bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The practical power flow analysis program based on matlab GUI developed for educational purposes for students in smart grids: Oyamatlab
Authors: Çınar Mehmet , Kaygusuz Asım
Published: April 2021

With the rapid development of today's technology, it has become possible to improve the electricity grid by using computer and network technologies in electricity networks. Thus, electricity grids will be able to provide sustainable, safe, and uninterrupted energy to consumers by allowing a two-way flow of information and electricity. Networks that can do this are called smart grids. Although conventional power lines have unidirectional power flow, a smart grid; enables the bidirectional flow of information and electricity by placing various hardware and software on the network. The main purpose of this study that tackles the smart grid is to introduce an educational program that can perform optimum load flow analysis based on Matlab GUI that can be used by undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students. Especially, students will be able to use the program easily in subjects related to loading flow analysis in electrical networks. Students using the program will have the opportunity to see different algorithm results in IEEE busbar systems and compare them with each other. The developed program realizes the optimum load distribution in bus systems accepted by IEEE in the smart grid using various metaheuristic algorithms and uses objective functions such as power losses, fuel cost, and voltage adjustment while performing optimum load distribution analysis. As a result of the program called Oyamatlab, optimum values in the selected busbar system are obtained. This is the program with a simple user interface for students to use without difficulty; it can perform optimum load distribution analysis by selecting different purpose functions.
A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste: Feminist Reflections on the EU’s Crisis Responses
Authors: MacRae Heather , Guerrina Roberta , Masselot Annick
Published: April 2021

As critics are quick to point out, the European Union (EU) has entered the crisis phase of its evolution. It could be argued that crisis management is now the EU’s new normal. Dealing with both endogenous (e.g., economic crisis and Brexit) and exogenous crises (e.g., the migrant crisis and COVID-19), the EU is facing a whole new set of challenges that has the potential to destabilize the complex institutional balance that has maintained the process of European integration over the last 70 years. In this environment of rapid responses, gender+ equality has frequently been compromised. As we argue in this article, the implications of this backsliding are grave not only for equality but also for the European Union as a whole. Drawing on Walby’s concept of gender regimes and social transformation, we consider current crises and the EU’s responses to those crises to highlight potentially dangerous shifts in the European gender regime. With crisis response increasingly supporting a neo-liberal gender regime, the current state of perpetual crisis in the European institutions does not bode well for the future of equality.
Introduction: How the British-exit is Impacting the European Union?
Authors: Brunet-Jailly Emmanuel
Published: April 2021

This special issue of International Studies focuses on ‘how the British-exit is impacting the European Union’. This introduction is a review of the context, costs and institutional repercussions, as well as the very recent the UK/European Union trade deal and implications for customs borders. Eight articles then detail consequences for European Union policies and important trading relationships: Immigration, Citizenship, Gender, Northern Ireland, Trade and impacts on India, Canada and Japan.
Competing Logics of Integration: EU Trade Post-Brexit
Authors: D’Erman Valerie
Published: April 2021

The European Union’s (EU) external trade policy has long been championed by scholars and practitioners alike as one of the great accomplishments for European integration. The UK’s exit from the EU in 2020 offers many precedents; one of which is the current negotiation of a trade deal between the EU and a former important member of the single market. This paper outlines the trade negotiation process between the EU and the UK and the resulting Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic to forecast the broader potential evolution of EU trade policy. The increasing visibility of nationalist and protectionist statements in various instances of political communication suggests a major shift in multilateral norms away from the liberal-international emphasis on heightened trade and interdependence. The implications for the EU external trade policy are a re-direction of efforts toward internal single market cohesion, and a more cautious approach to future potential trade agreements.
Evaluating Brexit Implications for India’s Relations with the EU and the UK
Authors: Tripathi Dhananjay
Published: April 2021

India and the European Union (EU) are strategic partners with strong trade ties. Similarly, India has historical ties with the UK. Within the EU, the UK used to be an important export market and investment destination for India. There is also a large Indian diaspora in the UK. The article looks at the post-Brexit impact on India’s economic and political ties with the EU. It also evaluates evolving India–UK ties in a post-Brexit scenario.
Morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of recycled HDPE foams via rotational molding
Authors: Dou Yao , Rodrigue Denis
Published: April 2021

In this study, foamed recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) parts were produced by rotational molding using different concentration (0 to 1% wt.) of a chemical blowing agent (CBA) based on azodicarbonamide. From the samples produced, a complete morphological, thermal and mechanical characterization was performed. The morphological analysis showed a gradual increase in the average cell size, while the cell density firstly increased and then decreased with increasing CBA content. As expected, increasing the CBA content decreased the foam density as well as the thermal conductivity. Although increasing the CBA content decreased both tensile and flexural properties, the impact strength showed a similar trend as the cell density with an optimum CBA content around 0.1% wt. Finally, neat rHDPE samples were also produced by compression molding. The results showed negligible differences between the rotomolded and compression molded properties indicating that optimal rotomolding conditions were selected. These results confirm the possibility of using 100% recycled polymers to produce rotomolded foam parts.
Detection of bloodstains using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy supported with PCA and PCA–LDA
Authors: Sharma Sweety , Chophi Rito , Jossan Jaskirandeep Kaur , Singh Rajinder
Published: April 2021

The most important task in a criminal investigation is to detect and identify the recovered biological stains beyond reasonable scientific doubt and preserve the sample for further DNA analysis. In the light of this fact, many presumptive and confirmatory tests are routinely employed in the forensic laboratories to determine the type of body fluid. However, the currently used techniques are specific to one type of body fluid and hence it cannot be utilized to differentiate multiple body fluids. Moreover, these tests consume the samples in due process, and thus it becomes a great limitation especially considering the fact that samples are recovered in minute quantity in forensic cases. Therefore, such limitations necessitate the use of non-destructive techniques that can be applied simultaneously to all types of bodily fluids and allow sample preservation for further analysis. In the current work, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has been used to circumvent the aforementioned limitations. The important factors which could influence the detection of blood such as the effect of substrates, washing/chemical treatment, ageing, and dilution limits on the analysis of blood have been analysed. In addition, blood discrimination from non-blood substance (biological and non-biological in nature) has also been studied. Chemometric technique that is PCA–LDA has been used to discriminate blood from other body fluids and it resulted in 100% accurate classification. Furthermore, blood and non-blood substances including fake blood have also been classified into separate clusters with a 100% accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. All-inclusive, this preliminary study substantiates the potential application of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for the non-destructive identification of blood traces in simulated forensic casework conditions with 0% rate of false classification.
Social media (Facebook) improper use and the influence of sleeping quality in Taiwan’s university students
Authors: Wang Tien-Ju , Kang Chih-Lun , Tsai Jia-Ling , Song Wun-Ting , Lien Angela Shin-Yu
Published: April 2021

This study examines the relationship between Facebook (FB) usage and addiction level, and sleep quality of university students. A Google Forms questionnaire was prepared and disseminated via the authors’ FB profile for university students to fill out. A total of 277, including two studying overseas, took part in this research. Among the survey respondents, over 60% ( n = 144) were medical students ( p = 0.000); over 30% ( n = 84) were always logged into FB; the average and daily usage time of most was 5 to 60 min at a time ( p = 0.009), and 3 to 5 h a day ( p = 0.040), respectively. The respondents’ average sleep time was 7.11 h, but over 61% categorized their sleep quality as poor. It was also found that students from financial and management school were 4.23 times more at risk of FB addiction than the medical counterparts and were likely to be already addicted to FB as well as have a sleep disorder. Based on these results, it is suggested that university students, who fall in the high-risk category, be screened early to prevent them from developing social media addiction and sleep disorders. For improving youths’ health and sleep quality, future research should attach the importance to early screening for sleep disturbances caused by the internet and social media addiction.
Silver nanoparticles synthesized using leaf extract of Azadirachta indica exhibit enhanced antimicrobial efficacy than the chemically synthesized nanoparticles: A comparative study
Authors: Khan Kashan , Javed Saleem
Published: April 2021

A wide variety of methods have synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in the recent past; however, biological methods have attracted much attention over the traditional chemical synthesis method due to being non-hazardous and eco-friendly. Here, a detailed and systemic study was performed to compare two different synthesis routes for Ag-NPs, that is, the chemical and the biological; their possible outcomes have also been described. Ag-NPs were synthesized chemically (cAg-NPs) using a chemical reductant and biologically (bAg-NPs) by using aqueous leaf extract of Azadirachta indica (neem). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, FT-IR, EDX, and TEM. The average particle sizes (APS) of cAg-NPs were found to be 8 and 13 nm and of bAg-NPs to be 19 and 43 nm under different AgNO3 concentrations. The antimicrobial tests of differently sized NPs were performed against Escherichia coli (Gram −ve) and S taphylococcus aureus (Gram +ve). The results revealed that bAg-NPs of APS 43 nm were highly antimicrobial against both the tested bacterial stains followed by cAg-NPs of 8 nm. We found the effect of cAg-NPs to be size-dependent, whereas bAg-NPs showed a more significant antimicrobial effect than cAg-NPs.
Ventilatory defects and treatable traits in very elderly patients
Authors: Gaspar-Marques João , Palmeiro Teresa , Caires Iolanda , Leiria Pinto Paula , Neuparth Nuno , Carreiro-Martins Pedro
Published: April 2021

Though the approach used to classify chronic respiratory diseases is changing to a treatable-traits (TT) approach, data regarding very elderly patients is lacking. The objectives of this study were to assess TT frequency in very elderly patients and to study the link between extrapulmonary TT and ventilatory defects. Individuals (≥75 years) residing in elderly care centres answered a standardised questionnaire, underwent spirometry, atopy and fractional exhaled nitric oxide assessments and had their blood pressure and peripheral pulse oximetry measured. Pulmonary, extrapulmonary and behavioural TT were evaluated. Outcome variables were an airflow limitation (post-bronchodilator z-score FEV1/FVC<−1.64) and a restrictive spirometry pattern (z-score FEV1/FVC ≥ +1.64 and z-score FVC<−1.64). Seventy-two percent of the individuals who took part in the study ( n = 234) were women, and the median age of participants was 86 (IQR: 7.4). At least one pulmonary TT was identified in 105 (44.9%) individuals. The most frequent extrapulmonary TTs were: persistent systemic inflammation (47.0%), anaemia (34.4%), depression (32.5%) and obesity (27.4). Airflow limitation was exclusively associated with smoking (OR 5.03; 95% CI 1.56–16.22). A restrictive spirometry pattern was associated with cognitive impairment (OR: 3.89; 95% CI: 1.55–9.79). A high frequency of various TTs was found. The novel association between a restrictive spirometry pattern and cognitive impairment highlights the urgency of clinical research on this vulnerable age group.
Music playlists for people with dementia: Qualitative evaluation of a guide for caregivers
Authors: Garrido Sandra , Dunne Laura , Stevens Catherine , Chang Esther
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to evaluate a set of guidelines for music use with people with dementia. A secondary aim was to identify challenges and barriers to implementation of music interventions by caregivers. Caregivers ( n = 16) were interviewed after implementing a music listening programme based on the guidelines with 29 people with dementia in home-care and aged care facilities. Caregivers found the guidelines informative, easy to understand and use. Positive effects on mood, reduced agitation and reduced challenges to care were reported. Difficulties with technology and finding time to implement the music programme were identified. Results highlight the need for more research around appropriate technology and the streamlining of processes and procedures for aged care staff. Further iterations of the guidelines will need to address these issues and consider the differing needs of home-based carers and aged care providers separately.
The effect of high school entrance exam reform on adolescents’ depressive symptoms in Taiwan: A closer look at gender differences
Authors: Huang Fung-Mey , Chan Hsun-Yu , Tao Hung-Lin
Published: April 2021

In the current study, we followed motivational theories and investigated whether granting junior high school students one more opportunity to take the high-stakes high school entrance exam alleviates students’ depressive symptoms, and whether the effect is comparable for adolescent boys and girls residing in Taiwan. We analyzed two longitudinal datasets (seventh to tenth grade) from two neighboring cohorts, in which one cohort could take the exam just once (i.e., the pre-reform cohort) and the other twice (i.e., the post-reform cohort). Using a lagged-dependent-variable difference-in-differences model to compare the level of depressive symptoms before and after the entrance exam for the two cohorts, the results revealed that the reform was associated with increases in the level of depressive symptoms for both boys and girls. Despite a higher level of depressive symptoms overall, adolescent girls in the post-reform cohort showed a slower increase in the level of depressive symptoms than boys.
Commentary: Addiction, Stigma, and Neurodiversity
Authors: Sussman Steve
Published: April 2021

The addictions are subject to a great deal of stigma, the constituents of which include negative attributions such as being immoral, weak-willed, or sick. Negative outcomes include exclusion from positive life opportunities. In this commentary, I briefly discuss the definition of stigma, descriptors of addiction-related stigma, and negative consequences. Solutions to reduce addiction-related stigma are mentioned including providing greater interpersonal exposure to persons recovering from addiction, corrective information education, altering the language used to describe and classify persons who have suffered from addiction, and possibly viewing addiction vulnerability as an example of neurodiversity, as opposed to a character flaw or a disease. Suggestions for future research on reducing addiction-related stigma are suggested.
Successful treatment of refractory empyema using dual sheet covering
Authors: Uchida Takahiro , Tanaka Yugo , Kuroda Sanae , Hokka Daisuke , Maniwa Yoshimasa
Published: April 2021

Managing thoracic empyema with massive air leakage can be challenging. We present a case with thoracic empyema with multiple bronchopleural fistulae and extensive lung parenchymal necrosis due to drain injury. Emergency surgery was performed for respiratory distress due to massive air leakage. As direct sutures could not be achieved due to extensive parenchymal necrosis, polyglycolic acid and oxidized regenerated cellulose sheets were packed into the lesion. Although open-window thoracostomy was required for bronchopleural fistulae, the stoma closure was achieved via vacuum-assisted closure therapy. The dual sheet coverings contributed to the successful recovery by resolving multiple bronchopleural fistulae.
Identification for utilization, not merely possession, of gifts: What matters is not gifts but rather deployment of gifts
Authors: Sternberg Robert J
Published: April 2021

The focus of the field of giftedness is on the wrong thing. Instead of focusing on identifying who is gifted, the field should identify how people will deploy their gifts and educate students to deploy their gifts in ways that will make the world a better place. In this article, I present at least a partial taxonomy of how gifts can be deployed and discuss how the taxonomy can be used to shift the emphasis in the field. In particular, I discuss nine types of giftedness: Type 1—unidentified; Type 2—inert (largely undeployed) giftedness; Type 3—fully transactional giftedness (where one gives something back in return for getting something); Type 4—self-transformational giftedness (where one transforms oneself but not others); Type 5—other-transformational giftedness (where one transforms others but not oneself); Type 6—full transformational giftedness (where one transforms both oneself and others); Type 7—self-destructive giftedness (where one’s gifts are deployed self-destructively); Type 8—other-destructive giftedness (where one’s gifts are deployed toward destroying others); and Type 9—full pseudo-transformational giftedness (where one’s gifts are destructive of oneself and others).
Touching and hearing the shapes: How auditory angular and curved sounds influence proficiency in recognising tactile angle and curve shapes when experienced and inexperienced in using haptic touch
Authors: Graven Torø , Desebrock Clea
Published: April 2021

This study investigated whether adding auditory angular and curved sounds to tactile angle and curve shapes – one unspecified sound to one unspecified shape – positively influences the accuracy and exploration time in recognising tactile angles and curves when experienced and inexperienced in using haptic touch. A within-participant experiment was conducted, with two groups of participants: experienced and inexperienced in using haptic touch, and with two conditions: congruous (e.g., angle shape and angular sound) and incongruous (e.g., angle shape and curved sound) tactile and auditory shape information. Adding congruous auditory angular and curved sounds to tactile angle and curve shapes positively influences the accuracy in recognising tactile angles and curves both when experienced and inexperienced in using haptic touch, and the exploration time on correct recognitions when experienced. People integrate tactile and auditory (angle; curve) shape information and this improves their proficiency in recognising tactile angles and curves.
National vigor and international silence: The background and development of Japanese sociology of education
Authors: Aizawa Shinichi
Published: April 2021

This article addresses topics related to Japanese sociology of education over the past three decades. The main academic interests of Japanese sociology of education have been educational choice and socialization in secondary education, topics also discussed in Durkheim’s masterwork, L’Évolution pédagogique en France. The interests of Japanese researchers in the sociology of education were aroused because of drastic changes in the youth labor market in the mid-1990s and national curriculum reforms influenced by international educational evaluation, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment, in the 2000s. Though the number of empirical studies has increased substantially over the past two decades, this field must make efforts to develop its theoretical sophistication in order to connect to worldwide research on sociology of education.
Feasibility of ultrashort echo time (UTE) T2* cartilage mapping in the hip: a pilot study
Authors: Wong Tony T , Quarterman Patrick , Lynch Thomas S , Rasiej Michael J , Jaramillo Diego , Jambawalikar Sachin R
Published: April 2021

Background

Ultrashort echo time (UTE) T2* is sensitive to molecular changes within the deep calcified layer of cartilage. Feasibility of its use in the hip needs to be established to determine suitability for clinical use.

Purpose

To establish feasibility of UTE T2* cartilage mapping in the hip and determine if differences in regional values exist.

Material and Methods

MRI scans with UTE T2* cartilage maps were prospectively acquired on eight hips. Hip cartilage was segmented into whole and deep layers in anterosuperior, superior, and posterosuperior regions. Quantitative UTE T2* maps were analyzed (independent one-way ANOVA) and reliability was calculated (ICC).

Results

UTE T2* mean values (anterosuperior, superior, posterosuperior): full femoral layer (19.55, 18.43, 16.84 ms) ( P=0.004), full acetabular layer (19.37, 17.50, 16.73 ms) ( P=0.013), deep femoral layer (18.68, 17.90, 15.74 ms) ( P=0.010), and deep acetabular layer (17.81, 16.18, 15.31 ms) ( P=0.007). Values were higher in anterosuperior compared to posterosuperior regions (mean difference; 95% confidence interval [CI]): full femur layer (2.71 ms; 95% CI 0.91–4.51: P=0.003), deep femur layer (2.94 ms; 95% CI 0.69–5.19; P=0.009), full acetabular layer (2.63 ms 95% CI 0.55–4.72; P=0.012), and deep acetabular layer (2.50 ms; 95% CI 0.69–4.30; P=0.006). Intra-reader (ICC 0.89–0.99) and inter-reader reliability (ICC 0.63–0.96) were good to excellent for the majority of cartilage layers.

Conclusion

UTE T2* cartilage mapping was feasible in the hip with mean values in the range of 16.84–19.55 ms in the femur and 16.73–19.37 ms in the acetabulum. Significantly higher values were present in the anterosuperior region compared to the posterosuperior region.
Role of HEART score in evaluating clinical outcomes among emergency department patients with different ethnicities
Authors: Meyering Stefan H. , Schrader Chet D. , Kumar Darren , Zhou Yuan , Alanis Naomi , Shaikh Sajid , Cheeti Radhika , Smiley Rebecca , Iloma Chukwuagozie , Wang Hao
Published: April 2021

Objective

We aimed to examine the role of the HEART (history, EKG, age, risk factors, and troponin) score in the evaluation of six clinical outcomes among three groups of patients in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study among three ED patient groups including White, Black, and Hispanic patients. ED providers used the HEART score to assess the need for patient hospital admission and for emergent cardiac imaging tests (CITs). HEART scores were measured using classification accuracy rates. Performance accuracies were measured in terms of HEART score in relation to four clinical outcomes (positive findings of CITs, ED returns, hospital readmissions, and 30-day major adverse cardiac events [MACE]).

Results

A high classification accuracy rate (87%) was found for use of the HEART score to determine hospital admission. HEART scores showed moderate accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.66–0.78) in predicting results of emergent CITs, 30-day hospital readmissions, and 30-day MACE outcomes.

Conclusions

Providers adhered to use of the HEART score to determine hospital admission. The HEART score may be associated with emergent CIT findings, 30-day hospital readmissions, and 30-day MACE outcomes, with no differences among White, Black, and Hispanic patient populations.
EGFR Overexpression and Sequence Analysis of KRAS, BRAF, and EGFR Mutation Hot Spots in Canine Intestinal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cho Seung-Hee , Seung Byung-Joon , Kim Soo-Hyeon , Bae Min-Kyung , Lim Ha-Young , Sur Jung-Hyang
Published: April 2021

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many human colorectal cancers and anti-EGFR agents are employed as immunotherapies. However, KRAS, EGFR, and BRAF gene mutations can influence the activity of the anti-EGFR agents. We evaluated EGFR expression at protein and mRNA levels in canine intestinal adenocarcinomas using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH). We also investigated the mutation status of EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF to aid the development of anti-EGFR agents for canine intestinal adenocarcinoma. EGFR expression was highest in adenocarcinoma, followed by intramucosal neoplasia (adenoma and in situ carcinoma), and nonneoplastic canine intestinal tissue, at both protein ( P = .000) and mRNA ( P = .005) levels. The EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF genes showed wild-type sequences at the mutation hot spots in all 13 specimens. Thus, EGFR might serve as a promising diagnostic marker in canine intestinal adenocarcinoma, and further studies would be needed to develop EGFR-targeted anticancer therapies.
3-Dimensional Retraction Spring for Buccally Impacted Canines
Authors: Verma Sanjeev , Bhupali Nameksh Raj , Singh Satinder Pal
Published: April 2021

An innovative method to successfully erupt buccally impacted canines in difficult positions, that is, sector III and IV mesial to the root of lateral incisors into occlusion, has been described. 3-dimensional retraction spring is fabricated using 0.017 × 0.025-inch Titanium Molybdenum Alloy(TMA) wire and 45-degree bends are made simultaneously in 2 directions. The first bend is given distally starting from mesial of the first premolar and the second buccally at the same location. This 3-dimensional spring with its unique design provides the required labial and distal force with least chances of root resorption. A representative case is illustrated to demonstrate the clinical use of the same.
The Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave
Authors: Hubbard Timothy L
Published: April 2021

Pythagorean tuning, which derives all musical intervals of a Western chromatic scale from repeated application of a fifth and subsequent reduction (collapse) into a single octave, results in an octave interval slightly larger than 2:1, and the difference between a Pythagorean octave and a 2:1 octave is referred to as the Pythagorean comma. Empirical studies suggest that listeners prefer a stretched octave, that is, an octave interval slightly larger than 2:1. The magnitudes of the Pythagorean comma and of the stretch from a 2:1 ratio in preferred octave tuning are similar, and it is suggested these phenomena might be connected. Implications of such a similarity that are addressed include (a) how the Pythagorean comma predicts preference for a stretched octave, (b) rejection of uncertainties in tuning as a cause of preference for a stretched octave, (c) how the Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave might be related to tension and musical aesthetics, (d) the nature of “scales” and “intervals” in musical and psychophysical senses, (e) the role of motion through auditory pitch space in the Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave, and (f) incorporation of elements of Pythagorean tuning into the representation of the octave.
Cultivated co-production: Sexual health, human rights, and the revision of the ICD
Authors: Epstein Steven
Published: April 2021

STS scholars frequently have shown how science and sociopolitical arrangements are ‘co-produced’, typically tracing how scientific actors themselves keep ‘science’ and ‘politics’ far apart. Revealing co-production is therefore deemed the work of the STS analyst, who unearths linkages that the actors might be unaware of, or might ignore or deny. By contrast, the creation of a new chapter on ‘sexual health’ in the recent revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) offers a case of what might be termed ‘cultivated co-production’. Neither oblivious to the linkages between science and politics nor invested in obscuring them, the designers of the sexual health chapter sought support for their work by demonstrating, transparently, how science, ethics, and human rights might properly be aligned. The intentional and visible character of co-production in this case indicates awareness of the need to manage the contested nature of gender and sexuality at a transnational level. It also reflects two changes in the organization of medical politics and medical classification: a widespread recognition of the necessity of reaching out to lay stakeholders and advocates, and the rise of an emphasis on ‘conventions’ as the backbone of transnational biomedical consensus processes.
‘Fight the reds, support the blue’: Blue Lives Matter and the US counter-subversive tradition
Authors: Shanahan Jarrod , Wall Tyler
Published: April 2021

In the wake of the rightwing siege of the US Capitol, which put ‘Blue Lives Matter’ supporters at odds with police protecting the Capitol, the authors look to the history and contours of the ‘counter-subversive tradition’ in the United States and its locus in local police departments. They examine a similar moment of social unrest – the mid-to-late 1960s – and the pro-police organising undertaken by Support Your Local Police (SYLP), a front group of the ultra-right John Birch Society, which blended anti-communism with opposition to the Black Freedom Movement, with particular anxiety about the spectre of united white and black revolt from below and the encroachment of the federal government on local power from above. The campaign also presented a kind of uniquely rightwing anti-statism, largely through the rejection of impediments to local powers and, specifically, the untrammelled power of the cops. In making sense of the Capitol siege, and the years of rightwing organising that preceded it, the article argues that this important precursor to ‘Blue Lives Matter’ presents a schema for understanding longstanding efforts in police organising in defence of what James Baldwin called ‘arrogant autonomy’ – freedom from civilian oversight or political challenges to cop power, and from all challenges to locally entrenched structures of white power.
Israel’s settler-colonialism as a global security paradigm
Authors: Sa’di Ahmad H.
Published: April 2021

Israeli surveillance industries are well integrated in the global surveillance market. This incorporation is achieved through marketisation, labour processes and the circulation of capital. Even Israel has been considered by many as a successful securitising model. In this article, it is argued that this success is the outcome of several factors, including the shared premises of Israel’s settler-colonial regime and neoliberal data-based globalised capitalism, which has become a leading sector in the current economic formation. Furthermore, it reflects the advent of the securitising states and concurrently the rise of the security-industrial complex in the US and, to a lesser degree, in Europe. Yet, the acceptance of Israeli-settler colonial surveillance methods and Weltanschauung as a model points to the erosion of hitherto cherished values such as privacy, trust, autonomy, care and solidarity.
The Facilitators and Barriers Faced When Transitioning Back into the Community Following a Prison Sentence
Authors: Buck Kaylin , Cochran Adelaide , Young Hallie , Gordon Morgan J. , Yuen Hon K. , Tucker Sarah C.
Published: April 2021

This qualitative study explored ex-offender’s community reintegration experiences following a prison sentence. Fourteen ex-offenders from the Offender Alumni Association participated in an in-person in-depth individual interview regarding their current roles, daily routines, living situation, activity participation, and current and future plans. A phenomenological approach using thematic analysis was employed for data collection and interpretation. The emerged themes were categorized under facilitators and barriers that influence healthy community reintegration. The facilitators included visualizing and committing to an ideal future, establishing a daily routine, upholding life balance, and discovering and connecting to external supports. The barriers included impediments to employment opportunities, lack of financial resources, social stigma, regulations imposed by the judicial system, disconnection from social advancements, and addiction to drugs and alcohol. The themes identified from the interviews suggest that current reintegration strategies and programs need to be improved in order to benefit ex-offenders seeking these services.
The lasting impact of N.M. Fenneman’s works physiography of the western and eastern United States
Authors: Sawyer Carol F
Published: April 2021

The publication of Fenneman’s two volumes on physiography: The Physiography of Western United States and the Physiography of Eastern United States, was the culmination of over 20 years of work toward formalization of the physiographic regions in the United States. This paper details the relevant works that predate these volumes, the two volumes themselves, as well as briefly describing Fenneman’s career and the continued use of the works 80 plus years post-publication.
Deriving Operational Traffic Signal Performance Measures from Vehicle Trajectory Data
Authors: Saldivar-Carranza Enrique , Li Howell , Mathew Jijo , Hunter Margaret , Sturdevant James , Bullock Darcy M.
Published: April 2021

Operations-oriented traffic signal performance measures are important for identifying the need for retiming to improve traffic signal operations. Currently, most traffic signal performance measures are obtained from high-resolution traffic signal controller event data, which provides information on an intersection-by-intersection basis and requires significant initial capital investment. Over 400 billion vehicle trajectory points are generated each month in the United States. This paper proposes using high-fidelity vehicle trajectory data to produce traffic signal performance measures such as: split failure, downstream blockage, and quality of progression, as well as traditional Highway Capacity Manual level of service. Geo-fences are created at specific signalized intersections to filter vehicle waypoints that lie within the generated boundaries. These waypoints are then converted into trajectories that are relative to the intersection. A case study is presented that summarizes the performance of an eight-intersection corridor with four different timing plans using over 160,000 trajectories and 1.4 million GPS samples collected during weekdays in July 2019 between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The paper concludes by commenting on current probe data penetration rates, indicating that these techniques can be applied to corridors with annual average daily traffic of ~15,000 vehicles per day for the mainline approaches, and discussing cloud-based implementation opportunities.
Evaluating the Durability of Lime-Stabilized Soil Mixtures using Soil Mineralogy and Computational Geochemistry
Authors: Akula Pavan , Naik Saureen Rajesh , Little Dallas N.
Published: April 2021

Lime stabilization is a common technique used to improve the engineering properties of clayey soils. The process of lime stabilization can be split into two parts. First, the mobilization and crowding of [Formula: see text] ions or [Formula: see text]molecules from hydrated lime at net negative surface charge sites on expansive clay colloids. Second, the formation of pozzolanic products including calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) because of reactions within lime-soil mixtures. The pozzolanic reaction is generally considered to be more durable, while the [Formula: see text] adsorption has been associated with more easily reversible consistency changes. This study offers a protocol to assess whether the stabilization process is dominated by durable C-S-H (pozzolanic) reactions or a combination of cation exchange and pozzolanic reactions. Expansive clays with plasticity indices >45% from a major highway project in Texas are the focus of lime treatment in this study. The protocol consists of subjecting lime-soil mixtures to a reasonable curing period followed by a rigorous but realistic durability test and investigating the quality and quantity of the pozzolanic reaction product. Mineralogical analyses using quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates the formation of different forms of C-S-H. In addition, geochemical modeling is used to simulate the lime-soil reactions and evaluate the effect of pH on the stability of C-S-H. The results indicate C-S-H with Ca/Si ratio of 0.66 as most the stable form of C-S-H among other forms with Ca/Si ratio ranging from 0.66 to 2.25. The effect of reducing equilibrium pH on C-S-H is also evaluated. A reduction in pH favored dissolution of all forms of C-S-H indicating the need to maintain a pH ≥ 10.
Epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in the National Football League
Authors: Palmieri-Smith Riann M. , Mack Christina D. , Brophy Robert H. , Owens Brett D. , Herzog Mackenzie M. , Beynnon Bruce D. , Spindler Kurt P. , Wojtys Edward M.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common in contact athletics and have a significant effect on the athletic performance and well-being of affected players. The prevalence, timing, and characteristics of ACL tears in National Football League (NFL) athletes are lacking.

Purpose:

To define the epidemiology of ACL tears among NFL athletes.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

This retrospective study includes all ACL injuries entered into the NFL injury database through the centralized leaguewide electronic health record system for the 2015-2019 seasons.

Results:

A total of 314 ACL injuries occurred during the 5-year study period, with a mean of 62 per year. The overall 1-season injury risk of an NFL player sustaining an ACL injury was 1.9% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.1%). Most ACL injuries occurred during games (n = 199), with a higher rate observed in the preseason games as compared with the regular season games (6.1 vs 2.7 per 10,000 player-plays; P < .01). NFL players with ≤3 of experience had a higher preseason injury rate (9.57 ACL tears per 1000 player-seasons) than those with ≥4 years of experience (5.12 ACL tears per 1000 player-seasons; P < .01). NFL athletes playing on special teams had the highest rate of ACL injuries (7.6 per 10,000 player-plays) in comparison with all other player positions.

Conclusion:

ACL injury incidence was fairly consistent across all years studied and occurred more frequently in players with ≤3 years of NFL experience. Tears were more common during games, special teams play, and the preseason.
Amnion and Umbilical Cord–Derived Products in Sports Medicine: From Basic Science to Clinical Application
Authors: Fortier Lisa A. , Cercone Marta , Keller Laura E. , Delco Michelle L. , Becktell Lilia , Wells Kristina V.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Birth tissue products from amnion, chorion, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, or cord blood are frequently marketed as viable sources of stem cells and growth factors. It can be difficult for health care professionals to differentiate implied from explicit conclusions in reported product analyses.

Purpose:

To provide an educational platform for health care professionals to interpret data presented in the promotion of birth tissue products.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study and expert opinion; Level of evidence, 5.

Methods:

A cord blood product was analyzed by 3 methods for cell viability, 2 methods for assessment of cell morphology and cell type, multicolor flow cytometry to identify stem cells, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plus Western blot for analysis of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra). These data were compared with analyses reported by the manufacturer.

Results:

Cell viability in the cord blood product was less than reported by the manufacturer, the cells were primarily leukocytes, no stem cells were present, and the concentration of IL-1ra was falsely increased due to nonspecific antibody binding in the sample.

Conclusion:

To assess birth tissue products, health care professionals should consider the following: (1) Understanding fluorescent dyes is important for assessing cell viability data—green does not always mean alive. (2) The report of “cells” in the product does not necessarily mean “stem cells”; microscopic images of at least ×20 or a hemogram should be evaluated to determine cell type (leukocyte, red blood cells, etc). (3) There is no single cluster of differentiation (CD) marker on flow cytometry to identify stem cells. (4) Biological tissues are complex substances, and inaccurately increased measurements of growth factors could be present in ELISA results because most ELISAs are not designed or validated for use in biologics. Furthermore, the reported measurement of growth factors should be considered relative to concentrations in native biological tissues and plasma.

Clinical Relevance:

Health care professionals should be able to interpret cell viability, cell morphology, stem cell analysis using CD markers, and growth factor analysis when considering use of a birth tissue product in patients.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Pneumonia—A Review
Authors: Jellinge Marlene Ersgaard , Hansen Frank , Coia John Eugenio , Song Zhijun
Published: April 2021

Background:

Pneumonia due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) is uncommon but can be seen in immunocompromised patients and has been associated with poor prognosis in this population.

Aim:

The aim was to study the results, outcome and mortality of HSV pneumonia in immunocompromised patients and patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, it has been unclear whether to initiate prophylactic treatment with acyclovir or not.

Methods:

We have conducted a literature search using the keywords herpes simplex pneumonia, critically ill patients and intensive care unit for identification of relevant publications.

Findings:

HSV pneumonia can cause severe infection or even death in immunocompromised patients and critically ill patients. A clear diagnosis of HSV pneumonia can be difficult to establish. Respiratory condition may improve after initiation of acyclovir but data is scarce.

Conclusion:

HSV pneumonia should be considered in the immunocompromised patient and/or the intensive care patient who continues to deteriorate despite appropriate treatment. The value of prophylactic treatment with acyclovir is unproven but should be considered.
Personality and psychosocial functioning in early adolescence: Age-differential associations from the self- and parent perspective
Authors: Israel Anne , Brandt Naemi D , Grund Simon , Köller Olaf , Lüdtke Oliver , Wagner Jenny
Published: April 2021

Although psychosocial functioning and personality are indisputably interrelated in adulthood, much less is known about these associations in early adolescence. Accordingly, the goal of the current study was twofold. First, we investigated associations between adolescents’ personality and three broad indicators of psychosocial functioning: academic achievement, social relationships, and psychosocial adjustment. Second, we tested differential effects by comparing these associations across three different cohorts (Grades 5, 7, and 9) and across two raters of adolescents’ personality: self- and parent reports. Our sample consisted of N = 2667 students and their parents. According to latent regression models, adolescents’ personality traits showed significant associations with all psychosocial functioning variables: Achievement was most consistently associated with emotional stability, openness, and conscientiousness; social relationships were most consistently associated with agreeableness and conscientiousness; and psychosocial adjustment was related to all of the Big Five traits. Most associations did not vary across grades, whereas self-reported extraversion showed lower associations in later grades. Looking at rater-specific effects, we found fewer and usually smaller associations with parent- than with self-rated personality, again with the most significant differences with extraversion. We discuss the consistent interrelatedness between adolescents’ personality and psychosocial functioning but also highlight important exceptions in grade- and rater-specificities.
Career Adaptability and Career Decision Self-Efficacy: Meta-Analysis
Authors: Stead Graham B. , LaVeck Lindsey M. , Hurtado Rúa Sandra M.
Published: April 2021

The relationship between career adaptability and career decision self-efficacy was examined due to its importance for clients in the career development and career decision-making process. Multivariate meta-analyses using 18 studies with a total population of 6,339 participants were employed. Moderator variables important to this relationship were country of participants, mean age, and career adaptability measures. Estimated correlations between career adaptability subscales and career decision self-efficacy measures ranged from .36 to .44. Findings are discussed in relation to career research and counseling.
Systematic Review of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) for Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Related Infertility
Authors: Fan Chi Wai , Cieri-Hutcherson Nicole E. , Hutcherson Timothy C.
Published: April 2021

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility. To conduct a systematic review assessing the efficacy and safety of black cohosh for ovulation-induction through hormone regulation and increased endometrial thickness to improve pregnancy rates in women with PCOS-related infertility. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was used. A search of Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Science Direct, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature spanning origin to December 19, 2020 was conducted using keywords and permutations of “black cohosh” and “PCOS.” A search for “PCOS” in the National Clinical Trials database and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform was conducted in December 2020 to identify additional records. Eligibility criteria included reported efficacy or safety outcomes; studies in women with PCOS; English language; and primary literature. Eligible records were evaluated using applicable risk-of-bias tools. A total of 181 records were screened after deduplication from 207 results. Two randomized controlled trials (RCT) met inclusion criteria. Review of 1386 records from clinical trial registries and subsequent scoping searches resulted in identification of 4 additional records (3 published). Improvement in hormone regulation and endometrial thickness were found for black cohosh groups compared to clomiphene citrate (CC). Three RCTs reported improved pregnancy rates using black cohosh plus CC. There were no differences in adverse events. Studies demonstrated several risk-of-bias concerns. There is a lack of high-quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of black cohosh for improving pregnancy rates in PCOS-related infertility. Short-term use of black cohosh appears to be safe.