Temporary Interventions Research Articles

Indications and outcome of home high-flow nasal therapy in children, a single-center experience.

High-flow nasal therapy (HFNT) is a safe and simple way to deliver humidified air and oxygen for respiratory support in infants and children. HFNT is well established in an inpatient setting, but home HFNT lacks evidence. In the current study, we studied characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients with home HFNT.In a monocentric retrospective analysis of data for 10 years (April 2010-April 2020), patient characteristics from the time point of the first discharge from hospital with home HFNT-treatment and the subsequent course were analyzed. Patients were divided into three HFNT indication groups: (1) bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD),(2) upper airway obstruction (UAO), and (3) other indications.Forty patients received home HFNT in the study period. Seventeen patients were treated for BPD, 15 for UAO, and 8 had other indications. Twenty-twopatients (55%) were successfully weaned from HFNT (12 [70.6%] BPD, 7 [46.7%] UAO, 3 [37.5%] other), while seven patients (17.5%) died during follow-up (4 BPD, 2 UAO, 1 other). Twenty-three patients (57.5%) required (intermittent) additional oxygen application (14 [82.4%] BPD, 6 [40%] UAO, 4 [50%] other). Weaning success and need for additional oxygen were significantly more probable in BPD patients compared to the UOA group. In conclusion, HFNT plays an increasing role in home treatment of respiratory insufficiency of various etiologies in childhood. It often represents a temporary intervention, especially for children with BPD but might also serve as long-term treatment for children in whom other forms of ventilatory support are not feasible or desired.

Unconventional monetary policies in an agent-based model with mark-to-market standards.

We employ an agent-based model to shed light on the macroeconomic effects of accounting principles, unconventional monetary policies, and of their possible interactions. If mark-to-market accounting standards may entail positive feedbacks which amplify economic or financial shocks, unconventional policies may introduce negative feedbacks that might dampen instabilities in financial and real markets. For these reasons, we jointly study these two sets of policies by employing a modified version of the Schumpeter meeting Keynes (K+S) macroeconomic agent-based model. Our results confirm that, due to its pro-cyclical nature, the mark-to-market accounting standard amplifies credit cycles, generating more instability with respect to a simulated economy wherein the historical accounting principle is employed. In contrast, unconventional monetary policy is counter-cyclical and it improves macroeconomic indicators. Finally, we study a scenario wherein mark-to-market accounting and unconventional monetary policy interact. We find that unconventional monetary policy can counterbalance the negative effects brought about by the application of mark-to-market accounting. Our results suggest that unconventional monetary policy instruments should not be considered as temporary interventions to be employed only during crisis periods. They should be part of the toolbox of central banks also in normal times.

Residents’ acceptance towards car-free street experiments: Focus on perceived quality of life and neighborhood attachment

While the twentieth century was dominated by private car usage, shifts towards more sustainable urban mobility, to mitigate environmental damage and increase health benefits, are now taking place. In Scandinavia, several car-free street experiments take form, that span from permanent car-free inner-city plans (i.e. Oslo) to temporary interventions (i.e. pop-up plaza and parklets) to shift the use of urban settings and infrastructures from motorised traffic towards spaces for people and social interactions. Specifically, in Sweden, transitory car-free street experiments (i.e. summer streets) are developed with the purpose of creating novel mobility patterns and uses of public spaces that enhance social inclusion and quality of life. Despite Swedish municipalities’ monitoring of these interventions, very little is known about whichphysical parameters (i.e. environmental qualities) and psychosocial processes (i.e. emotional relation with places) affect people’s acceptance and placeusability during car-free initiatives. Following the guidelines proposed by the European Commission, this paper focuses on residents’ perception of car-free street experiments. The aim is to identify howacceptance andusabilityof car-free street experiments might vary depending on the perceived qualities of the physical urban settings and on interceding psychosocial processes such as, neighborhood attachment and perceived quality of life. An interdisciplinary methodology of investigation merging knowledge from the field ofenvironmental psychology, landscape architecture, urban transport and planning wasapplied on four case studies in Sweden.Results suggest that psychosocial processes of place attachment and quality of life are relevant in order to understand the level of acceptance towards car-free streets implementations.

New insights into the management of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

During the last decade, an increasing number of studies have been conducted to improve the outcome of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), a complication of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants. Two randomized controlled trials have shown that treatment should be initiated prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Ventricular access devices and subgaleal shunts are used as temporary neurosurgical interventions whereas ventriculoperitoneal shunts are performed for infants with progressive hydrocephalus. Recently, techniques such as neuro-endoscopic lavage have also been introduced to eliminate toxic blood products and debris from the cerebral ventricles and have shown promise in early clinical studies. The objective of this review is to provide an update on management of PHVD and PHH in the preterm infant.

Cardiac pacing: principles, interventions and patient support.

Cardiac pacing is used to treat a variety of heart rhythm irregularities or arrhythmias, most commonly bradyarrhythmia, which is characterised by an abnormally slow heart rate. Temporary and permanent pacemakers work by sending intermittent electric impulses to the heart muscle, stimulating it to contract and ensuring a steady heart rate. This article explains the various temporary and permanent cardiac pacing interventions, describes how pacemakers work, outlines the complications that can arise from their use and details the needs of patients in terms of information, support, monitoring and follow-up.

Does Temporary Mortgage Assistance for Unemployed Homeowners Reduce Longer‐Term Mortgage Default? An Analysis of the Hardest Hit Fund Program

AbstractEconomic crises like the Great Recession and the COVID pandemic prompt government intervention to stabilize homeowners and housing markets. During the Great Recession, the primary intervention was permanent loan modifications, with mixed evidence of success. The COVID pandemic spurred a more targeted but temporary intervention—mortgage payment relief for unemployed homeowners. Little is known about the long‐term effectiveness of temporary mortgage assistance for homeowner outcomes. This paper leverages data on the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) program to analyze the longer‐term effects of temporary mortgage payment subsidies on mortgage default. Our first research design exploits the fact that some states were not eligible to offer an HHF program and that certain Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) encompass jurisdictions in both HHF and non‐HHF states. In a second research design, we model selection into the HHF program directly, exploiting lender variation in program participation as an instrument. Our results indicate that receipt of HHF assistance leads to a 40 percent reduction in the probability of mortgage default and foreclosure through four years post assistance. We estimate heterogeneous effects for different at‐risk populations and discuss implications for policy.

A Systematic Review of Mental Health Professionals, Patients, and Carers' Perceived Barriers and Enablers to Supporting Smoking Cessation in Mental Health Settings.

Introduction Evidence-based smoking cessation and temporary abstinence interventions to address smoking in mental health settings are available, but the impact of these interventions is limited.Aims and MethodsWe aimed to identify and synthesize the perceived barriers and enablers to supporting smoking cessation in mental health settings. Six databases were searched for articles reporting the investigation of perceived barriers and enablers to supporting smoking cessation in mental health settings. Data were extracted and coded using a mixed inductive/deductive method to the theoretical domains framework, key barriers and enablers were identified through the combining of coding frequency, elaboration, and expressed importance.ResultsOf 31 included articles, 56 barriers/enablers were reported from the perspectives of mental healthcare professionals (MHPs), 48 from patient perspectives, 21 from mixed perspectives, and 0 from relatives/carers. Barriers to supporting smoking cessation or temporary abstinence in mental health settings mainly fell within the domains: environmental context and resources (eg, MHPs lack of time); knowledge (eg, interactions around smoking that did occur were ill informed); social influences (eg, smoking norms within social network); and intentions (eg, MHPs lack positive intentions to deliver support). Enablers mainly fell within the domains: environmental context and resources (eg, use of appropriate support materials) and social influences (eg, pro-quitting social norms).ConclusionsThe importance of overcoming competing demands on staff time and resources, the inclusion of tailored, personalized support, the exploitation of patients wider social support networks, and enhancing knowledge and awareness around the benefits smoking cessation is highlighted.ImplicationsIdentified barriers and enablers represent targets for future interventions to improve the support of smoking cessation in mental health settings. Future research needs to examine the perceptions of the carers and family/friends of patients in relation to the smoking behavior change support delivered to patients.

Experiences of innovation in public services for sustainable urban mobility

The article aims to analyze non-motorized transport initiatives by adopting the innovation-in-services approach based on multi-agents. We selected ten cases in the municipality of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Our findings identified innovations in the local context in the treatment of infrastructure for active mobility. These public services were introduced in a participatory process and a collective re-appropriation of urban space. Innovation is based on techniques and competences. The projects promote an expansion of the competences of service providers related to interactions with civil society, resulting in an integral perspective on the uses, local dynamics and behavioral issues of the users themselves. Service provider techniques are temporary and permanent intervention methodologies, and methodologies for project impact evaluation. These techniques are associated with tactical urbanism for temporary urban interventions. User techniques were identified to apply the propensity score-matching method, which aims to evaluate the impacts of an instance of intervention through the comparison of groups in addition to technical inspections and local interviews. The relationship management generated relational and organizational competences for civil society organizations. Therefore, public services for non-motorized transportation have a great deal of potential to shape innovations, following transformations intended for a sustainable urban mobility paradigm.

Power of the Temporary: Social Art in Spaces of Transitional Living

This communication paper addresses the role of ephemeral and temporary artistic interventions into the systemic problem of homelessness and the question of sustainability in social art practice. I approach these issues through my work with homeless service agencies that are shaped by rules and procedures intended to increase predictability, whereas, as an artist, my work resists such rigidity by carving out space for spontaneity, vulnerability, and renewal. The dilemma of sustaining socially engaged art long-term raises particular questions within the context of institutions such as these. Can a project be successful as a temporary intervention within systems of predictability? If a project does become sustainable in the long-term, is there a way it can retain a level of energy incited by newness and unexpectedness? I discuss these issues in the context of two of my long-term projects, Beauty in Transition (2013–2016) and Choreographing Care (2016–2021), both working within homeless service agencies. Beauty in Transition was a pop-up mobile hair salon offering free haircare for transitional housing residents. Choreographing Care, a project supporting homeless service staff, started as a socially engaged art project and was adopted into an emergency shelter in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A as an organizational initiative. The ideas I discuss in this paper are supported and inspired by disciplines of research including care ethics of Gilligan, social behavioral science of Goffman, and approaches to participation discussed by Helguera and Kaprow.

ARIMA Intervention Model for Measuring the Impact of the Lobster Seeds Fishing and Export Ban Policy on the Indonesian Lobster Export

An intervention model is an analytical method for evaluating or measuring the impact of an external event called intervention, such as a natural disaster, holidays, sales promotions, and other policy changes. Two types of intervention variables will be used to represent the presence or absence of the event, i.e., a pulse or step. The pulse function is used to represent a temporary intervention, whereas the step function shows a long-term intervention. This study aims to develop a time series model with an intervention of step function for measuring the impact of two policies related to the prohibition of fishing and the export of lobster seeds on the export value of Indonesian lobster. These policies are the Ministerial Regulation No.1 of 2015 since January 2015 related banning of lobster seeds fishing (called first intervention) and the Ministerial Regulation No. 56 of 2016 since January 2017 related lobster seeds fishing and export ban policy (called second intervention). These regulations are designed to ensure lobster sustainability and add value to lobsters that are currently overfished. The results show that both policies significantly affect the export value of lobster in Indonesia, and the interventions have a permanent impact.

Correction to: Urban design and informal settlements: placemaking activities and temporary architectural interventions in BaSECo compound

Correction to: Urban design and informal settlements: placemaking activities and temporary architectural interventions in BaSECo compound

Czytankowy heroizm, niewygodny rewizjonizm czy historyczny realizm? O różnych drogach polityki pamięci we współczesnym polskim kinie historycznym — rekonesans

This paper aims to reflect on various aspects of memory politics present in contemporary historical cinema. All films depicting the past carry certain theses or thoughts of a political nature meant to strengthen the contemporary discourse on Polish (and not only) history. The paper presents analyses of three sorts of memory politics: pedagogy of pride, pedagogy of shame and visual historiography (historiophoty). The black-and-white heroism referred to as the reading book heroism presented in Caroline (Karolina), History of Roj (Historia Roja), Broken ear of grain (Zerwany kłos) and in The Outcast (Wyklęty) are examples of pedagogy of pride, favoured by the current Polish authorities from the Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość). Such works as the Oscar-winning Ida, Summer solstice (Letnie przesilenie) and Consent (Zgoda) are, in turn, emanations of the so-called pedagogy of shame and can be seen as a reference to the message of ambiguous masterpieces from the period of the ‘Polish film school’, in particular to the artistic output of Andrzej Munk. A separate place is to be dedicated to historical works by Wojciech Smarzowski, who in Rose (Róża) and Volhynia (Wołyń) consistently creates visually credible tales of history in order to reflect in a general manner on the non-existent world of the past and ordinary people living therein.
 The main conclusion of the article is the statement that historical politics functioning in films depicting the past is meant to be a temporary intervention which may function in a long-term perspective only, given the high artistic quality of the artwork. Otherwise the movie quickly falls into oblivion and loses its influence on the collective social memory.

Temporary use of abandoned buildings

Abstract Temporary architecture is a way to produce an instant experience. It concentrates on a specific location and develops unique tactics to activate it. It adapts to the site, which is often abandoned and backward. Temporary use focuses on a single purpose and its influence at a given moment. It reflects the current economic state and situation in adjacent neighbourhood and community. It aims at becoming a catalyst for a permanent change. Empty buildings represent a valuable resource for urban development of an area. They belong to the category of areas suitable for reconstruction. Their activation contributes to the recycling of areas within the urban structure increasing the efficiency of land use and contributing to the sustainable development of the territory. A removal of abandoned buildings from a functioning urban organism has a negative impact on the integrity of the urban structure. Archipop is the author’s newly established database focusing on the topic of temporariness in architecture. Its aim is to map successful activations of abandoned buildings by the means of temporary interventions in Europe. Archipop deals with the subject of ‘pop–up’ in architecture. Its prime objective is to attract a target group of users over the shortest period of time possible by exclusivity of a presented activity, concentrating on temporary uses located in abandoned buildings in Europe. It examines successful projects of activation of unused objects by using temporary activity profile. Targeting at interested public, potential investors, and last but not least government and municipalities, Archipop was created to provide inspiration and opportunities of temporary use. Its ambition is to promote revitalisation of unused areas with the use of temporary architecture and to save historic heritage from its terminal destruction.

Urban design and informal settlements: placemaking activities and temporary architectural interventions in BaSECo compound

Urban design and informal settlements: placemaking activities and temporary architectural interventions in BaSECo compound

Binge drinking before and after a COVID-19 campus closure among first-year college students

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic is associated with reports of increased substance use. College students are a population of concern for high risk binge drinking and their behavior may be particularly impacted by COVID-19 campus closures. Therefore, we examine first-year college students’ binge drinking soon after their university’s pandemic-related suspension of in-person operations. MethodsStudents from a single campus (N = 741; age: M = 18.05, SD = 0.22) completed one assessment in April-May 2020 post-campus closure (March 2020) including theoretically-informed measures (e.g., drinking motives, norms) and two items of self-reported pre- and post-closure binge drinking frequency, the focus of these analyses. ResultsAbout half of students consistently reported not binge drinking pre- and post-closure; 6.75% reported a consistent frequency of binge drinking pre- and post-closure. Many (39.41%) reported lower 30-day binge drinking post-campus closure compared to their pre-closure reports; few (4.18%) reported higher 30-day binge drinking frequency post-campus closure. Students reporting lower binge drinking post-closure showed differences in coping, social, and enhancement drinking motives and isolation. Students reporting greater post-closure binge drinking reported higher perceived drinking norms and were more likely to be in Greek life. ConclusionThis study demonstrates self-reported patterns in binge drinking among first-year college students at the point of COVID-19 campus closures. Pandemic-related college closures may have been a temporary environmental intervention on this high-risk behavior for some students. Although many students were not binge drinking, some continued binge drinking after closure and may benefit from preventive interventions.

Temporary Use as a Participatory Placemaking Tool to Support Cultural Initiatives and Its Connection to City Marketing Strategies—The Case of Athens

For many cities, abandoned or underused spaces pose a major challenge, but temporary use is being manifested as a tool that can offer solutions. So-called “meanwhile spaces” provide opportunities for city officials to create the conditions for the cultural economy to be supported while simultaneously meeting urban regeneration goals and supporting city marketing purposes. In European cities, such as Berlin, Ghent, Nantes, and Bremen, there are examples where “temporary urbanism” is being incorporated into mainstream policy and is forming part of the city’s identity and tourism promotion. Temporary use is discussed in the context of current challenges facing European cities (austerity crisis, unemployment, refugee crisis, lack of affordable housing or office space). In this paper, the focus is on the creative sector. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked discussion on how temporary use can cover a community’s needs. In this contextual framework, the scope was to explore the conditions under which temporary use becomes an effective policy tool and discuss management issues and difficulties that may arise. A description and analysis of the particularities of initiatives that were implemented in Athens compared to the ones in other European cities are presented. This paper is partly based on the works of the Athens URBACT Refill project, which included an extended consultation process with local stakeholders. Further field research was conducted regarding how temporary use initiatives with a cultural focus have been managed and the way the relations between owners, managers, and users were formed. Feedback from users and stakeholders’ representatives is presented. The key findings refer to the evaluation of the approaches used in temporary use initiatives with a cultural focus, the future perspectives, and the difficulty with drawing early conclusions on the effectiveness of these initiatives and the impact on the reputation of the city. Finally, the discussion is linked with promoting Athens as a city that allows experimentation by citizens’ groups and cultural initiatives in the context of temporary interventions.

La cuestión catalana: origen, desarrollo, y perspectivas

Catalonia is one of the richest regions in Spain and, thanks to its Statute of Autonomy, it enjoys a self-government comparable to that existing in federal States. It has been part of Spain for as long as Spain exists, but in the course of history there have been several episodes of disagreement and attempts at receiving independence. Since the beginning of this century, a sovereignty process has been launched by supporters of secession, ignorant of the Constitution and Spanish legality, that culminated, in October 2017, with a unilateral declaration of independence, which involved temporary intervention by the Spanish Government and the trial and condemnation of the main leaders, in addition to not being recognized by any country or international organization in the world. Catalan society is plural, formed in part by emigrants from other parts of Spain, and is very divided on this issue. Supporters of independence have never managed to obtain 50% of the votes in any of the numerous elections carried out, although there is a majority favorable to increasing the level of autonomy. The solution to this conflict can only come with the achievement of a political agreement that establishes a new relationship between Catalonia and the rest of Spain, which satisfies a majority, without the need to break up. But this solution will be difficult because of both the radicalism of some separatist leaders and the lack of agreement between the Spanish parties on how to approach the issue.

European Stock Markets’ Response to COVID-19, Lockdowns, Government Response Stringency and Central Banks’ Interventions

Using daily data of COVID-19 fear index and stock indices of 29 European countries over the period from January 1, 2020 to September 17, 2020, this study finds no evidence of adverse impact of COVID-19 outbreak on European stock markets at the level of full sample nor at European sub-regional levels. However, we report a significantly negative time-varying reaction of European stock markets to COVID-19 eruption. Our results document that the response of European stock markets to oil price shocks is dependent on the choice of the proxy; and exchange rate changes have a negative influence on European stock markets. Our study provides the evidence that neither lockdowns nor the stringent measures taken by the governments to improve effect of COVID-19 on European stock markets are effective. The findings of the study reveal that most of the temporary interventions by the central banks of different European countries do not improve the adverse impact of COVID-19 on European stock markets. However, some of the financial measures by central banks (e.g., reduction in capital buffers) help mitigating the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on European stock markets. Our findings have important implications for investors in their decision making and, for policy makers and central banks in terms of improving their quantitative easing to support European stock markets during turbulent times such as pandemics.

Multiple Monetary Policy Instruments, Foreign Exchange Intervention, and Exchange Rate in China

This paper investigates the effects of monetary and foreign exchange policies on the exchange rate in China. In the empirical model, a multiple number of monetary and foreign exchange policy instruments, such as the short-term interest rate, reserve requirement ratio, lending and borrowing rates, and foreign exchange intervention, are considered to describe Chinese monetary and foreign exchange policy properly. In addition, the interactions among these instruments and their interactions with the exchange rate are modelled carefully to analyze the effects of monetary and foreign exchange policies on the exchange rate properly. The main findings are as follows. First, (contractionary) monetary policy shocks lead to the exchange rate appreciation, which is statistically significant. It is particularly interesting that shocks to all popular monetary policy instruments, such as the short-term interest rate, reserve requirement ratio, lending and borrowing rates, have significant effects on exchange rate. Second, shocks to foreign exchange interventions have limited effects on the exchange rate. Shocks to foreign exchange interventions have significant effect on the exchange rate in the short-run at best, but not in the long run. Even a persistent (or permanent) foreign exchange intervention has a temporary effect on exchange rate. In addition, a temporary foreign exchange intervention does not have any significant effect on exchange rate. Sterilization is likely to explain the limited effect of foreign exchange intervention on the exchange rate. The trend of exchange rate movements may mostly be determined by economic fundamentals, not by foreign exchange intervention, especially sterilized one. The presence of capital controls might be related to the weak effect.

Build Art, Build Resilience. Co-creation of Public Art as a Tactic to Improve Community Resilience

Temporary urbanism practices are forms of appropriation of the public space by the citizens. They can be a powerful engine for urban regeneration and social innovation, empowering local communities to take ownership of urban spaces, promoting positive urban change. In particular, the collective creation of temporary art installations in public spaces can foster a sense of belonging and define new forms of civic participation, including unrepresented voices, and re-activate the public realm. The portfolio narrates the development of the “Co-Creation of Temporary Interventions in Public Space as a Tool for Community Resilience” (University of Portsmouth) project, which promotes and develops a series of tactical, small-sized, co-created, temporary interventions in public spaces, bringing together various local actors and underrepresented groups. Temporary urbanism initiatives can be very powerful tools; while the change they bring may be small at first and incremental, the varied ways in which such initiatives affect the city and its citizens lead to an extremely meaningful and long-term impact.