bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Pact on Migration and Asylum: Turning the European Territory into a Non-territory?
Authors: Cassarino Jean-Pierre , Marin Luisa
Published: March 2022

Can a part of the territory of the European Union be turned into a “non-territory” where the fundamental rights of the migrants and asylum seekers to appeal and to remain in their destination country while their applications are examined, and the right for an individual assessment in line with international standards, are as it were contracted, owing to the very attributes of this “non-territory”?

This article argues that the Pact on Migration and Asylum, in particular with the pre-entry screening and the new border procedures, subtly develops and consolidates policies and rules aimed at “deterritorializing” the territory of the EU while reinforcing its practices of externalization. Moreover, this unprecedented deterritorialization-externalization combination, in order to produce tangible policy results, presupposes the cooperation of third countries on expulsion and readmission, as well as more solidarity among the Member States. Having critically examined these two dimensions, the authors conclude that the new measures contained in the Pact might be conducive to the enhanced precarization of the legal positions of migrants and asylum seekers and to potential tensions with strategic third countries.
Ebbs and Flows of EU Migration Law and Governance: A Critical Assessment of the Evolution of Migration Legislation and Policy in Europe
Authors: Frasca Eleonora , Gatta Francesco Luigi
Published: March 2022

This Article summarises the complex ebbs and flows of EU migration law and policy. It is the result of an interdisciplinary research project called GLOBMIG, which includes a legal inventory that can be used by any reader or researcher. In the Article, we focus on the main outcomes observable from the inventory by taking several examples from EU legislation and case law that try to capture the evolution of migration law and governance in Europe during the last four decades. Key issues and their underlying dynamics are explored under three major trends: 1) State sovereignty vs migrants’ individual rights; 2) traditional law-making vs informal pragmatic governance; 3) unilateral vs multilateral migration governance. Each trend confirms the tension, but also the positive interaction, between competing interests as well as period of fluctuations between them. Two earmarks of EU migration law are taken into account: the internal and external dimension layout of migration and asylum law and the relationship between free movement of EU citizens and third country national immigration.
Work-Based Pathways to Refugee Protection under EU Law: Pie in the Sky?
Authors: Vankova Zvezda
Published: March 2022

This article focuses on the contested policy idea of utilising labour migration as a complementary pathway for refugees in the EU. Advocates view this as a “triple win” solution that empowers refugees, boosts economies, and supports post-conflict reconstruction. Yet, it re-mains unclear to what extent the EU labour migration acquis provides an adequate basis for such a novel approach. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment by combining an analysis of EU law with empirical data from interviews with international, EU and national stakeholders, such as public officials, employers and NGO s. It argues that such an approach requires amongst others, Member States’ readiness to make existing admission procedures more accessible for refugees, incentives for employers, and willingness of potential candidates for complementary pathways to accept initial limitations of some of the rights they would otherwise enjoy as refugees. The article concludes that despite the policy potential of work-based channels to create access to the EU for people in need of protection, at best a select group of highly-skilled refugees will be able to make use of the EU labour migration acquis in their ‘journey to a durable solution’.
Non-economic Migrants as Workers: Securing the Right to Work for Asylum Applicants in the EU
Authors: Cunniffe Emily
Published: March 2022

The figure of the asylum applicant worker sits uncomfortably in the oppositional framing of refugees and economic migrants. Yet, the recast Reception Conditions Directive 2013/33/EU provides a right to work for asylum applicants. Through case studies of Ireland and Sweden, this article examines the implementation of the right to work and describes an assemblage of de lege and de facto barriers that restrict access to the right to work in both Member States. Three legal avenues in EU law are explored to assess their potentiality to better secure this right. While the principle of effectiveness and fundamental rights prove useful, non-discrimination law remains limited in protecting the specific socio-legal status of asylum applicant workers. This article contributes to scholarship on the intersection of migration and labour law and the location of the asylum applicant worker within that intersection.
South Africa’s Response to COVID-19: Realities and Challenges of the Vaccination Roll-Out Process
Authors: Phetha Hlengiwe , Ojo Tinuade Adekunbi
Published: March 2022

The paper provides a critical analysis of the South African government’s economic response to the COVID-19 crisis and the current roll-out of vaccinations in South Africa. In preparation for the vaccination roll-out, South Africa set up national strategic committees to facilitate the smooth distribution of the vaccination process. However, despite being one of the first African countries to receive the vaccines, the effective roll-out is still ranked low. The paper used qualitative descriptive analysis to discuss the strategies promoting community understanding and limiting vaccination misinformation. The findings project that the government must deliver an effective and protected vaccine to reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. However, the mere accessibility of a vaccine is not enough to secure extensive immunological security; the immunisation must be accepted by all stakeholders and the public in the country. Vaccine uncertainty is a primary impediment to vaccine acceptance and the achievement of people’s immunity, which is mandatory to protect the marginalised populations in the country. The paper concludes that various strategic efforts made by the South Africa government to deal with the disease and the roll-out of vaccination in responding to COVID-19 remains a significant challenge. It then recommends that there should be a coordinated approach by both government and stakeholders to ensure effective distribution and reduce the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the country.
Blocking and General Circulation in GFDL Comprehensive Climate Models
Authors: Narinesingh Veeshan , Booth James F. , Ming Yi
Published: March 2022

This study examines the climatology and dynamics of atmospheric blocking, and the general circulation features that influence blocks in GFDL’s atmosphere-only (AM4) and coupled atmosphere–ocean (CM4) comprehensive models. We compare AM4 and CM4 with reanalysis, focusing on winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Both models generate the correct blocking climatology and planetary-scale signatures of the stationary wave. However, at regional scales some biases exist. In the eastern Pacific and over western North America, both models generate excessive blocking frequency and too strong of a stationary wave. In the Atlantic, the models generate too little blocking and a weakened stationary wave. A block-centered compositing analysis of block-onset dynamics reveals that the models 1) produce realistic patterns of high-frequency (1–6-day) eddy forcing and 2) capture the notable differences in the 500-hPa geopotential height field between Pacific and Atlantic blocking. However, the models fail to reproduce stronger wave activity flux convergence in the Atlantic compared to the Pacific. Overall, biases in the blocking climatology in terms of location, frequency, duration, and area are quite similar between AM4 and CM4 despite the models having large differences in sea surface temperatures and climatological zonal circulation. This could suggest that other factors could be more dominant in generating blocking biases for these GCMs.

Significance Statement

Atmospheric blocks are persistent high pressure systems that can lead to hazardous weather. Historically, climate models have had trouble capturing blocks, but recent changes in the models might lead to improvements. As such, the work herein investigates the spatial distribution, prevalence, duration, size, and dynamics of wintertime blocking in recent NOAA climate models. Overall, these models capture the long-term-average spatial pattern of blocking, and properly reproduce key dynamical features. However, the models produce too much blocking in the western United States, and too little over the northern Atlantic Ocean and Europe. These blocking biases are consistent with atmospheric stationary waves biases, but not jet stream bias. This downplays the role of jet biases in the models being responsible for blocking biases.
Freshwater Input and Vertical Mixing in the Canada Basin’s Seasonal Halocline: 1975 versus 2006–12
Authors: Rosenblum Erica , Stroeve Julienne , Gille Sarah T. , Lique Camille , Fajber Robert , Tremblay L. Bruno , Galley Ryan , Loureiro Thiago , Barber David G. , Lukovich Jennifer V.
Published: March 2022

The Arctic seasonal halocline impacts the exchange of heat, energy, and nutrients between the surface and the deeper ocean, and it is changing in response to Arctic sea ice melt over the past several decades. Here, we assess seasonal halocline formation in 1975 and 2006–12 by comparing daily, May–September, salinity profiles collected in the Canada Basin under sea ice. We evaluate differences between the two time periods using a one-dimensional (1D) bulk model to quantify differences in freshwater input and vertical mixing. The 1D metrics indicate that two separate factors contribute similarly to stronger stratification in 2006–12 relative to 1975: 1) larger surface freshwater input and 2) less vertical mixing of that freshwater. The larger freshwater input is mainly important in August–September, consistent with a longer melt season in recent years. The reduced vertical mixing is mainly important from June until mid-August, when similar levels of freshwater input in 1975 and 2006–12 are mixed over a different depth range, resulting in different stratification. These results imply that decadal changes to ice–ocean dynamics, in addition to freshwater input, significantly contribute to the stronger seasonal stratification in 2006–12 relative to 1975. These findings highlight the need for near-surface process studies to elucidate the impact of lateral processes and ice–ocean momentum exchange on vertical mixing. Moreover, the results may provide insight for improving the representation of decadal changes to Arctic upper-ocean stratification in climate models that do not capture decadal changes to vertical mixing.
The Asymmetric Relationship between Corruption, Political Stability and Economic Growth: New Evidence from BRICS Countries
Authors: Kesar Ashmita , Kamaiah B. , Jena Pabitra Kumar , Yadav Miklesh Prasad
Published: March 2022

There are studies available that study the influence of corruption on economic growth, but no existing literature studies the asymmetric relationship in context to BRICS countries. In this study, we try to fill the gap in the literature by studying the symmetric and asymmetric association between corruption, political stability and economic growth in BRICS economies where gross fixed capital formation and final consumption expenditure are considered additional variables. Further, we employ panel non-linear autoregressive distributed lag model from 1996–2018. In the long run, the non-linear estimation results confirm an asymmetric relationship while all variables show the asymmetric relationship in the short run. Additionally, the study has employed Dumitrescu– Hurlin (2012) test to find the direction of causality among the variables. The test confirms the causality in particular variables taking economic growth as dependent variable and the decomposed explanatory variables. The article’s findings provide new insight into the relationship between corruption, political stability and economic growth.

JEL Codes: D73, F35
Securitization of the Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Authors: Rana Md. Sohel , Riaz Ali
Published: March 2022

Several studies have highlighted the Rohingya refugees as a threat to the national security of Bangladesh, but very few studies have analyzed the process of securitization of the Rohingyas in the country. This paper examines the process of securitization by applying securitization theory and makes two key arguments. First, contrary to the studies which presented the securitization of Rohingyas in Bangladesh as a recent phenomenon, we argue that the securitization process began in the 1990s and widely expanded in the 2010s. Second, the securitization of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has been done by employing both discursive (speech acts) and non-discursive securitizing practices. A qualitative investigation of official statements, policies, and available scholarly insights helps make sense of these arguments.
Neoliberalism and the Impact of Student Demonstrations in Chile: Pushing the Bounds of the Post-Pinochet Education Project?
Authors: Torres Rodrigo
Published: March 2022

The free-market educational model implemented in Chile after Pinochet involved steady privatization and the resulting inequality and discrimination in access to university education. This educational neoliberalism was hotly contested by massive student demonstrations. In Bachelet’s second government (2014–2018), the political impact and ramifications of the 2011 student movement initiated a series of educational and political changes, among them free university education, tax reform focused on improvements in income distribution, and the end of the binominal system of congressional elections. At the same time, many of the principles of market education continued. Since the effects of free-market education became a social and political problem, the students’ demands went beyond the limits of the educational sector itself to become a central part of debate on the structural inequalities produced by the post-Pinochet neoliberal model, a conflict that exploded in Chile in October 2019.

El modelo educativo de libre mercado implementado en Chile después de Pinochet implicó una constante privatización y la consiguiente desigualdad y discriminación en el acceso a la educación universitaria. Este neoliberalismo educativo fue fuertemente contestado por masivas manifestaciones estudiantiles. En el segundo gobierno de Bachelet (2014–2018), el impacto político y las ramificaciones del movimiento estudiantil de 2011 dieron pie a una serie de cambios educativos y políticos, entre ellos la educación universitaria gratuita, una reforma tributaria enfocada en mejorar la distribución del ingreso y el fin del sistema binominal de elecciones parlamentarias. Al mismo tiempo, se mantuvieron muchos de los principios de la educación de mercado. Desde que los efectos de la educación de libre mercado se convirtieron en un problema social y político, las demandas de los estudiantes han rebasado los límites del propio sector educativo para convertirse en una parte central del debate sobre las desigualdades estructurales producidas por el modelo neoliberal post-Pinochet, un conflicto que estalló en Chile en octubre de 2019.
Spatial Incorporation of Multiple Immigrant Groups in Gateway Cities: Comparative Analysis of Sydney, Barcelona, and Prague
Authors: Hasman Jiří , Křížková Ivana
Published: March 2022

Immigrant incorporation in cities is often explained using the theories of spatial and segmented assimilation, which differ, among other things, in their approach to the spatial aspects of incorporation. However, empirical evidence about immigrant spatial incorporation from both theories is ambiguous, since most case studies focus on a single location and a limited number of immigrant groups, which hampers their external validity. Nonetheless, the level of immigrant spatial incorporation depends heavily on the characteristics of immigrant groups, the destination context, and the interplay between them. Therefore, we compared the spatial incorporation of 143 immigrant groups in Sydney, 54 in Barcelona, and 95 in Prague. These three cities differ greatly in their immigration histories, since each represents a different stage of the migration cycle. By employing both traditional and advanced quantitative methods, we show that immigrant spatial incorporation patterns vary considerably across groups and destination cities, with cultural proximity and the maturity of the immigration system among the key determinants. These findings imply that geographical context has a substantial potential to affect the immigrant spatial incorporation.
Do learners implement what they learn? Commitment-to-change following an interprofessional palliative care course
Authors: Pereira José , Meadows Lynn , Kljujic Dragan , Strudsholm Tina
Published: March 2022

Background:

Palliative care educators should incorporate strategies that enhance application into practice by learners. Commitment-to-change is an approach to reinforce learning and encourage application into practice; immediately post-course learners commit to making changes in their practices as a result of participating in the course (“statements”) and then several weeks or months later are prompted to reflect on their commitments (“reflections”).

Aim:

Explore if and how learners implemented into practice what they learned in a palliative care course, using commitment-to-change reflections.

Design:

Secondary analysis of post-course commitment statements and 4-months post-course commitment reflections submitted online by learners who participated in Pallium Canada’s interprofessional, 2-day, Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) Core courses.

Setting/participants:

Primary care providers from across Canada and different profession who attended LEAP Core courses from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2017.

Results:

About 1063 of 4636 learners (22.9%) who participated in the 244 courses delivered during the study period submitted a total of 4250 reflections 4 months post-course. Of these commitments, 3081 (72.5%) were implemented. The most common implemented commitments related to initiating palliative care early across diseases, pain and symptom management, use of clinical instruments, advance care planning, and interprofessional collaboration. Impact extended to patients, services, and colleagues. Barriers to implementation into practice included lack of time, and system-level factors such as lack of support by managers and untrained colleagues.

Conclusions:

Examples of benefits to patients, families, services, colleagues, and themselves were described as a result of participating in the courses.
Symptom burden and lived experiences of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals on the management of malignant bowel obstruction: A qualitative systematic review
Authors: Baddeley Elin , Mann Mala , Bravington Alison , Johnson Miriam J , Currow David , Murtagh Fliss E M , Boland Elaine G , Obita George , Oliver Alfred , Seddon Kathy , Nelson Annmarie , Boland Jason W , Noble Simon I R
Published: March 2022

Background:

Malignant bowel obstruction occurs in up to 50% of people with advanced ovarian and 15% of people with gastrointestinal cancers. Evaluation and comparison of interventions to manage symptoms are hampered by inconsistent evaluations of efficacy and lack of agreed core outcomes. The patient perspective is rarely incorporated.

Aim:

To synthesise the qualitative data regarding patient, caregiver and healthcare professionals’ views and experience of malignant bowel obstruction to inform the development of a core outcome set for the evaluation of malignant bowel obstruction.

Design:

A qualitative systematic review was conducted, with narrative synthesis. The review protocol was registered prospectively ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero , CRD42020176393).

Data sources:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2021. Reference lists were screened for further relevant publications, and citation tracking was performed.

Results:

Nine papers were included, reporting on seven studies which described the views and experiences of malignant bowel obstruction through the perspectives of 75 patients, 13 caregivers and 62 healthcare professionals. Themes across the papers included symptom burden, diverse experiences of interventions, impact on patient quality of life, implications and trajectory of malignant bowel obstruction, mixed experience of communication and the importance of realistic goals of care.

Conclusion:

Some of the most devastating sequelae of malignant bowel obstruction, such as pain and psychological distress, are not included routinely in its clinical or research evaluation. These data will contribute to a wider body of work to ensure the patient and caregiver perspective is recognised in the development of a core outcome set.
The efficacy of non-fasting ketogenic diet protocol in the management of intractable epilepsy in pediatric patients: a single center study from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alameen Ali Hayat , Muthaffar Osama , AlKarim Nahla , Kayyali Husam , Elmardenly Ahmed , Tamim Abdullah , Alansari Hala
Published: March 2022

Objective

To review the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients on a ketogenic diet (KD), an established treatment option for individuals with intractable epilepsy, in a tertiary epilepsy center.

Methods

This retrospective study included pediatric patients diagnosed with intractable epilepsy who had experienced no benefits from at least two appropriately chosen antiseizure medications. All patients were hospitalized, started a KD without fasting, and were observed for complications and tolerance. The etiology of epilepsy, side effects, and KD efficacy on seizure outcomes were also examined.

Results

Of 16 children included in the study, nine (56%) experienced significant seizure improvement, with three becoming seizure-free during the KD. Ten patients were fed orally, and six were fed through gastrostomy feeding tubes. Most were on a 3:1 ratio, and nine reached ketosis within the first three days of KD initiation. Initial recurrent hypoglycemia was documented in four patients, and four experienced vomiting and acidosis. Most families complied with the diet, and all of the children gained weight during the study period.

Conclusion

Ketogenic diets are an established and effective treatment for childhood epilepsy, with reversible mild adverse effects. A non-fasting KD protocol is a safe and effective option for children with intractable epilepsy.
Evaluation of BPA effects on autophagy in Neuro-2a cells
Authors: Li Jinglong , Yin Zhihong , Hua Liushuai , Wang Xinrui , Ren Fei , Ge Yaming
Published: March 2022

Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used for the industrial production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is found in many commercially available products. Plasticizer BPA produces chemical substances worldwide, and knowledge of its effects on humans and animals is increasing. In the present work, the morphology of cells was observed by optical microscopy and phalloidin staining to evaluate the toxic effect of BPA on Neuro-2a cells. Autophagy has an important role in the regulation of cell metabolism. To study the effect of BPA on the autophagy in Neuro-2a cells, the expression distribution of LC3 was detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression levels of p62 and Beclin1 were determined using western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. Optical microscopy and phalloidin staining revealed that the cells became rounded and small and that the dendritic spine of the cells were reduced at high BPA doses. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that the expression of LC3 fluorescence intensity was weak at increasing BPA concentrations. Western blot results showed that the relative expression of protein p62 increased significantly and that the relative expression levels of the Beclin1 and the LC3 proteins significantly decreased with increasing BPA concentration. qRT-PCR results showed that the relative expression level of autophagy-related p62 mRNA increased significantly and that the relative expression level of Beclin1 mRNA decreased significantly with increasing BPA concentration. The above results indicated that BPA treatment exerted dose-dependent toxic effects on Neuro-2a cells, and BPA inhibited the autophagy level of Neuro-2a cells, thereby providing a new perspective in studying the toxic effect of BPA on Neuro-2a cells.
A cloud-edge combined control system with MPC parameter optimization for path tracking of unmanned ground vehicle
Authors: Yang Xu , Ni Jun
Published: March 2022

As a new carrier to carry out intelligent task, the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is an important component of the intelligent transportation system (ITS) in the future. Most of traditional UGV path tracking control methods are deployed in the edge-side (on-board computing platform) with restricted data, which severely limits the improvement of UGVs’ path tracking performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel cloud-edge combined control system with MPC parameter optimization based on cloud brain control center (CBCC) applied in future ITS, which consists of edge-side control module and cloud-side optimization module. The proposed control system can optimize control parameters iteratively in CBCC by making the utmost of big data generated by UGVs to markedly enhance the control effectiveness. In CBCC, the path tracking performance is quantitatively evaluated from the aspects of path tracking accuracy, vehicle stability, and control stability. Also, an optimization algorithm is established by using SVR theory. Based on this, the cloud-side optimization module optimizes the control parameters of the edge-side control module by collecting and processing the big data generated by UGVs while driving. Besides, the designed edge-side control module is based on MPC algorithm and innovatively introduces a compensator which obviously reduces the error caused by the inaccuracy of the prediction model. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed cloud-edge combined control system, numerous simulation experiments are carried out. The results shows that the proposed cloud-edge combined control system can improve UGV’s path tracking performance and have strong robustness at different speeds.
Numerical study of unsteady shock/mixing interaction in confined space
Authors: Zha Zhangming , Ye Zhengyin
Published: March 2022

Unsteady shock wave enhancement is an effective technical approach to achieve air/fuel mixing under high speed and compressible conditions. However, unsteady shock/mixing interactions are always accompanied by complex wave structures, so the height of the combustion chamber will inevitably have a significant impact on shock waves and engine performance. In this regard, shock/mixing interactions in confined space are studied in this article by direct numerical simulation to investigate the effect of wall constraint on shock wave enhancement. Shock wave structure, total pressure loss, thickness of mixing layer, and turbulence intensity of flow field with different confinement degrees are calculated and compared. The results show that the unsteady shock wave can dramatically enhance the thickness of the mixing layer and the turbulence intensity, thus improving the mixing efficiency. In addition, as the wall constraint increases, the intensity of the shock wave and the total pressure loss increase; the flow field is more prone to Mach reflection. The average total pressure loss caused by steady shock wave and unsteady shock wave is essentially the same for an identical wall height, but the total pressure distortion caused by the unsteady shock wave is more substantial. Furthermore, the enhancements of mixing efficiency by the shock wave are also affected significantly by the degree of wall constraint; therefore, a suitable wall height needs to be determined in order to achieve the highest mixing efficiency.
Development of monoclonal antibodies specific to Marek disease virus-EcoRI-Q (Meq) for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of Marek disease using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples
Authors: Kurokawa Aoi , Yamamoto Yu
Published: March 2022

Marek disease (MD) is a viral disease characterized by the development of lymphoma in poultry. Although morphologic confirmation of lymphoma is used to diagnose MD, immunohistochemical detection of MD virus- EcoRI-Q (Meq), which is a viral protein that is expressed exclusively in MD tumor cells, would further improve the accuracy of diagnosis. We developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that specifically detect Meq by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of 14 mAbs that we produced, using FFPE samples of MDCC-MSB1 cells, MD tumor tissues, and tissues of uninfected chickens. Four different antigen retrieval conditions were investigated. Thirteen mAbs reacted with Meq in FFPE sections, but immunohistochemical reactivity and specificity varied depending on the mAb and antigen retrieval condition; heat-induced antigen retrieval (HIAR) was more effective at detecting Meq than the other tested conditions. HIAR pH 9 tended to increase immunoreactivity and decrease specificity. Of the 5 mAbs that immunoreacted strongly with Meq without nonspecific reactions under the optimal antigen retrieval conditions, 3 mAbs (1C1-121, 3A3-112, 5F7-82) did not produce background staining of tumor or non-tumor tissues; 2 mAbs (2C5-11, 4A5-54) produced background staining. The mAb 6B5-128 reacted moderately with Meq without nonspecific reactions and background staining. The remaining mAbs showed weak immunoreactivity or problematic nonspecific reactions. Our results suggest that some of our developed mAbs can be used in IHC to detect Meq in FFPE sections with high specificity, and that the use of IHC may greatly improve the diagnosis of MD.
Disrupting Dominant Narratives and Privilege: Teaching Black Women’s Enterprise and Activism
Authors: Ferraro Holly Slay
Published: March 2022

This article deals with my experience of teaching a course on Black women’s enterprise and activism as a means of disrupting the dominant narratives that privilege accounts of Whites and men in the management canon. I explore counterstorytelling as a pedagogical tool to bear witness to the struggles of people from marginalized communities and amplify their experience to critique systems of economic power based on race, class, and gender. Finally, I share a call for epistemologies of racialized people to combat privilege in business school classrooms.
Teaching Whole Number Addition and Subtraction to Students With Learning Disabilities
Authors: Rojo Megan , Wakim Noura
Published: March 2022

Students with learning disabilities in mathematics often struggle with the underlying concepts of multidigit addition and subtraction. To help students build a conceptual understanding of these computations, teachers can utilize evidence-based practices such as the concrete–semi-concrete–abstract framework and the use of multiple visual representations. This column presents five key strategies that incorporate evidence-based practices and teach whole number operations that rely on place value understanding.
Wound Healing Following Palatoplasty Using Either Honey or Warm Saline Mouth Bath for Postoperative Wound Care: A Randomized-Controlled Study
Authors: Adekunle Adegbayi Adeola , James Olutayo , Onuoha Emmanuel Onyebuchi , Adeyemo Wasiu Lanre
Published: March 2022

Objective

To evaluate and compare the effect of honey or saline mouth bath for wound care on the rate of re-epithelisation of the lateral palatal defects and occurrence of early postoperative complications following palatoplasty.

Methodology

This was a prospective randomized study on participants with non-syndromic cleft palate conducted at a tertiary health institution in Lagos, Nigeria. The test group received oral honey drops for post-operative care for an initial period of two weeks post-surgery, while the control group had regular oral toileting using a warm saline solution. The primary outcome was epithelisation of lateral palatal defect at 2- and 4-weeks post repair. Descriptive and comparative statistics were computed, and the p-value was set at <0.05.

Results

Fifty participants were recruited into the study, 24 in the Test group and 26 in the Control group. The frequency of occurrence of oronasal fistula in the Test group was 4.0% while in the Control group was 10.0%, however, this was not statistically significant. Complete epithelisation of the lateral palatal defect was clinically observed in 66.7% of the participants in the Test group at 2 weeks post-operation, while only 38.5% of participants in the Control group had clinically observed complete epithelisation at the same time point (β = 1.70, p = .035, 95% CI 1.122–26.533). At four weeks, all wounds had epithelised irrespective of the study group.

Conclusion

The application of honey appears to aid earlier epithelization of palatal surgical wounds following cleft palate repair and reduced the incidence of palatal fistula.
The Shape of God's Providence: Some Reflections in Dialogue with Barth and Thomas
Authors: Holmes Christopher R. J.
Published: March 2022

The Christian doctrine of providence involves God, but in what way? In this article, I engage in a broad comparative and reflective exercise on the theological function of providence, drawing primarily upon the insights of Karl Barth and Thomas Aquinas and, to a lesser extent, those of John Webster. I show their broad agreement with respect to the nature of divine causality as well as the metaphysics of creatureliness, advancing a truly theocentric account of this key Christian doctrine.
Direct Oral Anticoagulants for the Treatment of Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism: A Latin American Perspective
Authors: Athanazio Rodrigo Abensur , Ceresetto José Manuel , Marfil Rivera Luis Javier , Cesarman-Maus Gabriela , Galvez Kenny , Marques Marcos Arêas , Tabares Aldo Hugo , Ortiz Santacruz Carlos Alberto , Santini Fernando Costa , Corrales Luis , Cohen Alexander T.
Published: March 2022

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. On the basis of results from randomized controlled trials, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now recommended for the treatment of cancer-associated VTE. The decision to use a DOAC requires consideration of bleeding risk, particularly in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, the cost-benefit and convenience of oral therapy, and patient preference. While efficacy with apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban versus dalteparin has been consistent in the treatment of cancer-associated VTE, heterogeneity is evident with respect to major GI bleeding, with an increased risk with edoxaban and rivaroxaban but not apixaban. Although cost and accessibility vary in different countries of Latin America, DOACs should be considered for the long-term treatment of cancer-associated VTE in all patients who are likely to benefit. Apixaban may be the preferred DOAC in patients with GI malignancies and LMWH may be preferred for patients with upper or unresected lower GI tumors. Vitamin K antagonists should only be used for anticoagulation when DOACs and low molecular weight heparin are inaccessible or unsuitable.
Visually Framing Disasters: Humanitarian Aid Organizations’ Use of Visuals on Social Media
Authors: Lee Sun Young , Lim JungKyu Rhys , Shi Duli
Published: March 2022

The present study seeks to systematically describe how humanitarian aid organizations use visuals in their natural disaster-related social media messages and to analyze their effects on social media engagement. Using Rodriguez and Dimitrova’s (2011) four levels of visual framing, we performed a content analysis of 810 tweets from 38 aid organizations. The results showed that, overall, the organizations’ visuals had an emphasis on victims and on disaster relief efforts. The most effective types of visual framing, however, were not those the aid organizations most commonly used. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications.
Gendered Entitlement or Generally Violent? Sociodemographic, Developmental, and Gender-Based Attitudinal Characteristics of Men Who Commit Homicide
Authors: Eriksson Li , McPhedran Samara , Mazerolle Paul , Wortley Richard
Published: March 2022

The study examined “gendered” and “general” factors associated with homicide using interviews with men convicted of murder or manslaughter in Australia. We compared men committing intimate partner femicide (IPF; n = 68) with men killing female non-intimate partners (MF; n = 44) and male non-intimate partners (MM; n = 135). They shared developmental and socio-economic characteristics. MM men reported extensive criminal histories and serious substance problems compared with IPF men. Many IPF men had perpetrated partner violence. Similarities existed across jealousy and marital role attitudes, though IPF men more likely condoned wife abuse and behaviorally controlled partners. Policies informed by complexity and diversity are important.
Treatment and prophylaxis of radiation optic neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Caberry W. , Joarder Ishraq , Micieli Jonathan A.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Radiation optic neuropathy (RON) generally follows radiation therapy that exceed 50 Gy to the visual axis and occurs within three years of therapy. Currently, there are no universally accepted treatments or prophylaxis for RON. The review aimed to examine the efficacy of all treatments and prophylaxis for RON.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and gray literature were searched to December 2020. Studies on treatment(s) and/or prophylaxis of RON were included. Results were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. Primary outcomes included the proportions of patients who experienced improvement, no change, or worsening of visual acuity (VA) for each treatment. Secondary outcome was the incidence of RON for studies on prophylaxis.

Results

Overall, 50 studies (n = 5397) were included. Meta-analysis (n = 1752) showed significantly lower incidence of RON in patients who underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF prophylaxis compared to control (RR 0.64, 95%CI [0.48, 0.86]) for uveal melanoma. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (n = 68), hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone (n = 14), and pentoxifylline (n = 5) resulted in improved or stable vision ≤1 logMAR in 54.5%, 42.9%, and 40.0% of patients, respectively. Systemic corticosteroids (n = 82), anticoagulants (n = 12), and systemic bevacizumab (n = 7) showed improved or stable vision ≤1 logMAR in 17.1%, 33.3%, and 14.3% of patients, respectively. Overall risk of bias was low, but evidence was limited to retrospective studies.

Conclusion

Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections reduced incidence of RON in irradiated uveal melanoma patients. Systemic corticosteroids, systemic bevacizumab, and warfarin alone are likely ineffective treatments. Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were most effective among those investigated and require further investigation.
Automated 3D ultrasound enables novice users to measure arteriovenous fistula maturation parameters with comparable accuracy to conventional duplex by trained sonographers: Results of a benchtop study
Authors: Calotta Nicholas A , Astor Brad C , Ross John R
Published: March 2022

Background:

Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are considered the preferred hemodialysis access but up to 50% of all AVF created in the United States never mature. Doppler ultrasound (DUS) is useful for predicting fistula maturity and impending fistula failure. DUS is resource-intensive and is associated with poor compliance rates in dialysis patients, ranging from 12% to 33%.

Methods:

EchoSure is an FDA-cleared 3D Doppler ultrasound device that automatically delivers quantitative blood flow and anatomic vascular information. The technology can be used at the bedside by personnel without formal sonographic training, nullifying limitations of traditional Duplex ultrasound imaging. This study compared the EchoSure system in the hands of inexpert personnel to a traditional expert-operated DUS for rapid assessment of a benchtop model vascular system with flow, diameter, and depth expected in a human AVF.

Results:

Both Duplex and EchoSure performed within the expected tolerance of ultrasound readings (35%) for volume flow, with the average error (AE) between the observed measurement and the ground truth being 8% for Duplex and 8% for EchoSure. However, the average coefficient of variation (CV) for Duplex pooled over all flow rate measurements was 17% versus 4% for EchoSure. Regarding diameter, Duplex measurements had AE of 15% with an average CV of 6% across all measurements versus EchoSure AE of 4% and average CV of 2%. Duplex and EchoSure measurements over all depths had the same AE of 2%. The two modalities were not statistically different for depth measurement ( p = 0.05) but EchoSure measured closer to the ground truth for flow rate and vessel diameter (flow: p = 0.028, ρ = −0.07; diameter: p < 0.001, ρ = 0.69). The inexpert personnel using EchoSure acquired data 62% faster than the expert sonographers using the Duplex ultrasound (141 min for Duplex vs 87 min for EchoSure).

Conclusions:

EchoSure may offer an accurate and convenient alternative for imaging fistulas in the clinic.
Incidentally Detected Asymptomatic Cardiac Myxoma in a Patient With COVID-19
Authors: Shakerian Behnam , Jebelli Mohammad , Mandegar Mohammad Hossein
Published: March 2022

Primary cardiac tumors, such as myxomas, are rare. About 75% of myxomas occur in the left atrium of the heart. Myxomas can have a broad clinical spectrum. The clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic to sudden cardiac death. Sometimes, a diagnosis is difficult. Cardiac myxoma can cause hemodynamic disturbances in the setting of pneumonia and hypercoagulable state in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) and make treatment decisions difficult. We present a case of unusually huge left atrial mass discovered incidentally in a patient with COVID-19. Upon workup, an echocardiogram revealed an incidental 7 × 5 cm left atrial myxoma. Preoperatively, the patient was monitored closely in the ICU. After stabilization in the ICU, the patient was taken to surgery and the tumor was successfully removed. Pathohistological results after surgical removal of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma. We consider our case extremely rare due to the asymptomatic course despite the large size of the tumor.
A continuing constitutional conversation: Locating Nitisha
Authors: Pillai Gauri
Published: March 2022

In April 2021, the Supreme Court of India decided Nitisha v Union of India, holding that the gender neutral hiring procedure adopted by the Indian Army indirectly discriminated against women officers by disproportionately excluding them from promotion. This effect was experienced due to systemic discrimination against women built into the appointment criteria. To redress systemic discrimination, the State was required not only to abstain from direct or indirect discrimination but also to positively act to bring in structural change. Nitisha makes significant contributions to developing the constitutional understanding of non-discrimination. It identifies the essential nature of discrimination as systemic rather than individualistic and sets out how systemic discrimination operates and can be proved. In recognising indirect discrimination, it lays down a two-stage test to establish it. Crucially, it affirmatively holds, for the first time, that the non-discrimination guarantee can compel State action in redressing systemic discrimination. Nitisha leaves certain questions unanswered: the test for justifying indirect discrimination, the doctrinal reading of the non-discrimination guarantee and the legitimacy of using comparative law. However, seeing Nitisha as one chapter of a constitutional conversation allows us to appreciate its contributions while holding the space open for future judicial efforts at constitutional meaning-making.
The Gambling Act 2005 and the (De)regulation of Commercial Gambling in Britain: A State-Corporate Harm
Authors: Banks James , Waters Jaime
Published: March 2022

This article explores the forms of harmful practices and harms experienced by individuals since the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005. Employing the state-corporate crime paradigm as an analytical lens through which to examine the narratives of individuals who gamble and affected family members, and supporting secondary sources, it illustrates the ‘collateral damage’ that has resulted from an industry that embeds harmful practices as a means of capital accumulation. By providing insight into the often-hidden array of economic, physical, emotional, and psychological, and cultural harms that result from the entrenchment of a leisure culture that institutes ever more potent forms of aleatory consumption, the article offers a rare sociological critique of an industry that has been able to flourish as a consequence of an alliance between state and business.
Simple correlations between point daylight factor, average daylight factor and vertical daylight factor under all sky conditions and building design implications
Authors: Li Danny H.W. , Li Shuyang , Chen Wenqiang , Lou Siwei
Published: March 2022

The customary method for calculating daylight illuminance in a building is the daylight factor approach, which is assumed under the conventional overcast sky. However, such an approach is not flexible enough to predict diffuse illuminance in the presence of non-overcast skies. The daylight factor is invariant to building orientation and cannot take realistic and time-varying climatic conditions into account. Daylight in buildings is estimated using computer simulation techniques. However, full-scale computer simulations can be costly and time-consuming. Practitioners welcome simple calculation aids established via comprehensive analysis. Such easy tools would give building professionals and students basic and concise insight into the independency of different daylight parameters. Recently, daylight factor calculations have been extended to non-overcast skies. It means that the daylight factor approach can be a dynamic metric. This paper presents the calculation of the point daylight factor, the average daylight factor and the vertical daylight factor under all sky conditions, as well as building façade design implications. The performance of the three types of daylight factor for a typical room at various scattering angles is elaborated and evaluated; simple correlations between them are developed.
Social media engagement against fear of restrictions and surveillance: The mediating role of privacy management
Authors: Mak Macau KF , Koo Alex Zhi-Xiong , Rojas Hernando
Published: March 2022

The impact of state restriction and surveillance on social media engagement has been widely investigated in communication studies. However, these studies tend not to capture the moment when these restrictions are implemented and citizens experience a high level of uncertainty. Addressing the implementation of a national security law (NSL) in Hong Kong, we used two-wave panel data to understand political engagement on Facebook before and shortly after the law was enacted. We find a serial mediation path in which pan-democratic and localist users (those who tend to oppose the government) showed greater fear of the law; this encouraged more active privacy management which was related to a higher level of engagement after the enactment of NSL, implying that these users responded strategically through restricting the visibility of their engagement. This mediation path is moderated by the level of political disagreement users encountered on Facebook. Implications of the findings are discussed.