bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancements in Artificial Hydraulic Lime Composites for Sustainable Restoration of Stone Cultural Heritage
Authors: Zhao Peng , Zhang Yun-Sheng , Shen Yang , Li Xin-Jian , Zhu Pan-Pan , Zhu Wei-Wei
Published: January 2024

The restoration of stone cultural relics requires materials that align with the relics’ inherent characteristics and are economically viable. While natural hydraulic lime has historically been the preferred material for such restoration efforts, challenges such as limited availability
and high costs have prompted the exploration of alternative solutions. In this study, three distinct formulations of artificial hydraulic lime (GL1, GL2, and GL3) were meticulously developed by combining hydraulic components, volcanic ash activators, heavy calcium powder, and slaked lime powder.
Emphasizing compatibility with stone cultural relics, GL2 and GL3 were selected for the preparation of a stone cultural relic restoration mortar. Comprehensive testing, including fluidity, water absorption rate, strength, and drying shrinkage, was conducted. The restoration mortars demonstrated
optimal fluidity between 170 and 180 mm, meeting stringent requirements for restoration applications. Notably, the water absorption rate, ranging from 13% to 15%, exceeded that of native rock, satisfying sacrificial protection criteria. After a 28-day carbonization period, the compressive
strength of AL3 and BL3 samples surpassed 20 MPa, while AL2 and BL2 samples exhibited compressive strengths ranging from 16 to 19 MPa—well within the 20%-80% range of the native rock’s compressive strength. The pull-out bonding strength at 28 days was moderate for all four restoration
mortar types, with no discernible irreversible damage to the underlying rock base. The adaptability of selecting restoration mortar based on the material strength of stone cultural relics was demonstrated. Finally, the successful application of the restoration mortar formulated with GL2 lime
in restoring stone slabs at the Confucius Temple highlights the practical significance of the research findings, offering valuable insights for the sustainable preservation of architectural heritage.
Effects of Biodegradable Biomaterials Combined with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation on Neurological Function in Rats with Ischemic Cerebral Infarction
Authors: Liu Qun , Tan Hong , Liu Qingfang , Liu Penghui
Published: January 2024

The aim of this research was to explore the effects of degradable biomaterial self-polypeptide nanofiber scaffolds plus bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the behavior and neurological function of rats with focal ischemic cerebral infarction (ICI). BMSCs were isolated and
cultured. The self-assembling peptides and BMSCs were mixed to prepare self-assembling peptides/BMSCs (SAP/BMSCs) material. BMSCs and SAP/BMSCs were injected into the carotid artery of rats in Model group. The rats without ligation were used as Sham group. Longa 5 and modified neurological
severity scores (mNSS) of each group were evaluated. The adhesive removal test and forelimb asymmetry test were used to examine the behavior of the rats. The brain tissues were collected, and the infarct size, neuronal apoptosis, and the protein expression of Nogo-A and lipoprotein a (LPA)
in the hippocampus were detected by 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot. The results indicated that the fiber diameter of the self-polymerizing peptide material
was about 12 nm, and the length was about 100-250 nm. The cells grew well after composite BMSCs. Compared with Sham group, Longa 5, mNSS score, adhesive removal time, forelimb asymmetry test score, cerebral infarction volume, and neuronal apoptosis rate were increased, interleukin 6 (IL-6)
and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) were raised, IL-10 was decreased, and Nogo-A and LPA protein was increased in Model group (P < 0.05). As against Model group, Longa 5, mNSS score, adhesive removal time, forelimb asymmetry test score, cerebral infarction volume,
neuronal apoptosis rate, IL-6 and TNF-α were clearly decreased, and IL-10 was raised, and Nogo-A and LPA protein was clearly decreased in BMSCs and SAP/BMSCs groups (P < 0.05). As against BMSCs group, Longa 5, mNSS score, adhesive removal time, forelimb asymmetry test
score, cerebral infarction volume, and neuronal apoptosis rate were clearly decreased, and IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased, and IL-10 was raised, and Nogo-A and LPA protein was decreased in SAP/BMSCs group (P < 0.05). Early transplantation of BMSCs can improve the neurobehavioral
symptoms of ICI rats and inhibit neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory response. The effect of self-polymerizing peptide nanofiber scaffold plus BMSCs transplantation in ICI is superior to the transplantation of BMSCs alone.
License to Broker: How Mobility Eliminates Gender Gaps in Network Advantage
Authors: Zhang Evelyn Y. , Aven Brandy L. , Kleinbaum Adam M.
Published: January 2024

Brokerage in intra-organizational networks is critical to performance, but women exhibit less brokerage in their social networks and receive lower performance returns to the brokerage they exhibit than men do. We uncover a condition under which the gender gaps in network advantage are entirely negated: mobility. When women move between units of the organization, they increase their brokerage more than mobile men do. Further, such mobility eliminates the gender gap in returns to brokerage. Using a rich dataset including the personnel records, monthly performance, and email communications of thousands of employees in a large financial institution, we find support for our arguments by comparing the networks and objective performance of those who changed jobs with matched non-movers prior to and following each job change. In probing why this might be the case, we find that women movers are more likely to maintain communication ties to colleagues from their previous roles and that these persistent ties give them a discernible and gender-role-congruent explanation for connecting otherwise disconnected units and benefiting from network brokerage. Our results illuminate important mechanisms by which social network dynamics and mobility affect gender inequality and performance in organizations.
Optimizing the Postoperative Management of Children Undergoing Resection of High-Risk Abdominal Neuroblastoma
Authors: Lee William G. , Lascano Danny , Palmer Samiza B. , Chen Stephanie Y. , Mack Shale J. , Sudharshan Rasika , Han Jane S. , Kim Eugene S.
Published: January 2024

Background

Surgical resection is a mainstay of treatment in high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB), but there exists wide variability in perioperative management practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate two standardized adult perioperative enhanced recovery practices (ERPs) in pediatric patients undergoing open resection of abdominal HR-NB.

Methods

All patients with abdominal HR-NB surgically resected at a free-standing children’s hospital between 12/2010 and 7/2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Perioperative ERPs of interest included avoidance of routine nasogastric tube (NGT) use and the use of neuraxial anesthesia. Primary outcomes included time to enteral intake, urinary catheter use, opioid utilization, and length of stay (LOS).

Results

Overall, 37 children, median age 33 months (IQR: 20-48 months), were identified. Avoidance of an NGT allowed for earlier feeding after surgery ( P = .03). Neuraxial anesthesia use more frequently required an indwelling urinary catheter ( P < .01) for a longer duration ( P = .02), with no difference in total opioid utilization ( P = .77) compared to patients without neuraxial anesthesia. Postoperative LOS was unaffected by avoidance of routine NGT use ( P = .68) or use of neuraxial anesthesia ( P = .89).

Conclusion

Children undergoing open resection of abdominal HR-NB initiated diet sooner when an NGT was not left postoperatively, and the need for a urinary catheter was significantly higher in patients who received neuraxial anesthesia. However, these two ERP components did not decrease postoperative LOS. To optimize the postoperative management of NB patients, postoperative NGTs should be avoided, while the benefit of neuraxial anesthesia is less clear as it necessitates the placement of a urinary catheter without decreasing opioid utilization.
Effect of Magnesium on Ventricular Extrasystoles in Children
Authors: Uysal Fahrettin , Turkmen Hasan , Genc Abdusselam , Bostan Ozlem M.
Published: January 2024

Magnesium (Mg) is a crucial element for cardiovascular system and its deficiency results in a variety of cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of oral Mg supplementation on the frequency of ventricular extrasystoles (VES) in children. Magnesium supplementation was given to 42 children who had VES without structural heart disease. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and Holter monitoring studies were reviewed. The mean baseline 24 h VES burden on Holter monitoring was 10.26% ± 4.13% and it was decreased to 6.62% ± 3.88% after. There was no significant difference between the pre-treatment serum Mg levels and the decrease in the frequency of VES. In conclusion, oral Mg therapy was found to be effective at suppressing VES in children regardless of serum Mg levels. Large and randomized studies are needed to demonstrate the effect of magnesium on VES suppression.
Building connections in health and wellbeing education: Qualitative findings of a study with New Zealand agricultural students
Authors: Hay Amanda , Stanley-Clarke Nicky , Maris Robbie , Winder Louise , Knook Jorie
Published: January 2024

Background:

As the burden of mental health challenges increases globally, delivering mental health education programmes to at-risk groups is critical. Important factors governing the success of health and wellbeing education include the relationships and connections formed between students and those delivering the education. This article reports on the qualitative findings from a mixed-methods study evaluating a mental health wellbeing programme delivered to first-year agricultural students across two universities in New Zealand.

Design:

The qualitative data that formed the basis of this article involved an exploratory approach utilising semi-structured interviews with participants who had attended a mental health wellbeing programme.

Findings:

The study found that feelings of connectedness in relation to the programme and the educators, as well as the material provided, improved engagement. In particular, connection was improved through the use of peer educators from within the target community, alongside considerations of timing, promotion and incentives in the delivery of programmes.

Conclusions:

Relationships and building connections are crucial when delivering health and wellbeing education. These findings have implications for those developing and delivering educational mental health interventions at tertiary institutions in terms of the mechanisms used to support engagement, learning and integration of knowledge.
An Africological Excavation of Colonial Discourse
Authors: Dove Hope
Published: January 2024

This article argues that epistemologies are significantly relevant to the decolonial project and the advancement of discourse around human interactions. Moreover, it is asserted that the decolonization of the mind can only occur within the context of changing the framework through which we understand the world and its history. As a concept, decolonizing the mind is dependent upon correcting dislocation and disorientation that leads to confusion about reality. However, decolonial discourse is often vulnerable to assume its own colonial orientation and can still be entrapped in centering European and Arab experiences regarding African history; it is the interrogation of those elements that Africology promotes. This paper demonstrates an imperative for a restructuring epistemology that is, inclusive of a multiplicity of perspectives. From the Africological vantage, the universalisms of European and Arab centered epistemes are grounded in cultures that in reifying their own existence, are antithetical to the free existence of those who do not adhere to their beliefs and values.
Effect of milling time on microstructure and hardness of AA7075-15 wt% SiC-1 wt% MWCNT nanocomposite
Authors: Lule Senoz Guzide Meltem
Published: January 2024

In this study, the effect of ball milling on microstructure and hardness of Al7075 - 15 wt% SiC - 1 wt% MWCNT nanocomposite was investigated as a function of milling time up to 20 h. Mechanically alloyed powders were consolidated by cold pressing followed by sintering at 560°C for 1 h in an argon atmosphere. The structural characterization of nanocomposites was conducted by a X-ray diffractometer (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and grain size analyses. The hardness of samples was measured by using Wolpert Wilson-400 micro-hardness testing equipment comprising of a Vickers indenter. The structural defects of pristine and milled MWCNTs were calculated by using defect and carbon intensity ratio (ID/IG) resulted from Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that after ball milling, the grain size decreases depending on the milling time, the intermetallic Al4C3 phase is formed as a result of the reaction between the matrix and the MWCNT particles, and the MWCNT structure is destroyed. The finest grain size and highest hardness values were obtained as 483 nm and 134 HV, respectively, after 15 h of grinding.
The Effect of Mindfulness on Death Escape Acceptance in Young People: Emotion Regulation as a Mediator
Authors: Ye Xin , Li Yang , Zheng Qiuyue , Liu Yang , Yan Shizhen , Lian Qiaoping , Lin Yicong , Chen Xiayan , Chen Liangliang , Liu Tao
Published: January 2024

Few studies have examined young people’s attitudes toward death escape acceptance and its relationship to mindfulness. This study addressed this issue and examined the mediating role of emotion regulation. In Study 1, 61 undergraduate students aged 19–22 years participated in a mindfulness intervention program, and the results showed that increasing young people’s levels of mindfulness could improve their attitudes toward death escape acceptance. The Study 2, which recruited 440 young people aged 18–26 years to complete a cross-sectional survey, replicated the main effect and showed that young people’s difficulty in emotion regulation fully mediated the coping effect of mindfulness. These findings suggest that individuals with high levels of mindfulness may have low levels of difficulty in emotion regulation and in turn promote healthy attitudes toward death escape acceptance.
Audience Considerations: Ten Tips, Crafting a Hook, and the Writing Process
Authors: Herzog Patricia Snell
Published: January 2024

This editorial focuses on writing academic articles that appeal to researcher audiences. I offer 10 tips for audience considerations in writing research articles. One tip is to develop a hook. What is a hook and how does one craft it? I help to answer these questions by encouraging authors to move beyond the over-utilized claim that “very little research exists on this topic.” That is a challenging claim to substantiate after decades and centuries of existing studies on most topics, and it is unnecessary. More than likely in this contemporary year, there are many studies relevant to the topics of any article. Their lack is probably more a reflection of the author not thoroughly looking than whether they exist. But why make such a challenging claim? There are many other interesting reasons to pay attention to a topic than lack of attention. Be more creative than only “filling a gap.” The editorial concludes with attention to the writing process and an affirmation of the inverted triangle for organizing the structure of each section in an article.
Eco-friendly natural dyeing of submicron cotton fabrics
Authors: Chen Chao , Cao Jiqiang , Zhang Yi , Qin Xiaohong , Li Jingchuan , Zhu Wenbin , Kong Dongqing , Yu Jianyong
Published: January 2024

To explore the color diversity and performance of functional submicron cotton fabric dyed with ecological natural dyes, three types of natural dyes sappanwood, madder, and gardenia and orchid, were used to dye the fabric. The optimal dyeing conditions for sappanwood were found to be an insulation temperature of 95°C, a dyeing bath pH of 5.5, and a dyeing time of 60 min, resulting in the highest apparent color value ( K/S). For madder, the optimal conditions were an insulation temperature of 90°C, a dyeing bath pH value of 6, and a dyeing time of 60 min. Similarly, for gardenia and orchid, the optimal conditions were an insulation temperature of 90°C, a dyeing bath pH value of 5, and a dyeing time of 60 min. Based on these preferred dyeing processes, the K/S value, color characteristic value, color fastness, and biodegradability of the three natural dyes were compared and analyzed with synthetic dyes. The results showed that natural dyeing resulted in higher brightness ( L* values), lower color depth ( C* values), lower red-green ( a*) and yellow-blue ( b*) values, similar hues, and lower K/S values compared to synthetic dyeing. The color fastness of the natural dyes was slightly lower than that of chemical dyes by 0.5 grade. Additionally, the average breaking strength, elongation at break, tearing strength, and bursting strength of the fabric increased by 9.34%, 5.69%, 9.75%, and 7.31%, respectively. Furthermore, the biodegradability of the natural dyes was over 93%, significantly higher than that of synthetic dyes. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the production of eco-friendly dyeing of functional submicron cotton fabrics and their textile color applicability.
The Policy Alliance Between Hospitals and Debt Collection Agencies: Content Analysis of Public Comments on Regulations on Billing and Collections
Authors: Messac Luke , Fonfield Imani , Maleki Nirvana , Delaney Karina
Published: January 2024

Significant debate persists about the obligations of nonprofit hospitals toward low-income patients. Many issues pertaining to this subject were discussed during the rulemaking process following the passage of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which set forth rules for hospital billing and collection. In public comments, hospitals, debt collectors, and patient advocates debated what constituted “reasonable efforts” to determine whether a patient qualified for hospital financial assistance before resorting to extraordinary collection actions including lawsuits, wage garnishments, and adverse credit reporting. This study analyzes public comments to the proposed Internal Revenue Service rule on section 501(r)(6). After an initial review of the data, 5 commonly mentioned issues were identified. Respondents were organized into commenter types, and the opinion of each respondent to each issue was coded by 2 separate reviewers. Discrepancies between reviewer determinations were resolved by consensus during follow-up discussions. This analysis revealed a set of common concerns: whether reporting delinquent medical debt to credit bureaus and selling debt to third party buyers should be considered extraordinary collection actions; whether hospitals should be able to use presumptive eligibility to rule patients either eligible or ineligible for financial assistance; and whether hospitals should be held legally liable for the actions of third-party debt collectors. Hospitals and debt collection agencies were allied on most issues, particularly in their shared belief that reporting debt to credit bureaus and selling debt to third parties should not be tightly regulated. Patient advocacy organizations and hospitals had divergent opinions on most issues. The alliance of hospitals and debt collectors in advocating for fewer regulations around collections is part of a history of hospital lobbying to maintain tax-exemption with fewer charity care mandates. This alignment helps explain why third-party debt collection agencies, and aggressive collection tactics, have become commonplace in hospital billing.
When contestation legitimizes: the norm of climate change action and the US contesting the Paris Agreement
Authors: von Allwörden Laura
Published: January 2024

In 2017 US president Trump announced the intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This was widely perceived as a major challenge to continued cooperation to counter climate change. A feared consequence was further member withdrawal leading to the weakening of the Paris agreement and thus, the climate change action norm. Yet instead, states and non-state actors recommitted to the agreement and further legitimated the norm. How did this contestation of the US withdrawal announcement contribute to the further legitimation of the climate change action norm? I argue that this is due to climate change action being established as a legitimate, institutionalized norm within a diverse community in the global climate regime, especially by the UNFCCC’s effort. Contestation and legitimation are connected in a holistic process. Trump’s contestation therefore triggered legitimation rather than de-legitimation. Based on 26 interviews with UNFCCC officials, COP negotiators and non-state actors, I show that the announcement can be perceived as catalyst to the norm legitimation. This article contributes to the literature on the legitimation and contestation of norms, especially those facilitated by international organizations in the global climate regime.
Belief in Jinn Possession Scale: Development and validation
Authors: Naz Nida Falak , Aslam Naeem
Published: January 2024

In spite of scientific developments, paranormal beliefs remain widespread, especially in South Asian societies. Numerous disorders connected to possession and trance have been theorized in recent years. In this study, three community samples were used to develop a comprehensive scale of Belief in Jinn Possession Scale (BJPS) and to examine its consistency and relevance. The BJPS scale was proposed to be multidimensional with four factors displaying satisfactory internal consistency reliability estimated by the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) ( n = 300). However, confirmatory factor analyses ( n = 300) reduced the number of factors to two. The BJPS demonstrated excellent reliability and statistically significant positive correlations among its factors of beliefs about signs of possession and beliefs about vulnerability and preventive measures. Convergent and discriminant validity ( n = 316) was supported by a high correlation between BJPS, Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS), and Paranormal and Supernatural Belief Scale (PSBS) and a low correlation between BJPS, Narcissistic Personality Inventory 16 (NPI-16), and Moral Identity Measure (MIM). These results suggest that the BJPS is a well-grounded and sound tool for evaluating one’s irrational beliefs about possession states in Pakistani culture, and it may be the first attempt to conceptualize possession.
The Same God Question in the context of oppression
Authors: Willoughby J. David
Published: January 2024

In recent years, the ongoing debate regarding whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God has predominantly been discussed from theological and philosophical perspectives. Yet, a significant gap exists in exploring this discourse through a sociological lens, particularly in understanding how the “Same God Question” resonates within the contexts of minority groups and the oppressed. This article addresses this gap by investigating the viewpoints of those often marginalized in discussions of religious identity. Drawing upon Henning Wrogemann’s observations on the complex interplay between contextualization to those in positions of influence versus the rights of the oppressed, as well as Robert Priest’s insights on experience-near theology, this article argues that it is possible for contextualization to one group to unwittingly perpetuate oppression to another group. Furthermore, it asserts the fundamental right of oppressed individuals to distance themselves from the overarching theological frameworks imposed upon them by hegemonic forces. These insights are subsequently applied to the broader discourse surrounding the “Same God Question” in order to highlight the complex interplay between contextualization, power, and oppression.
‘A Little Yeast Leavens the Whole Batch of Dough’: Incest and Pollution in 1 Corinthians 5
Authors: Johnson Ethan
Published: January 2024

Paul commands the Corinthians to give an incestuous man to Satan in 1 Cor. 5.5. Scholars often see this as a punishment for sin, but why does incest require this particular response? This article offers an answer by reading 1 Cor. 5 in light of other discussions of incest and pollution in Greco-Roman literature. It highlights connections between incest, pollution, and communal danger and explores means of resolving pollution. It then examines Paul’s discussion of incest in 1 Cor. 5.5 and concludes that his instructions concerning the incestuous man follow a logic common in ancient discussions of incest and pollution.
Out with the old, in with the new? Institutional experimentation and decent work in the UK
Authors: Johnson Mathew , Herman Eva
Published: January 2024

Drawing on an extended critical case study of the Greater Manchester (GM) city region in the UK, this article contributes to debates around the changing role of social actors within local labour markets, and how they contribute to processes of regulatory experimentation and innovation. While recent literature has drawn attention to new actors and novel strategies in responding to labour market disruptions, in this article the authors argue that there is still room for embedded actors and established practices in defending, and advancing, decent minimum standards. This may be through political lobbying, workplace organising, industrial action, extending collectively agreed standards to outsourced workers, or through hybrid forms of trade union–community campaigning. Against a wider background of labour market de-regulation, the authors’ case study points to the layering up of increasingly fluid and context-specific repertoires of conflict and cooperation that shape labour market ‘norms’ and legitimise particular progressive causes within local rather than national capitalisms.
Anaplastic Transformation in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report
Authors: Lyu Young Sang , Hong Ran , Oh Jeonghyun
Published: January 2024

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), a rare thyroid malignancy, accounts for only 5% of all thyroid cancers. However, it is the most aggressive form and has a very poor prognosis. Increasing evidence suggests that ATC arises from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the exact mechanism underlying this transformation remains unclear. In almost all cases, ATC originates within, but rarely outside, the thyroid gland. Transformation of metastatic PTC into ATC within the cervical lymph nodes is extremely rare. In this report, we present a rare case in a 63-year-old male patient who was initially diagnosed with PTC at his first hospital visit, which underwent anaplastic transformation in lymph node metastasis, and was subsequently diagnosed during the follow-up visit.
Towards a theory of participatory diplomacy via the Eurovision Song Contest
Authors: Carniel Jessica
Published: January 2024

The Eurovision Song Contest is officially a non-political event but has nevertheless been a useful tool for participating nations’ public and cultural diplomacy strategies. While Eurovision’s diplomatic utility for states is subject to much scholarly attention, little attention has been paid to how fans and audiences participate actively in these processes as political agents and actors. Drawing upon the frameworks of public diplomacy and participatory culture, this article puts forth the portmanteau concept of ‘participatory diplomacy’ to explain and explore how Eurovision illuminates a particular intersection of public diplomacy and participatory culture wherein the audience actively participates in its cultural platform to shape its political message and meaning.
Trajectories of Intergenerational Emotional Closeness in Multi-Child Aging Families in China
Authors: Chen Jia , Chen Mengni
Published: January 2024

Intergenerational emotional closeness (IEC) in multi-child families manifests not only in the overall parent-child relationship but also by the extent of its within-family differentiation. This study aimed to identify distinct trajectories of collective IEC in multi-child families and to examine its potential associated factors. The study used four waves of the China Family Panel Studies (2010–2018). Based on a sample of 3474 older adults (age >60), growth mixture modelling and logistic regression were conducted. Two latent trajectory patterns of IEC were identified: increasingly tight-knit (93%) and persistently collectively ambivalent (7%). Compared to the latter trajectory, older adults who had a married/cohabiting partner, had better health and received support from all children, were more likely to have increasingly tight-knit trajectories of IEC. The study tells a story more about emotional cohesion between Chinese older adults and multiple offspring over time. Aging families experiencing persistently collectively ambivalent IEC deserve more attention.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Expectancies Related to Cannabis Use: A Cross-sectional Community Study Among College Students from Bangalore, Karnataka
Authors: Kannan K.  , Nattala Prasanthi , Mahadevan Jayant , Meena K. S.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Cannabis use among youth is increasing; this study aimed to assess college students’ knowledge, attitude, and expectancies toward cannabis use.

Methods:

Cross-sectional survey using standardized tools among undergraduate and postgraduate college students in urban Bangalore, India ( N = 405).

Results:

Ten percent reported past three-month cannabis use, with 1% reporting daily use. Users were significantly older (median age 21, IQR 22,20 [vs. 20, IQR 21,19], p < .001) and belonged to families with higher monthly incomes ( p = .02). Use was significantly higher among males than females (65.9% vs. 34.1%, p = .006) and postgraduate students than undergraduates (51.2% vs. 48%, p = .001). Users were also significantly more favorable toward cannabis use (median score 4, IQR 6,2 [vs. median 3, IQR 4,2], p = .005) and had more positive expectancies from use (median score 2, IQR 3,2 [vs. median 2, IQR 2,0], p = .001). Nearly 30% were unaware that cannabis can affect a person’s ability to drive safely or that it can affect executive functions, including academic performance. Over one-third were unaware of the current legal status of cannabis in India. Overall, 36%, 25%, and 17%, respectively, said that cannabis use is safe when used for recreational purposes, cannabis should be legalized as it helps to relieve stress, and cannabis use among youngsters should be acceptable in society as it is “part of college life.”

Conclusion:

Findings build on existing literature on cannabis use among college youth in India, which can guide preventive interventions and policies for this vulnerable group.
The scale of myths of romantic love: Psychometric properties and gender differences in Spanish adolescents
Authors: Bonilla-Algovia Enrique , Carrasco Carpio Concepción , Rivas-Rivero Esther , Izquierdo-Sotorrío Eva
Published: January 2024

Adolescence is characterized by the emergence of romantic interactions. This study aims to explore the psychometric properties of the Scale of Myths of Romantic Love (SMRL) and the gender differences in Spanish adolescents. The sample was representative and consisted of 1,840 third (52.8%) and fourth (47.2%) year students in compulsory secondary education in Castilla-La Mancha. In line with the original validation, the results of the factor analyses show that the SMRL is a mainly uni-dimensional measure when applied to adolescents. The bi-factor analysis yields satisfactory fit indices (in terms of GFI, AGFI, CFI, RMSEA, SRMR; Medrano & Muñoz-Navarro, 2017) and indicates that the general factor is more solid than the specific factors (in terms of ECV, ωh and H h). Correlations with the Myths Scale toward Love and the Gender Equality Attitudes Scale provide evidence in favor of convergent and discriminant validity. Boys scored significantly higher than girls on the SMRL. In conclusion, this is a suitable instrument to scientifically address romantic myths at the adolescent stage, but also to complement and guide educational interventions.
Soft modularized robotic arm for safe human–robot interaction based on visual and proprioceptive feedback
Authors: Ku Subyeong , Song Byung-Hyun , Park Taejun , Lee Younghoon , Park Yong-Lae
Published: January 2024

This study proposes a modularized soft robotic arm with integrated sensing of human touches for physical human–robot interactions. The proposed robotic arm is constructed by connecting multiple soft manipulator modules, each of which consists of three bellow-type soft actuators, pneumatic valves, and an on-board sensing and control circuit. By employing stereolithography three-dimensional (3D) printing technique, the bellow actuator is capable of incorporating embedded organogel channels in the thin wall of its body that are used for detecting human touches. The organogel thus serves as a soft interface for recognizing the intentions of the human operators, enabling the robot to interact with them while generating desired motions of the manipulator. In addition to the touch sensors, each manipulator module has compact, soft string sensors for detecting the displacements of the bellow actuators. When combined with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), the manipulator module has a capability of estimating its own pose or orientation internally. We also propose a localization method that allows us to estimate the location of the manipulator module and to acquire the 3D information of the target point in an uncontrolled environment. The proposed method uses only a single depth camera combined with a deep learning model and is thus much simpler than those of conventional motion capture systems that usually require multiple cameras in a controlled environment. Using the feedback information from the internal sensors and camera, we implemented closed-loop control algorithms to carry out tasks of reaching and grasping objects. The manipulator module shows structural robustness and the performance reliability over 5,000 cycles of repeated actuation. It shows a steady-state error and a standard deviation of 0.8 mm and 0.3 mm, respectively, using the proposed localization method and the string sensor data. We demonstrate an application example of human–robot interaction that uses human touches as triggers to pick up and manipulate target objects. The proposed soft robotic arm can be easily installed in a variety of human workspaces, since it has the ability to interact safely with humans, eliminating the need for strict control of the environments for visual perception. We believe that the proposed system has the potential to integrate soft robots into our daily lives.
Comparison of modified tumescent and conventional laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: a retrospective clinical study
Authors: Hu Yilong , Zhang Zhengwei , Wang Feng , Qiu Xiewu
Published: January 2024

Objective

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair poses certain challenges to less experienced surgeons. This study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes of modified tumescent laparoscopic TAPP (MT-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair versus conventional laparoscopic TAPP (CL-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the perioperative data of patients with inguinal hernias who underwent either MT-TAPP repair (n = 57) or CL-TAPP repair (n = 54) at the General Surgery Department of Nanjing Yimin Hospital from November 2019 to June 2023.

Results

The durations of the total operation and the preperitoneal space dissection were shorter in the MT-TAPP than CL-TAPP group. The estimated blood loss volume was lower in the MT-TAPP than CL-TAPP group. The visual analogue scale scores recorded at the 12- and 24-hour postoperative time points showed significantly greater reductions in the MT-TAPP than CL-TAPP group.

Conclusions

Using liquid injection and gauze dissection is both safe and practical. This technique results in a shortened total operation time, less time spent on preperitoneal space dissection, decreased estimated blood loss, and less severe postoperative pain.
The princess, the witch and the fairy godmother: colonial legacies in ‘FGM’
Authors: Carver Natasha
Published: January 2024

This article analyses the discursive construction of what has become known as ‘Female Genital Mutilation’ (FGM) in colonial-era debates in the UK Houses of Parliament. The author shows how, in order to bring the topic into the realm of political legitimacy and to be heard in an institution that had only recently allowed women to stand for office, (White) women MPs emphasised their superiority to the African cultures they were talking about. They fought for inclusion as parliamentarians by re-articulating and aligning themselves with Whitely virtues, positioning themselves as noble, respectable and civilised in contrast to the ‘evil’, ‘abhorrent’ and ‘barbaric’ natives. By delineating the moral distance between themselves and non-White men and women, and by (re)stating female parity as the measure of civilisation, they asserted their own right to full inclusion in the nation-state, using the master’s tools to trouble the master’s house. Ultimately, they gained ground for feminism through the re-articulation of racism. Through historicising and deconstructing the narrative as iterated in the seat of government in colonial times, the author furthers the tentative moves towards decolonising the global campaign against FGM. The article sheds light on the coloniality in the present-day hegemonic narrative of ‘Female Genital Mutilation’ and questions whether there might be less harmful ways to articulate opposition to the practice.
Factors controlling distribution of mountainous gullies at the regional scale: An example of the Yuanmou dry-hot valley (SW China)
Authors: Yang Haiqing , Bai Leichao , Lv Wei , Wang Lei , Zhou Yushu , Zhang Bin
Published: January 2024

The primary factors controlling regional gully distribution in mountainous areas are poorly understood. To investigate the spatial characteristics and controlling factors of mountainous gullies at the regional scale, kernel density (KD) estimation, semivariogram, and Geodetector methods were used based on 11 environmental factors of gullies in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley. The results show that (a) gullies are widely but unevenly distributed in the valley, with an average KD of 1.155 km/km2, and gully distribution displays spatial autocorrelation with environmental factors over diverse scales; (b) relief amplitude (Ra), landform type, and slope are the primary factors controlling gully distribution, and land use type, precipitation, and elevation are also important factors; and (c) a high risk of gully erosion occurs in areas with an elevation of more than 1437 m, slope greater than 15°, and Ra greater than 173 m, with grassland vegetation or luvisols and cambisols soil types. These results will not only help to understand the spatial pattern and formation mechanism of gullies at the macroscopic scale but also provide a scientific reference for regional gully management.
Delineating Sight Occlusions of Head-On Traffic Signboards under Varying Available Sight Distances Using LiDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Wang Jin , Song Ziang , Zhang Ziyi , Chen Yanyan , Xu Niuqi
Published: January 2024

It is essential to delineate visual occlusions of head-on traffic signboards under varying available sight distances (ASDs) to improve road safety and guide maintenance. However, the status of sight occlusions in actual road scenarios is unclear because of the lack of an automatic and quantitative evaluation approach. This study presents a new cluster attention traffic-sign occlusion (CASO) method with a cluster attention traffic-sign network (CASNet) to automatically classify road infrastructures, and an occlusion delineating module to dynamically describe the occlusions of head-on traffic signboards using point clouds. CASNet consists of a cluster module to alleviate the interference of redundant object features and an attention module to focus on learning local features of small samples on road scenes. The occlusion delineating module is investigated to rapidly construct a signboard-related oblique cone and dynamically assess occlusions. The sight occlusions change with varying ASDs and are delineated by two indices: the degree of shaded signboard area, and the degree of occlusion volume from the driver’s dynamic perspective to the head-on signboard. Compared with the state-of-the-art networks, the experimental extraction results achieved for signboards show an overall improved performance. The degree of occlusion volumes toward head-on signboards fluctuates between 26.75% and 36.70%, and the degree of shaded areas on signboards increases from 22.75% to 59.63%, with ASDs varying from 20 to 75 m. This research contributes to evaluating road safety in intelligent transportation systems and accurately guiding the allocation of maintenance budgets to the heavily occluded road sections.
Development of a Mechanistic-Empirical-Based Highway Cost Allocation Model for Flexible Pavements
Authors: Farhad Abdollahi Seyed , Vaddy Poornachandra , Emin Kutay M.
Published: January 2024

Construction, operation, and maintenance of a pavement network requires funding, partially sourced from road user taxes. Recent studies showed that lightweight vehicles are typically taxed higher compared with heavy trucks that damage the roads the most. To facilitate the equity and fairness of the allocated costs to different vehicles in the United States (U.S.), Highway Cost Allocation Studies (HCAS) were performed using various pavement performance prediction models. Reviewed literature showed the lack of mechanistic-empirical (ME)-based HCAS models for the flexible pavement network. In this study, a national-level ME-based HCAS model was developed, and the damage shares of different vehicle classes have been estimated for 67,583 pavement sections in the U.S. Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) database. The proposed HCAS model was compared with the existing Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) HCAS model (i.e., National Pavement Cost Model [NAPCOM]). The analysis of the traffic data showed that two-axle single-unit trucks (SU2) and tractor-semitrailers with two tandem and one single axle (CS5T) were the most frequent users of the pavement network. The results showed that the damage share of SU2 is dominant in minor roadways, while the damage share of the heavier vehicles in the CS5T class is dominant in major arterials and interstates. In addition, it was found that, although the geographical location and environmental condition of the pavement section affects the magnitude of the pavement distresses, the distribution of the damage shares remains almost the same. This can be attributed to the similarities in the traffic data, for example, vehicle class distribution and axle load spectra.
Two-Echelon Location–Routing Problem of Perishable Products Based on the Integrated Mode of In-Store Pick-Up And Delivery
Authors: Chen Xiqiong , Jiu Yanni , Hu Dawei
Published: January 2024

The integrated service mode of in-store pick-up and delivery has become common in the post-epidemic period owing to the combined online and offline purchases of perishable products. This study investigates the diverse requirements of in-store pick-up and delivery customers. Then, it establishes a two-echelon location–routing model for a perishable food distribution network to minimize total cost as an objective. An adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm was also developed to solve the foregoing problem. To test the algorithm, instances from those of Solomon are derived. The proposed ALNS algorithm was found to achieve satisfactory performance with respect to speed and accuracy by comparing its results with those of the CPLEX software for a 12-node small-scale instance. The applicability and stability of the ALNS algorithm were further verified using different types of instances with more nodes. Different proportions of in-store pick-up and delivery customers were set, and the total cost of location–routing schemes under these proportions was compared. The results show that an integrated service type compared with the single delivery service mode and single in-store pick-up service mode can save 7.98% and 11.44% of the total cost, respectively.
Automatic Classification of Pavement Type and Service Age Benchmarked with Standard Texture Databases Using the Machine Learning Method: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lu Jiale , Pan Baofeng , Liu Quan , Liu Pengfei , Oeser Markus
Published: January 2024

Pavement intelligent management systems have attracted considerable interest from researchers. However, various service conditions of pavement surface concerning the pavement type, texture service age, and so forth, inhibit a universal algorithm that is feasible for all cases. In this regard, the automatic classification of pavement type and service age is an essential premise to unblock the bottleneck stated above. Based on the surface texture data, a pilot study of the automatic classification approach to identify pavement surface textures using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is presented. For comparison, the efficiency of the support vector machine (SVM) is also investigated. In total, three cases, (i) pavement types, (ii) texture service ages, and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), are involved in the automatic classification. The results indicate that the CNN outperforms the SVM, and the CNN models show a favorable classification accuracy for the above three cases with 93.0%, 81.1%, and 83.8%, respectively. In conclusion, the CNN demonstrates a high capability in expressing the pavement texture features and achieves satisfactory identification results for pavement surface types, but is inferior for texture service age. It is promising that the presented results could serve as a foundational exploration in the automatic identification of texture service conditions benchmarked with standard texture databases to facilitate pavement management systems.
Severity Analysis of Secondary Crashes on High-Speed Roadways: Pattern Recognition Using Association Rule Mining
Authors: Hossain Md Mahmud , Abbaszadeh Lima Mohammad Reza , Zhou Huaguo
Published: January 2024

Secondary crashes (SCs) are a major concern, posing additional safety threats to both non-involved vehicles and incident responders. The objective of this study was to identify the affiliated factors contributing to SCs on roadways with a speed limit of 55 mph or above. Traditional police-investigated crash dataset was analyzed, spanning more than four years (January 2016–February 2020) for the entire state of Alabama. As the crash database did not directly include information on SCs and did not allow for linking a primary crash with a subsequent SC, a data extraction process was developed to identify SCs and understand their characteristics. Association rule mining (ARM) was applied to identify crash patterns based on maximum injury severity levels. The generated rules were filtered based on support, confidence, and lift, and then validated by the lift increase criterion. The results revealed complex relationships between risk factors and severity of SCs. In relation to SCs with injuries, single-vehicle crashes were frequently observed during peak hours and when drivers swerved to avoid objects/persons/vehicles. In contrast, concerning SCs with possible/no injuries, single-vehicle collisions were more likely to occur when drivers failed to notice objects/persons/vehicles and were involved in speeding. On urban interstates, single-vehicle SCs were frequently associated with injuries, while rear-end SCs were often linked to possible/no injuries. The findings of this study can be helpful in enhancing existing traffic incident management programs to mitigate the occurrence of SCs.