bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Open-source remote laboratory experiments for controls engineering education
Authors: Reid DP , Burridge J , Lowe DB , Drysdale TD
Published: February 2022

We describe and evaluate the use of a remote laboratory with approximately 250 third-year students in the ‘Controls and Instrumentation Engineering 3’ course in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. The remote laboratory was created using the first iteration of a new open-source infrastructure. A key component of the implementation is a secure video and data relay that permits experiments to be hosted on restricted networks and accessed from a wide range of browsers, so as to minimise the technical support burden on course staff. A heterogeneous set of twelve spinning disks driven by DC motors were provided to students via an online catalogue permitting instant and exclusive access to an individual experiment for up to 90 min a session. The student experience was evaluated via a survey, which comprised both qualitative and quantitative questions. Survey participation was optional and included some in-depth questions targeting the students’ experience from a UX perspective. The link between quantitative and qualitative results allows us to draw useful conclusions about the experiences of the students participating in the survey. Our main findings are that the overall experience was positive for the survey respondents, and that they perceive a distinction between having control over the equipment and control over the task. Our work indicates there is a need to better understand the implications of students making this distinction, and the effect it will have on future designs of remote laboratory tasks, user interfaces, and evaluations.
Theoretical and numerical analysis of vortex bladeless wind turbines
Authors: Elsayed Ahmed M , Farghaly Mohamed B
Published: February 2022

Wind energy is one of the most abundant renewable energy resources that have been used to generate electricity. A new used method called Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbines which is basically a rod oscillating and vibrating in response to the vortices originating from the wind passing by the rod. This paper presents a mathematical model used in analysis the work of the VBWT. A prototype design was be created using solidwork to calculate the physical properties. In addition, a numerical study was carried out using Ansys software to calculate the forces affecting the VBWT. Finally, the safety of VBWT structure is studied. The results indicated that, the obtained model can be applied practically in studying the performance of general VBWT with low wind speed, as VBWT use less space, low maintenance and hence economical. The mathematical formula of VBWT power is function of air velocity, aerodynamic coefficients, and prototype physical properties.
Soil Loss Risk Analysis for Construction Activities
Authors: Kazaz Billur , Schussler Jaime C. , Dickey Loulou C. , Perez Michael A.
Published: February 2022

Construction-related ground-disturbing activities leave exposed land susceptible to soil loss and increase the risk of polluting adjacent waterbodies with sediment-laden discharge. State and federal regulations require stormwater pollution prevention plans to be implemented during construction to mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff. Areas prone to soil loss can be identified early in site planning using soil loss modeling. Identification of these critical areas could influence the design and placement of erosion and sediment control practices. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) can be applied to estimate the soil loss on construction sites in tonnes per Ha per year (tons/acre/year) by considering factors of rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, length of slope, erosion control, and sediment control. This study integrates geographic information system (GIS) with RUSLE to create soil loss models for residential, commercial, and highway construction scenarios in the contiguous U.S.A. These three construction types were modeled in various locations throughout the country to assess erosive risk. Soil loss outputs were categorized into five risk tiers ranging from very low to very high. Southeastern states had the highest estimated soil loss during residential, commercial, and highway construction, reaching rates of 1,464, 706, and 1,302 tonnes per Ha per year (653, 315, and 581 tons/acre/year), respectively. This study provides a customizable model for any site-specific slope-length factor outside of the three construction scenarios modeled. Integration of GIS provides a unique opportunity to apply RUSLE across a larger landscape. The presented macro-scale data can be used for the design of erosion and sediment control practices.
Evaluation of Posted Speed Limits Reductions on Urban Roads with a High Percentage of Cyclists
Authors: Schaefer Jaclyn S. , Figliozzi Miguel A. , Unnikrishnan Avinash
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a before and after analysis of the impact of posted speed limit (PSL) changes on passenger car (FHWA class 2 vehicle) speeds in Portland, Oregon. The study focuses on urban roads, comparing sites that underwent a PSL 5-mph reduction (treatment sites) and sites where the PSL did not change (control sites). Sites with a high percentage of and priority for cyclists (neighborhood greenways) and sites with a more standard traffic composition were compared. Differences in speed characteristics such as mean and 85th percentile speeds, the speed variance, and the proportion of vehicles exceeding a speed threshold (relative to the PSL) were evaluated on aggregate and individual scales. A series of statistical hypothesis tests were employed to assess changes in the speed characteristics among individual data set pairs. The results suggest distinct differences between the treatment and control groups and neighborhood greenway and non-greenway sites. Although there is a high degree of variability, the treatment group experienced more decreases in the speed characteristics, and by a greater amount than the control group, on average. Within the treatment group, sites with a priority for cyclists were even more likely to experience a larger reduction in operating speeds. These results could be interpreted as link-level data providing indirect yet supporting evidence for the safety in numbers hypothesis and changes in motorists’ behavior on neighborhood greenways.
Commuting Carless: A Qualitative Study of Transportation Challenges for Disadvantaged Job Seekers in Chicago, IL
Authors: Coren Chelsie , Lowe Kate , Barajas Jesus M.
Published: February 2022

Intersecting systems of land use and transportation access, employment opportunities, employer roles, and neighborhood dynamics shape commuting experiences among people of color and other marginalized communities, but how they do so is not well known. This study adopts a qualitative approach to identify understudied and interconnected factors in the transportation experiences of disadvantaged job seekers in Chicago, especially those identifying as Black who commute without cars. Majority Black job seekers in focus group discussions reported a complex web of transportation barriers to employment, including those related to geographic and schedule mismatches, resulting in lost opportunities and heavy commute burdens. Job seekers desire closer quality jobs and more coordination between employers and transit agencies. Respondents suggested that employers, who are sometimes biased toward hiring those with personal vehicles, are personally unaware of transportation experiences that the entry-level workforce faces. Findings showed that job access strategies for disadvantaged workers need broader understandings of lived—rather than solely modeled—job accessibility. Accessibility assessments will be overly optimistic without accounting for security concerns that exist in some locations and that disproportionately affect people of color. Although transportation improvements are vital, the findings showed that transportation strategies are insufficient without holistic strategies, such as equitable community and economic development.
Correlation of Electrical Resistivity and Formation Factor with Chloride and Water Permeability of Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Aragoncillo Ariel Miguel , Lomboy Gilson
Published: February 2022

Among the methods of determining the permeability of concrete, electrical resistivity tests are the most rapid and one of the simplest techniques. Several studies have found a strong correlation between electrical resistivity and the other permeation properties, such as water permeability and rapid chloride penetrability. However, most of these comparisons used conventional concrete in which natural aggregates were used. Concrete with alternative aggregates such as recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) shows a different microstructure and higher permeability than conventional concrete. Thus, the existing correlations might not be applicable for concrete with recycled aggregates. This research measures the electrical resistivity (AASHTO T 358 & AASHTO TP 119), formation factor, rapid chloride permeability (ASTM C 1202), and water permeability (Germann water permeability test: GWT) of RAC. High chloride ion permeability was observed in all the samples. On the other hand, some samples were found to have low water permeability. It was observed that RAC could be evaluated as water-resistant when a low water/cement ratio was used. The bulk resistivity, surface resistivity, and formation factor were all found to be strongly correlated with rapid chloride permeability test and GWT measurements. Compared with the established correlation from other studies using conventional concrete, RAC shows a higher slope of electrical resistivity versus chloride permeability regression line. On the other hand, RAC can be assumed to have low water permeability when the bulk resistivity, surface resistivity, and formation factor are greater than 5.2 kΩ-cm, 9.6 kΩ-cm, and 528, respectively.
Double-Bundle Versus Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients With Significant Passive Anterior Tibial Subluxation
Authors: Lin Lin , Wang Haijun , Wang Yongjian , Wang Jian , Liu Yang , Yu Jiakuo
Published: February 2022

Background:

Passive anterior tibial subluxation (PATS) is often observed in patients with anterior cruciate ligament tears. Postoperative outcomes of double-bundle (DB) and single-bundle (SB) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with significant PATS (>6 mm) are unclear.

Hypothesis:

DB-ACLR could achieve better stability and clinical outcomes than SB-ACLR in patients with PATS >6 mm.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis was peformed on 626 consecutive patients who underwent primary anatomic ACLR between October 2016 and November 2017. Anterior subluxation of the lateral and medial compartments in extension relative to the femoral condyles was measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans. Among patients who demonstrated significant PATS (>6 mm) in the lateral compartment, 54 who underwent DB-ACLR (study group) were matched to 54 who underwent SB-ACLR (control group). PATS, stability (pivot-shift test and KT-2000 arthrometer), the Lysholm score, and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) grade were investigated preoperatively and at 3- to 4-year follow-up.

Results:

The preoperative mean PATS values in the lateral and medial compartments were not significantly different between groups (control vs study: lateral compartment, 8.1 ± 1.8 vs 8.5 ± 2.1 mm; medial compartment, 5.2 ± 1.9 vs 5.4 ± 1.9 mm; P > .05). Postoperatively, mean PATS values in the lateral and medial compartments of the study group were significantly improved as compared with the control group (control vs study: lateral compartment, 5.9 ± 2.8 vs 3.2 ± 4.1 mm; medial compartment, 3.7 ± 2.9 vs 1.4 ± 2.3 mm; P < .05). Significantly superior results were found for knee stability in the study group regarding the Lachman test (grade 0/1/2/3, study vs control: 29/22/3/0 vs 16/28/10/0; P = .031), pivot-shift test (grade 0/1/2/3, study vs control: 44/9/1/0 vs 30/19/5/0; P = .023), and KT-2000 arthrometer (study vs control: 2.5 ± 1.5 vs 3.9 ± 1.4 mm; P < .001). Clinical scores showed significantly better results in the study group in terms of IKDC score (study vs control: 87.9 ± 8.7 vs 81.2 ± 15.0; P = .01), Tegner activity score (study vs control: 6.0 ± 1.4 vs 4.9 ± 1.5; P < .001), and Lysholm score (study vs control: 91.7 ± 7.0 vs 86.3 ± 11.4; P = .004).

Conclusion:

DB-ACLR achieved better knee stability and clinical outcomes when compared with SB-ACLR in patients with PATS >6 mm at 3- to 4-year follow-up.
Assessing the Accuracy of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding for Delirium
Authors: Chuen Victoria L , Chan Adrian C.H. , Ma Jin , Alibhai Shabbir M.H. , Chau Vicky
Published: February 2022

Objective: We assessed the accuracy of the ICD-10 code for delirium (F05) and its relationship with delirium discharge summary documentation. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review at three academic hospitals. The Chart-based Delirium Identification Instrument (CHART-DEL) was used to identify 108 hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with delirium, and 758 patients without delirium as controls. We assessed the proportion of patients who received the F05 code and calculated the sensitivity and specificity. We compared the rates of F05 code received between patients with and without “delirium” documented in the discharge summary. Results: Among delirious patients, 46.3% received a F05 code, which has a sensitivity of 46.3% and specificity of 99.6% for delirium. Of charts with “delirium” in the discharge summary ( n = 67), 67.2% were appropriately coded. Conclusions: Current ICD-10 data inadequately capture delirium. Delirium documentation in the discharge summary is associated with improved delirium coding.
Sustainable waste management solutions for the foodservice industry: A Delphi study
Authors: Martin-Rios Carlos , Demen Meier Christine , Pasamar Susana
Published: February 2022

Foodservice businesses influence the sustainability of their natural environment by producing significant amounts of waste. Yet, research has, thus far, been dominated by studies that limit their scope to food waste alone. Few studies have taken a broader look at sustainable waste initiatives, including innovative waste processing techniques, with a view to constructing management indicators for foodservices. This study combines management innovation practices related to resource management, waste prevention, processing and disposal techniques, and stakeholder involvement to offer sustainable standards. It primarily adopts the Delphi technique to propose specific solutions pertaining to waste management. Experts from government, industry, and academia reveal that potential waste management initiatives comprise three facets – service, process (operational), and organisational practices and innovations, 15 sub-facets and 41 indicators. This study thus establishes a catalogue of solutions for food, packaging and other ‘non-food’ waste that foodservice establishments can implement. In addition to its practical implications, an important contribution is its focus on management systems to establish waste management standards for hospitality, food and beverage (F&B) services, restaurants, and non-commercial catering.
Framing Syrian refugees: Examining news framing effects on attitudes toward refugee admissions and anti-immigrant sentiment
Authors: Liu Juan
Published: February 2022

This study investigates the effects of exposure to news frames on attitudes toward Syrian refugee admissions and anti-immigrant sentiment. Findings show that framing Syrian refugees, ranging from benefits, victims to a security threat did invoke changes of attitudes toward admitting Syrian refugees. Participants reading a benefit frame story expressed more favorable opinions on accepting Syrian refugees than participants in the threat frame condition. In contrast to the extant literature, arguing victim frame enhances positive attitudes, the findings suggested that participants, who were exposed to a victim frame story yielded stronger anti-immigrant sentiment than participants who read a threat frame story. These findings advance scholarship on media framing of refugees and its effect on anti-immigrant sentiment and have important refugee admission policy and advocacy implications.
Carbon molecular sieve hollow fiber composite membrane derived from PMDA-ODA polyimide for gas separation
Authors: Yang Rui , Chen Ming Yang , Li Pei
Published: February 2022

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes have excellent gas separation property over conventional polymeric membranes and superior anti-swelling property. PMDA-ODA polyimide has high thermal stability and good mechanical property. It has been extensively adopted as the precursor of CMS membrane. However, due to the insoluble nature, PMDA-ODA CMS membranes are limited to configurations like dense symmetric films or composite membranes using porous inorganic or metal substrates. In this work, CMS hollow fiber composite membranes based on an asymmetric PMDA-ODA hollow fiber were successfully prepared for the first time. The neat PMDA-ODA hollow fiber membrane was crosslinked by polyethyleneimine to alleviate pore collapsing during carbonization and then dip-coated by a PMDA-ODA PAA solution to seal the surface defects. The PDMA-ODA CMS composite hollow fiber membranes showed gas permeances of 93.4 GPU, 19.6 GPU, 6.5 GPU, and 4.7 GPU for CO2, O2, N2, and CH4, respectively, with an ideal selectivity of 14.4, 3.0, and 19.8 for CO2/N2, O2/N2, and CO2/CH4 gas pairs, respectively. The attractive gas separation property shows a great potential for industrial application.
Hemodynamic impact of proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm: Mind the posteriorly projecting ones!
Authors: Fan Zhenmin , Dong Lijun , Zhang Yingying , Ye Xia , Deng Xiaoyan
Published: February 2022

Intracranial aneurysm projected posteriorly is associated with high risk of aneurysm rupture. In order to investigate the biomechanical mechanisms for the adverse event, three-dimension intracranial cerebral aneurysms were constructed based on clinical data, and we numerically compared effect of location, position, size, and shape of aneurysm on hemodynamic conditions including velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress (WSS). The numerical results showed that the aneurysm projected posteriorly even at small sizes led to abnormal hemodynamic environment, which was featured by a local high pressure and stress concentration near aneurysm neck area. Moreover, the one located at the proximal A1 segment and ellipsoidal aneurysm would further worse local hemodynamic environment, causing high local stresses. These findings indicated the potential mechanical mechanism for high rupture rate of the aneurysms projected posteriorly, underscoring importance of early and accurate diagnosis and promptly treatment for improved the clinical outcome, even if these aneurysms are of small sizes.
The effects of ellagic acid and other pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) derivatives on human gastric cancer AGS cells
Authors: Cheshomi Hamid , Bahrami Ahmad Reza , Rafatpanah Houshang , Matin Maryam M
Published: February 2022

Although surgery with or without (neo)adjuvant chemo/radiotherapy, as the standard treatments, can be suitable therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer, side effects and drug resistance are two main treatment obstacles. It has been discovered that pomegranate and its natural derivatives, especially ellagic acid (EA), offer significant anti-cancer effects while causing trivial side effects. In this study, we aimed to explore the anti-cancer effects of EA on a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) as well as in immunocompromised mice bearing human gastric tumors, for the first time. HPLC was used for determining EA in samples. MTT assay, apoptosis and scratch assay, gelatin zymography, and quantitative RT-PCR were used to determine the anti-cancer properties of different concentrations of pomegranate fruit juice, pomegranate peel extract, and EA. Furthermore, the effects of these compounds were investigated on immunosuppressed C57BL/6 mice carrying human gastric cancer tumors. EA could inhibit the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells. It also had significant effects on reducing both expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Further, it was demonstrated that with alterations in the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and inflammation including P53, BAX, APAF1, BCL2, iNOS, NF-κB, IL-8, and TNF-α, EA treatment led to increased cancer cell death and reduced inflammation. Furthermore, its use in mice bearing gastric tumors resulted in a significant reduction in tumor volume without any obvious side effects. Ellagic acid exhibited anti-cancer effects on gastric adenocarcinoma, and can be considered as a safe anti-cancer agent for further preclinical studies on this cancer.
Joint latent class trees: A tree-based approach to modeling time-to-event and longitudinal data
Authors: Zhang Ningshan , Simonoff Jeffrey S
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we propose a semiparametric, tree-based joint latent class model for the joint behavior of longitudinal and time-to-event data. Existing joint latent class approaches are parametric and can suffer from high computational cost. The most common parametric approach, the joint latent class model, further restricts analysis to using time-invariant covariates in modeling survival risks and latent class memberships. The proposed tree method (joint latent class tree) is fast to fit, and permits time-varying covariates in all of its modeling components. We demonstrate the prognostic value of using time-varying covariates, and therefore the advantage of joint latent class tree over joint latent class model on simulated data. We apply joint latent class tree to a well-known data set (the PAQUID data set) and confirm its superior prediction performance and orders-of-magnitude speedup over joint latent class model.
Space-time interactions in Bayesian disease mapping with recent tools: Making things easier for practitioners
Authors: Urdangarin Arantxa , Goicoa Tomás , Dolores Ugarte María
Published: February 2022

Spatio-temporal disease mapping studies the distribution of mortality or incidence risks in space and its evolution in time, and it usually relies on fitting hierarchical Poisson mixed models. These models are complex for practitioners as they generally require adding constraints to correctly identify and interpret the different model terms. However, including constraints may not be straightforward in some recent software packages. This paper focuses on NIMBLE, a library of algorithms that contains among others a configurable system for Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms. In particular, we show how to fit different spatio-temporal disease mapping models with NIMBLE making emphasis on how to include sum-to-zero constraints to solve identifiability issues when including spatio-temporal interactions. Breast cancer mortality data in Spain during the period 1990-2010 is used for illustration purposes. A simulation study is also conducted to compare NIMBLE with R-INLA in terms of parameter estimates and relative risk estimation. The results are very similar but differences are observed in terms of computing time.
Celecoxib Synergistically Enhances MLN4924-Induced Cytotoxicity and EMT Inhibition Via AKT and ERK Pathways in Human Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Xiong Shida , Huang Wei , Liu Xiaoqiang , Chen Qian , Ding Yi , Huang Haoxuan , Zhang Ru , Guo Ju
Published: February 2022

MLN4924 is a specific small-molecule inhibitor of NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) that blocks the neddylation modification cascade. Several I/II/III clinical trials suggested that MLN4924 exerts an antitumor effect against various malignancies. However, recent studies have also found that MLN4924 activates the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signal pathways, important regulators of tumorigenesis, and drug resistance in human urothelial carcinoma (UC). This study examined the synergistic effect of celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor, on MLN4924-induced cytotoxicity and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) inhibition via AKT and ERK pathways in human UC. We performed both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Briefly, a combination of MLN4924 and celecoxib reduced the protein expression of p-AKT(S473) and p-ERK in UC cell lines. Moreover, celecoxib shifted the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) curve of MLN4924 to the left, and the combinational effect of MLN4924 and celecoxib showed significant synergism in T24 and 5637 cells. Also, celecoxib enhanced the MLN4924 antitumor effects of inhibiting UC cell growth, colony formation, migration, invasion, and inducing apoptosis. In addition, celecoxib potentiated the MLN4924-induced EMT, decreased the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, and activated the expression of E-cadherin. Celecoxib also increased the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins PARP and BAX and reduced the expression of antiapoptosis protein Bcl2. In vivo study indicated that the combination of MLN4924 and celecoxib synergistically suppressed the tumor growth in a UC xenograft nude-mice model, which was further supported by immunohistochemistry of tumor tissues. To sum up, our study revealed that celecoxib synergistically enhanced MLN4924-induced cytotoxicity and EMT inhibition in UC. It also inhibited the activation of AKT and ERK pathways, which were activated by MLN4924. These discoveries provide a new drug combination strategy for UC treatment.
What the Beatles “Get Back” Documentary Can Teach Social Workers About Family Relationships
Authors: Greif Geoffrey L.
Published: February 2022

The Beatles’ 2021 documentary, “Get Back,” provides a unique lens into the intersection of family systems and adult relationships of the most important pop group in history. In 1969, 16 months after the death of their manager and father-figure, Brian Epstein, the Beatles gather to make a film about making an album. Three of the Beatles had been making music together for more than 10 years at this point and had become a second family to each other while carrying their family-of-origin history with them. They have grown up together, married and partnered, and are wondering whether to stay together as a group. I view them as siblings who are struggling with the typical characteristics of such relationships that are often marked by affection, ambivalence, and ambiguity. Implications for social work practice with families and siblings are included.
Population Prevalence and Trends of Oral Clefts in Colombia: Analysis by Departments
Authors: Rengifo Reina Herney Alonso , Stefany Brigetty Guarnizo Peralta , Salomón Yezioro Rubinsky
Published: February 2022

Determine the population prevalence and trends of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) by department for Colombia in the period 2009 to 2015.

Prevalence study based on Individual Registry of Health Services in general population from 2009 to 2015. All people diagnosed with CL/P were included for all ages, type of diagnosis, and any type of health services in the mentioned period. The prevalence was calculated by period and point for each year, for each department and according to the type of cleft. Stationarity on time series was evaluated using (Dickey-Fuller) and (Phillips-Perron). A trend test was applied to estimate whether the increase in prevalence was significant in the period. The trend test used was a Poisson regression.

A total 15 225 people with CL/P were identified, where 53.3% were men. The national period prevalence of CL/P is 3.37 per 10 000 with upward trend (prevalence ratio = 1.34, P = .05) and nonstationary behavior. The national period prevalence of cleft lip is 0.93 per 10 000, cleft palate 1.17 per 10 000, and cleft lip and palate (CLP) 1.26 per 10 000, where CLP is subclassify into unilateral CLP (0.83 per 10 000) and bilateral CLP (0.43 per 10 000). At the departmental level, the highest CL/P prevalence is Guaviare (11.2), followed by Guainía (8.4) and the lowest Quindío (0.49).

In Colombia, the national period prevalence of CL/P is 3.37 per 10 000 with upward trend at national level indicates an increase in prevalence from 2009 to 2015. The 77% of the total CL/P population are infant or adolescent. Geographically, the central region has the highest availability of technologies.
Glasses You Put On
Authors: Brown Serap Asar
Published: February 2022

A poetic inquiry on how people’s world views may unknowingly lead to divisions. This poem offers a journey from destructive invisibles such as privilege, oppression, -isms (e.g., sexism, racism, classism), and silence to constructive visibles such as equality, dialogue, attentiveness, and collaboration. The poem was presented during Poetry for Change in the IdeaFest at the University of Victoria, Canada, as part of the Social Movement Poets Collective in March 2020.
Development and Evaluation of a Web-Based Educational Toolkit on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Psychiatric Prescribers Regarding Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics
Authors: Lewis Lisa , Rodgers Jill
Published: February 2022

Background:

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are unique and effective pharmacological treatment options for schizophrenia that are underutilized in clinical practice. Research surrounding prescriber barriers to the underuse of LAIs are limited to a few seminal studies which identified psychiatric prescriber barriers to the use of LAIs as knowledge deficits, uninformed attitudes, and poor prescribing practices. There is a gap in the literature regarding effective educational interventions to target the identified psychiatric prescriber barriers to the use of LAIs.

Aims:

The study aimed to develop a web-based educational toolkit that would positively affect the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of psychiatric prescribers regarding LAIs.

Methods:

A one-group, before and after design with a convenience, purposive sample of 17 psychiatric prescribers to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) using a 20-item KAP questionnaire before and after a presentation of a web-based educational toolkit about LAIs was chosen.

Results:

The web-based educational toolkit slightly improved the total and three subscales KAP scores of psychiatric prescribers. However, only the difference in total KAP scores was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions:

The developed and evaluated web-based educational toolkit could provide a foundation for positive change to psychiatric prescribers’ KAP regarding LAIs.
Implementation of Evidence-Based Disease Self-Management Programs in a Rural Region: Leveraging and Linking Community and Health Care System Assets
Authors: Pullyblank Kristin , Brunner Wendy , Wyckoff Lynae , Krupa Nicole , Scribani Melissa , Strogatz David
Published: February 2022

Context

Rural populations experience both a higher prevalence of and risk for premature death from chronic conditions than do their urban counterparts. Yet barriers to implement community-based chronic disease self-management programs persist.

Program

The Living Well program, a multi-sector collaboration between a rural health care system and a network of community-based organizations, has offered the 6-week evidence-based Chronic Disease Self-Management and Diabetes Self-Management workshops since 2017. The program was a response to a quality improvement initiative to improve hypertension and diabetes outcomes throughout the health care system.

Implementation

Using the rapid cycling quality improvement process, Living Well developed a self-management program recruitment, referral, and coordinating office for a six-county region. Through continuous capacity-building efforts with community partners, as well as leveraging key health care system assets such as the electronic health record and provider detailing, program reach and adoption was increased.

Evaluation

The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework was used for the process evaluation. During 3 years, more than 750 individuals engaged with the program, with nearly 600 completing a workshop. The region saw increased engagement by primary care clinicians to refer, and structural changes were embedded into the health care system to facilitate clinic–community partnerships.

Discussion

A coordinated, multi-sector approach is necessary to develop solutions to complex, chronic health problems. A regional coordinating hub is an effective strategy for implementing community-based programs in rural areas. However, low health care system engagement and fragmented funding remain as barriers to optimal implementation.
Predictive Factors Affecting Metastasis of Small Renal Mass and Its Prognostic Analysis
Authors: He Wei , Liu Zhuo , Tian Yu , Li Yuxuan , Xu Chuxiao , Xiao Ruotao , Hong Peng , Tang Shiying , Ge Liyuan , Zhao Xun , Zhu Guodong , Zhang Hongxian , Liu Cheng , Ma Lulin
Published: February 2022

Background:

The incidence of small renal mass (SRM) increases, and the prognosis of SRM is poor once metastasized. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the clinical and pathological characteristics of SRM to determine the risk factors that influence the metastasis and prognosis of SRM.

Methods:

A small renal mass is defined as a solid tumor mass with the largest diameter of 4 cm or less on the pathological diagnosis. The metastasis is confirmed by imaging or pathological examination. We retrospectively included 40 patients with metastatic SRM (mSRM) treated in the department of urology of Peking University Third Hospital from October 2002 to October 2020. Meanwhile, 358 patients with nonmetastatic SRM treated in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were selected as controls. Clinicopathologic features were compiled.

Results:

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ( P = .027, odds ratio [OR] = 1.037, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.004-1.070), clinical symptoms ( P < .001, OR = 4.311, 95% CI 1.922-9.672), World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) nuclear grade 3/4 ( P = .004, OR = 7.637, 95% CI 1.943-30.012; P = .004, OR = 20.523, 95% CI 2.628-160.287), and lymphatic invasion ( P = .030, OR = 15.844, 95% CI 1.314-191.033) were risk factors for distant metastasis of SRM. Once metastasis occurs, the prognosis of SRM is poor. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of the prognosis of mSRM showed that age ( P = .016, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.125, 95% CI 1.022-1.239), preoperative serum creatinine ( P = .041, HR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.000-1.005), vascular invasion ( P = .041, HR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.000-1.005), and metastasis ( P < .001, HR = 24.069, 95% CI 4.549-127.356) were risk factors for overall survival (OS), and only metastasis ( P < .001, HR = 9.52, 95% CI 5.43-16.7) was a risk factor for progression-free survival (PFS) of SRM.

Conclusions:

SRM with advanced age, clinical symptoms, high pathological nuclear grade, and lymphatic invasion are more likely to have distant metastasis. And SRM with older age, poor preoperative basic renal function, pathological vascular invasion, and metastasis have worse OS.
Evaluation of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy Efficacy in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Serial Monitoring of Circulating Tumor DNA Using Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Wang Buhai , Fan Yaqin , Zhang Liying , Liu Liqin , Ma Yutong , Ma Xiaosong , Huang Yuxiang , Wu Yinxia , Liang Yichen , Xu Yang , Wu Xue
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

Pembrolizumab is widely used in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with positive programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). However, efficacy evaluation along treatment by serial monitoring of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using next-generation sequencing remained to be well studied.

Methods:

Nine PD-L1 positive advanced NSCLC patients were prospectively enrolled and received pembrolizumab monotherapy. Pretreatment tissue and/or plasma samples were collected as baseline reference. Serial plasma samples were collected after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment as well as at disease progression. All samples underwent targeted next-generation sequencing.

Results:

The median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) were 4.43 and 25.53 months, respectively. In total, 3 patients achieved partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) for more than 6 months and were thus classified into the durable clinical benefit (DCB) group, whereas the rest 6 were grouped as nondurable benefit (NDB) patients. Molecular profiling of baseline samples revealed that TP53 and APC were the 2 most frequently mutated genes in all patients, whereas POT1 and SETD2 mutations were enriched in DCB and NDB groups, respectively. Higher tumor mutational burden (TMB) was observed in DCB patients than NDB group. During serial ctDNA monitoring, 2 DCB patients showed a dramatic ctDNA reduction while 75% of NDB patients’ ctDNA concentration increased at week 6. Several acquired mutations might contribute to the pembrolizumab resistance, including CDKN2A frameshift and MITF nonsense mutations.

Conclusions:

Genomic profiling of peripheral blood samples can be applied to dynamically monitor disease progression. The reduction in ctDNA concentration during treatment implied DCBs.
Confronting childism and prioritizing a holistic approach during the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Shin Minsun
Published: February 2022

This colloquium discusses the crucial need to reconcile the ironic dilemma of enforcing social-distancing measures and social relationships simultaneously during the COVID-19 crisis. Young children have been exposed to multifaceted challenges during this time. However, their well-being, education, and safety have often been overlooked, ignored, or compromised. It is argued that society should abandon childism, which is prejudice and/or discrimination against children, and implement a holistic approach to protect and prioritize children's well-being, fundamental rights, and humanity.
Building stamina, fighting fragility: The account of a white settler ‘recovering racist’
Authors: Bell Avril
Published: February 2022

White fragility, a common response of white people to calls to engage in conversations about racism and address their complicity with it, has received considerable scholarly attention. Much less attention has been given to the antidote: white stamina. This paper explores the development of stamina in the journey of ‘recovery’ from racism of one white settler individual who has become a public figure in Aotearoa New Zealand, in part through his declaration that he is a ‘recovering racist’. Significantly, the racism at the heart of this person’s story was directed towards indigenous, Māori New Zealanders; racism and settler colonialism are intertwined in this case. Consequently, the paper also responds to Lawrence and Dua’s (2005) call to ‘decolonise antiracism’ by foregrounding the indigenous–settler relationship in the analysis of racism within a settler society. The paper teases out overlaps and differences between white racism and settler colonialism, and between white stamina and settler stamina. Finally, I argue that there may be things for antiracists to learn from struggles to decolonise settler colonialism. Most significantly, this analysis points to the importance and power of the existence of an aspirational positive identity and position for ‘recovering racists’.
Governing individuals’ imaginaries and conduct in personal finance: The mobilization of emotions in financial education
Authors: Maman Daniel , Rosenhek Zeev
Published: February 2022

Today’s regime of financialized capitalism requires individuals to engage with financial products and services to ensure their financial security and welfare. Within this regime, institutional actors formulate and communicate imaginaries of the future that prompt individuals to embrace particular financial logics, understandings, and practices in managing their personal finance. Financial literacy and education is an important institutional field where such imaginaries are formulated and communicated to the public. This article examines the notions and themes articulated in programs of financial education currently conducted by state and non-state organizations in Israel, considering the ways in which proper conduct in key financial activities (debt and credit, saving and investment, and insurance) is defined, explained, and justified. We argue that, replete with explicit and implicit references to emotions and emotional states associated with practices of everyday finance, these programs mobilize them to govern individuals’ imaginaries of the future and financial conduct according to the model of the desired responsible financial subject. This emotional dimension represents a significant component in the cultural political economy of the constitution of financial subjectivities and the culture of financialization, that naturalizes the behavioral and dispositional requirements and demands that everyday finance poses to the general public.
The Effects of Prompt Interventions on Web Survey Response Rate and Data Quality Measures
Authors: Sun Hanyu , Caporaso Andrew , Cantor David , Davis Terisa , Blake Kelly
Published: February 2022

Previous survey research has found that prompt interventions for speeding and straightlining were effective at reducing these undesirable response behaviors in web surveys. However, the effects of prompt interventions on data quality measures are mixed, and it is unclear how prompt interventions affect key survey estimates. We conducted an experiment on prompt interventions using the National Cancer Institute’s 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey Push-to-Web Pilot Study. We used two types of prompts, one targeted speeding and the other targeted straightlining. We found no significant differences between the prompt and no-prompt conditions in overall web response rates. Also, we found that web respondents assigned to the prompt condition spent more time on the survey, had a lower percent of straightlining, and a lower percent of speeding on grid questions. Regarding key survey estimates, there were significant differences on estimates for one out of 40 items tested.
Item Context Effects Are Relevant for Monitoring Evaluative Well-being: Replication of Previous Work and Mitigation
Authors: Stone Arthur A. , Walentynowicz Marta , Schneider Stefan , Junghaenel Doerte U. , Broderick Joan E. , Deaton Angus
Published: February 2022

To ensure the accuracy of self-reported data, it is important to reduce potential sources of bias such as the unwanted influence of prior questions on subsequent questions, the so-called item context effect. This article attempts to replicate the finding that evaluative subjective well-being was affected by a preceding item, a question about the political atmosphere in the country; it also examines manipulations that could mitigate the impact of the context-inducing item on well-being. Study 1 used a sample of 4,500 participants recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk; it examined the effect of three manipulations based on adding buffer questions or adding text to reorient participants’ attention. A context effect was found, and one manipulation mitigated the context effect. Study 2 used a nationally representative sample ( n = 906); it only replicated the context effect. These results reaffirm the importance of carefully considering item context effects in survey research.
Optimization and CFD performance analysis of an automotive coolant pump
Authors: Liu Houlin , Jiang Linglin , Wang Yong , Hočevar Marko , Yan Jun , Chen Jie
Published: February 2022

The blade outlet angle, wrap angle, and number of blades of the impeller are optimized to increase the pumping efficiency of the automotive coolant pump while keeping the size constant. Three new variants were designed and the optimal one was selected for the comparison with the original scheme. The experiment was conducted to test the hydraulic performance of the optimized impeller. The results show that the energy characteristics of the optimized impeller are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The energy characteristics and internal flow details of original scheme and optimized scheme are analyzed and compared. It was found that increasing the wrap angle while decreasing blade outlet angle appropriately can improve the flow conditions and the pressure distribution in the impeller and the volute, especially at low flow rates. At the designed flow rate, increasing the wrap angle while decreasing the number of blades and blade outlet angle can significantly increase the efficiency of the pump. And the maximum efficiency of the optimized impeller is 4.8% higher than the efficiency of the original impeller. The results of the study can guide designers in optimizing an automotive centrifugal coolant pump and reduce energy consumption of the automotive cooling system.
The effect of an educational app on hemodialysis patients’ self-efficacy and self-care: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study
Authors: Hosseini Amin , Jackson Alun C , Chegini Najmeh , Dehghan Mohsen Fooladzadeh , Mazloum Danyal , Haghani Shima , Bahramnezhad Fatemeh
Published: February 2022

Objective

Adequate self-care and exploring ways to improve it is imperative for patients with hemodialysis in order to meet the challenges arising from hemodialysis. This study aimed to determine the effect of an educational app on patients with hemodialysis’ self-efficacy and self-care.

Methods

The present study is a quasi-experimental longitudinal single-group study, carried out from October 2020 to March 2021 with the participation of 60 Patients with hemodialysis. Simple random sampling was used to sample patients. The intervention included an educational application, and participants completed questionnaires on self-efficacy and self-care performance at four points including baseline and at one, three, and six-month intervals post- intervention. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to examine the impact of the intervention. Bonferroni's posthoc test was also used for in-class calculation and comparison of changes over various periods.

Results

The results of this study showed that the self-care performance of patients at different times was statistically significant (P <0.001). Also, the results showed that the mean total score of self-efficacy in the second period compared to the first was significantly improved (P <0.001). But the trend of changes in the third period compared to the second and the fourth to the third was not significant (p = 0.1 and p = .82). Also, a significant change was observed in the fourth period compared to the first (p = .029).

Conclusions

The study showed that education through a mobile app can result in significant improvements in these patients’ self-care behaviors and self-efficacy over time. The educational intervention should be provided to patients with hemodialysis over a several-month period to allow for proper integration of the learning.
The impact of intellectual disability and sport expertise on cognitive and executive functions
Authors: Van Biesen D , Van Damme T , Pineda RC , Burns J
Published: February 2022

Our aim was to identify the suitability of three assessment tools (i.e., Flanker test, Updating Word Span, and Color Trails Test) for future inclusion in the classification process of elite Paralympic athletes with intellectual disability and to assess the strength of the relation between Executive function (EF) and intelligence. Cognitive and EF assessments were performed on 59 participants, divided into four groups according to their cognitive level (with versus without intellectual disability) and sport expertise (athlete versus novice). Inhibition and working memory update skills were implicated in people with intellectual disability. For set-shifting, a more nuanced picture was observed. Strong associations between EF and intelligence was found in people with intellectual disability. Working memory updating and set-shifting are relevant EF skills to assess in the context of elite sport; however, culture-free alternatives for the Updating Word Span test are needed, and alternatives to the Color Trails Test, less reliant on literacy skills are required.