bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Sclerosis Biomarker Discoveries by Proteomics and Metabolomics Approaches
Authors: Jafari Ameneh , Babajani Amirhesam , Rezaei-Tavirani Mostafa
Published: May 2021

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in demyelination and axonal loss in the brain and spinal cord. The precise pathogenesis and etiology of this complex disease are still a mystery. Despite many studies that have been aimed to identify biomarkers, no protein marker has yet been approved for MS. There is urgently needed for biomarkers, which could clarify pathology, monitor disease progression, response to treatment, and prognosis in MS. Proteomics and metabolomics analysis are powerful tools to identify putative and novel candidate biomarkers. Different human compartments analysis using proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics approaches has generated new information for further clarification of MS pathology, elucidating the mechanisms of the disease, finding new targets, and monitoring treatment response. Overall, omics approaches can develop different therapeutic and diagnostic aspects of complex disorders such as multiple sclerosis, from biomarker discovery to personalized medicine.
Optic chiasm involvement in AQP-4 antibody–positive NMO and MOG antibody–associated disorder
Authors: Tajfirouz Deena , Padungkiatsagul Tanyatuth , Beres Shannon , Moss Heather E , Pittock Sean , Flanagan Eoin , Kunchok Amy , Shah Shailee , Bhatti M Tariq , Chen John J
Published: May 2021

Background:

Optic neuritis (ON) is often the presenting symptom in inflammatory central nervous system demyelinating disorders.

Objective:

To compare the frequency and pattern of optic chiasm involvement in patients with aquaporin-4-immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG)-associated ON to patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG)-associated ON.

Methods:

Retrospective review of all patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic, Stanford University and Ramathibodi Hospital who were found to have: (1) ON, (2) either MOG-IgG or AQP4-IgG by cell-based assay, and (3) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of ON. MRI was reviewed for contrast enhancement of the optic chiasm and the pattern of involvement.

Results:

One hundred and fifty-four patients (74 AQP4-IgG and 80 MOG-IgG) were included. Among patients with AQP4-IgG-ON, 20% had chiasmal involvement, compared with 16% of patients with MOG-IgG-ON ( p = 0.66). In patients with chiasmal involvement, longitudinally extensive optic nerve enhancement (from orbit extending to chiasm) was identified in 54% of MOG-IgG-ON patients, compared with 7% of AQP4-IgG-ON patients ( p = 0.01).

Conclusion:

Chiasmal involvement of MOG-IgG-ON and AQP4-IgG-ON occur at more similar frequencies than previously reported. Furthermore, MOG-IgG-ON chiasmal involvement is more likely to be part of a longitudinally extensive optic nerve lesion.
From abstract to ideal–The limits of models. A reply to Pawson’s ‘boxed in by models’
Authors: Kaehne Axel
Published: May 2021

Pawson’s article raises the important question of what constitutes good and bad modelling during a pandemic. His article makes the case for more involvement of social scientists to capture the complex adaptive nature of governmental policy. While articulating a welcome critique of epidemiological models, his article fails to recognise that all model use simplifications which make some models better than others. I will suggest a useful way of differentiating between good and bad, useful and less useful, models based on the difference between idealisation and abstraction, concepts I borrow from Onora O’Neill and political theory. They allow us to apply a more nuanced criticality to the current models used by the government. Refining our critique of the government’s COVID response is important since we need to account for the fact that current government responses to the pandemic, while open to criticism, have had some effect in reducing infection rates.
A novel approach utilizing laser acupuncture teletherapy for management of elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Adly Aya Sedky , Adly Afnan Sedky , Adly Mahmoud Sedky , Ali Mohammad F
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease is a systemic progressive inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Elderly-onset RA can be assumed as a benign form of RA. Until recently, face-to-face therapeutic sessions between health professionals and patients are usually the method of its treatment. However, during pandemics, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), teletherapeutic sessions can extensively increase the patient safety especially in elderly patients who are more vulnerable to these infections. Thus, the aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate a novel teletherapy approach for management of elderly patients suffering from RA by utilizing laser acupuncture.

Methods

A teletherapy system was used for management of elderly patients suffering from RA. Sixty participants were allocated randomly into two groups and the ratio was 1:1. Patients in the first group were treated with laser acupuncture and telerehabilitation sessions, which consisted of aerobic exercise and virtual reality training. Patients in the second group received telerehabilitation sessions, which consisted of aerobic exercise and virtual reality training. Evaluation of patients was done by using the Health Assessment questionnaire (HAQ), the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) questionnaire, and the analysis of interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA).

Results

A statistically significant difference was found in CRP, RAQoL, IL-6 and MDA between the pre- and post-treatments in the first group ( p < 0.05) favouring the post-treatment group, while the HAQ showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-treatments ( p < 0.05) in both groups. Statistically significant post-treatment differences were also observed between the two groups ( p < 0.05) in RAQoL, CRP, ATP and MDA, favouring the first group.

Discussion

Laser acupuncture teletherapy could be suggested as a reliable treatment method for elderly patients suffering from RA, as it can provide a safe and effective therapeutic approach. Teletherapy provided safer access to health professionals and patients while giving a high patient satisfaction value with a relatively lower cost (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04684693).
Fear and anxiety in girls aged 7 to 11 years old and related factors during the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Mangolian Shahrbabaki Parvin , Dehghan Mahlagha , Maazallahi Mahbubeh , Asadi Neda
Published: May 2021

Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in crises. The psychological consequences of COVID-19 in children must be considered. This study aimed to assess the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 in primary school girls. It is a descriptive correlational study to investigate schoolgirls’ fear and anxiety of covid-19 in southeastern Iran. Data were collected using the fear of coronavirus questionnaire and the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale. The mean score of fear and anxiety of corona disease was 11.49 ± 6.59 and 17.67 ± 10.87, respectively. The bivariate analysis showed a significant association between fear and anxiety of corona disease, a single child ( p = .025 and p = .006), and a mother’s level of education ( p = .01). In other words, girls who were single child had a significantly higher level of fear and anxiety than other girls and the girls whose mothers had diploma had a higher level of fear and anxiety than girls whose mothers had Ph.D. Since fear and anxiety can be affected by factors such as culture, education level, and birth rate, it is recommended that this study be performed in other communities as well.
Willingness to communicate in the L2 about meaningful photos: Application of the pyramid model of WTC
Authors: MacIntyre Peter D. , Wang Lanxi
Published: May 2021

Willingness to communicate (WTC) reflects an intersection between instructed second language acquisition and learner psychology. WTC results from the coordinated interaction among complex processes that prepare second language (L2) learners to choose to use their L2 for authentic communication. Prior research has revealed considerable complexity in the influences on dynamic changes in WTC from moment-to-moment. The heuristic ‘pyramid model’ of WTC (MacIntyre et al., 1998) proposes interactions among approximately 30 different variables that may influence WTC. The present study uses the pyramid model to interpret data from three focal participants, all English as a second language (ESL) learners and international students in Canada, with varying degrees of experience in an English-speaking context. Using the idiodynamic method, all participants were recorded while describing a self-selected, personally meaningful photo. Second, participants rated their WTC in English using software that played a recording of their speech and collected continuous WTC ratings. Finally, participants were interviewed about their WTC ratings. Triangulating the data revealed how processes on multiple timescales interact during L2 communication about the photos. WTC changes as speakers’ motivations and emotions are influenced by the deep, personal relevance of the topics under discussion. Pedagogical implications for the results of this study and the use of the idiodynamic method in L2 classrooms are discussed.
Personal recovery and socio-structural disadvantage: A critical conceptual review
Authors: Karadzhov Dimitar
Published: May 2021

Despite its seeming breadth and diversity, the bulk of the personal (mental health) recovery literature has remained strangely ‘silent’ about the impact of various socio-structural inequalities on the recovery process. Such an inadequacy of the empirical literature is not without consequences since the systematic omission or downplaying, at best, of the socio-structural conditions of living for persons with lived experience of mental health difficulties may inadvertently reinforce a reductionist view of recovery as an atomised, individualised phenomenon. Motivated by those limitations in extant scholarship, a critical literature review was conducted to identify and critique relevant research to problematise the notion of personal recovery in the context of socio-structural disadvantage such as poverty, homelessness, discrimination and inequalities. The review illuminates the scarcity of empirical research and the paucity of sociologically-informed theorisation regarding how recovery is shaped by the socio-structural conditions of living. Those inadequacies are especially pertinent to homelessness research, whereby empirical investigations of personal recovery have remained few and undertheorised. The gaps in the research and theorising about the relational, contextual and socio-structural embeddedness of recovery are distilled. The critical review concludes that personal recovery has remained underresearched, underproblematised and undertheorised, especially in the context of homelessness and other forms of socio-structural disadvantage. Understanding how exclusionary social arrangements affect individuals’ recovery, and the coping strategies that they deploy to negotiate those, is likely to inform anti-oppressive interventions that could eventually remove the structural constraints to human emancipation and flourishing.
Effects of neighbourhood religious diversity and religious and national identity on neighbourhood trust
Authors: Bennett Matthew R. , Parameshwaran Meenakshi , Schmid Katharina , Ramos Miguel , Hewstone Miles
Published: May 2021

This paper examines the relationship between religious diversity, religious and national identity, and neighbourhood trust. Using data from 6,089 individuals in England matched to census-based statistical estimates for 300 local areas, we find that religious diversity is negatively associated with neighbourhood trust. Further analyses tested indirect relationships between religious diversity and neighbourhood trust to examine whether higher levels of religious diversity are associated with a stronger sense of religious identity, and whether a stronger sense of religious identity is associated with lower levels of neighbourhood trust. We simultaneously tested whether higher levels of religious diversity are associated with a weaker sense of national identity, and whether a weaker sense of national identity is associated with lower neighbourhood trust. Multigroup analyses were conducted to assess patterns across religious groups. Results indicate that, for Christians, religious diversity is associated with a stronger subordinate religious identification, which is in turn associated with lower neighbourhood trust. There were no associations between religious diversity, national identification, and neighbourhood trust. For the other religious groups, no significant associations were found between our variables of interest. We discuss the relevance and implication of increasing religious diversity in societies for the multiple groups involved.
Experimental and theoretical study of sandwich composites with Z-pins under quasi-static compression loading
Authors: Selver Erdem , Kaya Gaye , Dalfi Hussein
Published: May 2021

This study aims to enhance the compressive properties of sandwich composites containing extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam core and glass or carbon face materials by using carbon/vinyl ester and glass/vinyl ester composite Z-pins. The composite pins were inserted into foam cores at two different densities (15 and 30 mm). Compression test results showed that compressive strength, modulus and loads of the sandwich composites significantly increased after using composite Z-pins. Sandwich composites with 15 mm pin densities exhibited higher compressive properties than that of 30 mm pin densities. The pin type played a critical role whilst carbon pin reinforced sandwich composites had higher compressive properties compared to glass pin reinforced sandwich composites. Finite element analysis (FE) using Abaqus software has been established in this study to verify the experimental results. Experimental and numerical results based on the capabilities of the sandwich composites to capture the mechanical behaviour and the damage failure modes were conducted and showed a good agreement between them.
Shear properties of a new type recycled aggregate concrete interlocking hollow block masonry with axial load
Authors: Li Jie , Zhou Hao , Chen Wenwen , Chen Zhongfan
Published: May 2021

Comprehensively considering the positive contribution of energy conservation and the reduction of the construction skill requirement for workers, a new type of interlocking hollow block using recycled aggregates concrete (IHAC) with the compressive strength defined as MU10 was proposed, which could help improve more than 56% of the construction efficiency compared to common used concrete hollow blocks. In order to study the shear properties and promote its application in building engineering, the shear strength of 10 groups (three specimens for each group) of masonries considering different axial stress level and whether or not to use concrete in the grouting holes were studied, and the failure mode as well as the shear strength of the masonries were analyzed. And then, the calculation formulas for predicting the shear strength of the IHAC masonry were obtained by using the parameter fitting method based on the Coulomb failure theory, which could well reflect the parabolic shaped changing characteristic of the shear strength with the increasing of the axial stress, and the maximum difference was within 18% between the calculated and test results.
‘Well grubbed, old mole!’: The press, the Institute of Economic Affairs and the propagation of neo-liberalism in the UK
Authors: Petley Julian
Published: May 2021

This article considers how before and after the Tories came to power in 1979, The Times and the Daily and Sunday Telegraph consistently propagated ideas emanating from the free-market think-tank the Institute of Economic Affairs. It argues that this was part of a wider process in which the post-war Keynesian consensus came under fire from sections of both the media and the political class, and heralded an era in which neo-liberal ideas would come to constitute a new form of economic ‘common sense’. Given the dominance of this perspective, most of the mainstream media failed to anticipate the 2008 financial crisis and have repeatedly endorsed austerity as the only means of reducing the ensuing deficit.
Exploring the relationship between the length of stay and various determinants at one of the best European destinations
Authors: Vieira Elvira , Borges Ana Pinto , Rodrigues Paula
Published: May 2021

Studies scrutinizing the tangible and intangible factors regarding the length of stay (LOS) in a destination are rare. The emotional factors have not always been integrated into this analysis. We have contributed to fill this gap in the literature considering the degree of happiness with the tourist destination. We used a sample of 1253 tourists and three regression models were estimated (OLS regression model, a Weibull survival model and a zero-truncated negative binomial) to study the LOS. We verified that the emotional factor related with happiness affects the LOS. Furthermore, regarding the managerial/practical implications it is important to highlight that the tourists who intend to visit the city have gastronomic and wine experiences, and, through their contact with the cultural heritage of the city, they will stay for a longer period of time. In addition to economic factors, as expenditures, there are also emotional and experiential aspects that influence LOS and these have to be included in the communication of a tourist destination. The attributes of a destination are not enough to influence the LOS. The destination must also be a set of experiences that will increase the happiness of the tourist with the destination.
Real-time NOx estimation in light duty diesel engine with in-cylinder pressure prediction
Authors: Lee Youngbok , Lee Seungha , Min Kyoungdoug
Published: May 2021

Recently, there have been numerous efforts to cope with automotive emission regulations. Various strategies to reduce engine-out NOx emissions and proper after-treatment systems, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and lean NOx trap (LNT), have been taken into account in the engine research field. In this study, real-time engine-out NOx prediction model was established where zero-dimensional NO and NO2 models were combined with in-cylinder pressure model. During the procedure for estimating NO and NO2 (NOx), a real-time prediction model of in-cylinder pressure was applied so that the inputs to the NOx prediction model could be provided only by the data acquired from the engine control unit (ECU). This implies that an in-cylinder pressure sensor is not necessarily required to properly predict the engine-out NOx in real time. The real-time NOx estimation model was validated through the worldwide harmonized light-duty vehicle test cycle (WLTC) without a pressure sensor, and the total NOx error during the mode was comparable with the total NOx error of the portable NOx sensor. This real-time NOx estimation model can ultimately contribute to minimizing tail-pipe NOx emissions by influencing both emission calibration at the engine design stage and the management of NOx after-treatment systems where NOx conversion efficiency is heavily affected by the NO2/NO ratio.
The non-reacting flow characteristics of pylon and wall injections in a dual combustion ramjet engine
Authors: Sarathkumar Sebastin J , Jeyakumar S , Karthik K
Published: May 2021

The influence of pylon and wall injection in coaxial jets of a Dual Combustion Ramjet engine is numerically investigated in a non-reacting flow field. The supersonic combustor is modeled and analyzed using the commercial CFD software ANSYS 18.0. The three-dimensional compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations coupled with the SST k-ω turbulence model have been used to analyze the coaxial mixing characteristics of the jets. The numerical study is validated with the experimental data of the wall static pressures measured in the combustor’s flow direction. The pylon and wall injectors are located symmetrically at the gas generator’s exit nozzle, and the air is used as the injectant to simulate gaseous fuel. Three injection pressures are used for the study to understand the flow field characteristics in the injector regime. Also, the gas generator downstream direction is investigated. The shock waves generated from the gas generator nozzle enhance the mixing of the coaxial jets with minimum total pressure loss. The shock wave interactions are noticed with reducing intensity within the supersonic combustor for pylon injection, leading to higher total pressure loss than the wall injection. The pylon injection provides the spatial distribution of fuels compared to the wall injection in the coaxial supersonic flow field.
Effects of pyrolysis parameters on the distribution of pyrolysis products of Miscanthus
Authors: Hu Zhangmao , Zhou Tong , Tian Hong , Feng Leihua , Yao Can , Yin Yanshan , Chen Donglin
Published: May 2021

This work presents a comprehensive study on the effects of pyrolysis parameters (pyrolysis temperature, residence time, and heating rate) on the distribution of pyrolysis products of Miscanthus. Py-GC/MS (Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass) was conducted to identify building blocks of value-added chemical from Miscanthus. The results showed that the main pyrolysis products of Miscanthus were ketone, aldehyde, phenol, heterocycles, and aromatic compounds. The representative compounds of ketone and aldehyde compounds produced at different pyrolysis temperatures changed obviously, while the representative compounds of phenolic, heterocyclic, and aromatic compounds had no obvious change. Large-scale pyrolysis of Miscanthus had begun at 400°C, and the relative content of pyrolysis products from Miscanthus reached the maximum of 98.34% at 700°C. The relative peak area ratio of phenol and aromatic compounds reached the maximum and minimum at the residence time of 5 and 10 s, while the relative peak area ratio of ketone compounds showed the opposite trend. The relative peak area ratio of aldehyde compounds was higher under shorter or longer residence time. For heterocyclic compounds, the relative peak area ratio reached the maximum of 27.0% at residence time of 10 s. The faster or slower heating rate was beneficial to the production of aldehyde and phenol compounds. The relative peak area ratio of ketone compounds reached the maximum at 10,000°C/s, 70°C/s, and 10°C/s, and the relative peak area ratio tendency of heterocyclic compounds was similar to ketone. For aromatic compounds, the overall fluctuations were large, and the relative peak area ratio was the highest at the heating rate of 100°C/s.
A portable bolt-loosening detection system with piezoelectric-based nondestructive method and artificial neural networks
Authors: Na Wongi S
Published: May 2021

In general, the bolted joints that connect and secure components together can be easily spotted in our surroundings. This joining method has been commonly used in various areas of engineering (e.g. aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering) as it has been proven one of the most effective means to join parts together. Although it has its advantages, the vibration that bolted structures endure during service ultimately causes the bolts to loosen. This can, in turn, have a negative effect on the structure’s safety and may, at worst, cause it to fail. Routine inspections of structures are conducted on a regular basis, with some inspection categories requiring heavy equipment in order to acquire certain data. In addition, monitoring systems can be expensive to install and maintain, especially in large infrastructures. In an effort to rectify this, in this study, a piezoelectric transducer–based nondestructive technique is used in conjunction with the application of a reattachable device to investigate the possibility of creating a low-cost inspection system. The acquired data were processed by means of an artificial neural network technique that showed promising results in terms of mitigating bolt loosening.
Equipoise and ethics in educational research
Authors: Burkholder Leslie
Published: May 2021

Does the moral requirement that medical research comparing the effectiveness of two treatment methods be done only when there is community level equipoise also apply to research in teaching and learning comparing the effectiveness of two instructional methods? This article argues that it does. It evaluates three claims that the requirement does not apply to research in teaching and learning. One is the idea that the equipoise standard mixes up the ethical rules for practice with those for research. So it applies neither to research in medicine nor research in teaching and learning. The second is the idea that research in teaching and learning is different than research in medicine. The ethical basis for the equipoise requirement in medical research does not exist for research in education and so does not apply. Finally, the point is sometimes made that satisfying the equipoise requirement can be outweighed or more than compensated for by other factors when evaluating the ethics of research. For example, the knowledge gained about the comparative merits of different methods of teaching and learning might be so significant that it offsets any moral demand for equipoise or uncertainty.
Factors Related to Positive Memory Count Among Trauma-Exposed Individuals: A Scoping Review
Authors: Contractor Ateka A. , Caldas Stephanie V. , Dolan Megan , Weiss Nicole H.
Published: May 2021

To examine the existing knowledge base on trauma experiences and positive memories, we conducted a scoping review of trauma and post-trauma factors related to positive memory count. In July 2019, we searched PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and PTSDpubs for a combination of words related to “positive memories/experiences,” “trauma/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” and “number/retrieval.” Twenty-one articles met inclusion criteria (adult samples, original articles in English, peer-reviewed, included trauma-exposed group or variable of trauma exposure, trauma exposure examined with a trauma measure/methodology, assessed positive memory count, empirical experimental/non-experimental study designs). Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, two authors reviewed abstracts, completed a secondary search, and independently extracted data. Our review indicated (1) that depression and PTSD were most researched; (2) no conclusive relationships of positive memory count with several psychopathology (depression, acute stress disorder, eating disorder, and anxiety), cognitive/affective, neurobiological, and demographic factors; (3) trends of potential relationships of positive memory count with PTSD and childhood interpersonal traumas (e.g., sexual and physical abuse); and (4) lower positive memory specificity as a potential counterpart to greater overgeneral positive memory bias. Given variations in sample characteristics and methodology as well as the limited longitudinal research, conclusions are tentative and worthy of further investigations.
Venue-based versus Geosocial Networking Application-based Recruitment of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: An Examination of Feasibility
Authors: Gibbs Jeremy J. , Traube Dorian E. , Goldbach Jeremy T.
Published: May 2021

Because of the high cost, venue-based probability sampling of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) is largely inaccessible to social researchers. The aim of this study is to compare the feasibility of implementing geosocial networking application-based (GSNA) and venue-based prob`ability sampling of young men who have sex with men. A cross-sectional survey conducted in Los Angeles in 2017 and 2018 recruited 124 YMSM using both methods. We compared costs and hours of work for each method. Per participant, GSNA-based methods cost approximately 157 USD compared to 383 USD for the venue-based methods. For sample sizes up to 1,000, venue-based methods cost over two times more than GSNA-based methods. Findings indicate that research teams with limited resources may be able to implement probability-based recruitment by using GSNA. By lowering the cost of research and maintaining probability-based methodological rigor, GSNAs can increase the amount of social research with YMSM.
The Course of Inhibition Never Did Run Smooth: Parvalbumin Interneuron Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Lissencephaly
Authors: McGarry Laura M. , Goldberg Ethan M.
Published: May 2021

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How the City Survey’s Redlining Maps Were Made: A Closer Look at HOLC’s Mortgagee Rehabilitation Division
Authors: Michney Todd M.
Published: May 2021

The infamous “security maps” made in the 1930s by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC), rating supposed mortgage lending risk in urban neighborhoods across the United States, have long been considered the quintessential expression of racist redlining policy. However, a number of misunderstandings and unwarranted speculations about how these maps were made and used have proliferated. Using previously unexamined correspondence, this article establishes that HOLC could not have used the maps for loan denials, did share them with the Federal Housing Administration but not with private industry, and highly improvised their production with numerous methodological inconsistencies, including with regard to race.
Psychometric Properties of the Infant Toddler Activity Card Sort
Authors: Hoyt Catherine R. , Chuck Ashley C. , Varughese Taniya E. , Fisher Laura C. , Manis Hannah E. , O’Connor Kelly E. , Shen Evelyn , Wong Alex W. K. , Abel Regina A. , King Allison A.
Published: May 2021

The Infant Toddler Activity Card Sort (ITACS) is a new measure that engages caregivers in goal development by measuring participation in early childhood. Initial evaluation of the ITACS is required to assess its psychometric properties. To evaluate test–retest reliability, concurrent validity, and between-group differences of the ITACS. Caregivers ( N = 208) of children 0–3 years, who were typically developing (TD) or had a developmental delay (DD), completed the ITACS and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) with repeat assessment after 2 weeks later ( n = 117). The ITACS demonstrated moderate concurrent validity with the PEDI-CAT. Children with DD had significantly more activity concerns on the ITACS than TD. Adequate test–retest reliability was not achieved. The ITACS is a useful tool for identifying caregiver concerns in activity engagement; interventions can be tailored to address concerns and increase participation in childhood routines.
The Influence of Val66Met Polymorphism in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor on Stroke Recovery Outcome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Xuan , Fang Jun-Chao , Zhi Xin-Yue , Yan Qiu-Yu , Zhu Hong , Xie Juan
Published: May 2021

Background and purpose. A single nucleotide polymorphism at nucleotide 196 (G/A) in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF) gene produces an amino acid substitution (valine to methionine) at codon 66(Val66Met). It is unclear whether carriers of this substitution may have worse functional outcomes after stroke. We aimed to explore the distribution of Val66Met polymorphism and evaluate the effect of different genotypes on stroke functional recovery. Methods. Several databases were searched using the keywords BDNF or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, codon66, G196A, rs6265, or Val66Met, and stroke. Results. A total of 25 articles were relevant to estimate the distribution of alleles; 5 reports were applied in the meta-analysis to assess genetic differences on recovery outcomes. The genetic model analysis showed that the recessive model should be used; we combined data for AA versus GA+GG (GG—Val/Val, GA—Val/Met, AA—Met/Met). The results showed that stroke patients with AA might have worse recovery outcomes than those with GA+GG (odds ratio = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.17-3.10; P = .010; I2 = 69.2%). Overall, the A allele may be more common in Asian patients (48.6%; 95% CI: 45.8%-51.4%, I2 = 54.2%) than Caucasian patients (29.8%; 95% CI: 7.5%-52.1%; I2 = 99.1%). However, in Caucasian patients, the frequency of the A allele in Iranians (87.9%; 95% CI: 83.4%-92.3%) was quite higher than that in other Caucasians (18.7%; 95% CI: 16.6%-20.9%; I2 = 0.00%). Conclusion. Val66Met AA carriers may have worse rehabilitation outcomes than GA+GG carriers. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of Val66Met polymorphism on stroke recovery and to evaluate this relationship with ethnicity, sex, age, stroke type, observe duration, stroke severity, injury location, and therapies.
The Power of Followers That do not Follow: Investigating the Effects of Follower Resistance, Leader Implicit Followership Theories and Leader Negative Affect on the Emergence of Destructive Leader Behavior
Authors: Güntner Amelie V. , Klasmeier Kai N. , Klonek Florian E. , Kauffeld Simone
Published: May 2021

This study focuses on follower resistance as a potential antecedent of destructive leader behavior and examines leader-related moderators and mediators to help explain the relationship between follower resistance and destructive leader behavior. Drawing from implicit followership theories, we propose that the relationship between follower resistance and destructive leader behavior is moderated by leaders’ Theory X schema. Furthermore, we build on affective events theory to hypothesize that follower resistance increases destructive leader behavior via leaders’ negative affect. We tested our hypotheses in a within-subjects online field experiment. Our study findings demonstrate that follower resistance increases destructive leader behavior and that this relationship is mediated through leaders’ negative affect and moderated by leaders’ Theory X schema. We discuss theoretical implications regarding the impact of (resistant) follower behavior on destructive leadership and offer methodological advances in terms of research design and analytical approaches to deal with endogeneity issues and derive causal inferences. Lastly, we derive practical implications for utilizing follower resistance.
Characterizing the Magnitude of and Risk Factors for Functional Limb Lengthening in Patients Undergoing Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Chalmers Brian P. , LaGreca Mark , Addona Jacqueline , Sculco Peter K. , Haas Steve B. , Mayman David J.
Published: May 2021

Background: There is little data on the magnitude and factors for functional leg lengthening after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Questions/Purpose: We sought to determine the incidence of and risk factors for functional leg lengthening after primary TKA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive unilateral primary TKAs at a single institution from 2015 to 2018. Of the 782 TKAs included, 430 (55%) were performed in women; the mean age was 66 years, and the mean body mass index was 29 kg/m2. Preoperatively, 541 (69%) knees were varus deformities and 223 (29%) were valgus deformities. Hip to ankle biplanar radiographs were obtained preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively for all patients. Two independent researchers measured leg length, coronal plane deformity, lateral knee flexion angle, and overall mechanical alignment on all preoperative and postoperative radiographs. Results: The mean overall ipsilateral functional leg lengthening was 7.0 mm. Seven hundred knees (90%) were overall functionally lengthened, including 462 (59%) knees lengthened >5 mm and 250 (31%) knees lengthened 10 mm or more. A valgus deformity and coronal plane deformity of 10° or more were significant risk factors for increased functional lengthening. Patients with severe valgus deformities (>10°) had the largest amount of functional lengthening, at a mean of 13.5 mm. Conclusion: After primary TKA, 90% of limbs are functionally lengthened, including roughly one-third over a centimeter. Valgus knee deformities and severe deformities (>10°) were significant risk factors for increased limb lengthening.
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors for the neurointerventionalist
Authors: Simonato Davide , Borchert Robin J , Labeyrie Marc-Antoine , Fuschi Maurizio , Thibault Lucie , Henkes Hans , Fiorella David , Tan Benjamin YQ , Yeo Leonard LL , Makalanda Hegoda LD , Wong Ken , Bhogal Pervinder
Published: May 2021

Antiplatelet therapies are commonly used in neurointerventional procedures. However, specific guidelines for their use in these settings is lacking and it can often be difficult to balance the potential risks and benefits of these medications. Considering the continued growth and adoption of neurointerventional procedures, it is crucial to understand the properties of these agents in order to use them safely. Large-scale clinical trials are still needed to clarify many of these aspects for this emerging field. However, the existing literature already provides insight into which antiplatelet drugs are of benefit to the neurointerventionalist as well as their associated risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications. Hence, this review focuses on the applications of GPIIb/IIIA inhibitors to neurointerventional procedures.
Constructivist Stakian Multicase Study: Methodological Issues Encountered in Cross-Cultural Palliative Care Research
Authors: Fearon David , Hughes Sean , Brearley Sarah G.
Published: May 2021

Case study research facilitates the in-depth, real-life exploration of complex phenomena from multiple perspectives. It is a well-established approach to deal with the complexities involved in palliative care research. Case studies are not aligned to a single epistemological paradigm but are defined by the identification of the case to be studied. This article examines the methodological issues of carrying out constructivist Stakian multi-case study research. It is based on the lessons learned from our case study exploring the experiences of advanced breast cancer in Mauritania, a resource-limited, Muslim majority context. Stake provides suggestions and boundaries for the case study researcher, but there is no blueprint available for a Stakian multi-case study. The researcher is encouraged to employ their creativity, intuition and ingenuity. We exercised this freedom by incorporating mixed methods of data collection within our constructivist paradigm. We resourcefully revisited the identity of the case and embedded mini-cases, we rejected traditional views of triangulation in favor of crystallization, and we employed assorted approaches to guide and enrich our within- and cross-case analyses to formulate overarching themes and multi-case assertions. Stakian case study should not be limited to constructivist researchers. We encourage any case study researchers to consider this approach, especially those who wish to employ their intuition and ingenuity to understand and describe experiences and phenomena.
Flow behaviors in a Kaplan turbine runner with different tip clearances
Authors: Ma Yue , Qian Bing , Feng Zhiguo , Wang Xuan , Shi Guangtai , Liu Zongku , Liu Xiaobing
Published: May 2021

Tip clearance between the runner blade tip and shroud in a Kaplan turbine is inevitable, and the tip leakage flow (TLF) and tip leakage vortex (TLV) induced by the tip clearance have a considerable effect on the flow behaviors. To reveal the effect of the tip clearance on the flow characteristics, based on the Reynolds time-averaged Navier-Stokes (N-S) equation and the shear stress transfer (SST) k-ω turbulence model, the three-dimensional turbulence flow in a Kaplan turbine is simulated using ANSYS CFX. Meanwhile, the flow laws in the tip clearance are emphatically analyzed and summarized. Results show with the increase of the tip clearance, the negative pressure region in the blade suction side (SS) middle, the SS near the blade tip and the blade tip becomes more and more obvious. In the meantime, the flow behaviors on the blade pressure side (PS) are relatively stable, and the flow separation on the SS near blade tip merges. The larger the tip clearance is, the more obvious the flow separation phenomenon displays. In addition, the TLV is a spatial three-dimensional spiral structure formed by the entrainment effect of the TLF and main flow, and as the tip clearance increases, the TLV becomes more obvious.
Arab scholarship in educational administration, management and leadership: An overview
Authors: Attari Arif T M Al , Essa Eman Bani
Published: May 2021

Following in the tradition of systematic reviews of research, this paper reports the findings of an overview of Arab scholarship in educational administration, management and leadership. We first articulated a framework for analysis anchored to a proposed ‘scholarship maturity’ theoretical model then applied it to analyze 20 reviews of Arab scholarship in educational administration, management and leadership. The findings suggest that reviewing Arab scholarship in educational administration, management and leadership is an emerging segment of research that is growing steadily in line with the burgeoning volume of Arab research. Taken together, the findings give the impression that this line of inquiry is promising and has the potentials and capacity to develop. However, it is still lacking maturity and impact, which descriptions apply to the Arab scholarship in educational administration, management and leadership writ large. The paper concludes with the limitations, discussion and recommendations.
On Constructing a Corruption Principle: The Importance of History and Theory in Practice
Authors: Fagelson David , Klusmeyer Douglas
Published: May 2021

Citizens United has stimulated a cottage industry of legal scholarship on corruption. A prominent stream of this literature is self-consciously atheoretical and suggests that the current state of corruption jurisprudence suffers from a misconceived reliance on liberal political theories and a rejection of the public good. We argue that it is impossible to understand specific acts of corruption without a political theory explaining why such actions are wrong. We show that the current jurisprudence relies on a mistaken intellectual history of the public good and a political theory of American constitutionalism that commodifies citizenship and treats political participation as a market good. Pace Teachout, we cannot draw the bright lines many legal scholars desire without a better political theory of the primary goods we want to protect.
Medication adherence early after stroke: using the Perceptions and Practicalities Framework to explore stroke survivors’, informal carers’ and nurses’ experiences of barriers and solutions
Authors: Gibson Josephine , Coupe Jacqueline , Watkins Caroline
Published: May 2021

Background

Secondary prevention medication after stroke reduces risk of recurrence, but adherence is often poor. Stroke survivors’, carers’ and nurses’ perspectives of early post-stroke medication adherence are unexplored.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore stroke survivors’, carers’ and nurses’ views and experiences about adhering to medication early after post-stroke hospital discharge.

Methods

Qualitative individual and group interviews, utilising the Perceptions and Practicalities Framework, were employed. Nine people <2 months post-stroke, three carers and 15 nurses from one UK stroke unit participated. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.

Results

There were four main themes with two sub-themes. (1) Perceptions of medication taking after stroke. Factors affecting adherence included depression, imperceptible benefits and concerns about adverse effects. (2) Perceptions about those at higher risk of poor medication adherence. Nurses suggested that poor adherence might be more likely in those living alone or with previous non-adherence. (3) Practicalities of taking medication early after stroke; these included post-stroke disabilities, cognition, polypharmacy and lack of information. (4a) Practicalities of addressing poor medication adherence during the hospital stay. Solutions included multidisciplinary co-ordination, but nurses and stroke survivors described suboptimal use of opportunities to promote adherence. (4b) Practicalities of addressing poor medication adherence post-discharge. Solutions included modifications and support from carers, but stroke survivors reported difficulties in evolving systems for taking medications.

Conclusions

Stroke survivors and informal carers lack knowledge and support needed to manage medication early after discharge. Nurses’ opportunities to promote medication adherence are under-exploited. Medication adherence strategies to support stroke survivors early after discharge are needed.
Stability and performance analysis of wireless powered communication networks
Authors: Li Mingfu , Fang Ching-Chieh , Ferng Huei-Wen
Published: May 2021

In RF-based wireless powered communication networks (WPCNs), the wireless charging rate at a device is usually low or unstable because of health concerns or time-varying characteristics of wireless channels. Under a low charging rate, the data backlog at a wireless device may be continuously increasing, leading to system performance degradation and data loss. To keep a wireless powered device stable and preserve a finite data backlog, the upper limit of data arrival/acquisition rate at a wireless powered device must be solved under the given data transmission rate and wireless charging rate. Hence, in this paper a novel two-dimensional continuous-time Markov chain model was proposed for analyzing the stability condition of a wireless powered device with a finite energy storage buffer. The average number of data packets, average packet delay, and energy shortage probability at a wireless powered device were analyzed as well. Additionally, simulations were conducted to validate the analytic results and demonstrate that the obtained stability condition is necessary and sufficient for the wireless device.
Innovation and conformity in music reproduction: A network analytics approach to contestants’ song covering in reality shows in Mainland China and the U.S.
Authors: Zhang Xinzhi
Published: May 2021

Contestants in music reality television shows usually cover songs by other singers; however, excessive song covering is seen as a sign of lacking innovation. Informed by frameworks of innovation, conformity, and cultural capital, this study examines the patterns of song covering practice with a network analytics approach by examining the networks formed by the contestants’ song co-covering practices—an edge is created between two contestants if they cover songs from the same original singer—and how contestants’ positions in those networks are related to their performance outcomes. Examining contestants’ co-covering networks on the U.S.’s and mainland China’s versions of The Voice (an international music reality television show), the social network analysis largely supported the conformity hypothesis: contestants were connected to a certain extent, meaning that most contestants covered songs from similar original singers. Contestants’ betweenness centrality was positively associated with performance outcomes.