bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic, Social, Medical, Work Injury, and Environmental Efficiency Assessments
Authors: Fang Zhong , Chiu Yung-ho , Lin Tai-Yu , Chang Tzu-Han
Published: November 2020

Improving the management efficiency of industrial accidents is significant for stabilizing social order and improving production efficiency. Although many previous studies have discussed the impact of work injury on different occupations from the work safety and health perspectives, few have jointly discussed economic, social, medical, and environmental pollution issues, and those that do mostly employ static models, failing to take into account welfare factors and environmental pollution issues that affect society. Therefore, in order to understand the dynamic evolution trend between social and economic activities and environmental issues, this study utilizes a modified undesirable two-stage dynamic exogenous data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to explore the economic, social, medical, and environmental efficiencies of 30 provinces in China to fill the gap in the literature. In terms of work injury insurance expenditure efficiency, the results show that the air quality index (AQI) impacts the ranking of China’s 30 provincial regions, with Fujian, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shandong, Tianjin, and Xinjiang being greatly affected. AQI significantly influences overall factor efficiency, rescue invalid deaths, and the work-related injuries in the various regions. AQI also has a relatively small effect on the efficiency of work injury insurance benefits. Based on this, we offer suggestions for policy makers to evaluate the social benefits of environmental governance and the efficiency of human capital.
Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act: Providing Redress or Maintaining Status Quo?
Authors: Gupta Pallavi , Fatima Nikhat , Kandikuppa Sandeep
Published: November 2020

Despite a law against sexual harassment of women at the workplace, persons holding high offices, including senior judges, seem to enjoy impunity. By critically examining the allegations made against Justice Ranjan Gogoi (retd), former Chief Justice of India, and analysing five other cases of sexual harassment, we highlight how women are routinely denied justice. In doing so, we ask: are women actually able to file complaints of sexual harassment without the fear of facing a backlash? And do they ultimately get justice when they do so? We argue that the implementation of the law against sexual harassment is mediated by caste, class and gender, both of the survivor and of the perpetrator. We point to a changing polity that makes laws, guarantees and protections for women, but stumbles in implementing them in a fair and non-arbitrary manner.
Ethnic Conflict and the Politics of Spoils in Nigeria
Authors: Bamidele Seun
Published: November 2020

The paper attempts to discuss the nexus between spoils politics and escalating ethnic conflict in Nigeria that has seen some communities like the Fulani herdsmen, a large semi-nomadic community found in large parts of Nigeria, especially its central and southern regions, slaughter their countrymen with impunity. It is not a debate on the recent spate of violent clashes that have reportedly been triggered by the herdsmen. It is at its core an exploration of the ethnic issues that are prevalent in Nigeria overlapping with political, economic and religious tensions causing undercurrents of distrust and suspicion in the country. The paper argues that due to the zero sum nature of local politics, the violence that has been unleashed can be seen as a kind of premeditated strategy being followed by the federal government given its complete inaction in the face of the massacres and land grabs that have occurred. The brutal intimidation faced by sections of Nigeria’s population and the inability of the state to stem it has prevented the country’s citizens from resisting the ongoing conflict and strife.
Aging in Place With a Spouse in Need: Neighborhood Cohesion and Older Adult Spouses’ Physical and Mental Health
Authors: Lee Kyuho , Marier Patrik
Published: November 2020

This study examines the association of perceived neighborhood cohesion (NC) with older adults’ health and the buffering effects of NC against the negative effects of spousal caregiving on health. Data of 3329 community-living older adults living with a spouse in need of care from the Health and Retirement Study were collected at two time-points. Multiple regression analyses were computed for each of the four health outcomes. For men, NC predicted fewer depressive symptoms and better cognition. NC buffered the negative effect of providing activities of daily living (ADL) help to the wife on cognition. For women, NC predicted fewer depressive symptoms and better cognition. NC buffered the negative effect of providing ADL help to the husband on ADL difficulties. The results accentuate the importance of residency location for older adults’ physical and mental health. The health benefits of NC may have more implications for older adults providing spousal care.
The Influence of Familial and Peer Social Support on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Black Girls in Juvenile Correctional Facilities
Authors: Quinn Camille R. , Boyd Donte T. , Kim Bo-Kyung Elizabeth , Menon Sujeeta E. , Logan-Greene Patricia , Asemota Eseosa , Diclemente Ralph Joseph , Voisin Dexter
Published: November 2020

Black girls bear a higher burden of juvenile justice involvement in the United States, relative to other racial/ethnic female groups. Emerging evidence suggests that system involvement is related to trauma histories and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study investigated the associations between individual, family, and peer factors, and their relationship to PTSD among Black girls with juvenile justice involvement. Cross-sectional data were collected from 188 Black girls in detention. Measures assessed were history of abuse, negative peer norms, future orientation, caregiver support, self-esteem, age, and PTSD symptoms. Major regression findings indicated that higher rates of caregiver support, higher negative peer norms, lower self-esteem rates, and lower future orientation rates were correlated with greater PTSD symptoms. Treatment programs for this population warrant a multisystemic approach, which includes caregivers and peers, and bolstering important constructs such as self-esteem and hopefulness.
Incremental Contributions of Static and Dynamic Sexual Violence Risk Assessment: Integrating Static-99R and VRS-SO Common Language Risk Levels
Authors: Olver Mark E. , Kelley Sharon M. , Kingston Drew A. , Beggs Christofferson Sarah M. , Thornton David , Wong Stephen C. P.
Published: November 2020

We examined the incremental contributions of static and dynamic sexual violence risk assessment in a multisite sample of 1,289 men treated for sexual offending. The study extends validation work that established new risk categories and recidivism estimates for the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offense version (VRS-SO), using the risk assessment common language (CL) framework. Different rates of sexual recidivism were observed at different thresholds of static risk (Static-99R) as a function of dynamic risk and treatment change, particularly for men who were actuarially above or well above average risk (Levels IVa and IVb, respectively). A framework integrating CL risk levels for Static-99R and VRS-SO dynamic scores into overall CL risk levels is presented. We discuss implications for dynamic sexual violence risk assessment regarding the language used for risk communication and the importance of dynamic risk instruments in sexual violence evaluations, particularly when credible agents of risk change may be present.
Experimental verification of lithium-ion battery prognostics based on an interacting multiple model particle filter
Authors: Wang Shuai , Han Wei , Chen Lifei , Zhang Xiaochen , Pecht Michael
Published: November 2020

A new data-driven prognostic method based on an interacting multiple model particle filter (IMMPF) is proposed for use in the determination of the remaining useful life (RUL) of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and the probability distribution function (PDF) of the uncertainty associated with the RUL. An IMMPF is applied to different state equations. The battery capacity degradation model is very important in the prediction of the RUL of Li-ion batteries. The IMMPF method is applied to the estimation of the RUL of Li-ion batteries using the three improved models. Three case studies are provided to validate the proposed method. The experimental results show that the one-dimensional state equation particle filter (PF) is more suitable for estimating the trend of battery capacity in the long term. The proposed method involving interacting multiple models demonstrated a stable and high prediction accuracy, as well as the capability to narrow the uncertainty in the PDF of the RUL prediction for Li-ion batteries.
Sternal wound infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: an unexpected benefit
Authors: Hussain Azhar , Ike David I , Durand-Hill Matthieu , Ibrahim Sammra , Roberts Neil
Published: November 2020

Background

The novel coronavirus, now termed SARS-CoV-2, has had a significant impact on cardiac surgical services globally. Although drastically reduced, our institution has maintained a significant level of cardiac surgical activity during the pandemic. Rigorous COVID-19 guidelines have been instituted to mitigate the risk of viral transmission. We observed a reduction in sternal wound infections since the institution of new perioperative surgical guidelines.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our institution since a national lockdown was declared in March 2020. A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent cardiac surgery in the 12 months preceding the national lockdown, as a baseline cohort group, was also performed.

Results

A total of 2600 patients (493 during the COVID-19 pandemic) were included in this study. Urgent/emergency procedures accounted for more than 60% of procedures performed during the lockdown compared to 39% previously. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 4 sternal wound infections with an overall incidence of 0.8%. In comparison, the incidence of sternal wound infections was significantly higher at 3.0% in the 12-month period prior to lockdown with 63 sternal wound infections ( p = 0.006).

Conclusion

This report suggests a significant role of iatrogenic causes in sternal wound infections prior to the pandemic. The strict implementation of guidelines in the perioperative period suggests that sternal wound infections can be prevented. We propose that the now widespread COVID-19 guidelines to reduce transmission risk be adapted to help reduce the incidence of sternal wound infections.
Socio-Cultural Factors Contributing to Being an Organ Donor in Iranian Employees
Authors: Khoshravesh Sahar , Karimi-Shahanjarini Akram , Poorolajal Jalal , Bashirian Saeed , Barati Majid , Hamidi Majid , Khalili Sanaz
Published: November 2020

Aims

The purpose of this study was to use a culturally modified Organ Donation Model (ODM) to explore the significant factors and ways in which these factors could influence signing the donor card.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 employees from 57 offices in Hamadan, Iran, in 2018. Participants were selected randomly and surveyed on being a donor and their perceptions regarding signing the donor card. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to determine the inter-relationship between the studied variables.

Results

Participants’ mean age was 39.5 (SD = 7.0). 20% of participants had a signed donor card. Descriptive norms (β = 0.53, p < 0.001), non-cognitive beliefs (β=−0.33, p < 0.001), anticipated regret (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) and subjective norms (β=−0.17, p < 0.01) had significant direct effects on signing the donor card.

Conclusion

This study provides socio-culturally informed evidence on individuals' signing donor card. These factors could provide a guide to policymakers to develop the community-based interventions.
The mechanism of curcumin post-treatment relieving lung injuries by regulating miR-21/TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway
Authors: Zou Hai-Bo , Sun Xiao-Feng
Published: November 2020

Objective

To investigate the mechanism by which curcumin prevents lung injury in a rat model of limb ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods

Rats were randomized into four groups ( n = 20): control group (sham group); ischaemia-reperfusion group (I/R group); curcumin group (I/R+Cur group); and inhibitor of agomir-21 group (I/R+Cur+antagomir-21 group). At 3 h after reperfusion, lung tissues were collected for histopathology and immunohistochemistry to determine the apoptosis index (AI). Lung injury score (LIS) and lung wet/dry (W/D) ratio were determined. Lung microRNA-21 (miR-21) mRNA levels were measured using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65) protein levels were measured by Western blot analysis. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

In the I/R group, the W/D, LIS, AI, miR-21 mRNA, TLR4, NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased and the PaO2 was decreased compared with the sham group. Evidence of lung injury was observed in the I/R group and this was alleviated in the I/R+Cur group. An inhibitor of miR-21 (antagomir-21) reversed the protective effects of curcumin.

Conclusion

Curcumin post-treatment can alleviate the lung injuries induced by limb ischaemia-reperfusion via downregulating the levels of miR-21 mRNA.
Prognostic significance of autophagy-related genes Beclin1 and LC3 in ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Xinbei , Sun Yang , Wang Bingrong , Wang Huihui
Published: November 2020

Objective

Beclin1 plays a central role in the activation of the autophagy signaling pathway. Beclin1 and LC3-related proteins are involved in the initial steps of autophagy, which are closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. The current meta-analysis aimed to clarify the correlation between expression of Beclin1 and LC3 and prognosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI using predefined selection criteria. Pooled hazard ratios and relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate the correlation between autophagy-related genes Beclin1 and LC3 and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage.

Results

In total, 1497 patients from 10 articles were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Expression of Beclin1 was significantly correlated with improved OS and PFS, and increased expression of Beclin1 was correlated with early FIGO stage, but not with lymph node metastasis or histological grade. No association was found between LC3 expression and prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.

Conclusions

Expression of Beclin1 is an independent risk factor for the progression of ovarian cancer. Thus, Beclin1 is a promising indicator in predicting prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.
Irinotecan monotherapy as third- or further-line treatment for patients with small cell lung cancer
Authors: Seto Zenta , Takata Naoki , Murayama Nozomu , Tokui Kotaro , Okazawa Seisuke , Kambara Kenta , Imanishi Shingo , Miwa Toshiro , Hayashi Ryuji , Matsui Shoko , Inomata Minehiko
Published: November 2020

Background:

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a very aggressive cancer and recurrence is inevitable. Treatment of recurrent disease is important for improving the prognosis of patients with SCLC.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective observational study to investigate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan monotherapy as third- or further-line treatment in patients with SCLC.

Results:

Data of 15 patients who had received irinotecan monotherapy as third- or further-line treatment between 2004 and 2019 were analyzed. The median progression-free survival duration (95% confidence interval) from the initiation of treatment with irinotecan was 2.7 (1.4–3.8) months, and the median overall survival duration (95% confidence interval) from the initiation of irinotecan treatment was 10.0 (3.9–12.9) months. Partial response, stable disease or non–complete response/non–progressive disease, and progressive disease were observed in 1, 6, and 8 patients, respectively. Adverse events ⩾ grade 3 in severity were observed in 2/2 (100%) patients who were homozygous for UGT1A1 mutation, 2/3 (66.7%) patients who were heterozygous for UGT1A1 mutation, 4/6 (66.7%) patients who had wild-type UGT1A1, and 2/4 (50.0%) patients in whom the UGT1A1 mutation status was unknown.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that irinotecan monotherapy can be a useful alternative treatment option in the third-line setting for patients with SCLC.
Recurrent retroperitoneal solitary fibrous tumor: a case report
Authors: Manica Michele , Roscigno Marco , Naspro Richard , Sodano Mario , Milesi Laura , Gianatti Andrea , Da Pozzo Luigi F.
Published: November 2020

Background:

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm described initially in visceral pleura but can occasionally involve other sites such as the urinary tract. Extrapleural localizations are often indolent but some malignant SFTs have been described. The treatment and the most important prognostic factor for SFT seem to be complete resection of the neoplasm.

Case report:

We report the 10-year history of a retroperitoneal SFT, which recurred twice after conservative management, and was eventually treated with en bloc resection of the mass, the bladder, and the prostate, and urinary diversion by ileal conduit. To our knowledge, this case has the longest follow-up in the literature.

Conclusion:

Extrapleural SFTs often have indolent but unpredictable behavior as they can recur even after many years. Some histologic features are associated with the malignancy of these tumors. Complete resection of the neoplasm is the most important prognostic factor. Patients with SFT should be considered for a very long follow-up after the surgery due to the risk of possible late recurrences.
The politics of hopeful citizenship: Women, counterinsurgency and the state in eastern India
Authors: Kamra Lipika
Published: November 2020

Anthropologists have posited that citizenship takes on multiple meanings and forms based on citizens’ everyday engagements with state and non-state actors. This article examines forms of citizenship that materialize vis-à-vis the state. In particular, it deals with new imaginaries of citizenship that emerge through interactions between state actors and poor women in counterinsurgency settings. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the erstwhile Maoist zones of eastern India, I show that, despite knowing the violent face of the state, poor women nevertheless rely on the developmental face of the state to hope for social transformation and imagine better lives and livelihoods. I argue that in doing so they engender an idea of hopeful citizenship.
From cholera to COVID-19: How pandemics have shaped the development of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine
Authors: Levin Adam B , Ball Christine M , Featherstone Peter J
Published: November 2020

The infectious pandemics and epidemics of the past 200 years have caused millions of deaths. However, these devastating events have also led to creative thinking, imaginative experimentation and the evolution of medical care. As a result, the history of critical care medicine is entwined with the story of these global disasters. This article will take case studies from recent pandemics and epidemics and examine their impact on the development of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine.
Who Publishes in Economic Education? A Bibliographic Analysis of the First 50 Years of the Journal of Economic Education
Authors: Grimes Paul W. , Mixon Franklin G.
Published: November 2020

We examined the characteristics of the authors who published academic articles in the Journal of Economic Education ( JEE) during its first 50 years and identify those economists who were most productive in developing economic education as a specialized field. Employing bibliometric data, we review trends in the salient characteristics of authorship with special attention paid to gender, geography, institutional affiliation, and other factors. We also explore the JEE’s impact on the development of teaching-related research through citation analysis over the course of the journal’s various editorial regimes. The results reveal the relative impacts of authors and their economic education scholarship over the past half century and provide some insight into the possible future of the field.

JEL Classifications: A20, A14
Identifying effective institutions for China’s circular economy: Bottom-up evidence from waste management
Authors: Steuer Benjamin
Published: November 2020

The present article centres on institutions, that is, systems of rules that guide behaviour and interaction of socio-economic actors, and their role in advancing China’s circular economy (CE), particularly in waste management (WM). Since the early 2000s, state and non-state actors in China have begun to explore CE ideas in WM resulting in a multitude of related patterns and schemes. In regard to why such systems exhibit different degrees of effectiveness, it appears that much is determined by the institutional arrangements within. Based on several years of field research in China, the article identifies and analyses key institutional ingredients for effective outcomes. Methodologically, these components are identified via an analytical model incorporating WM performance indicators and a framework for assessing interest inclusiveness. Empirically, the analysis is applied to case study findings on the informal and semi-formalised recycling sector in Beijing and Changchun. The resulting findings are synthesised into an evaluation matrix: it indicates which effective informal institutional elements in waste collection and pre-processing allow for a translation into formal systems. The so-demonstrated convertibility indicates a substantial potential for the innovation of current formal WM systems in urban China.
Clinicians, cooks, and cashiers: Examining health equity and the COVID-19 risks to essential workers
Authors: Roberts Jennifer D , Dickinson Katherine L , Koebele Elizabeth , Neuberger Lindsay , Banacos Natalie , Blanch-Hartigan Danielle , Welton-Mitchell Courtney , Birkland Thomas A
Published: November 2020

In Spring/Summer 2020, most individuals living in the United States experienced several months of social distancing and stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Clinicians, restaurant cooks, cashiers, transit operators, and other essential workers (EWs), however, continued to work outside the home during this time in order to keep others alive and maintain a functioning society. In the United States, EWs are often low-income persons of color who are more likely to face socioeconomic vulnerabilities, systemic racism, and health inequities. To assess the various impacts of COVID-19 on EWs, an online survey was distributed to a representative sample of individuals residing in six states during May/June 2020. The sample included 990 individuals who identified as EWs and 736 nonessential workers (NWs). We assessed differences between EW and NW respondents according to three categories related to health equity and social determinants of health: (1) demographics (e.g. race/ethnicity); (2) COVID-19 exposure risk pathways (e.g. ability to social distance); and (3) COVID-19 risk perceptions (e.g. perceived risk of contracting COVID-19). EWs were more likely to be Black or Hispanic than NWs and also had lower incomes and education levels on average. Unsurprisingly, EWs were substantially more likely to report working outside the home and less likely to report social distancing and wearing masks indoors as compared to NWs. EWs also perceived a slightly greater risk of contracting COVID-19. These findings, which we discuss in the context of persistent structural inequalities, systemic racism, and health inequities within the United States, highlight ways in which COVID-19 exacerbates existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities faced by EWs.
Angle Osteoplasty and Cosmetic Debulking for Correction of a Case of Unilateral Masseteric Hypertrophy
Authors: Jeyaraj Colonel (Dr) Priya
Published: November 2020

Facial asymmetry is one of the commonest causes of impaired aesthetics, serving as a strong motivation for patients to seek corrective treatment. Benign masseteric hypertrophy is a well-known, albeit uncommon condition of rather obscure etiology, resulting from unilateral or bilateral increase in volume and bulk of the masseter muscle, that may or may not be accompanied by hyperostosis of the underlying bony angle of the mandible. This report elaborates a modified surgical modality and operative technique that effectively addresses both, the hard as well as soft tissue malformations in the region simultaneously, and is associated with the least incidence of relapse and recurrence of the condition. A 26-year-old woman with severe facial asymmetry resulting from unilateral masseteric hypertrophy was taken up for surgical debulking of the masseter. Surgical resection of one-third of the hypertrophied muscle bulk from its inner or medial aspect, followed by shaving of bony spurs and recontouring of angle of the mandible, was done. The surgical technique described is a definitive, efficacious, and reliable intervention for successful and long-term management of idiopathic masseter muscle hypertrophy that results in an excellent and long-lasting aesthetic outcome.
Navigating Conflicts through the Media: The Sceptical and Self-Responsible Repertoires of Baltic Russian-Speakers
Authors: Vihalemm Triin , Juzefovičs Jānis
Published: November 2020

This article contributes to the scholarly discussions about the self-responsibilization, defined as a configuration of understandings and action strategies oriented to compensate the (perceived) dysfunctionality of the media system, of audience members in East European societies. The authors argue that audience members’ sceptical and self-reliant stance towards political news, which were planted in Soviet times, continue today in the context of mediated geopolitical conflicts. Based on a mixed methods study of Baltic Russian-speaking audiences’ behaviour in the context of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the authors explore audience members’ media repertoires aimed to “fish out” reliable information from the political news by searching for unspoken clues or identifying ideologically biased messages. The authors introduce six political news repertoires based on the varied degrees of plurality of information channels and conditional trust. Then, they characterize audience groups exercising these repertoires and explain how audience members rationalize the chosen repertoires as a part of their agency in the context of geopolitical turbulence. They suggest that media audiences’ self-responsibilization is a worthwhile object for further study and call for a shift in East European media research away from a structuralist approach and towards an agency-centred one.
How Do Migrant Nursing Home Staff Relate to Religion in Their Work With Patients Who Are Approaching Death?
Authors: Lavik Marta Høyland , Gripsrud Birgitta Haga , Ramvi Ellen
Published: November 2020

Aim

To investigate how migrant nursing home staff relate to religion in their care for patients who are approaching death.

Method and Theory

Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 migrant health care workers from five nursing homes in Norway. The overall analytic approach was hermeneutical. The parts and the whole were interpreted in light of each other to gain a “thick description” of the data material in order to show the ways in which experiential meaning-making draws on cultural webs of sign ificance.

Findings

Religion held various meanings for the migrant health care workers interviewed. Religious and cultural competence and knowledge of migrant nursing home staff was neither asked for by the management nor discussed in the staff group. The way our participants related to religion at work was therefore based on individual preferences and internalized practices.

Conclusion and Implication for Practice

Organized reflection groups among staff are needed in order to integrate and develop religious literacy in the multicultural nursing home setting. Such reflection groups can help the individual staff member to perform holistic nursing, that is, to be attentive of the interconnectedness of biological, social, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects in a human being.
Management of Severe Periodontal Disease and Gingival Enlargement in a Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)
Authors: Lee Da Bin , Snyder Christopher J. , Mans Christoph , Clyde Victoria L. , Scheels John
Published: November 2020

Development of gingival enlargement and periodontitis is described in a young dwarf mongoose. Repeated treatments resulted in gingival resection and histologic evaluation however gingival enlargement was ultimately responsive to extraction of associated teeth. In cases such as these, surgical extraction of teeth associated with severe recurrent gingival enlargement should be considered to avoid the stress and risk of repeated immobilizations.
An active and passive combined gravity compensation approach for a hybrid force feedback device
Authors: Li Jing-Rong , Fu Jun-Ling , Wu Shu-Chuan , Wang Qing-Hui
Published: November 2020

When using a force feedback device to interact with a virtual world, the effect of immersion is highly dependent on its performance of gravity compensation. In this work, an active and passive combined gravity compensation approach is presented for a horizontally mounted 6-DOF hybrid force feedback device (HFFD-6). Both active and passive methods are analyzed with simulation and corresponding parameters in the passive approach are then optimized. And to evaluate the performance of the gravity compensation approach, physical experiments are also conducted to measure the gravity compensation errors in the workspace. Moreover, comparison studies are conducted to illustrate the superiority of the proposed approach in terms of output force capability. These experiments have demonstrated that the proposed approach is feasible to achieve gravity compensation and improve the output force capability of the device.
Bi-objective optimization design of material stiffness for improving contact interface performances
Authors: Zhou Yicong , Lin Qiyin , Hong Jun , Yang Nan
Published: November 2020

The characteristics of contact interfaces such as the distribution uniformity of the contact pressure and the effective contact area play a crucial role in engineering equipment. To investigate the influences of the variable material stiffness optimization (VMSO) design on the contact characteristics of the contact interfaces in an assembly, an heuristic-based VMSO algorithm is developed in this paper. A bi-objective function is defined by including both the distribution uniformity of the contact pressure and the effective contact area. A single bolted joint model is adopted as a design example. The results indicate that optimizing the stiffness of the materials around the contact interface is an effective approach to enhance the distribution uniformity of the contact pressure, increase the effective contact area and decrease the maximum contact pressure. Furthermore, the improvement effectiveness provided by the proposed variable stiffness design is better than that provided by the traditional variable thickness design.
Optimal wrench-closure configuration of spatial reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robots
Authors: Abbasnejad Ghasem , Tale-Masouleh Mehdi
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a method for computing the optimal actuation of reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robots is presented. By using this method, the imperfect ability in exerting torque and limited orientation workspace of these robots may be improved. In a cable-driven parallel robot with reconfigurability, the attachment points of cables on the base are adjusted with regard to the movement of the end-effector on a trajectory. In such a design the redundant degree-of-freedom of the robot is increased accordingly. For an arbitrary pose of the end-effector, a spherical zone is defined in which the called wrench-closure condition is satisfied for a prescribed range of orientation. Taking the volume of such zone into consideration the optimal configuration of the robot may be determined. This configuration is found by appropriately changing the position of the moving attachment points on the base of the robot. By repeating this computation for a number of points on a specified trajectory, appropriate actuation plans are achieved. The computed optimal actuation guarantees balance of any external wrench by tension force of cables when the end-effector moves close to its trajectory. For a case of spatial reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot, the optimal actuation is found based on Particle Swarm Optimization and performance of the robot is compared to the one with fixed cable attachment points on base. The result shows significant improvement of the performance of reconfigurable spatial cable-driven parallel robot.
Dual assessment criterion and its programmed application of collapse failure of pressure vessels
Authors: Duan Chenghong , Wang Zunwu , Huang Jinhao , Luo Xiangpeng , Lu Mingwan
Published: November 2020

Design standards of preventing “plastic collapse” and “excessive overall plastic deformation” for pressure vessels are given in the ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 2 and EN 13445, respectively. These two aspects are both taken into account in the dual criterion, which could avoid the two failure modes at the same time. And the dual criterion has been adopted as Appendix B in the forthcoming revised version of Chinese JB-4732-1995 “Steel Pressure Vessel-Analysis and Design Code”. In order to realize engineering application for the dual criterion, two feasible schemes to determine quasi-limit load is proposed in this paper, and the APDL (ANSYS Parametric Design Language) is used for the programming. A dual assessment criterion module is embedded in ANSYS finite element software. On this basis, a design example of the dual assessment criterion program is analyzed. The ANSYS dual criterion assessment module is used to conduct the assessment of different material models, different quasi-limit load determination methods and different levels of design loads. The results show that the dual assessment criterion module is effective for engineering practice.
The association between HIV/AIDS and food insecurity at the US–Mexico border: Experiences of low-income patients in the Rio Grande Valley
Authors: Tabler Jennifer , Mykyta Laryssa , Nagata Jason M
Published: November 2020

US–Mexico border communities are uniquely vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission given the economic and social challenges these communities face. We surveyed low-income, predominantly Latinx residents receiving sexually transmitted infection testing and/or HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) care in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas about their experiences of food insecurity. Participants aged 18 years and over took a self-administered survey available in English or Spanish in a clinic waiting room ( N = 251). Ordinary least squares regression results suggested that those with a prior HIV/AIDS diagnosis reported a response for food insecurity that was approximately 0.67 points higher than peers without a prior HIV/AIDS diagnosis (coefficient = 0.67; p < 0.05), even when adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, social support, perceived discrimination, and neighborhood environment. Interaction results between age and HIV status indicated that younger individuals living with HIV/AIDS experienced uniquely higher food insecurity; those who reported a prior HIV/AIDS diagnosis experienced an additional reduction in food insecurity by approximately 0.06 points for each additional year of age (age × HIV/AIDS interaction coefficient = −0.06; p < 0.05). Community programs serving low-income populations should consider screening for and intervening on food insecurity, especially among young adults living with HIV/AIDS.
On the wind resource in Algeria: Probability distributions evaluation
Authors: Ounis Houdayfa , Aries Nawel
Published: November 2020

The present study aims to present a contribution to the wind resource assessment in Algeria using ERA-Interim reanalysis. Firstly, the ERA-Interim reanalysis 10 m wind speed data are considered for the elaboration of the mean annual 10 m wind speed map for a period starting from 01-01-2000 to 31-12-2017. Moreover, the present study intends to highlight the importance of the descriptive statistics other than the mean in wind resource assessment. On the other hand, this study aims also to select the proper probability distribution for the wind resource assessment in Algeria. Therefore, nine probability distributions were considered, namely: Weibull, Gamma, Inverse Gaussian, Log Normal, Gumbel, Generalized Extreme Value (GEV), Nakagami, Generalized Logistic and Pearson III. Furthermore, in combination with the distribution, three parameter estimation methods were considered, namely, Method of Moment, Maximum Likelihood Method and L-Moment Method.

The study showed that Algeria has several wind behaviours due to the diversified topographic, geographic and climatic properties. Moreover, the annual mean 10 m wind speed map showed that the wind speed varies from 2.3 to 5.3 m/s, where 73% of the wind speeds are above 3 m/s. The map also showed that the Algerian Sahara is windiest region, while, the northern fringe envelopes the lowest wind speeds. In addition, it has been shown that the study of the mean wind speeds for the evaluation of the wind potential alone is not enough, and other descriptive statistics must be considered. On the other hand, among the nine considered distribution, it appears that the GEV is the most appropriate probability distribution. Whereas, the Weibull distribution showed its performance only in regions with high wind speeds, which, implies that this probability distribution should not be generalized in the study of the wind speed in Algeria.
Work accommodations and sustainable working: The role of social partners and industrial relations in the employment of disabled and older people in Estonia, Hungary and Poland
Authors: Foster Deborah , Masso Mart , Osila Liina
Published: November 2020

The under-utilization of the labour of disabled and older people is a problem across the European Union (EU) but is most pronounced in Central and Eastern European (CEE) member states, where labour shortages are greatest. This presents a puzzle that is explored with reference to a project with social partners from Estonia, Hungary and Poland, the objective of which was to stimulate debate and actions around the role of industrial relations actors in facilitating work accommodations for disabled and older people. After establishing the extent of the demographic labour crisis in these countries, the policy tools being employed to address it are scrutinized and found wanting. A variety of factors are identified as having contributed to debate in this area: historical legacy, social policy path-dependency, social partner identity and agency, a ‘dead letter’ approach to EU policies, and the limited role of civil society organizations. We examine the potential of the concept of sustainable work, more commonly found in Northern Europe, to influence alternative approaches to the employment of disabled and older people in countries where state, labour and employment relations differ.
Underpricing and Intellectual Capital Disclosure: Evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Widarjo Wahyu , Rahmawati  , Bandi  , Widagdo Ari Kuncara
Published: November 2020

In this study, we investigate the relationship between intellectual capital disclosure and underpricing. We did interviews and gave questionnaires to practitioners and academics to develop intellectual capital disclosure measurement methods (in this case, it is the weighted disclosure index). The analysis result of 189 companies which did initial public offerings in Indonesia during 2000–2014 shows that intellectual capital disclosure affects negatively on underpricing. It indicates that intellectual capital disclosure can reduce asymmetry information between the issuer and the potential investor. In addition, intellectual capital disclosure can assist potential investors in assessing the company’s quality and prospects.
Corporate Governance and Firm Performance in Indian Textile Companies: Evidence from NSE 500
Authors: Gulzar Ishfaq , Haque S. M. Imamul , Khan Tasneem
Published: November 2020

This article endeavours to study the relationship between corporate governance and performance for a sample of 11 textile firms listed on Nifty 500 Index in India. The article examines whether the board characteristics have any impact on performance measures. The data covers the time period from 2014 to 2018. The study uses board size, board meetings, board independence as corporate governance surrogates from different dimensions along with other widely uses of independent variables to assess their impact in a panel data-based regression. The findings provide mixed results between the board characteristics and the firm performance. Board size and firm performance is statistically significant with return on assets and Tobin’s Q. Whereas, board independence, board meetings and CEO duality are not statistically significant with both accounting-based measure of performance and market-based measure of performance. The article provides empirical evidence that board independence, board meetings and CEO duality is not necessary for listed textile companies in India and would be of interest to regulatory bodies, business practitioners and academic researchers. The main value of this article is the analysis of the effect of corporate governance on performance measures on listed Indian textile industries.
Long-Term Head Start Impacts on Cognitive Outcomes for Children With Disabilities
Authors: Lee Kyunghee , Luellen Jazmin Lynn
Published: November 2020

Based on the Head Start Impact Study (HSIS) data, the current study examines Head Start’s long-term impacts on cognitive outcomes for children with disabilities: (a) Do children with disabilities who enroll in Head Start at age 4 years have better cognitive outcomes when they are 4 to 9 years old? (b) Are there other factors associated with long-term cognitive development for children with disabilities? Linear regression analysis indicated that Head Start enrollment had positive impacts on children’s short-term outcomes. However, the difference between Head Start and non-Head Start children became insignificant for cognitive scores measured at age 9 years. Children who were Black or Hispanic, without an individualized education plan, were non-English speaking at home, and who had lower preacademic skills prior to Head Start enrollment had significantly lower cognitive outcomes at age 9 years.
Current Role of Surgery in Pancreatic Cancer With Synchronous Liver Metastasis
Authors: Zhou Wentao , Wang Dansong , Lou Wenhui
Published: November 2020

Pancreatic cancer with synchronous liver metastasis has an extremely poor prognosis, and surgery is not recommended for such patients by the current guidelines. However, an increasing body of studies have shown that concurrent resection of pancreatic cancer and liver metastasis is not only technically feasible but also beneficial to the survival in the selected patients. In this review, we aim to summarize the short- and long-term outcomes following synchronous liver metastasectomy for pancreatic cancer patients, and discuss the potential criteria in selecting appropriate surgical candidates, which might be helpful in clinical decision-making.
Teaching Community Psychology Decolonially: A Pedagogical Journey
Authors: Terre Blanche Martin , Fourie Eduard , Segalo Puleng
Published: November 2020

The decolonial impulse in psychology has manifested across a variety of domains, perhaps most notably psychological theory and approaches to research methodology. In this article, we focus on how decoloniality can reshape approaches to teaching and learning. We present a case study of how we recurriculated, from 1999 to 2020, three community psychology modules using a decolonial lens. We describe three phases in the development of community psychology teaching at a university in South Africa—“Little Oxford in the veld,” “Going walkabout,” and “New voices.” In each case, we detail the “course content,” our pedagogical approach, and how students responded, and try to identify what lessons can be learnt for a more explicitly decolonial mode of teaching and learning. We conclude by asserting that to foster decoloniality among students, we have to be cognizant of the ways in which they have for a long time been taught using Euro-centric lenses and frames of knowing and therefore the process of unlearning may be slow and somewhat painful. However, we see this as a necessary step toward decolonization, as epistemic colonization was and continues to be a violent project.
Diversified Psychological Mechanisms in the Formation of Tourist Destination Attachment
Authors: Qu Ying , Cao Limei , Wang Xu
Published: November 2020

Since destination attachment is a new branch in the field of place attachment, studies are lacking on the formation mechanisms of destination attachment. The psychological processes underlying the mechanism have also been ignored. This study adaptively applied the grounded theory to the online travel blogs of Hainan in China, aiming to identify the unique interaction mechanism of psychological dimensions in the formation of a destination attachment. Three different psychological paths were revealed, namely, “cognition→affect→conation,” “conation→cognition→affect,” and “affect→conation→cognition.” The formation of destination attachment was found to be similar to consumer knowledge learning. The problems of paradigm integration and the expansion of the destination attachment source were also considered in this research.