authors: Caso Federica
Published: October 2024

This article examines settler militarism and how it is mobilized through affective practices that ultimately bolster the settler colonial project. With this intent, it develops the concept of ‘militarized atmosphere’ defined as a staged environment where war is positioned outside politics and critical scrutiny through a series of affective manoeuvres and aesthetics. A militarized atmosphere operates through military aesthetics to attune people’s bodies to a position of uncritical validation of a given discourse of war. This article argues that a militarized atmosphere crucially sustains the settler colonial project by removing or reducing contestation around the theme of war, which is a pillar of settler colonialism. In settler societies, numerous Indigenous individuals perceive themselves as embattled and seek acknowledgement of the history and legacy of colonial violence and warfare. In contrast, settler governments have a vested interest in concealing this history and its enduring legacy, and they do so by exalting military warfare as the foundation of the modern nation and creating affective attachments to the military. The article uses the case of Australia to elucidate the argument. It examines how the aesthetics of war commemoration at the Dawn Service, Australia’s major commemorative event, contributes to producing a militarized atmosphere that sustains the Australian settler colonial project. It proposes a framework that links the feminist concept of affective militarism to settler colonialism and contributes to the emerging literature on settler colonialism and militarism.
How Do Men Who Post Publicly on Social Media Author Themselves and Their Experiences of Crohn’s Disease? A Dialogical Analysis of Three Cases
Authors: Prodgers Lucy , Gough Brendan , Madill Anna
Published: October 2024

Despite distinct sex- and gender-related differences in the presentation and manifestation of Crohn’s disease (CD), little research to date has considered men’s particular experiences. Whilst hegemonic masculine ideals have been reported to negatively impact men’s mental and physical health, increasingly research has emphasized that men engage in a diverse range of practices, including those beneficial to health. One such practice is posting about their illness experiences on social media. The interactive nature of posting online means that a dialogical approach, based on a relational epistemology, is particularly useful. This study therefore asked: “How do men who post publicly on social media author themselves and their experiences of CD?” Three participants were recruited, all of whom had a diagnosis of CD, wrote a blog, and posted on other social networking sites (SNSs) about CD. Two resided in Canada and one in the United Kingdom. All were white. For each participant, 2 years of multimodal social media data was downloaded. After screening, in-depth analysis was conducted using a dialogical approach focusing on three key dialogical concepts: genre, chronotope, and forms of authorship. The key findings emphasized the participants’ different responses to the lack of predictability caused by CD and the different ways they used social media to gain a greater sense of control over their illness stories and identities, providing important insights into the interaction between masculine identities and illness. Finally, the potential deployment of such methods in future research and within therapeutic contexts was considered.
Human-Autonomy Teaming in a Cooperative Gamified Testbed: How Can AI Teammates Support Teamwork Processes?
Authors: Farah Yvonne A. , Dorneich Michael C.
Published: October 2024

When Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents are incorporated into teams, they are expected to possess teaming capabilities beyond their advanced technological skills. Human-Autonomy Teams (HATs) are AI agents and humans working interdependently toward shared goals. Teams engage in processes, including goal specification, planning, mission analysis, coordination, monitoring, and backup behaviors. Participation of AI agents in teamwork processes can elevate HAT effectiveness and enhance the involvement of the agents as teammates. This study explored three levels of support for teamwork processes from AI agents: passive, reactive, and proactive. The study was conducted in HiveMind, a cooperative gamified testbed. The proactive agent scored higher on several assessment metrics, including effective communication, interdependence, and teaming. Furthermore, participants reported positive perceptions of the agent’s proactive support and initiative taking. The study’s findings suggest that AI teammates’ level of participation in teamwork processes influences human teammate’s perceptions and teaming experiences with their AI teammate.
A multi-objective indirect neural adaptive processes control design for minimization of energy consumption: An experimental validation on a transesterification reactor
Authors: Bentaher Amel , Ali Zribi , Hamza Rabab
Published: October 2024

Nowadays, energy management environment is a very important issue that technologies have focused on in order to save costs and minimize energy waste. This objective can be achieved by means of an energy resource management approach through an appropriate optimization technique. However, energy savings can conflict with other objective functions, to solve the problem a multi-objective optimization that considers the minimization of the control energy can be adopted. In this paper, we propose to use a multi-objective indirect neural adaptive control concept for nonlinear systems with unknown dynamics. The control scheme consists of an adaptive instantaneous neural emulator and neural controller built on fully connected real-time recurrent learning networks (RTRL). The multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm is used as a mechanism to find NE and NC adaptive learning rates that optimize the proposed objective functions: control energy minimization and closed-loop preservation. Comparative studies and experimental validation on a semi-batch reactor, used to generate cleaner biofuels, are performed to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
The Impact of Sexual Violence Victimization on Acculturative Stress and Hazardous Drinking Among North Korean Refugee Women in South Korea
Authors: Choi Jaeyong , Kim Seonghoon , Lee Julak
Published: October 2024

North Korean refugee women face significant risks of traumatic experiences, including sexual exploitation and violence, both in North Korea and during migration. However, there is limited research on the long-term effects of sexual violence among these women. Using data from 245 North Korean refugee women, collected by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in 2017, we examined the impact of sexual violence victimization during pre-migration and intermediate stages on acculturative stress and hazardous drinking. Our findings revealed that women who experienced sexual violence during the intermediate stage were more likely to engage in hazardous drinking, though no significant effect was found on acculturative stress. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers aiming to reduce negative psychological outcomes in vulnerable populations.
Beyond Psyche: Aesthetic Attunement and Alternative Psychological Care Through the Heart
Authors: Yang Jie
Published: October 2024

Putting aside the idea of psyche as the universal basis of personhood in Euro-American psychology, this special issue charts new ground, engaging hybrid and alternative therapies in Japan and China that center the indigenous notion of the heart— xin in Chinese and kokoro in Japanese —as the basis for developing a novel, alternative template for psychological care. Xin is both body and mind, the ground for cognition, emotion, virtue, and bodily sensation. It is less concerned with being than with living and life, and thereby troubling ontological debates. Since xin is the means by which people experience culture, a xin-based approach to mental health care brings a new vision of inclusion. It is key to the aesthetic order associated with Confucianism. Aesthetic order requires people to tune in, artfully, to yin-yang dynamism in themselves, society, and the cosmos. Optimally, this aesthetic attunement brings about a fuller, holistic relationality. Yet, cultivating aesthetic attunement at all levels of individual and social life can become a source of distress for the heart. Heart-related distress of varying intensities eludes psychiatric diagnostic categories. Contributors to this special issue explore the possibility of establishing an embodied, felt (affective), and artful (aesthetic) template of psychological care anchored in the heart.
The Impact of the Missouri School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (MO SW-PBS) on Disciplinary Exclusions
Authors: Gage Nicholas A. , Lewis Timothy J. , Johnson Nanci L. , Way Gordon T.
Published: October 2024

The negative outcomes of exclusionary discipline practices on children and youth are well established. Fortunately, for the past two decades, research has demonstrated that pro-active instructional approaches and building supportive class and school environments can effectively promote student social, emotional, and behavioral well-being, especially when evidence-based practices are placed within a problem-solving multitiered system of supports such as school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS). Recent work examining state-wide behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) initiatives, which include professional development and technical assistance to school leadership teams, has clearly documented that educators can reduce problem behavior and thereby reduce the need or use for exclusionary discipline practices. This study extends that body of knowledge by examining Missouri’s SWPBIS initiative over time and across grade levels. Using an extant data base, schools implementing SWPBIS with fidelity were compared with nonimplementing schools over 11 school years. Results indicated that schools implementing SWPBIS with fidelity had statistically significant lower rates of exclusionary discipline practices at the primary, middle, and high school level. Results are discussed within the context of past state-wide SWPBIS initiatives.
Empirically Deriving Cut Scores in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) Through a Bookmarking Process
Authors: Kim Jerin , McIntosh Kent
Published: October 2024

We aimed to identify empirically valid cut scores on the positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) through an expert panel process known as bookmarking. The TFI is a measurement tool to evaluate the fidelity of implementation of PBIS. In the bookmark method, experts reviewed all TFI items and item scores by difficulty in order estimated by an item response theory (IRT) model of TFI data. Over two sessions involving data review and discussion, panelists individually identified which corresponding cut scores in each TFI tier scale indicated minimally adequate fidelity in the TFI, leading to corresponding scores of 83.3% for TFI Tier 1, 84.6% for TFI Tier 2, and 82.4% for TFI Tier 3. Then, the proposed cut scores were compared with the original cut scores of 70% for percentage of schools meeting fidelity and the association between the cut scores and school discipline outcomes using an extant sample. The results of descriptive statistics and multiple t-tests suggested that the bookmark cut score in TFI Tier 1 was reachable and more strongly associated with improved school discipline outcomes. Findings for TFI Tier 2 and Tier 3 were less conclusive.
Implementing the Color Wheel System in an Inclusive Middle School Setting
Authors: Aspiranti Kathleen B. , MacDonald Mary K. , Martinez Julie C. , Coleman Destiny N. , Zahrn Lauren H.
Published: October 2024

The Color Wheel System (CWS), a class-wide, rule-based behavioral management strategy, is a successful intervention to reduce off-task behaviors for elementary school students. However, this intervention has rarely been investigated in the middle school setting. The current study implemented the CWS within three sixth-grade general education inclusionary classrooms in a middle school in the United States. A multiple-baseline across classrooms design evaluated the effects of the CWS on class-wide inappropriate vocalizations. Partial-interval time-sampling recorded intervals when any student in the class displayed inappropriate vocalizations. Visual analysis of time-series graphs and effect size measures indicated that the CWS created large, immediate, and sustained decreases in inappropriate vocalizations across all classrooms. Implications for using the CWS as a class-wide behavioral management strategy within the middle school setting and directions for future research are discussed.
Assessment of the quality of life of cats affected by paraparesis/paraplegia and urinary retention, and their impact on caregivers
Authors: Canal Sara , Rinaldi Valentina , Gerrits Linda , Vignoli Massimo , Boari Andrea , Crisi Paolo Emidio
Published: October 2024

Objectives

In cats affected by severe thoracolumbar spinal cord pathologies, paraplegia and paraparesis, often accompanied by urinary retention, pose significant challenges, impacting both the cats’ welfare and owners’ lives. This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of cats affected by these conditions, and to evaluate the social and familial implications for caregivers.

Methods

The study was structured into two parts. The first part comprised direct observations of aspects of QoL in cats both in household and shelter settings, while the second part involved the distribution of questionnaires to cat owners and shelter operators.

Results

Cats with paraplegia/paraparesis and urinary retention can maintain a good QoL, with hindlimb mobility significantly influencing QoL scores. Shelter cats showed a comparable QoL to household cats, challenging the anecdotal beliefs that shelter cats with severe neurological impairments are destined to lead substandard lives. Operator surveys highlighted the feasibility of managing these cats in shelter environments, emphasising the importance of collaboration between caregivers and veterinary professionals. Likewise, owner surveys revealed a manageable time commitment for care, with most owners achieving proficiency in manual bladder expression within 1 month. Despite challenges, most of the owners reported positive experiences and did not contemplate euthanasia for their cats. Regular veterinary visits and occasional physiotherapy were common practices among caregivers.

Conclusions and relevance

Owners who respond to the questionnaire and shelter operators have a high commitment to cats with paraplegia/paraparesis. Although the study acknowledges this potential bias, it suggests that dedicated care can ensure a good QoL for cats with severe spinal injuries, both in shelter and household settings. Effective communication between caregivers and veterinary professionals is essential for accurate information dissemination and optimal care provision. This research contributes to raising awareness of managing these conditions and emphasises the importance of collaborative care approaches in veterinary medicine.
Estimation of sleeper-ballast contact pressure based on fretting marks: field measurements and FEM modeling
Authors: Jales Erivaldo S , Silva Andréa RD , Bortoleto Eleir M
Published: October 2024

The contact conditions between components of railway infrastructure are complex. This research focuses on the contact interactions between the ballast and steel sleepers. Unlike the prismatic design of concrete and wooden sleepers, steel sleepers are characterized by a unique U-shaped configuration, further contributing to the complexity of the contact conditions. To address this issue, this study focused on analyzing the lower surfaces of steel sleepers commonly used in railroads, which had contact marks resulting from the ballast and train load due to fretting. To simulate these contact marks, virtual ballast geometries were created and simplified to match the observed contact areas. Specifically, these contact areas represented 6% of the bottom area of the steel sleepers. We compared the efficiency of this approach using Finite Element Method simulations.
Tribological analysis of rotor system startup considering deformations of high elastic rubber bushings and grease lubricated plastic bearings
Authors: Cheng Shuai , Zhang Rui , Meng Xianghui , Zheng Licheng , Liu Zhiyuan
Published: October 2024

To achieve a compact design, reduced noise, and extended operational lifespan of the air conditioner indoor unit, a novel motor rotor system was implemented. This system utilizes three engineering plastic bearings, encased in high-elasticity rubber bushings and lubricated with grease. Yet, the absence of a simulation model that accurately represents the structural and material properties of this bearing-rotor assembly hampers the precise evaluation of how design parameters influence system performance. As such, in the present study, an innovative tribo-dynamics model was established using a coupling approach that integrates dynamics and tribology. This model encompasses a 4-degree-of-freedom rotor dynamics framework and a grease elastohydrodynamic model, which accounts for the deformation of both rubber bushings and plastic bearings. Utilizing this tribo-dynamics model, the effects of the elastic modulus of the bushing on the tribological properties of the system were explored. The results show that a small elastic modulus of the bushing effectively reduced the local high contact pressure between the journal and the bearing during startup. However, the elastic modulus cannot be excessively low, as it would adversely affect the range of journal motion and the film thickness under rated operating conditions.
Trajectories of depressive symptoms in early to mid-adolescence: associations with school pedagogical and social climate
Authors: Bortes Cristian
Published: October 2024

Aims:

Adolescence is a critical period for mental health development, yet research exploring how contextual factors influence the development of depressive symptoms remains limited. This study explored trajectories of depressive symptoms during early to mid-adolescence and their association with various aspects of school climate.

Methods:

The study sample comprised 3671, 7th-grade students (aged 12–13 years) from 101 schools across Sweden, followed longitudinally across three time points spanning grades 7, 8 and 9. Depressive symptom trajectories were identified using latent class growth modelling. The Pedagogical and Social Climate questionnaire assessed school climate, and multinomial logistic regression was employed to predict trajectory membership based on sociodemographic and school climate factors.

Results:

Four distinct developmental patterns of depressive symptoms emerged: ‘Sustained low symptoms’ (76.7%), ‘Low–increasing’ (10.9%), ‘Sustained high symptoms’ (7.9%), and ‘High–decreasing’ (4.5%). Gender, parental education and six specific school climate factors, out of the total 19 examined, significantly distinguished these trajectory classes. Positive teacher expectations and strong principal involvement were associated with more favourable trajectories, whereas teaching activities, teacher support and communication between school and home were associated with less favourable trajectories, suggesting a nuanced understanding of their relationship with depressive symptom trajectories.

Conclusions:

Few school factors were found to be relevant to depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of considering external factors beyond the school environment in supporting adolescents during this developmental stage. Although the findings are multifaceted, it is primarily positive interpersonal relationships, especially through teacher expectations, that stand out as significant factors in promoting youth mental health.
Public mobile chronic obstructive pulmonary disease applications for self-management: Patients and healthcare professionals’ perspectives
Authors: Quach Shirley , Benoit Adam , Packham Tara L , Goldstein Roger , Brooks Dina
Published: October 2024

Poorly controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can negatively impact quality of life but mobile applications (apps) are popular digital tools that may mitigate these support needs. However, it is unclear if public mobile COPD apps are acceptable to healthcare professionals and patients, people living with COPD. Objectives: The primary objective is to determine people with COPD and healthcare professionals' perspectives on the appropriateness of public mobile COPD apps for supporting individuals’ needs. The secondary objectives were to identify the ideal features and styles of mobile COPD apps for COPD self-management; and to identify the facilitators, barriers and needs for future COPD app research and development. Methods: Public mobile COPD apps were rated by questionnaires administered before and after focus group meetings. Ratings were reported as medians with interquartile ranges and median scores were categorized into three levels of appropriateness: 1-3 for inappropriate; 4-6 for uncertain; and 7-9 for appropriate. Results: A total of 6 people with COPD (mean age 68.2 ± 4.8years) and 22 healthcare professionals (mean age 45 ± 8.3years) completed this study. People with COPD identified one and healthcare professionals identified three public mobile COPD apps to be appropriate. They had different preferences for features and engagement styles but similar preferences for facilitators and barriers to use. Stakeholders mutually rated one public mobile COPD app as appropriate for self-management and emphasized the need for apps to be supplementary and customizable, rather than replacements for clinical management.
Effect of dilution and Lewis number of the fuel in the fuel-air mixture on the heat flux during flame wall interaction (FWI)
Authors: Padhiary Abhijit , Pilla Guillaume , Sotton Julien , Bellenoue Marc
Published: October 2024

Most combustion systems where flame is bounded by walls encounter Flame-wall interactions (FWI). Heat losses during FWI are in the magnitude of MW/m2 leading to concern about inefficiency, and thermal stresses. Hence, FWI is a topic of significant interest. With the goals of climate change pushing us toward renewable fuels with least carbon emissions, it is imperative to understand the FWI of renewable fuels like hydrogen-air mixture. In this study, FWI in a head-on-quenching configuration is carried out in a constant volume chamber. High-speed surface temperature measurement is carried out to compute instantaneous wall heat flux. Adding inert diluents to methane-air mixtures, the effect of dilution on the peak of heat flux during FWI is studied. Dilution affects the peak of heat flux predominantly by changing the adiabatic flame power of the fuel-air mixture. Furthermore, a large variation in flame power is carried out by changing the dilution fraction in the methane-air mixture to quantify its effect. It is found that the peak of heat flux and non-dimensional heat flux follows a nonlinear decrease with an increase in flame power. Knowing this effect, FWI of three different fuels, that is, methane, hydrogen, and a mixture of acetylene and hydrogen, having different Lewis numbers ( Le) of fuel in a fuel-oxidizer mixture are studied at equivalent flame power. This comparison shows that FWI of hydrogen-air mixtures in HOQ configuration have a lower peak of heat flux compared to other fuels which may be due to the preferential diffusion of hydrogen-air mixture.