bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of swelling behavior of carbon nano-filler modified polydimethylsiloxane composites
Authors: Yang Bo , Nagarajan Balakrishnan , Mertiny Pierre
Published: April 2021

Polymers may absorb fluids from their surroundings via the natural phenomenon of swelling. Dimensional changes due to swelling can affect the function of polymer components, such as in the case of seals, microfluidic components and electromechanical sensors. An understanding of the swelling behavior of polymers and means for controlling it can improve the design of polymer components, for example, for the previously mentioned applications. Carbon-based fillers have risen in popularity to be used for the property enhancement of resulting polymer composites. The present investigation focuses on the effects of three carbon-based nano-fillers (graphene nano-platelets, carbon black, and graphene nano-scrolls) on the dimensional changes of polydimethylsiloxane composites due to swelling when immersed in certain organic solvents. For this study, a facile and expedient methodology comprised of optical measurements in conjunction with digital image analysis was developed as the primary experimental technique to quantify swelling dimensional changes of the prepared composites. Other experimental techniques assessed polymer cross-linking densities and elastic mechanical properties of the various materials. The study revealed that the addition of certain carbon-based nano-fillers increased the overall swelling of the composites. The extent of swelling further depended on the organic solvent in which the composites were immersed in. Experimental findings are contrasted with published models for swelling prediction, and the role of filler morphology on swelling behavior is discussed.
Deep regression of convolutional neural network applied to resolved acceleration control for a robot manipulator
Authors: Kuo Yong-Lin , Tang Shih-Chien
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a modified resolved acceleration control scheme based on deep regression of the convolutional neural network. The resolved acceleration control scheme can achieve precise motion control of robot manipulators by regulating the accelerations of the end-effector, and the conventional scheme needs the position and orientation of the end-effector, which are obtained through the direct kinematics of the robot manipulator. This scheme increases the computational loads and might obtain inaccurate position and orientation due to mechanical errors. To overcome the drawbacks, a camera is used to capture the images of the robot manipulator, and then a deep regression of convolutional neural network is imposed into the resolved acceleration control to obtain the position and orientation of the end-effector. The proposed approach aims to enhance the positioning accuracy, to reduce the computational loads, and to facilitate the deep regression in real-time control. In this study, the proposed approach is applied to a 3-DOF planar parallel robot manipulator, and the results are compared with those by the conventional resolved acceleration control and a visual servo-based control. The results show that those objectives are achieved. Furthermore, the robustness of the proposed approach is tested through only the partial image of the end-effector available, and the proposed approach still works functionally and effectively.
Single Versus Multi-channel Dispersion Analysis of Ultrasonic Guided Waves Propagating in Long Bones
Authors: Tran Tho N. H. T. , He Feng , Zhang Zhenggang , Sacchi Mauricio D. , Ta Dean , Le Lawrence H.
Published: April 2021

Ultrasonic guided wave techniques have been applied to characterize cortical bone for osteoporosis assessment. Compared with the current gold-standard X-ray-based diagnostic methods, ultrasound-based techniques pose some advantages such as compactness, low cost, lack of ionizing radiation, and their ability to detect the mechanical properties of the cortex. Axial transmission technique with a source-receiver offset is employed to acquire the ultrasound data. The dispersion characteristics of the guided waves in bones are normally analyzed in the transformed domains using the dispersion curves. The transformed domain can be time-frequency map using a single channel or wavenumber-frequency (or phase velocity-frequency) map with multi-channels. In terms of acquisition effort, the first method is more cost- and time-effective than the latter. However, it remains unclear whether single-channel dispersion analysis can provide as much quantitative guided-wave information as the multi-channel analysis. The objective of this study is to compare the two methods using numerically simulated and ex vivo data of a simple bovine bone plate and explore their advantages and disadvantages. Both single- and multi-channel signal processing approaches are implemented using sparsity-constrained optimization algorithms to reinforce the focusing power. While the single-channel data acquisition and processing are much faster than those of the multi-channel, modal identification and analysis of the multi-channel data are straightforward and more convincing.
Navigating celiac disease and the gluten-free diet in China
Authors: Zhang Qianhui , Wolf Randi L , Lee Anne R , Catassi Carlo , Zybert Patricia , Green Peter HR , Lebwohl Benjamin
Published: April 2021

Background:

Little is known about celiac disease (CeD) diagnosis and management in China.

Aim:

This pilot aimed to be the first study to describe, quantitatively and qualitatively, how individuals living in China navigate CeD and the gluten-free diet (GFD).

Methods:

Participants were 13 adults and four parents of children with reported CeD, recruited from 11 mainland China cities via an online GFD support group. CeD-specific quality of life (CD-QOL and CD-PQOL) and diet adherence (CDAT) were assessed. In-depth interviews addressed experiences with CeD and the GFD.

Results:

Six of 17 participants reported biopsy- or serology-confirmed CeD. The mean (SD) adult CDAT score was 15.2 (3.6), > 13 indicating inadequate GFD adherence. The mean adult CD-QOL score was 62.1 (24.1) out of 100, in the “medium” to “good” range. Results were similar in children. Major interview themes included: (1) a challenging journey to obtain diagnosis; (2) social and structural barriers to maintaining the GFD; and (3) reliance on self in management of CeD.

Conclusion:

Obtaining a diagnosis, maintaining a GFD, and living with CeD can be extremely challenging in mainland China. Results suggest an urgent need for CeD-specific education and Asian-adapted GFD guidance for both healthcare practitioners and patients.
Commodification and care: An exploration of workforces’ experiences of care in private and public childcare systems from a feminist political theory of care perspective
Authors: Richardson Brooke
Published: April 2021

Drawing on feminist care ethics and political theory (Engster and Hamington, 2015; Held, 2006; Noddings, 2015; Tronto, 2013), this paper examines how educators working in private (Ontario) and public (Denmark) childcare systems think about and practice care. Through interviews with pedagogues (Denmark) and early childhood educators (Ontario), linkages between the public/private positioning of care and the care experiences of educators are explored. The findings reveal differences in how educators think about and practice care in public and private systems. At the same time, notable similarities emerged in how educators resisted neoliberal system requirements. The findings illustrate the complexities of connecting good care practices to the systemic level without diminishing the importance of individual human agency in experiencing/practicing good care in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Findings suggest that good care and commodification are both theoretically and practically at odds with each other, though neither absolutely precludes the other. Implications for policy makers, particularly relevant in the contemporary COVID context, are discussed.
Phonetic feature size in second language acquisition: Examining VOT in voiceless and voiced stops
Authors: Olson Daniel J
Published: April 2021

Featural approaches to second language phonetic acquisition posit that the development of new phonetic norms relies on sub-phonemic features, expressed through a constellation of articulatory gestures and their corresponding acoustic cues, which may be shared across multiple phonemes. Within featural approaches, largely supported by research in speech perception, debate remains as to the fundamental scope or ‘size’ of featural units. The current study examines potential featural relationships between voiceless and voiced stop consonants, as expressed through the voice onset time cue. Native English-speaking learners of Spanish received targeted training on Spanish voiceless stop consonant production through a visual feedback paradigm. Analysis focused on the change in voice onset time, for both voiceless (i.e. trained) and voiced (i.e. non-trained) phonemes, across the pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest. The results demonstrated a significant improvement (i.e. reduction) in voice onset time for voiceless stops, which were subject to the training paradigm. In contrast, there was no significant change in the non-trained voiced stop consonants. These results suggest a limited featural relationship, with independent voice onset time (VOT) cues for voiceless and voices phonemes. Possible underlying mechanisms that limit feature generalization in second language (L2) phonetic production, including gestural considerations and acoustic similarity, are discussed.
Clinical utility of immunological methods based on the singleplex and multiplex ImmunoCap systems for diagnosis of shrimp allergy
Authors: Ukleja-Sokołowska Natalia , Lis Kinga , Żbikowska-Gotz Magdalena , Adamczak Rafał , Kuźmiński Andrzej , Bartuzi Zbigniew
Published: April 2021

Background

Levels of specific IgE (sIgE) against allergen components can be assessed using multiplex assays or with highly sensitive, quantitative methods. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of different immunological methods for diagnosis of shrimp allergy.

Methods

Twenty patients with positive skin prick tests for frozen tiger shrimp were selected for further examination. Blood samples were taken to assess concentrations of sIgE against the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, shrimp allergen extract, allergen components Der p 1, Der p 2 and Pan a 1 (ImmunoCap), and the ImmunoCap ISAC 112 panel.

Results

All patients had elevated levels of sIgE against shrimp and D pteronyssinus. Eight patients were sensitized to Pen m 1, three patients were sensitized to Pen m 2, and two patients were sensitized to Pen m 4 (ISAC). ImmunoCap ISAC detected shrimp sensitization in 50% of patients. There was a strong correlation between concentrations of sIgE against Pen m1 and Der p 10 detected by ImmunoCap.

Conclusions

The singleplex ImmunoCap system remains the reference diagnostic method, but in the case of shrimp allergy ImmunoCap ISAC provided better insight into patient allergen profiles.
Feminism and futurity: Geographies of resistance, resilience and reworking
Authors: MacLeavy Julie , Fannin Maria , Larner Wendy
Published: April 2021

This article is designed to stimulate debate over the possibilities for thinking feminist futures. It argues for moving away from a linear understanding of feminism which assumes that past feminism produces present and future feminism as a response to its previous waves. Instead, we argue for embracing the multiplicity and simultaneity of contemporary feminisms, taking inspiration from Elizabeth Grosz’s writings on futurity and Cindi Katz’s work on resistance, resilience and reworking. Drawing on Katz’s framing, we review three analytically distinct ways of conceptualising feminist politics and consider how feminist geographers are asking new questions of familiar domains, as well as finding gender formations and political possibilities in unexpected empirical sites. In doing so, we point to the contemporary relevance of feminist scholarship and politics, and affirm feminism's ongoing importance.
Real-Time Twitter Data Mining Approach to Infer User Perception Toward Active Mobility
Authors: Rahman Rezaur , Redwan Shabab Kazi , Chandra Roy Kamol , Zaki Mohamed H. , Hasan Samiul
Published: April 2021

This study evaluates the level of service of shared transportation facilities through mining geotagged data from social media and analyzing the perceptions of road users. An algorithm is developed adopting a text classification approach with contextual understanding to filter out relevant information related to users’ perceptions toward active mobility. Using a heuristic-based keyword matching approach produces about 75% tweets that are out of context, so that approach is deemed unsuitable for information extraction from Twitter. This study implements six different text classification models and compares the performance of these models for tweet classification. The model is applied to real-world data to filter out relevant information, and content analysis is performed to check the distribution of keywords within the filtered data. The text classification model “term frequency-inverse document frequency” vectorizer-based logistic regression model performed best at classifying the tweets. To select the best model, the performances of the models are compared based on precision, recall, F1 score (geometric mean of precision and recall), and accuracy metrics. The findings from the analysis show that the proposed method can help produce more relevant information on walking and biking facilities as well as safety concerns. By analyzing the sentiments of the filtered data, the existing condition of biking and walking facilities in the DC area can be inferred. This method can be a critical part of the decision support system to understand the qualitative level of service of existing transportation facilities.
C-FLEX Advanced Finite Element Analysis Program for Flexible Pavement Analysis and Design
Authors: Luo Jiayi , Huang Haohang , Qamhia Issam I. A. , Tutumluer Erol , Tingle Jeb S.
Published: April 2021

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has initiated an effort to modernize the Department of Defense (DOD) pavement design and evaluation procedures initially developed in the 1950s. Flexible pavement analyses and evaluations are currently performed based on the elastic layered WESLEA and WESDEF software programs. To modernize the current pavement design and evaluation procedures used by the DOD, an advanced axisymmetric Finite Element Method (FEM) based analysis program, named C-FLEX, was developed and is introduced in this paper. The C-FLEX program is designed to feature accurate material models for all pavement layers with the capability to model the cross-anisotropic and nonlinear elastic properties of unbound base/subbase and subgrade layers, the viscoelastic behavior of the asphalt mixture, as well as mechanical reinforcement using geosynthetics in flexible pavements. The FEM formulation in C-FLEX and the program architecture and implementation details are introduced and discussed in this paper. The different analysis schemes and proper models used to characterize the cross-anisotropy and stress-dependent material nonlinearity are also described in detail. The viscoelastic analysis scheme and the geosynthetic characterization are currently under development and so are not included in this paper. Furthermore, two conventional flexible pavements with different layer properties are analyzed to verify the solutions and reliability of the C-FLEX program. Based on this development effort with ERDC, the C-FLEX program is envisioned to eventually serve as the flexible pavement analysis engine for the DOD’s new mechanistic design and evaluation platform.
Political philosophy and Australian far-right media: A critical discourse analysis of The Unshackled and XYZ
Authors: Richards Imogen , Rae Maria , Vergani Matteo , Jones Callum
Published: April 2021

A 21st-century growth in prevalence of extreme right-wing nationalism and social conservatism in Australia, Europe, and America, in certain respects belies the positive impacts of online, new, and alternative forms of global media. Cross-national forms of ‘far-right activism’ are unconfined to their host nations; individuals and organisations campaign on the basis of ethno-cultural separatism, while capitalising on internet-based affordances for communication and ideological cross-fertilisation. Right-wing revolutionary ideas disseminated in this media, to this end, embody politico-cultural aims that can only be understood with attention to their philosophical underpinnings. Drawing on a dataset of articles from the pseudo-news websites, XYZ and The Unshackled, this paper investigates the representation of different rightist political philosophical traditions in contemporary Australia-based far-right media. A critical discourse and content analysis reveal XYZ and TU’s engagement with various traditions, from Nietzsche and the Conservative Revolution, to the European New Right and neo-Nazism.
School Catchment Zone Mergers and Housing Wealth Redistribution
Authors: Wong Siu Kei , Deng Kuang Kuang
Published: April 2021

This study investigates how perceived school quality affects housing values, using a new estimation method. Our empirical design takes advantage of the mergers of school catchment zones initiated by the government to develop quasi-experiments. We find that, in zones that gained sudden access to higher ranked schools, housing prices increased by 1.3 to 4.1 percent. Larger and more expensive houses appreciated more in response to the improvement in perceived quality of available schools. The findings generate important policy implications regarding housing wealth redistribution and housing expenditures among different households. The study also enriches the literature on the capitalization effect of school quality.
Social Media Activism and Convergence in Tweet Topics After the Initial #MeToo Movement for Two Distinct Groups of Twitter Users
Authors: Baik Jason M. , Nyein Thet H. , Modrek Sepideh
Published: April 2021

Online social media movements are now common and support cultural discussions on difficult health and social topics. The #MeToo movement, focusing on the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment, has been one of the largest and most influential online movements. Our study examines topics of conversation on Twitter by supporters of the #MeToo movement and by Twitter users who were uninvolved in the movement to explore the extent to which tweet topics for these two groups converge over time. We identify and collect one year’s worth of tweets for supporters of the #MeToo movement ( N = 168 users; N = 105,538 tweets) and users not involved in the movement ( N = 147 users; N = 112,301 tweets referred to as the Neutral Sample). We conduct topic frequency analysis and implement an unsupervised machine learning topic modeling algorithm, latent Dirichlet allocation, to explore topics of discussion on Twitter for these two groups of users before and after the initial #MeToo movement. Our results suggest that supporters of #MeToo discussed different topics compared to the Neutral Sample of Twitter users before #MeToo with some overlap on politics. The supporters were already discussing sexual assault and harassment issues six months before #MeToo, and discussion on this topic increased 13.7-fold in the six months after. For the Neutral Sample, sexual assault and harassment was not a key topic of discussion on Twitter before #MeToo, but there was some limited increase afterward. Results of bigram frequency analysis and topic modeling showed a clear increase in topic related to gender for the supporters of #MeToo but gave mixed results for the Neutral Sample comparison group. Our results suggest limited shifts in the conversation on Twitter for the Neutral Sample. Our methods and results have implications for measuring the extent to which online social media movements, like #MeToo, reach a broad audience.
Development of a Questionnaire to Evaluate Older Adults’ Total Sedentary Time and Sedentary Time With Cognitive Activity
Authors: Kurita Satoshi , Doi Takehiko , Tsutsumimoto Kota , Nakakubo Sho , Ishii Hideaki , Shimada Hiroyuki
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to develop a questionnaire for evaluating total sedentary time (ST) and ST with cognitive activity, and to examine the association between ST and cognitive function among Japanese older adults. The questionnaire to evaluate ST comprised 12 items regarding behavior in specific settings, including 8 items on ST with cognitive activity, in a usual week. Older adults aged ≥75 years who participated in a health check-up assessing cognitive function completed the developed questionnaire and subsequently wore an accelerometer and recorded a diary of ST with cognitive activity for a week as validity measures. Cognitive function was assessed with neuropsychological tests covering 4 domains: memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. Fifty-two participants were included in the validity analysis. Spearman’s correlation coefficient indicated fair-to-good agreement between the questionnaire-measured and the diary-measured time for ST with cognitive activity (r = 0.59, p < 0.001), but this was not the case for total ST. Bland-Altman plots showed that the questionnaire-measured total ST contained proportional bias (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis (n = 49) showed longer questionnaire-measured ST with cognitive activity was significantly associated with better neuropsychological test scores (attention: β = -0.38, p = 0.025; executive function: β = -0.46, p = 0.003; and processing speed: β = 0.31, p = 0.041), while total ST was not associated with better cognitive performance. The developed questionnaire showed acceptable validity to measure ST with cognitive activity, which was found to be protectively associated with cognitive function.
Video or perish? An analysis of video abstract author guidelines
Authors: Liu Jianxin
Published: April 2021

This article reports on an analysis of author guidelines to examine the influence of academic publishers and journals over the video abstract as an emerging genre. The data consist of author guidelines from a Spanish journal index and were analyzed based on a two-layered multimodal analysis adapted from the Genre and Multimodality model. The layout layer concerns the organizational features of author guidelines, while the thematic layer focuses on the content themes. The analysis shows that the selected author guidelines do not share many commonalities as expected; rather, they display miscellaneous features, even in technological specifications where standardization should be the norm. The analysis indicates that academic publishers and other stakeholders should shoulder greater responsibilities such as quality assurance in transitioning to multimodal spaces.
Is Risk of Secondary Surgery for Oronasal Fistula Following Primary Cleft Palate Repair Associated With Hospital Case Volume and Cost-to-Charge Ratio?
Authors: Vu Giap H. , Kalmar Christopher L. , Zimmerman Carrie E. , Humphries Laura S. , Swanson Jordan W. , Bartlett Scott P. , Taylor Jesse A.
Published: April 2021

Objective:

This study assesses the association between risk of secondary surgery for oronasal fistula following primary cleft palate repair and 2 hospital characteristics—cost-to-charge ratio (RCC) and case volume of cleft palate repair.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

This study utilized the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database, which consists of clinical and resource-utilization data from >49 hospitals in the United States.

Patients and Participants:

Patients undergoing primary cleft palate repair from 2004 to 2009 were abstracted from the PHIS database and followed up for oronasal fistula repair between 2004 and 2015.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

The primary outcome measure was whether patients underwent oronasal fistula repair after primary cleft palate repair.

Results:

Among 5745 patients from 45 institutions whom met inclusion criteria, 166 (3%) underwent oronasal fistula repair within 6 to 11 years of primary cleft palate repair. Primary palatoplasty at high-RCC facilities was associated with a higher rate of subsequent oronasal fistula repair (odds ratio [OR] = 1.84 [1.32-2.56], adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.81 [1.28-2.59]; P ≤ .001). Likelihood of surgery for oronasal fistula was independent of hospital case volume (OR = 0.83 [0.61-1.13], P = .233; AOR = 0.86 [0.62-1.20], P = .386). Patients with complete unilateral or bilateral cleft palate were more likely to receive oronasal fistula closure compared to those with unilateral-incomplete cleft palate (AOR = 2.09 [1.27-3.56], P = .005; AOR = 3.14 [1.80-5.58], P < .001).

Conclusions:

Subsequent need for oronasal fistula repair, while independent of hospital case volume for cleft palate repair, increased with increasing hospital RCC. Our study also corroborates complete cleft palate and cleft lip as risk factors for oronasal fistula.
Can We Decrease Epicardial and Pericardial Fat in Patients With Diabetes?
Authors: Muzurović Emir M. , Vujošević Snežana , Mikhailidis Dimitri P.
Published: April 2021

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic and complex metabolic disorder and also an important cause of cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). Patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) and obesity show a greater propensity for visceral fat deposition (and excessive fat deposits elsewhere) and the link between adiposity and CVD risk is greater for visceral than for subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue (AT). There is growing evidence that epicardial AT (EAT) and pericardial AT (PAT) play a role in the development of DM-related atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial dysfunction, and heart failure (HF). In this review, we will highlight the importance of PAT and EAT in patients with DM. We also consider therapeutic interventions that could have a beneficial effect in terms of reducing the amount of AT and thus CV risk. EAT is biologically active and a likely determinant of CV morbidity and mortality in patients with DM, given its anatomical characteristics and proinflammatory secretory pattern. Consequently, modification of EAT/PAT may become a therapeutic target to reduce the CV burden. In patients with DM, a low calorie diet, exercise, antidiabetics and statins may change the quantity of EAT, PAT or both, alter the secretory pattern of EAT, improve the metabolic profile, and reduce inflammation. However, well-designed studies are needed to clearly define CV benefits and a therapeutic approach to EAT/PAT in patients with DM.
Early Graft Dysfunction Following Kidney Transplantation: Can Thermographic Imaging Play a Predictive Role?
Authors: Cherchi Vittorio , Baccarani Umberto , Vetrugno Luigi , Pravisani Riccardo , Bove Tiziana , Meroi Francesco , Terrosu Giovanni , Adani Gian Luigi
Published: April 2021

The shortage of organs and the growing need for them over recent years have led to the adoption of less stringent donor acceptance criteria, resulting in the approval of marginal organs for transplant, especially from elderly donors. This implies a higher risk of graft dysfunction, a higher frequency of immunological and vascular complications, and shorter graft survival. Several strategies have been implemented in clinical practice to assess graft quality and suitability for transplantation. We have started to test the prospective intraoperative use of thermo-vision cameras during graft reperfusion. Images were acquired using the FLIR One Pro thermo-vision camera for android devices. We hypothesized that thermal images would give a better perspective about the quality of arterial perfusion and graft revascularization of the renal cortex. Thermo-vision cameras provide an easy-to-use, noninvasive, cost-effective tool for the global assessment of kidney graft cortical microcirculation in the immediate post-reperfusion period, providing additional data on the immediate viability and function of a graft.
Face-To-Face Double-Lumen Tube Intubation With the Airtraq Video Laryngoscope for Emergency Thoracic Surgery: A Case Report
Authors: Ynineb Yacine , Boglietto Emilie , Bonnet Francis , Quesnel Christophe , Garnier Marc
Published: April 2021

Double-lumen intubation is commonly used for thoracic surgery as it allows rapid and effective one-lung ventilation. However, it is more difficult than single-lumen tube intubation, notably in the context of emergency surgery and/or in hypoxemic patients. We report the case of a 57-year-old patient requiring emergency revision surgery after an upper right lobectomy due to postoperative pneumothorax and pleuropneumonia. As rapid lung isolation was required due to a bronchopleural fistula, rapid sequence induction and double-lumen tube intubation were performed. In addition, as the patient was hypoxemic with incomplete pre-oxygenation and too uncomfortable to tolerate the recumbent position despite high-flow oxygen, intubation was performed in face-to-face position. The patient was successfully intubated in 22 seconds and the right lung immediately isolated, allowing the surgeon to clean the pleural cavity. This is the first report of a double-lumen tube intubation in face-to-face position. The expected difficulties related to this type of intubation were successfully prevented using an Airtraq laryngoscope. Although such a strategy cannot be recommended from this one case, this report is encouraging for future studies evaluating the potential advantages of Airtraq use for double-lumen face-to-face intubation for emergency thoracic surgery.
A Robust Bootstrap Test for Mediation Analysis
Authors: Alfons Andreas , Ateş Nüfer Yasin , Groenen Patrick J. F.
Published: April 2021

Mediation analysis is central to theory building and testing in organizational sciences. Scholars often use linear regression analysis based on normal-theory maximum likelihood estimators to test mediation. However, these estimators are very sensitive to deviations from normality assumptions, such as outliers, heavy tails, or skewness of the observed distribution. This sensitivity seriously threatens the empirical testing of theory about mediation mechanisms. To overcome this threat, we develop a robust mediation method that yields reliable results even when the data deviate from normality assumptions. We demonstrate the mechanics of our proposed method in an illustrative case, while simulation studies show that our method is both superior in estimating the effect size and more reliable in assessing its significance than the existing methods. Furthermore, we provide freely available software in R and SPSS to enhance its accessibility and adoption by empirical researchers.
Dimensional disparity between duplex and intravascular ultrasound in the assessment of iliac vein stenosis
Authors: Raju Seshadri , Walker William , Noel Chandler , Kuykendall Riley , Powell Thomas , Jayaraj Arjun
Published: April 2021

Minimum iliac vein caliber necessary to maintain normal peripheral venous pressure can be derived by the Poiseuille equation. Duplex was compared to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in the assessment of iliac vein stenosis in this single center retrospective study. Parallel IVUS and duplex caliber data for common iliac vein (CIV) and external iliac vein (EIV) in 382 limbs were separately compared. One or both segments were stenotic by IVUS criteria in 213 limbs. Neither segment was stenotic by IVUS in 22 limbs. Bland–Altman analyses and Passing–Bablok linear regressions were used. Duplex calibers were dimensionally smaller than corresponding IVUS images of CIV and EIV segments in Bland–Altman comparison by a mean of 54 mm2 and 34 mm2, respectively. Passing–Bablok regression suggested the difference was due to a systematic bias and not proportional. Duplex yields a smaller cross-sectional image of CIV and EIV compared to IVUS. Duplex is not a reliable diagnostic test for iliac vein stenosis.
An analysis of pragmatic content in EFL textbooks for young learners in Croatia
Authors: Jakupčević Eva , Ćavar Portolan Mihajla
Published: April 2021

Pragmatic competence is an essential element of communicative competence, which makes it relevant for speakers of all ages, including young language learners (YLLs). Despite the recognized importance of pragmatics, research of textbooks for adult second language (L2) learners to date has found them lacking in their approach to this key aspect of language. However, there is very little research of pragmatics in textbooks for YLLs, which would provide insight into the extent to which these materials can support teachers in including elements of pragmatic competence into their language classes. The present study aims to fill this gap by determining how much pragmatic content is included in 18 textbooks used in Croatian primary schools with learners aged 9–12 years. The textbooks are compared in regard to the percentage of pages with pragmatic content as well as the different speech acts that receive explicit attention in them. The main finding of the study is the great amount of inconsistency when it comes to the scope and treatment of pragmatic content, with some textbooks proving extremely lacking. The results present a concerning picture as all of the students using these diverse textbooks should be following the same curriculum which emphasizes the development of communicative competence.
A longitudinal study of formulaic sequence use in second language writing: Complex dynamic systems perspective
Authors: Duan Shiping , Shi Zhiliang
Published: April 2021

This study investigates the use of formulaic sequences (FS) in academic writings of Chinese learners of English as a foreign language across different levels of studies at a public university in China. Frequency-based formulas were retrieved from a corpus of student academic texts written at five time points between Year 1 and Year 3. The structure, semantic transparency (as measured by mutual information, abbreviated as MI), function of the formulas and first language – second language (L1–L2) congruency were explored to identify factors influencing FS development over time using generalized linear mixed-effects modeling (GLMM). Results indicate that MI, structure and assumed learners’ proficiency (time points) and their interactions produced significant effects on the development of L2 FS, but function and congruency did not. The individual variation and nonlinearity of FS development were interpreted with Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST). Based on the longitudinal study, we highlight the usefulness of GLMM in accounting for both systematicity and individual variation in L2 development from a CDST perspective.
The untold perspective: Parents’ experiences of the autism spectrum disorder assessment process when the child did not receive a diagnosis
Authors: Bendik Lesley-Anne , Spicer-White Freya
Published: April 2021

This research explored parents’ lived experience of the autism spectrum disorder assessment process when a diagnosis was not received. Six mothers and one stepfather were interviewed and transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The identified themes: ‘My child is different’, The emotional and psychological journey and Understanding the outcome, illustrated issues encountered by parents during the assessment process and parenting a child with autistic-like characteristics but without a valid label. As a previously understudied area, clinical implications at the professional, service and policy level are discussed.

Lay abstract

Autism is diagnosed by a process of child assessment and parental interview. It has been well-documented by parents of children who received a diagnosis of autism, that the process can be lengthy and cause distress for families. Nevertheless, the outcome often compensated for the difficult assessment journey as it enables families to gain access to further information, support and intervention. However, less is known about the assessment process from parents who undertake the same process but at the end are told their child does not meet the diagnostic criteria, meaning no diagnosis is given. We interviewed six parents in North Wales, whose child did not receive a diagnostic of autism following an assessment. During the interview, parents were asked about their experience of the autism assessment process. We found that parents reflected on their experience according to three themes: (1) parents tried to navigate how they could make sense of their child being different despite not receiving a diagnosis; (2) parents referred to the assessment process as a journey, which encompassed many emotional and psychological components and (3) parents discussed what it was like to hear a non-diagnosis outcome, in terms of feeling relieved, confused and raising questions for the child’s future. These findings are important for professionals working in autism assessment services to help improve the assessment process for families, particularly when the assessment does not result in a diagnosis.
Investigation of cavity filling in profile ring rolling process for T-shape ring
Authors: Zayadi Hosein , Parvizi Ali , Farahmand Hamid Reza , Rahmatabadi Davood
Published: April 2021

In this paper, key parameters affecting the cavity filling in single and double T-shape profile rings are comprehensively investigated via numerical and experimental analysis. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed in Abaqus\Explicit to assess the influence of crucial ring rolling process parameters, including feed speed, main roll rotational velocity, the existence and the absence of axial rolls on the cavity filling of single and T-shape rings and the main roll torque. Besides, a ring rolling machine was built to conduct practical experiments and validate the numerical evaluation, while for the first time, the role of the axial roll and the main roll torque on the quality of the cavity filling is experimentally evaluated. Power requirements and the final ring profile geometry were obtained by the simulation method, and the results were confirmed by the experiments. The results showed that axial rollers significantly reduced the cavity filling rate, and in contrast, the effect of mandrel feed speed and the main roll rotational velocity was much lower. Also, the axial forces were considerably less than the radial forces. However, the rolling operation was done in both radial and axial directions. The existence of axial rolls had an intensive effect on the process’ required power, as a result the main roll torque increased more than three times in case of applying axial rolls, compared with not considering them. Severe effects of axial rollers on increasing force and decreasing cavity filling rate can be attributed to frictional forces between the ring and axial rolls, restricted ring motion, which has to be compensated by a higher torque of the main roll. When the axial rolls are used, the material flow in the ring’s height direction is restricted. Therefore, the material cannot move easily to form the profile. All experimental and simulation results, including mandrel force, cavity filling, and ring profile geometry, were in good agreement, and in all cases, the simulation error was less than 10%.
In retrospect: The influence of chief executive officers’ historical relative pay on overconfidence
Authors: Zyung J Daniel , Shi Wei
Published: April 2021

This study proposes that chief executive officers who have received over their tenure a greater sum of total compensation relative to the market’s going rate become overconfident. We posit that this happens because historically overpaid chief executive officers perceive greater self-worth to the firm whereby such self-serving attribution inflates their level of self-confidence. We also identify chief executive officer- and firm-level cues that can influence the relationship between chief executive officers’ historical relative pay and their overconfidence, suggesting that chief executive officers’ perceived self-worth is more pronounced when chief executive officers possess less power and when their firm’s performance has improved upon their historical aspirations. Using a sample of 1185 firms and their chief executive officers during the years 2000–2016, we find empirical support for our predictions. Findings from this study contribute to strategic leadership research by highlighting the important role of executives’ compensation in creating overconfidence.
Why do early years educators engage with phonics policy directives in their work with under-threes in England?
Authors: Boardman Karen
Published: April 2021

This paper explores how the neoliberal policy directives relating to the teaching of phonics in schools in England, influences the pedagogy of early years educators (EYEs) working with under-threes. The research highlights that these EYEs are confounded by early reading (ER), given that there is no clear definition or provision separating ER from the mandatory teaching of phonics in schools. This paper asserts that it is vital to detach provision for ER for under-threes from the ‘formal’ teaching of phonics recommended for schools. In addition, EYEs require immediate support to become ‘resistant’ to such inappropriate policy directives, persistently driven by the school readiness agenda and the ‘datafication’ and inequality of early years pedagogy, previously highlighted by Roberts-Holmes and Bradbury.
Effect of alkyl derivatization of gellan gum during the fabrication of electrospun membranes
Authors: Palumbo Fabio Salvatore , Federico Salvatore , Pitarresi Giovanna , Fiorica Calogero , Scaffaro Roberto , Maio Andrea , Gulino Emmanuel Fortunato , Giammona Gaetano
Published: April 2021

Electrospun nanofibers based on polysaccharides represent a consolidated approach in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM) and nanomedicine as a drug delivery system (DDS). In this work, two chemical derivatives of a low molecular weight gellan gum (96.7 kDa) with aliphatic pendant tails were processed by electrospinning technique into non-woven nanofibrous mats. In order to generate spinnable blends, it was necessary to associate poly vinyl alcohol (PVA). The relationships between the physicochemical properties and the processability via electrospinning technique of gellan gum alkyl derivatives (GG-C8 and GG-C12 having a degree of alkyl chain derivatization of 17 mol % and 18 mol %, respectively) were investigated. The deposition of nanometric fibers (212.4 nm ± 60.0) was achieved by using the blend GG-C8/PVA spinned at 5% w/v in water. The use of a binary solvent composed of water and ethanol in a volumetric ratio 95:5 improved further spinnability obtaining similar nanofiber diameters (218.0 nm ± 96.0). The rheological analysis has allowed to highlight the role of the alkyl portion (C8 and C12) on the spinnability of the blended polymers.
Suffering in Silence: Examining the Silent Suffering of the Wives of Christian Clergy, Advocating for their Voice and Value
Authors: Potts Daryl J.
Published: April 2021

Research was conducted into ministry families using qualitative critical realist grounded theory methodology. This research was based on the foundations of family stress theory. One of the outcomes of the findings of this research emphasizes the need to recognize the silent suffering of ministers’ wives and to advocate for their voice and value in a way that will enhance their wellbeing. Recommendations for pastoral/spiritual counsellors and other professionals involved in helping ministers’ wives are presented.
Sturge-Weber syndrome: Case report, literature review and proposed pregnancy care plan
Authors: Byrne Bridgette , O’Carroll Robert ffrench , Doherty Colin
Published: April 2021

The pregnancy of a 38-year-old woman with Sturge-Weber syndrome and epilepsy is described here, with safe outcome for mother and baby despite considerable controversy about peripartum care. Literature review reveals seven case reports of pregnancy in women with Sturge-Weber syndrome and there is little to guide clinicians in the management of these complex cases. A care pathway for women with Sturge-Weber syndrome that are planning pregnancy or are pregnant is proposed.
Cultivating Disgust: Prospects and Moral Implications
Authors: Kurth Charlie
Published: April 2021

Is disgust morally valuable? The answer to that question turns, in large part, on what we can do to shape disgust for the better. But this cultivation question has received surprisingly little attention in philosophical debates. To address this deficiency, this article examines empirical work on disgust and emotion regulation. This research reveals that while we can exert some control over how we experience disgust, there’s little we can do to substantively change it at a more fundamental level. These empirical insights have revisionary implications both for debates about disgust’s moral value and for our understanding of agency and moral development more generally.
Author Reply: Aligning Social Relations With Faces, Words, and Emotions
Authors: Parkinson Brian
Published: April 2021

How do facial movements and verbal statements relate to emotional processes? A familiar answer is that the primary phenomenon is an internally located emotion that may then get expressed on the face and represented in words. In this view, emotion’s social functions and effects are indirect consequences of prior intrapsychic states or events. By contrast, my target article argued that facial and verbal activity are constituents rather than consequences of the dynamic production of fundamentally relational emotions. This article clarifies this alternative position and evaluates potential counterarguments.
Effect of outdoor footwear bending stiffness on metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics, kinetics, and energy balance during level and uphill walking
Authors: Zullo Giuseppe , Marcolin Giuseppe , Mistretta Paolo , Petrone Nicola
Published: April 2021

In outdoor footwear, sole properties must guarantee grip with the ground and support the forefoot without altering the kinematics of the metatarsophalangeal joints (MPJ). The present study aimed to implement an objective measure of shoe bending stiffness and investigate the effect of shoes with different bending stiffness on MPJ kinematics, kinetics, and energy balance during walking. The bending stiffness of four shoes was calculated using a customized flexometer. Then, the influence of each footwear on MPJ biomechanics during level and uphill walking was investigated with a motion capture system and a force plate on 10 healthy subjects. Results showed that MPJ peak dorsiflexion angle, stiffness, and energy balance were affected both by shoe bending stiffness ( p<0.001) and walking slope ( p<0.001). The findings of the study, which quantify the influence of shoe stiffness on MPJ biomechanics, will be helpful in the design of outdoor footwear.
The complex relationship between viruses and inflammatory bowel disease – review and practical advices for the daily clinical decision-making during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Farkas Klaudia , Pigniczki Daniella , Rutka Mariann , Szántó Kata Judit , Resál Tamás , Bor Renáta , Fábián Anna , Szepes Zoltán , Lázár György , Molnár Tamás
Published: April 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak emerged in December 2019 in China and rapidly spread worldwide. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are likely to be more susceptible to viral infections, and this is significantly influenced by the type of therapy they receive. Thus, issues specifically concerning the medical treatment of IBD patients were shortly addressed at the beginning of the pandemic. However, recently available data on the occurrence and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in IBD patients does not address the concerns raised at the beginning of the pandemic. Growing evidence and the rapid changes happening over the past few weeks have helped elucidate the current situation, contribute to our understanding of the disease, and many previously raised questions could now be answered. We hereby summarise available evidence regarding viral infections and IBD, focusing on SARS-CoV infections, and we provide practical recommendations related to patient management during the COVID-19 pandemic era.