bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parents’ self-concept clarity, marital satisfaction and parent-child relationship quality: Actor-partner interdependence analyses
Authors: Jia Yifan , Dai Qingmei , Deng Xiaoyu , Liu Xuelan
Published: May 2022

The family can be viewed as an integrated system consisting of interdependent subsystems, among which marital and parent–child subsystems are critical for family functioning. Given the dominance of parents in the family, it is important to investigate the associations between parents’ characteristics and these two subsystems. In addition, researchers have found a unidirectional effect of parents’ self-concept clarity on their children’s self-concept clarity. Exploring whether and how parents’ self-concept clarity is related to family relationships may provide insight into this intergenerational transmission since the family plays an important role in the development of children’s self-concept. Taken together, the main aim of this study was to examine the links across parents’ self-concept clarity and marital and parent–child relationships. A total of 363 Chinese parental dyads of primary and secondary students completed the self-concept clarity, relationship assessment, and child–parent relationship scales, and the data were analyzed by adopting the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) and the actor–partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM). The APIM results indicated significant positive associations between parents’ self-concept clarity and parent–child relationship quality perceived by the parents (actor effects) and their partners (partner effects). The APIMeM results showed that fathers’ marital satisfaction partially mediated the actor effects from parents’ self-concept clarity to parent–child relationship quality. Moreover, after controlling for covariates (e.g., family income), parents’ self-concept clarity had significant indirect partner effects on parent–child relationship quality mediated completely via fathers’ marital satisfaction. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of family system processes and the intergenerational transmission of self-concept clarity and have implications for family interventions.
Arup’s Knowledge & Information Handbook: A case study in knowledge management good practice
Authors: Poole-Avery Dominique
Published: May 2022

A case study exploring the development of Arup’s Knowledge & Information Handbook. A digital guide to support our global organisation in making the best use of our systems, tools, and knowledge sharing resources to provide access to the right knowledge, information and people at the point of need to improve the quality and efficiency of our work. The Handbook provides practical guidance to those tools and resources, it sets out when and how to use them, and gives real life examples of the benefits using the tools has delivered - how they helped save time, fostered collaboration, and improved the quality of our work. Adoption of these resources make us more effective in our day-to-day work and enable us to store and share our own and each other’s knowledge for the overall benefit of Arup and our clients.
A five-parameter score for predicting saphenous vein graft degenerative and/or occlusive disease in recurring ischemic symptoms after one year post coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Li Xiao-Wei , Cui Zhuang , Xiao Jian-Yong , Gao Ming-Dong , Zhang Mei , Zhang Wen-Juan , Tian Feng-Shi , Song Yu , Liu Ying-Wu , Yao Zhu-Hua , Ma Jun , Liu Yin , Gao Jing
Published: May 2022

Background:

The recurrence rate of ischemic symptoms after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is increasing in recent years. How to prevent and treat saphenous vein graft disease (SVGD [symptomatic ⩾50% stenosis in at least one Saphenous vein graft]) has been a clinical challenge to date. Different pathogenesis may exist in SVGD of different periods. There are currently few available scores for estimating the risk of SVGD after one year post CABG.

Objective:

We sought to develop and validate a simple predictive clinical risk score for SVGD with recurring ischemia after one year post CABG.

Methods and Results:

This was a cross-sectional study and the results were validated using bootstrap resampling on a separate cohort. A nomogram and risk scoring system were developed based on retrospective data from a training cohort of 606 consecutive patients with recurring ischemia >1 year after CABG. Logistic regression model was used to find the predictive factors and to build a nomogram. To assess the generalization, models were validated using bootstrap resampling and an external cross-sectional study of 187 consecutive patients in four other hospitals. In multivariable analysis of the primary cohort, native lesion vessel number, SVG age, recurring ischemia type, very low-density lipoprotein level, and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were independent predictors. A summary risk score was derived from nomogram, with a cut-off value of 15. In internal and external validation, the C-index was 0.86 and 0.82, indicating good discrimination. The calibration curve for probability of SVGD showed optimal agreement between actual observations and risk score prediction.

Conclusion:

A simple-to-use risk scoring system based on five easily variables was developed and validated to predict the risk of SVGD among patients who recurring ischemia after one year post CABG. This score may be useful for providing patients with individualized estimates of SVGD risk.
Duplicated inferior vena cava, the uncommon cause of decreasing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation blood flow: A case report and review
Authors: Kowiwattanakarn Siriporn , Bhurayanontachai Rungsun
Published: May 2022

Duplicated inferior vena cava (DIVC) is a rare anomaly of the venous system, which is mostly found accidentally during intra-abdominal surgery and radiographic study. This anomaly is asymptomatic but may be related to venous thromboembolism in some patients. We present a case of a patient who had inadequate drainage for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which was found to be related to duplicated inferior vena cava.
The role of the private sector in subnational governance: Learning lessons from England’s local enterprise partnerships
Authors: Newman Jack , Gilbert Nigel
Published: May 2022

This paper seeks to learn lessons about the role of the private sector in subnational governance by analysing the UK’s Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The paper outlines the public justifications for LEPs using documentary analysis, and then considers these against findings from interviews and network analysis, concluding that the justifications are problematic. LEPs were established on the assumption that civic and business leaders needed to be brought together in business-led institutions. However, network analysis shows most civic leaders also hold private sector roles, undermining the assumed need for a ‘bringing together’. Three further justifications of the LEP model are also challenged. Firstly, business leaders were supposed to enable knowledge flows, but analysis shows that this knowledge is skewed by unrepresentative LEP boards. Secondly, it was assumed that LEPs would catalyse networks, but the networks have been built around individual interests, without transparency. Finally, LEPs were meant to mirror business structures, but this has undermined democratic accountability. Taken together, these findings suggest that the creation of LEPs has attempted to solve the wrong problem in the wrong way. The paper concludes by proposing guiding principles for the role of the private sector in the Levelling Up agenda: representation, transparency and accountability.
Emotional faces processing in major depressive disorder and prediction of antidepressant treatment response: A NeuroPharm study
Authors: Fisher Patrick M , Ozenne Brice , Ganz Melanie , Frokjaer Vibe G , Dam Vibeke NH , Penninx Brenda WJH , Sankar Anajli , Miskowiak Kamilla , Jensen Peter S , Knudsen Gitte M , Jorgensen Martin B
Published: May 2022

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent neuropsychiatric illness for which it is important to resolve underlying brain mechanisms. Current treatments are often unsuccessful, precipitating a need to identify predictive markers.

Aim:

We evaluated (1) alterations in brain responses to an emotional faces functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in individuals with MDD, compared to controls, (2) whether pretreatment brain responses predicted antidepressant treatment response, and (3) pre–post change in brain responses following treatment.

Methods:

Eighty-nine medication-free, depressed individuals and 115 healthy controls completed the fMRI paradigm. Depressed individuals completed a nonrandomized, open-label, 8-week treatment with escitalopram, including the option to switch to duloxetine after 4 weeks. We examined patient–control group differences in regional fMRI responses at baseline, whether baseline fMRI responses predicted treatment response at 8 weeks, including early life stress moderating effects, and change in fMRI responses in 36 depressed individuals rescanned following 8 weeks of treatment.

Results:

Task reaction time was 5% slower in patients. Multiple brain regions showed significant task-related responses, but we observed no statistically significant patient–control group differences (Cohen’s d < 0.35). Patient pretreatment brain responses did not predict antidepressant treatment response (area under the curve of the receiver operator characteristic (AUC-ROC) < 0.6) and brain responses were not statistically significantly changed after treatment (Cohen’s d < 0.33).

Conclusion:

This represents the largest prediction study to date examining emotional faces fMRI features as predictors of antidepressant treatment response. Brain response to this fMRI emotional faces paradigm did not distinguish depressed individuals from healthy controls, nor was it predictive of antidepressant treatment response. Clinical Trial Registration: Site: https://clinicaltrials.gov , Trial Number: NCT02869035, Trial Title: Treatment Outcome in Major Depressive Disorder
Efficacy of rasagiline monotherapy for early Parkinson disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Chang Hao-Yun , Li Ying-Yu , Hong Chien-Tai , Kuan Yi-Chun
Published: May 2022

Background:

Rasagiline monotherapy is approved in early Parkinson’s disease (PD) for motor benefit. However, the efficacy and optimal rasagiline dosage in improving Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscale scores between Japanese and Caucasian individuals remain uncertain.

Aims:

To investigate the efficacy of rasagiline monotherapy and evaluate differences between early PD patients in Eastern and Western countries.

Methods:

The study design involved the meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials identified using electronic databases.

Results:

The mean difference (MD) in total UPDRS scores indicated no significant difference between the 1 and 2 mg rasagiline (MD = −0.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.82 to 0.81). Compared with the placebo, the MD of UPDRS part I scores significantly improved in the 1 mg (MD = −0.33, 95% CI = −0.57 to −0.10) but not in the 2 mg. For UPDRS part II scores, the MD significantly improved in the 1 mg (MD = −0.87, 95% CI = −1.48 to −0.27) and 2 mg (MD = −0.98, 95% CI = −1.28 to −0.68). Regarding the UPDRS part III, the MD significantly improved in both (1 mg: MD = −2.41, 95% CI = −3.26 to −1.56; 2 mg: MD = −2.05, 95% CI = −2.64 to −1.46). The most commonly reported adverse events were headaches, back pain, and dizziness, with no statistical difference between the 1 mg rasagiline and placebo groups. Subgroup analysis revealed similar effects between Asian and Western participants.

Conclusion:

Rasagiline monotherapy at 1 mg per day is recommended for patients with early PD because of the benefits for motor, nonmotor functions, and safety.
Post-mortem correlates of Virchow-Robin spaces detected on in vivo MRI
Authors: Haider Lukas , Hametner Simon , Endmayr Verena , Mangesius Stephanie , Eppensteiner Andrea , Frischer Josa M , Iglesias Juan Eugenio , Barkhof Frederik , Kasprian Gregor
Published: May 2022

The purpose of our study is to quantify the extent to which Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) detected on in vivo MRI are reproducible by post-mortem MRI.

Double Echo Steady State 3T MRIs were acquired post-mortem in 49 double- and 32 single-hemispheric formalin-fixed brain sections from 12 patients, who underwent conventional diagnostic 1.5 or 3T MRI in median 22 days prior to death (25% to 75%: 12 to 134 days). The overlap of in vivo and post-mortem VRS segmentations was determined accounting for potential confounding factors.

The reproducibility of VRS found on in vivo MRI by post-mortem MRI, in the supratentorial white matter was in median 80% (25% to 75%: 60 to 100). A lower reproducibility was present in the basal ganglia, with a median of 47% (25% to 75%: 30 to 50).

VRS segmentations were histologically confirmed in one double hemispheric section.

Overall, the majority of VRS found on in vivo MRI was stable throughout death and formalin fixation, emphasizing the translational potential of post-mortem VRS studies.
The Impact of Impulsivity and Academic Achievement on Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis
Authors: Wang Chenxu , Yang Yang , Jiang Zhehao , Niu Xiaoxiao , Liu Yu , Jia Xuji , Lin Lin , Zhang Yunyun
Published: May 2022

This study used a cross-lagged panel analysis to explore the effect of impulsivity and academic achievement on the development of suicidal ideation in adolescents using three-time assessments with an interval of 6 months. A total of 211 adolescents (104 boys, 107 girls with a mean age of 13.62 ± 0.68 years in the third assessment) completed the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, the Monthly Exam, and the Suicidal Ideation/Suicidal Attempt Questionnaire to evaluate the level of impulsivity, academic achievement, and suicidal ideation, respectively. Our results showed that impulsivity was a primary risk factor of suicidal ideation in adolescents during their early stage in junior high school, especially for girls, while academic achievement had an increasing effect on suicidal ideation as adolescents progressed to the higher grades in junior high school, suggesting that taking appropriate intervention measures at specific stages might be critical to prevent suicidal ideation in adolescents.
Noninferiority Margin Size and Acceptance of Trial Results: Contingent Valuation Survey of Clinician Preferences for Noninferior Mortality
Authors: Pong Sandra , Fowler Robert A. , Mitsakakis Nicholas , Murthy Srinivas , Pernica Jeffrey M. , Gilfoyle Elaine , Bowen Asha , Fontela Patricia , Seto Winnie , Science Michelle , Hutchison James S. , Jouvet Philippe , Rishu Asgar , Daneman Nick
Published: May 2022

Objectives

We used modified contingent valuation methodology to determine how noninferiority margin sizes influence clinicians’ willingness to accept clinical trial results that compare mortality in critically ill children.

Methods

We surveyed pediatric infectious diseases and critical care clinicians in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and randomized respondents to review 1 of 9 mock abstracts describing a noninferiority trial of bacteremic critically ill children assigned to 7 or 14 d of antibiotics. Each scenario showed higher mortality in the 7-d group but met noninferiority criterion. We explored how noninferiority margins and baseline mortality rates influenced respondent acceptance of results.

Results

There were 106 survey respondents: 65 (61%) critical care clinicians, 28 (26%) infectious diseases physicians, and 13 (12%) pharmacists. When noninferiority margins were 5% and 10%, 73% (24/33) and 79% (27/33) respondents would accept shorter treatment, compared with 44% (17/39) when the margin was 20% ( P = 0.003). Logistic regression adjusted for baseline mortality showed 5% and 10% noninferiority margins were more likely to be associated with acceptance of shorter treatment compared with 20% margins (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–9.6, P = 0.013; OR 5.1, 95% CI: 1.8–14.6, P = 0.002). Baseline mortality was not a significant predictor of acceptance of shorter treatment.

Conclusions

Clinicians are more likely to accept shorter treatment when noninferiority margins are ≤10%. However, nearly half of respondents who reviewed abstracts with 20% margins were still willing to accept shorter treatment. This is a novel application of contingent valuation methodology to elicit acceptance of research results among end users of the medical literature.

Highlights

Clinicians are more likely to accept shorter treatment durations based on noninferior mortality results when the noninferiority margin is 5% or 10% than if the margin is 20%. However, nearly half of clinicians would still accept shorter-duration treatment as noninferior with margins of 20%. Baseline mortality does not independently predict acceptance of shorter-duration treatment. Contingent valuation is a novel approach to elicit the acceptance of research design parameters from the perspective of endusers of the medical literature.
Reactivity and statefulness: Action-based sensors, plans, and necessary state
Authors: McFassel Grace , Shell Dylan A
Published: May 2022

Typically to a roboticist, a plan is the outcome of other work, a synthesized object that realizes ends defined by some problem; plans qua plans are seldom treated as first-class objects of study. Plans designate functionality: a plan can be viewed as defining a robot’s behavior throughout its execution. This informs and reveals many other aspects of the robot’s design, including: necessary sensors and action choices, history, state, task structure, and how to define progress. Interrogating sets of plans helps in comprehending the ways in which differing executions influence the interrelationships between these various aspects. Revisiting Erdmann’s theory of action-based sensors, a classical approach for characterizing fundamental information requirements, we show how plans (in their role of designating behavior) influence sensing requirements. Using an algorithm for enumerating plans, we examine how some plans for which no action-based sensor exists can be transformed into sets of sensors through the identification and handling of features that preclude the existence of action-based sensors. We are not aware of those obstructing features having been previously identified. Action-based sensors may be treated as standalone reactive plans; we relate them to the set of all possible plans through a lattice structure. This lattice reveals a boundary between plans with action-based sensors and those without. Some plans, specifically those that are not reactive plans and require some notion of internal state, can never have associated action-based sensors. Even so, action-based sensors can serve as a framework to explore and interpret how such plans make use of state.
Locally connected interrelated network: A forward propagation primitive
Authors: Collins Nicholas , Kurniawati Hanna
Published: May 2022

End-to-end learning for planning is a promising approach for finding good robot strategies in situations where the state transition, observation, and reward functions are initially unknown. Many neural network architectures for this approach have shown positive results. Across these networks, seemingly small components have been used repeatedly in different architectures, which means improving the efficiency of these components has great potential to improve the overall performance of the network. This paper aims to improve one such component: The forward propagation module. In particular, we propose Locally Connected Interrelated Network (LCI-Net) – a novel type of locally connected layer with unshared but interrelated weights – to improve the efficiency of learning stochastic transition models for planning and propagating information via the learned transition models. LCI-Net is a small differentiable neural network module that can be plugged into various existing architectures. For evaluation purposes, we apply LCI-Net to VIN and QMDP-Net. VIN is an end-to-end neural network for solving Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) whose transition and reward functions are initially unknown, while QMDP-Net is its counterpart for the Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) whose transition, observation, and reward functions are initially unknown. Simulation tests on benchmark problems involving 2D and 3D navigation and grasping indicate promising results: Changing only the forward propagation module alone with LCI-Net improves VIN’s and QMDP-Net generalisation capability by more than 3× and 10×, respectively.
Associations between bone mineral density and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Zhang Xiaodiao , Ding Keke , Miao Xiaqi , Wang Jianing , Hu Binbin , Shen Jiamin , Hu Xueting , Xu Yage , Yu Beibei , Tu Tingting , Lin Aiju , Chen Xianjing , Huang Yiben
Published: May 2022

Objective

To assess the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity and bone mineral density (BMD) in the whole body and different body areas.

Methods

This retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients with COPD. Demographic and lung function data, COPD severity scales, BMD, and T scores were collected. Patients were grouped by high (≥–1) and low (<–1) T scores, and stratified by body mass index, airway obstruction, dyspnoea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index. The relationship between whole-body BMD and BODE was evaluated by Kendall’s tau-b correlation coefficient. Risk factors associated with COPD severity were identified by univariate analyses. BMD as an independent predictor of severe COPD (BODE ≥5) was verified by multivariate logistic regression. BMD values in different body areas for predicting severe COPD were assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

Of 88 patients with COPD, lung-function indicators and COPD severity were significantly different between those with high and low T scores. Whole-body BMD was inversely related to COPD severity scales, including BODE. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that BMD was independently associated with COPD severity. The area under the curve for pelvic BMD in predicting severe COPD was 0.728.

Conclusion

BMD may be a novel marker in predicting COPD severity, and pelvic BMD may have the strongest relative predictive power.
Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the nasopharynx: a case report and literature review
Authors: Xiao Na , Xiao Shubing , Yang Wei
Published: May 2022

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) of the nasopharynx is a rare malignant tumor that has been described in only a few case reports, and its differential diagnoses include diverse clinicopathologic entities. FDCS is often initially misdiagnosed, especially when examining small biopsy specimens. We herein report a case of FDCS arising in the nasopharynx that was initially misdiagnosed as a nerve sheath tumor. A 44-year-old woman presented with persistent obstruction of the left nasal cavity and underwent an excisional biopsy. The specimen demonstrated morphologic and immunohistochemical features of FDCS. In situ hybridization for Epstein–Barr virus-encoded RNA was negative. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The sarcoma recurred near the original site more than 3 years after the initial treatment and was completely resected. At the time of this writing, the patient had remained disease-free for 1 year after resection. This case is being reported to improve the clinical recognition of FDCS.
Comparison of image-based quantification methods in evaluating fixation stability using a remote eye tracker in abnormal phoria
Authors: Kim Sang-Yeob , Moon Byeong-Yeon , Cho Hyun Gug , Yu Dong-Sik
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study was performed to establish a quantitative evaluation and comparison of fixation stability, as measured by an eye tracker, using image-based areas determined by the bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA), kernel density estimation (KDE), and Scanpath methods.

Methods

This prospective cross-sectional study included 45 and 20 participants with abnormal and normal phoria, respectively. Eye movements were recorded using a remote eye tracker and were plotted using RStudio software. Image-based areas were evaluated using ImageJ software.

Results

The image-based areas used to evaluate fixation stability exhibited decreasing stability in the abnormal phoria group in the following order: KDE with ±1 standard deviation (SD), BCEA with ±1 SD, KDE with ±2 SD or Scanpath, and BCEA with ±2 SD. The BCEA tended to be overestimated, and the KDE tended to be underestimated at high density. The Scanpath method had a very high probability area because the area spans all gaze points.

Conclusions

Fixation stability could be quantified as image-based areas by the KDE, BCEA, and Scanpath methods. Our findings suggest that fixation stability may be evaluated using one or more methods.
Radiographic parameters of the normal ankle syndesmosis: Comparison between hindfoot alignment view and anteroposterior view
Authors: Lee Jaehyung , Lee Ho Seong , Kim Ji Wan , Lee Bum-Sik , Choi Youngrak
Published: May 2022

Objective

To compare the parameters associated with the normal ankle syndesmosis between the hindfoot alignment view (HAV) and anteroposterior (AP) view and determine which view is more accurate for comparing the left and right ankles.

Methods

This study involved 61 subjects without syndesmosis injury who had radiographs of both ankles. The tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), tibiofibular overlap (TFO), and medial clear space (MCS) were measured in each view. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess the agreement between the two ankles. Difference ratios for the measured parameters between the ankles were also compared.

Results

The agreement for TFCS showed wide disparity between the two ankles (AP view, 0.576; HAV, 0.858). The highest degree of agreement was seen for TFO (AP view, 0.733; HAV, 0.926). The agreement for MCS was low in both groups. The mean difference ratio for TFCS was also lower in the HAV group (9.9%) than in the AP view group (16.4%); a similar result was observed for TFO (16.4% vs. 25.8%).

Conclusions

For evaluation of the syndesmosis, use of the HAV showed increased accuracy and few measurement errors when comparing the left and right ankles relative to use of the AP view.
Occupational performance and satisfaction of individuals with mental disorders in Jordan: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Madi Hanan I , Ismael Noor T , Hamaideh Shaher H , Jaber Ala’a F
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Individuals with mental disorders face challenges while performing occupations. Existing evidence is limited to Western countries and certain daily life occupations that do not explore all factors related to occupational performance. This study aimed to explore occupational performance and satisfaction in individuals with mental disorders, explore the challenging occupations, investigate the relationship between demographic characteristics to occupational performance and satisfaction, and investigate the factors affecting the occupational performance of individuals with mental disorders. Methods: This was a descriptive correlational cross-sectional study that used the convenience sampling method. It included 95 individuals with mental disorders that had a mean age of (34.46 ± 12.22) years, and were from different mental health care facilities. Additionally, this study used the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure instrument. Results: Individuals with mental disorders had a low mean occupational performance and satisfaction scores (5.8 ± 1.7), (5.2 ± 2.0), respectively. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living were the most reported challenging occupations. There was a relationship between work status and both occupational performance and satisfaction (r = 0.243, p = 0.018), (r = 0.239, p = 0.020), respectively. Also, there was a relationship between the diagnosis and occupational performance (r =0.219, p = 0.033), and work status predicted occupational performance (α ≤ 0.05). Work status is a predictor of occupational performance in individuals with mental disorders.
Impact of the Mediterranean oscillation on total lightning activity
Authors: de Pablo Dávila Fernando , Rivas Soriano Luís J , González-Zamora Ángel
Published: May 2022

For the first time, the relationship between total (cloud-to-ground and intracloud) lightning activity and the Mediterranean Oscillation (MO) is addressed in this work. Data from optical transient detector (OTD) and lightning imaging sensor (LIS) were used to calculate the total flash density, and the MO was described using the Mediterranean Oscillation index (MOi). The study intended to analyse the monthly values of the variables, for the 19-year period from October 1995 to February 2015 and for the region between 31.25 N and 46.25 N, and between 3.75 W and 38.75 E (the Mediterranean Sea and bordering land areas). Moreover, the study was carried out for the whole year and a comparative analysis was also conducted with the results obtained for the cold periods (October to March) and warm periods (April to September), both for the positive and negative phases of the MOi. The results revealed that the lightning activity in the annual and cold periods was clearly similar, and the maximum values tended to concentrate over southern Italy and the central part of the Mediterranean Sea, while in the warm period lightning was scattered over the whole study area. When analysing the data from the cold period for the positive phase, significant negative correlations were observed in the west and central area. On the contrary, for the warm period, the significant negative correlation values tend to be concentrated in the eastern limit of the studied territory. During the negative phase of the MOi, most of the studied area showed significant positive correlation values during the cold period, whereas only a small area with negative correlation tended to concentrate on the eastern boundary during the warm period. The results are explained in terms of the circulation dynamics and temperature changes recorded for the MO.
The effects of dantrolene in the presence or absence of ryanodine receptor type 1 variants in individuals predisposed to malignant hyperthermia
Authors: Noda Yuko , Mukaida Keiko , Miyoshi Hirotsugu , Nakamura Ryuji , Yasuda Toshimichi , Saeki Noboru , Nishino Ichizo , Tsutsumi Yasuo M
Published: May 2022

Dantrolene is currently the only drug known to specifically treat malignant hyperthermia (MH) crises. Although dantrolene attenuates Ca2+ disorders by acting mainly on the ryanodine receptor type 1 (RYR1), some patients who manifest MH without RYR1 variants have also been successfully treated with dantrolene. Thus, dantrolene appears to have an inhibitory effect on patients with and without RYR1 variants. This study aimed to investigate whether the effects of dantrolene differed depending on the presence or absence of RYR1 variants using muscle cells from MH-predisposed individuals. The study participants were individuals diagnosed with MH predisposition by the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release rate test. They were genetically tested and divided into two groups: with and without RYR1 variants. We investigated whether these two groups showed differences in the changes in the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) for caffeine and the resting intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) before and after dantrolene administration. Dantrolene administration significantly increased the EC50 ( P < 0.0001) and decreased the resting [Ca2+]i ( P < 0.0001). The inhibitory effects of dantrolene and the presence of RYR1 variants showed no statistically significant interactions related to the EC50 ( P = 0.59) and resting [Ca2+]i ( P = 0.21). In conclusion, the presence or absence of RYR1 variants does not appear to influence the effect of dantrolene.
Does the market value sustainable supply chain management? New evidence from the outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: Hu Yuanyuan , Chen Shouming , Huang Wenchuan
Published: May 2022

This study aims to determine why a firm would ever engage in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) during a turbulent era. Combining stakeholder theory, the resource-based view, and the literature on SSCM, we argue that SSCM can alleviate negative market reactions to severe external crises. Based on analyses of a sample of firms listed in China from 2019 to 2020, the results robustly display a positive relationship between SSCM and the abnormal returns surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19. The findings of this study extend the supply chain literature by constituting an important addition in external crisis times rather than only in normal times.

JEL Classification: M14
Identification of the Main Environmental Impact Categories Over the Life Cycle of Hot Mix Asphalt: An Application to Green Public Procurement
Authors: Hernando David , Moins Ben , Van den bergh Wim , Audenaert Amaryllis
Published: May 2022

Increased environmental awareness has led road agencies to consider the implementation of green public procurement (GPP). Besides sustainability rating systems, environmental indicators can also be implemented in GPP to help road agencies make informed decisions about the environmental impact of the pavement works they procure. A vast literature review revealed that it is still unclear which impact categories are responsible for the majority of the total environmental impact of asphalt mixtures. The objective of this study was to identify the impact categories with the greatest contribution to the total environmental impact of hot mix asphalt so that they can be implemented in the form of environmental indicators in GPP. The scope included conventional and polymer-modified binder and three mix design alternatives: only virgin aggregate, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), and RAP with rejuvenators. The cradle-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) performed showed that global warming (GW), fine particulate matter formation, fossil resource scarcity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity were responsible for at least 90% of the total impact according to the ReCiPe 2016 hierarchic assessment method. Therefore, a simplified LCA focusing on these four impact categories seems sufficient for the purpose of comparing the environmental performance of alternatives in GPP. It was also found that GW alone accounted for approximately 50% of the total impact, which seems to make GW a good surrogate for the total impact among the asphalt mixtures evaluated. Future work should investigate whether the conclusions from this study still hold up when using secondary materials, lower temperature mixing technologies, or in-situ recycling.
Investigating Combined Impact of Adverse Road-Weather Conditions and Heavy Vehicles on Saturation Headway
Authors: Hirose Ryutaro , Mehran Babak , Pani Agnivesh
Published: May 2022

Adverse road-weather (RW) conditions make driving behavior more conservative and the headway during saturated conditions longer, leading to a significant reduction in the capacity of signalized intersections. Past studies indicate that the degree of the influence of adverse RW conditions on intersection performance changes by heavy vehicle (HV) ratio in traffic flow. However, little is known about the combined impacts of adverse RW conditions and HV ratio on saturation headway and how they can be considered in the planning of signalized intersections in areas with long winter. To fill this research gap, in this study the saturation headway data for over 2,000 signal cycles were extracted from video recordings at two signalized intersections in Winnipeg, Canada. The combined impacts of adverse RW conditions and HV ratios are statistically investigated in the paper with due focus given to saturation headway distributions and models. To account for differences in vehicle type, passenger car equivalent and headway distributions are evaluated under different RW conditions. The analysis findings suggest that the saturation headways increased by up to 38.7% as a result of adverse RW conditions. The multiple regression analyses incorporating HV ratios quantify the relationship between saturation headway and various sets of explanatory variables covering adverse RW conditions and roadway geometric factors. The model estimation results reveal that HVs are less sensitive to RW conditions than passenger vehicles. Overall, the study findings will help in designing signalized intersections under adverse RW conditions with various HV ratios.
Traffic Micro-Simulation-Based Evaluation of Bus Priority With Queue Jump Lane on an Urban Corridor With Heterogeneous Traffic Operations
Authors: Ghosh Tamojit , Bhattacharyya Kinjal , Maitra Bhargab
Published: May 2022

Queue jump lane (QJL) is a space-optimal facility-based priority measure for faster and smoother movements of buses in urban areas. This study presents an approach to identify the optimal configurations of QJL, bus advance area, and pre-signal for signalized intersections along an urban corridor in India with heterogeneous traffic operations. As this needs to be carried out before field implementation, the traffic impacts of different scenarios were evaluated utilizing a validated VISSIM traffic micro-simulation model. A validated EnViVer emission modeler was used to estimate the vehicular exhaust emissions. The QJL-based priority measures were found to be more effective than a dedicated bus lane along the corridor during the peak hour, which justifies their applicability in cities with restricted road spaces and high traffic demands. To identify the suitable combination of bus priority along the corridor, three additional scenarios were evaluated: bus-optimal, car-optimal, and passenger-optimal. While the passenger-optimal scenario yielded the best impact on travel time performances, the car-optimal scenario was more effective in total emissions performance at the expense of reduced travel time impacts. The conflict between traffic and emissions performances emphasizes the need for investigation of long-term mode and route choice indicators with implementation of bus priority to identify the future mode shares and subsequent impacts. The study was further extended to identify optimal bus stop operations for the baseline and priority scenarios based on multiple combinations of near-side and far-side stops.
Micromobility Trip Origin and Destination Inference Using General Bikeshare Feed Specification Data
Authors: Xu Yiming , Yan Xiang , Sisiopiku Virginia P. , Merlin Louis A. , Xing Fangzhou , Zhao Xilei
Published: May 2022

Emerging micromobility services (e.g., e-scooters) have a great potential to enhance urban mobility but more knowledge on their usage patterns is needed. The General Bikeshare Feed Specification (GBFS) data are a possible source for examining micromobility trip patterns, but efforts are needed to infer trips from the GBFS data. Existing trip inference methods are usually based on the assumption that the vehicle identity (ID) of a micromobility option (e-scooter or e-bike) does not change, and so they cannot deal with data with vehicle IDs that change over time. This paper proposes a comprehensive package of algorithms to infer origin–destination (OD) pairs from GBFS data with static vehicle ID and unlinked trip origins and destinations from GBFS data with resetting and dynamic vehicle ID. The algorithms were implemented in Washington D.C. by analyzing one week (last week of February 2020) of GBFS data published by six vendors, and the inference accuracy of the proposed algorithms are evaluated by R-squared, mean absolute error, and sum absolute error. It is found that the R-squared measure is larger than 0.9 and the MAE measure is less than 2 when the algorithms are evaluated with a 400 m × 400 m grid. The absolute errors are relatively larger in the downtown area, and the inference error is relatively high during early morning and early nighttime. The accuracy of the trip inference algorithms is sufficiently high for most practical applications.
Prevalence and Incidence of Chondral and Meniscal Lesions in Patients Undergoing Primary and Subsequent Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Analysis of 213 Patients From the SANTI Group
Authors: Pioger Charles , Claes Steven , Haidar Ibrahim , Fradin Thomas , Ngbilo Cedric , Rayes Johnny , Hopper Graeme Philip , Vieira Thais Dutra , Sonnery-Cottet Bertrand
Published: May 2022

Background:

Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of meniscal and chondral lesions at the time of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (R-ACLR) compared with primary ACLR procedures. However, studies that follow the development of meniscal and chondral status through primary and subsequent R-ACLR are scarce.

Purpose:

To compare the prevalence of meniscal and chondral injuries in patients undergoing primary ACLR and subsequent R-ACLR.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Patients who underwent ACLR and subsequently needed R-ACLR between January 2009 and February 2018 in a single center were included. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted.

Results:

A total of 213 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 59.7 months. The mean age was 22 years at primary ACLR and 26.1 years at the time of revision. The proportion of meniscal tears was higher at the time of R-ACLR compared with the time of primary reconstruction (70.0% vs 44.6%, respectively; P < .001). Similarly, the prevalence of chondral lesions was significantly higher at the time of revision versus the primary reconstruction (15.5% vs 7.0%, respectively; P = .003).

Conclusion:

R-ACLR is associated with a higher rate of concomitant meniscal and chondral lesions than primary ACLR.
Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of thermally sprayed conventional ceramic coatings reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kalangi Chaithanya , Bolleddu Venkateshwarlu
Published: May 2022

This paper aims to develop a high-performance, cost-effective ceramic coating on AISI 1020 steel substrate. For this purpose, three kinds of conventional ceramic powders are taken in the composition Al2O3+3 wt%TiO2, WC+12 wt%Co and ZrO2+8 wt%Y2O3. The composites are coated on the steel surface using thermal spraying technology such as plasma flame for Al2O3+3 wt%TiO2 and ZrO2+8 wt%Y2O3 and high-velocity oxy-fuel for WC+12 wt%Co deposition. Recently, carbon nanotube–reinforced ceramic materials have gained more attention because of their excellent surface morphology properties. Adding nanocomposite to ceramic powders can considerably increase the microstructural characteristics and microhardness of thermal sprayed coatings. However, it is still challenging to obtain effective nanocomposite-doped conventional coating due to the elevated temperature of heat equipment. Thus, the conventional ceramic powders Al2O3+3 wt%TiO2, WC+12 wt%Co and ZrO2+8 wt%Y2O3 are combined with carbon nanotubes at a weight ratio of 1%, 3% and 5% for preparing reliable nanocomposite ceramic coating. The properties of nanocomposite mixed coatings are studied, and their performance is compared with conventional coatings. The coatings’ morphology, structure and phase composition are investigated through scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. In addition, Vickers microhardness and surface roughness are also determined.
Perfectionism and L2 Achievement: The Mediating Roles of Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning Among Iranian High School Students
Authors: Chasetareh Fatemeh , Barabadi Elyas , Khajavy Gholam Hassan , Flett Gordon L.
Published: May 2022

The current study investigated how perfectionism can be related to L2 learners’ achievement with motivation and two aspects of self-regulated learning as possible mediators. This study also evaluated the factor structure of the Big Three Perfectionism Scale (BTPS) in an Iranian sample. The participants were 495 Iranian high school students who completed six BTPS sub-scales and measures of self-determined motivation and self-regulated learning. Psychometric analyses indicated that rigid perfectionism and self-critical perfectionism as two higher order factors have construct validity. Structural equation modeling indicated that rigid perfectionism positively predicted L2 achievement, while self-critical perfectionism negatively predicted L2 achievement. Mediational models indicated that neither autonomous-mastery/performance motivation nor controlled motivation mediated the path from perfectionism to L2 achievement. However, both aspects of self-regulated learning, namely, deep learning and persistence could mediate the relationship between perfectionism and L2 achievement. Specifically, higher levels of rigid perfectionism were positively related to deep learning and persistence that, in turn, were related to higher L2 achievement. In contrast, self-critical perfectionism was negatively related to deep learning and persistence, that, in turn, were related to lower L2 achievement. The results are discussed in terms of the practical implications for L2 teachers and parents.
Sexual Harassment and Employee Engagement: Exploring the Roles of Gender, Perceived Supervisory Support, and Gender Equity Climate
Authors: Hameduddin Taha , Lee Hongseok
Published: May 2022

The creation of inclusive workplaces in which individuals can thrive constitutes an important goal for many organizations. Despite recognition of this fact, persistent adverse workplace experiences, such as sexual harassment, threaten to relegate inclusion to mere rhetoric. While previous research has identified several outcomes of sexual harassment, we examine the relationship between sexual harassment and employee engagement, a strong driver for improved service delivery, organizational performance, and employee motivation. Building on the job demands-resources model, we consider three moderators that may influence this relationship: gender, perceived supervisory support, and the gender equity climate. The results indicate that sexual harassment has a negative relationship with employee engagement, but that this relationship differs between male and female employees. However, we found no significant moderating effects of perceived supervisory support and gender equity climate. The article ends with a discussion of the findings and implications for theory and practice.
The Eldercare Facility Ordinance of Los Angeles: A Synthetic Control Analysis of Residential Care Development and Growth
Authors: Frochen Stephen , Rodnyansky Seva , Ailshire Jennifer
Published: May 2022

The 2006 eldercare facility ordinance of Los Angeles was designed to streamline permitting of senior housing development in the jurisdiction. Using California State Department of Social Services residential care and census place data, this study compares the pre and post effect of the ordinance on the number of large residential care facilities developed in Los Angeles with a comparison group using synthetic control analysis. In posttreatment, Los Angeles shows up to 33 percent more facilities per ten thousand older adults per year more than the synthetic control, underscoring the importance of such ordinances in increasing senior housing development in Los Angeles.