bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological Research Advances in Vascular Calcification in Diabetes
Authors: Yao Haipeng , Sun Zhen , Zang Guangyao , Zhang Lili , Hou Lina , Shao Chen , Wang Zhongqun
Published: October 2021

Vascular calcification is the transformation of arterial wall mesenchymal cells, particularly smooth muscle cells (SMCs), into osteoblast phenotypes by various pathological factors. Additionally, vascular transformation mediates the abnormal deposition of calcium salts in the vascular wall, such as intimal and media calcification. Various pathological types have been described, such as calcification and valve calcification. The incidence of vascular calcification in patients with diabetes is much higher than that in nondiabetic patients, representing a critical cause of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes. Because basic research on the clinical transformation of vascular calcification has yet to be conducted, this study systematically expounds on the risk factors for vascular calcification, vascular bed differences, sex differences, ethnic differences, diagnosis, severity assessments, and treatments to facilitate the identification of a new entry point for basic research and subsequent clinical transformation regarding vascular calcification and corresponding clinical evaluation strategies.
Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Moringa Leaf Extract
Authors: Abel Saka , Tesfaye Jule Leta , Nagaprasad Nagaraj , Shanmugam R. , Dwarampudi L. Priyanka , Krishnaraj Ramaswamy
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates the technique of biosynthesis of nanoparticles of zinc oxide from the extraction of moringa leaves. Many researchers recognize the use of this method of green culinary technique because it is cost-effective and has no negative impact on the environment; however, this paper focuses on the bacteria chosen for the green synthesis, which was not addressed by many of the researchers. The firmness and reduction of Zn ions in nanoparticles of zinc oxide were analyzed with a UV-visible spectroscope. Its results show that a wide bandgap was observed in the visible region at a wavelength of 350 nanometers. Extraction of moringa leaves serves as a promising agent for the balance of particle size. The result of medical value shows significant antibacterial activity in contrast to the type of pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. From the XRD results, there are no further peaks that correspond to impurities that are discovered, demonstrating the great purity of the provided results.
Reformist Framework for Improving Human Security for Mobile Robots in Industry 4.0
Authors: Singh Rajawat Anand , Bedi Pradeep , Goyal S. B. , Shukla Piyush Kumar , Zaguia Atef , Jain Aakriti , Monirujjaman Khan Mohammad
Published: October 2021

In this paper, the cooperation between human and robot companies plays a significant role in factories, contributing to greater productivity and efficiency. However, this development breaches established safety procedures when the workspaces are separated from the robot and the human being. These changes have been reflected in industrial robotic safety standards for the last 20 years. We have directed the expansion of a broad field of examination, which focuses on avoiding robotic humans’ effects and minimizing associated risks and consequences. The paper depicts an analysis of prominent safety systems projected and implemented in engineering robotic surroundings that contribute to safe, collective work between humans and robots. Besides, the current regulation has introduced a review and new concepts. The discussion includes multidisciplinary approaches such as estimating and evaluating human-robot collision injuries, mechanical equipment and software to minimize human-robot impacts, impact detection systems, and collision prevention strategies and minimizing their impact to proposed approach for Human Security with Mobile Robots in Industry 4.0 using SDN and CPS with GMM-GM machine learning model.
Mathematical Analysis of Application of a Three-Dimensional Printing Fixator in the Fracture of Multiple Ribs
Authors: Zhang Zhigong , Yang Jinsong , Zou Haoyu , Wang Wen , Wu Xiangyi , Lin Xiaojuan
Published: October 2021

Data were obtained from 66 clinical patients. The patients were divided into a non-3D printing group (control group) and a 3D printing group (intervention group) in a 1 : 1 ratio, with 33 patients in each group. The information including gender, age, incision length, number of surgical roots, bleeding volume, operation time, and intraoperative blood transfusion was collected for SPSS analysis. The results showed the following: (1) The paired t-test was used to test the difference of experimental data. There was a significant difference of 0.01 between the incision length/surgical root number in the intervention group and the incision length/surgical root number in the control group. The incision length/surgical root number in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group. (2) Surgical time, intraoperative blood transfusion, age, and incision length/surgical root number in the intervention group had a significant positive impact on the amount of bleeding. Gender did not affect the amount of bleeding. (3) A total of 1 item of operation time in the intervention group had a significant positive impact on intraoperative blood transfusion. (4) The incision length/number of surgical roots in the intervention group had a noteworthy negative impact on blood transfusion during the operation.
Experimental Investigation on the Anticollision Performance of Corrugated Steel‐Reinforced Composites for Bridge Piers
Authors: Chen Guicheng , Huang Haidong , Xiang Zhongfu
Published: October 2021

To reduce the loss of life and property caused by the collision of a ship against a bridge pier, this study proposes a new type of anticollision facility. The facility uses corrugated steel plates and corrugated steel pipes (CSPs), or ordinary steel plates and corrugated steel pipes (OSPs), as structural elements to form a honeycomb structure, which can greatly improve the impact resistance of bridge piers and reduce any damage to ships. To evaluate the anticollision performance of the proposed anticollision facility, this work uses the CSPs and OSPs as study objects in the impact test research. A pendulum impact test system was utilized to compare and analyze the column with CSP and OSP specimens and the column without any anticollision facilities. Test results show that the CSP and OSP specimens have a relatively high energy dissipation effect. When the impact energy is small, the energy dissipation effect of the OSPs with the same plate thickness is stronger than that of the CSPs. When the impact energy is large, the energy dissipation effect of the CSPs with the same plate thickness is stronger than that of the OSPs. In addition, the extreme value analysis method is used to analyze the relationship curve between the peak value of the D1 lateral displacement and the specimen’s plate thickness, weight, and natural frequency; the optimal thickness, weight, and natural frequency values of the CSP and OSP specimens are also deduced. Taking the optimal value of the specimen’s natural frequency as a target, the structure of the CSP and OSP specimens is optimized. When the optimized plate thickness is 2.50 mm, the ratios of the optimal value of the specimen plate thickness, weight, and natural frequency to the optimal calculation value are all in the range of [0.80, 1.12]. OSP and CSP specimens are found to have the best energy dissipation effect. The peak value of the D1 lateral displacement of the top of the column equipped with the CSPs is at least 88.37% lower than that of the column without any anticollision facilities. For the top of the column equipped with the OSPs, the peak value of the D1 lateral displacement is at least 80.37% lower than that of the column without any anticollision facilities. Optimization results show that the extreme value analysis method is suitable for the optimal design of anticollision facilities for piers.
Obesity Animal Models for Acupuncture and Related Therapy Research Studies
Authors: Zhang Xuwen , Val-Laillet David
Published: October 2021

Obesity and related diseases are considered as pandemic representing a worldwide threat for health. Animal models are critical to validate the effects and understand the mechanisms related to classical or innovative preventive and therapeutic strategies. It is, therefore, important to identify the best animal models for translational research, using different evaluation criteria such as the face, construct, and predictive validity. Because the pharmacological treatments and surgical interventions currently used for treating obesity often present many undesirable side effects, relatively high relapse probabilities, acupuncture, electroacupuncture (EA), and related therapies have gained more popularity and attention. Many kinds of experimental animal models have been used for obesity research studies, but in the context of acupuncture, most of the studies were performed in rodent obesity models. Though, are these obesity rodent models really the best for acupuncture or related therapies research studies? In this study, we review different obesity animal models that have been used over the past 10 years for acupuncture and EA research studies. We present their respective advantages, disadvantages, and specific constraints. With the development of research on acupuncture and EA and the increasing interest regarding these approaches, proper animal models are critical for preclinical studies aiming at developing future clinical trials in the human. The aim of the present study is to provide researchers with information and guidance related to the preclinical models that are currently available to investigate the outcomes of acupuncture and related therapies.
A Virtual Reality Algorithm for the Study of Clinical Efficacy of Sports Injury Rehabilitation Training
Authors: Han Yang
Published: October 2021

This paper aims to explore the influence of virtual reality technology interactive rehabilitation training system and PT and OT operation therapy on the exercise function, daily life activity ability (ADL), and the quality of life in patients with a sports injury. In this context, this paper mainly designed three experiments to test the virtual rehabilitation system: two action experiments (experiment 1), two experiments with actions in 3 different positions (experiment 2), and five different actions (experiment 3), and the motion intention recognition rate, average total time, and task completion degree of the three experiments were calculated. The virtual scene and hardware equipment were kept stable, and the human-machine interaction effect was good. The effectiveness of the proposed virtual reality rehabilitation training system is demonstrated from other aspects. The results showed that the average completion time of 5 volunteers was 57.72 seconds, with an average offline accuracy of 89.03%. In experiment 2, the five volunteers averaged 54.98 seconds, with an average offline accuracy of 91.73%. The average recognition accuracy of the training system reached 90%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the virtual reality rehabilitation training system in terms of motor intention recognition rate, average total use time, and task completion.
Construction and Application of the Online Finance Credit Risk Rating Model Based on the Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Mao Yufeng , Wang Zongrun , Li Xing , Li Chenggang , Wang Hanning
Published: October 2021

The low-cost, highly efficient online finance credit provides underfunded individuals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with an indispensable credit channel. Most of the previous studies focus on the client crediting and screening of online finance. Few have studied the risk rating under a complete credit risk management system. This paper introduces the improved neural network technology to the credit risk rating of online finance. Firstly, the study period was divided into the early phase and late phase after the launch of an online finance credit product. In the early phase, there are few manually labeled samples and many unlabeled samples. Therefore, a cold start method was designed for the credit risk rating of online finance, and the similarity and abnormality of credit default were calculated. In the late phase, there are few unlabeled samples. Hence, the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) was improved for online finance credit risk rating. Our strategy was proved valid through experiments.
[Retracted] Foreign Direct Investment, Regional Innovation, and Green Economic Efficiency: An Empirical Test Based on the Investigation of Intermediary Effect and Threshold Effect
Authors: Wu You-Qun , Lu Huai-Xin , Liao Xin-Lin , Liu Jia-Bao , Zhu Jia-Ming
Published: October 2021

Based on the theoretical mechanism analysis of FDI, regional innovation, and green economic efficiency, this article uses China’s provincial panel data to calculate the provincial green economic efficiency level based on the three‐stage DEA method and uses the system GMM model, intermediary effect model, and threshold model to empirically test the specific effects and transmission paths of FDI on the efficiency of the green economy. Research shows that FDI is one of the important factors that promote the improvement of green economic efficiency. Subregional tests have found that FDI has a significant regional heterogeneity in promoting the efficiency of the green economy. The mediation effect test found that the mediation effect of regional innovation is significant, and FDI can significantly promote the growth of green economic efficiency through regional innovation. The threshold effect analysis found that there are significant and effective double thresholds for regional economic levels, and the impact of FDI on green economic efficiency is heterogeneous within different threshold intervals. The research conclusions provide new inspiration for China to allocate FDI more rationally and efficiently under the new development pattern.
Knowledge and Practice of Breast Cancer Screening Methods among Female Community Pharmacists in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ayoub Nehad M. , Al-Taani Ghaith M. , Almomani Basima A. , Tahaineh Linda , Nuseir Khawla , Othman Areej , Mensah Kofi Boamah
Published: October 2021

Objectives. Our study is aimed at exploring the knowledge and personal practice of breast cancer screening among female community pharmacists in Jordan. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a nonrandom sample selection method for pharmacists in community pharmacies. Results. A total of 551 female pharmacists completed the questionnaire. The mean age of pharmacists was

29.1
±
7.3

years (range 21–67), and most have bachelor degrees in pharmacy (89.1%). The mean score of knowledge of breast cancer signs and symptoms was

4.2
±
1.5

out of 6 points (range 0–6). The mean score of knowledge of risk factors was

7.6
±
1.9

out of 12 points (ranging from 2–12). The mean score for knowledge of screening guidelines was

2.8
±
0.9

out of 4 points (range 0–4). Overall, 452 pharmacists (85.8%) had acceptable knowledge while 75 pharmacists (14.2%) had poor knowledge of breast cancer. Pharmacists surveyed were aware of the different screening methods of breast cancer. The percentage of pharmacists who has performed breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography was 46.6%, 16.5%, and 5.4%, respectively. The most common reason for the lack of BSE and CBE performance was the absence of breast symptoms. Not being at the age recommended for mammography was the most common reason for not undergoing this screening method. Knowledge and practice of screening methods were influenced by age, years of experience, geographic region, personal history of breast cancer, and educational level among community pharmacists. Conclusions. This study revealed some gaps in the knowledge of breast cancer among female community pharmacists. The practice of the different screening methods was suboptimal, and variable reasons were indicated for the low uptake of these screening methods. Community pharmacists need to practice preventive behaviors to a satisfactory level to encourage women in the community to adopt similar behavior.
Morphological, Structural, and Optical Bandgap Characterization of Extracted ZnO Nanoparticles from Commercial Paste
Authors: Nabil Mahmoud , Perez-Quintana I. V. , Acosta M. , Mendez-Gamboa J. A. , Castro-Rodriguez R.
Published: October 2021

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were extracted from a commercial paste in both colloidal and precipitate forms. The Zetasizer analysis performed on the colloid showed ZnO NPs ranging from ∼30 nm to ∼100 nm. Thin films of ZnO were deposited on glass substrates by spin‐coating technique from a mixture of the extracted colloid and precipitate. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed uniformly arranged, mesoporous, and nanostructured ZnO particles of different shapes, with an estimated film thickness of 0.67 μm. Analysis by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) confirmed the presence of ZnO in the films, with no impurities or remnants of other materials. The XRD analysis showed a polycrystalline nature of the films and identified a pure phase formation of the hexagonal wurtzite structure. The average crystallite size calculated from the diffraction peaks is ∼43.25 nm. The calculated crystal tensile strain is 1.954 × 10−3, which increases the crystal volume by 0.728% compared with the crystal volume of standard ZnO. The calculated crystal parameters are a = b = 3.258 Å and c = 5.217 Å. The calculated dislocation density (d) and bond length Zn–O (L) are 5.35 × 10−4 nm−2 and 2.695 Å, respectively. Ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectra showed an optical band gap of ∼3.80 eV.
Implementing Biological Pacemakers: Design Criteria for Successful Transition From Concept to Clinic
Authors: Komosa Elizabeth R. , Wolfson David W. , Bressan Michael , Cho Hee Cheol , Ogle Brenda M.
Published: October 2021

Each heartbeat that pumps blood throughout the body is initiated by an electrical impulse generated in the sinoatrial node (SAN). However, a number of disease conditions can hamper the ability of the SAN′s pacemaker cells to generate consistent action potentials and maintain an orderly conduction path, leading to arrhythmias. For symptomatic patients, current treatments rely on implantation of an electronic pacing device. However, complications inherent to the indwelling hardware give pause to categorical use of device therapy for a subset of populations, including pediatric patients or those with temporary pacing needs. Cellular-based biological pacemakers, derived in vitro or in situ, could function as a therapeutic alternative to current electronic pacemakers. Understanding how biological pacemakers measure up to the SAN would facilitate defining and demonstrating its advantages over current treatments. In this review, we discuss recent approaches to creating biological pacemakers and delineate design criteria to guide future progress based on insights from basic biology of the SAN. We emphasize the need for long-term efficacy in vivo via maintenance of relevant proteins, source-sink balance, a niche reflective of the native SAN microenvironment, and chronotropic competence. With a focus on such criteria, combined with delivery methods tailored for disease indications, clinical implementation will be attainable.
Rare, Damaging DNA Variants in
CORIN
and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease: Insights From Functional Genomics and Large-Scale Sequencing Analyses
Authors: Wang Minxian , Lee-Kim Vivian S. , Atri Deepak S. , Elowe Nadine H. , Yu John , Garvie Colin W. , Won Hong-Hee , Hadaya Joseph E. , MacDonald Bryan T. , Trindade Kevin , Melander Olle , Rader Daniel J. , Natarajan Pradeep , Kathiresan Sekar , Kaushik Virendar K. , Khera Amit V. , Gupta Rajat M.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Corin is a protease expressed in cardiomyocytes that plays a key role in salt handling and intravascular volume homeostasis via activation of natriuretic peptides. It is unknown if Corin loss-of-function (LOF) is causally associated with risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods:

We analyzed all coding
CORIN
variants in an Italian case-control study of CAD. We functionally tested all 64 rare missense mutations in Western Blot and Mass Spectroscopy assays for proatrial natriuretic peptide cleavage. An expanded rare variant association analysis for Corin LOF mutations was conducted in whole exome sequencing data from 37 799 CAD cases and 212 184 controls.

Results:

We observed LOF variants in
CORIN
in 8 of 1803 (0.4%) CAD cases versus 0 of 1725 controls (
P
, 0.007). Of 64 rare missense variants profiled, 21 (33%) demonstrated <30% of wild-type activity and were deemed damaging in the 2 functional assays for Corin activity. In a rare variant association study that aggregated rare LOF and functionally validated damaging missense variants from the Italian study, we observed no association with CAD—21 of 1803 CAD cases versus 12 of 1725 controls with adjusted odds ratio of 1.61 ([95% CI, 0.79–3.29];
P
=0.17). In the expanded sequencing dataset, there was no relationship between rare LOF variants with CAD was also observed (odds ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.89–1.49];
P
=0.30). Consistent with the genetic analysis, we observed no relationship between circulating Corin concentrations with incident CAD events among 4744 participants of a prospective cohort study—sex-stratified hazard ratio per SD increment of 0.96 ([95% CI, 0.87–1.07],
P
=0.48).

Conclusions:

Functional testing of missense mutations improved the accuracy of rare variant association analysis. Despite compelling pathophysiology and a preliminary observation suggesting association, we observed no relationship between rare damaging variants in
CORIN
or circulating Corin concentrations with risk of CAD.
Dualities of Form: Considerations of Functional and Narrative Aspects of Design for Data Visualization
Authors: Samara Timothy
Published: October 2021

Design expertise's true value is its capacity to render complex information understandable and compelling. To make informed decisions, lay audiences depend on the clarity and resonance of data displays. But these, as created by scientists, journalists, and policy researchers, often contradict principles understood by designers to effectively and convincingly communicate data through visual means. Design education and practice insist that visual form conveys the nature of content, or data, on both objectively functional and narrative levels. This article addresses established best practices for creating clear, functional data displays, using form to clarify data's relevance and reveal its intricacy without distortion. It further advocates exploiting form's narrative potential—to qualify and contextualize information, thus enhancing how viewers internalize data, accept its veracity, and invest interest in its meaning. The author posits balancing this formal duality within data visualizations to best engage and resonate with lay audiences, and so catalyze their participation in the world around them.
The relationship between apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and essential hypertension and the analysis of the efficacy of nanotechnology
Authors: Qin Guannan , Xie Xingyu , Liu Ying , Dai Chuanyang
Published: October 2021

The study aimed to detect the genetic polymorphism of apolipoprotein E (Apo E) in residents of Guizhou, China, explore its relationship with essential hypertension, and discuss the efficacy of nanotechnology in the treatment of hypertension. A total of 200 people in Guizhou, China were
detected with Apo E polymorphisms and were divided into groups, The experimental group consists of people with essential hypertension and the control group of normal people. The SPSS 26.0 software was used to determine the correlation between Apo E gene polymorphisms and the essential hypertension
risk. Logistic regression analysis was adopted to determine the risk factors of the Apo E gene for essential hypertension. Magnetic nanoparticles are used to help extract DNA, improve efficiency, and analyze the distribution of alleles in the population. The distribution frequencies of the
six genotypes of E2/2, E2/3, E3/3, E3/4, E2/4, and E4/4 were 1.0%, 15.5%, 64.0%, 17.0%, 1.5%, and 1.0%, respectively, and the distribution frequencies of the three alleles of ε2, ε3, and ε4 were 9.5%, 80.3%, and 10.3%, respectively. There are more Apo E gene
ε4 carriers in the experimental group than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The Apo E ε4 allele carriers had higher low-density lipoprotein and Apo B levels than the Apo E ε3 and Apo E ε2 gene
carriers. Family history of hypertension and Apo E ε4 were both the main risk factors for essential hypertension. This study investigated the relationship between apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and essential hypertension, and extracted DNA by magnetic nanoparticles to help analyze
the distribution of alleles in hypertension population, which could provide theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of essential hypertension in Guizhou Province, China.
In situ thermoresponsive curcumin-loaded dual polymeric nanoassemblies for wound healing and care of femoral fracture after surgery
Authors: Liu Fang , Wei Jie-Mei , Yan Yuying
Published: October 2021

Approximately 6.3 million fractures occur annually in the United States. Fractures (for example, hip fractures) occur in 2.4% population per year. A new clinical solution to this issue is the use of biomaterials with a dual purpose of bone healing and prevention of infection. In this
study, advanced biomedical curcumin nanoparticles combined with a copolymeric matrix that had a dual function were developed and shown to promote antiinflammatory, functional recovery, and successful neuroprotective effects. The application of curcumin nanoparticles packaged in a thermoresponsive
drug carrier device improves sustainability, bioavailability of blood, longevity, and biocompatibility. This nanocomposite showed enhancement of neuroprotection, axonal growth performance, and theoretically, functional recovery at the location of femoral fracture injury, by curcumin-primed
polycaprolactone (PCL) (Cur-CS@PCL). Various microscopic methods (SEM, TEM, and LS) verified the morphology and shape of the manufactured Cur-CS@PCL nanoassemblies. In addition to these membranes being used at different temperatures, they improved the drug charge films and exhibited better-regulated
release profiles for Cur. Thus, our data provide a simple hybrid clinical approach for the prevention and rehabilitation of femoral fractures in humans.
A Novel Machine Learning–Based Gap-Filling of Fine-Resolution Remotely Sensed Snow Cover Fraction Data by Combining Downscaling and Regression
Authors: Yatheendradas Soni , Kumar Sujay
Published: October 2021

Satellite-based remotely sensed observations of snow cover fraction (SCF) can have data gaps in spatially distributed coverage from sensor and orbital limitations. We mitigate these limitations in the example fine-resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data by gap-filling using auxiliary 1-km datasets that either aid in downscaling from coarser-resolution (5 km) MODIS SCF wherever not fully covered by clouds, or else by themselves via regression wherever fully cloud covered. This study’s prototype predicts a 1-km version of the 500-m MOD10A1 SCF target. Due to noncollocatedness of spatial gaps even across input and auxiliary datasets, we consider a recent gap-agnostic advancement of partial convolution in computer vision for both training and predictive gap-filling. Partial convolution accommodates spatially consistent gaps across the input images, effectively implementing a two-dimensional masking. To overcome reduced usable data from noncollocated spatial gaps across inputs, we innovate a fully generalized three-dimensional masking in this partial convolution. This enables a valid output value at a pixel even if only a single valid input variable and its value exist in the neighborhood covered by the convolutional filter zone centered around that pixel. Thus, our gap-agnostic technique can use significantly more examples for training (∼67%) and prediction (∼100%), instead of only less than 10% for the previous partial convolution. We train an example simple three-layer legacy super-resolution convolutional neural network (SRCNN) to obtain downscaling and regression component performances that are better than baseline values of either climatology or MOD10C1 SCF as relevant. Our generalized partial convolution can enable multiple Earth science applications like downscaling, regression, classification, and segmentation that were hindered by data gaps.
A Single-Column Model Evaluation of Mixing Length Formulations and Constraints for the sa-TKE-EDMF Planetary Boundary Layer Parameterization
Authors: Strobach Edward J.
Published: October 2021

Parameterizing boundary layer turbulence is a critical component of numerical weather prediction and the representation of turbulent mixing of momentum, heat, and other tracers. The components that make up a boundary layer scheme can vary considerably, with each scheme having a combination of processes that are physically represented along with tuning parameters that optimize performance. Isolating a component of a PBL scheme to examine its impact is essential for understanding the evolution of boundary layer profiles and their impact on the mean structure. In this study we conduct three experiments with the scale-aware TKE eddy-diffusivity mass-flux (sa-TKE-EDMF) scheme: 1) releasing the upper limit constraints placed on mixing lengths, 2) incrementally adjusting the tuning coefficient related to wind shear in the modified Bougeault and Lacarrere (BouLac) mixing length formulation, and 3) replacing the current mixing length formulations with those used in the MYNN scheme. A diagnostic approach is adopted to characterize the bulk representation of turbulence within the residual layer and boundary layer in order to understand the importance of different terms in the TKE budget as well as to assess how the balance of terms changes between mixing length formulations. Although our study does not seek to determine the best formulation, it was found that strong imbalances led to considerably different profile structures both in terms of the resolved and subgrid fields. Experiments where this balance was preserved showed a minor impact on the mean structure regardless of the turbulence generated. Overall, it was found that changes to mixing length formulations and/or constraints had stronger impacts during the day while remaining partially insensitive during the evening.
Labor Noncompete Agreements: Tool for Economic Efficiency or Means to Extract Value from Workers?
Authors: Balan David J.
Published: October 2021

A number of theoretical arguments have been offered in favor of noncompete provisions in labor agreements. While there has been considerable empirical research on the effects of those provisions, there has been little direct evaluation of the arguments themselves. In this article, I lay out and evaluate three commonly heard arguments, namely, (1) the voluntary nature of labor agreements justifies a strong inference that the terms of those agreements, including noncompete provisions, are beneficial for both workers and firms and that they are economically efficient, 2( A) noncompetes facilitate efficient knowledge transfer from firms to workers, and 2( B) noncompetes encourage efficient firm-sponsored investment in worker training. These arguments, though not entirely without merit, mostly do not survive close scrutiny, and in fact such scrutiny reveals strong arguments that point in the opposite direction. In addition, noncompetes may cause important additional harms that are not measured in conventional economic research.
How and When job Security Reduces Resistance to Change in the Context of Organizational Change
Authors: Feng Cailing , Cooper Brian , Zhu Cherrie Jiuhua
Published: October 2021

Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this study highlights why and when job security may decrease resistance to change during the organizational change process. Data were collected from 23 subsidiaries in a large manufacturing group enterprise based in a coastal city in eastern China. A three-wave design was used to mirror the different stages in the change process, valid data were received from 469 employees and 86 supervisors. Results showed that job security was negatively related to resistance to change, and this effect was mediated through affective commitment to change. We also found that procedural justice plays a moderating role in the relationship between job security and affective commitment to change and that environmental uncertainty also moderates the relationship between affective commitment to change and resistance to change. This study is quite timely and would have the potential to benefit the practice of change management in organizations.
Occlusal Trauma Induces Neuroimmune Crosstalk for a Pain State
Authors: Abdalla H.B. , Napimoga M.H. , Trindade-da-Silva C.A. , Guimarães M. , Lopes M. , dos Santos P.C.V. , Buarque e Silva W.A. , Andrade e Silva F. , Clemente-Napimoga J.T.
Published: October 2021

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder caused by occlusal trauma is one of the most controversial topics in dentistry. Experimental traumatic occlusion (ETO) induced by metal crowns cemented to mandibular first molars in rats causes a long-lasting nociceptive response. This study aimed to elucidate whether ETO generates an increase in inflammatory mediators in the TMJ. In addition, the impact of ETO on trigeminal ganglia, neurotransmitter release, and satellite glial cell (SGC) activation was investigated. ELISA revealed enhanced inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CX3CL1, and ADAM-17 by Western blotting, in periarticular TMJ tissue after 28 d of ETO. In the trigeminal ganglia, ETO groups increased the release of the neurotransmitters substance P and glutamate. Overexpression of the AMPA receptor and upregulation of NMDA were observed in the 0.4- and 0.7-mm ETO groups, respectively, highlighting enhanced neuronal excitation. Increased IL-1β and COX-2 mRNA levels in the 0.7-mm ETO group confirmed trigeminal ganglia SGC activation. Immunofluorescence and electrophoresis of SGC revealed increased pERK expression in the 0.7-mm ETO group. ERK phosphorylation was shown to be nociceptive specific, with its upregulation occurring in cases of chronic inflammatory pain. Increased PKA mRNA levels were observed in the 0.4-mm ETO group, while CREB mRNA levels were upregulated for both ETO groups. Electrophoresis showed overexpression of sodium channel Nav 1.7 in the 0.7-mm ETO group, while immunofluorescence revealed that Nav 1.7 is expressed in sensory trigeminal ganglia cells. The results of this study suggest that occlusal trauma induces neuroimmune crosstalk, with synthesis of proinflammatory/pronociceptive mediators, which increases neuronal activity in trigeminal ganglia via the activation of an inflammatory response cascade to develop a persistent neuroinflammatory state that leads to central sensitization.
The Development of an Interpersonal Stressors Scale: Identifying Self-Imposed and Other-Imposed Interpersonal Stressors
Authors: Wang Danni , Tian Lu , Hou Zhi-jin , Zhou Jiang-Ping , Zhao Adam , Zhang Hang
Published: October 2021

While there has been research focused on interpersonal relationships and their impact on stress and well-being, no instrument has been developed to comprehensively evaluate interpersonal stressors. This research sought to develop and validate an Interpersonal Stressors Scale (ISS) for Chinese college students through three studies. Focus groups were used to generate the initial item pool (Study 1). Then two large samples ( N1 = 511; N2 = 330) were collected to explore the factor structure of the ISS and subsequently examine its reliability and validity estimates (study 2 and 3). Initial results indicated a model with 27 items and five first-order factors (interaction difficulty, behaving as expected, social criticism, relationship maintenance, and indebtedness avoidance) as well as two second-order factors (self-imposed stressors and other-imposed stressors) with strong psychometric properties. Criterion-related validity estimates indicated these two kinds of stressors were both associated with stress while having different relationships with general anxiety, depression, social anxiety, interpersonal satisfaction, and self-efficacy in social interactions. The nature and function of the structure for the ISS were discussed as well as the practical and research implications.
Expanding Reach of Occupational Health Knowledge: Contributing Subject-Matter Expertise to Wikipedia as a Class Assignment
Authors: Ceballos Diana M. , Herrick Robert F. , Carreón Tania , Nguyen Vy T. , Chu MyDzung T. , Sadowski John P. , Blumenthal Helaine , Morata Thais C.
Published: October 2021

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and several university programs have collaborated on a large effort to expand and improve occupational safety and health content in Wikipedia using a platform developed by Wiki Education. This article describes the initiative, student contributions, and evaluations of this effort by instructors from two universities between 2016 and 2020. The Wiki Education platform allowed instructors to set timelines and track students’ progress throughout the semester while students accessed training to best expand health content in Wikipedia. Students chose topics in occupational health based on their interests and by a set of topics deemed as a priority by the “WikiProject Occupational Safety and Health.” Students’ contributions were peer-reviewed by instructors, NIOSH Wikipedians-in-Residence, and traditional Wikipedians. Students presented their projects in class at the end of the semester. Students from both schools expanded 55 articles, created 8 new articles, and translated 2 articles to Spanish, adding 1270 references; these articles were viewed over 8 million times by May 2020. Feedback received from the implementation suggested that students learned about science communication and digital literacy—providing valuable content on occupational health while reducing misinformation in the public domain. The process of identifying and addressing gaps in occupational health in Wikipedia requires participation and engagement toward improving access to information that otherwise would be restricted to the scientific literature, often behind a paywall. The Wikipedia assignment proved to be an engaging approach for instruction and information literacy. It helped students improve their science communication skills and digital literacy, tools that are likely to be critical for successful communication of science in their future careers.
Not whole without us: Including people with disabilities in our understanding of the church, the gospel, and the world
Authors: Scheuermann Rochelle
Published: October 2021

The Lausanne Movement famously organizes Evangelicals around the need for “the whole Church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.” Years of reflection on what this means has led the movement to make more and more explicit statements about who is included in mission, what that mission looks like, and whom that mission is directed toward. In its most recent statement, the Cape Town Commitment expressly calls for us to “think not only of mission among those with a disability but to recognize, affirm and facilitate the missional calling of believers with disabilities themselves as part of the Body of Christ.” This is the first time that people with disabilities are explicitly included in this evangelical conversation and yet, though it has been over 10 years since Cape Town, scholarship on what this means in terms of theology, ecclesiology, and missiology remains underdeveloped. This article explains why disability must be part of our understanding of whole church, whole gospel, and whole world, and will suggest that when it is, we will change the ways in which we talk about and do mission.
The Discount Rate Used in the Current Expected Credit Loss Standard Creates Accounting Losses Where There Are No Economic Losses
Authors: Ronen Joshua
Published: October 2021

The Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standard that goes into effect for major banks in 2020 contains a serious conceptual error. Using the contractual rate rather than the hurdle rate (the competitive rate on a loan for which there is no expected loss) as the rate to discount expected cash collections gives rise to accounting losses where no economic losses exist. This can have a profound effect on required capital and hence lending, especially in economically depressed episodes.
Apportioned city: Gendered delineations of asylum, work and violence in Cape Town
Authors: Hall Suzanne , Nyamnjoh Henrietta , Cirolia Liza Rose
Published: October 2021

This paper addresses what it means to live with acutely restricted access to the city in the process of seeking urban asylum in post-apartheid South Africa. Our concept of apportionment specifies the gendered and racialised diminishment of space and time in the context of exclusionary and everyday violence. We focus on how the delineation and reduction of space and time is feminised, through the working lives of refugee and asylum-seeking women from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who live in Cape Town. Their embodied experiences incorporate the resonance of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, further sharpening their careful movements across Cape Town’s segregated geographies. Drawing on our conversations with non-governmental organisations and self-employed women over a nine-month period in 2020, we highlight how the deferral of refuge compounds precarity, significantly affecting women and those who are sexually minoritised. In connecting how state apportionment maps onto urban apportionment we reveal how an ecology of violence – of spatialised segregation, xenophobia and sexual violence – establishes a corporeal power that constrains access to the city. Crucially, these women deploy counter practices of apportionment and their precisely attuned navigations add to our understanding of the agile repertoires of working the city.
Wear behaviour of polymeric materials reinforced with man-made fibres: A comprehensive review about fibre volume fraction influence on wear performance
Authors: Zaghloul Moustafa Mahmoud Yousry , Steel Karen , Veidt Martin , Heitzmann Michael T
Published: October 2021

In the mineral processing, mining, oil and gas industries, it is not uncommon to find mechanical components exposed to degradation and wear from slurries. Polymeric matrix composites (PMCs) are considered as potential alternatives to replace metallic materials in such severe environments because of their high strength to weight ratio, ease of production, high wear resistance and good corrosion/chemical resistance. Often, seemingly erratic wear behaviour is observed making preventive maintenance and time-to-failure difficult to manage. A major culprit is the complex physical and chemical interaction with the slurry, such as exposure to high temperatures, high alkalinity, high slurry density, insoluble inorganic contents, high hardness of suspended particles and humidity. It is well understood that the addition of reinforcing fibres greatly improves the stiffness and strength of polymeric matrix composites. However, the effect the reinforcement has on the wear performance is far less established and a framework to analyse the effect of fibre volume fraction is yet to be established. The difficulties in establishing such a framework lay in the multi-factorial contributions and the potential trade-offs with mechanical performance. This makes it much more difficult to isolate clear trends. The objective of the present work is to present a comprehensive review on the influence reinforcing fibres play on wear behaviour of PMCs. The influence of fibre volume fraction on wear performance of polymeric composites reinforced with man-made fibres is presented. The applied load, fibre length, coefficient of friction and chemical treatment of fibres are analysed with respect to wear performance of PMCs. Future trends in the use of fibre-reinforced polymeric composites in wear critical applications are identified. Research gaps in designing composites for wear applications are explained, aiming at motivating future research to address these gaps.
On the Role of Teacher Unions in Social Justice
Authors: Apple Michael W.
Published: October 2021

In an earlier essay in the Reviewing Policy section of this journal, I examined many of the major arguments for social justice teacher unionism. This combines both more traditional union concerns over wages, working conditions, professional autonomy, and respect with a much more concerted focus by unions on social justice issues in schools, communities, and the larger society. The importance of such a commitment and what it actually looks like is evident in the book under discussion here. Teacher Unions and Social Justice is one of a deservedly well-respected and growing series of volumes published by Rethinking Schools. The entire series constitutes substantive contributions to some of the most significant and contentious issues facing deeply committed educators. Through books such as Teacher Unions and Social Justice and other important publications, Rethinking Schools provides us with ways of combining the professional, political, and personal aspects of our lives and of coming together to build thicker forms of critically democratic education to defend a more robust vision of the common good.
Victimisation-by-ingroup Consciousness: Its Antecedents and Impact on Radicalism
Authors: Mashuri Ali , Hasanah Nur , Wihartati Wening
Published: October 2021

This study proposed victimisation-by-ingroup consciousness as a novel concept, which denotes that intragroup violence or wrongdoings by some group members victimise other members of the same group and may elicit sense of physical, material, cultural and psychological sufferings among the victim members. Applying this concept to the context of religious radicalism, this study revealed that among a sample of Indonesian Muslims ( N = 810), the perceptions of physical, material and cultural sufferings positively predicted psychological suffering. This sense of psychological suffering turned out to motivate participants to perceive intragroup violence as illegitimate. This perceived illegitimacy of intragroup violence ultimately facilitated participants to report less emotional, attitudinal and intentional radical tendencies to support terrorists. Finally, we found as expected that Islamic blind patriotism negatively predicted, but constructive Islamic patriotism positively predicted participants’ victimisation-by-ingroup consciousness. These empirical findings broadly suggest that accepting the deficiency of the ingroup may be beneficial for tackling Muslims’ radical tendencies, but this prospect depends on modes of Muslims’ emotional attachment to their own group. We close by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of those empirical findings, as well as limitations and practical implications of this study.