bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Layup structures of CFRP grinding wheel matrix and an optimal design of combined multi-layup structures
Authors: Huang Ziru , Li Junli , An Qinglong
Published: October 2022

Due to the excellent designability of carbon fiber components, the grinding wheel matrix made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) would show quasi-isotropic, orthotropic, or more complex forms, through changing the layer angle, stack method, and other approaches to modify the layup structures. At present, the researches on CFRP grinding wheel matrixes mainly focused on the performance advantages compared with grinding wheels formed by traditional materials. The structural studies were relatively lacking. In this paper, the theoretical formulas were developed to analyze the stress state and strain relation of different layup structural matrixes, and the formulas were verified by finite element models. The choice of layup structures resulted in different stress distributions and deformation degrees, which was related to the ratio ([Formula: see text]) of tangential modulus to radial modulus of whole matrix. Two typical layup structures, quasi-isotropic laminated layup structure ([Formula: see text] = 1) and orthotropic winding layup structure ([Formula: see text] = 16), were proposed for detailed exploration. An ideal model of the composite matrix consisted of multi-layup structures was established, which was improved on the single laminated layup structure. The stress in the inner ring had been effectively reduced, the phenomenon of stress corrugated concentration was alleviated, and the deformation was decreased slightly.
The Understanding of Maternal Smoking among Women who were Smoking or had Quit Smoking during Pregnancy
Authors: Small Sandra , Brennan-Hunter Andrea , Yi Yanqing , Porr Caroline
Published: October 2022

Background

Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy is associated with adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, and child, including such serious effects as preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and neonatal and sudden infant death. Smoking cessation during pregnancy reduces health risks.

Purpose

In order to support pregnant women to quit smoking, it is essential to know determinants of quitting smoking in pregnancy. The purpose of this research was to examine women's understanding of maternal smoking, in terms of their beliefs, in relation to quitting smoking during pregnancy.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional survey with anonymous questionnaires. The sample consisted of 161 pregnant and postnatal women who were continuing or had continued to smoke during pregnancy or had quit smoking during pregnancy. Logistic regression was used to determine the impact of women's understanding of maternal smoking on quitting smoking in pregnancy.

Results

A large majority of the women had low to moderate understanding of maternal smoking. Those with higher levels of understanding were more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy than were those with a low level of understanding. Not having children prior to the current pregnancy or childbirth also increased the likelihood of quitting smoking during pregnancy while being without a partner combined with having a longer duration of smoking decreased the likelihood of quitting smoking during pregnancy.

Conclusion

As a modifiable factor, pregnant women's understanding of maternal smoking can be readily targeted with informational interventions in an effort to help them quit smoking.
Assessment of Admission COVID-19 Associated Hyperinflammation Syndrome Score in Critically-Ill COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Yildirim Mehmet , Halacli Burcin , Yuce Deniz , Gunegul Yunus , Ersoy Ebru Ortac , Topeli Arzu
Published: October 2022

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the relation between admission COVID-19 associated hyperinflammatory syndrome (cHIS) score and intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes.

Materials and Methods

Patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 admitted to our ICU between 20th March 2020-15th June 2021 were included. Patients who received immunomodulatory treatment except corticosteroids were excluded. Main outcomes were ICU mortality and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) requirement after ICU admission.

Results

Three hundred and seventy patients with a median (IQR) age of 66 (56-77) were analyzed. Median admission cHIS score was 3 (2-4). A cHIS score ≥3 was found to be associated with ICU mortality (sensitivity = 0.63, specificity = 0.50; p < 0.01) and IMV requirement after ICU admission (sensitivity = 0.61, specificity = 0.51; p < 0.01). Patients with an admission cHIS score ≥3 (n = 199) had worse median admission APACHEII, SOFA scores and PaO2/FiO2 ratio than others (n = 171) (p < 0.01). IMV requirement after ICU admission (38.5% vs 26.1%;p = 0.03), ICU (36.2% vs 25.1%;p = 0.02), hospital (39.1% vs 26.9%;p = 0.01) and 28th day (28.1% vs 19.1%;p = 0.04) mortality were higher in patients with admission cHIS score ≥3 than others (p < 0.01). Age <65 years, malignancy and higher admission SOFA score were independent variables associated with admission cHIS score ≥3.

Conclusion

Critically-ill COVID-19 patients with admission cHIS score ≥3 have worse disease severity and outcomes than other patients.
Lone Motherhood, Poverty and the Meaning of Money
Authors: Attrash-Najjar Afnan , Lavee Einat , Wilkis Ariel , Strier Roni
Published: October 2022

Lone-mother–headed families are key targets of poverty research and financial coaching training programs worldwide. Yet, despite the centrality of this population in poverty studies, there is little research on how this population construes the meaning of money in developed economies. This article focuses on the social construction of money among low-income lone mothers in Israel—a highly market-oriented, neoliberal economy. Based on a qualitative analysis, the study found five main representations of money: survival money, motherhood money, earned money, coping money, and resistance to dominant views of money. Our findings confirm the notion that money exists outside the sphere of the market and has contextualized meanings reflecting gender as well as cultural and social structures.
How Media Literacy, Trust of Experts and Flu Vaccine Behaviors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions
Authors: Austin Erica W. , Austin Bruce W. , Borah Porismita , Domgaard Shawn , McPherson Sterling M.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To assess how previous experiences and new information contributed to COVID-19 vaccine intentions.

Design

Online survey (N = 1264) with quality checks.

Setting

Cross-sectional U.S. survey fielded June 22-July 18, 2020.

Sample

U.S. residents 18+; quotas reflecting U.S. Census, limited to English speakers participating in internet panels.

Measures

Media literacy for news content and sources, COVID-19 knowledge; perceived usefulness of health experts; if received flu vaccine in past 12 months; vaccine willingness scale; demographics.

Analysis

Structural equation modelling.

Results

Perceived usefulness of health experts ( b = .422, P < .001) and media literacy ( b = .162, P < .003) predicted most variance in vaccine intentions (R-squared=31.5%). A significant interaction ( b = .163, P < .001) between knowledge ( b = −.132, P = .052) and getting flu shot ( b = .185, P < .001) predicted additional 3.5% of the variance in future vaccine intentions. An increase in knowledge of COVID-19 associated with a decrease in vaccine intention among those declining the flu shot.

Conclusion

The interaction result suggests COVID-19 knowledge had a positive association with vaccine intention for flu shot recipients but a counter-productive association for those declining it. Media literacy and trust in health experts provided strong counterbalancing influences. Survey-based findings are correlational; thus, predictions are based on theory. Future research should study these relationships with panel data or experimental designs.
Psychometric Assessment of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Malawian Mothers
Authors: Chipojola Roselyn , Dennis Cindy-Lee , Kuo Shu-Yu
Published: October 2022

Background:

Exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months postpartum has been related to breastfeeding self-efficacy in diverse populations. Globally, this is measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (BSES-SF).

Research Aim:

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the BSES-SF among women in Malawi; and to examine the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and demographic and health factors.

Methods:

The study design was a prospective, cross-sectional survey with a 2 week follow-up reliability check. Postpartum women ( N = 180) were recruited at a maternity hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. In addition to the BSES-SF, the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Scale (QoL) was also administered. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and Pearson's correlations were used to examine the construct validity, reliability, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity.

Results:

The confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure of the Malawian version of the 12-item BSES-SF. Cronbach's alpha and the intra-class correlation coefficient were 0.79 and 0.75, respectively. BSES-SF scores had significant correlation with QoL domains (physical QoL: r = 0.31, p < .001; and environmental QoL: r = 0.22, p < .01). Participants’ age, parity, and mode of delivery were positively correlated with breastfeeding self-efficacy scores.

Conclusion:

The findings of our study confirmed that the 12-item BSES-SF is a reliable and valid scale for assessing women’s breastfeeding self-efficacy in Malawi.
Outcomes and experiences of using oral voriconazole with or without concomitant topical agents to treat refractory vulvovaginal yeast infections
Authors: Morris Georgina Claire , Dean Gillian , Soni Suneeta , Sundaram Sangeetha , Fearnley Nicola , Wilson Janet Diane
Published: October 2022

Background

We describe 11 cases of refractory vulvovaginal yeast infections (RVVYI) treated using oral voriconazole with or without concomitant topical agents.

Methods

Retrospective case-note review of all women prescribed oral voriconazole to treat RVVYI in five Sexual Health Clinics from Jan 2010-March 2020. Demographic details, clinical features, diagnostic results and treatment outcomes were collected.

Results

11 women with vulvovaginal symptoms for a median of 1 year were treated with voriconazole. RVVYI was diagnosed clinically and confirmed on microscopy and culture with speciation. 10/11 isolates were fluconazole resistant, 1 intermediately sensitive, 10/11 were either fully or intermediately sensitive to voriconazole. All had received prior fluconazole and clotrimazole and 10/11 had used at least 2-weeks of one or more second-line antifungals with non-clearance of the yeast. Oral voriconazole 400 mg BD day-1, then 200 mg BD 13-days was prescribed and 10/11 women completed the course. Concomitant topical treatment was used by 6/11. Liver and renal function were monitored at 0, 7, 14 days. One woman stopped voriconazole after 5-days due to perioral tingling. Other transient side-effects were nausea ( n = 2), photosensitivity, muscle aches, hair thinning (all n = 1), peripheral visual disturbance ( n = 2). 8/11 experienced both symptom reduction and yeast clearance. Two women had an initial partial response but experienced resolution of symptoms following a second course of voriconazole.

Conclusions

Our observational data adds to the limited evidence to support voriconazole treatment for RVVYI. A 2-week course of voriconazole was tolerated and completed by 10/11 women. Eight women, five using concomitant topical agents, achieved mycological cure.
Monitoring the physical state of wood during multiple tensile load-unload cycles by the eigenvalue distribution of near infrared spectra
Authors: Fujimoto Takaaki
Published: October 2022

Wood is a typical viscoelastic material that shows a clear mechanical hysteresis loop during cyclic loading, which implies the irreversibility of the process and is important for the processing and long-term utility of wood. Changes in the physical state of wood were examined during multiple tensile load-unload cycles based on the eigenvalue distribution of the near-infrared spectra. The set of eigenvalues H = { λ1, λ2, …, λ n}, calculated from the spectral matrix successively acquired during the cycling test, was treated as the Hamiltonian, which represents the energy eigenstate of the wood. Using statistical physics and random matrix theory, the variation in the physical state of wood was discussed from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Unlike traditional methods, the energy state of wood can be followed in real time during cyclic loading; in other words, the Helmholtz free energy and Shannon entropy varied with load changes. The commutator, defined by the density and diagonal matrix of H, could be used to quantitatively evaluate the irreversible changes in wood during the cyclic processes. The proposed method is independent of a specific coordinate system, and can therefore be applied using a wide variety of chemical information other than that obtained from the near-infrared spectra.
FN v. Universiteit Antwerpen: The cold shoulder on the principles of effet utile and pro rata temporis
Authors: Aranguiz Ane
Published: October 2022

In May 2022, the CJEU delivered the judgment FN v. Universiteit Antwerpen, dealing with the interpretation of the Framework Agreements on fixed-term and part-time work in higher education. This contribution studies the Court's position on the four referred questions and provides a critical analysis of its reasoning. It finds, first and foremost, that a poor legal phrasing by the referring court and the lack of substance provided by the claimant weakened the position of the applicant and the possibility of receiving better protection from the directives. Nevertheless, the analysils also finds that the Court failed to see this case in light of important and well-established principles of EU law, particularly regarding the principle of pro rata temporis and effectiveness of EU law. It shows that this (lack of) interpretation by the Court undermines an already flawed protection of the directives and fails to shield a growing group of atypical workers from increasingly precarious labour patterns.
Racial Disparity in Social Work Licensure Exam Pass Rates
Authors: Nienow Mary , Sogabe Emi , Husain Altaf
Published: October 2022

Purpose: This article provides a brief overview of social work regulation and the context surrounding calls for greater transparency of demographic data related to social work licensing exam pass rates and the subsequent release of said data by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Methods: An exploratory review of the existing literature regarding social work regulation and bias in professional licensing examinations was conducted. Results: Conflicting perspectives on the necessity and impact of social work regulation have long existed. In recent years, the conversation has shifted to include concerns about potential bias within the regulatory system, specifically the licensing exams. These concerns led to widespread debates about the future of social work regulation and the need for greater transparency around exam outcomes. Conclusions: A comprehensive examination of existing regulatory frameworks emphasizing deficiencies of the social work licensure exam and the disparity of pass rates is paramount.
Preferences for an HIV Self-Testing Program Among Women who Engage in sex Work and use Drugs in Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Authors: Cordingley Olivia , McCrimmon Tara , West Brooke S. , Darisheva Meruyert , Primbetova Sholpan , Terlikbaeva Assel , Gilbert Louisa , El-Bassel Nabila , Frye Victoria
Published: October 2022

Purpose: Women engaged in sex work (WESW) who use drugs face barriers to HIV testing. HIV self-testing (HST) may empower sex workers to learn their HIV status; however, it is not scaled up among WESW in Kazakhstan. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to traditional HIV testing and HST among this population. Method: We conducted 30 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and four focus groups (FGs) with Kazakhstani WESW who use drugs. Pragmatic analysis was used to explore key themes from qualitative data. Results: Participants welcomed HST due to its potential to overcome logistical challenges by accessing HIV testing, as well as the stigma that WESW faces in traditional HIV testing. Participants desired emotional and social support for HST, and for linkage to HIV care and other services. Discussion: HST among women who exchange sex and use drugs can be successfully implemented to mitigate stigma and barriers to HIV testing.
Using habituation as a simple and fundamental learning mechanism in an embodied artificial agent
Authors: Gillard Tristan , Fix Jérémy , Dutech Alain
Published: October 2022

Habituation, a non-associative learning widely observed across phylogeny, is fundamental for adaptation and, thus, survival of living organisms. This paper investigates the main characteristics of habituation in order to present three new computational models inspired by habituation. We develop these models as part of the Iterant Deformable Sensorimotor Medium (IDSM), a recently developed abstract model of behavior formation. The characteristics of these models are studied and analyzed. Our long-term objective is to research new unsupervised learning mechanisms for artificial learning agents.
Compliance to a Standardized Protocol for Stock Albuterol Medication among School Staff
Authors: Lowe Ashley A. , Gerald Joe K. , Clemens Conrad , Gerald Lynn B.
Published: October 2022

A stock inhaler program provided access to rescue medication (albuterol sulfate) for school children. School staff were provided with a standardized protocol for medication administration. We hypothesized licensed nurses were more likely to report compliant events compared to unlicensed school staff. Stock inhaler events were defined as either compliant or non-compliant. A school protocol compliance score was calculated using the total number of compliant events divided by the total number of all events. The protocol for administration indicated 4 puffs for mild respiratory distress and 8 puffs for severe respiratory distress; therefore, events were defined as compliant if the dose of medication was divisible by 4. A Cragg Poisson hurdle regression was used to examine the association between compliance score and school staff experience. One-hundred fifty-two schools reported 999 stock inhaler events. Of these events, 28% were compliant and 72% of events were non-compliant. After controlling for school organizational type, grades served, and school size, school staff experience was not predictive of protocol compliance. Future efforts should focus on improving protocol compliance among licensed nurses and unlicensed school staff.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder and ADHD Symptoms as Predictors of Parenting Stress in Mothers of Sons With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Cochrane Karis , Ronaghan Dana , Cadieux Olivia , Ward Michelle A. , Henrikson Brenna , Theule Jennifer
Published: October 2022

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience very heightened levels of parenting stress. Symptoms of ASD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) vary in children diagnosed with ASD. The current study examined ASD, ADHD, and ODD symptoms in an ASD sample through a hierarchical linear regression to determine which symptoms accounted for the greatest proportion of unshared variance in parenting stress. A total of 84 mothers of sons with ASD participated in an online survey. Findings showed that symptoms associated with ODD accounted for the largest proportion of unshared variance in parenting stress. Symptoms associated with ADHD and ASD did not account for any additional variance in parenting stress above and beyond that explained by ODD symptoms. Interventions for children with ASD should focus on reducing externalizing behaviors to reduce parenting stress.
Diversity entropy-based Bayesian deep learning method for uncertainty quantification of remaining useful life prediction in rolling bearings
Authors: Bai Rui , Li Yongbo , Noman Khandaker , Wang Shun
Published: October 2022

Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction of rolling bearings plays a critical role in reducing unplanned downtime and improving machine productivity. The existing prediction methods primarily provide point estimates of RUL without quantifying uncertainty. However, uncertainty quantification of RUL is crucial to conduct reliable risk analysis and make maintenance decision, which can significantly decrease the maintenance costs. To solve the uncertainty quantification problem and improve prediction accuracy at the same time, a novel diversity entropy-based Bayesian deep learning (DE-BDL) method is proposed. First, start degradation time (SDT) of bearings is adaptively determined using diversity entropy, which can extract early degradation information. Then, multi-scale diversity entropy (MDE) is developed to extract dynamic characteristics over multiple scales. Third, the obtained features using MDE are fed into the BDL model for degradation tracking and prediction. By doing this, the proposed DE-BDL method has merits in subsequent decision making, which can not only provide point estimation but also offer uncertainty quantification with epistemic uncertainty and aleatoric uncertainty. The superiority of the proposed method is validated using run-to-failure data. The experimental results and comparison with state-of-art prediction methods have demonstrated that the proposed DE-BDL method is promising for RUL of rolling bearings.
Rolling stability analysis of high-static-low-dynamic stiffness floating raft vibration isolation systems
Authors: Li Bu-yun , Shuai Chang-geng , Ma Jian-guo
Published: October 2022

Floating raft vibration isolation (FRVI) systems employing isolators with high-static-low-dynamic stiffness (HSLDS) characteristics offer excellent large-scale and multidirectional vibration attenuation performance ideally suited to stealth applications in ocean faring vessels. However, the rolling motions of vessels in heavy seas can produce large displacements and induce instability in HSLDS-FRVI systems, and our present state of understanding of these systems is insufficient to facilitate the design of more stable systems. The present work addresses this issue by establishing an accurate analytical model of a double-layer FRVI system with 12 degrees of freedom to facilitate detailed rolling stability analyses when adopting HSLDS isolators. This model is also adapted to obtain a simplified single-layer HSLDS-FRVI system model and a corresponding single-layer equivalent linear system (ELS) model for investigating the factors contributing to FRVI system stability. The results demonstrate that the single-layer HSLDS-FRVI system obtains increasingly superior rolling stability compared to that of the corresponding ELS as the system loading increases. Also, good rolling stability can be maintained by applying proper mounting locations for the isolators. Additional factors contributing to FRVI system stability are deduced by comparing the results obtained for double-layer HSLDS-HSLDS, HSLDS-ELS, ELS-HSLDS, and ELS-ELS systems. The results demonstrate that the use of isolators with HSLDS characteristics is most beneficial for improving the rolling stability of double-layer FRVI systems when applied between the ground and bottom layers, and maximum rolling stability is obtained when the mass of the lower level is close to that of the upper level.
Producing and Contesting Meanings of Participation in Planning: The Case of Singapore (1985–2020)
Authors: Lim Jan H. M. , Paidakaki Angeliki , Verschure Han , Van den Broeck Pieter
Published: October 2022

This paper examines how the concept of participation in planning has been constructed by state and nonstate actors in the politico-institutional context of Singapore. Our objective is to gain a deeper understanding of the political dynamics shaping ideas about participation, and the impact of these contested constructions on the perpetuation of the ruling party's political control. Drawing on strategic-relational institutionalist planning and cultural political economy theories, we analyze 312 documents including government and civil society periodicals, parliamentary debates, and academic publications, focusing on the planning and participatory practices of Singapore's national planning agency from the mid-1980s to 2020. The findings reveal that state-led coalitions continuously reframed participation as an instrument of economic growth, nation-building, and activism-management, while nonstate-led coalitions emerged to transform state-civil society relations through promoting and materializing alternative meanings of participation. These dynamics demonstrate the potentialities and limitations of democratizing urban planning and governance in Singapore's hybrid regime.
OCT-A in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy treated with oral eplerenone and half-fluence photodynamic therapy: A comparative study
Authors: Clemente Lidia , Cennamo Gilda , Montorio Daniela , Fossataro Federica , Passaro Maria Laura , Costagliola Ciro
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To evaluate retinal and choriocapillary vessel density (VD) changes in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) treated with half-fluence verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) or eplerenone, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

Patients affected by CSC and treated with vPDT and eplerenone were retrospectively studied. At baseline and 3 months after each treatment, all patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including an evaluation of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCTA.

Results

Forty-eight eyes of patients with CSC were analysed. Twenty-four eyes were placed in the vPDT group, and 24 eyes formed the eplerenone group. In both groups, OCTA showed a significant improvement in the VD of deep capillary plexus (DCP) and choriocapillaris (CC) after treatments with respect to baseline (p < 0.001), whereas the VD of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) did not show significant differences (p > 0.05). The PDT group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the VD of DCP and CC with respect to the eplerenone group (DCP p = 0.012; CC p = 0.004). A statistically significant reduction with respect to baseline in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) (p = 0.001 for vPDT group; p = 0.001 for eplerenone group) and in central foveal thickness (CFT) (p = 0.001 for vPDT group; p = 0.001 for eplerenone group) was also found. The SFCT was significantly thinnest in the PDT group with respect to the eplerenone group (p = 0.021).

Conclusion

OCTA allowed us to study retinal and choriocapillary vascular changes in patients with CSC treated with vPDT and eplerenone.
Efficacy and safety after posterior chamber Implantable Collamer Lens implantation according to preoperative anterior chamber depth: Short-term comparative study
Authors: Silva Rui , Franqueira Nuno , Faria-Correia Fernando , Mendes José , Oliveira Mariana , Monteiro Tiago
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To compare visual, refractive, and safety outcomes of posterior chamber Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) implantation for the correction of myopia according to the preoperative anterior chamber depth (ACD).

Methods

Retrospective, comparative study, patients submitted to implantation of myopic posterior-chamber phakic Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), model V4C/V5, minimum follow-up of 12 months; two groups were created: Group 1 (ACD 2.80 to 2.99 mm) and Group 2 (ACD equal to or greater than 3.00 mm). The parameters evaluated were uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, subjective refraction, efficacy and safety index, predictability, endothelial cell density, central vault, anterior chamber angle and postoperative complications. A total of 558 eyes from 298 patients were evaluated: 111 eyes (19.9%) in group 1 and 447 eyes (80.1%) in group 2.

Results

At 12 months, the efficacy index was similar in both groups ( p = 0.264); the safety index was higher in group 1 ( p = 0.031); the mean central Vault was significantly lower in group 1 (212.8 vs 410.6 μm; p < 0.001). Respectively, 93 (83.8%) and 366 (84.1%) eyes were within ±0.50 D of targeted refraction. Anterior chamber angle significantly decreased during follow-up in both groups ( p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Intraocular pressure did not change significantly ( p = 0.310 and p = 0.446, respectively). There were no significant differences in endothelial cell density loss ( p = 0.278) or in the rate of complications observed ( p = 0.733).

Conclusions

ICL implantation is an effective and safe procedure in eyes with shallow anterior chambers, with visual and refractive results and complication rates identical to those obtained in deeper anterior chambers.
Increased hip flexion angle and protrusion of the anterior acetabular component can predict symptomatic iliopsoas impingement after total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective study
Authors: Tamaki Yasuaki , Goto Tomohiro , Wada Keizo , Omichi Yasuyuki , Hamada Daisuke , Sairyo Koichi
Published: October 2022

Background:

Iliopsoas impingement (IPI) is a known complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors and the cut-off cup protrusion length for symptomatic IPI.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 218 hips (46 men, 172 women) of 190 consecutive Japanese patients who underwent primary THA at our institution. Hips with IPI ( n = 24) and control hips ( n = 194) were compared according to age, body mass index, and clinical scores. We evaluated leg-length discrepancy, global offset, implant alignment angles, pelvic inclination, and anterior cup protrusion on plain radiographs and computed tomography scans.

Results:

Symptomatic IPI had an incidence of 11.0% and a predilection for hips with osteonecrosis. Pre- and postoperative hip flexion angles were significantly greater in hips with symptomatic IPI ( p = 0.013 and p = 0.006, respectively). Cup protrusion length was significantly greater in hips with IPI (4.7 mm vs. 1.4 mm; p = 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis identified a threshold cup protrusion length of 3.9 mm (sensitivity 0.89, specificity 0.63) for symptomatic IPI. The incidence of symptomatic IPI tended to be lower in patients with greater posterior pelvic sagittal inclination despite the cup protrusion length being greater.

Conclusions:

An increased hip flexion angle and protrusion of the anterior acetabular component predicted symptomatic IPI. The threshold cup protrusion length suggesting mild IPI might be about 3.9 mm and could be useful for identifying candidates for conservative treatment.
Comparison of periprosthetic joint infection rates in the direct anterior approach and non-anterior approaches to primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dockery Dominique M , Allu Sai , Glasser Jillian , Antoci Valentin , Born Christopher T , Garcia Dioscaris R
Published: October 2022

Background:

Periprosthetic joint infection is a serious complication and devastating mode of failure of total hip arthroplasty. Various surgical approaches exist for total hip arthroplasty, including the increasingly popularised direct anterior approach. There is no clear consensus on which approach is least associated with periprosthetic joint infection. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the rate of periprosthetic joint infection between surgical approaches to primary total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.

Methods:

A search of 3 electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library) was conducted for relevant studies up to June 2020 with a defined list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Randomised controlled trials and longitudinal studies reporting periprosthetic joint infection rates after primary total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis were included based on surgical approach. Data extraction was completed, and a meta-analysis was then performed using OpenMeta[Analyst] software.

Results:

A total of 24,407 hips were included for meta-analysis with an overall PJI incidence of 0.57%. The incidence rate for periprosthetic joint infection was 0.77% in the direct anterior approach group and 0.44% in the non-anterior approach group. The use of an anterior approach for a total hip arthroplasty was associated with an increased risk for periprosthetic joint infection (odds ratio = 1.404; 95% confidence interval, 0.711–2.771; p = 0.03).

Conclusions:

The direct anterior approach to total hip arthroplasty may be associated with a significantly increased risk for periprosthetic joint infection compared to non-anterior approaches, even though the overall rate was still small. This should be considered by orthopedic surgeons when choosing the surgical approach.
Utilization of the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST): A Risk Stratification Strategy for Early Referral of Psoriatic Arthritis Patients to Minimize Irreversible Erosive Joint Damage
Authors: Chang Jasmine , Litvinov Ivan V. , Ly Christina , Netchiporouk Elena , Tsoukas Alexander , Thuraisingam Thusanth , Starr Michael , Powell Mathieu , Christodoulou George , Shamout Yassein
Published: October 2022

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can affect a diverse range of anatomical sites and its heterogeneous presentation contributes to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment with conventional and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Up to 15% of psoriasis (PsO) patients affected by PsA remain undiagnosed. Early detection and referral to a rheumatologist are crucial to optimize care and minimize irreversible erosive joint damage. To improve the rheumatology referral process, the authors propose a risk stratification tool to identify and triage patients with possible psoriatic arthritis. With the aim of ultimately assisting in early treatment initiation, this risk stratification algorithm can be used in both dermatology and primary care clinics. It is based on the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) combined with the ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR). This article intends to provide a rationale for further prospective studies whose objective would be to validate this screening algorithm.
Treatment With Dupilumab in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Koskeridis Fotios , Evangelou Evangelos , Ntzani Evangelia E. , Kostikas Konstantinos , Tsabouri Sophia
Published: October 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a type 2 chronic skin disorder associated with systemic and psychosocial comorbidities decreasing the quality of life for many patients. Dupilumab, a human monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukins IL-4 and IL-13, is a recently added systematic treatment option with an emerging evidence base. Here, we assessed the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in patients with AD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of dupilumab on AD-related outcomes including clinical symptoms, quality of life and adverse events (AE). Subgroup analysis was further performed in adults and children/adolescents. Fourteen trials were included: twelve in adults (n = 3,817) and two in children/adolescents (n = 618). Dupilumab decreased the Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) score [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.98; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = (−1.09, −0.88)], the percent change difference in Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) [mean difference (MD) = −31.56, 95% CI = (−33.75, −29.36)], and in pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (pNRS) [MD = −29.24, 95% CI = (−32.11, −26.37)]. It also achieved a reduction of at least ≥75% in the EASI score [Risk Ratio (RR) = 2.89, 95% CI = (2.47, 3.38)], the Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score ≤1 [RR = 3.47, 95% CI = (2.96, 4.06)] and eight additional endpoints with no signs of increased AE compared to placebo. In subgroup analysis, the results were concordant for both groups. Dupilumab improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in adults and children/adolescents with a safety profile comparable to placebo.
Scott Morrison’s political discourse during crisis: A narrative-semiotic analysis
Authors: Akhib Mohammed , Marsen Sky
Published: October 2022

This study explores communication strategies and techniques in the political discourse of the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, during crisis. Twelve public speeches and statements made during media conferences, from April 2019 to May 2020, are analysed as sample data. These consist of three contexts, starting from the election campaign, followed by the bushfires that ravaged the nation and the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The study identifies the prominent themes and most frequently occurring features in the data set. The election campaign communications and COVID-19 crisis communications are observed to have similar use of discourse features and emphasis of themes. Comparatively, the bushfire crisis communications showed low levels of technique usage and a low significance of themes. The speeches are grouped into four political discourse clusters for further analysis using actantial modelling. The models provide a visual representation of various actants to draw comparative insights. The study highlights that communication needs to be viewed as a discursive activity that can have variations to the contexts, and the need to attribute sufficient significance for public issues using discourse features is critical.
The Parent Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ-Parent). Adaptation and validity testing with parents of children with epilepsy
Authors: Wahl Astrid K. , Hermansen Åsmund , Tschamper Merete B. , Osborne Richard H. , Helseth Sølvi , Jacobsen Rita , Larsen Marie H.
Published: October 2022

Aims:

The aim of this study was to adapt the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) in English and Norwegian for use with parents.

Methods:

The research group evaluated all HLQ items and, where relevant, modified them to refocus the attribution of care to that of a child by a parent. Five cognitive interviews with parents were undertaken to gain a detailed depiction of the meanings and processes they used to respond to the HLQ items. Assessment of the psychometric properties of the revised HLQ was undertaken using data from a cross-sectional survey of 254 parents of children with epilepsy. Analysis included internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Results:

Some 22 out of 44 items and the names of three domains were modified (e.g. attribution changed from ‘me’ to ‘my child’). Cognitive interviews indicated that parents interpreted the HLQ-Parent items in the way intended. All but three factor loadings were high to acceptable. All nine HLQ scales showed satisfactory to good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.70 to 0.87). When fitting one-factor CFA models, correlated residuals were required for four scales to generate an acceptable fit. One scale, ‘8. Ability to find good health information’, required inclusion of two correlated residuals to generate an acceptable CFA model fit, indicating that further work on this scale is warranted.

Conclusions:

The results from both the adaptation process and the CFA analysis supported the relevance, understanding and theoretical structure of the instrument in a parental context.
Re-politicising the future of work: Automation anxieties, universal basic income, and the end of techno-optimism
Authors: Kelly Lauren
Published: October 2022

‘Rise of the Robots’, the ‘Second Machine Age’ and ‘This Time it's Different’ are some of the sweeping headlines that frame contemporary popular narratives of the future of work. It is often claimed that technological change is an accelerating force causing significant disruption to employment, necessitating a universal basic income (UBI) as human labour becomes increasingly redundant. This article interrogates these assumptions and considers how the techno-optimism that fuelled contemporary visions of workplace automation has declined in recent years. Empirical studies of automated workplaces, in particular the warehouse, have challenged simplistic binaries of job destruction or creation. I consider how automation and UBI are not value-neutral tools, but sites of socio-political contest that can challenge or consolidate workplace imperatives of control. In the context of ever-widening power asymmetries between workers and employers, this terrain is particularly fraught.
Dark tourism and Rwandan media industries: Promoting nation and the mythology of memory
Authors: Young Andrew Phillip
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to delve into the range of ways that acceptable public discourse and reconciliatory language impact Rwandan memorial space and its various stakeholders. The goal is to interrogate the dissonance between the more commonly researched practices of Rwanda genocide tourism industry (the curated and controlled narratives formulated within the national memorial and its satellite sites) and that of the banal, every day, and even disavowed sites (such as unmarked burial and crematorium sites) of genocide that carry an immense amount of meaning within local communities. By looking at national genocide sites, as well as their “forgotten echoes” strewn across the Rwandan countryside, it is clear that multipurpose (and multi-meaning) use of public/private space in Rwanda problematizes simplistic unificatory narratives used by the government and international community.
Does Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury Increase the Probability of Delayed Intra-abdominal Hemorrhage in Patients With Concomitant Blunt Abdominal Trauma?
Authors: Hsu Ting-An , Huang Jen-Fu , Kuo Ling-Wei , Cheng Chi-Tung , Kuo Yu-Chi , Liao Chien-Hung , Hsieh Chi-Hsun , Fu Chih-Yuan
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

Most blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs) may be treated using thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), and most blunt abdominal traumas (BATs) are managed conservatively. We hypothesized that severe trauma that needs TEVAR may increase the risk of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage in patients with concomitant BTAI and BAT because of the potential hemorrhagic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, blood loss, consequent need for blood transfusion, and procedure-associated heparinization.

Materials and Methods:

From 2015 to 2019, blunt trauma patients with concomitant severe chest trauma and abdominal trauma who could be managed conservatively were studied. The probability of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage was compared between patients with concomitant BTAI who received or did not undergo TEVAR. Propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and multivariate logistic regression (MLR) were used to eliminate discrepancies between these 2 groups.

Results:

Among the 341 studied patients, there were 26 patients with BTAI, and 19 of them underwent TEVAR. Delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage was observed in 4 patients (21.1%, 4/19) who underwent TEVAR. Both PSM and IPTW showed that patients who underwent TEVAR for concomitant BTAI had a greater delayed need for blood transfusions and a larger proportion of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage than patients who did not undergo the procedure. The MLR analysis showed that TEVAR for BTAI was an independent risk factor for delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage (odds ratio: 10.534, 95%, p<0.001).

Conclusion:

An increased probability of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage in patients with BAT (who could be managed conservatively) was observed in patients who underwent TEVAR for concomitant BTAI.

Clinical Impact

More attention should be give in patients with high grade aortic injuries and concomitant abdominal trauma.
Prognostic Factors for Bone Survival and Functional Outcomes in Patients With Breast Cancer Spine Metastases
Authors: Qiao Rui-qi , Zhang Hao-Ran , Ma Rong-Xing , Li Rui-feng , Hu Yong-cheng
Published: October 2022

According to the Global Cancer Statistics 2020 report, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Patients with mammary cancer live longer due to the continuous optimization of chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and hormone therapy, which will inevitably lead to an increase in the prevalence of metastatic bone tumors. Bone metastasis affects approximately 8% of patients with mammary cancer, with the spine being the most common site. Metastatic neoplasms can invade the centrum and its attachments, leading to local pain, spinal instability, vertebral pathological fractures, spinal cord compression, impaired neurological function, and paralysis, ultimately reducing the quality of life. Multidisciplinary and personalized management using analgesic drugs, endocrine therapy, corticosteroid therapy, chemotherapy, bisphosphonates, immunotherapy, targeted drugs, radiotherapy, and surgery has been advocated for the treatment of spinal metastases. Multiple paradigms and systems have been proposed to determine suitable treatments. In the early stages, the occurrence of metastasis indicates a terminal stage of the tumor process in patients with malignant tumors, implying that their lifespan is limited. As a result, the choice of treatment is heavily influenced by longevity. However, with the development of treatment methods, the lifespan of patients with tumors has considerably increased in recent years. This leads to the choice of patient’s treatment, which depends not only on the patient’s survival, but also on the radiotherapy or postoperative functional outcomes. Nevertheless, they fall short of determining the variables that affect survival and functional outcomes in histology-specific subgroups of breast cancer. To accurately predict the bone survival and functional outcomes of patients with breast cancer spine metastases a review of prognostic factors was performed.
Phase Delay of the 40 Hz Auditory Steady-State Response Localizes to Left Auditory Cortex in Schizophrenia
Authors: Roach Brian J. , Hirano Yoji , Ford Judith M. , Spencer Kevin M. , Mathalon Daniel H.
Published: October 2022

Background. The auditory steady state response (ASSR) is generated in bilateral auditory cortex and is the most used electroencephalographic (EEG) or magnetoencephalographic measure of gamma band abnormalities in schizophrenia. While the finding of reduced 40-Hz ASSR power and phase consistency in schizophrenia have been replicated many times, the 40-Hz ASSR phase locking angle (PLA), which assesses oscillation latency or phase delay, has rarely been examined. Furthermore, whether 40-Hz ASSR phase delay in schizophrenia is lateralized or common to left and right auditory cortical generators is unknown. Methods. Previously analyzed EEG data recorded from 24 schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy controls presented with 20-, 30-, and 40-Hz click trains to elicit ASSRs were re-analyzed to assess PLA in source space. Dipole moments in the right and left hemisphere were used to assess both frequency and hemisphere specificity of ASSR phase delay in schizophrenia. Results. Schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly reduced (ie, phase delayed) 40-Hz PLA in the left, but not the right, hemisphere, but their 20- and 30-Hz PLA values were normal. This left-lateralized 40-Hz phase delay was unrelated to symptoms or to previously reported left-lateralized PLF reductions in the schizophrenia patients. Conclusions. Consistent with sensor-based studies, the 40-Hz ASSR source-localized to left, but not right, auditory cortex was phase delayed in schizophrenia. Consistent with prior studies showing left temporal lobe volume deficits in schizophrenia, our findings suggest sluggish entrainment to 40-Hz auditory stimulation specific to left auditory cortex that are distinct from well-established deficits in gamma ASSR power and phase synchrony.