bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
U.S.-Imposed Economic Sanctions on Iran in the COVID-19 Crisis From the Human Rights Perspective
Authors: Karimi Abbas , Turkamani Hojjat Salimi
Published: June 2021

One of the obvious impacts of comprehensive economic sanctions is on pharmaceuticals and supplies, which are essential elements of all functioning health systems. Observers report that comprehensive sanctions imposed on Iran are a barrier to Iran's coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis and could impede Iran's access to coronavirus vaccines. In this minireview, we discuss COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions of U.S. sanctions on Iran. We believe fighting COVID-19 with limited resources during sanctions will produce a humanitarian crisis, and coronavirus is a convincing reason to lift the sanctions on Iran.
A methodology for design and simulation of soft grippers
Authors: Honarpardaz Mohammadali
Published: June 2021

Soft grippers are a growing type of end-effectors that are developed to balance out the simplicity and versatility of the grippers. Today, however, literature lacks a promising method for designing accurate, durable, and high-payload soft grippers. This paper therefore identifies the essential steps in order to design such grippers, and proposes a framework that links the essential steps in order to optimize the design of soft grippers according to the requirements. Finally, functionality and performance of the design grippers are experimentally verified and analyzed via a case study of a real industrial application.
Academic Naming: Changing Patterns of Noun Use in Research Writing
Authors: Hyland Ken , Jiang Feng (Kevin)
Published: June 2021

In this paper we explore the ways academics name processes as things and how these practices have changed over the past fifty years. Focusing on nominalization, noun-noun sequences, and acronyms, we document an increase in these features across a corpus of 2.2 million words within a consistent set of journals from four disciplines. Our results show that nominalizations and acronyms have increased in all four fields, particularly in applied linguistics and sociology, and that while noun-noun sequences have fallen in electrical engineering, they have risen in the other disciplines, especially sociology. We also suggest that noun-noun phrases have increasingly come to name methodological approaches, rather than concepts or objects, and we seek to account for these changes. We observe that these increases in naming are related to the need for succinctness in modern research writing and the advantages of endowing named objects with a real existence which can then be credited with explanatory authority. We question, however, the appropriacy of these practices for interpretation in the social sciences.
An Exploratory Study Examining Differences in Drug Court Graduation Rates for Black and White Women
Authors: Dannerbeck Anne , Yu Mansoo
Published: June 2021

This exploratory study examined factors potentially associated with graduation for White and Black female Drug Treatment Court participants. Multiple logistic regression models for predicting program graduation were employed using an administrative data set ( N = 1,093). Race was significant in a combined model. Age, prior felonies, employment, and negative peer associations predicted graduation for White women, whereas negative peer associations was the only predictor of graduation for Black women. Consideration of other factors that are not typically collected through administrative screenings is needed to better understand the strains typically experienced by Black women in Drug Treatment Court.
Estimation of adhesive wear behavior of the glass fiber reinforced polyester composite materials using ANFIS model
Authors: Yilmaz Serhat , Ilhan Recep , Feyzullahoğlu Erol
Published: June 2021

Glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) composite materials are widely used in various applications. The prediction of wear values for composite materials is very complex and nonlinear phenomena. Artificial intelligence methods (AI) and expert systems such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) and fuzzy inference systems (FIS) have a series of properties on modeling nonlinear systems. In some situations, ANNs are insufficient under abrupt changes in input variables. Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is capable of integrating the linguistic expressions of FIS with the adaptation and learning skills of the ANNs. The aim of this study is to determine the optimum material content and working conditions in terms of wear resistance. This study proposes an ANFIS sub-clustering based prediction model for estimation of wear behavior of GFRP composites within various concentrations of materials and under diverse loads and speeds. Proposed ANFIS model extracted optimum concentrations and operating parameters to obtain the minimum wear rate. Due to the wear rate estimation model, optimum wear rate value is reached to 25.0013 (mm3/Nm)*10−6 at CaCO3, polystyrene, glass fiber, glass bead, alumina, load and speed values of 49%, 0%, 11%, 10%, 0.8%, 10 N and 100 rpm respectively. A high estimation capability (R2 = 0.964) has been achieved using ANFIS Model.
Recognition for resistance: Gifting, social media, and the politics of reciprocity in South Korean energy activism
Authors: Choi Su Young
Published: June 2021

This article argues for adopting the theoretical lens of gift exchange and reciprocity into the study of social movements and social media in an attempt to widen the horizon of the field of protest and media beyond its technological orientation. This lens invites us to see how protesters can build a movement strategically through the practice of gifting and the principle of reciprocity, and how such practices intersect with socially situated usages of digital media technologies to mediate and facilitate the politics of reciprocity. Based on an ethnographic analysis of energy activism in South Korea, the study suggests four necessary conditions for movement-building through culturally and technologically mediated forms of gift and reciprocity: pursuit of inclusive and open-ended alliances, prohibition of negative exchange, commitment to mutual interest aligned with shared movement goals, and the maintenance of voluntary and creative participation in gift exchange.
Netflix audience data, streaming industry discourse, and the emerging realities of ‘popular’ television
Authors: Wayne Michael L
Published: June 2021

Using the media industry studies approach, this article provides a history of the industrial discourses surrounding Netflix’s audience data. From Netflix’s entry into the streaming market in 2007 until late-2018, the company did not publicize information about viewership. During this time, executives’ public discussions of proprietary data are understood in relation to multiple organizational goals: differentiating the streaming platform from the traditional television industry, denigrating traditional television industry practices, and deflecting criticism. In late-2018, the company began selectively publishing viewership numbers for a small number of original titles to highlight the popularity of the platform’s original content. Although the company maintains its anti-transparency policies, the shift toward selective data releases has significant implications regarding Netflix’s relationship with the traditional television industry. This analysis concludes with a discussion of streaming audience data that situates in the emerging realities of ‘popular’ television in the context the medium’s broader transformations and continuities.
Multifinality, equifinality, and fanning: Developmental concepts and statistical implications
Authors: Hinnant Ben , Schulenberg John , Jager Justin
Published: June 2021

Multifinality, equifinality, and fanning are important developmental concepts that emphasize understanding interindividual variability in trajectories over time. However, each concept implies that there are points in a developmental window where interindividual variability is more limited. We illustrate the multifinality concept under manipulations of variance in starting points, using both normal and zero-inflated simulated data. Results indicate that standardized estimates and effect sizes are inflated when predicting components of growth models with limited interindividual variance, which could lead to overinterpretation of the practical importance of findings. Conceptual implications are considered and recommendations are provided for evaluating developmental changes in common situations that researchers may encounter.
How language brokering relates to empathy and psychological well-being
Authors: Weisskirch Robert S. , Guan Shu-Sha Angie , Lazarevic Vanja
Published: June 2021

Language brokering often brings children in close, intimate interactions with parents, which, over time, may help them understand their parents and others in the form of empathy. Specifically, frequency and feelings about language brokering may relate to greater empathy. In addition, language brokering may have an indirect effect on psychological well-being via empathy. For this study, 459 language brokers ( Mage = 21.36, Female = 80%) completed an online questionnaire about frequency and feelings about language brokering, empathy, and psychological well-being. There were direct effects of language brokering burden, language brokering role reversal, and language brokering efficacy, but not frequency of language brokering, on empathy. We found an indirect association of language brokering burden and language brokering efficacy, to depressive symptoms through empathy. Findings indicate that empathy may play a role in how language brokering relates to psychological well-being.
Trapped Between Two Pandemics: Domestic Violence Cases Under COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Scoping Review
Authors: Uzobo Endurance , Ayinmoro Aboluwaji D
Published: June 2021

Background

As it is common with the most devastating events in the world, women always seem to be at the most disadvantage position. This situation manifested during the period of COVID-19 lockdown throughout the world and Africa in particular. The purpose of this study is to explore Domestic Violence (DV) cases in African during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

Data for this study were gleaned from an electronic literature search using various databases PubMed and BioMed Central, Web of Science, etc. Key search words were gender DV during and after COVID-19. A total of 68 records were identified during the search. However, only 46 of these sources met the inclusion criteria.

Results

From the review done in selected African countries which include Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe; it was discovered that COVID-19 lockdown across these countries worsens the already existing cases of DV. The study also noted that generally, the response of the government has been very poor in terms of dealing with DV cases in the period of COVID-19 lockdown.

Conclusion

The study concluded that despite the failures of government in tackling the DV pandemics, NGOs have been very active in championing the cause of those violated while also trying to provide succour to victims. Thus, the study recommended that countries in Africa need to join international initiatives in prioritising DV cases while trying to deal with the virus itself. Thus, one disease should not be traded for another.
(No) City for old men
Authors: Foglia Carolina , Pontarollo Nicola
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we report and analyse, for 83 European cities, the share of respondents aged 65 years or older agreeing that the city where they live is a good place to live for elderly people. Results contribute to identify common patterns and inform policy makers.
Malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis: Two extremely rare case reports
Authors: Karabacakoğlu Burak , Kısa Erdem , Özbilen Mert Hamza , Karademir Barış , Yardım Serdar , Çelik Orçun , Süelözgen Tufan , İlbey Yusuf Özlem
Published: June 2021

Introduction:

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) of tunica vaginalis is a very rare tumor and it has a poor prognosis. It is not easy to diagnose the disease preoperatively because there is a lack of comprehensive studies and information about the disease. We would like to present our two cases with severe scrotal edema and hydrocele, which were debrided perioperatively due to scrotal necrosis, followed by radical inguinal orchiectomy and subsequently diagnosed as MM of tunica vaginalis.

Case 1:

A 74-year-old male patient with bilateral scrotal swelling for 6 months. Right radical inguinal orchiectomy was performed. The pathology result of right radical inguinal orchiectomy material was compatible with malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis.

Case 2:

A 90-year-old male patient with complaints of right scrotal swelling for 3 years. A right radical inguinal orchiectomy was performed. The pathology result of right radical inguinal orchiectomy material was compatible with malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis.

Conclusion and discussion:

MM has a very poor prognosis therefore early treatment plan should be made. Surgery is the main treatment for malignant mesothelioma of the testis. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy play an active role in the treatment of metastatic disease, surgery is the first-line therapy in the treatment of the tumor. Also; long-term hydrocele, recurrent epididymitis, scrotal edema can make it harder to detect the tumor diagnosis. MM should be considered in such patients. Necrosis and abscess appearance was not mentioned before in published case reports. In this respect, it should not be ignored the long-term hydrocele situation and the appearance of abscess-epididymitis that cannot be treated properly.
Increasing the Power of Intergenerational Programs: Advancing an Evaluation Tool
Authors: Jarrott Shannon E. , Turner Shelbie G. , Naar Jill Juris , Juckett Lisa M. , Scrivano Rachel M.
Published: June 2021

Intergenerational practitioners responding to a 2018 national survey identified a need for evidence-informed evaluation tools to measure program impact. The Best Practices (BP) Checklist, a 14-item (yes/no) measure assessing the extent to which an intergenerational program session maintained effective intergenerational strategies, may help meet this need. Yet, researchers have not validated the measure. In this study, we begin the empirical validation process by completing an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the BP Checklist to offer insight into possible item reduction and an underlying latent factor structure. Using BP Checklist data from 132 intergenerational activities, we found a 13-item, 3-factor structure, reflecting dimensions of: (a) pairing intergenerational participants, (b) person-centered strategies (e.g., selecting activities reflecting participants’ interests), and (c) staff knowledge of participants. Our study represents a foundational step toward optimizing intergenerational program evaluation, thereby enhancing programming quality.
How Do the Timing and Duration of Courses Affect Participation in Adult Learning and Education? A Panel Analysis
Authors: Rüter Fabian , Martin Andreas
Published: June 2021

Participation in adult learning and education requires the availability of, and accessibility to, learning opportunities provided by educational institutions. One fundamental element is time. Adult learning and education participation can only be realized by successfully matching individual time-availabilities with the temporal organization of provided courses. To address this required matching process, this study contributes to research literature as one of the first studies that investigates the impact of timing and course duration on participation counts (longitudinally). For this, we use organizational data from public adult education centers ( Volkshochschulen—VHS; the main adult education providers in Germany) from 2007 to 2017. Methodologically, random- and fixed-effects models are applied. We find significant positive effects on participation counts between increasing program breadth in terms of temporal formats and increasing average course duration.
Hypercoagulability in Septic Shock Patients With Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Kim Sang-Min , Kim Sang-Il , Yu Gina , Kim June-Sung , Hong Seok In , Kim Won Young
Published: June 2021

Background:

Despite thrombocytopenia, patients with sepsis often experience hypercoagulability. However, limited information is available on the prevalence and effect of hypercoagulability in patients with sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia. Hence, we evaluated the prevalence of hypercoagulability and the association between hypercoagulability and clinical outcomes in septic shock patients with thrombocytopenia.

Methods:

Thromboelastography (TEG) was performed prospectively in 1294 patients with septic shock at the emergency department (ED) between January 2016 and December 2019. After excluding 405 patients who did not require resuscitation, refused enrollment, or developed septic shock after ED presentation, 889 patients were included. We defined thrombocytopenia as an admission platelet count lower than 150,000/µl according to SOFA score. We defined hypocoagulability and hypercoagulability as coagulation index (CI)< −3 and >3 on TEG, respectively.

Results:

Of the 889 septic shock patients (mean age 65.6 ± 12.7 years, 58.6% male), 473 (53.2%) had thrombocytopenia. Eighty-five (18.0%) patients showed hypercoagulable TEG and73 (15.4%) patients showed hypocoagulable TEG. The hypercoagulable TEG group had a significantly higher fibrinogen level and a lower 28-day mortality rate than the normal and hypocoagulable TEG groups (518 vs. 347 and 315 mg/dL; 7.1% vs. 21.1% and 36.8%, P < 0.01, respectively). In multivariate analysis, hypercoagulable TEG was associated with a decreased mortality rate (odds ratio: 0.395; 95% confidence interval, 0.162-0.965).

Conclusions:

In septic shock patients with thrombocytopenia, hypercoagulability was not uncommon. TEG can quickly distinguish the hypercoagulability and hypocoagulability states and serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the degree and risk in septic shock patients with thrombocytopenia.
Development of a chitosan and hyaluronic acid hydrogel with potential for bioprinting utilization: A preliminary study
Authors: Vieira de Souza Thaís , Malmonge Sonia Maria , Santos Arnaldo R
Published: June 2021

Bioprinting is a technique that has been applied in the areas of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). Natural polymer-based hydrogels are known for their favorable biocompatible properties, as well as attractive biomaterials for cell encapsulation. These hydrogels provide an aqueous three-dimensional environment with biologically relevant chemical and physical signals, mimicking the natural environment of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have been widely researched for biomedical applications. Bioinks are “ink” formulations, usually hydrogels, that allow the printing of living cells. This work proposes the development of a low cost and simple chitosan CHI-AH hydrogel with potential to become a bioink. At physiological temperature, the biomaterials form a hydrogel. The material developed was characterized by the analysis of morphology, cytotoxicity, and cell viability. FTIR showed the characteristic vibrational bands of chitosan and HA. No difference in swelling was observed between the different formulations studied, although SEM showed architectural differences between the hydrogels obtained. Extract cytotoxicity testing showed that the hydrogel is not cytotoxic. The direct toxicity test also revealed the absence of toxicity, but the cells had difficulty migrating into the gel, probably because of its density. These data were confirmed by SEM. Further testing are ongoing to better understand the gel’s characteristics to improve the limitations found so far.
Integrating state dynamics and trait change: A tutorial using the example of stress reactivity and change in well-being
Authors: Brose Annette , Neubauer Andreas Benjamin , Schmiedek Florian
Published: June 2021

Recent theoretical accounts on the causes of trait change emphasize the potential relevance of states. In the same vein, reactions to daily stress have been shown to prospectively predict change in well-being, speaking for the proposition that state dynamics can be a precursor to long-term change in more stable individual-differences characteristics. A common analysis approach towards linking state dynamics such as stress reactivity and change in some more stable individual differences characteristic has been a two-step approach, modeling state dynamics and trait change separately. In this paper, we elaborate on one-step procedures to simultaneously model state dynamics and trait change, realized in the multilevel structural equation modeling framework. We highlight three distinct advantages over the two-step approach which pre-exists in the methodological literature, and we disseminate these advantages to a larger audience. We target a readership of substantive researchers interested in the relationships between state dynamics and traits or trait change, and we provide them with a tutorial style paper on state-of-the-art methods on these topics.
Facing the Storm: Our First Annual Faculty of Color Writing Retreat as a Microcosm for Being a Black Woman in the Academy
Authors: Overstreet Mikkaka , Avent Harris Janee’ , Crumb Loni , Howard Christy
Published: June 2021

In this article, four Black woman scholars explore their experiences in academia through the shared event of a writing retreat. This piece follows the rich storytelling history of Black women scholars who have carved out spaces where they can tell their truths. This work pairs narrative inquiry and autoethnography to address the question: How do Black women faculty create and navigate spaces to promote their success within academia?
A method for fault diagnosis of power system of carrier rocket engine based on linear-quadratic receding time-domain algorithm
Authors: Zhang Tong , Zhao Xiaohan , Hu Renyi , Fu Wenxing
Published: June 2021

The article studies the fault diagnosis of the first-stage power system of a carrier rocket made up of multiple engines. It establishes the simplified 6-DOF nonlinear model and uses the extended Kalman filter to generate residual errors. The quadratic receding time-domain algorithm is used to detect faults, and estimation vector fault characteristics are used to estimate precisely the thrust loss degree. Faults are located with the direction of abrupt change in overload fault. The simulation results show that the method can quickly detect engine faults, estimate the thrust loss degree with fault estimation values, and locate precisely the serial number of the faulty engine of the power system made up of multiple engines. The method boosts the development of the online health management technology of the power system of a carrier rocket.
Suppression of ground resonance in rotorcraft using active landing gear
Authors: Krishnan Arjun , Krishnan Ashwin , Costello Mark
Published: June 2021

This article examines the fundamental aspects of controlling ground resonance in rotorcraft equipped with actively controlled landing gear. Ground resonance is a mechanical instability affecting rotorcraft on the ground. It occurs at certain rotor speeds, where the lead–lag motion of the rotor couples with the motion of fuselage creating a self-excited oscillation. Typically, passive or semi-active lag dampers are used to avoid instability; however, these are undesirable from a design and maintenance perspective. Innovations in active landing gear for rotorcraft, such as articulated robotic legs, have provided an alternate approach to avoid the instability, eliminating the need for lag dampers with respect to ground resonance. This article extends classic ground resonance to include movable landing gear and identifies key physical parameters affecting dynamic behavior. Applying LQ optimal control to this model, it is shown that ground resonance instability can be eliminated using active landing gear as the control mechanism, even when there is no lag damping present in the rotor. In addition, while superior performance is achieved when landing gear movement can occur both longitudinally and laterally, it is still possible to stabilize ground resonance with inputs in a single direction, albeit with reduced performance.
Use of β-D-glucan in diagnosis of suspected Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in adults with HIV infection
Authors: Juniper Thomas , Eades Chris P , Gil Eliza , Fodder Harriet , Quinn Killian , Morris-Jones Stephen , Gorton Rebecca L , Wey Emmanuel Q , Post Frank A , Miller Robert F
Published: June 2021

Objectives: An elevated serum (1-3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) concentration has high sensitivity for a diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in people with HIV (PWH). At the current manufacturer-recommended positive threshold of 80 pg/mL (Fungitell), specificity for PCP is variable and other diagnostic tests are required. We evaluated the utility of serum BDG for diagnosis of suspected PCP in PWH at three inner-London hospitals to determine BDG concentrations for diagnosis and exclusion of PCP. Methods: From clinical case records, we abstracted demographic and clinical information and categorised patients as having confirmed or probable PCP, or an alternative diagnosis. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of serum BDG concentrations >400 pg/mL and negative predictive value (NPV) of BDG <80 pg/mL. Results: 76 patients were included; 29 had laboratory-confirmed PCP, 17 had probable PCP and 30 had an alternative diagnosis. Serum BDG >400 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 97% and PPV 97% for diagnosis of PCP; BDG <80 pg/mL had 100% NPV for exclusion of PCP. Conclusions: In PWH with suspected PCP, BDG <80 pg/mL excludes a diagnosis of PCP, whereas BDG concentrations >400 pg/mL effectively confirm the diagnosis. Values 80–400 pg/mL should prompt additional diagnostic tests.
Bedtime Music, Involuntary Musical Imagery, and Sleep
Authors: Scullin Michael K. , Gao Chenlu , Fillmore Paul
Published: June 2021

Many people listen to music for hours every day, often near bedtime. We investigated whether music listening affects sleep, focusing on a rarely explored mechanism: involuntary musical imagery (earworms). In Study 1 ( N = 199, mean age = 35.9 years), individuals who frequently listen to music reported persistent nighttime earworms, which were associated with worse sleep quality. In Study 2 ( N = 50, mean age = 21.2 years), we randomly assigned each participant to listen to lyrical or instrumental-only versions of popular songs before bed in a laboratory, discovering that instrumental music increased the incidence of nighttime earworms and worsened polysomnography-measured sleep quality. In both studies, earworms were experienced during awakenings, suggesting that the sleeping brain continues to process musical melodies. Study 3 substantiated this possibility by showing a significant increase in frontal slow oscillation activity, a marker of sleep-dependent memory consolidation. Thus, some types of music can disrupt nighttime sleep by inducing long-lasting earworms that are perpetuated by spontaneous memory-reactivation processes.
Thermo-hydraulic performance of modified plate fin and pin fin heat sinks
Authors: Patil Anil Kumar , Choudhary Vishwjeet , Gupta Ayush , Kumar Manoj
Published: June 2021

Extended surfaces are widely investigated for their ability to enhance the heat transfer rates in different applications. Pin-fin and plate-fin heat sinks are used in a variety of cases involving a miniaturized to the large systems. The present study compares the performance of the pin-fin and the plate-fin heat sink under similar forced flow conditions. The experimental data for a modified pin fin heat sink with wings and a plate-fin heat sink with dimples are collected for the Reynolds number in the range of 6800–15100. The Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermo-hydraulic performance (THP) are examined for different geometries of the heat sink and the enhancements brought out in the heat transfer and friction are gauged relative to the smooth plate. The pin fin heat sink yields two-fold enhancement in heat transfer as compared to the plate-fin heat sink. The maximum thermo-hydraulic performance of the pin-fin heat sink with wings is found to be 4.52 at a pitch ratio (S/Df) of 2 and Wing length ratio (Lw/Df). For the plate fin heat sink with dimples, the maximum thermo-hydraulic performance is found to be 4.67 at dimple diameter ratio (D/d) of 0.5 and dimple pitch ratio (s/d) of 2.5. The correlations of the Nusselt number and friction factor are proposed for different geometries of fins.
Describing disorder: The importance and advancement of compositional explanations in psychopathology
Authors: Hawkins-Elder Hannah , Ward Tony
Published: June 2021

Understanding the makeup of mental disorders has great value for both research and practice in psychopathology. The richer and more detailed our compositional explanations of mental disorder—that is, comprehensive accounts of client signs and symptoms—the more information we have to inform etiological explanations, classification schemes, clinical assessment, and treatment. However, at present, no explicit compositional explanations of psychopathology have been developed and the existing descriptive accounts that could conceivably fill this role—DSM/ICD syndromes, transdiagnostic and dimensional approaches, symptom network models, historical accounts, case narratives, and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)—fall short in critical ways. In this article, we discuss what compositional explanations are, their role in scientific inquiry, and their importance for psychopathology research and practice. We then explain why current descriptive accounts of mental disorder fall short of providing such an explanation and demonstrate how effective compositional explanations could be constructed.
Joseph Delboeuf on time as the mechanism of free will
Authors: LeBlanc André R.
Published: June 2021

In the early 1880s, Joseph Delboeuf proposed a little-known but ingenious solution to the problem the law of the conservation of energy poses for free will. When energy is transferred between two bodies, the law of energy conservation requires that the energy before and after the transfer be the same, but it says nothing of the time it must take. If we could delay this transfer, Delboeuf proposed, we could alter the course of matter without compromising the conservation of energy. This article begins by tracing the early history of the conflict between free will and the first law of thermodynamics and by recounting some initial attempts to resolve it. It next describes Delboeuf’s theory and the arguments that were made against it, before situating it with respect to some recent developments in the philosophy and psychology of free will.
A Case of Family Business Strategy of Expansion
Authors: Tiwari Anjali , Sharma Radha R. , Sharma Tanuja
Published: June 2021

This case study follows the case of a small entrepreneur who faced many problems during the initial time of set-up. This work specifically mentions a few dilemmas, such as whether a family business or a partnership business is better, the role of trust in a start-up and the importance of the business partner when the start-up was started by a married couple, namely the dilemma of dual responsibility. This start-up was related to interior design business and was dealing with a wide range of products. Things were moving fine, but the dilemma started when Priya, one of the founders and a director of the company, became inactive and the other founder, Uday Upadhaya, was thinking of expanding the business.
Situating the Efficacy of Certificate Course in Social Work: A Case of First-Ever Course in Bhutan
Authors: Chhetri Ramesh K. , S Dorji , Dorji Tshering , Wangchuk Sangay
Published: June 2021

Purpose:

With the transition of political, economic, and social scenario in Bhutan, the civil society organizations (CSOs) have been expanding over the years. However, a paucity of trained social workers in Bhutan has compelled the CSOs to recruit employees with varying degrees. Considering such situation, this study was designed to understand the efficacy of Bhutan’s first-ever certificate course in social work offered by Samtse College of Education from the vantage point of the participants.

Method:

It adopted a convergent parallel mixed-method design, primarily employing questionnaires and semistructured individual interviews.

Results:

The study found the certificate course to be highly effective in enhancing the professional competence of the social workers in Bhutan.

Discussion:

The study supports the need to provide similar courses to hundreds of untrained social workers in Bhutan who are aspiring to upgrade their professional competence.
A Preliminary Investigation of Teacher-Reported Classroom-Level Adversity and Teacher–Student Interactions
Authors: Granger Kristen L. , Broda Michael D. , Chow Jason C. , McCormick Nicholas , Sutherland Kevin S.
Published: June 2021

Early elementary-age students with and at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) tend to develop negative interaction patterns with their teachers. This preliminary study examines the extent to which symptoms of teacher burnout and teacher reports of classroom adversity are associated with the likelihood of negative interactions between teachers and students with and at risk of EBD. We conducted observations to assess teacher–student interactions in individual and group settings, and teachers reported on burnout and classroom adversity. This study included 10 teachers and 15 of their students with or at risk of EBD. High levels of classroom adversity increased the likelihood of negative teacher–student individual interaction. High levels of classroom adversity modified the relation between personal accomplishment and negative teacher–student interactions in group settings. Findings suggest teachers may need additional support for engaging in high-quality interactions with students with and at risk of EBD, particularly in classrooms facing high levels of adversity, and inform intervention design and implementation.
Old Order Amish Family Management of Children With Genetic Conditions
Authors: Kueny Angela M. , Ayres Lioness , Tripp-Reimer Toni
Published: June 2021

Families who raise children with genetic conditions manage health care within the context of cultural communities. For Amish families, although genetic conditions are prevalent and have been well reported, few studies document family management of these conditions. This article describes Amish family management strategies in light of the Family Management Framework’s contextual factors. Ethnographic data captured variations in perspectives from Amish families with children with diverse genetic conditions, Amish community members, and health care providers. Findings describe families at the center of decision making and health care management for children with genetic conditions, utilizing health care professionals and their surrounding Amish community members as resources. Amish families’ management strategies lie across a spectrum from home-oriented to medical-oriented, and this spectrum is elaborated in the findings and discussion of this article.
Experiments in Methodology: Sensory and Poetic Threads of Inquiry, Resistance, and Transformation
Authors: Prince Cali
Published: June 2021

Undertaking a practice-led, qualitative research inquiry, I forged an alternate methodology where narrative inquiry, sensory ethnography, and ethnographically based poetry intersect and open a space “in-between.” I call these intersections between narrative approaches and experiments in ethnography “Sensory Poetic Relationship Mapping” (SPRM). I discovered that metaphorical spaces, places, gateways, sites of inquiry and “counter-factual spaces” can come into being. The process of SPRM enabled “hidden” community-based narratives to be revealed through dialogue, narrative, poetry, metaphor, and handmade relationship maps. As an act of creative resistance, this offered alternate voices to the dominant narratives communicated by interconnected institutions of power. SPRM cracked open the metaphorical landscape in which these marginalized stories had been relegated to the periphery, so they could flow. These narratives rewoven to the center unexpectedly interconnected and revealed new sites for future inquiry.
Qualitative Researchers as the Avant-Garde of Democratization: A Modest Proposal of a Sporting Analogy as Methodological Fiction
Authors: Hammersley Martyn
Published: June 2021

A modest proposal of a sporting analogy is offered as methodological fiction about the democratization of research and the great mission such an ideal places upon qualitative inquiry. With apologies to Jonathan Swift.
Factors Influencing the Vietnamese Older Persons in Choosing Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Nguyen Tuyet Anh , Giang Long Thanh
Published: June 2021

Background:

The rapidly growing aging population poses major challenges for health systems in Vietnam. This study was therefore aimed to examine factors influencing the choices of healthcare facilities among older patients in Vietnam, using a national survey on older people.

Methods:

We applied multinomial logistic regression models based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model with various predisposing factors, enabling factors and healthcare-needs factors associated with different types of healthcare facilities where older patients utilized services.

Data:

We used data from the Vietnam Aging Survey (VNAS) in 2011. This was the first-ever nationally representative survey on older persons in Vietnam.

Results:

Among those who used healthcare services, 15.1% visited central hospitals; 23.6% visited provincial hospitals; 28.0% visited district hospitals; 8.8% visited commune heath centres; 18.3% visited private hospitals/clinics; and 6.2% visited other facilities. The results showed that “having to pay cost” and “having sufficient income” were strong predictors for using commune health centres, district hospitals, and private facilities, while “having health insurance” was not a significant predictor for using these facilities. Also, we showed that apart from enabling factors (such as age, gender, educational levels, employment status, living regionand place of residence), predisposing factor (such as health insurance, perceived sufficient income, household wealth and having to pay medical cost) as well as need factors (such as self-rated health and chronic disease) were also associated with the choice of healthcare facilities.

Conclusions:

Based on the findings, we discussed the implications of the results for organizing healthcare finance and delivery to achieve efficiency and equity for older people in Vietnam.
Masses of the Sternoclavicular Area: Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Oviedo Parisa , Bliss Morgan
Published: June 2021

Objective:

Masses of the sternoclavicular area are rare, and are not well described in the literature. We aim to present a series of patients with masses in this location and to review all reported English language cases of sternoclavicular masses in pediatric patients.

Methods:

This is a case series of pediatric patients with masses of the sternoclavicular area presenting to a tertiary care pediatric hospital from 2010 through 2017. Data was collected by using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes to query the electronic medical record. Chart review included age at presentation, mass characteristics, medical and surgical interventions, and pathology results. A review of the literature was then performed.

Results:

Ten patients with masses overlying the sternoclavicular area were identified. Four patients presented with abscess and were treated with incision and drainage. Three of these patients were then treated with staged excision once infection cleared. Two additional patients were treated with primary excision. Four patients were treated with observation. The most common histopathologic finding was epidermoid. One patient was found to have a dermoid cyst, and 1 had a congenital cartilaginous rest.

Conclusion:

Epidermoids and dermoids are the most common masses overlying the sternoclavicular area. Controversy remains regarding the embryologic origin of sternoclavicular masses. The differential for masses in this area also includes branchial remnants, bronchogenic cysts, ganglion cysts, or septic arthritis.
Religious diversity, legislation, and Christian privilege
Authors: Ezzy Douglas , Banham Rebecca , Beaman Lori
Published: June 2021

This article examines the role of legal frameworks and everyday interaction in the negotiation of religious diversity in Victoria, Australia. We argue that both formal legal frameworks and everyday interactions are significant in encouraging the respectful negotiation of religious difference. Experiences of historical privilege and visibility impact how religious people and groups experience and understand these processes. Or, put another way, the social position of various faith groups in Australian society shapes how people engage with both legal frameworks such as anti-discrimination legislation, and with other people in everyday interaction. Further, people’s everyday interactions shape their responses towards legal frameworks. Anti-discrimination and anti-vilification laws also shape everyday interactions through an effect that can be described as the ‘shadow of the law’, in which legal decisions communicate information about normative expectations that particular forms of behaviour are acceptable or unacceptable.
The Evolution of New Party Systems: Voter Learning and Electoral Systems
Authors: Roussias Nasos
Published: June 2021

How do new party systems evolve over time? This article argues that party system evolution requires the solution of coordination problems that voters face in early elections; this happens through a learning mechanism. Elections reveal information to voters, who update their beliefs about party viability and the distribution of voters’ preferences and adjust their behaviour. The institutional setting, however, strongly conditions the pace of learning. Restrictive electoral systems (single-member district) accelerate learning through the harsh penalties they impose on miscoordination, while permissive ones (proportional representation) prolong it. Testing the argument on a district-level dataset in new democracies provides ample support; voters learn to cast fewer wasted votes over time and this happens faster in single-member district systems. The findings point to a trade-off between consolidation and representation; while party system evolution is facilitated by restrictive electoral systems, the presence of distinct social groups in the political arena is better served by permissive ones.
Waterjet in Bacterial Clearance of Diabetic Lower Extremity Contaminated Wounds: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Ge Yining , Wang Qiang , Qian Leqi , Pan Yuyan , Zheng Shaoluan , Shi Yuedong
Published: June 2021

The waterjet debridement is now a standard practice in contaminated or infected diabetic lower extremity wounds. The bacterial clearance of the waterjet debridement remains an important parameter that should be predicted in this application. This study aimed to investigate the waterjet in reducing the diabetic lower extremity wound contaminants. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients' etiology and pathogen diagnosis were established as diabetic lower extremity contaminated wound. The high-power waterjet (Versajet™, Smith-Nephew) was used in the treatment group and conventional surgical methods were used in the control group. The bacteriological swab samples were collected before and after the debridement. The results of bacterial culture were analyzed. A total of 74 patients were included in our study, 40 patients in the treatment group and 34 in the control group. Patient characteristics were well matched. The preoperative bacteriological swab samples of the 2 groups showed no significant difference between each other with a P value of .1022. The culture result of postoperative bacteriological swab samples in the treatment group was significantly lower than control with a P value of .0099. The odds of bacterial clearance were greater in the treatment group than in the control group (odds ratio, 5.139; 95% confidence interval, 1.386-18.41). As demonstrated by this retrospective research, waterjet debridement reduced the bacterial load in the diabetic lower extremity contaminated wounds.
A Single Center Study of ProGlide Used for Closure of Large-Bore Puncture Holes After EVAR for AAA
Authors: Mathisen Sven Ross , Nilsson Kristofer F. , Larzon Thomas
Published: June 2021

Purpose:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the primary and assisted secondary percutaneous and non-invasive technical success of the ProGlide device on all-comers in a consecutive case series of percutaneous endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (P-EVAR).

Method:

A single-center consecutive case series where 434 elective and acute P-EVAR procedures were registered prospectively between May 2011 and July 2017. The mean age was 74.5 years ± SD 11.4 years. 82.3% of the patients were male. All patients were pre-planned from CT angiography. Percutaneous access punctures, performed in local anesthesia in the common femoral artery, with a final introducer size between 12-22 Fr OD were included and stratified in 2 groups, 12-16 Fr and 17-22 Fr.

Results:

By screening 868 access groins 22 groins were excluded. Of the remaining 846 groins, intended to be treated with ProGlide, 9 groins were excluded peri-procedurally and treated with the Fascia Suture Technique or surgical cutdown. The remaining 837 groins had access closure with ProGlide, with a mean value of 2.15 devices per groin with a slight significant difference between the 2 stratification groups. Primary ProGlide technical success was achieved in 68.1% of the groins. Secondary percutaneous or non-invasive technical success was achieved in 96.9%. Here there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 stratification groups. Thirty-one (3.7%) groin complications were registered during 30-day follow-up and 17 required additional treatment. Total mortality was 2.8%. None of these deaths were related to the access site.

Conclusion:

ProGlide by itself has a significant failure rate in the closure of large-bore access holes on an unselected cohort of patients eligible for P-EVAR. However, together with adjunct percutaneous or non-invasive methods a success rate of 97% can be achieved. The access complication rate was lower than 4% at 30-day follow-up.
Path Analysis of RCT Recruitment: Secondary Analysis of Results from a Systematic Review
Authors: Jochym Nicole , Lin Lisa Y. , Merz Jon F.
Published: June 2021

We examine recruitment processes for 71 pragmatic and comparative effectiveness trials identified in a systematic review, using path analysis to examine rates of refusal to screen, test, and consent to trial participation. Our analysis suggests that refusal rates might be on net slightly higher if potential subjects are screened or asked to undergo physical eligibility tests, but this was not significant in our sample of trials ( p = .11 by Mann–Whitney test). We find that rates of refusing to provide informed consent are much lower for trials in which subjects have agreed to screening or testing (odds ratio = 0.40, Wilcoxon rank-sum z = 2.67, p = .008). We also observe that the overwhelming majority of trials examined secured consent after determining eligibility, even in trials involving screening or testing activities. The ethical implications and areas for future research are discussed.