bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How do students deal with forced digitalisation in teaching and learning? Implications for quality assurance
Authors: Pohlenz Philipp , Felix Annika , Berndt Sarah , Seyfried Markus
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate student subgroups’ responses to the coercive digitalisation of teaching and learning processes during the pandemic. Respective variance is discussed in terms of digital inequality and is interpreted as a need to individualise teaching and learning and quality assurance practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from surveys (N = 955) on student perceptions of the introduction of emergency digitalisation – an important aspect of higher education. The authors perform latent class analyses to identify student subgroups. The students were asked to rate digital learning processes and their overall learning experiences.

Findings

The identified student subgroups are proponents, pragmatics and sceptics of digitalised teaching and learning processes. These subgroups have different preferences with regard to teaching and learning modes of delivery, which implies the relevance of individualised educational services and respective quality assurance practices to reflections on improvement needs.

Research limitations/implications

The data are from a single, typical German university; therefore, the scope of the results may be limited. However, this study enriches future research on the traits of student subgroups and students’ coping strategies in an ever-changing learning environment.

Practical implications

The findings may help individualise universities’ counselling services to enhance overall teaching performance and quality assurance practices in a digitalised environment.

Originality/value

The findings provide insights into students’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on teaching and learning. This paper enriches the research on student heterogeneity and relates this to development needs of quality assurance practice.
Capturing variability of high‐performance work systems within organisations: The role of team manager's person‐HRM fit and climate for HR implementation and subsequent implementation behaviour
Authors: Pak Jongwook
Published: August 2022

Despite the accumulated knowledge of how high‐performance work systems (HPWS) at the within‐organisation levels function, the literature suffers a paucity of attempts to capture the sources of variability. Meanwhile, research on line managers' HR implementation has excessively emphasised their HR‐related competencies. At this juncture, this study establishes the interactive effects of team manager's value and ability fit with espoused HR practices under the varying strength of climate for HR implementation. It proposes such dynamics as antecedents to actual HPWS in the organisation. The analyses demonstrated that team managers' value fit consistently impacts implementation behaviours, and their ability fit takes effect when it is accompanied by a high level of value fit. Most conspicuously, climate for HR implementation was found to substitute for effects of person‐HRM fit dimensions. Hence, the study articulates further what drives team managers' HR involvement, thereby unravelling intricacies inside the black box of the HPWS‐performance relationship.
Exogenous salicylic acid alleviates water stress in watermelon plants
Authors: Silva Joanderson Marques , da Silva Júnior Gabriel Barbosa , Bonifácio Aurenivia , Dutra Alexson Filgueiras , de Mello Prado Renato , de Alcântara Neto Francisco , Zuffo Alan Mario , Melo Rafael Silva , de Sousa Pereira Tássyla Lohanne , de Sousa Ricardo Silva
Published: August 2022

Salicylic acid (SA) has been considered to attenuate the effects of abiotic stresses on plants, including water deficit that intensely affects the growth and production of plants. The goal of this work was to evaluate the role of SA in the alleviation of water stress in watermelon seedlings on a morphophysiological and biochemical level. The experiment consisted of application of SA at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 μmol L−1 to leaves of watermelon seedlings grown in three levels of water retention (100%, 75% and 50% WRL). To evaluate the effect on morphophysiological and biochemical aspects, the plant height, leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, chlorophyll index, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, protein content, amino acids, proline, carbohydrates, sucrose and starch concentration variables were determined. All variables were influenced by the SA concentrations and WRL, with statistically significant interaction between these factors for all except root dry weight. SA promotes increases in the concentration of organic solutes and reduces the rate of electrolyte leakage in watermelon seedlings, thus, supporting metabolism and growth of plants under stress conditions resulting from water deficit.
Midazolam, methamphetamine, morphine and nicotine intake in high‐drinking‐in‐the‐dark mice
Authors: Savarese Antonia M. , Metten Pamela , Phillips Tamara J. , Jensen Bryan E. , Crabbe John C. , Ozburn Angela R.
Published: August 2022

The high‐drinking‐in‐the‐dark (HDID) lines of mice were selectively bred for achieving high blood alcohol levels in the drinking‐in‐the‐dark (DID) task and have served as a unique genetic risk model for binge‐like alcohol intake. However, little is known about their willingness to consume other addictive drugs. Here, we examined (a) whether the HDID‐1 and HDID‐2 lines of mice would voluntarily consume midazolam, methamphetamine, morphine and nicotine in a DID test and (b) whether the HDID lines differ from their founders, heterogeneous stock/Northport (HS/NPT), in consumption levels of these drugs at the concentrations tested. Separate groups of HDID‐1, HDID‐2 and HS/NPT mice were given 4 days of access to each drug, using the single‐bottle, limited‐access DID paradigm. Male and female mice of both HDID lines consumed all four offered drugs. We observed no genotype differences in 40 μg/ml methamphetamine intake, but significant differences in nicotine, midazolam and morphine intake. Both HDID lines drank significantly more (150 μg/ml) midazolam than their founders, providing strong support for a shared genetic contribution to binge ethanol and midazolam intake. HDID‐2 mice, but not HDID‐1 mice, consumed more morphine (700 μg/ml) and more nicotine across a range of concentrations than HS/NPT mice. These results demonstrate that the HDID mice can be utilized for tests of voluntary drug consumption other than ethanol and highlight potentially important differences between HDID lines in risk for elevated drug intake.
Skull of the Asian (Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus) and the golden (Paradoxurus Zeylonensis) palm civet: Geometric morphometric analysis using palate, tooth and frontal landmarks
Authors: Gürbüz İftar , Demiraslan Yasin , Rajapakse Channa , Weerakoon Devaka K. , Fernando Saminda , Spataru Mihaela‐Claudia , Gündemir Ozan
Published: August 2022

This study aims to determine the differences in skull between Asian and golden palm civets by geometric morphometric method. The landmarks were marked on these photographs, and principal component, classical cluster and canonical variance analyses were performed. The method of geometric morphometry of the skull is a powerful tool used to differentiate the species. Fourteen and 20 homologous landmarks were marked using tpsutil and tpsdig2 programs on the frontal and palatinal directional photographs, respectively. As a result of the study, the first principal component (PC1) accounted for 33.586% on the frontal view, 41.602% on the palatinal view of the total shape differences, respectively. Distinctive differences on the frontal and palatinal view were observed in the caudal, rostrolateral and the last molars and the caudal palatine, respectively.
Effect of ambient temperature on average daily gain of pigs evaluated using public weather data and a plateau‐linear regression model
Authors: Ogawa Shinichiro , Ohnishi Chika , Satoh Masahiro
Published: August 2022

We performed a plateau‐linear regression model analysis of the average daily gain (ADG) of pigs on daily average temperature at the end of performance testing (T). Records for performance testing between 30 kg and 105 kg of 2268 purebred Duroc pigs raised at the National Livestock Breeding Center Miyazaki Station were used. Off‐farm ambient temperatures were measured at the nearest Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System station at Kobayashi, Miyazaki (Kobayashi station). A plateau‐linear regression equation was obtained in which ADG decreased by 12.6 g for every 1°C when T > 21.1°C. We calculated the expected age in day at the end of testing (D105) using the regression equation obtained and T observed at the Kobayashi station in 2020. The number of days that D105 was prolonged due to higher T was 125 days, corresponding to approximately one third of the year. These results could contribute to planning and management of stable pork production in response to heat in Japan.
Pharmacology, particle deposition and drug administration techniques of intranasal corticosteroids for treating allergic rhinitis
Authors: Rollema Corine , van Roon Eric N. , van Boven Job F. M. , Hagedoorn Paul , Klemmeier Titia , Kocks Janwillem H. , Metting Esther I. , Oude Elberink Hanneke N. G. , Peters Thomas T. A. , San Giorgi Michel R. M. , de Vries Tjalling W.
Published: August 2022

This review presents an overview of the available literature regarding intranasal corticosteroids (INCs) for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). Various treatment options exist for AR including INCs, antihistamines and leucotriene antagonists. INCs are considered to be the most effective therapy for moderate‐to‐severe AR, as they are effective against nasal and ocular symptoms and improve quality of life. Their safety has been widely observed. INCs are effective and safe for short‐term use. Local adverse events are observed but generally well‐tolerated. The occurrence of (serious) systemic adverse events is unlikely but cannot be ruled out. There is a lack of long‐term safety data. INC may cause serious eye complications. The risk of INCs on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, on bone mineral density reduction or osteoporosis and on growth in children, should be considered during treatment. Pharmacological characteristics of INCs (e.g. the mode of action and pharmacokinetics) are well known and described. We sought to gain insight into whether specific properties affect the efficacy and safety of INCs, including nasal particle deposition, which the administration technique affects. However, advances are lacking regarding the improved understanding of the effect of particle deposition on efficacy and safety and the effect of the administration technique. This review emphasizes the gaps in knowledge regarding this subject. Advances in research and health care are necessary to improve care for patients with AR.
Sex differences in theory of mind: The on‐average female advantage on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test
Authors: Baron‐Cohen Simon , Radecki Marcin A. , Greenberg David M. , Warrier Varun , Holt Rosemary J. , Allison Carrie
Published: August 2022

This commentary is on the original article by Dorris et al. on pages 1524–1531 of this issue.
Subgroup mining for performance analysis of regression models
Authors: Pimentel João , Azevedo Paulo J. , Torgo Luís
Published: August 2022

Machine learning algorithms have shown several advantages compared to humans, namely in terms of the scale of data that can be analysed, delivering high speed and precision. However, it is not always possible to understand how algorithms work. As a result of the complexity of some algorithms, users started to feel the need to ask for explanations, boosting the relevance of Explainable Artificial Intelligence. This field aims to explain and interpret models with the use of specific analytical methods that usually analyse how their predicted values and/or errors behave. While prediction analysis is widely studied, performance analysis has limitations for regression models. This paper proposes a rule‐based approach, Error Distribution Rules (EDRs), to uncover atypical error regions, while considering multivariate feature interactions without size restrictions. Extracting EDRs is a form of subgroup mining. EDRs are model agnostic and a drill‐down technique to evaluate regression models, which consider multivariate interactions between predictors. EDRs uncover regions of the input space with deviating performance providing an interpretable description of these regions. They can be regarded as a complementary tool to the standard reporting of the expected average predictive performance. Moreover, by providing interpretable descriptions of these specific regions, EDRs allow end users to understand the dangers of using regression tools for some specific cases that fall on these regions, thaṯ is, they improve the accountability of models. The performance of several models from different problems was studied, showing that our proposal allows the analysis of many situations and direct model comparison. In order to facilitate the examination of rules, two visualization tools based on boxplots and density plots were implemented. A network visualization tool is also provided to rapidly check interactions of every feature condition. An additional tool is provided by using a grid of boxplots, where comparison between quartiles of every distribution with a reference is performed. Based on this comparison, an extrapolation of counterfactual examples to regression was also implemented. A set of examples is described, including a setting where regression models performance is compared in detail using EDRs. Specifically, the error difference between two models in a dataset is studied by deriving rules highlighting regions of the input space where model performance difference is unexpected. The application of visual tools is illustrated using EDRs examples derived from public available datasets. Also, case studies illustrating the specialization of subgroups, identification of counter factual subgroups and detecting unanticipated complex models are presented. This paper extends the state of the art by providing a method to derive explanations for model performance instead of explanations for model predictions.
Experimental and computational investigation of fretting fatigue characterized by nominal contact pressure in dovetail structures
Authors: Guo Kaiwen , Li Jia , Cao Hang , Yuan Huang
Published: August 2022

The present work is aimed at establishing an engineering design method for fretting fatigue based on experimental and computational investigation of dovetail structures made of nickel‐based superalloy. Severe stress gradients and surface wear damage make fretting fatigue difficult to be assessed based on conventional fatigue life models. With the help of detailed experimental investigations and finite element computations, a fretting fatigue life model based on the nominal pressure on the dovetail contact surfaces was related to the nonlocal multiaxial fatigue analysis. The derived fretting design method based on the nominal pressure shows a life prediction distribution within the double‐scatter band and agrees with experiments fairly well. The present model provides an efficient and easy‐to‐use design method for engineering applications.
Legal land transfer rights, labor migration and urban–rural income disparity: Evidence from the implementation of China's Rural Land Contracting Law in 2003
Authors: Xie Dongshui , Bai Caiquan , Yan Hong , Song Weixuan
Published: August 2022

Legal land transfer rights are the core of farmers' land property rights. This paper examines the urban‐rural income distribution effect of legal land transfer rights, revealing the reasons and mechanisms for legal land transfer rights to reduce the urban‐rural income disparity. Theoretical analysis shows that granting farmers legal land transfer rights and enhancing the protection of land transfer rights can help promote rural labor migration, thereby reducing the urban‐rural income disparity. This study uses panel data of prefecture‐level and above cities in China from 1999 to 2008 to examine the implementation of China's Rural Land Contracting Law in 2003 as a quasi‐natural experiment to construct a difference‐in‐differences (DID) model for the empirical test. The findings reveal that legal land transfer rights can effectively promote rural labor migration and reduce the urban‐rural income disparity due to labor migration. This paper's analysis provides a perspective for understanding the integrated development of urban and rural areas in developing countries. It indicates that guaranteeing farmers' land transfer rights is important for reducing urban‐rural income disparity, leading to urban‐rural integrated development.
A Generic Closed‐Loop Contaminant Treatment System Package for MODFLOW 6
Authors: White Jeremy T. , Ewing John E. , Ruskauff Greg , Rashid Helal
Published: August 2022

We present a contaminant treatment system (CTS) package for MODFLOW 6 that facilitates the simulation of pump‐and‐treat systems for groundwater remediation. Using the “nonintrusive” MODFLOW 6 application programming interface (API) capability, the CTS package can balance flows between extraction and injection wells within the outer flow solution loop and applies blended concentration/mass treatment efficiency within the outer transport solution loop. The former can be important when the requested extraction rate cannot be satisfied by the current simulated groundwater system conditions, while the latter can be important for simulating incomplete/imperfect treatment schemes. Furthermore, the CTS package allows users to temporally vary all aspects of a simulated CTS system, including the configuration and location of injection and extraction wells, and the CTS efficiency. This flexibility combined with the API‐based implementation provide a generic and general CTS package that can be applied across the wide range of MODFLOW 6 simulation options and that evolves in step with MODFLOW 6 code modifications and advancements without needing to update the CTS package itself.
Efficacy of 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash as an adjunct to toothbrushing compared with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash in reducing dental plaque and gingival inflammation: A randomized control trial
Authors: Oo Mon Mon Tin , Oo Phyoe Htut , Saddki Norkhafizah
Published: August 2022

Objectives

This study determined the efficacy of alcohol‐free 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash as an adjunct to twice‐daily toothbrushing in comparison with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) mouthwash and a placebo in reducing plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation. The side effects of the mouthwashes were also determined.

Materials and Methods

A double‐blind, parallel, randomized control trial was conducted with 219 university students who were divided into three trial groups using block randomization: CPC, CHX and placebo groups. Clinical oral examinations to assess dental plaque accumulation (modified Quigley‐Hein Plaque Index), gingival health (Löe and Silness Gingival Index) and tooth staining (modified Lobene Stain Index) were performed at baseline and at 6 weeks.

Results

Plaque and gingivitis scores were not significantly different among participants at baseline. After 6 weeks, plaque and gingivitis scores between the CPC and placebo groups and between the CHX and placebo groups were found to be significantly different. However, there was no significant difference between the CPC and CHX groups. The staining scores of participants in the CPC group were lower than those in the CHX group, but the difference was not significant. Taste alteration and numbness were more common among participants in the CHX group than in the CPC group. No significant difference in the perception of a burning sensation was observed.

Conclusions

The 0.05% CPC mouthwash was as efficient as 0.12% CHX mouthwash in reducing dental plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation with fewer side effects, supporting its use as an adjunct to toothbrushing.
Regenerative endodontic therapy for external inflammatory lateral resorption following traumatic dental injuries: Evidence assessment of best practices
Authors: Lin Shaul , Moreinos Daniel , Wisblech Dekel , Rotstein Ilan
Published: August 2022

Background

External inflammatory lateral resorption (EILR) following dental trauma is a severe complication that can lead to significant root loss and tooth extraction.

Objective

The aim of this project was to review current evidence in the literature on regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) for EILR following traumatic injuries and assess the best treatment practices.

Methods

Publications appearing in PubMed, from January 1, 2001 to January 9, 2022 were studied. Inclusion criteria were: (a) Publications in English; (b) Publications on RET and EILR; (c) Teeth subjected to dental trauma; and (d) Presence of intracanal bleeding and blood clots. Exclusion criteria were: (a) Conference proceedings; (b) Lectures; (c) Abstracts; and (d) Letters to editor; (e) Non‐English publications.

Results

355 publications were analysed. Nine met all inclusion criteria. In 10 (58.8%) teeth, triple antibiotic paste was used for an average of 26 days. Double antibiotic paste was used in 3 (17.6%) teeth for an average of 14 days. In 3 (17.6%) cases, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) was used for 14 days and negative pressure irrigation was applied once on 1 (6%) tooth.

Discussion

Using RET to treat EILR has some advantages compared to long term CA(OH)2 dressing. RET requires shorter dressing time compared to CA(OH)2. This can significantly improve patient compliance. Additionally, in immature teeth, RET helps to arrest root resorption leading to continued root maturogenesis and revascularization. It is recommended that a meticulous follow‐up should be conducted when RET is performed to assure early detection of treatment failure.

Conclusions

RET appears to be a good treatment modality producing biologic repair and improving prognosis in cases of EILR in post‐traumatic tooth/pulp injuries. The key limitation of this study is that all publications included were either case reports or case series that usually tend to report successful outcome.
Emerging non‐thermal technologies for enhanced quality and safety of fruit juices
Authors: Nonglait Donald Lyngdoh , Chukkan Salman M. , Arya S. S. , Bhat Mohmad Sayeed , Waghmare Roji
Published: August 2022

The importance of healthy foods has widely grown with consumers' rising demand and is an excellent area of interest for the food industry to improve global health status and provide sustainable economic prosperity. Fruit juices are immunity‐boosting foods loaded with bio‐actives, offering functional and physiological benefits. While fruit juice processing is a crucial determiner of juice quality, the employed technologies should meet the global sustainable development goals. This fact has elevated the emergence of innovative minimal‐processing techniques. These technologies aim at retaining phytochemicals and nutrients while destroying pathogenic microorganisms and deactivating enzymatic activity, thereby extending the shelf‐life of fruit juices.
Analyses of operative time according to procedure phases during robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using the iPhone application “My Intuitives”
Authors: Takagi Toshio , Yoshida Kazuhiko , Fukuda Hironori , Kobari Yuki , Iizuka Junpei
Published: August 2022

Purpose

We investigated operative time according to procedure phases in robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and identify variables associated with longer operative time in each procedure phase.

Methods

This retrospective, single‐center study included 108 patients who underwent RAPN conducted by an experienced surgeon. Operative time was divided into dissection, resection, tumor bed suture, and renorrhaphy and hemostasis phases, which were derived from the iPhone application “My Intuitives.” Multivariate analyses were performed to identify possible predictors such as sex, body mass index, tumor complexity, and surgical approach for longer operative time in each phase.

Results

The median console time was 65 min, and median operative times in dissection, resection, tumor bed suture, and renorrhaphy and hemostasis phases were 41, 8, 9, and 8 min, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, longer console time was observed in high complexity tumors (vs. low, OR: 8.01, 95% CI: 1.94–33.0) and transperitoneal approach (vs. retroperitoneal approach, OR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.94–33.0). High complexity tumors were significantly associated with longer operative time in all procedure phases, and the male sex was associated with a longer operative time in the dissection phase than the female sex (OR: 3.61, 95% CI: 1.18–11.0).

Conclusion

The identified significant predictive factors associated with longer operative time were the male sex and high complexity in the dissection phase, high complexity in the resection phase, in the tumor bed suture phase as well as in the renorrhaphy and hemostasis phase. These findings may help to predict the difficulty of performing RAPN in terms of operative time.
Science Communication, Cultural Cognition, and the Pull of Epistemic Paternalism
Authors: Davies Alex
Published: August 2022

There is a correlation between positions taken on some scientific questions and political leaning. One way to explain this correlation is the cultural cognition hypothesis (CCH): people's political leanings are causing them to process evidence to maintain fixed answers to the questions, rather than to seek the truth. Another way is the different background belief hypothesis (DBBH): people of different political leanings have different background beliefs which rationalize different positions on these scientific questions. In this article, I argue for two things. I argue that two attempts by proponents of the CCH to discredit the DBBH fail. And I argue that this matters, because while the CCH makes epistemic paternalistic interventions seem called for (as some philosophers have argued compellingly), the DBBH does not. The DBBH makes it much easier to stay closer to an ideal of deliberative democracy.
Modelling urban sewer flooding and quantitative microbial risk assessment: A critical review
Authors: Addison‐Atkinson William , Chen Albert S. , Memon Fayyaz A. , Chang Tsang‐Jung
Published: August 2022

Modelling urban inundation and its associated health implications is numerous in its many applications. Flood modelling research contains a broad wealth of material, and microbial risk assessment has gained more popularity over the last decade. However, there is still a relative lack of understanding of how the microbial risk can be quantified from urban sewer flooding. This article intends to review the literature encompassing contemporary urban flood modelling approaches. Hydrodynamic and microbial models that can be applied for quantitative microbial risk assessment will be discussed. Consequently, urban sewer flooding will be the focus. This review found that the literature contains a variety of different hazards posed by urban flooding. Yet, far fewer examples encompass microbial risk from sewer system exceedance. To date, there is no evidence of a perfect model or technique, to carry out a quantitative microbial risk assessment from hydrodynamic simulations. The literature details many different methods. We intend to detail the advantages and limitations of each method. Along similar lines, hydraulic data constitutes a large part of the uncertainty which is inherent to this research field. Many studies in the literature detail data paucity and uncertainty in input data. As such, any advancement in this discipline will very likely aid future research.
Impact of nursing home‐acquired pneumonia on the domains of the novel construct of intrinsic capacity: The INCUR study
Authors: Sánchez‐Sánchez Juan Luis , Rolland Yves , Cesari Matteo , de Souto Barreto Philipe
Published: August 2022

Background

Nursing home‐acquired pneumonia (NHAP) and related hospitalizations might lead to abrupt functional declines, especially among nursing home residents. Intrinsic capacity is a novel construct proposed by the World Health Organization specifically designed to capture the physical and cognitive capacities of the aging individual to design personalized interventions. This study aimed to investigate the associations of NHAP and related hospitalizations with several intrinsic capacity domains among nursing home residents.

Methods

We used data from the INCUR study (n = 754; mean age = 86.1 ± 7.4; 75.2% female). Four intrinsic capacity domains were assessed through the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB, locomotion), Abbreviated Mental Test (cognition), 10‐items Geriatric Depression scale (GDS‐10, mood), the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment Short‐Form (vitality) at three time‐points along 1‐year. Linear mixed models were used to analyze longitudinal evolution in the intrinsic capacity domains according to NHAP diagnosis and hospitalization.

Results

A total of 161 (21.4%) were diagnosed with NHAP, and 46 of them (28.6%) required hospitalization. NHAP was significantly associated with declines in the intrinsic capacity vitality domain (β = −0.51; 95% CI −0.84; −0.18). The association was also found for NHAP‐related hospitalization (β = −0.97; 95% CI −1.46; −0.48). NHAP‐related hospitalization was also associated with worsening in the psychological domain (β = 0.56; 95% CI 0.08; 1.04). No other significant associations were found.

Conclusions

NHAP and related hospitalization are associated with the deterioration of intrinsic capacity vitality and psychology domains. Prevention of pneumonia may result in better functional evolution in very old and vulnerable nursing home residents.
Gettingrealabout consumer poverty: Deep processes for transformative action
Authors: Hutton Martina , Corus Canan , Dorsey Joshua , Minton Elizabeth , Roux Caroline , Blocker Christopher P. , Zhang Jonathan Z.
Published: August 2022

To uncover pathways for understanding and alleviating poverty, this paper offers an alternative approach for examining the real and unseen processes ofdestitutionandin‐work povertywhich shape the lives of consumers. We apply a critical realist paradigm structured around three core tenets—stratified realities,complex causationsandgenerative structures—to surface the nuanced complexities of these issues. A critical realist lens encourages impact by focusing on the deep causes of enduring social problems and provides transformative consumer research scholars with an integrative way to work toward transformative policy action.
The Anatomy of the Transmission of Macroprudential Policies
Authors: ACHARYA VIRAL V. , BERGANT KATHARINA , CROSIGNANI MATTEO , EISERT TIM , MCCANN FERGAL
Published: August 2022

We analyze how regulatory constraints on household leverage—in the form of loan‐to‐income and loan‐to‐value limits—affect residential mortgage credit and house prices as well as other asset classes not directly targeted by the limits. Loan‐level data suggest that mortgage credit is reallocated from low‐ to high‐income borrowers and from urban to rural counties. This reallocation weakens the feedback between credit and house prices and slows house price growth in “hot” housing markets. Banks whose lending to households is more affected by the regulatory constraint drive this reallocation, but also substitute their risk‐taking into holdings of securities and corporate credit.
The impact of expectancy on the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for postprandial distress syndrome: Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Qi Ling‐Yu , Yan Shi‐Yan , Yang Jing‐Wen , Liu Cun‐Zhi
Published: August 2022

Background

Expectancy is an important source of the placebo effect. However, it is unclear whether this has an effect on the efficacy of acupuncture and sham acupuncture in the treatment of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS).

Aim

To evaluate the effects of high expectancy (HE) and low expectancy (LE) on the efficacy of acupuncture and sham acupuncture in the treatment of PDS.

Methods

This post hoc secondary analysis used data from our previous randomized controlled trial. Patients were, respectively, enrolled in the HE group and LE group according to expectancy assessments. The composite primary outcomes were the response rate and the elimination rate after 4 weeks of treatment. Expectancy was considered a factor affecting the efficacy of acupuncture treatment only if both primary outcomes achieved significance.

Results

For the acupuncture group, the response rate was 84.5% in the HE group and 78.8% in the LE group (p = 0.458), and the elimination rate was 32.1% in the HE group and 21.2% in the LE group (p = 0.241). For the sham acupuncture group, the response rate at week 4 was 52.3% in the HE group and 53.1% in the LE group (p = 0.936), and the elimination rate at week 4 was 23.1% in the HE group and 10.6% in the LE group (p = 0.090).

Conclusion

In this study, the response rate and elimination rate were higher in the high‐expectancy group, but no conclusive evidence was found for an association between expectancy and the efficacy of acupuncture and sham acupuncture.
The association among eHealth literacy, depressive symptoms and health‐related quality of life among older people: A cross‐section study
Authors: Zhu Xinhong , Yang Fen
Published: August 2022

Background

eHealth literacy can facilitate the uptake of benefits of health for older persons. The aim of this study was to examine the association of eHealth literacy with depression, health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) among older persons.

Methods

A survey of 6183 participants (aged 60 years and above) from 17 communities was conducted in June 2019. Participants answered questions related to basic information, eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS), geriatric depression scale and the short‐form health survey (SF‐36). Mediation model and a linear regression analysis were performed to explore the association between the eHEALS scores and related factors.

Results

The mean score of eHEALS was 21.17 (SD = 8.25). eHEALS was significant higher in men, those with living in the city, those with high educated and stable income and those with living with children, as compared to their counterparts, respectively. Moreover, chronic diseases and depressive symptoms negatively associated with eHEALS, while actively obtaining health information and physical activity positively influenced eHEALS. Furthermore, depressive symptoms had direct and indirect effects on HRQoL, as mediated by eHealth literacy.

Conclusions

The eHEALS acts as a mediator between depressive symptoms and HRQoL. As eHealth literacy is a protector for older people, efforts to improve the older persons' eHealth literacy could help to maintain health status. Therefore, healthcare providers formulate effective programs to improve eHealth literacy for older persons, which can bring benefits for health ageing.
Ultrasonographic diagnosis of adhesions, quantification of uterine wall and managerial perspectives of uterine torsion in buffaloes
Authors: Sutaria Tarunkumar Virabhai , Chaudhari Ravjibhai Karshanbhai , Sutaria Prajwalita Tarunkumar
Published: August 2022

The present study aimed to diagnose uterine adhesion using ultrasonography to decide the treatment approach for better survival of buffaloes suffering from uterine torsion. The peculiar visceral slide against the other abdominal organs induced by breathing was considered an absence of uterine adhesion, while the total absence of visceral slide was considered the presence of uterine adhesions on ultrasonographic examination. The 59 Mehsana buffaloes suffering from uterine torsion were divided into two groups based on the presence (Group I; n = 27) or absence (group II; n = 32) of adhesions. The mean pixel values (MPV) and thickness of uterine wall were also quantified in both the groups. In group I, severe type adhesions (n = 16/27) were directly subjected to caesarean section (CS), while fibrinous adhesions (n = 11/27) were subject to rolling by Sharma's modified Schaffer's method, and if rolling failed were further, subjected to CS and adhesions were confirm during CS. In Group II, 28 buffaloes were subjected to rolling by Sharma's modified Schaffer's method and 4 buffaloes were directly subjected to CS because of longer duration of illness (≥3 days), higher degree (≥180°) and previous field handling. The incidence of adhesions was 45.76 per cent (27/59) in buffaloes with uterine torsion. The degenerative changes such as oedematous (hyperoedema—hypoechoic with anechoic trabeculae) or thin (homogenous hypoechoic), sloughing of serosa and wall separation were observed in the uterine wall. The significantly thinner uterine wall (p = .017) and higher MPV (p = .001) were evident in group I than in group II. The weak negative non‐significant correlation between uterine wall thickness and MPV was observed in group I (r = −.250, p = .147) and group II (r = −.235, p = .089). The dam survival rate was 48.15 per cent (13/27) in group I and 81.25% (26/32) in group II. There was a significant (p = .04) association between the treatment approach and dam survival. Ultrasonography has synergistic diagnostic value for uterine adhesions by evaluating uterine surfaces beyond the reach of obstetricians during a manual clinical examination. Thereby, avoiding futile efforts to relieve uterine torsion by rolling might help to improve dam survival by planning a better obstetrical manoeuvre to salvage buffaloes suffering from uterine torsion.
Innovative tidal control successfully promotes saltmarsh restoration
Authors: Rankin Caleb , Gaston Troy , Sadat‐Noori Mahmood , Glamore William , Morton Jason , Chalmers Anita
Published: August 2022

The reduction of saltmarsh habitat at a global scale has seen a concomitant loss of associated ecosystem services. As such, there is a need and a push for habitat rehabilitation. This study examined an innovative saltmarsh restoration project in Australia which sought to address the threats of mangrove encroachment and sea level rise. The project was implemented in 2017, using automated hydraulic control gates, termed “SmartGates,” to lower the tidal regime over one site, effectively reversing sea level rise at a local level. Measured indicators of saltmarsh cover, number of species, seedling counts, and saltmarsh assemblages all showed significant positive development over time, with trends varying based on saltmarsh zone. The saltmarsh, predominantly Sarcocornia quinqueflora, developed from remnant supralittoral (previously high) marsh which remained at 45% cover to achieve over 15% coverage across the cleared habitat after 3 years. Slower development in the low marsh (<5%) compared to other zones contrasts with other saltmarsh restoration studies which may be due to the unique nature of the restoration method or the nature of Australian saltmarsh species which favor higher elevations and drier conditions. The development of saltmarsh at the treatment site was found to track toward that at comparison sites over time, becoming similar to some comparison sites by the studies end. This study highlights the usefulness of the novel restoration method used and of the measured indicators for assessing saltmarsh development. This innovative tidal control method could play an important role in the future of saltmarsh restoration worldwide.
Distance distributions and inverse problems for metric measure spaces
Authors: Mémoli Facundo , Needham Tom
Published: August 2022

Applications in data science, shape analysis, and object classification frequently require comparison of probability distributions defined on different ambient spaces. To accomplish this, one requires a notion of distance on a given class of metric measure spaces—that is, compact metric spaces endowed with probability measures. Such distances are typically defined as comparisons between metric measure space invariants, such as distance distributions (also referred to as shape distributions, distance histograms, or shape contexts in the literature). Generally, distances defined in terms of distance distributions are actually pseudometrics, in that they may vanish when comparing nonisomorphic spaces. The goal of this paper is to set up a formal framework for assessing the discrimininative power of distance distributions, that is, the extent to which these pseudometrics fail to define proper metrics. We formulate several precise inverse problems in terms of these invariants and answer them in several categories of metric measure spaces, including the category of plane curves, where we give a counterexample to the curve histogram conjecture of Brinkman and Olver, the categories of embedded and Riemannian manifolds, where we obtain sphere rigidity results, and the category of metric graphs, where we obtain a local injectivity result along the lines of classical work of Boutin and Kemper on point cloud configurations. The inverse problems are further contextualized by the introduction of a variant of the Gromov–Wasserstein distance on the space of metric measure spaces, which is inspired by the original Monge formulation of optimal transport.
Gender and craft drinks
Authors: Thurnell‐Read Thomas
Published: August 2022

While it is well established that alcohol consumption is a gendered practice, the supposedly more progressive ethos of the emerging craft drinks sector suggests the possibility for great gender equality. However, as a growing body of research shows, craft drinks cultures, and that of craft beer in particular, remain heavily gendered with a number of features working to establish and maintain both the consumption and production of craft drinks as a masculine domain. In relation to consumption, research shows that assumptions about tastes and style preferences are informed by gender stereotypes, whilst branding and marketing of craft drinks products have drawn heavily on sexist imagery. The physical spaces of craft drinks consumption, such as beer festivals, brewpubs and taprooms, are heavily masculinised spaces. Similarly, the production of craft drinks is framed with reference to masculinity and imagery and language used reinforces a gendered hierarchy where female workers in the sector receive less recognition and validation. However, recent changes are noted, with a range of both online and offline initiatives seeking to empower female workers in the craft drink sector whilst challenging entrenched sexist prejudices.
A deep learning‐based SAR image change detection using spatial intuitionistic fuzzy C‐means clustering
Authors: Ghosh Chanchal , Majumdar Dipankar , Mondal Bikromadittya
Published: August 2022

With the rapid progress of technologies in the arena of remote sensing and satellite imagery, Synthetic Aperture Rader (SAR) images have become an important source of data for research concerning changed detection. Out of the numerous techniques and approaches available for change detection in a particular location, most of them are initially targeted toward producing the difference image. In this article, a change detection approach is suggested that produces the result without finding a difference image. We are motivated toward the design of such an approach to reduce the effect of the difference image. In this method, we generate the training and testing sample for CNN classification directly from the original SAR image without any pre‐processing operations. This reduces the effect of the difference image on the final classification result. Since traditional fuzzy c means (FCM) are highly susceptible to noise and do not give desired results, we use spatial fuzzy c means (sFCM) with an intuitionistic approach. The intuitionistic approach refers to the degree of hesitation resulting from a lack of information. The approach is less hampered by noise and yields better outcomes. The basic idea of this method is to find false levels using spatial intuitionistic fuzzy c means clustering. Thereafter, the CNN is trained using the samples that are selected from the original samples using false labels. Finally, the classification results are generated through the trained CNN. Investigational results using the proposed approach show promising results when applied over two SAR image datasets compared to several existing methodologies.
Individual and environmental determinants of serum ferritin levels: A structural equation model
Authors: Vinkenoog Marieke , de Groot Rosa , Lakerveld Jeroen , Janssen Mart , van den Hurk Katja
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives

Serum ferritin levels are increasingly being used to assess iron stores. Considerable variation in ferritin levels within and between individuals has been observed, but our current understanding of factors that explain this variation is far from complete. We aim to combine multiple potential determinants in an integrative model, and investigate their relative importance and potential interactions.

Methods

We use ferritin measurements collected by Sanquin Blood Bank on both prospective (N = 59 596) and active blood donors (N = 78 318) to fit a structural equation model with three latent constructs (individual characteristics, donation history, and environmental factors). Parameters were estimated separately by sex and donor status.

Results

The model explained 25% of ferritin variance in prospective donors, and 40% in active donors. Individual characteristics and donation history were the most important determinants of ferritin levels in active donors. The association between environmental factors and ferritin was smaller but still substantial; higher exposure to air pollution was associated with higher ferritin levels, and this association was considerably stronger for active blood donors than for prospective donors.

Discussion

In active donors, individual characteristics explain 20% (17%) of ferritin variation, donation history explains 14% (25%) and environmental factors explain 5% (4%) for women (men). Our model presents known ferritin determinants in a broader perspective, allowing for comparison with other determinants as well as between new and active donors, or between men and women.
Contemporary Photography in France
Authors: Smith Olga
Published: August 2022

This compelling publication traces the broad arc of photography’s development in France from the 1970s to the present day. A decade-by-decade account reveals unexpected points of convergence between practices that are not usually considered in a comparative perspective. These include photographic practices in contemporary art, documentary, photojournalism, and fashion. Author Olga Smith sets these practices in dialogue with French philosophy – the writings of Roland Barthes, Jean Baudrillard, and Jacques Rancière – to produce an innovative study of the intersections between the photographic image, text, practice, and theory. This analysis is guided by an understanding of photography as deeply engaged with historical, cultural, and intellectual events that defined French national experience in the contemporary period. Landscape provides a particular focus to study issues of key significance, including national identification, colonial past, legacies of modernization and environmental breakdown.
Estacionamiento y uso de suelo. Requerimientos normativos en un desarrollo comercial de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
Authors: García Moreno Gabriel
Published: August 2022

A poco más de cien años de la introducción del automóvil en las ciudades se desconocen aún muchos de sus impactos. En este estudio se pretende abordar las implicaciones que tiene el almacenamiento de los vehículos sobre la intensidad de uso de suelo urbano, a partir del análisis de un desarrollo comercial en una zona céntrica de alta plusvalía en una ciudad fronteriza de México y de la normativa aplicable en materia urbana. Con esto se busca aportar datos para demostrar la relación que existe entre el espacio destinado a estacionamiento de automóviles y el modelo de ciudad dispersa a partir de normativas locales de carácter arquitectónico y urbano.