bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are 4D Motion Sensors Valid and Reliable for Studying Baseball Pitching?
Authors: Loushin Stacy R. , Verhoeven Martijn , Christoffer Daniel J. , Camp Christopher L. , Kaufman Kenton R.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Baseball pitching injuries are on the rise. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) provide immediate feedback to players and coaches, allowing for collection outside of the traditional laboratory setting with real-world application. The 4D Motion system provides kinematics throughout the pitching motion and may be beneficial for individualized programs in the throwing athlete. A systematic analysis of these sensors has not been completed.

Purpose:

To evaluate the validity of the 4D Motion IMU system for analyzing the baseball pitching motion compared with marker-based motion capture, and evaluate the internal reliability and consistency of the device.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Ten high school pitchers participated in this study (10 male; 9 right-hand dominant; mean age, 16.6 ± 1.3 years; mean body mass index, 24.1 ± 3.9). Participants were simultaneously outfitted with six 4D Motion IMU sensors and retroreflective markers. The pitchers threw fastballs at maximum effort off a mound at the standard height and distance. A comparison was made between the IMUs and corresponding motion capture values for shoulder external rotation, elbow flexion, chest extension, pelvis and chest rotation velocity, and rotation acceleration.

Results:

Significant differences were found for 5 of 7 metrics analyzed. The IMU overreported most metrics, except for elbow flexion and pelvis rotation angular acceleration, where both positive and negative errors were observed. The root mean square error and percentage errors indicated smaller discrepancies for chest extension (4°± 5°) and pelvis (38 ± 19 deg/s) and chest (96 ± 42 deg/s) rotation velocity, with elbow flexion having the largest variance (21°± 9°).

Conclusion:

The values of the 4D Motion IMU system should not be considered equivalent when compared with marker-based motion capture studies. The system lacked internal consistency and reliability, with angular velocities being the most consistent. Caution should be used when using the metrics provided by an IMU-based system for individualized monitoring.

Clinical Relevance:

If found valid and reliable, IMUs could be used for longitudinal workload monitoring, individualized throwing and rehabilitation programs, and ultimately injury prevention. This study demonstrates that the data obtained from a 4D Motion system using Gen 3 sensors are not equivalent to the data obtained from a marker-based motion capture system.
Are herbal medications, with possible beneficial effects for benign prostatic hyperplasia, better to be continued during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Haghpanah Abdolreza , Hosseinpour Alireza , Kallidonis Panagiotis , Defidio Lorenzo , Liatsikos Evangelos , Dehghani Anahita , Kamran Hooman , Hosseinpour Hamidreza
Published: April 2023

Different strategies have been proposed to treat cytokine storm syndrome (CSS), the final deadly complication of COVID-19. One approach is to target CSS by blocking the interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway. A promising group of medications blocking the IL-6 pathway is α-blockers, such as prazosin. First, we hypothesized that Panax ginseng, commonly known as ginseng, can be an effective therapeutic agent in preventing CSS due to its blocking activity on alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (α1-AR). Furthermore, we suggested that herbs with 5α-reductase inhibitory effects, such as Saw palmetto, Nettle root, soya, black pepper, and green tea, can have debilitating impacts on pulmonary function since they can lead to impairment of the lung’s ability to regenerate. Thus, we encourage the prospective studies to explore the potential effect of herbal medications, with possible beneficial effects for benign prostatic hyperplasia, during the COVID-19 pandemic since they are commonly consumed.
Transition to Fatherhood Among Muslim Adolescents in Thailand: A Grounded Theory
Authors: Uengwongsapat Chayanan , Songwathana Praneed
Published: April 2023

To explore the process of becoming a first-time father in Thai-Muslim adolescents. The transition to fatherhood among Thai-Muslim adolescents is a critical life event. The process of the transition is often not clearly understood. In-depth interviews with 14 Thai-Muslim adolescent fathers. Data were analyzed using constant comparative method. “Breaking free of worry and embracing fatherhood with joy” is the central, integrating theme. Male adolescents experience the following three phase process to prepare themselves for fatherhood. In phase one, the adolescents are worried about the impact of becoming a father. Their response is a mixed feeling of fright, stress, fear about a burden on their parents, and indignation at being told they are too young to be fathers. In phase two, male adolescents accept the onset of pending fatherhood and try to confront it. The adolescent fathers apply three strategies through the first two phases: facing the reality, accepting the role of an adolescent father, and modifying their behavior. In phase three, the adolescents actively undertake the transition to shoulder the burdens, responsibilities, and joys of fatherhood. The findings provide additional knowledge and contribute significantly to health care professionals promoting continuity care for first-time adolescent fathers.
Nationwide Survey on Caregiver Burden When Supporting Terminal Cancer Patients with Dementia: Bereaved Family Members’ Perspective
Authors: Takao Ayumi , Arao Harue , Yamamoto Sena , Aoki Miwa , Kouda Katsuyasu , Morita Tatsuya , Kizawa Yoshiyuki , Tsuneto Satoru , Shima Yasuo , Masukawa Kento , Miyashita Mitsunori
Published: April 2023

Objective: The prevalence of dementia and cancer has increased in recent years. The presence of dementia complicates the care of terminal cancer patients and affects their family caregivers. However, palliative care research seldom focuses on the family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the degree and factors of caregiver burden in cancer patients with dementia who died in hospice palliative care units. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among bereaved family members of patients with cancer who died in palliative care units. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was sent to bereaved family members, and they were asked if they were aware of the diagnosis of dementia. The short version of the Caregiver Consequence Inventory was used to measure caregiver burden. Results: The analysis included 670 bereaved family members. Of these, 83 (12.4%) were bereaved family members of terminal cancer patients with dementia. The caregiver burden was statistically significantly higher (3.61 ± 1.58 vs 3.22 ± 1.47; p < 0.036) among family caregivers of terminal cancer patients with dementia. Longer anti-cancer treatment duration (odd ratio, 4.63), poor mental and physical health of family caregivers (odds ratio, 2.05 and 2.20, respectively), pain (odd ratio, 1.72), and dyspnea (odds ratio, 1.67) were contributing factors for caregiver burden. Conclusions: Family caregivers of terminal cancer patients with dementia require care that considers the characteristics of the two serious diseases. Considering the goal of anti-cancer treatment and symptom relief may be a useful strategy for reducing caregiver burden.
Comparing the Effects of Victimization, School Connectedness, and Social Support on Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Adolescent Suicidality in the United States: A Partial Test of Minority Stress Theory
Authors: Mandatori Flavia , Paez Gabriel R. , Briones Robinson Rhissa , Severson Rachel
Published: April 2023

In the United States, sexual minority adolescents are among the subpopulations at the highest risk for suicide; yet, predictors of suicidality among this unique group remain significantly understudied. Drawing from Meyer’s minority stress theory (MST), this study examines whether general stressors act as predictors of adolescent suicidality and whether differences exist in the variation of these effects between heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents. Specifically, multivariate logistic regression models were developed to examine the impact that victimization, school connectedness, and social support have on heterosexual and sexual minority adolescent suicidality using a sample of 166,176 U.S. adolescents drawn from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey. Participants ranged from 10 to 18 years of age and identified as heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian, questioning, pansexual, queer, or as none of these. Findings highlight that sexual minorities (Exp( B)  = 1.870, p < .001) were roughly twice as likely to report suicidality compared to their heterosexual peers. All victimization measures were highly predictive of suicidality among heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents. Overall, adolescents who were less connected to their school setting and more socially isolated were also more likely to experience suicidality; however, such effects were not reflected uniformly in every item measuring school connectedness and social support. Findings highlight important avenues for policies implementation aimed at mitigating the effects of multiple sources of stressors on adolescents’ mental health and reducing adolescents’ suicide rates. Interventions tailored to the unique needs of sexual minority adolescents are needed to address their disproportionate representation among those at risk for suicide.
When Feminism Redefines National Liberation: How Tal’at Movement brought Feminism to the Core of the Palestinian National Liberation Struggle
Authors: Stagni Federica
Published: April 2023

On 8 August 2019, Israa Ghrayeb, a 21-year-old Palestinian living in Beit Sahour, was brutally beaten by members of her family. Since that moment, protests have erupted throughout historical Palestine and beyond, also reaching Palestinian women of the diaspora. Not only did this eventful protest mark the resurgence of a wave of women’s protests in Palestine, but it also brought about the start of a new feminist and anticolonial movement: Tal’at. Using frame analysis to examine the movement’s declarations, Facebook posts, and the archival material available at the Basso Foundation Archive, together with firsthand data collected through interviews conducted during my fieldwork in Historical Palestine, I will try to answer the following questions: How does this new feminist protest-movement differ from the previous ones? What are the elements of continuity with previous Palestinian women’s movements? How did this movement manage to frame an aggregating message in such a fragmented territory?
Optimization of novel flat serial single-phase radiators for spacecraft thermal control
Authors: Chiranjeevi Phanidra B. , Ashok Venkateswaran , Srinivasan K. , Sundararajan T.
Published: April 2023

Space thermal radiators play a significant role in the thermal management of spacecraft. With the increase in heat dissipation requirement, the heat pipe radiators are being replaced by mechanically pumped fluid loop radiators. In recent years, authors proved that optimum serpentine serial radiators are advantageous over conventional optimum parallel radiators in terms of the mass and pressure drop. The spiral radiators, inspired by spiral plate heat exchangers, are proposed and analyzed as a replacement for the serpentine serial radiators. Performance analysis of radiators is carried out using conjugate heat transfer analysis. Conjugate heat transfer results are validated with the experimental results obtained from the literature. The performance analysis indicated that the circular spiral radiator performs better than the other two types due to their lower mass and pressure drop. Optimization of radiators is carried out using Taguchi Signal to Noise ratio analysis. Analysis of Variance is conducted to determine the percentage contribution of each variable to the performance of the radiator. When lower pressure drop requirement is prominent, the contribution of the diameter of the tube is 79.3%, whereas the contribution of fin thickness and pitch of the tubes are only 6.1% and 8.2%, respectively. The contribution of the fin thickness is 57.39%, the diameter of the tube is 37.71%, and the pitch of the tubes is 1.89% when the lower mass of the radiator is the prime requirement. The high-performance spiral radiators may find their application in the thermal management of human space flights and high-power GEO satellites.
Mechanical mapping of the prostate in vivo using Dynamic Instrumented Palpation; towards an in vivo strategy for cancer assessment
Authors: Reuben Robert L , Hammer Steven J , Johnson Olufemi , Good Daniel W , Palacio-Torralba Javier , Candito Antonio , Chen Yuhang , Phipps Simon , Shu Will , McNeill S Alan
Published: April 2023

A calibrated palpation sensor has been developed for making instrumented Digital Rectal Examinations (iDREs) with a view to assessing patients for prostate cancer. The instrument measures the dynamic stiffness of the palpable surface of the prostate, and has been trialled on 12 patients in vivo. The patients had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and were scheduled for radical prostatectomy. As far as possible, patients with asymmetric disease were chosen so as to give a variation in gland condition over the palpable surface. The device works by applying an oscillating pressure (force) to a flexible probe whose displacement into the tissue is also measured in order to yield a dynamic stiffness, the static stiffness being incidentally measured at the mean oscillatory force. The device was deployed mounted on the index finger of a urologist and measurements taken at 12–16 positions on each patient using light and firm pressure and palpation frequencies of 1 or 5 Hz. In parallel, conventional DRE assessments were made by a consultant urologist for cancer. After in vivo measurement, the glands were removed and examined histologically with each palpation point being classified as cancerous (C) or not (NC). The work has established the first measurements of static modulus of living prostate tissue to be: 26.8 (13.3) kPa for tissue affected by prostate cancer (C classification), and 24.8 kPa (11.9) for tissue unaffected by cancer (NC classification), values quoted as median (interquartile range). The dynamic properties were characterised by: dynamic modulus, 5.15 kPa (4.86) for the C classification and 4.61 kPa (3.08) for the NC classification and the time lag between force and displacement at 5 Hz palpation frequency, 0.0175 s (0.0078) for the C classification and 0.0186 s (0.0397) for the NC classification, values again quoted as median (interquartile range). With the limited set of features that could be generated, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) classification yielded a sensitivity of 97%, negative predictive value of 86%, positive predictive value of 67% and accuracy of 70% but with relatively poor specificity (30%). Besides extending the feature set, there are a number of changes in probe design, probing strategy and in mechanics analysis, which are expected to improve the diagnostic capabilities of the method.
Preschoolers and Adults Learn From Novel Metaphors
Authors: Zhu Rebecca , Gopnik Alison
Published: April 2023

Although adults use metaphors to guide their thinking and reasoning, less is known about whether metaphors might facilitate cognition earlier in development. Previous research shows that preschoolers understand metaphors, but less is known about whether preschoolers can learn from metaphors. The current preregistered experiment investigated whether adults ( n = 64) and 3- and 4-year-olds ( n = 128) can use metaphors to make new inferences. In a between-subjects design, participants heard information about novel artifacts, conveyed through either only positive metaphors (e.g., “Daxes are suns”) or positive and negative metaphors (e.g., “Daxes are suns. Daxes are not clouds.”). In both conditions, participants of all ages successfully formed metaphor-consistent inferences about abstract, functional features of the artifacts (e.g., that daxes light up rather than let out water). Moreover, participants frequently provided explanations appealing to the metaphors when justifying their responses. Consequently, metaphors may be a powerful learning mechanism from early childhood onward.
Hydroclimate reconstruction during the last 1000 years inferred from the mineralogical and geochemical composition of a sediment core from Lake-Azuei (Haiti)
Authors: Noncent David , Sifeddine Abdelfettah , Emmanuel Evens , Cormier Marie-Helene , Briceño-Zuluaga Francisco J , Mendez-Millan Mercedes , Turcq Bruno , Caquineau Sandrine , Valdés Jorge , Bernal Juan Pablo , King John W , Djouraev Irina , Cetin Fethiye , Sloan Heather
Published: April 2023

This study aims to reconstruct the hydro-climatic variations over the last 1000 years in Haiti using mineralogical and geochemical composition of well dated lacustrine sediment core retrieved from Lake Azuei. The results show changes in sedimentological processes linked to environmental and climatic variations. The general pattern suggests a wetter Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), drier Little Ice Age (LIA), high climate variability during the MCA-LIA transition and more anthropogenic impacts that dominate natural climate during the Current Warm Period (CWP). The MCA period (~1000–1100 CE) thus appears marked by increase sedimentation rate supported by higher terrigenous input linked to erosive events particularly increases in precipitation. During the LIA, particularly from ~1450 to 1600 CE, there is a great variation toward a decrease of terrigenous input, which is related to a decrease on sedimentation rate and increase Mg-calcite precipitation, suggesting less precipitation and high evaporation respectively during dry climate conditions. The MCA-LIA transition (~1200–1400 CE) is characterized by variations between terrigenous input, Mg-calcite formation and organic matter deposition, which indicate succession of dry and humid conditions. The CWP (1800–2000 CE) shows a progressive increase on sedimentation rate and decrease of gray level, which indicate more organic matter sedimentation as consequence of anthropogenic activities in the surrounding basin of the lake. High-resolution gray level analysis, which reflects principally variations in terrigenous input, carbonate mineral formation and organic matter deposition, shows that the AMO, NAO, PDO and ENSO are the principal modes affecting the hydro-climatic changes in Haiti during the last millennium. In addition, temporal correlation of other Caribbean paleoclimate records with our geochemical and mineralogical data, suggests that trends observed in Lake Azuei were controlled by regional climate, likely associated with shifts in the position of the ITCZ.
Revising a Self-Regulation Phenotype for Depression Through Individual Differences in Macroscale Brain Organization
Authors: Strauman Timothy J. , Hariri Ahmad R.
Published: April 2023

Self-regulation denotes the processes by which people initiate, maintain, and control their own thoughts, behaviors, or emotions to produce a desired outcome or avoid an undesired outcome. Self-regulation brings the influence of distal factors, such as biology, temperament, and socialization history, onto cognition, motivation, and behavior. Dysfunction in self-regulation represents a contributory causal factor for psychopathology. Accordingly, we previously proposed a risk phenotype model for depression drawing from regulatory focus theory and traditional studies using task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging. In this article, we revise and expand our risk phenotype model using insights from new methodologies allowing quantification of individual differences in task-free macroscale brain organization. We offer a set of hypotheses as examples of how examination of intrinsic macroscale brain organization can extend and enrich investigations of self-regulation and depression. In doing so, we hope to promote a useful heuristic for model development and for identifying transdiagnostic risk phenotypes in psychopathology.
Psychological Distress and Anxiety among Nursing Professionals with Fear of Infection of COVID-19 Omicron Variant: A Cross Sectional E-survey Study
Authors: Pandey Ujjwal Kumar , Sharma Abhishek
Published: April 2023

Background

Contagious diseases are recognized as the most serious risks to population health. Even with the breakthroughs in medicine, there are still substantial causes of mortality and illness. During the early aftermath of the virus outbreak, the mental health of healthcare workers was severely impacted. Stress and anxiety appeared in the early stages of the pandemic, while symptoms of sadness, psychophysiological, and post-traumatic stress appeared later and remained for a long period, resulting in substantial repercussions.

Aim

To observe the psychological distress and anxiety among nursing professionals with fear of infection from COVID-19 omicron variant.

Methods

In this online cross-sectional survey study a self-made questionnaire was distributed to 246 nurses across the country using a snowball sampling method. Among 246 participants 210 were males and 36 were females between 18 and 38 years of age.

Results

The results of the study support the notion that the nursing professionals face psychological distress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 omicron variant.

Conclusions

The study was conducted on nursing professionals who were working in the COVID-19 ward and suffering from more psychological distress and anxiety.
Parent–Worker Relationships in Home Visiting: Intersections of Parental Gender, Ethnicity, and Immigrant Status
Authors: Kim Jangmin , Kwan Jin Yao , Speer Stephanie Rachel , Park In Young , Bellamy Jennifer L. , Banman Aaron , Harty Justin S. , Guterman Neil B.
Published: April 2023

Despite home visiting’s established legacy, the potential influence of intersecting parental characteristics on parent–worker relationships is less understood. This study examines the main and interaction effects of parents’ demographic characteristics on positive relationships with workers in home visiting and compares whether and how these effects differ between fathers and mothers. This study analyzed 130 mothers and 180 fathers who participated in home visiting services. Immigrant status was a significant predictor of positive worker relationships for mothers and fathers, whereas ethnicity was only significant for fathers. Interaction analyses indicated that U.S.-born Hispanic/Latinx fathers faced greater challenges in building positive worker relationships than their foreign-born counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of developing gender-specific and culturally responsive strategies to enhance parent–worker relationships.
Experimental and numerical study of the forward and inverse models of an MR gel damper using a GA-optimized neural network
Authors: Gong Wei , Tan Ping , Xiong Shishu , Zhu Dezhen
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we present a series of experimental and numerical studies on the performance and modeling of a developed magnetorheological gel (MRG) damper. A bi-directional shear-type damper was designed and fabricated. The MRG damper, which utilizes the gel’s high viscosity, can effectively alleviate the settlement problem inherent in magnetorheological fluid damper applications. Then, dynamic performance experiments were carried out to obtain the damping force with sinusoidal and random displacement excitations. Based on the test results, the forward model of the damper was established using a backpropagation neural network. A genetic algorithm was employed to optimize both the network structure parameters and the initial weight and bias values. Different forward models generated using different training datasets were validated and compared with the RBFNN model and Bouc-Wen model using different test datasets. The validation results indicate that the neural network-based forward model greatly outperforms the RBFNN model and Bouc-Wen model in terms of the estimation performance. The influence of the inputs at previous time has also been investigated. Finally, to generate the command current for controlling the damper, inverse neural network models with optimized structure parameters were established using different training datasets. Validation results with different test datasets indicate that, although the predicted current generated by the inverse models has many high-frequency components, it can still act as an effective damper controller, with the resulting damping force calculated using the predicted current coinciding well with the desired behavior.
Kosovar Students’ Performance in the 2019 TIMSS Assessment: Why School and Home Resources Drive Achievement?
Authors: Shala Arif , Grajcevci Albulene
Published: April 2023

Results of the TIMSS 2019 reveal that Kosovar students have lower achievement levels in both mathematics and science. In understanding this gap in achievement, it is of value to take a closer look at factors that may influence student learning. Results of this analysis reveal that factors such as home and school resources influence achievement with students who report more home resources and attend high-resource schools outperforming other groups of students. Student perceptions of their learning also shaped achievement with students performing higher when they had higher levels of confidence and preference for the subjects.
Men Too? Victim Advocates’ Perceptions of the Inclusion of Survivors who Identify as Men in the #MeToo Movement
Authors: Maier Shana L.
Published: April 2023

The #MeToo movement promotes awareness of the prevalence of sexual victimization, but it has been criticized for overlooking some survivors. The purpose of this qualitative research is to explore 41 U.S. rape victim advocates’ perceptions of the #MeToo movement’s inclusion of or impact on survivors who identify as men. Results indicate that advocates perceive that men are not encouraged to disclose their experiences or become involved in the #MeToo movement. This reflects differences in general societal responses to rape survivors based on gender. Advocates’ perceptions inform the #MeToo movement’s future and possibly the anti-rape movement’s future. The movement’s efforts to recognize the prevalence of sexual victimization and create change through social media activism may fall short without recognition of the experiences of all survivors.
Virchow and Troy
Authors: Paksoy Nadir
Published: April 2023

The Trojan war occupies an important place in Greek mythology. Homer describes this in detail in his epic works of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” The ancient town of Troy is located south of the Dardanelles Strait in Turkey. Until the late nineteenth century, scientists thought that the Trojan War was a legend. German businessman and amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890) began excavations in Troy. The Turkish Empire (Ottoman Empire) granted excavation permission in 1871 on the condition that the artifacts discovered would be preserved and exhibited. Schliemann found “the treasure of the Trojan king Priam” in 1873. He smuggled the treasure to Athens. In 1874, the Ottoman government discovered this and went after the treasure. They sued Schliemann in Athens. According to archaeologists, the treasure dates back to 2600–2400 BC. The horde that Schliemann found could not have belonged to the Trojan King Priam. It was during this time that Schliemann met Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902). Virchow was interested in anthropology and prehistory. The Turkish state granted Schliemann new permission to conduct excavations. Virchow stayed in Troy for a month in 1879 as an excavation site physician. He provided health care services to the excavation workers and local people and made observations. Virchow came to Troy once again in March 1890 to attend the second Trojan conference organized by Schliemann. Virchow was also an influential politician in Berlin. He was a member of the Berlin City Council. Thanks to the relations established with Chancellor Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm, Virchow ensured that the Treasure of Priam would be permanently transferred to Berlin from London (it is currently at the Victoria and Albert Museum), where it was temporarily exhibited. Trojan treasures were exhibited in the Ethnological Museum (Völkerkundemuseum) and in the Martin-Gropius Bau (formerly Kunstgewerbemuseum –The Decorative Arts Museum) until 1945. After the Soviet Army entered Berlin following the Second World War, the treasure was lost. It was discovered in 1994 that the treasure was at the Pushkin Museum.
Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma with Sarcomatoid Differentiation: Clinicopathologic Correlation and Molecular Findings
Authors: Gama Alcino , Xu Haoliang , Yang Ximing J. , Choy Bonnie
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Sarcomatoid differentiation has been reported in approximately 8% of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is associated with a worse prognosis. We aim to describe the clinicopathologic and molecular findings of chromophobe RCC with sarcomatoid differentiation. Methods: Surgical pathology database was searched to identify chromophobe RCC with sarcomatoid differentiation from January 2015 to December 2021. Results: Five patients were diagnosed with chromophobe RCC with sarcomatoid differentiation. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 57 years (range 51-61 years). Three patients died after median follow-up of 12.1 months (range 1.6-18.2 months). The median tumor size was 10.7 cm (range 5.6-13.6 cm). The median percentage of sarcomatoid component was 60% (range 10-90%), and the median percentage of necrosis was 30% (range 10-50%). One tumor demonstrated osteoid formation. PAX8, keratin 7, KIT (CD117), and Hale colloidal iron were positive in the epithelial component, whereas the sarcomatoid component was positive for vimentin, CD10, and high Ki67 proliferative index. Molecular testing was performed in three specimens: all were TP53 mutated and microsatellite stable. One aggressive tumor had RB1 frameshift mutation and copy number gains for TERT and CUL4A. Conclusion: Chromophobe RCC with sarcomatoid differentiation is a rare entity with aggressive behavior. Percentage of sarcomatoid component, necrosis, and the occurrence of metastasis is associated with worse prognosis. Molecular profiling reveals frequent TP53 mutation. While TERT promoter mutation has no prognostic implication, FLCN inactivation may be associated with a less aggressive course. The clinical significance of RB1 loss is unclear.
Histopathologic Changes of the Esophagus in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Marshall Mason R. , Reyes-Múgica Miguel
Published: April 2023

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive systemic muscle wasting, leading to respiratory paralysis and early death. This X-linked disease is caused by DMD mutations, encoding dystrophin. 1 There is little information regarding gastrointestinal abnormalities in patients with DMD. However, since the esophageal wall includes smooth and skeletal muscle it is also vulnerable to suffering the effects of muscle wasting in patients with DMD. After finding dyskeratosis and parakeratosis restricted to the proximal and middle esophagus with distal sparing in an 18-year-old patient with DMD, we performed an archive search of a large academic hospital and identified four additional patients with DMD who had also undergone esophageal biopsy. The patients consisted of five boys, ranging from 7 to 19 years of age. Esophageal injury was present in two patients, consisting of mild esophagitis in one, and spongiosis with dyskeratosis and parakeratosis in another. These patients were both older and had been diagnosed with DMD for greater than 15 years, while the three patients with histologically normal biopsies were younger and been diagnosed with DMD for 7, 9, and 13 years, respectively. Although the data is limited and the changes are subtle, they can be explained by the underlying muscular dystrophy pathophysiology.
Assessment of physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds, biological activities, and nutritional value of the most two commercialized pollen types of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Morocco
Authors: Salhi Saad , Chentouf Mouad , Harrak Hasnaâ , Rahim Abdellatif , Çakir Cansel , Çam Dilaycan , Öztürk Mehmet , Hamidallah Naima , Cabaraux Jean-François , El Amiri Bouchra
Published: April 2023

The pollen of date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) is known for its nutritional value and implications as a health-promoting component. Due to its low cost, date palm pollen crushed with its spadix is more widely commercialized and used in Morocco than pure date palm pollen free of spadix. Thus, this study aimed to assess the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters, biological activities, and nutritional value of the two pollen types: Pure date palm pollen and date palm pollen crushed with its spadix. Various physicochemical parameters were determined, including humidity, water activity ( aw), total soluble solids, ash content, and color parameters ( L*, a*, b*, C*ab, and hab). Additionally, the phenolic compound profiles were analyzed, and the in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and antidiabetic activities were assessed for both pure date palm pollen and date palm pollen crushed with its spadix. Furthermore, the nutritional value was evaluated by determining protein and carbohydrate contents, and mineral and fatty acid profiles. The results have revealed that pure date palm pollen had higher humidity, aw, L*, and hab color parameters than date palm pollen crushed with its spadix, but lower total soluble solid and ash contents. The main phenolic compounds in pure date palm pollen were ellagic acid, rutin, fisetin, and quercetin, whereas date palm pollen crushed with its spadix contained mainly catechin, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. Moreover, pure date palm pollen showed greater in vitro antioxidant activity, while date palm pollen crushed with its spadix had higher enzyme inhibitory and antidiabetic activities. PDPS was the richest source of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and saturated fatty acids, while date palm pollen crushed with its spadix was a better source of unsaturated fatty acids, which are mainly represented by linoleic acid. In conclusion, although date palm pollen crushed with its spadix is the most widely consumed type, its nutritional value is lower than that of pure date palm pollen. Thus, pure date palm pollen could potentially serve as a better source of many bioactive compounds, making it a viable supplement for various health applications.
Access and Quality of Pediatric Home Healthcare: A Systematic Review
Authors: Foster Carolyn C. , Morales Luis , Fawcett Andrea J. , Coleman Cara L.
Published: April 2023

Despite the rising prevalence of children with medical complexity who need extensive medical care at home, the literature evaluating pediatric home healthcare has not been well summarized. Our objective was to systematically review the evidence-base of pediatric home healthcare to understand what is currently know about access and quality of home healthcare for children. Pubmed, Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global were searched for studies in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia English publications (1980-2020) regarding children (≤18 years) using shift-based home healthcare services. Blinded independent review was conducted followed by extraction of study characteristics including how each study examined access and/or quality, which was categorized using the National Academy of Medicine quality dimensions. Of 9533 abstracts, 101 were included. Most were US (82%) and regional (72%) studies. Half (54%) focused on home nursing followed by home services generally (43%). The majority (77%) evaluated access and patient-family centeredness (62%); their results identified consistent limitations in access and quality resulting in negative impacts on patients and families. Less than 20% of publications addressed safety, effectiveness or equity. Bias scoring found that quantitative studies were universally weak, but qualitative studies were mostly moderate or strong. Results are limited by design heterogeneity and exclusion of training research. While research in pediatric home healthcare has increased, studies remain observational and rarely evaluate quality in reproducible ways. More rigorous measures and interventional research are needed to improve this healthcare sector for children.
Futures in mobile communication research: Introduction to the special issue
Authors: Campbell Scott W , de Souza e Silva Adriana , Fortunati Leopoldina , Goggin Gerard
Published: April 2023

Mobile communication’s embedding throughout social life has generated new directions in research and theory to understand changes in how people engage with others, the physical environment, and media content. As an early home for mobile communication research, New Media & Society is well-positioned to host this special issue, including eight articles themed around Futures in Mobile Communication Research. Although diverse in research traditions, the articles come together to reflect a shared historical influence as well as coherent themes around theory, methods, and ethics to help guide these and other futures in mobile communication research.
mHealth and social mediation: Mobile support among stigmatized people living with HIV and substance use disorder
Authors: Yang Fan (“Ellie”) , Shah Dhavan V , Tahk Alexander , Vjorn Olivia , Dietz Sarah , Pe-Romashko Klaren , Bailey Erika , Gicquelais Rachel E , Hwang Juwon , Gustafson David H , Westergaard Ryan
Published: April 2023

The social mediation role of mobile technology is typified by mHealth apps designed to connect individuals to others and support substance use disorder (SUD) recovery. In this study, we examined the use and utility of one such app designed to support people living with HIV (PLWH) and SUD. Drawing on Ling’s emphasis on reciprocity and micro-coordination in mobile telephony as a social mediation technology, we gathered digital trace data from app logs to construct two metrics, initiation (i.e. whether a particular feature is engaged on a given day) and intensity (i.e. degree of involvement in the activity when engaged on that day), at three levels of communication—networked (one-to-many), dyadic (one-to-one), and intraindividual (self-to-self). We consider these system features alongside use of information resources, games and relaxation links, a meeting and events calendar, and support tools to address use urges. We found few differences in patterns of use by race, sex, and age, though African Americans were less likely to engage in intraindividual expression, whereas women and older users were more likely to make use of this feature. The initiation and intensity of network and dyadic reception, as well as the intensity of network expression, predicts recovery outcomes as measured on a weekly “check-in” survey, suggesting the utility of mobile log data for digital phenotyping in mHealth. By implementing this app during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study also found the disruption caused by national lockdown was negatively related to the app use.
Debating (in) echo chambers: How culture shapes communication in conspiracy theory networks on YouTube
Authors: Grusauskaite Kamile , Carbone Luca , Harambam Jaron , Aupers Stef
Published: April 2023

The ubiquity of social media platforms fuels heated discussions about algorithms and selection biases leading people into online “echo chambers.” Scholars argue that social media deepen societal polarization and fuel political extremism. However, studies often focus on media effects, disregarding individual agency and (sub)cultural values that shape communication. As a strategic case study, this article, based on a mixed-methods analysis, including a social network and qualitative analysis of 1199 comments under four conspiracy theory comment sections on YouTube, questions how insular these spaces are? And how people in these networks communicate? We find that the discussions in our strategically sampled comments sections lie between homogeneous closed debates and open debates. In other words, the networks in our sample vary in their “echo chamberness.” Based on our findings, we contend that variations in the echo chamberness of the various comment sections can be explained via the lens of conspiratorial (sub)cultures.
An initial investigation to explore the feasibility of fruit waste fillers for developing sustainable thermoplastic composites
Authors: Sharma Hitesh , Singh Inderdeep , Misra Joy Prakash
Published: April 2023

The current research work is aimed to study the potential of citrus limetta peel (fruit waste) as a novel filler in thermoplastic composites. Three different sizes of citrus limetta peel (CLP) fillers were processed and their thermal characteristics such as thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) were evaluated to investigate the degradation behaviour of each filler size under temperature. FTIR analysis of the CLP was also done to study the structure of inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding in cellulose. The morphological study was also performed on both the outer surface as well as the inner surface of CLP in order to examine the surface characteristics. Based on the thermal characteristics of CLP filler, CLP-filled thermoplastic (poly-lactic acid) composite samples (by 20% weight percentage) were successfully fabricated using the injection moulding technique and were evaluated for their thermal, mechanical, and microstructural behaviour. It has been established that CLP fillers are amenable to processing using closed-mould processes such as injection moulding with fabricated products finding possible application in non-structural products, preferably in the particle board industry. As per the feasibility analysis, CLP fillers have the potential to be commercially exploited for product development.
Effects of embedded questions in pre-class videos on learner perceptions, video engagement, and learning performance in flipped classrooms
Authors: Deng Ruiqi , Gao Yifan
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the impact of embedded questions in pre-class instructional videos on learner perceptions (cognitive load, emotional engagement, satisfaction, judgement of learning), video engagement (total views, total viewing time), and learning performance (retention, transfer). The research occurred in a real flipped classroom environment. We designed a quasi-experiment in which 86 university students from two natural classes watched pre-class instructional videos featuring procedural knowledge with or without interpolated true or false questions. Students were asked to practice the operation steps introduced in the videos. While they practiced operations, they could either pause the videos or let the videos continue playing. Face-to-face contact time was utilised to consolidate and extend previewed content with student-centred, instructor-facilitated problem-solving activities. Results revealed no discernible effects from embedded questions in pre-class videos on cognitive load, emotional engagement, satisfaction, judgement of learning, total views, knowledge retention or knowledge transfer. We speculate that the various in-class practice activities and frequent access to procedural knowledge videos offset the cognitive benefits derived from question-embedded videos. Learners who viewed question-embedded videos presented significantly reduced total viewing time, likely because the embedded questions scaffolded them in sustaining attention and efficiently pinpointing the exact information needed. Future research should identify boundary conditions for embedding questions in instructional videos (e.g. learning mode, type of knowledge) rather than indiscriminately applying this design strategy.
Immunological atmospheres: Ambient music and the design of self-experience
Authors: Burdon George
Published: April 2023

This paper examines the cultural popularity of ‘ambient music’ playlists on digital streaming platforms as a paradigm of the technical fabrication of atmospheres and the modulation of affect in some of the media environments of contemporary capitalism. Ambient music names a style of non-intrusive, gentle background music designed to assist the listener in relaxing or focussing on work. At the centre of the paper is the argument that ambient music demonstrates how the intimate tonalities of human behaviour are increasingly shaped through media technologies in ways that hold significant implications for how we feel and perceive our senses of being in the world today. Developing this argument, the paper advances two claims. First, drawing on the work of Peter Sloterdijk, that ambient music exemplifies the ‘immunological’ character of atmospheric envelopment. Second, that ambient music points towards the role of digital technologies capable of supporting new atmospheric envelopments as facilitating what Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari call ‘investments of desire’, new conjunctions between flows of information, behaviours, value and affects that are central to the processes of contemporary capitalism. Finally, the paper speculates on ambient music in its relation to the atmospheric conditions of life in contemporary capitalist societies.
A semi analytic method for the analysis of the symmetric hydroelastic response of a container ship under slamming and green water loads
Authors: Sengupta Debasmit , Show Tushar Kanti , Hirdaris Spyros , Datta Ranadev
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a semi analytic time domain method for the analysis of the symmetric hydroelastic response of a container ship subject to slamming and green water loads. An Impulse Response Function (IRF) is adopted for the calculation of radiation, diffraction and wave excitation forces. Local hydrodynamic forces associated with green water on decks and slamming loads are respectively modelled by the Buchner’s Dam Break Model and a Generalised Wagner Model. The structural responses are captured by Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and solved by the modal superposition method. The Duhamel Integral technique is used to evaluate the dynamic response. A parametric study demonstrates how external forces may affect the global wave induced vertical bending moments and shear forces. Numerical simulations are compared against a hybrid method that combines computational fluid dynamics, boundary element and finite element methods for low to medium frequency induced dynamic response. It is concluded that the proposed semi analytic methodology is fast and accurate and may be useful at concept ship design stage.
Predicting discomfort from glare with pedestrian-scale lighting: A comparison of candidate models using four independent datasets
Authors: Abboushi B , Fotios S , Miller NJ
Published: April 2023

After dark, pedestrians may experience discomfort from glare caused by outdoor lighting. While several models for measuring discomfort have been proposed, there is no consensus as to which model should be used. The performances of different models were investigated using datasets from four independent studies, comparing the degree of association between model predictions and subjective ratings, and the ability of a model to distinguish between discomfort and non-discomfort situations. The models tested are those proposed by Petherbridge and Hopkinson in 1950, Schmidt-Clausen and Bindels in 1974, Bullough et al. in 2008 and Lin et al. in 2014 and 2015. They also include two quantities: direct illuminance at the eye from the glare source and average source luminance. Of the models tested, the best performance was found using either the model proposed by Bullough et al. in 2008 or by direct illuminance at the eye.