bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural Factors Facilitating or Inhibiting the Support for Traditional Household Gender Roles
Authors: Lee I-Ching , Hu Fei , Li Wen-Qiao
Published: June 2020

Movement toward gender equality has occurred worldwide for the past century; nevertheless, some people still strongly endorse traditional gender norms. We investigated the associations of societal characteristics (gross domestic product [GDP] per capita and the gender empowerment measure) and cultural characteristics, including Hofstede’s, Schwartz’s, and Welzel’s scores (hierarchy vs. egalitarianism, person vs. social focus, mastery vs. harmony, long-term orientation, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity–femininity), with support for traditional household gender roles. To reveal advantageous or disadvantageous conditions for support for traditional household gender roles, we conducted a secondary data analysis with representative samples ( n = 59,713) of 41 societies collected by the International Social Survey Program. According to the multilevel modeling analysis, individuals have lower endorsement of traditional household gender roles in societies that value mastery and enjoy economic development (i.e., GDP per capita), gender equality (measured by the gender empowerment measure), and personal focus. Contrarily, individuals have higher endorsement of traditional household gender roles in societies where hierarchy, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and masculine characteristics are valued. Individual characteristics (women, work experience, education, big-city experience, and younger generations) also predict lower support for traditional household gender roles. In addition, gender differences in traditional household gender roles are larger in societies with greater economic development and personal focus and lower emphasis on hierarchy and long-term orientation. Finally, the national means of traditional household gender roles predict concurrent social movement activities and gender equality at a later time. Potential mechanisms are further discussed.
Latent Class Analysis: A Guide to Best Practice
Authors: Weller Bridget E. , Bowen Natasha K. , Faubert Sarah J.
Published: June 2020

Latent class analysis (LCA) is a statistical procedure used to identify qualitatively different subgroups within populations who often share certain outward characteristics. The assumption underlying LCA is that membership in unobserved groups (or classes) can be explained by patterns of scores across survey questions, assessment indicators, or scales. The application of LCA is an active area of research and continues to evolve. As more researchers begin to apply the approach, detailed information on key considerations in conducting LCA is needed. In the present article, we describe LCA, review key elements to consider when conducting LCA, and provide an example of its application.
The future of televisions, a response
Authors: Lotz Amanda D
Published: June 2020

Response to Paddy Scannell’s ‘The future of television’.
The Problem of Context in the Analysis of Social Action: The Case of Implicit Whiteness in Post-apartheid South Africa
Authors: Whitehead Kevin A.
Published: June 2020

While the specification of situating context(s) is commonly treated as an indispensable part of social scientific research, the choices this involves are rarely directly explicated. An exception is conversation analysis (CA), which differs from many other approaches in its privileging of participants’ orientations as a basis for empirically grounding analytic specifications of context. In this article, I demonstrate how this approach to context, along with CA methods and findings, can be employed in addressing challenges associated with identifying and analyzing (possible) instances of the implicit relevance of racial categories in everyday social interaction. Using the case of implicit whiteness in post-apartheid South Africa as a site for considering these challenges, I examine a collection of interactions in which race becomes (possibly) relevant during the course of complaints about violent crime. I begin with an ambiguous case of a speaker’s possible implicit orientation to whiteness, demonstrating the use of CA for the close examination of available evidence for this orientation. I then describe how an approach based on a collection of cases, constituted by similar sequential and action environments to those that characterize the ambiguous case, can be employed to strengthen the analysis of the ambiguous case. The analysis thereby demonstrates the powerful resources CA offers for addressing ambiguity with respect to social categories and the value of detailed examinations of interactional practices for documenting how participants manage and thereby reproduce the consequentiality of their position in a racialized social order.
Adsorption characteristics of atrazine on different soils in the presence of Cd(II)
Authors: Jing Sun , Lan Ma Xiu , Wen Wang , Jing Zhang , Hao Zhang , Jun Wang Yu
Published: June 2020

In this study, the effects of temperature, pH, and biochar under cadmium stress on the adsorption characteristics of atrazine in soils in northeast China were studied by batch adsorption method. In the atrazine–Cd(II) coexistence system, the adsorption of atrazine by the soils reached equilibrium within 24 h, but there were some differences in sorption capacities of the three types of soil and the order of adsorption is albic soil > black soil > saline-alkaline soil. With the concentration of atrazine increased, the adsorption capacity of atrazine in the three types of soil gradually increased, the upward trend became more obvious with the ambient temperature of the solution decreased. The adsorption kinetics curves of atrazine in the three types of soil conform to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir model. When atrazine and Cd(II) coexist in soils, the decrease in atrazine adsorption in the soil may be due to the competitive interaction between the two chemicals. Cd(II) occupies part of the adsorption site of atrazine, thus saturating the active site in soils. Since atrazine is a weakly alkaline pesticide, the lower the pH of the soil, the higher the affinity of atrazine for the soil. After adding biochar to the soil, the functional groups in biochar can form π bond with atrazine, which promotes the fixation of atrazine in the soil. The results show that the prevention of atrazine and cadmium leaching can be achieved by appropriately adjusting the pH, temperature, clay content, and organic matter of the soils.
Using a quality improvement initiative to reduce acute kidney injury during on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Katona Mitchell A , Walker Joshua L , Das Nitin A , Miller Stewart R , Sako Edward Y
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

In response to a perceived high incidence of acute kidney injury following cardiopulmonary bypass at our institution, a quality improvement initiative consisting of a systematic change to a delivered oxygen (DO2) goal-directed perfusion practice was implemented. We sought to maintain DO2 > 270 mL/min/m2 to reduce the incidence of acute kidney injury.

Methods:

’The study population included all patients receiving isolated, non-emergent, on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting from January 2015 through December 2018, excluding patients requiring preoperative hemodialysis. DO2 goal-directed perfusion was instituted in February 2017. Acute kidney injury was defined using Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria.

Results:

The pre–goal-directed perfusion cohort included 257 patients, and the post–goal-directed perfusion cohort included 226 patients. The DO2 was significantly higher in the post–goal-directed perfusion group (p < 0.001). Postoperative change in serum creatinine and incidence of acute kidney injury were significantly lower in the post–goal-directed perfusion group (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Estimation with probit and ordered probit models support these findings.

Conclusion:

This initiative confirms previous assertions that DO2 is a critical intraoperative parameter and should direct perfusion intervention accordingly.
Exploring Potential Protective Factors for the Relationship between Low Self-Control in Adolescence and Negative Health Outcomes in Adulthood
Authors: Boccio Cashen M.
Published: June 2020

Previous research links low levels of self-control with criminal involvement and negative life outcomes. A similar line of inquiry has begun to explore whether low levels of self-control are also associated with developing health problems in adulthood. This paper extends this research by examining associations between adolescent levels of self-control and four different categories of health outcomes in adulthood. In addition, this study examines whether associations between adolescent levels of low self-control and health outcomes in adulthood are moderated by environmental protective factors. The results reveal that low levels of self-control in adolescence are consistently associated with reporting more health problems. In addition, some evidence emerged in support of the role of environmental protective factors in buffering the risk of developing health problems conferred by low levels of self-control in adolescence.
A review and agenda for examining how technology-driven changes at work will impact workplace mental health and employee well-being
Authors: Johnson Anya , Dey Shanta , Nguyen Helena , Groth Markus , Joyce Sadhbh , Tan Leona , Glozier Nicholas , Harvey Samuel B
Published: June 2020

The mental health and well-being of employees is an increasingly important issue, both in terms of the financial costs to the Australian economy and human costs to society. This review examines two major technology-driven trends in the workplace and presents evidence for their impact on mental health, both positive and negative. First, we consider how we work, with a focus on changes which have been driven by automation and advanced technology in the workplace. Next, we consider where and when we work, with a focus on flexible work arrangements afforded by changes in telecommunication technology. Finally, we look forward with a critical lens to examine the implications for future research and for industry, government and education.

JEL Classification: I31
“Nothing Hurts Less Than Being Dead”: Psychological Pain in Case Descriptions of Psychiatric Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide from the Netherlands: « Rien ne fait moins mal qu’être mort »: La douleur psychologique dans les descriptions de cas d’euthanasie et de suicide assisté psychiatrique aux Pays-Bas
Authors: Lengvenyte Aiste , Strumila Robertas , Courtet Philippe , Kim Scott Y. H. , Olié Emilie
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

Euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS) of individuals with mental disorders is a growing practice in several countries, including the Netherlands. Here, we aimed to identify the most frequent dimensions of and associated factors to psychological pain, which has been associated with suicidality, in individuals undergoing psychiatric EAS.

Methods:

An exploratory retrospective content analysis of the English translation of 66 digital case records of individuals who died by EAS in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2014 was performed. Nine standard psychological pain dimensions (irreversibility, loss of control, emptiness, emotional flooding, freezing, social distancing, narcissistic wounds, confusion, and self-estrangement), illness, and sociodemographic variables were evaluated by 2 independent raters using a premade data abstraction form (Kohen κ > 0.8 in all cases).

Results:

The mean number of dimensions was 4.64 ± 1.20 (median = 5), out of 9. The most frequent dimensions were irreversibility, loss of control, emptiness, and emotional flooding, in decreasing order. Past treatment refusal and the mention of social connections in case descriptions were related to the higher number of psychological pain dimensions (4.89 ± 1.24 vs. 4.31 ± 1.07, P = 0.03 and 5.05 ± 1.17 vs. 4.43 ± 1.17, P = 0.03, respectively). Emotional flooding was the only dimension specifically associated with specific psychiatric conditions, namely posttraumatic phenomena and personality disorders.

Conclusions:

Numerous psychological pain dimensions were detected in case descriptions of individuals who underwent EAS before the procedure. Subjective nature of the study precludes definite conclusions but suggest that future studies should explore psychological pain and the role of interventions targeting it in patients requesting EAS.
Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Neurology
Authors: Lemmon Monica E. , Huffstetler Hanna E. , Reeve Bryce B.
Published: June 2020

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is central to how clinicians and parents make choices about medical care for pediatric neurology patients. To provide parents with the information they need to make these decisions and plan for the future, it is necessary for parents and clinicians to understand how HRQOL is defined and measured in the setting of pediatric neurodevelopmental impairment. We review challenges that exist in measuring HRQOL in pediatric neurology, examine existing measures, and outline key principles to guide selection and interpretation of HRQOL measures in children with neurologic conditions.
Use of bacterial cellulose film for repair of bile duct injury in pigs
Authors: de Abreu Gilberto FS , Batista Laécio L , Adeodato Danielle CN , de Albuquerque Amanda V , Ferraz-Carvalho Rafaela S , de Lima Rodrigo P , de Souza Veridiana SB , de Carvalho Gustavo L , Aguiar José LA
Published: June 2020

Background/objective

The aim was to evaluate the use of bacterial cellulose film and bile duct autograft in repairing critical common bile duct injury in pigs.

Methods

A prospective experimental analytical study was carried out on 20 Sus Domesticus, Piau suidae swine, divided into a control group ( n = 10) and an experimental group ( n = 10) divided into two subgroups: bacterial cellulose film E1 and bacterial cellulose film E2 to which bacterial cellulose film was randomly allocated. The control group underwent two complete critical common bile duct sections 10 mm apart, while the experimental group with a single critical common bile duct defect underwent a 10 mm section of the longitudinal shaft with edge resection. The defects in the control group were treated with end-to-end conventional anastomosis using polyglycolic 6–0 surgical thread and the experimental group with bacterial cellulose film by continuous suture using the same material. The animals were clinically evaluated throughout the experiment on days D150 (bacterial cellulose film E1), D225 (control group), and D330 (bacterial cellulose film E2) and by intraoperative ultrasound examination related to histopathological and biochemical findings.

Results

The intraoperative ultrasonography detected the changes resulting from the common bile duct anastomosis in the control group that produced a considerable incidence of ductal narrowing and obstruction to the biliary flow. In the bacterial cellulose film E2 group, there was an increase in inflammation intensity, granulomatous reaction, fibrosis, and vessels density, without producing bile duct dilation in the ultrasonography assessment. Biochemical analysis of liver enzymes yielded results in the normal range confirming preservation of liver function at the different post-surgery time points.

Conclusion

Bacterial cellulose film, when used as a graft for bile duct repair, proved to be a biocompatible material that produced a complete healing process and biliary flow continuity.
Translations of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism in China
Authors: Yu Senlin , Wang Yujing
Published: June 2020

From 1968 to 2018, there are 21 Chinese versions of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ( PESC) published in China. This essay makes a profile of the Chinese translations of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, analyzes the reasons for the retranslations, and summarizes the major problems in these translations. The authors argue that, although there are some problems in the existing Chinese versions, the Chinese translations of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism play important roles in the reception and studies of Max Weber in China, and the deepening of Max Weber studies in return inspires more and better Chinese versions of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The Chinese translations contribute not only to the study of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, but also to the spread of Max Weber’s thoughts in China.
Transcutaneous Lateral Alveolar Ostectomy for Standing Surgical Extraction of Mandibular First Molar in an 8-Year-Old Miniature Horse
Authors: Limone Leah E. , Baratt Robert M.
Published: June 2020

An 8-year-old, 125 kg (275 lb) female miniature horse was evaluated for a persistently thickened left mandible and cutaneous fistula. Pulp horn defects were identified in pulp horns 1 and 3 of tooth 309 and occlusal pulp exposure was detected with a dental explorer. Radiography of the left mandibular dental quadrant revealed changes consistent with apical infection of tooth 309. Following the failure of oral extraction, a standing surgical approach was taken for transcutaneous lateral alveolar ostectomy and extraction. Roots were sectioned at the level of the furcation and elevated from the surgical site, and the remaining reserve crown was luxated and repulsed into the oral cavity. Healing of the surgical site and alveolus was uncomplicated.
The Development of Intersectional Social Prototypes
Authors: Lei Ryan F. , Leshin Rachel A. , Rhodes Marjorie
Published: June 2020

Race and gender information overlap to shape adults’ representations of social categories. This overlap may contribute to the psychological “invisibility” of people whose race and gender identities are perceived to have conflicting stereotypes. The present research ( N = 249) examined when race begins to bias representations of gender across development. Children and adults engaged in a speeded task in which they categorized photographs of faces of women and men from three racial categories: Asian, Black, and White (four photographs per gender and racial group). In Study 1, participants were slower to categorize photographs of Black women as women than photographs of White and Asian women as women and Black men as men. They also were more likely to miscategorize photographs of Black women as men and less likely to stereotype Black women as feminine. Study 2 replicated these findings and provided evidence of a developmental shift in categorization speed. An omnibus analysis provided a high-powered test of this developmental hypothesis, revealing that target race begins biasing children’s gender categorization around age 5. Implications for the development of social-category representation are discussed.
Origines d’Amin Maalouf : Écrire pour se reconstruire
Authors: Kakish Shereen
Published: June 2020

Cet article se propose de dégager les aspects essentiels de l’écriture de Maalouf dans Origines. Nous tenterons de mettre en lumière un récit d’une trajectoire à la fois individuelle et collective. Il s’agit aussi de soulever la question de la représentation du soi dans un récit de vie : Qui suis-je ? D’où viens-je ? Cela nous conduira au but primordial de l’écrivain dans cet ouvrage : écrire pour se reconstruire. Nous verrons dans cet article comment l’écriture joue un rôle important dans la reconstruction identitaire de Maalouf. Dans ce texte, la fiction se combine avec l’écriture historique. La fiction, à son tour, joue un rôle de comblement imaginaire en l’absence d’éléments tangibles et d’archives. À travers cet ouvrage, Maalouf a pu en quelque sorte se situer, se repérer et réfléchir sur son soi et son passé.
Be Open and See Where Your Path Leads: Dr. Judy Voress
Authors: Higgins Kyle , Boone Randall
Published: June 2020

Dr. Judy Voress is the former periodicals director of PRO-ED; is Executive Director and a member of the Board of Directors of the Hammill Institute on Disabilities; and currently serves as President and a Trustee of the Donald D. Hammill Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and those with financial challenges. Her professional background also includes time spent as a special education teacher, university assistant professor, associate journal editor, adjunct university professor, and author of educational tests and materials.
Engagement in College and University Applied Learning Experiences and Students’ Academic Motivation
Authors: Trolian Teniell L. , Jach Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2020

Background: Applied learning approaches that require students to enact learning continue to be expanded to various contexts within higher education. Researchers have demonstrated an association between applied learning and positive outcomes for students. Purpose: This study examines the relationship between engagement in applied learning experiences during college and students’ fourth-year academic motivation. Methodology/Approach: This study uses data from the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education, a multi-institutional, longitudinal study of college experiences and outcomes in the United States. The dependent variable was fourth-year academic motivation, and independent variables were applied learning experiences that students frequently encounter during college. Findings/Conclusions: Several applied learning experiences were associated with increased academic motivation. These included the following: applying concepts to practical problems or in new situations, engaging in exams or assignments that require use of course content to address a problem, engaging in research with a faculty member, and out-of-class experiences that help to translate knowledge from the classroom into action. Implications: As academic motivation tends to decline during college, applied learning approaches may help to improve students’ motivation. Institutions of higher education should consider methods and strategies for developing and implementing applied learning experiences both in the classroom and in students’ out-of-class experiences.
Prevalence of Stunting in Syrian Refugee Children With Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate in Time of Crisis: A Call for Intervention
Authors: Chaya Bachar F. , Chalhoub Rawad , Jaafar Rola , Nahhas Nour , Abu-Sittah Ghassan
Published: June 2020

Objective:

Our study aims to compare the prevalence of stunted growth in Syrian refugee children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL±CP) to other children with CL±CP of similar socioeconomic status.

Design:

A retrospective medical chart review.

Setting:

Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery at a tertiary care hospital in Lebanon in the period between January 2013 and May 2019.

Patients, Participants:

One hundred three Syrian refugee children and 70 Lebanese children <18 years of low socioeconomic status who have CL, CP, or both.

Interventions:

These patients underwent cleft repair surgeries at our center.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Stunted growth measured by calculating the height-for-age z-score (HAZ).

Results:

Using a confidence interval of 95%, the prevalence of stunting is significantly higher among Syrian refugees ( P < .003). The prevalence of stunting and age of presentation were positively correlated ( P < .02). There was no difference in stunting between patients with CP and CL ( P < .746). There was no difference in stunting between genders.

Conclusions:

The majority of Syrian refugee patients with CL±CP fall on the malnourished side of the nutritional spectrum as reflected by the high percentage of stunting as well as a mean of −1 for the HAZ.
Long-Term Adherence to Renin–Angiotensin System Inhibitors and β-Blockers After Heart Failure Hospitalization in Senior Patients
Authors: Qin Xiwen , Hung Joseph , Teng Tiew-Hwa Katherine , Briffa Tom , Sanfilippo Frank M.
Published: June 2020

Aims:

We investigated long-term adherence to renin–angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs) and β-blockers, and associated predictors, in senior patients after hospitalization for heart failure (HF).

Methods:

A population-based data set identified 4488 patients who survived 60 days following their index hospitalization for HF in Western Australia from 2003 to 2008 with a 3-year follow-up. Their person-linked Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme records identified medications dispensed during follow-up. Drug discontinuation was defined as the first break ≥90 days following the previous supply. Medication adherence was calculated using the proportion of days covered (PDC), with PDC ≥ 80% defined as being adherent. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of PDC < 80%.

Results:

In the cohort (57% male, mean age: 76.6 years), 77.4% were dispensed a RASI and 52.7% a β-blocker within 60 days postdischarge. Over the 3-year follow-up, 28% and 42% of patients discontinued RASI and β-blockers, respectively. Only 64.6% and 47.5% of RASI and β-blocker users, respectively, were adherent to their treatment over 3 years, with adherence decreasing over time (trend P < .0001 for RASI and trend P = .02 for β-blockers). Older age, increasing Charlson comorbidity score, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independent predictors of PDC < 80% for both drug groups.

Conclusion:

Among seniors hospitalized for HF, discontinuation gaps were common for RASI and β-blockers postdischarge, and long-term adherence to these medications was suboptimal. Where appropriate, strategies to improve long-term medication adherence are indicated in HF patients, particularly in elderly patients with comorbidities.
Infrared drying of dill leaves: Drying characteristics, temperature distributions, performance analyses and colour changes
Authors: Tezcan Derya , Sabancı Serdal , Cevik Mutlu , Cokgezme Omer Faruk , Icier Filiz
Published: June 2020

Thin-layer drying behaviour of dill leaves samples under three different infrared radiation power intensities was investigated. Diffusion Approach was found to be the best model that describes the drying behaviour of dill leaves. Effective diffusivity values were 6.97 × 10−9, 6.84 × 10−9 and 8.96 × 10−9 m2/s for power intensities of 1790, 1970 and 2070 W/m2, respectively. According to the first and second law efficiencies, the infrared drying system was more efficient at higher power intensities (p < 0.05). However, the total colour change was maximum at the highest power intensity. For the investigated infrared drying conditions, 1970 W/m2 was recommended as the best-infrared power intensity applied for drying of dill leaves by taking into account both performance analyses and quality changes.
Experimental and numerical studies of positive texture effect on friction reduction of sliding contact under mixed lubrication
Authors: Babu P Venkateswara , Ismail Syed , Ben B Satish
Published: June 2020

Textured surfaces have been remarkable in improving the frictional performance of sliding contacts, particularly at instances such as boundary or mixed lubrication regimes. This article reports the results of an experimental and numerical study carried out by introducing surface textures in the form of protrusions to investigate its effects on friction performance under a mixed lubrication regime. The surface textures produced by the chemical etching process are tested on the pin on disc test rig by varying area density and height of the texture. In numerical simulation, the modified Reynolds equation (Patir–Cheng flow model) and asperity contact model (Greenwood–Tripp model) are solved for hydrodynamic and asperity pressures, respectively. The results indicate that the experimental measurements are qualitatively in good agreement with numerical predictions. Furthermore, the simulations are performed for different texture shapes by varying texture area density, height, and sliding velocity. The results depict that a maximum friction reduction of 87% with elliptical textures compared to the un-textured case.
Validation and application of three-dimensional auralisation during concert hall renovation
Authors: Tronchin Lamberto , Merli Francesca , Manfren Massimiliano , Nastasi Benedetto
Published: June 2020

During the renovation of auditoria and concert halls, the acoustic quality is normally evaluated from measurements of impulse responses. One possibility for evaluating the acoustic quality from the measurements (the simulations) consists of convolving anechoic music with the measured (or simulated) impulse responses. In this way, a psycho-acoustic test is achieved using a virtual sound field representation. The listening room ‘Arlecchino’ at the University of Bologna includes ambisonics (up to fifth order) and stereo-dipole playback for virtual reproduction of sound in rooms. In this article, the effectiveness of the listening room ‘Arlecchino’ is first analysed, comparing acoustic parameters obtained from binaural impulse responses measured in some opera houses (in Italy) and auditorium (in Japan) with those virtually measured after the virtual reconstruction obtained in the listening rooms. The similarity between real and virtual sound fields, has been evaluated by comparing different acoustic parameters calculated by real and virtual sound fields, in four halls in different configurations, by means of the stereo-dipole method. In the second part of the article, the listening room was used to analyse the variation in interaural cross-correlation measurements in rooms obtained considering different anechoic sound signals convolved with the binaural impulse responses, to quantify the variation of the interaural cross correlation with different motifs. For this purpose, two different musical instrument digital interface musical motifs, very different from each other for their music characteristics, have been considered. Moreover, for each musical motif, different sound characteristics (i.e. different musical instruments) were considered, to consider both the rhythmic and timbre aspect.
Tell me where it is: Selective difficulties in spatial language on the autism spectrum
Authors: Bochynska Agata , Coventry Kenny R. , Vulchanov Valentin , Vulchanova Mila
Published: June 2020

Proficient use of spatial terms such as under, to the left of or in front of is a central component of daily communication and is important in the development of language and spatial cognition. Here we examine spatial language abilities in intellectually high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorder, an area previously overlooked in autism research. Twenty-five high-functioning individuals with ASD and 25 typically developing controls, matched for chronological age and cognitive abilities, completed a novel battery tapping a broad range of spatial language abilities. We report selective difficulties in the production of spatial terms and spatial description recall in high-functioning ASD. Overall verbal abilities did not account for the observed group differences. Crucially, however, the intensity of autism spectrum traits predicted individual performance in both spatial language production and spatial description recall. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings and explore their significance for both clinical practice and intervention.

Lay abstract

How we think and talk about space is an essential ability, necessary for understanding the world around us. We recruit spatial thinking every day when finding our way or using tools but also in more advanced tasks, such as reading complex graphs or maps. We do so also in daily communication when we use spatial language, terms such as under, over, to the left of or in front of, and when we give instructions. Spatial terms appear in children’s early vocabularies and continue to develop until late childhood or even early adolescence. Because spatial language develops over many years, some spatial terms are mastered very early, whereas others take longer to acquire. In the current set of studies, we tested how intellectually high-functioning children and adults on the autism spectrum use and understand these early- and late-acquired spatial terms in comparison to typically developing age-matched individuals. We found that children and adults on the autism spectrum experience difficulties with the use of some spatial terms (e.g. near and far or out of and down off) but not with others, which are acquired early (e.g. in and on or over and under). We also found that remembering spatial terms from short stories was more difficult for the individuals on the autism spectrum compared with typically developing individuals. These results reveal difficulties that can profoundly affect everyday communication of children and adults on the autism spectrum but also open new directions of research on language development in autism spectrum disorders.
Atypical social communication is associated with positive initial impressions among peers with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Granieri Jessica E , McNair Morgan L , Gerber Alan H , Reifler Rebecca F , Lerner Matthew D
Published: June 2020

Atypical social communication is a key indicator of autism spectrum disorder and has long been presumed to interfere with friendship formation and first impressions among typically developing youth. However, emerging literature suggests that such atypicalities may function differently among groups of peers with autism spectrum disorder. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between atypical social communication patterns and first impression sociometric ratings by peers in groups of youth with autism spectrum disorder. Findings suggest that, contrary to typically developing individuals, several forms of atypical communication among youth with autism spectrum disorder are associated with more positive first impressions by others with autism spectrum disorder. This suggests that interventions designed to increase friendships among youth with autism spectrum disorder may benefit from reframing their approach to addressing atypical social communication.
Punishment and the argument from necessity: A reply to Hand
Authors: Martin Christopher
Published: June 2020

In his paper, ‘On the Necessity of School Punishment’, Michael Hand defends school punishment on logical grounds. In this reply, I show why this argument fails. First, I claim that the concept of a rule of obligation does not, in and of itself, establish that punishment is necessary. Second, I claim that a rule of obligation does not justify punishment on the grounds that it is necessary for social order or norm-conformity. Finally, I argue that a rule of obligation does establish the necessity of punishment, but only by assuming that social pressure and punishment are one and the same thing. The problem with this move, however, is that the necessity of ‘punishment’ becomes a trivial truth with little practical or normative guidance to offer educators.
Belief in the Code of the Street and Individual Involvement in Offending: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Moule Richard K. , Fox Bryanna
Published: June 2020

Anderson’s Code of the Street thesis suggests that stronger belief in, and adherence to, subcultural “street code” norms increases the risk of criminal and aggressive behaviors, particularly among adolescents and young adults in urban communities. This study uses a meta-analysis to assess the overall relationship between individual belief in the street code and risk of offending. Effect sizes ( n = 38) from 20 unique studies produced a weighted correlation ( r) of .11, indicating a belief in the street code had a positive association with offending across all studies. The effect is strongest for violent offending (.13) and among samples comprised of adolescents (.14), as predicted by Anderson’s theory. Even after accounting for competing theoretical and established correlates of offending, modest effects of street code beliefs on offending remained. These findings indicate that overall, the street code is a more general theory than Anderson originally predicted. Directions for future research on the code are discussed.
A novel approach for energy- and memory-efficient data loss prevention to support Internet of Things networks
Authors: Hejazi Pooya , Ferrari Gianluigi
Published: June 2020

Internet of Things integrates various technologies, including wireless sensor networks, edge computing, and cloud computing, to support a wide range of applications such as environmental monitoring and disaster surveillance. In these types of applications, IoT devices operate using limited resources in terms of battery, communication bandwidth, processing, and memory capacities. In this context, load balancing, fault tolerance, and energy and memory efficiency are among the most important issues related to data dissemination in IoT networks. In order to successfully cope with the abovementioned issues, two main approaches—data-centric storage and distributed data storage—have been proposed in the literature. Both approaches suffer from data loss due to memory and/or energy depletion in the storage nodes. Even though several techniques have been proposed so far to overcome the abovementioned problems, the proposed solutions typically focus on one issue at a time. In this article, we propose a cross-layer optimization approach to increase memory and energy efficiency as well as support load balancing. The optimization problem is a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem, and we solve it using a genetic algorithm. Moreover, we integrate the data-centric storage features into distributed data storage mechanisms and present a novel heuristic approach, denoted as Collaborative Memory and Energy Management, to solve the underlying optimization problem. We also propose analytical and simulation frameworks for performance evaluation. Our results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing approaches in various IoT scenarios.
Imparting flame resistance to citric acid–modified cotton fabrics using DNA
Authors: Luo Qiulan , Gao Pu , Zhou Jie , Zhang Jian , Wu Wen , Cao Jianda , Reddy Narendra , Ma Hui
Published: June 2020

Textiles are one of the basic needs of humankind. Although textiles satisfy many human needs, they are implicated in the loss of life and property since many fibers and fabrics are inflammable. Many chemical finishes are applied to improve the flame resistance of textile materials. Unfortunately, most of the flame retardants are synthesized chemically, need large quantities to be used, cause adverse impact on the textiles and also expensive. In this research, a novel approach to using DNA from herring sperm as flame retardant for cotton was explored. Surface of the textiles was modified with citric acid to increase free carboxyl content and hence absorption of DNA. It was observed that DNA was absorbed into the cotton fabrics using chemical adsorption according to the quasi-second-order-kinetic model. Flammability of the cotton before and after the addition of DNA was checked. It was observed the length of fabrics damaged due to flames was only 29 mm compared to the original length of 350 mm. Such a high increase in flame resistance has not been reported for natural materials. In addition, the chemical reaction between DNA and cotton fabric can improve the flame retardant–washing resistance of the finished cotton fabric. In this article, the strategy of using biological macromolecules to flame-retardant fabrics can provide research basis for the design and development of efficient and environmentally friendly flame retardants.
Adaptive H-infinity tracking control for microgyroscope
Authors: Fang Yunmei , An Cuicui , Juan Wanru , Fei Juntao
Published: June 2020

An adaptive H-infinity tracking control is proposed for a z-axis microgyroscope with system nonlinearities. All the signals can be guaranteed in a bounded range, and tracking error is uniformly ultimately bounded, an H-infinity tracking performance is also achieved to a prescribed level. Adaptive control methodology is integrated with H-infinity control technique to achieve robust adaptive control, and adaptive algorithm is used to estimate the unknown system parameters. Simulation studies for microgyroscope are conducted to prove the validity of the proposed control scheme with good performance and robustness.
The compression ring profile influence on hydrodynamic performance of the lubricant in diesel engine
Authors: Menacer Brahim , Bouchetara Mostefa
Published: June 2020

For different operating conditions of an internal combustion engine, the piston–ring–liner compartment represents one of the largest sources of friction and power losses. The aim of this article is to evaluate the effect of the compression ring profile on the main tribological performance of the lubricant in a four-stroke diesel engine. A one-dimensional analysis was developed for the hydrodynamic lubrication between the compression piston ring and the cylinder wall. A numerical method was applied to analyze the influence of different ring geometrical designs during the working cycle on oil film thickness, frictional force, and power losses. Our predicted results were validated with the Takiguchi data of a previous study, and they have shown a good agreement. The results in the current analysis demonstrated that the ring geometry profile, the engine speed, and load have a remarkable effect on oil film thickness, friction force, and friction power losses between the top ring and cylinder liner. Therefore, it would help in reducing friction as well as making a contribution to the improvement of engine performance such as torque, efficiency, and fuel consumption.
Cumulative risk and newly qualified teachers’ professional well-being: Evidence from rural Ghana
Authors: Fatima Syeda Farwa , Wolf Sharon
Published: June 2020

The transition from student-teaching to full-time teaching is an understudied period in teachers’ careers. This paper uses a cumulative risk (CR) framework to assess personal and professional risks experienced by 135 student-teachers in rural Ghana during pre-service training and later as newly qualified teachers, and examines how risks relate to their professional well-being and learning outcomes of children in their classrooms. Higher CR was associated with lower teacher motivation and personal accomplishment. Furthermore, higher CR predicted lower child numeracy skills and socioemotional development over the school year. Implications for teacher professional development and improving educational quality are discussed.
The Eight Steps of Data Analysis: A Graphical Framework to Promote Sound Statistical Analysis
Authors: Fife Dustin
Published: June 2020

Data analysis is a risky endeavor, particularly among people who are unaware of its dangers. According to some researchers, “statistical conclusions validity” threatens all research subjected to the dark arts of statistical magic. Although traditional statistics classes may advise against certain practices (e.g., multiple comparisons, small sample sizes, violating normality), they may fail to cover others (e.g., outlier detection and violating linearity). More common, perhaps, is that researchers may fail to remember them. In this article, rather than rehashing old warnings and diatribes against this practice or that, I instead advocate a general statistical-analysis strategy. This graphic-based eight-step strategy promises to resolve the majority of statistical traps researchers may fall into—without having to remember large lists of problematic statistical practices. These steps will assist in preventing both false positives and false negatives and yield critical insights about the data that would have otherwise been missed. I conclude with an applied example that shows how the eight steps reveal interesting insights that would not be detected with standard statistical practices.
Phytochemical Investigation of Erodium oxyrrhynchum M. Bieb
Authors: Jin Lanyan , Fayvush George , Khutsishvili Manana , Atha Daniel , Borris Robert P.
Published: June 2020

We describe here the isolation of 1 previously unreported neolignan (7 S,8 R)-2′,3-dimethoxy-4′,7-epoxy-8,5′-neolignan-4,9,9′-triol-9′- O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and 4 flavonoid glycosides, quercetin 7- O-glucoside (2), Isoquercitrin (3), quercetin 3- O-rutinoside (4), narcissin (5), as well as 2 tannins, isomallotusinin (6), isocorilagin (7), from Erodium oxyrrhynchum M. Bieb. Structures were determined using 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional-nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy, while stereochemistry was confirmed by circular dichroism and optical rotation.
The Mechanism of Relaxation by Viewing a Japanese Garden: A Pilot Study
Authors: Goto Seiko , Morota Yuki , Liu Congcong , Sun Minkai , Shi Bertram Emil , Herrup Karl
Published: June 2020

Aim:

To explore people’s visual attention and psychological and physiological responses to viewing a Japanese garden (an asymmetrically designed garden) and an herb garden (a symmetrically designed garden).

Background:

There are few studies of eye movements when observing different style gardens, and how they are connected to the interpretation of the space, and physiological and psychological responses.

Method:

Thirty subjects were recruited and their physiological and psychological responses to viewing the garden types were assessed using a heart-rate monitor and questionnaire. Eye movements while viewing projected slide images of the gardens were tracking using an eye-tracking monitor.

Results:

A significant decrease in heart rate was observed when subjects were viewing the Japanese garden as opposed to viewing the herb garden. Mood was significantly improved in both gardens, but eye-gaze patterns differed. The Japanese garden elicited far more comments about expectations for the coming season; unlike the herb garden, it also induced memories of viewing other landscapes.

Conclusion:

The physiological and psychological responses to viewing gardens differs based on the quality of landscape design and the prior experience of viewers.
Change Management Communication: The Role of Meaningfulness, Leadership Brand Authenticity, and Gender
Authors: Shulga Lenna V.
Published: June 2020

As hospitality firms face increasing demands that require continuous change, it is imperative to design change management processes that allow for effective communication of change initiatives. This study of 235 employees examined the effects of organizational change communication 1 month after the change message was delivered at the annual leadership conference of a well-known U.S.-based limited-service hotel chain. In hospitality organizations, successful change management is impossible without employee engagement. However, employees’ sensemaking of the organizational change message may encourage or hinder their receptivity to change. Findings showed that while positive appraisal of conference message meaningfulness positively influenced employee work engagement, perceptions of leadership brand authenticity had a stronger impact. Moreover, employees bundled message meaningfulness and leadership brand authenticity perceptions for greater work engagement, which is linked with job satisfaction and service climate evaluation. Female attendees were highly influenced by leadership brand authenticity perceptions, driving stronger job satisfaction and stronger service climate. However, for male attendees, meaningfulness of the conference message had a significant impact on engagement. Thus, hospitality managers’ ability to adjust organizational change communication through message meaningfulness and authentic leadership branding may assist in securing the desired outcomes of change.