bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Role and Evolution of Factors Influencing Rapid Transit Planning in Ecuador
Authors: Arias Juan F. , Bachmann Chris
Published: January 2021

In practice, the process of transportation planning is shaped by more than technical factors. This paper analyzes how different factors (demand, local conditions, financial, social, and political) have influenced all of the rapid transit projects in Ecuador over the past three decades by evaluating their relative significance on each system component (alignment, size, and technology). This research uses a multiple-case methodology including in-depth interviews with the senior members of the technical teams, as well as a survey component based on the analytic hierarchy process for quantification of the relative significance of the factors. The comparative analysis of projects shows five key results: (1) Each project was unique and external factors introduced a varying degree of complexity into each planning process; (2) The systems’ alignments and sizes were mostly driven by demand and local conditions (rational planning process); (3) The main factor driving technology selection has evolved over time from system demand to political (political bargaining approach); (4) Negative economic conditions had a large influence on the factors of all project components; (5) There is a lack of rational alternative evaluation and an absence of corresponding tools/guidelines in Ecuador. Nonetheless, several processes included practices that contributed to a more rational planning process: lifecycle cost analysis for the various technology alternatives, explicit decision-maker guidelines, transferring the demand risk to the private sector, and the use of multicriteria decision analysis. Implications for future planning efforts are discussed.
“Like Father, Like Son”: The Importance of Fathers in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-century Rural Spain
Authors: Marco-Gracia Francisco J.
Published: January 2021

This paper uses the links between children born between 1800 and 1919 and their parents in 12 rural Aragonese villages to analyze the role of fathers in the survival, health, and lifespan of children. The researchers compared the effect of being fatherless (or being motherless) to having both parents alive. The results show that being fatherless increased the probability of death during childhood. Moreover, fatherlessness reduced the average age of death as an adult, a child’s average height, the probability that a child is literate, the child’s socioeconomic status, and the individual’s age at marriage.
Feasibility of long-term continuous flow total heart replacement in calves
Authors: Baldwin Andrew CW , Gemmato Courtney J , Cohn William E , Frazier OH
Published: January 2021

Introduction:

Implementation of continuous flow (CF) technology in modern ventricular assist devices (VAD) has afforded a wealth of engineering and design advantages in the development of a total artificial heart (TAH). However, clinical application of CF has created a unique physiologic state, the consequences of which remain largely unknown. We sought to evaluate clinical and biochemical markers of end-organ function in calves supported with biventricular CF VADs for more than 30 days.

Methods:

Eight calves survived longer than 30 days following biventriculectomy and implantation of dual CF VADs. Four types of CF pumps were utilized for the study. Serial hematologic and biochemical profiles were drawn as markers for end-organ function, and hemodynamic data—including pump flows and intravascular pressures—were continuously monitored.

Results:

The eight calves survived an average of 58.8 days (range 30–92 days). Two of the calves were electively terminated at the conclusion of the study period, while the remaining animals were euthanized as a result of respiratory distress ( n = 2) or impaired pump flows ( n = 4). In each case, serial biochemical and hematologic values were suggestive of preserved end-organ function. Six animals successfully participated in treadmill exercise evaluations. No evidence of end-organ damage was encountered upon necropsy or histologic tissue analysis.

Conclusion:

Biventricular CF VAD implantation permits a viable bovine CFTAH model capable of demonstrating long-term survival. After 30 days of completely nonpulsatile flow, cumulative hemodynamic, clinical, biochemical, and histological analyses were consistent with preserved end-organ function, suggesting previously unreported long-term feasibility of a CFTAH design.
From ‘capitalism and revolution’ to ‘capitalism and managerialism’
Authors: Murphy Peter
Published: January 2021

Seventy years ago James Burnham (1905–1987) was a well-known American intellectual figure. Burnham’s 1941 book The Managerial Revolution, a cause célèbre, provided some of the conceptual framework for George Orwell’s 1984. Cornelius Castoriadis (1922–1997) at the time was an obscure Greek-French political intellectual, writer and small-group organizer. He co-founded the left-wing Socialisme ou Barbarie in Paris in 1949 while Burnham was already on a rightward intellectual trajectory. The two, though, shared certain traits. Both emerged from Trotskyist milieus as critics of bureaucratic collectivism. Both were anti-communists. Both were gifted writers and thinkers who were distinctly unorthodox in their approach, notably their scepticism about 20th-century managerial society and bureaucratic forms of capitalism. Then there were the divergences. At its inception in 1955 Burnham joined National Review, the principal organ of modern centre-right conservative opinion in the United States. Castoriadis became a leading figure of the French self-management left. Based on his Christian Gauss Seminar at Princeton, Burnham’s 1964 book Suicide of the West offered the most potent intellectual critique of left-liberalism ever produced. In ‘Proletariat and Organization 1’ (1959), Castoriadis referred to Burnham’s ‘pseudoanalysis’ of bureaucracy. Burnham was not a self-management advocate. As he abandoned Marxism his social philosophy drew on Vilfredo Pareto and other Machiavellian social theorists. The paper explores the affinities and the divergent political trajectories of two of the 20th century’s most interesting anti-bureaucratic thinkers.
Education in the Digital Age: Learning Experience in Virtual and Mixed Realities
Authors: Allcoat Devon , Hatchard Tim , Azmat Freeha , Stansfield Kim , Watson Derrick , von Mühlenen Adrian
Published: January 2021

In recent years Virtual Reality has been revitalized, having gained and lost popularity between the 1960s and 1990s, and is now widely used for entertainment purposes. However, Virtual Reality, along with Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality, has broader application possibilities, thanks to significant advances in technology and accessibility. In the current study, we examined the effectiveness of these new technologies for use in education. We found that learning in both virtual and mixed environments resulted in similar levels of performance to traditional learning. However, participants reported higher levels of engagement in both Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality conditions compared to the traditional learning condition, and higher levels of positive emotions in the Virtual Reality condition. No simulator sickness was found from using either headset, and both headsets scored similarly for system usability and user acceptance of the technology. Virtual Reality, however, did produce a higher sense of presence than Mixed Reality. Overall, the findings suggest that some benefits can be gained from using Virtual and Mixed Realities for education.
Constructivist Curriculum for Christian Transformation
Authors: Wilkerson Lindsey
Published: January 2021

This article seeks to present a faith-based constructive approach to curriculum design for Christian formation. It explores the essential components of a curriculum that encourages the transference of knowledge and understanding to promote Christ-like transformation. Based on this information, an inquiry-based curriculum design method based on the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) is developed that balances biblically cohesive constructive principles with the established vision for Christian education.
The 2020 Pittendrigh/Aschoff Lecture: My Circadian Journey
Authors: Sehgal Amita
Published: January 2021

The circadian field has come a long way since I started as a postdoctoral fellow ~30 years ago. At the time, the only known animal clock gene was period, so I had the privilege of witnessing, and participating in, the molecular revolution that took us from the discovery of the circadian clock mechanism to the identification of pathways that link clocks to behavior and physiology. This lecture highlights my role and perspective in these developments, and also demonstrates how the successful use of Drosophila for studies of circadian rhythms inspired us to develop a fly model for sleep. I also touch upon my experiences as a non-white immigrant woman navigating my way through the US science and education system, and hope my story will be of interest to some.
Constant Light and Frequent Schedule Changes Do Not Impact Resistance to Parasites in Monarch Butterflies
Authors: Adams Kandis L. , Sun Elizabeth F. , Alaidrous Wajd , de Roode Jacobus C.
Published: January 2021

Organisms have evolved internal biological clocks to regulate their activities based on external environmental cues, such as light, temperature, and food. Environmental disruption of these rhythms, such as caused by constant light or frequent light schedule changes, has been shown to impair development, reduce survival, and increase infection susceptibility and disease progression in numerous organisms. However, the precise role of the biological clock in host-parasite interactions is understudied and has focused on unnatural host-parasite combinations in lab-adapted inbred models. Here, we use the natural interaction between monarch butterflies ( Danaus plexippus) and their virulent protozoan parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, to investigate the effects of constant light and frequent light schedule changes on development, survival, and parasite susceptibility. We show that constant light exposure slows the monarchs’ rate of development but does not increase susceptibility to parasitic infection. Furthermore, frequent schedule changes decrease parasite growth, but have no effect on egg-to-adult survival of infected monarchs. Interestingly, these conditions are usually disruptive to the biological clock, but do not significantly impact the clock of monarch larvae. These unexpected findings show that constant light and frequent schedule changes can uncouple host and parasite performance and highlight how natural relationships are needed to expand our understanding of clocks in host-parasite interactions.
Aspartylglucosaminuria: Clinical Presentation and Potential Therapies
Authors: Goodspeed Kimberly , Feng Cynthia , Laine Minna , Lund Troy C.
Published: January 2021

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a recessively inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive intellectual disability, skeletal abnormalities, connective tissue overgrowth, gait disturbance, and seizures followed by premature death. AGU is caused by pathogenic variants in the aspartylglucosaminidase ( AGA) gene, leading to glycoasparagine accumulation and cellular dysfunction. Although more prevalent in the Finnish population, more than 30 AGA variants have been identified worldwide. Owing to its rarity, AGU may be largely underdiagnosed. Recognition of the following early clinical features may aid in AGU diagnosis: developmental delays, hyperactivity, early growth spurt, inguinal and abdominal hernias, clumsiness, characteristic facial features, recurring upper respiratory and ear infections, tonsillectomy, multiple sets of tympanostomy tube placement, and sleep problems. Although no curative therapies currently exist, early diagnosis may provide benefit through the provision of anticipatory guidance, management of expectations, early interventions, and prophylaxis; it will also be crucial for increased clinical benefits of future AGU disease-modifying therapies.
Reconsidering Reconciliation Within Families of Youth Who Sexually Offend
Authors: Gervais Christine L. M. , Johnston Matthew S.
Published: January 2021

Research on youth sexual offending has focused primarily on its prevalence, risk factors, treatment interventions, and recidivism rates. Thus, there is a need to develop better understandings of the processes towards reconciliation (or the lack thereof) that occur in the context of the collateral consequences of such harm-generating behavior. This qualitative study presents parents’ perspectives on the benefits and challenges associated with the implications and outcomes of reconciliation, and of its deprivation among sexually offending youth, victims and their relatives. We analysed in-depth, semi-structured interview data among 16 parents from 10 families in Canada using thematic coding procedures. The findings reveal that in the absence of reconciliation, both relationship repair and rehabilitation are hindered by miscommunication, bitterness, and confusion. By contrast, when meaningful reconciliation occurs, offending youth are better able to take responsibility for their actions, which in many cases led to victim validation and relationship restoration among all affected parties, including immediate and extended relatives. Our research points to the importance of restorative practices in both formal and informal attempts towards accountability, reconciliation, rehabilitation, victim redress, as well as family and community reintegration.
Acculturative Stress and Life Satisfaction of Immigrant Vietnamese Wives Living in South Korea: The Moderating Role of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Vo Nhat Huy , Lee Sang Min
Published: January 2021

This study examined the relationships between acculturative stress, intimate partner violence (IPV), and life satisfaction of immigrant Vietnamese wives. A total of 288 immigrant Vietnamese women who were married to Korean men and were living in South Korea participated in the survey. As expected, the results indicated that acculturative stress was negatively related to life satisfaction. Moreover, IPV significantly moderated the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction. The moderating role of IPV is evident when the acculturative stress is low.
Beyond biology: The importance of cultural factors in explaining gender disparities in STEM preferences
Authors: El-Hout Mona , Garr-Schultz Alexandra , Cheryan Sapna
Published: January 2021

Gender disparities in participation in many STEM fields, particularly computer science, engineering, and physics, remain prevalent in Western societies. Stewart-Williams and Halsey contend that an important contributor to these disparities is gender differences in career-related preferences that are driven partly by biology. We argue that Stewart-Williams and Halsey understate the influence of cultural factors in shaping these preferences. We provide evidence for an important and overlooked cultural factor that contributes to gender disparities in computer science, engineering, and physics: masculine defaults. Masculine defaults exist when cultures value and reward traits and characteristics associated with the male gender role and see them as standard ( Cheryan & Markus, 2020 ). We provide examples of how changing computer science, engineering, and physics cultures can decrease gender disparities in participation. Finally, we discuss policy implications, specifically the importance of (1) recognizing that preferences for STEM are malleable and (2) addressing exclusionary cultures of STEM fields. Recognizing and changing exclusionary STEM cultures are important for creating a society that is more just and equitable.
Doing and Negotiating Transgender on the Front Line: Customer Abuse, Transphobia and Stigma in the Food Retail Sector
Authors: Hadjisolomou Anastasios
Published: January 2021

Despite growing research on LGBT+ populations, few studies have examined transgender individuals’ specific workplace experiences, whose voice is often subsumed in a wider category. This article presents the story of Kathrine, a female transgender food retail worker, and discusses the abusive, discriminatory and transphobic behaviour of customers, which has received limited attention in the sociology of service work literature. The article reveals the stigmatization of transgender employees by customers, which is expressed through micro-aggressions, such as mis-gendering, mocking and harassing, and is often neglected and/or tolerated by management. Kathrine discusses the coping strategies she utilizes to reduce the negative consequences of the stigma, and to negotiate and protect her gender identity. These include confronting and/or refusing to serve transphobic customers, reflecting her resilience towards discrimination and abuse. The article calls for further research to understand transgender service employees’ experiences and the complexity and diversity of coping strategies used by stigmatized workers.
Influence of AlCoCrCuFe High Entropy Alloy particles on the microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of copper surface composite made through friction stir processing
Authors: Seenivasan S , Soorya Prakash K , Nandhakumar S , Gopal PM
Published: January 2021

Primary focus of the current investigation is to analyze the effect of friction stir processing upon AlCoCrCuFe addition on Copper metal-metal surface composites. Copper surface composite along with the prepared novel AlCoCrCuFe high-entropy alloy (HEA) formulated through arc melting technique as reinforcement material is developed in the course following Friction Stir Processing (FSP) technique. Effect of HEA is interested in understanding the microstructural, mechanical and tribological behavior for its 5, 10 and 15 vol% distribution into copper surface. Consequently, fine grain size and hard HEA reinforcement presence upfront the achieved improvement in copper material hardness values. HEA particle additions into base copper matrix viz. fabricated surface composite, originate the following: Strength magnitude is superior than the unprocessed base material; Wear rate lessens towards any addition; Friction coefficient improvises even for minor reinforcement introductions. Among the examined copper surface composite, sample with 15 vol.% addition of HEA has exposed optimistic report (minimal wear; higher strength and hardness) in lieu of this research disclosure.
Analytical modelling of laminar drag and freestream turbulence eddies on droplet breakup criterion for internal combustion engines
Authors: Diemuodeke Ogheneruona E , Sher Ilai
Published: January 2021

The paper presents novel analytical droplet breakup criteria, on Weber number (We)-relative turbulence intensity and We-Ohnesorge (Oh) representations, based on the critical Weber number. The We-Oh analytical criterion stressed the importance of turbulence effects on We-Oh breakup criterion at high We-Oh applications. In developing the analytical models the energy criterion for a disturbed parent droplet to disintegrate and the dual-timescale for turbulent shear in droplet dispersion were considered. The present model has an advantage over to two popular droplet breakup criterion models (Pilch-Erdman and Kolev) because the present model has the ability to support a parametric investigation of droplet breakup characteristics in turbulent flow fields. The Weber-relative turbulence intensity and We-Oh analytical breakup criteria are in good agreement with published experimental data. It is envisaged that the analytical model will be incorporated into larger CFD codes for spray simulation. The continuous research in this important area will present the next generation fuel injectors for improved fuel economy of internal combustion engines, especially high-pressure direct injection engines. The model has the potential to be applied in other natural and engineering systems.
Effect of porosity and loading height on the performance of household LPG gas stoves
Authors: Teotia Shivam , Yadav Vinod Kumar , Sharma Shubham , Yadav Jagdish Prasad
Published: January 2021

In the present work, the effect of porosity and loading height on the performance of the domestic gas burners, using LPG as fuel, is studied extensively through experimentation. Water Boiling Test (Version 4.2.3) as per the recommendations of International Organization for Standardisation International Workshop Agreement (ISO-IWA) is adopted to determine the thermal efficiency of the domestic gas stove. It is observed that, by increasing the number of holes in intermediate and innermost rows by about 96% and 73%, the pitch gets reduced by 58% and 65% respectively. Due to increased porosity, the thermal efficiency in hot and cold phase is increased by about 30% and in simmer phase the thermal efficiency is increased by about 26%. In addition to this, it is also observed that there exists an optimum height for keeping the container over the gas burner (loading height) up to which the thermal efficiency increases and beyond that, the thermal efficiency drops significantly. The optimum loading height for cold and hot phase is 14.1, and 14.6 mm respectively for the LPG cookstove used in present work (1–3 kW). The thermal efficiency at cold and hot phase, while running the gas stove with stand (11.25 mm) is reduced by about 18.5 and 16.5% respectively compared to the optimum loading height of 14.1 and 14.6 mm respectively.
Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics investigation of hydrodynamics behaviour of gas–solid flow in fluidized bed of Geldart D particles
Authors: Aiche Fazia , Belaadi Salah , Lalaoua Adel , Berrouk Abdallah Sofiane , Azzi Abdelwahid
Published: January 2021

Fluidized beds are widely used in many industrial processes as they ensure the desirable high-intensity heat and mass transfers between gas and particles and offer the possibility to perform operations in a continuous mode and powders recycling. Some of these industrial processes use Geldart D type of powders and operate in the slugging mode. This paper presents a 3 D numerical model of gas-solid flows in a fluidized bed based on the Two-Fluid Model (TFM). Turbulence modeling (k- ε) was used to predict flow behavior in fluidized bed of Geldart D particles. The solid phase consists of Geldart D powders and the gas flow is in a slug regime. The numerical results are validated against the experimental work of Azzi et al. Model predictions on flow patterns, bed expansion, volume fraction time series and pressure drop fluctuations are presented and discussed in details in order to demonstrate the cyclic process of slug formation (onset, growth, rising and bursting of slugs) and its effects on the overall performance of beds fluidizing Geldart D type of powders.
COVID-19 crisis response at the National Library of Israel: Confronting challenges and maximising opportunities
Authors: Rothbart Zack
Published: January 2021

Founded in 1892, the National Library of Israel (NLI) serves as the vibrant institution of national memory for the Jewish people worldwide and Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths. Its four core collections – Israel, Judaica, Islam and Middle East, and the Humanities – tell the historical, cultural and intellectual story of the Jewish people, the State of Israel and the Land of Israel and its region throughout the ages. The NLI’s current transformative renewal aims to encourage diverse audiences in Israel and across the globe to engage with these treasures in meaningful ways through a range of innovative educational, cultural and digital initiatives. The most tangible manifestation of this transformation is the new NLI campus, now under construction adjacent to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem, and on schedule to open its doors in 2022. NLI’s renewal and dual mandate requiring it to engage diverse domestic and international audiences, as well as the massive construction project underway, have in many ways magnified the challenges posed by this difficult period, as well as – and perhaps even more so – the opportunities it presents. While the response to these unprecedented and unforeseen circumstances has largely been ad hoc, the NLI approach has been guided by the goal of protecting the health and welfare of its staff and users, and identifying strategic opportunities to not only make the most of the difficulties presented by this complex new reality but also build programs and initiatives to help achieve strategic goals. Following a brief summary of the crisis in Israel, this article presents a number of examples of the physical, logistical and programmatic adaptations NLI has implemented in attempting to maximise potential opportunities in best fulfilling its mission during this time.
The paper technology of confinement: evolving criteria in admission forms (1850–73)
Authors: Sposini Filippo M
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates the role of admission forms in the regulation of asylum confinement in the second half of the nineteenth century. Taking the Toronto Lunatic Asylum as a case study it traces the evolution of the forms’ content and structure during the first decades of this institution. Admission forms provide important material for understanding the medico-legal assessment of lunacy in a certain jurisdiction. First, they show how the description of insanity depended on a plurality of actors. Second, doctors were not necessarily required to indicate symptoms of derangement. Third, patients’ relatives played a fundamental role in providing clinical information. From an historiographical perspective, this paper invites scholars to consider the function of standardized documents in shaping the written identity of patients.
A GA-LSSVM approach for predicting and controlling in screw chiller
Authors: Tian Chengcheng , Xing Ziwen , Pan Xi , Wang Haojie
Published: January 2021

Performance of varying speed screw chiller is affected by many uncertainties. High precision prediction of its characteristics can guide the chiller to reach a better performance. This study presents an artificial intelligence model named least square support vector machine (LSSVM) with genetic algorithm (GA). Five parameters are predicted with the model, including COP, discharge pressure, suction temperature, suction pressure and cooling capacity. By comparing the simulation results with the test results, this model shows a high precision ability to predict the performance of the on-site chiller. Additionally, a newly control strategy is introduced to help the chiller with optimizing performance. Cooling capacity and superheat degree are separately used as input to train the model to control openness of EXV. The prediction of this control strategy process shows enough ability to predict openness of EXV. The results can be used to guide the chiller to reach better performances by adjusting the corresponding parameters.
Hydrothermal synthesis of biocompatible nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots
Authors: Omar Wan Ibtisam Wan , Soon Chin Fhong , Ahmad Mohd Khairul , Shimomura Masaru
Published: January 2021

Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) are promising biocompatible nanomaterial which has received much attention for biological application. However, the effect of the engineered electronic structure of N-GQDs to the fluorescence of GQDs applied for bio-imaging is still under debate. In this study, N-GQDs were synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal method for 10 hours at 180°C and theoretical calculation of electronic structure using density functional theory (DFT) by GAUSSIAN 09, were compared. Single to multilayer of N-GQDs with the particle size of 3.2 nm in average were obtained from hydrothermal synthesis. The optical properties of N-GQDs emitted green photoluminescence (PL) at 525 nm (2.36 eV) with PL excitation (PLE) at 367 nm (3.38 eV). From DFT calculation, the optoelectronic properties of GQDs from HOMO to LUMO differ between edge functionalization and graphitic nitrogen doping. Furthermore, cells cytotoxity showed that N-GQDs possess non-toxic property, and the cells were presented with high viability. In summary, by comparing experimental and theoretical calculations, the electronic properties of N-GQDs could enhance their reactivity in photo-electronics for biological application.
Adult large print collections in the United States: An exploratory survey
Authors: Hebert Holly S. , Huwieler Cara
Published: January 2021

What is the status of adult large print collections in public libraries across the United States? This nationwide survey explored adult large print collections, methods of collection development, librarian views of adult large print users, and the services surrounding these users. Responses were collected from all 50 states, from rural to urban settings, standalone to library systems, and all sizes of adult large print collections. Overall, adult large print collections continue to be a vital collection utilized by public libraries in their services to older adults.
Application of Plastic Sheet Barrier and Video Intubating Stylet to Protect Tracheal Intubators During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Taiwan Experience
Authors: Luk Hsiang-Ning , Yang Yao-Lin , Tsai Phil B.
Published: January 2021

Since its outbreak in China, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused worldwide disaster. Globally, there have been 71,581,532 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1,618,374 deaths, reported to World Health Organization (data retrieved on December 16, 2020). Currently, no treatment modalities for COVID-19 (e.g., vaccines or antiviral drugs) with confirmed efficacy and safety are available. Although the possibilities and relevant challenges of some alternatives (e.g., use of stem cells as immunomodulators) have been proposed, the personal protective equipment is still the only way to protect and lower infection rates of COVID-19 among healthcare workers and airway managers (intubators). In this article, we described the combined use of a plastic sheet as a barrier with the intubating stylet for tracheal intubation in patients needing mechanical ventilation. Although conventional or video-assisted laryngoscopy is more popular and familiar to other groups around the world, we believe that the video-assisted intubating stylet technique is much easier to learn and master. Advantages of the video stylet include the creation of greater working distance between intubator and patient, less airway stimulation, and less pharyngeal space needed for endotracheal tube advancement. All the above features make this technique reliable and superior to other devices, especially when a difficult airway is encountered in COVID scenario. Meanwhile, we proposed the use of a flexible and transparent plastic sheet to serve as a barrier against aerosol and droplet spread during airway management. We demonstrated that the use of a plastic sheet would not interfere or hinder the intubator’s maneuvers during endotracheal intubation. Moreover, we demonstrated that the plastic sheet was effective in preventing the spread of mist and water spray in simulation models with a mannequin. In our experience, we found that this technique most effectively protected the intubator and other operating room personnel from infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entangled Crossroads: Inter-Relationality, Masculinity, and Sex-Trafficked Boys
Authors: Kepler Christopher
Published: January 2021

In this article, I highlight systemic oppression related to identity construction and ontological performativity. I introduce the concept of inter-relationality as a discursive tool that builds upon intersectionality, feminist theology, and quantum entanglement theory. For a case study, I recount my experience observing sex-trafficked boys in Thailand in order to demonstrate the analytical model I present. My chief analytical guiding principle in the treatment of the case study is the way masculinity operates to re-enforce oppression. I propose queering masculinity using an inter-relational perspective for the purpose of de-constructing oppressive systems and replacing them with liberative ones.
Near infrared spectroscopy in the characterisation of intact human teeth inside and outside custody bags
Authors: Pretorius NE , Subedi PP , Forrest A , Tenant M , Walsh KB
Published: January 2021

Fourier-transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) has been used in assessment of sectioned or pulverised teeth, and some consideration has been given to intact teeth in context of demineralisation and decay. This study considered the use of FT-NIR for characterization of sound (undecayed) intact teeth, both inside and outside custody bags. Replicate spectra of the same unbagged tooth were consistently grouped in principal component (PC) space, while spectra from different teeth were separated in PC space. The window of the custody bag carried a spectral signature that impacted the tooth-in-bag spectra, but subtraction of the window spectrum from tooth-in-bag spectra was successful in removal of this influence, with the corrected tooth-in-bag spectra aligning to the spectra of the same tooth outside the bag in PC space. Spectra of teeth of the same individual were discriminated from those of other individuals. Potential applications of this technology are discussed.
Shopping in wartime Italy: On the purchases made by German troops, tourists, and politicians, 1940/1941
Authors: König Malte
Published: January 2021

It is well known that the reality of the Axis Alliance could not compete with its myth. Contrary to what had been hoped for by the fascist regime, there was no close cooperation within the ‘Berlin-Rome Axis’ after the war started. Historians certainly went too far when they called the Italy of 1941 a German satellite state. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the balance of power within the axis had been redefined. The purchases of German troops, tourists, and politicians in Italy and the countermeasures taken by the fascists are good indicators of how relations had changed.
Priority-setting dilemmas, moral distress and support experienced by nurses and physicians in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway
Authors: Miljeteig Ingrid , Forthun Ingeborg , Hufthammer Karl Ove , Engelund Inger Elise , Schanche Elisabeth , Schaufel Margrethe , Onarheim Kristine Husøy
Published: January 2021

Background:

The global COVID-19 pandemic has imposed challenges on healthcare systems and professionals worldwide and introduced a ´maelstrom´ of ethical dilemmas. How ethically demanding situations are handled affects employees’ moral stress and job satisfaction.

Aim:

Describe priority-setting dilemmas, moral distress and support experienced by nurses and physicians across medical specialties in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Western Norway.

Research design:

A cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted from 23 April to 11 May 2020.

Ethical considerations:

Ethical approval granted by the Regional Research Ethics Committee in Western Norway (131421).

Findings:

Among the 1606 respondents, 67% had experienced priority-setting dilemmas the previous two weeks. Healthcare workers who were directly involved in COVID-19 care, were redeployed or worked in psychiatry/addiction medicine experienced it more often. Although 59% of the respondents had seen adverse consequences due to resource scarcity, severe consequences were rare. Moral distress levels were generally low (2.9 on a 0–10 scale), but higher in selected groups (redeployed, managers and working in psychiatry/addiction medicine). Backing from existing collegial and managerial structures and routines, such as discussions with colleagues and receiving updates and information from managers that listened and acted upon feedback, were found more helpful than external support mechanisms. Priority-setting guidelines were also helpful.

Discussion:

By including all medical specialties, nurses and physicians, and various institutions, the study provides information on how the COVID-19 mitigation also influenced those not directly involved in the COVID-19 treatment of patients. In the next stages of the pandemic response, support for healthcare professionals directly involved in outbreak-affected patients, those redeployed or those most impacted by mitigation strategies must be a priority.

Conclusion:

Empirical research of healthcare workers experiences under a pandemic are important to identify groups at risks and useful support mechanisms.
Europe and/or the UK: Post-Brexit urban and regional development futures – A special issue
Authors: Henry Nick , Smith Adrian
Published: January 2021

It was over 25 years ago that European Urban and Regional Studies was launched at a time of epochal change in the composition of the political, economic and social map of Europe. Brexit has been described as an epochal moment – and at such a moment, European Urban and Regional Studies felt it should offer the space for short commentaries on Brexit and its impact on the relationships of place, space and scale across the cultural, economic, social and political maps of the ‘new Europes’. Seeking contributions drawing on the theories, processes and patterns of urban and regional development, the following provides 10 contributions on Europe, the UK and/or their relational geographies in a post-Brexit world. What the drawn-out and highly contested process of Brexit has done for the populace, residents and ex-pats of the UK is to reveal the inordinate ways in which our mental, everyday and legal maps of the regions, nations and places of the UK in Europe are powerful, territorially and rationally inconsistent, downright quirky at times but also intensely unequal. First, as the UK exits the Single Market, the nature of the political imagination needed to create alternatives to the construction of new borders and new divisions, even within a discourse of creating a ‘global Britain’, remains uncertain. European Urban and Regional Studies has always been a journal dedicated to the importance of pan-European scholarly integration and solidarity and we hope that it will continue to intervene in debates over what alternative imaginings to a more closed and introverted future might look like. Second, as the impacts of COVID-19 continue to change in profound ways how we think, work and travel across European space, we will need to find new forms of integration and new forms of engagament in intellectual life and policy development. European Urban and Regional Studies remains commited to forging such forms.
An Investigation of IPOs Initial Performance in Indonesian Market
Authors: Agustina Lidya , Clara Anastasia
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the initial public offering in Indonesia as one of the largest emerging markets in Asia. The focus of this study is IPOs’ behaviour, which is determined by underpricing and overpricing. The data consist of companies that launched IPOs on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) from January 2015 to June 2019. The methodology used in this study is an ordinary least square regression with a cross-sectional analysis. The result shows that IPO’s behaviour tends to be underpriced. However, overpricing might occur in several cases. A broad theoretical framework was used to initialize all the predictors of IPO, and we found that the firm age, gap of day, risk, hot periods, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and privatization showed a significant influence, while other variables, that is, IPO size, investor sentiment, rank lead underwriters, market volatility and board lists did not show significant results. This article adds to existing literature by providing a sample from 2015 until the second quarter of 2019 in Indonesia during a time of hot periods with market uncertainty and US–China trade war. This article adds to the signalling theory related to IPO by analysing the impact of CSR on IPO performance.
Leading and Governing the ‘Room for Imagination’ of the UAE Provider of Integrated Ceramics Solutions
Authors: Bodolica Virginia , Spraggon Martin , Abdulkarim Hamda
Published: January 2021

This case discusses the growth and development of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Ceramics, a global manufacturer of high-quality ceramics, gres porcellanato wall and floor tiles, faucets and sanitary ware. From its launch in 1989 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), RAK Ceramics’ ambition is to provide lifestyle solutions for walls, floors, bathrooms, kitchens and large iconic buildings locally and in the broader Middle Eastern region and beyond. The case analyses internal predispositions and corporate governance frameworks that allowed the company to evolve from a domestically focused ceramics company to an organization with a solid international presence in a short period. Despite multiple challenges that constantly impact the ceramics industry, the company was able to navigate through external changes by preserving the focus on the core business and staying at the forefront of innovative trends to integrate advanced technological solutions into its products. With its current corporate standing and considering the evolving macro-environmental trends, what strategic actions should be pursued by RAK Ceramics to sustain its rate of corporate growth and enhance its position in the global ceramics industry?
Nayatel: Quality in DNA
Authors: Shah Syed Aamir Ali , Jajja Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq
Published: January 2021

Securing phenomenal success in its regional business, the leadership at Nayatel is contemplating expanding the business from a regional to national level without losing its iconic service quality, which lies at the core of its service strategy. From efficient hiring of its employees to coherent customer touchpoints, from constantly updating product features to investing in automated processes, from developing an inclusive culture to forming robust and dynamic systems, all contribute towards service quality at Nayatel. In essence, service quality is at the core of Nayatel’s value proposition. Therefore, the decision of future growth is highly dependent on sustaining service quality.
Neonatal Salmonella Paratyphi B Sepsis: A Case Report
Authors: Rai Sumit , Rai Ruchi , Singh D. K. , Nandwani Sumi
Published: January 2021

Salmonella Paratyphi B infection is rare in newborns. We present the case of a 26 d old baby with Salmonella Paratyphi B sepsis. The baby responded well to 14 d of antibiotics. A prompt blood culture sample should always be taken before starting antibiotics.
Symbrachydactyly: A Case Report
Authors: Ghazal Kariman , Rajab Mariam , Naous Amal , Sinno Loubna
Published: January 2021

Symbrachydactyly is a disruption of embryonic formation and differentiation that leads to a shorter and smaller upper limb with underdeveloped digits such as short or webbed digits, nubbins, or absence of digits. We report a case of a newborn who had symbrachydactyly of multiple digits in the right hand that was not diagnosed during the prenatal period.
I Refused to Say #MeToo: Negotiating Between Individual Agency and ‘Imagined’ Platform Constraints
Authors: Dixit Shamika
Published: January 2021

This article describes how ‘imagined’ constraints of the social media platform by its users stand crucial while actualising platform affordances and exercising individual agency. I use the term ‘imagined constraints’ to explain how constraints of the media platform are speculated by my participants while they negotiate between the materiality of the platform and social environment to formulate their restricted agency. Here, I use a recent example of feminist hashtag movement ‘#MeToo’ as a case in point. Previous literature addressing feminist hashtag activism and other social movements influenced by social media platforms mainly discuss the participatory potential of these platforms. However, empirical investigation into the factors leading to non-participation in movements like #MeToo has hardly captured any scholarly attention. To address this existing gap in the literature, this article analyses embodied experiences shared through in-depth interviews by 11 Indian women who made a conscious decision of not participating in the #MeToo movement. I discuss my results taking into consideration theories of ‘imagined platform affordances’ and shaping of individual agency in terms of activist participation. I discuss that ‘Imagined constraints’ of the social media platform are chiefly shaped by an individual’s analysis of their sociocultural environment in which media platforms exist. These imagined constraints of a platform lead to constitute a ‘constrained agency’ of an individual. I argue that, while we theorise the potential of social media platforms in facilitating hashtag feminist movements like #MeToo, we must take into consideration the formulation of ‘imagined constraints of the platform’ by its users, as it stands crucial in guiding their participatory action.
Book review: Thomas Hegghammer, The Caravan: Abdallah Azzam and the Rise of Global Jihad
Authors: Dar Hayat Ashraf
Published: January 2021

Thomas Hegghammer, The Caravan: Abdallah Azzam and the Rise of Global Jihad (Cambridge, UK: University Printing House, 2020), 718 pp. ₹3,602, ISBN 10-0521765951 (Hardback).
Coping with commoditization: The third-party logistics industry in the Asia-Pacific
Authors: Coe Neil M
Published: January 2021

Despite growing interest in logistics across the social sciences, there is still a persistent gap in relation to work that explores the organizational and competitive dynamics of the independent logistics industry, a sector worth almost US$1tn a year. This paper explores the nature, causes and consequences of commoditization in the third-party logistics (3PL) industry, using evidence derived from over 30 corporate interviews with the leading 3PL providers in the Asia-Pacific region. Commoditization captures a mature stage of industry and market development in which goods and services are widely available and interchangeable with those provided by other companies, and hence price-based competition predominates. The paper profiles the strategic responses of 3PL firms to the challenges of commoditization, which are associated with accruing scale, offsetting risk and seeking to deepen relationships with clients, arguing that they are variegated due to the different geographical and sectoral origins of the firms. Overall, it offers a profile of 3PL as a maturing industry heavily conditioned by its intersections with client global production networks.
Everyday crying over music: A survey
Authors: Hanser Waldie E. , Mark Ruth E. , Vingerhoets Ad J. J. M.
Published: January 2021

Human emotional weeping, or crying, occurs in response to a wide array of antecedents. Although music is often mentioned specifically as a stimulus that may make individuals cry, few studies have systematically explored the characteristics of these crying episodes. The present study examines crying over music. Participants ( N = 2778; 1716 women) completed a survey asking about the last time they cried while listening to music, their associated emotions and physical experiences, details of the song they were listening to, time of day, presence of others, and the overall experience of the crying episode itself. Crying over music appears to be relatively common and occurs mainly when the person is alone during the afternoon and evening. Participants cried over a wide variety of songs, and they attributed their crying to sad memories, nostalgia, the music itself, and the lyrics. They often experienced being moved, sadness, powerlessness, and nostalgia while crying over music. These findings are discussed in the context of music listening and how they compare with the findings of research on crying in general.