bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental evaluation of the primary fixation stability of uncemented ceramic hip resurfacing implants
Authors: Vogel Danny , Henke Paul , Haenel Annika , Mokros Jan , Liebelt Martin , Bader Rainer
Published: February 2022

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty is associated with increased frictional moments compared to standard heads owing to their large diameter. High frictional moments may harbor the risk of the implant loosening if the frictional moments exceed the fixation stability of the hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Therefore, the aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the fixation stability of ceramic hip resurfacing implants through a turn-off test. The test specimens, made of alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ) ceramics with an inner titanium-coated surface and square base bodies for better application to the test setup, were pushed on artificial bone materials until a predefined seating depth was achieved. Thereafter, the specimens were turned off from the artificial bone material by using a lever-arm and the turn-off moments were calculated. The density of the artificial bone material utilized (15 and 25 pcf), the press-fit (0.4 and 0.8 mm) and the size of the test specimens varied. The push-on forces ranged from 0.6 ± 0.1 kN to 5.6 ± 0.5 kN depending on the press-fit and artificial bone material. The turn-off moments relied on the respective press-fit, artificial bone material and size of the specimen. They belonged between the range of 8.5 ± 0.4 Nm and 105.4 ± 0.2 Nm. Most of the previously described frictional moments are lower compared to the turn-off moments determined in this study. However, in the worst-case scenario, the turn-off moments of the hip resurfacing implants may be reduced, especially when the adjacent bone stock has a low mineral density.
Influence of inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy on mechanical properties of human pericardium
Authors: Schott Artjom , Schröder Jochen , Kolthoum Ramzi , Otto Thomas , Werdan Karl , Sedding Daniel , Nuding Sebastian
Published: February 2022

Different devices for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) have been developed for the treatment of refractory cardiogenic shock. However, all of them are associated with direct blood contact, the need for anticoagulation and bleeding complications. To overcome these limitations the pericardial sac got into the focus as a promising implantation site for MCS. For this purpose, further knowledge about the mechanical properties of human pericardium is required. In this prospective, monocentric, experimental pilot study 56 samples of human pericardium were extracted postmortem from 13 critically ill patients. After preparation of test specimens uniaxial tensile tests were performed. The primary end points were load at fracture per sample width and strain at fracture. Acute inflammation was assessed by blood levels of C-reactive protein, white blood count and procalcitonin measured at several times during hospital stay. Inflammatory load was estimated by area under the inflammatory curves. Correlation and regression analysis were used to assess the relationship of primary end points to inflammation, comorbidities and postmortem time to preparation. Human pericardium showed a load at fracture per sample width of 1.95 [1.38–2.94] N/mm (median [inter quartile range]) and a strain at fracture of 89.29 [73.84–135.23] %. Markers of acute inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy did not correlate to load or strain at fracture. However, strain at fracture increased with higher body mass index and an increasing number of postmortem days. In contrast, higher patient age was associated with a lower strain at fracture. Inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy did not influence mechanical properties of human pericardium.
La domesticité, phénomène socioculturel, représentée dans les œuvres Zoune chez sa ninnaine de Justin Lhérisson et Rêves amers de Maryse Condé
Authors: Spadijer Sonja
Published: February 2022

That childhood should be everywhere at home whatever the circumstances, has been implored by poets. Their powerful voices call on the international community to mobilize to protect the rights of the child. However, there are unfair practices; child domestic work is one of them. These children are called ‘domestic children’, ‘service children’ and les ‘restavèk’. Denounced by humanitarian institutions, child domestic work unfortunately still exists today. This issue has been taken up by writers, thus becoming one of the key themes of literature in French and Creole languages. Our aim is to recall the major role that this literature has played, for more than a century, in raising the awareness of a very large readership on the harmful effects of this practice on children and adolescents. This study will focus on two authors and their works talking about this phenomenon in the context of Haiti, Justin Lhérisson (late 19th and early 20th centuries) with his lodyans Zoune chez sa ninnaine (1906) and Maryse Condé (20th and 21st centuries) with her novel Rêves amers (1987), both closely tied to Haitian culture. While using different literary frameworks, either Creolity in Maryse Condé or Social Realism in Justin Lhérisson, they chose in their fictions to tell about the condition of a child placed in domestic service. Dealing with this phenomenon is also talking about the quest for identity in Haitian literature, which at the beginning a literature of imitation. The expression of J. Lhérisson proves that this literature has become autonomous and that it represents its culture and its society. Because of the originality and the impact exerted, his work deserves to be remembered as part of the universal cultural heritage. M. Condé pleads for freedom of expression, literary cosmopolitanism, universal values, refusing any classification within the borders of a single country or a single language. Thus, the Haitian social realism represented in the expression of these two authors of the Caribbean space brings Creole literature closer to word literature.
Evidence for the Little Ice Age in upland northwestern Europe: Multiproxy climate data from three blanket mires in northern England
Authors: Webb Julia C , McCarroll Julia , Chambers Frank M , Thom Tim
Published: February 2022

The Little Ice Age (LIA) is a well-recognised palaeoclimatic phenomenon, although its causes, duration and severity have been matters of debate and dispute. Data from a wide range of archives have been used to infer climate variability before, during and after the LIA. Some published proxy-climate data from peatlands imply that two particularly severe episodes within the LIA may be contemporaneous between hemispheres; these echo a previous climatic downturn ca. 2800 cal BP of similar severity but lesser duration. Here, we present palaeoclimate data from the mid- to late-Holocene, reconstructed from three blanket peats in Yorkshire: Mossdale Moor, Oxenhope Moor and West Arkengarthdale. Multiproxy techniques used for palaeoclimatic reconstruction were plant macrofossil, pollen and humification analyses. Dating was provided by a radiocarbon-based chronology, aided by spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) for all sites, and 210Pb dates for one. The LIA presents as a distinct climatic event within each palaeoenvironmental record at the three sites. These indications are compared with terrestrial datasets from northwest Europe and elsewhere. A broad degree of synchronicity is evident, signifying that the LIA is one of the most pronounced downturns in global climate in the last ca. 6000 years, and arguably the most routinely recorded within the Holocene.
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced flexible blend nanocomposites membranes for pervaporation separation of aromatic-aliphatic mixtures
Authors: Thomas Saliney , Thomas Shaji , Kadam Sujit A , Jose Thomasukutty , Abraham Jiji , George Soney C. , Thomas Sabu
Published: February 2022

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) reinforced NR-NBR blend nanocomposite membranes were prepared and potentially employed for the pervaporation separation of aliphatic – aromatic mixtures. For a 50 wt% benzene feed, the blend nanocomposite membranes had a total flux of 1.265 kgm−2h−1 and separation factor of 1.59 at room temperature. The blend membranes exhibited aromatic selectivity for the separation of aromatic – aliphatic mixtures. 2 phr MWCNT/blend nanocomposite membranes exhibited similar trend for the separation of 10 wt% feed toluene mixture. Trasmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the blend nanocomposites revealed the well dispersion and distribution of MWCNT in the polymer matrix. The well dispersed MWCNT/blend membranes selectively separate aromatic components from aliphatic – aromatic mixtures.
Evaluation of structural integrity of needle punched banana fiber reinforced industrial safety helmets
Authors: Kenned Jack J , Kumar C. Suresh , Sankaranarayanasamy K.
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this work is to fabricate and analyse a light weight, recyclable, and non-toxic natural fiber reinforced industrial safety helmet. The fibers were extracted from agro-waste pseudostem of nendran variety banana plant. A facile needle punching technique was employed on banana fibers to produce a needle punched non-woven banana fiber fabric of enhanced mechanical properties without any chemical treatment. Subsequently, the needle punched banana fibers were impregnated with general purpose helmet grade polyester resin in an ISI (Indian standards Institute) endorsed mold to fabricate a needle punched banana fiber helmet (NPBFH). Similarly, 30 mm random banana fiber helmet (RBFH) and glass fiber reinforced helmets (RGFH) were fabricated. The fabricated helmets of 10–50 wt. % fiber content were tested as per ISI standards. The results show that the better properties were achieved at 40 wt. % of fiber content for all varieties of helmets. Significantly, the results revealed that the shock absorption, penetration resistance, and water absorption of NPBFH are 245 kgf, 4.75 mm, and 0.61%, respectively, which is much better than RBFH and comparable with RGFH. This study concluded that the NPBFH (40 wt. %) can be a potential replacement of synthetic fiber reinforced helmets for industrial applications.
Designing and Delivering Effective Online Instruction, How to Engage the Adult Learner
Authors: Bloomberg Linda Dale
Published: February 2022

Access to different forms of education has become more prevalent in recent years. Online learning design requires innovative pedagogical practices. Dr. Bloomberg provides strategies for online course design, student engagement, andpedagogical methodology.
A Pilot Observational Exploratory Study of Well-Being in Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Members
Authors: Schneider Catherine , Bristol Alycia , Ford Ariel , Lin Shih-Yin , Brody Abraham A. , Stimpfel Amy Witkoski
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

Well-being and turnover intent represent key aspects to the promotion of a healthy workforce. Alarming levels of burnout and low levels of well-being have been documented in health professionals across care settings. Not only do high levels of burnout, low well-being and high turnover affect health professionals, but they are associated with poor patient care. However, limited research has investigated this topic specifically in hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) members, nurses, chaplains, social workers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore hospice IDT members’ well-being, and turnover intent.

Methods:

This observational, pilot study used quantitative surveys to examine the well-being, and turnover intention at baseline and at 3 months. Twenty-five hospice IDT members at one site participated.

Results:

Paired t-tests and percent change demonstrated significant decreases in compassion satisfaction (44.5 vs. 42.1, p = 0.04) and secondary traumatic stress score (18.5 vs. 13.3, p = 0.0001) and a significant increase in burnout score (17.6 vs. 20.5, p = 0.03) from baseline to follow up. Employee turnover slightly decreased from baseline to follow-up.

Conclusions:

In this pilot study, hospice IDT members had low levels of well-being at baseline that worsened over 3-months indicating a higher potential risk for burnout. Moreover, given the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be an ominous sign of what lies ahead for hospice providers regarding turnover, leading to significant long-term staffing problems in the field. If these results hold true in a larger sample, it could necessitate developing and testing further strategies to ensure a healthy and stable workforce.
Pediatric Non-Myofibroblastic Primitive Spindle Cell Tumors with ALK Gene Rearrangements and Response to Crizotinib
Authors: Rakheja Dinesh , Park Jason Y. , Fernandes Neil J. , Watt Tanya C. , Laetsch Theodore W. , Collins Rebecca R. J.
Published: February 2022

We describe two poorly differentiated, non-myofibroblastic (SMA−, S100+, CD34±), spindle cell neoplasms with immunohistochemical positivity for ALK and with ALK gene rearrangements leading to PLEKHH2::ALK and CLTC::ALK fusions, respectively. ALK protein overexpression and/or gene fusions should be evaluated in poorly differentiated spindle cell neoplasms, even when there is an absence of a myofibroblastic phenotype. A positive ALK evaluation has therapeutic implications as both tumors responded to single-agent treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib.
Influencers in the Somatosensory System: Extrinsic Control of Sensory Neuron Phenotypes
Authors: de Nooij Joriene C.
Published: February 2022

Somatosensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) comprise several main subclasses: high threshold nociceptors/thermoceptors, high- and low-threshold mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors. Recent years have seen an explosion in the identification of molecules that underlie the functional diversity of these sensory modalities. They also have begun to reveal the developmental mechanisms that channel the emergence of this subtype diversity, solidifying the importance of peripheral instructive signals. Somatic sensory neurons collectively serve numerous essential physiological and protective roles, and as such, an increased understanding of the processes that underlie the specialization of these sensory subtypes is not only biologically interesting but also clinically relevant.
Pembrolizumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Impact of autoimmune comorbidity and outcomes following treatment completion
Authors: Ansel Sonam , Rulach Robert , Trotter Nicola , Steele Nicola
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Pembrolizumab, an immune-checkpoint inhibitor, is approved for first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC in patients with tumours expressing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) with tumour proportion score (TPS) of ≥50%. We aimed to clarify some uncertainties regarding use of immunotherapy in patients with previous autoimmune (AI) disorders and assess real-world outcomes following treatment completion.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case record review of 82 patients with tumours expressing PD-L1 at TPS ≥ 50% and receiving first-line Pembrolizumab. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method.

Results

After 36.93 months (IQR: 34.37–40.20) median follow-up, median OS was 13.6 months (95% CI 8.9–19.3). There were 10 patients (12%) with AI co-morbidities and there was a trend toward improved median OS for this group versus those without AI comorbidity, 42 months (14.87-NR) versus 10.7 months (7.3–17.8), p = 0.073. Sixteen patients (20%) with nonprogressive disease at 2 years had significantly better median OS compared to those who did not complete 2 years of treatment, NR (42- NR) and 8.7 (5.8–14.1), p < 0.001. Immune related adverse events (irAE) of any grade occurred in 90% of the AI cohort compared with 70.8% of patients without AI comorbidity. Low grade adrenal insufficiency was the only irAE which occurred at a significantly higher rate in the AI group, p = 0.02.

Conclusion

Patients with previous AI diseases tolerate treatment well, and there is a non-significant trend for improved outcomes in this group. Patients who complete the course of pembrolizumab have significantly better survival outcomes than those who do not.
Evaluation of the Simpson’s Method to Determine Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Using the Transgastric Two-Chamber View
Authors: Gray Logan , Chen Fei , Teeter Emily G. , Kolarczyk Lavinia M. , Smeltz Alan M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Left ventricular chamber size and functional assessment by transesophageal echocardiography can be difficult if visualization is poor in the mid-esophageal views. However, the accuracy of using the Simpson’s method in the transgastric 2-chamber (TG2C) as an alternative approach has not been assessed.

Methods

The Simpson’s method was performed by 2 independent reviewers using midesophageal 2-chamber (ME2C) and TG2C views. Echocardiographic images were retrieved retrospectively for 49 adult cardiac surgical patients.

Results

Two-way random effects intraclass correlation coefficients demonstrated no significant interobserver variability. Linear mixed effects models showed no significant differences in ME2C and TG2C measurements with regard to EDV (P=.4407), ESV (P=.5113), or EF (P=.0610). Compared to the ME2C view, the TG2C view had better image quality of the LV walls (image quality score median [interquartile range]: 2.00 [.00] vs 1.00 [1.00]; P<.0001), but worse image quality of the mitral annulus (1.00 [1.00] vs 2.00 [.00]; P<.0001) and LV apex (.00 [1.00] vs 2.00 [1.00]; P<.0001).

Conclusions

This study suggests the Simpson’s method can be applied to the TG2C view as an alternative to the standard midesophageal method to estimate chamber volumes and EF.
Intra-ocular hydatid cyst in a child: A rare presentation
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Surve Abhidnya , Biswal Debasish , Verma Nishant , Kashyap Seema , Venkatesh Pradeep , Mirdha Bijay Ranjan
Published: February 2022

Intra-ocular cystic lesion in a young child can be parasitic lesion, old retinal detachment with cysts or simply a vitreous cyst. Intra-ocular localization of hydatid cysts is extremely rare accounting for less than one percent of all cases. This case describes a young child with left eye pain, redness and progressive diminution of vision with progressively enlarging intra- ocular cyst. Diagnosed as intra-ocular hydatid cyst, the radiological, intraoperative and microbiological features of same are described. Also, the management required in such a case is discussed.
Delamination and dissection of arteriovenous grafts: A multicenter report of four cases
Authors: Zhang Xi , Hu Bo , Xu Yong , Lai Qiquan , Chen Ling , Gao Xuejing , Tu Bo , Chen Bo , Zhou Yu , Wan Ziming
Published: February 2022

Arteriovenous (AV) grafts are an alternative vascular access for chronic hemodialysis. AV graft failure is often due to stenosis of the feeding artery, graft, or draining vein. We report four cases of AV graft dysfunction and failure rarely caused by graft delamination and dissection. Two males and two females aged 47–67 years had been on chronic hemodialysis. Ultrasound examination detected graft delamination and dissection between 1 and 33 months after Acuseal AV graft implantation. Two cases were successfully treated with stenting and partial graft replacement, respectively. False lumen volume reduction by fluid withdrawal failed to salvage the delaminated graft in one of the patients. The delamination and dissection of another case spontaneously resolved 5 months later. Graft delamination and dissection should be considered as a possible cause for AV graft dysfunction and failure. Stenting and graft replacement may be recommended to treat AV graft dissection and delamination.
Outcome after early thrombotic occlusion of arteriovenous fistulas
Authors: Mo Hyejin , Ahn Sanghyun , Han Ahram , Min Sangil , Min Seung-Kee , Jung In Mok
Published: February 2022

Objective:

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are considered the first choice for venous access in end-stage renal disease patients, however, they are also known to have a high primary failure rate (early thrombosis and maturation failure). Of these, the outcome of thrombosed immature AVFs is not well known. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of AVFs with early thrombosis.

Methods:

Patients who underwent AVF creation from January 2009 to December 2019 at Seoul National University Hospital or Seoul Metropolitan Government – Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received salvage operations due to early thrombosis within 30 days after access creation were analyzed.

Results:

During the study period, a total of 45 patients (radiocephalic 26; brachiocephalic 19) developed early thrombosis and underwent salvage operations. The median age of patients was 61.0 (54.5–69.5) years, and 51.1% were male. The first salvage operation was performed on the median 1.0 (0.0–4.5) day after AVF creation. The most common cause for early thrombosis was venous stenosis (64.4%) and followed by poor arterial inflow (28.9%), especially in radiocephalic AVFs. About 20 AVFs were salvaged to maturation (46.5%). Post-salvage primary patency and secondary patency at 1 year was 72.6% and 100%. In a multivariate logistic regression, significant risk factors for maturation failures were minimum venous outflow diameter ⩽2.5 mm (OR, 4.433; 95% CI, 1.039–18.921; p = 0.044) and lower in patients with hypertension (OR, 0.064; 95% CI, 0.006–0.637; p = 0.019).

Conclusions:

Thrombosed immature AVFs are associated with a high failure rate after salvage operation. However, if the salvage operation is successfully performed, it is associated with an acceptable 1-year outcome.
Sensitivity Patterns, Plasmid Profiles and Clonal Relatedness of Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated From the Ashanti Region, Ghana
Authors: Odoi Hayford , Boamah Vivian Etsiapa , Duah Boakye Yaw , Dodoo Cornelius Cecil , Agyare Christian
Published: February 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of most opportunistic nosocomial infections in Ghana. The study sought to characterize P. aeruginosa isolates from market environments, poultry farms and clinical samples of patients from 2 district hospitals in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The genetic relatedness, plasmid profiles and antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolates were investigated. Culture based isolation and oprL gene amplification were used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Susceptibility testing was conducted using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Random whole genome typing of the P. aeruginosa strains was done using Enterobacterial repetitive-intergenic consensus based (ERIC) PCR assay. The most active agents against P. aeruginosa isolates were ceftazidime (90%), piperacillin (85%), meropenem, cefipeme and ticarcillin/clavulanic acid (81.6%). The isolates were most resistant to gentamycin (69%), ciprofloxacin (62.1%), ticarcillin (56.3%) and aztreonam (25%). About 65% (n = 38) of the multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa isolates harbored 1 to 5 plasmids with sizes ranging from 2 to 116.8 kb. A total of 27 clonal patterns were identified. Two major clones were observed with a clone showing resistance to all the test antipseudomonal agents. There is therefore a need for continued intensive surveillance to control the spread and development of resistant strains.
Exploring the culture of Greek children’s musical games in the school playground: An ethnographic study
Authors: Saltari Regina , Welch Graham
Published: February 2022

This article reports findings from an ethnographic study investigating the culture of children’s musical games played in school playgrounds. The research took place in nine primary schools in Greece and lasted for 6 months. Data collection methods included open observation of children aged 6 to 11 years, focused small-group observation, semi-structured interviews of 53 children (aged 8–11 years), and video recordings of the children’s musical games. Analyses of the research data, in light of the relevant literature, revealed the physical and human geographies of musical games, gender preferences, transmission sources and processes, learning and teaching practices, improvisations and variations, and communication among participants. The article concludes with implications for music education research and practice.
The safety and efficacy of different endovascular treatments for in-stent restenosis of the femoropopliteal artery: A network meta-analysis
Authors: He Zhipeng , Wang Haoran , Lin Feng , Ding Wenjie , Chen Ke , Zhang Zhigong
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Femoropopliteal artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a challenging treatment. We performed a network meta-analysis (NWM) for femoropopliteal artery ISR to explore the safety and efficacy of endovascular therapeutic strategies. Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were used as data sources. The network meta-analysis (NWM) approach used random-effects models based on the frequentist framework. We compared technical success rate, primary patency, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and major amputation at the 12-month follow-up for femoropopliteal artery ISR. Results: In total, 14 eligible studies (10 prospective and four retrospective; 1348 patients; and eight treatment modalities – standard balloon angioplasty (SBA), drug-coated balloon (DCB), peripheral cutting balloon angioplasty (PCBA), Viabahn endoprosthesis (VBE), directional atherectomy (DA), excimer laser atherectomy (ELA), and combinations – were included. The primary patency rates (at 6 months) were significantly higher for DCB and ELA+DCB than for SBA and ELA+SBA. ELA+DCB had higher primary patency rates (at 12 months) than ELA+SBA and SBA. The technical success rates were significantly lower for DCB and SBA than for VBE. The major amputation rates were significantly lower for ELA+DCB than for DCB. Based on the surface values under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), ELA+DCB was considered the best treatment in terms of primary patency at 6 months (SUCRA = 91.1), primary patency at 12 months (SUCRA = 82.3), and TLR (SUCRA = 83.4). Conclusion: ELA+DCB showed positive encouraging results in primary patency (6, 12 months), TLR, and major amputation in femoropopliteal ISR. The efficacy and safety of ELA+DCB are worthy of further investigation. PROSPERO Registration No.: CRD42021246674
Psychometric properties of the Portuguese teacher-version of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits
Authors: Figueiredo Patrícia , Moreira Diana , Ramião Eduarda , Barroso Ricardo , Barbosa Fernando
Published: February 2022

Callous unemotional (CU) traits refer to specific deficits in affective experience and interpersonal style, characterized by absence of guilt, constrictive display of emotion and failure to show empathy, callous use of others for one’s own gain. The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) was developed to measure CU traits in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyze the factorial structure of the Portuguese version of teacher-report ICU for children in school age and examine psychometric properties such as internal consistency and convergent validity in a community sample. Thirty-six teachers provided behavioral ratings of 100 and 78 children of elementary school, 88 boys and 90 girls, aged between 6 and 10 years old. Confirmatory factor analyses provided further support to a 2-factor structure, comprising the following dimensions: callous and uncaring. This study showed that the ICU seems a reliable an accessible tool that can be used in the Portuguese educational context to evaluate CU traits with low time consumption.
Depressive symptoms are no longer a barrier to HCV treatment initiation in the HIV–HCV co-infected population in Canada
Authors: Marathe Gayatri , Moodie Erica E M , Brouillette Marie-Josée , Cox Joseph , Delaunay Charlotte Lanièce , Cooper Curtis , Hull Mark , Gill John , Walmsley Sharon , Pick Neora , Klein Marina B ,   Canadian Co-Infection Cohort
Published: February 2022

Background

Psychiatric illness was a major barrier for HCV treatment during the Interferon (IFN) treatment era due to neuropsychiatric side effects. While direct acting antivirals (DAA) are better tolerated, patient-level barriers persist. We aimed to assess the effect of depressive symptoms on time to HCV treatment initiation among HIV–HCV co-infected persons during the IFN (2003–2011) and second-generation DAA (2013–2020) eras.

Methods

We used data from the Canadian Co-infection Cohort, a multicentre prospective cohort, and its associated sub-study on Food Security (FS). We predicted Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D-10) classes for depressive symptoms indicative of a depression risk using a random forest classifier and corrected for misclassification using predictive value-based record-level correction. We used marginal structural Cox proportional hazards models with inverse weighting for competing risks (death) to assess the effect of depressive symptoms on treatment initiation among HCV RNA-positive participants.

Results

We included 590 and 1127 participants in the IFN and DAA eras. The treatment initiation rate increased from 9 (95% confidence interval (CI): 7–10) to 21 (95% CI: 19–22) per 100 person-years from the IFN to DAA era. Treatment initiation was lower among those with depressive symptoms compared to those without in the IFN era (hazard ratio: 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69–0.95)) and was higher in the DAA era (1.19 (95% CI: 1.10–1.27)).

Conclusion

Depressive symptoms no longer appear to be a barrier to HCV treatment initiation in the co-infected population in the DAA era. The higher rate of treatment initiation in individuals with depressive symptoms suggests those previously unable to tolerate IFN are now accessing treatment.
Smartphones as personal digital archives? Recentring migrant authority as curating and storytelling subjects
Authors: Georgiou Myria , Leurs Koen
Published: February 2022

This article addresses the smartphone as a complicated technology of forced migration: a device that accompanies those who move, but which also records and catalogues digital traces within life contexts of conflict, uprooting, migration and resettlement. We conceptualise smartphones as personal digital archives: migrants’ curation of their own stories on their own portable devices. Personal digital archives, we argue, reflect the migrant gaze and constitute mobile subaltern subjects’ record of forced migration. Inductively learning from fieldwork conducted across five sites over 5 years, we analyse how the personal digital archive records and reflects the mediation of migration in its three dimensions: symbolic, affective and material. By focussing on personal digital archives, we recentre the authority of migrants as witnessing subjects of their own life stories. Their archives as autonomous migrant records provide a powerful basis to reflect upon and potentially contest mainstream western journalism cultures, which too often reduce migration to a spectacle and the migrant to a dehistoricised figure with little agency or voice.
The ethical consumption cap and mean market morality
Authors: Coffin Jack , Egan–Wyer Carys
Published: February 2022

Since the 1970s critical marketing scholars have called for systemic change to overcome the ethical problems generated by consumption, such as unsustainable resource use, industry-induced climate change, and social inequities. Mainstream marketing research has instead problematised the individual consumer and sought ways to diminish the so-called gap between ethics and consumption. The current conceptual paper follows Carrington et al. (2016) and other contemporary critical marketing scholars in redirecting attention away from individual (un)ethical consumers and toward the (im)moral market structures that inflect their decision-making. Its first contribution to this line of thinking is to propose an ethical consumption cap rather than an ethical consumption gap. This subtle but significant shift in emphasis suggests that contemporary capitalism creates conditions in which ethical consumption is costly in terms of money, time and effort. Rather than the responsibilising rhetoric of the ‘gap’, the ‘cap’ acknowledges the plethora of systemic pressures that make it difficult for consumers to consume ethically and invites researchers to look elsewhere for solutions. The second contribution of this paper is to follow Grayling (2019) in delineating the character of ethics from the concept of morality, which is more suggestive of obligations and duties. With this etymology in mind, it is argued that other market actors can do much more to remove problematic choices from the market and thus raise the mean market morality. Attending to the average morality of markets instead of emphasising capped ethical consumerism treads a difficult conceptual path between conflicting political positions, but may buy enough time for viable socioeconomic alternatives to neoliberalism to emerge and expand.
Beauty Types of Female Advertising Models in Asia
Authors: Tipgomut Pornchanoke , Paas Leonard J , McNaught Angela
Published: February 2022

Previously published research has addressed the beauty types of female advertising models from Western perspectives, which have also been applied directly to classify Asian models. We report qualitative research results which show that Asian consumers’ beauty typologies differ from Western consumers’ typologies and are mostly based on models’ facial characteristics. We identified 10 beauty types for classifying Asian advertising models, of which seven are newly established. The subsequent quantitative study shows that eight of these types are either sexually oriented (international beauty, Korean beauty, sexy, cool) or aesthetic (pretty, natural, sweet, local beauty). Furthermore, we find that cosmetic surgery procedures lead to respondents perceiving the model as displaying more sexually oriented beauty types. We discuss the implications of these findings for advertising effectiveness in Asian contexts, and for academic and societal relevance.
Floating offshore wind turbines port requirements for construction
Authors: Crowle AP , Thies PR
Published: February 2022

Floating offshore wind is an emerging technology that holds considerable potential to utilise areas deeper than 60 m for sustainable energy generation. As the floating offshore wind turbine industry continues to develop and grow, the capabilities of established port facilities need to be assessed as to their ability to support the expanding construction and installation requirements. This article assesses current infrastructure requirements and projected changes to port facilities that may be required to support the floating offshore wind industry. Understanding the infrastructure needs will help to identify the port-related requirements. Floating offshore wind turbines can be installed further out to sea and in deeper waters than traditional fixed offshore wind arrays, meaning they can take advantage of stronger winds and additional sea locations. Separate ports are required for substructure construction and fit-out of the turbines and maintenance. Large areas are required, about twice the plan area of the structure, for the laydown of mooring equipment, inter array cables, turbine blades and nacelles. The capabilities of established port facilities to support floating wind farms can be assessed by evaluation of size of substructures, height of wind turbine with regards to the cranes for fitting of blades, distance to offshore site and offshore installation vessel characteristics. Spar, barge, TLP and semisubmersible types have been deployed as demonstration units. Pre commercial units have been installed off the coasts of Portugal and the east coast of Scotland. This article reviews and defines the port and shipyard requirements for floating offshore wind turbines. It will support decision-makers to guide port infrastructure investments and project developers in their site selections. There up to 15 port functions that need to be considered, for construction, assembly and support of offshore activities. These could be fulfilled by one or a combination of different ports.
Safety analysis of a high-pressure fuel gas supply system for LNG fuelled vessels
Authors: Milioulis Konstantinos , Bolbot Victor , Theotokatos Gerasimos , Boulougouris Evangelos , Sayan Paul , Chio Kelvin Wen Yong , Lim Wei Siang
Published: February 2022

The liquified natural gas (LNG) is currently considered an attractive marine fuel in the short- to medium-terms that can lead to the reduction of the shipping industry carbon emissions. LNG fuelled ocean-going ships have been designed by employing either low-pressure or high-pressure fuel systems. This study aims at enhancing the safety of a high-pressure fuel gas supply system (FGSS) designed for ocean-going LNG fuelled vessels. A model-based safety analysis is performed by employing the MADe™ software. The functional model of the baseline design of the investigated system is developed and subsequently employed to carry out the Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), as well as the quantitative Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). FMECA provided the risk priority number (RPN) for the identified system failure scenarios, the analysis of which leads to the identification of the FGSS critical components. The FTA results, which include the probabilities of the selected top events and appropriate importance metrics, are used for the FMECA results verification. This study results demonstrate that the FGSS critical components include the process valves responsible for supplying either LNG or natural gas to the gas treatment system and consumers respectively, as well as the pressure feedback controllers. Recommendations for design alterations pertain to the addition of pressure sensors and redundancy of the identified critical system components. The derived results demonstrate that impact of these design alterations on the calculated safety metrics are quite considerable, thus enhancing the safety of the baseline design. This study contributes to the safety analysis of FGGS and supports decisions for the designer and operator of LNG fuelled ships.
Promoting persistence: Can computer science career and technical education courses support educational advancement for students with learning disabilities?
Authors: Plasman Jay S , Gottfried Michael , Freeman Jennifer , Dougherty Shaun
Published: February 2022

Information technology and computer science represent one area of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that have experienced significant growth in recent years. As such, federal policy has urged schools to embed new types of STEM courses into the curriculum. As one very prominent example, computer science (CS)-focused courses are a growing branch of career and technical education (CTE)—that is, CS-CTE. While previous research has examined coursetaking patterns and subsequent outcomes of CS-CTE courses for the general student population, little is known about how participation in these courses may benefit students with learning disabilities (SWLDs). From a pedagogical perspective, CS-CTE courses, and CTE courses in general, may be uniquely positioned to improve schooling outcomes for SWLDs. Using data from the nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, we explored characteristics of CS-CTE participants, how CS-CTE may promote the development of key STEM attitudes (e.g., identity, self-efficacy, and utility), and how any relationships may differ by learning disability status. Using a double propensity score matching estimations, we found CS-CTE participation related to positive development of STEM identity and STEM self-efficacy for students without learning disabilities. For the SWLD population, CS-CTE participation was associated with growth in STEM self-efficacy and STEM utility. Policy implications discuss the gap in computer science employment between SWLDs and non-SWLDs, the prevalence of state-related computer science policies, and how to continue to promote STEM identity growth.
Productivity and its decompositions of Vietnamese higher education institutions: A Färe-Primont index decomposition using meta-frontier
Authors: Trinh Thanh Hai , Trung Tran , Hien Ta Thi Thu , Hien Le Thi Thu , Trang Nguyen Thu , Thao Trinh Thi Phuong , Le Van Dao
Published: February 2022

This study makes use of recent evidence from developing countries by which to evaluate the effectiveness of private higher education institutions (HEIs), comparing them with public HEIs. In this way, it contributes to the literature by providing the first evaluation of productivity and its components in Vietnamese HEIs. The study uses the Färe-Primont index together with a meta-frontier approach. The research results indicate that the higher education system in Vietnam is powerfully driven by the large-scale public sector coupled with the long-term plans of Vietnamese state HEIs. Public HEIs have also been a major contributor to domestic research, and although there has been an increase in total factor productivity (TFP) throughout the research period, the private sector’s TFP was 30% higher than that of the public sector. Moreover, the higher technology gap rate (TGR) of private HEIs shows the potential for greater development in the future.
Whole-Brain Metabolic Abnormalities Are Associated With Mobility in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Mueller Christina , Baird Jessica F. , Motl Robert W.
Published: February 2022

Background

Older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience mobility impairments, but conventional brain imaging is a poor predictor of walking abilities in this population.

Objective

To test whether brain metabolites measured with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) are associated with walking performance in older adults with MS.

Methods

Fifteen older adults with MS (mean age: 60.9, SD: 5.1) and 22 age-matched healthy controls (mean age: 64.2, SD: 5.7) underwent whole-brain MRS and mobility testing. Levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (MI), choline (CHO), and temperature in 47 brain regions were compared between groups and correlated with walking speed (Timed 25 Foot Walk) and walking endurance (Six-Minute Walk).

Results

Older adults with MS had higher MI in 23 areas, including the bilateral frontal (right: t (21.449) = −2.605, P = .016; left: t (35) = −2.434, P = .020), temporal (right: t (35) = −3.063, P = .004; left: t (35) = −3.026, P = .005), and parietal lobes (right: t (21.100) = −2.886, P = .009; left: t (35) = −2.507, P = .017), and right thalamus (t (35) = −2.840, P = .007). MI in eleven regions correlated with walking speed, and MI in twelve regions correlated with walking endurance. NAA was lower in MS in the bilateral thalami (right: t (35) = 3.449, P < .001; left: t (35) = 2.061, P = .047), caudate nuclei (right: t (33) = 2.828, P = .008; left: t (32) = 2.132, P = .041), and posterior cingulum (right: t (35) = 3.077, P = .004; left: t (35) = 2.972, P = .005). NAA in four regions correlated with walking speed and endurance. Brain temperature was higher in MS patients in four regions, but did not correlate with mobility measures. There were no group differences in CHO.

Conclusion

MI and NAA may be useful imaging end-points for walking ability as a clinical outcome in older adults with MS.
Inclusive Trial Designs in Acute Spinal Cord Injuries: Prediction–Based Stratification of Clinical Walking Outcome and Projected Enrolment Frequencies
Authors: Cathomen Adrian , Sirucek Laura , Killeen Tim , Abel Rainer , Maier Doris , Weidner Norbert , Rupp Rüdiger , Hothorn Torsten , Steeves John D. , Curt Armin , Bolliger Marc
Published: February 2022

Background

New therapeutic approaches in neurological disorders are progressing into clinical development. Past failures in translational research have underlined the critical importance of selecting appropriate inclusion criteria and primary outcomes. Narrow inclusion criteria provide sensitivity, but increase trial duration and cost to the point of infeasibility, while broader requirements amplify confounding, increasing the risk of trial failure. This dilemma is perhaps most pronounced in spinal cord injury (SCI), but applies to all neurological disorders with low frequency and/or heterogeneous clinical manifestations.

Objective

Stratification of homogeneous patient cohorts to enable the design of clinical trials with broad inclusion criteria.

Methods

Prospectively–gathered data from patients with acute cervical SCI were analysed using an unbiased recursive partitioning conditional inference tree (URP–CTREE) approach. Performance in the 6-minute walk test at 6 months after injury was classified based on standardized neurological assessments within the first 15 days of injury. Functional and neurological outcomes were tracked throughout rehabilitation up to 6 months after injury.

Results

URP–CTREE identified homogeneous outcome cohorts in a study group of 309 SCI patients. These cohorts were validated by an internal, yet independent, validation group of 172 patients. The study group cohorts identified demonstrated distinct recovery profiles throughout rehabilitation. The baseline characteristics of the analysed groups were compared to a reference group of 477 patients.

Conclusion

URP–CTREE enables inclusive trial design by revealing the distribution of outcome cohorts, discerning distinct recovery profiles and projecting potential patient enrolment by providing estimates of the relative frequencies of cohorts to improve the design of clinical trials in SCI and beyond.
Performance analysis of cooperative NOMA system for defense application with relay selection in a hostile environment
Authors: Kumar Indrajeet , Kumar Aman , Kumar Mishra Ritesh
Published: February 2022

In the current scenario, where all the services have become online, the demand for increased capacity, low symbol error rate (SER), better data rate, and low latency with high quality of services has been expected from the service providers. Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is the key enabling technology by which all the above requirements could be achieved. In this work, the physical layer security of a cooperative NOMA system has been improved. The present approach of the decode-and-forward (DF) method consists of one base station (BS), N relays, and two users. Here, a two-stage relay method has been proposed, and analytical results are generated to show that this two-stage relay scheme has been found to achieve the lowest outage probability among all possible relay schemes with the highest attainable diversity gain. In a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the asymptotic and closed-form expressions for outage probability have been obtained. The outage probability for N relays is also computed, which shows that the outage probability decreases as the number of relays get increased. Meanwhile, the Monte-Carlo simulation shows that cooperative NOMA with the proposed two-stage relay technique outperforms cooperative NOMA using the traditional max-min approach.