bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Enterprise 2.0 project management approach to facilitate participation, transparency, and communication
Authors: Auinger Andreas , Nedbal Dietmar , Hochmeier Alexander
Published: March 2022

The use of current interactive and collaborative Web 2.0 concepts and technologies has great potential for flexible, loosely-coupled integration and ad-hoc information exchange within and between organizations. However, stakeholders’ readiness, willingness and ability to participate need to be continuously factored in. The successful implementation of common strategies, systems and processes in the course of Enterprise 2.0 projects is crucial. To increase the probability of success and to enhance the intensity of cooperation and trust in such projects, the constructs of transparency, communication and participation need to be addressed through an integrated project methodology. To bridge the gap between existing scientific models and requirements for Enterprise 2.0 projects, this paper proposes and describes a project methodology to support the main objectives for Enterprise 2.0 implementations. Selected results from two pilot projects within Austrian companies are presented and matched with critical success factors, which are derived from the literature. These provide elaborative insights into key characteristics of certain Enterprise 2.0 tools and project management for Enterprise 2.0 projects.
Governance challenges in temporary organizations: a case of evolution and representations
Authors: Simard Magali , Laberge Danielle
Published: March 2022

According to the literature, formal project governance often stops at the steering committee, which is also identified as the main link between the permanent and temporary organizations. Generally, top managers play an active role as sponsors in this committee until the project is approved and launched. Afterwards, the project execution is usually delegated, enabling middle managers to participate in strategy operationalization. As such, they are likely to take part in the project governance and its operationalization. In this study, we are especially interested in the governance zone reporting to the steering committee. Within this zone, formal and informal governance is intertwined, and there is likely to be considerable overlap with the permanent organization. Our study focuses on a specific liaison device within this zone: the Project Coordination Committee, which has rarely been studied. We explore how project governance evolves and is represented by project participants. Our results show a surprising diversity in participants’ representations. This allows us to identify a number of conclusions that go beyond the governance form issues and relate to the complexity of this governance zone and its influence on the disruptions between permanent and temporary governance structures within a large organization.
The use of Game Theory to solve conflicts in the project management and construction industry
Authors: San Cristóbal José Ramón
Published: March 2022

A typical construction project involves a wide range of disparate professionals, in many cases geographically distributed, working together for a relatively short period of time on the design and construction of a facility. Since organizations are becoming flatter, culturally rich, geographically diverse and intensely competitive, the possibilities for conflict in such environments are greater. Negotiation is an important aspect of a project and plays an important role in resolving claims, preventing disputes, and keeping a harmonious relationship between project participants. Part of any project manager’s role as a leader is to recognize conflict, understand the sources of conflict and manage it, and to do this a project manager must be able to understand the basics of negotiation theory and have sufficient competencies to lead in such situations. To address the complex technical and human issues in negotiation, different negotiation theories and models are available which mainly include game theory, economic theory, and behavior theory. Since Game Theory provides, by its very nature, the appropriate tools for the analysis and eventual solution of conflicts of any kind, this paper uses a model based on Game Theory in order to identify the activities that are responsible for the delays in a project and divide the costs among them.
Why advertise the obvious? Learning outcomes from analyzing advertisements for recruitment of Swedish IS/IT project managers
Authors: Marcusson Leif , Lundqvist Siw
Published: March 2022

When Swedish employers advertise for IS/IT project managers they tend to list almost obvious qualification requirements instead of describing those that are unique for their companies’ competitiveness, or more precisely, instead of expressing those that really matters. The research behind this paper studied job advertisements during four years (2010–2013). The findings point to an inadequate ability to understand and/or express the requirements that should be decisive for the appointment in order to grasp the essence of what the job actually involves, which brings on problems for both the applicants and the employers. The practical implications of the study pursue a need for employers to stop advertising mostly general requirements for the benefit of more specified ones, that take the sector’s, the organization’s and the project’s requirements into consideration. By doing so, the prospect applicants have a better opportunity to understand what a certain job entails and the employers have a better chance to appoint the right individual. The research implications point to a need for acknowledging, and set about solving, problems concerning qualification requirements in advertisements for IS/IT project managers.
The application of post tender negotiation procedure: a public sector procurement perspective in UK
Authors: Manso Peter Frimpong , Nikas Athanasios
Published: March 2022

Post Tender Negotiation (PTN) procedure is part of the tendering process in procurement of goods and services. The procedure could be triggered if the initial tendering activity does not result in the selection of a supplier. This could be due to a lack of clear Value for Money (VfM) bidder. The PTN procedure is sparingly applied in the UK public sector procurement and the reasons adduced for this are based on ethical considerations. The UK Office of Government Procurement (OGP), formerly known as the Office for Government Commerce (OGC) and the European Union (EU) are the chief proponents of restricting the use of PTN to exceptional cases. The premise of their argument is that the buyer could unethically tilt her/his actions in the process of applying the PTN procedure to favor certain suppliers. It is the argument of this paper that buyers from the public sector in UK are being deprived of the procedure’s benefit and therefore, the restrictions should be relaxed. Evidence from this study suggests that the procedure could offer the opportunity for further clarifications of supplier’s bid. The study also identifies that, for PTN to be successful, factors ensuring success in negotiations including cooperation should be present.
Understanding dyadic promoter-stakeholder relations in complex projects
Authors: Vos Janita F. J. , Boonstra Albert , Achterkamp Marjolein C.
Published: March 2022

In this study, we propose a Bilateral Double Motive framework of stakeholder cooperation in complex projects. The framework analyses and explains dyadic promoter-stakeholder relationships at a micro level by acknowledging both transactional and relational motives. We demonstrate the framework’s usefulness by illustrating its explanatory power in two instances of cooperation and two of non-cooperation within two health information technology projects. The study contributes to project management theory through its combined focus on transactional and relational motives. Further, the study contributes to practice by providing a tool for planning and evaluating cooperation in health Information Technology projects and similar complex multi-stakeholder environments.
Thematic grouping for messages in major events
Authors: Pinheiro Wallace , Fernandes Ricardo , Souza Luciene
Published: March 2022

The process of information evaluation may compete with the decision making process by requiring the limited cognitive resources. In the case of Major Events, such as the Football World Cup or the Olympic Games, the thematic grouping of every information may be overwhelming. The theme switching caused by information associated with a different thematic group may be modelled as an interruption in multitasking set-ups. Thus, automating the thematic grouping of information may facilitate the decision making process by reducing the theme switching for a decision maker when he reads a set of messages. In this paper were used clustering techniques with multi-criteria to group the messages in themes. These criteria were implemented as configurable operators. To achieve a better comprehension of those parameters, we introduced the concepts of Thematic Strength (TS) and Thematic Density (TD). The evaluation of the strategy was made over a set of operational messages available in the Pacificador system during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Enterprise collaboration systems: addressing adoption challenges and the shaping of sociotechnical systems
Authors: Greeven Clara S. , Williams Susan P.
Published: March 2022

This article examines the adoption challenges organizations encounter when they introduce enterprise collaboration systems (ECS) and the measures that can be used, i.e. actions that can be taken, to address these challenges. The aim of the article is to provide an overview of the multitude of different ECS adoption challenges and measures, and based on these, to lay the theoretical and analytical basis for studying the shaping of such complex sociotechnical systems. For this purpose, a qualitative meta-analysis of the academic literature and interviews with companies were conducted, which resulted in a collection of ECS challenges and measures classified and analyzed with regard to their specific spatiotemporal aspects. Drawing on the results of this study, research imperatives, which include the call for studying ECS over multiple time frames and settings, are presented. These will be examined in greater depth as part of our wider, multidisciplinary research program that focuses on enterprise collaboration systems use in the emerging digital workplace.
Developing offshore outsourcing practices in a global selective outsourcing environment – the IT supplier’s viewpoint
Authors: Majanoja Anne-Maarit , Linko Linnéa , Leppänen Ville
Published: March 2022

Currently, internal IT organizations use outsourcing and offshore arrangements to achieve cost savings and gain access to new capabilities. It was found that suppliers’ personnel at the operational level can face challenges with internalizing their operations based on the agreed outsourcing practices and transferred responsibilities. This study gives voice to the supplier and studies the impact of offshore outsourcing operation development activities. The internal IT unit from Nokia Devices selectively outsourced global IT service activities and responsibilities to the IT supplier. The outsourced activities were implemented by offshore centers in India and China. It was found that the global selective outsourcing environment (GSOE) did not provide a solution to all of their expectations, and new unexpected challenges occurred. Several practices, communication and information sharing, and behavior-related lessons learned items were identified. It was found that the GSOE operation needs to be developed and implemented in an agile and incremental manner, instead of a singular implementation approach. Also, the globally distributed teams’ group dynamics critically impacted on the teams’ ability to work. The lessons learned items and recommendations can be utilized by other companies during their mode-of-operation development.
The rise of the prosumer: an analysis of self-service technology adoption in a corporate context
Authors: Considine Eoghan , Cormican Kathryn
Published: March 2022

The adoption of self-service technology (SST) has been well researched in consumer contexts but, despite the existing body of work, few studies have investigated in detail the specific determinants for user satisfaction in a corporate context. This study attempts to address this deficit. The goal of our work is to examine employees’ perception of SST. To do this, four dimensions of the SSTQUAL quality scale (namely (a) functionality; (b) security; (c) design and (d) customization) were adapted to collect data from 182 knowledge workers in a financial services multi-national organization. The findings lead to the following insights. First respondents believe that SSTs can perform the task required in a timely and straightforward manner. They also feel that transactions are safe and secure. However, we learned that, although essential to user satisfaction, respondents have concerns regarding the design and customization of the technology. They believe that the technology employed is not user centric. Furthermore, respondents are not pleased with the layouts or aesthetics of the technology and they feel that the features are not personalized for their specific requirements. The study is important for many reasons. First, it expands the discussion on SST adoption by focusing on the corporate context thus contributing to the body of knowledge in the domain. Second, it captures and analyses real world empirical data and helps bridge the gap between theory and practice. Finally, the findings can help service providers to create effective user driven solutions.
Relativism in the Cloud: Cloud Sourcing in virtue of IS Development Outsourcing - A literature review
Authors: Johansson Björn , Muhic Mirella
Published: March 2022

Nowadays Cloud Computing and Cloud Sourcing is on the agenda in many organizations. Many Chief Information Officers (CIOs) that urge for alternatives to traditional outsourcing are interested in how they can take advantage from Cloud Computing, by sourcing Information Technology (IT) from the cloud. This paper provides an overview of the research direction of Cloud Sourcing in the IS field. A literature review based on selected papers from top Information Systems (IS) journals and conferences were conducted. Findings from the review indicate that the attention of Cloud Sourcing in IS literature has mainly been directed towards security and risk as well as adoption issues, and that Cloud Sourcing is claimed to be the next generation of outsourcing. Unfortunately, this is where this strong claim ends without any further evidence, which indicate that there is a need for more research on Cloud Sourcing, especially in the direction of investigating relationships and implications when organizations start using Cloud Sourcing.
How Return on Investment and Residual Income Performance Measures and Risk Preferences Affect Risk-Taking
Authors: Brown Jason L. , Martin Patrick R. , Sprinkle Geoffrey B. , Way Dan
Published: March 2022

Return on investment (ROI) and residual income (RI) are two important accounting measures that are commonly used to evaluate managers’ performance, and evidence suggests that both ROI and RI can help motivate long-term investments. Research is limited, though, regarding whether ROI and RI differentially affect managers’ actions, and, more specifically, research has not examined the effects of ROI and RI on risk-taking. We conduct an experiment to examine the separate and interactive effects of individuals’ risk preferences and ROI and RI performance measures on risk-taking in capital investment decisions. We predict and find that the use of ROI as a performance measure leads to riskier choices, as compared with RI, and that this effect is concentrated in relatively more risk-averse individuals. We also provide process evidence that reveals some of the ways in which ROI and RI performance measures affect decision making. Collectively, our results contribute to literature examining the effects of accounting information and performance measures on managers’ risk-taking behaviors.

This paper was accepted by Suraj Srinivasan, accounting.

Funding: Financial support from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is gratefully acknowledged.

Supplemental Material: Data files are available at https://doi.org/mnsc.2022.4398 .
Lendo Triste fim de Policarpo Quaresma e São Bernardo a partir da educação do campo
Authors: Araujo Erick , Colares Paula
Published: March 2022

O artigo apresenta leituras de dois romances, Triste fim de Policarpo Quaresma, de Lima Barreto, e São Bernardo, de Graciliano Ramos, conectando-os aos problemas levantados pela Educação do Campo. Mostra-se pertinente tal articulação tendo em vista: o panorama histórico presente na obra de Lima Barreto, fazendo ver a produção da situação agrária no Brasil da Primeira República; os papéis que a educação e a escola apresentam em São Bernardo, por um lado, enquanto dispositivo de adestramento das pessoas que vivem e trabalham no campo, em acordo com a soberania do proprietário, por outro, enquanto meio de desestabilização de um estado de coisas que privilegia à propriedade em detrimento da existência dos povos do campo. O uso que se faz dos romances está em acordo com a perspectiva de que a literatura se apresenta, a um só tempo, como análise do estado de coisas e meio de intervenção no mesmo. Trata-se, aí, como diz Lima Barreto, de literatura militante.
O “ADESTRAMENTO” DA JUVENTUDE RURAL: o modelo educativo da extensão rural para a reprodução do capital
Authors: Wolfart Cíntia , Ribeiro Marcos Vinícius
Published: March 2022

A proposta deste artigo é discutir alguns aspectos da formação humana aplicados pela extensão rural no Brasil, entre as décadas de 1940 e 1960. A extensão teve como interesse especial à educação da juventude rural, considerada como alvo propício, suscetível e facilmente moldável não só para a assimilação e incorporação do pacote tecnológico em decorrência do Imperialismo europeu e estadunidense, mas também para a preparação da força de trabalho necessária para o desenvolvimento do capitalismo no campo. A extensão seguiu o modelo difusionista de técnicas e tecnologias e a ideologia do “aprender a fazer fazendo”, característico da sociologia rural estadunidense, que forjavam seus reais objetivos atrelados a reprodução da sociedade de classes e a manutenção da desigualdade social. A partir da avaliação das práticas da extensão, evidenciou-se um processo de ocultação das contradições do capitalismo no campo. A proposta de melhoria da qualidade de vida da população rural não se efetivou, e a educação rural foi fator central para o convencimento da juventude rural sobre via capitalista como modo de produção necessário.
Quem são os mais pobres? explorando tensões sociais e horizontes políticos
Authors: Silva Hélio Alexandre
Published: March 2022

Meu objetivo neste texto é apresentar algumas hipóteses provisórias acerca da articulação entre o social e o político por meio de uma abordagem que traz o fenômeno da pobreza para o centro do debate. Para construir esse trajeto, o livro Planeta favela, de Mike Davis, será o ponto de partida. Contudo, não pretendo reconstruir todos os argumentos presentes ali, mas explorar as linhas gerais de uma abordagem comum da pobreza pensada como aquilo que diz respeito à falta do mínimo. Em seguida, procuro oferecer uma concepção alternativa de pobreza considerada como falta de acesso àquilo que foi socialmente produzido e que atinge alguns mais, outros menos. Finalmente, apresento algumas reflexões iniciais no sentido de mostrar que, embora as múltiplas experiências de pobreza envolvam diferentes formas de privação, nem por isso ela anula os potenciais sociais de resistência e transformação política.
O ESTADO DO CONHECIMENTO A PARTIR DAS CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA ABORDAGEM DE EDUCAÇÃO DA INFÂNCIA DE REGGIO EMILIA PARA A PRODUÇÃO CIÊNTÍFICA BRASILEIRA
Authors: Graeff Adriane , Nogaro Arnaldo
Published: March 2022

O estudo tem como objetivo apresentar o estado do conhecimento para entender quais as contribuições da abordagem de educação da infância de Reggio Emilia para a produção científica brasileira. A pesquisa realizada no portal de teses e dissertações da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) no mês de dezembro de 2020, traz os estudos realizados sobre a temática no Brasil. Destaca-se que há um movimento de pesquisa em relação à temática, porém ainda há pouca quantidade de teses relacionadas ao tema proposto. Observa-se que os trabalhos trazem os relatos de estudos e aproximação realizados por alguns dos pesquisadores em Reggio Emilia, outros trazem o diferencial dessa abordagem, o porquê lá existe determinadas práticas importantes para o desenvolvimento infantil e o diferencial presente na organização da sociedade, na forma de se relacionar, participar e na escuta sensível que faz com que essa abordagem seja referência mundial de educação da infância.
CRIANÇA E NATUREZA: CAMINHOS POSSÍVEIS PARA A PRÁTICA PEDAGÓGICA NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL
Authors: Abreu Valéria Fernandes de , Siqueira Taisy Sousa de Oliveira , Castro Alessandra Gonçalves de
Published: March 2022

Esta pesquisa destina-se à reflexão da convivência com a Natureza na Educação Infantil, no que se refere ao incentivo à curiosidade, à exploração, ao questionamento, às vivências e experiências das crianças, pensando nos possíveis caminhos que promovam o cuidado, a alegria de viver/brincar ao ar livre, a interação e a preservação da biodiversidade dentro da escola. Para esta reflexão, utilizou-se a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental com a literatura especializada. Através de Lobo (2013), Antônio (2019), Tiriba, Flores e Rodrigues (2016) e Ostetto (2017), aprofundamos o referencial teórico de suporte à investigação, bem como a análise da lei e documentos em conexão com nossa temática. Essa pesquisa qualitativa de cunho exploratório, que, segundo Gil (2016, p. 27), tem “o objetivo de proporcionar visão geral, de tipo aproximativo, acerca de determinado fato”, analisou os dados levantados, observando os desafios das instituições educacionais para derrubar o emparedamento das crianças, visando um maior equilíbrio e contato com a natureza, através de possibilidades que destaquem a pluralidade de atividades que conectem infância e natureza.
Entrevista com a Professora Queiti Cristina Pereira da Silva
Authors: Carvalho Érika Loureiro de , Silva Queiti Cristina Pereira da
Published: March 2022

Entrevista com a Professora Queiti Cristina Pereira da Silva
A CRISE ESTRUTURAL DO CAPITAL E A PROLETARIZAÇÃO DO TRABALHO
Authors: Da Silva Jorge Alexandre , Neto Guilherme Howes
Published: March 2022

Este artigo tem por objetivo problematizar algumas das dimensões do surgimento do novo proletariado de serviços, que aparece na superfície das relações sociais como empreendedor. Observa-se que as consequências da precarização global das relações de trabalho, da crise estrutural do capital, da redefinição dos “lugares” sociais do trabalho e da apropriação da subjetividade humana pelo capital não repercutem apenas na vida laboral dos trabalhadores, mas na totalidade de sua vida social. A uberização resulta não apenas em processos de precarização do salário, mas também do modo de vida e das condições de existência de trabalhadores e trabalhadoras na subsunção real do trabalho ao capital.
How to plan for a post-quantum security ecosystem
Authors: Gerhardt Nils
Published: March 2022

Sooner or later, companies will have to adapt to security in an age of quantum computing. Even the slowest of these new machines can perform calculations millions of times faster than the fastest conventional supercomputers, meaning that many of the encryption techniques on which digital security is built could become insecure. This would result in confidential information being revealed and digitally signed documents rendered untrustworthy.
Identifying the changing faces of international fraudsters
Authors: Ranieri Sam
Published: March 2022

Businesses are exploring new frontiers in e-commerce, with lucrative growth opportunities opening all over the globe. The acceleration of online buying, fuelled by the pandemic, means that retailers are scrambling to serve a rapidly expanding global customer base. It's clear that consumers everywhere have quickly adapted to e-commerce but accompanying this huge evolution in consumer demand are emerging fraud threats, designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the digital ecosystem.
Building a global hydrogen market: the clear need for transparency
Authors: Stones Jake
Published: March 2022

Jake Stones of ICIS says radical change is needed to create an international, liquid market for hydrogen rivalling the existing ones for gas – and transparency is key to success.
Mortality and Factors Related in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients Treated with Vancomycin
Authors:   Division of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Khangtragool Anutra , Sunkonkit Kanokkarn ,   Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Lucksiri Aroonrut ,   Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Seetaboot Sukanlaya ,   Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Published: March 2022

Abstract There is limited information available regarding clinical outcome and rate of mortality in relation to invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients treated with vancomycin in this tertiary hospital in northern Thailand. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended vancomycin prescription; however, it is important to investigate the outcome of this monitoring in PICU patients. This study aims to evaluate the mortality and factors related to these in PICU patients treated with vancomycin. A retrospective study was conducted in PICU patients given vancomycin from April 2018 to April 2019. The following variables were included: age, sex, underlying disease, diagnosis, length of stay (LOS) in PICU, Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM 2) score, mechanical ventilator use, renal replacement therapy (RRT), laboratory data, vancomycin dose, trough serum vancomycin concentration (Ctrough) and mortality rate. One hundred and sixty pediatric patients were enrolled into the study (median age 12 months, range 2-180 months, 69.4% male). Ctrough of vancomycin (10–20 mg/L) was recorded in 32.5% (n = 52) of cases. Septic shock was the most common diagnosis (49.3%) and the mortality rate was 39.4%. Results indicated that children who had a vancomycin Ctrough outside the therapeutic range, mechanical ventilator use and RRT use were statistically significantly associated with higher mortality rate (adjusted OR 3.29, 95% CI, 1.41-7.69; P <0.05), (adjusted OR 6.22, 95% CI, 1.67-23.16; P < 0.05) and (adjusted OR 10.41, 95% CI, 2.62-41.37; P < 0.05). These factors were related to mortality and further studies are needed to determine if this outcome can be improved. Keywords: Vancomycin, Vancomycin trough concentration, Pediatric patients, Intensive care, Mortality, Factors related to mortality
Surgical removal of torus palatinus in a patient with a history of bisphosphonates
Authors: Dean Rabia , Ahmed Bilal , Sapa Hiral
Published: March 2022

Torus palatinus is a common bony outgrowth of the hard palate. We discuss our surgical approach to managing a torus palatinus in a 61-year-old woman. She had a seven-year history of taking oral bisphosphonates, increasing the risk of medication related osteonecrosis. The torus had been slowly increasing in size over the previous three years. It affected her ability to eat and was associated with frequent food packing. The torus was surgically removed with no postoperative complications.
Making it real: stimulation in the simulation clinic
Authors: Rajashekhar Manjunath , Jennings Ernest , Abbott John , Thomson Peter
Published: March 2022

Simulation is increasingly recognised as an integral component of modern healthcare education, especially for learning irreversible interventional procedures. Dentistry has utilised various types of simulation activities during preclinical education for many years. This article reviews the application of the simulation clinic in contemporary dental education at James Cook University’s dental school in Australia and offers insight into how ‘making it real’ can stimulate the successful acquisition of clinical skills.
Environmental compensation of laser interferometer based on particle swarm algorithm
Authors: Liao Yongchao , Zhang Zhiping , Wang Ning , Chen Zhang , Hao Lingling , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: March 2022

A dual-frequency laser interferometer is an important instrument that can provide a meter-level measurement range with nanometer-level measurement accuracy at several meters per second measurement speed. The measurement accuracy of the dual-frequency laser interferometer plays a vital role based on laser wavelength, which is easily affected by environmental factors, so the air refractive index needs to be corrected. In this paper, an improved Edlen empirical formula air refractive index compensation method is introduced, in which a particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to optimize the Edlen formula by adjusting the compensation model online according to the compensation effect to adapt to different environmental conditions. The experimental results show that the root mean square error of the interferometer compensated for by the unoptimized Edlen formula can be reduced by 79.3% and 72.1% under different optical path lengths, and by 90.7% and 91.9% after compensation by the optimized Edlen formula, which means that the average compensation effect is improved by about 20%.
Quality of life among patients with cancer and their family caregivers in the Sub-Saharan region: A systematic review of quantitative studies
Authors: Qan’ir Yousef , Guan Ting , Idiagbonya Eno , Dobias Cloie , Conklin Jamie L. , Zimba Chifundo Colleta , Bula Agatha , Jumbo Wongani , Wella Kondwani , Mapulanga Patrick , Bingo Samuel , Chilemba Evelyn , Haley Jennifer , Montano Nilda Peragallo , Bryant Ashley Leak , Song Lixin
Published: March 2022

Guided by the World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL) framework, this systematic review aimed to examine evidence about the prevalence and severity of QOL-related health problems and their influencing factors in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We identified eligible publications in English language from PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus with Full Text, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and African Index Medicus databases. We included quantitative descriptive studies that measured overall and subdomains of QOL as the outcome in adult patients/survivors with cancer in SSA. Twenty-six descriptive cross-sectional studies (27 papers) that were conducted since 1988 in different SSA countries among patients with various types of cancer met our inclusion criteria. We found inconsistencies in how the prevalence and severity of QOL-related health problems have been researched and reported across studies, which complicated comparing findings and drawing conclusions. The most common factors that influenced the overall and subdomains of QOL included coping; internal and external locus of control; symptoms and symptom management; and religious beliefs and religious care. Demographics (e.g., age and marital status), cancer-related factors (cancer stage and type of treatment), and social determinants of health (e.g., education, access to information and resources, financial distress, and urban vs rural residency) also impacted QOL and its subdomains. Our findings indicate the significant need for recognizing and managing QOL-related problems for cancer patients and caregivers in SSA. Research needs to use culturally adapted, standardized assessment tools and analysis approaches to better understand the QOL challenges this population faces. Comprehensive supportive care is needed to address the complex QOL issues in resource-limited SSA.
Prediction and developing of shear strength of reinforced high strength concrete beams with and without steel fibers using multiple mathematical models
Authors: Saber Ayad Zaki
Published: March 2022

One of the methods to improve the structural design of concrete is by updating the factors given in standard codes, especially when non-conventional materials are used in concrete beams. Accordingly, this study focuses on the colorations between the compressive strength and shear strength of high-strength concrete beams with and without steel fibers. For that purpose, different models are proposed to predict shear strength of high-strength concrete beams, by taking different combinations of the main variables: beam cross-section dimension (width and effective depth), reinforcement index, concrete compressive strength, shear span ratio, and steel fiber properties (volumetric content, fiber aspect ratio, and type of steel fibers). Multi-linear and non-linear regression analyses are used with large database experimental results found in the literature. The predicted results from the proposed equations are composed with different available models from codes, standards, and literatures. The calculated results showed better correlations and were close enough to the experimental data. Based on the data given in the standard codes, the shear strength is proportional to compressive strength (fc′) of the power 0.5. However, this value may not be adequate for modern cement and concrete containing steel fibers. Therefore, the mentioned power value must be reduced 5 times to 0.1.
Multi-modality human phenotyping to examine subjective and objective health afflictions in former professional American-style football players: The In-Person Assessment (IPA) protocol
Authors: Cortez Bryan , Valdivia Chelsea , Keating Dylan , Marengi Dean , Bates Trevor , Brown Cheyenne , Dairi Inana , Doyle Michael , Keske Robyn , Connor Ann , Grashow Rachel , Tenforde Adam , Wasfy Meagan M. , Weisskopf Marc G. , Speizer Frank , Zafonte Ross , Baggish Aaron
Published: March 2022

Background

Participation in American-style football (ASF), one of the most popular sports worldwide, has been associated with adverse health outcomes. However, prior clinical studies of former ASF players have been limited by reliance on subjective self-reported data, inadequate sample size, or focus on a single disease process in isolation.

Objective

To determine the burden of objective multi-system pathology and its relationship with subjective health complaints among former professional ASF players.

Methods

The In-Person Assessment is a case-control, multi-day, deep human phenotyping protocol designed to characterize and quantify pathology among former professional ASF players. Participants, recruited from an on-going large-scale longitudinal cohort study, will include 120 men who report either no health conditions, a single health condition, or multiple health conditions across the key domains of cardiometabolic disease, disordered sleep, chronic pain, and cognitive impairment. Data will be collected from validated questionnaires, structured interviews, physical examinations, multi-modality imaging, and functional assessments over a 3-day study period. A pilot study was conducted to assess feasibility and to obtain participant feedback which was used to shape the final protocol.

Results

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of objective multi-system pathology and its relationship with subjective health complaints among former professional ASF players.

Conclusion

The study will determine whether subjective health complaints among former professional ASF players are explained by objective explanatory pathology and will provide novel opportunities to examine the interrelatedness of co-morbidities. It is anticipated that this protocol will be applicable to other clinical and occupational populations.
Profiling of phytochemicals from aerial parts of Terminalia neotaliala using LC-ESI-MS2 and determination of antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities
Authors: Shahzad Muhammad Nadeem , Ahmad Saeed , Tousif Muhammad Imran , Ahmad Imtiaz , Rao Huma , Ahmad Bilal , Basit Abdul
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Owing to extraordinary healing power, Terminalia species have been used in traditional medicine systems to treat various diseases. Many folklore uses of Terminalia neotaliala (Madagascar’s almond) included treating arterial hypertension, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, colic, oral and digestive candidiasis, intestinal parasitic infections, inflammatory skin conditions, postpartum care, and mycotic infections but nevertheless scientifically explored for its medicinal and pharmacological importance. Therefore, the current study intended to prepare methanolic extract and its fractionation with hexane, chloroform, and butanol followed by evaluation of their polyphenolic content, biological activities, and LCMS analysis. The biological study included antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition assay i.e., α-glucosidase and urease. The insight study of biologically active secondary metabolites of butanol fraction (BUAE) was performed through LCMS.

Methods

The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of hydroalcoholic and its fractions were estimated using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride method. The total tannin content (TTC) was determined using the Folin-Denis spectrophotometric method. Similarly, the antioxidant potential of HAAE, HEAE, CFAE, and BUAE was determined using four methods as DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The sample extracts were also evaluated against two clinically important enzymes i.e., α-glucosidase and urease.

Results

The BUAE (butanol aerial fraction) showed the highest TPC (234.79 ± 0.12 mg.GAE.g-1 DE), TFC (320.75 ± 12.50 mg.QE.g-1 DE), and TTC (143.36 ± 4.32 mg.TA.Eq.g-1 DE). The BUAE also showed the highest scavenging potential determined by DPPH (642.65 ± 1.11 mg.TEq.g-1 DE) and ABTS (543.17 ± 1.11 mg.TEq.g-1 DE), and the metal-reducing capacity determined by CUPRAC (1510.41 ± 4.45 mg.TEq.g-1 DE) and FRAP (739.81 ± 19.32 mg.TEq.g-1 DE). The LCMS of BUAE identified 18 different biologically active phytoconstituents validating a rich source of hydrolyzable tannins including ellagitannins and gallitannins.

Conclusion

The present study concluded that T. neotaliala is a rich source of polyphenols capable of neutralizing the damage caused by free radical accumulation in the cells and tissues. The significant antioxidant results and identification of high molecular weight hydrolyzable tannins enlightened the medicinal importance of T. neotaliala.
COVID-19 prevention behaviors, trust, and intent to vaccinate among youth at risk for HIV
Authors: Christodoulou Joan , Fehrenbacher Anne E. , Shaw Elizabeth H. , Vincent Eleanor M. , Saleska Jessica L.
Published: March 2022

The current study examines COVID-19 prevention behaviors and vaccine intentions among 83 youth at high risk for HIV. Most youth self-identified as Latinx (52%), cisgender men (84%), and homosexual (66%). Youth self-reported COVID-19 prevention behaviors and intentions to vaccinate. Participants reported wearing face masks, washing hands, and staying six feet apart, but fewer reported leaving home only for essential needs. About one-third reported that they would not get a vaccine, and lack of trust in their doctors and the government were significantly associated with non-intention. To improve efforts towards herd immunity, interventions to improve health messaging from trusted sources for at-risk youth may be necessary to achieve higher vaccine uptake.
Ubu Films: Sydney’s Underground Radical Culture 1965–72
Authors: French Lisa
Published: March 2022

Sydney is most well known internationally for its spectacular harbour, opera house and stunning Northern Beaches. But the history of the city includes an avant-garde underbelly. In 1965 Sydney was a fertile breeding ground for counter-cultural, underground cinema. and one of Australia’s first avant-garde independent film-making, distribution and exhibition groups, ‘Ubu’, was established. The name, from Alfred Jarry’s 1896 subversive play, Ubu Roi, signposted their revolutionary aims. Ubu’s members experimented with film form and pushed the boundaries of cultural conventions. They screened their own work and that of international and local avant-garde film-makers like Bruce Connor, Norman McLaren, Paul Winkler and Dusan Marek. They lobbied against censorship and built a creative community. Numerous members later became important to the revival of the Australian feature film industry in the 1970s, including Bruce Beresford, Yoram Gross, Phillip Noyce and Peter Weir.
Oscar Micheaux and ‘Race Pictures’: Chicago’s Groundbreaking African American Film-makers of the Silent Era
Authors: Bernstein Arnie
Published: March 2022

During the late 1910s about one fifth of all movies worldwide were made in Chicago. There were two major film factories on the north side of the city: Selig Polyscope, run by ‘Colonel’ William Selig, a showbiz impresario forged out of the P.T. Barnum mould; and Essanay Studios, founded by businessman George Spoor and former Selig employee William Anderson, better known as cowboy star ‘Broncho Billy’ Anderson (the studio name came from their initials, ‘S and A’).
A Festival Of Festivals: Celebrating Chicago’s Many Film Fests
Authors: Scott Jordan Harris
Published: March 2022

As is demonstrated throughout this book, Chicago is a city filled with film locations. So often, too, it seems to be a city filled with film critics. But, most importantly, it is a city filled with film lovers. And there is no better evidence of this than the amount of film festivals that are held in Chicago each year.
Punk Identities, Punk Utopias: Global Punk and Media, Russ Bestley, Mike Dines, Matt Grimes and Paula Guerra (eds) (2021)
Authors: Raghunath Anita
Published: March 2022

Review of: Punk Identities, Punk Utopias: Global Punk and Media, Russ Bestley, Mike Dines, Matt Grimes and Paula Guerra (eds) (2021)

Bristol: Intellect Books, 260 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78938-412-3, p/bk, £29.50
Reversing Into The Future: New Wave Graphics 1977–1990, Andrew Krivine (2021)
Authors: Bestley Russ
Published: March 2022

Review of: Reversing Into The Future: New Wave Graphics 1977–1990, Andrew Krivine (2021)

London: Pavilion, 336 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-91166-395-9, h/bk, £35.00
Souvenir: London, 1979–1986, Michael Bracewell (2021)
Authors: Loydell Rupert
Published: March 2022

Review of: Souvenir: London, 1979–1986, Michael Bracewell (2021)

London: White Rabbit, 124 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-47462-230-1, h/bk, £14.99
Zoladura iragazkorrak, hirietako drainatze-sarean txertaturiko elementu gisa
Authors: Madrazo-Uribeetxebarria Eneko , Garmendia Antín Maddi , Meaurio Arrate Maite
Published: March 2022

Zoladura iragazkorrak hirietako drainatze-sistema jasangarri mota bat dira. Ez dira berriak, baina oso mugatua da hirietako drainatze-sareko elementu integratu moduan duten erabilpena; besteak beste, sistema horien funtzionamenduarekiko konfiantza-ezagatik. Artikulu honen helburua zoladura iragazkorren inguruan dagoen ezagutzaren inguruko ikuspegi eguneratua ematea da, Administrazio eta enpresetako teknikariek inplementaziorako tresna eskuragarri gehiago izan ditzaten. Horrela, zoladura iragazkorren deskribapena emateaz gain, hirietako saneamendu-sarearen kudeaketan dituzten inpaktuak aztertuko dira, baita diseinurako irizpide batzuk eskainiko ere. Guztia ikuspuntu hidrologiko-hidrauliko batetik egingo da, azaleko isurketen bolumen- eta emari-murrizketa nabarmenduz, baina uraren kalitatea ere kontuan harturik. Bukaeran, zoladura mota hauek ikertzeko eraiki den eremu baten deskribapena ere emango da, haren erabilgarritasuna azpimarratuz.
La emergencia de las drogas sintéticas como acontecimiento farmacopolítico: aguante y plasticidad
Authors: Sepúlveda Galeas Mauricio , De la Fabian Rodrigo , Pérez Cristián , De la Fuente Sebastián
Published: March 2022

Este artículo se propone desarrollar una reflexión sobre los cambios en la comprensión y significación de los usos de las drogas sintéticas en la farmacotopía moderna. Desde una perspectiva genealógica, el texto desarrolla un diagnóstico del presente, el cual se fundamenta empíricamente en dos investigaciones etnográficas realizadas en Santiago de Chile entre los años 2004 y 2018. El argumento central del artículo es afirmar que la emergencia de las drogas sintéticas constituye un acontecimiento farmacopolítico, cuyos efectos reconfiguran el campo del saber, las prácticas de gobierno y las políticas de la experiencia. En ese marco, problematiza la separación drogas/medicamento, advirtiendo de un desplazamiento en los regímenes de verdad respecto al fármacon. Se recurre al análisis del aguante y la plasticidad como ficciones que se sitúan en el horizonte del potenciamiento humano. Ambas figuras nos posicionan en la ficción de un cuerpo habitable en su plasticidad, como expresión simbólica y material de un giro farmacopolítico. Esta ficción farmacopolítica se configura en torno a la idea de un potenciamiento humano que opera mediante prácticas de experimentación somatecnológicas y procesos de subjetivación.
Desprivatización católica, políticas morales y asociacionismo neoconservador: el caso de los grupos laicos de inspiración cristiana en el estado español
Authors: García Martín Joseba
Published: March 2022

Las últimas décadas han mostrado que la relación entre religión y modernidad ha desbordado las tesis clásicas en Occidente. En este artículo sostengo que la vinculación entre estos dos constructos es de compleja coexistencia, particularmente en el catolicismo, pues mediante transformaciones internas, la institución ha construido un campo desde el que continuar influyendo en la gestión de lo político y el derecho. Alineadas con este movimiento, desde la década de 1980 se han articulado colectivos de inspiración cristiana que, a nivel global y de la sociedad civil, hacen uso de la doble condición de laico/a y ciudadano/a creyente de sus participantes para influir en el ordenamiento normativo de las sociedades desde una perspectiva desprivatizadora. A partir del aparato teórico propuesto por José Casanova defiendo que este movimiento desprivatizador es una estrategia frente al creciente proceso de secularización societal, y al tensionamiento de la dicotomía privatización/desprivatización mediante contemporáneas dinámicas de movilización política. Para comprender este movimiento a través del laicado, el artículo se centra en el estudio de los discursos de agrupaciones y miembros de colectivos neoconservadores españoles de inspiración cristiana. El trabajo de campo ha sido realizado entre los años 2017 y 2018 en Madrid, Bilbao y Pamplona, tres de las ciudades más activas en las movilizaciones de inspiración cristiana. A partir del análisis de discurso de entrevistas, de observaciones no participantes de las movilizaciones y de documentos vaticanos y de colectivos desprivatizadores, el artículo permite comprender cómo dicha institución ha estimulado al laicado a movilizarse en el espacio público en defensa de la cosmovisión católica como forma de reposicionamiento político.