bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Value of Recreational Benefits from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India: An Individual Travel Cost Approach
Authors: Rajkumar V. , Boopathi S.
Published: March 2022

The study reported in this article estimates the economic value of recreational benefits of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, and its determinants using the Individual Travel Cost Method. The tiger reserves in India account for more than a half of the world’s tiger population and are providing a variety of ecosystem services. Most of these services, recreational services in particular, are non-marketed in nature. Hence, the economic value of the recreation services needs to be measured so that the public’s scarce resources can be allocated efficiently for future protection, planning and managing the tiger reserves. Based on the information from primary surveys, our estimated result indicates that the annual recreational value of the MTR is equivalent to ₹114.26 million. The study also found that travel cost, respondent income, family size, gender and site quality are the most important determinants of demand for recreation at MTR. This implies that the recreational value generated by the MTR is significant and more investment in the reserve will enhance future recreational benefits as well as various other ecosystem benefits.
Calling the Shots: Determinants of Financial Decision-making and Behavior in Domestic Migrant Households in India
Authors: Kurian Vinith , Sreedharan Shashank , Valenti Fabrizio
Published: March 2022

This article explores financial decision-making and behavior in migrant households. Literature on migration and financial inclusion usually focuses on either migrant workers and their financial needs or remittance flows and their effects on development, leaving the subject of household decision-making significantly underresearched. Using primary data from two sample surveys, one with migrant workers and one with their household members, we employ descriptive analysis to study the financial decision-making processes and outcomes. Our sample is mostly composed of male Indian domestic migrants from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Our analysis considers the following migrant typology dimensions: duration of migration cycle, skills, and destination. Key household characteristics explored in our study include household size, the number of financial contributors in the household, the presence of an older male and children below the age of 18, and overall household income. Our results show that household members compete for influence over financial decisions and power balances change significantly whether the migrant is at home or at destination. These dynamics play an important role in determining household financial preferences. This suggests that financial products and interventions targeting specific financial behavior (for instance, financial literacy programs) need to take these factors into account since different households and different migrant types make these choices differently.

JEL Codes: D14, O15, O16
Atretic Cephalocele
Authors: Bennett Mónica , Costa Sofia , Almeida Ricardo , Castelo Rui , Costa José Augusto
Published: March 2022

Brain ultrasonography of a male newborn of unremarkable term gestation and prenatal ultrasonography, with a soft tissue pedicle protruding from the parieto-occipital region, covered by skin, confirmed the skull defect, and communication with the intracranial space and the magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of a 4,6 cm cystic structure, without brain tissue. Atretic cephaloceles are a rare neural tube defects and in most of the cases are not associated with other central nervous system abnormalities. The majority of patients have a good prognosis.
Achieving Brand Engagement and Brand Equity Through Co-creation Process
Authors: Pereira Teresa , Loureiro Sandra Maria Correia , Sarmento Eduardo Moraes
Published: March 2022

The current study investigates real-time marketing as one strategy for businesses to take advantage of this social and technologic ecosystem. The challenge of a more social and connected consumer is that they engage on online conversations, trends and things. The goal is to analyse the relationship among co-creation, user-generated content (UGC), brand equity and brand engagement. The proposed model revealed a good fit and proved the antecedent role of co-creation on UGC that, in turn, positively influence brand equity and engagement. This study proves that real-time marketing leads to situations of increased UGC—complementing previous findings—and it addresses the gap in the literature proving that real-time marketing leads to situations of increased brand equity and brand engagement.
Virtual Regions Strategy for Development of Tribal Communities
Authors: Kulkarni Kiran , Shivagunde Sonal
Published: March 2022

The Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in India is one of the most marginalised and deprived one in the country. The Constitution of India itself mandates exclusive approach, strategies and measures for their development. The Government of India and the state governments, along with other key stakeholders, have been taking very specific policy and programmatic interventions for reducing the disparities between the ST and other social groups for the past 74 years. The impact of these measures is clearly reflected through the improvement in vital development indicators. However, several gaps and challenges continue to persist, implying revisiting the fundamental approaches and planning processes which direct the interventions at policy and implementation level. In this article, an alternative, more focussed approach of ‘virtual region as planning unit’ takes the aspects related to geographical, cultural and developmental heterogeneity into consideration. Concrete strategies for implementation of various policies and programmes adopting the approach of virtual region planning in light of challenges have been presented.

JEL Classification: D63, H11, H53, H61, H72, H75, H83, I14, I25, I38, J15, O21, O43, Y10, Z18
Effect of surgery and radiotherapy on overall survival in patients with chondrosarcoma: A SEER-based study
Authors: Wang Miao , Song Yu , Liu Shengfu , Sun Weibing
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Chondrosarcoma is an orthopedic malignancy, and the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgery and radiotherapy (RT) on the survival of patients with chondrosarcoma.

Methods

Data were obtained from the SEER database for patients diagnosed with chondrosarcoma between 1988 and 2015. All patients were divided into surgery, RT, surgery + RT, and no surgery/no RT groups. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyze the overall survival and cancer-specific survival of patients in different treatment groups. The propensity score matching was used to balance baseline covariates between patients in the surgery and surgery + RT groups and in the RT and surgery + RT groups.

Results

Data from 3756 patients with chondrosarcoma were included in this study. The number of patients who underwent surgery, RT, surgery + RT, and no surgery or RT was 2885 (76.8%), 112 (3.0%), 403 (10.7%), and 356 (9.5%), respectively. Multivariate Cox regression models showed that treatment modality was independent risk factor for OS and CSS. Before PSM, Kaplan–Meier curves showed that OS and CSS were highest in the surgery group and lowest in the RT group. After PSM, although there was no significant difference in OS ( p = .13) and CSS ( p = .22) between the surgery and surgery + RT group, OS was longer in the surgery group than in the surgery + RT group. Additionally, OS ( p < .001) and CSS ( p = .009) were longer in the surgery + RT group than in the RT group after PSM.

Conclusion

Surgical resection was the key approach for the treatment of chondrosarcoma, while RT confers no significant advantage in improving patient survival time.
Ending seclusion and restraint use in Victoria’s mental health services: The implications for women of the Royal Commission’s recommendations
Authors: Maker Yvette
Published: March 2022

This article discusses the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System relating to the reduction and elimination of the use of seclusion and restraint. The author focuses on the implications of these recommendations for women. She argues that the Royal Commission’s proposals stand to benefit all mental health consumers but did not address the full range of gender-specific experiences and needs of women. The Andrews government has committed to implementing the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and the author identifies a range of issues that must be attended to in order to ensure these matters are dealt with.
Maybe It Is Who You Know: Social Networks and Leader–Member Exchange Differentiation
Authors: Whitney Jacob M. , Henry Sarah E. , Bradley Bret H.
Published: March 2022

Existing literature on leader–member exchange differentiation (LMXD) offers a meaningful view into the multilevel outcomes associated with leader follower relationships. However, despite the rapid growth of literature on LMXD, scholars lack a complete understanding of its antecedents or the processes that cause leaders to differentiate among team members. We address this issue by using social capital theory to propose that leaders perceive their followers’ social networks as potential resources to grow their own social capital. Because each follower has unique social networks, we propose that leaders differentiate LMX among followers depending on which followers provide them with access to the most social resources. In this conceptual paper, we posit that as leaders gain information about their followers’ social networks, they attribute status to each follower depending on their perception of that follower’s social capital. We then propose that key contingencies, such as a team’s psychological safety climate or a leader’s ambition, influence the relationship between social network characteristics and LMXD. Overall, our model provides a unique multilevel perspective of LMXD and provides important insights for both researchers and practitioners alike.
Supporting Remote Experimentation Through Computer-Mediated Communication
Authors: McCloskey Michael J. , Turner Kellie L. , Kancler David E. , Zelik Daniel J.
Published: March 2022

With the emergence of COVID-19 and the resultant reduction in direct personal contact, we were faced with a novel challenge of how to conduct studies that involved both semi-structured elicitation of detailed cognitive information and the evaluation of software interfaces and algorithms. We leveraged distributed communication technologies to support data collection across three separate human-computer interaction studies. We describe these studies in terms of specific computer-mediated communication methods and features and how we used them. We also present lessons learned, potential risks and detriments of using such approaches, (e.g., connectivity dependence, reduced ability to observe non-verbal cues, and diminished interpersonal interaction), along with how the research community can compensate for the shortcomings of distributed data collection in human-centered research.
Correlation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation With Major Histologic Subtype of Lung Adenocarcinoma According to IASLC/ATS/ERS Classification
Authors: Boukansa Sara , Benbrahim Zineb , Gamrani Sanaa , Bardai Sanae , Bouguenouch Laila , Mazti Asmae , Boutahiri Nadia , Serraj Mounia , Amara Bouchra , Ouadnouni Yassine , Smahi Mohamed , Alami Badreeddine , Mellas Nawfel , El Fatemi Hinde
Published: March 2022

Objective

Our prospective study aims to define the correlation of EGFR(epidermal growth factor receptor) mutations with major histological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma from resected and non-resected specimens, according to the WHO 2015 classification, in Moroccan North East Population.

Methods

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations of 150 primary lung adenocarcinoma were performed using Real-Time PCR or SANGER sequencing. SPSS 21 was used to assess the relationship between histological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma and EGFR mutation status.

Results

25 mutations were detected in the series of 150 lung adenocarcinomas, most of which were found in cases with papillary, acinar, patterns than without these patterns and more frequently occurred in the cases without solid pattern than with this pattern. A significant correlation was observed between EGFR mutation and acinar (P = 0,024), papillary pattern (P = 0,003) and, negative association with a solid pattern (P < 0,001). In females, EGFR mutations were significantly correlated with the acinar pattern (P = 0,02), whereas in males with the papillary pattern (P = 0,01). Association between the histologic component and exon 19 deletions and exon 21 mutations were also evaluated and, we found a significant correlation between the papillary major pattern with exon 19 mutations (P = 0,004) and, ex21 with the acinar component (P = 0,03).

Conclusion

An analysis of resected and non-resected lung ADC specimens in 150 Moroccan Northeast patients, revealed that acinar and papillary patterns may predict the presence of a mutation in the EGFR gene. While the solid major pattern may indicate a low mutation rate of the EGFR gene.
The Dual Nature of Microglia in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Microglia-Neuron Crosstalk Perspective
Authors: Xie Zhen , Meng Jie , Wu Zhou , Nakanishi Hiroshi , Hayashi Yoshinori , Kong Wei , Lan Fei , Narengaowa  , Yang Qinghu , Qing Hong , Ni Junjun
Published: March 2022

Microglia are critical players in the neuroimmune system, and their involvement in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis is increasingly being recognized. However, whether microglia play a positive or negative role in AD remains largely controversial and the precise molecular targets for intervention are not well defined. This partly results from the opposing roles of microglia in AD pathology, and is mainly reflected in the microglia-neuron interaction. Microglia can prune synapses resulting in excessive synapse loss and neuronal dysfunction, but they can also promote synapse formation, enhancing neural network plasticity. Neuroimmune crosstalk accelerates microglial activation, which induces neuron death and enhances the microglial phagocytosis of β-amyloid to protect neurons. Moreover, microglia have dual opposing roles in developing the major pathological features in AD, such as amyloid deposition and blood-brain barrier permeability. This review summarizes the dual opposing role of microglia in AD from the perspective of the interaction between neurons and microglia. Additionally, current AD treatments targeting microglia and the advantages and disadvantages of developing microglia-targeted therapeutic strategies are discussed.
A review on various configurations of the passive tuned liquid damper
Authors: Konar Tanmoy , Ghosh Aparna (Dey)
Published: March 2022

Passive tuned liquid dampers, being cost-effective, easy to implement, and reliable structural vibration control devices, have received significant attention from designers and researchers. Considerable works devoted to the extraction of higher damping, increase in volumetric efficiency, improvement in architectural adaptability, and use in a large spectrum of structures have led to the development of a variety of configurations of passive tuned liquid dampers. Rigorous research efforts are being devoted to the utilization of different forms of tuned liquid dampers for the vibration control of buildings, bridges, chimneys, wind turbines, etc. However, till now, only a few varieties of tuned liquid dampers have been implemented in real-life structures, while the others require further refinement. This necessitates the present work, through which a systematic review on tuned liquid dampers of various configurations for structural response reduction is presented, with a focus on the design of the dampers. To organize the review in a structured manner, the large family of tuned liquid dampers is categorized into five groups based on their energy dissipation mechanism, namely the tuned sloshing damper, tuned liquid column damper, combined tuned sloshing damper-tuned liquid column damper system, compliant liquid damper, and liquid damper with submerged tuned oscillator. The modeling, analysis, design, and performance-related aspects of the different varieties of tuned liquid dampers are covered. The advantages and applicability of the different types of tuned liquid dampers are highlighted along with their real-life installations. The current gaps in the development of the various tuned liquid damper configurations and scope of future developments are also identified.
Mainstreaming Business Models for Sustainability in Mature Industries: Leveraging Alternative Institutional Logics for Optimal Distinctiveness
Authors: Vernay Anne-Lorène , Cartel Mélodie , Pinkse Jonatan
Published: March 2022

Addressing global sustainability challenges requires a mainstreaming of business models for sustainability (BMfS) in mature industries. However, the presence of an already dominant mainstream business model in an industry tends to hold back BMfS. This article investigates how new types of BMfS can become generally accepted and widely adopted in an industry. It presents a qualitative study of the mainstreaming of BMfS in the Dutch electricity industry. The findings show that this process depends on entrepreneurs’ capacity to (1) incorporate alternative institutional logics into the design of BMfS to achieve optimal distinctiveness and (2) to directly alter the dominant institutional logic of the industry to make it more conducive to BMfS. Furthermore, successful BMfS act as anomalies that indirectly alter the industry’s dominant institutional logic. Anomalies support a self-reinforcing loop that accelerates the mainstreaming process. We integrate these findings into a dynamic model of the mainstreaming of BMfS.
Bridging the Understanding of Sustainability Accounting and Organizational Change
Authors: Garcia-Torea Nicolas , Larrinaga Carlos , Luque-Vílchez Mercedes
Published: March 2022

The role of sustainability accounting in promoting organizational change toward more sustainable practices is a relevant area of research for both accounting and organization studies. Despite the interdisciplinary nature of this topic, while accounting research was imagining and exploring the transformative potential of social and environmental accounting practices since the inception of this activity, scholars in organization studies have recently developed a more general interest in this matter. This article aims to review how the association between sustainability accounting and reporting and sustainable organizational change has been examined in both disciplines to elaborate on some potential bridges to foster the creation of an interdisciplinary research field around this association, where a fertile conversation could develop. The mapping of this literature prompts us to propose five bridges around: how accounting and reporting are conceived; the direction of causality between sustainability accounting and organizational change; the assemblage of explanatory factors; theoretical foundations; and research methods.
Under Pressure? The Link Between Mandatory Climate Reporting and Firms’ Carbon Performance
Authors: Bauckloh Tobias , Klein Christian , Pioch Thomas , Schiemann Frank
Published: March 2022

We examine whether and how mandatory climate reporting leads to changes in firms’ carbon emissions. Drawing on legitimacy theory and using a difference-in-differences design, we assess the effect of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2010, on the carbon performance defined as carbon intensity and absolute carbon emissions of affected firms. We find that firms affected by the GHGRP improve their carbon intensity significantly more than unaffected firms after the introduction of the GHGRP, but not their absolute carbon emissions. The results are robust to changes in the difference-in-differences design. Overall, our study contributes to research on mandatory climate reporting by assessing the GHGRP’s suitability to generate a real sustainable change in firms’ operations and reduce their negative impact on our climate.
Parent–Adolescent Political Disagreement and Adolescent Political Development amid Duterte’s Presidency: A Positioning Analysis
Authors: Gamboa Lance Calvin L. , Carangan Athena May Jean M. , Agida Julia Izah S.
Published: March 2022

Despite its significant ramifications on promoting youth political competence, literature has paid little attention to parent–adolescent political disagreement and the relational dynamics underlying the phenomenon. Our study deploys positioning analysis to examine how Filipino adolescents navigate conflict-filled parent–adolescent political discussions, especially those in relation to President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership. Interview accounts yield three storylines characterizing political disagreement episodes among participants and their parents: a control struggle storyline, a credibility contest storyline and a moral scramble storyline. Each storyline consists of adolescents and parents adopting competing positions to gain discursive advantages related to their developmental, rational or moral standing. They leverage these advantages towards influencing political opinions articulated within the family space. We conclude with a discussion of our findings vis-à-vis the need to reconceptualize political disagreement as a dynamic process, the interface between micro-level parent–adolescent political disagreement and macro-level sociopolitical discourses and the functions political disagreement serves in adolescent development.
Management of bilateral conjunctival squamous carcinoma following ocular cicatricial pemphigoid: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Franco Elena , Salgari Niccolò , Dugo Marco , Franco Maria , Stefanelli Antonio , Franco Filippo
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study is to report a case of bilateral highly locally invasive conjunctival squamous neoplasia in the clinical setting of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), and to review the available literature about this rare association.

Case description: A man presented with chronic bilateral conjunctivitis and forniceal foreshortening. He had been previously diagnosed with OCP, and received proper therapy with systemic Dapsone and local steroids. After six months from treatment initiation, the patient complained of worsening symptoms and underwent two more biopsies, revealing a bilateral conjunctival squamous neoplasia. Conclusion: In rare cases, OCP can be associated with conjunctival squamous neoplasia. In case of suspected clinical modifications, it is important to make an early diagnosis by repeating several conjunctival biopsies or by performing less invasive diagnostic techniques (e.g. impression cytology of the ocular surface epithelium) to avoid unnecessary surgical damages.
Retinal atrophy and markers of systemic and cerebrovascular severity in homozygous sickle cell disease
Authors: Martin Gilles C. , Brousse Valentine , Connes Philippe , Grevent David , Kossorotoff Manoelle , Da Costa Lydie , Bourdeau Hélène , Charlot Keyne , Boutonnat-Faucher Bénédicte , Allali Slimane , De Montalembert Mariane , Bremond-Gignac Dominique , Vidal Pierre-Paul , Robert Matthieu P.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

While paramacular retinal atrophy (PRA) is known to be found in 48% of eyes of adults and 42% of eyes of children with homozygous SCD (SS-SCD), the aim of this study is to assess the association between PRA and red blood cell (RBC) deformability, hematological markers and brain imaging abnormalities in SS-SCD.

Methods

This study is a subset of DREAM2, a prospective observational study performed between August 2015 and August 2016. Children (5–17 years) with SS-SCD and no history of large vessel vasculopathy, were included. Ophthalmological characteristics including visual acuity, fundus examination, OCT of central and temporal retina (with several retinal thickness measurements) were explored in relation with RBC deformability (ektacytometry), hematological and biochemical (hemolysis parameters), and neurological (cerebral oxygenation estimated by Near Infrared Spectroscopy, brain magnetic resonance imaging) investigations.

Results

17 children (5 boys; mean age: 13 years) with complete ophthalmological investigations were included in the analysis; 8 exhibited PRA. RBC deformability was found to be significantly lower in children with PRA for measurements made at 1.69 Pa (0.16 a.u ± 0.02 vs 0.21 a.u ± 0.03, p = 0.02) and above, as well as cerebral oxygenation (59.25% ± 9.9 vs 71.53% ± 4.9, p = 0.02). A significant positive correlation was found between temporal retinal thickness and hemoglobin level (ρ = 0.65, p = 0.007), hematocrit (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.04) and RBC deformability at 3 Pa (ρ = 0.75, p = 0.005) and above.

Conclusions

These results suggest that PRA could be an early marker of systemic severity and cerebral oxygenation in SCD. Whether it could help predicting cerebral vasculopathy requires further investigations.
Student teachers’ and teacher educators’ pedagogical reflections on piano courses in Finnish primary school teacher education
Authors: Sepp Anu , Ruismäki Heikki , Hietanen Lenita
Published: March 2022

Reflection is a key component in teachers’ educational programs. As teachers transfer human values through the subject(s) they teach, their pedagogical thinking plays an essential role in decision-making. As part of the Arctic Reformative and Exploratory Teaching Profession (ArkTOP) project (Finland), this case study examines the potential for developing pedagogical thinking in the education of primary school teachers. The aim of this study was to identify the levels of pedagogical thinking in students and educators through studying their reflections on piano courses. The results indicated that student teachers reflected on an action level rather than upon metatheory. Teacher educators shared reflections from both an object theory and metatheory level, while the student teachers’ reflections were focused on their individual skills when making music. Thus, teacher educators should offer student teachers more guidance on how to reflect upon their activities and provide argumentation for their possible pedagogical decisions.
Factors affecting consumers’ impulsive buying behavior in tourism mobile commerce using SEM and fsQCA
Authors: Um Taehyee , Chung Namho , Stienmetz Jason
Published: March 2022

Transactions through mobile commerce for tourism-related products and services are increasing. This phenomenon can lead to impulse buying due to technological features and personal inclinations. However, few studies have shed light on the phenomenon empirically. The purpose of this study is to investigate what motivates buyers to purchase tourism products through mobile commerce and how these motives impact consumers’ impulse buying behavior. First, we interviewed participants to study their motivation for mobile commerce application use. Then, we extracted the motivation factors and examined how these factors affect impulse purchase intentions for tourism products through mobile commerce applications. To do this, we administered a questionnaire survey. In addition, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) provided in-depth analysis of factors that can influence impulse buying. Results show that convenience and ubiquity have an effect on perceived value. Furthermore, perceived value, notice of special promotion, and impulsiveness have a direct effect on impulse buying behavior. According to the results of the fsQCA, not only impulsiveness but also other factors can serve as antecedents to impulse buying behavior.
G.L. v. Italy: The ambiguous role of article 14 European court of human rights in inclusive education cases
Authors: Spinoy Marie , Willems Kurt
Published: March 2022

In September 2020, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of G.L. v. Italy found the Italian authorities in violation of their Convention obligations towards a child with disabilities. More specifically, as they had taken insufficient action to secure the implementation of support to which the learner had a legal right, Italy had violated its obligations under Article 2 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights (‘FP’, right to education) combined with Article 14 European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’, prohibition of discrimination) (para. 70). The judgment appears to be a cause for joy amongst those advocating for inclusive education. Yet the ECtHR’s current reasoning might not only herald positive developments in this area. In line with some previous cases, the Court uses Article 14 as a stepping stone for the state obligation to provide inclusive education. In considering reasonable accommodations through the lens of inclusive education, the Court conflates the two analyses. These entangled analyses under Article 14, as applied in G.L. and in the prior judgement of Stoian, could create negative incentives for states to draft legal provisions concerning inclusive education and take the necessary steps for implementation there.
Penetration trajectory of rigid projectile in the heterogeneous meso-scale concrete target
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wang Zhiyong , Wang Zhihua , Shu Xuefeng , Li QM
Published: March 2022

For the normal penetration of a symmetrical rigid projectile into a concrete target with coarse aggregates, the lateral deflection may occur under certain conditions depending on geometrical parameters of the projectile, impact velocity and coarse aggregate distribution. In this work, four dimensionless numbers of projectile, that is, impact factor [Formula: see text], length-to-diameter ratio [Formula: see text], nose factor [Formula: see text] and the relative location of mass center [Formula: see text], are employed to study the effects of projectile parameters on the deflection of penetration trajectory. Numerical studies based on three-dimensional (3D) meso-scale concrete model are conducted and the projectile trajectories are obtained under different dimensionless numbers. According to the development of the deflection angle during the rigid projectile penetration into meso-scale concrete, the motion of the projectile can be divided into four stages, that is, initial deflection, rapid change, deflection rebound and final stage. The numerical results show that, for the same meso-scale concrete target, the deflection of the projectile trajectory becomes larger with the increases of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], while the deflection angle of projectile decreases with the increase of [Formula: see text].
Does 18F-FDG PET/CT change the surgical management of potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases?
Authors: Jonsson Josefin , Hemmingsson Oskar , Strengbom Rebecca , Axelsson Jan , Riklund Katrine , Nyström Hanna
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

Resectability assessment of patients with colorectal liver metastases is based on computed tomography and liver magnetic resonance imaging. Addition of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography has been recommended, but the impact of the added information remains unclear. The primary aim of this study was to determine how preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography changed management in patients with potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases. The secondary aim was to investigate whether findings on positron emission tomography/computed tomography correlated to metastatic disease in cases with extended surgery and influenced oncological outcomes.

Methods:

A retrospective observational study of the impact of adding positron emission tomography/computed tomography to conventional imaging in the surgical decision-making of colorectal liver metastases. All patients with colorectal liver metastases diagnosed by conventional imaging were included and assessed by a multidisciplinary team conference at Umeå University Hospital between June 2013 and December 2017. Eligibility criteria were all patients with potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases. Patients who underwent preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography in addition to conventional radiology were compared with those who underwent conventional imaging only.

Results:

151/220 patients underwent preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Findings on positron emission tomography/computed tomography changed the management in 10.6% of the patients. Eight patients were excluded from surgery after detection by positron emission tomography/computed tomography of extrahepatic disease. Eight patients underwent more extended surgery than initially planned due to positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Five of these positron emission tomography-positive resected sites were verified by pathology as metastatic disease. No difference in overall survival was seen following surgical resection in patients with and without a preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Conclusions:

Preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography resulted in a changed surgical management in 10.6% of cases in a selected cohort.
Brief cognitive-behavioral training for tinnitus relief using a mobile application: A pilot open trial
Authors: Oron Yahav , Ben David Boaz M , Doron Guy
Published: March 2022

Background: Tinnitus may be a disabling, distressing disorder whereby patients report of sounds, in the absence of external stimulus. Recent evidence supports the effectiveness of psychological interventions, particularly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based intervention for the reduction of tinnitus-related distress and disability. This study assessed the effectiveness of mobile delivered cognitive training exercises to reduce tinnitus-related distress. Materials and Methods: Out of 26 patients diagnosed with tinnitus, 14 participants completed all 48 levels of the app. Levels of pre-post intervention tinnitus intrusiveness and handicap were evaluated using the short Hebrew version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (H-THI). Mood was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Participants were instructed to complete 3–4 min of daily training for 14 days. Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA of completers showed a significant large-effect size reduction on H-THI scores. 50% of completers have shown reliable change (indicated by their Reliable Change Index [RCI] scores). No significant change was found in mood. Discussion: Several minutes a day of training using a CBT-based app targeting maladaptive believes may decreased patients' tinnitus intrusiveness and handicap. Conclusions: Mobile apps can provide access to CBT-based interventions, using an efficient, inviting and simple platform, addressing the ramifications of tinnitus symptoms.
Machine learning model for umbilical cord classification using combination coiling index and texture feature based on 2-D Doppler ultrasound images
Authors: Pradipta Gede A. , Wardoyo Retantyo , Musdholifah Aina , Sanjaya I Nyoman H.
Published: March 2022

The umbilical cord is an organ that circulates oxygen and nutrition from mother to fetus during pregnancy. This study aims to classify the umbilical cord based on ultrasound images. The similarity of shape and coil between each class becomes a challenge. Therefore, it requires feature values that are relevant to the characteristics of these three classes. The condition of imbalanced data sets in this study is also an obstacle that causes the classifier’s performance to degrade on minority classes. Therefore, this study proposes a machine learning model capable of properly dealing with imbalanced data sets and recognizing the umbilical cord class.

Furthermore, this study proposes a new feature extraction method, namely, the umbilical coiling index (UCI), which directly adopts obstetricians’ knowledge. The proposed model consists of five stages: image preprocessing, feature extraction, feature selection, oversampling data using SMOTE, and Classification. Machine learning method observations were carried out comprehensively on five based classifiers: Random Forest, KNN, Decision tree, SVM, Naïve Bayes, and Multiclassifier. The results showed that the Random forest and Multiclassifier methods provide the highest accuracy, precision, recall, and F-measure performance in imbalanced data sets.
Recent strategy to study fractal-order viscoelastic polymer materials using an ancient Chinese algorithm and He’s formulation
Authors: Elías-Zúñiga Alex , Palacios-Pineda Luis M , Olvera-Trejo Daniel , Martínez-Romero Oscar
Published: March 2022

This paper introduces a novel methodology to determine the frequency-amplitude relationship of fractal-order viscoelastic polymer materials using the two-scale fractal dimension transform, the equivalent power-form representation of the conservative restoring forces, and a simple coordinate transformation to eliminate viscoelastic effects. Then, the ancient Chinese algorithm Ying Bu Zu Shu and He’s formulation are used for obtaining the frequency-amplitude relationship. Simulation results obtained from the derived expressions exhibit good agreement when compared to numerical integration solutions. This article elucidates how the molecular structure of polymer chains influences the relaxation oscillations as a function of the fractal parameter values.
A feminist hacklab’s resilience towards anti-democratic forces
Authors: Wuschitz Stefanie
Published: March 2022

Makerspaces and hacklabs are believed to encourage a positive attitude towards gaining computer skills. Within these communities for peer production, citizens can apply cutting-edge technologies in DIY projects. In recent decades, mushrooming makerspaces and hacklabs were embraced by the tech industry and governments alike. Feminist makerspaces and hacklabs, however, as they are centred around a queer feminist agenda, have raised eyebrows. In order to foster diversity in tech development, they create safer spaces for self-expression. Here, feminist lay(wo)men* (To emphasise that the category ‘Woman’ is constructed and that more people than only those who identify as women are being included, one uses the sign * after the term ‘women’ ), makers, designers, artists and tinkerers experiment with open-source hardware and software. Art and design projects emerging from feminist hacklabs focus on issues of representation and democratic participation in digital media, as well as on ways of reclaiming one’s own body. This article tries to unpack how, after an exhibition on sexual health norms, a feminist hacklab was attacked by local right-wing and conservative politicians. The attack resulted in the defunding of the feminist hacklab. But it also started a transformation process within the collective, as members became aware of critical interferences of diffracting marginalisations. The crisis triggered a discussion on how each member was threatened to very different degrees; for example, there was more at stake for members depending on their legal status in the country. The right-wing and conservative campaign against the feminist hacklab damaged the initiative, but at the same time it pushed the collective to generate increased vehemence and resilience.
Is India’s Right to Education Act a Rightful Share? Distributive Politics, Education and the Media
Authors: Gilbertson Amanda , Arnold Ben
Published: March 2022

India’s Right to Education Act contains a provision requiring private schools to educate underprivileged children without charging fees, hinting at a new politics of distribution akin to James Ferguson’s notion of the ‘rightful share’. Through analysis of coverage of this provision in English language newspapers, we argue that the role of the media in building legitimacy for a ‘rightful share’ is undermined: by critics’ representations of a market-based distribution of education as more just; by supporters’ use of traditional welfare language of compassion for the meritorious poor; and, by reports of implementation failures that undermine the value of social assistance. This points to the significance of universality, unconditionality and clear distributive logics to the concept of the ‘rightful share’.
A self-matching model for online anomaly recognition of safety monitoring data in dams
Authors: Zhang Fang , Lu Xiang , Li Yanling , Gao Zhiliang , Zhang Han , Huang Huibao
Published: March 2022

The online anomaly recognition of real-time dam safety monitoring data, such as deformation and seepage data from the automatic sensing instruments (e.g., the osmometer and the multi-point displacement meter), has the premise of ensuring data reliability, and it is also one of the core functional modules of online dam safety monitoring. To compensate for the limitation of a single method to identify outliers and further improve the reliability and the rapidity of the anomaly recognition of dam safety monitoring data, a self-matching model based on data-types for online anomaly recognition (SMM) was proposed in this paper. Based on a detailed classification of dam safety monitoring data sequences, this article describes a comparison and analysis of the applicability of a statistical regression model based on the least-squares regression (LSR) model and the online robust recognition and early warning (RREW) model for different datatype sequences. For the single-step-type sequences and normal-type sequences with low fitting accuracy, which could not be completely identified by the two models above, an improved cloud model recognition method based on the diurnal variation rate (ICM) was proposed to compensate for the limitations. Finally, the SMM was determined, that is, the LSR model was used for the multi-point-outlier-type and normal-type sequences with high fitting accuracy, the RREW model method was used for the double-step-type and oscillatory-type sequences, and the ICM method was used for the single-step-type sequences and normal-type sequences with low fitting accuracy. The engineering application of the Dadu River Basin showed that this method effectively solved the problems of low calculation efficiency and a 2% misjudgment rate when using the RREW model alone, and this method greatly improved the accuracy and timeliness of the anomaly recognition of dam safety monitoring data, so it had important theoretical significance and engineering application value.
Collaborating with the crowd
Authors: Förster Nick , Bratoev Ivan , Fellner Jakob , Schubert Gerhard , Petzold Frank
Published: March 2022

Microscopic agent-based simulations promise the meaningful inclusion of crowd dynamics in planning processes. However, such complex urban issues depend on a multiplicity of criteria. Thus, an isolated model cannot represent the walk of pedestrians meaningfully in planning contexts. This paper reframes crowd simulation as collaborative experimentation and embeds it directly in the design process. Beyond the simulation algorithm, this perspective draws attention to user interactions, interfaces, and visualizations as crucial simulation elements. Through a prototype, we combine an agent-based pedestrian simulation with a hybrid physical–digital interface. Based on this configuration, we explore requirements of the early design stages and accordingly discuss concepts for interaction, simulation, and visualization. The prototype blends user inputs with intuitive design interactions, adapts the simulation process to qualitative and dynamic negotiations, and presents results immediately in the discussed context. Thus, it aligns crowd simulation with contingent collaborations and reveals its potential in the early design stages.
Short Take: Collecting Data from a Vulnerable Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Harcey Sela R. , Gauthier Robin , Markowski Kelly L. , Smith Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2022

Conducting field research with a vulnerable population is difficult under the most auspicious conditions, and these difficulties only increase during a pandemic. Here, we describe the practical challenges and ethical considerations surrounding a recent data collection effort with a high-risk population during the COVID-19 pandemic. We detail our strategies related to research design, site selection, and ethical review.
Do Lawmakers Respond to Crisis Ideologically or Pragmatically?
Authors: Cayton Adam
Published: March 2022

How do members of Congress respond to economic shocks in their districts? This study uses constituency-level unemployment data from 2006–2011 and data on the policy instruments included in individual bills to estimate the district-level effects of the Great Recession on the kinds of policies individual lawmakers introduce. Few previous studies have examined lawmaker responsiveness to rapid changes in district conditions and fewer still examine policy instruments instead of issue priorities. Measuring instruments matters because they capture what the policy actually does (as opposed to what it is about) which is both consequential and ideologically loaded. The results show that Democrats and Republicans respond differently. Republicans are more responsive, particularly with policy instruments that conform to their ideology, while Democrats are as likely (in the case of tax cuts), or more likely (in the case of spending) to support economic stimulus without an economic crisis. Differences in the macropolitical situation cannot be ruled out as an explanation of the differences between parties.
Partisans Hear, but They Don’t Listen: Testing the Limits of Partisanship in Risky Decision Making
Authors: Swigger Nathaniel , Buelow Melissa , Wirth James , Okdie Bradley
Published: March 2022

Political partisanship stems from the fundamental process of categorizing one’s social world and influences important behavioral outcomes, such information processing. The present study examines the role of political partisanship in risky decision making as assessed with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), a common ecologically valid behavioral task. Participants ( N = 881) were randomly assigned to modified IGT conditions: one in which the advantageous card decks were labeled with the same political affiliation as the participant and one in which the advantageous card decks were labeled with the opposite political affiliation. We demonstrate that partisan heuristics can enhance or inhibit good decision making. We found partisan heuristics enhanced decision making if a partisans’ identity was congruent with clearly advantageous options. However, when the options are more ambiguous, partisan bias interferes with partisans’ ability to make advantageous decisions. Partisan bias has limits though, as partisans reject unambiguously bad options, even if those options carry their party label.