bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Problematic Path of Fundamental Rights in the European Union: Continuing the Journey on the Regulation on Clinical Trials
Authors: Di Costanzo Caterina
Published: June 2022

In this paper I have tried to identify and analyse some critical points that Regulation No. 526 of 2014 on clinical trials still presents. I have seen that in the face of a long gestation, the criticisms that have been made of the regulation have been various. If we think of the first criticism identified in the regulation, the so-called law shopping, we must affirm that the subject of experimentation is a very delicate matter since it has a direct and frontal impact on the guarantee of the right to health of European citizens and the use of law shopping does not provide adequate guarantees for the protection of the rights of those participating in a trial. Secondly, the marginalisation of the Ethics Committees whose role is decided at the level of the single national legal system does not ensure that components of independence and representation of the point of view of patients and their associations are guaranteed. This aspect is undoubtedly an important criticism of the regulation as the importance of the role played by the Ethics Committees in the assessment procedures for authorisation applications is not taken into fully consideration. Also, in this case, the economic need for simplification and speed of the evaluation procedure seem to prevail over the need to ensure a thorough and independent scientific and ethical review of authorisation applications. We believe that in the case of Regulation No. 536 of 2014, greater awareness of risks and opportunities will be achieved only by verifying in practice the possible distortions to which this legislation can lead. Only through serious monitoring and reporting of the effects of the regulation on the protection of patients’ rights will it be possible to identify and indicate targeted changes to the rules contained therein and, of course, to adopt the consequent measures to reduce possible damages. In this sense, also on the basis of a possible and foreseeable future phase of gestation of Regulation No. 534 of 2014, we believe that in the European area, in the field of clinical trials but not exclusively, that trend, developed above all in the French context, of the “experimentation of laws” should be further cultivated.
Influences of Béla Bartók’s Piano Compositions on Alberto Ginastera’s Piano Music
Authors: Gularnupong Karn , Buranaprapuk Ampai
Published: June 2022

This study seeks to reveal the musical relationship between Bartók’s and Ginastera’s piano compositions, showing stylistic conceptualizations of twentieth-century Western art music which held many interesting musical aspects, specifically in the classical piano repertoire. This musicological research employs stylistic analysis and theoretical analysis to shed some light on Bartók’s and Ginastera’s piano music vocabulary. Following this methodology, it is revealed that Ginastera’s compositional language was very much influenced by the highly unique characteristics of Bartók’s. Such characteristics include the axial system, Bulgarian peasant rhythmic dance, bi-modality, intervallic cell (Z-cell, 0167), hexachordal sets of octatonic collections, the symmetrical old Hungarian pentatonic scale, polychord, quartal chords, hammering-percussive piano style, secundal chords based on ostinato, and many others. In light of this, one may propose that Ginastera’s compositional strategies in piano music were heavily influenced by Bartók’s rhythmic and harmonic idioms, which contributed to the creation of an innovative musical craft.
Ensemble of Phanom Rung, Mueang Tam and Plai Bat Sanctuaries and the Phimai Cultural Route: Comparative Study and Future Expectation in World Heritage Context
Authors: Poshyanandana Saowalux
Published: June 2022

The removal of “Phimai, its Cultural Route and the Associated Temples of Phanomroong and Muangtam” from the the World Heritage Tentative List in 2019 indicates the change of focus of the Thailand State Party away from this emsemble originally included as components of the Phimai cultural route. This paper discusses the reasons behind this change, the values and ouv as well as advantages and disadvantages of these two proposals in the context of World Heritage nomination. It concludes that the proposal of the Ensemble of Phanom Rung was made after work on nominating the Phimai cultural route faced management obstacles and disputes between the responsible organization and local people, rather than on the values of the cultural route itself. As for the ensemble, the main concern is that this serial cultural heritage site still requires extensive study to justify the proposed criteria. Therefore, the Phimai cultural route, with its advantages in strong and verifiable values, may be reconsidered for World Heritage nomination when management issues are resolved.
Carex ×favratii (Cyperaceae), new record for Romania and evidence of its hybrid origin
Authors: ŘEPKA RADOMÍR , MENDEL PETER
Published: June 2022

The article presents a find of Carex ×favratii (Carex echinata × C. paniculata) in Romania, whose genetic relationships with its putative parents was tested using AFLP and microsatellite data. The putative hybrid was genetically intermediate between the parental taxa, i.e. C. echinata and C. paniculata. A morphological analysis shows ten intermediary characters, six ones closer to C. echinata, five closer to C. paniculata, and three unique, whereas the perigynium and achene characters could not be evaluated due to hybrid sterility (with exception of the type of perigynium). The morphological features supported by molecular markers strongly support the hybrid nature of the collected plants. The results provide evidence that a hybrid between these species really occurs in nature.
Nepeta iraqo-iranica (Lamiaceae), a new species from the border of Iraq and Iran
Authors: BORDBAR FIROUZEH , HALOOB ALI , QADER KARZAN OMAR , MIRTADZADINI MANSOUR
Published: June 2022

Nepeta iraqo-iranica, a new species is described and illustrated from NE of Iraq, Sulaimaniya Province, and W of Iran, Kurdistan Province, NW of Bâne. A table of morphological comparison and detailed discussion with morphologically close species is given. The species is considered Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN criteria.
A new species of Tricorythodes Ulmer from Colombia and additional notes on T. serratus (Baumgardner & Ávila) (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae)
Authors: LÓPEZ TATIANA CÁRDENAS , FLOWERS RALPH WILLS , DIAS LUCIMAR GOMES
Published: June 2022

A new species of Tricorythodes is described and illustrated based on nymphs from Colombia. Legs, mouthparts and other parts of the body were photographed through SEM and molecular characterization was performed by amplification of the COImt gene. Tricorythodes carare sp. nov. shows close affinities with T. serratus (Baumgardner & Ávila), both sharing a similar coloration pattern and the presence of chalazae on femora. The new species can be distinguished from T. serratus and all the species of the genus by the following combination of characters: maxillary palp 3-segmented, with apical setae; dorsal surface of median and hind femora with a longitudinal row of 5 to 9 chalazae serrated in the apex, tarsal claws with 4 or 5 marginal denticles and with 1–3 submarginal denticles; posterior margin of the abdominal terga with serrated chalazae in the apex. SEM images and distance analysis of the partial sequences of the COI gene were useful to discriminate the new species from T. serratus (genetic divergence 17–19%). An additional undescribed species of this group is reported from Esmeraldas in Ecuador and for the departments of Sucre and Chocó in Colombia, but it is not described here because of the low number of individuals and the lack of DNA integrity. What is known under the name Tricorythodes serratus is suspected to be a species complex.
A new genus and two new species of Azeliinae from China (Diptera: Muscidae)
Authors: YANG KUIWEN , XUE WANQI , TONG YANFENG
Published: June 2022

A new genus, Chuntiania Xue, gen. nov., including two new species, namely Chuntiania scutiseta Xue, sp. nov. and Chuntiania fuchaooi Xue & Yang, sp. nov., is described from China. A key to the genera of Azeliinae of China is provided, and a morphological comparison diagram of the male cercus of Chuntiania gen. nov. and Potamia Robineau-Desvoidy is added.
Enenterum kyphosi Yamaguti, 1970 and Enenterum petrae n. sp. (Digenea: Enenteridae) from kyphosid fishes (Centrarchiformes: Kyphosidae) collected in marine waters off eastern Australia
Authors: HUSTON DANIEL C. , CUTMORE SCOTT C. , CRIBB THOMAS H.
Published: June 2022

Species of the digenean genus Enenterum Linton, 1910 (Lepocreadioidea: Enenteridae) are characterised primarily by their elaborate oral suckers, which are divided into varying numbers of anteriorly directed lobes, and their host-restriction to herbivorous marine fishes of the family Kyphosidae. We describe Enenterum petrae n. sp. from the brassy chub Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard) collected off Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Enenterum petrae n. sp. is readily differentiated from congeners by its unique oral sucker morphology, in having a minute pharynx, and the combination of a genital cap and accessory sucker. We also provide the first record of Enenterum kyphosi Yamaguti, 1970 from Australia based on material obtained from the blue sea chub Kyphosus cinerascens (Forsskål) collected off Lizard Island and North Stradbroke Island, Queensland. Morphologically, our specimens of E. kyphosi agree closely with descriptions of this species from Hawaii and South Africa, and despite lack of molecular data from outside of Australian waters, we consider all three reports to represent a single, widespread species. The first ITS2 and COI mtDNA gene sequences for species of Enenterum are provided and molecular phylogenetic analyses of 28S rDNA gene sequences place these species in a strongly-supported clade with the type-species of the genus, Enenterum aureum Linton, 1910. The oral suckers of both E. kyphosi and E. petrae n. sp. can be interpreted as having varying numbers of lobes depending on the particular specimen and how the division between lobes is defined. Scanning electron microscopical images improves understanding of the morphology of the enenterid oral sucker, and permits speculation regarding the evolutionary history leading to its specialisation in this lineage.
Japananoides, a new leafhopper genus from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae)
Authors: CAO WENJUN , XING JICHUN
Published: June 2022

A new genus of the tribe Opsiini from China, Japananoides gen. nov. with J. circularis sp. nov. as type species is described and illustrated. A new synonymy is also proposed: Pseudophlepsius binotatus (Signoret, 1880) equals Phlepsopsius liupanshanensis Li, 2011 syn. nov. A checklist and key to Chinese genera of Opsiini are provided. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).
Out of Southeast Asia: A new species of thick-thumbed bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Glischropus) from Meghalaya, north-eastern India
Authors: SAIKIA UTTAM , RUEDI MANUEL , CSORBA GABOR
Published: June 2022

Thick-thumbed bats of the genus Glischropus are currently composed of four recognized species from Southeast Asia, two of which were described in recent times. Among these species, G. aquilus is endemic to Sumatra, G. javanus is restricted to western Java, whereas G. bucephalus is widely distributed north to the Isthmus of Kra and G. tylopus is widespread south to this zoogeographic boundary. Two recently collected Glischropus specimens from Meghalaya state in north-eastern India extend the known distribution range of the genus westward into South Asia by ca. 1000 km. Morphological examination of these specimens and comparison with all known species in this genus revealed marked differences in colouration, dental characters and bacular traits. We therefore describe the Meghalaya specimens as a new species. The discovery of the new species from a forest patch adjacent to Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary from where another specialized bamboo-dwelling species (Eudiscopus denticulus) was reported recently also underscore the importance of the area from a conservation point of view.
Age diversity and the monitoring role of corporate boards: Evidence from banks
Authors: Janahi Mohamed , Millo Yuval , Voulgaris Georgios
Published: June 2022

We investigate how age diversity on corporate boards affects their monitoring performance. Despite the critical importance of the monitoring function of the board, previous studies focus mainly on the advisory role of age-diversified boards. Our emphasis is on banks where the opacity in their complex operations poses a challenge for external stakeholders to assess performance and thus they heavily rely on the board for monitoring managerial activities. We examine how age diversity affects one of the primary monitoring roles of corporate boards – a responsibility over the provision of high-quality financial reports. Using a large panel data of banks in the United States ( N = 7005) our findings suggest that age-diversified boards are associated with less earnings management, indicative of higher-quality reporting. Our results still hold for different indicators of the monitoring performance of the board in other areas, such as loan risk. Further analysis reveals that, as age diversity increases, the strength of the board’s monitoring effectiveness also increases. Overall, our findings suggest that age-diversified boards are more effective at monitoring managerial decision making.
Association of socioeconomic status with nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation in young Korean adults
Authors: Park Heyeon , In Sunwoo , Hur Ji-Won
Published: June 2022

Objective:

Although nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in youth is an important mental health concern worldwide, limited studies have investigated its sociodemographic correlates in early adulthood. This study explored associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-harm behaviors, including NSSI and suicidal ideation, in a community-based sample of young adults.

Methods:

A total of 414 Korean young adults engaged in NSSI and 200 controls completed online self-report questionnaires assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, using logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio and analyzed risk factors for NSSI, especially the independent influence of SES on NSSI risk. Multivariate regression was performed to identify the role of socioeconomic disadvantage in suicidal ideation in NSSI people.

Results:

Logistic regression showed that low SES significantly increased NSSI risk. Multivariable regression also revealed that lower SES was related to more severe suicidal ideation in young adults with NSSI after controlling for gender and the higher-severity NSSI index, including the number of NSSI methods used and NSSI intrapersonal functions.

Conclusions:

This is the first study to directly address socioeconomic gradients of a general population of young adults with NSSI and its effects, and socioeconomic status should be considered preemptively when defining suicide risks of this group and when intervening in self-injurious behaviors.
The Dual Effect of COVID-19 on Intergroup Conflict in the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Nir Nimrod , Halperin Eran , Park Juhwa
Published: June 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way human beings interact, both as individuals and groups, in the face of such a widespread outbreak. This paper seeks to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on intergroup emotions and attitudes within an intractable intergroup conflict, specifically, through the lens of the Korean conflict. Using a two-wave, cross-sectional design, this study was able to track the profound psychological changes in intergroup emotions and attitudes both prior to the pandemic and during its onslaught. Results of these two wave representative samples show that South Korean citizens demonstrated higher levels of fear of their neighbors in North Korea after the outbreak of COVID-19 than before. In turn, this led to increased societal support of hostile government policies towards North Koreans. Conversely, the same participants exhibited higher levels of empathy towards North Koreans during the pandemic, which led to a higher willingness to collaborate with their outgroup. This dual effect on intergroup emotions within intractable conflicts brings forth new avenues from which societies may be able to restrain the destructive influence of the COVID-19 threat on intergroup relations — as well as harvesting its constructive potential for reconciling warring intergroup relations.
Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Representative Inner Speech Questionnaires
Authors: Racy Famira , Morin Alain , Hagerty Julia
Published: June 2022

Inner speech is frequently assessed using self-report scales, but their validity is understudied. Uttl et al. (2011) found moderate correlations, perhaps because measures tap into different dimensions of inner speech. We expand on these preliminary results by investigating reliability and concurrent validity of seven inner speech questionnaires in a larger sample. Our results indicate that inner speech questionnaires are reliable but hold moderate concurrent validity, in line with Uttl and colleagues’ (2011) results. Specifically, our results suggest that some inner speech scales may capture a general conception of inner speech, while others may assess evaluative components of negative self-talk, self-regulation, and self-reflective processes, but not emotional valence. The results hold implications around further validity investigations of inner speech measures.
COVID-19 Vaccination and Intent Among Pregnant Women, United States, April 2021
Authors: Razzaghi Hilda , Kahn Katherine E. , Masalovich Svetlana , Black Carla L. , Nguyen Kimberly H. , Barfield Wanda D. , Galang Romeo R. , Singleton James A.
Published: June 2022

Objectives:

National data on COVID-19 vaccination coverage among pregnant women are limited. We assessed COVID-19 vaccination coverage and intent, factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination, reasons for nonvaccination, and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to COVID-19 illness and vaccination among pregnant women in the United States.

Methods:

Data from an opt-in internet panel survey of pregnant women conducted March 31–April 16, 2021, assessed receipt of ≥1 dose of any COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. The sample included 1516 women pregnant any time during December 1, 2020–April 16, 2021, who were not fully vaccinated before pregnancy. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine variables independently associated with receipt of COVID-19 vaccine.

Results:

As of April 16, 2021, 21.7% of pregnant women had received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, 24.0% intended to receive a vaccine, 17.2% were unsure, and 37.1% did not intend to receive a vaccine. Pregnant women with (vs without) a health care provider recommendation (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 4.86), those who lived (vs not) with someone with a condition that could increase risk for serious medical complications of COVID-19 (aPR = 2.11), and those who had received (vs not) an influenza vaccination (aPR = 2.35) were more likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Common reasons for nonvaccination included concerns about safety risk to baby (37.2%) or self (34.6%) and about rapid vaccine development (29.7%) and approval (30.9%).

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate a continued need to emphasize the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and to widely disseminate the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other clinical professional societies for all pregnant women to be vaccinated.
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma of the Frontal Sinus: A Case Report
Authors: Yang Lu , Cui Yu , Du Xue , Tan Bangxian
Published: June 2022

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the frontal sinus is a very rare malignant tumor with atypical clinical manifestations. It usually involves the orbital and ethmoid sinuses and causes vision loss, visual field damage, and nasal obstruction as the first symptoms. Herein, we report the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the frontal sinus, introduce imaging features of the disease, and discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The Optimal Design of Bifactor Multidimensional Computerized Adaptive Testing with Mixed-format Items
Authors: Mao Xiuzhen , Zhang Jiahui , Xin Tao
Published: June 2022

Multidimensional computerized adaptive testing (MCAT) using mixed-format items holds great potential for the next-generation assessments. Two critical factors in the mixed-format test design (i.e., the order and proportion of polytomous items) and item selection were addressed in the context of mixed-format bifactor MCAT. For item selection, this article presents the derivation of the Fisher information matrix of the bifactor graded response model and the application of the bifactor dimension reduction method to simplify the computation of the mutual information (MI) item selection method. In a simulation study, different MCAT designs were compared with varying proportions of polytomous items (0.2–0.6, 1), different item-delivering formats (DPmix: delivering polytomous items at the final stage; RPmix: random delivering), three bifactor patterns (low, middle, and high), and two item selection methods (Bayesian D-optimality and MI). Simulation results suggested that a) the overall estimation precision increased with a higher bifactor pattern; b) the two item selection methods did not show substantial differences in estimation precision; and c) the RPmix format always led to more precise interim and final estimates than the DPmix format. The proportions of 0.3 and 0.4 were recommended for the RPmix and DPmix formats, respectively.
School Personnel Perceptions of Video Conference Individualized Education Program Meetings
Authors: Scheef Andrew R. , Hollingshead Aleksandra , Raney Taylor , Malone Kalley , Goebel Emma , Hayes Julia
Published: June 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools in the U.S. pivoted to provide services to students using technology to mitigate the need for face-to-face interactions. In addition to providing instruction using distance technology, it was necessary for schools to conduct much of their other business in a way that limited face-to-face interactions, including Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings for students who receive special education services. This study sought to better understand the extent to which school personnel believe they will continue to use a video conference format for IEP meetings, even without the existence of school policy restricting face-to-face events. Additionally, barriers and facilitators related to video conference IEP meetings were explored. A survey was completed by school professionals ( n = 292) that included responses to Likert-scale items related to video conference IEP meetings as well as open-ended qualitative items to better understand respondent perceptions. Results suggest school personnel generally believe that video conference IEP meetings can be beneficial and should be offered as an option to IEP teams. In addition, qualitative data related to barriers and facilitators have been provided. Implications for school personnel and future research have also been described.
Dual ambivalence: The Untamed Girls as a counterpublic
Authors: Ge Liang
Published: June 2022

The male-male romance web series The Untamed reached a height of media interest in the summer of 2019 in China. Numerous Chinese young women were obsessed with the drama centred on the relationship between the two male protagonists, and many fan followers identified themselves as ‘ The Untamed Girls’. Through online observation of young female fans of the male-male romance web series, this study articulates how they were self-organised as a counterpublic and utilised strategic ways to negotiate with the party-state censorship. Drawing upon the conceptualisation of ‘ambivalence’, the study analyses a dual ambivalence in their collective actions. It is argued that The Untamed Girls’ participation as a popular feminist project is, however constantly intertwined with an assumption of heteronormativity and an internalised misogyny, where these seemingly empowered women are simultaneously reaffirming a heterosexual regulation of sexual desires and devaluing women when they celebrate the male-male romance embodied in such a drama series.
Ageing in Context: An Ecological Model to Understand Social Participation Among Indigenous Adults in Chile
Authors: Gallardo-Peralta Lorena Patricia , Raymond Émilie , Gálvez-Nieto José Luis
Published: June 2022

The social participation of older adults occupies a central position in international discourse regarding ageing, the ecological model makes it possible to examine and assess the different factors that influence the understanding of what encourages social participation by older adults. This study used the ecological model to analyse how personal, community and environmental factors are related to satisfaction with social participation among Chilean older adults, a majority of whom are indigenous, living in rural areas ( n = 800). The results confirmed that satisfaction with social participation was related to personal factors (feelings of depression, functioning into basic activities of daily living (ADL) and autonomy), community factors (perceived social support from social group) and environmental factors (accessibility of physical setting within the village). Our findings confirmed a high level of social participation among indigenous adults, with rural and indigenous surroundings appearing to be a factor that protects and promotes social integration.
South Korean pre-service primary school teachers’ attitudes towards gifted students and gifted education
Authors: Woo Heejin , Cumming Therese M , O’Neill Susan C
Published: June 2022

This study explores South Korean pre-service primary teachers’ attitudes towards gifted students and gifted education. Qualitative focus group interviews were conducted with 13 South Korean undergraduates who were in their final year of a primary education. Analysis of the interviews revealed that culture was a major factor that had affected the pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards gifted education. Even though the participants agreed with the necessity of gifted education to meet gifted students’ distinctive intellectual and emotional needs, they tended to have negative attitudes towards the gifted education in South Korea because of the highly competitive educational atmosphere. The South Korean pre-service teachers admitted that taking a gifted education course could be somewhat helpful but not enough. They suggested that there should be more elective gifted education course offerings and that the current compulsory special education courses should devote more time and space to gifted education.
A physical therapist–led clinical decision-making program reduced risk of adverse events after total knee arthroplasty over 3 years: A retrospective review
Authors: Peterson Seth
Published: June 2022

Context

Reducing adverse events after total knee arthroplasty has implications for newly developed bundled payment models.

Objective

To examine the impact of a physical therapist–led clinical decision-making program on the risk of adverse events, function, visits used, or reaching knee range of motion (ROM) goals in patients after total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

The decision-making program consisted of quarterly meetings and recommendations for early risk identification and evidence-based intervention. A retrospective review of electronic records included adult patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty postoperative rehabilitation in an 18-month baseline period from 2014 to 2015 and an intervention period from 2015 to 2018. Relative risk reduction (RRR) determined whether a reduction in risk had occurred. Discharge function was measured with the Lower Extremity Functional Scale.

Results

A total of 160 patients were included, 69 from the 18-month baseline period and 91 from the 36-month intervention period. Mean (SD) age was 68 (9.2) years in the baseline period and 72 (9.7) years in the intervention period. There was an 8.4% (95% CI, 1.1%–64.9%) RRR in adverse events. The RRR for patients not reaching full knee extension was 70.5% (95% CI, 33.4%–87.0%) and the RRR for patients not reaching 120° of knee flexion was 65.5% (95% CI, 5.4%–87.4%). There was significant improvement in the discharge function score ( P = 0.05), but not the number of visits used ( P = 0.29).

Conclusion

The physical therapist–led clinical decision-making program reduced the risk of adverse events after total knee arthroplasty. The risk of not reaching ROM goals by discharge was also substantially reduced.
Visually significant cataract and associated factors among older people attending a community ophthalmic service in central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tegegn Melkamu Temeselew , Assaye Aragaw Kegne , Belete Gizachew Tilahun , Munaw Minychil Bantihun
Published: June 2022

Objective

In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of visually significant cataract and associated factors among older people attending community ophthalmic services in the central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted a community outreach-based cross-sectional study among adults aged ≥40 years in the central Gondar Zone from 30 May to 15 June 2021. We used systematic random sampling to select study participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and ocular examinations were performed and the data recorded. We applied binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with visually significant cataract.

Results

A total of 821 participants were included, with median age 57 years. The prevalence of visually significant cataract was 29.1% (95% CI: 26.1–32.0). Age ≥80 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 16.9; 95% CI: 7.5–38.4), rural residence (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.02–2.7), unmarried status (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2–3.2), illiteracy (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4–6.1), unemployed status (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1–2.7), and sunlight exposure ≥5 hours per day (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.04–2.4) were significantly associated with visually significant cataract.

Conclusion

In this study, visually significant cataract was found to be high, which requires immediate public health intervention.
Short Duration Crash Prediction for Rural Two-Lane Roadways: Applying Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Wei Zihang , Das Subasish , Zhang Yunlong
Published: June 2022

Conventional traffic crash analysis methods often use highly aggregated data, making it difficult to understand the effects of time-varying factors on crash occurrence. In this study, the combined effect of roadway geometry, speed distribution, and weather conditions on crash occurrence and severity was investigated on short duration daily level crash data. This study collected data from four different sources on rural two-lane roadways in Texas. A machine learning method, XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting), was applied to train the data. To mitigate imbalanced data problems, a synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) was applied. The XGBoost model was trained separately on all crash occurrences and severe crash occurrences. Finally, an explainable artificial intelligence (AI) technique, SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanation), was applied to investigate the contribution of all variables to the model’s output. The results show that annual average daily traffic has a significant impact on all crash occurrences and severe crash (fatal and incapacitating injury) occurrences on rural two-lane roadways. Moreover, weather condition factors including daily precipitation, average visibility, and the standard deviation of visibility show association with high crash occurrences. The short duration crash prediction models of this study can provide more insights into the relationships between crash, geometric variables, traffic exposure, weather, and operating speed.
Identifying High-accuracy Regions in Traffic Camera Images to Enhance the Estimation of Road Traffic Metrics: A Quadtree-based Method
Authors: Lin Yue , Xiao Ningchuan
Published: June 2022

The growing number of real-time camera feeds in urban areas has made it possible to provide high-quality traffic data for effective transportation planning, operations, and management. However, deriving reliable traffic metrics from these camera feeds has been a challenge because of the limitations of current vehicle detection techniques, as well as the various camera conditions, such as height and resolution. In this work, a quadtree-based algorithm is developed to continuously partition the image extent until only regions with high detection accuracy remain. These regions are referred to as high-accuracy identification regions (HAIRs) in this paper. We demonstrate how the use of HAIRs can improve the accuracy of traffic density estimates using images from traffic cameras at different heights and resolutions in Central Ohio. Our experiments show that the proposed algorithm can be used to derive robust HAIRs in which vehicle detection accuracy is 41% higher than that in the original image extent. The use of HAIRs also significantly improves the traffic density estimation with an overall decrease of 49% in root mean squared error.
Modeling System-Wide Urban Rail Transit Energy Consumption: A Case Study of Boston
Authors: Han Zhuo , Gonzales Eric , Christofa Eleni , Oke Jimi
Published: June 2022

Rapid transit systems are critical components of urban public transportation networks in their impact, not only on personal mobility but also on the energy and environmental costs associated with network operations. To facilitate effective planning for current and future needs, a framework is required that provides important consumption metrics and also explains the various contributors to energy consumption, along with their interactions. To address this gap, we estimated models that utilized operational and ridership data for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s rapid transit system, as well as ambient temperature, to accurately predict system-wide electricity consumption. The models were trained with data from 2019 and tested with data from 2020. The estimated multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RF) models explained 93% and 95% of the variance in the data set, respectively. The MLR model provided predictions with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 2.7 MWh and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.68%, while the RF model resulted in an RMSE of 2.94 MWh and MAPE of 5.01%. We also investigated the impacts of COVID-19 on the transit system by exploring the effects on ridership, energy consumption, cost, and train movement metrics before and during the pandemic. We find that the models are robust and perform well, even with the significant disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bus Scheduling of Overlapping Routes Based on the Combination of All-Stop and Stop-Skipping Services
Authors: Zhang Mingye , Yang Min , Lei Da , Song Xiammin
Published: June 2022

Developing public transportation is an effective way to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce fossil fuel consumption. However, the result of ineffective public transport planning can be that some bus lines have long overlapping intervals, and share many common stops between them, which causes a significant waste of resources. The current bus scheduling method does not consider the imbalance of passenger flow between different stops or combine the overlapping interval with transit mixed scheduling, including all-stop and stop-skipping services. Therefore, based on the analysis of the characteristics of overlapping interval, this paper proposes a combined bus scheduling method, which includes both all-stop and stop-skipping bus services. The method is a deterministic method applied in the scheduling stage of transit planning. The method optimizes scheduling strategies by minimizing total passenger travel time, including the waiting time and the in-vehicle travel time, and the line frequency of each bus service is taken as the decision variable. Then a genetic algorithm is designed to find the optimal solution. The model is verified by two bus lines in Changchun city. The experimental results showed that the proposed model could reduce total passenger travel time by 7.71% compared with the existing scheduling method. The combined bus scheduling method can supplement the research on bus scheduling of overlapping routes and provide suggestions for operators.
Dynamic Bus Lanes Versus Exclusive Bus Lanes: Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of Urban Corridor Performance
Authors: Othman Kareem , Shalaby Amer , Abdulhai Baher
Published: June 2022

Exclusive bus lane (EBL) is one of the most common transit prioritization strategies implemented to improve transit speed. However, one major drawback of implementing EBLs is the associated reduction in road capacity left for other road users. In corridors with EBLs and infrequent bus service, the lanes are underutilized for extended periods of time. Dynamic bus lane (DBL), a new priority strategy enabled by vehicle connectivity, can provide buses with priority while allowing the general traffic to access the bus lane when buses are not present. Although the DBL concept is promising, a limited number of studies have explored its effectiveness under various conditions. Thus, this paper investigates the impacts of DBLs through a comparison with EBLs and mixed traffic operation under different levels of traffic demand and transit frequency. As a case study, the Eglinton East corridor in Toronto, Canada, was simulated using Aimsun Next, and different scenarios of behavioral impacts were considered in the analysis. The results reveal that DBL is a promising strategy with potential to improve the overall corridor performance over a wide range of traffic and transit service conditions, especially under intermediate traffic demand levels. On the other hand, EBL can be an efficient prioritization strategy that improves the overall corridor performance under high traffic demand and high transit frequency levels, but only if accompanied by a major mode shift from auto to transit.
Risk of Diagnosed Adolescent-Onset Non-Affective Psychotic Disorder by Migration Background in British Columbia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Magee Carly , Oberle Eva , Guhn Martin , Gadermann Anne , Puyat Joseph H.
Published: June 2022

Objective

We recently found that the risk of diagnosed non-affective psychotic disorder between the ages of 13 and 19 was lower for immigrant adolescents compared to those without a personal or parental migration history in British Columbia (BC), Canada. In the current study, we further examined the risk for migrants compared to non-migrants by region of origin and immigrant generation (first vs. second), adjusting for several demographic factors and migration class.

Methods

Administrative data were used to construct a cohort of individuals born 1990–98 and residing in South-Western BC ( N = 193,400). Cases were identified by either one hospitalization or two outpatient physician visits with a primary diagnosis of a non-affective psychotic disorder. Poisson regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) of a diagnosed non-affective psychotic disorder by region of origin among first- and second-generation migrants compared to non-migrants, adjusting for sex, birth year, neighbourhood income and low family income.

Results

Risk of diagnosed non-affective psychotic disorder was lower among first-generation migrants from East Asia (IRR = 0.34[95% CI: 0.25–0.46]), South-Asia (IRR = 0.47[95% CI: 0.25–0.89]) and South-East Asia (IRR = 0.55[95% CI: 0.32–0.93]) and second-generation migrants from East Asia (IRR = 0.49[95% CI: 0.35–0.69]) and South Asia (IRR = 0.52[95% CI: 0.37–0.73]), compared to non-migrants. Adjusting for migration class attenuated but did not fully explain variation in risk by region among first-generation migrants. No groups exhibited a significantly elevated risk of the diagnosed non-affective psychotic disorder compared to non-migrants.

Conclusion

Findings from this study underline the complexity of the association between migration and psychotic disorders. Future research should investigate why certain groups of migrants are less likely to be diagnosed and whether there are specific sub-groups that face an elevated risk.
Decolonising (critical) social theory: Enfleshing post-Covid futurities
Authors: Motta Sara C.
Published: June 2022

Decolonial/anti-colonial Black, Indigenous and Mestiza feminist movements and scholar-activists foreground how the oft-touted apocalypse that the Covid-19 pandemic heralds is not new, nor does it signify the great rupture into chaos that those from within modernity-coloniality often claim it to be. Rather Covid-19 is preceded by and will be out-lived by the apocalyptic anti-life onto-epistemological logics that are foundational to the (re)production of hetero-patriarchal capitalist-(settler) coloniality. However, one would commit the violence of reproduction of the epistemological logics and (ir)rationalities constitutive of the current system if the story ended there. We have survived (despite our losses) and our survival points to the urgent necessity and responsibility of (critical) social theory to listen to the story of the pandemic from a Black/Indigenous genealogy and to begin the sense-making of the Covid-19 pandemic, from prior to this particular virus, outside, against and beyond the politics of knowledge of critical social theory itself. Thus, I invite you to journey to an affirmative re-enfleshment of reason and theory-making in relation to and dialogue with Black, Indigenous, and subaltern Mestiza feminist movements in southwest Colombia and in southeast so-called Australia in the unceded lands of the Awabakal and the Worimi. I explore this through the metaphor, the materiality, the cosmology and the herstory of the mangrove swamps a knowing-being otherwise (in)visible to the dehumanising gave of Whiteness and bring to thought three stories of a politics of knowledge of/as the Black/racialised and feminised body/flesh. To do this is to suggest that the co-creation of pathways which are life affirming and life making beyond and out of the post-Covid 19 conjuncture involves an epistemological-political project which decolonises and feminises the containments of reason and knowing (non)being of coloniality/modernity.
Gender Regimes and Cambodian Labor Unions
Authors: Ward Kristy
Published: June 2022

Globally, labor unions have been criticized for being highly gendered, patriarchal organizations that struggle to engage with, and represent, women. In Cambodia, the disparity between women’s activism and organizational power is particularly acute. Women workers are the face of the labor movement, yet they remain excluded from union leadership despite some movement toward more progressive gender policies within unions. Using data from semi-structured interviews with workers and union leaders in the construction and garment sectors, I illustrate how gendered narratives and practices of control are mobilized through gender regimes that operate in the household, the workplace, and unions. I propose an analytical framework that incorporates these three interlocking gender regimes to draw attention to the contradictory role of unions in advocating for worker rights while depoliticizing women’s activism and sustaining gender inequity. I argue that it is the contradictory relationship between these regimes that entrenches women’s subordination within unions despite their numerical strength.
Participation in Grace: Kierkegaard’s Corrective to Luther
Authors: Watts Daniel
Published: June 2022

I offer an interpretation of the target of Søren Kierkegaard’s corrective to Luther as not merely cultural Lutheranism but Luther's very conception of what it means to be receptive to grace. On this interpretation, while Kierkegaard affirms that salvation is by grace alone, and through faith alone, he thinks that Luther errs when he conceives of salvation as a process in relation to which the believer is merely passive. Instead, in Kierkegaard’s view, receptivity to grace involves a distinctive, middle-voiced, form of human agency in which the believer learns to acknowledge her need for grace. With reference to Kierkegaard’s discourses on patience, and their thematic proximity to the spirituality of the Philokalia, I illustrate this conception of active-passivity and show how it is compatible with an uncompromising Lutheran emphasis on human powerlessness. With reference also to his insistence of the irreducible importance of the participant’s perspective, I further draw out from Kierkegaard an account of why the temptation may arise to erroneously interpret the core tenets of Luther's teaching, in the mode of a theory of soteriological passivity.
A new design of boring bar using TiNi3 alloy to reduce vibration in turning operations
Authors: Akdeniz Eymen , Arslan Hakan
Published: June 2022

In turning operations, vibration is a significant problem that leads to an imperfect surface, cutting tool damage, and unstable production. Vibration affects not only the workpiece’s surface quality, but also the cutting tool life, and ultimately the overall process cost. Since Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) has a very high vibration damping capacity, the effect of using TiNi3 alloy as the turning tool holder material is investigated in this paper. The tool holder vibrations are investigated analytically and numerically in both external and internal turning operations. The analytical study utilizes the Laplace Transformation Method to find the natural frequency and the beam’s displacement as a function of time and the longitudinal axis. The numerical study is performed using transient and Modal Analysis using ANSYS software. A comparison of the analytical and numerical results shows that they were very close to each other. The numerical study shows that TiNi3 alloy decreases vibration amplitude and acceleration for external and internal turning operations. It is shown that the use of TiNi3 alloy in the turning cutting tools decrease the vibration acceleration amplitudes by 43.1% and 40.2% for internal and external turning operations, respectively. Additional improvement in the performance of the internal turning cutting tool is achieved by presenting a new model of the boring bar that depends on the integrating of TiNi3 alloy and carbide material. Optimization of five steps is made to obtain the optimal design of the presented model. The new model shows that the optimized boring bar decreases the vibration acceleration by 60.2% compared to the commercial boring bar. Therefore we strongly recommend it for manufacturing turning tool holders.
Review on sensor design for cutting force measurement
Authors: Mohanraj Thangamuthu , Uddin Mohammad , Thangarasu Sevagoundanoor Karuppusamy
Published: June 2022

The measurement of cutting force is one of the key factors in determining the tool condition and improving machine reliability. Therefore, the cutting force measurement becomes crucial to improve the machining process. The cutting force can be measured with piezoelectric as well as piezoresistive transducers. The force measuring transducers with later ones are cost-effective and can be easily installed in any small/medium-scale enterprise. For this approach, the selection of sensing elements is essential. The various mechanical ring elements were used for sensing the deformation. The low-cost device can be affordable in small-scale industries. Along with cutting force, it is suggested to measure the vibration signals to analyze the machining dynamics of the process. The salient features and diverse force measuring transducers were discussed in this article. This paper aims to briefly review the existing design and performance of dynamometers used in modern manufacturing.