bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family caregivers’ perspectives on the acceptability of four interventions proposed for rural transitional care: A multi-method study
Authors: Fox Mary T. , Butler Jeffrey I. , Sidani Souraya , Alzghoul Manal M. , Skinner Mark , Amell Travis , Ferguson-Paré Mary
Published: December 2022

Background

There is a critical need for hospital-to-home transitional care interventions to prepare family caregivers for patients’ post-discharge care in rural communities. Four evidence-based interventions (named discharge planning, treatments, warning signs, and physical activity) have the potential to meet this need but family caregivers’ perspectives on the acceptability of the interventions have not been examined. This gap is significant because unacceptable interventions are unlikely to be used or used as designed, thereby undermining outcome achievement. Accordingly, this study examined the perceived acceptability of the four interventions to rural family caregivers.

Materials and methods

A multi-method descriptive design was used. The quantitative method entailed the administration of an established scale to assess the interventions’ perceived acceptability to family caregivers. The qualitative method involved semi-structured interviews to explore family caregivers’ perceived acceptability of the interventions in greater depth, including acceptable and unacceptable aspects, in the context of their own transitional care experience. Participants were the family caregivers of a relative who had been discharged home in a rural community from an acute care hospital in Ontario, Canada.

Results

The purposive sample included 16 participants who were mostly middle-aged women (n = 14; 87.5%) caring for a parent (n = 9; 56.3%) at high risk for hospital readmission. The mean scores on the acceptability measure were 3 or higher for all interventions, indicating that, on average, the four interventions were perceived as acceptable. In terms of acceptable aspects, four themes were identified: the interventions: 1) involve family caregivers and proactively prepare them for discharge, 2) provide clear, written, and detailed guidance, 3) place the onus on healthcare providers to initiate communication, and 4) ensure post-discharge follow-up. In terms of unacceptable aspects, one theme was identified: the physical activity intervention would be challenging to implement.

Discussion

The findings support implementing the four interventions in practice throughout the hospital-to-home transition. Healthcare providers should assess family caregivers’ comfort in participating in the physical activity intervention and tailor their role accordingly.
Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia in critically ill patients
Authors: Yu Byunghyuk , Ko Ryoung-Eun , Yoo Keesang , Gil Eunmi , Choi Kyoung-Jin , Park Chi-Min
Published: December 2022

Background

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a life-threatening acute condition that has an overall in-hospital mortality rate of up to 75%. Critically ill patients are often admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) due to shock, and these patients are frequently at risk of developing NOMI. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical features of critically ill patients with NOMI and evaluate the risk factors for in-hospital mortality among these patients.

Methods

We reviewed the electronic medical records of 7,346 patients who underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography during their ICU stay at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019. After reviewing each patient’s computed tomography (CT) scans, 60 patients were diagnosed with NOMI and included in this analysis. The patients were divided into survivor (n = 23) and non-survivor (n = 37) groups according to the in-hospital mortality.

Results

The overall sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score for the included patients upon admission to the ICU was 8.6 ± 3.1, and medical ICU admissions were most common (66.7%) among the patients. The SOFA score upon admission to the ICU was higher for the non-survivors than for the survivors (9.4 vs. 7.4; p = 0.017). Non-survivors were more often observed in the medical ICU admissions (39.1% vs. 83.8%) than in the surgical ICU admissions (47.8% vs. 10.8%) or the cardiac ICU admissions (13.0% vs. 5.4%). Laboratory test results, abdominal CT findings, and the use of vasopressors and inotropes did not differ between the two groups. In a multivariable analysis, SOFA scores >8 upon admission to the ICU (odds ratio [OR] 4.51; 95% 1.12–18.13; p = 0.034), patients admitted to the ICU with medical problems (OR 7.99; 95% 1.73–36.94; p = 0.008), and abdominal pain (OR 4.26; 95% 1.05–17.35; p = 0.043) were significant prognostic predictors for in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions

The SOFA score >8 upon admission to the ICU, admission to the ICU for medical problems, and abdominal pain at diagnosis are associated with increased mortality among patients with NOMI.
Stereoscopic view synthesis with progressive structure reconstruction and scene constraints
Authors: Liu Wei , Ma Liyan , Qiu Bo , Cui Mingyue
Published: December 2022

Depth image-based rendering (DIBR) is an important technology in the process of 2D-to-3D conversion. It uses texture images and related depth maps to render virtual views. While there are still some challenging problems in the current DIBR systems, such as disocclusion occurrences. Inpainting methods based on deep learning have recently shown significant improvements and generated plausible images. However, most of these methods may not deal well with the disocclusion holes in the synthesized views, because on the one hand they only treat this issue as generative inpainting after 3D warping, rather than following the full DIBR processing procedures. While on the other hand the distributions of holes on the virtual views are always around the transition regions of foreground and background, which makes them more difficult to distinguish without special constraints. Motivated by these observations, this paper proposes a novel learning-based method for stereoscopic view synthesis, in which the disocclusion regions are restored by a progressive structure reconstruction strategy instead of direct texture inpainting. Additionally, some special cues in the synthesized scenes are further exploited as constraints for the network to alleviate hallucinated structure mixtures among different layers. Extensive empirical evaluations and comparisons validate the strengths of the proposed approach and demonstrate that the model is more suitable for stereoscopic synthesis in the 2D-to-3D conversion applications.
Dependence of learning outcomes in flipped and lecture classrooms on review questions: A randomized controlled trial and observational study
Authors: Pitt Jason , Huebner Bethany
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The effects of class structure (i.e., lecture vs. flipped) and repeated review on: 1) exam scores and 2) student perceptions of learning were compared in a prospective randomized controlled trial (Study 1) and a retrospective cohort study (Study 2).

Methods

In Study 1, 42 second year students in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program were randomized to either a lecture or flipped section of a neurobiology class. Both sections incorporated repeated review. In Study 2, exam scores were retrospectively compared between two cohorts: a lecture cohort without repeated review (n = 42) and a flipped cohort with repeated review (n = 46). In both studies, outcomes of interest were exam scores and student surveys.

Results

In Study 1, students in the lecture and flipped sections had similar exam averages (lecture = 76.7 ± 17%, flipped = 77.5 ± 17%, p = 0.73). Repeated review significantly improved exam scores by 12.0 percentage points (95% CI: 8.0 to 16.0 percentage points) in the lecture section and 10.8 percentage points (95% CI: 6.9 to 14.8 percentage points) in the flipped section. The flipped section reported higher levels of satisfaction and perceived learning. In Study 2, the flipped cohort had significantly higher exam scores than the lecture cohort (lecture = 70.2 ± 6.9%, flipped = 83.4 ± 7.7%, p < 0.0001). Student satisfaction and perceived learning were similar in both cohorts.

Conclusion

Exam scores improve with review questions and quizzes provided in a class, both in a lecture or flipped classroom.
The association between social factors and COVID-19 protective behaviors and depression and stress among midwestern US college students
Authors: Garcia Colato Edlin , Ludema Christina , Rosenberg Molly , Kianersi Sina , Luetke Maya , Chen Chen , Macy Jonathan T.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between social factors and COVID-19 protective behaviors and two outcomes: depressive and perceived stress symptoms.

Methods

In September 2020, 1,064 randomly selected undergraduate students from a large midwestern university completed an online survey and provided information on demographics, social activities, COVID-19 protective behaviors (i.e., avoiding social events and staying home from work and school), and mental health symptoms. Mental health symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 questionnaire for depression and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 for stress symptoms.

Results

The results showed respondents who were males and also the respondents who were “hanging out” with more people while drinking alcohol reported significantly lower depressive symptoms and lower stress symptoms. On the contrary, staying home from work or school “very often” was associated with higher stress symptoms, compared with “never/rarely” staying home from work/school. Similarly, having a job with in-person interaction was also associated with increased stress.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that lack of social engagement was associated with depression and stress symptoms among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning social activities that align with recommended safety precautions, as well as meet students’ social needs, should be an important priority for higher education institutions.
Reflections on contributing to health research: A qualitative interview study with research participants and patient advisors
Authors: Newington Lisa , Alexander Caroline M. , Kirby Pippa , Saggu Rhia K. , Wells Mary
Published: December 2022

Objectives

The aims of this study were to explore individuals’ experiences of contributing to health research and to identify the types of impact that are perceived as important by participants or patient and public advisors. Specifically, research led by NMAHPP clinicians (Nursing, Midwifery, Allied health professions, Healthcare science, Psychology and Pharmacy).

Methods

Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with health research participants and patient or public advisors. Interviewees were recruited from five UK sites and via social media. Interview transcripts were analysed using Thematic Analysis to identify key themes and areas of disagreement.

Results

Twenty-one interviews were completed, and four main themes were identified. The first, optimising research experiences, included personal reflections and broader recommendations to improve participant experiences. The second, connecting health research with healthcare, described research as key for the continued development of healthcare, but illustrated that communication between research teams, participants, and clinicians could be improved. The third theme explored the personal impacts of contributing to research, with interviewees recalling common positive experiences. The final theme discussed capturing research impacts. Interviewees highlighted potential priorities for different stakeholders, but emphasised that financial impacts should not be the sole factor.

Conclusion

Individuals who were involved in NMAHPP health research recalled positive experiences and reported good relationships with their research teams. They felt that their contributions were valued. Suggested strategies to optimise the research experience focused on simplifying documentation, clear signposting of the research activities involved, and feedback on the research findings. Routine sharing of relevant research data with clinicians was also recommended. Personal impacts included a deeper understanding of their health condition or health more broadly, and increased confidence interacting with healthcare and other professionals. These findings will be used to inform development of a framework to capture the impact of NMAHPP research.
Introducing and practising ‘curating’ for contemporary Chinese art: The transnational trajectory of Lu Jie from London to China and the development of Long March: A Walking Visual Display
Authors: Xiaoyi Nie
Published: December 2022

Through a close reading of the curatorial project Long March: A Walking Visual Display (), this article considers that Long March was an experimental curatorial response to the conditions of contemporary Chinese art and contributes to introducing the discourse and practice of ‘curating’ to China. Tracing the main curator Lu Jie’s curatorial motivation, this research looks into what Lu has termed ‘the dilemma of contemporary Chinese art’ during the 1990s – the division of discourses from realities and artistic practices in the curating of contemporary Chinese art, which led to invalid transcultural communication in international exhibitions. This research paid special attention to Lu’s study in the ‘Creative Curating’ MA programme at Goldsmiths, University of London (1998–99), which encouraged Lu to experiment with alternative exhibition formats and review art in visual culture. These inspired Lu to relocate ‘contemporary Chinese art’ from the institutional context to its original realities in China along the historical route of the Long March. Analysing the development of Lu’s curatorial proposal Long March: A Walking Exhibition from 1999 to 2001, this research shows how the main elements of Lu’s curating shifted from objects to participants and argues the project’s curatorial intention to provoke participants was a process of localizing ‘curating’ in the Chinese context. Instead of assuming that ‘curating’ was imported into China from the West, this article views the introduction of ‘curating’ as a new discipline which helps local practitioners identify the artistic values and authorship in making art public.
Curating the international profile of contemporary Chinese ink medium art: The Third Chengdu Biennale (2007) and The Met’s Ink Art (2013–14)
Authors: Sinelnyk Alina
Published: December 2022

This article aims to shed light on a curatorial momentum that was generated at the turn of the 2010s in the broader international art world, allowing contemporary Chinese ink works for the first time within the context of the new century to have a more geographically widespread spotlight of attention under a dual label of the Indigenous and the international. Indeed, in the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the curatorial approach to ink art in both China and North America and Europe began to change, emphasizing not only ink’s cultural uniqueness but also its transcultural applicability. The pioneering event to do this was the Third Chengdu Biennale in China, following which there was a noticeable escalation in similar exhibitions across countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. These ranged from the ground-breaking Ink Art: Past as Present in
Contemporary China (2013–14) at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) to exhibitions at international auction houses and commercial galleries, such as Christie’s or the London-based Saatchi Gallery. By focusing on the Third Chengdu Biennale and The Met’s Ink Art exhibition as the two case-study examples, this article elucidates in what specific ways present-day Chinese ink works were framed by these two significant internationally oriented exhibitions, as well as what kind of critical reception this attracted. Drawing from this analysis, the article also provides a reflection on this curatorial momentum’s both achievements and limitations, suggesting that altogether they present an important foundation for present-day curators to devise new constructive ways of positioning Chinese ink as the global contemporary medium of artistic expression.
From gunshots to hashtags: Transcultural curating in the #MeToo era
Authors: Hartmann Julia
Published: December 2022

After the #MeToo movement kicked off in the United States in 2018, it found its way to China and has triggered a number of exhibition projects around the country, organized by young activists, artists and curators, which have galvanized transnational feminist exchanges in the past few years. The article analyses exhibitions such as The Voiceless Rise Up: #MeToo in China, Her Story: Eliminating Gender Violence 2020, Above Ground: 40 Moments of Transformation and Stand by Her, which consisted of works documenting sexual assault and the #MeToo movement in China, as well as of artworks that are dealing with issues concerning sexual assault, the One Child Policy, motherhood, queerness and empowerment. These exhibitions and the #MeToo movement, respectively, demonstrate a growing transnational interconnectedness among activists fighting towards common feminist goals. What is more, these exhibitions are under constant scrutiny and fear of being cancelled, which is evidence of an exhaustive struggle for the official acceptance of women’s rights and ‘radical’ artworks. This article gives an overview of these projects, their transnational interconnectedness, as well as their perception and reaction of the general public, the press and censors. The article argues for a shift from women-centred exhibitions to exhibitions with a strong activist/feminist agenda that are also part of an unprecedented transnational framework.
INFLUENCE OF PACEMAKER TIMING ON DETECTION OF ATRIAL TACHYCARDIAS AND SIGNALS OF DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES
Authors: Morava Jan , Lhotová Aneta , Richter Aleš
Published: December 2022

The pacemaker (PCM) timing is a basic feature of the stimulation system. The device tries to bring the function of the heart with the conduction system disorder as close as possible to its original physiologically correct state. The main function of the PCM is a bradyarrhythmia therapy. Current devices are programmable and can adequately respond to any fluctuations in a heart rate from required values. Common parts of these devices are algorithms for the atrial tachycardias detection such as atrial fibrillation. The interpretation of a fast heart rate is affected by the pacemaker timing and different refractory intervals, especially in the case of tachycardias of lower frequencies. In this paper we discuss the effect of different atrial event frequencies to the adequate PCM response according to the timing behavior of the device. We prove our hypotheses by an experimental verification on the phantom of the pacemaker system by the in vitro method. The obtained results are compared with the case report from clinical practice. We set limit intervals for the detection of atrial tachycardias and verify the rate of the activation of the PCM program response for different frequencies. Finally, we discuss the behavior of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) during the detection of signals of higher frequencies.
Predictors of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs withdrawal due to the development of adverse events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Koltsova E. N. , Lukina G. V. , Schmidt E. I. , Lytkina K. A. , Zhilyaev E. V.
Published: December 2022

Currently, a large number of highly effective biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs) are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, in addition to effectiveness, it is necessary to evaluate the risk of adverse events (AEs) when using them.

Objective: to determine the predictors of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs discontinuation due to AEs in patients with RA.

Patients and methods. The study included 661 patients with RA who took bDMARDs and tsDMARDs. The search for predictors of targeted therapy discontinuation due to AEs was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, using the Kaplan-Meier method, we selected indicators that showed the greatest significant single-factor relationship with the duration of retention on therapy. At the second stage, significant independent indicators were obtained by iterative selection of variables within the multivariate proportional risk model according to Cox.

Results and discussion. The presence of rheumatoid nodules (p<0.001), high doses of glucocorticoids (GC; p<0.001), low doses of methotrexate (MT; p=0.009) are significant independent factors for increasing the risk of drugs discontinuation due to the development of AEs. The type of bDMARDs/tsDMARD used also significantly correlated with the risk of discontinuation of therapy due to AEs. A relatively high risk of treatment discontinuation was observed with infliximab (IFN) and certolizumab pegol (CZP). Cancellation of IFN was associated with the occurrence of infusion reactions and infectious complications, and CZP was associated with infectious complications.

Conclusion. An increase in the dose of MT and decrease in the use of GCs can help prevent the development of AEs leading to the abolition of biologics and tsDMARDs. Significant differences were found between bDMARDs in terms of the risk of their cancellation due to AEs.
Retention on tofacitinib therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (real clinical practice data)
Authors: Gridneva G. I. , Aronova E. S. , Belov B. S.
Published: December 2022

Evaluation of the reasons for discontinuation of therapy with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) may provide a clue to their more effective use.

Objective : to analyze the survival of tofacitinib (TOFA) therapy and the reasons for its discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in real clinical practice.

Patients and methods. The study included 30 adult patients with RA hospitalized to the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology from 2018 to 2020 for the biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or JAKi treatment. Patients were followed up for 3 years or until treatment with TOFA was discontinued, whichever occurred first.

Results and discussion. TOFA was prescribed as the first line therapy in 3 patients. In all these patients, the drug was discontinued for the following reasons: insufficient efficacy (IE) after 2 full years of treatment; adverse reaction (AR); administrative reasons (AdR), i.e. the inability to continue therapy due to the lack of drug supply at the place of residence. 11 patients received TOFA as the second line therapy, in 8 of them the treatment was interrupted: in 4 due to IE, in 3 due to AR (skin allergy) and in 1 due to AdR one year after its initiation. TOFA was prescribed as a third line therapy in 9 patients, in 2 of them the drug was discontinued due to IE and in 3 due to AR (allergic dermatitis in 2, dyspepsia in 1). Another 1 patient refused treatment due to a planned pregnancy. 6 patients received TOFA as the fourth line therapy, 5 of them (83.3%) continued to receive it for more than 3 years. In 1 patient, TOFA was discontinued after 1 month due to the dry cough and shortness of breath onset. In another 1 patient who was prescribed TOFA as the fifth line therapy, treatment was discontinued due to AR (recurrent Herpes zoster).

Conclusion. As the results of the study show, no relationship was found between the incidence of AR or IE and clinical and demographic indicators, as well as the frequency of TOFA withdrawal and the line of therapy. At the same time, the shortest duration of retention on TOFA therapy was noted when it was prescribed as a first-line drug.
Complex treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome in athletes after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint
Authors: Arkov V. V. , Dmitriev A. A. , Milenin O. N. , Ordzhonikidze Z. G. , Sichinava N. V. , Badtieva V. A. , Alekseeva L. I. , Lila A. M.
Published: December 2022

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS, patellar chondromalacia) after knee surgery is an important problem in sports medicine, solutions to which have not been developed enough.

Objective: to determine the effect of complex treatment using an injectable chondroprotector and special exercise therapy on the functional state, statokinetic stability and severity of PFPS in athletes after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee joint.

Patients and methods. An observational randomized controlled trial included 40 athletes after ACL reconstruction. The patients were divided into two groups. In the control group (n=20), a special rehabilitation technique was used after ACL reconstruction. In the main group (n=20), along with a similar method of rehabilitation, patients received a course of intramuscular injections of Alflutop (1 ml, No. 20). The duration of rehabilitation treatment was 1 month.

Pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale and knee joint function using the Kujala questionnaire, statokinetic stability was assessed before and after complex rehabilitation treatment.

Results and discussion. One month after the start of rehabilitation measures, both groups showed a significant decrease in pain intensity and an improvement in the functional state of the knee joint according to the Kujala questionnaire. The study of statokinetic stability indicators showed that after the course of rehabilitation in both groups, when standing with open eyes, there was a decrease in the area of the common center of pressure — CCOP (p<0.05) and an improvement in statokinetic stability, and when standing with eyes closed, a decrease in the CCOP area (p<0.05). At the same time, the difference in the results before and after the course of rehabilitation in the main group was significantly greater than in the control (p<0.05). The speed of the CCOP movement with open eyes in both groups did not change significantly: when standing with eyes closed, its positive dynamics was revealed after the course of rehabilitation (p<0.05).

Conclusion. Intramuscular SYSADOA injection therapy, which was used as part of a rehabilitation program, reduced pain and improved the function of the knee joint and had a positive effect on statokinetic stability in athletes after ACL reconstruction.
Microbiota as a new pathogenetic factor in the development of chronic hyperuricemia and gout. Part 2: gout therapy and the gut microbiota
Authors: Eliseev M. S. , Kharlamova E. N. , Zhelyabina O. V. , Lila A. M.
Published: December 2022

The article presents current data on the effect of drugs for the treatment of gout on the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota. The potential possibilities of pre- and probiotics use for the prevention and complex therapy of gout are discussed, therapeutic effect may be associated with their impact on the uric acid synthesis and intestinal excretion, as well as with anti-inflammatory properties. The need for further research in this area is emphasized.
Interleukin 6 receptor inhibitors in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis during the COVID-19 pandemic, Moscow experience
Authors: Zagrebneva A. I. , Simonova E. N. , Mezenova T. V. , Burmistrova N. B. , Gavrikova Yu. A. , Gavrikova Yu. A. , Morozova E. O. , Kodzeva Zh. M. , Sapogina K. S.
Published: December 2022

Objective: to confirm the efficacy and safety of levilimab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) switched from other interleukin 6 receptor inhibitors (iIL6R) for non-medical reasons.

Patients and methods. A retrospective analysis of data from the register of patients with RA who during the COVID-19 pandemic were switched from foreign iIL6Rs to the Russian drug levilimab. Treatment regimens with levilimab in combination with synthetic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (sDMARDs) and/or glucocorticoids (GCs) were used, as well as a monotherapy regimen in case of DMARDs intolerance.

Results and discussion. In 150 patients with RA, a successful non-medical switch to levilimab was demonstrated with the preservation and intensification of the clinical effect achieved on previous therapy with iIL6R. After switching to levilimab, the DAS28-CRP index decreased by an average of 0.098 at 3 months and by 0.25 at 6 months (p=0.214 for both time points). There was a decrease in the proportion of patients with elevated levels of CRP, as well as with high RA activity. In a number of patients who showed high efficacy of levilimab, it became possible to reduce the dose or number of DMARDs, as well as cease GCs intake. Good tolerability and a favorable safety profile of levilimab were noted, including in relation to the new coronavirus infection that developed during therapy.

Conclusion. Therapy with Russian iIL6R levilimab is effective and safe, including in patients switched from other drugs for non-medical reasons, as well as in relation to the novel coronavirus infection that developed during therapy.
Osteoarthritis of hand joints: prevalence, risk factors, phenotypes, diagnosis, treatment
Authors: Alekseeva L. I , Sharapova E. P. , Lila A. M.
Published: December 2022

Osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic disease, accompanied by constant pain and dysfunction of the joints, the progression of which leads to a deterioration in the quality of life and often to disability of patients. The article presents the prevalence, predictors of development and progression of osteoarthritis of the hand joints (OHJ). Clinical classification of OHJ, clinical picture depending on the localization of the process, topical features of involvement of the hand joints in different types of OHJ are given. Clinical, laboratory and instrumental methods for diagnosing of the disease, classification and diagnostic criteria are described, much attention is paid to modern principles of OHJ therapy in accordance with Russian clinical guidelines, as well as EULAR and ACR recommendations.
Development of bilateral episcleritis and rheumatoid arthritis after a new coronavirus infection: a description of a clinical case
Authors: Matveeva O. N. , Kvasova E. V.
Published: December 2022

In December 2019, the world faced a new infectious disease, called the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whose spread has become pandemic. The infection that remains with us to the present day can cause very severe respiratory symptoms up to total lung damage and death, as well as serious systemic manifestations associated with excessive activation of immune mechanisms. Currently, there are many cases of secondary autoimmune processes, often forming full-fledged autoimmune diseases, in people who have had a new coronavirus infection.

We present a clinical observation of episcleritis developed on the background of COVID-19, and then an articular syndrome onset that met the classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. The unusual debut of the articular syndrome in this patient, the difficulties of early diagnosis of the disease, as well as possible mechanisms of the formation of such associations are discussed.
Análisis de la militarización del Océano Ártico en base a su importancia en la sociedad internacional del Siglo XXI
Authors: López López Javier
Published: December 2022

En los últimos años se ha despertado un profundo interés por el Océano Ártico a consecuencia del deshielo generado por el cambio climático. La apertura de nuevas rutas comerciales, el descubrimiento de yacimientos energéticos o su posible utilización como punto estratégico en caso de conflicto han llamado la atención de expertos de todo tipo. El potencial de esta región ha venido acompañado desde comienzos de la Guerra Fría de una mayor presencia militar, apuntando a un posible conflicto en un futuro no tan lejano. El siguiente artículo analizará, precisamente, esa posible escalada militar, estudiando la relación existente entre el nivel de militarización en la región y su importancia a nivel económico y estratégico.
Using Visual Observations to Compare the Behavior of Previously Immobilized and Non-Immobilized Wild Polar Bears
Authors: Stirling Ian , Regehr Eric V. , Spencer Cheryl , Burns Lynne E. , Laidre Kristin L.
Published: December 2022

During 17 field seasons between 1973 and 1999, we conducted a long-term study of the behavior of undisturbed wild polar bears in Radstock Bay, southwest Devon Island, Nunavut. In a subset of 11 seasons (6 spring and 5 summer) between 1975 and 1997, we used three different drug combinations to chemically immobilize a small number of adult and subadult polar bears on an opportunistic basis and applied a temporary dye mark so that individual bears could be visually reidentified. We then used multinomial logistic regression to compare the behavior of 35 previously immobilized bears of five different demographic classes (sex, age, and reproductive status) to the behavior of non-immobilized bears of the same demographic classes in the same years and seasons. During the first two days after immobilization, bears slept significantly more and spent less time hunting than did bears that had not been immobilized. However, previously immobilized bears returned to the same behavioral patterns and proportion of total time spent hunting as non-immobilized bears within two days and no further negative behavioral effects were detected in the following 21 d. We visually confirmed successful hunting by three adult bears within 0.4 to 2.1 d of being immobilized, all of which went on to make additional kills within the following 24 h. The return to normal behavior patterns, including the ability to hunt successfully, within 48 h of immobilization appears consistent with the hypothesis that polar bears do not experience longer-term behavioral effects following brief chemical immobilization for conservation and management purposes.
The Underwater Soundscape of Minto Inlet, Northwest Territories, Canada
Authors: Halliday William D. , Brittain Sarah A. , Niemi Andrea , Majewski Andrew R. , Mouy Xavier , Insley Stephen J.
Published: December 2022

Passive acoustic monitoring is a powerful tool for observing soniferous species in remote marine environments over long periods of time, which can inform conservation planning and wildlife management. In this study, we collected seven months of passive acoustic data from early February to early September 2019 in Minto Inlet, Northwest Territories, Canada, to examine the seasonal presence of four species of marine mammals and unidentified fish species, examine drivers of underwater sound levels, and quantify underwater noise from vessel traffic. Bearded seals were vocally present from mid-March to early July. Ringed seals were present in every month. Beluga whales were present from early July until September. Bowhead whales were detected from April to August, and fish were detected from February to July. Underwater sound levels were dampened by the presence of landfast sea ice and increased with wind speed. Increased bearded seal calls also caused increased sound levels. The only vessel detected was the research vessel that recovered the acoustic recorder. Underwater sound levels were much lower in Minto Inlet compared to other areas in the region, and it appears to be an important site for many marine mammals where forage fish species, primarily Arctic cod, are abundant at depth. These results are in line with Minto Inlet being identified as an important area by the community of Ulukhaktok. At present, anthropogenic impact on this area appears to be very low, but further monitoring is required to determine if any management measures are necessary to maintain these low levels.
Paint it as You Ski it: an Interview with Ski Resort Map Artist James Neihues
Authors: Preppernau Charles
Published: December 2022

James Niehues has painted more than 200 panoramic resort maps. His 30-year body of work has changed how mountains are represented, and is familiar to many skiers. Charles Preppernau spoke with the artist to discuss mapping techniques, his new book The Man Behind the Maps, and his new Great American Landscapes Project. Mr. Niehues’ work can be found at jamesniehues.com.
Uso de psicofármacos en personas con discapacidad intelectual en Extremadura, España
Authors: Serna Álvarez Ana María , García Baamonde María Elena , Guerrero-Molina Mónica , Moreno Manso Juan Manuel
Published: December 2022

El uso de psicofármacos es frecuente en adultos con discapacidad intelectual, a menudo por conductas desafiantes en ausencia de diagnóstico de trastorno mental. Investigaciones previas cuestionan la eficacia de estos tratamientos a falta de una enfermedad psiquiátrica, y destacan sus efectos secundarios. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar el uso de psicofármacos en función del diagnóstico de enfermedad mental y conducta desafiante, así como la distribución de la población según el uso de psicofármacos en 569 adultos con discapacidad intelectual que presentan enfermedad mental o conductas desafiantes. Los datos acerca de la elevada prescripción de psicofármacos y, especialmente, de antipsicóticos alertan sobre la necesidad de una profunda revisión de la práctica clínica que permita reducir el uso de esta medicación en el tratamiento de la conducta y los trastornos mentales en esta población, para garantizar una atención de calidad y el respeto de los derechos de estas personas.
The Role of Training in Overcoming Leadership and Administrative Challenges
Authors: Dhamiri Abdulrahman M. A.
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to outline the terms education, management and administration to discuss the function of school leaders in overcoming the management and administrative challenges and to find out the limitations amongst them. It is hypothesized that school teachers and head teachers serve to create correct leaders and a correct coaching environment, expand their capabilities of managing staff and conquer administrative challenges. The study was conducted following the descriptive analytical approach where a questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was distributed among (100) teachers and head teachers at primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The study revealed that there is a lack of head teachers’ training at all levels. Training provides the manager with some materials and methods for discovering problems and solving them. It also showed that some head teachers are not flexible enough in dealing with their teaching staff, the students and their parents who follow their children in school from time to time, and this is observed in most schools. The study has some recommendations that the training boards in the Ministry of Education should provide during-service training for teachers at all educational levels – primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Saudi Arabia for all teachers and head teachers – and there should be intensive courses for training teachers and head teachers in terms of during-service training. This will enable them develop their ways and methods of teaching and their abilities to teach and master their classes. Also, teachers and head teachers should benefit from each other by sharing their experiences.
Major-Occupation Match Quality: An Empirical Measure Based on Relative Productivity
Authors: Leighton Margaret , Speer Jamin D.
Published: December 2022

The match quality between a worker’s field of study in college and her occupation is an important labor market outcome. Yet this match quality is difficult to define and measure. We propose a new measure of major-occupation match quality based on relative productivity. A worker is well-matched if graduates from her major, working in her occupation, have high earnings relative to other major-occupation pairs. We show that some majors can be very well-matched or very badly matched (e.g. nursing), while others are never very well- or badly matched (e.g. humanities). Our measure has two desirable features: it is continuous, and it can be estimated in any data set including field of study, wage, and occupation.
Returning a maverick creole to the fold: the Berbice Dutch enigma revisited
Authors: Parkvall Mikael , Jacobs Bart
Published: December 2022

Berbice Dutch was a creole language spoken in the Republic of Guyana in South America, a country first under Dutch, and later under British colonial rule. Owing mainly to Silvia Kouwenberg (A grammar of Berbice Dutch Creole, De Gruyter Mouton, 1994), we were blessed with a detailed synchronic documentation of Berbice Dutch before its demise. However, the formation of the language remains clouded in mystery: its grammar and (basic) lexicon display a seemingly unique mixture of Dutch (Creole) and Eastern Ijo, as a result of which the language is often portrayed as a challenge to existing contact-linguistic theory. In this paper, a scenario is proposed that, rather than challenging the said theory, is fully grounded in it: it will be argued that the language was a case of serial glottogenesis: a first stage of creolisation was later followed by language mixing. The paper furthermore presents hitherto unknown historical data pertaining to the arrival of Ijo speakers in Berbice.
Accelerated weathering performance of plantation-grown juvenile poplar and Chinese fir woods
Authors: Yu Yang , Xiao Zefang , Liang Daxin , Wang Yonggui , Militz Holger , Xie Yanjun
Published: December 2022

Plantation-grown juvenile wood species are extensively used as raw materials in the Chinese wood industry. The weathering performances of the wood are crucial for outdoor application. Two of the most important plantation-grown juvenile woods, poplar (Populus × euramericana cv. ‘74/76ʼ) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hook), were sliced into thin veneers and compared in this study to observe their weathering performance during exposure to UV alone for 504 h and UV/water for 168 h. The color difference, weight loss, and tensile strength loss of both veneers all increased with exposure time. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the initial structural deterioration originates from the corner of the middle lamella and pit, followed by cell separation, cell wall thinning, deformation, and collapse. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, electron resonance spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a decrease in lignin-based infrared absorption intensity and radical generation, as well as an increase in O/C ratio throughout the exposure. Water spray considerably accelerated deterioration by washing away the degraded fragments, thereby exposing the fresh substrate underneath. Compared to poplar wood, Chinese fir showed durable structural integrity but more darkening during weathering. These findings reveal the anatomically structural weak phase and photo-degradation performance of two plantation-grown woods during weathering. The results of this work may facilitate the proper external use and further photo-stabilization treatment of plantation-grown juvenile wood products.
Experimental investigation on microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of plasma arc welded Inconel 617 plates
Authors: Srinivas Kadivendi , Vundavilli Pandu R. , Manzoor Hussain M.
Published: December 2022

Welding of Inconel is a difficult task due to its tendency to crack and posing intricacies to the welder. However, it is extensively used in applications where resistance to oxidation at elevated temperatures is required. Therefore, it is important to note that the welding of Inconel alloys is demanding. Under such circumstances, one has to automate the welding of Inconel 617 alloy to eliminate some of the process uncertainties. Plasma arc welding (PAW) is a highly non-linear process that can be automated easily, and it can provide more focussed arc to weld the high strength and creep-resistant alloys. In the present research, PAW process is employed on 2 mm thick Inconel 617 plates by varying the key process parameters, such as welding current and welding speed. Initially, bead on plate (BoP) experiments were conducted to determine the suitable range of welding parameters to weld the super alloy. Subsequently, butt welding of the plates was performed based on the results of BoP welding. Furthermore, a study was conducted to determine the influence of the welding process parameters on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the butt joints.
Cross electromagnetic nanofluid flow examination with infinite shear rate viscosity and melting heat through Skan-Falkner wedge
Authors: Tag El Din El Sayed M. , Sajid Tanveer , Jamshed Wasim , Shah Syed Zahir Hussain , Eid Mohamed R. , Ayub Assad , Guedri Kamel , Sánchez-Chero Manuel , Chero José Antonio Sánchez , Barco Gilberto Carrión , Maquen-Niño Gisella Luisa Elena
Published: December 2022

This demonstration of study focalizes the melting transport and inclined magnetizing effect of cross fluid with infinite shear rate viscosity along the Skan-Falkner wedge. Transport of energy analysis is brought through the melting process and velocity distribution is numerically achieved under the influence of the inclined magnetic dipole effect. Moreover, this study brings out the numerical effect of the process of thermophoresis diffusion and Brownian motion. The infinite shear rate of viscosity model of cross fluid reveals the set of partial differential equations (PDEs). Similarity transformation of variables converts the PDEs system into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Furthermore, a numerical bvp4c process is imposed on these resultant ODEs for the pursuit of a numerical solution. From the debate, it is concluded that melting process cases boost the velocity of fluid and velocity ratio parameter. The augmentation of the minimum value of energy needed to activate or energize the molecules or atoms to activate the chemical reaction boosts the concentricity.
Determination of grain size distribution of prior austenite grains through a combination of a modified contrasting method and machine learning
Authors: Laub M. , Bachmann B.-I. , Detemple E. , Scherff F. , Staudt T. , Müller M. , Britz D. , Mücklich F. , Motz C.
Published: December 2022

The prior austenite grain size (PAGS) represents one of the most significant microstructural parameters for steel research and process development. Since the PAGS directly correlates with recrystallisation during rolling in the manufacturing process of steel plates, it has a huge influence on its mechanical properties. Methods to determine the PAGS reliably and reproducibly are in high demand. There are several different approaches, based on different working principles, aiming to measure the PAGS. In this paper, the focus will be held on chemical etching methods because they allow, other than indirect techniques, space-resolved images as output, coupled with a fast application with good statistics and do not necessarily require a pretreatment of the specimen that can alter properties of interest. A parameter study has been conducted to identify unknown influencing variables as well as to tune well known parameters for their application to low-carbon steels. In the scope of this work, a novel and objective way of determining the PAGS is being presented. A reproducible approach has been developed that is able to automatically reconstruct the prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGB) from low-carbon steels and thereby determining the PAGS. Based on an improved etching recipe, a routine could be elaborated using modern methods of machine learning in the field of computer vision that is able to quantitatively analyze optical micrographs. Semantic segmentation is used to detect the PAGB based on correlative EBSD data and expert’s annotations; thus, reconstructing the prior morphological microstructure. Therefore, besides the determination of the average grain size, the distribution of the PAGS and their morphological parameters can be quantified.