bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adopting a Combination of Labour-Saving Mechanisms for Increasing Rural Women’s Participation in Livelihood Strategies in Busega District in Tanzania
Authors: Ngusa Deborah A. , Kilonzo Rehema G. , Ngowi Edwin E.
Published: July 2022

The paper aims at examining rural women’s adoption of a combination of labour-saving mechanisms such as improved water supplies and harvesting techniques, cooking facilities and means of transport for household chores with its implications in diversifying livelihood strategies in Busega District of Tanzania. The study adopted Diffusion of Innovations Theory to explain the importance of adopting labour-saving mechanisms to reduce rural women’s workload and save time for diversifying livelihood strategies. The study employed cross-sectional research design to collect data from 210 rural women. Household survey, interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observations were used to collect primary data. Cross-tabulation, One-way ANOVA, five point Likert scale and multiple logistic regression were employed to analyse quantitative data. Content analysis was employed to analyse qualitative data. The study revealed that, 61.43% of rural women were limited to adopt any kind of labour-saving mechanisms. In addition, the multiple logistic regression revealed significant differences at p-value of 0.05 for the likelihood of diversifying livelihood strategies. As such, rural women’s participation in livelihood strategies differed greatly based on the ability to adopt labour-saving mechanisms for reducing the workload of household chores. The study recommends that development stakeholders should implement development programmes centred on increasing prospects of adopting a combination of labour-saving mechanisms for reducing the burden of household chores to save time for diversifying livelihood strategies.
Examining the Prospects of Consociational Power Sharing as a Conflict Resolution Strategy in South Sudan
Authors: Kisaka Michael O. , Nyadera Israel N. , Shihundu Felix
Published: July 2022

South Sudan has not escaped the world’s attention even after the signing of the infamous Revitalized Peace Agreement in September 2018 that for the 12th time brought the two antagonists – Kiir and Dr. Machar – to the negotiation table since the conflict began in 2013. Even with the aura of a shaky peace, the main question is whether the new agreement will stand the test of time going by the history of the failed implementation of peace agreements. This paper recognizes the vital nature of the prevailing peace and questions about whether consociational democracy can be propped up during this period of relative peace. Discussions are hinged on the consociationalism theory that contains a broad array of principles, including power sharing, requisite for consociational democracy. It argues that although South Sudan’s context could favor consociational democracy, there are several barriers characterizing Sudan’s social and political spheres that should be alleviated. We elucidate on the barriers and suggest in broad strokes the need for strong independent institutions and vibrant civil society amongst others. We also recognize that overreliance on individuals in resolving the conflict is detrimental to the young nation, and there is a need for a citizen-centered approach that entrenches consociational principles in South Sudan’s political sphere.
Political Violence and State Culture in Nigeria
Authors: Onyekwelu Chris I. , Maundeni Zibani , Mandiyanike David
Published: July 2022

The paper explores the link between pre-colonial state culture and political violence in Nigeria. Relying on secondary sources, the paper demonstrates that pre-colonial Nigerian groups instituted state cultures that were not only divergent, but also hostile and violent to each other. Accordingly, the paper argues that the roots of political violence in Nigeria stems from the violent pre-colonial and colonial state cultures that have endured up to the present period. It also argues that the tendency by post-colonial state elite to promote the continuity of pre-colonial and colonial state cultures that promoted division and violence is an important factor behind Nigeria’s present predicament. Consequently, the paper concludes that curtailing and preventing political violence would require a cultural re-orientation that promotes peaceful co-existence and the implementation of political arrangements that guarantee fairness and inclusivity to all groups in the country.
Whose Responsibility? The Protection of Refugees in East Asia
Authors: Howe Brendan
Published: July 2022

Many states in the East Asian region (including Northeast and Southeast subregions) are moving away from traditional state-centric governance notions towards accepting a localised variant of ‘sovereignty as responsibility’ that allows for criticism of domestic policies and limited diplomatic pressure in the event of humanitarian crises. There has been acceptance of the cosmopolitan governance principles of human security and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). Despite convergence on the R2P however, East Asian states maintain a pluralistic understanding of what it implies and its relationship with human security. Furthermore, refugees form one of the most vulnerable groups in the region precisely because of an ongoing resistance in recognising responsibility for their protection. This paper addresses the performance of different agencies of governance (at the national and international level) in fulfilling their R2P obligations towards North Korean refugees and the Rohingya, the two most prominent (and controversial) regional refugee groups.
Logics of Othering: Sweden as Other in the time of COVID-19
Authors: Hagström Linus , Wagnsson Charlotte , Lundström Magnus
Published: July 2022

‘Othering’ – the view or treatment of another person or group as intrinsically different from and alien to oneself – is a central concept in the International Relations literature on identity construction. It is often portrayed as a fairly singular and predominantly negative form of self/Other differentiation. During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden at first glance emerged as exactly such a negative Other. This article problematises such a view of Othering. Departing from a narrative analysis of news reporting on Sweden’s management of COVID-19 in the United States, Germany and the Nordic states, the article proposes an ideal type model with four forms of Othering – emotional, strategic, analytic and nuanced – not recognised in previous research. These types differ in their treatment of the Other as more or less significant and in involving a more or less self-reflexive construction of the self. Although narratives in all these settings drew on previously established narratives on Sweden, they followed different logics. This has implications for our understanding of Sweden as an Other in the time of COVID-19, as well as of self/Other relations in International Relations more broadly.
The Impact of Job Instruction Training Within Pharmacy
Authors: Munir Faria , Loucks Christopher , Bartlett Petal
Published: July 2022

Purpose: To provide pharmacy leaders and clinicians with the basic principles of a training method called job instruction (JI) and its application within pharmacy as a strategy to teach routine pharmacy work. Summary: Job instruction is a reliable way to teach a person to quickly learn how to perform a work standard correctly, safely, and efficiently. Job instruction is a proven and successful technique for improving time to train, productivity, employee turnover and quality of work. In healthcare, JI training is not well-known or widely utilized. Job Instruction was the strategy of choice to stabilize the variable training practices within The University of Kansas Health System pharmacy enterprise, and a prospective, single center, multi-cohort study was conducted to study its impact. Conclusion: The preliminary results of this study provide initial insight into the applicability of job instruction in pharmacy. The study indicated the benefits of JI training within different teams to standardize training practices, decrease error and safety event rates, and increase satisfaction of team members with on-the-job training. The results of this study will be used to further analyze and optimize training practices in The University of Kansas Health System pharmacy enterprise.
Conundrums of Religious Conversion in Tribal Areas of India
Authors: Thakur Mridula
Published: July 2022

India is a land of multiple religions, faiths and beliefs where every individual has the freedom of choice to practice, profess and propagate the religion of their choice. However, the coerced form of conversion has been the subject matter for a long period of time. Recently, there have been different instances of conversion that have been marked by enticements, deception and dishonesty, which is a grave matter of concern in the country. Various state governments have proposed to enact laws and have made amendments and passed ordinances to check conversion in their respective States.

This author seeks to draw an overview of the recent issues related to religious conversion, and it looks into the various legislations that have been passed by different states of India to curb it. Emphasis has been laid on changing paradigms and judicial interpretations with respect to religious conversion.
Cartesian space track planning for welding robot with inverse solution multi-objective optimization
Authors: Xu Yicun , Cheng Lei , Yang Jiong , Ji Yujie , Wang Haonan , Sun Hongwei , Liu Chao , Zhang Benshun
Published: July 2022

Aiming at the problem that the traditional inverse solution optimization method is not comprehensive and does not consider the robot structure and actual working conditions, an inverse solution multi-objective optimization method is proposed. This method comprehensively considers the structural size and working state of the welding robot, establishes the stiffness performance evaluation index, optimizes the performance index of the subsequent connecting rod movement area caused by joint rotation, and selects the optimal inverse solution combined with the principle of “minimum joint displacement.” Compared with the traditional method, this method is more comprehensive. It makes the variation range of the rear three small joints of the welding robot larger than the front three large joints, which reduces the power consumption. In addition, it also improves the stiffness of the welding robot at the trajectory point, which ensures the reliability of the welding robot. On this basis, for linear and arc welds, the position interpolation of cartesian space line and arc trajectory based on the S-shaped acceleration and deceleration curve and the posture interpolation of spherical linear interpolation based on unit quaternion are realized. MATLAB simulation results show that the combination of the inverse optimization method and the interpolation method makes the end trajectory, velocity, acceleration, posture curve, and joint displacement curve of the welding robot continuous, smooth, and without mutation.
Association between co-residence and loneliness during COVID-19 among sexual minority people in Hong Kong
Authors: Suen Yiu Tung , Chan Randolph CH , Wong Eliz Miu Yin
Published: July 2022

Background:

Research has identified that loneliness during COVID-19 is associated with co-residence status, and individuals living alone were more likely to report loneliness. However, it may not apply to sexual minority people as those living with their family may experience different sexual orientation-related stressors.

Aims:

This study aims to (1) understand the pattern of living arrangement and loneliness among sexual minority people during COVID-19, (2) examine parental acceptance, family conflict and loneliness among sexual minority people with different living arrangements and (3) investigate the association between parental acceptance and loneliness among sexual minority people with different living arrangements during COVID-19.

Method:

An online survey with 1,457 Hong Kong sexual minority people was conducted.

Results:

Sexual minority people living with their partner(s) were less likely to report loneliness. Concurrently, those living with their parent(s) showed a similar level of loneliness as those who lived alone. Living with parent(s) during COVID-19 does not necessarily alleviate feelings of loneliness among them, which we argue may be due to parental unacceptance of their sexual orientation. Nearly half of the respondents stated that their parent(s) were unaccepting of their sexual orientation and 41.8% of them indicated an increase in family conflict during COVID-19. For those living with their parent(s), parental unacceptance is related to more family conflict during COVID-19, which in turn is associated with higher levels of loneliness.

Conclusions:

Not living with unaccepting parents may reduce family conflict and feelings of loneliness, but this has not been the case for many respondents from a city with high population density and cost of living. Social and mental health service providers need to come up with timely and appropriate interventions to address the unique needs faced by sexual minority people during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
TOF-UNet: High-precision method for terry towel defect detection
Authors: Xiao Jinzhuang , Guo Huihui , Wang Ning
Published: July 2022

Towel defect detection mostly relies on manual labor, but there are problems such as a low efficiency and high missed detection rate. Therefore, automatic detection of towel defects is becoming increasingly popular. Although the UNet-based method has been successful, there are problems that must be solved for practical applications. To address the problems of the complex background caused by loops on the towel surface, relatively small defect size, and imbalanced defect–background ratio, a high-precision convolutional neural network is proposed, which is called tiny object-focused UNet. A coordinate attention mechanism is introduced in tiny object-focused UNet to enhance the feature-extraction capabilities, and spatial pyramid pooling is employed to fuse local and global information for more accurately extraction of towel defect features. Finally, the composite loss function obtained via the addition of the cross-entropy loss and the Dice loss function is used to reduce the impact of the imbalance in the proportion of defects on the detection accuracy. The proposed model is evaluated using a self-made dataset. The experimental results indicate that the segmentation performance of the network is better than that of other networks. Thus, the proposed method is useful for segmenting towel defects.
Bayesian Multistate Life Table Methods for Large and Complex State Spaces: Development and Illustration of a New Method
Authors: Lynch Scott M. , Zang Emma
Published: July 2022

Multistate life table methods are an important tool for producing easily understood measures of population health. Most contemporary uses of these methods involve sample data, thus requiring techniques for capturing uncertainty in estimates. In recent decades, several methods have been developed to do so. Among these methods, the Bayesian approach proposed by Lynch and Brown has several unique advantages. However, the approach is limited to estimating years to be spent in only two living states, such as “healthy” and “unhealthy.” In this article, the authors extend this method to allow for large state spaces with “quasi-absorbing” states. The authors illustrate the new method and show its advantages using data from the Health and Retirement Study to investigate U.S. regional differences in years of remaining life to be spent with diabetes, chronic conditions, and disabilities. The method works well and yields rich output for reporting and subsequent analyses. The expanded method also should facilitate the use of multistate life tables to address a wider array of social science research questions.
Platform governance at the margins: Social media creators’ experiences with algorithmic (in)visibility
Authors: Duffy Brooke Erin , Meisner Colten
Published: July 2022

While champions of the “new” creative economy consistently hype the career possibilities furnished by YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and the like, critics have cast a spotlight on the less auspicious elements of platform-dependent creative labor: exploitation, insecurity, and a culture of overwork. Social media creators are, moreover, beholden to the vagaries of platforms’ “inscrutable” socio-technical systems, particularly the algorithms that enable (or – conversely – thwart) their visibility. This article draws upon in-depth interviews with 30 social media creators – sampled from historically marginalized identities and/or stigmatized content genres – to explore their perceptions of, and experiences with, algorithmic (in)visibility. Together, their accounts evince a shared understanding that platforms enact governance unevenly – be it through formal (human and/or automated content moderation) or informal (shadowbans, biased algorithmic boosts) means. Creators’ understandings are implicated in experiential practices ranging from self-censorship to concerted efforts to circumvent algorithmic intervention. In closing, we consider how the regimes of discipline and punishment that structure the social media economy systematically disadvantage marginalized creators and cultural expressions deemed non-normative.
Inequality of authors’ reference reuse
Authors: Wang Dan , Huang Yong , Hu Liang , Cheng Qikai , Bu Yi
Published: July 2022

This brief communication finds a clear and universal inequality of authors’ reference reuse behaviour. We observe that a few references are reused many times in an author’s oeuvre while most of his or her references only occur in the reference list for quite a limited number of times. A power law distribution depicts such an inequality. We particularly utilise the power value, [Formula: see text], to characterise the nuanced difference of such inequalities. A pilot study based upon Microsoft Academic Graph (MAG) shows that the [Formula: see text] tends to be normally distributed, regardless of whether it is from a citing or a cited perspective. Our empirical study also reveals that the [Formula: see text] of highly cited publications tends to be greater than that of lowly cited ones, yet we also observe a saturation when the number of citations increases.
High-Risk Symptom Cluster Groups for Work-Life Quality and Turnover Intention among Nurses
Authors: Cha Chiyoung , Lee Miran
Published: July 2022

This cross-sectional study aims to identify high-risk symptom cluster groups for assessing the quality of nursing work life (QNWL) and turnover intention among Korean nurses who have experienced workplace violence. Nurses were recruited for an online survey in May 2021 ( n = 203). The following four symptom clusters are extracted: (a) depression–anxiety, (b) shame–somatization, (c) nightmare–loss of appetite, and (d) anger–shock. Three symptom cluster groups were identified. Group 1 had the highest score for the anger–shock symptom cluster, as well as the highest symptom scores and turnover intention. Group 2 had the highest score for the nightmare–loss of appetite symptom cluster and the lowest QNWL. Group 3 had a similar symptom cluster pattern to Group 1 but lower scores for all symptom clusters. Symptom monitoring and programs tailored to symptom cluster groups at the institutional level could be useful for managing QNWL and turnover intention.
Ischemia preconditioning induces an adaptive response that defines a circulating metabolomic signature in ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Sol Joaquim , Colàs-Campàs Laura , Mauri-Capdevila Gerard , Molina-Seguin Jessica , Galo-Licona José Daniel , Torres-Querol Coral , Aymerich Núria , Ois Ángel , Roquer Jaume , Tur Silvia , García-Carreira María del Carmen , Martí-Fàbregas Joan , Cruz-Culebras Antonio , Segura Tomás , Pamplona Reinald , Portero-Otín Manel , Arqué Gloria , Jové Mariona , Purroy Francisco
Published: July 2022

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) before an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) could induce ischemic tolerance (IT) phenomena. with an endogenous neuroprotective role (Ischemic preconditioning. IPC). A consecutive prospective cohort of patients with AIS were recruited from 8 different hospitals. Participants were classified by those with non-previous recent TIA vs. previous TIA (within seven days. TIA ≤7d). A total of 541 AIS patients were recruited. 40 (7.4%). of them had previous TIA ≤7d. In line with IPC. patients with TIA ≤7d showed: 1) a significantly less severe stroke at admission by NIHSS score. 2) a better outcome at 7–90 days follow-up and reduced infarct volumes. 3) a specific upregulated metabolomics/lipidomic profile composed of diverse lipid categories. Effectively. IPC activates an additional adaptive response on increasing circulation levels of structural and bioactive lipids to facilitate functional recovery after AIS which may support biochemical machinery for neuronal survival. Furthermore. previous TIA before AIS seems to facilitate the production of anti-inflammatory mediators that contribute to a better immune response. Thus. the IT phenomena contributes to a better adaptation of further ischemia. Our study provides first-time evidence of a metabolomics/lipidomic signature related to the development of stroke tolerance in AIS patients induced by recent TIA.
Successful management of rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis with sugammadex: A case report
Authors: Hung Sheng-Kai , Yeh Chia-Chi , Ting Pei-Chi , Chen Cay-Huyen , Kao Ming-Chang
Published: July 2022

Although anaphylaxis during anaesthesia is a rare event, neuromuscular blocking drugs are responsible for 62% of anaesthesia-related anaphylaxis. However, sugammadex, a modified gamma-cyclodextrin, can encapsulate rocuronium molecules and cause the rapid reversal of the neuromuscular blockade. A 68-year-old man who presented for a radical prostatectomy was induced with IV fentanyl/propofol/rocuronium. He had not received rocuronium previously but had received cisatracurium. Shortly after anaesthesia, the patient’s heart rate abruptly increased, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) dropped to 40 mm Hg. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intensive management, his haemodynamic stability did not improve until he received IV sugammadex, 200 mg. Intradermal skin tests showed he was positive for cisatracurium, rocuronium and succinylcholine. The patient was suspected to have cross-reactivity of rocuronium with cisatracurium. This case highlights the potential benefit of sugammadex as an adjunct to conventional measures during rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis.
The use of group drumming-based music therapy with male adolescents in a school violence prevention program in Korea: A pilot study
Authors: Suh Eun Sil
Published: July 2022

This study investigated how a drumming experience influences students’ aggression and narrative experience as related to school violence. Participants were 15- to 16-year-old students from two classes in a men’s high school in a Southeastern city in Korea. The students in one class ( n = 38) participated in a group drumming-based music therapy school violence prevention program, while the 35 students in the other class participated in a didactic character education class. The Aggression Questionnaire (Korean Version) K-AQ was used for the quantitative data analysis, and individual semi-structured interviews with three participants, the classroom teacher, and researcher observations contributed qualitative data. A significant effect was found in the anger subscale of the K-AQ; no significant differences were found for the other 3 subscales (physical aggression, verbal aggression, and hostility). The qualitative data indicated that group drumming may enhance self-esteem, assertiveness, emotional expression, anger management skills, cooperation, feelings of unity, empathy, and active listening skills. These findings indicated that group drumming may contribute to reducing anger—one component of aggression—and may positively impact Korean male adolescents’ prosocial behaviors, as they pertain to school violence.
On the persistence of race: Unique skulls and average tissue depths in the practice of forensic craniofacial depiction
Authors: Jong Lisette
Published: July 2022

The (re-)surfacing of race in forensic practices has received plenty of attention from STS scholars, especially in connection with modern forensic genetic technologies. In this article, I describe the making of facial depictions based on the skulls of unknown deceased individuals. Based on ethnographic research in the field of craniofacial identification and forensic art, I present a material-semiotic analysis of how race comes to matter in the face-making process. The analysis sheds light on how race as a translation device enables oscillation between the individual skull and population data, and allows for slippage between categories that otherwise do not neatly map on to one another. The subsuming logic of race is ingrained – in that it sits at the bases of standard choices and tools – in methods and technologies. However, the skull does not easily let itself be reduced to a racial type. Moreover, the careful efforts of practitioners to articulate the individual characteristics of each skull provide clues for how similarities and differences can be done without the effect of producing race. Such methods value the skull itself as an object of interest, rather than treat it as a vehicle for practicing race science. I argue that efforts to undo the persistence of race in forensic anthropology should focus critical attention on the socio-material configuration of methods and technologies, including data practices and reference standards.
Application of Balanced Mix Design Strategies to Missouri Dense-Graded Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Majidifard Hamed , Rath Punyaslok , Jahangiri Behnam , Buttlar William G.
Published: July 2022

This study focused on the improvement or redesign of dense-graded mixtures in Missouri by applying various strategies typified by a balanced mix design (BMD) approach. Briefly, the BMD approach involves designing mixtures using appropriate thresholds of mixture performance tests to control major distresses. In this study, two existing dense-graded mixtures from Missouri were adopted with 33% binder replacement by recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). Appropriate thresholds from three commonly used cracking tests, namely the disk-shaped compact tension test, or DC(T), the Illinois Flexibility Index Test (I-FIT), and the indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT), were paired with the Hamburg wheel track test (HWTT) toward the improvement or rebalancing of mixes designed before the availability or specified use of these tests. Preliminary test results showed that the existing mix designs did not satisfy the cracking thresholds adopted in this study, and thus the following modifications were made to the mixtures: (a) replacing the base binder with a softer grade binder, (b) adding a rejuvenator, and (c) adding ground tire rubber (either 10% or 20% by weight of base binder). According to the results, modification with rubber and softer binder was the most efficient strategy for improving and balancing DC(T) fracture energy and HWTT performance. On the other hand, the use of a softer binder or rejuvenator led to the best success in meeting semicircular bend (SCB) (I-FIT) and IDEAL-CT test requirements in balance with HWTT requirements.
The Global Ethics of Emotions – What Ancient Chinese Philosophies Can Teach Us
Authors: Eifring Halvor
Published: July 2022

This article explores what ancient Chinese philosophies can teach us about understanding emotions and relating to them. It posits that emotions are fundamental and connected to everything in the universe, that much of their value lies in their sincerity, that they need to be cultivated to avoid excess and imbalance, and that, like everything else, they are permeated by a cosmic force that is at once transcendent and immanent.
Confucian “Humanity” (ren 仁) as a Resource for a Global Ethics
Authors: Huang Chun-chieh
Published: July 2022

This article argues that the core value of “humanity” (ren 仁) in the Confucian tradition may serve as a resource for global ethics in the 21st century. After presenting three major questions raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, it proposes a “reconciliation” between Confucian and Western traditions for a solution to the challenges of the pandemic. Confucian “humanity”, based on the idea of interpenetration between what is inside and what is outside, may pave the way to a true “reconciliation” in our era.
A comparison assessment of landfill waste incineration and methane capture in the central region of Mexico
Authors: Pablo Emilio Escamilla-García , Fernández-Rodríguez Emmanuel , Carrasco-Hernández Rocio , Coria-Páez Ana Lilia , Gutiérrez-Galicia Francisco
Published: July 2022

This article aims to conduct a techno-economic feasibility assessment of producing energy by waste incineration and methane capture in the central region of Mexico. Three scenarios at different efficiency rates were considered: 50, 80 and 100%. For the methane project, yields and power capacity were determined using the potential generation rate and the degradable organic carbon content through the LandGEM model. For incineration, the waste calorific potential and the average moisture content were used to estimate the achievable electrical performance. The estimated annual energy was 35,018 GWh for methane, compared to 537.71 GWh for incineration. Both projects reported financial economic feasibilities when evaluated at a discount rate of 12%. Incineration reported an net present value of US$49,942,534 and an internal rate of return of 26% in contrast to US$4,054,109 and 17% for the methane project. Although the payback period for incineration was lower than for methane, its levelized cost of energy was significantly higher. These results are intended to assist the decision-making process when planning and developing waste management strategies under principles of circular economy in Mexico and similar regions worldwide.
Scaling up resource recovery of plastics in the emergent circular economy to prevent plastic pollution: Assessment of risks to health and safety in the Global South
Authors: Cook Ed , Velis Costas A , Cottom Joshua W
Published: July 2022

Over the coming decades, a large additional mass of plastic waste will become available for recycling, as efforts increase to reduce plastic pollution and facilitate a circular economy. New infrastructure will need to be developed, yet the processes and systems chosen should not result in adverse effects on human health and the environment. Here, we present a rapid review and critical semi-quantitative assessment of the potential risks posed by eight approaches to recovering value during the resource recovery phase from post-consumer plastic packaging waste collected and separated with the purported intention of recycling. The focus is on the Global South, where there are more chances that high risk processes could be run below standards of safe operation. Results indicate that under non-idealised operational conditions, mechanical reprocessing is the least impactful on the environment and therefore most appropriate for implementation in developing countries. Processes known as ‘chemical recycling’ are hard to assess due to lack of real-world process data. Given their lack of maturity and potential for risk to human health and the environment (handling of potentially hazardous substances under pressure and heat), it is unlikely they will make a useful addition to the circular economy in the Global South in the near future. Inevitably, increasing circular economy activity will require expansion towards targeting flexible, multi-material and multilayer products, for which mechanical recycling has well-established limitations. Our comparative risk overview indicates major barriers to changing resource recovery mode from the already dominant mechanical recycling mode towards other nascent or energetic recovery approaches.
A simple and reliable method for separation of mineral oil/polychlorobiphenyl mixtures
Authors: Gherdaoui Chems Eddine , Bouberka Zohra , Delbarre Jean-Philippe , Hutin Olivier , Sansano Roger , Leclercq Laurent , Supiot Philippe , Maschke Ulrich
Published: July 2022

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were broadly applied worldwide as electrical insulators in transformers and power capacitors, due to their high dielectric constant and non-flammability. They were often added to mineral oils (MOs) and used as dielectric fluids, which are nowadays classified as hazardous waste. Indeed, the Stockholm Convention aims to eliminate the use of equipment with PCB content greater than 0.005 wt-% (=50 ppm) by 2025. Accurate identification and quantification of small traces of PCBs contained in MO thus represent a great analytical challenge. To achieve this goal, a simple, cost-effective and fast chromatographic process was developed to separate PCBs from MO, allowing to obtain reliable data to determine the concentration of PCBs, reduced to 2–3 ppm. Experimental and analytical methods, such as thin layer chromatography, column chromatography as well as gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy, were applied to acquire a high level of qualitative and quantitative determination of PCBs in transformer MOs.
A review of comprehensive utilization of red mud
Authors: Mi Hongcheng , Yi Longsheng , Wu Qian , Xia Jin , Zhang Binghang
Published: July 2022

Red mud (RM) is a solid waste generated during the process of alumina production. RM has already posed a serious environmental threat with the development of the alumina refining industry. The comprehensive utilization of RM has attracted much attention due to its large-scale generation and harmful nature. This paper introduces the characteristics and state of RM and summarizes the relevant research on the comprehensive utilization of RM. The results show that comprehensive utilization of RM is mainly focused on the preparation of building materials, the extraction of valuable metals, catalyst synthesis and environmental protection. Besides, the article discusses the existing problems while utilizing RM. Prospects and suggestions for different utilization methods of RM are proposed.
Stay–Leave Decision-Making Among Women Victims of Domestic Violence in Israel: Background, Interactional, and Environmental Factors
Authors: Ben-Porat Anat , Reshef-Matzpoon Adi
Published: July 2022

The study examined the factors that contribute to stay–leave decision-making of women who are domestic violence victims, focusing on background factors (origin, education, and occupational status); interactional factors (severity of violence, previous separations, and previous stays in a shelter); and social factors (social support and woman’s expectations of the shelter). In addition, it examined the contribution of the interaction of woman’s expectations of the shelter × psychological violence to the woman’s decision to leave/stay with her partner. Six months after returning to the community, 221 women who had stayed in a shelter for at least 3 months were located: 92 were Israeli-born Jews (41.6%), 49 were Israeli-born Arabs (22.2%), 51 were Former Soviet Union immigrants (23.1%), and 29 were Ethiopian immigrants (13.1%). Of them, 56.6% reported returning to their partners, and 43.4% reported leaving their partners. Education, occupational status, psychological violence severity, previous shelter stays, familial support, and expectations of having concrete needs fulfilled by the shelter made a significant contribution to the woman’s leaving the abusive relationship. Furthermore, Israeli Arab women were more likely to stay with their partners. Finally, the interaction of the expectation that concrete needs would be met × psychological violence made a significant contribution to leaving the relationship. The study emphasizes the need to expand the resources of domestically abused women and also highlights specific groups requiring special attention upon shelter entry: Arab women, women who previously stayed in shelters, and women characterized by a lack of resources and a high degree of psychological violence.
Mental Illness and Racial Disparities in Correctional Staff-Involved Violence: An Analysis of Jails in the United States
Authors: Semenza Daniel C. , Grosholz Jessica M. , Isom Deena A. , Novisky Meghan A.
Published: July 2022

In this study, we draw on theories of opportunity and focal concerns to examine how mental illness and race correspond to correctional staff-involved violence, particularly within the transient and diverse context of jails. Using a sample of 3,936 people incarcerated in jails from the 2011 to 2012 National Inmate Survey (NIS-3), we analyze how an individual’s mental health status (number of mental illness diagnoses) and race relates to the risk of staff-inflicted victimization. Using a series of Firth’s logistic regression models, we find that Black and Hispanic individuals are much more likely to be victims of correctional staff assault than their White counterparts. Those with one and two or more mental illness diagnoses are also at greater risk for staff-involved violence, respectively. Supplementary models show that those who suffer from serious mental illness are at particularly high risk for staff victimization. In a subsequent moderation analysis, we find that race does not condition the influence of mental health diagnoses on risk for staff-involved violence. Our findings reinforce the need for more research on correctional staff-involved violence and the implications of this research support calls for enhanced training of correctional staff regarding mental illness and racial bias.
Design of a deviation detection sensor and an auto-follow row system for corn harvesters
Authors: Dong Naixi , Zhang Zhen , Li Chuangchuang , Chi Ruijuan , Du Yuefeng , Zhu Xiaolong
Published: July 2022

The auto-follow row technology is the basic technology to realize the uncrewed operation of corn harvesters, which helps to improve the quality and efficiency of corn harvest. A deviation detection sensor and an auto-follow row system are designed to address the difficulty for corn harvesters to harvest the corn sowing with different row spacing. The auto-follow row system is comprised of the auto-follow row controller, two deviation detection sensors, sensors for acquiring the state of the corn harvester, and the hydraulic steering system. The deviation detection sensor uses the touch rod to detect the lateral deviation and sends it to the auto-follow row controller through the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The auto-follow row controller obtained the lateral deviation, calculated the target steering angle according to the pure pursuit method based on the yaw angle estimation model and fuzzy control model, and adjusted the posture of the harvester by controlling the steering actuator. Two types of corn harvesters were reformed and mounted the auto-follow row system for simulation and field tests. The average errors of the auto-follow row system in the simulation tests and the field tests were 0.040 m and 0.046 m, respectively. The relative deviations within ±0.075 m were 98.33% and 97.22%, respectively, which met the operating requirements of corn harvesters. The test results show that the auto-follow row system can be applied to many kinds of corn harvesters and provide a reference for designing a completely unmanned system for corn harvesters.
Digital curation and open-source software in LAM-related publications
Authors: Piotrowski Dominik Mirosław , Marzec Paweł
Published: July 2022

The changing conditions in which LAM institutions operate require constant monitoring of the development of solutions dedicated to different forms of their activities. This article aims at an analysis of the literature related to LAM institutions on open-source software used in digital curation. The undertaken research was an attempt to check the interest in this issue in publications registered in the BASE multi-search database. The research material collected during library searches was analysed using simple bibliometric methods. Based on literature analysis, this paper indicates a growing interest in digital curation in LAM institutions in the context of open-source software. The first publications on this subject recorded in the BASE database date back to 2005. Since then, the number of different publication types has been growing steadily, including in particular conference proceedings and journal articles. An increasing number of authors interested in digital curation associated with many institutions from around the world has also been recorded. The analysis of the material also allowed us to identify various applications available under open-source licences. The article provides an opportunity to look at the changes occurring in the analysed body of literature. It presents leading authors publishing works related to digital curation. It also identifies the most popular software described over 16 years. It provides a comprehensive description of topics and the structure of literature on open-source software used in digital curation. The described analysis results can be a contribution to in-depth research and a set of solutions for practitioners.
How to Use Simulation Games in the Classroom?
Authors: Cadotte Ernest R.
Published: July 2022

An enhanced, new venture simulation can be a game changer within a school’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing students with a holistic vision of a new venture and skills relevant to its potential success. The purpose of this article is to help faculty design and deliver a simulation experience that will engage, challenge, inspire and transform students into entrepreneurial enthusiasts with practical new venture knowledge and skills. Attention is given to (a) the factors to consider in choosing the right simulation, (b) the best practices for structuring a class for maximum impact and (c) the role of the instructor as an entrepreneurial coach.
The effect of the universal two-child policy on female labour market outcomes in China
Authors: Huang Qian , Jin Xiaofei
Published: July 2022

To alleviate the imbalance in demographics, the Chinese government initiated the universal two-child policy nationwide in 2016, which has comprehensively impacted society, especially females. Our study investigates whether this policy has negatively affected workforce employment and income among women in urban areas. Based on the DID (difference-in-differences) method and the Heckman Two-Step Estimation, reliable empirical evidence shows that the universal two-child policy has significantly reduced women’s employment by 4.06% and decreased their labour income by 10.43%. Surprisingly, this policy has decreased the employment among women under 25 years old by 23.99% and has reduced the income of higher educated females by 29.59%. Furthermore, we find that the influence of the universal two-child policy on female employment has gradually increased from 2016 to 2018, and its impact on income has presented an evident time lag.
Equivalent modeling for a finite element analysis of the mechanical properties of a bolted joint with a superelastic shape memory alloy
Authors: Dong Xingkun , Jiang Xiangjun , Wang Yanping , Li Peng , Pan Fengqun
Published: July 2022

In this study, a beam element model with tension–compression asymmetry is constructed by using the improved Brinson model. A comparison between the calculated and experimental results verifies the computational effectiveness of the beam element. Then, a new mechanical property analysis model of a shape memory alloy (SMA) bolted joint based on the beam element model is proposed. Combined with a constructed convergence function, the mechanical equilibrium state of the SMA bolted joint under preload and external load is solved iteratively by the bisection method. Consequently, the stress–strain response curve of the SMA bolt rod and the root of the first thread, the deformation law of each thread and the separation conditions of the contact surface of members are analyzed by the proposed model. It is shown that the new proposed method can greatly improve the calculation efficiency with high calculation precision compared with the traditional calculation method.
A review on shape memory alloys and their prominence in automotive technology
Authors: Shreekrishna Suhas , Nachimuthu Radhika , Nair Viswajith S
Published: July 2022

The current generation of automobiles is known for its sophisticated safety, comfort, and performance characteristics, which were developed in order to meet the ever-growing competition and advancement in the automotive field. Consequently, the development of smart materials with unique and exceptional properties is also gaining momentum. Of the various smart material currently applied in automotive technology, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), which boast the unique properties of shape memory effect and pseudo-elasticity, are steadily gaining popularity. The most prevalent automotive application of this material is in SMA actuators. These actuators are compact, lightweight alternatives to mechanical actuators, providing silent operation, enhanced reliability, durability, and resistance to humidity, shock, and vibrations. They are used in a variety of automotive systems such as adjustable mirrors, windshield wipers, door locks, smart bonnets, tumble flaps, governor valves, fog louvers, hatch vents, and many more. Among the various commercially available SMAs, Ni-Ti alloys are the most extensively used in most of these applications. This paper provides an overview of the properties, applications, and challenges of SMAs in the automotive sector.
Subtalar Arthrodesis Union Rates With and Without Adjacent Ankle Arthrodesis
Authors: Jennison Toby , Dalgleish James , Taher Suhib , Chadwick Carolyn , Blundell Chris , Davies Mark , Davies Howard
Published: July 2022

Background:

Subtalar arthrodesis is the surgical procedure commonly performed to treat subtalar arthritis. Subtalar arthrodesis may have a higher nonunion rate if there is a preexisting adjacent joint arthrodesis. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to compare the subtalar arthrodesis union rate of patients with native tibiotalar joints to that of patients with prior tibiotalar arthrodesis. The secondary aim was to assess risk factors for nonunion.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients that underwent a subtalar arthrodesis in a single center between 2010 and 2020. The primary outcome of union was determined based on bridging callus on radiographs and clinical symptoms. If there was uncertainty, then a nonweightbearing CT was acquired. Chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney tests compared differences in demographics and risk factors for nonunion between groups. A logistical regression model was performed to determine risk factors for nonunion.

Results:

Eighteen patients had an adjacent ankle arthrodesis and 53 patients did not. The successful subtalar arthrodesis union rate in those with a preexisting ankle joint arthrodesis (44.4%) was approximately half that in those without an ankle joint arthrodesis (86.8%) ( P < .001). On multivariate logistic regression, an adjacent ankle arthrodesis was the only significant risk factor for nonunion. The odds ratio of nonunion of the subtalar joint with an adjacent ankle arthrodesis present was 4.90 (95% CI 1.02-23.56) compared to a subtalar arthrodesis with a native ankle joint. In addition, 9.4% of patients without an ankle arthrodesis underwent a revision subtalar arthrodesis compared with 44.4% of those with an adjacent ankle arthrodesis ( P = .001).

Conclusion:

In our study, we found that patients undergoing a subtalar arthrodesis with an adjacent ankle arthrodesis have a significantly increased risk of nonunion compared with those undergoing a subtalar arthrodesis with a native ankle. Patients with a previously fused ankle need counseling about the high risk of nonunion and potential additional surgery.