bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Conversion Rate from Subinertial Surface Tides to Internal Tides
Authors: Tanaka Yuki
Published: February 2023

Subinertial, topographically trapped diurnal internal tides are an important energy source for turbulent mixing in the subarctic oceans. However, their generation may not be estimated by the conventional barotropic-to-baroclinic conversion because their vertical structure is sometimes barotropic, unlike superinertial internal tides that are always baroclinic. Here, a new energy diagram is presented, in which the barotropic mode is decomposed into the surface and topographic modes, with the latter being classified as part of the internal modes together with the baroclinic mode. The energy equation for the newly defined topographic mode is then derived, providing an appropriate formulation of the energy conversion rate from the subinertial surface tides to the topographically trapped internal tides. A series of numerical experiments confirm that the formulation successfully predicts the energy conversion rate for various cases, with the relative contribution of the baroclinic and topographic modes varying significantly depending on the bottom topography and stratification. Furthermore, this surface-to-internal conversion is demonstrated to give a significantly larger estimate than the barotropic-to-baroclinic conversion for subinertial tides. Applying the formulation to the results of a realistic numerical simulation in the Kuril Straits, an area with the strongest mixing due to subinertial diurnal tides, shows that the surface mode is converted into the baroclinic and topographic modes with comparable magnitudes, responsible for most of the energy dissipation in this area. These results indicate the need to reestimate the global distribution of the generation rate of the subinertial internal tides using our new formulation and to clarify their dissipation mechanisms.

Significance Statement

Diurnal internal tides in mid- to high-latitude oceans are very different from semidiurnal internal tides, in that they are trapped by topographic features and characterized by uniform rotation throughout the water column rather than by vertical oscillations within the water column. Focusing on this character, we formulate for the first time the generation rate of diurnal internal tides trapped over variable bottom topography. A series of idealized numerical experiments and application to the Kuril Straits show the validity and usefulness of this formulation, which provides a significantly larger generation estimate than previous studies. The results of this study are important for accurate global mapping of turbulent mixing induced by the breaking of internal tides.
Incidental Findings Protocol Implementation at a Level-I Trauma Center: A Review of Patient Follow-Up
Authors: Martin Sarah , LoPolito Andrew , Whitney Larissa D. , Fenninger Ashley , Bonneville Kelly , Ward Ryan , Graeff Shelby , Saint Fort Launick , Brown Catherine T. , Miller Virginia , Perea Lindsey L.
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Pan scanning in trauma patients has become routine, resulting in increased identification of incidental findings (IF), findings unrelated to the reason for the scan. This has posed a conundrum of ensuring patients have appropriate follow-up for these findings. We sought to evaluate our compliance and follow-up for patients after implementation of an IF protocol at our level-I trauma center.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review from 9/2020 to 4/2021, to encompass before and after protocol implementation. Patients were separated into PRE and POST groups. Charts were reviewed evaluating several factors including three- and six-month follow-ups on IF. Data were analyzed comparing PRE and POST groups.

Results

A total of 1989 patients were identified, 31.22% (n = 621) with an IF. 612 patients were included in our study. Compared to PRE, POST showed a significant increase in PCP notification (35% vs 22%, P < .001) and patient notification (82% vs 65%, P < .001). As a result, patient follow-up regarding IF at six months was significantly higher in POST (44%) v. PRE (29%), ( P < .001). There was no difference in follow-up based on insurance carrier. There was no difference in patient age for PRE (63 y) and POST (66 y) overall, ( P = .089); nor in age of patients who followed up; 68.8 PRE vs 68.2 years POST ( P = .819).

Conclusion

Implementation of an IF protocol with patient and PCP notification was significantly improved in overall patient follow-up for category one and two IF. Utilizing the results of this study, the protocol will be further revised to improve patient follow-up.
Quantitative Raman Cross-Sections and Band Assignments for Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs
Authors: Wilcox Phillip G. , Emmons Erik D. , Pardoe Ian J. , Kline Neal D. , Guicheteau Jason A.
Published: February 2023

Raman cross sections and spectra were measured for five synthetic opioid fentanyl analogs: fentanyl citrate, sufentanil citrate, alfentanil HCl, carfentanil oxalate, and remifentanil HCl. The measurements were performed with excitation wavelengths in the visible (532 nm) and near infrared (785 nm). In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to generate simulated spectra of the compounds and aid in identification of the observed spectral modes. These cross-section measurements and calculations were also used to assess results from a series of measurements of fentanyls cut with other powdered materials. These measurements are valuable for assessment of field-deployable Raman chemical sensors for detection of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, including when mixed with other materials.
China’s Interests in Afghanistan: An Assessment Post US Withdrawal
Authors: Manish  , Kaushik Prashant
Published: February 2023

Though long in the offing, US withdrawal from Afghanistan became a reality with the signing of the Doha Agreement on 29 February 2020, ultimately leading to the establishment of Taliban 2.0 in Kabul. The unravelling of the two-decade-old US-led war and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan led to a long-predicted scramble among the regional powers to fill the vacuum created by US withdrawal and threw up a plethora of intriguing questions, particularly regarding China’s role and interests in the region. This article seeks to understand and analyze China’s ever-growing engagement in Afghanistan through the paradigm of Realism, arguing that China has long-term geo-strategic and geo-economic interests in the region which requires it to coordinate more closely with Pakistan and Iran and innovate diplomatically. This article is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on China’s interests in Afghanistan viz. BRI-CPEC extension in Afghanistan, rare earth, and the need to ensure peace and stability. The second section assesses China’s response to the emerging situation by focusing on China’s engagement with the Taliban 2.0 and co-opting of Pakistan and Iran for safeguarding its long-term interests. This article concludes while looking at the position of India in the gamut.
Exercise referral scheme participant characteristics, referral mode and completion status
Authors: Portman Robert M , Levy Andrew R , Allen Sarah F , Fairclough Stuart J
Published: February 2023

Objective:

There is recent evidence that exercise referral schemes (ERSs) are beginning to permit self-referral access. Notwithstanding this, to date it is unknown whether key referral characteristics, such as age, gender and socioeconomic status are associated with a greater likelihood of self-referring to an ERS, and whether self-referral participants are more or less likely to complete schemes, than traditional healthcare referrals.

Design/Setting:

This study presents an evaluation and cross-sectional exploration of key participant referral characteristics of those ( n = 647) who signed up to ‘Active West Lancs’; a 12-week ERS in the northwest of England.

Methods:

Chi-square analysis, tests of difference and binary logistic regression were conducted to explore associations between key referral characteristics and (1) the likelihood of accessing Active West Lancs via a self- or healthcare-referral and (2) the likelihood of completion.

Results:

About 56% of participants accessed the scheme via self-referral. These participants were more likely to be women, to report a musculoskeletal primary health condition, to access a specific site and to do so during spring. The scheme had an overall completion rate of 42.2%. Participants who were older, resided in less socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods, and accessed a specific site were more likely to complete. Self-referral participants were not more or less likely to complete than those who enrolled via healthcare-referral.

Conclusion:

These data do not directly identify a clear benefit or detriment to Active West Lancs’ incorporation of self-referral participants. Notwithstanding this, enabling self-referral ERS access may widen scheme participation opportunities among those reluctant to seek referral from a healthcare provider and reduce the administrative burden for healthcare providers themselves.
Urban Governance in Bangladesh: A Study on Inter-Organisational Coordination Problems and Its Impact on Service Delivery
Authors: Karim Mohammad Razaul
Published: February 2023

In the urban areas of Bangladesh, besides formal urban local governments, special government bodies, some special purpose authorities and special development authorities exist to meet the growing demand for certain urban services and planning. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the inter-organisational coordination problems among these urban bodies and how they impact the service delivery to urban people in Bangladesh. Based on a study performed on the Cumilla City Corporation and Lakshmipur Paurashava area, the available data show that there are huge coordination problems among the urban local government bodies and other governments agencies. This study illustrates that overlapping functions and different accountability patterns of urban bodies, limited autonomy of urban local government, lack of formal framework for coordination, political influences and controlled central–local government relations are affecting inter-organisational coordination. This study is on the basis of embedded case-oriented qualitative research. Both primary and secondary data were considered to carry out this study. The article argues that the lack of coordination among the urban local bodies, government agencies and departments hamper the policy execution, which ultimately affects the service delivery negatively.
Tension failure assessment of composite bolted joints under bearing-bypass load interaction using analytical means
Authors: Nguyen-Hoang Minh , Becker Wilfried
Published: February 2023

Bolted joints are often used in thin parts such as plates or shell-like components in lightweight structures, e.g. air- and spacecraft. This is also motivated by an inexpensive manufacturing and the ability to disassemble. To make these joints, holes need to be drilled and stress concentrations arise. Leading to the instantaneous destruction of the connection, attention should be drawn to fatal tension failure. The efficient and precise prediction of the corresponding failure stresses using analytical methods is the focus of this paper. Usually, rows of bolts are placed. Then, the load is partly introduced into one bolt while the rest stays in the plate. This setting is also referred to as bolted joint under combined bearing-bypass load, which shall be idealised as a linear 2D plate problem. The corresponding characteristic stresses are discussed for orthotropic laminates showing good agreement to Finite Element values. Then, failure analysis is conducted using Finite Fracture Mechanics. This part is dedicated to quasi-isotropic laminates. The size effect and in this context the failure stress reduction with increasing bolt diameter is analysed. Primary physical effects due to finite dimensions and the ratio of bearing and total load are identified. The higher this ratio and the larger the bolt diameter, the lower the sustained failure stress. Failure envelopes for the graphical determination of the critical bearing and bypass stresses are provided. All in all, a comprehensive and efficient framework for tension failure assessment of composite bolted joints under bearing-bypass load interaction is developed.
Investigation of welding defects in friction stir spot welding of plastics
Authors: Kaştan Alim
Published: February 2023

In friction stir spot welding applications, there are some factors that provide welding strength, welding performance and the formation of defects that may occur in welding. Among these factors, machine parameters and welding tool design should be compatible with each other. If these factors are not chosen appropriately, the welding will not be of the desired quality. In this study, high density polyethylene sheets were joined using friction stir spot welding technique. It has been determined that some of the joints made have low weld strength, defects on the weld surface and around the stir zone. By investigating the causes of these defects, suggestions were made to prevent these defecs It has been observed that these defects are not repeated in the welds made with the suggestions made and it has been determined that high weld strength can be obtained. The highest weld strength and performance were obtained by 0.2–0.4 mm plunge depth, 45–60 s stirring time, 700–900 tool rotation speed and 30 mm shoulder diameters. In order to obtain a perfect weld in friction stir spot welding, it was determined that a homogeneous mixture should be formed between the stirring zone and the thermo-mechanically affected zone. Low weld strength was obtained in all joints with defects detected in these regions. Low weld strengths and weld defects were detected at dwell times of less than 30 s, at all tool rotational speeds with a stirring time of less than 45 s, at a plunge depth greater than 0.4 mm, and at low tool rotation speeds.
Is Migration a Way Out from Ascription? The Status Attainment Process of Romanians in Western Europe
Authors: Montanari Maria Giulia , Meraviglia Cinzia
Published: February 2023

This article assesses the role of social origin for Romanian migrants in Western Europe, compared to stayers in their origin country. We propose a novel theoretical model of status attainment to account for the migration process, including the self-selection to migration on the basis of individual characteristics and the effect of the area/context on social mobility. Our sample (elaborated from the EUCROSS 2012 survey) includes 1772 working-age Romanian citizens who completed their education in Romania. Our results show that self-selection played a role in not only the Romanians’ decision to migrate but also the choice of destination (either Southern Europe or Central-Northern Europe), being migrants in Southern Europe negatively self-selected with respect to both social origin (men) and education (both men and, especially, women). We also found that the disadvantage of Romanian migrants (measured through the International Socio-Economic Index), compared to stayers, was reinforced by a higher influence of social origin for women, who, in addition, got even lower returns to education abroad. Contrary to the expectations of both academic scholars and the institutions supporting EU free movement, migration to Western Europe (at least in the case of Romanians) was not a way out, but rather reinforced ascription.
Moisture Susceptibility of Asphalt Mixtures: Conditioning and Testing Protocols
Authors: Akentuna Moses , Liu Jun , Mohammad Louay N. , Sachdeva Sanchit , Cooper Samuel B. , Cooper Samuel B.
Published: February 2023

Moisture damage is a common distress in asphalt pavements caused by infiltrated moisture, which degrades mixture strength and affects pavement durability. Loaded wheel tracking (LWT) and modified Lottman (ML) tests are the two commonly used mechanical tests for assessing the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures, but they have been reported to show limitations in consistently ascertaining the moisture sensitivity of different asphalt mixtures under field conditions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different laboratory mechanical tests (LWT, ML, and semi-circular bend [SCB]) in ascertaining moisture sensitivity of asphalt mixtures. LWT, ML, and SCB tests were conducted on asphalt mixtures prepared with two asphalt binders (an unmodified PG 67-22 and a styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer-modified PG 70-22) and three aggregate types (limestone, crushed gravel, and semi-crushed gravel). Before testing, asphalt binder and mixture samples were exposed to five moisture conditioning levels: (1) unconditioned (dry), (2) single freeze-thaw cycle, (3) triple freeze-thaw cycle, (4) moisture induced stress tester (MiST) 3,500 cycles, and (5) MiST 7,000 cycles. A multiple stress creep recovery test was conducted on asphalt binders subjected to the five moisture conditioning levels. Results showed that the stress sensitivity of asphalt binders decreased after freeze-thaw and MiST conditioning. LWT rut depth and a new parameter which was developed as part of the study, SCB Jd ratio, were found to capture the progressive moisture damage in asphalt mixtures associated with different moisture conditioning levels. Mixtures containing PG 70-22 asphalt binder exhibited better moisture damage resistance compared with mixtures containing PG 67-22 asphalt binder.
Limitation-Focused versus Responsibility-Focused Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Training: A Thematic Analysis of Driver Opinions
Authors: DeGuzman Chelsea A. , Ayas Suzan , Donmez Birsen
Published: February 2023

Training for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) generally aims to teach drivers various system limitations. However, limitation-focused training has disadvantages, such as drivers having difficulty remembering a long list of limitations over time. The current study compared limitation-focused training with responsibility-focused training, which aims to teach drivers how they should be using ADAS and the consequences if they do not use the systems appropriately. We asked 62 participants several open-ended questions after they watched either a limitation-focused ( n = 32) or responsibility-focused ( n = 30) training video to investigate the effects of each training approach on driver attitudes toward ADAS and how they intend to use ADAS. We also elicited feedback about the training itself. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts showed that drivers in both training groups thought the videos were helpful and both training approaches were associated with reduced intention to engage in distractions while using ADAS. Results also showed that decreased interest in ADAS and reports of not wanting to use ADAS were more common after the limitation-focused training, with drivers in the limitation-focused group highlighting the number of limitations and unclear benefits as reasons why they would not use ADAS. Given the drawbacks associated with limitation-focused training, our results suggest that the responsibility-focused approach may be a reasonable alternative that should be investigated further with behavioral studies. Participant feedback about the training is also summarized in the paper, which can inform the design of future ADAS training.
Who Will Care for Rural Older Adults? Measuring the Direct Care Workforce in Rural Areas
Authors: Dill Janette , Henning-Smith Carrie , Zhu Rongxuan , Vomacka Elizabeth
Published: February 2023

Using the 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) dataset, we calculate the ratio of direct care workers relative to the population of older adults (ages 65+) across rural and urban areas in the US. We find that there are, on average, 32.9 home health aides per 1000 older adults (age 65+) in rural areas and 50.4 home health aides per 1000 older adults in urban areas. There are, on average, 20.9 nursing assistants per 1000 older adults in rural areas and 25.3 nursing assistants per 1000 older adults in urban areas. There is substantial regional variation. Greater investment needs to be made in improving wages and job quality for direct care workers to attract workers to these critical occupations, especially in rural areas where the need for direct care is greater.
Cost Analysis of a Culturally Appropriate, Community-Delivered Intervention to Increase Physical Activity
Authors: Lightner Joseph S. , Collinson Samantha , Grimes Amanda
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Understand the cost of delivering existing community-based, no cost to participant, aerobic dance and yoga classes in an underserved, racial and ethnic minority community in the Midwest.

Design

Pilot 4-month observational, descriptive, cost analysis of community fitness classes.

Setting

Community-wide, group-based, fitness classes online, and in parks and community centers in traditionally Black neighborhoods in Kansas City.

Participants

Participants (N = 1428) were recruited from underserved, racial and ethnic minority areas of Kansas City, Missouri.

Intervention

Aerobic dance and yoga classes were provided free of charge to all residents of Kansas City, Missouri online and in-person. Each class was approximately 1 hour, with a warmup and cooldown. All classes were delivered by African American women.

Methods

Descriptive statistics of the costs for the program are presented. Cost per metabolic equivalents (MET) were calculated. Independent samples t-tests were conducted to examine differences between aerobic dance and yoga cost per MET.

Results

The total program costs were $10,759.88 USD, with 1428 participants attending 82 classes over the 4-month intervention. The cost per MET was $1.67, $1.11, and $0.74/MET-hour/session/attendee for low, moderate, and high-intensity aerobic dance, respectively, and $3.02/MET-hour/session/attendee for yoga. Aerobic dance had a significantly lower cost per MET than yoga ( t = 13.6, P < .001, t = 47.6, P < .001, t = 92.8, P < .001, for low, moderate, and high-intensity, respectively).

Conclusions

Delivering community-based, physical activity interventions in racial and ethnic minority communities is a potential way to increase physical activity. The costs of group-based fitness classes are similar to other physical activity interventions. Further research needs to be conducted on the costs to increase physical activity of traditionally underserved populations who suffer from higher rates of inactivity and comorbidities.
Adapted to Climate Change? Issue Portfolios of Environmental Nongovernmental Organizations in the Americas
Authors: Tosun Jale , Levario Saad Emiliano
Published: February 2023

To what extent do traditional environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) tackle climate change issues? What explains the variation among ENGOs regarding their attention to climate change issues? To answer these questions, we use an original dataset comprising 293 ENGOs that are affiliated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and based in North, Central, or South America. We find that generalist ENGOs have a higher likelihood of tackling climate change issues and even of indicating them as a priority area of their work. However, we also find that the issue areas of the specialist ENGOs and whether these align with climate action explain variation across ENGOs based in different countries. Compared with wildlife-focused ENGOs, especially those working on nature protection and sustainability are more likely to tackle climate change issues. Interview data confirmed that ENGO leaders make informed decisions on their organization’s goals.
A fast transient tracking differentiator for high-precision motion systems
Authors: Wang Huan , Su Yuxin
Published: February 2023

High-quality velocity signal plays an important role in fast and precise motion systems, but most commercially available motion systems are not commonly equipped with velocity sensors; hence, full access to the system states is impossible. A fast transient tracking differentiator is proposed in this article for obtaining the noise-less time derivative from a noisy measurement. The fast transient tracking differentiator is conceived within the framework of tracking differentiator methodology and is accomplished by integrating a power-like function with a smooth hyperbolic sine function. Tracking differentiator theory and Lyapunov direct method are employed to show the global asymptotic convergence. Advantages of the proposed fast transient tracking differentiator include the easy implementation with intuitive structure and high computational efficiency and faster transient and higher noise attenuation for both small and large initial estimation errors. The proposed fast transient tracking differentiator can be applied to a large class of motion systems by cascading to a robust output feedback proportional–derivative control for fast and high-precision positioning with position measurement only. Numerical simulation and real-time experimental comparisons demonstrate that the proposed approach provides an easygoing model-free output feedback solution for fast and accurate velocity reconstruction and high-performance positioning of uncertain motion systems with position measurement only.
The Development of Perpetration and Tolerance of Sexual Harassment
Authors: Brown Christia Spears , Biefeld Sharla
Published: February 2023

The sexual harassment of girls and women is a common occurrence that begins in early adolescence and continues into adulthood. Not only is experiencing sexual harassment common, but it is also widely accepted and tolerated. In the current article, we use the bioecological theory of sexual harassment of girls to explain why this may be. Specifically, we discuss that the perpetration and tolerance of sexual harassment is built on a foundation of gendered socialization, media consumption, peer interactions, and permissive school environments that encourages passivity and objectification in girls and aggressiveness and dominance in boys. We outline how this process begins in infancy and continues throughout development, ultimately fostering an environment in which the sexual harassment of girls and women flourishes. Important implications for preventing sexual harassment are also discussed.
Sanctuary Policies and the Influence of Local Demographics and Partisanship
Authors: O’Brien Benjamin Gonzalez , Collingwood Loren , Paarlberg Michael Ahn
Published: February 2023

Despite the increased scholarship on sanctuary localities in the United States, there is little research analyzing the factors that lead to the adoption of sanctuary resolutions at the municipal level. Drawing on a new dataset of sanctuary and nonsanctuary cities, we theorize that policy adoption is driven primarily by two factors and their interaction: the size of the foreign-born population and local partisanship. We examine cities that passed sanctuary policies between 2000 and 2018 and compare these localities to nonsanctuaries. Using a novel time series cross-section dataset (TSCS) of all cities and designated places and a Cox proportional hazard model, we find that Democratic-leaning cities with high foreign-born populations predict sanctuary passage, whereas Republican-leaning cities with larger foreign-born populations are unlikely to adopt these policies. We thus find that while partisanship motivates sanctuary policy adoption, at the same time, the size of the foreign-born population also increases the likelihood of passage.
Efficacy and Safety of PRC-063 for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis From Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhu Shixin , Wang Tianyi , Wang Jiahe , Yang Siyuan , Yu Zhengquan , Gao Heng , Chen Gang
Published: February 2023

Objective:

A new formulation of extended-release methylphenidate (PRC-063) was approved to treat ADHD. This meta-analysis was conducted to study the efficacy and safety of PRC-063 for ADHD.

Method:

We searched for published trials to October 2022 in several databases.

Results:

A total of 1,215 patients from 5 RCTs were included. We observed significant improvement for PRC-063 in ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS; MD = −6.73, 95% CI [−10.34, −3.12]) compared with placebo. The effect of PRC-063 on the sleep problems due to ADHD was not statistically different from placebo. Six subscales of Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) showed no statistical significance between PRC-063 and placebo. The result showed no significant difference comparing PRC-063 with placebo in serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) (RR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.03, 19.34]). In subgroup analysis according to age, PRC-063 was more efficacious in minors compare to adults.

Conclusion:

PRC-063 is an efficacious and safe treatment for ADHD, especially in children and adolescents.
Creating Cultures of Health in the Academy: Bringing Together Top-Down and Ground-Up Approaches
Authors: Cheney Ann Marie , Vázquez Evelyn , Chobdee Julie
Published: February 2023

This article reports on a 3-year longitudinal study focused on the impact of cross-sector, collective impact approaches to creating cultures of campus health. The study sought to understand the integration of health and well-being concepts into university operations, including business practices and policies, as well as the contribution of public health initiatives focused on health-promoting universities to creating cultures of campus health for students, staff, and faculty. Research was carried out from spring 2018 to spring 2020 via focus group data collection and rapid qualitative analysis involving template and matrix analysis. A total of 18 focus groups were conducted across the 3-year study, six with students, eight with staff, and four with faculty. The initial cohort included 70 participants: 26 students, 31 staff, and 13 faculty. Qualitative analysis findings indicate a general pattern of change over time from a primary focus on well-being characterized by programs and services (e.g., fitness classes) to policy and structural-level interventions (e.g., stairwell beautification and hydration stations) promoting well-being for all. Grass-top and grassroots leadership and action were instrumental to changes in working and learning environments, policies, and campus environment/infrastructure. This work contributes to the growing literature on health-promoting universities and colleges and demonstrates the critical role of both top-down and ground-up approaches and leadership efforts to create more equitable and sustainable cultures of campus health and well-being.
Octyl-butyl-cyanoacrylate glue for securement of peripheral intravenous catheters: A retrospective, observational study in the neonatal population
Authors: van Rens Matheus FPT , Spencer Timothy R , Hugill Kevin , Francia Airene LV , van Loon Fredericus HJ , Bayoumi Mohammad AA
Published: February 2023

Background:

Evidence-based insertion and maintenance strategies for neonatal vascular access devices (VAD) exist to reduce the causes of VAD failure and complications in neonates. Peripheral intravenous catheter failure and complications including, infiltration, extravasation, phlebitis, dislodgement with/without removal, and infection are majorly influenced by catheter securement methods.

Methods:

A retrospective, observational study using routinely collected data on intravenous device use in a large neonatal intensive care unit in Qatar. A 6-month historical cohort was compared with a 6-month cohort after the introduction of an octyl-butyl-cyanoacrylate glue (CG). In the historical cohort, the catheter was secured using a semi-permeable transparent membrane dressing while in the CG cohort, CG was applied at the insertion site on initial insertion and after any dressing change. This was the only variable intervention between both groups.

Results:

A total of 8330 peripheral catheters were inserted. All catheters were inserted and monitored by members of the NeoVAT team. 4457 (53.5%) were secured with just a semi-permeable transparent dressing and 3873 (46.5%) secured a semi-permeable transparent dressing with the addition of CG. The odds ratio for premature failure after securement with CG was 0.59 (0.54–0.65) when compared to the catheters secured with a semi-permeable transparent dressing, which was statistically significant ( p < 0.001). The correlation between the occurrence of a complication and the use of CG for device securement was significant ( p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The risk of developing device-related phlebitis and premature device removal, increased significantly if CG was not used for adjunct catheter securement. In parallel with the currently published literature, this study’s findings support the use of CG for vascular device securement. When device securement and stabilization concerns are most pertinent CG is a safe and effective adjunct to reducing therapy failures in the neonatal patient population.
Smartphone-based gamification intervention to increase physical activity participation among patients with coronary heart disease: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Xu Linqi , Tong Qian , Zhang Xin , Yu Tianzhuo , Lian Xiaoqian , Yu Tianyue , Falter Maarten , Scherrenberg Martijn , Kaihara Toshiki , Kizilkilic Sevda Ece , Kindermans Hanne , Dendale Paul , Li Feng
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Despite proven benefits, patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) typically fail to participate in sufficient physical activity (PA). Effective interventions should be implemented to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle and modify their present behavior. Gamification is the use of game design features (such as points, leaderboards, and progress bars) to improve motivation and engagement. It shows the potential for encouraging patients to engage in PA. However, empirical evidence on the efficacy of such interventions among patients with CHD is still emerging.

Purpose

The aim of the study is to explore whether a smartphone-based gamification intervention could increase PA participation and other physical and psychological outcomes in CHD patients.

Methods

Participants with CHD were randomly assigned to three groups (control group, individual group, and team group). The individual and team groups received gamified behavior intervention based on behavioral economics. The team group combined gamified intervention with social interaction. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks, and the follow-up was12 weeks. The primary outcomes included the change in daily steps and the proportion of patient days that step goals were achieved. The secondary outcomes included competence, autonomy, relatedness, and autonomous motivation.

Results

For the individual group, smartphone-based gamification intervention significantly increased PA among CHD patients over the 12-week period (step count difference 988; 95% CI 259−1717; p < 0.01) and had a good maintenance effect during the follow-up period (step count difference 819; 95% CI 24−1613; p < 0.01). There are also significant differences in competence, autonomous motivation, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference in 12 weeks between the control group and individual group. For the team group, gamification intervention with collaboration didn't result in significant increases in PA. But patients in this group had a significant increase in competence, relatedness, and autonomous motivation.

Conclusion

A smartphone-based gamification intervention was proven to be an effective way to increase motivation and PA engagement, with a substantial maintenance impact (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2100044879).
Decision-making in autism: A narrative review
Authors: van der Plas Elisa , Mason David , Happé Francesca
Published: February 2023

Autistic people often have an atypical profile of abilities: while excelling in some structured paradigms, many report difficulties with making real-life decisions. To test whether decision-making in autism is different from in typically developing controls, we reviewed 104 studies that compared decision-making performance between autistic and comparison participants ( N = 2712 autistic and N = 3189 comparison participants) between 1998 and 2022. Our searches revealed four main decision-making paradigms that are widely used in the field of decision neuroscience: perceptual discrimination, reward learning, metacognition and value-based decision-making paradigm. Our synthesis highlights that perceptual processing and reward learning were similar between autistic and comparison participants, whereas value-based decision-making and metacognitive accuracy were often different between groups. Furthermore, decision-making differences were most pronounced when the autistic participant was explicitly probed to report on an internal belief, while implicit markers of the same decision (e.g. error-related response times) were usually not different. Our findings provide evidence in favour of a metacognitive explanation of decision-making atypicalities in autism.

Lay summary

Many autistic people report difficulties with real-life decision-making. However, when doing decision-making tests in laboratory experiments, autistic people often perform as well or better than non-autistic people. We review previously published studies on autistic people’s decision-making, across different types of tests, to understand what type of decision-making is more challenging. To do this, we searched four databases of research papers. We found 104 studies that tested, in total, 2712 autistic and 3189 comparison participants on different decision-making tasks. We found that there were four categories of decision-making tests that were used in these experiments: perceptual (e.g. deciding which image has the most dots); reward learning (e.g. learning which deck of cards gives the best reward); metacognition (e.g. knowing how well you perform or what you want); and value-based (e.g. making a decision based on a choice between two outcomes that differ in value to you). Overall, these studies suggest that autistic and comparison participants tend to perform similarly well at perceptual and reward-learning decisions. However, autistic participants tended to decide differently from comparison participants on metacognition and value-based paradigms. This suggests that autistic people might differ from typically developing controls in how they evaluate their own performance and in how they make decisions based on weighing up the subjective value of two different options. We suggest these reflect more general differences in metacognition, thinking about thinking, in autism.
Intergroup benefits of metacognitive cultural self? Cultural self-awareness and multicultural involvement on attitudes towards migrants
Authors: Lu Chieh , Lee I-Ching , Wan Ching
Published: February 2023

The investigation of attitudes towards different groups is crucial for improving intergroup relations and increasing acceptance of diversity. The present research examined the potential of metacognitive understanding of cultural self in improving attitudes towards migrants, as individuals reflectively consider their cultural assumptions in evaluating migrants. We tested the effect of individuals’ awareness of culture’s influence on the self (i.e., cultural self-awareness) and how such an effect was moderated by how much individuals’ life experience involved foreign cultures (i.e., multicultural involvement). Study 1 measured American participants’ cultural self-awareness and attitudes towards immigrants. Studies 2 and 3 manipulated Taiwanese participants’ cultural self-awareness and measured their attitudes towards Southeast Asian migrant workers (Studies 2 and 3) and marriage immigrants (Study 3). Results showed that cultural self-awareness had a more positive effect on attitudes towards migrants for low (vs. high) multicultural involvement individuals. The positive role of metacognitive cultural self in intergroup relations and the boundary conditions for such positive effect are discussed.
Art and/as open education: A collaborative action with refugee artists
Authors: Apostolidou Anna
Published: February 2023

The article illustrates the potential of engaged arts-based pedagogies in higher education with respect to integration interventions for young refugees in Europe. It discusses the conception and implementation of the collaborative initiative “Find Refuge in Art”, which was part of the research Project PRESS at the Hellenic Open University. This example shows how artistic synergy may become an integral part of research design, framing both awareness raising and open education in the backdrop of intercultural exchange. The initiative encouraged the co-production of artistic work from pairs of artists with refugee and non-refugee background and culminated in an exhibition with over 75 participating artists. Challenging the victimizing conceptualizations of refugee art as a primarily trauma-centered representation of displacement, the article invites us to consider questions of agency and inclusion in terms of mutual recognition and to widen participation as a means of fostering transformative intercultural learning and epistemic justice in universities.
Blade crack detection based on domain adaptation and autoencoder of multidimensional vibro-acoustic feature fusion
Authors: Shen Junxian , Song Di , Ma Tianchi , Xu Feiyun
Published: February 2023

On the condition of variable speeds, the blade crack signal generated by the single-mode sensor is an inherent risk of being misled by noise. Besides, it is challenging to reach the required integrity of information through feature extraction in single analysis domain, leading to the loss of detection accuracy for blade cracks. Therefore, a blade crack detection method based on domain adaptation and autoencoder (AE) of multidimensional vibro-acoustic feature fusion is proposed to extract more complete fault information from multi-sensor and multi-analysis domains. This method extracts one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) features from the frequency domain and smoothed pseudo-wigner-ville distribution (SPWVD) spectrum of the vibro-acoustic signal. Firstly, the 1D and 2D features are extracted without supervision through Stacked Denoising Autoencoder (SDAE) and Convolution Denoising Autoencoder (CDAE), respectively. Then, the extracted multidimensional features are fused and classified through the fully connected network. Finally, for insufficient diagnosis accuracy and data imbalance under certain working condition models with variable speed and combined with inductive transfer mechanism and domain adaptation, the stable diagnosis model under specific speed is applied for transferring and learning the unsupervised networks of other models compensating the weak generalization ability and robustness of the model. The experimental results show that this method is characterized by higher accuracy and robustness compared with the diagnosis method of single-domain feature for the single-mode sensor. Moreover, the proposed migration mechanism can well solve the data imbalance under different working conditions and improve the generalization ability of the few-shot model.
A joint validation study on camera-aided illuminance measurement
Authors: Mahlab F , Yamaguchi H , Shimozima Y , Yoshizawa N , Cai H
Published: February 2023

This joint study conducted in the United States and Japan reviewed existing illuminance measurement methods that use a conventional digital single-lens reflex camera, including (a) per-pixel illuminance calculation using non-fisheye wide-angle lenses, (b) hemispherical projection-based illuminance calculation, (c) the KU method developed by the University of Kansas (KU) and (d) the L-CEPT method developed by the Japanese team for per-pixel illuminance calculation using 180° fisheye lens. Next, laboratory and field measurements were conducted in 32 test scenarios in Kansas and Japan to improve and validate the two similar methods (c) and (d) for per-pixel illuminance calculation and compare them to the simplified method (b) using orthographic projection-based illuminance calculation. Based on the test results, the camera-aided illuminance measurement method could have an error rate of 13.7% ± 15.3% (SD) in all 32 scenarios. Large errors (>25%) were observed in six extremely dynamic gymnasiums with rapidly changing morning sunlight. Alternatively, an average error rate of 7.7% ± 7.5% was observed in the 26 test scenarios without rapidly changing direct sunlight. The simplified orthographic projection-based method could achieve the same level of accuracy as the per-pixel KU/L-CEPT method. Yet, multiple issues on camera-aided illuminance measurement still need further investigation.
Europeans’ Attitudes Toward the Goals of Agricultural Policy: A Case of Rural–Urban Divide?
Authors: Tosun Jale , Schaub Simon , Marek Charlene
Published: February 2023

Is there a rural–urban divide in citizens’ views on European Union agricultural policy? We argue that the place of residence influences a person’s attitude toward agricultural policy issues. More precisely, we postulate that rural populations are less likely to view environmental and climate action, and sustainable food production as key objectives of agricultural policy; instead, we hypothesize they are more likely to indicate job growth in rural areas and ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers as key objectives. We analyze data from a Special Eurobarometer survey fielded in 2020 for 24,328 individuals living in 27 European Union member states. Multilevel mixed-effect logit models reveal the place of residence (urban–peri-urban–rural) as a significant predictor of the respondents’ attitudes for almost all dimensions of agricultural policy. The differences are most striking for environmental and climate-related aspects of agricultural policy, as well as for its goal of generating economic growth and jobs in rural areas. From this, we conclude there is a rural–urban divide concerning agricultural policy, which policymakers should be aware of and attempt to address.
What Surgical Technique to Perform for Isolated Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy After Distal Radius Malunion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Laane Charlotte L. E. , Oude Nijhuis Koen D. , Spil Jonne , Sierevelt Inger N. , Doornberg Job N. , Jaarsma Ruurd L. , Verhofstad Michael H. J. , Wijffels Mathieu M. E.
Published: February 2023

Background:

Unstable fractures of the distal radius fractures (DRFs) may result in malunion, usually consisting of subsequent shortening and angular deviations. Ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) is assumed to be a simpler procedure than radial correction osteotomy, resulting in fewer complications and comparable outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the best surgical technique to perform USO to restore distal radioulnar joint congruency after DRF malunion.

Methods:

A systematic review of the literature is performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines in February 2022 to identify studies reporting outcomes and surgical technique for isolated USO. The primary outcome was complication rates. Secondary outcomes included functional, radiologic, and patient-rated outcomes. The methodological index for nonrandomized studies criteria were used to assess the quality of evidence.

Results:

Included were 12 cohorts (185 participants). Due to substantial heterogeneity, a meta-analysis could not be performed. The overall complication rate was 33% (95% confidence interval, 16% to 51%). The most reported complication was implant irritation (22%), often requiring removal of the implant (13%). Only 3% nonunions were mentioned. Functional and patient-rated outcomes improved in most patients after USO. Quality of evidence of the papers was low to very low. Common methodological flaws were related to retrospective research.

Conclusion:

No evident differences in complication rates and functional outcomes between the surgical techniques were observed. Based on this literature, most complications are related to implant irritation. Nonunion and infection rates were rare. Therefore, a surgical technique with a buried implant might be preferred. This hypothesis requires further investigation.