bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explicit analysis using time-dependent damping simulation of one-sided laser shock peening on martensitic steel turbine blades
Authors: Fameso Festus , Desai Dawood
Published: September 2020

Down-times from the in-service failure of power plant components, such as turbine blades, portend dire impacts and consequences in the form of huge financial losses. The susceptibility of steam turbine blades to failure is now being reduced by a novel technique, laser shock peening (LSP), which induces compressive layers through the surface of the blades. Current simulation studies of LSP employing conventional methods are indeed computationally expensive and time-consuming. Hence, this paper explores an alternative numerical modeling technique to investigate the economic parameters of residual stresses induced in martensitic steel turbine blades when subjected to LSP treatment. An explicit simulation method of analysis, using commercial finite-element software, which employs time-dependent damping, is presented. The study shows that this technique is time-efficient compared with the conventional explicit-implicit methods commonly used for such simulations. It is interesting to note that the results indicate that up to 500 MPa of induced compressive stress of layers reaching 1 mm in depth can be obtained. Encouragingly, these results correlate well with previous experimental studies, lending credence to the method’s validity. The technique employed hence offers solutions for timely, non-destructive, methodical maintenance and improvement of the mechanical properties of turbine blades, in the quest to reduce the risks of their in-service failure, as well as lengthening of their service life.
Believing without moralising: Secularised religiousness in Hungary
Authors: Bognár Bulcsu , Kmetty Zoltán
Published: September 2020

This article explores the features of religiousness as it is supported by governmental policies in Hungary. The research interprets the values held by social actors in terms of their relationship to violations of norms that are sanctioned and those that are not sanctioned by the state. The analyses of our representative sample revealed a type of secularised religiousness in more than one dimension. The value orientations of religious people in Hungary appear to be aligned with secular society. The main trend seems to be that the moral judgements of religious people do not differ from those of the people who consider themselves not religious or atheist. Religious people in Hungary no longer find guidance in their religious tradition – which is regarded as obsolete in today’s secularised public discourse – but are oriented by the values of the secularised world, inevitably drifting away from their Christian roots. Differences between religious and not religious people appear only in certain position statements relating to homosexuals.
Surveilling the marginalised: How manual, embodied and territorialised surveillance persists in the age of ‘dataveillance’
Authors: Clarke Andrew , Parsell Cameron , Lata Lutfun Nahar
Published: September 2020

The emergence of new forms of data-driven surveillance – often referred to as ‘dataveillance’ – is reshaping how marginalised social groups are governed. It is generally thought that dataveillance replaces the manual monitoring of specific individuals and spaces with automated monitoring of disembodied and deterritorialised populations. This article challenges this view. Drawing on an ethnographic study of surveillance and homelessness governance in Brisbane, Australia, we argue that embodied surveillance persists in the age of dataveillance due to its capacity to address certain ‘power/knowledge challenges’ associated with the governance of marginalised social groups. We show how the manual monitoring of individuals and spaces is central to how governing actors keep track of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and prevent them falling into ‘surveillance gaps’ arising from the extreme social and spatial marginalisation that homelessness entails. We also show how these practices are experienced as a ‘mixed blessing’ by people experiencing homelessness, as they have the capacity to result in both punitive targeting, as well as protection and housing-focused support.
Gentrification or …? Injustice in large-scale residential projects in Hanoi
Authors: Potter Cuz , Labbé Danielle
Published: September 2020

Large-scale residential developments on expropriated lands in periurban Hanoi resemble forms of gentrification seen elsewhere. But is it gentrification? Current debate over the definition of gentrification has focused on whether the term has become too broad to be useful in different institutional and spatio-temporal contexts. While some push for a generalisable definition based in capitalist development, others argue that the term harbours Western assumptions that fail to usefully explain unique local circumstances. The paper first identifies one such conceptual assumption that must be made explicit since it provides the term’s politicising thrust: displacement generates an experience of social injustice. Then, drawing on surveys and interviews with residents as well as interviews with real estate agents, government officials and academics conducted in Hanoi between 2013 and 2017, the paper evaluates five types of displacement on the city’s outskirts. Because displacement only occurs in marginal cases and generates limited feelings of social injustice, the term ‘gentrification’ is of little use. Instead, the paper suggests that in a context of rapid urbanisation and relatively inclusive economic growth such as that of Hanoi the terms ‘livelihood dispossession’ and ‘value grabbing’ may better capture the experience of social injustice and are therefore more likely to generate political traction.
Beyond official heritage agendas: The third space of conservation practices in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Authors: Fauveaud Gabriel , Esposito Adèle
Published: September 2020

Urban heritage conservation has often been portrayed as a practice shaped by ‘authorised discourses’ which are produced by powerful actors including the state, international organisations and experts. But the literature has also paid attention to non-governmental actors who produce ‘unauthorised heritage discourses’ by calling for broader and more diversified heritage interpretations and practices. Using the case of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, we argue that the dichotomy between authorised and unauthorised heritage has produced artificial boundaries between those legacies which have been (or should be) identified as heritage and the multiple remains of the past which nobody has ever attempted to define as such. Instead, we argue that multiple authorised discourses, circulating worldwide, generate a pervasive global hierarchy of value which relates to heritage. Various actors, including bilateral donors, states’ representatives, tycoons, owners and tenants, shape urban tactics which selectively appropriate components of this hierarchy and combine them with socio-political and economic rationalities in order to conserve Phnom Penh’s urban legacies. Taken together, these tactics shape what we name a ‘third space of heritage hybridity’ outside the scope of official agendas.
Does Descending Resources Reform Improve Patient Satisfaction and Reshape Choice of Care Providers? A Cross-Sectional Study in Zhejiang, China
Authors: Sun Zesheng , Wang Shuhong , Zhao Hongjun , Yu Haiming
Published: September 2020

Patient satisfaction and choice of care providers have been the core concerns of China’s descending resources reform launched in 2013. This health care reform attempts to improve low-level hospitals’ capability and patient satisfaction through compulsory descending of doctors from high-level hospitals, thereby reshaping patients’ behavior (loyalty). The goal of this paper is to explore the determinants of patient satisfaction, and its impact on patient loyalty with an emphasis on low-level hospitals in the reform context. By using a self-made 5-point scale that incorporates socio-demographic variables, reform, and revealed preference into the European Consumer Satisfaction Index model (ECSI), cross-sectional data from 17 hospitals, and 1287 questionnaires in Zhejiang province is collected to conduct empirical research. Satisfaction is measured as ordinary variables with the reform and with the low-level hospitals, respectively. Loyalty is measured by patients’ willingness to choose low-level hospitals when suffering illness or severe illness. Analysis of variance and multiple comparisons are utilized to examine the different level of hospitals. An ordered logit model and ordinary least squares regression are applied to examine the determinants of satisfaction and loyalty. The results indicate that patient satisfaction can be explained by variables of perceived quality, patient expectations, and corporate image. Socio-demographic variable, providers, and the reform also have significant effects. Patients’ satisfaction plays a pronounced role on improving their loyalty. The descending resources reform positively affects low-level hospitals’ capability and patient satisfaction. The cost reduction and convenience significantly increase the reform satisfaction. Capability, medical environment, and accessibility of descending doctors are positively associated with the satisfaction with low-level hospitals. This paper evidences that the descending resources reform is an effective way to reallocate resources in supply side of health service market and reshape patients’ choice of care providers with the accessibility and spillover of descending human capital.
The Pervasive Constitution: The Constitution Outside of the Courts
Authors: Appleby Gabrielle , MacDonnell Vanessa , Synot Eddie
Published: September 2020

The constitution pervades the governance practices of a state, far beyond its application and interpretation in the courts. This Special Issue draws together a field of scholarship that considers these extrajudicial dimensions of constitutional practice to reveal a very different constitution to the juridified version. It is a more complex, dynamic and pervasive vision of the constitution, focused on the ongoing relationships of a broader set of constitutional institutions and actors. These relationships are mediated by the legal and political dimensions of the constitution and by the narratives and symbolism that grow up around it. In this introduction, we explore three themes of the pervasive constitution: the importance of constitutional narratives and symbols, the multiplicity of constitutional actors and the relational nature of constitutionalism. This recalibrated understanding of the constitution reveals constitutional actors and power dynamics that are often invisible in more traditional accounts of constitutionalism. This recalibration is particularly important in addressing contemporary constitutional challenges. In settler systems hoping to decolonise, courts have proven important but insufficient sites of constitutional change, and it is in political spaces that new constitutional stories can be told, stories which acknowledge the full sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and their claim to territory. In countries experiencing democratic backsliding, extrajudicial actors have been championed as the backstops to democracy and human rights. We argue that only by understanding the space outside the courts will we appreciate the breadth of new constitutional possibilities.
Indigenous Constitutionalism and Dispute Resolution Outside the Courts: An Invitation
Authors: Drake Karen
Published: September 2020

The Supreme Court of Canada’s jurisprudence on constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights filters Indigenous laws through the lens of liberal constitutionalism, resulting in distortions of Indigenous law. To overcome this constitutional capture, this article advocates for an institution that facilitates dispute resolution between Canadian governments and Indigenous peoples grounded in Indigenous constitutionalism. To avoid a pan-Indigenous approach, this article focuses on Anishinaabe constitutionalism as one example of Indigenous constitutionalism. It highlights points of contrast between Anishinaabe constitutionalism’s and liberalism’s foundational norms and dispute resolution procedures. This article argues that a hybrid institution—combining features of both liberalism and Indigenous constitutionalism—would merely reproduce the constitutional capture of Aboriginal rights jurisprudence. It also illustrates how the procedures of talking circles—which are one means of giving effect to persuasive compliance—promote the voice of all involved. Finally, this article argues that from the perspective of Anishinaabe constitutionalism, the non-binding nature of the processes offered by the new institution would be a strength, not a drawback.
The influence of social achievement goals on academic engagement: a cross-sectional survey in a Namibian primary school
Authors: Goagoses Naska , Itenge Helvi , Winschiers-Theophilus Heike , Koglin Ute
Published: September 2020

Achievement goal researchers have primarily focused on mastery and performance goals, while goals concerning the social reasons for wanting to achieve academically have only been minimally explored. The aim of the current study was to extend previous research, by investigating the influence of social achievement goals on different types of academic engagement. Namibian primary school students ( N = 117) answered questionnaires regarding their mastery, performance, and work avoidance achievement goals, their social achievement goals (i.e., affiliation, approval, concern, responsibility, status), and their academic engagement (i.e., behavioral, emotional, agentic). Hierarchical regression analyses, that controlled for the effects of mastery, performance, and work avoidance achievement goals, prior achievement, as well as grade-level, revealed that social achievement goals were able to account for a significant additional proportion of variance in engagement. Social status goals predicted behavioral engagement, while social concern goals predicted emotional and agentic engagement. Our findings indicate that social achievement goals are a distinct construct that can contribute to the current understanding of student motivation and academic engagement.
Fronts Matter: The Effectiveness of an “Edited Book” Project in Classical Theory
Authors: Yavuz Devrim Adam
Published: September 2020

The instruction of classical sociological theory at Lehman College of the City University of New York (CUNY) underwent significant transformation to make it more activity-based and better aligned with departmental learning goals. The article focuses on the effectiveness of an “edited book” project that came of this endeavor, where students become editors and curate “chapters” on a topic by identifying journal articles from specific sociological traditions to then write the “book’s introduction.” In addition to situating the project within the sociology curriculum and scholarship on sociological literacy, the article presents assessment results that revealed improvement in learning outcomes. The latter suggests that discipline-specific writing and literacy activities can be as effective as informal assignments even in anxiety-inducing courses like theory. This is encouraging given Lehman College’s role as a commuter campus, which makes the instructional strategy applicable in a wide range of programs.
The Socialist Bratwurst: East German Urbanism and Its Reemergence in the Present
Authors: Fox Samantha
Published: September 2020

This article examines defining features of East German urban planning—primarily the housing complex and the city/settlement binary—and their relationship to Eisenhüttenstadt, a city founded in 1950 as Stalinstadt, an East German socialist utopia. Today Eisenhüttenstadt is home to a novel form of urban renewal in which architects and planners look to the socialist past for inspiration as they imagine a new urban future. I examine the history of socialist urbanism as it was implemented in Eisenhüttenstadt, as well as how residents and urban planners came to understand socialist urbanism in the years immediately following German reunification. I then examine an urban renewal program, started in 2014, that explicitly draws on the socialist past. In doing so, I aim to consider the socialist city not as an architectural form but as a set of practices, spatial imaginations, and ethical commitments that can be reanimated even in a capitalist sociopolitical context.
A Comparison of Multimedia and Traditional Paper Assignments in an Introductory Psychology Course
Authors: Riordan Monica A. , Abo-Zebiba Zamen , Marsh Joseph
Published: September 2020

Background:

Multimedia creation and curation for assignments have the potential to engage students in deeper learning.

Objective:

This study explored whether the same homework assignments delivered in paper versus multimedia format resulted in different student experiences.

Method:

Introductory psychology students submitted either traditional papers or multimedia projects to address the same assignment prompt, a process that was repeated seven times throughout four courses and was either instructor-determined or student-selected. Students were surveyed about the assignment formats, and assignment grades were analyzed.

Results:

Overall, students found the multimedia assignments more engaging, more enjoyable, more interesting, and more difficult than paper assignments. When assignments were instructor-determined, students reported higher perceived learning for the multimedia assignments. Assignment grades were not significantly different between assignment formats.

Conclusion and teaching implications:

These results suggest that moving traditional paper assignments into a multimedia format is a no-cost way to improve the student experience.
Translating from Greek as Source Language? The Lasting Influence of Latin on New Testament Translation
Authors: Förster Hans
Published: September 2020

Translational choices in New Testament translation appear to be influenced far more strongly by the Latin tradition and Martin Luther’s towering translation than hitherto acknowledged. This contribution uses examples from the synoptic gospels to trace the influence of Martin Luther, the Vulgate, Erasmus and the Old Latin version of the New Testament in current dictionaries like the Bauer/Aland and BDAG.
The Gospel of John as Model for Literate Authors and their Texts in Epistula Apostolorum and Apocryphon of James (NHC I,2)
Authors: Lindenlaub Julia D.
Published: September 2020

The Gospel of John (GJohn) bears a striking resemblance to two later Jesus books, Epistula Apostolorum (EpAp) and Apocryphon of James (ApocrJas) (NHC I,2), in making authority claims that appeal to the socio-cultural significance of the textual medium. In all three, these claims are twofold: (1) internally ascribing authorship to representative figures of the early Jesus tradition portrayed as literate; (2) explicitly emphasizing the written medium of these authors’ compositions. GJohn can provide an instructive model for understanding these features in EpAp and ApocrJas, as both are demonstrably familiar with GJohn. EpAp and ApocrJas consequently can be examined alongside GJohn’s editorial expansion in ch. 21 as examples of early readers and users of GJohn exhibiting comparable claims regarding literate authors and their texts – applied to the Beloved Disciple (GJohn), the ‘Eleven’ apostles (EpAp) and James (ApocrJas).
Examining How Students with Visual Impairments Navigate Accessible Documents
Authors: Singleton Korey J. , Neuber Kristine S.
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

This exploratory study examined how students with visual impairments navigate accessible Word and PDF documents.

Methods:

Using a combination of video observations and semi-structured interviews, data were collected on participants’ expressed and observed interactions with accessible Word and PDF documents.

Results:

Using a technique called summative content analysis, four core themes emerged from the findings: useful navigation elements or features (expressed and observed), strategies for navigating accessible documents, barriers to access, and coping strategies.

Discussion:

The findings suggest practical strategies for training participants to navigate accessible documents. Additionally, they identify the structural elements (i.e., headings, alternative text, etc.) most useful to the study’s participants when navigating accessible documents.

Implications for practitioners:

As suggested by the findings of this study, universities should implement targeted training initiatives for faculty on basic document accessibility, which could include clearly defining the accessibility features included in a document. Likewise, targeted assistive technology training for students with visual impairments on how to access these elements could increase reading efficiency and reduce cognitive load.
Trajectories of Informal Caregiving to the Oldest-old: A One-year Follow-up Study
Authors: Alves Sara , Ribeiro Oscar , Paúl Constança
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to analyze caregivers and care recipients’ health characteristics and caregiving context changes during a one-year follow-up. A total of 204 informal caregivers and oldest-old care recipients ( ≥ 80 years) were assessed on two occasions, 12 months apart. Information was retrieved on the dyad’s sociodemographic profile, caregiver’s health/caregiving outcomes, care recipients’ dependency level, and caregiving context. Descriptive analysis was performed for all variables and comparisons between the two moments using paired t tests or McNemar tests. Caregiving hours, caregiver burden, and negative aspects of caregiving got significantly worse over one year. The number of unmet needs, in-home services utilization, and self-perception of mental health improved. Care recipients declined in their functional and health status and on their cognitive performance. This study provides information about caregiving trajectory changes over one year and stresses a probable caregiver adaptation even when facing increasing caregiving demands.
Resilience, Moral Distress, and Workplace Engagement in Emergency Department Nurses
Authors: Clark Paul , Crawford Timothy N. , Hulse Brandonn , Polivka Barbara J.
Published: September 2020

This cross-sectional, correlational study’s purpose was to evaluate the effects of resilience and moral distress on workplace engagement in emergency department nurses providing direct patient care. Data were collected from 175 emergency department nurses using a Web-based survey. The higher the nurses’ resilience and the lower their moral distress, the greater their workplace engagement. Resilience and moral distress were not correlated; furthermore, moral distress did not mediate a relationship between resilience and workplace engagement. Resilience was higher with greater job satisfaction, increased age, and longer tenure as a nurse. Workplace engagement increased with higher job satisfaction and less time seeking other employment. Moral distress scores were higher in nurses reporting lower job satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis revealed that resilience, job satisfaction, and moral distress were independent predictors of workplace engagement. Interventions that improve resilience and job satisfaction and/or lower moral distress may improve workplace engagement of emergency department nurses.
The Impact of the Contextual Fit Enhancement Protocol on Behavior Support Plan Fidelity and Student Behavior
Authors: Monzalve Manuel , Horner Robert H.
Published: September 2020

The contextual fit of a behavior support plan refers to the extent that the procedures of the plan are consistent with the knowledge, values, skills, resources, and administrative support of those who are expected to implement the plan. This study used a concurrent multiple baseline design across four participants to assess the presence of a functional relation between introduction of the Contextual Fit Enhancement Protocol, an intervention designed to improve contextual fit, and (a) an increase in fidelity of support plan implementation and (b) improved student behavior. Results indicate that following implementation of the Contextual Fit Enhancement Protocol, support plan implementation fidelity increased and student problem behavior decreased. In addition, teachers participating in the study rated the contextual fit intervention process as effective and efficient. Limitations and implications for future research, practice, and training are discussed.
NHS charging for maternity care in England: Its impact on migrant women
Authors: Feldman Rayah
Published: September 2020

NHS charging for ‘overseas visitors’ is recognised as deterring migrants from accessing necessary health care. Even though maternity care does not have to be paid in advance, fear of four-figure bills and Home Office sanctions against people with unpaid debts has significant adverse effects on women affected. Undocumented migrant women, without the right to work or benefits, are among the most excluded and vulnerable people living in the UK today, risking destitution especially in pregnancy. Despite government guidance, hospital charging procedures pay scant attention to the welfare of vulnerable migrants, with women who are unable to pay harassed by debt collectors. Charging such women deters them from accessing maternity care and has a negative impact on their physical and mental health. The article, based on a study of women who were charged, argues that charging for maternity care undermines NHS principles and inherently discriminates against women.
Characterization and comparison of walnut shells-based activated carbons and their adsorptive properties
Authors: Li Xiya , Qiu Jieqiong , Hu Yiqi , Ren Xiaoyuan , He Lu , Zhao Nannan , Ye Ting , Zhao Xueqin
Published: September 2020

The production of low-cost biologically activated carbons (BACs) is urgent need of environmental protection and ecological sustainability. Hence, walnut shells were treated by traditional pyrolysis, direct KOH impregnation and combined activation composed of hydrothermal carbonization and two-step H3PO4- and pyrolysis-activation process to obtain porous carbon with high adsorption capacity. It was found that the best adsorption capacity for iodine and organic dye methylene blue (MB) can be obtained using the KOH impregnation at impregnation ratio of 1:1 or combined activation comprising of 2 h H3PO4 activation and 1 h pyrolysis activation at 1000°C. The produced KOH, H3PO4/pyrolysis activated BACs at the optimum conditions are superior to that of commercial ACs, 9.4 and 1.3 times for MB removal, 4 and 4.5 times for iodine number respectively. Characterization results demonstrated their porous structure with very good textural properties such as high BET surface area (1689.1 m2/g, 1545.3 m2/g) and high total pore volume (0.94 cm3/g, 0.96 cm3/g). The N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm of H3PO4/pyrolysis activated hydrochar suggested the co-existence of micro and meso-pores. Moreover, they are more effective for the removal of Fe(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution than the commercial AC, suggesting a promising application in the field of water treatment.
Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous streams on eggshell membranes of different birds used as biosorbents
Authors: Badillo-Camacho Jessica , Orozco-Guareño Eulogio , Carbajal-Arizaga Gregorio G , Manríquez-Gonzalez Ricardo , Barcelo-Quintal Icela D , Gomez-Salazar Sergio
Published: September 2020

The discharges enriched with heavy metals, particularly Cr(VI), are a serious environmental problem. In this work, it is presented the use of biosorbents from eggshells membranes of ostrich, quail, duck and chicken; the membranes were easily prepared and studied for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. Maximum uptake of 1.41 mmol g−1 membrane permitted the identification of ostrich membrane as the material with the highest Cr(VI) uptake. N2 adsorption experiments permitted to classify ostrich membranes as mesoporous materials, since they had pore size of 14.8 nm. This represented an advantage on the nature of these membranes to be used as biosorbents with respect to other membranes. The adsorption isotherm models such as Langmuir and Freundlich were verified using experimental data. Langmuir model described the adsorption process satisfactorily at pH 1 and 2 whereas Freundlich model fitted data better at pH 3 and 5. The adsorption kinetic data were adjusted to a pseudo-second order kinetic model. TGA results permitted demonstrating a low thermal stability of ostrich membrane, since it starts decomposing at around 50°C due to the fact that membranes have about 60% protein. Through SEM microscopy was possible to observe the morphology of the membrane surfaces before and after Cr(VI) uptake which reflects the textural characteristics of the biosorbent. FTIR and XPS analyses suggested that Cr was adsorbed on ostrich membranes through the amine groups of proteins conforming the fibers of membranes. Despite the oxygen shows higher electronegativity than N, Cr shows more preference toward N due to fact that pH conditions favor the positive charges on the surface of the membrane. Our results make evident that this waste material is a novel and efficient option for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.
Communicated perspective-taking (CPT) and storylistening: Testing the impact of CPT in the context of friends telling stories of difficulty
Authors: Kellas Jody Koenig , Baker Jonathan , Cardwell Megan , Minniear Mackensie , Horstman Haley Kranstuber
Published: September 2020

Grounded in communicated narrative sense-making theory (CNSM), the purpose of the current study was to test the effects of storylisteners’ communicated perspective taking (CPT) on storytellers’ well-being and evaluations of storylisteners’ communication skills in the context of telling stories about difficulty. Pairs of friends ( n = 37) engaged in a storytelling interaction in which one person told a story of a difficult life experience (DLE). Listeners’ CPT was rated by observers using the Communicated Perspective-Taking Rating System (CPTRS) and tellers reported on listeners’ behaviors and their own psychosocial health. Results indicate that observed CPT relates positively to tellers’ perceptions of listeners’ communication competence and CPT, and negatively to listeners’ perceived face threat. Particularly important were the identity validation, agreement, and affective tone dimensions of the CPTRS. The links between observed CPT and communication skills were moderated by the degree to which the DLE was considered upsetting, significant, and based on how often the DLE story had been told. Despite previous research, observed CPT was not related to psychosocial health in the current study.
Predictors of electronic health management information system for improving the quality of care for women and people with disabilities
Authors: Lwoga Edda Tandi , Sangeda Raphael Zozimus , Mushi Restituta
Published: September 2020

The electronic Hospital management Information System (eHMIS) can improve care for vulnerable patients, help collect important disability and maternal health data, and improve the hospital’s overall data management. This study assessed the use of HMIS and factors influencing the usage and behavioral intentions to use the eHMIS at the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT). We investigated both clinical and non-clinical staff (n=69) using tablets and online surveys, with a rate of return of 71.9%. The ICT staff were also interviewed to supplement data from the survey. The survey questionnaire was guided by the updated Information System Success (ISS) model. Most health workers (81.2%) used the eHMIS several times a day to support different decision-making activities. The better educated personnel were more likely to enter data more effectively into eHMIS as compared to their counterparts. Among six predictors, self-efficacy positively influenced self-reported use and user satisfaction of HMIS, while service quality negatively affected self-reported use of eHMIS. The system quality positively influenced health workers to be satisfied with the eHMIS, and user satisfaction positively influenced continued usage intention of the eHMIS. Both user satisfaction and continued usage intention were positively related to individual impact of eHMIS. Individual impact had positive effects on organizational impact of eHMIS. This is a comprehensive study conducted in Tanzania regarding the implementation of eHMIS, and factors influencing post-adoptive use of HMIS to improve quality of care of women and people with disabilities.
Venous thromboembolism in the era of COVID-19
Authors: Kyriakoulis Konstantinos G , Kokkinidis Damianos G , Kyprianou Ioanna A , Papanastasiou Christos A , Archontakis-Barakakis Paraschos , Doundoulakis Ioannis , Bakoyiannis Christos , Giannakoulas George , Palaiodimos Leonidas
Published: September 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) does not only affect the respiratory system but appears to be a systemic disease. Venous thromboembolism is a common manifestation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 with a reported incidence that is significantly higher compared to other acute viral infections. The pathophysiology mechanisms have not been fully explored and autopsy studies might enhance our understanding on this topic. Microthrombi formation occurs mainly in the pulmonary vasculature but can also occur in other organs. The high inflammatory burden related to COVID-19 seems to be associated with the coexisting coagulopathy. Concomitant manifestations of COVID-19, such as severe pneumonia, which has similar clinical presentation with pulmonary embolism (PE), and barriers related to strict isolation protocols are the two main reasons why PE diagnosis might be more challenging in patients with COVID-19. Medical societies have published guidance reports suggesting the administration of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but several questions regarding the optimal acute and long-term treatment of these patients remain unanswered.
From sociology to social theory: Critical cosmopolitanism, modernity, and post-universalism
Authors: Bosco Estevão , Harris Neal
Published: September 2020

This article focuses on the critical cosmopolitan aim of transcending sociology’s provincial outlook, which mistakenly universalizes Western societies’ historical experiences and normative aspirations. The authors argue that a change in perspective, from sociology to social theory, is crucial in this regard. While a sociological inflection carries a primary investment in the analysis of changes cosmopolitanism brings to the social world, social theory addresses the ontological and epistemological features that these changes precipitate. To demonstrate this, the authors offer a condensed reconstruction of critical cosmopolitan sociology, presenting Beck’s foundational formulation, outlining three main criticisms it faces and alternative programs stemming from them, and demonstrating how Delanty’s immanent-transcendent approach overcomes these limitations. To conclude, the authors address a crucial onto-epistemological challenge facing contemporary cosmopolitan scholarship, namely, how to mediate between the particular and the universal.
Effect of action observation therapy on motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis
Authors: Abdelhaleem Naglaa , Taher Samar , Mahmoud Menna , Hendawy Ahmad , Hamed Maged , Mortada Hossam , Magdy Abdullah , Raafat Ezz El-Din Moustafa , Zoukiem Ismail , Elshennawy Shorouk
Published: September 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the evidence of using Action Observation Therapy in the rehabilitation of children with Cerebral Palsy.

Study design:

Systematic review with meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Methods:

For the purpose of identifying relevant studies, six databases were searched from inception until July 2020. The methodological quality was assessed by Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. The outcomes were classified within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning. A pooled meta-analysis was performed on studies that demonstrated homogeneity.

Results:

Twelve randomised controlled trials with 307 participants were included with six of them were included in the meta-analysis. Non-significant difference between the groups was demonstrated by meta-analysis. Results of capacity assessed in post treatment and follow up evaluation were (0.06, –0.22 to 0.34, 95% (CI); P = 0.69 and (–0.35, –0.96 to 0.27, 95% (CI); P = 0.27); respectively. Actual performance in post-treatment and follow up were (0.10, –0.22 to 0.48, 95% (CI); P = 0.62) and (0.01, –0.40 to 0.41, 95% (CI); P = 0.97); respectively. Perceived performance evaluated using (ABILHAND-KIDS) were (0.30, –0.28 to 0.89, 95% (CI); P = 0.31) and (0.15, –0.43 to 0.73, 95% (CI); P = 0.61) for post treatment and follow up; respectively. Overall effect on activity domain was (0.08, –0.11 to 0.28, 95% (CI); P = 0.86) immediately and (0.04, –0.33 to 0.26, 95% (CI); P = 0.49) at follow-up; respectively.

Conclusion:

No evidence of benefit had been found to draw a firm conclusion regarding the effectiveness of action observation therapy in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy due to limitations in methodological quality and variations between studies.
Experiences of augmented arm rehabilitation including supported self-management after stroke: a qualitative investigation
Authors: Schnabel Stefanie , van Wijck Frederike , Bain Brenda , Barber Mark , Dall Philippa , Fleming Alexander , Kerr Andrew , Langhorne Peter , McConnachie Alex , Molloy Kathleen , Stanley Bethany , Young Heather Jane , Kidd Lisa
Published: September 2020

Objective:

To explore the experiences of stroke survivors and their carers of augmented arm rehabilitation including supported self-management in terms of its acceptability, appropriateness and relevance.

Design:

A qualitative design, nested within a larger, multi-centre randomized controlled feasibility trial that compared augmented arm rehabilitation starting at three or nine weeks after stroke, with usual care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants in both augmented arm rehabilitation groups. Normalization Process Theory was used to inform the topic guide and map the findings. Framework analysis was applied.

Setting:

Interviews were conducted in stroke survivors’ homes, at Glasgow Caledonian University and in hospital.

Participants:

17 stroke survivors and five carers were interviewed after completion of augmented arm rehabilitation.

Intervention:

Evidence-based augmented arm rehabilitation (27 additional hours over six weeks), including therapist-led sessions and supported self-management.

Results:

Three main themes were identified: (1) acceptability of the intervention (2) supported self-management and (3) coping with the intervention. All stroke survivors coped well with the intensity of the augmented arm rehabilitation programme. The majority of stroke survivors engaged in supported self-management and implemented activities into their daily routine. However, the findings suggest that some stroke survivors (male >70 years) had difficulties with self-management, needing a higher level of support.

Conclusion:

Augmented arm rehabilitation commencing within nine weeks post stroke was reported to be well tolerated. The findings suggested that supported self-management seemed acceptable and appropriate to those who saw the relevance of the rehabilitation activities for their daily lives, and embedded them into their daily routines.
Beyond ecstasy: Alternative entactogens to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with potential applications in psychotherapy
Authors: Oeri Hans Emanuel
Published: September 2020

The last two decades have seen a revival of interest in the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) as an adjunct to psychotherapy, particularly for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. While clinical results are highly promising, and MDMA is expected to be approved as a treatment in the near future, it is currently the only compound in its class of action that is being actively investigated as a medicine. This lack of alternatives to MDMA may prove detrimental to patients who do not respond well to the particular mechanism of action of MDMA or whose treatment calls for a modification of MDMA’s effects. For instance, patients with existing cardiovascular conditions or with a prolonged history of stimulant drug use may not fit into the current model of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and could benefit from alternative drugs. This review examines the existing literature on a host of entactogenic drugs, which may prove to be useful alternatives in the future, paying particularly close attention to any neurotoxic risks, neuropharmacological mechanism of action and entactogenic commonalities with MDMA. The substances examined derive from the 1,3-benzodioxole, cathinone, benzofuran, aminoindane, indole and amphetamine classes. Several compounds from these classes are identified as potential alternatives to MDMA.
Public Pension Governance and Opportunistic Accounting Choice: A Politico-Economic Approach
Authors: Stalebrink Odd J. , Donatella Pierre
Published: September 2020

The selection of actuarial assumptions used to value state and local government pension liabilities is an important culprit of the looming state and local pension crisis in the U.S. Due to the impact these selection choices have on the value of pension liabilities and annual required contributions (ARC), pension plans are often said to make these choices opportunistically for purposes of freeing up budget resources and making pension funding look better. Using empirical data on 114 state-administered pension plans, this research shows that the likelihood of such opportunistic pension accounting choices (OPAC) increases when the plan is underfunded, organized as a cost-sharing plan, governed by a politically embedded fiduciary body, and when the sponsoring government is surrounded by a high degree of unionization, and is divided in terms of partisan control. The results also show that the likelihood of OPAC decreases when a pension plan is subjected to an audit by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), suggesting that professional gatekeepers can play an important role in limiting the adverse effects of OPAC behavior, including insufficient ARC payments and reduced transparency of governmental financial reports.
A quick look at the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Xue Ling , Li Jiao , Wei Lin , Ma Cuiqing
Published: September 2020

In December 2019, a new respiratory disease manifesting as viral pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China. Isolation and identification of the virus showed that the pathogen causing this disease was a novel coronavirus. On January 12, 2020, the World Health Organization named the novel coronavirus causing the outbreak 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The disease caused by the virus was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Later, the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses formally named this virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus shows strong infectivity and high lethality, arousing widespread concern. As an emerging virus, a comprehensive understanding of SARS-CoV-2 is missing. To provide a reference and a theoretical basis for further study of SARS-CoV-2, recent advances in our understanding of the virus are summarized in this review.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress regulates cell injury in lipopolysaccharide-induced nerve cells
Authors: Li Min , Zhang Ying , Wang Jixing
Published: September 2020

Objective

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common complication of sepsis, and excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is closely correlated with the cell injury caused by sepsis. This study aimed to analyze the possible role of ER stress in SAE cell models.

Methods

PC12 and MES23.5 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect cell viability and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to assess cell apoptosis. In addition, the protein expression levels of ER stress markers [GRP78, CHOP, inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), and PKR-like ER kinase (PERK)] and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3) were analyzed using western blotting.

Results

LPS treatment activated ER stress markers in both the PC12 and MES23.5 cells. The overexpression of GRP78 significantly reduced cell viability and enhanced cell apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. An ER stress inhibitor, 4-PBA, significantly enhanced cell viability and inhibited the cell apoptosis induced by LPS. Therefore, an enhanced unfolded protein response (UPR) and UPR suppression may regulate cell apoptosis.

Conclusions

UPR was shown to be involved in regulating LPS-induced neuron injury. UPR could be a potential therapeutic target in SAE.
Local elasticity of the aorta in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Dec-Gilowska Małgorzata , Trojnar Marcin , Makaruk Bogusław , Mosiewicz-Madejska Barbara , Dzida Grzegorz , Mosiewicz Jerzy
Published: September 2020

Objective

Arterial elasticity is important for assessing the state of an artery. This cross-sectional study aimed to non-invasively examine stiffness parameters of the ascending aorta in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

We studied 58 patients, including 38 with T2DM and 20 controls. The stiffness of the aorta was evaluated during transthoracic echocardiography. Aortic parameters of stiffness, such as the stiffness index, elasticity index, and compliance index, were calculated using the aortic maximal diameter, aortic minimal diameter, and blood pressure.

Results

Pulse pressure values were significantly higher patients with T2DM than in controls. The β index was significantly higher in patients with T2DM lasting for >7 years compared with those with T2DM lasting for <7 years. Mean aortic compliance was significantly lower in patients with a longer duration of diabetes than in those with a shorter duration of diabetes. Aortic elasticity was significantly lower in patients with diabetes and arterial hypertension compared with patients without diabetes with concomitant arterial hypertension.

Conclusions

Patients with T2DM, especially when T2DM is long-term, have increased stiffness and decreased compliance of the ascending aorta. Pulse pressure, which is a cardiovascular risk factor, is also significantly increased in patients with T2DM.
Laying the foundations for lifelong family music practices through Music Early Learning Programs
Authors: Abad Vicky , Barrett Margaret S
Published: September 2020

To lay the foundations for lifelong musical practices, parents need to feel confident using music as a part of their everyday parenting. Music Early Learning Programs (MELPs) can empower parents to use music by laying the foundations for family-based active music-making. Little is known about why parents attend, however, what their aspirations are for their child’s musical engagement now and in the future, or how attendance shapes the way they use music at home. This study investigated parental beliefs, aspirations, and use of music in the home by five families and identified MELP structures that support parenting. The longitudinal case study approach drew on ethnographic methods of data collection. Reasons for attending MELPs were a high value for music, belief that music supports child development, enriched family relationships, and social support. Parental hopes and aspirations from attendance included laying the foundations for lifelong engagement with music. Six MELP structures shaped the way parents used music in the home: voice leading, repertoire, models of interaction, models of attunement and emotional regulation, music use to structure behavior, and models of improvisation. Parental use of MELP experiences at home included singing, music to regulate, and music to scaffold learning.