bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Worker Injuries in Southern California’s Warehousing Industry: How to Better Protect Workers in This Burgeoning Industry?
Authors: Delp Linda , Cole Brian , Lozano Gabriel , Riley Kevin
Published: May 2021

Dangerous conditions and worker injuries in the rapidly growing warehousing industry have gained attention in recent years, with accounts typically drawing on worker reports and investigative journalism. We analyzed workers’ compensation injury claims and California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) citations in Southern California’s large warehousing sector. Claims increased from 2014 to 2018, with a majority of injuries caused by repetitive motion, lifting and other ergonomic risk factors. Cal/OSHA cited employers for violating standards to protect workers from unsafe vehicle operations, dangerous machinery and equipment, and falls; and for failing to implement injury prevention programs. These citations address the causes of some worker injuries; however, no Cal/OSHA citations were issued for violating the state’s Repetitive Motion Injuries prevention standard. Nor do enforcement activities address the underlying causes highlighted by workers—high production quotas and a relentless work pace—that characterize the industry. We discuss the value and limitations of our approach and the implications of our results.
When Scientific Knowledge and Ignorance Make It Difficult to Improve Occupational Health: A French and European Perspective
Authors: Counil Émilie , Henry Emmanuel
Published: May 2021

This article analyzes the consequences of the increasing reference to scientific expertise in the decision and implementation process of occupational health policy. Based on examples (exposure limits and attributable fractions) taken from an interdisciplinary seminar conducted in 2014 to 2015 in France, it shows how the measurement or regulation of a problem through biomedicine-based tools produces blind spots. It also uses a case study to show the contradictions between scientific and academic aims and public health intervention. Other indirect implications are also examined, such as the limitation of trade unions’ scope for action. Finally, the article suggests launching a broad political debate accessible to nonspecialists about collective occupational health issues—a dialogue made difficult by the rise of the afore-mentioned techno-scientific perspective.
New Drug Formulary Management and Utilization: Evidence in Sex, Race, and Ethnicity: 2019-2020
Authors: Keeys Christopher A. , Harding Benjamin W. , Migneco Gina E. , Rahini Sina S. , Coleman Hope B.
Published: May 2021

Background

It is well established that females and persons of racial and ethnic minorities are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials. These disparities are potentially important aspects of evidence-based formulary management and drug utilization review (DUR) processes.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to review the demographic composition of pivotal trials and post-approval study requirements for recent FDA-approved drugs, analyzing the representation of minority groups and its generalizability to the US population or corresponding disease state.

Methods

Drugs approved between July 2019 and June 2020 were identified and demographic data including race, ethnicity, and sex was extracted from their pivotal trials. Demographic data was compared to US demographics and/or the disease state demographics for the respective approved drug.

Results

There were a total of 85 drugs and 142 pivotal trials included in the study. Compared to the estimated US population, the minority groups with a statistically significant underrepresentation across all pivotal trials included Black or African Americans and American Indian or Alaska Natives. The Hispanic/Latinx population had a statistically significant underrepresentation in 55.4% of trials. Females had a statistically significant underrepresentation in 21.2% of trials when compared to the disease state demographics of the respective approved drug.

Conclusion and Relevance

Persons of minorities are underrepresented in the generation of evidence of safety and efficacy for many new drugs. Formulary management and DUR offer an integrated strategic opportunity for the clinical community to formally and carefully consider the data on sex, race, and ethnicity to address disparities in health care.
An Evaluation of the Acceptability of Smart Eyewear for Plot Diagnosis Activity in Agriculture
Authors: Larbaigt Jean , Lemercier Céline
Published: May 2021

Smart glasses could meet the plot diagnosis activity needs in agriculture. Therefore, their acceptability must be evaluated. We conducted user tests with agricultural advisors to assess perceived comfort and user experience. The participants reported comfort issues like and harm problems, and obstruction or disturbance of the visual field. Objective and subjective evaluations were poorer when the device was used in voice mode compared with buttons. Despite these limitations, the participants mentioned the potential benefits of the device for plot diagnosis. Although promising, smart glasses do not yet meet the advisors’ constraints. We propose hardware and software recommendations.
“Remember, this is Brightmoor”: Historical Violence, Neighborhood Experiences, and the Hysteresis of Street Life
Authors: Cornelissen Sharon
Published: May 2021

Drawing on three years of fieldwork, this article explains the emergence and persistence of two conflicting styles of street life in Brightmoor, a depopulated, majority Black, poor Detroit neighborhood facing early gentrification. As most longtimers were inured to historical neighborhood violence, they tended to act vigilantly in public, even after recent crime declines. By contrast, White newcomers, most of whom had moved from middle-class neighborhoods, often defied vigilance such as by organizing a farmers' market across from an open-air drug market. They mobilized aspirational public life as a means for changing the neighborhood and end in itself. To explain these conflicting styles, this article theorizes the cultural mechanism of “ the hysteresis of street life.” Styles of street life, shaped by residents' unequal historical neighborhood experiences, tend to linger under conditions of gradual neighborhood change. It also shows how the hysteresis of street life may contribute to the reproduction of inequalities.
Assessing Police Stops of Pedestrians: Toward a New Generation of Benchmarks
Authors: Smith Michael R. , Tillyer Rob , Smith Mitchell , Lloyd Caleb D.
Published: May 2021

This paper extends the stop and frisk literature from New York City by examining pedestrian stops made by San Jose, California, police officers from January 2013 through March 2016 with a particular focus on benchmarking. Using violent crime suspects and nuisance-related calls for service (CFS) as comparators, we consider whether San Jose Police Department (SJPD) officers disproportionately stopped individuals from the city’s dominant racial and ethnic groups citywide and in certain police beats with high levels of nuisance calls. Using violent crime suspects citywide as a benchmark, Whites were significantly overrepresented among those stopped by the police while Hispanics, Asians, and Blacks were underrepresented. The CFS findings at the beat level were consistent with the citywide findings for Blacks but reversed direction for Hispanics and varied for Asians depending upon beat and call type. We discuss possible reasons for this divergence across benchmarks and racial/ethnic groups and consider the implications for future research.
Physical Health Problems Among People With Severe Mental Illnesses: Race, Gender, and Implications for Practice
Authors: Givens Ashley D. , Blank Wilson Amy , Van Deinse Tonya B. , Murray-Lichtman Andrea , Cuddeback Gary S.
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND: Individuals with severe mental illnesses experience high rates of chronic health conditions; however, the extent to which risk of chronic physical health problems varies by race and gender among these individuals is understudied. AIMS: This study examines variations in health problems by race and gender among individuals with severe mental illnesses. METHOD: Administrative data, which included blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values, were obtained from 603 individuals with serious mental illnesses who received integrated health and behavioral health services from a large mental health agency in the Midwest. Bivariate and multivariate statistical models were used to examine variation in physical health problems by race and gender. RESULTS: Compared with men, women with severe mental illnesses were more likely to have BMI levels indicating obesity or morbid obesity ( p < .001). Compared with White participants, Black participants were less likely to have high HbA1c levels ( p < .001) but were more likely to have high blood pressure ( p < .001). Among race and gender groups, Black women were more likely to have high BMI ( p < .05), Black men were more likely to have high blood pressure ( p < .001), and White men were more likely to have high HbA1c levels ( p < .01) when holding constant all other variables. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that types and severity of physical health problems among individuals with severe mental illnesses varies by race and gender. Replication of these results and more research is needed to ensure that health-related education and integrated health and behavioral health interventions meet the needs of individuals with serious mental illnesses.
Salicylic acid and oxalic acid in enhancing the quality and extending the shelf life of grape cv. Thompson seedless
Authors: Hazarika TK , Marak Tangkasil
Published: May 2021

Postharvest life of table grapes is usually shortened by berry softening, berry drop, stem browning, fungal decay. Salicylic acid reduces fruit respiration and ethylene biosynthesis, during storage of fruits. Similarly, application of oxalic acid is a secure and hopeful postharvest handling technology for keeping quality and prolonging storage life of fruit. To study the effect of Salicylic acid and oxalic acid in enhancing the quality and extending the shelf life of grape, the present investigation was conducted. The grape berries were treated with Oxalic acid (OA) (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mM) and Salicylic acid (SA) (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mM). The treatments were compared within 16th days at an interval of 4 days. Among the treatments, SA (2 mM) showed superiority in different quality attributing characters like physiological loss in weight (PLW), berry firmness, rachis browning, berry appearance, fungal decay, berry shattering, TSS, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, TSS: acid ratio, taste, overall acceptability and shelf life. Hence, SA (2 mM) can be used as an effective strategy for maintaining quality of table grapes.
Advance Care Planning Protocols and Hospitalization Rates in Home Health Value-Based Purchasing
Authors: Bigger Sharon E. , Haddad Lisa , Ahluwalia Sangeeta C. , Glenn Lee
Published: May 2021

Advance care planning is a conversation about personal values, future treatment choices, and designation of a surrogate decision-maker, that someone has in advance of a health crisis. Most existing studies on advance care planning have taken place outside of home health among populations with HIV/AIDS, cancer, dementia, and end stage renal disease. The U.S. home health population is living longer with chronic conditions such as pulmonary and cardiovascular illnesses, and hospitalization is a poor outcome. In 2016, Medicare implemented the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model, in which reimbursement rates for agencies in 9 regionally representative states were dependent on quantitative measures of quality performance. Part of the program was a process-level mandate requiring agencies to report on advance care planning. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of home health advance care planning protocols with hospitalization rates. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted on survey data of protocols and agency data of demographics and outcomes. Statistical significance was found in the positive correlation between advance care planning protocols and hospitalization. Recommendations are made for broadening the scope of evaluation of quality in home health to include goal-concordant care and transitions to appropriate services.
Infrastructure: National Roles Without National Policy
Authors: Wachs Martin
Published: May 2021

In 1992 Professor Dick Netzer posed the question “Do We Really Need a National Infrastructure Policy?” but a national infrastructure policy really is a fanciful notion. America has never had a national infrastructure policy, there is no consensus as to what constitutes “infrastructure,” and little to agreement on public policy at the national level. Although we may agree that public expenditures to build and maintain infrastructure should be effective, efficient, and equitable, however hard we try and however sincere our efforts, we never agree on the meanings of terms like infrastructure, policy, effectiveness, efficiency, or equity. The futility of striving toward “a” national or unified infrastructure policy does not, of course, prevent America from pursuing innumerable national infrastructure policies. This essay posits that America can take many practical and important steps to manage and improve its infrastructure regardless of whether it has a document called a “national infrastructure policy.”
Clinic- and Community-Based National Diabetes Prevention Programs in Los Angeles
Authors: DeFosset Amelia R. , Sivashanmugam Megala , Mosst Jennifer , Kuo Tony
Published: May 2021

Clinics and community-based organizations (CBOs) are priority settings for implementing the evidence-based National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Both program settings present theoretical advantages and disadvantages for engaging and helping populations most at risk for diabetes achieve lifestyle change goals. To date, few studies have compared implementation across them. The present study describes participant characteristics and lifestyle change outcomes across a sample of clinic- and community-based National DPPs which delivered services in Los Angeles during 2015 to 2018 (two clinics, two CBOs, combined n = 265 participants). Analyses examined participant gender, age, race/ethnicity, baseline body mass index, and program attributes such as screening method and language of instruction. Negative binomial regression models tested for differences in program attendance, mean weekly physical activity, and percent change in body weight by setting. Overall, participants were largely Hispanic/Latinx (81.51%) and female (90.19%). Programs operated by CBOs engaged other race/ethnic groups including Black participants more frequently than those operated by clinics (20.56% vs. 0%); the latter engaged more men (15.29% vs. 7.22%). Few participants in any setting met the National DPP’s weight loss goal (clinic: 15.29%, CBO: 20.00%). Participating in a community-based program was initially associated with higher attendance and mean weekly physical activity, but associations were not significant after adjusting for covariates. Study results have practice implications for National DPP implementation and can help inform future efforts to scale and spread the program in Los Angeles and nationally.
Who Is Talking About Adverse Childhood Experiences? Evidence From Twitter to Inform Health Promotion
Authors: Srivastav Aditi , Park Kaitlyn , Koziarski Alyssa , Strompolis Melissa , Purtle Jonathan
Published: May 2021

Background

Growing availability of research about addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has recently been embraced by the mainstream media and public. Social media, especially Twitter, provides a unique forum and platform for the public to access and share information about this topic.

Objective

This study aims to better understand how the public is framing, sharing, and using research about ACEs on Twitter and to examine the information being commonly discussed about ACEs.

Method

We obtained tweets on the topics of ACEs, childhood resilience, and childhood trauma between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019. This timeframe was determined based on key related events in the mainstream media. Crimson Hexagon, a social media analytics system using Boolean logic, was used to identify salient topics, influencers, and conduct a content analysis.

Results

A total of 195,816 relevant tweets were obtained from our search. The weekly volume was approximately 1,864 tweets. Key topics included general use of the term ACEs (23%), trauma and ACEs (19%), long-term impact of ACEs (12%), preventing ACEs (11%), short-term effects of ACEs (8%), the 1997 ACE Study (5%), and students with ACEs (5%). The top two sentiments were fear and joy. Top conversation influencers included pediatricians, child health advocacy organizations, California’s state government, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Public Radio.

Conclusion

This analysis provides insight to the ways the public is conversing about ACEs and related topics. Results indicated that conversations focus on increasing awareness of ACEs by content experts and public health organizations. This presents an opportunity to leverage social media tools to increase public engagement and awareness.
Dynamic stability of the double-bonded annular nanocomposite sandwich microplate on viscoelastic foundation
Authors: Emdadi Mohsen , Mohammadimehr Mehdi
Published: May 2021

In this research, the dynamic stability of the double-bonded annular sandwich microplate is investigated. Face sheets are made from composite materials reinforced by carbon nanotubes in which mechanical properties are obtained by the extended rule of the mixture. Also, the core layer is made from a honeycomb aluminum which is defined by the geometric parameters of the unit cell and mechanical properties of the virgin core material. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton’s principle and solved by the differential quadrature method (DQM) based on higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and modified couple stress theory (MCST). The results are compared with the obtained results by the other literature to examine the accuracy of the present formulation. The dynamic stability of the double-bonded annular sandwich microplate with hexagonal honeycomb core including variations of core thickness, inclined angle, and aspect ratio of the unit cell are discussed. Also, the effects of motion direction of the structure, viscoelastic foundation, material length scale parameter, volume fractions of CNTs in face sheets, and the core thickness to total thickness ratio on dynamic instability region are presented.
Achieving structurally and functionally integrated electromagnetic shielding composites based on polyetheretherketone by sandwich structure
Authors: Wu Tong Hua , Mei Xiao Han , Liang Liu Bo , Ma You Mei , Wang Gui Bin , Zhang Shu Ling
Published: May 2021

This study aims to prepare a structurally and functionally integrated polyetheretherketone/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (PEEK/MWCNTs) electromagnetic shielding composites by sandwich structure. The PEEK ultra-fine powder and MWCNTs mixed by mechanical blending were selected as the core-layer and PEEK-based film acted as the surface-layer. The results indicate that the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE) and mechanical properties of the composites can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of PEEK which was chosen as the binder in the core-layer, the number of the core-layer and the composition of the surface-layer without sacrificing their thermal stability. Moreover, the specific electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SSE), electrical conductivity, tensile strength and temperature of 5% weight loss (Td5%) of the optimized PEEK/MWCNTs composite reach 79.5 dB/mm, 1.8 S/cm, 93 MPa and 594°C, respectively. The performances of the above composite are obviously superior to those of the recently reported EMI composites. The improvements in the properties should be mainly attributed to the two factors: the dense conductive network formed by MWCNTs in the core-layer, and the good interface adhesion between MWCNTs-MWCNTs in the core-layer as well as between the core-layer and the surface-layer.
Automated simulation techniques for uncovering high-performance bioinspired cellular structures under blast loads
Authors: Ghazlan Abdallah , Ngo Tuan , Le Tay Son , Le Tu Van
Published: May 2021

Trabecular bone possesses a complex hierarchical structure of plate- and strut-like elements, which is analogous to structural systems encountered in engineering practice. In this work, key structural features of trabecular bone are mimicked to uncover effective energy dissipation mechanisms under blast loading. To this end, several key design parameters were identified to develop a bone-like unit cell. A computer script was then developed to automatically generate bone-like finite element models with many combinations of these design parameters, which were simulated under blast loading. The optimal structure was identified and its performance was benchmarked against traditional engineered cellular structures, including those with hexagonal, re-entrant and square cellular geometries. The bone-like structure showed superior performance over its engineered counterparts using the peak transmitted reaction force and energy dissipation as the key performance criteria.
The role of future treatments in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Europe
Authors: Kodjikian Laurent , Mehanna Carl Joe , Cohen Salomon-Yves , Devin François , Razavi Sam , Querques Giuseppe , Massin Pascale , Coscas Florence , Souied Eric
Published: May 2021

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents have transformed the management of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) over the past two decades. However, as more long-term real-world data become available, it is clear that treatment outcomes are inferior to those reported in large, controlled clinical trials. This is largely driven by undertreatment, that is, not maintaining a consistent injection frequency to achieve sustained VEGF suppression, whether due to patient non-compliance, an important injection burden, or non/incomplete anatomical response. Newer therapeutic advances under evaluation hold promise in achieving more, for less. We review the latest drugs currently in or having successfully finished phase III clinical trials, and determine their potential place in the management of patients with nAMD in Europe.
Educational intervention to adopt selective laser trabeculoplasty as first-line glaucoma treatment: Randomized controlled trial: Educational intervention on selective laser trabeculoplasty
Authors: Tran Evelyn , Sanvicente Carina , Hark Lisa A , Myers Jonathan S , Zhang Qiang , Shiuey Eric J , Tran Judie , Bonafede Lucas , Hamershock Rose A , Withers Colleen , Katz L Jay
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

To determine the efficacy of an educational intervention on patient adoption and attitudes toward selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as first-line treatment for glaucoma.

Methods:

This study is a randomized controlled trial. Subjects include 33 patients within 1-year diagnosis of either primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or pseudoexfoliation syndrome. After informed consent, subjects were randomly assigned to a Usual Care or Educational Intervention group. All subjects completed a pre-intervention questionnaire. The Educational Intervention group was shown a slideshow presentation and a 3-min video and given a post-intervention questionnaire. Follow-up examinations were reviewed for 6 months to determine subject completion of SLT, the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include assessment of attitude toward SLT before and after intervention.

Results:

Age, gender, and baseline characteristics between the groups did not differ. The Usual Care group had a higher proportion of African Americans (77% vs 31%, p = 0.04). At 6 months following the intervention, 63% of subjects underwent SLT compared to 35% of Usual Care subjects ( p = 0.12). Older age was associated with decreased SLT uptake (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.99, p = 0.03). Prior to the intervention, there were no differences in attitudes of both groups regarding SLT therapy. Nineteen percent of Educational Intervention subjects changed positively toward SLT ( p = 0.08) and 50% scheduled an SLT appointment after intervention ( p = 0.005).

Conclusions:

A slideshow and video-based educational intervention may positively enhance patient adoption of SLT. Clinical trial registration name, number, URL: Educational Intervention to Adopt SLT as First-Line Glaucoma Treatment, NCT03365778, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03365778
Does exogenous androgen use affect the retinal blood flow: An OCTA study in transgender men
Authors: Tüten Abdullah , Hamzaoğlu Kübra , Gönen Busenur , Tüten Nevin , Uçar Didar
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

This study aims to investigate the effect of using exogenous androgen on retinal microvascular structures in transgender men.

Methods:

Retinal microvascular structures of transgender men and healthy women in the control group were visualized with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Foveal avascular zone (FAZ), superficial capillary vascular density (sCVD), deep capillary vascular density (dCVD), and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vascular density were evaluated.

Results:

Thirty transgender men and 30 healthy women were included in the study. There were no significant differences between transgender men and the control group in terms of FAZ, central macular thickness, parafoveal, and perifoveal retinal thicknesses ( p = 0.859, 0.288, 0.561, and 0.719; respectively). sCVD were found to be low in transgender men in the whole image, parafoveal, and perifoveal zones ( p = 0.006, 0.025, and 0.005; respectively). Although there were low values of dCVD of the whole image, parafoveal, and perifoveal zones in transgender men, the difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.295, 0.085, and 0.270; respectively). RPC vessel densities in the whole image, peripapillary zone, and the inferior of the optic disc were found to be significantly low in transgender men ( p = 0.003, 0.005, and 0.003; respectively).

Conclusion:

In this study, a decrease in vessel density in the superficial retinal layers and around the optic disc was detected in transgender men. These findings suggest that routine ophthalmological examination may be important in individuals who use exogenous androgens.
Prevalence of Mastitis and Phenotypic Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Lactating Dairy Cows of Selected Dairy Farms in and Around Adama Town, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Kaleab , Gizaw Zemichael , Haile Aklilu Feleke
Published: May 2021

Background:

The emergence of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a serious public health threat. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to β-lactam antibiotics are known as MRSA. MRSA has gained attention as community pathogen. MRSA has been increasingly reported as emerging problem in veterinary medicine. However, little is known in Ethiopia. This study was, therefore, conducted to identify MRSA, to determine its drug susceptibility patterns, and mastitis infection in dairy cattle in and around Adama town, Central Ethiopia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the occurrence of MRSA in mastitic dairy cows in and around Adama town, central Ethiopia. A total of 384 lactating cows were included from the conveniently selected dairy farms in the study area. Approximately 10 ml of milk was aseptically collected from clinical and subclinical mastitic cows into sterile universal bottles after discarding the first 3 milking streams. Then, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated using the conventional bacteriological procedure. Resistance to methicillin was detected using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion antibiotic susceptibility method. Oxacillin disc was used to detect methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted against MRSA strains using streptomycin (S, 10 µg), amoxicillin (Am, 25 µg), kanamycin (k, 30 µg), nalidixic acid (NA, 30 µg), oxytetracycline (OT, 30 µg) sulphonamide (S, 300 µg) and ceftriazole (CRO, 30 µg).

Results:

The study found that the prevalence of mastitis was 121(31.5%). Among this 37(30.6%) were clinical mastitis and 84 (69.4%) of them were sub-clinical mastitis. Of 121 mastitis cases, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 37 (30.6%) of mastitic cow milk samples. The prevalence of mastitis was significantly affected by breed, age, floor type and hygienic status of the milkers ( P < .05). Moreover, 32.4% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to oxacillin. A total of 75% percent of MRSA isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, 66.7% were resistant to oxytetracycline, and 50% were resistant to sulphonamide. However, 75% of MRSA isolates were susceptible to kanamycin, 58.3% were susceptible to streptomycin, and 50% were susceptible to nalidixic acid.

Conclusion:

The study revealed that relatively high number of strains are resistant to the antibiotics commonly used in the therapeutic protocol of many human and animal infections. Therefore, antimicrobial susceptibility test should be carried out at a regular basis and proper hygienic practices should be introduced at farm level. Creating public awareness about transmission, prevention and control of MRSA should also be considered.
Culture-Led Place-Making and Heterotopic Brand Building: A Comparative Approach between Ljubljana and Porto
Authors: Rodríguez-Barcón Alberto , Sousa Sílvia
Published: May 2021

Contemporary strategic planning represents a logic of space reproduction based on the promotion of tourism as the cornerstone of cultural and creative economy. However, some grassroots social initiatives aim to build alternative spaces to the economic approach that permeates contemporary urban planning. This article reflects comparatively on the cases of the Metelkova self-organized autonomous zone (Ljubljana, Slovenia) and the STOP Shopping Center (Porto, Portugal). We suggest that both the squatting of military installations (Slovenia), as the strategic reconfiguration of a private commercial building (Portugal), share common aspects that must be addressed under a place-making approach. In doing so, we propose that the cultural activity produced in these places, their socioeconomic influence in the urban environment and their ability to promote tourism has resulted in a brand that allows them to be tolerated by their respective local governments.
The necropolitics of neoliberal state response to the Covid-19 pandemic in India
Authors: Jagannathan Srinath , Rai Rajnish
Published: May 2021

We draw from the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic in India to outline that the neoliberal consolidation of the state is enabled by precariousness, violence, and inequality in overlapping planes of marginality. The pandemic showed the abysmal state of public health institutions in India as people experienced an erosion of dignity in both life and death. The harsh and sudden lockdown announced by the Indian state rendered workers jobless, hungry, exhausted, and on the borders of death. Instead of providing social security to workers, the state embarked on a neoliberal agenda of deregulation, weakening job security, and collective bargaining legislation. The state enacted a violent discourse of Hindu nationalism to blame Muslims for the spread of the pandemic in India to deflect attention from its abdication of responsibility in making healthcare and social security available to vulnerable segments of the Indian population. The neoliberal policy response of the state during the pandemic was embedded in the necropolitics of protecting the middle class and elite lives while directing structural violence against the working class and Muslims, making their lives disposable.
Validation of an obstructive sleep apnea symptom inventory in persons with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Singh Mini , Gavidia Ronald , Dunietz Galit Levi , Washnock-Schmid Elizabeth , Romeo Andrew R , Hershner Shelley , Chervin Ronald D , Braley Tiffany J
Published: May 2021

Background:

Improved screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could enhance multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical care; yet the utility of current screening tools for OSA have yet to be evaluated in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Objectives:

The STOP-Bang Questionnnaire is an 8-item screening tool for OSA that is commonly used in non-MS samples. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the STOP-Bang in PwMS.

Methods:

STOP-Bang and polysomnography data were analyzed from n = 200 PwMS. Sensitivity, specificity, positive-, and negative-predictive value (PPV and NPV) were calculated, with receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curves, for each STOP-Bang threshold score, against polysomnography-confirmed OSA diagnosis at three apnea severity thresholds (mild, moderate, and severe).

Results:

Nearly 70% had a STOP-Bang score of ⩾3% and 78% had OSA. The STOP-Bang at a threshold score of 3 provided sensitivities of 87% and 91% to detect moderate and severe OSA, respectively; and NPV of 84% and 95% to identify PwMS without moderate or severe OSA, respectively. Sensitivity to detect milder forms of OSA was 76%. The NPV to identify persons without milder forms of OSA was 40%.

Conclusion:

The STOP-Bang Questionnaire is an effective tool to screen for moderate and severe OSA in PwMS, but may be insufficient to exclude mild OSA.
Foucault, prison, and human rights: A dialectic of theory and criminal justice reform
Authors: Jouet Mugambi
Published: May 2021

Michel Foucault’s advocacy toward penal reform in France differed from his theories. Although Foucault is associated with the prison abolition movement, he also proposed more humane prisons. The article reframes Foucauldian theory through a dialectic with the theories of Marc Ancel, a prominent figure in the emergence of liberal sentencing norms in France. Ancel and Foucault were contemporaries whose legacies are intertwined. Ancel defended more benevolent prisons where experts would rehabilitate offenders. This evokes exactly what Discipline and Punish cast as an insidious strategy of social control. In reality, Foucault and Ancel converged in intriguing ways. The dialectic offers another perspective on Foucault, whose theories have fostered skepticism about the possibility of progress. While mass incarceration’s rise in the United States may evoke a Foucauldian dystopia, the relative development of human rights and dignity in European punishment reflects aspirations that Foucault embraced as an activist concerned about fatalistic interpretations of his theories.
Caring for affective subjects produced in intimate healthcare examinations
Authors: Gleisner Jenny , Johnson Ericka
Published: May 2021

This article is about the feelings – affect – induced by the digital rectal exam of the prostate and the gynaecological bimanual pelvic exam, and the care doctors are or are not instructed to give. The exams are both invasive, intimate exams located at a part of the body often charged with norms and emotions related to gender and sexuality. By using the concept affective subject, we analyse how these examinations are taught to medical students, bringing attention to how bodies and affect are cared for as patients are observed and touched. Our findings show both the role care practices play in generating and handling affect in the students’ learning and the importance of the affect that the exam is (or is not) imagined to produce in the patient. Ours is a material-discursive analysis that includes the material affordances of the patient and doctor bodies in the affective work spaces observed.
An emerging art world: The de-subculturalization and artification process of graffiti and pixação in São Paulo
Authors: Campos Ricardo , Leal Gabriela
Published: May 2021

Graffiti art and street art have been increasingly described as an artistic movement, with a constant presence in the streets, but also in galleries and museums. In this article we use the term urban art to define this institutionalized category, originating from informal street expressions. In the specific context of the city of São Paulo (Brazil), most of the social actors that make up this art world have backgrounds linked to graffiti and pixação. These two urban subcultures are linked to informal forms of appropriation of the urban space through illicit inscriptions. In this article, we aim, on the one hand, to describe the features and singularities of urban art as an emerging art world and, on the other, to understand how careers are developed in this universe. The empirical data derives from a qualitative research (in-depth interviews and ethnographic observation) developed during the past three years.
Effects of different wind directions on ventilation of surrounding areas of two generic building configurations in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Kai Yip , Mak Cheuk Ming
Published: May 2021

This study investigated effects of incident wind angles on wind velocity distributions in wakes of two generic building configurations, namely, ‘T’- and ‘+’-shaped, and the air pressure distributions along their leeward walls by using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Results show that when the wind approaches laterally (90°) (vs. when the wind is direct (0°)), the downwind length and maximum bilateral width of the low-wind velocity zone in the wake of ‘T’-shaped building decrease by 11.5% and 37.9%, respectively. When the incident wind is oblique (45°) (vs. when it is direct), the length and width of this low-wind velocity zone in the wake of ‘+’-shaped building decrease by 15.0% and 30.9%, respectively. Furthermore, results show that the air pressure on the leeward walls of the ‘T’- and ‘+’-shaped buildings gradually decreases along with the building height. The resulting low-wind conditions on upper floors of buildings reduce the fresh air intake of their leeward units utilizing natural ventilation. It is particularly apparent in the case of direct approaching wind. Thus, the appropriate selection of building configurations and their orientations allows for the most effective use of wind to enhance ventilation in indoor and urban environments.
Seasonal variations and the influence of ventilation rates on IAQ: A case study of five low-energy London apartments
Authors: Stamp Samuel , Burman Esfand , Shrubsole Clive , Chatzidiakou Lia , Mumovic Dejan , Davies Mike
Published: May 2021

The indoor air quality (IAQ) of five low-energy London apartments has been assessed through the measurement of 16 key pollutants, using continuous and diffusive methods across heating and non-heating seasons. This case study approach aimed to assess the presence of pollutants within low-energy apartments and to better understand the role of ventilation and seasonal variations in indoor air quality. The results indicate strong seasonal variations, driven by increased natural ventilation rates over the summer monitoring period. A combined metric for indoor and outdoor pollutants ( Itot) suggests that the IAQ in the winter ( Itot = 17.7) is more than twice as bad as that seen in the summer ( Itot = 8.6). Formaldehyde concentrations were lower in the non-heating season, indicating increased ventilation rates more than offset increased off-gassing, in contrast to findings in other studies. However, increased summertime ventilation rates were observed to increase the proportion of outdoor pollutants entering the internal environment. This resulted in higher indoor concentrations of NO2 in the summer than the winter, despite significant reductions in outdoor concentrations. These results demonstrate the impact of ventilation practices upon IAQ, the influence of occupant actions and the complex relationship ventilation rates play in balancing indoor and outdoor sources of air pollution.
Study of structures made of composite materials used in automotive industry
Authors: Vlase Sorin , Gheorghe Vasile , Marin Marin , Öchsner Andreas
Published: May 2021

Composite materials are becoming more and more popular in automotive industry since classical materials are, in general, expensive and deficient. This paper presents a study on how metals, used in the construction of car doors, can be successfully replaced by composite materials. The vibration behavior of a car door, made of composite materials, is studied and, since the rigidity of this component is low, a solution is proposed in which the structure is stiffened. The modal analysis and finite element method are used to identify the eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes for this structure.
Dynamic modelling and analysis of smart carbon nanotube-based hybrid composite beams: Analytical and finite element study
Authors: Gupta Madhur , Ray Manas C , Patil Nagesh D , Kundalwal Shailesh Ishwarlal
Published: May 2021

In this work, the carbon nanotube-based hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite smart beam constraining the layer of an active constrained layer damping treatment is investigated using an in-house finite element model based on first-order shear deformation theory. The effect of in-plane and transverse-plane actuation of the integrated active constrained layer damping treatment layer on the damping characteristics of the novel smart cantilever hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite beam is considered. The parameters affecting the damping characteristics of the hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite substrate beam such as the volume fraction of both carbon nanotubes and carbon fibre, and the aspect ratio are also studied. Besides, the micromechanical model based on the mechanics of materials approach is developed to estimate the effective elastic coefficient of novel hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite lamina. The effective properties of hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite are predicted quantitatively by considering non-bonded interaction formed between carbon nanotubes and the polymer matrix. It is revealed that due to the incorporation of carbon nanotubes into the epoxy matrix, the effective longitudinal, transverse and shear properties of the hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite lamina are significantly enhanced. Our outcomes explore that the damping performance of the laminated hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite smart beam considering the incorporation of carbon nanotubes shows substantial improvement as compared to the base composite. To bring more clarity, the quantitative relative performance of hybrid carbon fibre-reinforced composite and base composite is presented. Our fundamental analysis sheds the light on the opportunities of developing efficient, high-performance and lightweight carbon nanotubes-based micro-electro-mechanical systems smart structures such as sensors, actuators and distributors.
Theorizing with the help of the classics
Authors: Swedberg Richard
Published: May 2021

This article addresses the issue of how to theorize with the help of the classics in sociology; and it is pointed out that the main difficulty involved is that Weber et al have told us next to nothing of how they actually produced their analyses. We are left with trying to search written statements for some clues; and there are not many of these. Furthermore, written statements represent a distinct universe of their own, meaning by this that some things can be said in a written form and others not. While the advantages of having something in a written form are clear, much of what goes into theorizing is of a nature that is hard to express in a written form. Several suggestions for how to theorize with the help of the classics can nevertheless also be found in the article.
Unsettling the aesthetics of air travel through participatory tourist photography
Authors: Barry Kaya
Published: May 2021

Air travel has been an integral part of contemporary tourism, but has been relatively under explored in terms of how it is visualised and represented as part of tourism experiences. This paper explores how the seemingly banal aspects of tourism – such as time spent waiting or transiting – are captured and represented through tourist photography. Reflecting on the process of creating a participatory artwork project, I show how tourists capture their interactions and experiences with an array of transit spaces that play a significant part of the journey. A participatory and creative methodology was employed that invited tourists to share photographs for public exhibitions. The paper explores how the photographs contributed to the artwork offer counter representations of high-speed and glamourized air travel, instead revealing a nuanced, mundane aesthetics of tourist photography and experiences of time spent in transit.
Tickling tensions: Gazing into the parallax gap of the multicultural imaginary
Authors: Ulver Sofia
Published: May 2021

This article explores why cultural branding – ideo-affective market communication addressing intense political tensions – paradoxically seems to lead to political inertia rather than political mobilization. I critically analyse advertising addressing political tensions related to race, ethnicity and immigration, but instead of only following the traced-out trajectory of postcolonial theory, I use the lens of Žižek’s radicalized Lacanian psychoanalysis and treat the therapeutic visuality in cultural branding as ideological fantasies of the market’s multicultural imaginary. Through critical visual methodologies, I situate four ‘multicultural’ commercials in their culture- and idea historical contexts, and juxtapose a postcolonial with a Žižekian reading for each of them. I come to argue that the market’s multicultural imaginary (unconsciously) serves important ideological functions in sustaining the political status quo not foremost because it placates anxiety, but because it doesn’t. Tapping into previous discussions in critical marketing on fetishistic disavowal and inversion, I offer yet another explanation. The political inertia following from ideo-affective dimensions of cultural branding does not primarily come from therapeutic sedation, but from the opposite, namely the parallax object’s upholding of gruesome tension and suspense; a fetishistic tickling. This article ends by critiquing the compulsory use of postcolonial theory in research on racial and ethnic relations. From the Žižekian reading, it appears that the postcolonial gaze is now a punishing agency like any dominant ideology, where the social inequality of global capitalism is deemed a more bearable alternative than the traumatic horror of visible racism, which, subsequently, closes the circuit from radical politics.