bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘We need to put what we do in my dad’s language, in pounds, shillings and pence’: Commercialisation and the reshaping of public-sector planning in England
Authors: Slade Jason , Tait Malcolm , Inch Andy
Published: March 2021

This article furthers understanding of how commercial imperatives are reshaping dominant conceptions of planning practice in England, and by extension the production of the built environment more widely. We make an original contribution by tracing the emergence of the logic of commercialisation in England, demonstrating how the impacts of austerity and ‘market-led viability planning’ have entrenched the ‘delivery state’, a powerful disciplinary matrix representing late-neoliberal governance. Through in-depth, ethnographic study of a local planning authority, we argue that commercialisation within the delivery state creates a distinct ‘economy of attention’, reshaping planners’ agency and professional identities, and the substance and scope of their work. The conclusion draws out wider implications of commercialisation for planning in and beyond the delivery state.
Composites based on poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) and silver-calcined scallop shell powder: Mechanical, thermal, photocatalytic, and antibacterial properties
Authors: Manoj Marakkattupurathe , Manaf Olongal , Ismayil KM Muhammad , Sujith Athiyanathil
Published: March 2021

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) [EVA] and silver-calcined scallop shell powder (Ag-CS) based composite (EVA/Ag-CS) films were synthesized by wet phase inversion method. The composite films were characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), water sorption test, and contact angle measurement. The functional properties such as photocatalytic and antibacterial properties were also studied in detail. Calcined scallop shell powder, which mainly contains CaO and Ca(OH)2 was prepared from a naturally occurring scallop shell by the sol–gel method. Silver-calcined scallop shell powder was prepared by the reduction of silver nitrate solution in the presence of calcined scallop shell powder. It was found that composite with a 6 wt% Ag-CS showed 5% better tensile strength and improved thermal properties than the pristine EVA. The incorporation of Ag-CS imparts photocatalytic property to EVA polymer matrix. Kinetics study showed that the photocatalytic process takes place through a pseudo-first-order manner. The antibacterial study of the prepared samples was tested by the agar-disc diffusion method. The composites are found to be good antibacterial material against Staphillococus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria.
The Relationship Between Islamic Work Ethic and Public Service Motivation
Authors: Hassan Hemin Ali , Ahmad Ahmad Bayiz
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this article is to examine the differences between public and private sector employees’ public service motivation (PSM) levels and also examine the impact of Islamic work ethic (IWE) as a potential antecedent of PSM in a non-Western setting. This quantitative investigation is based on a sample of 419 employees in 13 public and private organizations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Independent t test results reveal no statistically significant differences in PSM level between public and private sector employees. The analysis of the data also reveals that PSM is significantly influenced by IWE. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed.
Black Students’ Perceptions of Campus Climates and the Effect on Academic Resilience
Authors: Mills Kristen J.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between general, academic, and racial campus climates and academic resilience among Black college students. This study also investigated the moderating role of civic engagement on the relationships between campus climates and academic resilience. Participants were 388 Black undergraduate students (76.8% women; 58.8% social, behavioral, and economic sciences majors; 87.4% enrolled full-time) attending a predominantly White university who completed an online survey. Results from moderated regression analyses indicated more positive perceptions of general and academic campus climates significantly predicted higher levels of academic resilience, but more positive perceptions of racial campus climate significantly predicted lower levels of academic resilience. Civic engagement moderated the relationship between general campus climate and academic resilience only. These findings can be used to inform coordinated efforts by university constituents to advance academic resilience among Black college students by improving general and academic campus climates, promoting more positive perceptions of general and academic campus climates, and promoting student civic engagement.
The Price of Predictability: Estimating Inconsistency Premiums in Social Interactions
Authors: Gerten Judith , Zürn Michael K. , Topolinski Sascha
Published: March 2021

For financial decision-making, people trade off the expected value (return) and the variance (risk) of an option, preferring higher returns to lower ones and lower risks to higher ones. To make decision-makers indifferent between a risky and risk-free option, the expected value of the risky option must exceed the value of the risk-free option by a certain amount—the risk premium. Previous psychological research suggests that similar to risk aversion, people dislike inconsistency in an interaction partner’s behavior. In eight experiments (total N = 2,412) we pitted this inconsistency aversion against the expected returns from interacting with an inconsistent partner. We identified the additional expected return of interacting with an inconsistent partner that must be granted to make decision-makers prefer a more profitable, but inconsistent partner to a consistent, but less profitable one. We locate this inconsistency premium at around 31% of the expected value of the risk-free option.
Changes in Importance of Motherhood Following Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Erato Gina , Ciciolla Lucia , Shreffler Karina M. , Greil Arthur L.
Published: March 2021

Pregnancy loss (i.e., miscarriage, stillbirth) is a relatively common and often traumatic experience. Although prior research has examined mental health consequences of pregnancy loss, to our knowledge, none have examined how the experience of pregnancy loss affects how women perceive or value the importance of motherhood. Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers, we applied change-score regression analysis to examine how a pregnancy loss that occurred between survey waves was associated with a change in importance of motherhood scores, controlling for sociodemographic and pregnancy-specific characteristics. We found that women who experienced a pregnancy loss reported an increase in importance of motherhood compared to women without a pregnancy loss. The findings suggest that an increase in the importance of motherhood following a pregnancy loss could be a grief response. Health care professionals should consider validating maternal identity following a pregnancy loss, as women highly associate with this role.
A rare cause of complete heart block in an adult: Primary cardiac lymphoma
Authors: Amin Ahmad , Chitsazan Mitra , Ghavidel Alireza Alizadeh , Pouraliakbar Hamidreza , Parsaee Mozhgan , Khesali Hamideh
Published: March 2021

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare primary cardiac neoplasm with a relatively poor prognosis despite confinement to the heart and/or pericardium. We report a 54-year-old man who had presented with complete heart block for which he had undergone permanent pacemaker implantation, and six months later he was referred to us for evaluation of progressive exertional dyspnea. Multislice spiral computed tomography angiography of the heart and major vasculature showed infiltrative tumoral lesion that has involved interatrial septum, right atrium, left atrium, and left ventricle with invasion into the pulmonary artery. Tissue samples were taken using uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and the histologic examination revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Chemoimmunotherapy was effective in inducing tumor regression and the patient was still in remission during the next six months after treatment.
Relational turbulence from the COVID-19 pandemic: Within-subjects mediation by romantic partner interdependence
Authors: Goodboy Alan K. , Dillow Megan R. , Knoster Kevin C. , Howard Heath A.
Published: March 2021

Relational turbulence theory posits that external changes to the relational environment compel romantic partners to navigate transitions by establishing new daily routines as interdependent couples. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented transition fraught with difficult changes that have the potential to be especially disruptive to romantic partners’ daily routines as couples alter their patterns of interdependence and adapt their everyday lives. To study the pandemic’s effect as a relational transition, college students in romantic relationships ( N = 314) completed measures of partner facilitation and interference, negative emotions, and relational turbulence as they recalled what their relationships were like prior to the pandemic (January, 2020) and then reported on their relationships during the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in the U.S. (April, 2020). On average, negative emotions (i.e., anger, fear, sadness) toward interacting with partners and relational turbulence both increased from before to during the pandemic, and partner interference was positively correlated, whereas facilitation was inversely correlated, with negative emotions during the pandemic. Results of a within-subjects mediation model revealed that changes in relational turbulence were explained, in part, by a decrease in partner interdependence due to the pandemic. A direct effect of the pandemic on increases in relational turbulence was also discovered.
Efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of unipolar major depression: Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses of double-blind randomised controlled trials
Authors: Arnone Danilo , Galadari Hassan , Rodgers Carl J , Östlundh Linda , Aziz Karim Abdel , Stip Emmanuel , Young Allan H
Published: March 2021

Background:

OnabotulinumtoxinA is a novel therapeutic intervention whose mechanism of action is believed to modify the negative facial feedback, thus abating symptoms of depression. This putative new antidepressant agent offers minimal systemic side effects and negligible risk of pharmacological interactions. We set out to examine the evidence for the use of onabotulinumtoxinA in major depression.

Methods:

A systematic search of the literature identified double-blind randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of major depression versus placebo. Data, reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), was combined in meta-analyses (PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42020183538).

Results:

The search identified five RCTs (four double-blind) comparing onabotulinumtoxinA to placebo. OnabotulinumtoxinA was more effective than placebo when administered within the 20–40 IU dose range in double-blind RCTs. The analysis was free of publication bias and significantly heterogeneous. Meta-regression analyses indicated that onabotulinumtoxinA was more efficacious in women and in higher doses in female patients and less effective with polypharmacy, especially when an increasing number of antidepressants were prescribed. The effectiveness of onabotulinumtoxinA was higher in more recently published double-blind RCTs.

Conclusion:

The meta-analysis supports the efficacy of the intervention with the results being highly heterogeneous across studies. In view of the heterogeneity of the findings and the significant moderators of benefit (sex, year of study completion and the interaction between sex and dose), more research is required to better understand the role of onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of depression.
Association of the OPRM1 A118G polymorphism and Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer: Clinical relevance for alcohol dependence
Authors: Sebold Miriam , Garbusow Maria , Cerci Deniz , Chen Ke , Sommer Christian , Huys Quentin JM , Nebe Stephan , Rapp Michael , Veer Ilya M , Zimmermann Ulrich S , Smolka Michael N , Walter Henrik , Heinz Andreas , Friedel Eva
Published: March 2021

Background:

Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) quantifies the extent to which a stimulus that has been associated with reward or punishment alters operant behaviour. In alcohol dependence (AD), the PIT effect serves as a paradigmatic model of cue-induced relapse. Preclinical studies have suggested a critical role of the opioid system in modulating Pavlovian–instrumental interactions. The A118G polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene affects opioid receptor availability and function. Furthermore, this polymorphism interacts with cue-induced approach behaviour and is a potential biomarker for pharmacological treatment response in AD. In this study, we tested whether the OPRM1 polymorphism is associated with the PIT effect and relapse in AD.

Methods:

Using a PIT task, we examined three independent samples: young healthy subjects ( N = 161), detoxified alcohol-dependent patients ( N = 186) and age-matched healthy controls ( N = 105). We used data from a larger study designed to assess the role of learning mechanisms in the development and maintenance of AD. Subjects were genotyped for the A118G (rs1799971) polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene. Relapse was assessed after three months.

Results:

In all three samples, participants with the minor OPRM1 G-Allele (G+ carriers) showed increased expression of the PIT effect in the absence of learning differences. Relapse was not associated with the OPRM1 polymorphism. Instead, G+ carriers displaying increased PIT effects were particularly prone to relapse.

Conclusion:

These results support a role for the opioid system in incentive salience motivation. Furthermore, they inform a mechanistic model of aberrant salience processing and are in line with the pharmacological potential of opioid receptor targets in the treatment of AD.
Reaching Out to the Millions: A 5 Key Messages Rapid IEC Campaign During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mudera Cariappa P. , Bavdekar Rohit D. , Kumar Narinder , Veiraiah Aravind , Nair Ranjith K.
Published: March 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated providing populations with simple and relevant, actionable informational messages for them to be informed on individual and community level measures to combat the pandemic. Distilling guidance from various sources into simple actionable message themes in a short time frame should be the hallmark of any rapid health promotion campaign. We developed and disseminated actionable Information, Education and Communication (IEC) messages on prevention and control during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by selecting five key message themes of prevention. A modified Delphi technique was used for the development process which was peer reviewed after consensus was generated. An online training model using specifically developed YouTube videos and Zoom Meetings was utilized to train Master Trainers and the further hierarchy reaching out to 6989 Community Resource Persons at the peripheral echelons. Conservatively the population reached out has been estimated to be more than 6 million (across 1.2 million households), over a two week period in April 2020. The implementing agency has created 300 videos in around 22 languages based on the 5 Key Messages, which are available online for universal access. A rapid IEC campaign that can be developed, designed and rolled out in a short span is required for emergency situations such as the ongoing pandemic. NGOs play an important role in reaching out relevant messages to the community, filling in the gaps by virtue of their relative systemic agility.
Familial distal renal tubular acidosis
Authors: Zhang Lihong , Xu Bei , Niu Ya , Wang Yajuan , Tang Hui
Published: March 2021

We report the case of a family in which two sisters have distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). Familial dRTA is a rare disorder, with both autosomal dominant and recessive transmission. This is a report of familial dRTA from China.
Corrective surgery using a gridiron incision for abdominal pain caused by a folded ovary in the third trimester of pregnancy
Authors: Kim A Mi , Kim Jong Woon , Kim Yoon Ha , Kim Tae Young , Ryu Hyun Kyung , Choi Myeong Gyun
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be helpful to obtain an accurate diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in pregnancy. Adnexal torsion presenting in the first or second trimester can be confirmed and treated through laparoscopic surgery; however laparoscopic surgery in the third trimester can be difficult owing to the large uterus, and a gridiron incision can be useful.

Case Report/Case presentation

An 18-year-old gravida 1, para 0 (G1P0) woman at 30 + 4 weeks of gestation presented with sudden-onset cyclic pain in the right lower quadrant. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a normal appendix, and MRI showed a normal appendix and normal ovaries. The patient’s prominent tender point was marked and compared with the MR images, which confirmed the mark as the position of the right ovary. Laparotomy was performed through a gridiron incision, and a folded right ovary was identified. The ovary was unfolded, and TachoSil® and Surgicel® were used to maintain the unfolded position. The patient’s pain resolved, and her postoperative course was uneventful. She delivered a healthy, 2540-g male baby at 35 weeks’ gestation.

Discussion/Conclusions

A gridiron incision was useful to treat a folded ovary in the third trimester and to evaluate the adnexa and minimize uterine manipulation.
Design of hybrid multilayer systems to improve energy management system in multi-microgrid systems in the presence of wind and solar power
Authors: Babanezhaad Shirdar Hamed , Ghafouri Alireza
Published: March 2021

Connecting microgrids has some benefits such as operation cost reduction and increasing sales revenue of their owners. To exploit these benefits, an energy management system with diverse and efficient capabilities is required. In this paper, a multi-layer system has been proposed to improve the energy management system in multi-microgrid systems. The purpose of the multilayer system is to optimize the cost of energy supply for the producer with the ability to activate one or more layers to improve the energy management system. Layers are modules that may contain the data required for optimization, like generation volume, load consumption, and operational plan. The appropriate mathematical model of the proposed seven-layer structure is used to optimize the operation cost of the multi-microgrid system. To verify the performance of the energy management system, the proposed method is implemented by GAMS and MATLAB software and the results are analyzed for a sample multi-microgrid system.
Automatic Vehicle Counting and Tracking in Aerial Video Feeds using Cascade Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks and Feature Pyramid Networks
Authors: Youssef Yomna , Elshenawy Mohamed
Published: March 2021

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are poised to solve many problems associated with data collection in complex urban environments. Drones are easy to deploy, have a great ability to move and explore the environment, and are relatively cheaper than other data collection methods. This study investigated the use of Cascade Region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) networks to enable automatic vehicle counting and tracking in aerial video streams.The presented technique combines feature pyramid networks and a Cascade R-CNN architecture to enable accurate detection and classification of vehicles.The paper discusses the implementation and evaluation of the detection and tracking techniques and highlights their advantages when they are used to collect traffic data.
3D modeling in adherent perinephric fat prediction in nephron-sparing surgery planning in patients with localized renal neoplasms
Authors: Sirota Evgeny , Vovdenko Stanislav , Sirota Anastasia , Tsarichenko Dmitrii , Rapoport Leonid , Alyaev Yuri
Published: March 2021

Study objective:

To develop a 3D-image based morphometry scoring system for Adherent Perinephric Fat (APF) prediction in nephron-sparing surgery in renal neoplasm patients.

Materials and methods:

The retrospective study involved 391 patients who underwent a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy performed by five surgeons from January 2014 till December 2018. The surgery involved the 3D virtual operation planning with «Amira» 3D modeling software. With the multivariate logistic regression models, we developed a scoring system based on 3D-models. We tested the significance and sensitivity of new scoring system in a comparative ROC analysis with Mayo Adhesive Probability Score (MAP).

Results:

We found APF in 111 patients (28.4%). The univariate analysis revealed that significant indicators included mean age 59.88 (55–67) ( p < 0.001), male sex ( p < 0.001), Body Mass Index (BMI) >30 (21.47–35.08) kg/m2 ( p < 0.001), arterial hypertension ( p < 0.001), coronary heart disease ( p = 0.019), diabetes mellitus ( p = 0.005), urolithiasis ( p = 0.002). The multivariate regression analysis identified three most significant indicators in 3D models evaluation: additional >5 mm shadows in perirenal space OR = 7.3 (3.6–15.3) ( p < 0.001), the number of shadows >5 OR = 3.8 (2.1–6.8) ( p < 0.001), the wide shadow base at the renal parenchymal level OR = 0.293 (0.146–0.588) ( p = 0.001). The scoring of these indicators comprises a new prediction scale (0–5). The ROC analysis revealed AUC 0.816 (95% CI 0.772–0.861) p < 0.001 of the MAP score, and AUC = 0.803 (95% CI 0.758–0.848) p < 0.001 of the scoring system developed in the present study.

Conclusions:

The statistical findings comparison of the scoring system that we developed with those of MAP scale suggests that the scoring system is efficient and applicable.
Lifetime Prevalence and Comorbidity of Mental Disorders in the Two-wave 2002–2018 Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey (CAFVMHS): Prévalence et Comorbidité de Durée de vie Des Troubles Mentaux Dans l’Enquête de Suivi Sur la Santé Mentale Auprès des Membres des Forces Armées Canadiennes et Des ex-Militaires (ESSMFACM) en Deux Cycles de 2002 à 2018
Authors: Sareen Jitender , Bolton Shay-Lee , Mota Natalie , Afifi Tracie O. , Enns Murray W. , Taillieu Tamara , Stewart-Tufescu Ashley , El-Gabalawy Renée , Marrie Ruth Ann , Richardson J. Don , Stein Murray B. , Bernstein Charles N. , Bolton James M. , Wang Jianli , Asmundson Gordon J. G. , Thompson James M. , VanTil Linda , MacLean Mary Beth , Logsetty Sarvesh
Published: March 2021

Objective:

The current study used the Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey (CAFVMHS) to (1) examine the incidence and prevalence of mental disorders and (2) estimate the comorbidity of mental disorders over the follow-up period.

Method:

The CAFVMHS (2018) is a longitudinal study with two time points of assessment. The sample is comprised of 2,941 Canadian Forces members and veterans who participated in the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Canadian Forces Supplement. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WHO-CIDI) was utilized to diagnose Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive episode (MDE), generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and alcohol abuse and dependence. Self-report health professional diagnoses were assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mania, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and personality disorder. We established weighted prevalence of mental disorders and examined the association between mental disorders using logistic regression.

Results:

In 2018, lifetime prevalence of any WHO-CIDI-based or self-reported mental disorder was 58.1%. Lifetime prevalence of any mood or anxiety disorder or PTSD was 54.0% in 2018. MDE (39.9%), SAD (25.7%), and PTSD (21.4%) were the most common mental disorders. There was a substantial increase in new onset or recurrence/persistence of mental disorders between the two measurement points (16-year assessment gap); 2002–2018 period prevalences were 43.5% for mood and anxiety disorder and 16.8% for alcohol abuse or dependence. The prevalence of self-reported ADHD, OCD, any personality disorder, and mania were 3.3%, 3.0%, 0.8%, and 0.8%, respectively. Comorbidity between mental disorders increased over the follow-up.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates a high burden of mental disorders among a large Canadian military and veteran cohort. These findings underscore the importance of prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the burden of mental disorders and alcohol use disorders in these populations.
Prevalence and Differential Profile of Patients with Substance Use Disorder Who Have Suffered Physical and/or Sexual Abuse
Authors: Haro Begoña , López-Goñi José J. , Fernández-Montalvo Javier , Arteaga Alfonso
Published: March 2021

Patients with substance use disorder (SUD) who undergo treatment present a high prevalence of lifetime physical and/or sexual abuse. Studies about this phenomenon and the specific needs of patients with a history of abuse must be carried out to tailor treatment programs. The first goal of this article was to determine the prevalence of physical and/or sexual abuse among patients with SUD, and the second goal was to analyze the specific characteristics of these patients. A sample of 418 subjects was assessed to achieve the first goal and 104 subjects (52 with and 52 without a history of physical and/or sexual abuse) were examined to reach the second goal. All patients sought treatment for SUD in two Spanish clinical centers. The results showed that 15.5% of the sample had a history of physical and/or sexual abuse (42.3% of women and 9.9% of men). Patients with a history of abuse presented a higher need for SUD treatment in family and psychiatric areas and more psychopathological symptoms than patients without a history of abuse. According to this more serious profile, a patient-centered intervention considering the history of abuse is recommended. This will allow the specific needs of these patients to be met, thus improving SUD treatment success.
Crystallization and properties of nucleated poly(l-lactic acid): Effect of cyclopentanecarboxylic acid derivative as a new nucleating agent
Authors: Zhao Lisha , Liu Xuhua , Cai Yanhua , Chen Wei
Published: March 2021

In this study, the potential effects of N, N’-dodecanedioic bis(cyclopentanecarboxylic acid) dihydrazide (BCADD) as a new additive in poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was estimated. The comparative study on the melt-crystallization showed that the BCADD as heterogeneous nuclei facilitated crystallization of PLLA in cooling, which indicated by the obvious crystallization exotherms and sharp melt-crystallization peak. Unfortunately, with increasing of BCADD from 0.5 wt% to 3 wt%, it is unexpected that the melt-crystallization peak of the BCADD-nucleated PLLA shifted toward the lower temperature and became flatter, evidencing the importance of BCADD loading for PLLA’s crystallization. Additionally, the cooling rate and the final melting temperature were also proved to be important influence factors during PLLA’s melt-crystallization process, but in contrast with the effect of the final melting temperature on the melt-crystallization, a higher cooling rate could more seriously weaken crystallization ability of the BCADD-nucleated PLLA. The chemical nucleation mechanism was proposed to explain the promoting effect of BCADD on the crystallization of PLLA via the analysis of frontier orbital energy. The melting behaviors after crystallization further confirmed the crystallization accelerating role of BCADD, and the melting behaviors were affected by the heating rate, crystallization temperature and BCADD loading. Although the onset thermal decomposition of the BCADD-nucleated PLLA occurred at lower temperature comparing with the pure PLLA, the intermolecular interaction of PLLA with BCADD attempted to prevent the decrease of thermal stability. Overall, the addition of BCADD resulted in the complicated effect on the tensile modulus and tensile strength of PLLA, but the elongation at break continuously decreased when increasing BCADD loading.
Engagement and the Nonprofit Organization: Voices from the Margins
Authors: Elers Phoebe , Dutta Mohan J. , Elers Steve
Published: March 2021

Little academic attention has been focused on the experiences of communities situated at the margins in receiving nonprofit services. In this essay, we draw on the culture-centered approach to critically interrogate the concept of engagement among a range of nonprofit organizations. We analyze ethnographic fieldwork conducted in a low income suburban area in Aotearoa New Zealand, in which narrative accounts of 60 residents formed the basis of our deliberations with an advisory board. Our findings indicate that many nonprofit organizations are constructed as spaces of othering that do not attend to the cultural norms or needs of those situated at the margins. Alternatively, the Head Hunters outlaw motorcycle gang and Destiny’s Church, both vilified in mainstream media outlets, were sites of significant community engagement. Our study illuminates the impact of dialogic group engagement and of initiatives being developed and driven by the community.
An Explanatory Model of Problematic Internet Use of Southern Spanish University Students
Authors: Romero-Rodríguez José-María , Marín-Marín José-Antonio , Hinojo-Lucena Francisco-Javier , Gómez-García Gerardo
Published: March 2021

The problematic Internet use (PIU) has become a topic of special relevance since it is a problem that affects the whole world. It has been detected that the population at greatest risk is university students along with adolescents. At the same time, Spain is one of the countries with the highest PIU rate. The purposes of this article were to analyze the presence and degree of Internet addiction among university students and to check the sociodemographic factors that influence the PIU. To this end, 13 hypotheses were put forward and contrasted using a structural equation model. The study adopted a cross-sectional approach by applying the Internet addiction test to a sample of undergraduate students in southern Spain ( n = 1,013). The results indicated a prevalence of PIU among students of almost 12.5% and with a moderate degree of addiction. In turn, the following hypotheses that had a significant effect on the PIU were supported: gender; field of knowledge; living in the parents’ home; Internet daily use for leisure; Internet daily use for academic purposes; number of social networks; sexual orientation; marital status. Finally, the main findings of the study were reviewed, and the main recommendations and implications for mitigating the negative effects of technology and enhancing the positive ones were established.
The Impact of Social Support on Treatment Participation and Completion in a Disability Prevention Intervention for Older Adults
Authors: Vásquez Elizabeth , O’Malley Isabel , Cruz-Gonzalez Mario , Velásquez Esther , Alegría Margarita
Published: March 2021

Objectives: This study evaluates the role of emotional and instrumental social support on treatment participation and completion using the Positive Minds-Strong Bodies (PMSB) disability prevention program. Methods: Data from a multisite randomized controlled trial of the PMSB program for older adults (≥60 years) with physical impairment and mild to severe depression and/or anxiety were used. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) plus 36 sessions of group exercise or usual care. Results: Adjusting for covariates, higher levels of emotional social support at baseline were associated with increased odds of completing the recommended number of CBT sessions (6 or more, OR = 2.58, p = .030), attending 5.56 more exercise sessions ( p = .006), and increased odds of completing the recommended exercise sessions (25 or more, OR = 2.37, p = .047). Discussion: Emotional social support appears to increase dosage in a disability prevention program.
Opening the black box: Actors and interactions shaping European sectoral social dialogue
Authors: Bechter Barbara , Weber Sabrina , Galetto Manuela , Larsson Bengt , Prosser Thomas
Published: March 2021

This article highlights the importance of organizational resources and individual capabilities for interactions and relationships among social partners in European sectoral social dialogue committees (SSDCs). We use an actor-centred approach to investigate work programme setting in the hospital and metalworking SSDCs. Our research reveals differences in how European social partner organizations coordinate and integrate members in SSDCs. In hospital, European Union (EU)-social partners build bridges that span otherwise separate actors or groups. The findings suggest that the absence of bridging efforts can lead to the dominance of a few actors. In metalworking, small cohesive groups are more effective in forming close networks and determining work programmes. While work programmes in hospital represent issues which are on national agendas, in metalworking, they focus mainly on EU policy areas.
Gender Diversity Effects in Investment Decisions
Authors: Hohl Lennard , Bican Peter M. , Guderian Carsten C. , Riar Frederik J.
Published: March 2021

This study examines the gender gap in investment decisions in a prominent setting: the American TV show Shark Tank. Our study is based on a sample of 895 pitches from 10 seasons comprising 222 episodes from 2009 to 2019. Contradicting prior research, our findings suggest that female entrepreneurs are not discriminated against in pitch success rates, independent of their respective industrial settings. We find that the valuations from the entrepreneurs themselves (males overvalued their ventures by 57.19%) and final deal valuations (male deals were overvalued by 50.50%) are significantly lower for females, hinting towards a self-imposed gender gap in entrepreneurship and angel investing. As the gender gap in entrepreneurship and angel investment seems to result from a lower rate of entrepreneurial intentions by women, we suggest fostering female entrepreneurship by raising the number of female entrepreneurs and business angels who may serve as role models among those potential female entrepreneurs and business angels at the brink of becoming actual entrepreneurs, as demonstrated in Shark Tank. Particularly, in teams, mixed founder teams consisting of males and females may support the creation of promising start-ups with viable business models.
Transgenders in the Mainstream: Welfare Schemes in Kerala—Kochi Metro Rail Project, Education Programme, Health Clinics, and Old-Age Pension
Authors: Kurian Megha , Manoj Greeshma
Published: March 2021

Marginalization is the process which inhibits an individual or community from enjoying the rights, privileges, resources or opportunities enjoyed by other members of the society. Of all its marginalized sections, society most often tends to ignore the conditions of transgender persons. The 2011 census reported 480,000 of India’s population as transgender. Kerala pioneered a model for a trans-friendly state 1 with the launch of a 10-day-long state-wide survey, which was followed by the introduction of a state policy for transgender individuals, the establishment of a justice board and India’s first transgender school, scholarships for transgender individuals and the introduction of health clinics, old-age pensions and employment for them in the Kochi Metro, as well as various literary, sports and fashion events. This study is an attempt to critically explore the welfare schemes for transgender persons in Kerala amidst recent developments.
An Evaluation of the Tracking Performance of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): The Case of Indian Index ETFs
Authors: Tripathi Vanita , Sethi Aakanksha
Published: March 2021

The present study investigates how efficiently India-domiciled exchange traded funds (ETFs) replicate the returns of their underlying indices and analyses the factors that determine the tracking performance. We use a three-pronged approach involving Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) regression, cointegration-Vector Error Correction Model methodology and tracking errors (TEs) to assess tracking efficiency. Random-effects panel regression is employed to evaluate how fund-specific factors influence tracking ability. We find that ETFs carry significantly lower exposure towards their indices than what their objective would suggest. Long-run linkages with benchmarks exist for most ETFs, but the price deviations from the indices are fairly persistent. The TEs for the majority of the funds are large and non-trivial. Bid-ask spreads, price-net asset value deviations, fund’s age and, to some extent, its size are the primary factors that influence tracking performance. ETFs in developed markets such as the USA and Europe have been found to exhibit superior benchmarking abilities. The study is expected to assist investors in developing a more efficient ETF portfolio and to help fund providers improve the quality of their offerings.
Neuropsychological Impairments in Young Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Case Control Study
Authors: Kalra Pramila , Kumaraswamy D. R. , Dharmalingam Mala , Saini Jitender , Yadav Ravi
Published: March 2021

Background:

There is a lack of clarity about the cognitive dysfunction in young patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). This study was done to explore the neuropsychological impairments in young patients with SCH and compare them with euthyroid controls.

Methods:

Patients between 18 and 45 years of age and diagnosed with SCH were recruited. Controls were euthyroid age, gender, and education matched. All the cases and controls underwent a detailed neuropsychological assessment with a battery of tests validated for use in the age groups of 18 to 65 years.

Results:

Thirty-nine patients with a mean age of 30.3 ± 7.7 years (female:male ratio 12:1) and 23 controls (female:male ratio 21:2) with a mean age of 33.4 ± 7.1 years ( P = .24) were included in the study. The mean TSH value was 6.36 ± 1.3 mIU/L and 2.49 ± 1.03 mIU/L in cases and controls, respectively ( P < .001). The visual memory delayed recall was impaired, in 48.71% ( n = 19) and 21.7% ( n = 5) cases and controls, respectively ( P = .03). The category fluency test showed impairment in a greater number of cases (35.9%, n = 14) as compared to controls (13%, n = 3; P = .04).

Conclusion:

This study shows that younger patients with SCH have delayed visual memory recall and category fluency deficits, which are suggestive of dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe in young SCH patients. These impairments may justify the treatment of young SCH patients with replacement therapy.
Urban Growth and Land Use/Land Cover Changes in the Post-Genocide Period, Kigali, Rwanda
Authors: Nduwayezu Gilbert , Manirakiza Vincent , Mugabe Leon , Malonza Josephine Mwongeli
Published: March 2021

Kigali is a rapidly growing city, as exemplified by the phenomenal increase of its inhabitants from 358,200 in 1996 to 1,630,657 in 2017. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of detailed analytical information about the processes and factors driving unprecedented urban growth in the period following the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi (1994) and its impact on the natural environment. This article, therefore, analyses the growth of the city of Kigali with respect to its post-genocide spatial and demographic dimensions. The methodology involves a quantification of urban growth over the period of the last 30 years using remote-sensing imagery coupled with demographic data drawn from different sources. The analysis of land cover trends shows how significant the pressure of urban expansion has been on the natural environment, with a 14 per cent decrease in open land between 1999 and 2018. Spatially, the average annual growth rate was almost 10.24 per cent during the same period. This growth is associated with the building of a large number of institutions, schools and industries. Moreover, the increase in low-income residents led to the construction of bungalows expanding on large suburbs and the development of new sub-centres in the periphery instead of high-rise apartments.
Sustainability Challenges for Sprawling Dhaka
Authors: Roy Shilpi , Sowgat Tanjil , Islam S. M. Tafsirul , Anjum Nafisa
Published: March 2021

Dhaka’s sprawled area is likely to supersede the total land area of the Dhaka city in the near future. This article combines quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate sustainability concerns that have arisen because of irregular and rapid sprawling in Dhaka. Land cover change detection reveals that since 1991, the city outskirts have seen an addition of 234 square kilometres of built-up area. Spatial metrics show the dynamic process of infill and the fragmented transformation of land covers in Dhaka, which have led to low-density, leapfrog and ribbon sprawling. The city outskirts, especially the economically advantaged regions, have been observing rapid urban densification of neighbourhoods. Field observation and interviews in 19 sprawled areas confirm that the change has been influenced by industrialization, increasing demand for housing, high cost of living in Dhaka city, growing population and lack of development control regulations. The advantage of the sprawling process is that it offers economic opportunities, contributing to poverty reduction and national economic growth. However, the abrupt and sporadic nature of this transformation puts the long term economic and environmental viability of new business activities and habitation into question. Congested housing, poor accessibility, inadequate drainage system and sanitation facilities in sprawled areas have resulted in poor liveability and created social inequality, thus impeding the way for a sustainable urban transformation of peri-urban Dhaka. This article calls for a greater acknowledgement of sustainability concerns in development control regulations and a more inclusive form of governance to deal with existing sustainability challenges for Dhaka city and its rapidly transforming peripheral region.
Vicarious trauma: Strategies for legal practice and law schools
Authors: Burton Kelley , Paton Amanda
Published: March 2021

We examine the effect of vicarious trauma on various stakeholders in the legal profession. Criminal lawyers are likely to experience higher levels of vicarious trauma than other lawyers. Additionally, lawyers are at a heightened risk of vicarious trauma compared to other helping professionals such as mental health workers. We identify a range of strategies that can be implemented at an organisational or individual level to address vicarious trauma. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of vicarious trauma strategies and initiatives. Importantly, we argue that vicarious trauma initiatives should begin in first-year law courses and continue over a career.
Perspectives on Social Media from Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Authors: Daniels Sarah R. , Yang Chia-Chen , Toohey Samantha J. , Willard Victoria W.
Published: March 2021

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer use social media in unique ways throughout treatment. The purpose of this article is to describe the social media experiences of AYAs with cancer as a means of exploring the potential impact of social media on AYA psychosocial development after diagnosis and throughout cancer treatment. Methods: Seven AYAs treated for cancer, aged 15–20 years, completed a semi-structured interview regarding their social media preferences and habits. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and de-identified. Data were coded and themes were identified via latent thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged regarding social media experiences for AYAs with cancer: (1) changes in audience and feedback after diagnosis; (2) attitudes about body image and peer support; (3) control over personal, familial, and societal messages about illness; and (4) maintaining normalcy despite hospital stressors. Discussion: Social media appear especially useful for promoting social and identity development as AYAs undergo cancer treatment. Specifically, social media provide spaces to negotiate body image and sense of self, to manage peer relationships, to reclaim control and independence, and to maintain normalcy. Understanding these experiences will prepare healthcare providers and caregivers to assess ongoing psychosocial development and adjustment throughout cancer treatment.
Development and Validation of a Short Form Version of the Ethno-Cultural Identity Conflict Scale (EICS-SF)
Authors: Szabó Ágnes , Ward Colleen
Published: March 2021

A short form version of the Ethno-Cultural Identity Conflict Scale (ECIS-SF) was developed and validated to address item redundancy in the original scale and to increase its utility in comparative studies and applied settings. Construct, discriminant, nomological, and predictive validity of the EICS-SF was tested and supported with five samples in three countries. In Study 1, the EICS-SF was derived and validated using data from Chinese ( n = 232) and Greek ( n = 139) New Zealanders. Study 2 confirmed the factor structure, measurement equivalence and discriminant validity of the EICS-SF with Chinese Canadians ( n = 199) and British Indians ( n = 190). Study 3 provided additional evidence for the test–retest reliability and temporal consistency of the EICS-SF’s association with criterion measures in Indian New Zealanders ( n = 147). The EICS-SF is psychometrically sound and easy to administer with diverse populations. Potential for application in clinical settings is discussed.
Cascades of Risk Linking Intimate Partner Violence and Adverse Childhood Experiences to Less Sensitive Caregiving During Infancy
Authors: Coe Jesse L. , Huffhines Lindsay , Gonzalez Doris , Seifer Ronald , Parade Stephanie H.
Published: March 2021

This study evaluated if maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) had indirect effects on sensitive parenting in infancy through prenatal depressive symptoms and postpartum parenting stress and if maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) moderated these indirect effects. We hypothesized that: (a) IPV would be associated with greater prenatal depressive symptoms, which would predict greater postpartum parenting stress, and ultimately less sensitive parenting and (b) the link between IPV and depressive symptoms would be strongest for mothers with high ACEs. Participants included 295 mothers and their infants who were assessed prenatally and at 12 months postpartum. Path analyses indicated that mothers with higher IPV endorsed greater prenatal depressive symptoms, which was in turn associated with postpartum parenting stress, and ultimately less sensitive parenting behavior. Moderation analyses revealed that these indirect effects varied as a function of maternal ACEs, with the link between IPV and depressive symptoms only present for mothers who reported high ACEs. Because less sensitive caregiving is often an early indicator of child maltreatment risk, understanding precursors to sensitivity is critical to increase precision in parenting interventions designed to reduce risk for maltreatment. Results may inform evidence-based preventive interventions for mothers and infants at high-risk for child abuse and neglect.