bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural Differences Predict Palliative Care Development Across the United States: The Role of Cultural Tightness and Looseness
Authors: Mossman Brenna , Murray Damian R. , Gerhart James , Malhotra Sonia , Alcorn Taylor , Hoerger Michael
Published: August 2024

Across the United States, some regions demonstrate greater readiness to adopt palliative care than others. This geographic variation in access and utilization may be due to cultural variation in “tightness” and “looseness,” which can be understood as the relative strength and enforcement of social norms and behavioral constraint within a culture. The present study examined the influence of cultural tightness-looseness on access to palliative care (i.e., statewide percentage of hospitals with palliative care programs) across the 50 U.S. states while controlling for demographic covariates. Results of regression analyses demonstrated that states with looser cultures (i.e., less adherence to norms) had better palliative care access (β = .501, p = .012). Additionally, access was better in states with greater proportions of female (β = .455, p = .004) and white, non-Hispanic or Latino/a (β = .359, p = .002) residents. Strategies to improve utilization should consider the influence of culture and the relative strength of existing social norms within the region.
Gendered impacts of COVID-19 in agri-food system and recovery pathways in India: A systematic review
Authors: Mondal Sreenita , Valerio Erika
Published: August 2024

The agricultural sector, essential for food security and economic stability, especially in developing countries such as India, faced significant disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Impacts included labour shortages, limited market access, disrupted supply chains and wasted perishable goods due to mobility restrictions. While many studies have addressed these effects in India, a conspicuous gap remains in understanding how gender dynamics intensify these vulnerabilities within the country. This review synthesises findings from 32 studies, shedding light on the intersection of gender and the pandemic's influence on India's agri-food system. Results revealed a noticeable underrepresentation of gender-centric research on COVID-19's agricultural impacts in India, with many studies being geographically limited. When gender was considered, few critically examined it as a socially constructed role, often reducing it to a mere variable. Women farmers, constrained by societal norms like lack of land rights and limited access to resources, endured more pronounced negative effects. Their participation in wage employment dropped, and household food security dwindled. Furthermore, women in India faced augmented domestic burdens, heightened domestic violence risks and health challenges. Notably absent from current research is a focus on the long-term economic recuperation of rural women post-pandemic within the Indian context and an exploration of varied gender-category impacts. Future research in India must adopt a longitudinal, intersectional lens, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies, to fully grasp and address these enduring gendered ramifications in the agri-food sector in the post-COVID-19 context.
Potential incompatibility of inherited behavior patterns with civilization: Implications for Fermi paradox
Authors: Vinn Olev
Published: August 2024

All intelligent organisms presumably originally have a number of inherited behavior patterns (IBPs) that are not fine-tuned for conditions prevailing in civilized communities. Indeed, some IBPs may be highly incompatible with such conditions and have high potential to induce self-destruction. These patterns may include responses of social organisms seeking power over conspecifics in relation to harvesting and consuming energy. It is possible that all emerging civilizations could face problems associated with incompatible IBPs, which may partially explain why civilizations are apparently rare (since we have not detected any others in our galaxy).
Mindset Matters to Well-being Boosting with Tourism
Authors: Yang Wan , Zhang Ye
Published: August 2024

While tourism experiences are often recommended over material possessions for their superior potential to boost consumers’ well-being, the context-based nature of such tourism superiority remains under-investigated. This study accordingly examines the extent to which mindset (growth vs. fixed) defines the boundary conditions of this recommendation. Two experiments, designed with different mindset operationalizations, well-being measures, and data collection platforms, reveal that only individuals adopting a growth mindset, either chronically or temporarily primed, gain greater eudaimonia and, in turn, enjoy greater hedonia from tourism experiences than from material possessions. The findings extend the literature on experiential superiority, mindset theory, and well-being benefits of tourism while informing the mindset-based designs of tourism experiences and marketing materials to improve tourists’ well-being outcomes.
Deciphering the Nature and Dynamics of Gig-Platform Jobs: Workers’ Hidden Precarity
Authors: Pal Puja , Kumar Amit
Published: August 2024

The technology-driven gig-platform sector has emerged as a new source of employment generation both globally as well domestically. This recent transformation in the labour market is reshaping the nature of labour practices, labour relations, workers’ rights, and contracts. The sector has huge potential to generate millions of job opportunities by leveraging the use of digital technology. As this sector continues to generate more jobs, such jobs are portrayed as fostering economic growth, while creating ‘meaningful jobs,’ which are mutually beneficial to workers and employers in terms of providing ‘flexibility and freedom,’ ‘better earning opportunity,’ and ‘promoting social inclusion,’ by which it implies that women are increasingly equipped to find better jobs. This article critically examines the developmental roles of platform jobs which are being particularly highlighted within the policy circle, in academic literature, and tech companies through workers’ lens. It delves deeper into the discussion on those very aspects of platform jobs just listed, including the flexibility and freedom debate, workers’ income, and the gender aspect of jobs. In doing so, it carefully examines these aspects with respect to their implications on workers in terms of working conditions and regulatory aspects. The article brings out the workers’ precarity hidden within those developmental aspects of gig-platform jobs.
Age Differences Among Within-Person Indicators of Stress and Depressive Affect
Authors: Blaxton Jessica M. , Bergeman C. S. , Nelson Niccole A.
Published: August 2024

We examined age differences in the within-person relationships among perceived stress (PS), perceived stress reactivity (PSR), and depressive affect (DA) as well as potential mechanisms of depression with a longitudinal moderated mediation model. Participants from the Notre Dame Study of Health & Wellbeing ( N = 572) completed two to four waves of yearly assessments. Sequentially built multilevel models, in which year was nested within person, illustrated that only midlife adults experience an exacerbated effect of within-person fluctuations in PSR on the relationship between within-person PS and DA levels (γ41 = –.004, p < .01). Findings further suggest that PSR accounts for the PS–DA relationship. Furthermore, older adults illustrate successful emotion regulation strategies at the yearly level—resisting the negative ramifications of years of greater PS and PSR, whereas midlife adults who experience years of greater PSR would particularly benefit from stress management interventions and monitoring of DA levels.
Chinese Migrant Workers’ Financial Security in Old Age—A Cultural Shift From Reliance on Filial Piety to Public Pension
Authors: Liu Jing , Zhan Heying Jenny , Qiu Fengxian
Published: August 2024

Migrant workers’ retirement in rural China need not mean that they are financially ready for retirement. This study examines which factors influence migrant workers’ public pension savings. Using a mixed-methods approach comprising surveys and interviews with Chinese migrant workers from three emigration provinces (Anhui, Henan, and Sichuan), we find that migrant workers with more social support and less spending on children are more likely to have public pension savings than their counterparts. We also observe an age cohort effect for spending on children: The younger cohorts of migrant workers in their 40s and 50s are more likely to spend their savings on children than save for retirement. In the dual process of urbanization and population aging, the emergence of retirement in rural China is reshaping the intergenerational relations such that the culture of filial piety is no longer the sole foundation of old-age financial security.
Mission in polarized public social media interaction: Speaking out against injustice, standing up for truth, or loving your neighbor?
Authors: Hale Thomas
Published: August 2024

This study examines polarized US-based public social media interaction in which at least some participants support positions on public policy, politics, or social ethics using scripture, theological reasoning, spiritual authority, or ethical reasoning within a broadly Christian framework. Specifically, it considers social media interaction among commenters on public posts, in which some of the participants manifest a mission of speaking out against injustice, standing up for truth, and/or loving their online neighbors. It finds that speaking out against injustice often includes an argument about the nature of truth, but that standing up for truth can be done on its own. It also finds no incidences of loving one’s neighbor in ways that the neighbor would recognize as love, in interactions studied to date. It concludes that humility and charity are called for, because of disagreements about both justice and truth. Note that this article and the uploaded research data include social media interactions that are homophobic and transphobic, as well as interactions that may hurt or offend conservative believers.
Thermo-pressure coupling model for gas hydrate depressurization exploitation in South China Sea
Authors: Bin Li , Jingan Lu , Kaixiang Shen , Yanjiang Yu , Bo Li
Published: August 2024

The sediment type in the “Shenhu” sea area of the South China Sea is mud sediment, with poor reservoir physical conditions, and the seabed is loose with a small pressure window. These conditions pose heightened safety challenges for the extraction of hydrates in this region. This study develops a multiphase flow model that accounts for the endothermic decomposition of hydrates and employs the finite difference method for its solution. Utilizing this model, the multiphase flow characteristics during depressurization extraction at a specific well in the “Shenhu” area are investigated. Building on this, the study analyses the impact of varying pump rates and geothermal gradients on multiphase flow properties, hydrate yield, and engineering safety. Based on the analytical findings, recommendations are proposed to balance hydrate production with engineering safety, effectively mitigating potential engineering accidents during depressurization extraction. The outcomes of this research offer technical guidance for the commercial exploitation of hydrates in the “Shenhu” area of the South China Sea, laying a foundation for future related studies.
Talking About Privilege: Framing Inequality as Advantage Is More Likely for Inequality in Positive Than in Negative Outcomes
Authors: Malapally Annette , Bruckmüller Susanne
Published: August 2024

Inequality is often one-sidedly framed as disadvantage, a practice identified as problematic by empirical research and critical scholarship, as it renders privilege invisible and shapes perceptions of and reactions to inequality. Importantly, inequality can mean differences in positive (e.g., promotions) or negative outcomes (e.g., harassment). Drawing on cognitive processes involved in (group) comparisons and the processing of positive and negative content, we predict that the valence of outcomes moderates the preference for disadvantage (vs. advantage) frames. We coded social media posts on gender inequality (Study 1, n = 1,402) and had participants in an online experiment (Study 2, n = 164) describe gender and sexual orientation inequality in positive and negative outcomes. Confirming hypotheses, people overall used disadvantage frames more, but were more likely to use advantage frames for inequality in positive (compared with negative) outcomes. We discuss theoretical implications for inequality framing research and practical implications for privilege awareness interventions.
“Kids are Kids”: Benevolent Ignorance and the Omission of Race in Developmental Justice Reform
Authors: Wannyn William
Published: August 2024

The criminal culpability of juvenile offenders remains a controversial and contested issue in the legal and public arenas in the United States. Since the mid-2000s, juvenile crime has been reframed by SCOTUS as a problem of brain immaturity. This article interrogates the omission of race from this new discourse of immaturity. First, I show that an alliance of learned societies, scholars, policy experts, legal professionals, and philanthropic foundations, which I call the new child savers, strategically sowed doubt about the criminological evidence of “high-risk” offenders to ensure the success of this new discourse of immaturity. I introduce the concept of benevolent ignorance to explain how they strategically concealed this inconvenient knowledge to achieve the socially valued goal of “saving children” from harsh sentences, and to escape public controversies over the racial overtones of risk assessment tools. Second, using Mills’ s concept of white ignorance, I argue that progressive elites and scholars involved in juvenile justice reform have historically ignored the lived experiences of juveniles of color. Finally, I discuss how the discourse of brain immaturity perpetuates and reinforces a colorblind explanation of juvenile crime that ignores the role of race in young people's encounters with the justice system.
Agency Without Agents: Affective Forces, Communicative Events, and Organizational Becomings
Authors: Bencherki Nicolas , Brummans Boris H. J. M. , Vézy Camille
Published: August 2024

How does agency emerge eventfully in processes of organizational becoming? This article aims to address this question by developing a process theory of agency based on Gilbert Simondon’s philosophical writings on individuation as a communicative phenomenon and Brian Massumi’s writings on affect. This theory views agency as an affective force, expressed as a communicative event, that governs the transition from one process of individuation to another, producing an enhanced ability to act and potentially leading to a collective process of transindividuation that is essential to organizational becoming. In turn, this article not only offers novel theoretical as well as methodological insights for organizational research, but also highlights researchers’ ethical responsibilities toward those whose individuation is precarious and who may not be able to partake in certain processes of organizational becoming.
OCMS as Third Space
Authors: Behera Marina Ngursangzeli
Published: August 2024

This article analyse the work of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS) through the lens of Bhabha's ‘third space’, highlighting its role in the global mission debate and its influence on the integration of non-Western theological perspectives within Western academia. The OCMS, founded with a vision to decolonise theology and create a space for voices from the majority world, has evolved as a hybrid institution bridging various divides–between evangelical and ecumenical missions, majority world and Western academia as well as mission theologians and practitioners. This ‘third space’ serves as a unique platform where global South scholars can engage in rigorous mission research while remaining contextually grounded. By facilitating this dynamic exchange, OCMS contributes to the decolonisation of theological education and the production of knowledge that resonates globally.
Tribological properties of HFCVD diamond coatings over wide temperature range
Authors: Yan Guangyu , Zhang Huisen , Wang He , Cristea Daniel
Published: August 2024

Single and gradient multilayered diamond coatings, deposited on silicon nitride (Si3N4), were prepared by hot filament chemical vapour deposition. The tribological properties were evaluated in a wide temperature range (26 °C–300 °C), against Si3N4 ceramic balls, as the friction counterpart. The results showed that with the increase of temperature from 26 °C to 300 °C, the wear rate of NCD (nanocrystalline diamond) and GCD (gradient diamond) coatings rapidly increases. When the temperature reaches 300 °C, obvious cracks and detachment appear on the surface of the NCD coatings. Due to the special interlayer, the wear rate of the GCD coatings is lower than that of the NCD coatings. In the range of 26 °C to 100 °C, GCD exhibits excellent wear resistance and low friction coefficient due to its special gradient structure. When the temperature increases to 200 °C, NCD films with smaller grain sizes exhibit higher wear rates. From the wear morphology, it can be seen that cracks are generated in the NCD film, and as the temperature increases, the cracks continue to expand until the film spalling. GCD shows relatively good wear resistance at high temperatures. This study found that gradient multilayered diamond coatings exhibited superior wear resistance at high temperatures, compared with single-layer coatings tested in identical conditions.
Media property: Mapping the field and future trajectories in the digital age
Authors: Theine Hendrik , Sevignani Sebastian
Published: August 2024

Ownership has been a core research theme in parts of media and communication science since its establishment as a distinct research field. In particular, scholars in the field of political economy of the media, media sociology and media industry studies typically pay close attention to the role ownership has on various media and communication processes. In this article, we argue, however, that media ownership has been treated largely as a black box ignoring the inner workings and dynamics of it. Filling this void, we reach out to research on ownership from the field of political economy, sociology as well as social and legal philosophy to discuss two options to conceptually grasp the ‘inner workings of property’. To showcase the importance of this conceptual redefinition, the article discusses the implications of unpacking property in the realm of digital capitalism.
Comparing adaptations from blood flow restriction exercise training using regulated or unregulated pressure systems: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Clarkson Matthew J. , McMahon Breanna , Warmington Stuart A.
Published: August 2024

Objective

No study has examined outcomes derived from blood flow restriction exercise training interventions using regulated compared with unregulated blood flow restriction pressure systems. Therefore, we used a systematic review and meta-analyses to compare the chronic adaptations to blood flow restriction exercise training achieved with regulated and unregulated blood flow restriction pressure systems.

Data sources

The electronic database search included using the tool EBSCOhost and other online database search engines. The search included Medline, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Embase and SpringerLink.

Methods

Included studies utilised chronic blood flow restriction exercise training interventions greater than two weeks duration, where blood flow restriction was applied using a regulated or unregulated blood flow restriction pressure system, and where outcome measures such as muscle strength, muscle size or physical function were measured both pre- and post-training. Studies included in the meta-analyses used an equivalent non-blood flow restriction exercise comparison group.

Results

Eighty-one studies were included in the systematic review. Data showed that regulated ( n = 47) and unregulated ( n = 34) blood flow restriction pressure systems yield similar training adaptations for all outcome measures post-intervention. For muscle strength and muscle size, this was reaffirmed in the included meta-analyses.

Conclusion

This review indicates that practitioners may achieve comparable training adaptations with blood flow restriction exercise training using either regulated or unregulated blood flow restriction pressure systems. Therefore, additional factors such as device quality, participant comfort and safety, cost and convenience are important factors to consider when deciding on appropriate equipment to use when prescribing blood flow restriction exercise training.
The Relationship between Perceived Friendship Quality and Self-Judgements in Adolescent Girls from London
Authors: Piera Pi-Sunyer Blanca , Evans Jessica , Ratcliffe Katy , Janaarthanan Kaushalya , Ahmed Saz , Kuyken Willem , Dalgleish Tim , Blakemore Sarah-Jayne
Published: August 2024

Understanding ourselves within our peer environment is an important component of self-development during adolescence, the period of life between the onset of puberty and adulthood (between ages 10 and 24 years). We used a self-appraisal paradigm to investigate cross-sectionally the relationship between perceived friendship quality and self-judgements in adolescent girls. One hundred and sixty-three girls (9–15 years), recruited from London, United Kingdom, rated how well a set of positive and negative adjectives described themselves, or a chosen familiar other. Participants also completed a self-report friendship quality questionnaire. Higher perceived friendship quality predicted lower negative self-judgements and higher positive self-judgements. These relationships did not change across the age range tested, but there was an overall decrease in positivity effect (higher positive judgements compared to negative judgements) with age. These findings highlight the importance of investigating how different components of peer relationships are related to self-concept development in adolescence.
Tabletop experiment to determine the center of percussion of a baseball bat
Authors: Vexler David , Stein Adrian , Singh Tarunraj
Published: August 2024

The center of percussion is an essential physics concept with a variety of practical applications. For any handheld object there is a point that, once a force is applied to it, results in no acceleration at the hands because the translational and angular accelerations from the force cancel each other out. This point is referred to as the center of percussion. Although the concept of the center of percussion is applicable to a variety of different areas, this paper focuses on America’s favorite pastime; the sport of baseball. The center of percussion of a baseball bat, also referred to as the “sweet spot”, is the optimal spot for making contact with a moving baseball. This paper demonstrates the development of a tabletop model for visually explaining this process of identifying the center of percussion to an audience. The setup is an instrumented experiment with an integrated data acquisition system to collect, visualize, and analyze the data for the demonstration of the process to identify a baseball bat’s center of percussion.
Is the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure (MOTOM) an appropriate tool for reablement services?
Authors: Tooke Sophie , Warrener Julia , Leah Tamsin , Ward Joanna , Dearling Jeremy
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

The Care Act (2014) requires local authorities to provide reablement services but does not standardise how to do this, leading to different services utilising different outcome measures. This article investigates the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure, which has been under researched in community reablement settings.

Method:

A questionnaire was distributed to the staff working within one local authority to seek their experience of using the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure. The questionnaire consisted of closed and open-ended questions to gain insights into their understanding and experience of the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure.

Findings:

Quantitative findings showed that staff felt they understood the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure, and most respondents agreed that the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure was an effective tool for reablement services. However, staff provided contradictory responses as to whether the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure was applied consistently or that service users understand the assessment.

Qualitative:

Findings showed the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure is a service user tool, service provider tool, and it provides quality assurance. However, the Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure can have restricted applicability and within this local authority, more training was needed to improve the consistency of goal-scoring.

Conclusion:

The Morriston Occupational Therapy Outcome Measure does have strengths within reablement services; however, to ensure it is an effective tool, this research highlights the need for a high level of training.
Nonlinear Interpretation of Resilient Modulus Parameters Considering Incremental Static and Dynamic Loading
Authors: Archilla Adrian Ricardo , Ooi Phillip S.K. , Pathak Saroj
Published: August 2024

The resilient modulus ( Mr) is typically interpreted as the average of the last five secant slopes of the cyclic stress-axial resilient strain curve from repeated loading triaxial tests. It is not uncommon to then fit mathematical models to the secant Mr to derive model parameters ( Ki, more commonly known as K1, K2, and K3) that are then used in pavement analysis. Some engineers also backcalculate Ki from a falling weight deflectometer test. Many researchers use an incremental loading procedure to analyze pavements. When doing so, it is important to consider the nonlinear load-deformation behavior, which is considered only coarsely in the secant slope approach. Some incremental loading procedures assume the geomaterial to be nonlinear elastic while a dynamic finite element analysis typically assumes the geomaterials to be nonlinear and viscoelastic, that is, having springs and dashpots. With the latter, additional damping parameters to represent the viscoelastic effects are required. This paper compares Ki parameters estimated using linear regression on a log transformation of the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) Mr model, which is a non-viscoelastic secant Mr approach, with those obtained using nonlinear regression of the time dependent deformations when interpreting the Mr test using incremental loading of a: 1) nonlinear elastic geomaterial; and 2) nonlinear viscoelastic geomaterial with inertial mass. The results show that the estimated Ki parameters governing the geomaterial nonlinearity are substantially affected by the estimation method and that the second alternative approach can model hysteresis well.
Railway Signal Digitalization with the European Rail Traffic Management System and Positive Train Control: Industry 4.0 Expectations and Reality
Authors: Harrod Steven S.
Published: August 2024

Positive train control (PTC) and the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) are digital railway signal systems in North America and Europe, respectively. They are frequently described as interchangeable, but they are not. This paper explains the history and motivations for each continent, and the general technical and capability differences between the two signal systems. In general, North America revised their signal systems to respond to safety concerns, and Europe committed to replacing their signals to encourage cross-border train traffic. The ERTMS is significantly more expensive than PTC, and the cost has been justified with expectations of greater capacity. Multiple studies find no basis for large capacity increases after implementation of the ERTMS. In addition, the added cost of the ERTMS threatens an already weak rail freight market in Europe.
Cold Recycling Technology for Airfield Pavement Rehabilitation Practices
Authors: Aker Saed N. A. , Ozer Hasan
Published: August 2024

Cold recycling technology has recently achieved significant success in highway maintenance and construction applications. In this study, the potential of incorporating emulsion-based cold recycled layers into airfield pavement design is explored. The permanent deformation resistance of cold recycled (CR) mixtures was characterized under various stress states and loading conditions to provide a realistic representation of the loads induced by aircraft tires on typical airfield pavement structures. Finite element modeling simulations of several airfield structures incorporating a CR layer were leveraged to derive the triaxial stress states induced by the moving load of various aircraft tires on the CR layer. A mix design was developed using a common approach. The simulated stress states were then projected and applied to the developed mix design in triaxial compression repeated load permanent deformation experiments. The influence of time and temperature dependence of the material on permanent deformation was also studied. The experiment highlighted the sensitivity of the mixture to tire pressure, surface layer thickness, vehicle speed, and temperature. The results indicate that the selection of cold recycling applications for airfield pavement should account for the unique site-specific conditions and the structural composition of the pavement where the CR layer will be incorporated. The evident viscoplastic characteristics in CR mixtures in the triaxial repeated load experiments highlighted the importance of considering them in the structural design of the CR layer.
Advancing Highway Work Zone Safety: A Comprehensive Review of Sensor Technologies for Intrusion and Proximity Hazards
Authors: Demeke Ayenew Yihune , Younesi Heravi Moein , Dola Israt Sharmin , Jang Youjin , Le Chau , Jeong Inbae , Lin Zhibin , Wang Danling
Published: August 2024

Highway work zones are critical areas where accidents frequently occur, often because of the proximity of workers to heavy machinery and ongoing traffic. With technological advancements in sensor technologies and the Internet of Things, promising solutions are emerging to address these safety concerns. This paper provides a systematic review of existing studies on the application of sensor technologies in enhancing highway work zone safety, particularly in preventing intrusion and proximity hazards. Following the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) protocol, the review examines a broad spectrum of publications on various sensor technologies, including GPS (global positioning system), radar, laser, infrared, radio-frequency identification, Bluetooth, ultrasonic, and infrared sensors, detailing their application in reducing intrusion and proximity incidents. The review also assesses these technologies in relation to their accuracy, range, power consumption, cost, and user-friendliness, with a specific emphasis on their suitability for highway work zones. The findings highlighted the potential of sensor technologies to significantly enhance work zone safety. As there are a wide range of sensor technologies to choose from, the review also revealed that the selection of sensors for a particular application needs careful consideration of pertinent factors. Finally, although sensor technologies offer promising solutions for enhancing highway work zone safety, their effective implementation requires comprehensive consideration of various factors beyond their technological capabilities, including developing integrated, cost-effective, user-friendly, and secure systems, and creating regulatory frameworks to support the rapid development of these technologies.
Analysis of worldwide research on clientelism: Origins, evolution, and trends
Authors: Guerrero-Sierra Hugo , Duque Pedro , Niño César
Published: August 2024

Clientelism, deeply interwoven with critical societal issues such as democratic erosion, rising inequality, and persistent poverty, has further been spotlighted for its incendiary role in regions such as Latin America and Africa, where it acts as a catalyst for violence. Recognizing the profound implications of this topic in both contemporary and future dialogues, our article offers an in-depth examination through a two-pronged approach: a meticulous bibliometric analysis and an encompassing literature review. By leveraging various data and scientific mapping techniques, we aim to analyze the evolution of clientelism research, highlighting pivotal contributors and shifting paradigms. Our analysis notably underscores the preeminent role of U.S.-based institutions and scholars, a reflection of the nation’s foundational contributions to clientelism theory. Further enriching our study, we employ the ‘tree of science’ metaphor to identify seminal works, emphasizing prominent research avenues such as democracy, corruption, Latin America, and Africa. We conclude by mapping out prospective avenues for future research in this domain.
The moral economy of student debt: A pharmacological approach
Authors: Bissonnette Jean François
Published: August 2024

Over the past three decades, student debt has surged in most English-speaking countries. Despite this trend, enrollment at universities has steadily risen, which testifies to the enduring appeal that higher education still exerts on middle-class individuals and families. Nevertheless, the policies responsible for this growing indebtedness have also stirred up their share of controversy. In an attempt to make sense of these debates, this article focuses mainly on the English and American cases to demonstrate how moral arguments have been put forth both in favor of and against using credit to finance education. Because it shows the ambivalent and unstable nature of the normative principles underpinning debt relations, the concept of moral economy is particularly well suited to discuss this phenomenon. On one hand, it explains how certain ethical expectations seemingly justify the need to incur debt for educational pursuits. On the other hand, it also shows why the perceived legitimacy of student debt eventually comes to be challenged. At its core lies an undecidable choice between antinomic values, as the decision to study on credit involves both a striving for personal autonomy and subjecting oneself to an exploitative relation of dependence. Recognizing this fundamental ambivalence, the article develops a ‘pharmacological approach’ to address the issue of student debt, aiming to better grasp the social and political tensions surrounding higher education in neoliberal societies.
Development and Validation of Prediction Models for Incident Reversible Cognitive Frailty Based on Social-Ecological Predictors Using Generalized Linear Mixed Model and Machine Learning Algorithms: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Qinqin , Si Huaxin , Li Yanyan , Zhou Wendie , Yu Jiaqi , Bian Yanhui , Wang Cuili
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to develop and validate prediction models for incident reversible cognitive frailty (RCF) based on social-ecological predictors. Older adults aged ≥60 years from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011–2013 survey were included as training set ( n = 1230). The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting, support vector machine, random forest, and Binary Mixed Model forest were used to develop prediction models. All models were evaluated internally with 5-fold cross-validation and evaluated externally via CHARLS 2013–2015 survey ( n = 1631). Only GLMM showed good discrimination (AUC = 0.765, 95% CI = 0.736, 0.795) in training set, and all models showed fair discrimination (AUC = 0.578–0.667, 95% CI = 0.545, 0.725) in internal and external validation. All models showed acceptable calibration, overall prediction performance, and clinical usefulness in training and validation sets. Older adults were divided into three groups using risk score based on GLMM, which could assist healthcare providers to predict incident RCF, facilitating early identification of high-risk population.
Aerospace Place-Based Policy: The Impact of Boeing on South Carolina's Aerospace Industry
Authors: Scavette Adam
Published: August 2024

South Carolina offered Boeing nearly $1 billion to locate a 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in North Charleston, which opened in 2011. Using difference-in-differences and synthetic difference-in-differences estimators, the author finds a substantial impact of the plant on South Carolina's aerospace employment (311% or 6,000 jobs), wages (10%), and establishments (44%) in the subsequent decade. The estimated number of aerospace jobs generated by the plant exceeds Boeing's 3,800 promised jobs. However, much of the state's aerospace establishment growth does not appear to be directly related to the Boeing plant, with most of it occurring in the upstate region (Greenville, Spartanburg) late in the treatment period. An analysis of the Charleston metropolitan area's economy reveals a 5-year local employment multiplier of 2.6 per promised job.
Navigating the frontier: Additive Manufacturing’s role in synthesizing piezoelectric materials for flexible electronics
Authors: Kumar Sudhir , Duvedi Ravinder Kumar , Sharma Sandeep Kumar , Batish Ajay
Published: August 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM) has significantly transformed the fabrication of functional materials, particularly in electronics and biomedical engineering. This study reviews stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), direct ink writing (DIW), and inkjet printing for flexible electronic applications. The review highlights SLA-based 3D printing’s better ability to optimize material compositions, printing procedures, and post-processing methods to improve material characteristics. Photosensitive materials and shrinkage-induced internal tensions seems to be its major constraint. Additionally, SLS 3D printing has improved composite materials' electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. It has drawbacks including permeable structures and internal tensions. In FDM 3D printing, mechanical and electrical qualities are improved for piezoelectric sensor manufacture. Warping and nozzle blockage require additional study. DIW’s versatility in constructing complicated structures with increased features for energy harvesting and sensor development is also mentioned. We identify ink development and printer nozzle clogging issues. The review concludes that inkjet printing can provide a variety of materials for flexible electronics. Since it integrates the latest discoveries with technological developments, this study may help guide future research and promote innovation in the sector. Overall, additive manufacturing methods provide a new era of sensor technology by offering unrivalled flexibility and versatility.
Variations in provider practices in remote patient monitoring on peritoneal dialysis in the USA and Canada
Authors: El Shamy O , Fadel R , Weinhandl ED , Abra G , Salani M , Shen JI , Perl J , Malavade TS , Chatoth D , Naljayan MV , Meyer KB , Lew SQ , Oliver MJ , Golper TA , Uribarri J , Quinn RR
Published: August 2024

Automation has allowed clinicians to program PD treatment parameters, all while obtaining extensive individual treatment data. This data populates in a centralized online platform shortly after PD treatment completion. Individual treatment data available to providers includes patients’ vital signs, alarms, bypasses, prescribed PD treatment, actual treatment length, individual cycle fill volumes, ultrafiltration volumes, as well as fill, dwell, and drain times. However, there is no guidance about how often or if this data should be assessed by the clinical team members. We set out to determine current practice patterns by surveying members of the home dialysis team managing PD patients across the United States and Canada. A total of 127 providers completed the survey. While 91% of respondents reported having access to a remote monitoring platform, only 31% reported having a standardized protocol for data monitoring. Rating their perceived importance of having a standard protocol for remote data monitoring, on a scale of 0 (not important at all) to 10 (extremely important), the average response was 8 (physicians 7; nurses 9). Most nurses reported reviewing the data multiple times per week, whereas most physicians reported viewing the data only during regular/monthly visits. Although most of the providers who responded have access to remote monitoring data and feel that regular review is important, the degree of its utilization is variable, and the way in which the information is used is not commonly protocolized. Working to standardize data interpretation, testing algorithms, and educating providers to help process and present the data are important next steps.
Optimization of activity-driven event detection for long-term ambulatory urodynamics
Authors: Zareen Farhath , Elazab Mohammed , Hanzlicek Brett , Doelman Adam , Bourbeau Dennis , Majerus Steve JA , Damaser Margot S , Karam Robert
Published: August 2024

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, greatly diminishing their quality of life. The use of wireless, catheter-free implantable devices for long-term ambulatory bladder monitoring, combined with a single-sensor system capable of detecting various bladder events, has the potential to significantly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of LUTD. However, these systems produce large amounts of bladder data that may contain physiological noise in the pressure signals caused by motion artifacts and sudden movements, such as coughing or laughing, potentially leading to false positives during bladder event classification and inaccurate diagnosis/treatment. Integration of activity recognition (AR) can improve classification accuracy, provide context regarding patient activity, and detect motion artifacts by identifying contractions that may result from patient movement. This work investigates the utility of including data from inertial measurement units (IMUs) in the classification pipeline, and considers various digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning (ML) techniques for optimization and activity classification. In a case study, we analyze simultaneous bladder pressure and IMU data collected from an ambulating female Yucatan minipig. We identified 10 important, yet relatively inexpensive to compute signal features, with which we achieve an average 91.5% activity classification accuracy. Moreover, when classified activities are included in the bladder event analysis pipeline, we observe an improvement in classification accuracy, from 81% to 89.0%. These results suggest that certain IMU features can improve bladder event classification accuracy with low computational overhead.

Clinical Relevance: This work establishes that activity recognition may be used in conjunction with single-channel bladder event detection systems to distinguish between contractions and motion artifacts for reducing the incorrect classification of bladder events. This is relevant for emerging sensors that measure intravesical pressure alone or for data analysis of bladder pressure in ambulatory subjects that contain significant abdominal pressure artifacts.
Impact of rapid-antiretroviral therapy in a cohort of treatment-naïve migrants living with HIV in a high income setting
Authors: Trevisan Sasha , Gasparro Giuseppe , Kiros Seble Tekle , Pozzi Marco , Malcontenti Costanza , Campolmi Irene , Paggi Riccardo , Cavallo Annalisa , Farese Alberto , Ducci Filippo , Meli Massimo , Pittorru Mario , Bartoloni Alessandro , Sterrantino Gaetana , Lagi Filippo
Published: August 2024

Background

We evaluated the effect of rapid ART (RA) compared to delayed ART (DA) on viral load suppression (viral load <50 cp/mL) and loss to follow-up (LTFU) in a cohort of migrants living with HIV (MLWHs) in Italy.

Methods

Data were retrospectively gathered from MLWHs who began care at the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit of the Careggi University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2022. RA was defined as antiretrovirals prescribed within 7 days of HIV diagnosis. The study ended on April 30, 2023, or upon patient LTFU. Chi-square and non-parametric tests assessed differences in categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis was performed to estimate the probability of loss to follow-up. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with a loss to follow-up.

Results

87 MLWHs were enrolled: 20 (23%) on RA and 67 (77%) on DA. In the RA group there were more PLWH with a previous AIDS event ( p < .001) however, there was no significant difference in the LTFU rates between the groups (aHR 0.6, 95%CI 0.1-3.1; p = .560; Logrank = 0.2823). Being an out-of-status MLWH was the only predictor of LTFU. By 6 months, virological suppression was achieved in 61.2% (n = 41) in DA and 70.0% in the RA group (n = 14) (Logrank p = .6747).

Conclusions

RA did not significantly affect LTFU rates or the achievement of viral load suppression. The study suggests that further research is needed to assess the impact of RA in high income settings.
Measuring the individualization potential of treatment individualization rules: Application to rules built with a new parametric interaction model for parallel-group clinical trials
Authors: Diaz Francisco J
Published: August 2024

For personalized medicine, we propose a general method of evaluating the potential performance of an individualized treatment rule in future clinical applications with new patients. We focus on rules that choose the most beneficial treatment for the patient out of two active (nonplacebo) treatments, which the clinician will prescribe regularly to the patient after the decision. We develop a measure of the individualization potential (IP) of a rule. The IP compares the expected effectiveness of the rule in a future clinical individualization setting versus the effectiveness of not trying individualization. We illustrate our evaluation method by explaining how to measure the IP of a useful type of individualized rules calculated through a new parametric interaction model of data from parallel-group clinical trials with continuous responses. Our interaction model implies a structural equation model we use to estimate the rule and its IP. We examine the IP both theoretically and with simulations when the estimated individualized rule is put into practice in new patients. Our individualization approach was superior to outcome-weighted machine learning according to simulations. We also show connections with crossover and N-of-1 trials. As a real data application, we estimate a rule for the individualization of treatments for diabetic macular edema and evaluate its IP.