bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for coronavirus disease 2019 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhai Kerong , Xu Xu , Zhang Pengbin , Wei Shilin , Li Jian , Wu Xiangyang , Gao Bingren , Zhang Yanhua , Li Yongnan
Published: May 2022

Objective

Although the application of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is accumulating, the feasibility and safety of this therapy remain controversial. We aimed to evaluate the effect of VV-ECMO in the treatment of these patients.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases through November 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the included studies were screened, and meta-analysis was performed by R software (version 4.0.2).

Results

Forty-two studies including 2037 COVID-19 patients supported with VV-ECMO due to ARDS were identified. The pooled analysis revealed that 30-, 60-, and 90-day mortality among patients were respectively 46% (95% CI 37%–57%, I2 = 66%), 46% (95% CI 30%–70%, I2 = 93%), and 49% (95% CI 43%–58%, I2 = 52%), and the pooled incidence rate of in-hospital mortality, major bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, and renal replacement therapy were respectively 35%, 39%, 11%, 40%, 15%, 21%, and 44%.

Conclusion

Although COVID-19 patients may have a higher risk of bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, and acute kidney injury during ECMO therapy, the survival rate was more than half of the cases. Our data may support the application of VV-ECMO in COVID-19 patients.
Synchronous or Asynchronous Course: Business Students’ Perspectives on an Optimized Modality of Online Teaching and Learning
Authors: Wu Lan , You Jung S.
Published: May 2022

Colleges and universities in the United States swiftly shifted campus-based classes to virtual spaces as a response to extended campus closures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Synchronous online courses were mandated as a replacement for traditional face-to-face classes in many higher education institutions. We understand that the benefits and drawbacks of synchronous courses need to be reviewed in this environment that has been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Thus, two survey studies were conducted in the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. The findings in Study 1 reveal that students felt more isolated in their studying in the early phase of the pandemic, which increased their preference for the synchronous modality. The results of Study 2 suggest that the perceived isolation effect no longer held. The results from both studies confirm that students prefer an equal split between synchronous and asynchronous components for conceptual courses but prefer additional synchronous components for quantitative courses. A series of regression analyses was conducted to account for such preferences. The results urge educators and administrators to develop a hybrid approach that leverages the benefits of synchronous and asynchronous courses and optimizes online learning and teaching experiences.
Picture this: Photographers no better than controls for recognizing unfamiliar faces
Authors: Baker Kristen A. , Mondloch Catherine J.
Published: May 2022

With the exception of super recognizers and forensic examiners, people make a surprising number of errors when deciding whether photographs of unfamiliar faces belong to the same person or different people. Training protocols designed to improve professionals’ (e.g., passport officers) performance often include photography. We evaluated the influence of life-time photography experience on the ability to distinguish matched versus mismatched face pairs. Expert photographers were not more sensitive to identity than hobbyists or novices—despite specializing in human subjects; Hobbyists were more liberal (more same responses) than Experts. We conclude that photography experience is not a route to expertise.
The danger of feeling sorry for oneself: How coworker incivility diminishes job performance through perceived organizational isolation among self-pitying employees
Authors: Haq Inam Ul , De Clercq Dirk , Azeem Muhammad Umer
Published: May 2022

The study examined how employees’ experience of resource-draining coworker incivility might undermine their job performance, with a focus on how this harmful process might be explained by perceptions of organizational isolation and moderated by susceptibility to self-pity. Three-wave survey data, collected among employees and their supervisors in various industries, indicated that an important reason that employees’ exposure to rude coworker treatment escalated into diminished performance outcomes was a belief that the employing organization was the source of their sense of abandonment. As a mediator, perceived organizational isolation exerted an especially prominent effect among employees who had a general tendency to pity themselves in difficult circumstances. Organizations accordingly can contain the risk that disrespectful coworker relationships translate into tarnished performance by discouraging employees to feel bad for themselves in the face of work-related hardships.

JEL Classification: M50
Data-Driven Approach to Weather-Responsive Speed Management of Road Tunnel Access Zones
Authors: Jung Soyoung , Qin Xiao
Published: May 2022

In South Korea, one of the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes occurring at road tunnel entrances is speeding or failure to maintain a safe distance, especially during adverse weather conditions. The South Korean government released a strategic plan to address this issue through weather-responsive speed limit adjustments at tunnel entrances. This study aimed to assist the South Korean government’s plan with a data-driven safety approach. In particular, crash data from freeway tunnel access zones were augmented with real-time traffic speed and weather data, and standard binomial logit regression (BLR) with random forest (RF)-based variable selection was employed. The key variables contributing to crashes at freeway tunnel access zones during adverse weather conditions were identified as: speeding or failure to maintain a safe distance; no existence of a roadside fence; freeway sections with a distance of 100 to 250 m from the tunnel entrance; and interactions of traffic speed with wet pavement, average hourly rainfall of 6 h, visibility, and humidity preceding crash. The current standards for weather-responsive speed limit adjustment and appropriate deployment of variable message signs can be informed by the findings of this study.
The Impact of Supervisor Support on the Job Satisfaction of Immigrant and Minority Long-Term Care Workers
Authors: Hawes Frances M. , Wang Shuangshuang
Published: May 2022

Previous research has demonstrated the effect of supervisor support on the job satisfaction of long-term care workers (LTCW); however, much less is known about how this effect differs among race/ethnicity or immigration groups. We examined how supervisor support mediates the associations between race/ethnicity, immigration status, and job satisfaction among nursing assistants (NAs). Data of 2749 NAs were extracted from the National Nursing Assistant Survey (2004). Findings indicated that NAs of non-Hispanic Black and other races and immigrant workers were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs compared to White and non-immigrant workers, and the associations were mediated by NAs’ perceived supervisor support. Minority or immigrant LTCW may be more sensitive to supervisory support and more grateful if they received support from supervisors. Managers should be aware of these racial differences and by being supportive they may improve NAs job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates.
Canadian Association of Radiologists Guidance on Contrast Associated Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Macdonald D. Blair , Hurrell Casey , Costa Andreu F. , McInnes Matthew D.F. , O'Malley Martin E. , Barrett Brendan , Brown Pierre Antoine , Clark Edward G. , Hadjivassiliou Anastasia , Kirkpatrick Iain D.C. , Rempel Jeremy L. , Jeon Paul M. , Hiremath Swapnil
Published: May 2022

Iodinated contrast media (ICM) is one of the most frequently administered pharmaceuticals. In Canada, over 5.4 million computed tomography (CT) examinations were performed in 2019, of which 50% were contrast enhanced. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurring after ICM administration was historically considered a common iatrogenic complication which was managed by screening patients, prophylactic strategies, and follow up evaluation of renal function. The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) initially published guidelines on the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy in 2007, with an update in 2012. However, new developments in the field have led to the availability of safer contrast agents and changes in clinical practice, prompting a complete revision of the earlier recommendations. This revised guidance document was developed by a multidisciplinary CAR Working Group of radiologists and nephrologists, and summarizes changes in practice related to contrast administration, screening, and risk stratification since the last guideline. It reviews the scientific evidence for contrast associated AKI and provides consensus-based recommendations for its prevention and management in the Canadian healthcare context. This article is a joint publication in the Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal and Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, intended to inform both communities of practice.
Longitudinal Relations Between Child Maltreatment in Families and Psychological Maltreatment by Teachers: The Mediating Roles of Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among Chinese Children
Authors: Gong Xue , Huebner E. Scott , Tian Lili
Published: May 2022

Relationships in the family (e.g., child maltreatment in families) and school environments (e.g., psychological maltreatment by teachers) are influential in children’s socialization, but how family and teacher–student domains mutually affect each other and which mediating mechanisms are involved in cross-domain spillover at the within-person level are not well understood. This study examined the bidirectional relations between child maltreatment in families and psychological maltreatment by teachers and whether internalizing and externalizing problems functioned as mediators between them after separating between-person effects from within-person effects. A total of 4270 Chinese children (54.9% boys; Mage = 9.92; SD = 0.51) participated in a five-wave longitudinal study with 6-month intervals. Results from random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling mainly found that: (1) Child maltreatment in families predicted psychological maltreatment by teachers, and vice versa; (2) child maltreatment in families influenced psychological maltreatment by teachers through externalizing problems; child maltreatment in families affected the likelihood of psychological maltreatment by teachers via the sequential effect from internalizing problems to externalizing problems at the within-person level; and (3) internalizing and externalizing problems mediated the longitudinal relations from psychological maltreatment by teachers to child maltreatment in families separately. Findings demonstrated bidirectional spillover effects in the domains of family and teacher-student relationships, suggesting that children may be trapped in a vicious cycle of negative relationships through internalizing and externalizing problems, either directly or indirectly. Thus, these two domains influence each other through children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Interventions aimed at addressing maltreatment should include family, school, and individual (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems) components to prevent a downward spiral.
A multi-bolt tightening method based on elastic interaction coefficient and gasket creep relaxation
Authors: Zheng Mingpo , Li Ying , Liu Zhifeng , Zhao Yongsheng , Yang Congbin
Published: May 2022

Flange connections are widely used in various mechanical components. The most important purpose of tightening for flanged bolts is to achieve designed clamping force for the maintenance of overall performance. In this work, a multi-bolt tightening algorithm is proposed based on elastic interaction coefficient and gasket creep relaxation. Firstly, dispersion of the individual bolt clamping forces for torque control method is considered in the algorithm. Relationship between the nut factors of the flange bolts in multi-pass tightening is established through experiment. Subsequently, the elastic interaction coefficient matrix was updated during the multi-pass tightening process to reduce the error. Two cases, without gasket and silicone gasket, are considered in the multi-bolt tightening experiment. Without gasket, the elastoplastic deformation at the initial stage after tightening will also cause a loss of clamping force. When using gasket, the clamping force loss due to gasket creep relaxation is more pronounced. Through experimental verification, the proposed multi-bolt tightening algorithm are able to achieve the target range of designed clamping forces and reduce its dispersion. Finally, the main influencing factors of the multi-bolt tightening are analyzed to provide a reference for the design of flange connections.
Genetic algorithm optimization of a horizontal axis wind turbine blade section performance equipped with a single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator utilizing a direct regression model
Authors: Fadaei Mohaddeseh , Davari Ali Reza , Sabetghadam Fereidoun
Published: May 2022

The usage of a single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator (SDBD-PA) device for improving a aerodynamic performance of a locally developed horizontal axis wind turbine blade section is studied with one of the most recent electrostatic models. To characterize this blade section behavior over a wide range of operating conditions of SDBD-PA and to advance its performance with a fully automated optimization algorithm, a computationally cost efficient direct regression model is proposed. In this paper, 512 comprehensive numerical simulations are carried out to derive the direct regression model for aerodynamic performance calculation when the PA is in use. However, to obtain highly accurate results, two different models for angle of attacks higher and less than [Formula: see text] are suggested. The proposed mathematical model within the specified boundary limits allows for a rapid linkage between aerodynamic performance and genetic algorithm which canbe made to acquire optimum results for each case without requiring burdensome numerical simulations. It is identified that superimpose input parameters effects onto each other is not explanatory of the final effect on aerodynamic performance and interaction effects should be seriously taken into consideration at the proposed regression model.
A novel approach to the conventional deep drawing process
Authors: Kabakçı Mehmet Okan , Karaağaç İbrahim , Demirel Mehmet Yasin
Published: May 2022

In this study, the mechanical formability of Al6061-T6 sheet material using a pre-bulging process was experimentally investigated. Therefore, an innovative die entrance design was applied to conventional deep drawing dies. In addition to the formability of the Al6061-T6 material, the effects of the innovative design on the energy consumption and thickness distribution were also investigated. For the experimental studies, deep drawing dies capable of mechanically pre-bulging at 0°, 15°, and 30° angles were designed and experimental studies were carried out at a 10 mm/sec forming speed with constant blank holder force. It was observed that the Al6061-T6 material, which was drawn at the highest ratio of ß  =  2.0 in a single operation with the conventional deep drawing method, can be deep drawn at a drawing ratio of ß  =  2.2 in a single operation with this new method, and the forming force was reduced by 24.45%. It was found that the deep-drawn Al6061-T6 sample, which was drawn at the highest ß  =  2.2 drawing ratio, exhibited a maximum sheet thinning of 15%, and it could be formed with a single die in a single operation without forming defects such as cracking and wrinkling.
Study to evaluate efficacy of midriatic-digital-images when screening retinal-complications in people living with HIV
Authors: Adrianzén Rosa , Rioja Miguel , Manrique Alberto , García Tello Angélica Victoria
Published: May 2022

To determine efficacy of mydriatic-digital images (MDI) when screening retinal complications in people living with HIV, in this study, a consecutive series of 79 people living with HIV (PLHIV) were evaluated. Two series of MDI were taken: - macula and optic nerve - nine gaze fields, which findings were compared with those obtained by a retina specialist. Both examiners were unaware of each other’s results. Average age was 32.2 years old, predominantly male (75.9%). Most frequent complications were HIV retina microangiopathies (6.3%) and toxoplasmosis (5.1%), followed by Cytomegalovirus and neuro-retinitis, optic neuritis and vitreitis, each one with 1.3%. Sensitivity with two MDI was 92.8% (CI 95% 66.0–100.0) and with nine 100% (CI 95% 77.0–100.0) and specificity of 95.4% (CI 95% 87.0–99.0) for both series. The positive predictive value was 81.3 and 82.4%, and negative predictive value was 98.4 and 100% respectively. The strength of agreement was substantial for the two series with the retina specialist examination (Kappa index of 0.836 and 0.888 respectively). Mydriatic-digital-images appear to be an effective method to screen for HIV-related retinal-complications in a regional hospital in Perú.
Association of Human Leucocyte Antigen Class II, with viral load and immune response to Epstein–Barr virus in adult and pediatric Systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Das Prabir , Minz Ranjana W , Saikia Biman , Sharma Aman , Anand Shashi , Singh Heera , Singh Surjit
Published: May 2022

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease, which is known to be associated with HLA-DRB1 and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. In the Indian subcontinent where there is high seroendemicity of EBV, we postulated that the association of this virus in adult SLE (aSLE) and pediatric SLE (pSLE) patients would be different and differentially associate with the HLA-DRB1 susceptibility and protective genes.

Methods

A total of 109 aSLE, 52 pSLE, 215 adult healthy and 63 pediatric healthy controls were recruited. HLA-DRB1 genotyping by PCR-SSP, EBV load estimation by real-time PCR and antibody profiling (IgG & IgM) to EBV antigens by line blot assay were performed.

Results

DRB1*15 was found predominant in pSLE patients and DRB1*03 in aSLE patients. DRB1*15/X heterozygous was predominant in overall SLE patients, although disease severity, like hypocomplementemia, higher autoantibody levels and more organ involvement was observed in *15/*15 homozygous state. EBV strongly associated with pSLE patients showing higher percent of EA-D IgG ( p < 0.0001) and p22 IgG ( p = 0.035) along with higher viral load ( p = 0.001) as compared to healthy controls. In addition, the higher EBV DNA load significantly associated with anti-EA-D IgG ( p = 0.013) and DRB1*15/*15 ( p = 0.007) in pSLE patients as compared to aSLE patients.

Conclusions

This study therefore indicates that different HLA-DRB1 allotypes confer susceptibility to SLE in children and adults and disease may be triggered by increased EBV reactivation.
Health-related quality of life, fatigue and health utilities in lupus nephritis: A systematic literature review
Authors: Kharawala Saifuddin , Kaur Gavneet , Shukla Hemlata , Scott David Alexander , Hawkins Neil , Chen Wen-Hung , Gairy Kerry
Published: May 2022

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal B-cell activation and the presence of autoantibodies, which can result in organ damage. Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common severe organ manifestation of SLE and may result in impaired kidney function. However, there is limited research on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) burden amongst patients with LN. The objective of this systematic literature review was to assess the HRQoL, fatigue and health utilities associated with LN.

Methods

A structured literature search (GSK Study 212980) of the MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted in July 2019 and updated September 2021. Relevant international congress abstracts from 2016 to 2021 were searched, and gray literature searches and keyword-based searches in PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar were also conducted. Results were screened according to predefined criteria and data on the outcomes of interest were extracted. A quantitative analysis was conducted to supplement the narrative review, to provide 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36) estimates, and to determine variation by prognostic factors.

Results

Of 1155 articles identified, 26 studies for a total of 3440 patients were included. Patients with LN showed poorer HRQoL and more fatigue than healthy controls/the general population, although these were similar between patients with SLE with and without LN. HRQoL was worse in patients with LN Class III/IV or with active disease. Fatigue was generally reported as the most burdensome symptom and was associated with lower HRQoL and increased treatment dissatisfaction. During induction treatment, HRQoL and fatigue were improved with mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide. HRQoL improved over time with treatment amongst patients with active LN. Very limited data were identified assigning utilities to health states for cost-effectiveness analysis. Nine studies were considered for quantitative analysis of baseline SF-36 scores. The analysis suggested that LN has a significant impact across all SF-36 domains, with the lowest scores in the general health perceptions and role-physical domains and physical component summary.

Conclusions

There is a large HRQoL burden in patients with LN, in particular regarding symptoms of fatigue. Future research should focus on investigating fatigue severity and health utilities in LN.
Sisal fiber reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composites; Fabrication, characterization and possible application
Authors: Gudayu Adane Dagnaw , Steuernagel Leif , Meiners Dieter , Woubou Ambachew Maru
Published: May 2022

The use of thermoplastics (TPs) for natural fiber composites is restricted to commodity ones like polypropylene and polyethylene However, using engineered TPs such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) will benefit from its technical and economic advantages. The research aims to characterize injection molded PET composites reinforced with sisal fibers treated differently. Polyethylene terephthalate composites containing 40 wt.% of untreated, alkaline-treated, and alkali/acetylation treated sisal fibers were prepared using compounding and injection molding processes and then characterized. It has been found that production of sisal-PET composites by compounding and injection molding has been shown to be possible. Thermal damage to sisal fiber was noticed during composite production. Based on the thermogravimetric analysis analysis, a net weight loss (excluding water loss) of 11.1%–14.0% was observed at the operating temperatures of the two processes. The addition of 40 wt.% of sisal to the PET matrix improved the tensile modulus by 137%. Further improvement by 179% was observed when alkali-treated sisal fiber was used. The combined alkali/acetylation treatment of sisal yields more enhancement by 233%. This is a significant advancement because modulus is the most influential parameter during the design and service of an engineering product. Generally, compared to the raw sisal composite (RSC) the interfacial, mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of the alkali treated sisal composite (Al-SC) and alkali/acetylated sisal composite (Al-ASC) specimens recorded an improvement. Relative to the natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites that were commercialized in the automotive industry, the produced sisal–PET composites resulted in a considerable improvement of 66.6%–190% in flexural strength and by 110.5%–410.0% in flexural modulus, depending on sisal fiber treatment and the composite to be compared. Thus, the studied composites can be recommended for various parts of automobiles.
Precarious self-employment in urban Europe
Authors: Reuschke Darja , Zhang Mary
Published: May 2022

Urban and regional research has focused on opportunity entrepreneurship and how cities can promote growth through the ‘right’ type of entrepreneurship. This neglects the increasing risk of precarious self-employment reflected in the compositional change of self-employment towards self-employment with no employees (‘solo self-employment’). This article tests whether precarious self-employment is more prevalent in urban areas, in parallel to more entrepreneurial forms as shown in previous research. Based on the European Working Conditions Survey 2015 and including 30 countries, it proposes a multidimensional empirical framework of precariousness of self-employment. Findings show significant variations in the prevalence of precarious self-employment in urban versus non-urban areas across geographical regions. Some individual characteristics (gender) and job-related characteristics (industry and working at home) are related with an increased risk of precariousness in urban areas. Policies therefore need to go beyond regulatory and legal frameworks and target local conditions of self-employment.
From Ambivalence to Resurgence: India’s Journey as a Nuclear Power
Authors: Joshi Yogesh
Published: May 2022

This article aims to understand India’s remarkable nuclear journey in the last 75 years. It categorises India’s atomic trajectory into four distinct periods: Ambivalent (1948–1988), Reserved (1989–1998), Responsible (1998–2008) and Resurgent (2009 onwards). In doing so, the article provides an account of how the changing nature of India’s nuclear programme has impacted the scope and depth of its nuclear deterrence. However, the programme’s status is also consequential for India’s foreign policy practice and its approach to using force in international politics. The article shows how India’s nuclear capability, its foreign policy practice, and its approach to the use of force have seen dramatic shifts in the last thirty years. A resurgent India aims to become a world-class nuclear power, undisturbed by foreign perceptions of its atomic programme and increasingly resolute to use force even under the threat of escalation by its nuclear adversaries.
Infrastructure Development in India: The Way Ahead
Authors: Saini Shalu , Giri Jagat Narayan
Published: May 2022

Infrastructure development is prerequisite in transforming a slow-moving economy into an advanced one. In the Global Competitiveness Index, India’s rank is 70 out of 140 countries for infrastructure quality in the world. As per the recent estimation, to convert the vision of $5 trillion economy into reality, $4.51 trillion needs to be invested by 2030 in building the infrastructure of the country. Great efforts in the form of huge investment in infrastructure is required if we want to convert this dream into reality. The latest Budgetary outlay of Government of India for infrastructure sector of ₹100 lakh crore which is streamlined to be invested on infrastructure over the next 5 years and more than 6,500 projects will boost the economic development of the country. Infrastructure industry encompasses sectors such as social and commercial infrastructure, communication, energy, transport and water sanitation.

This article is an attempt to study the public private partnership (PPP) model in infrastructural development in India. This research article has six sections as follows. Section 1 aims at defining the importance of infrastructure for economic growth of the country. Section 2 provides the discussion on PPP model. Section 3 explains the review of literature. Section 4 represents the research problem and research question followed by discussion and possible solutions in Section 5 and, finally, Section 6 of the article represents the conclusions and the limitations along with the direction for future research.

JEL Classification: M48, R42, F65, G32
Suicide story: An evaluation of ‘tackling suicide Our Way’
Authors: Guenther John , Roberts Mona , Buzzacott Keith , Dyall Danielle
Published: May 2022

Despite concerted efforts to improve strategic responses to suicide, it remains a major concern in Australia. Among Indigenous communities the rates of suicide are up to three times higher than among non-Indigenous communities. Indigenous males are three times as likely to suicide than Indigenous females. The death rates for the Northern Territory are second highest in Australia, at 27.4 deaths per 100,000 population. In the Northern Territory, a program called Suicide Story is working to empower Indigenous people, creating a language to talk about suicide, and giving them tools to respond to the warning signs of suicide. The program was developed by Indigenous people and is run by Indigenous people in response to community needs. This paper draws from an evaluation of the program conducted in the Northern Territory at its 10-year mark, in 2018. Although it is impossible to assess how many lives have been saved, this paper takes a position that resilience is an indicator of prevention. One way to achieving this is through culturally safe processes. Based on the evaluation findings, we consider what that means for Suicide Story and other culturally safe suicide prevention programs designed with and for Indigenous people in Australia.
Innovative variable stiffness and variable damping magnetorheological actuation system for robotic arm positioning
Authors: Deng Lei , Sun Shuaishuai , Christie Matthew Daniel , Li Wenxing , Ning Donghong , Du Haiping , Zhang Shiwu , Li Weihua
Published: May 2022

Overshoot and long settling time are two common problems of the positioning control for robotic arms. To solve the positioning control problems, an innovative variable stiffness and variable damping (VSVD) magnetorheological (MR) actuation system for robotic arms was designed, prototyped and evaluated in this paper. The system can reduce the overshoot and settling time of the robotic arm with less energy consumption by controlling the stiffness and damping of its VSVD unit. A robotic arm with the VSVD actuation system was developed and prototyped. In order to evaluate the performance of the system, a step route and a customised route were designed for the robotic arm system to trace. Under these two routes, the positioning control performances of the VSVD robotic arm were evaluated numerically and experimentally with the control modes of uncontrolled, VD, VS and VSVD, respectively. Both the numerical and experimental results demonstrated that the VSVD control mode works best in general with less overshoot, settling time and energy consumption, indicating that the proposed VSVD actuation system can serve as a good candidate to solve the positioning control problems of robotic arms.
An Examination of Psychology of Working Theory With Immigrant Workers in the United States
Authors: Kim Taewon , Autin Kelsey L. , Allan Blake A.
Published: May 2022

As the proportion of immigrant workers in the United States grows, understanding how contextual constraints restrict immigrant workers from securing decent work is critical. Therefore, drawing from psychology of working theory (PWT), this study examined relations from contextual barriers (economic constraints and acculturative stress) to psychological mechanisms (work volition and career adaptability) to decent work with a sample of immigrant workers in the United States. We also conducted multigroup analysis to explore whether the model varied depending on race. Diverging from previous PWT studies, we found that economic constraints directly predicted decent work and that career adaptability predicted both acculturative stress and decent work. Importantly, multigroup analysis found the relations from career adaptability and work volition to decent work were stronger for the white group than the POC group. Our findings encourage psychologists to advocate for working immigrants, including working immigrants of color, to reduce marginalization and economic constraints.
Pseudotemporal Invitations: 6- to 9-year-Old Maltreated Children’s Tendency to Misinterpret Invitations Referencing “Time” as Solely Requesting Conventional Temporal Information
Authors: McWilliams Kelly , Williams Shanna , Henderson Hayden M. , Evans Angela D. , Lyon Thomas D.
Published: May 2022

Forensic interviewers ask children broad input-free recall questions about individual episodes in order to elicit complete narratives, often asking about “the first time,” “the last time,” and “one time.” An overlooked problem is that the word “time” is potentially ambiguous, referring both to a particular episode and to conventional temporal information. We examined 191 6-9-year-old maltreated children’s responses to questions about recent events varying the wording of the invitations, either asking children to “tell me about” or “tell me what happened” one time/the first time/the last time the child experienced recent recurrent events. Additionally, half of the children were asked a series of “when” questions about recurrent events before the invitations. Children were several times more likely to provide exclusively conventional temporal information to “tell me about” invitations compared to “tell me what happened” invitations, and asking “when” questions before the invitations increased children’s tendency to give exclusively conventional temporal information. Children who answered a higher proportion of “when” questions with conventional temporal information were also more likely to do so in response to the invitations. The results suggest that children may often fail to provide narrative information because they misinterpret invitations using the word “time.”
Digital Technography: A Methodology for Interrogating Emerging Digital Technologies and Their Futures
Authors: Berg Martin
Published: May 2022

This article introduces “digital technography” as a methodology to interrogate and voice emerging digital technologies and their anticipated futures. I demonstrate, with reference to recent research on wearable self-tracking devices, digital food technologies, and platforms for work automation, how one can gain an understanding of these technologies by attending to the materials in which they are promoted; and actively engaging with them imaginatively and self-reflexively as a social scientist. This article outlines a digital technographic methodology centered around the three conceptual anchors of specification, valorization, and anticipation, all of which pertain to how a digital technology aims and perhaps even aspires to become a part of everyday life.
The Pull of Opposing Forces: An Inquiry Into the Ethical Dimensions of an Emergent Research-Based Theatre Project
Authors: Morrissey Dorothy
Published: May 2022

In this article, the author conducts a retrospective interrogation of the ethical issues embedded in the development (over a 5-year period) of a one-woman play, Goldilocks’ s Testimony, about the accumulation over time of the organizational processes and practices that marginalize women in workplaces. She describes the play’s developmental trajectory, from conception through to the final performance to date as a serendipitous one. In the article, she explores many of the ethical issues that emerged over the course of this trajectory, some of which became apparent only in hindsight. In her exploration, she attends explicitly to the many opposing forces she negotiated over the lifetime of the project.
How Leadership Influences Urban Greenspace Provision: The Case of Surrey, Canada
Authors: Boulton Chris , Dedekorkut-Howes Aysin , Holden Meg , Byrne Jason
Published: May 2022

Much research has examined the socio-spatial distribution of, and access to, urban greenspace; the challenges of supplying greenspace, especially in periods of dynamic urban change, remain poorly understood. Multiple factors shape urban greenspace provision, however understanding the role of leadership as a factor remains somewhat elusive. Addressing this critical knowledge gap, we employed a case study approach, using qualitative methods, to hear first-hand from the key stakeholders involved with municipal urban greenspace provision, to investigate how different types of leadership affected greenspace provision in Surrey, Canada – a dynamically changing mid-size city. Semi-structured interviews with 32 purposively selected participants reveal that here, both leadership and organizational culture influenced resources and decision-making supporting greenspace provision. Aligned political leadership and organizational leadership witnessed a significant increase in Surrey's urban greenspaces – the converse occurred in a later administration. Findings provide insights into the governance of greenspace; especially how different types of leadership can play a pivotal role in effective greenspace provision.
Urban Policy Entrepreneurship: Activist Networks, Minimum Wage Campaigns and Municipal Action Against Inequality
Authors: Doussard Marc , Schrock Greg
Published: May 2022

Why are cities acting against inequality? We attribute the growth of municipal economic policy to multi-city urban policy entrepreneurship networks. These networks combine activists who create pressure to address inequality with policy experts who supply the legislative means to do so. We illustrate the concept through the Fight for $15 campaign in Seattle and Chicago. Drawing on more than 100 interviews, participant observation and secondary documents, we show that advocates for municipal policy reform use national policy entrepreneurship networks to develop policy-specific and generalized policy advocacy techniques. Centering urban policy entrepreneurship brings into focus three important aspects of current municipal public policy: 1) The two-way interaction between national and local policy campaigns. 2) Partnerships between activists who set the political agenda and policy entrepreneurs who act on political opportunity. 3) The role of national advocacy and policy entrepreneurship networks in converting new policy ideas into routine, off-the-shelf policy solutions.
Ageing in Place Over Time: The Making and Unmaking of Home
Authors: Webber Ruth , May Vanessa , Lewis Camilla
Published: May 2022

‘Ageing in place’ is a key component of UK policy, aimed at supporting older people to remain living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Although wide-ranging, the scholarly literature in this field has not sufficiently examined the interconnections between ageing in place and the changing experience of ‘home’ over time. This article addresses this gap in a novel way by bringing together qualitative secondary analysis of longitudinal data with critical literature on ‘home’ and Mason’s cutting-edge concept of ‘affinities’ to understand the multi-dimensionality of home in relation to ageing in place. The article makes significant methodological, empirical, and theoretical contributions to the field of scholarship on home, by demonstrating how homes are made and unmade over time. Discussions of home emerged organically in the longitudinal data that focused on people’s travel and transport use, allowing our qualitative secondary analysis approach to look anew at how experiences of home are dynamically shaped by people’s potent connections inside and outside the dwelling. Presenting an empirical analysis of four case studies, the article suggests that future discussions in the field of ageing in place should pay closer attention to the factors that shape experiences of the un/making of home over time, such as how deteriorating physical and mental health can shape how people experience their dwelling and neighbourhood as well as their relationships across these settings.
A combination of genetic algorithm and dynamic relaxation method for practical form-finding of tensegrity structures
Authors: Bui Hieu Quang , Kawabata Masaya , Van Nguyen Chinh
Published: May 2022

A combination of Genetic algorithm (GA) and Dynamic Relaxation (DR) method is presented for practical form-finding of tensegrity structures. Several approaches of dynamic relaxation method are reviewed for form-finding of tensegrity structures, and the negative points of DR method where the final form is sensitive to the initial form and cannot satisfy the geometrical constraint conditions are illustrated. The genetic algorithm is then proposed to obtain the initial configuration for DR method for finding the final shapes satisfying all constraint conditions. Several types of tensegrity structures are performed to point out the efficiency of proposed combination method.
Thermal comfort evaluation in architectural studio classrooms – A summer study in a warm to moderate Indian climate
Authors: Khambadkone Naveen K. , Madhumati Prabhukumar , Ranganath Mavukere Nanjundappa
Published: May 2022

This paper reports the findings from a thermal comfort field study conducted in institutional studio classrooms in the warm-to-moderate climate of Tumkur in Karnataka, India. A total of 506 datasets were obtained in the questionnaire survey consisting of students of architecture. The survey was carried out during the hot-dry months of March, April and May 2019 using subjective questionnaires during which indoor environment variables were measured simultaneously in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 55 Class II protocols. A comfort temperature of 30.4°C was obtained using Griffith’s method, and the comfort band was found to be between 25.0°C to 32.5°C on the central sensation scale for 80% acceptability for the summer (hot-dry) season. Subjects showed greater tolerance and adaptation to warmer conditions with the main means of adaptation by opening windows, wearing lighter clothing, use of ceiling fans, drinking of cold water and use of curtain blinds. Comparison of the field study results with international standards shows that the standards failed to capture the comfort limits and adaptations of subjects in tropical climates of India. Findings of the present study bear significance in developing guidelines for thermal comfort for institutional buildings in the warm-to-moderate climate of India.
Stay Together to be Strong: How Online Knowledge Sharing Matters
Authors: Nguyen Mai
Published: May 2022

In an organisational crisis, employees often face role conflicts and job insecurity as well as cynicism and emotional exhaustion. This study aims to investigate the role of online knowledge sharing as an internal marketing solution that connects employees with role conflict or a sense of job insecurity to support each other to enhance job performance. Data were collected in Vietnam with 281 eligible responses from those who worked during the pandemic. The results indicated that role conflict positively influenced job insecurity, knowledge donating, and knowledge collecting. Job insecurity had a significant impact on knowledge donating and job performance. Knowledge donating and collecting significantly affected job performance and mediated the impact of role conflict and job insecurity on job performance. The competitive mediation of knowledge donating and knowledge collecting was identified. Emotional exhaustion and cynicism were found to moderate the influence of role conflict on knowledge donating and collecting in this study.
Parents’ views on improving relationships with their social workers
Authors: Baginsky Mary
Published: May 2022

• Summary: In England, the reason why most families have a social worker is because their children have been identified as having suffered or being at risk of suffering significant harm from abuse or neglect or requiring a statutory service for another need. Research has shown that positive relationships between social workers and families are essential. A study to evaluate Signs of Safety (Sofs) provided the opportunity to explore the quality of this relationship through the perceptions of 270 families who were in contact with children's social care (CSC). Over half were satisfied with the relationship, and many of the remaining families were able to identify what had stood in the way of it developing. • Findings: The areas which were of most concern was the high turnover of social workers with the attendant lack of consistency, poor communication, a failure to provide services which families had been promised and the withdrawal of support too soon. Most dissatisfactions stemmed either from parents believing they had not been shown sufficient respect or, that while they had been drawn into a statutory intervention, they had not been provided with sufficient support to address their problems. • Application: While some of the difficulties were connected to limited resources and overstretched services, others came about as a result of poor practice. The views expressed by these parents provide the basis for reflection amongst social workers, their managers and strategic leads on how improvements may be achieved and, in doing so, strengthen relationships with parents and potentially reduce future demand.
Nonprofits’ Receipt of Government Revenue in China: Institutionalization, Accountability and Political Embeddedness
Authors: Ye Shihua , Gong Xiaochen
Published: May 2022

Government funding constitutes a key source of revenue for nonprofits to survive. However, how to acquire government funding has not received sufficient scholarly attention yet, and the limited number of studies yields three major limitations. In order to address this knowledge gap, we examine the extent to which accountability, institutionalization, and political embeddedness affect nonprofits’ receipt of government revenue and the amount acquired from the government from the perspective of interorganizational relationship, particularly the government-nonprofit relations angle. Using two years panel data derived from a sample of 382 social service organizations in Guangdong Province, China, the research shows that nonprofits that are accountable to the government, more formalized, and hold (or once held) cadre positions at county and municipal level are more likely to acquire government funding. The effect of political council membership and being accountable to the public are relatively limited.
The Effect of Public Servants’ Reinvention Reform Perception on Organizational Performance in Taiwan: The Mediating Roles of Public Service Motivation and Organizational Commitment
Authors: Liu Hsiang Te , Chen Don-Yun
Published: May 2022

This study investigates the effects of public servants’ reinvention reform perceptions, public service motivation (PSM), and organizational commitment on organizational performance in the public sector. There is very little research exploring those relationships in Taiwan, and the topic is thus worthy of more systematic examination. This paper utilizes the Taiwan Government Bureaucrats Survey II (TGBS II), which collected 1,464 valid samples from the public sector and used structural equation model to test the hypotheses. We find that reinvention reform perception positively affects public servants’ PSM, organizational commitment and organizational performance. Finally, results demonstrate that organizational commitment mediates the relationship between PSM and organizational performance.