bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategies for Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle in Clinical Settings: Pillars of Ideal Cardiovascular Health: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association
Authors: Kris-Etherton Penny M. , Petersen Kristina S. , Després Jean-Pierre , Anderson Cheryl A.M. , Deedwania Prakash , Furie Karen L. , Lear Scott , Lichtenstein Alice H. , Lobelo Felipe , Morris Pamela B. , Sacks Frank M. , Ma Jun ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Stroke Council; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; and Council on Hypertension
Published: October 2021

Engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors is suboptimal. The vast majority of the US population does not meet current recommendations. A healthy lifestyle is defined by consuming a healthy dietary pattern, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding exposure to tobacco products, habitually attaining adequate amounts of sleep, and managing stress levels. For all these health behaviors there are well-established guidelines; however, promotion in clinical settings can be challenging. It is critical to overcome these challenges because greater promotion of heathy lifestyle practices in clinical settings effectively motivates and initiates patient behavior change. The 5A Model (assess, advise, agree, assist, and arrange) was developed to provide a framework for clinical counseling with requisite attention to the demands of clinical settings. In this science advisory, we present strategies, based on the 5A Model, that clinicians and other health care professionals can use for efficient lifestyle-related behavior change counseling in patients at all levels of cardiovascular disease risk at every visit. In addition, we discuss the underlying role of psychological health and well-being in lifestyle-related behavior change counseling, and how clinicians can leverage health technologies when providing brief patient-centered counseling. Greater attention to healthy lifestyle behaviors during routine clinician visits will contribute to promoting cardiovascular health.
Brugada Syndrome: New Insights From Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Electroanatomical Imaging
Authors: Pappone Carlo , Santinelli Vincenzo , Mecarocci Valerio , Tondi Lara , Ciconte Giuseppe , Manguso Francesco , Sturla Francesco , Vicedomini Gabriele , Micaglio Emanuele , Anastasia Luigi , Pica Silvia , Camporeale Antonia , Lombardi Massimo
Published: October 2021

Background:

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is considered a purely electrical disease with variable electrical substrates. Variable rates of mechanical abnormalities have been also reported. Whether exists a link between electrical and mechanical abnormalities has never been previously explored. This investigational physiopathological study aimed to determine the relationship between the substrate size/location, as exposed by ajmaline provocation, and the severity of mechanical abnormalities, as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with BrS.

Methods:

Twenty-four consecutive high-risk patients with BrS (mean age, 38±11 years, 17 males), presenting with malignant syncope and documented polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, and candidate to implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation, underwent cardiac magnetic resonance and electroanatomic maps. During each examination, ajmaline test (1 mg/kg over 5 minutes) was performed. Cardiac magnetic resonance findings were compared with 24 age, sex, and body surface area-matched controls. In patients with BrS, the correlation between the electrical substrate extent and right ventricular regional mechanical abnormalities before/after ajmaline challenge was analyzed.

Results:

After ajmaline, patients with BrS showed a reduction of right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (
P
<0.001), associated with decreased transversal displacement (U,
P
<0.001) and longitudinal strain (ε,
P
<0.001) localized at RV outflow tract. In patients with BrS significant preajmaline/postajmaline changes of transversal displacement (ΔU,
P
<0.001) and longitudinal strain (Δε,
P
<0.001) were found. In the control group, no mechanical changes were observed after ajmaline. The electrical substrate consistently increased after ajmaline from 1.7±2.8 cm
2
to 14.2±7.3 cm
2
(
P
<0.001), extending from the RV outflow tract to the neighboring segments of the RV anterior wall. Postajmaline RV ejection fraction inversely correlated with postajmaline substrate extent (
r
=−0.830,
P
<0.001). In patients with BrS and normal controls, cardiac magnetic resonance detected neither myocardial fibrosis nor RV outflow tract morphological abnormalities.

Conclusions:

BrS is a dynamic RV electromechanical disease, where functional abnormalities correlate with the maximal extent of the substrate size. These findings open new lights on the physiopathology of the disease.

Registration:

URL:
https://clinicaltrial.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03524079.
Breath of Life: Heart Disease Link to Developmental Hypoxia
Authors: Giussani Dino A.
Published: October 2021

Heart disease remains one of the greatest killers. In addition to genetics and traditional lifestyle risk factors, we now understand that adverse conditions during pregnancy can also increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in the offspring. Therefore, the mechanisms by which this occurs and possible preventative therapies are of significant contemporary interest to the cardiovascular community. A common suboptimal pregnancy condition is a sustained reduction in fetal oxygenation. Chronic fetal hypoxia results from any pregnancy with increased placental vascular resistance, such as in preeclampsia, placental infection, or maternal obesity. Chronic fetal hypoxia may also arise during pregnancy at high altitude or because of maternal respiratory disease. This article reviews the short- and long-term effects of hypoxia on the fetal cardiovascular system, and the importance of chronic fetal hypoxia in triggering a developmental origin of future heart disease in the adult progeny. The work summarizes evidence derived from human studies as well as from rodent, avian, and ovine models. There is a focus on the discovery of the molecular link between prenatal hypoxia, oxidative stress, and increased cardiovascular risk in adult offspring. Discussion of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapy offers potential targets for clinical intervention in human pregnancy complicated by chronic fetal hypoxia.
Sequential Defects in Cardiac Lineage Commitment and Maturation Cause Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Authors: Krane Markus , Dreßen Martina , Santamaria Gianluca , My Ilaria , Schneider Christine M. , Dorn Tatjana , Laue Svenja , Mastantuono Elisa , Berutti Riccardo , Rawat Hilansi , Gilsbach Ralf , Schneider Pedro , Lahm Harald , Schwarz Sascha , Doppler Stefanie A. , Paige Sharon , Puluca Nazan , Doll Sophia , Neb Irina , Brade Thomas , Zhang Zhong , Abou-Ajram Claudia , Northoff Bernd , Holdt Lesca M. , Sudhop Stefanie , Sahara Makoto , Goedel Alexander , Dendorfer Andreas , Tjong Fleur V.Y. , Rijlaarsdam Maria E. , Cleuziou Julie , Lang Nora , Kupatt Christian , Bezzina Connie , Lange Rüdiger , Bowles Neil E. , Mann Matthias , Gelb Bruce D. , Crotti Lia , Hein Lutz , Meitinger Thomas , Wu Sean , Sinnecker Daniel , Gruber Peter J. , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Moretti Alessandra
Published: October 2021

Background:

Complex molecular programs in specific cell lineages govern human heart development. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is the most common and severe manifestation within the spectrum of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction defects occurring in association with ventricular hypoplasia. The pathogenesis of HLHS is unknown, but hemodynamic disturbances are assumed to play a prominent role.

Methods:

To identify perturbations in gene programs controlling ventricular muscle lineage development in HLHS, we performed whole-exome sequencing of 87 HLHS parent–offspring trios, nuclear transcriptomics of cardiomyocytes from ventricles of 4 patients with HLHS and 15 controls at different stages of heart development, single cell RNA sequencing, and 3D modeling in induced pluripotent stem cells from 3 patients with HLHS and 3 controls.

Results:

Gene set enrichment and protein network analyses of damaging de novo mutations and dysregulated genes from ventricles of patients with HLHS suggested alterations in specific gene programs and cellular processes critical during fetal ventricular cardiogenesis, including cell cycle and cardiomyocyte maturation. Single-cell and 3D modeling with induced pluripotent stem cells demonstrated intrinsic defects in the cell cycle/unfolded protein response/autophagy hub resulting in disrupted differentiation of early cardiac progenitor lineages leading to defective cardiomyocyte subtype differentiation/maturation in HLHS. Premature cell cycle exit of ventricular cardiomyocytes from patients with HLHS prevented normal tissue responses to developmental signals for growth, leading to multinucleation/polyploidy, accumulation of DNA damage, and exacerbated apoptosis, all potential drivers of left ventricular hypoplasia in absence of hemodynamic cues.

Conclusions:

Our results highlight that despite genetic heterogeneity in HLHS, many mutations converge on sequential cellular processes primarily driving cardiac myogenesis, suggesting novel therapeutic approaches.
GATA3 (GATA-Binding Protein 3)/KMT2A (Lysine-Methyltransferase-2A) Complex by Increasing H3K4-3me (Trimethylated Lysine-4 of Histone-3) Upregulates NCX3 (Na
+
-Ca
2+
Exchanger 3) Transcription and Contributes to Ischemic Preconditioning Neuroprotection
Authors: Guida Natascia , Mascolo Luigi , Serani Angelo , Cuomo Ornella , Anzilotti Serenella , Brancaccio Paola , Pignataro Giuseppe , Molinaro Pasquale , Annunziato Lucio , Formisano Luigi
Published: October 2021

Background and Purpose:

NCX3 (Na
+
-Ca
2+
exchanger 3) plays a relevant role in stroke; indeed its pharmacological blockade or its genetic ablation exacerbates brain ischemic damage, whereas its upregulation takes part in the neuroprotection elicited by ischemic preconditioning. To identify an effective strategy to induce an overexpression of NCX3, we examined transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms potentially involved in
NCX3
gene regulation.

Methods:

Brain ischemia and ischemic preconditioning were induced in vitro by exposure of cortical neurons to oxygen and glucose deprivation plus reoxygenation (OGD/Reoxy) and in vivo by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate transcripts and proteins of GATA3 (GATA-binding protein 3), KMT2A (lysine-methyltransferase-2A), and NCX3. GATA3 and KMT2A binding on
NCX3
gene was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and Rechromatin immunoprecipitation experiments.

Results:

Among the putative transcription factors sharing a consensus sequence on the ncx3 brain promoter region, GATA3 was the only able to up-regulate ncx3. Interestingly, GATA3 physically interacted with KMT2A, and their overexpression or knocking-down increased or downregulated NCX3 mRNA and protein, respectively. Notably, site-direct mutagenesis of GATA site on ncx3 brain promoter region counteracted GATA3 and KMT2A binding on
NCX3
gene. More importantly, we found that in the perischemic cortical regions of preconditioned rats GATA3 recruited KMT2A and the complex H3K4-3me (trimethylated lysine-4 of histone-3) on ncx3 brain promoter region, thus reducing transient middle cerebral artery occlusion–induced damage. Consistently, in vivo silencing of either GATA3 or KMT2A prevented NCX3 upregulation and consequently the neuroprotective effect of preconditioning stimulus. The involvement of GATA3/KMT2A complex in neuroprotection elicited by ischemic preconditioning was further confirmed by in vitro experiments in which the knocking-down of GATA3 and KMT2A reverted the neuroprotection induced by NCX3 overexpression in cortical neurons exposed to anoxic preconditioning followed by oxygen and glucose deprivation plus reoxygenation.

Conclusions:

Collectively, our results revealed that GATA3/KMT2A complex epigenetically activates
NCX3
gene transcription during ischemic preconditioning.
Arms Control as Wedge Strategy: How Arms Limitation Deals Divide
Alliances
Authors: Crawford Timothy W. , Vu Khang X.
Published: October 2021

Strategic arms control is in crisis. The United States and Russia have retreated from agreements that formed the framework for post–Cold War arms cuts and strategic stability, such as the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The only strategic arms control agreement between the United States and Russia (i.e., New START) expires in 2026. The political forcefield that sustained the old framework has been altered by major technological revolutions and China's rise. Motives for strategic arms control are conventionally framed in terms of their potential to enhance stability by limiting certain weapons, avoiding costly arms races, or preserving military advantage. But states can also use strategic arms control to divide adversaries. Wedge strategy theory explains how arms control can do so by affecting adversaries' threat perceptions, their beliefs about the costs and benefits of formal commitments, and their degree of trust in one another. Three landmark strategic arms control negotiations (the Five-Power Treaty and the Four-Power Treaty at the Washington Naval Conference, the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) show how the wedge motive informed these negotiations and influenced great power relations. The wedge logic remains relevant today. For example, the United States may employ future arms control agreements to drive a wedge between China and Russia, and it must be cautious about arms control deals with North Korea that would negatively affect its relationship with South Korea.
Caught Red-Handed: How States Wield Proof to Coerce
Wrongdoers
Authors: Nutt Cullen G. , Pauly Reid B.C.
Published: October 2021

States frequently acquire proof of other states' norm violations, from nuclear proliferation to harboring terrorists to interfering in elections. Existing theories do not fully explain how states that catch others red-handed wield a form of coercive power over the wrongdoers. Discoverers may conceal proof of wrongdoing, share such proof with other actors privately, or reveal their proof to the world. States with more leverage over wrongdoers have two incentives to conceal proof of wrongdoing. They can blackmail wrongdoers by threatening to go public with proof of their guilt, and they can simultaneously allow wrongdoers to save face. States that possess proof of wrongdoing but have less leverage are more likely to share that proof with others. If a discoverer distrusts the intentions of states with more leverage, it will reveal evidence publicly, catalyzing others to act. Publicizing proof weaponizes the prospect that other states will pay reputation and hypocrisy costs if they do not follow through on punishing norm violations. Four case studies of nuclear proliferation (Taiwan, Libya, South Africa, and North Korea) probe this novel theory.
Effect of Al on Pearlite Transformation and Spheroidization of High Carbon Steel
Authors: Feng Lulu , Wu Kaiming , Zhou Feng , Qiao WeiWen
Published: October 2021

Normalizing and isothermal spheroidizing annealing tests were carried out on two types of high-carbon steel specimens with different aluminum (Al) contents. The effects of Al content on the phase transformation and spheroidization of high-carbon steel were analyzed. It was found that
addition of Al element can increase the pearlitic eutectoid transition temperature of high-carbon steel, making the eutectoid point move toward the high-carbon direction, and inhibiting the precipitation of proeutectoid cementite during pearlitic transformation. The higher the Al content,
the greater the undercooling degree during pearlitic transformation and the finer the pearlite lamellar spacing would be after transformation. In addition, the finer pearlite lamellar spacing allowed the test steel to achieve more phase interfaces in the same crystal range and more dislocations
and other defects on the interface, thus providing more nucleation centers for lamellar cementite during isothermal spheroidizing annealing. In addition, more defects provided more diffusion channels for carbon during spheroidizing annealing and smaller interlamellar spacing to shortening
the diffusion distance of carbon atoms, thus accelerating carbon diffusion rate and spheroidizing the lamellar cementite into granular one. The addition Al element can improve the machinability of steel and facilitate the commercial application of pearlitic steel.
Constructing Porous Flower-Like NiS2@MoS2 Core—Shell Structure to Exploit High-Performance Microwave Absorbers
Authors: Li Chao-Qin , Li Xiao , Wang Yan-Li , Yu Ben-Liang , Wang Hui-Ya , Wang Guang-Sheng
Published: October 2021

Herein, from the perspective of gaining the excellent microwave absorption performances, we decorated flower like MoS2 nanoflates on the cubic phase NiS2 and adjusted the adherent MoS2 content to construct different NiS2@MoS2 core-shell
structures via a facile hydrothermal process. Besides, we also properly regulated the complex relative permittivity originated from NiS2@MoS2 content in the PVDF to optimize impedance matching behaviors. And the real and imaginary parts of permittivity gradually increase
with the increase content of NiS2@MoS2 composite in PVDF and decrease of MoS2 supported on the surface of NiS2 For the filler content of 20 wt%, the NiS2@MoS2-0.065 composites covered with moderate MoS2 nanosheets
exhibit an optimal reflection loss of −57.35 dB at 8.16 GHz and effective absorption bandwidths of 4.0 GHz. Moreover, we believe that as-synthesized NiS2@MoS2 core-shell structure is a reliable strategy to facilitate advancements of microwave absorbers.
Classification and Evaluation of Stable and Unstable Cloud Forecasts
Authors: Nachamkin Jason E. , Bienkowski Adam , Bankert Rich , Pattipati Krishna , Sidoti David , Surratt Melinda , Gull Jacob , Nguyen Chuyen
Published: October 2021

A physics-based cloud identification scheme, originally developed for a machine-learning forecast system, was applied to verify cloud location and coverage bias errors from two years of 6-h forecasts. The routine identifies stable and unstable environments by assessing the potential for buoyant versus stable cloud formation. The efficacy of the scheme is documented by investigating its ability to identify cloud patterns and systematic forecast errors. Results showed that stable cloud forecasts contained widespread, persistent negative cloud cover biases most likely associated with turbulent, radiative, and microphysical feedback processes. In contrast, unstable clouds were better predicted despite being poorly resolved. This suggests that scale aliasing, while energetically problematic, results in less-severe short-term cloud cover errors. This study also evaluated Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) cloud-base retrievals for their effectiveness at identifying regions of lower-tropospheric cloud cover. Retrieved cloud-base heights were sometimes too high with respect to their actual values in regions of deep-layered clouds, resulting in underestimates of the extent of low cloud cover in these areas. Sensitivity experiments indicate that the most accurate cloud-base estimates existed in regions with cloud tops at or below 8 km.

Significance Statement

Cloud forecasts are difficult to verify because the height, depth, and type of the clouds are just as important as the spatial location. Satellite imagery and retrievals are good for verifying location, but these measurements are sometimes uncertain because of obscuration from above. Despite these uncertainties, we can learn a lot about specific forecast errors by tracking general areas of clouds based on their physical forcing mechanisms. We chose to sort by atmospheric stability because buoyant and stable processes are physically very distinct. Studies of this nature exist, but they typically assess mean cloud frequencies without considering spatial and temporal displacements. Here, we address displacement error by assessing the direct overlap between the observed and predicted clouds.
Environmental Evolution of Long-Lived Supercell Thunderstorms in the Great Plains
Authors: Davenport Casey E.
Published: October 2021

Long-lived supercells (containing mesocyclones persisting for at least 4 hours) are relatively rare, but present significant risk for society as a result of their intensity and associated hazards over an extended time period. The persistence of a rotating updraft is tied to near-storm environmental characteristics; however, given the established prevalence of mesoscale environmental heterogeneity near severe convection, it is unknown to what extent those near-storm characteristics vary over the lifetime of a supercell, nor how quickly the storm responds to such changes. This study examines 147 long-lived, isolated supercells, focusing on the evolution of their near-storm environments using model analysis soundings generated each hour throughout the storm’s lifetime. Environmental variability is quantified via a series of common forecasting parameters, with impacts of measured changes related to production of severe weather and overall storm longevity. The diurnal and maturity-relative distributions of forecasting parameters are examined, along with comparisons among subsets of marginally vs. very long-lived supercells, as well as dissipation before vs. after sunset. The diurnal cycle is a dominant trend over the lifetime of all supercells, with attendant impacts to relevant thermodynamic and kinematic parameters, timing of storm initiation and dissipation, as well as severe weather production. Notably, changes in the near-storm environment are connected to supercell longevity and generation of severe weather reports. The long-term goal of the above analyses is to enhance short-term forecasts of supercells by better anticipating storm evolution as a result of environmental variations.
Intermediate Invasive Fungal Sinusitis, a Distinct Entity From Acute Fulminant and Chronic Invasive Fungal Sinusitis
Authors: Burnham Andre J. , Magliocca Kelly R. , Pettitt-Schieber Brian , Edwards Thomas S. , Marcus Sonya , DelGaudio John M. , Wise Sarah K. , Levy Joshua M. , Roland Lauren T.
Published: October 2021

Background:

The current classification system of invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) includes acute (aIFS) and chronic (cIFS) phenotypes. Both phenotypes display histopathologic evidence of tissue necrosis, but differ by presence of angioinvasion, extent of necrosis, and disease progression. aIFS is defined by a rapid onset of symptoms, while cIFS slowly progresses over ≥12 weeks. However, a subset of IFS patients do not fit into the clinical presentation and histopathologic characteristics of either aIFS or cIFS.

Objectives:

To investigate the demographic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics of a distinct subset of IFS.

Methods:

Retrospective review of patients with IFS from a single tertiary-care institution (2010-2020). Patients with symptoms for ≤4 weeks were classified as aIFS if they displayed endoscopic evidence of mucosal necrosis or fungal angioinvasion on pathology. Patients with slowly progressive IFS for ≥12 weeks were classified as cIFS. Patients with symptom duration between 4 and 12 weeks with evidence of invasive fungal disease were classified as a new entity and were further investigated.

Results:

Of the 8 patients identified, 50% were immunosuppressed at presentation. The mean symptom duration prior to presentation was 50.5 days (SD 16.8), and common symptoms included facial pain (100%), vision change (87.5%), and blindness (37.5%). Two patients (25%) died of their disease. Sites of fungal involvement confirmed by histopathology included sphenoid (62.5%) and ethmoid sinuses (12.5%), orbital apex (25%), optic nerve (12.5%), pterygopalatine fossa (12.5%), and clivus (12.5%). Fungal elements but without obvious angioinvasion, were identified in all specimens, and fungus balls (50%), granulomas (37.5%), and giant cells (25%) were also observed on histopathology. CT and MRI radiographic imaging showed findings consistent with orbital, intracranial, or skull base involvement in all patients.

Conclusion:

We propose intermediate IFS as a new subgroup of patients with IFS who do not fit into the standard classification of aIFS or cIFS.
Self-Monitoring to Support the Goals of Students With Autism on College Campuses
Authors: Watson Emma K. , Ann Bross Leslie , Huffman Jonathan M.
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this article is to present a step-by-step process for using self-monitoring to support college students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to achieve a variety of goals. Self-monitoring can be used with no technology (e.g., pencil and paper, tangible object placement) or technology-based applications (e.g., interval timers, mobile applications) in non-obtrusive and socially valid ways. College instructors, inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program staff, disability office support staff, and other service providers may use this article to guide in the design and implementation of a self-monitoring intervention for college students with ASD. As increasing numbers of transition-age youth with ASD are pursuing higher education, it is important to identify and disseminate a variety of interventions to enhance their college experiences, and self-monitoring is a viable intervention to consider.
Bidirectional Relationships Between Cyberbystanders’ Roles, Cyberbullying Perpetration, and Justification of Violence
Authors: Orue Izaskun , Fernández-González Liria , Machimbarrena Juan M. , González-Cabrera Joaquin , Calvete Esther
Published: October 2021

Bystanders play a key role in understanding the phenomenon of cyberbullying (CB). The main aim of this study is to explore longitudinal bidirectional relationships among cyberbystanders’ reaction, CB perpetration, and CB justification. Participants were 1,105 adolescents (56.7% girls; Mage = 13.56, SD = 1.21) who answered self-reported questionnaires about CB perpetration, CB justification, and cyberbystanders’ reaction at two measurement periods spaced 8 months apart. The results showed that cyberbystanders who assisted and/or reinforced the aggressor had higher scores for CB perpetration and justification than those who supported or defended the victim. Furthermore, cyberbystanders’ pro-aggressive behavior at Time 1 (T1) predicted an increase in CB perpetration and justification at Time 2 (T2), and T1 CB perpetration predicted an increase in T2 CB justification. These findings highlight the precursor role that acting as an assistant or reinforcer of the perpetrator may have on their own perpetration of future CB aggressions.
Language Models in Sociological Research: An Application to Classifying Large Administrative Data and Measuring Religiosity
Authors: Jensen Jeffrey L. , Karell Daniel , Tanigawa-Lau Cole , Habash Nizar , Oudah Mai , Fairus Shofia Fani Dhia
Published: October 2021

Computational methods have become widespread in the social sciences, but probabilistic language models remain relatively underused. We introduce language models to a general social science readership. First, we offer an accessible explanation of language models, detailing how they estimate the probability of a piece of language, such as a word or sentence, on the basis of the linguistic context. Second, we apply language models in an illustrative analysis to demonstrate the mechanics of using these models in social science research. The example application uses language models to classify names in a large administrative database; the classifications are then used to measure a sociologically important phenomenon: the spatial variation of religiosity. This application highlights several advantages of language models, including their effectiveness in classifying text that contains variation around the base structures, as is often the case with localized naming conventions and dialects. We conclude by discussing language models’ potential to contribute to sociological research beyond classification through their ability to generate language.
Everyone Poops: Consumer Virtues and Excretory Anxieties in Locke’s Theory of Property
Authors: Ephraim Laura
Published: October 2021

It is a problem that the environment is often seen and treated as a reservoir of resources awaiting human use. How did this outlook arise? This essay analyzes a formative moment in the constitution of the environment as a buffet of goods to be consumed: seventeenth-century efforts by agricultural improvers, including John Locke, to eradicate waste. Locke’s theory of property prohibits the wasteful spoilage of food and charges mankind with a responsibility to cultivate, incorporate, and thereby appropriate earth’s nonhuman eatables—what I call his “partition of the digestible.” But eating both underwrites and unhinges Lockean property rights, for all food contains materials that cannot be used by the body and must be excreted from it. Poop and pee serve as visible (and smelly) reminders that consumption is inhabited by, and thus cannot resolve, waste. Even the improvers’ ostensible solution of repurposing excrement as manure to produce more food just creates more waste: this “peristaltic circle,” as I describe it, is voracious and expansive. Circular waste-eradication projects are best understood as enabling preconditions for the wastefulness of linear, take-make-waste political economies, not their antidote.
The Kingdom of Jesus and Atonement Theology: Friends or Foes?
Authors: Burkholder Benjamin J.
Published: October 2021

Does maintaining that the Kingdom was central to Jesus’ ministry put one at odds with atonement theology? Some contemporary theologians have argued that these are mutually exclusive options, requiring one to choose between atonement theology and the Kingdom's centrality in Jesus’ ministry. Lending credence to this claim is the fact that some advocates of atonement theology have provided accounts that suggest such a dichotomy might in fact be the case. This essay investigates one such example. As a hopeful contribution to this discussion, this essay first explores how the Kingdom and atonement appear in Mark's presentation of Jesus. In addition to investigating some of the relevant Markan passages, this essay draws from the work of Schweitzer and Hengel to contend that it is indeed possible to affirm the centrality of the Kingdom in Jesus’ proclamation and still believe his death on the cross has an atoning function that serves the Kingdom's arrival.
Randomized Trials of Psychotherapeutic Treatment for Psychogenic Seizures: Scoping Review
Authors: Haritsa Sneha Vinay , Reddy Kalapalli Jayasankara , Rafiq Aeiman , Gupta Meghna
Published: October 2021

Background:

Psychotherapy improves seizure frequency and psychosocial aspects in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on different psychotherapies have been conducted for almost two decades now, no review has exclusively assessed RCTs of different psychotherapies.

Methods:

The objective was to review RCTs of psychotherapy for PNES, to understand the impact of different psychotherapies. Eligibility criteria included full-text articles, English articles, published between years 2000 and 2020, randomized trials of psychotherapy, and the adult population. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and a random google search was conducted. Rayyan software was used to include articles that met our eligibility criteria. The search was carried out independently by two researchers

Results:

Based on the eligibility criteria, seven studies were found. Amongst them, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was the most researched and seemed more effective when paired with standard medical care (SMC) or sertraline. Comparisons of CBT and brief psychodynamic therapy did not reveal significant differences. Other psychotherapies included motivational interview+psychotherapy, which significantly reduced seizure frequency and improved psychosocial functioning. Paradoxical intention therapy also reduced PNES symptoms; however, it has not been researched in the last 15 years. Group psychoeducation seems to have an impact only on psychosocial functioning and not on seizure frequency.

Conclusion:

CBT paired with SMC or sertraline and MI along with psychotherapy yields the most effective results for PNES in reducing seizure frequency and improving psychosocial functioning.
Communication technology use in post-divorce coparenting relationships: A typology and associations with post-divorce adjustment
Authors: Russell Luke T , Ferraro Anthony J , Beckmeyer Jonathon J , Markham Melinda S , Wilkins-Clark Renée E , Zimmermann McKenzie L
Published: October 2021

Divorced parents are increasingly expected to carry out shared physical custody of minor children by maintaining ongoing communication with their ex-spouse. Digital and cellular technologies have created new mediums for divorced parents to carry out communication (e.g., texting, email, and social media). In this study, we identified a typology of divorced parents’ use of five communication mediums with their former spouse using latent class analysis. We also examined how parent, post-divorce relationship, and family characteristics were associated with class membership. The four classes we identified were multi-method communicators who extensively used all communication mediums; phone-facilitated communicators who had moderate usage of face-to-face communication, with higher frequency of talking on the phone or texting; text and email communicators who used minimal synchronous communication, relying on texting or emailing; and limited communication texters who had low use of all communication mediums, but when they did communicate, did so via text. Divorced coparents have widely incorporated communication technologies into their post-divorce coparenting relationships. Understanding how new communication technologies are associated with individual, relational, and family adjustment to divorce can help inform research, policy, and practice.
A knowledge broker facilitated intervention to improve the use of standardized assessment tools by physical therapists: A cluster randomized trial
Authors: Romney W. , Salbach N.M. , Parrott J.S. , Ward I.G. , Deutsch J.E.
Published: October 2021

Objective

To compare two methods of knowledge broker support to improve standardized assessment use.

Design

Two-site cluster randomized trial.

Setting

Acute rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

18 physical therapists.

Intervention

A 10-month intervention was collaboratively designed with an external knowledge broker and physical therapists to compare full and partial implementation support. The knowledge broker provided education and strategies for implementation to the fully supported group and recommended strategies to the partially supported group that they self-implemented.

Measurement

Chart audit data documenting frequency of use was extracted at four timepoints. Ten focus groups were conducted to describe factors that influenced use. Focus group data were coded using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and rated as barriers and facilitators for standardized assessment use.

Results

For the fully supported group, standardized assessment use at initial examination increased from 0% to 58.3% at month 2 and decreased to 17.6% and 11.8% at months 4 and 8–10. For the partially supported group, standardized assessment use increased from 0% to 46% and 50% at month 2 and 4 and decreased to 2.8% at months 8–10. For both groups, early use was seen multiple facilitators. At month 10, barriers included organizational changes that impacted intervention fit. In addition, the fully supported group didn't value the selected standardized assessment and the partially supported group lacked space.

Conclusions

Knowledge broker support improved both groups standardized assessment use early on, but it was not sustained. The amount of support could not be isolated as factors that influenced use varied by groups.
Physical interaction as communication: Learning robot objectives online from human corrections
Authors: Losey Dylan P. , Bajcsy Andrea , O’Malley Marcia K. , Dragan Anca D.
Published: October 2021

When a robot performs a task next to a human, physical interaction is inevitable: the human might push, pull, twist, or guide the robot. The state of the art treats these interactions as disturbances that the robot should reject or avoid. At best, these robots respond safely while the human interacts; but after the human lets go, these robots simply return to their original behavior. We recognize that physical human–robot interaction (pHRI) is often intentional: the human intervenes on purpose because the robot is not doing the task correctly. In this article, we argue that when pHRI is intentional it is also informative: the robot can leverage interactions to learn how it should complete the rest of its current task even after the person lets go. We formalize pHRI as a dynamical system, where the human has in mind an objective function they want the robot to optimize, but the robot does not get direct access to the parameters of this objective: they are internal to the human. Within our proposed framework human interactions become observations about the true objective. We introduce approximations to learn from and respond to pHRI in real-time. We recognize that not all human corrections are perfect: often users interact with the robot noisily, and so we improve the efficiency of robot learning from pHRI by reducing unintended learning. Finally, we conduct simulations and user studies on a robotic manipulator to compare our proposed approach with the state of the art. Our results indicate that learning from pHRI leads to better task performance and improved human satisfaction.
Analysis of between-diagnoses differences in music-based affect regulatory strategies in adults with mental health and substance use conditions: Implications for transdiagnostic application
Authors: Silverman Michael J , Bourdaghs Sonia
Published: October 2021

According to the Stress Vulnerability Model, affect regulation is crucial to manage stressors and promote recovery for adults with mental health conditions. Education regarding music-based affect regulation can be delivered in group formats using a transdiagnostic approach to increase access to services and vicarious learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if there were between-diagnosis and between-substance differences in music-based affect regulation via the Brief Music in Mood Regulation Scale (B-MMR) and Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS) subscales in adults with mental health and substance use conditions. Adults with mental health ( n = 147) and substance use ( n = 221) conditions completed the B-MMR and HUMS. Analyses of variance were conducted with participants’ mental health diagnosis or primary substance as independent variables and the B-MMR and HUMS subscales as dependent variables. There were only significant between-substance differences in revival and discharge subscales, with participants addicted to heroin having higher mean scores than participants addicted to alcohol. No other result was significant. Due to an overall lack of between-group differences in diagnoses and substances, transdiagnostic theory has applications for educating adults with mental health and substance use conditions about music-based affect regulation in group formats.
Methodology to Quantify Statewide Evacuations
Authors: Parr Scott A. , Acevedo Lorraine M. , Murray-Tuite Pamela , Wolshon Brian
Published: October 2021

Mass evacuations, particularly those at a statewide level, are among the largest single-event highway traffic events. They can last several days, cover thousands of miles of roadway, and include hundreds of thousands of people and vehicles. Often, evacuations are criticized for their inefficiency and poor management. Despite the critical importance and the potential impact on lives and safety, there are no recognized methods systematically to quantify traffic characteristics at statewide scales. This paper documents the development and application of an analytical method to measure statewide mass evacuations. The proposed approach sought to be both practical and cost-effective. The research methods are based on simple, yet widely available, and easily understood traffic count datasets that support both qualitative and quantitative analyses. By spatially and temporally arranging sensor-based statewide traffic volume data from the hurricane Irma (2017) and Michael (2018) evacuations, these methods are applied to describe and answer several key questions about statewide mass evacuations. The methods developed in this research are able to estimate the start and end of the auto-based evacuation, the loading and peaking characteristics of traffic, the total number of vehicles involved in the evacuation, and the effective start and end time of the auto-based reentry. Among the key findings of this work were that the hurricane Irma and Michael evacuations began several days before landfall, peaking two to three days before the storm. It is expected that state departments of transportation and emergency management officials can apply similar methods to assess and better plan future evacuations.
A Machine Learning Analysis of Queries Related to Blepharoplasty
Authors: Dhanda Aatin K. , Tseng Christopher C. , Gao Jeff , Talmor Guy , Paskhover Boris
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Blepharoplasty is a commonly performed cosmetic procedure which can help reduce age-related changes around the eyes. Like other surgical procedures, patient satisfaction is highly correlated with physician responsiveness to questions. As social media becomes more popular, patients are increasingly turning to online sources of information such as Realself.com , a website where patients can ask questions to verified physicians. We extracted and analyzed blepharoplasty-related questions on Realself to gain greater understanding of commonly asked pre- and postoperative questions.

Materials and Methods:

A Web crawler was used to gather the text for each question under the search term “eyelid surgery.” Questions were individually assigned by the authors to respective pre- or postoperative categories. Preoperative categories included eligibility for surgery, nonsurgical options, potential adverse effects, surgeon recommendations, surgical techniques and logistics, ability to pursue other surgeries following blepharoplasty, cost, and miscellaneous. Postoperative question categories included symptoms after surgery, appearance, behavior allowed/disallowed, options to revise surgery, and miscellaneous. Machine learning was then utilized to establish the most common pre- and postoperative questions.

Results:

2009 blepharoplasty questions were extracted in total. A total of 60.93% of questions were preoperative related and 39.07% of questions were postoperative related. Preoperative questions were predominantly about eligibility for surgery (43.85%), while the majority of postoperative question were related to symptoms after surgery (17.42%) and appearance (10.80%). Machine learning analysis showed that most preoperative questions inquired about the possibility of correcting specific features, whereas most postoperative questions focused on resolving complications following surgery.

Conclusion:

As health information becomes more prevalent online, our results underscore the need for greater awareness about frequently asked questions to help surgeons preemptively address patient concerns about blepharoplasty. Our 10 most common questions can be used in the clinical setting as a patient educational handout to augment the preoperative experience.
Now is the time to redefine safety in healthcare
Authors: Bridget Duffy M.
Published: October 2021

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare workers around the globe provided exceptional patient care despite fears of infection, shortages of staff and supplies, and the frustrations of trying to treat a novel pathogen. At the same time, COVID-19 exposed deep and systemic risks to healthcare team members’ physical, psychological, and emotional safety driving burnout to crisis levels. Burnout is arising not only from the emotional toll of caring for sick and dying patients, but COVID-19 also exposed flaws in our health system and infrastructure. Systemic inequities were amplified as COVID-19 disproportionately impacted people of colour and Indigenous community members. A renewed and expanded definition of safety is needed to restore trust, recruit, and retain individuals to the healing professions, enable care to be provided with the greatest skill and humanity, and ensure the well-being of every person working in healthcare. In collaboration with CEOs of a diverse group of health systems in the United States, the author drafted a Declaration of Principles that expands the definition of safety to include safeguarding psychological and emotional well-being of team members, promoting health justice by declaring equity and anti-racism as core components of safety, and ensuring physical safety, which includes a zero-harm program to eliminate workplace violence, both physical and verbal. We invite Canadian leaders to embrace these concepts and commit to supporting team member safety and well-being as an essential foundation for public health. We must humanize healthcare and the time to act is now.
Evaluating the Influence of Consumer Demographics on Online Purchase Intention: An E-Tail Perspective
Authors: Bhat Suhail Ahmad , Islam Sheikh Basharul , Sheikh Aasif Hassan
Published: October 2021

The article is aimed to investigate the influence of an individual’s demographic characteristics such as gender, age, income, marital status and family type on online purchase intention. For accomplishing objectives, the study has adopted a survey by questionnaire methodology for collection of data from a sample of 234 respondents in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Quota sampling technique was adopted for drawing a sample from a population of consumers with some experience and knowledge about online shopping. Hypothesis testing was performed by employing multivariate regression. The results depict that there exists a significant difference in the perception of consumers across various groups of gender, age, marital status and family structures towards online purchase intention. Young, male consumers who are single were found to have a higher score for e-shopping intention than old, female-married consumers. Further consumers belonging to joint families were found to have a positive intention towards online shopping than nuclear family consumers. Online retailers can apply present research findings to renovate their business operations, consumer support services and marketing tactics. Positioning and segmentation strategies require clear understanding about consumer’s needs, characteristic and requirements. Demographic characteristics of an individual have scarcely been studied in the internet shopping literature. Therefore, it is crucial to understand various drivers which compel Indian consumers to shop online in order to frame various marketing strategies that cater their changing needs.