bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histological, Immunohistochemical, Biomechanical, and Wettability Evaluations of the Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Membranes Derived from Canine Blood
Authors: Graciani Josiane C.A.O.R. , Rahal Sheila C. , Silva William M. , Moroz Ivan , Fonseca-Alves Carlos E. , Govoni Verônica M. , Kano Washington T.
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to perform histological, immunohistochemical, biomechanical, and wettability assessments of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) membranes obtained from the blood of healthy dogs. Ten client-owned Labrador Retriever dogs were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained from the external jugular vein using a vacuum tube without anticoagulant, which was immediately centrifuged at 400 g for 12 min in a dedicated centrifuge. The L-PRF clot was removed from the tube, and the red clot was released from the buffy coat using a spatula. The membrane was produced using a PRF box. Histological examination identified the three portions of the L-PRF membranes. The first portion was composed mainly of red blood cells with the presence of a low number of leukocytes among them. The second portion was composed of white blood cells, mainly neutrophils. The third portion was composed of the fibrin network which was characterized by acidophilic staining. The immunohistochemical analysis showed that vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor were expressed in all samples at different intensities, both in cellular components and fibrin mesh. The tensile test and wettability assessments were measured in membranes 30 min and 3 h after production. The 30 min L-PRF membranes supported twice the ultimate tensile strength compared to 3 h L-PRF membranes. The wettability of the 30 min sample membranes was statistically higher than the 3 h sample membranes. In conclusion, the centrifugation protocol allowed production of the L-PRF membrane using canine blood and this was confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The mechanical resistance and wettability of the L-PRF membrane were significantly reduced over time.
Treaty flexibility unilaterally boosted: Reservations to European Social Charters
Authors: Burek Wojciech
Published: February 2023

Thus far, research into reservations to treaties has often overlooked reservations formulated to both European Social Charters (and its Protocols) and the relevant European Committee of Social Rights practices. There are several pressing reasons to further explore this gap in existing literature. First, an analysis of practices within the European Social Charters (and Protocols) will provide a fuller picture of the reservations and responses of treaty bodies. Second, in the context of previous landmark events it is worth noting the practices of another human rights treaty monitoring body that is often omitted from analyses. Third, the very fact that the formulation of reservations to treaties gives parties such far-reaching flexibility to shape their contractual obligations (à la carte) is surprising. An important outcome of the research is the finding that, despite the far-reaching flexibility present in the treaties analysed, both the States Parties and the European Committee of Social Rights generally treat them as conventional treaties to which the general rules on reservations apply. Consequently, there is no basis for assuming that the mere fact of adopting the à la carte system in a treaty with no reservation clause implies a formal prohibition of reservations or otherwise discourages their formulation.
Experimental simulation of alternating aerodynamic loads induced by high-speed trains passing in tunnels
Authors: Wang Qianxuan , Hu Zhelong , Liang Xifeng , Wu Yitong , Zhou Wei , Yang Yi , Xu Xiangnan , Wang Sumei
Published: February 2023

Tunnel passing at high speed produces aerodynamic load on railway trains, which may bring about fatigue failure on the car body, and damages passenger comfort due to interior penetration of the alternating wave. In this work, the air suction experiment approaches were developed. It performs excellently through internal and external loading utilizing valve controlling strategies. It is validated with an in-transit vehicle test when the train runs through 3 different tunnel lengths. The relative deviation between simulation and vehicle tests goes no more than 5.0%. Research outcome indicates that the proposed method provides an important experiment means for passenger comfort and car-body fatigue behavior research.
High-dimensional multi-objective optimization algorithm for combustion chamber of aero-engine based on artificial neural network-multi-objective particle swarm optimization
Authors: Liang Shuang , Li Lang , Tian Ye , Song Wenyan , Le Jialing , Guo Mingming , Xiong Shihang , Zhang Chenlin
Published: February 2023

This paper considers optimizing the performance of high-temperature combustion chamber of an aero-engine based on a concentric and hierarchical model. First, sample data for the design variables are obtained based on Latin hypercube sampling method, and a one-dimensional program is used to obtain the true values of combustion efficiency and total pressure loss corresponding to each group of variables. The obtained data are then pre-processed to establish a dataset. Second, a multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) architecture is designed and a surrogate model of the combustion-related performance of the combustor is established using a data-driven method. The results of global sensitivity analysis based on variance show that ratio of fuel flow to air flow (fuel–air ratio) and the total inlet pressure are the most important factors influencing the two objective functions. Finally, we optimize the multi-objective combustion-related performance of the surrogate model by applying the particle swarm optimization algorithm to it. The results of experiments show that the ANN-based model could accurately predict the efficiency of combustion and total pressure loss of the chamber, yielding root mean-squared errors of 0.0107 and 0.3032%, respectively. It also had better generalization ability than the cubic polynomial surrogate model. Compared with the cubic polynomial model, it generated an optimal Pareto solution set as prediction that had higher values in both objective functions. The proposed model might require better data that can be obtained using intelligent sampling methods so that deeper neural networks can be designed to reduce error and improve its optimization design.
Revisiting sample size planning for receiver operating characteristic studies: A confidence interval approach with precision and assurance
Authors: Shu Di , Zou Guangyong
Published: February 2023

Estimation of areas under receiver operating characteristic curves and their differences is a key task in diagnostic studies. Here we develop closed-form sample size formulas for such studies with a focus on estimation rather than hypothesis testing, by explicitly incorporating pre-specified precision and assurance, with precision denoted by the lower limit of confidence interval and assurance denoted by the probability of achieving that lower limit. For sample size estimation purposes, we introduce a normality-based variance function for valid estimation allowing for unequal variances of observations in the disease and non-disease groups. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed formulas produce empirical assurance probability close to the pre-specified assurance probability and empirical coverage probability close to the nominal level. Compared with a frequently used existing variance function, the proposed function provides more accurate and efficient sample size estimates. For an illustration of the proposed formulas, we present real-world worked examples. To facilitate implementation, we have developed an online calculator openly available at https://dishu.page/calculator/ .
Norman Dott's dome-shaped neurosurgical operating theatres in Edinburgh (1960–2020) – End of an era
Authors: Demetriades Andreas K , Chan Chelsea , Richardson Ruth
Published: February 2023

When the new twin operating theatres at the Edinburgh Department of Surgical Neurology opened for the first time on 1 July 1960, they revealed a revolutionary space-pod design. The new department had been designed to firmly establish the specialty in Scotland and the UK, setting the stage for a period of real progress. The most distinctive feature of the two operating theatres was their egg shape, including domed ceilings pierced with operating lights, general lighting, ventilation grilles and viewing ports for visitors. Norman Dott (1897–1973) and his colleagues set the foundation for prosperity and success that lasted decades. However, 60 years after their opening, the DCN theatres at Western General Hospital shut forever, as the department moved to the new Department of Clinical Neurosciences, at the new Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. Echoes of the old theatres will live on in the new; the boldness of the design of the original theatres reflected the close cooperation between clinician–teachers, architects and administrators for the public good. This tradition of tangible confidence and optimism will hopefully carry into a new era, in the new hospital.
Supporting ethical end-of-life care during pandemic: Palliative care team perspectives
Authors: De Luca Enrico , Sena Barbara , Cataldi Silvia
Published: February 2023

Background

Italy was the first European country to be involved with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many healthcare professionals were deployed and suddenly faced end-of-life care management and its challenges.

Aims

To understand the experiences of palliative care professionals deployed in supporting emergency and critical care staff during the COVID-19 first and second pandemic waves.

Research design

A qualitative descriptive design was adopted, and in-depth interviews were used to investigate and analyse participants’ perceptions and points of view.

Participants and research context

Twenty-four healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, and spiritual support) from the most affected areas of Italy were recruited via the Italian society of palliative care and researchers’ network.

Ethical considerations

The University Institutional Board granted ethical approval. Participants gave written informed consent and agreed to be video-recorded.

Findings

The overarching theme highlighted participants’ experience supporting health professionals to negotiate ethical complexity in end-of-life care. Crucial topics that emerged within themes were: training emergency department professionals on ethical dimensions of palliative and end-of-life care, preserving dying patients’ dignity and developing ethical competence in managing end-of-life care.

Conclusions

Our study showed palliative care teams’ challenges in supporting health professionals’ ethical awareness in emergencies. However, while they highlighted their concerns in dealing with the emergency staff’s lack of ethical perspectives, they also reported the positive impact of an ethically-informed palliative care approach. Lastly, this study illuminates how palliative care professionals’ clinical and ethical competence might have assisted a cultural change in caring for dying patients during COVID-19 and future emergencies.
Top Management Team Political Polarization and Its Implications for Strategic Decision-Making
Authors: DeBode Jason D. , Fox Corey J. , McSweeney Jordan J.
Published: February 2023

Small teams’ decisions play a major role in shaping business and society. As political differences permeate our lives, their influence is increasingly being felt throughout organizations. Yet, little is known about how executives’ political differences influence the Top Management Team’s decision-making processes. We integrate literatures on executive diversity, political polarization, and small teams to develop a new construct, Top Management Team political polarization, and examine how this team characteristic influences two critical parts of the strategic decision-making process: comprehensiveness and speed. We also propose behavioral integration reduces polarization’s drawbacks, offering improvements to decision-making processes in these polarizing times.
Knowledge Test Development for Use in Social Work Student Outcomes Assessment
Authors: Krase Kathryn , Delong Hamilton Tobi , Sullivan Dana
Published: February 2023

Purpose: This article describes the process used to develop and pilot the Social Work Education Assessment Project (SWEAP) Curriculum instrument, a standardized multiple-choice test developed to assess student knowledge as it relates to each of the nine generalist practice competencies of the 2015 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Method: An expert panel evaluated instrument construct, content, and face validity. Test–retest reliability analysis was conducted on nine pilot instruments. Further reliability analysis was conducted on 2382 instruments. Results: Analyses support the validity and reliability of the SWEAP Curriculum Instrument. Discussion: Knowledge is one of the four dimensions that relate to each of the nine generalist practice-level social work competencies identified in EPAS 2015. Therefore, the evaluation of student knowledge is a vital component of social work program assessment. The SWEAP Curriculum Instrument is just one possible method for measuring student competency related to the knowledge dimension.
Investigating Premarital Experiences (Dating, Engagement, and Wedding) in Women With Divorce Tendency: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Arianfar Nayere , Etemadi Ozra , Hosseinian Simin
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the premarital experiences (dating, engagement, and wedding) in women with divorce tendency. The population of the study included all married women with divorce tendency who referred to counseling centers in Isfahan, Iran due to marital problems over the years 2020–2021. Moreover, this study was conducted with the participation of specialists and therapists familiar with marital and premarital issues and divorce. The relevant literature including texts, articles, and scientific books related to the subject was also reviewed. The data for the study were gathered via three tools of (1) 10 semistructured interviews with married women with divorce tendency, (2) interviews with eight experts, and (3) study of scientific texts. Ten female participants were selected using purposive sampling from those who expressed a tendency to divorce in the diagnostic interview. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The results consisted of 12 subcategories over the three stages of dating, engagement, and wedding. These were then classified according to their similarities and differences by comparing their content under two main categories of cognitive-dispositional experiences and behavioral experiences. The results showed that identifying premarital experiences of women with divorce tendency and providing appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies could be a great help in stabilizing the couple's relationship, increasing marital satisfaction, preventing divorce, and promoting community health.
The Mediating Effect of Psychological Status on Women's Decision to Disclose Partner Violence
Authors: Al-Modallal Hanan
Published: February 2023

Purpose The purpose of the study was to investigate the mediating effect of psychological health status on women's decision to disclose their exposure to partner violence. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study was collected from women working in a higher educational institution. Data about partner violence, psychological health, and decision to disclose the violence experience were collected. Path analysis was used to meet the study aim. Results: Major results revealed that women's psychological health status influenced their decision to disclose violence and psychological status worked as a mediating factor between experiences of psychological violence and decision to disclose partner violence. Conclusions: Employment, education, self-esteem, and lack of economic suffering were protective factors against the development of psychological problems in women. Disclosure of violence is considered a coping strategy that prevents progression of more psychological health problems and enables women to continue in their life. It is recommended to enhance women's disclosure of violence which, consequently, enables them to get support and advice. Further, employers need to be encouraged to provide protective tools such as proper security measures to safeguard their employees. Finally, it is recommended to use standardized screening tools as part of the assessment protocol in health care settings.
Visualizing Uncertainty to Promote Clinicians’ Understanding of Measurement Error
Authors: Frans Niek , Hummelen Benjamin , Albers Casper J. , Paap Muirne C.S.
Published: February 2023

Measurement error is an inherent part of any test score. This uncertainty is generally communicated in ways that can be difficult to understand for clinical practitioners. In this empirical study, we evaluate the impact of several communication formats on the interpretation of measurement accuracy and its influence on the decision-making process in clinical practice. We provided 230 clinical practitioners with score reports in five formats: textual, error bar, violin plot, diamond plot, and quantile dot plot. We found that quantile dot plots significantly increased accuracy in the assessment of measurement uncertainty compared with other formats. However, a direct relation between visualization format and decision quality could not be found. Although traditional confidence intervals and error bars were favored by many participants due to their familiarity, responses revealed several misconceptions that make the suitability of these formats for communicating uncertainty questionable. Our results indicate that new visualization formats can successfully reduce errors in interpretation.
The Day After: An Ethnodrama About Teachers’ Decision-Making Amid Silencing School Policies
Authors: Hadley Dunn Alyssa
Published: February 2023

This ethnodrama, based on hundreds of interviews with educators around the United States, takes readers into a school on the day after a national tragedy. Grounded in the theory of Days After Pedagogy, the characters portray the nuances and complexities of educators’ decision-making on days after, especially when working amid silencing school policies. A post-script includes theory, methods, and implications.
Longing for Home or Promising of One: A Found Poem Exploration of Young Female Migrant’s Experiences of Displacement—Voices From Sweden
Authors: Hosseini Mostafa
Published: February 2023

Poetry can fulfill different purposes—it can be therapeutic, a testimony, or a rebellious expression of injustice. This article presents a thematic found poem exploration, of six Afghan female migrants, aged 19 to 24. They arrived in Sweden between 2013 and 2016. I have translated the interviews verbatim from Dari to Swedish and finally into English. The following poems reflect a period of my participants’ lives related to the complexity of uprootedness, nostalgia, and their struggles of in-betweenness and belonging. In addition, it also reflects their hope, aspirations, and commitments of remaking home and rebuilding life.
Predictors of lenalidomide maintenance duration after autologous stem cell transplant in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Rath Carolyn , Yoo Claude , Cheplowitz Halle , Lo Mimi , Young Rebecca , Guglielmo Julie , Saunders Ila M. , Banerjee Rahul , Young Richard , Kumar Anupama , Chung Alfred , Rosenberg Aaron Seth , Costello Caitlin , Fine Jeffrey , Wilson Machelle , Patel Nimish , Banez Marisela Tan
Published: February 2023

Background

For patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have undergone autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT), the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide is a first-line option for maintenance therapy. Because longer durations of lenalidomide maintenance are associated with improved survival, identifying strategies to avoid premature cessation of maintenance is an important priority in the post-transplant setting.

Objectives

The primary objective of this analysis was to identify specific clinical predictors of lenalidomide treatment duration that could guide optimal medication management. Key secondary objectives included predictors of intolerable toxicity, rationale for lenalidomide dose reduction/discontinuation, and characterization of dose adjustments.

Study Design

This retrospective, multi-center cohort study included adults with MM who underwent auto-SCT and initiated maintenance lenalidomide between 01/01/2012 and 02/28/2021. Variables assessed as potential predictors of maintenance duration or intolerable toxicity included age, body mass index (BMI), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status at time of auto-SCT, renal function, initial lenalidomide dose, use of combination maintenance therapy, and cytogenetic risk category.

Results

Among 299 patients included, the median age at time of auto-SCT was 62 years (range 30–77). The majority of patients had standard-risk cytogenetics (64%) and an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 (72%). In the overall population, the median duration of maintenance was 1.3 years (range 0.3–8.6 years). The median initial dose of lenalidomide was 10 mg daily (range 2.5–25 mg). During the study period, 35% of patients had a dose reduction due to toxicity, 21% stopped lenalidomide due to disease progression, and 19% stopped due to toxicity. Multivariate linear regression analyses did not identify any significant predictors of lenalidomide duration or discontinuation due to intolerable toxicity. The most frequently reported toxicities leading to discontinuation were cytopenias, rash, and fatigue.

Conclusion

This analysis did not identify any significant risk factors to predict the duration of lenalidomide maintenance or discontinuation for toxicity following auto-SCT in patients with MM. While limited by the retrospective design and relatively small sample size, our findings suggest that a priori lenalidomide dose reductions based on patient co-morbidities or performance status may not substantially affect the duration of lenalidomide maintenance.
Understanding the Risk of Sexual Reoffending in Adult Men: A Network-Based Model
Authors: van den Berg Jan Willem , van Beek Daan J. , Bouman Yvonne H. A. , Janssen Erick , Smid Wineke J. , Gijs Luk
Published: February 2023

The predominant approach to understand dynamic risk factors of sexual reoffending has been referred to as the Propensities Model (Thornton, 2016). According to this model, dynamic risk factors can be conceptualized as latent constructs whose change alters the risk of sexual reoffending. Despite its strengths and contributions to research, this model does not offer answers to the question of how dynamic risk factors contribute to the risk of sexual reoffending, or of how sustained change in risk might take place. In this paper we introduce the Network-Based Model of Risk of Sexual Reoffending (NBM-RSR), which addresses several limitations and constraints of the Propensities Model and offers empirically testable propositions regarding the nature and development of the risk of sexual reoffending. The NBM-RSR considers risk of sexual reoffending to involve a self-sustaining network of causally connected dynamic risk factors. Consistent with this, an increased risk of sexual reoffending is characterized through a network that contains more and stronger interconnected dynamic risk factors with a higher strength. Sustained change in risk of sexual reoffending occurs when activity in the network exceeds a critical point resulting in a new self-sustaining network. Propositions based on the NBM-RSR are introduced and translated into testable hypotheses. These propositions revolve around (a) risk of sexual reoffending resulting from the construction of a network of causally connected dynamic risk factors, (b) network stability, sudden changes, and critical transitions, and (c) dynamic risk factors’ relative influence on risk of sexual reoffending.
Smart Wearable Technologies as Resources for Consumer Agency in Well-Being
Authors: Tikkanen Hannu , Heinonen Kristina , Ravald Annika
Published: February 2023

Consumers are increasingly expected to be active in managing their personal well-being. Agency, meaning individuals’ ability to reflect on their circumstances, effect change, and act independently, constitutes an important means for consumer well-being. To a growing extent, consumers are using smart technologies, such as wearable devices and applications, to better manage their well-being. However, how interactions with wearables improve and affect consumer agency for well-being is underexamined. The aim of this study is to explore how consumers use smart wearable technologies as resources for agency in managing their well-being. Drawing on psychological and sociological literature on agency as well as qualitative data from users of various wearable devices, the authors distinguish individual and contextual levels of agency, in which knowing and acting constitute two types of smart wearable technology use. From these dimensions, they conceptualize a framework with four types of technology use for well-being: (1) self-improvement, (2) justification, (3) adaptation, and (4) activism. The authors discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of this framework with the aim of improving consumer agency for well-being through smart technology.
Evaluating Collective Impact Initiatives: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Panjwani Sonya , Graves-Boswell Taylor , Garney Whitney R. , Muraleetharan Daenuka , Spadine Mandy , Flores Sara
Published: February 2023

Collective impact (CI) is a structured approach that helps drive multi-sector collaborations to address social problems through systems changes. While the CI approach is gaining popularity, practitioners experience challenges in evaluating its implementation and intended outcomes. We conducted a systematic scoping review to understand evaluation methods specific to CI initiatives, identify challenges or limitations with these evaluations, and provide recommendations for the design of CI evaluations. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Process evaluations were the most frequently used evaluation design. Most studies collected cross-sectional data to evaluate their efforts. The complexity of CI was most frequently cited as the greatest evaluation challenge. Study recommendations primarily focused on improvements during the evaluation planning phase. Taking careful consideration in the planning of CI evaluations, developing context-specific data collection methods, and communicating results intentionally and effectively could prove useful to sufficiently capture and assess this systems-level approach to address social problems.
Trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness: The remaining gap in care and access to basic handwashing facilities
Authors: Wu Tiffany J , Reynolds Margaret M
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, has been targeted by the WHO for elimination through the SAFE strategy: surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Although significant progress has been made, there remains a gap in care. This project studied the association of geographical distribution of the remaining need for trachoma intervention and its association with access to basic handwashing facilities at home, as an indicator of water/sanitation infrastructure. We hypothesized that poor water sanitation would correspond to areas where trachoma intervention is still required.

Design

Retrospective analysis using the WHO Global Health Observatory. Spatial, correlation, and simple and multivariable regression analyses were used.

Methods

Using data from the WHO Global Health Observatory, a total of 194 countries were analyzed. Two choropleth maps were created, with inset maps focused on the South Pacific region, where the top 5 countries with the greatest population proportion requiring trachoma intervention are located.

Results

Correlations and the simple regression model of total population with access to handwashing facilities as the only risk factor were insignificant. However, the multivariable regression models with access to handwashing facilities (total, urban, and rural) and population density as risk factors for trachoma intervention were significant.

Conclusion

Poor water/sanitation infrastructure correlates with trachoma burden. Therefore, water/sanitation infrastructure improvement is a worthwhile target in the efforts toward trachoma elimination, but further research on the association between these important public health indicators is warranted.
Beyond the technology-centric and citizen-centric binary: Ontological politics of organizing in Translation of the Smart City Discourse in India
Authors: Mittal Harsh , Kandathil George , Mathur Navdeep
Published: February 2023

Smart city (SC) experts in India often center-stage citizens as an alternative to a technology-led transformation. A substantial body of literature on smart cities sustains this resultant binary between techno-centrism and citizen-centrism. Mobilizing ANT sensibilities, we generate an ethnographic narrative on how the smart city discourse has translated into everyday processes of city administration and urban governance in India. Our account unmutes more-and-other-than-human actants—event-stage, glossy publications, ceremonial awards, conference producers, and decision-makers—in the translation of SC discourse, with following effects: the uncertainties in the translation process are foregrounded which potentially destabilize center-staged actor identities; and the work of heterogeneous actants in articulating the citizen as the center of their efforts is revealed, thereby de-naturalizing the binarized reality. Furthermore, when unmuted, more-and-other-than-humans spell out their ongoing collaborations and negotiations and generate a nuanced reading of the clashes and accommodations made in the process of translating SC discourse in everyday settings of city administrations. These effects lead us to emphasize the translation of SC discourse as an uncertain socio-material process proceeding through episodic clashes and tentative accommodations. They also invite a conceptual expansion of translation as constitutive of the ontological politics of organizing, which insists on attending to ongoing collaborations and negotiations among more-and-other-than-humans that compose organizational realities. Thus, we address critical organization and management studies’ concerns regarding ANT’s alignment with its objectives by locating politics in the performance of, and interference into, the multiple realities that are being enacted through practices that assemble experts, decision-makers and non-humans.
Cultural understandings of fathering and fatherhood in India: An exploration of lived experiences
Authors: Goel Yukta , Mishra Shefali
Published: February 2023

Conceptualization of fathers as an essential begetter survives within and through their relationship in family through ages. However, within and behind this word, a social-construct, the journey of fathers remains non-located in researches on parenting in India. Thus, this study aims to develop an indigenous conceptualization of fatherhood in the cultural realm of India from father’s and child’s perspective. Carried out in eight two-child families in Delhi, the study is done through semi-structured interviews with fathers and Draw and tell method with their elder child (7–11 years). Thematic analysis of both father’s and children’s narratives helped create seven themes within each. The themes from father’s narratives include multiple shades of “father”, ‘being a father’: a world within, learnings about ‘being a father’, father as enablers of child’s ‘becoming’, picturing ‘ideal’ fathers, cultural mountings and ‘cultures’ of fatherhood. The themes obtained from children’s narratives include father as a playtime partner, inspiring figure, mainstay, shield, involved, not-so-involved. Viewed holistically, this study holds implications for parenting practices and policy makers in positive direction.
Who do Europeans want to govern? Exploring the multiple dimensions of citizens’ preferences for political actors in nine European countries
Authors: Pilet Jean-Benoit , Vittori Davide , Rojon Sebastien , Paulis Emilien
Published: February 2023

Many studies have tried to identify citizens’ views about which actors should govern and how. These studies have mostly looked at support for citizens or independent experts being given a greater role. Recently, Hibbing, Theiss-Morse, Hibbing and Fortunato have proposed a new battery of 21 survey items capturing the dimensions along which citizens’ preferences for who should govern are organized. Testing their survey instrument among US respondents, they identified seven dimensions. In this study, we replicate their approach across nine European democracies, namely, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Ireland and the Netherlands. The replication allows, first, to compare citizens’ preferences for political actors between the US and Europe, and within Europe. Second, it provides suggestions for how Hibbing and colleagues’ battery might be adapted and re-used in other countries, enabling further cross-national comparative research on citizens’ preferences for who should govern.
Deep Nostalgia: Remediated memory, algorithmic nostalgia and technological ambivalence
Authors: Kidd Jenny , Nieto McAvoy Eva
Published: February 2023

Digital recreations of the past, and of the deceased, are part of the Internet’s present. They circulate within social networks where logics of connection and connectivity underpin increasingly performative memory work. In this article we explore these developments through a case study of the MyHeritage deep learning feature, Deep Nostalgia. Our analysis is informed by a close critical study of Deep Nostalgia creations, and discourses circulating around them, shared on Twitter during the two-week period following its launch, February 2021 (n.6935). We examine how memory is evoked, framed, re-worked and distorted through algorithmic processes, and within social networks in particular, and explore what this tells us about peoples' need to connect with their pasts. First, we analyse how the shift from photo to video ‘revives’ the dead via a process that we have termed ‘remediated memory’. Second, we explore the affective dimensions and resonances of Deep Nostalgia creations. In doing so, we introduce the concept of ‘algorithmic nostalgia’ to describe the ways nostalgia is generated, organised and exploited through Deep Nostalgia’s automated and recursive algorithmic mechanisms. Third, we interrogate the ways social media logics shape the use and influence of these outputs. Our study’s scholarly contribution is at the intersection of memory, automation, and algorithms. We highlight the importance of studying the ambivalence of emerging media at their nexus with memory studies and, critically, of attending to the ways corporate interests increasingly shape – and assimilate – these activities.
A conceptual framework for phase change material integration in building components
Authors: Ismail Ruaa M , Megahed Naglaa A , Eltarabily Sara
Published: February 2023

With the recent dramatic growth of the building sector’s energy consumption to provide thermal comfort to consumers, the constraints of climate change and the scarcity of energy supplies have necessitated a wiser and more effective reduction in the amount consumed. As a result, phase change materials (PCMs) have attracted much interest as latent heat thermal storage systems in recent decades. This paper aims to explain the possibility of using PCMs in buildings by establishing an overall conceptual framework for the processes of selecting and integrating PCMs in building sector applications. Moreover, it leads to a comprehensive matrix that identifies the best and most common type of material for each building’s component, as well as its temperature and thickness properties, its thermal impact, and the most popular integration techniques. The findings show paraffin as the major used type in all building components, while salt hydrate is employed in facades. The most prevalent incorporating technique is macro-encapsulation, which prevails in most building components with its direct effect on cooling and heating applications.
Quality analysis of a breast thermal images database
Authors: Pérez-Martín Jorge , Sánchez-Cauce Raquel
Published: February 2023

The study and early detection of breast cancer are key for its treatment. We carry out an exhaustive analysis of the most used database for mastology research with infrared images, analyzing the anomalies according to five quality dimensions: completeness, correctness, concordance, plausibility, and currency. We established control queries that looked for these anomalies and that can be used to ensure the quality of the database. Finally, we briefly review the more than 40 papers that use this database and that do not mention any of these anomalies. When analyzing the database, we found 365 anomalies related to personal and clinical data, and thermal images. The errors found in our research may lead to a modification of the results and conclusions made in the articles found in the literature, serve as a basis for improvements in the quality of the database, and help future researchers to work with it.
Applying a wide-angle lens: De-centering work organizations in organization studies
Authors: Lyle Matthew CB , Hockensmith Ashley S , Cocieru Ovidiu C
Published: February 2023

Much of organizational scholarship to date has rested on the assumption that the organizations at which individuals work are centerpieces of their experiences. In this essay, we argue for a shift in perspective—namely, the de-centering of work organizations. We develop the lens of organizations as enablers of life and elaborate ways in which this perspective shift may appropriately re-orient organizational scholarship to account for a wider range of experiences at work in order to move our field forward.
‘If I play I won’t learn’: Children’s perceptions and experiences of transition and school readiness from Maternelle to Year 1
Authors: Wilders Charlotte , Wood Elizabeth
Published: February 2023

How children experience the major transition from pre-school to compulsory schooling influences their immediate and future success and wellbeing. This complex process of change and adaptation is impacted by school readiness policy drivers, which prioritise children’s performance and achievement. Pedagogic and curriculum progression shifts from play to work, with structured and adult-led activities. These factors contribute to the schoolification of early childhood education, and construct school readiness as an attribute of the child. This paper reports findings on how six children experienced transition and school readiness as they move from Maternelle to Year 1 in an International school in Belgium. Multimodal and multivocal methods of data collection were used to provide child participants with accessible ways of expressing their perspectives of the lived experience of transition. The children perceived the major transition being from play to work and understood that they were expected to be ready for this change. From a socio-cultural perspective, this paper argues that school readiness cannot be assessed at a specific point in time, but should instead be viewed as the lived experience of children that begins before, and continues well beyond the transition. Children are expected to adapt to multiple changes in curriculum and pedagogical practices, as well as changes in cultural, temporal and material contexts. It is recommended that critical questions about how school readiness is constructed should take account of children’s perspectives and experiences of transitions.
A Randomized Phase III Study of Anlotinib Versus Bevacizumab in Combination With CAPEOX as First-Line Therapy for RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Clinical Trial Protocol
Authors: He Jinjie , Liu Yue , Liu Chengcheng , Hu Hanguang , Sun Lifeng , Xu Dong , Li Jun , Wang Junye , Chen Xiaobing , Lin Rongbo , Jiang Yi , Zhang Yanqiao , Zhang Weisheng , Cheng Ying , Wu Xiaohong , Fang Mingzhi , Li Enxiao , Xu Ye , Chen Ye , Li Jiayi , Cui Yanyan , Pan Zhanyu , Zhang Songnan , Yuan Ying , Ding Kefeng
Published: February 2023

Background: Chemotherapy combined with antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies is the most promising approach to prolong survival and improve the quality of life of patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Anlotinib is an oral antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets VEGF receptors 1/2/3, fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-4, and platelet-derived growth factor receptors a/β. Since anlotinib combined with oxaliplatin and capecitabine (CAPEOX) as a first-line treatment was previously shown to be effective and safe for patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type (WT) mCRC, we designed this randomized, open-label, parallel-group, non-inferiority, phase III study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib plus CAPEOX versus bevacizumab plus CAPEOX in patients with RAS/BRAF WT mCRC. Methods/design: The primary inclusion criteria are Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1, confirmed RAS/BRAF WT colorectal adenocarcinoma, and unresectable metastases assessed by a multidisciplinary team. The main exclusion criteria are as follows: high microsatellite instability or deficient mismatch repair status, resectable or potentially resectable metastases, and previous systemic therapy for mCRC. A total of 698 patients will be randomized into the anlotinib and bevacizumab groups in a 1:1 ratio. Patients will receive 4 to 8 cycles of induction therapy (CAPEOX plus anlotinib or bevacizumab), followed by maintenance treatment (capecitabine plus anlotinib or bevacizumab) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by an independent review committee is the primary endpoint, whereas investigator-assessed PFS, overall survival, objective response rate, disease control rate, duration of response, resection rate of liver metastases, quality of life, and safety are the secondary endpoints. Enrollment commenced in May 2021. Discussion: A prospective, randomized, phase III trial will provide a meaningful comparison of the efficacy and safety of anlotinib plus CAPEOX with standard treatment for patients with unresectable RAS/BRAF WT mCRC.
Clinical Features, Inflammatory Markers, and Limb Salvage in Older Adults with Diabetes-Related Foot Infections
Authors: Aragón-Sánchez Javier , Víquez-Molina Gerardo , López-Valverde María Eugenia , Aragón-Hernández Cristina , Aragón-Hernández Javier , Rojas-Bonilla José María
Published: February 2023

Little information exists about diabetic foot infections (DFIs) in older patients. We hypothesize that older patients with DFIs have different clinical features and worse outcomes than younger patients. We conducted a prospective observational study consisting of a cohort of patients with diabetes and moderate to severe DFIs. Patients included in the cohort were dichotomized into two groups using percentile 75 (P75) of age as the cut-off value. Patients aged > P75 presented with more comorbidities and foot-related complications, a higher rate of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), worse renal function (higher values of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, and lower values of estimated glomerular filtration rate), and lower values of HbA1c compared with younger patients. Infection severity, microbiological features, and inflammatory markers were similar in both groups. In the multivariate analysis, minor amputations were associated with age > P75 (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–5.9, p <0.01), necrosis (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.8–10.1, p < 0.01), and CRP values (OR = 1.045, 95% CI 1.018–1.073, p < 0.01). Major amputations were associated with a history of amputation (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.3–16.7, p = 0.01), PAD (OR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.2–14.6, p = 0.01), and albumin values (OR = 0.344, 95% CI 0.130–0.913, p = 0.03). In conclusion, limb salvage can be achieved in older patients with diabetes-related foot infections at the same rate as in younger patients, despite the fact that they have more comorbidities and foot-related complications, a higher rate of PAD, and worse renal function.
The Voting Scheme Determines the Winner. Considering Possible Options for Designing a Delphi Study
Authors: Ehringfeld Isabell , Steinhoff Paula , Störk Stefan , Whittal Amanda , Herber Oliver Rudolf
Published: February 2023

The Delphi technique is an important tool for structuring a group communication process among key stakeholders to inform the development of an intervention. However, when designing a Delphi study the scarcity of information on different voting schemes to analyse key stakeholders’ responses became evident, despite the fact that selecting the voting scheme a priori is paramount, since the selected method can influence the outcome. To fill that gap in literature, this article introduces key concepts derived from social choice theory to inform Delphi design. This includes optimising collective decisions by gaining deeper understandings of key stakeholders’ preferences, reducing avoidable unhappiness and minimising possibilities of insincere voting strategies. Four voting schemes (majority, approval, Borda, range) are presented and their implications are discussed. Since the purpose of each Delphi study is unique, we aim to increase awareness of the differential utility of voting schemes and encourage researchers to make an informed choice.