bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of different loads on wear mechanisms of polyether-ether-ketone in normal saline and debris-isolating method
Authors: Zhang Tao , Zhang Dekun , Liu Hongtao , Chen Kai
Published: January 2021

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has been proposed as a biocompatible artificial joint material. Wear particles, generated by friction between artificial joints, lead to bone resorption, aseptic loosening, and ultimately, joint failure. The size and morphology of wear particles contain information of friction and wear. Aim to obtain the wear mechanism of PEEK under different loads, this study separated PEEK debris and investigated the mechanism of wear debris and the relationship between wear mechanism and PEEK-debris morphology. An experiment was carried out with a pin-on-plate testing apparatus under different load conditions, with PEEK sliding against XLPE under saline lubrication. A method of isolating PEEK and XLPE debris from 0.9% normal saline at the same time was investigated by low-speed centrifugation. The morphologies of worn surface and wear debris were obtained based on scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the maximum friction coefficient and minimum wear loss were 0.115 and 0.223 mg at the load of 50 N. The friction coefficient decreased and the wear loss increased with the load increase. This debris-isolation method can effectively isolate PEEK and XLPE particles larger than 200 nm in diameter. More than 96% wear PEEK particles range from 0.1 µm to 10 μm. Compared with the debris generated under the lower load condition, 0.8% more large wear particles with irregular shapes were found at a load of 150 N. The morphology of wear particles is consistent with the wear mechanism.
An automatic compensation method for improving forming precision of multi-layer multi-bead component
Authors: Zhao Tao , Liu Haihua , Li Liangyu , Liu Wenji , Yue Jianfen , Wang Tianqi , Liu Haobo
Published: January 2021

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a promising technology for manufacturing large-sized metal components. However, the material shortage region (MSR) at the edge of each slicing layer can influence the forming precision and surface flatness of components. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a shape follow-up edge cycle compensation (SECC) method and model for predicting the weld width and weld height to improve the efficiency of the WAAM process. First, the prediction model was used to determine the weld width and weld height for various welding parameters. The predicted width was then used to obtain the optimal overlap distance, and the filling path of each layer was generated. The same weld height was used for slicing of the 3D model and the tool path compensation cycle was generated. Second, the influence of the MSR on the morphology of multi-layer multi-bead (MLMB) components was analyzed. The MSR results in a height difference between the edge height and the middle height of every deposited layer, and the height difference increases as more layers are added and the height of the component increases. Furthermore, the influence of the MSR gradually extends from the edge to the middle, such that the upper surface presents a parabolic shape. Finally, a mathematical model was established to determine the height difference based on the area of the MSR. When the height difference reaches the weld height, an edge compensation weld is added to eliminate the height difference. Our experimental results show that the proposed forming control strategy improves forming precision and surface flatness. The method is highly feasible and can be applied to a wide range of WAAM applications.
Investigation on the unsteadiness of centrifugal compressor exposed to pulsating backpressure
Authors: Shu Mengying , Yang Bijie , Yang Mingyang , Martinez-Botas Ricardo F , Deng Kangyao
Published: January 2021

Centrifugal compressor is exposed to pulsating backpressure due to the movement of intake valves in internal combustion engine. The performance of compressor deviates from the steady performance map, which affects the matching between turbocharger and engine. The behavior of compressor system at pulsation conditions are investigated via an in-house developed 1D unsteady code validated by experimental results. The influence of pulse frequency, magnitude and compressor characteristic curve on the compressor transient responses, including filling-emptying effect and wave dynamics, are analyzed. Results show that the strength of wave dynamics grows stronger with the increasing of pulse frequency, while the strength of filling-emptying effect increases first then decreases. The rise of pulse magnitude results in an almost linearly increasing of filling-emptying effect, while it can hardly affect the wave dynamics. Furthermore, the influence of pulsation magnitude and frequency represents the influence of local pressure gradient, and a correlation as quadratic curve can be evaluated between the pressure gradient and compressor unsteadiness. On the other hand, the influence of operating point, including the average mass flow rate and the slope of characteristic curve, is confirmed to be evidently smaller, comparing to the influence of pulsation frequency and magnitude. This study is helpful to estimate the behavior of compressor and the discrepancy of performance when operating at unsteady environment or matched with engine.
Development and validation of a simplified automotive steering dynamic model
Authors: Cianetti Filippo , Fabellini Luca , Formica Valerio , Ambrogi Francesco
Published: January 2021

This paper describes an innovative analytic/numerical method for modeling steering systems for automotive applications. Starting from a detailed literature analysis and pushed by vehicle manufacturers’ needs, a simplified steering dynamic model, characterized by few parameters, has been identified. It guarantees both the replication of the dynamic behavior of real systems, generally represented through more complex multibody models, and the reduction of the simulation time of the entire vehicle system, making it suitable for dedicated numerical computing environments, such as the, so-called, explicit multibody codes. Moreover, particular emphasis has been place on the correct evaluation of the influence of friction on steering system dynamics.
Clinical and laboratory phenotypes in juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus across ethnicities in the UK
Authors: Massias Joseph S , Smith Eve MD , Al-Abadi Eslam , Armon Kate , Bailey Kathryn , Ciurtin Coziana , Davidson Joyce , Gardner-Medwin Janet , Haslam Kirsty , Hawley Dan P , Leahy Alice , Leone Valentina , McErlane Flora , Mewar Devesh , Modgil Gita , Moots Robert , Pilkington Clarissa , Ramanan Athimalaipet V , Rangaraj Satyapal , Riley Phil , Sridhar Arani , Wilkinson Nick , Beresford Michael W , Hedrich Christian M
Published: January 2021

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune/inflammatory disease. Patients diagnosed with juvenile-onset SLE (jSLE), when compared to individuals with adult-onset SLE, develop more severe organ involvement, increased disease activity and greater tissue and organ damage. In adult-onset SLE, clinical characteristics, pathomechanisms, disease progression and outcomes do not only vary between individuals and age groups, but also ethnicities. However, in children and young people, the influence of ethnicity on disease onset, phenotype and outcome has not been investigated in detail. In this study, we investigated clinical and laboratory characteristics in pediatric SLE patients from different ethnic backgrounds (White Caucasian, Asian, Black African/Caribbean) accessing data from a national cohort of jSLE patients (the UK JSLE Cohort Study). Among jSLE patients in the UK, ethnicity affects both the disease’s clinical course and outcomes. At diagnosis, Black African/Caribbean jSLE patients show more “classical” laboratory and clinical features when compared to White Caucasian or Asian patients. Black African/Caribbean jSLE patients exhibit more renal involvement and more frequently receive cyclophosphamide and rituximab. Studies targeting ethnicity-specific contributors to disease expression and phenotypes are necessary to improve our pathophysiological understanding, diagnosis and treatment of jSLE.
Cannons over the EU legal order: The decision of the BVerfG (5 May 2020) in the Weiss case
Authors: Annunziata Filippo
Published: January 2021

The Weiss affair, culminating in the BVerfG ruling of 5 May 2020 ( Weiss II), marks a break-up point in the long-standing dialogue between the BVerfG and the CJEU. The judges in Karlsruhe refused to follow the decision rendered by the CJEU in a preliminary ruling ( Weiss I) and ordered EU institutions to provide further clarifications on the proportionality assessment of the Public Sector Purchase Programme. This paper claims that the principles applied by the BVerfG in Weiss I are quite similar to those employed in the Gauweiler and Landeskreditbank-Banking Union cases. Considering that background, it will be argued that the construction of the principles employed by the BVerfG for the judicial review of EU acts did not undergo dramatic changes over time. The different outcome of Weiss II is due to the fact that, according to the BVerfG, insufficient elements of explanation and justification were provided by the ECB and the CJEU. Therefore, the central problem of Weiss II ends up being a procedural question of allegedly insufficient statements of reasons. From Gauweiler to Weiss II, one also sees the development of the standards for the judicial review of the ECB’s decisions, in the fields of both monetary policy and banking supervision.
Public Diplomacy and Social Impact of Australian Student Mobility to the Indo-Pacific: Host Countries’ Perspectives on Hosting New Colombo Plan Students
Authors: Tran Ly Thi , Bui Huyen
Published: January 2021

Learning abroad is a primary dimension of internationalization of higher education, but little is known about the social impact of learning abroad. While a significant body of the literature in international education has examined learning abroad from the student and academic perspectives, how host communities, especially in the Indo-Pacific, perceive the social impact of hosting students from an Anglophone country like Australia is underresearched. This study addresses this critical gap in the literature by exploring the social impact of Australian students’ learning in the Indo-Pacific from the host perspective. This article emerges from an ongoing study on Australian students’ learning in the Indo-Pacific via the New Colombo Plan (NCP), the Australian government’s signature initiative of student mobility and public diplomacy. It focuses on data from 32 interviews with host organizations, including industry firms, small businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and education institutions, in China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The study shows that not only does the Australian government position the NCP as a strategic public diplomacy tool to build lasting relationships with Indo-Pacific countries, but receiving countries also view the NCP as a catalyst that facilitates the execution of their international agenda. The study identifies four main forms of social impact associated with Australian students’ learning abroad in the Indo-Pacific, perceived by the host communities: (a) strengthening bilateral and international ties; (b) fostering student-to-student, university-to-industry, and university-to-university partnerships; (c) strengthening community engagement through service-learning; and (d) enriching host organization’s training capacity, human resources, and awareness of their own values.
Machine learning for rediscovering revolutionary ideas of the past
Authors: Bentley R Alexander , Borycz Joshua , Carrignon Simon , Ruck Damian J , O’Brien Michael J
Published: January 2021

The explosion of online knowledge has made knowledge, paradoxically, difficult to find. A web or journal search might retrieve thousands of articles, ranked in a manner that is biased by, for example, popularity or eigenvalue centrality rather than by informed relevance to the complex query. With hundreds of thousands of articles published each year, the dense, tangled thicket of knowledge grows even more entwined. Although natural language processing and new methods of generating knowledge graphs can extract increasingly high-level interpretations from research articles, the results are inevitably biased toward recent, popular, and/or prestigious sources. This is a result of the inherent nature of human social-learning processes. To preserve and even rediscover lost scientific ideas, we employ the theory that scientific progress is punctuated by means of inspired, revolutionary ideas at the origin of new paradigms. Using a brief case example, we suggest how phylogenetic inference might be used to rediscover potentially useful lost discoveries, as a way in which machines could help drive revolutionary science.
Individual Differences in the Contents and Form of Present-Moment Awareness: The Multidimensional Awareness Scale
Authors: DeMarree Kenneth G. , Naragon-Gainey Kristin
Published: January 2021

Decentering, a detached, observer perspective on one’s mental activity, is an important concept for understanding mental health. Meta-awareness, people’s awareness of their own current mental activity, is thought to facilitate decentering. However, trait measures of these concepts are not available or have validity concerns. We sought to create a theoretically derived measure of meta-awareness and decentering that allowed an exploration of questions in the literature regarding whether there are multiple forms of decentered awareness and whether meta-awareness and external awareness are distinct. Across six samples and 2,480 participants, we developed the 25-item Multidimensional Awareness Scale, with subscales assessing meta-awareness (present moment awareness of mental activity), decentered awareness (meta-awareness from a psychologically distant perspective), and external awareness (present moment awareness of the world outside of oneself). The scales demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. Results are discussed in terms of the conceptual implications of the scale structure and its potential uses.
Couple Simulation: A Novel Approach for Evaluating Models of Human Mate Choice
Authors: Conroy-Beam Daniel
Published: January 2021

Choosing a mate is perhaps the most important decision a sexually reproducing organism makes in its lifetime. And yet, psychologists lack a precise description of human mate choice, despite sustained attention from several theoretical perspectives. Here, I argue this limited progress owes to the complexity of mate choice and describe a new modeling approach, called “couple simulation,” designed to compare models of mate choice by challenging them to reproduce real couples within simulated mating markets. I present proof-of-concept simulations that demonstrate couple simulation can identify a population’s true model of mate choice. Furthermore, I apply couple simulation to two samples of real couples and find that the method (a) successfully reconstructs real-world couples, (b) discriminates between models of mate choice, and (c) predicts a wide range of dimensions of relationship quality. Collectively, these results provide evidence that couple simulation offers a framework useful for evaluating theories of human mate choice.
Impacts of Terrorist Events on Tourism Development: Evidence from Asia
Authors: Sun Yingying , Luo Mingzhi
Published: January 2021

To examine terrorism impacts on international tourism industry in Asia, we collected data from 46 countries from 1995 to 2016, with a total of 1,012 samples. Our results showed that terrorism had a more consistent negative impact on international tourism revenue (ITR) than on international tourist arrivals. While the frequency of terrorism had a significant positive impact on ITR, when controlling for terrorist events which did not cause fatalities, such positive impact changed to negative. A further finding was that the Asian tourism market greatly developed following the 911 event, even though ITR decreased in Muslim countries with high risk of terrorist attacks. The current study makes a contribution to the understanding of terrorism features which may prove useful to strengthening antiterrorism policy in the tourism sector.
A Comprehensive Self-Management Program With Diet Education Does Not Alter Microbiome Characteristics in Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Kamp Kendra J. , Plantinga Anna M. , Cain Kevin C. , Burr Robert L. , Barney Pamela , Jarrett Monica , Luna Ruth Ann , Savidge Tor , Shulman Robert , Heitkemper Margaret M.
Published: January 2021

Background and Purpose:

Changes in diet and lifestyle factors are frequently recommended for persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is unknown whether these recommendations alter the gut microbiome and/or whether baseline microbiome predicts improvement in symptoms and quality of life following treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore if baseline gut microbiome composition predicted response to a Comprehensive Self-Management (CSM) intervention and if the intervention resulted in a different gut microbiome composition compared to usual care.

Methods:

Individuals aged 18–70 years with IBS symptoms ≥6 months were recruited using convenience sampling. Individuals were excluded if medication use or comorbidities would influence symptoms or microbiome. Participants completed a baseline assessment and were randomized into the eight-session CSM intervention which included dietary education and cognitive behavioral therapy versus usual care. Questionnaires included demographics, quality of life, and symptom diaries. Fecal samples were collected at baseline and 3-month post-randomization for 16S rRNA-based microbiome analysis.

Results:

Within the CSM intervention group (n = 30), Shannon diversity, richness, and beta diversity measures at baseline did not predict benefit from the CSM intervention at 3 months, as measured by change in abdominal pain and quality of life. Based on both alpha and beta diversity, the change from baseline to follow-up microbiome bacterial taxa did not differ between CSM (n = 25) and usual care (n = 25).

Conclusions and Inferences:

Baseline microbiome does not predict symptom improvement with CSM intervention. We do not find evidence that the CSM intervention influences gut microbiome diversity or composition over the course of 3 months.
Transesophageal echocardiography guided optimal positioning of central venous catheter tip in superior vena cava during surgical repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect
Authors: Varsha AV , Babu Saravana , S Sharmila , A Jagadish , Dash Prasanta Kumar , Sreekantan Renjith
Published: January 2021

Positioning of central venous catheter (CVC) tip in the intrathoracic portion of superior vena cava (SVC) is essential during the surgical repair of superior sinus venous atrial septal defects (SVASD). Although tracheal carina is described as a radiological landmark for positioning the tip of CVCs, it may not be successful at all times. We describe a case of SVC type SVASD, where the SVC-right pulmonary artery crossing point imaged on transesophageal echocardiography was used as an echocardiographic landmark for optimal positioning of the CVC tip.
Applications of vibro-acoustic measurement and analysis in conjunction with tribological parameters to assess surface fatigue wear developed in the roller-bearing system
Authors: Pandey Shashikant , Amarnath Muniyappa
Published: January 2021

Rolling-element bearings are the most commonly used components in all rotating machinery. The variations in the operating conditions such as an increase in the number of operating cycles, load, speed, service temperature, and lubricant degradation result in the development of various defects such as pitting, spalling, scuffing, scoring, etc. The defects that appeared on rolling contact surfaces cause surface deterioration and change in the vibration and sound levels of the bearing system. The present experimental investigations are aimed at assessing the surface fatigue wear that appears on the contact surfaces of roller bearings. The studies considered the estimation of specific film thickness, analysis of surface fatigue wear developed on the rolling-element surfaces, surface roughness analysis, grease degradation analysis using Fourier transform infrared radiation, and vibration and sound signal measurement and analysis. The results obtained from the experimental investigation provide a good correlation between surface wear, vibration, and sound signals with a transition in the lubrication regimes in the Stribeck curve.
Building an authoritarian regime: Strategies for autocratisation and resistance in Belarus and Slovakia
Authors: Trantidis Aris
Published: January 2021

The article explores the conditions under which incumbent leaders in initially competitive political systems manage to offset democratic resistance and establish an authoritarian regime. Autocratisation – the transition from a competitive political system to a regime dominated by a single political force – is a challenging effort for an incumbent and involves interventions in three ‘arenas’ to achieve (a) public legitimation, (b) institutional reforms increasing political repression and (c) mass-scale co-optation. Focusing on Slovakia and Belarus in the 1990s, where autocratisation efforts failed and succeeded respectively, the article finds that co-optation plays a catalytic role in helping the incumbent pass institutional reforms and escalate repression without risking de-legitimation. In Belarus, co-optation engulfed society and the economy whereas, in Slovakia, a socioeconomic environment with greater autonomy from government limited the scope for co-optation. The Slovak opposition was able to find the resources and supporters necessary to fight back against the incumbent.
Tenuous relations: Ethnic–racial cultural and police disrespect in Finland
Authors: Egharevba Stephen
Published: January 2021

The relationship between ethnic–racial cultural communities and the Finnish police is evolving, and relatively little research is available within the criminal justice system that highlights police practices and behaviour towards ethnic and racial cultural in Finland. There is also a lack of scientific certainty about how to assess ethnic and racial cultural’ experiences of fair, unfair and impolite treatment by the police. The available research suggests that the experiences of Black and other ethnic–racial cultural groups in the criminal justice system differs from that of the ethnic majority population, and this tends to increase the tense relationship between the police and ethnic–racial cultural communities. The data on which this article is based were collected between April 2013 and July 2015 among ethnic and racial cultural groups from three different sites to explore ethnic cultural perceptions of legal authority in Finland. The experiences of 205 people with a cultural ethnic background were used to examine ethnic–racial cultural views on four types of police behaviour—respect, fairness, politeness and courtesy—in deciding whether to trust or distrust the police. We compared adverse encounters between members of ethnic and racial cultural communities and the police using a mixed-methods approach to procedural justice in a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. The study indicates that hostile police humour contributes to a negative attitude, fear and lack of trust towards the police, whereas every respectful interaction brings about a positive attitude.
Making the grade: Feminine lack, inclusion, and coping strategies in digital games higher education
Authors: Harvey Alison
Published: January 2021

The barriers faced by women in games production have been firmly established, including well-documented harassment and material forms of structural discrimination such as gender pay gaps. At the same time, the explanation that homogeneity in the games industry is due to a ‘leaky pipeline’ between training and the workforce persists, extending discourse familiar from the history of computing. Games higher education, the presumed feeder for diverse talent, remains underexplored despite the increasingly compulsory nature of university degrees in job postings. This article addresses the gap by exploring the experiences and perspectives of students studying games subjects in five UK universities. Based on thematic analysis of interviews, I argue that efforts to ‘get in’ to exclusionary tech spaces based on discourses of feminine lack fail to account for how these environments require marginalized people to develop strategies for coping with exclusionary norms to ‘stay in’.
Earthly tourism and travel’s contribution to a planetary genre de vie
Authors: Huijbens Edward H
Published: January 2021

In this reflective commentary celebrating 20 years of Tourist Studies I draw on my forthcoming book, Developing Earthly Attachments in the Anthropocene, explicitly relating its message to a future looking tourist studies agenda. I outline how such an agenda can underpin the development of ‘earthly tourism’ and thereby explore practices of travel and mobilities informing a planetary mode of living, or what the French Annales school of geography would call genre de vie. The article will detail the meaning of these terms and how these can be informed by, and in turn, inform a future looking academic tourist studies agenda.
Using memes in online surveys to engage and motivate respondents
Authors: Roster Catherine A
Published: January 2021

This study explored the influence of Internet memes, specifically image macros of animals with motivational captions, on survey respondents’ engagement with the survey-taking experience and subsequent data quality. A web-based field experiment was conducted with online survey respondents from two sample sources, one crowdsourced, and one commercially managed online panel. Half of the respondents from each sample source were randomly selected to see the memes at various points throughout the survey; the other half did not. Direct and indirect measures of survey engagement and response quality were used to assess effectiveness of the memes. Quantitative results were inconclusive, with few significant differences found in measures of engagement and data quality between respondents in the meme or control condition in either sample source. However, qualitative open-ended comments from respondents who saw the memes in both sample groups revealed that memes provide respondents a fun break and relief from the cognitive burdens of answering online survey questions. In conclusion, memes represent a relatively inexpensive and easy way for survey researchers to connect with respondents and show appreciation for their time and effort.
Same Channel, Different Tune
Authors: Maguire Jamie L.
Published: January 2021

[Box: see text]
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Gait Training Assisted by Multichannel Functional Electrical Stimulation in Early Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: van Bloemendaal Maijke , Bus Sicco A. , Nollet Frans , Geurts Alexander C. H. , Beelen Anita
Published: January 2021

Background. Many stroke survivors suffer from leg muscle paresis, resulting in asymmetrical gait patterns, negatively affecting balance control and energy cost. Interventions targeting asymmetry early after stroke may enhance recovery of walking. Objective. To determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of up to 10 weeks of gait training assisted by multichannel functional electrical stimulation (MFES gait training) applied to the peroneal nerve and knee flexor or extensor muscle on the recovery of gait symmetry and walking capacity in patients starting in the subacute phase after stroke. Methods. Forty inpatient participants (≤31 days after stroke) were randomized to MFES gait training (experimental group) or conventional gait training (control group). Gait training was delivered in 30-minute sessions each workday. Feasibility was determined by adherence (≥75% sessions) and satisfaction with gait training (score ≥7 out of 10). Primary outcome for efficacy was step length symmetry. Secondary outcomes included other spatiotemporal gait parameters and walking capacity (Functional Gait Assessment and 10-Meter Walk Test). Linear mixed models estimated treatment effect postintervention and at 3-month follow-up. Results. Thirty-seven participants completed the study protocol (19 experimental group participants). Feasibility was confirmed by good adherence (90% of the participants) and participant satisfaction (median score 8). Both groups improved on all outcomes over time. No significant group differences in recovery were found for any outcome. Conclusions. MFES gait training is feasible early after stroke, but MFES efficacy for improving step length symmetry, other spatiotemporal gait parameters, or walking capacity could not be demonstrated. Trial Registration. Netherlands Trial Register (NTR4762).
The American Border Wall: A History of Legal Division
Authors: Loiselle Marie-Eve
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the role the law has played in the construction of the US–Mexico border wall. It explores two episodes of wall-building in American history: the first surrounding the adoption of the Act of August 19, 1935, and the second the adoption of the Secure Fence Act of 2006, both authorizing the erection of a fence at the U.S.-Mexico border. The article observes that for each episode, the law provided the sites for the deployment of narratives that constructed Mexicans as “others,” instituting legal precedents that informed increasingly explicit and ambitious legal provisions for the construction of a border wall.
When the response does not match the threat: The relationship between threat assessment and behavioural response in ambiguous lethal force decision-making
Authors: Biggs Adam T , Pettijohn Kyle A , Gardony Aaron L
Published: January 2021

Deciding when to use lethal force inherently depends on assessing threat, a process that itself incorporates numerous perceptual factors. This study assessed this relationship between perception-based threat assessment and behaviour-based threat response. Specifically, participants completed multiple tasks designed to elicit either a threat rating (e.g., perception-informed threat assessment) or a binary behavioural response (e.g., shoot/don’t-shoot). Actor posture and weapon presence significantly affected the threat assessment, which was an extremely powerful omnibus predictor of threat response. However, for ambiguous threat stimuli, perceived threat became a poor predictor for threat response relative to the omnibus test. Participants appeared to adopt additional rules to inform behaviour independent of the threat assessment when faced with an ambiguous situation. These results demonstrate an intriguing disparity between subjective threat assessment and the behavioural response to use force that does not apply well to ambiguous cases or adequately explain errors in lethal force decisions.
The efficiency of visual search for a frequently changed target is preserved in older adults
Authors: Yabuki Hana , Goodhew Stephanie C
Published: January 2021

Visual search is a psychological function integral to most people’s daily lives. The extent to which visual search efficiency, and in particular the ability to use top-down attention in visual search, changes across the lifespan has been the focus of ongoing research. Here we sought to understand how the ability to frequently and dynamically change the target in a conjunction search task was affected by ageing. To do this, we compared visual search performance of a group of younger and older adults under conditions in which the target type was determined by a cue and could change on trial-to-trial basis (Intermixed), versus when the target type was fixed for a block of trials (Blocked). Although older adults were overall slower at the conjunction visual search task, and both groups were slower in the Intermixed compared with the Blocked Condition, older adults were not disproportionately affected by the Intermixed relative to the Blocked conditions. These results indicate that the ability to frequently change the target of visual search is preserved in older adults. This conclusion is consistent with an emerging consensus that many aspects of visual search and top-down contributions to it are preserved across the lifespan. It is also consistent with a growing body of work which challenges the neurocognitive theories of ageing that predict sweeping deficits in complex top-down components of cognition.
Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of othering of Fulani nomads in the Ghanaian news media
Authors: Nartey Mark , Ladegaard Hans J
Published: January 2021

The activities of Fulani nomads in Ghana have gained considerable media attention and engendered continuing public debate. In this paper, we analyze the prejudiced portrayals of the nomads in the Ghanaian news media, and how these contribute to an exclusionist and a discriminatory discourse that puts the nomads at the margins of Ghanaian society. The study employs a critical discourse analysis framework and draws on a dataset of 160 articles, including news stories, editorials and op-ed pieces. The analysis reveals that the nomads are discursively constructed as undesirables through an othering process that centers on three discourses: a discourse of dangerousness/criminalization, a discourse of alienization, and a discourse of stigmatization. This anti-nomad/Fulani rhetoric is evident in the choice of sensational headlines, alarmist news content, organization of arguments, and use of quotations. The paper concludes with a call for more balanced and critical news reporting on the nomads, especially since issues surrounding them border on national cohesion and security.
Trastuzumab deruxtecan for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer
Authors: Kotani Daisuke , Shitara Kohei
Published: January 2021

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a novel anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody–drug conjugate composed of a monoclonal anti-HER2 antibody and a topoisomerase I inhibitor, DX-8951 derivative (an exatecan derivative). T-DXd showed potential anti-tumor activities in HER2-positive gastric cancer cell lines and xenograft models. In the randomized, phase II trial DESTINY-Gastric01, T-DXd demonstrated a significantly higher objective response rate as a primary endpoint and a longer overall survival as a secondary endpoint in patients with pretreated HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Although adverse events caused by T-DXd were generally manageable, approximately 10% of patients experienced treatment-related interstitial lung disease. Based on the results of the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial, T-DXd was approved for HER2-positive pretreated AGC in Japan. This study reviews the preclinical and clinical data of T-DXd for treating HER2-positive gastric cancer.
Checklists for Assessing Skills of Children With Type 1 Diabetes on Insulin Injection Technique
Authors: Ortiz La Banca Rebecca , Rebustini Flávio , Alvarenga Willyane A. , de Carvalho Emilia C. , Lopes Mayara , Milaszewski Kerry , Nascimento Lucila C.
Published: January 2021

Background:

School-aged children often participate in type 1 diabetes (T1D) self-care tasks. Despite widespread discussion about the importance of developing self-care skills in childhood, few explain how the health care team should assess the skills of children with T1D when performing insulin injections.

Objective:

We sought to assess content validity evidence in two checklists regarding injection technique performed by children.

Methods:

Two checklists were designed based on a systematic review of the insulin injection technique. Experts in pediatric diabetes, health literacy, and diabetes education assessed the checklists regarding their clarity, objectivity, and relevance. Content validity was assessed using the content validity ratio (CVR).

Results:

Eleven providers (72% nurses or physicians, professional experience 19.4 ± 10.1 years, 45% of specialists in endocrinology, and 18% in pediatrics) participated in the assessment. Experts considered items containing the word homogeneity inappropriate. Items related to the needle insertion angle and the skin fold did not reach the CVR critical value. The final version of the checklist for syringe injection comprised 22 items with CVR = 0.91, and the checklist for pen injection comprised 18 items with CVR = 0.87.

Conclusions:

The checklists presented clear, objective, and relevant content that assesses the skills of children with T1D for insulin injection. The checklists formally present the order of the technique and all the steps for insulin injection and allow a quantitative assessment of the operational skills of children. The developed instruments offer providers the possibility of continuous assessment of the progress of the pediatric clientele until they reach independence in diabetes self-care.
Geopoetics: Storytelling against mastery
Authors: Nassar Aya
Published: January 2021

In this engagement with Eric Magrane’s article, ‘Climate Geopoetics (The Earth is a Composted Poem)’, I follow two provocations: first, geopoetics as travelling through disciplinary turfs, and second, geopoetics as storytelling. Coming from a disciplinary trajectory that spent a long stop at international relations (IR), these provocations attach me to geopoetics as practice and a growing field. My engagement here is oriented to geopoetics not only at the threshold of geography and the arts and humanities, but also the intersections of geography and politics. I primarily propose that viewing geopoetics as an open space for experimenting allows for disrupting masterful understandings of the academic self and counters a univocal, universal narrative of the world.
Omnichannel retailing: Digital transformation of a medium-sized retailer
Authors: Cakir Gültekin , Iftikhar Rehan , Bielozorov Artem , Pourzolfaghar Zohreh , Helfert Markus
Published: January 2021

Most retailers are currently undergoing a major transformation in the process of becoming omnichannel retailers. This case addresses the challenges of an Irish company in the transition from an offline focused retailer to an omnichannel company. Building on its strong expertise in traditional offline retail, the company is aiming to establish itself as an omnichannel retailer that allows for increasing its customer base in Ireland and overseas. The case describes actual challenges along the journey, including the strategic, operational, and technological challenges. It provides an opportunity for students to discuss and understand the practical aspects of the retail transformation process and the linkage between technology and business strategy. The case enables discussions on the multiple aspects in the process of transformation toward omnichannel retail and promotes the development of innovative solutions for transferring customer experience provided in offline retail to online platforms.
Intramural haematoma of the thoracic aorta: A case series
Authors: Modugno Pietro , Centritto Enrico Maria , Amatuzio Mariangela , Testa Nicola , Grimani Vittorio , Cilla Savino , Pierro Antonio , De Filippo Carlo Maria
Published: January 2021

We reported four cases of intramural haematoma of the descending thoracic aorta. Four patients, aged 55–82 years, hypertensive, were transferred from the emergency room of other hospitals due to the appearance of epigastric pain and left thorax pain. All patients underwent computed tomography angiography reporting the presence of intramural haematoma. Three patients underwent a drug therapy to maintain a controlled hypotension. A computed tomography revaluation was performed documenting (1) an increase in the thickness of the intramural haematoma, (2) the appearance of a penetrating ulcer within the haematoma and (3) the appearance of several penetrating lesions throughout the thoracic aorta. Patients required the placement of one or two thoracic aorta endoprosthesis. For the fourth patient, the hyperdense appearance of the intramural haematoma and the presence of pleural effusion suggested an urgent treatment intervention. All patients underwent a placement of cerebrospinal fluid catheter and drainage before treatment. All patients were treated with endovascular intervention with 100% technical success and absence of migration or retrograde type A dissection. There were no complications related to femoral surgical access or access routes. Perioperative mortality was null; no patient had paraplegia. No strokes, transient ischemic attack or perioperative myocardial infarction were observed. The average hospitalization was 5 days. After 3 months, angio-computed tomography reported for all patients a complete reabsorption of the intramural haematoma and a complete exclusion of the penetrating ulcer of the aortic wall present at the time of the intervention. There have been no cases of distant thoracic aortic tears. Endovascular treatment must be considered the preeminent treatment for thoracic aortic haematoma. Best timing to perform the endovascular procedure depends on the patient clinical picture and on stability of hemodynamic parameters.
The NRA in Crisis: Social Identities and Publics’ Cognitive and Affective Evaluations
Authors: Shen Hongmei , Cheng Yang
Published: January 2021

Contextualized in the Florida Parkland high school mass shooting and National Rifle Association (NRA) crisis, our study is among the first to apply the social identity theory in understanding simultaneously publics’ cognitive and affective evaluations of a non-profit organization’s crisis response. Results from an online survey ( N = 603) revealed that participants displayed a range of both negative and positive emotions towards the NRA, including anger, disgust, and interest and hope. On the rational side, publics considered NRA’s actions as harmful and unjust. Publics’ NRA affiliation status and political partisanship identity had a significant main effect on their crisis evaluations.
How Does Participation in Formal Education or Learning for Older People Affect Wellbeing and Cognition? A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Noble Cory , Medin Darko , Quail Zara , Young Charles , Carter Mark
Published: January 2021

Objective: To determine the effect of later-life formal education or learning on quality of life (QOL), wellbeing, mood, and cognition. Methods: A systematic literature review of interventional clinical trials and observational studies was conducted for adults aged ≥55 years who had undertaken formal education or learning programs. Outcome measures included physical activity, happiness, affective and behavioral symptoms, cognitive function, and QOL. Bias was assessed using funnel plots, Egger’s test, and leave1out analysis. Results: From 32 studies identified, we showed qualitative increases in cognitive function, life satisfaction, and self-confidence associated with learning. A meta-analysis revealed a significant pooled mean difference in MMSE scores (0.40, 95% confidence intervals = [0.12, 0.67]). Although there was a low risk of publication bias there was a high risk of sampling bias. Conclusion: Participation in formal education or learning contributed to increased wellbeing, QOL, healthy cognitive function, self-dependency, and a sense of belonging in older adults.
Feasibility of Frailty Assessment Integrated with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Clinic Follow-up: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Albakri Abdel , Orkaby Ariela , Rosenberg Michael A.
Published: January 2021

Background: The concept of frailty was originally created to explain why individuals of the same age have differing risk of disease, and it has since been found to be negatively associated with outcomes for a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cardiac procedures. Although numerous risk scores and assessment tools have been proposed, opportunities for practical assessment of frailty remain limited. In this pilot study, we examine the feasibility of using routine follow-up of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) for assessment of frailty. Methods: From September 2017 through March 2018, 49 consecutive patients seen in CIED clinic were enrolled. Among the frailty assessments performed at the clinic visit included a 4-meter walk time, FRAIL scale calculation, Rockwood Frailty score assessment by another treating provider, mini-cog assessment, and analysis of daily activity measures on the CIED. Results: Among the three device manufacturers of patients’ CIEDs, only Boston Scientific released analyzable activity time series data. On nine patients in whom daily activity data could be analyzed, there was no difference in mean daily activity (148.3 ± 31.9 vs. 100.1 ± 25.1 min/day, p = .27) between patients with and without an abnormal frailty or cognitive assessment, although interestingly, those with an abnormal assessment had a higher standard deviation of activity per day (52.6 ± 5.9 vs. 31.4 ± 4.7 min/day, p = .03). Conclusion: It is possible that a higher variation in daily activity over the course of a year could be a better indicator of frailty or cognitive impairment than average daily activity.
Can Cervical Cerclage Prevent Umbilical Cord Prolapse in Patients with Funic Presentation?
Authors: Petrikovsky B. , Terrani M. , Dillon A. , Sichinava L.
Published: January 2021

Objective:

Umbilical cord prolapse is a rare event complicating 0.17%–0.62% of all pregnancies. Funic presentation is a known risk factor for umbilical cord prolapse. Currently, there is no strategy to prevent umbilical cord prolapse in patients with funic presentation. The novel technique used is placement of late cervical cerclage to create a mechanical barrier and prevent an umbilical cord prolapse.

Methods:

Six patients with a sonographically detected funic presentation were included in the study. Funic presentation was defined as the sonographic presence of the umbilical cord below the presenting part using both transabdominal and transvaginal sonography. Cord prolapse was defined as an umbilical cord seen or palpated below the presenting part. Cervical cerclage was placed in patients with persistent funic presentations, which is the detection of the umbilical cord below the presenting part, on two or more sonograms at least a week apart.

Results:

Cervical cerclages were placed in six patients with funic presentation between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation without immediate complications. All patients were delivered by a cesarean section between 35 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. None experienced umbilical cord prolapse. Funic presentation was confirmed at birth in all cases. Apgar scores varied between 7 and 10.

Conclusion:

It appears that cervical cerclage may be an effective measure to prevent umbilical cord prolapse in cases of known persistent funic presentation.