bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making wardrobe space: The sustainable potential of minimalist‐inspired fashion challenges
Authors: Martin‐Woodhead Amber
Published: October 2022

Minimalist fashion has become a key element of the wider minimalist movement that promotes reducing one's wardrobe space to a bare minimum of essential items (or a ‘capsule wardrobe’) with few, quality items that coordinate. Minimalist‐inspired ‘fashion challenges’, in which participants are challenged to only wear a certain number of garments over a certain time period, have also gained increasing momentum, particularly in the USA and the UK. This study considers ‘Project 333’ (in which participants must only wear 33 items of clothes over a three‐month period), and the ‘Six Items Challenge’ (which requires participants to only wear six garments over 6 weeks), to explore their potential to encourage sustainable fashion (non‐)consumption. This is achieved via an analysis of 20 blog posts of individuals reflecting on their own participation in the two challenges and an auto‐ethnography of my own participation in the Six Items Challenge. The research reveals that while just over half of participants mentioned sustainability as a motivation or outcome of their participation in a fashion challenge, the challenges' focus on garment reduction, re‐use, repair, and not shopping while partaking in them, renders them sustainability driven in practice. Almost all challenges also mentioned personal benefits of conducting a fashion challenge (such as money and time saved plus greater fashion creativity), which could be seen as a helpful way in which to encourage their uptake. However, the paper also considers the idealisation of ‘perfect’ minimalist wardrobe spaces and subsequent fashioned identities and issues regarding who has the pecuniary means to embrace the quality over quantity narrative of the challenges. The paper therefore concludes that fashion challenges do have the potential to encourage more sustainable fashion practices, but they simultaneously raise tensions regarding idealised minimalist fashioned identities.
Industrial cluster policy and transaction networks: Evidence from firm‐level data in Japan
Authors: Okubo Toshihiro , Okazaki Tetsuji , Tomiura Eiichi
Published: October 2022

Cluster policy is designed to facilitate inter‐firm networking. We examine industrial clusters in Japan based on firm‐level transaction data. Cluster firms significantly expand transaction networks not only with local firms but also with firms in the agglomerated core Tokyo. We confirm the robustness of the results with historical policy experience of the regions as an instrumental variable and the cluster participation in a later period for a placebo test. By disaggregating firms in their relationships with financial institutions, we find that cluster firms expanding networks with firms in Tokyo are financed mainly by regional banks.
Black affirming pedagogy: Reflections on the premises, challenges and possibilities of mainstreaming antiracist black pedagogy in Canadian sociology
Authors: Robinson Oral
Published: October 2022

Antiblackness, anti‐Black racism and other oppressions work within systems such as capitalism, white supremacy and globalization. As a system, Canadian higher education institutions are complicit with the oppression of Black, Indigenous and racialized peoples. Anti‐oppressive and antiracist pedagogies attempt to challenge institutional power and oppression but face resistance within the academy and wider society. This paper articulates Black Affirming Pedagogy as an additional anticolonial, antiracist, pro‐Black teaching praxis aimed at furthering educators’ resiliencies and capacities for cultivating transformations and social change. Pro‐Black affirmations of Blackness, allyship/solidarity, humanity, diverse knowledge, and action are discussed alongside strategies for praxis. Risks of engaging in Black Affirming Pedagogy and suggestions for overcoming them are also highlighted.
BMI‐1 promotes breast cancer proliferation and metastasis through different mechanisms in different subtypes
Authors: Liu Jin‐yan , Jiang Yan‐nan , Huang Hai , Xu Jin‐fu , Wu Ying‐hui , Wang Qiang , Zhu Yue , Zheng Bo , Shen Cong , Qian Wei‐feng , Shen Jun
Published: October 2022

Breast cancer is among the most common malignant cancers in women. B‐cell‐specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (BMI‐1) is a transcriptional repressor that has been shown to be involved in tumorigenesis, the cell cycle, and stem cell maintenance. In our study, increased expression of BMI‐1 was found in both human triple negative breast cancer and luminal A‐type breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues. We also found that knockdown of BMI‐1 significantly suppressed cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic research demonstrated that BMI‐1 directly bound to the promoter region of CDKN2D/BRCA1 and inhibited its transcription in MCF‐7/MDA‐MB‐231. More importantly, we discovered that knockdown of CDKN2D/BRCA1 could promote cell proliferation and migration after repression by PTC‐209. Our results reveal that BMI‐1 transcriptionally suppressed BRCA1 in TNBC cell lines whereas, in luminal A cell lines, CDKN2D was the target gene. This provides a reference for the precise treatment of different types of breast cancer in clinical practice.
A Bayesian network predicting survival of cervical cancer patients—Based on surveillance, epidemiology, and end results
Authors: Liu Guangcong , Yang Zhuo , Wang Danbo
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to build a comprehensive model for predicting the overall survival (OS) of cervical cancer patients who received standard treatments and to build a series of new stages based on the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) stages for better such predictions. We collected the cervical cancer patients diagnosed since the year 2000 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Cervical cancer patients who received radiotherapy or surgery were included. Log‐rank tests and Cox regression were used to identify potential factors of OS. Bayesian networks (BNs) were built to predict 3‐ and 5‐year survival. We also grouped the patients into new stages by clustering their 5‐year survival probabilities based on FIGO stage, age, and tumor differentiation. Cox regression suggested black ethnicity, adenocarcinoma, and single status as risks for poorer prognosis, in addition to age and stage. A total of 43,749 and 39,333 cases were finally eligible for the 3‐ and 5‐year BNs, respectively, with 11 variables included. Cluster analysis and Kaplan‐Meier curves indicated that it was best to divide the patients into nine modified stages. The BNs had excellent performance, with area under the curve and maximum accuracy of 0.855 and 0.804 for 3‐year survival, and 0.851 and 0.787 for 5‐year survival, respectively. Thus, BNs are excellent candidates for predicting cervical cancer survival. It is necessary to consider age and tumor differentiation when estimating the prognosis of cervical cancer using FIGO stages.
Outcomes of 45 μm gelatin stent surgery over 24‐month follow‐up
Authors: Vukmirovic Aleksandar , Ong Jessica , Mukhtar Aqif , Yu Dao‐Yi , Morgan William H.
Published: October 2022

Background

The main objectives of this study were to determine whether known risk factors for trabeculectomy failure similarly influence gelatin stent outcomes and to identify surgical factors which may optimise success.

Methods

A retrospective, observational study was conducted at a single centre in Perth, Western Australia over 24 months. Two‐hundred and sixty‐two eyes of 207 patients underwent XEN‐45 stent surgery with various forms of glaucoma. Surgical and postoperative data on subjects undergoing XEN‐45 stent surgery was collated. Intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction success was determined using three criteria: 1; IOP <18 mm Hg, 2: IOP <15 mm Hg and 3: >25% IOP reduction from baseline. Kaplan–Meier, mixed effects Cox Proportional hazard model and Chi‐Square test were used to measure survival of functioning stents.

Results

The success rates at a maximum of 2 years after surgery by criteria 1, 2 and 3 were 61.3%, 26.2% and 28.9% in primary open angle glaucoma (n = 243), 18.8%, 16.9%, 21.4% in angle closure glaucoma (n = 11), 0%, 0%, 66.7% in congenital glaucoma (n = 5) and 0% in uveitic glaucoma (n = 3). No significant reduction in success was found in those eyes that had prior ocular surgery (all p > 0.07).

Conclusions

Prior cataract or trabeculectomy surgery does not appear to adversely affect gelatin stent outcomes over 2 years follow up. Gelatin stent surgery appears to have less IOP reduction effect compared to trabeculectomy at 2 years.
Investigation and Simulation of Diffraction on Rough Surfaces
Authors: Clausen O. , Chen Y. , Fuhrmann A. , Marroquim R.
Published: October 2022

Simulating light–matter interaction is a fundamental problem in computer graphics. A particular challenge is the simulation of light interaction with rough surfaces due to diffraction and multiple scattering phenomena. To properly model these phenomena, wave‐optics have to be considered. Nevertheless, the most accurate BRDF models, including wave‐optics, are computationally expensive, and the resulting renderings have not been systematically compared to real‐world measurements. This work sheds more light on reflectance variations due to surface roughness. More specifically, we look at wavelength shifts that lead to reddish and blueish appearances. These wavelength shifts have been scarcely reported in the literature, and, in this paper, we provide the first thorough analysis from precise measured data. We measured the spectral in‐plane BRDF of aluminium samples with varying roughness and further acquired the surface topography with a confocal microscope. The measurements show that the rough samples have, on average, a reddish and blueish appearance in the forward and back‐scattering, respectively. Our investigations conclude that this is a diffraction‐based effect that dominates the overall appearance of the samples. Simulations using a virtual gonioreflectometer further confirm our claims. We propose a linear model that can closely fit such phenomena, where the slope of the wavelength shifts depends on the incident and reflection direction. Based on these insights, we developed a simple BRDF model based on the Cook–Torrance model that considers such wavelength shifts.
New online market connecting Chinese consumers and small farms to improve food safety and environment
Authors: Wang H. Holly , Jiang Yu , Jin Shaosheng , Zheng Qiujie
Published: October 2022

In emerging economies where small farms are the main source of food supply, it is costly for the government to monitor and control food safety and production impact on the environment. However, the online food market can potentially give farmers stronger incentives to supply safer and more eco‐friendly products, as they can access a national market where consumers are interested in healthy food, and they can differentiate their products by providing production information using videos and pictures. This research uses the choice experiment method to elicit farmers’ preference for production practices and marketing channels in China where e‐commerce and delivery businesses are fast‐growing. Our main finding is that farmers perceive higher utility in selling safer and more eco‐friendly products than conventional products when using e‐commerce platforms, evidence of the online market's positive role in food safety enhancement. Our results also identify two types of farmers: traditional farmers and farmers open to the idea of online markets. Farmers who have higher education and live in villages with e‐commerce service centers are more likely to be the latter.
Depletion of SASH1, an astrocyte differentiation‐related gene, contributes to functional recovery in spinal cord injury
Authors: Liu Siyi , Lin Ge , Yang Qiao , Wang Penghui , Ma Chao , Qian Xiaowei , He Xiaomei , Dong Zhangji , Liu Yan , Liu Mei , Wu Ronghua , Yang Liu
Published: October 2022

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the depletion of SAM and SH3 domain‐containing protein 1 (SASH1) on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the possible mechanism of SASH1 knockdown in astrocytes facilitating axonal growth.

Methods

SCI model was established in adult rats. SASH1 small interfering RNA (siSASH1) was used to investigate its function. Hindlimb motor function was evaluated by the Basso‐Bresnahan‐Beattie (BBB) assay. The gene expressions were evaluated by the methods of qRT‐PCR, Western‐blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

SASH1 knockdown improved the BBB scores after SCI and significantly reduced GFAP expression. In cultured spinal astrocytes, siSASH1 treatment decreased interferon‐γ release and increased brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release. When cocultured with SASH1‐knockdown astrocytes, axonal growth increased. The neuronal tropomyosin receptor kinase B (BDNF receptor) expression increased, especially in the axonal tips. SASH1 expression increased while NSCs differentiated into glial cells, instead of neurons. After SASH1 depletion, differentiated NSCs maintained a higher level of Nestin protein and an increase in BDNF release.

Conclusions

These results indicate that SASH1 acts as an astrocytic differentiation‐maintaining protein, and SASH1 downregulation limits glial activation and contributes toward functional recovery after SCI.
Integrating habitat‐masked range maps with quantifications of prevalence to estimate area of occupancy in IUCN assessments
Authors: Anderson Robert P.
Published: October 2022

Estimates of species geographic ranges constitute critical input for biodiversity assessments, including those for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Area of occupancy (AOO) is one metric that IUCN uses to quantify a species’ range, but data limitations typically lead to either under‐ or overestimates (and unnecessarily wide bounds of uncertainty). Fortunately, existing methods in which range maps and land‐cover data are used to estimate the area currently holding habitat for a species can be extended to yield an unbiased range of plausible estimates for AOO. Doing so requires estimating the proportion of sites (currently containing habitat) that a species occupies within its range (i.e., prevalence). Multiplying a quantification of habitat area by prevalence yields an estimate of what the species inhabits (i.e., AOO). For species with intense sampling at many sites, presence–absence data sets or occupancy modeling allow calculation of prevalence. For other species, primary biodiversity data (records of a species’ presence at a point in space and time) from citizen‐science initiatives and research collections of natural history museums and herbaria could be used. In such cases, estimates of sample prevalence should be corrected by dividing by the species’ detectability. To estimate detectability from these data sources, extensions of inventory‐completeness analyses merit development. With investments to increase the quality and availability of online biodiversity data, consideration of prevalence should lead to tighter and more realistic bounds of AOO for many taxonomic groups and geographic regions. By leading to more realistic and representative characterizations of biodiversity, integrating maps of current habitat with estimates of prevalence should empower conservation practitioners and decision makers and thus guide actions and policy worldwide.
Risk patterns associated with transient hearing impairment and permanent hearing loss in infants born very preterm: A retrospective study
Authors: Yu Wen‐Hao , Lin Yung‐Chieh , Chu Chi‐Hsiang , Chen Ray‐Bing , Wu Jiunn‐Liang , Huang Chao‐Ching
Published: October 2022

Aim

To determine the risk patterns associated with transient hearing impairment (THI) and permanent hearing loss (PHL) of infants born very preterm who failed hearing screenings.

Method

We enrolled 646 infants (347 males, 299 females) born at no more than 30 weeks' gestation between 2006 and 2020 who received auditory brainstem response screening at term‐equivalent age. Audiological examinations of infants who failed the screening revealed THI, when hearing normalized, or PHL, defined as a persistent unilateral or bilateral hearing threshold above 20 dB. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to characterize risk patterns.

Results

Among the 646 infants, 584 (90.4%) had normal hearing, 42 (6.5%) had THI, and 20 (3.1%) had PHL. Compared with the group with normal hearing, the THI and PHL groups had significantly higher rates of neurodevelopmental impairment at 24 months corrected age. PCA of risk patterns showed the THI group and especially the PHL group had more severe haemodynamic and respiratory instability. Moreover, severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) was also a risk for PHL. Propensity score matching revealed an association of haemodynamic and respiratory instability with PHL.

Interpretation

In infants born preterm, the severity and duration of haemodynamic and respiratory instability are risk patterns for both THI and PHL; severe IVH is an additional risk for PHL.

What this paper adds

Neurodevelopmental delay was more common in infants born preterm who failed hearing screening.

Principal component analysis revealed the risk patterns associated with hearing impairment.

Haemodynamic–respiratory instability was associated with transient and permanent hearing impairment outcomes.

Severe haemodynamic–respiratory instability and intraventricular haemorrhage was associated with permanent hearing loss.
“I just like the stock”: The role of Reddit sentiment in the GameStop share rally
Authors: Long Suwan (Cheng) , Lucey Brian , Xie Ying , Yarovaya Larisa
Published: October 2022

This paper investigates the role played by the social media platform Reddit in the events around the GameStop (GME) share rally in early 2021. In particular, we analyze the impact of discussions on the r/WallStreetBets subreddit on the price dynamics of the American online retailer GameStop. We customize a sentiment analysis dictionary for Reddit platform users based on the Valence Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner (VADER) sentiment analysis package and perform textual analysis on 10.8 million comments. The analysis of the relationships between Reddit sentiments and 1‐, 5‐, 10‐, and 30‐min GameStop returns contribute to the growing body of literature on “meme stocks” and the impact of discussions on investment forums on intraday stock price movements.
How drought events during the last century have impacted biomass carbon in Amazonian rainforests
Authors: Yao Yitong , Ciais Philippe , Viovy Nicolas , Joetzjer Emilie , Chave Jerome
Published: October 2022

During the last two decades, inventory data show that droughts have reduced biomass carbon sink of the Amazon forest by causing mortality to exceed growth. However, process‐based models have struggled to include drought‐induced responses of growth and mortality and have not been evaluated against plot data. A process‐based model, ORCHIDEE‐CAN‐NHA, including forest demography with tree cohorts, plant hydraulic architecture and drought‐induced tree mortality, was applied over Amazonia rainforests forced by gridded climate fields and rising CO2 from 1901 to 2019. The model reproduced the decelerating signal of net carbon sink and drought sensitivity of aboveground biomass (AGB) growth and mortality observed at forest plots across selected Amazon intact forests for 2005 and 2010. We predicted a larger mortality rate and a more negative sensitivity of the net carbon sink during the 2015/16 El Niño compared with the former droughts. 2015/16 was indeed the most severe drought since 1901 regarding both AGB loss and area experiencing a severe carbon loss. We found that even if climate change did increase mortality, elevated CO2 contributed to balance the biomass mortality, since CO2‐induced stomatal closure reduces transpiration, thus, offsets increased transpiration from CO2‐induced higher foliage area.
Unpaid labour and territorial extraction in digital value networks
Authors: Howson Kelle , Johnston Hannah , Cole Matthew , Ferrari Fabian , Ustek‐Spilda Funda , Graham Mark
Published: October 2022

Production in knowledge and data‐intensive industries is powered by work that can, in theory, be done from anywhere, via cloudwork platforms. Cloudwork platforms govern data value chains in distinct ways to concentrate power and extract value at the global scale. We argue that unpaid labour is a systemic mechanism of accumulation in these digital value networks. In this paper we demonstrate how it is tied to platform business models and facilitated by elements of platform governance including monopsony power, a high degree of spatial flexibility in sourcing labour, regulatory unaccountability and digital enclosure. We draw on a survey of 699 workers on 14 platforms in 74 countries to show that unpaid labour is an engine of South–North value extraction, and workers in the global South perform more unpaid labour than counterparts in the global North. Our findings have important ramifications our understanding of the changing international division of labour and platform capitalism.
Gender mainstreaming and frame analysis: A qualitative study of childcare policies in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay during Latin America's left turn
Authors: Marcondes Mariana Mazzini , Farah Marta Ferreira Santos , Aquino Alves Mário
Published: October 2022

This article analyzes how and to what extent gender equality perspectives mobilized by feminist actors have (re)designed childcare policy frames to address the sexual division of labor during the left turn in Latin America. Using the Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Europe (MAGEEQ) framework as the foundation for our study, we conducted qualitative case study research in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay by examining official documents. We also reviewed feminist literature and documents to access the positions adopted by the actors involved in the reframing process. We identified quite different results for gender mainstreaming in childcare policy: (1) Argentina—non‐occurrence; (2) Brazil—occurrence (reasonably marginalized); and (3) Uruguay—occurrence (fairly well embedded). We expect to contribute to the development of the MAGEEQ framework, particularly in terms of care policy investigations, and for adapting this framework to the Latin American context.
Narrative review of peripheral nerve blocks for the management of headache
Authors: Stern Jennifer I. , Chiang Chia‐Chun , Kissoon Narayan R. , Robertson Carrie E.
Published: October 2022

Objective

To provide an overview of the current available literature on peripheral nerve blocks for the management of migraine and other headache disorders in adults.

Background

Peripheral nerve blocks have been commonly performed in the headache practice for migraine, cluster headache, occipital neuralgia, and other headache disorders, despite a paucity of evidence supporting their use historically. In the past decade, there has been an effort to explore the efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve blocks for the management of headache, with the greatest interest centered around greater occipital blocks.

Design

We performed a search in PubMed using key words including “occipital nerve blocks,” “peripheral nerve blocks,” “occipital nerve,” “migraine,” “cluster headache,” and “neuralgia.” We reviewed the randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, and case series, and summarized the anatomy, techniques, and the evidence for the use of peripheral nerve blocks in different headache disorders, with particular focus on available RCTs. Case reports were included for a detail review of adverse events.

Results

Of 12 RCTs examining the use of greater occipital nerve blocks for migraine, all but one demonstrate efficacy with reduction in headache frequency, intensity, and/or duration compared to placebo. Studies have not demonstrated a difference in clinical outcomes with the use of corticosteroids for nerve blocks compared to blocks with local anesthetic in the treatment of migraine. There are two RCTs supporting the use of greater occipital blockade for cluster headache, both showing benefit of suboccipitally injected corticosteroid. One RCT suggests benefit of greater occipital nerve blocks for cervicogenic headache. Observational studies and case series/reports show that greater occipital nerve block may be effective in prolonged migraine aura, status migrainosus, post‐dural puncture headache, and occipital neuralgia. Overall, peripheral nerve blocks are well tolerated. Serious side effects are rare but have been reported, including acute cerebellar syndrome and infection.

Conclusions

Peripheral nerve blocks, especially occipital nerve blocks, are a viable treatment option for migraine and may be helpful in cluster headache as a transitional therapy or rescue therapy. Additional prospective studies are needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of occipital nerve blocks for long‐term migraine prevention, as well as for other headache disorders, such as occipital neuralgia.
Recovery in Mind: A Recovery College's journey through the Covid‐19 pandemic
Authors: Yoeli Heather , Ryan Angela , Hensby Cath , Habermehl Fiona , Burton Sarah , Sin Jacqueline
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The Covid‐19 restrictions of 2020–2021 are known to have undermined the UK population's mental health. Working alongside staff, peer trainers and students at Recovery in Mind (RiM), a Recovery College (RC) in West Berkshire, England, this mixed‐methods study is amongst the first to investigate how an RC has responded to the pandemic.

Methods

Working in co‐production with RiM staff and peer‐trainers, this study employed a mixed‐methods design, gathering Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) well‐being outcome measures by questionnaire and student experience, learning and co‐production by interviews.

Findings

This research found that RiM continued to produce demonstrable improvements in student mental health. Students welcomed the way that RiM adapted to offering online and socially distanced provisions. Students valued the skills that RiM taught and the way that RiM courses reinforced prior learning; above this, however, they valued the mutual support and sense of community that participation provided.

Conclusion

This study underlines the value of RCs maintaining ‘hidden curriculums’ of peer support and community involvement. This research emphasizes co‐production as not only a tool for empowerment or service improvement but as a valuable skill for personal mental health recovery. Even when operating under the most unforeseen or challenging of conditions, RCs should always endeavour to prioritize and maintain co‐production.

Patient or Public Contribution

In accordance with the RC ethos, this was an entirely co‐produced study, with academic researchers and RiM staff and peer trainers working democratically in partnership with one another to design and manage the study and to write up and disseminate findings. To ensure the independence and rigour of findings, data analysis was undertaken by external academic researchers.
Stigma towards patients with mental illness: An online survey of United States nurses
Authors: Kolb Kristen , Liu Jianfang , Jackman Kasey
Published: October 2022

People with mental illness experience significant health disparities, including morbidity and premature mortality. Evidence suggests that stigma is a contributing factor to these observed inequities. The tripartite conceptualization of stigma proposes that three problems underlie stigma: problems of knowledge (ignorance), attitudes (prejudice) and behaviour (discrimination). There is limited prior research concerning stigma towards mental illness among nurses in the United States (US). The aims of this study were to assess stigma among US nurses towards patients with mental illness, compare the stigma expressed by nurses working in medical/surgical settings with mental health settings, and identify factors associated with stigma. Participants were recruited online from national professional nursing organizations in the US. We collected demographic data and administered measures of mental health stigma and stigma‐related mental health knowledge. Mental health nurses demonstrated comparatively lower levels of stigma and higher levels of knowledge than the medical/surgical nurses. Nursing speciality and personal contact with mental illness were the most significant predictors of stigma and knowledge. Knowledge was found to partially mediate the relationship between nursing speciality and stigma. We found support for the ‘contact hypothesis’, that is, having a personal experience of mental illness or a friend or family member who has a mental illness is associated with lower stigma towards mental illness. These findings support the development of contact‐based and educational anti‐stigma interventions for nurses in order to reduce stigma towards mental illness.
Estimated mortality due to seasonal influenza in southeast of Iran, 2006/2007 to 2011/2012 influenza seasons
Authors: Khajehkazemi Razieh , Baneshi Mohammad Reza , Iuliano Angela Danielle , Roguski Katherine M. , Sharifi Hamid , Bresee Joseph , Haghdoost AliAkbar
Published: October 2022

Background

Global estimates showed an estimate of up to 650,000 seasonal influenza‐associated respiratory deaths annually. However, the mortality rate of seasonal influenza is unknown for most countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, including Iran. We aimed to estimate the excess mortality attributable to seasonal influenza in Kerman province, southeast Iran for the influenza seasons 2006/2007–2011/2012.

Methods

We applied a Serfling model to the weekly total pneumonia and influenza (PI) mortality rate during winter to define the epidemic periods and to the weekly age‐specific PI, respiratory, circulatory, and all‐cause deaths during non‐epidemic periods to estimate baseline mortality. The excess mortality was calculated as the difference between observed and predicted mortality. Country estimates were obtained by multiplying the estimated annual excess death rates by the populations of Iran.

Results

We estimated an annual average excess of 40 PI, 100 respiratory, 94 circulatory, and 306 all‐cause deaths attributable to seasonal influenza in Kerman; corresponding to annual rates of 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–1.8) PI, 3.6 (95% CI 2.6–4.8) respiratory, 3.4 (95% CI 2.1–5.2) circulatory, and 11.0 (95% CI 7.3–15.6) all‐cause deaths per 100,000 population. Adults ≥75 years accounted for 56% and 53% of all excess respiratory and circulatory deaths, respectively. At country level, we would expect an annual of 1119 PI to 8792 all‐cause deaths attributable to seasonal influenza.

Conclusions

Our findings help to define the mortality burden of seasonal influenza, most of which affects adults aged ≥75 years. This study supports influenza prevention and vaccination programs in older adults.
Thermal properties of HfN‐MoW surrogate cermet fuel for nuclear thermal propulsion
Authors: Mudd James F. , Watts Jeremy , Rosales Jhonathan , Wilkerson Ryan P. , Taylor Brian , Fahrenholtz William , Hilmas Gregory , Graham Joseph
Published: October 2022

The thermal properties of MoW‐HfN, a surrogate cermet for MoW‐UN nuclear thermal propulsion fuel, were characterized over a wide range of elevated temperatures. Thermal diffusivity, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and heat capacity were measured. Optical and scanning electron microscopy were performed to characterize the microstructure and draw structure–property correlations. The thermal diffusivity was obtained using the laser flash method. Diffusivity values ranged from about 0.18 cm2/s at 200°C to 0.15 cm2/s at 1800°C. The CTE was measured using push‐rod dilatometry up to 1600°C, giving values between 6.0 and 9.0 μm/m. A scientific rationalization of the effective material properties is made using the rule‐of‐mixtures and other effective properties models.
Temperature‐dependent elastic and thermodynamic properties of ZrC, HfC, and their solid solutions (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C
Authors: Jiang Jieqiang , Shi Zuhao , Arramel  , Zhang Jinyong , Deng Tengfei , Li Neng
Published: October 2022

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) and hafnium carbide (HfC) have been identified as ultrahigh temperature ceramics with excellent thermal conductivity performance. The temperature profiles of ZrC and HfC have been studied; however, the temperature‐dependent of solid solution of (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C is still lacking. Herein, we report the temperature‐dependent elastic and thermodynamic properties of (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C using first‐principles calculations. The covalent characters of ZrC, HfC, and (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C are weakened at high temperatures by analyzing their respective electronic structures. In addition, the equilibrium volumes at different temperatures can be determined from the energy–volume (E–V) curves under the quasi‐harmonic approximation. Throughout the temperature ranges studied, the HfC material shows the highest bulk modulus and lowest thermal expansion. When T > 1000 K, (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C exhibits better shear and Young's modulus performance close to HfC and shows the highest anisotropy. The lattice thermal conductivity decreased as temperature increased for ZrC, HfC, and (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C, and (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C has the smallest lattice thermal conductivity. These results provide fundamental and useful information for the practical application of ZrC, HfC, and (Zr0.5Hf0.5)C.
Connecting lived experiences of pre‐nursing students during COVID‐19 with learner well‐being: A qualitative inquiry
Authors: Urban Regina W. , Jennings Leslie A. , Darr Kendall
Published: October 2022

Aim

To explore pre‐nursing students' experiences and identify factors influencing their well‐being as learners during COVID‐19.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design was used.

Methods

Short answer study data (n = 289) were collected in Fall 2020 as part of a larger IRB‐approved survey‐based study focused on pre‐nursing students. Participants were presented with three short answer questions designed to elicit a description of their experiences as a pre‐nursing student. NVivo and reflexive thematic analysis were used to analyse participant responses.

Results

Six themes related to learner well‐being emerged from the data. Learner well‐being was supported by achieving academic goals, experiencing positive feelings about current course content, creating connections with peers and envisioning themselves as nurses in the future. Negative contributors to pre‐nursing student well‐being included managing fears of program rejection and juggling multiple roles and demands. Online learning necessitated by COVID‐19 created opportunities for loneliness and isolation from peers, technological difficulties and additional psychological stress, which also contributed negatively to learner well‐being.

Conclusion

These findings illustrate pre‐nursing students' experiences and provide support for the influence of the learning environment and factors within the individual on the well‐being of learners.

Impact

Students preparing to apply to nursing programs are an understudied population and little is known about their well‐being as learners. Survey‐based open‐ended short answer questions can be utilized to gain rich insight into their experiences. The study themes and sub‐themes can be utilized for discussion and reflection in courses with pre‐nursing students and as a starting point for additional conversations between pre‐nursing students and educators regarding improving the support of well‐being in learners. Additional research and evidence‐based interventions that promote learner well‐being in pre‐nursing students are needed as they prepare for nursing program admission and to support their academic progression.

Patient or Public Contribution

Members of the public were not involved in the design or conduct of the study, analysis, or interpretation of the data, or in the preparation of the manuscript because the study focus is on gaining an understanding the experiences of pre‐nursing students and their well‐being.
Inbreeding depression on growth and prolificacy traits in two lines of rabbit
Authors: Piles Miriam , Sánchez Juan Pablo , Pascual Mariam , Rodríguez‐Ramilo Silvia Teresa
Published: October 2022

Inbreeding depression in closed populations impairs animal fitness, health, and productivity. However, not all inbreeding is expected to be equally damaging. Recent inbreeding is thought to be more harmful than ancient inbreeding because selection decreases the frequency of unfavourable alleles with time. Accordingly, selection efficiency is improved by inbreeding in a process called purging. This research aimed to quantify inbreeding depression on growth and prolificacy traits in two lines of rabbits selected for just one growth (Caldes line) or prolificacy (Prat line) trait, and also to find some evidence of purging of deleterious alleles by selection. Caldes line comprised 51 generations and 124,371 animals in the pedigree. Prat line comprised 34 generations and 161,039 animals in the pedigree. The effects of old, intermediate, and new inbreeding (Fold, Fint, and Fnew), as well as total cumulated classical inbreeding (F) and 3 measurements of ancestral inbreeding (AHC, Fa.K, and Fa.B) were estimated for average daily gain (ADG), slaughter weight (SW), weaning weight (WW), born alive (BA), the total number of kits (NT), and the number of weaned kits (NW). There was a clear inbreeding depression for all growth and prolificacy traits in the Caldes line (−7.19 g/d, −0.45 kg, −0.25 kg, −6 kits, −4 kits, and −4 kits per unit of increase in F for ADG, SW, WW, BA, NT, and NW, respectively) and also in Prat line (−7.48 g/d, −0.31 kg, −0.11 kg, −4 kits, −5 kits, and −4 kits per unit of increase in F for ADG, SW, WW, BA, NT, and NW, respectively). The inbreeding partition appears to be a reliable alternative for assessing inbreeding depression and purging. Thus, for example, in the Caldes line and for ADG the regression coefficients were −7.61, −5.41, and 7.76 g/d per unit of increase in Fnew, Fint, and Fold, respectively. In addition, AHC and Fa.B may provide more accurate evidence of purging than Fa.K. This study confirms the existence of inbreeding depression for growth and prolificacy traits in both lines of rabbits and shows evidence of purging of deleterious recessive alleles involved both in growth and prolificacy, independently of the selection criteria established in the line.
Fully Gibbs Sampling Algorithms for Bayesian Variable Selection in Latent Regression Models
Authors: Yamaguchi Kazuhiro , Zhang Jihong
Published: October 2022

This study proposed Gibbs sampling algorithms for variable selection in a latent regression model under a unidimensional two‐parameter logistic item response theory model. Three types of shrinkage priors were employed to obtain shrinkage estimates: double‐exponential (i.e., Laplace), horseshoe, and horseshoe+ priors. These shrinkage priors were compared to a uniform prior case in both simulation and real data analysis. The simulation study revealed that two types of horseshoe priors had a smaller root mean square errors and shorter 95% credible interval lengths than double‐exponential or uniform priors. In addition, the horseshoe+ prior was slightly more stable than the horseshoe prior. The real data example successfully proved the utility of horseshoe and horseshoe+ priors in selecting effective predictive covariates for math achievement.
Random encounters and information diffusion about product quality
Authors: Gabszewicz Jean J. , Marini Marco A. , Zanaj Skerdilajda
Published: October 2022

This paper explores how social interactions among consumers shape markets. In a two‐country model, consumers meet and exchange information about the quality of the goods. As information spreads, demand evolves, affecting the prices and quantities manufactured by profit‐maximizing firms. We show that market prices with informational frictions reach the duopoly price with full information at the limit. However, this convergence can take different paths depending on the size asymmetry between countries. In particular, when the country producing the low‐quality good is relatively large, the single market does not immediately turn into a duopoly and can be temporarily trapped in a situation of price instability where no Nash equilibrium in pure (but only in mixed) strategies exists and prices can fluctuate between their monopoly and duopoly levels. It follows that the classical price‐reducing effects of international trade may take longer to appear. In view of an intense globalization process, understanding how social meetings affect market outcomes is critical for understanding the performance of international economic integration.
4D printing of mixed vegetable gel based on deformation and discoloration induced by acidification and dehydration
Authors: Huang Yiwen , Zhang Min , Pattarapon Phuhongsung , Mujumdar Arun S.
Published: October 2022

This research was aimed at exploring the feasibility of 4D printing of Chinese cabbage puree–carrot powder–xanthan gum mixed gel system using white vinegar and hot air dehydration (HAD) as stimuli to realize double change of shape and color. Firstly, 4D printability of five mixed vegetable gels (MVG) were characterized by water distribution and rheological properties. The results showed that apparent viscosity, G′, G″, G* and yield stress were positively related to carrot powder content, while transverse relaxation time (T2) were negatively related to it. Next, the formula with 15% carrot powder content was chosen as printing ink due to its better 4D printing behavior. The results showed that bending angle reached the maximum (371.01°) at 210 min, and initial green color completely turned brown at 120 min. Finally, complex models such as butterfly and four‐petal flowers were further applied to verify the feasibility of this 4D food printing.

Practical Applications

This study provides a simple but innovative method for simultaneous deformation and discoloration of 3D printed objects. These procedures would allow chlorophyll‐rich vegetarian dishes show deformation and discoloration before consumption for added interest.
Study on the optimization of barley flour xerogel and its programed oleomorphic 3D shape‐shifting
Authors: Cheeyattil Subith , Rajan Anbarasan , Stephen Jaspin , Radhakrishnan Mahendran
Published: October 2022

Food xerogel is a dried form of hydrogel prepared by drying the gelatinized starch or hydrocolloids. An adequately engineered flat 2D xerogel can change into a programmed 3D structure under an external stimulus. The current study focuses on optimizing the barley flour concentration (2, 4, 6, and 8%) and gelatinization temperature (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100°C) for obtaining flat xerogels through sessile drop drying. The effect of flour composition (amylose and amylose content) and gelatinization temperature (determined by differential scanning calorimetry) on xerogel formation has been evaluated. Further, it discusses the impact of constraint material (cellulose acetate) coating and its pattern on the oleomorphic shape‐shifting of xerogels. Initially, the properties of hydrogel (least gelation concentration, pasting properties, solubility, swelling power) and xerogel (texture, FTIR, surface morphology) were analyzed to understand the morphogenic behavior of xerogel. Once the crack‐free xerogels (optimized at 6% flour concentration and 70°C gelatinization temperature) were obtained after sessile drop drying, they were cut into required 2D shapes (circular and triangular) and treated with cold plasma. Then, these plasmas‐treated xerogels were coated with constraint material (cellulose acetate) in specific patterns to obtain the programmed oleomorphic shape change (2D to 3D) at 180°C (after 2.0 s). Meanwhile, the uncoated xerogels subjected to shape‐shifting had not shown any desirable shape change during frying. The xerogels that transformed into 3D structures were further analyzed for their shape‐changing properties such as bending curvature, angle, height, and end‐to‐end distance.

Practical Applications

Customized stimuli‐responsive food shape transformation can be achieved by constructing well‐engineered and designed xerogel with various geometrical structures. 2D to 3D configuration obtained through hydromorphic, oleomorphic, pH‐triggered, and other shape transformations is a prime focus in the innovative food engineering sector. The main advantage of 2D xerogel is to bring down the packaging, storage, and transportation expenditure. The application of non‐thermal technologies like cold plasma has an impact on surface morphology (ablation) and enhanced anisotropic behaviors.
Characterization of flow field of swirling flow conveying in bulk grain pipeline based on gas‐solid multiphase coupling
Authors: Xu Xuemeng , Wang Long , Zhang Yongyu , Li Yongxiang , Meng Xiangxin , Jiang Pengren , Xia Chaoyang
Published: October 2022

An experiment was carried out to study the characteristics of swirling pneumatic conveying of grain particles in horizontal pipeline, which can provide a reference for the design and optimization of swirling pneumatic conveying system of bulk grain pipeline. The numerical simulation of swirling pneumatic conveying under the guidance of vane swirling generator was performed via CFD‐DEM coupling method. The axial velocity of grain particles was symmetrical along the radial direction, and the tangential velocity was symmetrical along the pipe axis. When the blade number of the swirling device was 6–9, the static pressure drop and standard deviation of the flow field were large, the instantaneous energy consumption of the system and the dispersion of particles were high, and the conveying effect was good. When the blade number was six, the spiral distance of the flow field in the pipe was longer with better quality of swirl flow. In accordance with the simulation results, the best effect of swirling conveying is achieved when the equivalent diameter of the grain particles is 4 mm, the multiphase flow conveying speed is 20 m/s, and the spiral blade number of the swirling flow generator with flow deflector is six.

Practical application

In the practical application, the swirling flow generated by the swirling device can suppress the settlement of particles and the blockage of the pipeline in the straight pipe conveying, and avoid the high speed collision between particles and the pipe wall in the curved pipe conveying, slow down the impact, reduce the particle breakage and the wear of the pipe wall. The generation and maintenance of swirling flow play a key role in the long‐distance conveying of various chemical raw materials, grain, fertilizer and other granular materials. Swirling flow pneumatic conveying has the advantages of simple equipment structure, small occupation space, flexible pipeline layout, easy to automatic control, high production efficiency, recycling, environmental protection, and so on. It has become an important conveying mode in bulk material conveying.