bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing Safety Performance Functions for Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes at Interchange Ramp Segments in Kentucky
Authors: Haleem Kirolos , Hosseinpour Mehdi
Published: March 2023

Compared with roadway segments and intersections, the safety of interchange ramp segments has not been studied extensively, especially in the context of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The main objective of this study was to develop a safety performance function (SPF) tool for predicting CMV crashes occurring on interchange ramp segments. Four count models, including the negative binomial (NB), heterogeneous NB (HTNB), standard Conway–Maxwell–Poisson (CMP), and heterogeneous Conway–Maxwell–Poisson (HTCMP), were used and compared while fitting CMV crash-specific SPFs along interchange ramp segments in Kentucky. The HTCMP model, which is an extension of the standard CMP model, is a more flexible approach that handles both over-dispersed and under-dispersed crash data while exhibiting varying dispersion parameters. Five-year (2015 to 2019) CMV-related crashes along Kentucky’s ramp segments were used. The model comparison results showed that the HTCMP significantly outperformed the other three models in crash prediction accuracy and goodness-of-fit statistics (e.g., the Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, and McFadden’s Pseudo R-squared). The SPF model results using the HTCMP approach indicated that on-ramps (relative to off-ramps), ramp annual average daily traffic, ramp configuration, left shoulder width, ramp gore length, absence of left roadside barrier, and presence of other merging or diverging ramps within the ramp of interest were significantly associated with CMV crash frequency on ramp segments. Potential safety countermeasures were proposed, for example, increasing ramp gore length to be at least 730 ft (since this was associated with a reduction in CMV crashes on ramp segments).
Modeling Dust Generation on Low-Volume Roads Based on Vehicle Speed and Surface Fines Content
Authors: Alsheyab Mohammad Ahmad , Yang Bo , Ceylan Halil , Kim Sunghwan
Published: March 2023

This study analyzes the role of vehicle speed and surface fines content on dust emission. Accordingly, fifty unpaved road sections in Iowa were evaluated; surface loose-aggregate samples were collected, and dust was collected using a Colorado State Dustometer at three speeds: 25 mph, 40 mph, and 55 mph. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Several dust-prediction models were developed utilizing multiple linear regression (ML), nonlinear regression with an interaction term (NLI), nonlinear beta regression (NLB), nonlinear curve-fitting regression (NLCF), and a multilayer neural network (MNN). The model predictors included vehicle speed and surface fines content. When models were evaluated using synthetic data and compared using post-hoc analysis, it was found that dust increases exponentially as vehicle speed increases and increases linearly as surface fines content increases. Also, at higher speeds, dust values will converge independently of the fines content in the surface materials. The ANOVA test results revealed that vehicle speed, surface fines content, and their interaction significantly affected dust emissions. The accuracy of models ranged from acceptable to good. The coefficients of determination ( R2) for ML, NLI, NLB, NLCF, and MNNTraining models were 0.703, 0.718, 0.689, 0.696, and 0.776, respectively. Evaluation of the models showed that independent of the R2 value, the MNN model was the most accurate in predicting dust emissions, followed by the NLCF model, the ML model, the NLB model, and lastly the NLI model. The post-hoc test showed that MNNTraining, NLCF, and ML models produced comparable results.
An extended kinetic model-based correction factor equation to account hemodialysis post-treatment hemoconcentration
Authors: Gomez Miquel , Arias-Guillén Marta , Maduell Francisco
Published: March 2023

The hemoconcentration effect for middle weight solutes in hemodialysis is corrected by oversimplified methods based on hematocrit changes or distribution volume variations. Here we implemented a variable volume dual pool kinetic model targeted at obtaining a precise correction factor equation for extracellularly distributed solutes based on relevant kinetic parameters such as the ultrafiltration to dry weight ratio UF/DW, the dialyzer clearance, Kd, the intercompartment mass-transfer coefficient, Kc, and the central compartment to extracellular volume ratio, α. More than 300,000 solutions of the model were computed, performing a sweep among physiological values of the proposed kinetic parameters, resulting in a linear regression denoted by the expression fcorr = 1.0707 − 5.2246 (UF/DW) − 0.0005 Kd − 0.0004 Kc − 0.0007 α, with an excellent coefficient of determination R2 = 0.983. The presented fcorr provides a substantial extension of the currently implemented methods to estimate the hemoconcentration factor for middle and high molecular weight extracellular distributed solutes in hemodialysis.
Efficient generation of random fiber distributions in fiber reinforced composites
Authors: Kou Guangjie , Feng Shuaixing , Zhang Wei , Chen Jiawei , Xiao Junling , Cai Hui , Yang Zhengwei
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a new algorithm to generate representative volume elements (RVEs) with random fiber distribution in fiber reinforced composites (FRC). The proposed algorithm is straightforward and easy to implement based on judging the maximum and minimum distances between a new fiber and existing fibers. The generation results demonstrate that the maximum fiber volume fraction gradually increases and oscillates violently before reaching 78.54% as the fiber radius rises. Moreover, with the increase of RVE size, the maximum fiber volume fraction changes gently when the fiber radius does not exceed 6.5 μm, but it changes dramatically at other fiber radii. Then, the fiber distributions of the generated RVEs are evaluated using the nearest neighbor distance, Ripley’s K function, and pair distribution function. The evaluation results indicate that the fiber distributions present randomness. Lastly, the effective elastic properties of the Carbon/Epoxy unidirectional FRC are predicted using the RVEs generated by the proposed algorithm, the RVEs generated by regularization, and the Mori–Tanaka method. It is found that the prediction using the RVEs generated by the proposed algorithm is more accurate than the regularization, compared with the Mori–Tanaka and experiment results. The proposed algorithm contributes to microstructure modeling in computational micromechanics.
Health Information-Seeking Behavior of Latino Caregivers of People Living with Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Ramirez Magaly , De Anda Sofia , Jin Haomiao , Herrera Joseph R. , Wu Shinyi
Published: March 2023

This mixed-methods study examined the health information-seeking behavior of Latino caregivers of people living with dementia. A structured survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Latino caregivers in Los Angeles, California. For triangulation, semi-structured interviews were also conducted with six healthcare and social service providers. The interview transcripts were coded and analyzed via thematic analysis, while the survey data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The results show that caregivers sought information on what changes to expect as dementia progresses. Some desired detailed (limited) information to be better prepared (to worry less). The most common action to address their information needs was searching the Internet. However, those who did this tended to be concerned about the quality of information. Overall, this study sheds light on how much detail Latino caregivers desire in the information they need and the actions they take to obtain this information.
So, Why Do Students Perform Better in Gamified Courses? Understanding Motivational Styles in Educational Gamification
Authors: Chapman Jared R. , Kohler Tanner B. , Gedeborg Sam
Published: March 2023

Research on gamification’s effects in educational environments has been a growing domain in recent years. As research has demonstrated the power of gamified systems to effectively motivate learners in educational settings, it has also become clear that not all individuals are motivated in the same way, or to the same extent, by the same gamified system. Patterns in individuals’ attitudes and behaviors in online gaming are commonly known as player types. Nearly all player-type models were developed in online gaming settings, though they are sometimes applied to educational environments. Because online gaming and educational gamification are different in important ways, player-type models developed in online gaming are not optimal tools for describing the individuals’ motivations in education or prescribing best practices for educational gamification design. In this paper we address this gap by presenting a motivational-style model developed in a gamified educational setting. Using principal component analysis on motivational data taken from gamified Organizational Behavior courses, we define a two-factor space including the following motivational dimensions: (1) social versus individual motivators and (2) utility versus accomplishment motivators. Within this space, we describe four motivational profiles: Citizen—being motivated by social assignments like group work and peer review; Pragmatist—being motivated by completing traditional assignments and exams; Gamer—being motivated by game elements that show one’s progress compared to their peers and provide social reinforcing feedback; and Achiever—being motivated by improving one’s individual progress in a course. We also suggest best practices for designing educational gamification experiences optimized for students from each motivational type.
Framing doctor-managers’ resilience during Covid-19 pandemic: A descriptive analysis from the Italian NHS
Authors: Leonelli Simona , Morandi Federica , Giancipoli Romina G , Di Vincenzo Fausto , Calcagni Maria L
Published: March 2023

With the aim of providing evidence about doctor-managers’ resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic, this study analyzes the characteristics of 114 doctor-managers operating within the Italian National Health Service (NHS). During the emergency, doctor-managers had to show adaptive capacities to deal with unexpected situations and develop new paradigms, procedures, and quick responses to patients’ needs. This is in line with resilience, and in this perspective, it is crucial to investigate resilience determinants. The paper, therefore, provides an identikit of the resilient doctor-manager. The research was conducted between November and December 2020. Primary data were collected through an online questionnaire consisting of six sections. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Data were analyzed using quantitative techniques and employing Stata 16. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was employed to test construct validity and scale reliability. Results show that increasing levels of individual resilience are related to increasing levels of managerial identity. Moreover, physicians’ individual resilience has a positive association with commitment, knowledge diffusion, and Evidence-Based Medicine adoption. Finally, physicians’ individual resilience has a negative association with their role in the university, their specialty, and their gender. The study suggests some practical implications for healtcare organizations. In general, career paths are decided primarily on competency assessment, while an important role should be devoted to behavioral characteristics. Furthermore, organizations should take care of the levels of individual commitment and encourage professional networking because both help doctor-managers cope with uncertainty. The originality of the study relies on a fresh look at all previous work. There are currently few contributions in the literature to explore and investigate resilience elements in doctor-managers during the pandemic era.
Comparison of different designs of solar air heater with the simple solar heater of having reflecting mirrors
Authors: Singh Vineet , Yadav Vinod Singh , Barnawi Abdulwasa Bakr , Khan Bhutto Javed , Verma Rajesh , Singh Pushkar , Kumar Niraj
Published: March 2023

In this research paper, three different arrangements of Solar Air Heaters (SAH) have been modeled and experimentally analyzed. The first solar heater is the Simple Solar Air Heater with tin cans, second has added reflecting mirrors with tin cans and third has a triangular fins arrangement on a copper plate. The outlet temperature of the air, solar heater efficiency, pressure drop, exergy, and exergy destruction have been determined for three arrangements of solar air heaters and compared with each other. The best performer SAH among the three was finally validated with the previous study on evacuated tube pipe solar air heater. After experimental and modeling results, it is concluded that the performance of evacuated tube pipe solar heater is better than tin cans reflecting mirror solar air heater in morning and evening and at noon the performance of reflecting mirror solar air heater is better since the addition of reflecting mirrors increase the heat supplied on the tin can tube in the afternoon time.
Investigating possible links between Holocene environmental changes and cultural transitions across India
Authors: Behera Diptimayee , Chauhan Parth R
Published: March 2023

From the early Holocene onward, the Indian Subcontinent has accommodated a range of diverse human cultures and associated ecological adaptations and lifestyles. Around 10 kyrs ago, the Subcontinent has witnessed the development of later Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and their subsequent regional transitions to pastoralist (Neolithic) and agricultural (Chalcolithic) lifeways. The Holocene climate records reveal discrepancies in the timing and duration of climatic events, which can be attributed to a vast geographic isolation, the influence of height, elevation, and local climatic conditions. These changing climatic patterns including the development of a geographically variable monsoon directly impacted these various cultures including the Harappans and their contemporaries as well as younger Historical and Medieval empires across India, at various levels. In some regions, environmental changes led to uneven cultural transitions, geographic migrations, and the development of regionally-distinct material cultures along with establishment of sedentary life-ways. This paper attempts to present a review broadly correlating general climatic patterns throughout the Holocene period of India with regional cultural dynamics. All geomorphic-climatic zones of the Subcontinent showed strong inter-proxy coherence between 9 and 5 kyrs in response to increased precipitation. After this warming period ends, we see a moderate dry period as a result of a weakening monsoon and an overall tendency toward aridity throughout all zones (after 4 kyrs). The temporal variation of human habitation and respective adaptive responses suggest broad linkages to the varying climatic and physiographic features at a regional scale. Learning how this shaped human eco-dynamics in the past can help us expand our understanding of human history and implement lessons for the present as well as the future.
Genistein attenuates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury via ADORA2A pathway
Authors: He HY , Shan HZ , Li SQ , Diao RG
Published: March 2023

Background

Studies have shown oxidative stress and apoptosis are the main pathogenic mechanisms of renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury (IRI). Genistein, a polyphenolic non-steroidal compound, has been extensively explored in oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. Our research aims to reveal the potential role of genistein on renal IRI and its potential molecular mechanism both in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

In vivo experiments, mice were pretreated with or without genistein. Renal pathological changes and function, cell proliferation, oxidative stress and apoptosis were measured. In vitro experiments, overexpression of ADORA2A and knockout of ADORA2A cells were constructed. Cells proliferation, oxidative stress and apoptosis were analyzed.

Results

Our results in vivo showed that the renal damage induced by IR was ameliorated by genistein pretreatment. Moreover, ADORA2A was activated by genistein, along with inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis. The results in vitro showed that genistein pretreatment and ADORA2A overexpression reversed the increase of apoptosis and oxidative stress in NRK-52E cells induced by H/R, while the knockdown of ADORA2A partially weakened this reversal from genistein treatment.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that genistein have a protective effect against renal IRI by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis via activating ADORA2A, presenting its potential use for the treatment of renal IRI.
Understanding CSR Campaigns Through the Lens of Culture Values and Moral Emotion
Authors: Zhao Wen
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to examine the persuasive influences of moral emotions on younger consumers’ judgments and decision-making and the roles of culture and self-construal in processing corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns. This study employed a between-subjects experiment where American and Chinese participants viewed one of the two CSR advertisement campaigns designed with ego-focused (e.g., an advertisement elicited anger emotion) and other-focused appeals (e.g., an advertisement elicited guilt emotion). By employing an elaboration likelihood persuasion model (ELM), the results indicated that negative moral emotions had significant positive influences on attitudes toward the advertisements and purchase intention through the peripheral route. In addition, results revealed the interaction effects between guilt emotion and cultural values (i.e., country) on attitudes. This study also highlighted the moderating role of self-construal individual values in the relationship between guilt and attitudes toward the campaign. This research provides insights for communication practitioners on designing effective CSR campaigns to reach culturally diverse target audiences.
Efficacy of skin preparation solutions in patients with total knee replacement: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cho Myung-Rae , Choi Won-Kee , Che Sug-Hun , Song Suk-Kyoon
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Surgical site infection following total knee replacement is considered as one of the most severe postoperative complications. The presence of bacteria at the surgical site is the most important risk factor and therefore it is essential to prevent infection through appropriate preoperative skin preparation. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence and type of native bacteria on the incision site and to assess which skin preparation is most effective to sterilize those native bacteria.

Methods

Scrub-and-paint 2 step method was used for standard preoperative skin preparation. 150 patients who underwent total knee replacement were grouped into 3 groups- Group 1 (povidone-iodine scrub-and-paint), Group 2 (chlorhexidine gluconate paint after povidone-iodine scrub), and Group 3 (povidone-iodine paint after chlorhexidine gluconate scrub). 150 specimens of post-preparation swabs were obtained and cultured. To analyze the native bacteria at the total knee replacement incision site, 88 additional swaps were performed before skin preparation and cultured.

Results

The positive rate of bacterial culture after skin preparation was 5.3% (8/150). Positive rates of the groups were 12% (6/50) in group 1, 2% (1/50) in group, 2 and 2% (1/50) in group 3 and positive rates of bacterial culture after skin preparation in group 2 and group 3 were lower than in group 1 ( p = 0.037). Among the 55 patients who had positive bacterial culture prior to skin preparation, 26.7% (4/15) in group 1, 5.6% (1/18) in group 2, and 4.5% (1/22) in group 3 were positive. Group 1 showed 7.64 times higher positive bacterial culture rate after skin preparation than group 3 ( p = 0.084)

Conclusion

During skin preparation prior to total knee replacement surgery, chlorhexidine gluconate paint after povidone-iodine scrub or povidone-iodine paint after chlorhexidine gluconate scrub had a superior effect on sterilizing native bacteria compared to povidone-iodine scrub-and-paint method.
Preservice Music Educators’ Preparedness, Self-Efficacy, and Commitment to Incorporate Popular Music
Authors: Xu Kexin
Published: March 2023

The purpose of the study was to examine preservice music teachers’ degree of preparedness, self-efficacy, and commitment to incorporating popular music into their P-12 music classrooms, as well as the relationship among the constructs in popular music teaching. Preservice music educators ( N = 81) from 23 music education programs in the United States completed a researcher-constructed questionnaire to rate their preparedness, self-efficacy, and commitment to incorporate popular music. Participants reported a moderate degree of preparedness to teach popular music and moderate popular music teaching self-efficacy. Moreover, participants rated their commitment to incorporating popular music relatively high. Correlation analyses revealed significant and positive correlations between preparedness and self-efficacy, as well as preparedness and commitment. In addition, a positive correlation was found between teachers’ self-efficacy for popular music teaching and their commitment to incorporating popular music. Additional findings include significant correlations between preservice educators’ preparedness to teach various musical genres and their self-efficacy.
Decent Work, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Posttraumatic Growth From the Psychology of Working Perspective: A Three-Wave Study of Military Personnel
Authors: Seol Jeong Hoon , Sohn Young Woo , Yoo Minjun , Park Yonguk
Published: March 2023

Scholarly interest in the relationship between decent work and mental health based on the Psychology of Working Theory has recently increased. This study evaluated the indirect effects of survival, social contribution, and self-determination needs satisfaction on the relationship between decent work and trauma-related mental health among military personnel. We conducted a three-wave survey over 1 year. Results showed that decent work predicted satisfaction of the three basic needs. Additionally, survival needs directly predicted posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, while social contribution and self-determination needs directly predicted posttraumatic growth. Finally, decent work had a significant indirect effect on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms via survival needs, whereas decent work had significant indirect effects on posttraumatic growth via social contribution and self-determination needs. Our findings suggest that the more military personnel perceive their work as decent and feel that their three basic needs are fulfilled, the more posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms diminish, and posttraumatic growth increases. We discuss the implications and need for follow-up studies.
Study on dynamic characteristics of composite plates under non-uniform gradient temperature along the thickness
Authors: Duan Biwen , Chai Yijun , Geng Qian , Yang Xiongwei , Li Yueming
Published: March 2023

A study is carried out on free vibration characteristics of a composite laminated plate under non-uniform gradient temperature distribution along the thickness (NGTDT). The NGTDT will cause different thermal stress and deformation compared with no gradient or uniform gradient temperature distribution along the thickness. The governing equation is established considering the influence of NGTDT using the von Karman–type geometric nonlinearity and the first-order shear deformation theory based on Hamilton’s principle. The semi-analysis solution is solved by an iteration method, and it is in good agreement with the results of FEM. The solutions show that the NGTDT leads to the critical buckling temperature of the plate that is no longer constant but varies with different NGTDT, that is, the transition point of the resonant frequency decreasing first and then increasing with the temperature is related to the NGTDT. This is very different from the results caused by no gradient or uniform gradient temperature distribution along the thickness.
Fault identification with limited labeled data
Authors: Berenji Amirhossein , Taghiyarrenani Zahra , Rohani Bastami Abbas
Published: March 2023

Intelligent fault diagnosis (IFD) based on deep learning methods has shown excellent performance, however, the fact that their implementation requires massive amount of data and lack of sufficient labeled data, limits their real-world application. In this paper, we propose a two-step technique to extract fault discriminative features using unlabeled and a limited number of labeled samples for classification. To this end, we first train an Autoencoder (AE) using unlabeled samples to extract a set of potentially useful features for classification purpose and consecutively, a Contrastive Learning-based post-training is applied to make use of limited available labeled samples to improve the feature set discriminability. Our Experiments—on SEU bearing dataset—show that unsupervised feature learning using AEs improves classification performance. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the employment of contrastive learning to perform the post-training process; this strategy outperforms Cross-Entropy based post-training in limited labeled information cases.
SUPERA stent placement for salvaging early recurrent arteriovenous graft thrombosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: A single-center study
Authors: Lee Hyoung Nam , Park Sung-Joon , Cho Youngjong , Lee Sangjoon
Published: March 2023

Background:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the patency of the helical interwoven SUPERA stent for salvaging prosthetic arteriovenous (AV) grafts with rapidly recurrent thrombotic occlusion developed within a short time period after successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Methods:

From December 2019 to September 2021, the data of 20 patients with AV graft who had the SUPERA stent inserted satisfying the following conditions were consecutively collected. (1) More than 1 year has passed since the AV access operation; (2) Thrombotic re-occlusion of AV graft occurred within 3 months after previous successful endovascular treatment; (3) Residual stenosis is greater than 30% after full effacement of balloon angioplasty in the primary lesion. Post-interventional target lesion primary patency (TLPP), access circuit primary patency (ACPP), and secondary patency (SP) were calculated.

Results:

Primary lesions of early recurrent arteriovenous graft thrombosis were found in 13 patients with graft–vein anastomosis, six patients with intra-graft stenosis, and one patient with outflow vein complications. The lesions showed residual stenosis in 47.4% (interquartile range: 44.1%–55.3%) of patients despite full-effacement balloon angioplasty. Clinical success was achieved in all patients with full-expansion of the stents at the 1-month follow-up. The TLPP was 70.7% and 32% at 6 and 12 months, respectively, and ACPP was 47.5% and 6.8% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The SP was 76.1% and 57.1% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. No cannulation complications occurred in the six patients with installation inside the graft. No hemodialysis or stent fracture occurred in any patient during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

The SUPERA stent may have a role in salvaging AV grafts with early recurrent thrombosis due to its greater radial force and its conformability and can be useful in treating stenosis involving the elbow or axilla, with fair patency and low complication rates.
HIV Sero-Status of Health Care Workers in Addis Ababa Public Hospitals After Post-Exposure Blood and Body Fluids: A Cross-Sectional Study, October 2022
Authors: Adal Ousman , Abebe Asmamaw
Published: March 2023

Objectives:

The study investigated the sero-status of human immunodeficiency virus among healthcare workers in Addis Ababa public hospitals.

Methods:

A multi-centered, institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 18, 2022, to October 30, 2022. A simple random sampling method and semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data, which were analyzed using statistical package for social science version 25. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with the sero-status of healthcare workers’ post-exposure blood and body fluids for the human immunodeficiency virus.

Results:

Of the 420 study participants who were exposed to blood and body fluids, 403 (96%) were non-reactive. Healthcare workers who had 20 to 29 years of work experience had approximately 6 times higher odds of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (AOR = 6.21, 95% CI: (2.39, 9.55). Healthcare workers who did not use personal protective equipment properly had 5 times higher odds of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (AOR = 5.02, CI: 3.73, 9.51).

Conclusion:

This study showed that a higher proportion of healthcare workers at the emergency department were positive for human immunodeficiency virus infection among healthcare workers who were exposed to blood and body fluids and tested immediately. Healthcare workers who did not use personal protective equipment properly had higher odds of testing positive for human immune-deficiency virus.
COVID-19 as a Crisis of Confinement: What We Can Learn From the Lived Experiences of People With Intellectual Disabilities in Care Institutions
Authors: de Ruiter Adrienne , Niemeijer Alistair , Dronkers Pieter , Leget Carlo , Dekking Sara
Published: March 2023

While the COVID-19 crisis has affected people all around the world, it has not affected everyone in the same way. Besides glaring international differences, disparities in personal and situational factors have resulted in strikingly dissimilar effects even on people within the same country. Special attention is required in this regard for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) who are vulnerable to marginalization and precarization during crises as concerns over safety and public health are likely to trump consideration for inclusion and care. This article explores the lived experiences during the pandemic of people with ID living in care institutions in the Netherlands. Particular attention is paid to the challenges involved in living through periods of confinement and separation in what may be called “vulnerable spaces.” Drawing from interviews with individuals with a mild ID who have been restricted in seeing family and friends through the closed access of group homes to visits from outsiders, as well as interviews with their relatives and support workers, the article considers the ways in which stakeholders have responded to these spatial policies and negotiated the meaning of living space in times of crisis.
Growing out of overconnection: The process of dis/connecting among Norwegian and Portuguese teenagers
Authors: Jorge Ana , Agai Mehri , Dias Patrícia , Martinho Leonor Cunha-Vaz
Published: March 2023

Young people struggle with permanent online connection that is associated with their generation. This article looks at teenagers’ affective relationship to connectivity and disconnectivity, and how it is socioculturally influenced by the media, family, and peers. It reports on an interview study with 36 teenagers between 15 and 19 years of age from Norway and Portugal. Our findings evidenced how disconnection may arise out of a latent feeling of “disaffect” generated in the experience of the ambience of connected and platform culture as well as the media; or of the unavailability created by how teenagers spend their leisure time, which is influenced by families’ moral economies. Teenagers have to perform affective labor in managing the different, sometimes contradictory, forces that converge in the experience of connectivity. Managing digital disconnection appears as an individual—but socially produced—moral obligation to self-govern, to which teenagers have unequal conditions.
Multimodal engagement strategies in science dissemination: A case study of TED talks and YouTube science videos
Authors: Bernad-Mechó Edgar , Valeiras-Jurado Julia
Published: March 2023

The growing interest on science dissemination offers new opportunities to communicate science openly to various audiences, but also brings on the challenge of adapting to an audience that does not share the same academic background. This adaptation has been referred to as recontextualization. In the case of the formats that concern this study, that is, TEDx Talks and YouTube science dissemination videos, their multimodal nature suggests that recontextualization, and therefore engagement as a crucial aspect of this process, is likely to go way beyond purely linguistic aspects. The aim of this study is to unveil how engagement strategies in two science dissemination formats (a face to face talk and an online video) are realized through complex multimodal ensembles, and to highlight differences across them. In order to fulfill this aim, two talks by the same presenter and dealing with similar content were selected for analysis: a TEDx talk and a YouTube science dissemination video from the channel PBS Space Time. The recordings were annotated using the software Multimodal Video Analysis. The annotation included engagement strategies; embodied modes, that is, modes carried out using the body; and, in the case of the YouTube video, filmic modes, that is, modes triggered by the editing process of the recorded video. Our results show that the role of both embodied and filmic modes is paramount in the realization of engagement strategies. Our findings also bring to the fore significant differences in the ways in which the two distinct audiences are engaged, concerning the frequency and use of both semiotic modes and engagement strategies.
Street art, heritage and affective atmospheres
Authors: Nomeikaite Laima
Published: March 2023

During the last decade, street art has received increased attention within heritage studies. However, current heritage research has not sufficiently explored street art’s crucial relationships with everyday life and change, as well as its performative, sensuous and atmospheric components. In this paper, I apply the notion of affective atmosphere within more-than-representational theory, heritage and urban studies, to conceptualise street art as a sensuous, ephemeral, political and embodied heritage experience of everyday life. My investigation of street art and affective atmospheres is further based on my improvised everyday practices of sensing, feeling, observing, walking and photographing in the streets of Oslo. Engaging with theory and praxis, I explore the compositional and multi-sensual aspects of street art and affective urban atmospheres, including sound, colour, movement, social hybridity and power. My analysis highlights that the experience of street art heritage involves more than simply embodied encounters with artworks, as it also integrates urban atmospheres and smooth and striated worlds. The research thus contributes practical and theoretical knowledge of street art, heritage and affective atmospheres within street art and urban and heritage studies.
The right to higher education and the gap between ideal theory and non-ideal decisions
Authors: Brighouse Harry , Mullane Kailey
Published: March 2023

Christopher Martin argues that an interest in strong autonomy supports a right to debt-free higher education and that making tuition free is the best way of enacting that right. We argue that making higher education tuition free would, in the absence of other countervailing measure, maldistribute strong autonomy, even in ideal conditions. We also argue that even if Martin is right that higher education should be tuition-free in ideal circumstances, it does not follow that in prevailing, non-ideal, conditions higher education should be tuition-free.
More than race? Mills, ethnicity, and education
Authors: Thompson Winston C.
Published: March 2023

Building on the careful racial analyses of Charles W. Mills, this article uses the example case of Black ethnics to illustrate the general plausibility of ethnic identity as a useful political analytic category, suggesting that the absence of ethnic identity in racial analyses mutes important aspects of the lived experiences of racialized persons as individuals and in aggregation. The article establishes the possibility of ethnicity as an identity modifier, providing additional specificity to racial identity narratives. Building on these positions, the article turns to educational contexts to explore the ways in which ethnicity (as introduced in the preceding sections) stands to offer additional specificity to justice-oriented analyses of educational policy and practice.
Physical Activity and Social Comparison: The Importance of Group Composition in an Employee Fitbit Intervention
Authors: Wentz Jennifer R. , Wilhelm Stanis Sonja
Published: March 2023

This study examined the impact of group composition of a 6-week group-based employee Fitbit intervention on daily physical activity steps. Group composition comprised heterogenous and homogeneous groupings based on variations in baseline high, medium, and low steppers. The intervention included weekly step leaderboard information, motivational and informative messages, and the ability to participate in group step challenges. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined differences in change of steps across time, step-level groups (low, medium, and high), and group composition (low/high, similar, and mixed), and replicated with a subgroup of participants who participated in group step challenges. While group and step level did not emerge as significant interactions in the overall sample, when focused within the group step challenge subsample, relationships among time, the group composition, and participant step-level categories emerged. Overall, the greatest increases in steps occurred at the mid-point time period, among lower steppers, and within the low/high comparison group. This study provides evidence of the importance of group composition in physical activity interventions as well as the fidelity of intervention design in facilitating group comparisons.
The Effect of Self-Disclosure About Stuttering on Listener Perceptions
Authors: Pathak Gauri , Kelkar Pallavi
Published: March 2023

The study reported herein sought to explore the effect of self-disclosure about stuttering on listener perceptions of persons who stutter (PWS). Sixty young adults who do not stutter were divided into three groups. Each group was assigned to one of three conditions: no disclosure (ND), apologetic self-disclosure (ApD), and assertive self-disclosure (AsD), followed by a narrative by a PWS presented auditorily. Participants then rated the PWS on a semantic differential scale. Results revealed no significant difference between listener ratings for ApD and ND conditions. The PWS in the AsD condition was perceived as “less sociable” than the PWS in the ND condition. The PWS disclosing assertively appeared to be rated more positively by female listeners. Being well acquainted with a PWS appeared to result in more positive perceptions indicating a need to educate the general public about stuttering.
Pre-incentive Efficacy in Survey Response Rates in a Large Prospective Military Cohort
Authors: Powell Teresa M. , Geronimo-Hara Toni Rose , Tobin Laura E. , Donoho Carrie J. , Sheppard Beverly D. , Walstrom Jennifer L. , Rull Rudolph P. , Faix Dennis J. ,   for the Millennium Cohort Study
Published: March 2023

Declining survey response rates concern researchers aiming to ensure study validity. This article tested the effectiveness of multiple pre-incentives on increasing survey response to the Millennium Cohort Study. Participants consisted of U.S. military service members and veterans, and were randomly assigned to receive a $2 bill, $5 gift card, magnet, Apple iPad® lottery entry, or no pre-incentive. Participants who received the gift card or cash pre-incentive had the highest response rates and were significantly more likely to respond to the survey than those who did not receive a pre-incentive. There was no significant difference in survey response among the magnet or lottery entry groups compared to the no pre-incentive group. This study found that giving participants a monetary pre-incentive was an effective way to increase response rates, and thereby participant retention, in a hard-to-reach, highly mobile population, and re-engage participants who did not respond to a previous follow-up survey.
Evaluation of physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of woven kenaf/bio-epoxy composites
Authors: Abare Alhassan Yakubu , Jawaid Mohammad , Hamid Norul Hisham , Bakar Balkis Fatomer A , Ismail Ahmad Safwan , Sarmin Siti Noorbaini , Fouad Hassan , Midani Mohamad
Published: March 2023

The demand for eco-friendly materials in many sectors is due to the age-long usage of synthetic materials, which has so many negative impacts on the environment, high energy consumption, and health concerns. The physical, mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties of woven kenaf fibre reinforced bio-epoxy composites are investigated in this study. The bio-composites were produced utilizing a manual lay-up process with varying fibre loading percentages of 30%, 35%, and 40%. Pure Bio-epoxy composites were also prepared as a reference. Physical, mechanical, morphological, and thermal characteristics were assessed. The density and water absorption of the bio-composites increase as the fibre loading increased. The highest density (1.2559 g/cm3) was shown by 40% fibre loading which also exhibited the highest water absorption of 9.8%. Furthermore, the void content revealed that the pure bio-epoxy has the highest value of 3.16% as compared to kenaf/bio-epoxy composites. The highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus was recorded by 40% fibre loading with 92.47 MPa and 9.18 GPa respectively. Impact properties also show enhancement with the increase in fibre loading, it showed the highest impact strength of 7280.8 J/m2 at 40% fibre loading. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the tensile fracture indicates that 40% fibre loading shows better fibre and bio-epoxy inter facial bonding because of its higher strength. The Initial decomposition temperature (IDT) of the bio-composites happens at about 230°C–280°C, and the Final decomposition temperature (FDT) is 540°C–560°C which is lower when compared to the pure bio-epoxy composites of 279°C and 560°C. Kenaf/bio-epoxy composites with 40% fibre loading show the best physical and mechanical and thermal properties. Based on our findings, we believe that our green bio-composites has the potential to be employed in various industries such as automobiles, construction and packaging.
Research on the function of single jersey based on the 3D channel structure
Authors: Xuliang Yu , Fei Sun , Honglian Cong , Zhijia Dong
Published: March 2023

The main purpose of this experimental study is to determine the thermal properties and the moisture conduction function of a single jersey with a three-dimensional channel structure. As the channel structure of single jersey is gradually applied in the functional sportswear sector, the channel structure has been knitted by single jacquard technology for research purposes. Firstly, the formation principle and the structural unit of knitted fabric with the channel structure were explained. Then, the effects of channel structure with different sizes on thermal insulation, quick-drying, wicking height, and moisture management performance of the fabrics were investigated. Finally, the performance characteristics of the channel structure fabric were analyzed through the channel structure model. The analysis obtains that the channel structure of the sample holds more stagnant air and a large evaporation area. Moreover, as the courses or wales of structural units increase, the thermal insulation rate and the evaporation rate of the fabric improve accordingly. Also, it has a superior effect on the improvement of the wicking effect and the unidirectional transmission of the fabrics. However, when the structural unit exceeds a particular value, the fabric structure begins to deform, which makes its wicking height and unidirectional transmission properties decline. It provides a reference for the design and development of the 3D channel structure of the functional knitted fabric.
Applying Rapid Qualitative Analysis for Health Equity: Lessons Learned Using “EARS” With Latino Communities
Authors: St. George Sara M. , Harkness Audrey R. , Rodriguez-Diaz Carlos E. , Weinstein Elliott R. , Pavia Vanina , Hamilton Alison B.
Published: March 2023

Qualitative research amplifies the voices of marginalized communities and thus plays a critical role in shaping our understanding of health inequities and their social determinants. Traditional qualitative approaches, such as grounded theory or thematic analysis, require extensive training and are time- and labor-intensive; as such, they may not be adequately suited to address healthy equity issues that require a swift response. Rapid qualitative analysis (RQA) is an action-oriented approach to qualitative data analysis that may be used when findings are needed to quickly inform practice. RQA capitalizes on using a team to summarize key points from qualitative data into matrices to explore relevant themes efficiently and systematically. In this paper, we provide case examples from our work applying RQA to health equity research with Latino communities to address community needs, such as responses to public health emergencies and the development of service delivery and technology interventions for infectious and chronic diseases. We draw from our collective experiences to share lessons learned and provide the following specific recommendations (“EARS”) to researchers interested in applying RQA for health equity research: (1) Employ RQA to address rapidly evolving, urgent, health equity challenges; (2) Assure quality and rigor throughout the RQA process; (3) Respond to barriers and problem-solve as needed; and (4) Strengthen community relationships before, during, and after using RQA. Overall, we advocate for the use of RQA to promote health equity due to its ability to integrate the vital perspectives of marginalized communities and efficiently respond to their needs.
Modified Block Homotopy Perturbation Method for solving triangular linear Diophantine fuzzy system of equations
Authors: Shams Mudassir , Kausar Nasreen , Khan Naveed , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: March 2023

Numerous real-world applications can be solved using the broadly adopted notions of intuitionistic fuzzy sets, Pythagorean fuzzy sets, and q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets. These theories, however, have their own restrictions in terms of membership and non-membership levels. Because it utilizes benchmark or control parameters relating to membership and non-membership levels, this theory is particularly valuable for modeling uncertainty in real-world problems. We propose the unique concept of linear Diophantine fuzzy set with benchmark parameters to overcome these restrictions. Different numerical, analytical, and semi-analytical techniques are used to solve linear systems of equations with several fuzzy numbers, such as intuitionistic fuzzy number, triangular fuzzy number, bipolar fuzzy number, trapezoidal fuzzy number, and hexagon fuzzy number. The purpose of this research is to solve a fuzzy linear system of equations with the most generalized fuzzy number, such as Triangular linear Diophantine fuzzy number, using an analytical technique called Homotopy Perturbation Method. The linear systems co-efficient are crisp when the right hand side vector is a triangular linear Diophantine fuzzy number. A numerical test examples demonstrates how our newly improved analytical technique surpasses other existing methods in terms of accuracy and CPU time. The triangular linear Diophantine fuzzy systems of equations’ strong and weak visual representations are explored.