bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stopping Out and Going Back: The Impact of Educational Attainment on Criminal Desistance Among Stopped-Out Offenders
Authors: Abeling-Judge David
Published: February 2019

Education has been consistently studied as a source of crime prevention and control, but the relevance of returning and completing educational degrees among offenders who drop out, as an opportunity to further the process of desistance, has not received empirical attention. The current study addresses this gap in desistance research by examining the impact of educational return and specific degree attainment on desistance from crime using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Results indicate that reenrolling in educational pursuits can produce partial desistance effects as does specific degree attainment. The findings suggest a reconsideration of education as both a source of prevention and desistance and expands theoretical and practical discussion of desistance through educational pursuits.
Population Stereotypes for Objects and Representations: Response Tendencies for Interacting With Everyday Objects and Interfaces
Authors: Vu Kim-Phuong L. , Sun Yuting
Published: January 2019

Objective:

The objective of the study is to replicate and extend population stereotypes from a broad range of users for display-control relations of common interfaces using pictures/images of the objects.

Background:

Population stereotypes for display-control configurations refer to people’s tendencies to associate certain control actions with display properties. An interface will benefit by being designed in a manner that is consistent with the stereotypes. The stimuli used in the present study include conceptual replications of objects that have been examined previously and new ones.

Method:

An online survey was designed to collect data about participants’ natural response tendencies or interpretations of the meaning associated with objects, representations, and colors. Participants were obtained through MTurk from the United States, India, and UK.

Results:

We replicated 76% and partially replicated an additional 16% of the stereotypic responses found in prior studies. Considering the full data set, we found stereotypic responses for 62% of the stimuli that are consistent across the three countries in which the participants were located, although the strength of these stereotypes may differ by location. For the remaining 38% of the stimuli, population stereotypes still emerged for some locations. Few gender differences were found.

Conclusion:

Cross-cultural stereotypic responses exist for many objects, representations, and display-control configurations. However, because stereotypes can be limited to specific regions or change over time, we recommend that they be captured periodically to ensure design guidelines based on the stereotypes remain valid.

Application:

Designers can use the stereotypic responses to guide design decisions.
Educational Migrants, ICTs and Socio-Spatial Relationships: Establishing Presence from a Distance
Authors: van der Horst Hilje , Shadymanova Jarkyn , Sato Chizu
Published: February 2019

Previous research on transnational migration and information and communication technologies (ICTs) demonstrated how ICTs shape transnational social relationships. What remains less explored is how ICTs shape spatial dimensions of such relationships. Also, international educational migrants constitute a substantial part of transnational migration flow, yet their everyday lives are not well studied. Building upon material semiotic scholarship, we examine how ICTs shape socio-spatial dimensions of transnational relationships in the lives of educational migrants, and the impacts that such relationships have on their everyday lives. This research is based on the empirical exploration of 21 in-depth interviews with educational migrants who came from Central Asian and African countries to the Netherlands. We show that spatial relationships, such as co-presence and distance, are not naturally ‘given’ but are instead enacted in heterogeneous communication practices of educational migrants, and these relationships produce both enabling and constraining effects on their everyday lives.
An examination of the psychometric properties and dimensionality of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale in a sample of Black South African adolescents
Authors: Padmanabhanunni Anita
Published: February 2019

Advancing research into aggressive behaviour in South Africa necessitates a range of suitable measuring instruments. The Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale is one such instrument that has been extensively used in diverse settings. The authors of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale present it as a multidimensional scale that purports to measure physical, non-physical, and relational aggression. Despite the widespread use of the scale as a three-factor scale, the psychometric properties, specifically the factor structure of the instrument, have not been examined either globally or in South Africa. This article reports on the reliability, factor structure, and dimensionality of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale among a sample of Black South African adolescents. The scale demonstrated a high level of reliability both in terms of coefficient alpha and coefficient omega. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a second-order factor model and a bifactor model demonstrated a better fit than a one-factor model. Despite the superiority of fit of the two models, bifactor indices demonstrated that the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale is essentially unidimensional. First, Omega Hierarchical Subscale indicated a significant reduction in the reliability of the subscales after partitioning out the variance attributable to the general factor (total aggression). Second, the percentage of common variance explained by the total scale was 75% with only 25% attributable to the three subscales. While the findings of the study tentatively confirmed the suitability of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale for use in South Africa, the results indicate that there is no empirical basis for the use of subscale scores and that the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale is essentially unidimensional.
Finite-time state estimation and active mode identification for uncertain switched linear systems
Authors: Chen Yantao , Wu Chen , Yang Junqi , Cui Lizhi , Qian Wei
Published: February 2019

This paper discusses the issues of finite-time state estimation and switching signal identification for a class of switched linear system with both unknown inputs and unknown active modes. By some special state and output transformations, a reduced-order switched system is constructed such that a finite-time switched observer can be constructed, where the unknown inputs of the original system are removed. A cluster of finite-time observers are proposed for all reduced-order subsystems. Then, the state estimation of a reduced-order switched system is derived from the finite-time switched observer by choosing any small time-delay parameters, and the finite-time state estimation of the original switched system is also obtained from the estimated states of the reduced-order switched system based on the state equivalent transformation. Next, a kind of active mode identification method is proposed by minimizing the output residual norm. Finally, a simulation example is given to verify the reliability of the proposed method.
Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma in Piriform Sinus: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Connolly Michael J. , Lazinski Dorothy , Aoki Katherine A. , McLean Laurie , Torres Carlos , dos Santos Marlise P.
Published: January 2019

During routine blood work, a 53-year-old female patient was noted to have asymptomatic hypercalcemia and subsequently found to have hyperparathyroidism. Localization studies for a suspected parathyroid adenoma included 99mTc Sestamibi scintigraphy, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) study, and ultrasound of the neck, which were initially read as negative for parathyroid adenoma. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the neck was performed to locate the suspected parathyroid adenoma and demonstrated a soft tissue lesion within the right piriform sinus. Flexible fiber optic nasolaryngoscopy revealed a submucosal lesion in the right piriform sinus. Following these findings, the initial 99mTc Sestamibi scintigraphy and SPECT/CT were reviewed with confirmation of a focal area of increased activity superior to the right thyroid lobe, corresponding to a nodule in the right piriform sinus that demonstrated increased activity on SPECT/CT. The patient was brought to the operating room for surgical management where a laryngoscope and operating microscope were utilized. The encapsulated lesion was dissected and excised in total. The parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium levels normalized postoperatively. Pathology confirmed a parathyroid adenoma. Parathyroid adenomas are the most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Sixteen percent of parathyroid adenomas can be situated in an ectopic location. Ectopic parathyroid adenomas in the piriform sinus are rare with only a few previously documented cases. We document a rare case of ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the piriform sinus overlooked on initial imaging studies. These lesions can be challenging to localize, however, an understanding of embryology, close scrutiny of possible ectopic locations, and the application of complementary imaging techniques may prove useful for surgeons and clinicians.
Negotiating the Mines: The Culture of Safety in the Indian Coalmines, 1895–1970
Authors: Nite Dhiraj Kumar
Published: February 2019

This article explains the way mineworkers negotiated workplace hazards and articulated their ideas of safety. Mineworkers increasingly attained mining sense and made use of it, thereby surviving terrible working conditions and seeking to mend the accident-control mechanism. The formation and function of their mining sense were part of the industrialization process. It involved mineworkers’ particular ways of adaptation—quixotic and prudent—to the demand made by work relations. The miners’ unions strove to push the safety regime beyond voluntary codes of discipline and practical and technological solutions. They invested in legislative disciplining and sought informed safety-supervisory controls. They got involved in ‘civic engagement’ with agreeable investigators and legislators within the colonial context and afterwards. Confronted with the limits of such measures, the rank-and-file moved on, from the latter half of the 1950s to direct action in the very mining faces, thereby insisting on the right to withdrawal from danger. The historiographies which argued that Indian workers knowingly acquiesced to perilous mining to maintain livelihoods inadequately lend us the safety ideas shared and action at protection prevention undertaken by mineworkers. This article shows that Indian mineworkers reinforced the safety campaign through their strategic manoeuvring in legislative and workplace struggles as did their counterparts in Britain and some other societies.
Religiousness and existential insecurity: A cross-national comparative analysis on the macro- and micro-level
Authors: Höllinger Franz , Muckenhuber Johanna
Published: January 2019

In Sacred and Secular (2011 [2004]) Norris and Inglehart argued that improvements in material living conditions and higher degrees of existential security lead to a decline in religiousness both on the macro-level of the comparison between countries and on the individual level. Since then, a number of studies have examined this relationship and confirmed the assumptions of the existential security thesis. This article revisits this thesis using data from the sixth wave of the World Values Survey (2010–2014). The multi-level analysis reveals two key results. Consistent with previous studies, a strong correlation was found between better life conditions and lower levels of religiousness on the macro-level. Individual life conditions and threatening experiences, however, have only a very small impact on religiousness. Possible explanations for the discrepancy between macro-level and micro-level results are discussed in the final section.
Do geospatial ontologies perpetuate Indigenous assimilation?
Authors: Reid Geneviève , Sieber Renée
Published: January 2019

Research on geospatial ontologies focuses on achieving interoperability by creating universal standards applied to data. We argue that universality through ontologies can potentially perpetuate homogenization of concepts, thus contributing to assimilation of Indigenous peoples. We cover the ways the conventional geospatial ontologies enable dichotomies between mental and physical concepts, reduce concepts during the classification process, attribute agency, and privilege ontological class over relationships. We further argue that the geospatial web and natural language processing should be inclusive of Indigenous people to ensure future access to geospatial technologies and to prevent further loss of Indigenous knowledge. We explore alternative approaches to universality such as hermeneutics and heuristics. These offer the potential for Indigenous geospatial ontologies considered as equal, instead of being reduced to fit within western concepts.
Assessment of fresh water wind resources on Lake Erie
Authors: (Jerry) Li Jiale , Yu Xiong (Bill)
Published: January 2019

Wind farms are better been built at locations with higher wind resource potentials. As the appropriate locations become fewer and fewer to build onshore wind farms, significant attention has been drawn to the wind energy industry to build offshore wind farms. The terrain effect has fewer effects offshore than onshore since the sea level is flat and no artificial buildings are built there. The coastal line of the Great Lakes is one of those areas that not only has great wind energy potential but is also near the high population coastal cities which is short of the land surface. This article makes the detailed statistical analysis of 1-year offshore wind data in Lake Erie from a Light Detection and Ranging system placed on a water intake crib 4 miles away from near the coast of Cleveland. For comparison purpose, a nearby onshore wind monitoring station’s data have also been analyzed to study the wind and power characteristics. Specifically, the statistical analysis of the data includes Weibull shape and scale factors, the monthly average of the wind speed, turbulence intensity, and wind power density. In addition, two site-matching commercial wind turbines with 50 (Vestas® 39) and 80 m (Vestas® V90) hub heights have been chosen to estimate the 1-year energy output. The result shows great preponderances of building offshore wind farms than building onshore wind farms. This study gives guidance to the cost-benefit analysis to build the offshore wind farms in Lake Erie.
Usage and impact metrics for Parliamentary libraries
Authors: Al Baghal Tarek
Published: February 2019

Parliamentary libraries are important in supporting informed decision-making in democracies. Understanding Members’ information needs is important, but the usage and impact of these libraries have been less explored. A particular example of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords Library is studied, collecting and analysing data using techniques from the field of data science. These techniques are useful in extracting information from existing sources that may not have been designed for the purpose of data collection. A number of data sources available at the Lords Library are outlined and an example of how these data can be used to understand Library usage and impact is presented. Results suggest that Member usage varies significantly and that there is a small but significant relationship between usage and making speeches in the chamber. Further work should explore other indicators of impact, but these methods show promise in creating library metrics, particularly in Parliamentary settings.
Management strategies for anaerobic digestate of organic fraction of municipal solid waste: Current status and future prospects
Authors: Logan Mohanakrishnan , Visvanathan Chettiyappan
Published: January 2019

Anaerobic digestion has emerged as the preferred treatment for organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Digestate management strategies are devised not only for safe disposal but also to increase the value and marketability. Regulations and standards for digestate management are framed to address the pollution concerns, conserve vulnerable zones, prevent communicable diseases, and to educate on digestate storage and applications. Regulations and the desired end uses are the main drivers for the enhancement of digestate through pretreatment, in vessel cleaning, and post-digestion treatment technologies for solid and liquid fractions of digestate. The current management practice involves utilization of digestate for land application either as fertilizer or soil improver. Prospects are bright for alternative usage such as microalgal cultivation, biofuel and bioethanol production. Presently, the focus of optimization of the anaerobic digestion process is directed only towards enhancing biogas yield, ignoring the quality of digestate produced. A paradigm shift is needed in the approach from ‘biogas optimization’ to ‘integrated biogas–digestate optimization’.
The Poverty of the Carless: Toward Universal Auto Access
Authors: King David A. , Smart Michael J. , Manville Michael
Published: February 2019

We document the falling socioeconomic status of American households without private vehicles and the continuing financial burden that cars present for low-income households that own them. We tie both these trends to the auto-orientation of America’s built environment, which forces people to either spend heavily on cars or risk being locked out of the economy. We first show that vehicle access remains difficult for low-income households and vehicle operating costs remain high and volatile. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Survey of Consumer Finances, and Census Public Use Microdata, we then show that in the last fifty years households without vehicles have lost income, both in absolute terms and relative to households with vehicles. We link these trends to the built environment by examining the fortunes of carless households in New York City, and particularly in Manhattan. Most of New York’s built environment did not change to accommodate cars, and in New York the fortunes of the carless did not fall. Our results suggest that planners should see vehicles, in most of the United States, as essential infrastructure, and work to close gaps in vehicle access.
The history of the book as a field of study within the humanities: A retrospect, and a prospect by Graham Shaw
Authors: Willison Ian
Published: January 2019

This article outlines the development of the history of the book not only as an academic discipline in its own right but as a field of study of critical, potentially central, importance for the advancement of the humanities in general. The history of the book helps revise the earlier relative marginalisation of cultural vis-à-vis political history. The publication in 1958 of L’apparition du livre by Lucien Febvre and Henri-Jean Martin has been followed by a series of multivolume, multi-authored national histories of the book and libraries, first in France, then in Britain, the United States and elsewhere. The history of book is having considerable influence in many areas of historical investigation, such as general history, literary history, the history of science and the history of religion. With the ‘Digital Revolution’, the history of the book is now converging with studies of the other media and, together with the growth of postcolonial/post-imperial studies in general, offers the prospect of a balanced and nuanced approach within the global academy to understanding the world’s media past, present and future.
Using Data-Based Individualization to Intensify Behavioral Interventions
Authors: Cumming Therese M. , O’Neill Sue C.
Published: January 2019

Students receiving behavioral supports in the third tier of the schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS) framework are often identified as having emotional and behavior disabilities. Although educators implement evidence-based practices with fidelity, these practices are not always effective in supporting students with emotional and behavior disabilities to improve their behavior. This article provides an overview of the process of data-based individualization (DBI) to intensify behavioral interventions for students identified as having emotional and behavior disabilities receiving Tier 3 supports. The steps of the DBI process are explained, with a focus on using data to intensify interventions. These practices are examined as components of the broader SWPBIS Tier 3 framework.
Eighteen-Year Follow-Up of 160 Consecutive Individuals Born With Unilateral Cleft Lip or Cleft Lip and Alveolus Treated by the Oslo Cleft Lip and Palate Team
Authors: Mandal Emeline , Filip Charles , Andersson Maud Els-Marie , Øgaard Bjørn
Published: January 2019

Objective:

Describe patients born with unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft alveolus (CL±A) in relation to cleft severity and laterality, gender, associated anomalies and syndromes, number and type of lip- and nose operations, and time of alveolar bone graft (ABG) treatment in relation to dental status in cleft area.

Materials and Methods:

Patients included 220 children born with unilateral CL±A, born between 1988 and 1997 referred to the Oslo Cleft Lip and Palate Team. The data were collected retrospectively. All patients were followed up until 18 years of age.

Results:

Among all CL±A, 3.6% had recognized syndromes, 6.8% had associated anomalies, and in 89.6% CL±A was the only malformation. CL±A was more common, but not more severe, on the left side. Among the 160 individuals with CL±A without syndromes and associated anomalies, 66.9% had an isolated soft tissue CL, and 33.1% were diagnosed with a CL alveolus (CL+A). Male predominance was observed. Children with CL+A had more severe soft tissue clefts of the lip and underwent more lip and nose surgeries than children born with CL. The time of ABG was found to be at a younger age when the patient had a lateral incisor in the cleft area than when this tooth was missing.

Conclusion:

Findings provide a reference for morphologic variations in CL±A, and insight into the surgical burden of care until the age of 18 years.
On complex archaeologies: conceptualizing social complexity and its potential for archaeology
Authors: Daems Dries
Published: February 2019

This article surveys a number of approaches in complex systems thinking and their relevance for applications in the field of archaeology. It focuses in particular on the fundamental role of social interactions and information transmission as constituent elements for the development of organizational complexity on a community level. Given the impossibility of direct observations of these constituent interactions and practices, it is then outlined how this theoretical model can be applied on the material remains found in the archaeological record. It is discussed how material surroundings – including architectural structures and material objects – are used to shape and structure social interactions and practices in various ways. It is shown how complex organizational structures develop through underlying mechanisms of change such as diversification, connectivity and standardization, and how these can be applied in archaeological case studies. The presented framework will thus show how structures of social organization and development of social complexity can be inferred from the archaeological record.
Fight Clubs: Media Coverage of Party (Dis)unity and Citizens’ Selective Exposure to It
Authors: Kane John V.
Published: February 2019

News media play a key role in communicating information about political parties to the American public. However, our understanding of how media depict relations between elites and the broader party coalitions remains limited. Moreover, while research suggests that forced exposure to such information can affect political attitudes, it remains unclear whether citizens are willing to selectively expose themselves to such communications. To address these two interrelated questions, this study first employs a content analysis to explore patterns in news coverage of inter- and intra-party relations throughout the Obama presidency. Next, two survey experiments investigate the degree to which such relations affect citizens’ self-exposure to such information. Taken together, the analyses uncover two important asymmetries. First, throughout Obama’s presidency, mass media depicted a Republican coalition virtually always against the president, yet substantial discord within the Democratic Party. Second, though partisans show no propensity to consume news depicting inparty unity (vs. disunity), both Republicans and Democrats exhibit a strong tendency to consume news stories depicting disunity in the outparty. Insofar as partisans’ self-exposure to such information is a necessary precondition for attitudinal and behavioral change, these findings have notable implications for how mass media stand to shape partisanship in the United States.
Stiffness and Range of Motion After Minimally Invasive Chevron-Akin and Open Scarf-Akin Procedures
Authors: Frigg Arno , Zaugg Sandrine , Maquieira Gerardo , Pellegrino Alex
Published: January 2019

Background:

Stiffness after open hallux valgus surgery affects 7% to 38% of patients. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is thought to decrease this rate by reducing soft tissue trauma. MIS, now in its third generation, is advertised as delivering results superior to open surgery. However, no studies have reported stiffness or range of motion (ROM).

Methods:

Between January 2014 and December 2015, a total of 50 patients received open scarf-Akin surgery and 48 received minimally invasive Chevron Akin (MICA) surgery. The endpoints were American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, range of motion, visual analog scale for pain, scar length, and subjective foot value. The minimal follow-up time was 2 years.

Results:

Moderate stiffness occurred in 3 cases in both groups. In MICA, extension increased by 10 degrees while it remained unchanged in scarf. Both groups showed similar improvements in AOFAS score, pain, and subjective foot value. Radiographic evidence of correction was comparable, except for an increased shortening of the first metatarsal by 3 mm in MICA. The scars were smaller in MICA (1.2 cm) than in scarf (5 cm). Wound problems included delayed healing in 10% in scarf and wound infections in 4% in MICA. The rate of recurrence and other complications were comparable, except for reoperations, which were higher in MICA (27% mainly for protruding screws) than in scarf (8% mainly for stiffness). In MICA, 14% were intraoperatively converted to open surgery.

Conclusion:

MICA showed no advantages over scarf other than a shorter scar. The observed gain in extension could be related to the increased shortening of the first metatarsal because of the size of the burr.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective cohort (nonrandomized, comparative) study.
Preparation of maltodextrin stabilized α-tocopherol nanoemulsions using solvent-displacement technique
Authors: Firoozy Mitra , Anarjan Navideh
Published: February 2019

α-Tocopherol nanoemulsions were prepared in current research using various proportions of Polysorbate 20 and maltodextrin as binary stabilizer mixtures through solvent-displacement technique. The effects of maltodextrin proportion in stabilizer mixture, on physicochemical characteristics of gained nanoemulsions, namely average particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, conductivity, in vitro antioxidant activity, in vitro cellular uptake and their rheological parameters were studied. The results show that using maltodextrin, as surface active biopolymer, together with Polysorbate 20, as small molecular stabilizer, could improve the characteristics of nanoemulsions considerably. The studied characteristics of all prepared shear-thinning (pseudo-plastic) nanoemulsions were well fitted to maltodextrin proportions via various polynomial models using regression statistical analysis. Thus, applying the surface active polysaccharides as stabilizer, in nanoemulsion formulations, and tuning its proportions to general used small molecular emulsifiers, can develop more desired functional lipid such as α-tocopherol nanoemulsions for various water-based food and pharmaceutical uses.
Technical and Regulatory Considerations for Taking Liquid Biopsy to the Clinic: Validation of the JAX PlasmaMonitorTM Assay
Authors: Sisson Bridgette A , Uvalic Jasmina , Kelly Kevin , Selvam Pavalan , Hesse Andrew N , Ananda Guruprasad , Chandok Harshpreet , Bergeron Daniel , Holinka Lauren , Reddi Honey V
Published: February 2019

The standard of care in oncology has been genomic profiling of tumor tissue biopsies for the treatment and management of disease, which can prove to be quite challenging in terms of cost, invasiveness of procedure, and potential risk for the patient. As the number of available drugs in oncology continues to increase, so too does the demand for technologies and testing applications that can identify genomic alterations targetable by these new therapies. Liquid biopsies that use a blood draw from the diseased patient may offset the many disadvantages of the invasive procedure. However, as with any new technology or finding in the clinical field, the clinical utility of an analytical test such as that of the liquid biopsy has to be established. Here, we review the clinical testing space for liquid biopsy offerings and elucidate the technical and regulatory considerations to develop such an assay, using our recently validated PlasmaMonitorTM test.
Multilayered Stigma and Vulnerabilities for HIV Infection and Transmission: A Qualitative Study on Male Sex Workers in Zimbabwe
Authors: Tsang Eileen Yuk-ha , Qiao Shan , Wilkinson Jeffrey S. , Fung Annis Lai-chu , Lipeleke Freddy , Li Xiaoming
Published: January 2019

Male sex workers are marginalized in most societies due to intersectional stigma between prostitution and homosexuality. In Zimbabwe, a proliferation of male sex workers in major cities such as Harare and Bulawayo has been reported. However, there is a shortage of studies that explore their lives. The current qualitative study aims to describe the practices of sex work, life contexts, and HIV risks and vulnerabilities based on in-depth interviews among 15 male sex workers in Bulawayo. Our studies suggest that the stigma against male sex workers comes from diverse sectors including culture (“homosexuality is un-African, introduced by the Whites”), religion (“same sex is a sin before the God”), law and police (“homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe. Engaging in it can send one to prison”), media (“the media is hostile to sex workers particularly men as we are regarded as abnormal and unclean”), and their family (“should they get to know about it, they will disown me”). In this context, male sex workers were excluded from national HIV prevention and treatment programs. They had limited knowledge and many misconceptions about HIV. The stigma and discrimination from health-care providers also discouraged them from health seeking or HIV testing. The non-disclosure to female partners of convenience and sexual relations further increased their vulnerabilities to HIV infection and transmission. Current efforts to address the HIV epidemic should pay attention to male sex workers and tackle the intersecting stigma issues. male sex workers need support and tailored HIV prevention and treatment services to improve their HIV prevention practices, health, and well-being.
Performance analysis of a ball valve used for gas pipelines by introducing nondimensional parameters
Authors: Kim Chul-Kyu , Lee Sang-Moon , Jang Choon-Man
Published: January 2019

The present study deals with the performance characteristics of a ball valve used for gas pipelines by introducing nondimensional parameters. The ball valve has relatively complex flow characteristics on the inside and downstream of the valve, although it has a simple structure as compared with the other valves. The nondimensional parameters, which define the valve operating conditions, are introduced to analyze the nature of the physical properties due to the valve’s complex flow. To define the valve flow conditions with respect to valve size, seven nondimensional parameters were selected: pressure ratio, volumetric flow rate ratio, mass flow rate ratio, Reynolds number, Mach number, valve flow coefficient, and inherent flow coefficient. The open-loop type experimental setup is designed to measure the pressure drop and the volumetric flow rate of the ball valve according to the opening rate (angle) of the test valve. Based on the experimental data, obtained by the data acquisition system of the test rig, useful nondimensional parameters to define the nature of the valve performance have been selected and determined. Throughout the experimental analysis of the ball valve, it was found that the nondimensional parameters of pressure ratio, Reynolds number, and Mach number have a similar tendency as related to the valve performance. It can be seen that the intrinsic characteristics of the ball valve are represented by the selected nondimensional parameters, which are defined irrespective of the valve size. The authors proposed a quadratic polynomial for the volumetric flow rate ratio, and the mass flow rate ratio, and introduced the formula for predicting the inherent flow coefficient by the cubic approximation polynomial. It is noted that the nondimensional parameters of the ball valve can be used to determine the performance characteristics with respect to the valve-opening rate and size effectively.
A novel cutterhead off-stuck strategy for tunnel boring machine based on electro-hydraulic hybrid driving
Authors: Liu Tong , Gong Guofang , Yang Huayong , Cheng Yongliang , Chen Yuxi , Zhou Xinghai
Published: January 2019

The cutterhead driving system of a tunnel boring machine may easily get jammed in fault zones driven by electro-motors of low torque capacity. To improve the geological adaptability, this work presents a novel electro-hydraulic hybrid cutterhead driving system to control high-torque hydro-motors as followers under the torque master–slave strategy together with electro-motors. Specific half closed-type pump–motor system is designed, the work pressure of the hydro-motor is regulated by proportional overflow valve to track the torque of the main electro-motor, and a variable displacement pump is controlled to track the expected speed of the main electro-motor with stable overflow via the proportional overflow valve. Feed-forward control principles are derived via the inner mechanism analyses of the proportional overflow valve and variable displacement pump, and proportional and integral separated feedbacks are also introduced to build compound controllers for the tracking of pressure and pump displacement, respectively. The hybrid driving experiments on a Φ2.5 m tunnel boring machine rig indicate that the hydro-motor could track 1.5 times the main electro-motor torque with error within ±15.2 N m against load change and system oscillation, and the error ratios of hydro-motor and slave electro-motor are similar at normal load and fixed speed. Furthermore, jammed cutterhead could be restarted with each hydro-motor supplying double torque of the main electro-motor, and the required assembly power is only 25% of alternative electro-motors.
Robot swarms as an educational tool: The Thymio’s way
Authors: Vitanza Alessandra , Rossetti Paolo , Mondada Francesco , Trianni Vito
Published: February 2019

Robotics provides useful tools for educational purposes, allowing to engage students in learning within disparate domains, from computer science and artificial intelligence – traditionally the main domains for educational robotics – to general education, human and social sciences and arts. Robots can be used with different purposes, from being simple tools to be programmed with some specific behaviour, to being peers with whom to engage in a fruitful interaction for a collaborative learning purpose. In this sense, they can also foster learning of transversal skills such as communication and cooperation. In this article, we propose robot swarms as a novel educational tool to target exactly those transversal skills that are difficult to account otherwise. The usage of multiple robots interacting to solve a common problem can support the learning of concepts related to cooperation and collective actions and can make accessible notions about complex systems that are common in physical, biological, economic and social sciences. Additionally, the possibility to interact and participate in the collective behaviour displayed by the robot swarm can strongly increase the comprehension and engagement with the proposed concept. Motivated by this picture, we propose a roadmap for the utilization of swarm robotics for educational purposes, which is hinged on the Thymio robot, a simple but powerful educational robot that presents all the features required for swarm robotics experimentation. We propose two case studies and we substantiate the proposal with preliminary results from a demonstration of robot swarms performed during a recent robotics festival.
A case of paramyotonia congenita in pregnancy
Authors: Brooks EK , Schweitzer D , Robinson HL
Published: February 2019

Paramyotonia congenita is a rare autosomal dominant non-dystrophic myopathy caused by mutations in the SNC4A gene, which encodes for the voltage-gated sodium channel in skeletal muscle. Symptom onset is typically during early childhood and is characterised by myotonia followed by flaccid paralysis or weakness, usually exacerbated by repeated muscle contractions or cold temperatures. Pregnancy has been reported to increase symptoms of myotonia; however, there is limited information in the literature regarding the possible effects of paramyotonia congenita on pregnancy and labour. We present a successful case of a 20-year-old primigravida with confirmed paramyotonia congenita and review the literature regarding paramyotonia congenita during pregnancy.
Aortic Root Enlargement and Aortic Valve Replacement for Calcified Supravalvular and Valvular Aortic Stenosis in Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Case Report
Authors: Chowdhury Ujjwal Kumar , Chauhan Abhinavsingh , Hasija Suruchi , Jena Jhulana Kumar , Sankhyan Lakshmi Kumari , Phulware Ravi
Published: January 2019

Familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia is a rare disease with diverse clinical presentations ranging from premature ischemic heart disease to aortic root stenosis but rarely presents with anginal symptoms due to supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis. We report a 19-year-old male patient with familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia with progressive supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis that ultimately required aortic root enlargement and aortic valve replacement using a mechanical prosthesis, despite aggressive medical therapy. Surgical importance of this rare condition is highlighted.
He Will Never Walk Outside of a Prison Again: An Examination of Twitter Users’ Responses to the Larry Nassar Case
Authors: Meadows Cui Zhang , Meadows Charles W.
Published: January 2019

To successfully manage a crisis in sports, it is necessary to examine the public’s emotions and other emotion-related responses. Without this knowledge, an organization will likely be disconnected from the needs of the public. Inspired by the key constructs in the integrated crisis mapping model, this study examined emotion, coping, and responsibility attribution through a content analysis of tweets during the Larry Nassar scandal involving Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. This study analyzed a sample of 3,088 tweets generated by the public several days following the sentencing of Larry Nassar. The findings had both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, the findings provided an extension of emotions examined and suggested ways in which the model could be expanded to accommodate varied crisis situations. Furthermore, the study revealed important findings regarding levels of attributions and the relationship of the public’s emotions and attribution of responsibilities. On a practical level, the findings offered tangible suggestions for sports communication managers when developing appropriate strategies and tactics considering public sentiments such as emotions, coping strategies, and attributions on social media.
Social and Solidarity Economy and the Future of Work* This paper draws on a work that was previously published by the ILO and is available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_emp/—emp_ent/—coop/documents/publication/wcms_573160.pdf (Copyright © International Labour Organization 2017.)
Authors: Borzaga Carlo , Salvatori Gianluca , Bodini Riccardo
Published: January 2019

The global economy is affected by significant economic, technological and demographic changes that threaten to reduce decent work opportunities at a time when the demand for employment is growing, and economic inequalities are higher than ever. New technologies and automation are increasingly replacing human workers, and the sectors that are less likely to be affected by these phenomena and more likely to grow in the near future (e.g., like personal services) are also more prone to informal or non-standard forms of employment. In this context, significant attention is being paid to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) as a viable option to address some of these challenges. Indeed, while the SSE comprises a diverse and heterogeneous universe of organisational models and approaches, the main actors within the SSE share a set of common features that make them ideally suited to take on some of the key issues related to the future of work.

The article reviews the main theoretical arguments and empirical evidence on the features and role of SSE organisations, paying particular attention to their implications for the creation and preservation of decent work. The analysis shows that SSE organisations can indeed help create and preserve employment in traditional sectors and promote decent work by providing quality and stable jobs, facilitating women’s entry into the labour force, integrating disadvantaged workers and helping the transition from informal to formal employment. The article also argues that SSE organisations can help channel jobs in emerging sectors like the ‘silver economy’ that are at risk of non-standard forms of work, within entrepreneurial organisations that can provide more structure and security. This will be particularly important in the coming years, as a larger share of employment will come from the service sector (including in particular personal care and social services) and will be much less structured than in the past due to the rise of the gig economy. The article concludes with a review of the main policy implications, briefly describing the types of initiatives, both at the national and international levels, that could lend the SSE the support it needs in order to fulfil its potential and help improve the future of work.
Effects of Naltrexone on Energy Balance and Hypothalamic Melanocortin Peptides in Male Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Panigrahi Sunil K , Meece Kana , Wardlaw Sharon L
Published: January 2019

The hypothalamic melanocortin system composed of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons plays a key role in maintaining energy homeostasis. The POMC-derived peptides, α-MSH and β-EP, have distinct roles in this process. α-MSH inhibits food intake, whereas β-EP, an endogenous opioid, can inhibit POMC neurons and stimulate food intake. A mouse model was used to examine the effects of opioid antagonism with naltrexone (NTX) on Pomc and Agrp gene expression and POMC peptide processing in the hypothalamus in conjunction with changes in energy balance. There were clear stimulatory effects of NTX on hypothalamic Pomc in mice receiving low- and high-fat diets, yet only transient decreases in food intake and body weight gain were noted. The effects on Pomc expression were accompanied by an increase in POMC prohormone levels and a decrease in levels of the processed peptides α-MSH and β-EP. Arcuate expression of the POMC processing enzymes Pcsk1, Pcsk2, and Cpe was not altered by NTX, but expression of Prcp, an enzyme that inactivates α-MSH, increased after NTX exposure. NTX exposure also stimulated hypothalamic Agrp expression, but the effects of NTX on energy balance were not enhanced in Agrp-null mice. Despite clear stimulatory effects of NTX on Pomc expression in the hypothalamus, only modest transient decreases in food intake and body weight were seen. Effects of NTX on POMC processing, and possibly α-MSH inactivation, as well as stimulatory effects on AgRP neurons could mitigate the effects of NTX on energy balance.
Market Share Contracts, Exclusive Dealing, and the Integer Problem
Authors: Chen Zhijun , Shaffer Greg
Published: January 2019

This paper compares exclusive dealing and market share contracts in a model of naked exclusion. We discuss how the contracts work and identify a fundamental trade-off that arises: market share contracts are better at maximizing a seller’s benefit from foreclosure (because they allow the seller to obtain any foreclosure level it desires), whereas exclusive-dealing contracts are better at minimizing a seller’s cost of foreclosure (because, unlike with market share contracts, the seller does not have to overpay for the units it forecloses). We identify settings in which each can be more profitable and show that welfare can be worse under market share contracts. (JEL D43, D86, K12, L13, L14)
Randomizing Endowments: An Experimental Study of Rational Expectations and Reference-Dependent Preferences
Authors: Cerulli-Harms Annette , Goette Lorenz , Sprenger Charles
Published: January 2019

We test expectations-based reference dependence in market experiments with probabilistic forced exchange. Kőszegi and Rabin (2006) predict that when the probability of forced exchange increases, individuals cannot expect to stick with the status quo, and should grow more willing to exchange. This mechanism may eliminate and even reverse the “endowment effect” (Knetsch and Sinden 1984; Kahneman, Knetsch, and Thaler 1990). In a series of experiments with overall 930 subjects, we show some tentative support for the notion that attitudes toward exchange are influenced by the probability of forced exchange. However, the results are sensitive to small changes in experimental design. (JEL C92, D12, D84, D91)