bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of policies on the diffusion of agricultural innovations: Systematic review on evaluation approaches
Authors: El Bakali Imane , Brouziyne Youssef , Ait El Mekki Abdelkader , Maatala Nassreddine , Harbouze Rachid
Published: November 2023

The demand for sustainable agricultural technologies still lags behind the supply confirming the demand articulation failure of transformational innovation change agricultural policies. To understand the reasons for demand shortcomings, the evaluation of developed policies is required. In the literature, there is little evidence on this topic, henceforth, this paper conducts a systematic review of the primary methodological approaches used to assess the influence of policies on the dissemination of agricultural innovations. The results showed that there are two clusters of evaluation; the first investigates how policies affect agricultural innovation adoption, and the second studies how policies affect yields and profitability. For the first cluster, 70% of the studies analyzed adoption decisions using the Double-hurdle, Probit, or Tobit models or captured changes in adoption levels over time using the Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool and discrete-time duration models. This cluster is related to the assessment of the input and output additionalities of innovation policies. In 58% of the studies related to the second cluster, the focus was the assessment of economic and environmental implications using mathematical programming models, particularly agent-based modeling. The purpose of evaluation in this cluster is more focused on behavioral additionality. There were no experimental or quasi-experimental methods among the methods utilized in this cluster. The majority of studies do not incorporate the evaluation of economic, social, and environmental aspects together; therefore, evaluation outlooks suggest increasing interest in sustainability impact. It is suggested that models from both clusters be used in combination to explore input, output, and behavioral additionalities simultaneously. Furthermore, including white-box evaluation approaches to evaluate demand-oriented innovation policy in the agricultural sector, in addition to usual black-box approaches, is a necessity.
A Reliability Generalization Meta-Analysis of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM)
Authors: Yüksel Doğan Raziye , Demir Emin , Öz Sena , Demircioğlu Haktan
Published: November 2023

We carried out the present meta-analysis study to secure the reliability generalization of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Scale (CAMM) based on its reliability findings in different studies. The study only considered full-text papers in English that were indexed in Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus and presented a Cronbach’s alpha value of the measurements with the CAMM (209 alpha values out of 155 papers). Using the random effects model and the Bonnet transformation, the relevant analyses yielded the transformed Cronbach’s alpha value of the CAMM to be 0.80 (CI = 0.79-0.81). The present meta-analysis study concluded that the CAMM is rather reliable to be utilized in child and adolescent populations. Besides, moderator analyses to scrutinize the alpha values yielded significant differences in favor of the origin continent of the research and the CAMM-short version (25-item/10-item). Yet, it was not the case with the publication type and the adaptation status of the scale. In a nutshell, future research may confidently employ the 10-item short form of the CAMM to assess mindfulness among children and adolescents.
The Interplay of Strength and Content of Women’s Gender Identity, Ambivalent Sexism Targeted at Men, and Attitudes Toward Gender Role Subtypes
Authors: Kaczuba Adrianna , Koszałkowska Karolina
Published: November 2023

In this on-line study of adult women ( N = 145), we performed a series of moderation analyses, including women’s self-reported gender in-group identification as moderator, their traditional/progressive identity contents as predictors, ambivalent sexism targeted at men and attitudes toward male and female conforming and non-conforming gender roles as outcome variables. We found that both traditional and progressive identity contents were significant predictors of benevolent sexism but did not predict hostile sexism toward men. Moreover, traditional identity contents predicted more negative evaluations of both male and female gender non-conforming roles, while progressive identity contents predicted more positive evaluations of both male and female gender non-conforming roles. The results have also indicated that the less a woman identifies with her gender in-group while having highly traditional identity contents, the lower she evaluates gender non-conforming roles of other women. The present study adds to the existing research on the links between women’s gender identity and perceptions of the opposite sex, as well as their evaluations of various gender roles of men and women.
Education for Political Transformation: Mobilisation of Ladakhi Youth in Himalaya, India
Authors: Suresh Babu G.S
Published: November 2023

Mobilisation of Ladakhi youth in the upper hills of western Himalayas through education represents a distinct cultural and ethnic identity. Notwithstanding the possibility of studying such mobilisation as effects of education, this article highlights that, being educated outside of Ladakh, the youth not only cultivate and develop multiple levels of consciousness about their situation but also carefully employ their cultural imperatives to mobilise politically. In a regional historical context with a comparative perspective, education is analysed as a tool for mobilising youth which subsequently shaped the local community for political transformation. Instead of talking of youth in isolation, the analytical framework captures the narrative structures of educational transformation and political mobilisation in a region. Becoming a Union Territory in 2019 after the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state is the untold story behind the consistent struggle led by the Ladakhi-educated youth to articulate cultural and territorial identity and meet a long-standing demand for the regional autonomy. Through the narratives of history, this article highlights that the youth of Ladakh has been very much part of mobilisation for education as well as central to internal educational reforms and social progress that forecast the political imagination of a regional identity.
Titanium dioxide release behavior during wash of UV-protective garments by total reflection X-ray fluorescence
Authors: Ferreira Diego de Dio , Melquiades Fábio Luiz , Appoloni Carlos Roberto
Published: November 2023

The increasing worldwide use of different kinds of clothes with ultraviolet protection in recent years, in particular employing titanium dioxide nanoparticles, is driving the researchers’ attention to the possible environmental problems due to titanium release. This study aims at determining the amount of titanium released from seven ultraviolet-protective garments into the wash water employing total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. For this, a wash protocol was designed based on the international standard ISO 105-C06:2010 and the literature. Pieces (4 cm × 10 cm) of textile were sampled from the garments and submitted 30 times to the wash protocol. The wash water produced in each wash was then prepared for total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. Results showed that the titanium released in 30 washes was between 8.6 ± 1.3 µg/L and 168 ± 3 µg/L. Every sample released titanium in the first to third wash, except sample 1, which first released titanium in the 18th wash. The greatest titanium release in one single wash was also the 18th wash of sample 1, which released 77 ± 2 µg/L. These results showed the good performance of total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in quantifying low titanium amounts in wash water, which is a hard task even for well-established analytical methods.
Civic Sovereignty: Indigenous Civic Constructs in Public School Spaces
Authors: Talbert Rachel
Published: November 2023

Context:

This study examines how urban American Indian high school students negotiate their civic identities within the settler colonial structures of urban American public schools.

Research Question:

How do urban American Indian students negotiate civic identities in spaces where civic concepts are taught, such as American history classes in an urban public high school and a Native Youth Council (Native YC)?

Research Design:

This critical participatory ethnographic study examines the negotiation of civic identity by 11 urban Indigenous students in social studies classes, a Native YC, and a school in Washington State, where the STI curriculum is taught. Safety zone theory and tribal critical race theory were used to understand students’ experiences and their stories from observations, participant interviews, and focus groups, which were employed as data.

Conclusions/Recommendations:

The study found that the social studies classes and Native YC were zones of sovereignty (ZoS), forwarding survivance and self-determination for Native students. Students learned about the Indigenous civic constructs of sovereignty, self-determination, dual citizenship, tribal self-government, and federal Indian policy inside and outside of school, all of which supported Native students in civic identity development. Recommendations on teaching Indigenous civic constructs to all students as part of teaching for critical democracy in public schools as a component of social studies classes and extracurricular activities are discussed.
MacIntyre and Hegel on the possibility of resolving philosophical disagreements
Authors: Burns Tony
Published: November 2023

This article examines the views of Hegel and Alasdair MacIntyre regarding philosophical disagreements, whether or not they can be resolved and if so how. For both thinkers such a disagreement is thought of as taking place between the advocates of two theoretical positions which are opposed to one another. Each party subscribes to a way of thinking about the issue under discussion which appears to be logically incompatible with the views of the other. We seem therefore to have to make an either-or choice between them. In the case of all philosophical disagreements, therefore, the same questions arise. Is the contradiction in question real, or merely apparent? Can it be resolved? If so, what exactly is involved in such a resolution? Is some form of theoretical compromise, between these two extremes possible? Is there a third-way, a both-and approach, which in some way combines the strengths of each and the weaknesses of neither, or which seeks in some way to balance their respective strengths and weaknesses of each against those of the other? The article suggests that MacIntyre differentiates between two types of philosophical disagreement. In the case of the first, the ideas associated with the two opposed positions are incommensurable. We must, therefore make an either-or choice between them. In the case of disagreements of the second type, the ideas in question are not incommensurable. In these cases, therefore, it is possible for them to be combined or synthesised. The article argues that MacIntyre’s approach to this second type of philosophical disagreement has an obvious affinity with what is often thought to be that of Hegel. In the words of Richard J. Bernstein, it is ‘quasi-Hegelian’. It is therefore fruitful to compare and contrast the views of these two thinkers on this issue.
Effects of immersive and non-immersive virtual reality-based rehabilitation training on cognition, motor function, and daily functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ren Yuanyuan , Wang Qingjie , Liu Houyu , Wang Guodong , Lu Aming
Published: November 2023

Objective

To examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation training in improving cognition, motor function, and daily functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Data sources

A systematic review of published literature was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.

Methods

The search period was from inception to 7 October 2023. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of VR-based rehabilitation training in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia versus control subjects. Methodologic quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and outcomes were calculated as the standard mean difference between participant groups with 95% confidence interval.

Results

A total of 21 randomized controlled trials with 1138 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that VR-based rehabilitation training had significant effects on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (SMD: 0.50; 95%CI: 0.05 to 0.95; P = 0.030), Trail-making test A (SMD: −0.38; 95%CI: −0.61 to −0.14; P = 0.002), and Berg Balance Scale scores (SMD: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.13 to 1.45; P = 0.020). A subgroup analysis revealed that the type of VR, and duration and frequency of interventions had statistically significant effects on cognition and motor function.

Conclusion

VR-based rehabilitation training is a beneficial nonpharmacologic approach for managing mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Immersive VR-based training had greater effects on cognition and motor function than non-immersive VR-based training, but non-immersive VR-based training was more convenient for patients with limitations imposed by their disease. Also, an intervention lasting 5–8 weeks and for >30 min at a frequency of ≥3 times/week achieved the best results. It indicated that a longer intervention cycle may not achieve the best intervention effect and training duration and schedule should be carefully considered when managing patients.
Enhanced angiogenesis in the thalamus induced by a novel TSPO ligand ameliorates cognitive deficits after focal cortical infarction
Authors: Chen Yicong , Veenman Leo , Liao Mengshi , Huang Weixian , Yu Jian , Zeng Jinsheng
Published: November 2023

Neuronal loss in the ipsilateral thalamus after focal cortical infarction participates in post-stroke cognitive deficits, and enhanced angiogenesis in the thalamus is expected to reduce neuronal damage. We hypothesize that novel translocator protein (TSPO) ligand, 2-Cl-MGV-1, can promote angiogenesis, attenuate neuronal loss in the thalamus, and ameliorate post-stroke cognitive deficits. Cortical infarction was induced by distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) in stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats. 2-Cl-MGV-1 or dimethyl sulfoxide was administered 24 h after dMCAO and then for 6 or 13 days. Spatial learning and memory were assessed using the Morris water maze. Neuronal loss, TSPO expression, angiogenesis, and intrinsic pathway were determined by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting 7 and 14 days after dMCAO. Cortical infarction caused post-stroke cognitive deficits and secondary neuronal loss with gliosis in the ipsilateral thalamus within 14 days of dMCAO. Increased angiogenesis and elevated expression of vascular TSPO were detected in the ipsilateral thalamus, and treatment with 2-Cl-MGV-1 enhanced angiogenesis by stimulating the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. The effects of 2-Cl-MGV-1 on angiogenesis coincided with reduced neuronal loss in the thalamus and contributed to improvements in post-stroke cognitive deficits. Our findings suggest that 2-Cl-MGV-1 stimulates angiogenesis, ameliorates neuronal loss in the thalamus, and improves post-stroke cognitive deficits.
Using digital pathology to analyze the murine cerebrovasculature
Authors: Niedowicz Dana M , Gollihue Jenna L , Weekman Erica M , Phe Panhavuth , Wilcock Donna M , Norris Christopher M , Nelson Peter T
Published: November 2023

Research on the cerebrovasculature may provide insights into brain health and disease. Immunohistochemical staining is one way to visualize blood vessels, and digital pathology has the potential to revolutionize the measurement of blood vessel parameters. These tools provide opportunities for translational mouse model research. However, mouse brain tissue presents a formidable set of technical challenges, including potentially high background staining and cross-reactivity of endogenous IgG. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fixed frozen sections, both of which are widely used, may require different methods. In this study, we optimized blood vessel staining in mouse brain tissue, testing both FFPE and frozen fixed sections. A panel of immunohistochemical blood vessel markers were tested (including CD31, CD34, collagen IV, DP71, and VWF), to evaluate their suitability for digital pathological analysis. Collagen IV provided the best immunostaining results in both FFPE and frozen fixed murine brain sections, with highly-specific staining of large and small blood vessels and low background staining. Subsequent analysis of collagen IV-stained sections showed region and sex-specific differences in vessel density and vessel wall thickness. We conclude that digital pathology provides a useful tool for relatively unbiased analysis of the murine cerebrovasculature, provided proper protein markers are used.
A Thematic Analysis of Enhancing Constructive Political Conflict Using Positive Imagined Interactions
Authors: Covington-Guillory Emily N. , Madison Thomas Phillip , Winters Caryn
Published: November 2023

This narrative inquiry aimed to investigate whether the deliberate use of positive imagined interactions (IIs) could contribute to the enhancement of cross-cutting political conflict, and also tested the seventh theorem of II conflict linkage theory. Undergraduate student participants were assigned to one of three conditions: positive II, negative II, or control in a three-phase procedure. Participants engaged in an II and then reflected on their IIs through open-ended questions before having real cross-cutting conversations on a political topic of their choice with trained confederates. Participants then completed a questionnaire assessing the constructiveness or destructiveness of their interaction. Thematic analysis revealed that 40 out of the 45 total participants engaged in positive and constructive conflict with their conversation partners. Positive IIs facilitated perspective-taking, while negative IIs allowed individuals to mentally defend their beliefs. Although the results neither confirmed nor refuted Theorem 7 of II conflict linkage theory, they did provide support for Theorem 3, which suggests that negative intrusive IIs can manifest even when individuals attempt to have positive IIs.
Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Campylobacter fetus: a case report and literature review
Authors: Bak Ayeong , Kim Taek Soo , Park Hyunwoong , Park Jae Hyeon
Published: November 2023

Campylobacter fetus is a Gram-negative bacillus typically associated with bacteremia in immunocompromised patients. Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication of prosthetic valve surgery, with a high mortality rate if not treated promptly. We present a rare case of PVE caused by C. fetus. A man in his mid-60s presented to the Emergency Department with a fever and showed elevated C-reactive protein concentrations. He had prosthetic mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery 15 years previously. Gram-negative rods were detected in a blood culture. These rods were identified as C. fetus using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient was treated with gentamicin and imipenem, and underwent valve replacement surgery. C. fetus was isolated in a left atrial appendage swab obtained during the surgery. Follow-up blood cultures were negative after treatment. However, after a cardiac arrest event, the patient’s general condition deteriorated, and he died. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of PVE caused by C. fetus in Korea and the second fatality to date. This case highlights the importance of considering C. fetus as a potential cause of PVE, even in patients without known risk factors.
Engineering employability skills: Students, academics, and industry professionals perception
Authors: Souppez Jean-Baptiste RG
Published: November 2023

Graduate employability is a major focal point of higher education. Designing curricula that equip graduates with the skills and attributes necessary to gain and retain employment is a challenge for Universities worldwide. This article investigates the perception differential between students, academics, and industry professionals. The aim is to identify the relevant skills and attributes to facilitate the transition of mechanical engineering graduates from education to employment. The results establish an upper second-class degree as the most desirable qualification. Studying a professional-body accredited course and being a student member of a professional institution are seen as crucial, despite the latter not being recognised as such by students. Significant differences are identified in the importance of Information Technology skills and software packages, with an institutional bias identified amongst academics. Lastly, the key skills and attributes to secure graduate employment are determined, with striking differences between industry professionals and students, the former desiring a personal and professional attitude and professional conduct above all else, the importance of which is underestimated by students. The findings provide novel insights into employability skills for mechanical engineers, and it is envisaged they may contribute to aligning engineering curricula with employer expectations, allowing graduates and academics to identify key employability skills and attributes, and improving graduate employment.
Parent-Implemented Reading Intervention for Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disability
Authors: Heidlage Jodi K. , Lemons Christopher J. , Balasubramanian Lakshmi , Dunnavant Linda
Published: November 2023

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) require intensive multicomponent interventions to learn to read. Parent-implemented interventions have been shown to be effective for children with disabilities and are one potential method for providing intervention. This study used a multiple probe single case design to evaluate the effectiveness of an early multicomponent reading intervention implemented by parents in the home. This study was designed as a conceptual replication of Lemons et al. in response to concerns with the overall quality of instruction during schooling at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three U.S. parents of children with IDD (ages 4–7 years) participated in this study. Results indicated that with systematic training, coaching, and feedback, parents were able to positively impact their child’s reading abilities and implement the intervention with fidelity.
Educational identity statuses: Stability and change across the secondary school transition
Authors: Christiaens Annabelle HT , Becht Andrik I , Nelemans Stefanie A , Branje Susan
Published: November 2023

The transition from secondary to tertiary education is important for educational identity development, as adolescents make choices regarding their academic track and vocational profile. The present study used Latent Transition Analysis to examine stability and change in identity statuses around the school transition, using questionnaire data from the Educational Identity Processes Scale in the Dutch educational context. Additionally, this study examined the extent to which the social context, characterized by positive relationship quality with parents and friends and school belonging, affects adolescents’ identity status and the probability of making a progressive shift toward identity coherence. These questions were examined in late adolescence ( N = 204, 75.0% female, Mage T1 = 17.7 years) across two time points 1 year apart. Findings indicated that most adolescents were in an identity coherence status, while a sizable minority was in an identity crisis status. Patterns of stability and change between statuses indicated that most adolescents remained in the same status, but when change did occur it was more often progressive from crisis into coherence than from coherence into crisis. Finally, a positive social context seemed to be an important factor to promote more optimal educational identity development.
Modeling the anisotropic squeeze flow during hot press consolidation of thermoplastic unidirectional fiber-reinforced tapes
Authors: Kobler Eva , Birtha Janos , Marschik Christian , Straka Klaus , Steinbichler Georg , Schlecht Sven
Published: November 2023

The anisotropic material behavior of continuous-fiber-reinforced composites that is evident in their mechanical properties should also be considered in their processing. An important step in the processing of thermoplastic unidirectional (UD) fiber-reinforced tapes is consolidation, where a layup consisting of locally welded UD tape layers is firmly bonded. Compression of the molten thermoplastic matrix material during consolidation leads to a squeeze flow, the direction of which is determined by the fibers. This work presents a model that describes the influence of fiber direction on compression and flow behavior, implemented in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software tool OpenFOAM®. To validate the simulation results, we performed experiments in a laboratory consolidation unit, capturing the squeeze flow with cameras and then quantifying it by gray-scale analysis. The specimens used were UD polycarbonate tapes (44% carbon fibers by volume) of various sizes and with various fiber directions. The simulation allows prediction of the changes in specimen geometry during consolidation and is a first step towards optimizing the process by avoiding extensive squeeze flow.
The effect of expanded graphite and paraffin wax on the morphological, thermal, and rheological properties of PP/EVA blend
Authors: Mofokeng Tladi Gideon , Motloung Mpho Phillip , Skosana Sifiso John , Motloung Mary Tholwana , Mochane Mokgaotsa Jonas
Published: November 2023

The study investigated the effect of paraffin wax, expanded graphite, and their dispersion on the properties of the blend of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The idea is to reduce interfacial tension in blends of PP and EVA while enhancing the properties of blends in the process. The chosen optimum contents of the paraffin wax and EG in the 80/20 PP/EVA blend were 10 and 6 wt.%, respectively. The morphological features show that the expanded graphite (EG) particles had high affinity for each other. Moreover, EG filler particles are localized inside the minor EVA phase and some at the interface. Rheological properties revealed that the flow of the binary composites increased when 10 wt.% wax is added suggesting that wax enhanced the processability of the composites. The Cole-Cole plots deviated from the semi-circular arc suggesting heterogeneity in the blend and PP/EVA/Wax/EG composite. The addition of paraffin wax and EVA delayed crystallization of PP, while earlier crystallization of PP was promoted by the presence of EG. Generally, all samples caught fire after 10 s, started dripping and are thus given a V-2 rating according to the Underwriters Laboratories test standard 94 results (UL-94).
The Long Road to Municipality 2.0: Mobile City Apps as Catalyst for Change?
Authors: Steenhout Iris , Volinz Lior , Beyens Kristel , Melgaço Lucas
Published: November 2023

In recent decades, the public sector has been looking for ways to accommodate increasingly critical citizens by striving towards a less bureaucratic and more efficient organization, as well as more direct forms of communication. Government institutions try to respond more quickly to citizens’ concerns and want to ensure that citizens can contact them more easily and find relevant and accurate information promptly. To achieve this, they often turn to technological aids. This article focuses on how municipalities analyze and follow up minor violations and street nuisances. We used semi-structured interviews with key informants from the relevant services of the municipality of Schaerbeek, a district of Brussels (Belgium), to examine how the technological innovations implemented within the municipality transform the relations between local authorities and their citizens, as well as the internal relations between the different municipal services. Although the respondents were unanimous about the added value of these technological solutions, our analysis shows four clearly recurrent issues : (1) the “functional reduction” associated with technological innovations leaves little room for the complex context of social nuisance; (2) government services are currently flooded by a “tsunami” of communication flows; (3) so-called “innovative” technological solutions often mimic old bureaucratic processes; (4) new communication tools are not equally integrated into all levels of local administration.
Text Messages to Incentivise Response in a Web-First Sequential Mixed-Mode Survey
Authors: Cabrera-Álvarez Pablo , Lynn Peter
Published: November 2023

This article reports research exploring the benefits of adding text messages to the contact strategy in the context of a sequential mixed-mode design where telephone interviewer administration follows a web phase. In a web-first mixed-mode survey, supplementing the contact strategy with text messages can help increase the response rate at the web phase and, consequently, reduce fieldwork efforts at the interviewer-administered phase. We present results from a survey experiment embedded in wave 11 of Understanding Society in which the usual contact strategy of emails and letters was supplemented with text messages. Effects of the text messages on survey response and fieldwork efforts were assessed. In addition, we also investigated the impact of SMS on the device selected to complete the survey, time to response, and sample balance. The results show a weak effect of the SMS reminders on response during the web fieldwork. However, this positive effect did not significantly reduce fieldwork effort.
Awareness and use of paraphrasing tools by the research scholars of BBAU and CUSB: A survey
Authors: Singh Varsha , Singh Avinash K , Sonkar Sharad K
Published: November 2023

Background

The online paraphrasing tool aids in the online rewriting of articles and essays. Users may avoid plagiarism by rephrasing sentences.

Scope

In this study focus on the awareness and use of paraphrasing tools by the Research scholars of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, situated in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and the Central University of South Bihar, situated in Gaya, Bihar.

Method

Survey methodology and online questionnaire tools used in this paper.

Data collection

200 responses were received from the researchers and scholars at BBAU and CUSB.

Finding

The finding of this study showed that research scholar of BBAU and CUSB are aware about the paraphrasing tools and they use more than one paraphrasing tool to manage their work. Quillbot and Duplicheaker paraphrasing tools are most used tools by research scholars of BBAU and CUSB.

Suggestion

The study suggest that need a training program on Paraphrasing tool for proper utilization of tools in best ethical manner.
Impact of solidity and speed ratio on the performance of a contra-rotating fan
Authors: Shahriyari MJ , Khaleghi H , Sadoddin M , Benini E
Published: November 2023

In this study, the effects of solidity and rotor speed ratio on the performance of a contra-rotating fan are investigated numerically. Simulation results have been validated by experimental tests. The test stand construction and the measurements have been performed according to ISO-5801 standard. In order to investigate the effect of blade solidity, simulations have been conducted with constant blade count of the front rotor and four configurations of the rear rotor (having 6, 8, 12 and 16 blades), and also constant blade count of the rear rotor and three configurations of the front rotor (having 8, 12, and 16 blades). Results suggest that there is an optimum solidity for the rear rotor, which gives maximum pressure rise and efficiency. Furthermore, the effects of the rotor speed ratios have been investigated in this study. It is shown that the speed of the front rotor is more effective on the fan performance, as compared to the rear rotor. Results reveal that the performance drop caused by a 25% reduction in the rear rotor blade count, can be compensated by 5% increase of the front rotor rotational speed. Therefore, a suitable choice of the speed ratio can result in light-weight and high-performance contra-rotating stages.
Leaders’ Coping Strategies After Abusive Behaviour – From the Eyes of the Perpetrator
Authors: Rafia-Tracy Jannatul
Published: November 2023

The problem of abusive supervision is prevalent in organizations across the board. However, the dark side of leadership is under-researched. The focus of this article is abusive managers’ coping strategy with the guilt of being abusive with subordinates. First, a review has been provided about abusive supervision, which was followed by different literature on coping strategies. Following the discussion on the methodology, findings on coping strategies adopted by managers were presented. Implications and limitations were also discussed at the end. Using qualitative research methodology and by interviewing 21 managers across four countries in seven different sectors data analysis revealed that managers adopt up to eight different types of coping strategies and the most used coping strategies are seeking social support, planning to reduce abusive behaviour, blaming others and acceptance. Moderately used coping strategies are self-control, the mental undoing of the transgression, rationalization and mental disengagement. No manager was found to adopt positive reinterpretation, resignation and plan to make up for the transgression as a coping strategy for their abusive behaviour towards employees.
Returns and Asymmetric Volatility Interdependencies between Sustainable and Conventional Stock Indices: Evidence from Developed and Emerging Countries
Authors: Seth Neha , Singh Deepti
Published: November 2023

The study investigates the co-integration and asymmetric volatility interdependence between the sustainable and conventional stock indices of emerging and developed countries. Daily closing values are used from 1st January 2015 to 15th July 2022. The study employs ARDL and VAR-Granger causality model to examine long-run association and cause-effect relation, respectively. Moreover, the Bivariate EGARCH model is also used to analyse return and asymmetric volatility spillover between two indices. The analysis reveals no evidence of co-integration between sustainable and conventional indices. However, bidirectional causality exists in all countries except the United Kingdom (UK) and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The return spillover result exhibits that return of the conventional index of Japan and Brazil are negatively affected by changes in its sustainable index. The EGARCH results reveal the bidirectional volatility spillover in all the markets. The volatility shocks from the sustainable index of the United States of America (USA) and China have an asymmetric effect on the conventional indices of these countries. Further, positive asymmetric spillover was observed between the sustainable and conventional indices of Brazil and UK. The knowledge of linkage and asymmetric volatility spillover will assist the investors in portfolio management and formulating hedging strategies during financial and economic adversities.
VRL Logistics Limited: Investment Dilemma Amidst the Global Pandemic
Authors: Sriram M.
Published: November 2023

The case examined the investment dilemma faced by the portfolio manager Mr Thomas George of a leading wealth management company regarding investments in VRL Logistics Limited, a leading logistics company in India. As part of the portfolio evaluation and rebalancing exercise, the portfolio manager had to take a call on whether to retain VRL Logistics Limited in the portfolio or exit the stock. The share price had seen a drastic increase from ₹161.55 to ₹282 at the time of reviewing the portfolio. The logistics sector was one of the major sectors affected due to the lockdown announced by the Government on account of the global pandemic. With the imminent threat of multiple waves and lockdowns, determining the intrinsic value amidst the global pandemic poses a challenge to the portfolio manager. The case employed different methods of valuation, such as discounted cash flow and relative valuation, to arrive at the fair value of the stock. The case also discussed incorporating ‘risk’ in the valuation exercise by performing a sensitivity analysis of key variables.
Entrepreneurial Intention of Rural College Students: Role of Perceived Behavioural Control, Entrepreneurial Desire and Entrepreneurial Knowledge
Authors: Tadi Prem Kumar , Aneesh Athira , Neethu P.S. , Sia Surendra Kumar
Published: November 2023

Drawing from the theory of goal directed behaviour and the multi-dimensionality of the Perceived Behaviour Control (PBC) construct proposed by Ajzen, the major objective of this cross-sectional research study was to investigate the extent to which, the two dimensions of PBC (Self-Efficacy and Perceived Controllability) predicts entrepreneurial intention directly and in the presence of entrepreneurial desire as the mediator. Also, the direct effect of the two dimensions of PBC was studied in the presence of a potential moderator, entrepreneurial knowledge. The sample for the present study was 239 rural undergraduate college students in Puducherry district of Pondicherry union territory. Measurement model was analysed using Confirmed Factor Analysis (CFA) in Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) and Process macro (model 5) was used to analyse the mediation and moderation analysis. The results revealed that the two dimensions of PBC havet both direct as well as the indirect influence over entrepreneurial intentions with entrepreneurial desire being the mediator. On the other hand, entrepreneurial knowledge does play a significant role as a moderator between the two dimensions of PBC and entrepreneurial intentions. The study has both theoretical and practical implications in the existing literature with minimum limitations and suggestion for the future researchers.
Stress, Mental Health, and Coping Among Workers in the Northern California Cannabis Industry: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis
Authors: Beckman Stella , Castañeda Xóchitl , Rivas Likhi , Schenker Marc B.
Published: November 2023

California is home to a multibillion-dollar cannabis (marijuana) industry, but little is known about the occupational health and safety hazards faced by cannabis workers and even less of the stress, mental health, and coping mechanisms among these workers. Previous research has been based on long-term workers at legal businesses, but most California cannabis is produced and sold unlawfully. There are many seasonal workers whose experiences have not been studied. A qualitative study based on focus group discussions and key informant interviews was performed to understand cannabis workers’ experiences, knowledge, and perceptions of occupational hazards. Participants reported sources of stress including production pressure and isolation, and mental health outcomes such as depression and mental fatigue. They described primarily maladaptive coping mechanisms. Unique characteristics of the cannabis industry, including criminalization and isolated, remote farms, make interventions challenging. However, policy approaches that involve community organizations could promote worker health.
Fatherhood and Elite Athletics: Sacrifice, Selfishness, and Gaining “Dad Strength”
Authors: Smith Sydney V. M. , Darroch Francine E. , Giles Audrey R. , Wykes Dylan
Published: November 2023

This study contributes to a growing body of scholarly discussions around the many aspects and challenges of combining parenthood with elite-level sport, with a particular focus on the experiences of male elite athletes who are fathers. We used a caring masculinities theoretical framework, community-based participatory research, and semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of 10 elite/international and world-class athletes ( n = 9 fathers, n = 1 expectant father). Through reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three main themes: fatherhood can (1) improve and (2) impede elite athlete-fathers’ athletic performance; and (3) athlete-fathers experience a trade-off between athletic performance and fatherhood responsibilities. Our findings underscore the ways in which male athletes’ experiences with parenthood reflect the new era of involved fatherhood and are analogous to some of the identity tensions that have been reported with regard to the experiences of elite female athletes who are pregnant and/or mothers. Recognizing the impact of children on male athletes’ athletic careers and the parallels between fatherhood, motherhood, and elite sport may lead to better support for athlete-fathers while also contributing to diminishing the expectation that women are primary caregivers to children.
Opportunities for Joy: A Mindful Path to Self-Compassion and Compassion for the Neurodiverse
Authors: Boyer Wanda
Published: November 2023

This paper articulates the positive effects on the therapeutic relationship between an adult with neurodiversity, their family, and their counselor of a counseling career growth opportunity in expressive arts play therapy. In a larger sense, this articulation exemplifies the importance of career growth opportunities for mitigating counselor burnout by strengthening a counselor's ability to form deeper therapeutic relationships with their clients.
Sensory, physicochemical, and functional stability of freeze-dried blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Snacks. Effect of sweeteners
Authors: Archaina Diego , Rivero Roy , Sosa Natalia , Schebor Carolina
Published: November 2023

The objective of this work was to develop two freeze-dried snacks from blackcurrant and different sweeteners: honey/isomalt (HI) sweetened with honey/isomalt, and isomalt/stevia (IS) sweetened with isomalt/stevia. Both snacks showed high bioactive compounds retention (>75%) and no significant changes in several physicochemical properties after 6 months storage. Fresh snacks were hard and crunchy, and the perception of consumers within liking categories was: HI: 43%, and IS: 72%. After storage HI snack showed higher acceptance by consumers (75% within liking categories) while IS snack showed a decrease in their acceptance (63% within disliking categories). The penalty analysis showed that the sensory shelf-life of both snacks would be limited by the changes produced in texture and color during storage. HI snack could reach six storage months, while IS would be stored up to 3 months. The use of diverse sweeteners allowed obtaining two different products which could be incorporated into a healthy diet.
Systemic Medication for the Treatment of Prurigo Nodularis—A Systematic Review
Authors: McCampbell Lillian E. , Zaino Mallory L. , Ranpariya Manas , Patel Tejesh , Feldman Steven R.
Published: November 2023

Importance

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by red to violaceous pruritic lesions. The goal of therapy is to break the scratch-itch cycle. Treatment varies and often requires a multimodal approach to target both immune and neural mediated aspects of disease.

Objectives

To review the efficacy of systemic treatment used to treat PN.

Evidence review

A systematic search of keywords and Medical Subject Headings was performed in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The first 200 results of an abbreviated search in Google Scholar were also included. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023412012). GRADE criteria were used to assess articles for quality of evidence.

Findings

The search resulted in 1153 articles; 382 were duplicates, 643 were irrelevant, 19 were not retrieved, 21 were abstract only, and 88 are included in this review. There were 24 studies on dupilumab, 16 on thalidomide, 8 on cyclosporin, 7 on methotrexate, 3 each on lenalidomide and aprepitant, 2 each on alitretinoin, apremilast, baricitinib, gabapentin, intravenous (IV) immunoglobulins, pregabalin, tofacitinib, and 1 each on amitriptyline, azathioprine, butorphanol, isoquercitin, IV dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide/ oral cyclophosphamide, ketotifen, metronidazole, montelukast, nalbuphine, nemolizumab, serolopitant, tacrolimus, and herose derma zima capsule.

Conclusions and relevance

Dupilumab reduces pruritus and appearance of lesions and is associated with the fewest number of side effects. Thalidomide and pregabalin are also effective, but their long-term use is limited by muscle and nerve pain. Janus Kinase inhibitors may be beneficial, but large population studies are lacking.
Flexural improvement of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with self-prestressing shape memory alloys
Authors: Alkhairo Ahmed , Oukaili Nazar , Al-Mahaidi Riadh
Published: November 2023

The study reported here aims to investigate the application of shape memory alloys (SMAs) in the form of strips for strengthening cracked reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The study proposes an innovative technique for prestressing RC beams by utilizing the shape recovery property of the alloy. Nine full-scale RC beams with a length of 3.75 m and a cross-section of 200 mm × 300 mm were categorized into three groups based on the steel reinforcement ratio, and tested under static loading. Three RC beams were used as control specimens and the other six were retrofitted with either one layer or two layers of SMA strips. The beams to be strengthened were exposed to an initial applied load before the installation of the SMA strip to simulate the deterioration scenario. SMA strips were retrofitted on the soffits of the deteriorated beams and activated by applying temperature from an external heat source while the temperature-deflection-strain measurements were monitored. Specimens were tested again up to failure to evaluate the strength improvement of the retrofitted specimens. Beams retrofitted with one layer of SMA experienced a deflection recovery up to 2.3 mm upon activation and an additional service load of up to 62%, whereas beams retrofitted with two layers experienced a deflection recovery up to 2.8 mm and an additional service load of up to 95%. In general, the deflection recovery was proportional to the ratio of the total reinforcement ratio after strengthening to the initial reinforcement ratio before strengthening. Therefore, tested specimens with two SMA layers experienced less improvement than specimens with one SMA layer. Finally, the experimental results were evaluated with two analytical methods: ACI method and the non-linear sectional analysis proposed by Oukaili.