bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing late-Holocene vegetation dynamics and biodiversity on Hallands Väderö, SW Sweden: A statistical evaluation
Authors: Hannon Gina E , Molinari Chiara , Bradshaw Richard HW
Published: August 2021

Forest composition characteristic of the Mid-Holocene has survived on Hallands Väderö, an island nature reserve off the south west coast of Sweden. Current veteran Tilia and Quercus trees contribute to a remarkably rich biodiversity of fungi, bryophytes, lichens and insects. Understanding which potential factors influence Holocene vegetation dynamics can support efforts to protect biodiversity, but the role of grazing and browsing has previously been difficult to evaluate because of the lack of long-term datasets. Palaeoecological analyses over the last c. 3000 years from a pond on the island reveal sustained presence of Quercus, Alnus, Tilia, Corylus and Ulmus, alongside increasing Fagus in recent centuries. Changes in grazing pressure have been documented since AD 1665 and a statistical approach was used to calculate the relative importance of grazing pressure, climate variability, and fire activity on the dynamics of selected taxa. Grazing was the main factor reducing population size of Fagus, Alnus, Tilia and Corylus on the island over the period AD 1665–1858, with warm winter temperatures and summer humidity having significant positive influences in the last millennium for Quercus, Alnus, Tilia and Corylus. The survival of large numbers of red-listed species is likely to be due to the continuity of large old trees, ancient forest composition and a distinctive disturbance history in a favourable climate.
Hematological involvement in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: A multi-center study
Authors: Akca Ümmüşen Kaya , Batu Ezgi Deniz , Kısaarslan Ayşenur Pac , Poyrazoğlu Hakan , Ayaz Nuray Aktay , Sözeri Betül , Sağ Erdal , Atalay Erdal , Demir Selcan , Karadağ Şerife Gül , Demir Ferhat , Bilginer Yelda , Gümrük Fatma , Özen Seza
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may present with features of several systems, including hematological manifestations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of hematological involvement and assess possible associations and correlations in pediatric SLE patients. Method: This is a retrospective multi-center study. The medical records of pediatric SLE patients followed between January 2000 and June 2020 were analyzed. All children fulfilled the criteria of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics. Results: The study included 215 children with SLE, 118 of whom had hematological manifestations. Concomitant renal involvement and low C3 levels were significantly more frequent in patients with hematological involvement ( p = 0.04, p = 0.008, respectively). Also, anti-cardiolipin, anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2 GP1), and anti-Sm antibody positivity, and the presence of lupus anticoagulant were more common in the group with hematological findings ( p = 0.001 for anti-cardiolipin antibody positivity and p < 0.001 for the positivity of anti-β2 GP1 antibody, anti-Sm antibody, and lupus anticoagulant). The most common hematologic abnormality was anemia (n = 88, 74.5%), with autoimmune hemolytic anemia constituting the majority (n = 40). Corticosteroids followed by IVIG were the mainstay of treatment. In patients resistant to corticosteroid and IVIG treatments, the most preferred drug was rituximab. Low levels of C3, high SLEDAI score, high incidence of renal involvement, and positive antiphospholipid antibodies were associated with hematological involvement in the univariate analysis. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and high SLEDAI score were independently associated with hematological involvement in multivariate analysis (OR: 4.021; 95% CI: 2.041–7.921; p < 0.001 and OR: 1.136; 95% CI: 1.065–1.212; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hematological abnormalities are frequently encountered in pediatric SLE. Positive antiphospholipid antibodies and high SLEDAI scores were associated with hematological involvement.
20-Year-old female with fever, cough, and dyspnea: Acute lupus pneumonitis during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Yarkan Tuğsal Handan , İzdeş Seval , Küçükşahin Orhan
Published: August 2021

Acute lupus pneumonitis (ALP) is a rare first-presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The characteristic symptoms are rapid onset of fever, cough (sometimes with hemoptysis), and dyspnea. ALP may progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and it is a potentially fatal disease unless treated. Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has overlaps with ALP in terms of clinical presentation, and laboratory and radiological findings. This report describes a case of a young female patient presenting with ARDS during the pandemic of COVID-19. She had pancytopenia, elevated CRP, ferritin, and liver indices resembling macrophage activation syndrome. She also had hepatosplenomegaly, a small spleen infarct, adenopathy, minimal pleural, and pericardial effusion. After excluding COVID-19 by PCR and antibody tests, and other infections by cultures, with the help of antinuclear antibody and anti–double-stranded DNA, SLE and ALP were diagnosed, and she was treated with high-dose steroid and intravenous immunoglobulin. In conclusion, if patients presenting with pneumonia or ARDS have one or more of the findings of arthritis, serositis, rash, oral/nasopharyngeal ulcerations, cytopenias, and renal or neurologic disorder, SLE and ALP should be considered in differential diagnoses. Because of the high mortality rate of ALP reaching up to 50%, early diagnosis and immunosuppressive therapy are of vital importance.
Influenza A/Singapore (H3N2) component vaccine in systemic lupus erythematosus: A distinct pattern of immunogenicity
Authors: Claudino Formiga Francisco Fellipe , Silva Clovis Artur , Pedrosa Tatiana do Nascimento , Aikawa Nadia Emi , Pasoto Sandra Gofinet , Garcia Cristiana Couto , Capão Artur Silva Vidal , Martins Victor Adriano de Oliveira , Proença Adriana Coracini Tonacio de , Fuller Ricardo , Yuki Emily Figueiredo Neves , Vendramini Margarete Borges Galhardo , Rosário Debora Cordeiro do , Brandão Leticia Maria Kolachinski Raposo , Sartori Ana Marli Christovam , Antonangelo Leila , Bonfá Eloisa , Borba Eduardo Ferreira
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Influenza A (H3N2) virus is the most important cause of seasonal influenza morbidity and mortality in the last 50 years, surpassing the impact of H1N1. Data assessing immunogenicity and safety of this virus component are lacking in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and restricted to small reports with other H3N2 strains.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate short-term immunogenicity and safety of influenza A/Singapore (H3N2) vaccine in SLE.

Methods

81 consecutive SLE patients and 81 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were vaccinated with the influenza A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016(H3N2)-like virus. Seroprotection (SP) and seroconversion (SC) rates, geometric mean titers(GMT), and factor increase in GMT(FI-GMT) and adverse events were assessed before and 4 weeks post-vaccination. Disease activity and therapies were also evaluated.

Results

Before immunization, SLE and HC groups had high SP rates (89% vs 77%, p = 0.061) and elevated GMT titer with higher levels in SLE (129.1(104.1–154.1) vs 54.8(45.0–64.6), p < 0.001). Frequency of two previous years’ influenza vaccination was high and comparable in SLE and HC (89% vs 90%, p = 1.000). Four weeks post-vaccination, median GMT increased for both groups and remained higher in SLE compared to HC (239.9(189.5–290.4) vs 94.5(72.6–116.4), p < 0.0001) with a comparable FI-GMT (2.3(1.8–2.9) vs 1.9(1.5-2.3), p = 0.051). SC rates were low and comparable for both groups (16% vs 11%, respectively, p = 0.974). Disease activity scores remained stable throughout the study ( p = 1.000) and severe adverse events were not identified.

Conclusion

Influenza A/Singapore (H3N2) vaccine has an adequate safety profile. The distinct immunogenicity pattern from other influenza A components characterized by a remarkably high pre- and post-vaccination SP rate and high GMT levels may be associated with previous influenza A vaccination. ( www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT03540823).
Gendering Corporate Boards and Conditional Effectiveness of Board Processes: Insights from a Sub-Saharan African Country
Authors: Damoah Obi Berko O. , Lamptey Yvonne Ayerki , Anlesinya Alex , Tetteh Barbara Naa Amanuah
Published: August 2021

This study explored how and when female board members make effective contribution to board processes in a sub-Saharan African country (Ghana), a context characterized by low female representation on corporate boards, but highly under-researched with respect to the gender and corporate governance literature. The study is based on interview data from 25 female board directors in Ghana. The results show that women on corporate boards contribute to effective board processes and outcomes when their proposed ideas during board meetings are accepted by other board members, implemented by management and impact positively on organizational outcomes such as enhanced financial, product and staff outcomes. These effective contributions of female board directors to corporate board processes can further be enhanced by suitable female directors’ personal-level conditions such as their human capital (advanced degree and professional qualification, and past board membership experience) and family support (supportive husbands, and having grown up children), as well as board-level conditions like occupying chairperson/leadership position on the board or committees, and regular attendance at board meetings. Consequently, this research study contributed to the gender and corporate governance literature by providing new evidence from under-researched geographical context on how women on corporate boards contribute to effective board processes. It further highlights personal and board-level conditions that are necessary for greater contributions of female directors to corporate board processes and outcomes in male-dominated societies and boards.
Interval patterns are dependent on metrical position in jazz solos
Authors: Cross Peter , Goldman Andrew
Published: August 2021

During jazz improvisation, performers employ short recurrent musical motifs called licks. Past research has focused on the pitch, intervallic, and rhythmic characteristics of licks, but less attention has been paid to whether they tend to start in the same place within the measure ( metrical dependence). Licks might be metrically dependent, and where a given lick starts in a measure ( metrical position) may thus be part of the performer’s mental representation of that lick. Here we report the use of a corpus study to investigate whether licks are metrically dependent. We analyzed a subset of solos, all those in 4/4 time ( n = 435), from the Weimar Jazz Database (WJD; Pfleiderer et al., 2017). Using a sliding window technique, we identified melodic sequences ( interval n-grams) between 3 and 10 intervals in length. We counted the number of times each interval n-gram occurred, and noted the metrical position of the initial note of each occurrence, using different levels of quantization (8th and 16th note). We compared the entropy of the distribution of metrical positions for each n-gram—with lower values indicating a stronger metrical dependence—against simulated counterparts that assumed no relationship between an n-gram and its metrical position (no metrical dependence). Overall, we found that shorter n-grams were metrically dependent, with varying results for longer n-grams. We suggest two possible explanations: either mental representations of licks may encode their metrical features or the metrical position may make certain licks more accessible to the performer. On the basis of our findings we discuss future studies that could employ our methods.
The comparative pathology of enterocolitis caused by Clostridium perfringens type C, Clostridioides difficile, Paeniclostridium sordellii, Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in horses
Authors: Mendonça Fábio S. , Navarro Mauricio A. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: August 2021

To determine if there were significant differences produced by 5 of the most prevalent causes of equine enterocolitis, we studied retrospectively the gross and microscopic pathology of 90 cases of enterocolitis submitted to the San Bernardino laboratory of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory. Included were cases caused by Clostridium perfringens type C (CP; n = 20), Clostridioides difficile (CD; n = 20), Paeniclostridium sordellii (PS; n = 15), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST; n = 20), and NSAID intoxication (NS; n = 15). Grossly, necrotizing hemorrhagic typhlocolitis was seen most frequently in cases of CD, ST, and NS disease. Cases of CP and PS had enteritis or colitis in similar percentages. Congestion, hemorrhage, and pleocellular inflammatory infiltrates followed by mucosal and submucosal necrosis were the main lesions found in horses with enteritis or colitis produced by any of the etiologic agents investigated. Severe lesions were more frequent in cases of CD and CP than in cases associated with any of the other 3 etiologies. Pseudomembranes were observed with similar prevalence in the small intestine and colon affected by all agents studied. Thrombosis of the lamina propria and/or submucosa was observed in ~50% of the cases of enteritis and colitis by all etiologies, except for PS, in which the majority of the cases had thrombosis. Gross and microscopic lesions of enterocolitis were not sufficiently specific for any of these etiologic agents to enable these enteritides to be distinguished by gross and/or histologic examination.
Rilonacept: A Newly Approved Treatment for Recurrent Pericarditis
Authors: Schwier Nicholas C.
Published: August 2021

Objective

To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of rilonacept for the prevention and treatment of recurrent pericarditis (RP).

Data Sources

A MEDLINE search was conducted between January 2006 and April 2021 using the following terms: rilonacept, pharmacology, pericarditis, recurrent pericarditis, interleukin (IL) antagonist, and pharmacology; prescribing information was also used.

Study Selection and Data Extraction

English-language studies assessing pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of IL antagonists were reviewed.

Data Synthesis

Rilonacept traps IL-1α and IL-1β. In the Phase III trial, rilonacept was associated with a lower risk of recurrence, more persistent clinical response, and higher amount of days with no or minimal pericarditis symptoms, compared with placebo. The median time to pain response was 5 days, and median time to normalization of C-reactive protein was 7 days with rilonacept. All patients receiving rilonacept during the run-in period were able to be weaned off of standard background therapy, leading to transition to rilonacept monotherapy. The most common adverse effects were upper respiratory tract infections and injection site reactions.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice

Rilonacept may be used for the prevention and treatment of multiple recurrences in patients receiving background therapy for RP, and reduction in risk of recurrence in adults and adolescents ≥12 years with elevated C-reactive protein. Rilonacept may be considered to wean patients from standard background therapy.

Conclusion

Rilonacept is a safe, once weekly, subcutaneously administered IL-1 “trap,” indicated for the treatment of RP, and reduction in risk of recurrent pericarditis in adults and children ≥12 years of age.
Development of an Empathy Rating Scale for Young Children
Authors: Kimonis Eva R. , Jain Natasha , Neo Bryan , Fleming Georgette E. , Briggs Nancy
Published: August 2021

Empathy is critical to young children’s socioemotional development and deficient levels characterize a severe and pervasive type of Conduct Disorder (i.e., with limited prosocial emotions). With the emergence of novel, targeted early interventions to treat this psychopathology, the critical limitations of existing parent-report empathy measures reveal their unsuitability for assessing empathy levels and outcomes in young children. The present study aimed to develop a reliable and comprehensive parent-rated empathy scale for young children. This was accomplished by first generating a large list of empathy items sourced from both preexisting empathy measures and from statements made by parents during a clinical interview about their young child’s empathy. Second, this item set was refined using exploratory factor analysis of item scores from parents of children aged 2 to 8 years (56.6% male), recruited online using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. A five-factor solution provided the best fit to the data: Attention to Others’ Emotions, Personal Distress (i.e., Emotional Contagion/Affective Empathy), Personal Distress–Fictional Characters, Prosocial Behavior, and Sympathy. Total and subscale scores on the new “Measure of Empathy in Early Childhood” (MEEC) were internally consistent. Finally, this five-factor structure was tested using confirmatory factor analysis and model fit was adequate. With further research into the validity of MEEC scores, this new rater-based empathy measure for young children may hold promise for assessing empathy in early childhood and advancing research into the origins of empathy and empathy-related disorders.
Adaptation of the Devaluation–Discrimination Scale Into Turkish: A Comprehensive Psychometric Analysis
Authors: Şahin Ertuğrul , Topkaya Nursel
Published: August 2021

The Devaluation–Discrimination Scale (DDS) is among the most frequently used stigma scales for measuring the perception of social stigma related to mental illness. The DDS is also frequently employed to test predictions of modified labeling theory and is modified to use for specific disorders, such as depression, substance abuse, and alcohol use disorders. Although modified versions of the DDS have been subjected to psychometric analyses, the original has never undergone a full psychometric evaluation. Thus, the aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish adaptation of the original DDS, with all positively keyed items, across seven studies in Turkish student and community samples ( N = 1,907). The results of the exploratory factor analysis indicated that a one-dimensional factor structure adequately explained the covariation among DDS items in a sample of college students. Moreover, the single-factor structure of the DDS was corroborated, and invariant across sex, age, educational level, mental health diagnosis status, and previous help-seeking experience among Turkish adults. The convergent and divergent validity of DDS scores also were supported by significant correlations in the hypothesized directions with self-stigma ( r = .26), social stigma ( r = .46), attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help ( r = −.24), and intention to seek psychological help scores ( r = −.24). The results of the reliability analyses suggested that the DDS has good temporal stability in a 1-month time interval ( r = .83, intraclass correlation coefficient = .83) and possesses high to excellent internal consistency reliabilities ranging from .88 to .92 across five studies. The examination of the distribution of total DDS scores indicated that there were no floor and ceiling effects in DDS scores across five different samples. The Turkish adaptation of the original DDS may be used as a valid and reliable scale to measure the devaluation and discrimination perceptions of college students and adults against people with mental illness.
Optimum placement and design of multiple tuned mass dampers for vibration control of asymmetric buildings
Authors: Wang Jer-Fu , Lin Ging-Long , Lin Chi-Chang , Jian Jie-Yong
Published: August 2021

This study proposed a design procedure to determine the optimal location, moving direction, and system parameters of multiple tuned mass dampers systematically for vibration control of asymmetric buildings under dynamic loadings such as earthquake or wind excitations. A piece of computer software was developed as a postprocessor of any commercial structural analysis programs, such as ETABS, SAP2000, and so on. First, the modal parameters of target building structure were extracted from its finite element model. The optimum location and moving direction of the multiple tuned mass dampers system are determined based on the controlled mode shapes and both modal participating mass ratio and modal direction factor. Then, the optimal parameters of the multiple tuned mass dampers system were calculated by minimizing the mean square modal displacement response ratio of the controlled mode for the target building with and without multiple tuned mass dampers system. To evaluate control effectiveness, the responses of the building with and without multiple tuned mass dampers system were compared in both frequency and time domains. The analysis results from a 5-story building with different torsion-coupling degrees and a 46-story real building show that the proposed multiple tuned mass dampers system is quite effective in mitigating excessive floor vibration, base shear, and elapsed time of vibration due to earthquake excitations to enhance both structural safety and resident comfort. It is also concluded that the torsion-coupling effect should be considered in determining the optimum planar location of multiple tuned mass dampers system which is equivalent to mass increase of the multiple tuned mass dampers system and thus improves the control efficacy for asymmetric buildings.
Contrasting Methods of Measurement in Spatial Analyses Examining the Alcohol Environment and Child Maltreatment
Authors: Thurston Holly , Freisthler Bridget , Wolf Jennifer Price
Published: August 2021

Child physical abuse is a major public health issue in the United States. Environmental child welfare research has focused on neighborhood characteristics and the influence of alcohol and marijuana establishments. To our knowledge, child welfare studies have singularly examined the outcome in terms of victims, that is, at the level of child population, and have not considered the parent population. Thus, in this exploratory study, we use spatial scan statistics to analyze patterns of child physical abuse at the child and household level, and we use Bayesian hierarchical spatial conditional autoregressive models to determine the relative influence of alcohol availability and other environmental factors. We find that household clusters are nested in child clusters and that controlling for alcohol establishments reduces cluster size. In the Bayesian regression models, alcohol availability increased risk slightly, while neighborhood diversity (measured using Blau’s Index) elevated risk considerably. Immediate implications for child welfare agencies are discussed.
Writing From Diasporic Space: A Poetic Narrative of a Refugee Daughter
Authors: Phan Anh Ngoc Quynh
Published: August 2021

The poetic narrative recounts a story of a Vietnamese refugee daughter I met in New Zealand. Her experience of family separation and dispersion when her parents decided to flee the country after the Vietnam war ended in 1975 evoked a sense of trauma, a collective trauma of thousands of Vietnamese who suffered from losses: “their country,” their home, their families, and their place, to the oceans they crossed. Many of them never had the future they thought they would when they stepped on the overcrowded, half-sunk boat into the dark and could not manage to see the light.
Treatment Preferences for Postpartum Depression Among New Israeli Mothers: The Contribution of Health Beliefs and Social Support
Authors: Simhi Meital , Cwikel Julie , Sarid Orly
Published: August 2021

Background:

Postpartum depression (PPD) may have adverse outcomes for mothers, their infants, and families. Despite the negative consequences of PPD many women hesitate to seek treatment. The theoretical concepts of this study were based on the health belief model, which focuses on the individual’s attitudes, beliefs, and intentions to seek treatment.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to examine whether health beliefs and social support mediate the links between sociodemographic variables and treatment preferences for PPD.

Method:

Cross-sectional survey, including 1,000 Jewish mothers attending the maternal and child health clinics in Israel for their infant’s medical exam, 4 weeks to 6 months postpartum.

Results:

Mother’s age and years of education correlated positively with preferences to receive treatment in the private sector and from professionals working in mental health clinics. The greater the number of children, the less likely new mothers were to favor these preferences. Structural equation modeling showed several mediating pathways: social support mediated the links between sociodemographic variables to health belief model components such as perceived benefits, barriers, and environmental cues. Health belief model components also mediated the links between sociodemographic factors and preferences for place of treatment, professionals, and modes of treatment for PPD.

Conclusions:

Health belief model components and social support are important mediating components that help explain mothers’ PPD treatment preferences. Health professionals such as psychiatric or public health nurses should increase awareness of women at risk for PPD and elicit their preferred treatment options.
Replication Crisis – Just Another Instance of the Replication of Crises in Psychology? Historical Retrospections and Theoretical-Psychological Assessments
Authors: Maiers Wolfgang
Published: August 2021

The current dismay within the mainstream of nomological psychology may result from the fact that the anomaly of non-replicability has a direct bearing on its very own methodological requirements and quality criteria of empirical research. The call for more scientific rigour on the customary avenue in order to secure unambiguous empirical findings gives, however, rise to suspect that the deeper reason for this anomaly is not yet recognised: namely, the misguided regulation of a strictly objective inquiry, distorting what is present and relevant in everyday life and treating the ‘subjective’ of the subject matter as the central root of interfering factors which have to be eliminated or neutralised in the pursuit of experimental hypothesis testing. The problems of replicability would thus be a proof once again that the notorious inversion between matter and method does not really work, due to the uncircumventable characteristics of human inter-/subjectivity. In this sense, the replication crisis replicates the perennial topic of all historical discussions about a crisis in psychology – the failure of a ‘psychology without subject’.
An ultra-thin multi-layered metamaterial for power transformer noise absorption
Authors: Sharafkhani Naser
Published: August 2021

A compact multi-layered structure is proposed based on the coiled-up space concept for power transformer noise absorption at 100 and 200 Hz. Current methods of constructing multi-band absorbers are impractical for power transformer noise control due to the high coupling effect deteriorating their performance. To overcome this shortcoming, the proposed structure is composed of multiple connected layers creating two separate coiled ducts with adjustable dimensions to minimise the coupling effect. In the modelling stage, the geometrical features are optimised using the genetic algorithm to maximise the absorption coefficient and minimise the thickness. The proposed dual-tone absorber has a thickness of 43.5 mm which is significantly thinner than the existing conventional absorbers. The measurement results on a 3D-printed structure demonstrate the feasibility of the design.
Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use
Authors: Tran Van H , Wang Cen , McLeod Sharynne , Verdon Sarah
Published: August 2021

Aim:

To explore Vietnamese–Australian children’s proficiency and use of Vietnamese and English and identify associated factors that are related to demographics, language practices, language ideologies, and language management.

Methodology:

Vietnamese–Australian parents ( n = 151) completed a questionnaire (in English or Vietnamese) regarding their child’s language proficiency and use, demographic details and a range of factors as conceptualized by Spolsky’s language policy theory: language practices; language ideologies; and language management.

Data and analysis:

Bivariate analyses (Pearson’s correlation and analysis of variance) and multiple regression models were conducted to explore associations between language proficiency and use and associated factors and identify the most significant factors.

Findings/conclusions:

Factors associated with children’s Vietnamese language proficiency (oral/written) included: demographic factors; language practices; language ideologies; and language management. In contrast, children’s English language proficiency (oral/written) was linked to demographic factors and language practices. Children’s Vietnamese language use was not significantly correlated with demographics but rather with language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Children’s home language use and proficiency did not have a negative impact upon their English proficiency.

Originality:

This study is the first to consider factors associated with Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use.

Significance/implications:

Demographic factors, language practices, language ideologies, and language management were associated with children’s language proficiency and use. The results can be used by parents, educators, policy-makers, speech–language pathologists and other professionals to support Vietnamese–Australian and multilingual children around the world to develop and maintain their home and majority languages.
Study on adaptive comfort behaviours in mixed-mode residential buildings in Tianjin, China
Authors: Hou Jing , Sun Yuexia , Song Yangrui , Kim Jungsoo , Parkinson Thomas , de Dear Richard
Published: August 2021

This paper presents results of a longitudinal field study which aims to investigate adaptive comfort behaviours (i.e. turning on air-conditioner, turning on fans and opening windows or doors) in residential buildings. Field measurements were conducted in 43 homes in Tianjin, northern China, from Spring through early Winter in 2016. Occupants' ‘right-here-right-now' thermal perception and adaptive comfort behaviours were collected through online questionnaires delivered to their smartphones. Results indicated that clothing insulation adjustment was the requisite adaptive behaviour to attain thermal comfort. Clothing insulation was more climate-responsive in Tianjin's autumn than in summer. Statistical models were developed to predict the likelihood of various thermally adaptive behaviours with regard to outdoor air temperatures. An outdoor air temperature of 25.2°C was associated with maximum use of windows/doors for comfort ventilation and minimum use of air conditioning (AC). When outdoor air temperature exceeded 32.5°C, 50% of occupants turned on AC for cooling.
Numerical analysis of cooling potential and indoor thermal comfort with a novel hybrid radiant cooling system in hot and humid climates
Authors: Liu Jiying , Kim Moon Keun , Srebric Jelena
Published: August 2021

The study investigates a hybrid radiant cooling system's potential to achieve thermal comfort. The hybrid radiant cooling (HRC) system combines the best features of a typical all-air and conventional chilled radiant cooling system. An HRC system presents the advantages to (a) reduce vapour condensation and to (b) adjust the cooling output by using an Airbox convector. The three systems perceive thermal comfort in the predicted mean vote (PMV) between –0.5 and +0.5 at 25 and 27°C. In the room condition at 31°C, the all-air system has a lower thermal comfort level because the elevated airspeed is less effective when the mean radiant temperature (MRT) is low. This study suggests a cooling strategy to maximize the thermal comfort level by effectively utilizing the HRC in extreme conditions without extra cooling sources. When the designed set point indoor temperature is 25°C, the Airbox convector of the HRC fan can be off. However, if the indoor air temperature increases above 25°C, an occupant can activate the Airbox convector; the actual thermal output of HRC is increased, and the elevated airspeed can reduce the predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) level. Even in an extreme indoor thermal condition at 31°C, the HRC minimizes the PPD level.
Clothing and identity: Chinese rural students’ embodied transformations in the urban university
Authors: Chen Jiexiu
Published: August 2021

In the context of enduring urban–rural inequality in China, attention has been drawn to rural students’ encounters in the urban university. In this research, I elicit rural students’ narratives about their (classed) perceptions of clothing and style, as well as the bodily practices embedded in their subjective social mobility experiences in the unique social milieu of China’s context. I argue that participants’ transforming practices entail a nexus of challenge to and also compliance with the urban field. Through the theoretical lens of habitus, I illustrate how rural students strategically transform their ‘style’, as dispositions of habitus, in the urban field to obtain valued forms of embodied capital. At the same time, I emphasise the importance of viewing rural students’ embodied transformations critically, as it entails both their effective generation of valued capital to actively adapt to the urban field and their (involuntary) compliance to the oppressive social relations.
I’ll be there for you? Effects of Islamophobic online hate speech and counter speech on Muslim in-group bystanders’ intention to intervene
Authors: Obermaier Magdalena , Schmuck Desirée , Saleem Muniba
Published: August 2021

Online hate speech is very common. This is problematic as degrading social groups can traumatize targets, evoke stress, and depression. Since no reaction of others could suggest the acceptability of hate speech, bystander intervention is essential. However, it is unclear when and how minorities react to hate speech. Drawing from social identity theory and research on in-group intervention, we inquire how Islamophobic online hate speech and counter speech by majority or minority members shape Muslims’ willingness to intervene. Thus, in an online experiment ( N = 362), we varied the presence of Islamophobic online hate speech and counter speech by a (non-) Muslim. Results showed that Islamophobic online hate speech led to a perceived religious identity threat which, in turn, increased the personal responsibility to intervene and resulted in higher intentions to utter factual counter speech. In addition, counter speech by both majority and minority members directly reduced Muslims’ intentions to counterargue hatefully.
Potential of miller timing with synthetic diesel fuels on a single cylinder heavy-duty engine
Authors: Pöllmann Simon , Härtl Martin , Wachtmeister Georg
Published: August 2021

Upcoming emission limits such as Euro VII will make it necessary to further reduce the NOx emission level of internal combustion engines while stricter CO2 limits demand lower fuel consumption. Early closing of the intake valves (Miller timing) leads to reduced combustion temperatures due to lower effective compression ratio, and therefore lower formation and emission of nitrogen oxides. Miller timing is frequently used in gasoline engines, while in Diesel engines it competes with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). When both measures are applied simultaneously, this may lead to increased emission of soot using standard Diesel fuel, as combustion temperature and oxygen content of the charge become too low. This work shows the investigation of different intake valve timings on an externally supercharged single-cylinder heavy-duty Diesel engine, stationary operated with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), oxymethylene ether (OME), and standard Diesel fuel (DF). The synthetic fuels have a higher cetane number than DF, which supports ignition at lower temperatures. Moreover, OME has a soot-free combustion, which allows an extension of the operating limits without increased emissions. The results show that especially with Miller timing a high-performance turbocharging system is crucial, since higher boost pressure is required to compensate for the filling losses due to the earlier intake closing. The application of a high EGR rate is limited in this case, leading to a trade-off between Miller timing and EGR. All fuels show a reduction in nitrogen oxides of up to 40% with an improved efficiency of more than 3% at a typical road-load point. Measures to reduce ignition delay were found to be necessary, especially for DF. For OME, increased soot formation does not occur when combining Miller timing with low rail pressure, reduced boost pressure or EGR, which promotes simultaneous application of the measures resulting in minimized emissions of nitrogen oxides.
The historic importance of degree structure: A comparison of bachelor to master transitions in Norway and Denmark
Authors: Hovdhaugen Elisabeth , Ulriksen Lars
Published: August 2021

The Bologna process and the 3+2-degree structure presents students with several decision points in higher education, both which bachelor’s programme to choose, and whether to continue beyond bachelor. Based on a small-scale survey containing both closed and open-ended questions, this paper studies reasons the students give for entering a master’s programme. We compare students in Norway and Denmark who have entered a master’s programme in educational studies. In both countries, students mention multiple reasons for choosing to enter the master’s level, and reasons related to career and access to interesting jobs were most frequently mentioned. Additionally, academic motives and identity motives were mentioned. There are also differences between Norwegian and Danish students, but these differences are mainly linked to aspects of the transition. In Denmark, students who change institution when entering the master’s level state different reasons, while in Norway, differences are related to whether students enter a master’s programme directly or delayed. Further, differences in labour market structure also affects these transitions. These differences point to historical understandings of national status differences between degrees and institutions still being important, even if the implementation of the Bologna structure in the educational system should have led to a harmonisation.
Hyperspectral imaging for the elimination of visual ambiguity in corrosion detection and identification of corrosion sources
Authors: Lavadiya Dayakar N , Sajid Hizb Ullah , Yellavajjala Ravi K , Sun Xin
Published: August 2021

The similarity in the hue of corroded surfaces and coated surfaces, dust, vegetation, etc. leads to visual ambiguity which is challenging to eliminate using existing image classification/segmentation techniques. Furthermore, existing methods lack the ability to identify the source of corrosion, which plays a vital role in framing the corrosion mitigation strategies. The goal of this study to employ hyperspectral imaging (1) to detect corroded surfaces under visually ambiguous scenarios and (2) identify the source of corrosion in such scenarios. To this end, three different corrosive media, namely, (1) 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl), 2) 3.5 wt.% sodium chloride solution (NaCl), and (3) 3 wt.% sodium sulfate solution (Na2SO4), are employed to generate chemically distinctive corroded surfaces. The hyperspectral imaging sensor is employed to obtain the visible and near infrared (VNIR) spectra (397 nm–1004 nm) reflected by the corroded/coated surfaces. The intensity of the reflectance in various spectral bands are considered as the descriptive features in this study, and the training and test datasets were generated consisting of 35,000 and 15,000 data points, respectively. SVM classifier is trained and then its efficacy on the test data is assessed. Furthermore, validation datasets are employed and the generalization ability of the trained SVM classifier is verified. The results from this study revealed that the SVM classifier achieved an overall accuracy of 94% with the misclassifications of 18% and 13% in the case of NaCl and Na2SO4 corrosion, respectively. Reflectance spectra obtained in the VNIR region was found to eliminate the visual ambiguity between the corroded and coated surfaces and, identify the source of corrosion accurately. Further, the range of key wavelengths of the spectra that play an important role in the distinguishability of coating and chemically distinctive corroded surface were identified to be 500–520 nm, 660–680 nm, 760–770 nm, and 830–850 nm.
The Importance of Learning Style in Case Formulation–Driven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Case Study
Authors: Gasperetti Caitlin E. , Hong Janie J.
Published: August 2021

Rather than structuring treatment based on diagnoses, case formulation–driven cognitive behavior therapy (CF-CBT) focuses on building an individualized formulation or map of how a patient’s presenting problems are being maintained and uses this formulation to guide treatment planning. A case formulation can include comorbid diagnoses, underlying mechanisms, relevant historical, biological, and social factors, and problems unrelated to a diagnosis (e.g., unemployment). Therapy is also a learning context, and clients vary in their learning styles and preferences. The success of treatment depends not only on what a client learns but also on how a client learns. Frequently, learning style is not considered when developing a case formulation or providing CBT. The present case study, based on a man with social anxiety disorder who was treated using CF-CBT, demonstrates the importance of including learning style to target both what and how the client learns.
Assessing the Benefits of College Internships at a Hispanic Serving Institution
Authors: Adamczyk Amy , Crawford Katheryn , Kim Yuna
Published: August 2021

Few studies have investigated the usefulness of internships at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). Focusing on a 4-year public university (HSI), this study examined differences between the internship and the non-internship students, and changes across the semester for development. A structured internship appears to have some value; including increased interaction with faculty outside the classroom, confidence in verbally expressing ideas, and class presentations.
Three Emerging Spiritual Practices in the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC): From Pastoral Care and Counselling to Multi-Faith, Evidence-Based Spiritual Care and Psycho-Spiritual Therapy
Authors: O’Connor Thomas St. James , Meakes Elizabeth
Published: August 2021

Describes the relationship between practice and theory (praxis) along with an examination of changes in the last 40 years in the praxis of pastoral care and counselling in the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) that led to spiritual care and psycho-spiritual therapy. Developments in spiritual practices include growth in multi-faith, evidence-based spiritual care, and spiritually integrated psychotherapy (psycho-spiritual therapy). Suggests further areas of research and reflection including process theology.
Application of covered stent graft in the treatment of complex carotid artery lesions: A single center experience
Authors: Liu Changya , Shen Yin , Qian Kang , Hu Yueyun , Hu Xuebin , Wu Xinxin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To assess the clinical efficiency and imaging outcome of applying covered stent grafts for the treatment of complex carotid artery lesions.

Method

A total of 39 consecutive patients with carotid artery lesions treated with covered stent grafts at our institution from December 2016 to December 2019 were reviewed. Two kinds of stent including self-expandable covered stent (Viabahn; W. L. Gore & Associates) and balloon-expandable covered stent (Willis; Microport) were applied. The angiograms immediately after the procedure, perioperative complications, and follow-up outcomes were recorded.

Result

Based on imaging features, 11 patients exhibited pseudoaneurysms, 23 patients had blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs), and five patients were carotid cavernous fistulas. A total of 40 stent implantations were performed, including nine Viabahn stents and 31 Willis stents. Two patients received double implants of Willis stents. Stent failed to perform for one patient due to tortuous parent artery. The angiography reports immediately after the procedure showed that the lesions in 36 patients were completely occluded, whereas two patients had minimal endoleaks. With respect to the occurrence of procedural complications, an aneurysm ruptured during the procedure in one case, which resulted in CCF, and acute in-stent thrombosis occurred in another case. Clinical and angiographic follow-up (11.2±2.4 months) sessions were conducted for 38 patients and a complete lesion exclusion was achieved in 36 patients. The minimal endoleak persisted in one patient and another patient experienced recurrence with stent migration, leading to ipsilateral blepharoptosis. However, none of the patients developed hemorrhage or ischemia and in-stent stenosis was not observed.

Conclusion

Covered stent grafts appear to be a safe and feasible for the treatment of complex carotid artery lesions. Despite the potential for stent delivery failure as well as endoleak and procedure-related complications, covered stent grafts should be considered when selecting the optimal treatment strategy.
Complications of Caesarean delivery part 1: Early complications
Authors: Tan Eelin , Tan Timothy Shao Ern , Teo Harvey Eu Leong , Lau Li Ching
Published: August 2021

Introduction

With the rise in Caesarean deliveries, complications related to the procedure are increasingly encountered. Sonography has an indispensable role in the assessment of these complications and is often the first-line investigation of choice. Topic Description: Part 1 of this pictorial review summarises the early complications unique to and associated with Caesarean deliveries.

Discussion

Acute haemorrhagic complications include retained products of conception, subfascial and bladder flap haematomas and, rarely, postpartum uterine dehiscence or rupture and iatrogenic vascular complications. Infective complications include puerperal and wound infections. Key sonographic features of these conditions are illustrated. Pitfalls, mimics, limitations and indications for cross-sectional imaging are discussed.

Conclusion

Sound knowledge of the sonographic features of common early complications of Caesarean delivery will facilitate accurate diagnosis, timely management and improved patient outcomes.