bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multicriteria Decision and Machine Learning Algorithms for Component Security Evaluation: Library-Based Overview
Authors: Zhang Jibin , Nazir Shah , Huang Ansheng , Alharbi Abdullah
Published: September 2020

Components are the significant part of a system which plays an important role in the functionality of the system. Components are the reusable part of a system which are already tested, debugged, and experienced based on the previous practices. A new system is developed based on the reusable components, as reusability of components is recommended to save time, effort, and resources as such components are already made. Security of components is a significant constituent of the system to maintain the existence of the component as well as the system to function smoothly. Component security can protect a component from illegal access and changing its contents. Considering the developments in information security, protecting the components becomes a fundamental issue. In order to tackle such issues, a comprehensive study report is needed which can help practitioners to protect their system. The current study is an endeavor to report some of the existing studies regarding component security evaluation based on multicriteria decision and machine learning algorithms in the popular searching libraries.
Experimental Investigation on the Stress-Dependent Permeability of Intact and Fractured Shale
Authors: Zheng Yongxiang , Liu Jianjun , Liu Yichen , Shi Di , Zhang Bohu
Published: September 2020

The permeability of shale is extremely low. Therefore, the shale reservoir needs fracturing. The fracture network by fracturing can increase the permeability in a stimulated shale reservoir. To understand the permeability evolution in the stimulated shale reservoir, this study measured the permeability of intact and fractured shale samples with different pore pressure and confining pressure by the transient pulse test. And the differences between the two kinds of samples in permeability were analyzed. The results show that permeability magnitude of fractured shale is increased by 5 orders compared to the intact shale. It means that fracture networks after fracturing can effectively improve the permeability. Besides, the change in matrix permeability is the result of the combined effect of slippage effect and matrix deformation. At low pore pressure, the influence of slippage effect is more significant. Based on the results, an improved exponential function was established to describe the relationship between permeability and effective stress of shale matrix. Moreover, the permeability of fractured shale is still bigger than that of the shale matrix when the confining pressure is larger than pore pressure. This paper provides theoretical guidance for studying the evolution of reservoir permeability before and after fracturing.
A DNA-Launched Nanoparticle Vaccine Elicits CD8+ T-cell Immunity to Promote In Vivo Tumor Control
Authors: Xu Ziyang , Chokkalingam Neethu , Tello-Ruiz Edgar , Wise Megan C. , Bah Mamadou A. , Walker Susanne , Tursi Nicholas J. , Fisher Paul D. , Schultheis Katherine , Broderick Kate E. , Humeau Laurent , Kulp Daniel W. , Weiner David B.
Published: September 2020

Cytolytic T cells (CTL) play a pivotal role in surveillance against tumors. Induction of CTL responses by vaccination may be challenging, as it requires direct transduction of target cells or special adjuvants to promote cross-presentation. Here, we observed induction of robust CTL responses through electroporation-facilitated, DNA-launched nanoparticle vaccination (DLnano-vaccines). Electroporation was observed to mediate transient tissue apoptosis and macrophage infiltration, which were deemed essential to the induction of CTLs by DLnano-vaccines through a systemic macrophage depletion study. Bolus delivery of protein nano-vaccines followed by electroporation, however, failed to induce CTLs, suggesting direct in vivo production of nano-vaccines may be required. Following these observations, new DLnano-vaccines scaffolding immunodominant melanoma Gp100 and Trp2 epitopes were designed and shown to induce more potent and consistent epitope-specific CTL responses than the corresponding DNA monomeric vaccines or CpG-adjuvanted peptide vaccines. DNA, but not recombinant protein, nano-vaccinations induced CTL responses to these epitopes and suppressed melanoma tumor growth in mouse models in a CD8+ T-cell–dependent fashion. Further studies to explore the use of DLnano-vaccines against other cancer targets and the biology with which they induce CTLs are important.
PRPS-ST: A Protocol-Agnostic Self-training Method for Gene Expression–Based Classification of Blood Cancers
Authors: Jiang Aixiang , Hilton Laura K. , Tang Jeffrey , Rushton Christopher K. , Grande Bruno M. , Scott David W. , Morin Ryan D.
Published: September 2020

Gene expression classifiers are gaining increasing popularity for stratifying tumors into subgroups with distinct biological features. A fundamental limitation shared by current classifiers is the requirement for comparable training and testing datasets. Here, we describe a self-training implementation of our probability ratio-based classification prediction score method (PRPS-ST), which facilitates the porting of existing classification models to other gene expression datasets. In comparison with gold standards, we demonstrate favorable performance of PRPS-ST in gene expression–based classification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) using a diverse variety of gene expression data types and preprocessing methods, including in classifications with a high degree of class imbalance. Tumors classified by our method were significantly enriched for prototypical genetic features of their respective subgroups. Interestingly, this included cases that were unclassifiable by established methods, implying the potential enhanced sensitivity of PRPS-ST.

Significance:

The adoption of binary classifiers such as cell of origin (COO) has been thwarted, in part, by the challenges imposed by batch effects and continual evolution of gene expression technologies. PRPS-ST resolves this by enabling classifiers to be ported across platforms while retaining high accuracy.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 215
What Shall We Do for the Patients with Shaky Leg Syndrome? A Review of 23 Patients
Authors: Park Sangmin , Lim Jung Geol , Chang Hee Jin , Oh Eungseok
Published: September 2020

Orthostatic tremor (OT) is not an uncommon symptom in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the nature and pathophysiology of OT involve a complex network of tremors and dopaminergic pathways. We assessed patients who complained of prominent leg tremors described as “shaky leg.” We analyzed their characteristics and evaluated them with neuroimaging and electrophysiological tools. A total of 23 patients who experienced an uncomfortable symptom of leg tremor were retrospectively enrolled from April 2014 to October 2019. Previous medical history, brain MRI, and surface electromyography (EMG) data were analyzed. The [18F]-FP-CIT brain positron emission tomography (PET) and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) were assessed for patients who showed parkinsonism. The causes of OT varied: parkinsonism (n = 5), idiopathic causes (n = 4), secondary causes (n = 3, trauma, brain lesion, arteriovenous malformation), drug reactions (n = 3, valproate, perphenazine, haloperidol), other neurological disorders (n = 5, essential tremor, dystonia, restless leg syndrome, REM sleep behavior disorder, dementia), alcohol withdrawal (n = 1), functional movement disorder (n = 1), and an unknown cause (n = 1). The frequency range varied (2.6–15 Hz) and according to the new consensus statement on the classification of OT, 4 patients had primary OT, 2 had “primary OT plus,” 12 had slow OT, and 5 had orthostatic myoclonus. The prognosis associated with the use of medication was generally poor; however, clonazepam and levodopa were the most effective drugs. In conclusion, we found that different types of OT and orthostatic myoclonus were diagnosed by electrophysiological evaluation and neuroimaging tools even if they showed the same symptoms as “shaky leg.” In addition, it is possible to roughly estimate the response to medication according to the type of OT and the cause. To clarify the pathophysiology of OT, a large number of longitudinal cohort studies and detailed neuroimaging and electrophysiological evaluations are needed.
Fluoride Varnish in Nursery Schools: A Randomised Controlled Trial – Protecting Teeth @3
Authors: McMahon Alex D. , Wright William , Anopa Yulia , McIntosh Emma , Turner Stephen , Conway David I. , Macpherson Lorna M.D.
Published: September 2020

Studies suggest that fluoride varnish (FV) application can reduce dental caries in child populations. The multiple-component national child oral health improvement programme in Scotland (Childsmile) includes nursery-based universal supervised toothbrushing and deprivation-targeted FV applications, together with community and dental practice prevention interventions. This trial, a double-blind, two-arm randomised control trial, aimed to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the nursery-based FV applications plus treatment-as-usual (TAU) Childsmile programme interventions, compared to TAU Childsmile interventions alone, in children not targeted to receive nursery FV as part of the programme. Participating children in the first year of nursery (aged three), with or without existing caries, were randomised to either FV or TAU and followed up for 24 months until the first year of primary school. Treatments were administered at six-monthly intervals. The primary endpoint was “worsening of d3mft” from baseline to 24 months. Secondary endpoints were worsening of d3mfs, d3t, mt, and ft. Individual record-linkage captured wider programme activities and tertiary endpoints. A total of 1,284 children were randomised, leading to 1,150 evaluable children (n = 577 FV, n = 573 TAU, 10% dropouts). Mean age was 3.5 years, 50% were female (n = 576), 17% had caries at baseline (n = 195), all balanced between the groups. Most children received three/four treatments. Overall, 26.9% (n = 155) had worsened d3mft in the FV group, and 31.6% (n = 181) in the TAU group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.80 (0.62–1.03), p = 0.078. The results for worsening of the secondary endpoints were: d3mfs 0.79 (0.61–1.01) p = 0.063, d3t 0.75 (0.57–0.99) p = 0.043, mt 1.34 (0.75–2.39) p = 0.319, and ft 0.77 (0.53–1.14) p = 0.191. We calculated a number needed to treat of 21 and a cost of GBP 686 to prevent a single worsening of d3mft. There was a modest non-significant reduction in the worsening of d3mft in the nursery FV group compared to TAU, suggesting that this intervention is unlikely to represent an effective or cost-effective addition to the population oral health improvement programme.
Cortical Bone Microarchitecture in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Benillouche Eva , Ostertag Agnes , Marty Caroline , Ureña Torres Pablo , Cohen-Solal Martine
Published: September 2020

Background: The incidence of skeletal fractures is high in dialysis patients. Current available tools are insufficient to predict bone fragility. We analyzed the microarchitecture in patients on dialysis therapy using bone biopsies and peripheral microcomputed tomography. Methods: We analyzed 12 trans-iliac bone biopsies of patients with recent fractures. Bone microarchitecture was assessed in the bone cores by histology (2D-), microcomputed tomography (3D-µCT), and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) at the tibia. Results: Trabecular bone volume/tissue volume was similar in 2D histology and 3D-µCT (p = 0.40), while lower in HR-pQCT (p < 0.01). There was no correlation in trabecular microarchitectural indices between 2-histology and 3D-µCT, or HR-pQCT. The 3D-µCT cortical thickness (Ct.Th) were positively correlated with 2D (p < 0.05), but with HR-pQCT (p = 0.33). Ct.Th was lower in patients with ≥2 vertebral fractures than with one fracture. Conclusions: 3D-µCT is a reliable method for the measurement of cortical bone in bone biopsies. Prospective studies are awaited to address its value in discriminating fracture risk.
Development of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Carcinoid Syndrome Symptom Index
Authors: Shaunfield Sara , Webster Kimberly A. , Kaiser Karen , Greene George J. , Yount Susan E. , Lacson Leilani , Benson Al B. , Halperin Daniel M. , Yao James C. , Singh Simron , Feuilly Marion , Marteau Florence , Cella David
Published: September 2020

Objective: To develop a symptom-focused index to evaluate representative symptoms, treatment side effects, and emotional and functional well-being of patients with carcinoid syndrome (CS). Methods: The development of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Carcinoid Syndrome Symptom Index (FACT-CSI) followed US Food and Drug Administration guidelines for the development of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and involved the following: (a) literature review; (b) interviews with 14 CS patients; (c) interviews with 9 clinicians; and (d) instrument development involving input from a range of PRO measure development and CS experts. The resulting draft instrument underwent cognitive interviews with 7 CS patients. Results: Forty-six CS sources were reviewed. Analysis of patient interviews produced 23 patient-reported symptoms. The most frequently endorsed physical symptoms were flushing, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and food sensitivity/triggers. Seven priority CS emotional and functional themes were also identified by patients. Expert interviews revealed 12 unique priority symptoms – the most common being diarrhea, flushing, wheezing, edema, abdominal pain/cramping, fatigue, and 8 emotional and functional concerns. Through an iterative process of team and clinical collaborator meetings, data review, item reduction and measure revision, 24 items were selected for the draft symptom index representing symptoms, emotional concerns, global assessment of treatment side effects, and functional well-being. Cognitive interview results demonstrated strong content validity, including positive endorsement of item clarity (>86% across items), symptom relevance (>70% for most items), and overall measure content (86%). Conclusions: The FACT-CSI is a content-relevant, symptom-focused index reflecting the highest priority and clinically relevant symptoms and concerns of people with CS.
A corrente da “educação popular” e as lutas pela hegemonia na história cultural da educação na nossa América
Authors: Hasrun Jessica Anahí Visotsky
Published: September 2020

Este trabalho visa contribuir para o estudo da história da pedagogia e dos educadores que, nos períodos anteriores e posteriores às ditaduras do Cone Sul, desenvolveram uma práxis baseada no acúmulo de experiências educacionais desenvolvidas no calor dos processos emancipatórios. Estamos interessados ​​em aprofundar essa contribuição na perspectiva da história social e cultural.

Entendemos que cada trabalho desta linha que resgata tradições, visões e saberes a respeito do saber pedagógico e da experiência acumulada na prática educacional no contexto de projetos políticos enmancipatórios em nossa América, é uma contribuição relevante que ainda precisa ser aprofundada. Há um campo de saberes, saberes, experiências educacionais em nosso continente que continuam a resgatar e a tornar visíveis desde o presente, entendendo que ditos saberes e experiências deram origem a uma corrente de pensamento e ação educativa situada em nossa América, nascida do genuíno. desses territórios, daquele húmus gerado desde a revolução haitiana, as lutas indígenas, as lutas pela primeira independência e as das décadas de 1960 e 1970, todas elas lutas incansáveis ​​dos povos de um continente que não para de resistir ao colonialismo há mais de 500 anos e que criou uma tendência pedagógica no calor dessas resistências.
Antithrombotic Effects of Combined PAR (Protease-Activated Receptor)-4 Antagonism and Factor Xa Inhibition
Authors: Meah Mohammed N. , Raftis Jennifer , Wilson Simon J. , Perera Vidya , Garonzik Samira M. , Murthy Bindu , Everlof J. Gerry , Aronson Ronald , Luettgen Joseph , Newby David E.
Published: September 2020

Objective:

PAR (protease-activated receptor)-4 antagonism has antiplatelet effects under conditions of high shear stress. We aimed to establish whether PAR4 antagonism had additive antithrombotic activity in the presence of factor Xa inhibition in an ex vivo model of acute arterial injury.

Approach and Results:

Fifteen healthy volunteers (29±6 years, 7 women) completed a phase zero double-blind randomized controlled crossover trial. Ex vivo platelet activation, platelet aggregation, and thrombus formation were measured following blood perfusion of low shear and high shear stress chambers. Upstream of the chambers, extracorporeal blood was admixed with (1) vehicle, (2) low-dose apixaban (20 ng/mL), (3) high-dose apixaban (80 ng/mL), (4) BMS-986141 (400 ng/mL), (5) BMS-968141 and low-dose apixaban, or (6) BMS-968141 and high-dose apixaban in 6 sequential studies performed in random order. Compared with vehicle, BMS-986141 demonstrated selective inhibition of PAR4-AP (agonist peptide)–stimulated platelet aggregation, platelet-monocyte aggregates, and P-selectin expression (
P
≤0.01 for all). Total thrombus area was reduced under both low shear and high shear stress conditions for all drug infusions (
P
<0.0001 for all versus vehicle). BMS-968141 reduced total (≤44.4%) and platelet-rich (≤39.3%) thrombus area, whereas apixaban reduced total (≤42.9%) and fibrin-rich (≤31.6%) thrombus area. Combination of BMS-986141 with apixaban caused a further modest reduction in total thrombus area (9.6%–12.4%), especially under conditions of high shear stress (
P
≤0.027).

Conclusions:

In the presence of factor Xa inhibition, PAR4 antagonism with BMS-986141 further reduces thrombus formation, especially under conditions of high shear stress. This suggests the potential for additive efficacy of combination PAR4 antagonism and factor Xa inhibition in the prevention of atherothrombotic events.
A Dipole Mode of Spring Precipitation between Southern China and Southeast Asia Associated with the Eastern and Central Pacific Types of ENSO
Authors: Park Chang-Kyun , Park Doo-Sun R. , Ho Chang-Hoi , Park Tae-Won , Kim Jinwon , Jeong Sujong , Kim Baek-Min
Published: September 2020

Because spring precipitation in East Asia is critical for recharging water resources after dry winters, its spatiotemporal variations and related mechanisms need in-depth research. This study analyzed a leading spatiotemporal variability of precipitation over East Asia for boreal spring (March–May) during 1979 to 2017. We found that a dipole mode dominates the anomalous spring precipitation between southern China and Southeast Asia with significant interannual and decadal variations. The interannual dipole mode is attributable to the eastern Pacific (EP)-type El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) while the decadal dipole mode is related to the decadal variation of the central Pacific (CP)-type ENSO. In the El Niño phases of both time scales, the anticyclonic anomaly over the South China Sea and Philippines causes moisture convergence (divergence) over southern China (Southeast Asia), resulting in positive (negative) precipitation anomalies therein; the opposite occurs in the La Niña phases. The ensemble experiments using the Community Atmosphere Model version 5.1 confirmed that the tropical sea surface temperature (SST) in the EP- and CP-type ENSO can be the major drivers of the interannual and decadal dipole modes, respectively. About half of 15 climate models participating in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) showed that the El Niño phase of dipole mode will become dominant in the future. The individual models’ future projections however considerably vary, implying that there is still large uncertainty.
New Allometric Equations for Arctic Shrubs and Their Application for Calculating the Albedo of Surfaces with Snow and Protruding Branches
Authors: Belke-Brea M. , Domine F. , Boudreau S. , Picard G. , Barrere M. , Arnaud L. , Paradis M.
Published: September 2020

Arctic shrubs reduce surface albedo in winter when branches protrude above the snow. To calculate the albedo of those mixed surfaces, the branch area index (BAI) of Arctic shrubs needs to be known. Moreover, an exposed-vegetation function is required to determine the BAI for protruding branches only. This study used a structural analysis of 30Betula glandulosashrubs, sampled near Umiujaq, northern Quebec, to (i) establish an allometric relationship between shrub height and BAI and (ii) determine a specific exposed-vegetation function for Arctic shrubs. The spectral albedo (400–1080 nm) of mixed surfaces was then simulated with the equations derived from this study and validated with in situ measured spectra. Shrubs were sampled from two sites, one along the coast and the other in a nearby valley. The shrub height–BAI relationship varied between both sites. BAI values of shrubs growing in the wind-sheltered valley were 30%–50% lower. The exposed-vegetation function obtained here differed from the linear functions found in the literature. The linear functions strongly overestimated the BAI of exposed branches. Albedo was well simulated with an accuracy of 3% when using an allometric relationship adapted to the environmental conditions of our study site. However, simulated albedo values were consistently higher than field measurements, probably because radiation absorbed by impurities and buried branches was neglected in the model. We conclude that specific exposed-vegetation and allometric equations need to be implemented in models to accurately simulate the albedo of mixed snow–shrub surfaces.
An Objective Method for Probabilistic Forecasting of Multimodal Kuroshio States using Ensemble Simulation and Machine Learning
Authors: Aoki Kunihiro , Miyazawa Yasumasa , Hihara Tsutomu , Miyama Toru
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a method for detecting the ensemble means, spreads, and occurrence probabilities for each of the multiple Kuroshio states. This is accomplished by classifying the forecasts of the ensemble members with a Gaussian mixture distribution model, a machine learning method. Ensemble simulations with 80 members are conducted to reproduce possible occurrences of the multiple Kuroshio states, targeting the large meander event in 2017. To test its performance, first, the method is applied for the southernmost latitude, a conventional index that represents meander intensity. The results show that the Kuroshio initially taking the nearshore nonlarge meander state bifurcates into the large meander and offshore nonlarge meander states, which occur with similar probabilities. Both developments are accompanied by positive potential energy extraction rates, consistent with baroclinic instability. As a more objective approach, the method is then applied for the dominant modes derived from empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the sea surface height field in the entire Kuroshio region. Importantly, almost identical results can be achieved. In particular, the bimodality between the large meander and nonlarge meander is shown to appear on the axis of the first EOF mode. From a mathematical perspective, this mode can be interpreted as the singular vector which grows most rapidly following the time-evolution operator. Finally, the multimodality of the Kuroshio is reinterpreted as a phase transition phenomenon where the nearshore nonlarge meander constitutes the basic state.
How Corruption is Tolerated in the Greek Public Sector: Toward a Second-Order Theory of Normalization
Authors: Fleming Peter , Zyglidopoulos Stelios , Boura Maria , Lioukas Spyros
Published: September 2020

Secrecy and “social cocooning” are critical mechanisms allowing the normalization of corruption within organizations. Less studied are processes of normalization that occur when corruption is an “open secret.” Drawing on an empirical study of Greek public-sector organizations, we suggest that a second-order normalization process ensues among non-corrupt onlookers both inside and beyond the organization. What is normalized at this level is not corruption, but its tolerance, which we disaggregate into agent-focused tolerance and structure-focused tolerance. Emphasizing the importance of non-corrupt bystanders, we claim that second-order normalization helps corruption persist in situations where its presence is openly acknowledged. This adds an important new dimension to normalization theory and we unpack its implications for both future research and practice in this area.
Producing fire and hybrids as seen by the Midrash Aggadah: Polemic etiological myths?
Authors: Shemesh Abraham Ofir
Published: September 2020

The current study analyzes several Midrashic sources that deal with the invention and discovery of fire and of the mule. It examines the narrative of the Midrashim, while comparing it with portrayal of the invention or source of these two elements in Greco-Roman mythology and culture. The rabbis did not openly voice their negative attitude to the mythological narrative concerning the discovery of fire or their reservations about crossbreeding in the Roman world. However, it seems that their homilies were polemical, aimed at presenting an alternative to the non-Jewish story. The Greek mythological narrative was rooted in a polytheistic world in which various mythological entities confronted each other, and fire figured in these confrontations. In contrast, in monotheistic Jewish thought, there is one God who grants fire to humankind with no restrictions or regret. The Jerusalem Talmud conveys the message that hybrids might be dangerous and harmful to humankind. The real-life existence of hybrid creatures that were particularly strong beasts led the ancients to assume that two animals of different species might bear other dangerous “monsters.” It is possible that the view of the Jewish sources is that crossbreeding is not merely a Jewish-religious prohibition but rather an environmental hazard. In fact, the two narratives are etiological stories. The story of Anah aims to explain an unclear verse describing the finding of the yemim and the story about the invention of fire explaining the meaning of the phrase “image of God” that sets aside human beings.
Displaced security? The relationships, routines and rhythms of peacebuilding interveners
Authors: Wallis Joanne
Published: September 2020

This article considers what treating individual international interveners engaged in peacebuilding work as referent objects can tell us about emplaced security. This is important because individual interveners are diverse, embodied agents who can impact the agency, peace and security of conflict-affected populations. It argues that applying an ontological security lens can provide a partial explanation for why interveners develop narratives and perform practices, including why they sometimes identify and behave in counterproductive, and even damaging, ways. The final section considers why an analytical focus on place is valuable, noting that place-based experiences and place-identities are formative of ontological security. It argues that treating interveners as a referent object provides opportunities to rethink the tendency to focus on home as the key site of emplacement in the ontological security literature. Building on this, it argues that examining the emplaced security of interveners invites us to examine the political nature and consequences of interveners’ physical and ontological security-seeking narratives and practices, including their creation of the material and ideational structures of intervention spaces and places.
Effects of a Multicomponent Peer Mediated Intervention on Social Communication of Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Dueñas Ana D. , Plavnick Joshua B. , Goldstein Howard
Published: September 2020

The absence of direct intervention and peer and staff training can contribute to social isolation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Effective interventions are needed to realize the benefits of inclusive education. This study examines the effects of a multicomponent, peer-mediated intervention on the social communication behaviors of children with ASD and their typical peers in inclusive preschool classrooms. A multiple-probe design across three dyads was used to examine the effects of the multicomponent intervention on social initiations and social communication exchanges. Improved social communication exchanges between children with ASD and their peers resulted for each dyad. In contrast to previous research, children with ASD demonstrated increased social initiations but less positive effects for social responses. The study contributes to an emerging body of literature that examines the effects of multicomponent peer-mediated interventions on social communication among preschool children with ASD.
College Choice: Considerations for Academically Advanced High School Seniors
Authors: Meyer Melanie S. , Cranmore Jeff , Rinn Anne N. , Hodges Jaret
Published: September 2020

When choosing a college, high school students and those who guide them through the process must consider the complex interactions between student-level and institution-level variables in order to achieve an optimal person–environment fit. Ten academically advanced high school students who had chosen and committed to attending a college participated in semistructured interviews in which they rank-ordered and discussed the college choice considerations they used in the decision-making process. This qualitative study describes six themes that were identified across participants. The college-going identity of these academically advanced students was influenced by pressure to attend a highly selective school, social comparisons, and early career exploration opportunities. Additionally, when evaluating institution characteristics, these academically talented high school seniors questioned the relationship between quality, cost, and prestige, appreciated flexible learning options, and sought opportunities for immersion in a domain.
A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of the Use of Enteral Nutrition Plus Pharmacologic Prophylaxis or Enteral Nutrition Alone
Authors: Hamilton Leslie A. , Darby Sarah H. , Rowe Anthony Shaun
Published: September 2020

Background: Due to the risk of development of stress ulcers in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, pharmacologic prophylaxis is often utilized. However, some literature describes the use of enteral nutrition instead as stress ulcer prophylaxis. Methods: The purpose of this study is to determine if enteral nutrition is similar to pharmacologic stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) with enteral nutrition for reduction of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, perforation, or ulceration in ICU patients. This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study that took place at an academic medical center. Adult ICU patients receiving enteral nutrition who had a risk factor for stress-related mucosal damage were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of GI bleeding, perforation, or ulcer formation. Results: Overall, 167 patients were included in the study, 147 in the pharmacologic prophylaxis plus EN group (PPEN) and 20 in the enteral therapy only (EN) group. Of 167 patients included, 22 patients (21 in the PPEN group and 1 in the EN group) developed a primary outcome of GI bleeding, perforation, or ulceration (14.3% vs 5%, P = .4781). Patients in the PPEN group had a higher incidence of pneumonia (42.2% vs 15%, P = .0194), but no difference was seen between groups when patients with pneumonia present on admission were excluded (20.6% vs 10.5%, P = .5254). Conclusion: In this small cohort of patients, enteral nutrition alone is as effective as pharmacologic therapy in addition to enteral nutrition for the reduction of stress-related GI bleeding, perforation, and ulceration.
Assessing the Macroeconomic Effects of Quantitative Easing: Empirical Evidence from the Federal Reserve’s Experience
Authors: Fofack Achille Dargaud , Aker Ahmet , Rjoub Husam , Sokhanvar Amin
Published: September 2020

This article aims at assessing the effects of the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing (QE) programmes on both economic activity and prices in the United States. Using a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) model on monthly data from January 2007 to March 2017, it is assumed that a substantial fraction of the liquidity injected under the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing programmes was used to artificially inflate stock prices. Furthermore, QE is assumed to be a competitive devaluation programme. The findings reveal that QE helps support economic activity, while its effect on inflation is rather small and insignificant. Besides, it is also found that QE boosts stock prices but does not have a significant effect on the US dollar.
Built on shaky ground: Reflections on Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy
Authors: Cadesky Jessica
Published: September 2020

In October 2017, Canada launched its Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). While Canada’s explicit use of the words “feminist” and “feminism” may be refreshing, critical questions on the FIAP’s interpretation and application of these concepts remain. These challenges are not unique to the FIAP. Rather, the central weaknesses of the FIAP can be seen as symptomatic of several endemic challenges that persist in the current policies and practices that seek to promote gender equality in the developing world and beyond. This article presents the theoretical and conceptual lineage that has informed the FIAP, drawing from challenges present within literature on security, gender equality, and gender mainstreaming. Three main shortcomings relevant to both the literature and the FIAP are explored: first, the assumptions and essentialization of “gender” to mean “women ”; second, the frequent conflation of “gender equality” with “women’s empowerment”; and last, the paradox of gender, gender equality, and feminism being simultaneously over-politicized and depoliticized to suit prevailing policy environments, with particular implications for the global coronavirus pandemic, as well as impacts in fragile and conflict-affected states. This analysis sheds light on persistent challenges in feminist foreign policymaking and offers insights for the development of Canada’s White Paper on feminist foreign policy.
Safe but isolated – an interview study with Iraqi refugees in Sweden about social networks, social support, and mental health
Authors: Sundvall Maria , Titelman David , DeMarinis Valerie , Borisova Liubov , Çetrez Önver
Published: September 2020

Background:

Problems with social networks and social support are known to be associated with mental ill-health in refugees. Social support after migration promotes resilience.

Aim:

To study how Iraqi refugees who arrived in Sweden after the year 2000 perceived their social networks and social support, and to relate the observed network characteristics and changes to the refugees’ mental health and well-being.

Method:

Semi-structured interviews with 31 refugees, including questions on background and migration experiences, a biographical network map, and three health assessment scales. The findings were analysed with descriptive statistics and content thematic analysis.

Results:

The respondents’ networks were diminished. Social support was continued to be provided mainly by family members and supplemented by support from authorities. The main themes of the refugee experience of post-migration challenges were weakened social networks, barriers to integration and challenges to cultural and religious belonging. Failed reunion and worrying about relatives was described as particularly painful. Negative contacts with authority persons were often seen as humiliating or discriminating. Acquiring a new cultural belonging was described as challenging. At the same time, changing family and gender roles made it more difficult to preserve and develop the culture of origin. Traumatic experiences and mental health problems were common in this group. Family issues were more often than integration difficulties associated with mental health problems.

Conclusion:

In order to strengthen post-migration well-being and adaptation, authorities should support the refugees’ social networks. Clinicians need to address post-migration problems and challenges, including the meaning and function of social networks.
Depression literacy and the related factors among a group of hospitals’ staff in Iran
Authors: kheirabadi Dorna , Kheirabadi Gholam Reza , Tarrahi Mohammad Javad
Published: September 2020

Background:

Having a proper approach to depression requires having sufficient depressive literacy in the affected person.

Aims:

This study aimed to evaluate the level of depression literacy among hospital staff affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) and to reveal the risk factors and knowledge gaps.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study with 760 participants from university hospital staff at IUMS who were selected by a census method from April 2018 to December 2018. The data regarding depression signs and symptoms, anti-depressant drugs safety, non-medical treatment efficacy, etc. were collected using the Depression Literacy Questionnaire (D-Lit-22) and were analysed by SPSS-20, using the Pearson correlation coefficient, independent Samples t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) ( p ⩽ .05).

Results:

The mean age of participants was 35.33 ± 8.00 years old and 77.6% of them were female. The mean of the total score of depression literacy was 11.62 ± 3.53. Depression Literacy score was significantly higher in those with higher education levels, female gender and clinical staff ( p < .001). The inability to distinguish depression from other mental disorders as well as having wrong beliefs about suitable treatment approaches were the most considerable gaps in depression literacy.

Conclusion:

Male gender, low level of academic education and working in non-medical wards are the main factors associated with lower depression literacy in our studied sample. The poor differentiation of depression and wrong beliefs in depression treatment modalities were the largest gaps which require more educational programmes.
Learning From Failure in an Organization Designed to Develop Success
Authors: Bartunek Jean M.
Published: September 2020

In this article, I discuss events associated with leadership and fiscal crises that occurred at NTL during the late 1960s and early 1970s, after Warren Bennis declined to accept the Director position and until a group of NTL members led by Edith Seashore “rescued” NTL in 1975. In particular, I consider Warner Burke’s experience in the midst of these events. This episode in the history of NTL enables us to reflect on important questions about relationships between the theory and practice of Organization Development and learning from organizational failure.
Leadership and Learning Agility: A Lifelong Journey for W. Warner Burke
Authors: Hoff David F. , Smith David E.
Published: September 2020

Learning agility (LA) has become recognized as a key component to leadership success. The willingness to take action in new situations is paramount in today’s VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complexity, and ambiguous) world. This is the story of Warner Burke’s ongoing journey with LA and leadership. It defines LA and highlights its importance in organizations, follows the journey from idea to implementation and shows how Burke’s efforts have led to an assessment tool that affects selection to leadership development and succession planning. This article also discusses the potential of the Burke LA assessment tool to add value in organization development efforts.
Shining a Light on Policing of the Dark Web: An Analysis of UK Investigatory Powers
Authors: Davies Gemma
Published: September 2020

The dark web and the proliferation of criminals who have exploited its cryptographic protocols to commit crimes anonymously has created major challenges for law enforcement around the world. Traditional policing techniques have required amendment and new techniques have been developed to break the dark web’s use of encryption. As with all new technology, the law has been slow to catch up and police have historically needed to use legislation which was not designed with the available technology in mind. This paper discusses the tools and techniques police use to investigate and prosecute criminals operating on the dark web in the UK and the legal framework in which they are deployed. There are two specific areas which are examined in depth: the use of covert policing and hacking tools, known in the UK as equipment interference. The operation of these investigatory methods within the context of dark web investigations has not previously been considered in UK literature, although this has received greater analysis in the United States and Australia. The effectiveness of UK investigatory powers in the investigation of crimes committed on the dark web are analysed and recommendations are made in relation to both the law and the relevant Codes of Practice. The article concludes that while the UK has recently introduced legislation which adequately sets out the powers police can use during online covert operations and when hacking, the Codes of Practice need to specifically address the role these investigative tools play in dark web investigations. Highlighted as areas of particular concern are the risks of jurisdiction forum shopping and hacking overseas. Recommendations are made for reform of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 to ensure clarity as to when equipment interference can be used to search equipment when the location of that equipment is unknown.
Effective Participation of Mentally Vulnerable Defendants in the Magistrates’ Courts in England and Wales—The ‘Front Line’ from a Legal Perspective
Authors: Howard Helen
Published: September 2020

Mentally vulnerable defendants who struggle to effectively participate in their trial in the magistrates’ courts are not receiving the same protection as those who stand trial in the Crown Court. The Law Commission for England and Wales recognised this lacuna and suggested that the law relating to effective participation should be equally applicable in the magistrates’ courts. On closer examination of the law, the legal aid system and perspectives of legal professionals on the ‘front line’, it is clear that improvements in policy are of greater importance than legal reform and are more likely to meet the needs of these vulnerable individuals. The aim of this paper will be to demonstrate that reform of the law will be insufficient to adequately protect mentally vulnerable defendants in the magistrates’ courts and that changes in policy are needed in place of, or alongside, legal reforms.
Business Interests, Conservative Economists, and the Expansion of Noncontributory Pensions in Latin America
Authors: Dorlach Tim
Published: September 2020

Since the 1990s, most Latin American countries have significantly expanded noncontributory pension programs. In explaining this wave of expansion, research has focused on the protagonism of left parties and social movements and on electoral competition, generally disregarding the roles of organized business and conservative policy experts. This article demonstrates, through a detailed analysis of Chile’s 2008 noncontributory pension reform, that conservative economists played active roles in formulating a noncontributory pension policy characterized by moderate, targeted, and “incentive-compatible” benefits and financed by the general budget. The conservative design of the program facilitated broad support from employers and private pension funds, critical for the eventual passage of the reform. The analysis illustrates the need to incorporate business interests into explanations of welfare state reforms in Latin America and the broader Global South, in particular by distinguishing the interests of employers and private providers and by focusing on their interaction with conservative policy experts.
Hitchhiking: Associations With Big Five and Emotional Competences
Authors: Laborde Sylvain , Gerlach Sebastian , Vaughan Robert
Published: September 2020

After a decrease in its practice, the interest in hitchhiking is currently renewed. However, so far, very little is known about the personality characteristics of hitchhikers. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between hitchhiking and personality traits, with the Big Five and emotional competences. Five hundred and seventy-eight travellers (452 hitchhikers, Mage = 28.4 years old; and 126 non-hitchhikers, Mage = 27.7 years old) took part in the study. Participants completed an online survey including hitchhiking behaviour, the Big Five Inventory, and the Profile for Emotional Competences. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, hitchhiking was found to be positively associated with openness, and negatively associated with neuroticism. No associations were found with emotional competences. These findings improve our understanding of the personality characteristics associated with hitchhiking, however longitudinal studies are required to understand how hitchhiking is related to personality.
Is Andy Murray More British Than Scottish? It Depends on His Success! Game Outcome and the MOATing Effect
Authors: Bernache-Assollant Iouri , Chantal Yves , Laurin Raphaël
Published: September 2020

Prior research indicates that when we shared a part of a social identity with others, we tend to include or exclude them from our in-group depending on their success and failure. In this research, we investigated the extent to which this strategy (i.e., MOATing, “moving others away/toward the in-group”) is used for self-enhancement as compared to self-protection. Our experiment included a stereotype measure that assessed whether others were perceived as more typical of the in-group or the out-group. The results generally replicate those of prior research and suggest that MOATing primarily serves a self-enhancement function. We discuss theoretical and methodological implications.
Irreversible electroporation ablation against subcutaneously implanted VX2 tumors in rabbits: findings of shearwave ultrasound elastography
Authors: Chen Rui , Li Sheng , Wu Limei , Qiao Xueyan , Luo Yanhua , Zhou Xiaohua , Qiu Shaodong , Chen Fei
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate stiffness changes of rabbit subcutaneous VX2 tumors before and after irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablationby shearwave ultrasound elastography (SWE).

Methods

IRE was performed on 20 subcutaneously implanted VX2 tumors in rabbits (R-SIVX2). Tumor stiffness was measured by SWE at different time points (before IRE,120minutes after IRE,7 days after IRE and 14 days after IRE).

Results

Before IRE, the mean stiffness (Emean) of tumors was (10.45 ± 1.07) KPa. 120 minutes after I RE, the Emean of tumors obviously rose to (70.53 ± 9.87) KPa. 7 days after IRE, the Emean of tumors decreased to (40.22 ± 9.01) KPa. 14 days after IRE, the Emean of tumors was (15.17 ± 1.00) KPa. A clear boundary was observed between the ablation area and the normal tissues in the pathological results.

Conclusions

The stiffness of the VX2 tumors experienced a first rise process and tend to be normal in the procedure of IRE. SWE could provide tissue stiffness information of different IRE ablation period as a non-invasive method.