bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors That Determine the Experience of Transition to an Inpatient Palliative Care Unit for Patients and Caregivers: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Whitehead Katherine , Ala-Leppilampi Kari , Lee Betty , Menagh Jacqueline , Spaner Donna
Published: July 2022

Objective: Transitions in care settings near the end of life can present challenges to patients and families, especially when there are also adjustments in level of care and illness trajectory. In this study, we explored what factors influenced how patients and family caregivers experienced a transition to an inpatient Palliative Care Unit (PCU). Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at a PCU in Toronto, Canada. Semi-structured interviews were held with 29 participants (14 patients and 15 family caregivers) during their time on the PCU. Data was analyzed through an iterative process of constant comparison to generate themes. The recruitment process continued to the point of thematic saturation. Results: Five themes were identified that represented the participants’ experiences in transitioning to the PCU: Being prepared, Feeling supported, Coming to terms with end of life issues, Dealing with uncertainty, and Continuity of care. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for clear and iterative communication with patients and family caregivers during the transition to a PCU. Identification and consideration of the common themes involved in the experience of transfer to PCU can help guide future practice and improve the experience of patients and families during transitions at the end of life.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Palliative Care Utilization among Hospitalized Patients with Esophageal Cancer in the United States
Authors: Jackson Inimfon , Jackson Nsikak , Etuk Aniekeme
Published: July 2022

Objective: Due to poor 5-year survival and high symptom burden, esophageal cancer (EC) patients benefit markedly from palliative care utilization. However, there is scant literature exploring factors associated with receipt of palliative care in this population. The prevalence of palliative care consultations among hospitalized EC patients was assessed. Furthermore, we examined the factors associated with palliative care utilization among hospitalized patients with EC. Methods: Retrospective analyses were conducted using the National Inpatient Sample data collected between 2016 and 2018. Descriptive analyses were used to explore the overall prevalence of palliative care utilization. Univariate and multivariable regression models were used to examine factors associated with palliative care utilization among hospitalized EC patients. Results: The overall prevalence of palliative care utilization was 15.97%. Non-Hispanic Blacks had 1.16 times (95% CI: 1.00-1.34) higher odds of palliative care utilization compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Compared to patients on Medicare, those on Medicaid (AOR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.02-1.45), private (AOR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.35) and other insurance types (AOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.39-2.02) were more likely to utilize palliative care. Relative to patients hospitalized in the Northeast, those in Midwest (AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.17-1.53), south (AOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.12-1.45), and west (AOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.22-1.61) were more likely to receive palliative care. Patients admitted to urban teaching hospitals (AOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.07-1.52) had higher odds of having palliative care consultations when compared to their counterparts in rural hospitals. Also, patients who were either discharged to a facility/with home health (OR: 5.39; 95% CI: 4.76-6.10) or died during hospitalization (OR: 26.93; 95% CI: 23.31-31.11) had higher odds of utilizing palliative care when compared to those with a routine discharge. Other factors identified were median household income quartiles, admission type, chemotherapy receipt, and the number of comorbidities. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to further analyze and address factors that may hinder palliative care utilization among hospitalized EC patients to decrease disparities and improve their quality of life. Hospital physicians and health systems need to be more proactive about palliative care consultations to maximize the benefits to these sick cancer patients.
Differences in Beliefs and Behaviors Related to COVID-19 Prevention Among Adult Current and Former Smokers and With and Without A Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Pebley Kinsey , Krukowski Rebecca A.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Study aims included assessing differences in beliefs/behaviors about COVID-19 prevention among current and former smokers with and without cancer.

Design

A cross-sectional survey about COVID-19 beliefs/behaviors was administered from June 2020 to January 2021.

Setting

Survey conducted online via Qualtrics from June 2020 to January 2021.

Subjects

Participants were current (n = 101) and former (n = 102) smokers with and without cancer.

Measures

Questions were related to beliefs about efficacy of and engagement in behaviors for COVID-19 prevention.

Results

Results from logistic regressions displayed that individuals with cancer were more likely to indicate using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol was ineffective ( OR = .12, 95% CI: [.02, .65]) and avoided public transportation ( OR = 1.84, 95% CI: [1.04, 3.28]) compared to those without cancer. Former smokers were more likely to indicate taking vitamin C was effective ( OR = .45, 95% CI: [.22, .93]) and rinsing your mouth with salt water ( OR = 1.89, 95% CI: [1.02, 3.50]) was ineffective compared to current smokers. Current smokers were more likely to indicate not smoking was effective compared to former smokers ( OR = 2.19, 95% CI: [1.13, 4.24]).

Conclusions

Counters to COVID-19 misinformation may need to be tailored to different at-risk groups based on differential beliefs and behaviors.
Examining Donor Preference for Charity Religious Affiliation
Authors: Oxley Jonathan
Published: July 2022

In the United States, most charitable donations go to religiously affiliated organizations, yet the impact of a charity’s affiliation on donor behavior is currently unclear. To better understand this impact, this article uses a laboratory experiment to explore how a charity’s religious affiliation drives donor behavior. In the experiment, participants select one charity from a list of eight, with each charity varying in religious affiliation. Masked and unmasked sessions differ in the inclusion of religious affiliation from half the charities, with masked sessions omitting religious affiliation of the charities. This article finds that adding religious language decreases donation frequency and average donation amounts for Christian charities competing against other religious charities. This drop is primarily driven by participants that are politically liberal. Participants prefer charity religious affiliation to match their own religious identity; however, participant strength of religiosity is more predictive in charity choice than religious affiliation.
Does It Pay to be Green? A Study of the Global Microfinance Industry
Authors: Beisland Leif Atle , Zamore Stephen , Mersland Roy
Published: July 2022

This article examines whether it pays to be green in the microfinance industry. Environmental issues are important for all businesses around the world, and thus many microfinance institutions (MFIs) started embracing them as an additional objective alongside their traditional social and financial objectives. This article is among the first to test the relationships between environmental performance and both the financial and social performance of MFIs. Using a sample of 234 rated MFIs in 58 countries, we find that being green is associated with higher social and financial performance. Specifically, MFIs with environmental policies have higher financial performance (i.e., higher returns on assets, lower operating costs, and lower cost of capital) and higher social performance (i.e., a higher social rating score) than those without environmental policies. Overall, the results suggest that it pays to be green in the microfinance industry and this should motivate MFIs considering being green to do so.
Investigation of copper reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene and Nylon 6 based thermoplastic polymer nanocomposite filaments for 3D printing of electronic components
Authors: Singh Balwant , Kumar Raman , Chohan Jasgurpreet , Sharma Shubham , Singh Jujhar , Ilyas Rushdan Ahmad , Rangappa Sanjay M , Siengchin Suchart , Naresh Kakur , Raghu Sowmya , James Robin
Published: July 2022

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the most efficient and frequently used methods for the development of biomedical implants, bio-sensors, and customized products. In the FDM process, the filament made of polymers or composites is passed through a nozzle in which heaters are provided to melt the feedstock filament. The addition of copper particles to the polymer filament would enhance its thermal and electrical conductivity which finds vast applications in the development of sensors and other electronic components. Thus, it is obligatory to maintain the melt flow index of the filament following the size of the nozzle and the speed of the filament through the nozzle. The virgin polymer materials used as feedstock filament have an appropriate melt flow index (MFI), but the rheological properties of the polymer composites are not defined. This study focuses on the calculation and measurement of the melt flow rate of copper reinforced with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and nylon 6 thermoplastic matrices using fused deposition modeling. The copper particles of different sizes (149 μm, 74 μm, and 37 μm) were added in ABS and nylon 6 thermoplastic matrices to study the mechanical properties. The melt flow rate has been checked for different concentration ratios varying from 1% to 10% of copper reinforcements. The impact of single, double, and triple-sized copper particles on MFI has been investigated. It has been found that with an increase in copper powder concentration in nylon 6, the melt flow index decreases. On the other hand, the MFI initially increases up to 6% and further decreases by adding more particulates of copper powder in ABS. The surface topography of copper reinforced with different percent-compositions of ABS and nylon 6 based polymer composites have been carried out by using scanning electron microscopy.
Evaluation of the soundscapes through the cafe terraces before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in coastal cities in Algeria
Authors: Berkouk Djihed , Bouzir Tallal Abdel Karim , Boucherit Samiha , Khelil Sara , Mahaya Chafik , Matallah Mohamed Elhadi
Published: July 2022

This paper aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Algeria on the soundscapes’ components throughout the cafe terraces in coastal cities. The methodology is based on a laboratory qualitative approach established and divided into two stages. And the monitoring of sound recordings through twenty-one cafe terraces inside the coastal city of Azzaba in Algeria was conducted before and after the lockdown of whole the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the McNemar’s test on the first stage, results suggest that the lockdown measures in Algeria affect the soundscape components of the cafe terraces, specifically the predominance of the anthrophonical sounds over the natural sound components. The predominance of traffic sounds on the soundscapes after the lockdown period does not reflect an increase in noise level, whereas the soundscapes through the cafe terraces during the two periods were similar, and showed as less noisy by the semantic difference analysis evaluation, of the second stage. The factors of the principal component analysis suggest that the soundscapes of the cafe terraces reflect the main patterns of the acoustics design in the public spaces, such as functions (relaxation and communication), space-time for the two factors of the soundscapes of the period before the lockdown, and by relaxation, space and time for the three factors of those of the period after lockdown. Otherwise, the Marginal Homogeneity Test shows that there are significant differences in the assessment of the soundscapes of the cafe terraces during the two periods, which were only associated to the functions. Findings suggest that additional long-term research is needed to preserve and improve the cultural soundscapes among the urban spaces to ensure the acoustic comfort of the occupants and preserve their health.
Effect of side dilution jets on the velocity field and mixing in swirl and bluff-body stabilised annular confined flows
Authors: Gillani Syed Ehtisham , Al-Abdeli Yasir M , Tian Zhao F
Published: July 2022

Stationary and mobile power generation systems, as well as those for aero propulsion, continue to rely heavily on gas turbines. Operational envelopes which critically depends on (flame) jet stabilisation mechanisms, such as swirl, are also affected by considerations for emissions control. In this context, the evolving swirling flow domains feature injection of side (peripheral) dilution air. Despite this, the role of side dilution jets on modifying the flow, turbulence, and mixing fields of turbulent bluff-body (BB) stabilised (swirling) annular flows has not been investigated. This study uses three-dimensional simulations, supported with experimental data to establish boundary conditions, to investigate the interaction of side dilution jets (Red = 18,000) with both non-swirling (S = 0) and swirling (S = 0.3) turbulent BB stabilised annular flows (Res = 35,500). Constant Temperature Anemometry (CTA) measurements are conducted to resolve inlet boundary conditions. The Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) and species transport model (isothermal) are used with validations against benchmark datasets.

Results show that the introduction of side dilution jets into a confined domain, whether swirling or not, induces (asymmetrical) Peripheral Recirculation Zones (PRZ). However, the strength, length, and location of PRZ varies with swirl and the downstream positioning of side dilution jets (H = 2.6D, 6.6D). Additionally, side dilution jets increase centreline velocity decay for both, non-swirling and swirling BB flows. In terms of turbulence characteristics, addition of side dilution jets leads to significant gains in shear layer turbulence with an increase of 72% and 35% in turbulent kinetic energy for non-swirling and swirling BB flows, respectively. Analysis of the mixing characteristics shows negligible impact of side dilution jets in the upstream region, however, from x/D > 3 considerable improvement in central jet (fuel) mixing is observed.
Exploration of machine learning methods to predict systemic lupus erythematosus hospitalizations
Authors: Jorge April M , Smith Dylan , Wu Zhiyao , Chowdhury Tashrif , Costenbader Karen , Zhang Yuqing , Choi Hyon K , Feldman Candace H , Zhao Yijun
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by disease flares which can require hospitalization. Our objective was to apply machine learning methods to predict hospitalizations for SLE from electronic health record (EHR) data.

Methods

We identified patients with SLE in a longitudinal EHR-based cohort with ≥2 outpatient rheumatology visits between 2012 and 2019. We applied multiple machine learning methods to predict hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis code for SLE, including decision tree, random forest, naive Bayes, logistic regression, and an ensemble method. Candidate predictors were derived from structured EHR features, including demographics, laboratory tests, medications, ICD-9/10 codes for SLE manifestations, and healthcare utilization. We used two approaches to assess these variables over longitudinal follow-up, including the incorporation of lagged features to capture changes over time of clinical data. The performance of each model was evaluated by overall accuracy, the F statistic, and the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC).

Results

We identified 1996 patients with SLE. 4.6% were hospitalized for SLE in their most recent year of follow-up. Random forest models had highest performance in predicting SLE hospitalizations, with AUC 0.751 and AUC 0.772 for two approaches (averaging and progressive), respectively. The leading predictors of SLE hospitalizations included dsDNA positivity, C3 level, blood cell counts, and inflammatory markers as well as age and albumin.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that machine learning methods can predict SLE hospitalizations. We identified key predictors of these events including known markers of SLE disease activity; further validation in external cohorts is warranted.
A stick-slip actuator for suppressing the backward motion by introducing a flexible beam
Authors: Li Honglong , Wang Jiru , Xu Zhi , Qin Feng , Wang Zhaoxin , Zhao Hongwei
Published: July 2022

Stick-slip actuators are in high demand in both scientific research and industrial applications. However, backward motion in stick-slip actuators has greatly limited further development. Therefore, to suppress the backward motion, a new flexible beam actuator is proposed in this paper. Correspondingly, a flexible beam actuator is designed to investigate whether the flexible beam can suppress the backward motion. Firstly, a driving mechanism is designed by employing the finite element and pseudo-rigid body methods. Secondly, experiments are conducted on the actuator. The results demonstrate that the actuator can achieve three different displacement curves at different driving voltages: backward motion, smooth motion, and sudden jump. The contact force of the actuator, which has the highest load capacity of 3.9 N, can be adjusted according to the initial load. The actuator achieved 23.714 mm/s at 400 Hz. Additionally, the dynamics model of the actuator is established for investigating the dynamic characteristics of the actuator. Based on the obtained results, the feasibility of suppressing backward motion by a flexible beam is confirmed in this paper, which will further broaden the scope of the application.
“Septoplasty” Performed at Primary Cleft Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review of Techniques and Call for Accurate Terminology
Authors: Park Jenn J. , Rodriguez Colon Ricardo , Arias Fernando D. , Laspro Matteo , Chaya Bachar F. , Rochlin Danielle H. , Staffenberg David A. , Flores Roberto L.
Published: July 2022

Objective

Primary cleft nasal repair can include septal reconstruction. We hypothesize that primary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty have fundamental differences that render these procedures as distinct surgical entities.

Design

Systematic review of the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases performed on pediatric cleft and general adult septoplasty techniques through December 2021. (PROSPERO ID CRD42022295763)

Main Outcome Measures

Collected data included information on septal dissection, septal detachment, and management of the bony and cartilaginous septum.

Results

Twenty-eight pediatric cleft septoplasty and 229 adult septoplasty studies were included. Dissection in primary cleft septoplasty was limited to the anterocaudal septum, while secondary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty techniques entailed wide exposures of the cartilaginous septum with or without exposure of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid. In primary cleft septoplasty, detachment of the septum was mostly limited to the nasal spine and anterior base of the cartilaginous septum, while secondary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty included detachment from the vomer, and ethmoid. In the few reports of cartilage excision during primary cleft septoplasty, removal was limited to the anterior inferior border of the septum, while secondary cleft septoplasty and adult septoplasty included excision of the cartilaginous and bony septum.

Conclusion

Primary cleft septoplasty is distinct from septoplasty performed on facially mature patients. More specifically, septal dissection and detachment are limited to the anterior caudal area during primary lip repair, with rare removal of cartilage or bone. Given these differences, the authors suggest the term “septal reset” to describe septoplasty performed during primary cleft nasal repair.
Assessing the Effects of COVID-19-Related Stay-at-Home Orders on Homicide Rates in Selected U.S. Cities
Authors: Murray Gregg R. , Davies Kim
Published: July 2022

Most U.S. states issued stay-at-home orders (SAHOs) to limit the spread of COVID-19 in 2020. These orders required people to remain in their residences except when undertaking essential activities. While SAHOs are a powerful public health tool against infectious diseases, they can have significant social and economic consequences. Grounded in general strain and routine activities theories and using interrupted time series analyses, this study assesses the effects of SAHOs on homicide rates in 10 U.S. cities. Substantive results suggest SAHOs were associated with changes in homicide rates in theoretically identifiable ways.
COVID-19’s Effects on Homicide Investigation
Authors: Swisher Carson , AbiNader Millan A.
Published: July 2022

COVID-19 affected every aspect of our society, including homicide incidence, investigation, and prosecution. This case study examines the impact of COVID-19 on homicide investigation in one large metropolitan police department. Two homicide investigators were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. A thematic analytic approach was used to identify two overarching themes: fear and changes to investigative procedure. Detectives feared getting COVID-19 and possibly transmitting it to their loved ones, particularly in the early day of the pandemic when little was known about transmission. Homicide investigators faced several changes to how they conducted interviews, met with families, and sought warrants. While this case study only offers a glimpse into the challenges faced by law enforcement departments due to COVID-19, it is clear that homicide investigations were greatly affected and may continue to be so. More research is needed to unpack the relationship between COVID-19 and policies that were implemented in response to it.
Prediction Models for Prognosis of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wu Yi , Li Ruxue , Zhang Yating , Long Tianxue , Zhang Qi , Li Mingzi
Published: July 2022

Objective

To systematically summarize the reported prediction models for hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes, compare their performance, and evaluate their applicability in clinical practice.

Methods

We selected studies according to the PRISMA, appraised studies according to the Prediction model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST), and extracted and synthesized the data according to the CHARMS. The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 31 October 2021 using a systematic review approach to capture all eligible studies developing and/or validating a prognostic prediction model for hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes. The risk bias and clinical applicability were assessed using the PROBAST. The meta-analysis of the performance of the prediction models were also conducted. The protocol of this study was recorded in PROSPERO (CRD42022309852).

Results

Sixteen studies with 22 models met the eligible criteria. The predictors with the high frequency of occurrence among all models were age, HbA1c, history of hypoglycemia, and insulin use. A meta-analysis of C-statistic was performed for 21 prediction models, and the summary C-statistic and its 95% confidence interval and prediction interval were 0.7699 (0.7299–0.8098), 0.7699 (0.5862–0.9536), respectively. Heterogeneity exists between different hypoglycemia prediction models (τ2 was 0.00734≠0).

Conclusions

The existing predictive models are not recommended for widespread clinical use. A high-quality hypoglycemia screening tool should be developed in future studies.
Prognostic Role of the Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Reperfusion Therapy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sharma Divyansh , Bhaskar Sonu M. M.
Published: July 2022

Background

Both inflammation and thrombotic/hemostatic mechanisms may play a role in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) pathogenesis, and a biomarker, such as the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), considering both mechanisms may be of clinical utility.

Objectives

This meta-analysis sought to examine the effect of PLR on functional outcomes, early neurological changes, bleeding complications, mortality, and adverse outcomes in AIS patients treated with reperfusion therapy (RT).

Design

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Data Sources and Methods

Individual studies were retrieved from the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases. References thereof were also consulted. Data were extracted using a standardised data sheet, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the association of admission (pre-RT) or delayed (post-RT) PLR with defined clinical and safety outcomes were conducted. In the case of multiple delayed PLR timepoints, the timepoint closest to 24 hours was selected.

Results

Eighteen studies (n=4878) were identified for the systematic review, of which 14 (n=4413) were included in the meta-analyses. PLR collected at admission was significantly negatively associated with 90-day good functional outcomes (SMD=−.32; 95% CI = −.58 to −.05; P=.020; z=−2.328), as was PLR collected at delayed timepoints (SMD=−.43; 95% CI = −.54 to −.32; P<.0001; z=−7.454). PLR at delayed timepoints was also significantly negatively associated with ENI (SMD=−.18; 95% CI = −.29 to −.08; P=.001. Conversely, the study suggested that a higher PLR at delayed timepoints may be associated with radiological bleeding and mortality. The results varied based on the type of RT administered.

Conclusions

A higher PLR is associated with worse outcomes after stroke in terms of morbidity, mortality, and safety outcomes after stroke.
Who rules the deliberative party? Examining the Agora case in Belgium
Authors: Junius Nino , Matthieu Joke
Published: July 2022

In recent years, pessimism about plebiscitary intra-party democracy has been challenged by assembly-based models of intra-party democracy. However, research has yet to explore the emergence of new power dynamics in parties originating from the implementation of deliberative practices in their intra-party democracy. We investigate how deliberative democratization reshuffles power relations within political parties through a case study of Agora, an internally deliberative movement party in Belgium. Employing a process-tracing approach using original interview and participant observation data, we argue that while plebiscitary intra-party democracy shifts power towards passive members prone to elite domination, our case suggests that deliberative intra-party democracy shifts power towards active members that are more likely to be critical of elites.
The dichotomy within denationalisation: Perpetuating or emancipating from its discriminatory past?
Authors: Prener Christian
Published: July 2022

This article examines the acceptability of the differential treatment of dual citizens within contemporary denationalisation from both doctrinal and normative perspectives with particular focus on the right to non-discrimination as prescribed by the European Convention on Human Rights. The article concludes that denationalisation laws that target only dual citizens very likely have indirect discriminatory effects on particular subgroups of dual citizens along and possibly across discriminatory grounds such as ethnicity, race, gender, religion and national origin. The article contends that prevailing doctrinal justifications are based on a set of misconceptions concerning the suitability, efficacy, necessity and consequently proportionality of denationalisation in Western societies and that the re-emergence of denationalisation in the 21st century is not only illustrative of the inadequacies within current discrimination law norms but enhances them.
“I don’t need advice but I will take it”: Allied labor in transgender allyship
Authors: Blatt Ruth
Published: July 2022

Allies play an important role in virtually every fight to end oppression, yet are often criticized by those they are allied with for reinforcing binaries and recreating colonial models of saviorism that maintain their relative social power. I refer to the potential of allies to both help and harm those they are allied with as the “ally paradox.” I analyze the clip “Janet Mock Rejoins Piers Morgan” from February 2014 to identify the issues at the heart of the ally paradox: who knows what is best for the cause (epistemic authority), who deserves allyship (deservingness), what constitutes “good” allyship (intention versus outcome), and how allyship should feel (affect). Paying attention to the affective and emotional components of their interaction, I ask how Mock manages the complexity of the ally-allied relationship that stems from unequal power relations. I coin the term “allied labor” to describe the work of mobilizing allies as a resource while at the same time disrupting power structures. Allied labor is the work of both cultivating and resisting allies. Mock draws on politeness and respectability as resources to educate Morgan and the public about transgender issues and expose his allyship as fragile. In this way, she is both complicit and subversive, leveraging the potential of allyship for social change while engaging in respectability politics.
Citizens’ basic income in Scotland: On the road to somewhere
Authors: Cantillon Sara , O’Toole Francis
Published: July 2022

While the economic fragility exposed by Covid-19 has renewed the attention paid to social protection systems and in particular to basic income, the Scottish government had already funded four local authorities – North Ayrshire, City of Edinburgh, Fife and Glasgow – to undertake a feasibility study on the introduction of a Universal Basic Income pilot in Scotland. This article explores the specific Scottish context and rationale for this study, including the factors that led the Scottish government and the local authorities to pursue this approach, as well as the impact of the study on the wider social security debate and policy context in Scotland. Specifically, it takes a critical look at the Steering Committee's feasibility study, and its two commissioned research components, and explores the financial costings and institutional obstacles identified in taking forward a pilot Universal Basic Income in Scotland. These significant challenges are considered in light of both the limits of devolution and the ongoing debate on independence, as well as the wider implications for progress in social protection in Scotland.
The activism of young muslims in Italy: Citizens ‘crossing borders’ in search of recognition
Authors: Acocella Ivana
Published: July 2022

The article investigates how young Muslims born and/or raised in Italy perform ‘acts of citizenship’ combining religious belief and civic engagement. We present the results of 40 in-depth interviews carried out with young Muslims active in two associations: Giovani Musulmani d’Italia and Islamic Relief. The aim is to explore how the tactics of visibility, the strategies of recognition ‘from below’ and the forms of transnational mobilisation of Western Muslim activists may trigger processes to ‘denationalize’ the meaning of citizenship, challenging original autochthony as the primordial ‘right’ of belonging. Furthermore, in the Italian model of imperfect secularism, young Muslims’ acts of citizenship can shed light on the limits of the fictitious principle of public ‘neutrality’ as tolerance and the need to redefine the public sphere as a common and heterogeneous space affirming cultural pluralism and the right to difference as integral elements of the foundation of civil society.
Visualization and simulation study on the impacts of conical duct geometry on the spray characteristics of ducted fuel injection
Authors: Li Feng , Wang Ziman , Lee Chia-fon , Yang Wei , Ma Fukang
Published: July 2022

In this work, experiment and simulation methods were employed to investigate the spray characteristics of ducted fuel injection (DFI) configured the conical duct. A cylindrical duct was used for comparison. The diameter of the small port of the conical duct is the same as the diameter of the cylindrical duct hole. The conical duct is placed in two ways, namely contracted and expanded placement. The research was conducted under injection pressure of 120 MPa, high ambient density of 65.6 kg/m3 and non-vaporizing conditions. The perspectives of spray dispersion, spray morphology and gas-fuel mixing at the duct inlet were investigated as indicators for evaluating spray performance. Results showed that the duct confinement is the main reason for the difference in spray performance. Under the duct confinement, the fuel adhering to the inner wall of the duct during the spraying process forms a film. Depending on whether the spray collides directly with the duct wall, the interaction of the spray with the duct is interpreted as direct interaction and indirect interaction. The film shows a jitter-like development under the direct interaction and develops smoothly under indirect interaction. Direct interaction is beneficial to improve spray performance, while indirect interaction is the opposite. The duct confinement changes the velocity field, Turbulent Kinetic Energy field and pressure field of the spray, which results in the difference in the spray performance of each spray method. A strong gas entrainment occurs at the duct inlet, contributing to the formation of a high quality gas-fuel mixture. For these spray performances, DFI with the conical duct does not perform as well as that of the cylindrical duct and the conical duct is better placed in contraction than in expansion.
The r/wallstreetbets ‘war machine’: Explicating dynamics of consumer resistance and capture
Authors: Jones Hunter , Hietanen Joel
Published: July 2022

Following the recent #GameStop ‘market disruption’ where r/wallstreetbets ‘rogue’ traders were able to momentarily topple billion dollar hedge funds, we employ Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘war machine’ concept in order to comment on the potential of consumer resistance when matched up against global financial markets. While most extant theory follows the Foucauldian tradition in asserting that consumer resistance is a reaction to power, we use Deleuze and Guattari’s immanent theorisation of desire to make the case for thinking of resistance as primary. Far from a hagiography of affective affirmation, our immanent perspective draws attention to how state and corporate forms are readily able to co-opt consumer resistance. Ultimately, we make the case for reorienting consumer resistance research away from seeking out ruptures and breaks in stable structures of power to asking a more difficult question: how can resistance be organised to avoid capture?
Informal dementia care: The carer’s lived experience at the divides between policy and practice
Authors: Britton Anthony , Zimmermann Martina
Published: July 2022

Support for informal dementia care at a local community level is not working for most carers today. Carers looking after a person with dementia have long lamented the absence of an empowered named support and an effectively actioned care plan. Drawing on literary writing and social research, we argue in this article that these challenges have existed since dementia emerged as a major condition in the West during the 1980s. Based on this historical context, we ask: Why has this issue persisted over the last four decades? How have healthcare politics and policy initiatives responded to these requests? And what can we learn from this for the current, COVID-19 exacerbated crisis of care? This article focuses on the English context, to discuss these ongoing challenges in the light of a series of policy papers, and to ask what is hampering the implementation of such policy initiatives. In England, local authorities are responsible for dementia support. This article focuses on the situation in a county in the Midlands where one of us (AB) has been lobbying local government for over a decade. The discussion contextualises the lived experience of dementia care within the situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuing politics of crises and persistent emphasis on cure over care. We find that the absence on two points centrally challenges care: a joined-up approach between health and social care and adequate information on available care support services, accessible through an empowered named contact. To enhance the lived experience of dementia care, consistent provision of individual named support and professional care support, as and when required, should become essential to local implementation of the care policy.
A novel long sequence multi-step ship trajectory prediction method considering historical data
Authors: Gao Da wei , Wang Qiang , Zhu Yong sheng , Xie Lei , Zhang Jin fen , Yan Ke , Zhang Pan
Published: July 2022

Considering the importance of timeliness in ship risk assessment, a high-resolution and long sequence multi-step trajectory prediction method is proposed. Through the multi-step prediction and uncertainty analysis of the ship trajectory for a long period of time, it is possible to make timely ship navigation risk assessment. First, the ship trajectory with high resolution is obtained by cubic spline interpolation. Then, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) is used as the metric of distance, and a method called Laplacian Eigenmaps Self-Organizing Map (LE-SOM) is used to extract the features from original high-dimensional data with unequal intervals, so as to select the historical trajectories that can be used as a reference. Finally, the trajectory is generated for multi-step prediction. The proposed method not only predicts the position of the ship and its uncertainty from statistical perspective, but also investigates the relationship between trajectory curvature and the prediction error. The case study on a ferry ship in the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River indicates the validity of the method.
Robust anti-pitching control for high-speed multihull without velocity measurements
Authors: Xu Wenlei , Zhang Jun , Wen Hao
Published: July 2022

Considering the excessive vertical motion amplitude of high-speed multihull, and the difficulty of measuring heave velocity and pitch angular velocity directly, a robust anti-pitching control method without velocity measurements is proposed in this paper. The vertical motion model of the high-speed multihull is established with the used anti-pitching appendages, that is, T-foil and flap. The uncertainty of the vertical control model, and the coupling between heave and pitch motions are analyzed. Only using the output feedback of heave displacement and pitch angle, a stable second-order dynamic system is constructed to realize the anti-pitching control, avoiding the observation of heave velocity and pitch angular velocity during the process of control design. Furthermore, the regional pole assignment theory is adopted to select the parameters, so as to ensure the dynamic performance. On this basis, an extended state observer (ESO) is designed to estimate the stochastic disturbance and the coupling between heave and pitch motions online, and the bandwidth of the ESO is chosen based on the wave power spectrum, such that the robust anti-pitching performance can be further improved due to the real-time feedforward compensation. The stability of the closed loop system is theoretically proved using Lyapunov theory, and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is also verified by numerical simulations.
Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Campus-Wide Pharmacy Vending Machine Program
Authors: DeMaria Andrea L. , Hughes-Wegner Alexandra T. , Rogozinski Francesca , Raff Taylor , Szabo Michelle M. , Noel Nicole
Published: July 2022

Lack of access to affordable, accessible, over-the-counter medications and health-related items affects school attendance, academic performance, and individual health. Increasing access through innovations, such as Pharmacy Vending Machines (PhVMs), may address the burdens students face in university settings. In January 2021, two PhVMs were placed on Purdue University’s campus to increase access to affordable and dependable 24/7 family planning items, cold/flu remedies, and other popular over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Based on the success of the initiative and growing student body, the program was expanded to include two additional machines in August 2021. In this article, we detail how Purdue University planned, implemented, and evaluated a campus-wide PhVM program, which was an interdisciplinary collaboration across students, faculty, and staff in the College of Health and Human Sciences and College of Pharmacy. Pharmaceutical product availability in convenient vending machines dispersed throughout a campus contributes to a solution for the increasing demand for health products among consumers in large geographic areas.
Cognition and Daily Life Activities in Stroke: A Network Analysis
Authors: Lau Stephen C. L. , Connor Lisa Tabor , Heinemann Allen W. , Baum Carolyn M.
Published: July 2022

Understanding complex dynamics of cognitive constructs and the interplay between cognition and daily life activities is possible through network analysis. The objectives of this study are to characterize the cognition network and identify central cognitive constructs, and identify the cognitive constructs bridging cognition and daily life activities. In 210 community-dwelling stroke survivors, we employed network analysis to characterize the cognition network, identify the central cognitive constructs, and examine the bridge pathway connecting cognition and daily life activities. Cognitive constructs were positively correlated within the network, forming clusters of fluid (e.g., components of active problem-solving), crystallized (e.g., world knowledge), and functional cognition. Central constructs included inhibition, organization, and cognitive flexibility, whereas bridge constructs included organization, sequencing, and inhibition. Central and bridge constructs identified by this study are potential targets for future research and intervention. The emergence of functional cognition as central and bridge constructs may support its inclusion in occupational therapy practice.
The Effects of Editorial-Board Diversity on Race Scholars and Their Scholarship: A Field Experiment
Authors: Auelua-Toomey Sakaria Laisene , Roberts Steven O.
Published: July 2022

Psychological science is in a unique position to identify and dismantle the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that maintain and increase racial inequality, yet the extent to which psychological science can do so depends on the extent to which race scholarship is supported in psychological science. We theorized that the lack of racial diversity among editors at mainstream journals might obstruct the advancement of race scholarship by signaling to race scholars that their research is not valued by mainstream journals and that they should submit their research elsewhere for publication. Indeed, in a preregistered field experiment with 1,189 psychology Ph.D. students, we found that under all-White editorial boards, race scholars were less likely than non–race scholars (a) to believe that the journal valued racial diversity, research on race, or their own research; (b) to believe that the journal would publish their research; and (c) to be willing to submit their research to the journal for publication. Under racially diverse editorial boards, however, we find no differences between race scholars and non–race scholars. In fact, we found that under diverse editorial boards, compared with under all-White editorial boards, both race scholars and non–race scholars had more positive perceptions of the journal. We argue that racially diverse editorial boards are good for race scholars and their scholarship and for the field more broadly.
International Classification of Diseases clinical coding training: An international survey
Authors: Otero Varela Lucia , Doktorchik Chelsea , Wiebe Natalie , Southern Danielle A , Knudsen Søren , Mathur Pallavi , Quan Hude , Eastwood Cathy A
Published: July 2022

Background

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is widely used by clinical coders worldwide for clinical coding morbidity data into administrative health databases. Accordingly, hospital data quality largely depends on the coders’ skills acquired during ICD training, which varies greatly across countries.

Objective

To characterise the current landscape of international ICD clinical coding training.

Method

An online questionnaire was created to survey the 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member countries. Questions focused on the training provided to clinical coding professionals. The survey was distributed to potential participants who met specific criteria, and to organisations specialised in the topic, such as WHO Collaborating Centres, to be forwarded to their representatives. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Data from 47 respondents from 26 countries revealed disparities in all inquired topics. However, most participants reported clinical coders as the primary person assigning ICD codes. Although training was available in all countries, some did not mandate training qualifications, and those that did differed in type and duration of training, with college or university degree being most common. Clinical coding certificates most frequently entailed passing a certification exam. Most countries offered continuing training opportunities, and provided a range of support resources for clinical coders.

Conclusion

Variability in clinical coder training could affect data collection worldwide, thus potentially hindering international comparability of health data.

Implications

These findings could encourage countries to improve their resources and training programs available for clinical coders and will ultimately be valuable to the WHO for the standardisation of ICD training.
Toxicity management strategies for next-generation novel therapeutics in multiple myeloma
Authors: Steinbach Mary , Julian Kelley , McClune Brian , Sborov Douglas W.
Published: July 2022

The therapeutic options available for patients with multiple myeloma have greatly expanded over the past decade and incorporating these novel agents into routine clinical practice has significantly improved outcomes. The next generation of therapeutics is available for relapsed and refractory patients either as standard of care or in clinical trial, and these drugs represent a generational paradigm shift. Patients now have access to a multitude of novel immunotherapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies, an antibody–drug conjugate, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T), and bispecific T-cell redirecting antibodies, and novel oral therapies including selinexor (selective inhibitor of nuclear export) and venetoclax (bcl-2 inhibitor). While these drugs have the potential to be highly efficacious in certain subsets of patients when used as single agents or in combination regimens, they are each associated with unique toxicity profiles. It is imperative to understand these potential adverse events to ensure patient safety. Appropriate supportive care management is paramount to maximize drug exposure and therapeutic efficacy. The following review focuses its discussion on drugs and combination regimens that are currently FDA-approved and those that continue to be investigated in clinical trials, highlights the clinically relevant toxicity profiles for each of the different agents, and provides practical considerations for the treatment team.