bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Different Categories of Gamified Stimuli Affect Massive Open Online Courses Continuance Intention and Learning Performance? Mediating Roles of Internal Experiences
Authors: Cheng Yung-Ming
Published: July 2022

Drawing on gamification literature, this study develops a research model to examine whether gamification features as environmental stimulus antecedents to learners’ organismic experiences in using massive open online courses (MOOCs) can affect their response on MOOCs and learning outcomes. The proposed research framework, rooted in the stimulus-organism-response model, provides a strong foundation for understanding these hypothesized relationships. Sample data for this study were collected from learners who had experience in taking the gamified MOOCs provided by the MOOC platform launched by a well-known university in Taiwan, and 307 usable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling. This study verified that three types of gamification features including achievement-related gamification features, immersion-related gamification features, and social interaction-related gamification features positively influenced learners’ internal experiences in using MOOCs (i.e., cognitive involvement, flow experience, and social presence), which jointly expounded their continuance intention of MOOCs, and this in turn enhanced their perceived impact on learning. Overall, this study’s results offered enough evidence to strongly support all of the hypothesized links and the research model. Besides, the results of the mediation analysis confirmed that learners’ internal experiences and continuance intention of MOOCs fully mediated the effects of their perceived gamification features on perceived impact on learning.
Finite element modeling of an origami-inspired delta mechanism with flexible components and joints
Authors: Samankan Shahrad , Arjomandi Fard Ata , Berkkurt Tunca Zeki , Altınkaynak Atakan , Acer Kalafat Merve
Published: July 2022

Delta mechanism is one of the well-known parallel mechanisms used in robotic applications. In this study, the trajectory behavior of a novel Delta mechanism, which was designed and fabricated using layer-by-layer origami method, is investigated utilizing the finite element method (FEM). The mechanism was modeled with the dimensions of the actual fabricated mechanism. The mechanism consists of four different materials where properties of two materials are extracted experimentally via the tensile testing process. The accuracy of our model was compared to the finite element simulations and the results indicated that the mechanism follows the given trajectory within 0.05 normalized root-mean-square (RMS) error with respect to the kinematic model. The impact of the fabrication and instrumentation errors on the trajectory was further analyzed using FEM simulations and the contribution of each factor on the error was categorized. This validated numerical model can be used in the future to accurately simulate the mechanics of origami-inspired mechanisms and to design new mechanisms.
Hierarchical hybrid trajectory planning for autonomous vehicle considering multiple road types
Authors: Zhou Xingzhen , Pei Xiaofei , Yang Bo
Published: July 2022

This paper combines A* algorithm and quintic polynomial to propose a novel hybrid trajectory planning method that can be used on both structured and unstructured roads for autonomous vehicle. The architecture of our approach can be generally divided into two layers. In the upper level, an improved A* algorithm is adopted to search for a feasible path as a reference based on the indication of global path, static and dynamic obstacles, road conditions and traffic rules. Particularly, relating to the road type, the evaluation functions are appropriately selected. According to this reference path, the relative position of the vehicle to the obstacles is evaluated. Hence, the target vehicle velocity and related position can be determined, and the desired velocity curve is then generated by a cubic polynomial. In the lower level, a segmented quintic polynomial is utilized for smooth the trajectory. Finally, the proposed method has been validated via Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and real-vehicle tests. The experimental results show that it can not only ensure a safe, curvature-continuous and kinodynamically feasible trajectory planning, but also own good adaptability to complex scenarios.
Holocene climate events and associated land use changes in the eastern coast of India: Inferences from the Chilika Lagoon
Authors: Ahmad Shah Rayees , Khan Imran , Rahman Abdur , Kumar Sanjeev , Achyuthan Hema , Shukla Anil D , Kumar Pankaj , Dash Chinmay
Published: July 2022

The Holocene arid events and related societal responses are important scientific inquiries due to concerns about their reoccurrences in the future. In the Indian subcontinent, significant number of studies have focussed on understanding the Holocene aridification events at 8.2 and 4.2 ka. Despite these studies, high resolution palaeoclimatic records from the eastern India during Holocene, particularly around the above-mentioned aridification events are lacking. In this study, we present high resolution Holocene palaeoclimate records reconstructed based on geochemical and isotopic data from the Chilika Lagoon located in the east coast of India. A 130 cm long sediment core, retrieved from the southern end of the lagoon, revealed a continuous sedimentation history between 8.49 and 0.99 ka. The variations in organic carbon isotopic compositions, total organic carbon contents, along with major and trace element abundances suggested a strong effect of 8.2 dry event and a shift in chemical weathering at around 4.2 ka in the eastern coast of India. Additionally, a strong warm climate anomaly was observed at 1.2 ka. Interestingly, higher sedimentation rates were observed post 4.2 ka, which potentially indicated a significant change in settlement dynamics and human interventions. It appears that the eastern coast of India experienced human migration and surge in agricultural practices similar to that in northwest India after the 4.2 ka climatic event. It is likely that people relocated themselves, which eventually increased the pastoral activities in newly occupied lands. Consequently, enhanced land use and land cover changes accelerated soil erosion in the region leading to higher sedimentation rate in the lagoon.
A high-resolution, 1250-year long drought record from Ea Tyn Lake, Central Highlands of Việt Nam
Authors: Nguyễn-Đình Thái , Nguyễn-Thùy Dương , Nguyễn-Văn Hướng , Ojala Antti EK , Đỗ-Trọng Quốc , Phan-Thanh Tùng , Nguyễn Thị Hồng , Thị Ánh Nguyễn Nguyệt , Xuân Đinh Thành , Thị Huyền Nguyễn Trang , Sauer Peter E , Schimmelmann Arndt , Unkel Ingmar
Published: July 2022

An understanding of past climatic variability at regional to local scales is mandatory for a proper evaluation of current and potential future repercussions from global climate change. The Southeast Asian tropics remain severely under-represented in paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions, although a few recent paleoclimate studies evaluated the variability, position and strength of the main Asian monsoon systems at different timescales from modern records to the last 15,000 years. Comparable data from Việt Nam, however, are scarce although Việt Nam and its Central Highlands are critically located at the intersection of the East Asian Summer Monsoon and the Indian Summer Monsoon with highly important socio-ecological consequences from changes in the climate system. This study presents a high-resolution sedimentary climate record from Ea Tyn Lake in Việt Nam’s Central Highlands covering the last 1250 years. Using geochemical and sedimentological proxies and principal component analysis, we reconstructed at least 12 drought events, some of which appear to be of supraregional significance as they coincide with historically documented droughts in India, China, and Cambodia. Beyond tracking short-term climate events, the Rb/Sr elemental ratio along the Ea Tyn Lake sediment sequence reflects long-term monsoon variability throughout the last millenium, which was previously only reconstructed via δ18O speleothem records from China and India. Our Ea Tyn Lake record shows that the East Asian Summer Monsoon was relatively strong between ~1000 and 1350 cal CE and weaker between 1350 and 1850 cal CE, followed by renewed intensification after ~1850 cal CE.
The significance of Atlantic Water routing in the Nordic Seas: The Holocene perspective
Authors: Telesiński Maciej M. , Łącka Magdalena , Kujawa Agnieszka , Zajączkowski Marek
Published: July 2022

The Nordic Seas are a key region for global ocean circulation, crucial in water mass exchange between the North Atlantic and the Arctic oceans, and deepwater formation. The advection of Atlantic Water (AW) to the Nordic Seas is decisive for the oceanography and climate of the region and beyond. Here, we present a set of sedimentary records, including two new cores from the western Nordic Seas to reconstruct the history of AW routing in the Nordic Seas over the Holocene. Our results show that the early Holocene (11.7–8 ka BP) thermal maximum, caused by an ‘overshoot’ of overturning circulation and high insolation, was limited to the eastern Nordic Seas, while the western part remained cold due to the meltwater blocking the spreading of AW. After 8 ka BP, the retreat of the freshwater lid allowed AW to reach the central Greenland Sea, where deep convection developed. After 5 ka BP, the increase in sea-ice export from the Arctic strengthened deep convection, which intensified the westward AW flow. A disruption of convectional activity around 2.7 ka BP, triggered by a minimum in solar activity, caused cooling and expansion of sea ice in the Nordic Seas and might have contributed to a global climatic deterioration. The overturning circulation in the Nordic Seas did not recover to its previous state until the present. We demonstrate that the rate of AW advection into the Nordic Seas alone is not enough to understand the oceanographic evolution of this area and its influence on regional or even global ocean and climate changes. The shifts in AW routing within the Nordic Seas and the rate of deep convection are also important.
Lipoprotein(a) in systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with history of proteinuria and reduced renal function
Authors: Connolly Caoilfhionn M , Li Jessica , Goldman Daniel , Fava Andrea , Magder Laurence , Petri Michelle
Published: July 2022

Objective

Proteinuria is the clinical expression of lupus nephritis and despite recent advances in the therapeutic armamentarium for lupus nephritis, morbidity and mortality rates remain high. Therefore, the identification of factors that predict lupus nephritis is paramount in preventing damage accrual and disease progression. Lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) is a primarily genetically inherited plasma lipoprotein with pro-thrombotic and pro-atherosclerotic effects. Elevated Lp(a) has been observed at early stages of renal impairment in the general population and is associated with the development of chronic kidney disease. However, little is known about renal implications of Lp(a) in SLE. Thus, we evaluated Lp(a) and atherosclerotic events, thrombotic events, renal disease, and disease activity in patients with SLE.

Methods

SLE patients fulfilling the revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) or SLICC classification criteria with a measurement of Lp(a) were included in the analysis. A cutoff of 125 nmol/L was chosen based on expert opinion. Chi-square test was used to compare the differences between patient characteristics and Lp(a) levels. Logistic regression or linear regression were used, where appropriate, to assess the association between Lp(a) values and the measured outcomes.

Results

Lp(a) levels from 562 patients were analyzed. There was an association between elevated Lp(a) and a history of proteinuria (OR 1.58, p-value = 0.02). This association remained significant following adjustment for age, sex, race, low C3, and elevated anti-dsDNA (OR = 1.55, p-value = 0.04). There was also an association with eGFR < 60 ( p = 0.02). Patients with elevated Lp(a) had higher physician global activity ( p = 0.01) and erythrocyte sediment rate ( p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Elevated Lp(a) was associated with proteinuria, independent of known factors associated with lupus proteinuria, as well as reduced eGFR and physician global activity. Our findings highlight the potential role of Lp(a) as a noninvasive biomarker for early renal disease in SLE.
Dopamine relieves inflammatory responses through the D2 receptor after electroacupuncture at ST36 in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Liu Xuemei , Fan Tao , Guan Jinshuai , Luo Ai , Yu Yan , Chen Daohong , Mao Bing , Jiang Hongli , Liu Wei
Published: July 2022

Objective:

To detect the role of dopamine in the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods:

Twenty-eight male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group, sham EA (sham) group or ST36 EA (ST36) group in a 1:1:1:1 ratio ( n = 7 each). The COPD mouse model was established through cigarette smoke (CS) exposure for 12 weeks. During the last 2 weeks, EA was applied at a sham point location or ST36 before CS exposure. Lung function, histopathological changes, inflammatory cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammatory cytokines in BALF, plasma, lung tissue homogenate (LTH), and plasma dopamine levels were detected in the different groups. Furthermore, the role of different dopamine receptors was explored through intraperitoneal injections of non-specific dopamine receptor antagonist chlorpromazine, specific dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 and specific dopamine D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride hydrochloride prior to ST36 EA and CS exposure.

Results:

EA at ST36 improved lung function, alleviated lung and systemic inflammatory responses by reducing inflammatory cells and cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-1β in BALF, plasma and lung tissue in this COPD mouse model. Plasma dopamine was greatly increased after EA at ST36, negatively correlated with lung histological lesions and inflammatory cytokine levels, and positively correlated with mice body weight and lung function indicators. Chlorpromazine and eticlopride hydrochloride inhibited the anti-inflammatory effect of EA at ST36, while SCH 23390 showed no neutralizing effect.

Conclusion:

EA at ST36 could alleviate inflammation in this mouse model of COPD through the dopamine D2 receptor pathway.
Risk Perception as a Mediator in Explaining the Relationship of Cognitive Biases and New Venture Creation
Authors: Riasudeen S. , Ratnoo Himmat Singh , Kannadhasan M. , Singh Pankaj
Published: July 2022

The study investigates the role of risk perception in mediating the association of certain important cognitive biases such as overconfidence, illusion of control, optimism and planning fallacy with new venture creation. The study collected responses through questionnaires from 375 entrepreneurs in Central India. Partial least squares path modelling has been used to gauge the way these variables are connected. This study finds only the illusions of control and optimism to have lowered the perceptions of risk, and this lowering has resulted in the creation of a new venture. However, contrary to past studies, overconfidence and planning fallacy are directly linked with the decision to start a new project. Careful assessment of the levels of risk perception may enable entrepreneurs to minimise the cognitive biases, and they can constructively get engaged in the performance of the venture.
Social Impact: The Role of Authentic Leadership, Compassion and Grit in Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Kelly Louise , Perkins Vernita , Zuraik Abdelrahman , Luse William
Published: July 2022

This study examines the influence of leadership on social entrepreneurs; specifically, the impact of authentic leadership, compassion and grit on entrepreneurial processes and performance outcomes with a sample of Americans social entrepreneurs ( n = 284). Entrepreneurial process dimensions include individual innovation, opportunity recognition and social networks, and performance outcomes encompass social and financial performance, capturing dual mission characteristics of social entrepreneurship. The differing impacts of authentic leadership, compassion and grit are demonstrated, where authentic leadership influences all the dependent variables listed above, while compassion has a lesser positive influence on outcomes, except economic performance. Grit, only has a positive influence on innovation and economic performance. This research highlights that authentic leadership through its meaningful engagement is a more effective driver of multiple outcomes in social entrepreneurship, confirming that this new social business form works well with this newer social entrepreneurship leadership style.
The Predictive Power of Turkish Middle School Students’ Entrepreneurial Competencies on STEM Attitudes
Authors: Deveci İsa , Konuş Fatma Zehra
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlational and causal relationship between middle school students’ entrepreneurial competencies and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) attitudes. A total of 648 middle school students (seventh and eighth grade) participated in this study. STEM attitude scale and two entrepreneurial competency scales that were developed in different studies in the literature were used as data collection tools. In addition, a simple regression, a multiple regression and a stepwise multiple regression analysis were executed to analyse the data. The correlational analysis showed that there was a moderate level, positive correlation between the STEM attitudes of students and their overall entrepreneurial competencies. Also, the multiple regression analysis showed that entrepreneurial competencies consisting of professionalism, risk-taking, creativity and tenacity explained 41% of the change in STEM attitude. The stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that professionalism predicted the most the STEM attitude statistically more.
Gross and histologic description of trematodosis in fetal and neonatal beef calves in North Dakota and Minnesota
Authors: Pecoraro Heidi L. , Stenger Brianna L. S. , Rice Laura E. , Webb Brett T.
Published: July 2022

Hepatic trematodes, such as Fasciola hepatica and Fascioloides magna, have variable distribution throughout the United States. F. magna is endemic in the upper midwestern United States, and F. magna infections are diagnosed frequently in weaned calves and adult beef cattle at the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (NDSU-VDL). Rarely, liver fluke infestation has also been observed in much younger calves, including aborted fetuses. We describe here, in 2 fetal and 7 neonatal beef calves submitted to the NDSU-VDL between 2011 and 2020, parasitic migration tracts in livers, consisting of regionally extensive, random, linear tracts of fibrosis admixed with black porphyrin pigment, along with foci of necrosis and hemorrhage, and mixed inflammatory cells, which were caused presumptively by F. magna infection. Samples were not available from our 9 cases for PCR assay and sequencing, but we did confirm F. magna within liver samples collected from regional cattle in 2020 and 2021. Fetal and neonatal trematodosis was often concurrent with other common causes of fetal abortion and neonatal calf loss in our cases; however, based on the prepatent period of F. magna, fetal and neonatal beef calf trematode infestations occurred in utero.
Design and control of an x-y-θz parallel piezoelectric nanopositioning stage with a large moving platform
Authors: Wang Bowen , Cui Yuguo , Yang Yiling , Xie Qifang , Chen Pan
Published: July 2022

This paper introduces the design and control of a new type of x- y-θ z parallel piezoelectric nanopositioning stage. Using the spatial cross-distributed double parallel four-bar linkage (DPFL), the mirror symmetrically distributed driving unit and auxiliary unit are designed. Then, a parallel piezoelectric nanopositioning stage with a large moving platform and good guidance and decoupling performance are designed. The workspace and frequency response characteristics of the stage are analyzed based on the stiffness and dynamic models. To improve the static and dynamic characteristics of the stage, the structural size is optimized, and the optimization results are verified by Finite Element Analysis (FEA). To reduce the response time, hysteresis nonlinearity, and external disturbance of the stage, a compound controller combining a rate-dependent Prandtl–Ishlinskii (PI) hysteresis compensator and a proportional-integral controller is designed. Finally, the prototype of the stage is made by Wire Electro-Discharge Machining (WEDM) technology. The open-loop performance of the stage is tested experimentally. The results show that the maximum relative coupling error between x and y directions is less than 0.5%. Also, the experimental control results show that the designed compound controller has a fast response speed, good positioning, and tracking performance.
Transfer matrix model and experimental validation for the integrated piezo longitudinal actuators
Authors: Yue Huiyu , Lu Yang , Dang Chong , Wei Siqi , Zhu Tianyu
Published: July 2022

The housing and pre-compressed spring of the integrated piezo longitudinal actuator can protect the piezoelectric stack from shear stress and tensile stress. In this paper, the limitations of this actuator model in existing vibration control projects are pointed out. An electromechanical coupling dynamic model in the transfer matrix form is established for the longitudinal vibration of the integrated piezo longitudinal actuator. The model includes all parameters of the integrated piezo longitudinal actuator: force and velocity at both ends, material and structural parameters, voltage and current, which is suitable for any mechanical and electrical boundary conditions; The transfer matrix method has a simple structure and clear physical definition, which is convenient to be applied to the vibration control system. This model is verified by the finite element software and experiments. In the experimental verification, an electromechanical coupling dynamic experiment system of the integrated piezo longitudinal actuator is established. The accuracy of this model is verified by comparing the frequency domain dynamic response of various parameters in the simulation and experiments. The integrated piezo longitudinal actuator model provides a wide range of possibilities for model-based controller design, active and semi-active control, electric power estimation, and optimal vibration isolation performance estimation.
Post-COVID-19 era: An Enabler for the Implementation of Blended Learning in Compliance With the NEP 2020
Authors: Sharma Gummaluri Venkata Surya Subrahmanya , Vara Prasad Chilamkurti Lakshmi Venkata Ranga Sobhanachala , Santa Rao Korada
Published: July 2022

Government of India has cleared the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by bringing out many reforms in the education sector with a focus on education design, delivery, and assessment. This work is an attempt toward perceiving the post-COVID-19 era as an enabler in the engineering education process for the implementation of blended learning. Causal analysis through the Ishikawa diagram is brainstormed for enlisting all the potential causal factors for the inability to restore normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) is adopted for restoring normalcy through prioritized corrective actions. Thus, NEP 2020 is considered for leveraging blended learning.
The Sound of Social Studies Job Searches: The Possibilities of Posthuman Listening
Authors: Tate Morgan Paige
Published: July 2022

This poetic inquiry was produced by a posthuman sound and listening of audio from a focus group of social studies education pre-service teachers. The (re)listening allowed me to hear the relation between social studies education, patriarchy, and sports. This inquiry attends to the potestas, or limiting forces, heard in the audio, and it reflects on the potentia, a generative force, of posthuman sound and listening as an opening to learn more about forces that affect pre-service social studies educators as they enter the field of teaching, while avoiding the field of football.
The Scourge of Orphaned and Abandoned Wells: Leveraging Public-Private-Citizen Collaboration to Solve a Big Problem
Authors: Mallinson Daniel J. , Ali Aqsa , Guo Jingyu , Robles Pedro
Published: July 2022

Orphaned and abandoned wells are emblematic of the challenges of abandoned infrastructure. With over 2.5 million idle wells in the United States, this is a large problem that requires engagement across the public, private, non-profit, and civic sectors. This article conducts a focused case study on orphaned and abandoned well reclamation in Pennsylvania. Elite interviews, government document review, and scholarly literature reveal the barriers to effective collaboration across the sectors, but also substantial potential. Using the public-private-citizen partnership (PC2) and collaborative governance regime (CGR) frameworks, the article proposes a PC2 CGR that could leverage the influx of federal well plugging funds for greater effectiveness in solving this big problem. The case also holds lessons for other states and other sources of abandoned infrastructure.
Practices of Care in a Multipavilion Prison: An Exploratory Study on the Role of the Built Environment
Authors: Annemans Margo , Coomans Koen , Heylighen Ann
Published: July 2022

People’s health and well-being is known to be affected by the built environment. Since prisons are confronted with an overrepresentation of people with mental and physical health issues, we examine how the built prison environment affects the provision of care for prisoners with specific needs. Based on observations and (focus group) interviews with prisoners, prison officers, and care-staff, we report on the experiences of specific groups in highly particular prison environments: various pavilions of a former penal colony. By analyzing spatialities in relation to practices and temporalities of care, we provide a nuanced understanding of what caring entails in a prison environment. We show that in this context caring for safety, normality, and physical health ideally go hand in hand. To conclude, we illustrate that the need for control within a prison environment can be reduced by spatial variety, offering different types of settings matching different care and living needs, and allowing movement between settings depending on these needs.
Indigenised approaches to addressing elder abuse in Uganda
Authors: Wamara Charles Kiiza , Strandberg Thomas , Bennich Maria
Published: July 2022

The social gerontological field has long called for a culturally appropriate framework to understand, prevent, and respond to elder abuse in the Global South. This emphasis is, in part, based on the notion that elder abuse is a cultural and structural concern that cannot be effectively addressed using mainstream social work approaches. Therefore, indigenised approaches are preferred while tackling cultural and structural forms of elder abuse. However, despite several attempts, there is limited research on indigenised approaches and practices within the gerontological social work field. Therefore, we investigated how social work could promote indigenised approaches to better address elder abuse. We explored this through in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 21 social workers.

Findings

Elder abuse is a cultural and structural social problem that requires family- and community-centred approaches premised on the Indigenous values of togetherness, reciprocity, solidarity, responsibility and love for humanity. These approaches must be embedded in people’s cultures and knowledge to address the social structural changes that have contributed to elder abuse in the Global South.

Applications

Social workers should strengthen family and community support to achieve social capital and inclusion for older people. This will not only enable families and communities to safeguard their older members, but also enhance community-based solutions to address elder abuse. Social work educators should engage in robust and rigorous research and curriculum change for social work education to enable the integration of post-colonial theories and approaches into social work training.
Average treatment effect estimates robust to the “limited overlap” problem: robustate
Authors: Sasaki Yuya , Ura Takuya
Published: July 2022

We introduce a new command, robustate, that executes the inverseprobability weighting estimation and inference for the average treatment effect with robustness against limited overlap (that is, weak satisfaction of the common support condition). This command produces estimates, standard errors, p-values, and confidence intervals for the average treatment effect. The utility of the command is demonstrated with both simulated and real data of right heart catheterization. These illustrations show that the proposed estimator implemented by the robustate command indeed exhibits more robustness against limited overlap than the traditional inverse-probability weighting estimator. The main method of the command is proposed in Sasaki and Ura (2022, Econometric Theory 38: 66–112).
Testing for time-varying Granger causality
Authors: Baum Christopher F. , Hurn Stan , Otero Jesús
Published: July 2022

The concept of Granger causality is an important tool in applied macroeconomics. Recently, recursive econometric methods have been developed to analyze the temporal stability of Granger-causal relationships. This article offers an implementation of these recursive procedures in Stata. An empirical example illustrates their use in analyzing the temporal stability of Granger causality among key U.S. macroeconomic series.
Smoothed instrumental variables quantile regression
Authors: Kaplan David M.
Published: July 2022

In this article, I introduce the sivqr command, which estimates the coefficients of the instrumental variables quantile regression model introduced by Chernozhukov and Hansen (2005, Econometrica 73: 245–261). The sivqr command offers several advantages over the existing ivqreg and ivqreg2 commands for estimating this instrumental variables quantile regression model, which complements the alternative “triangular model” behind cqiv and the “local quantile treatment effect” model of ivqte. Computationally, sivqr implements the smoothed estimator of Kaplan and Sun (2017, Econometric Theory 33: 105–157), who show that smoothing improves both computation time and statistical accuracy. Standard errors are computed analytically or by Bayesian bootstrap; for nonindependent and identically distributed sampling, sivqr is compatible with bootstrap. I discuss syntax and the underlying methodology, and I compare sivqr with other commands in an example.
Binned scatterplots with marginal histograms: binscatterhist
Authors: Pinna Matteo
Published: July 2022

I introduce binscatterhist, a command that extends the functionality of the popular binscatter command (Stepner, 2013, Statistical Software Components S457709, Department of Economics, Boston College). binscatter allows researchers to summarize the relationship between two variables in an informative and versatile way by collapsing scattered points into bins. However, information about the variables’ frequencies gets lost in the process. binscatterhist solves this issue by allowing the user to further enrich the graphs by plotting the variables’ underlying distribution. The binscatterhist command includes options for different regression methods, including reghdfe (Correia, 2014, Statistical Software Components S457874, Department of Economics, Boston College) and areg, and robust and clustered standard errors, with automatic reporting of estimation results and sample size.
Coaching practices to develop underwater fly kick performance in swimming training
Authors: Margaret Thompson Isobel , Warner Martin , Hudson Dominic , Banks Joseph , Logan Oliver
Published: July 2022

This study assessed current swimming coaching practices surrounding underwater fly kick. Ten elite coaches completed face-to-face interviews, and 56 coaches completed an online survey. Coaches use a range of methods both in and out of the pool to develop key aspects of fly kick. Sixty eight percent of coaches reported they do not have access to resources that would aid with their ability to develop fly kick. Results show that coaches are considering a range of variables when attempting to improve fly kick, with the three most important highlighted as kick frequency, kick symmetry and coordination. Coordination is reported as the variable presenting the greatest difficulties when coaching due to athlete's physical restrictions and individual differences, as well as difficulties in coaching proprioception. Coaches are using a variety of resources to inform their approaches in underwater fly kick, but report coach certification and education resources as having the lowest influence on their coaching methods. Generally, results indicate a lack of skill acquisition knowledge and education in underwater fly kick. Reflecting upon coaches’ views and approaches allows for further research to develop understanding of interventions used to improve fly kick, and aids with the transfer of key research findings into practice.
Industrialization in Odisha, India and the politics of scale: International grievance mechanisms as spaces of engagement
Authors: Richards Jarren
Published: July 2022

Despite its vast mineral wealth and tremendous industrial potential, the Indian state of Odisha remains under-industrialized after some two decades of aggressive liberalization reform. A particularly striking example of industrial failure concerns the POSCO-Odisha project. Abandoned in 2017 following fierce local opposition, it has since been revived under a new proprietorship, reigniting grassroots resistance. Using a relation of local dependence framework, the paper explores the role of scalar politics in conflict over land, dispossession, and development. The paper points to the practical implications, both for industry and grassroots movements, in resolving and overcoming such struggles.
The internal dynamics of “scaling up” deliberative mini-publics
Authors: Rountree John , Anderson Chris , Reedy Justin , Nowlin Matthew C
Published: July 2022

Recent deliberative systems research has emphasized the need to “scale up” deliberative mini-publics by exploring connections between mini-publics and broader arenas of policymaking. Less is known, however, about how the policy environment in a state or region might itself influence a deliberative event. In this article, we set out to examine how the internal dynamics of mini-publics are affected by the scaling-up process of connecting to larger policymaking domains. To better understand how the external role of deliberation affects the internal dynamics, we analyze two notable cases of deliberative forums addressing public problems. In both cases, the 2017 Our Coastal Future Forum in South Carolina and the 2020 Oregon Citizens’ Assembly on coronavirus disease-19 recovery, citizen participants grappled with the challenge of scaling up to larger policy outcomes. We conduct a thematic analysis of transcripts from both events, focusing on how citizens discuss their role in influencing policy and talk about the potential for policy output from the mini-publics. The analysis reveals that the scaling-up process invites a pragmatic orientation within deliberation, centering on issues of efficiency, scope, and efficacy.
The unwrapping of various understandings of statelessness in Latvian media discourse
Authors: Gromilova Anna , Braun Mats
Published: July 2022

There is a substantial literature in the tradition of constructivism and sociological new institutionalism that suggests the existence of shared EU norms. Yet, the issue of how EU norms are adopted and/or contested in EU member states remains underexamined. In the paper, we therefore study the public discourse on citizenship in Latvia and examine how the discourse relates to EU norms on citizenship, minority rights and in the broader sense human rights. The analysis takes its empirical starting point in the period after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and focuses on how the issue of statelessness was discussed in the Latvian online media. Looking at how the contested term (‘statelessness’) achieves different meanings in the Latvian discourse, and how the domestic actors try to reformulate the EU norms in question, we aim at a better understanding of the diffusion of norms within the context of a regional organization. The conclusion indicates that apart from the EU human rights norm, there are several different articulations of statelessness (i.e. othering, security and instrumental) that are present in the discourse. This has enabled Latvian governments to stress their commitment to human rights promotion, while simultaneously facing criticism regarding the country’s stateless inhabitants.
KIR-favorable TCR-αβ/CD19-depleted haploidentical HCT in children with ALL/AML/MDS: primary analysis of the PTCTC ONC1401 trial
Authors: Pulsipher Michael A. , Ahn Kwang W. , Bunin Nancy J. , Lalefar Nahal , Anderson Eric , Flower Allyson , Cairo Mitchell S. , Talano Julie-An , Chaudhury Sonali , Kitko Carrie L. , Duke Jamie L. , Monos Dimitrios , Leung Wing , Dvorak Christopher C. , Abdel-Azim Hisham
Published: July 2022

We performed a prospective multicenter study of T-cell receptor αβ (TCR-αβ)/CD19–depleted haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in children with acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), to determine 1-year disease-free survival (DFS) and compare 2-year outcomes with recipients of other donor cell sources. Fifty-one patients aged 0.7 to 21 years were enrolled; donors were killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) favorable based on ligand mismatch and/or high B content. The 1-year DFS was 78%. Superior 2-year DFS and overall survival (OS) were noted in patients <10 years of age, those treated with reduced toxicity conditioning (RTC) rather than myeloablative conditioning, and children with minimal residual disease <0.01% before HCT. Multivariate analysis comparing the KIR-favorable haploidentical cohort with controls showed similar DFS and OS compared with other donor cell sources. Multivariate analysis also showed a marked decrease in the risk of grades 2 to 4 and 3 to 4 acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), chronic GVHD, and transplant-related mortality vs other donor cell sources. Ethnic and racial minorities accounted for 53% of enrolled patients, and data from a large cohort of recipients/donors screened for KIR showed that >80% of recipients had a KIR-favorable donor by our definition, demonstrating that this approach is broadly applicable to groups often unable to find donors. This prospective, multicenter study showed improved outcomes using TCR-αβ/CD19–depleted haploidentical donors using RTC for children with acute leukemia and MDS. Randomized trials comparing this approach with matched unrelated donors are warranted. This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02646839.
Structures of VWF tubules before and after concatemerization reveal a mechanism of disulfide bond exchange
Authors: Anderson Jacob R. , Li Jing , Springer Timothy A. , Brown Alan
Published: July 2022

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is an adhesive glycoprotein that circulates in the blood as disulfide-linked concatemers and functions in primary hemostasis. The loss of long VWF concatemers is associated with the excessive bleeding of type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD). Formation of the disulfide bonds that concatemerize VWF requires VWF to self-associate into helical tubules, yet how the helical tubules template intermolecular disulfide bonds is not known. Here, we report electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) structures of VWF tubules before and after intermolecular disulfide bond formation. The structures provide evidence that VWF tubulates through a charge–neutralization mechanism and that the A1 domain enhances tubule length by crosslinking successive helical turns. In addition, the structures reveal disulfide states before and after disulfide bond-mediated concatemerization. The structures and proposed assembly mechanism provide a foundation to rationalize VWD-causing mutations.
Participation in community-based lung cancer screening: the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial
Authors: Crosbie Philip A.J. , Gabe Rhian , Simmonds Irene , Hancock Neil , Alexandris Panos , Kennedy Martyn , Rogerson Suzanne , Baldwin David , Booton Richard , Bradley Claire , Darby Mike , Eckert Claire , Franks Kevin N. , Lindop Jason , Janes Sam M. , Møller Henrik , Murray Rachael L. , Neal Richard D. , Quaife Samantha L. , Upperton Sara , Shinkins Bethany , Tharmanathan Puvan , Callister Matthew E.J.
Published: July 2022

Background

Screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer mortality; however, the most effective strategy for optimising participation is unknown. Here we present data from the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial, including response to invitation, screening eligibility and uptake of community-based LDCT screening.

Methods

Individuals aged 55–80 years, identified from primary care records as having ever smoked, were randomised prior to consent to invitation to telephone lung cancer risk assessment or usual care. The invitation strategy included general practitioner endorsement, pre-invitation and two reminder invitations. After telephone triage, those at higher risk were invited to a Lung Health Check (LHC) with immediate access to a mobile CT scanner.

Results

Of 44 943 individuals invited, 50.8% (n=22 815) responded and underwent telephone-based risk assessment (16.7% and 7.3% following first and second reminders, respectively). A lower response rate was associated with current smoking status (adjusted OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.42–0.46) and socioeconomic deprivation (adjusted OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.54–0.62 for the mostversusthe least deprived quintile). Of those responding, 34.4% (n=7853) were potentially eligible for screening and offered a LHC, of whom 86.8% (n=6819) attended. Lower uptake was associated with current smoking status (adjusted OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62–0.87) and socioeconomic deprivation (adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62–0.98). In total, 6650 individuals had a baseline LDCT scan, representing 99.7% of eligible LHC attendees.

Conclusions

Telephone risk assessment followed by a community-based LHC is an effective strategy for lung cancer screening implementation. However, lower participation associated with current smoking status and socioeconomic deprivation underlines the importance of research to ensure equitable access to screening.
Antiproliferation effects of nanophytosome-loaded phenolic compounds from fruit of Juniperus polycarpos against breast cancer in mice model: synthesis, characterization and therapeutic effects
Authors: Moeini Soheila , Karimi Ehsan , Oskoueian Ehsan
Published: July 2022

Background

This research was performed to synthesize nanophytosome-loaded high phenolic fraction (HPF) from Juniperus polycarpos fruit extract and investigate its antiproliferation effects against breast cancer in mice model.

Results

The nanophytosome-loaded HPF from Juniperus polycarpos fruit extract was synthesized. The mice trial was conducted to determine the possible toxic effects of the synthesized nanophytosomes. The anticancer, pro-apoptotic, and antioxidative activities of the nanophytosomes were determined. The nanophytosome-loaded HPF had a spherical structure with a size of 176 nm and a polydispersity index coefficient of 0.24. The in vivo study manifested that nanophytosome-loaded HPF significantly improved weight gain and food intake compared to the negative control group (p < 0.05). The nanophytosome-loaded HPF significantly enhanced the expression of bax (3.4-fold) and caspase-3 (2.7-fold) genes, but reduced bcl2 (3.6-fold) gene expression in tumor cells. The average tumor size was significantly decreased in mice treated with nanophytosome-loaded HPF (p < 0.05). The expression of GPX (2.3-fold) and SOD (2.7-fold) antioxidants in the liver of mice supplemented with nanophytosome-loaded HPF was significantly developed compared to the negative control (p < 0.05). The nanophytosome-loaded HPF did not show toxicity on normal cells.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that nanophytosome-loaded HPF might be a potential anticancer agent for the breast cancer treatment.
The effect of ultrasound-guided lung recruitment maneuvers on atelectasis in lung-healthy patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Liu Yi , Wang Jingyu , Geng Yuan , Zhang Yiran , Su Hang , Yang Yujiao
Published: July 2022

Background

Atelectasis is the primary cause of hypoxemia during general anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the combination of recruitment maneuvers (RM) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on the incidence of atelectasis in adult women undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery using pulmonary ultrasound.

Methods

In this study, 42 patients with healthy lungs undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery were randomly divided into the recruitment maneuver group (RM group; 6 cm H2O PEEP and RM) or the control group (C group; 6 cm H2O PEEP and no RM), 21 patients in each group. Volume-controlled ventilation was used in all selected patients, with a tidal volume of 6–8 mL·kg−1of ideal body weight. When atelectasis was detected, patients in the RM group received ultrasound-guided RM, while those in the C group received no intervention. The incidence and severity of atelectasis were determined using lung ultrasound scores.

Results

A total of 41 patients were investigated. The incidence of atelectasis was lower in the RM group (40%) than in the C group (80%) 15 min after arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Meanwhile, lung ultrasound scores (LUSs) were lower in the RM group compared to the C group. In addition, the differences in the LUS between the two groups were mainly due to the differences in lung ultrasound scores in the posterior regions. However, this difference did not persist after 24 h of surgery.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the combination of RM and PEEP could reduce the incidence of atelectasis in patients with healthy lungs 15 min after arrival at the PACU; however, it disappeared within 24 h after surgery.

Trial registration

(Prospectively registered):ChiCTR2000033529. Registered on 4/6/2020.
Associations between loneliness and frailty among older adults: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Sha Sha , Pan Yao , Xu Yuebin , Chen Lin
Published: July 2022

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated the associations between loneliness and frailty in late life. However, there is a lack of consensus on the direction of the relationship. The present study aimed to examine the interdependencies between loneliness and frailty over time.

Methods

Data on participants aged 60 years old and above were collected from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 samples of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Loneliness was measured by a single question from the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, and frailty was assessed by the Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP) scale. Cross-lagged panel models were utilized to examine the potential bidirectional relationship between loneliness and frailty.

Results

Reciprocal associations were found between loneliness and frailty. Furthermore, we found that baseline frailty and early change in frailty had a significant predictive effect on late change in loneliness. Higher baseline loneliness in older adults may create a potentially vicious cycle that influenced early change in frailty and continued to cause late change in loneliness.

Conclusion

A bidirectional relationship may exist between loneliness and frailty among older Chinese adults over 60 years old. Lonely older adults should be alerted to the potential self-reinforcing cycle of loneliness that affects their health.