bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Using Multimodal External Representations in Digital Game-Based Learning
Authors: Pan Yanjun , Ke Fengfeng , Dai Chih-Pu
Published: April 2022

Although prior research has highlighted the significance of representations for mathematical learning, there is still a lack of research on how students use multimodal external representations (MERs) to solve mathematical tasks in digital game-based learning (DGBL) environments. This exploratory study was to examine the salient patterns problem solvers demonstrated using MERs when they engaged in a single-player, three-dimensional architecture game that requires the acquisition and application of math knowledge and thinking in game-based context problem solving. We recorded and systematically coded the behaviors of using MERs demonstrated by 20 university students during 1.5 hours of gameplay. We conducted both cluster and sequential analyses with a total of 2654 encoded behaviors. The study indicated that the maneuverable visual-spatial representation was most frequently used in the selected architecture game. All of the participants performed a high level of representational transformations, including both treatment and conversion transformations. However, compared to the students in the second cluster who were mostly non-game players, students in the first cluster (composed of mainly experienced video game players) displayed a higher frequency of interacting with various MERs and a more cautious and optimized reflective problem-solving process.
Initial Validation and Reliability of the CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder Hand Function Scale (CDD-Hand)
Authors: Saldaris Jacinta , Leonard Helen , Jacoby Peter , Marsh Eric D. , Benke Tim A. , Demarest Scott , Downs Jenny
Published: April 2022

Pathogenic variants in the CDKL5 gene result in CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), which is characterized by early-onset epilepsy, severe developmental delay, and often, cortical visual impairment. Validated clinical outcome measures are needed for future clinical trials to be successful. This study aimed to adapt the Rett Syndrome Hand Function Scale for CDKL5 deficiency disorder and evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, content validity, and reliability. Consultation with a cortical visual impairment experienced specialist and the Consumer Reference Group informed modifications to the instructions of the Rett Syndrome Hand Function Scale for children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD-Hand). Eighty-six families registered with the International CDKL5 Disorder Database provided video clips of their child's hand function and provided feedback about the measure. Video data were coded by 2 researchers to evaluate intra- and interrater reliability. This study provides initial evidence of validation and reliability. The scale appears to be suitable for a range of ages and functional abilities for CDKL5 deficiency disorder.
Surface channel patterned and endothelialized poly(glycerol sebacate) based elastomers
Authors: Tevlek Atakan , Topuz Bengisu , Akbay Esin , Aydin Halil Murat
Published: April 2022

Prevascularization of tissue equivalents is critical for fulfilling the need for sufficient vascular organization for nutrient and gas transport. Hence, endothelial cell culture on biomaterials is of great importance for researchers. Numerous alternate strategies have been suggested in this sense, with cell-based methods being the most commonly employed. In this study, poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) elastomers with varying crosslinking ratios were synthesized and their surfaces were patterned with channels by using laser ablation technique. In order to determine an ideal material for cell culture studies, the elastomers were subsequently mechanically, chemically, and biologically characterized. Following that, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded into the channels established on the PGS membranes and cultured under various culture conditions to establish the optimal culture parameters. Lastly, the endothelial cell responses to the synthesized PGS elastomers were evaluated. Remarkable cell proliferation and impressive cellular organizations were noticed on the constructs created as part of the investigation. On the concrete output of this research, arrangements in various geometries can be created by laser ablation method and the effects of various molecules, drugs or agents on endothelial cells can be evaluated. The platforms produced can be employed as an intermediate biomaterial layer containing endothelial cells for vascularization of tissue-engineered structures, particularly in layer-by-layer tissue engineering approaches.
Noninvasive remote-controlled nanomedicine by using electric field stimulation for in vivo effective cancer therapy
Authors: Liu Ziang , Wang Yunli , Jiao Yajing , Wen Xiaoming , Yang Shiping , Zhu Yingchun
Published: April 2022

Precision therapy has developed as an important strategy for cancer treatment. We have developed an external electric field (EF) controlled targeting drug delivery nanosystem (TDDS) for precision cancer therapy. The electric field responsive targeting drug delivery nanosystem (EFTDDS) is synthesized by functionalizing mesoporous silica with polynitrophenyl-methacrylamide-folate (PNMAFA). The functional molecules grafted in the mesopores effectively encapsulate the drugs in the EFTDDS and control the drug release by nitrylphenyl dipolar responding to electric field. The EFTDDS has achieved high electric field control as demonstrated by the promoted EF-responsive release and the low nonspecific leakage of the doxorubicin. Furthermore, when breast cancer xenograft models on nude mice were treated with EF-stimulated nanomedicine, the tumor-inhibition rate increases to 75%, which is 2.7 times as high as that without electric field stimulation. The EFTDDS is demonstrated biodegradable, biocompatible, and EF remotely controllable, represents excellent inhibiting effect on tumor in vivo, and might become a promising nanomedicine platform for electrodynamic therapy (EDT) in the potential clinical applications.
A Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness Study of a Community Health Worker-Delivered Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Rural, Underserved Non-Hispanic Black Population: The CHANGE Study
Authors: Samuel-Hodge Carmen D. , Ziya Gizlice  , Allgood Sallie D. , Bunton Audrina J. , Erskine Amber , Leeman Jennifer , Cykert Samuel
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Carolina Heart Alliance Networking for Greater Equity (CHANGE) Program, an adapted evidence-based cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention delivered by Community Health Workers (CHW) to rural adults.

Design

Hybrid implementation-effectiveness study with a pre–post design.

Setting

North Carolina Federally Qualified Health Center and local health department in a rural, medically underserved area.

Sample

Participants (n = 255) included 87% Non-Hispanic Black with a mean age of 57 years; 84% had diagnosed hypertension, 55% had diabetes, and 65% had hypercholesterolemia.

Intervention

A CHW-delivered, low-intensity, 4-month behavioral lifestyle intervention promoting a southern-style Mediterranean dietary pattern and physical activity.

Measures

We measured number and representativeness of participants reached and retained, intervention delivery fidelity, weight, blood pressure, and self-reported dietary and physical activity behaviors.

Analysis

Pre–post changes at 4 months were analyzed using paired t-tests.

Results

Study participants completed 90% of planned intervention contacts; 87% were retained. Intervention delivery fidelity measures showed participants receiving a mean of 3.5 counseling visits, 2.7 booster calls, and on average completing 1.7 modules, setting 1.8 goals, and receiving 1.3 referrals per visit. There were significant mean reductions in systolic (−2.5 mmHg, P < .05) and diastolic blood pressure (−2.1 mmHg, P < .01); the proportion of participants with systolic blood pressure <130 increased by 7 % points (P = .05), and diastolic pressure <80 by 9 percentage points (P < .01). Dietary behaviors improved significantly with average weekly servings of nuts increased by .5 serving (P < .0001), and fruits and vegetables by .8 daily serving (P < .0001). Physical activity also increased on average by 45 min./week (P < .001). Weight did not change significantly.

Conclusions

The CHANGE program showed both implementation and program effectiveness and adds to the evidence supporting CHW-delivered lifestyle interventions to reduce CVD risk among rural, Non-Hispanic Black, and medically underserved populations.
Wellness in the Face of Frailty Among Older Adults in First Nations Communities
Authors: Slater Morgan , Bruser Gabrielle , Sutherland Roseanne , Andrew Melissa K. , Warry Wayne , Jacklin Kristen M. , Walker Jennifer D.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

First Nations people report high levels of wellness despite high rates of chronic illness. Our goal was to understand the factors associated with wellness among First Nations adults in Ontario who were considered frail.

Methods

Using the First Nations Regional Health Survey, we created a profile of First Nations adults (aged 45+) who were categorized as “frail” (weighted sample size = 8121). We used multivariate logistic regression to determine associations between wellness (as measured by self-reported physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual balance) and determinants of health.

Results

Rates of reported wellness were high among those who were frail, ranging from 56.7% reporting physical balance to 71.6% reporting mental balance. Three key elements were associated with wellness: the availability of resources, individual lifestyle factors, and cultural connection and identity.

Discussion

Our findings provide a profile of strength and wellness among older First Nations adults living with frailty.
A theory of policy sabotage
Authors: Hirsch Alexander V. , Kastellec Jonathan P.
Published: April 2022

We develop a theory of policymaking that examines when policy sabotage—the deliberate choice by an opposition party to interfere with the implementation of a policy—can be an effective electoral strategy, even if rational voters can observe that it is happening. In our model, a potential saboteur chooses whether to sabotage an incumbent’s policy by blocking its successful implementation. A voter then decides whether to retain the incumbent, who is of unknown ability, or to select a challenger. We find that the incentives for sabotage are broadly shaped by the underlying popularity of the incumbent—it is most attractive when an incumbent is somewhat unpopular. If so, sabotage may decrease the probability the incumbent is reelected, even though sabotage is observable to the voter. This is because while the saboteur knows that sabotage will improve the incumbent’s reputation, he fears that absent sabotage a policy success will improve that reputation even more.
Study on the effect of multi-point stretch-bending processing conditions on the section distortion of complex cross-sectional parts
Authors: Li Yi , Lv Chenyang , Liang Jicai , Liang Ce
Published: April 2022

Section distortion is a common defect in plastic forming, however, excessive section distortion will affect the actual use of the workpiece. In this paper, the finite element software ABAQUS is used to simulate the multi-point flexible stretch-bending process. Processing parameters are important factors in the forming process of the profile, so this paper discusses the effects of three processing parameters, namely the effects of pre-stretching amount, pro-stretching amount and friction coefficient on section distortion under different bending radius, taking the complex cross-sectional T-profile as an example. And the validity of the simulation results is verified by comparing with the experimental results and the simulation results. At the same time, the upper limit value of section distortion is given according to the actual assembly and use of aluminium profile components of high-speed train head frame, and the minimum bending radius (i.e., processing limit) for which the section distortion does not exceed the given value under different process parameters is explored and used for practical production guidance.
Modeling and design of a reconfigurable novel constant-force mechanism for assistive exoskeletons
Authors: Li Zhongyi , Liu Yichen , Chen Chinyin , Yang Guilin , Bai Shaoping
Published: April 2022

Constant-force mechanisms can be used for gravity counterbalance and force regulation. While many constant-force mechanisms have been designed, most of them have a limited range of force adjustment, which brings very limited capability to maintain an equilibrium state when load changes. In this paper, a novel design of reconfigurable constant-force mechanism is proposed. The new design is inspired by a variable stiffness mechanism, which can work in a similar way as the hinged lever, but take a compact space. Moreover, the design allows to adjust the configuration parameters achieving a large range of the equilibrium state adjustment. Mathematical models are developed to simulate the equilibrium performance changed with configuration parameters. A prototype is constructed and validates the working principle of the design. A design case is included to show the application of the mechanism in a passive assistive upper-body exoskeleton.
A review on polyjet 3D printing of polymers and multi-material structures
Authors: Patpatiya Parth , Chaudhary Kailash , Shastri Anshuman , Sharma Shailly
Published: April 2022

This article investigates the state-of-the-art of polyjet 3D printing of polymers and multi-material structures, with an emphasis on its applications in a range of industrial domains, including aerospace, architecture, toy fabrication, and medical field. While significant research and development in the field of additively manufactured (AM) multi-material and reinforced composite structures have been carried out during the previous decade, the need of the hour is to utilize a single manufacturing platform which would not only help to govern the composition, shape, and characteristics of multi-material 3D printed objects at the microscopic level but would also help industries to replace the conventional AM manufacturing methods and optimize their mechanical performance. Significant advancements in polyjet 3D printing of fiber-reinforced and functionally graded structures with numerous modifications in material composition are reviewed, which may revolutionize the industrial sector. Numerous polyjet printing parameters such as accuracy, printing speed, photo-curing effect, build orientation, layer thickness, print angles, and post-processing are comprehensively discussed, and best outputs to optimize the mechanical performance and enhance the accuracy of the polyjet 3D printing products are highlighted. FEA (finite element analysis) models and analytical relations for multi-material 3D printed structures are presented to predict and enhance the overall performance of polyjet fabrication. Along with the benefits of polyjet manufacturing, a few of the limitations and challenges of polyjet AM are addressed which would benefit the reader to conduct further research in this field and enhance fabrication quality significantly. Vivid comparisons with other multi-material AM fabrication techniques such as FDM, SLA, and SLS with their brief discussion, merits, and demerits are done.
Optimization of precipitate hardening parameters of 7075 aluminum alloy using response surface methodology
Authors: Yadav AP , Padap AK
Published: April 2022

In the present research work, combination of artificial aging (pre and post) and natural aging was performed on 7075 Al alloy. Aging parameters were optimized using response surface methodology model to get the maximum value of Vickers micro-hardness, hardness value, and tensile strength. Three factors with five levels each were used to develop the center composite rotatable design (CCRD-approach). The three factors were pre-artificial aging temperature, natural aging time, and post-artificial aging temperature. The contour plots, surface plots, and mean effects plots were drawn to study the effect of individual factors and interactions of the factors on micro hardness. The coefficient of the regression R2 was 0.9962 which shows the excellent accuracy of the developed model. One hundred and fifty-one percent increment in the micro hardness and 115% increment in the value of the ultimate tensile strength were observed in optimized sample compared to annealed sample. The Vickers micro-hardness, optical microstructural, tensile test, X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, and fractography using scanning electron microscopy of fractured tensile specimen were conducted in this research work.
Tribological and mechanical characterization of as-cast and thermal treated Al-9Si/SiC graded composite
Authors: Nachimuthu Radhika , Sam Manu , Thangamayandi Arumuga Ram , Balasubramanian Gayathri Yashwanth Kumar , Ranganathan Lokesh Kumar
Published: April 2022

Tribology and mechanical properties of thermal treated Al-9Si/10wt%SiC functionally graded composite are compared with as-cast condition. The composite was centrifugally cast as a hollow cylindrical component (Ø(outer) 100 × Ø(inner) 60 × 100 mm), characterized at three wall layers (up to 3, 10, and 18 mm) from the outer periphery. Metallographic analysis on as-cast composite and thermal treated components revealed graded structure and spheroidization of acicular Si, respectively. Elemental mapping and phase formations were confirmed through Energy-dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Outer layer of thermal treated component revealed maximum improvement in hardness (26%) and tensile strength (15%) compared to as-cast. Brittle mode of failure was featured through fractography. A combination of adhesive and abrasive mechanisms were predominant during reciprocating wear. EDS analysis of wear debris formed at intermediate sliding distance (1250 m) confirmed the oxide layer formation. Thus, the thermal treated composites are developed for automotive engine components vulnerable to wear.
Detection and control of layer width in fused plus wire arc additive manufacturing
Authors: Wang Xin , Luo Maolin , Xu Taojin , Zhou Chen , Li Haiqing , Hu Xiaolin
Published: April 2022

Fused plus wire arc additive manufacturing is a low cost and high efficiency manufacturing technology for large scale metal parts. Aiming at the difficulty and low accuracy of component size information acquisition under strong arc light, this paper designs a laser bandpass composite filter system based on the intensity of the spectral characteristics. The component size features are extracted by image processing algorithms such as edge detection, threshold division, and line fitting. Through the adaptive control of the forming speed, the deposition width deviation is automatically corrected. The results show that under strong arc light, the feature size accuracy monitoring reaches 91.79%, and the clear image of deposition layer can be obtained effectively. This method can realize the effective forming with the deposition width of 5.5–10 mm and can accurately change the deposition layer width on demand. The dynamic control value error of the deposition feature size is less than 0.4 mm, that is, the control system can effectively ensure the component surface accuracy.
Optimization of powered wheels for commercial aircraft and design of test scheme
Authors: Huang Mingyang
Published: April 2022

Electric landing gear drives equipped with traction motors are able to power the wheels of single-aisle commercial aircraft to provide the capability of taxiing on the ground. The powered wheels are utilized to solve the problems of low engine efficiency, high fuel consumption and high pollution of the aircraft during the taxiing process. The powered wheel electric drive system consists of an electric traction motor, a set of planetary gear assembly, and a wheel. This paper optimizes the parameters of the planetary gear assembly of the electric drive system to improve the outputted torque of the powered wheel. After that, two test schemes are designed for the powered wheel electric drive system to measure its torque. These two test schemes use moment of inertia and resistance loading to replace the actual vertical load of the aircraft applied on the powered wheel during the taxiing process. The first scheme uses the mass block to simulate the mass of the general aircraft, whereas the second scheme uses a flywheel with a variable moment of inertia to simulate the mass of large commercial aircraft.
Stochastic parameterized modeling for aerodynamic design of wind turbine airfoil
Authors: Yu Jiaxin , Wang Xiaodong , Chen Jiangtao , Kang Shun
Published: April 2022

Aerodynamic optimization of the airfoil is of great significance to the shape design for wind turbine blade. However, it is tough to calculate the aerodynamic forces of airfoil with random shape variations. In response to this challenge, a stochastic parameterized model based on uncertainty quantification method is proposed. And the influence of non-deterministic airfoil geometry caused by designed parameters on the aerodynamic characteristics is evaluated through the combination of sparse grid-based polynomial chaos (SGPC) and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) taking two airfoils at different Reynolds numbers as examples. OpenFOAM is employed as CFD solver and connected with the in-house stochastic parametric analysis code in a non-intrusive way. Finally, the aerodynamic responses of lift, drag, as well as the surface pressure coefficients are obtained, and the sensitivity of the lift and drag coefficients to the stochastic designed parameters are evaluated. It can be concluded that for the same type airfoil, the sensitive parameters after stall behavior are effected to some extent by increasing Reynolds number, that is, the impact of the maximum curvature index on pressure surface is weakened. As for two kinds of airfoils, S809 is sensitive to parameters near the maximum curvature of the airfoil and the trailing edge of the suction surface under attached flow, while convert to those near the leading edge and maximum curvature of suction face once stalled. FFA-W3-241 airfoil has no sensitivity factors in attached flow and features the same sensitive indicators after stall. These results will provide a reference for coarse-to-fine strategy in optimizing the sample library which is generally the first step of airfoil design process.
Numerical investigation on the endwall fences with varying geometrical parameters on secondary flow control
Authors: Bian Tao , Shen Xin , Feng Jun , Wang Bing
Published: April 2022

This study investigates the effect of the fences with varying height and chord length on the secondary flow reduction. Three-dimensional flow structure on the endwall and streamline on the blade surface are analyzed to determine the effect of fence geometry on the secondary flow reduction. The results demonstrate that the pressure leg of the horseshoe vortex induced by the fences can prevent the passage vortex of the main blade. In this work, a fence geometry is found to reduce the secondary flow loss and decrease the total pressure loss coefficient of the main blade by about 4%. However, the fences with large chord length are found to bring a greater additional flow loss, which is induced by the flow separation of the fences. Thus, the fences could be applied only when the fences induced additional loss is lower than the loss due to the secondary flow that they prevent.
Uncertainty analysis of global and local performance impact of inflow and geometric uncertainties using sparse grid-based non-intrusive polynomial chaos
Authors: Guo Zhengtao , Chu Wuli , Zhang Haoguang
Published: April 2022

Flow variations at the inlet boundary due to the compressor operational condition changes and geometric variations of the realistic compressor blades due to the manufacturing variability cannot be absolutely avoided, the global and local performance impact of which requires to be considered in the mechanism study of performance change and the aerodynamic shape design. In this paper, a method to analyze the simultaneous impact of the inflow Mach number, inlet incidence and geometric uncertainties was proposed. To make the uncertainty modeling of geometric variations faster and closer to engineering practice, a parametric mathematical model based on scanning points on the blade was introduced to describing the profile and torsion errors in the method specially. Meanwhile, a sparse grid-based Non-Intrusive Polynomial Chaos (NIPC) was used for uncertainty quantification and uncertainty sensitivity analysis to alleviate the computational burden. Then, the method was combined with a loss source calculation method to estimate the global and local aerodynamic loss changes of a controlled diffusion compressor blade in a reference flow state of high inflow Mach number and large positive incidence, and the response performance of sparse grid-based NIPC was verified. The results show that inlet incidence and torsion error have a significance uncertainty effect on the boundary-layer separation above the suction surface, which is main reason for the fluctuation of global aerodynamic loss. The uncertainty effect of profile error on the boundary-layer separation is relatively weak, but profile error could have a certain uncertainty effect on the leading edge separation. The boundary-layer separation is insensitive to Inflow Mach number. Furthermore, a stochastic aerodynamic analysis in different reference inflow states was investigated, which reveals some laws that the uncertainty of the aerodynamic losses and the sensitivity of the inflow and geometric uncertainties change with reference inflow states.
Managing moral category implications of former drug addiction
Authors: Robles Jessica S
Published: April 2022

This project examines how meanings of drug addiction are negotiated through analysis of situated social actions in a telephone conversation. This paper uses interactional analysis to show how a former heroin user’s identity is constructed and moralized in the process of providing accounts through descriptions of drug addiction and its consequences. This case shows how social actions in interpersonal conversation provide insights into judgment and addiction, and how participants manage the complex moral hierarchies associated with drug use and drug user identities. The analysis contributes to enriching an area of empirical research that needs more data and more attention to interaction, while also contributing to theories of categorization, normalization, stigma, and morality of drug addiction.
Analysing agency in linguistic representations of action
Authors: Vincent Reid Samuel
Published: April 2022

Agency is an important concept in social science, but definitions vary. This paper discusses the treatment of agency in critical linguistics, and argues it could be expanded in terms of scope and linguistic manifestations. It presents a framework for analysing agency in representations of action. This consists of four independent aspects of agency, with each aspect comprised of categories encompassing different levels of agency. The framework is exemplified by examining three official reports into the causes of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Analysis shows how representations of responsibility in the report forewords are linked to the context and institutional aims of each report.
Equivalence tests for ratio of means in bioequivalence studies under crossover design
Authors: He Yingdong , Deng Yuhao , You Chong , Zhou Xiao-Hua
Published: April 2022

There are several problems concerning the statistical definition of average bioequivalence provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We proposed a ratio of means based on the original bioavailability measure as the definition for average bioequivalence. Under the log-normal distribution assumption, we proposed a hypothesis testing-based method and a confidence interval-based method to answer the question of whether the ratio of means falls into a predetermined interval. For the hypothesis testing-based method, we decomposed the null two-sided hypothesis of the ratio of means into two one-sided hypotheses. With the intersection–union theorem for asymptotic tests, we constructed two asymptotic size-[Formula: see text] tests for the original null hypothesis. The method of variance estimation recovery was adopted to develop the confidence interval-based method. Simulation studies showed that the proposed methods can maintain the empirical type I error rate closely at the nominal level and is as powerful as the two one-sided [Formula: see text]-test for testing the ratio of means under different settings. The application of the proposed methods was illustrated through six datasets in real-world examples.
The influence of polymer concentration on the morphology and mechanical properties of asymmetric polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membrane for O2/N2 separation
Authors: Karim Syed Shujaat , Farrukh Sarah , Hussain Arshad , Younas Mohammad , Noor Tayyaba
Published: April 2022

The polymeric based membrane technology has been an attractive alternative option among other gas separation technologies due to its ease of operation, good efficiency and low operational cost. However, a few concerns have been expressed about the polymeric based membrane technology for GS applications, such as the permeability-selectivity trade-off, mechanical stability and its environmental impacts. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of polymer concentration on a biopolymer-PVA asymmetric membrane morphology, its mechanical properties and gas transport behaviour in order to optimize it for O2/N2 separation using the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. For this purpose, initially, a theoretical solubility model and cloud point phase diagram analysis were conducted to study the solubility and demixing behaviour of the PVA/Water/THF ternary system. Afterwards, these membranes were prepared at different polymeric concentrations from 10 to 14 weight percent (wt.%) and then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity measurement test, universal testing machine (UTM) and gas permeation test to analyse their physical structure, mechanical properties and GS performance. The analysis results showed that a lower polymer concentration of 10 wt.% facilitated larger pore sizes of 2.486 ± 1.2 μm with a higher porosity of 77.73 ± 15.26% having higher O2 permeance but lower O2/N2 selectivity and mechanical properties. Whereas, a higher polymer concentration of 12 wt.% promoted smaller pore sizes of 2.096 ± 0.5 μm with a porosity of 56.31 ± 3.6%, having better O2/N2 separation performance and higher mechanical properties. However, increasing the polymeric concentration to 14 wt.% resulted in a densified membrane structure having voids and small pore sizes of 1.447 ± 0.9 μm, with a porosity of 31.35 ± 11.98%, and lower elasticity causing membrane rigidified, making it unsuitable for GS applications. Therefore, the intermediate concentration of 12 wt.% PVA asymmetric membrane represents the most optimum morphology and mechanical properties for better O2/N2 separation.
State Finance Commissions and Devolution of Funds to Panchayati Raj Institutions in Odisha: A Critique
Authors: Mohapatra Bishnu Prasad
Published: April 2022

State Finance Commissions (SFCs) support the Local Self-governments in receiving the funds from the state resources and effectively discharging their functions as institutions of self-government. Constituted in 2018, the fifth SFC has, in its report submitted to the state government, recommended various measures for transferring funds to the Panchayats and strengthening the revenue of these bodies. This article examines the key recommendations of the fifth SFC, recommendations of the previous SFCs and implications of these recommendations on improving the finances of the Panchayats. This article argues that the working of SFCs and their recommendations have in many ways impacted the finances of the Panchayati Raj Institutions on the basis of review of various SFC Reports and secondary data from the government. However, in some cases, the state government has not effectively implemented the recommendations of the SFCs. So, it is important for the state government to implement the key recommendations of fifth SFC and accordingly transfer funds to the PRIs.
Does Difference in Environmental Standard Influence India’s Bilateral IIT Flows? Evidence from GMM Results
Authors: Aggarwal Sakshi , Chakraborty Debashis , Banik Nilanjan
Published: April 2022

In the recent past, India has entered into several regional trading agreements (RTAs) with the objective of export promotion, on the one hand, and deepening participation in the global value chains, on the other. The consequent rise in Indian exports had been accompanied by a simultaneous import growth, given the trade preferences for partners through RTAs as well as ongoing unilateral tariff reforms. The rise in simultaneous exports and imports has enhanced the country’s intra-industry trade (IIT) level. Recently, India has engaged in RTA negotiations with several developed countries, which are characterized by more stringent environmental standards. The current analysis attempts to identify factors that influence India’s bilateral aggregate IIT index in a dynamic panel framework. In particular, it attempts to assess whether greater divergence in environmental standards adversely influence India’s IIT patterns. The empirical estimates reveal that India’s IIT is found to be relatively higher with countries that are technologically more advanced and have relatively stringent environmental standards. The observation indicates that India is possibly specializing in relatively low technology-intensive products vis-à-vis its developed trade partners. The analysis concludes that India would be better off by facilitating innovation and adhering to a higher level of environmental standard.

JEL Codes: F13, F14, F15, F18
Accounting infrastructures and the negotiation of social and economic returns under financialization: The case of impact investing
Authors: Guter-Sandu Andrei
Published: April 2022

Impact investing has emerged as a topical subject-matter for scholars working at the intersection between finance and social policy. By and large, it is seen as a product of financialization: some argue that the social is colonized by financial actors and methods, others see it as a site where boundary work produces a state of value plurality in which competing values—social and financial—co-exist. This article takes the latter perspective further and unpacks the endogenous dynamics underpinning the creation of social values in impact investing programs. It analyzes how high-level organizations in the field prescribed specific social impact valuation processes and mechanisms for collecting, measuring, and reporting data about value creation. It argues that the social values circulating in the impact investing field emerge from the interplay between a wide array of stakeholders, impact investors included. The social impact accounting tools that capture them materialize therefore as sites of political battles and negotiations between stakeholders, with both emancipatory but also exploitative potential. This has consequences upon our understanding of how financialization travels and how the social dynamics underpinning accounting devices (re)draw boundaries between competing values and fields.
Evaluation of Facial Esthetics Following NAM Versus CAD/NAM in Infants With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: El-Ashmawi Noha A. , Fayed Mona M. Salah , El-Beialy Amr , Fares Ahmed E. , Attia Khaled H.
Published: April 2022

Objective

The aim is to compare the facial esthetics following nasoalveolar molding (NAM) versus computer-aided design NAM (CAD/NAM) in patients with bilateral cleft lip/palate (CLP).

Design

The trial is a randomized comparative trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio.

Participants

Thirty infants with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate were recruited.

Interventions

Patients were randomized between NAM and CAD/NAM groups. The treatment steps described by Grayson were followed for the NAM group. In the CAD/NAM group, digitized maxillary models were made to create a series of modified virtual models, which were used to fabricate the molding plates using 3-dimensional printing technology. The nasal stents were then added to the intraoral plates following the Grayson method. The study lasted for 4 months.

Main Outcomes

The assessment of the changes observed in the interlabial gap and nasolabial esthetics was done using standardized 2-dimensional photographs. The correlation between dental arch changes and extraoral facial esthetics was studied.

Results

Both modalities showed improvement in nasolabial esthetics before the lip surgery. No statistically significant difference was found between NAM and CAD/NAM groups in any of the assessed variables.

Conclusions

Both interventions were effective in the management of infants with bilateral CLP.
A micro-phenomenological and semiotic approach to cognition in practice: a path toward an integrative approach to studying cognition-in-the-world and from within
Authors: Poizat Germain , Flandin Simon , Theureau Jacques
Published: April 2022

The article presents the course-of-experience framework and how it contributes to studying cognition in practice. The aim is twofold: (a) to argue for a phenomenologically and semiotically inspired enactivist approach to practice and cognition in practice and (b) to describe research methods that provide rigorous first-person data in relation to practice—in other words, a view “from within” of practice. Practice is considered to be a relevant unit of analysis for studying cognition-in-the-world and is defined as enacted, lived, situated, embodied, and enculturated. Practice is not viewed as a “context for” but as “constitutive” of the cognitive process itself. This article describes (a) the epistemological foundation and general assumptions of the course-of-experience framework, (b) the associated way of looking at pre-reflective self-consciousness and its relation to practice, (c) the analytical hypothesis derived from Peirce’s semeiotic, and (d) some methodological considerations related to data collection, data processing, and analysis. In the concluding section, we outline the added value of the course-of-experience framework for cognitive science, and we indicate possible directions for further research.
Internet, Political Regime and Terrorism: A Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Khokhlov Nikita , Korotayev Andrey
Published: April 2022

The Internet provides a medium for the rapid mobilization of dissatisfied citizens and potentially contributes to various forms of political instability, including terrorism. However, the spread of the Internet may not lead to a higher intensity of terrorist attacks because direct perpetrators rely on close personal offline ties, and the national security agencies derive symmetrical benefits from Internet development as terrorists. In addition, the number of connections proxies a general level of country development, which is associated with less terrorist activity. We analyze the relationship between the number of Internet connections and the intensity of terrorist attacks using time-series cross-sectional data from the Global Terrorism Database from 1970 to 2018. Estimation of negative binomial regression models demonstrates an inverse relationship between Internet proliferation and the number of terrorist attacks, which holds for democracies and is absent for autocracies. Our results suggest that Internet proliferation is not a decisive factor in terrorism activity. Its impact on terrorism depends on the type of political regime and the level of socio-economic development.
Robust iterative learning control for linear discrete-time systems with initial state learning
Authors: Ayatinia Mojtaba , Forouzanfar Mehdi , Ramezani Amin
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates a new sufficient robust convergence condition of iterative learning control with initial state learning in the presence of iteration-varying uncertainty for multivariable systems in the time domain. The uncertainty in system parameters may lead to divergence of the ILC algorithm. Moreover, in the basic ILC algorithm, the initial state is constant in each iteration and, consequently, always leads to a tracking error. Providing fixed learning gains over time and iteration is a significant achievement of this norm-based method. For this purpose, first, a new robust convergence condition is designed based on the iterative learning control with initial state learning algorithm, and in the next step, a semi-optimal solution is achieved for it by the imperialist competitive algorithm . Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed convergence scheme is evaluated through two numerical examples.
Education, Class, and Female Genital Cutting among the Samburu of Northern Kenya: Challenging the Reproduction of the “Ignorant Pastoralist” Narrative in Anticutting Campaigns
Authors: Van Bavel Hannelore
Published: April 2022

Based on ethnographic research among the Samburu of northern Kenya, this article examines the association between formal education and the abandonment of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). It challenges the notion that Samburu continue cutting out of “ignorance” of the health and legal implications of cutting. The findings show that, rather than a causal effect of “knowledge” on cutting-related attitudes and behavior, formal education can replace FGM/C as a source for status, respect, and adulthood. In addition, alternative expectations apply to formally educated Samburu. Challenging the reproduction of the “ignorant pastoralist” narrative in anticutting campaigns is important because of the harm such narratives inflict on pastoralist communities.
The Neuro-Endo-Microbio-Ome Study: A Pilot Study of Neurobiological Alterations Pre- Versus Post-Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Agarwal Khushbu , Maki Katherine A. , Vizioli Carlotta , Carnell Susan , Goodman Ethan , Hurley Matthew , Harris Civonnia , Colwell Rita , Steele Kimberley , Joseph Paule V.
Published: April 2022

Background

Plausible phenotype mechanisms following bariatric surgery include changes in neural and gastrointestinal physiology. This pilot study aims to investigate individual and combined neurologic, gut microbiome, and plasma hormone changes pre- versus post-vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and medical weight loss (MWL). We hypothesized post-weight loss phenotype would be associated with changes in central reward system brain connectivity, differences in postprandial gut hormone responses, and increased gut microbiome diversity.

Methods

Subjects included participants undergoing VSG, n = 7; RYGB, n = 9; and MWL, n = 6. Ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide-YY, gut microbiome, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI; using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations [fALFF]) were measured pre- and post-intervention in fasting and fed states. We explored phenotype characterization using clustering on gut hormone, microbiome, and rsfMRI datasets and a combined analysis.

Results

We observed more widespread fALFF differences post-bariatric surgery versus post-MWL. Decreased post-prandial fALFF was seen in food reward regions post-RYGB. The highest number of microbial taxa that increased post-intervention occurred in the RYGB group, followed by VSG and MWL. The combined hormone, microbiome, and MRI dataset most accurately clustered samples into pre- versus post-VSG phenotypes followed by RYGB subjects.

Conclusion

The data suggest surgical weight loss (VSG and RYGB) has a bigger impact on brain and gut function versus MWL and leads to lesser post-prandial activation of food-related neural circuits. VSG subjects had the greatest phenotype differences in interactions of microbiome, rsfMRI, and gut hormone features, followed by RYGB and MWL. These results will inform future prospective research studying gut-brain changes post-bariatric surgery.
A new mutation in the PDE6C gene in achromatopsia
Authors: Jiménez-Siles Laura , Zamorano-Martín Francisco , García-Lorente María , Urbinati Facundo , Rachwani Anil Rahul , Fernández-Figares María , España-Contreras Manuela
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To report a case of achromatopsia with a new mutation in the PDE6C gene which has not been previously described.

Methods

Case report.

Patients

A single patient.

Results

A 35-year-old woman with poor vision and impaired color vision. Fundus examination of both eyes (OU) revealed small optic discs. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed photoreceptor segment defects and a disruption of the ellipsoid layer in the foveal region, with intact overlying outer limiting membrane and underlying RPE bands. The electroretinogram (ERG) showed scotopic responses: DA 0.01: normal amplitude, b-wave latency at upper limit of normal / slightly increased. DA 3 and DA 10: slightly increased b-wave latency, asymmetry in b amplitude, being lower in the left eye. Oscillatory potentials: no responses are obtained. Photopic responses: LA-3: greatly increased latencies, decreased amplitude. Subsequently, a case of incomplete achromatopsia was suspected. Therefore, a genetic study was carried out showing the homozygous presence of the undescribed pathogenic variant c.660_661del (p.Ser221Tyrfs * 15) in exon 3 of the PDE6C gene.

Conclusion

Achromatopsia is an autosomal-recessive genetic disease characterized by decreased visual acuity, color blindness, photophobia, and nystagmus. Due to the variability of genetic mutations in achromatopsia, genetic characterization is mandatory in order to improve the efficiency in molecular diagnosis. This data may be useful in future therapeutic strategies. We present a previously undescribed mutation in the PDE6C gene in a patient with incomplete achromatopsia.
Prevalence, multimodal imaging and genotype-phenotype assessment of trauma related subretinal fibrosis in stargardt disease
Authors: Jimenez-Rolando B , Garcia-Sandoval B , Del Pozo-Valero M , Ayuso C , Garcia-Ferreira M , Abellanas M , Campos-Seco S , Carreño E
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives

Stargardt disease produces lipofuscin accumulation predisposing to subretinal fibrosis (SRFib) after ocular trauma. Noninvasive imaging techniques allow in vivo assessment. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of SRFib in a cohort of Stargardt patients, the presence of history of ocular trauma, the clinical features and possible genotype-phenotype associations in Stargardt patients with SRFib.

Methods

We evaluated retrospectively 106 Stargardt patients and analysed the multimodal imaging and the genotype of patients with SRFib.

Results

Six patients exhibited SRFib, three of them with history of ocular trauma. Multimodal imaging showed extensive SRFib principally in the temporal midperipheral retina with no fluid associated. SRFib was better defined by short wavelength autofluorescence and spectral domain optical coherence tomography and appeared clinically stable over time. There was no particular genotype associated to SRFib.

Conclusion

SRFib occurs in a significant percentage of patients with Stargardt disease and can be diagnosed through multimodal imaging regardless the history of trauma, further sustaining the importance of an appropriate imaging in such patients. No genotype-phenotype association has been established, supporting the traumatic etiology in half of cases. The remaining cases may be classified as idiopathic or have a minimal trauma occurring early in life that may be not recalled by the patients.