bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing the human–chatbot divide: how service scripts influence service experience
Authors: Sands Sean , Ferraro Carla , Campbell Colin , Tsao Hsiu-Yuan
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Brands are increasingly considering the use of chatbots to supplement, or even replace, humans in service interactions. Like humans, chatbots can follow certain service scripts in their encounters, which can subsequently determine the customer experience. Service scripts are verbal prescriptions that seek to standardize customer service interactions. However, while the role of service scripts is well documented, despite the increasing use of chatbots as a service mechanism, less is known about the effect, on consumers, of different service scripts presented during chatbot service encounters.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental scenario was developed to test the research hypotheses. Respondents were randomly allocated to scenarios representing a 2 (service interaction: human, chatbot) × 2 (service script: education, entertainment) design. A total of 262 US consumers constituted the final sample for the study.

Findings

The findings indicate that when employing an education script, a significant positive effect occurs for human service agents (compared to chatbots) in terms of both satisfaction and purchase intention. These effects are fully mediated by emotion and rapport, showing that the bonds developed through the close proximity to a human service agent elicit emotion and develop rapport, which in turn influence service outcomes. However, this result is present only when an educational script is used.

Originality

This paper contributes to the emerging service marketing literature on the use of digital services, in particular chatbots, in service interactions. We show that differences occur in key outcomes dependent on the type of service script employed (education or entertainment). For managers, this study indicates that chatbot interactions can be tailored (in script delivered) in order to maximize emotion and rapport and subsequently consumer purchase intention and satisfaction.
Sustainability certifications and product preference
Authors: Prell Maximilian , Zanini Marco Tulio , Caldieraro Fabio , Migueles Carmen
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of sustainability certifications on consumer preferences. The study investigates whether product certifications have a significant influence on consumer preferences and examines which certificate groups work best from a marketer's perspective for matching the different consumer preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a quantitative survey approach, based on a conjoint analysis carried out in the Brazilian juice market.

Findings

The results of 210 respondents indicate that the certifications chosen generally increase the evaluation of products. The effects, however, differ significantly between the three segments identified, especially between the two most important ones that have a combined market share of almost 90%. Our results show that demographic differences between the clusters are only marginal, as are the specific certification preferences, with a small advantage for organic certification.

Research limitations/implications

The certificates chosen serve as an example that represents the various categories. The utility of similar certificates of the same category might be different. The scope of the research is also limited to the market for ready-to-drink juice.

Practical implications

Using a dual targeting strategy, this study makes relevant recommendations for managing product certification. On the one hand, managers should consider a highly priced, certified product and, on the other, a low priced, uncertified product for satisfying identified demands. Decisions with regard to certification differentiation should mostly rely on the specific costs of the process because of limited consumer differentiation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on the influence that product certification has on consumer preferences by adding to the matter of certificate choice, especially from a marketer's perspective. Resolving this issue is important for facilitating the choice of those certificates that contribute most toward increasing consumer preference. Little research has been conducted into different certification groups and categories or the joint appearance of their different labels. Most of the research being carried out is aimed at the food market in developed countries, particularly in North America and Europe. Research in an emerging economy, therefore, introduces new scientific insights.
Non-Reciprocal Metamaterials With Simultaneously Time-Varying Stiffness and Mass
Authors: Huang Jiahui , Zhou Xiaoming
Published: April 2020

A modulated metamaterial that exhibits both time-periodic stiffness and mass simultaneously is presented. The metamaterial element includes a primary body that undergoes infinitesimal motion, and is connected to a dynamic-mechanism structure, involving a rotational body, and spring with a large-scale motion, which is designed to produce a time-modulated linear momentum and elastic constraint for the primary body. The non-reciprocal wave propagation is then investigated in a space–time lattice metamaterial that is constructed by coupling doubly time-modulated elements with linear springs of constant stiffness. The dispersion property shows the frequency degeneracy occurring at the center or edge of the Brillouin zone, and the unidirectional bandgap at certain frequencies. This phenomenon represents a unique property of the doubly modulated metamaterials compared to the singly modulated ones, thus may provide more promising applications to the design of non-reciprocal devices.
Fracture Toughness of Biological Composites With Multilevel Structural Hierarchy
Authors: Wang Fan , Liu Kui , Li Dechang , Ji Baohua
Published: April 2020

It is well known that the biological composites have superior mechanical properties due to their exquisite multilevel structural hierarchy. However, the underlying mechanisms of the roles of this hierarchical design in the toughness of the biocomposites remain elusive. In this paper, the deformation and fracture mechanism of multilevel hierarchical structures are explored by molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of the multilevel design on fracture toughness, nonlinear deformation of soft matrix, and the crack path pattern were quantitatively analyzed. We showed that the toughness of composites is closely associated with the pattern of the crack path and the nonlinear deformation of the matrix. Additionally, the structure with a higher level of hierarchy exhibit higher toughness, which is less sensitive to the geometrical change of inclusions, such as the aspect ratio and the staggered ratio. This work provides more theoretical evidence of the toughening mechanism of the multilevel hierarchy in fracture toughness of biological materials via new methods of analyzing fracture of multilevel structures and provides guidelines for the design of high-performance engineering materials.
IL-6 blockade reverses bone marrow failure induced by human acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Zhang Tian Yi , Dutta Ritika , Benard Brooks , Zhao Feifei , Yin Raymond , Majeti Ravindra
Published: April 2020

Acute myeloid leukemia inhibits normal erythroid differentiation through paracrine effects of IL-6.
Validation and Characterization of a Human Volunteer Challenge Model for Cholera by Using Frozen Bacteria of the New
Vibrio cholerae
Epidemic Serotype, O139
Authors: Cohen Mitchell B. , Giannella Ralph A. , Losonsky Genevieve A. , Lang Dennis R. , Parker Susan , Hawkins Jennifer A. , Gunther Carolyn , Schiff Gilbert A.
Published: April 2020

Until recently, all epidemic strains of
Vibrio cholerae
were of the O1 serotype. Current epidemics have also been caused by a new serotype,
Vibrio cholerae
O139. Although the pathogenesis and clinical features of O139 cholera are similar to those of O1 cholera, immunity to serotype O1 does not confer immunity to serotype O139. Therefore, prior to beginning vaccine efficacy studies, we sought to validate the use of a large standardized frozen inoculum of virulent
V. cholerae
O139 4260B for use in a human volunteer challenge model. Healthy volunteers (
n
= 25) were recruited for an Internal Review Board-approved inpatient dose-escalation challenge. Our goal was to identify a dose at which the cholera attack rate and the geometric mean purge were sufficient for determining vaccine efficacy against moderate and severe disease. At a dose of 10
5
CFU, 8 of 10 volunteers experienced purging and had a positive stool culture for
V. cholerae
. However, at this dose, the geometric mean stool volume of 2,175 g was insufficient by study criteria. At a dose of 10
6
CFU, 14 of 15 volunteers experienced purging, with a geometric mean stool volume of 5,621 g. Disease severity was significantly greater in volunteers with blood group O than those with non-O blood types (10,353 g versus 3,555 g,
P
< 0.001). Following challenge, all volunteers demonstrated a significant rise in antitoxin antibodies but the serum vibriocidal titer was attenuated compared to that seen after challenge with an O1 strain. This model provides a reproducible illness of sufficient severity for testing the efficacies of new O139 or combined O1-O139 vaccines.
In Vitro and In Vivo Interactions ofHaemophilusducreyiwith Host Phagocytes
Authors: Ahmed Hinda J. , Johansson Catharina , Svensson Liselott A. , Ahlman Karin , Verdrengh Margareta , Lagergård Teresa
Published: April 2020

We investigated the phagocytosis ofHaemophilus ducreyiboth in vitro and in vivo. Human granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis of opsonized and nonopsonized, fluorescence-labeledH. ducreyiwas assessed by flow cytometry. BothEscherichia coliand noncapsulatedH. influenzaewere included as controls. The maximal percentage of granulocytes taken up byH. ducreyiwas 35% after 90 min. In contrast, 95% ofH. influenzaebacteria were phagocytosed by granulocytes after 30 min. These results indicated thatH. ducreyiphagocytosis was slow and inefficient. Bacterial opsonization by using specific antibodies increased the percentage of granulocytes phagocytosingH. ducreyifrom 24 to 49%. The nonphagocytosed bacteria were completely resistant to phagocytosis even when reexposed to granulocytes, indicating that theH. ducreyiculture comprised a mixture of phenotypes. The intracellular survival ofH. ducreyiin granulocytes, in monocytes/macrophages, and in a monocyte cell line (THP-1) was quantified after application of gentamicin treatment to kill extracellular bacteria.H. ducreyisurvival within phagocytes was poor; approximately 11 and <0.1% of the added bacteria survived intracellularly after 2 and 20 h of incubation, respectively, while no intracellularH. influenzaebacteria were recovered after 2 h of incubation with phagocytes. The role of phagocytes in the development of skin lesions due toH. ducreyiwas also studied in vivo. Mice that were depleted of granulocytes and/or monocytes and SCID mice, which lacked T and B cells, were injected intradermally with approximately 106CFU ofH. ducreyi. Within 4 days of inoculation, the granulocyte-depleted mice developed lesions that persisted throughout the experimental period. This result reinforces the importance of granulocytes in the early innate defense againstH. ducreyiinfection. In conclusion,H. ducreyiis insufficiently phagocytosed to achieve complete eradication of the bacteria. Indeed,H. ducreyihas the ability to survive intracellularly for short periods within phagocytic cells in vitro. Since granulocytes play a major role in the innate defense againstH. ducreyiinfection in vivo, bacterial resistance to phagocytosis probably plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chancroid.
Morphological change and recovery of corneal endothelial cells after rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor eye-drop (ripasudil 0.4%) instillation
Authors: Maruyama Yuko , Ikeda Yoko , Mori Kazuhiko , Yoshii Kengo , Ueno Morio , Yoshikawa Haruna , Sotozono Chie , Kinoshita Shigeru
Published: April 2020

Background/Aims

To investigate the time-dependent change of corneal endothelial cell (CEC) morphology and density (CECD) in patients with glaucoma post instillation of rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor ripasudil (Rip) 0.4% eye drops.

Methods

This observational study involved 163 eyes of 163 patients with glaucoma in whom CEC morphological change was evaluated by CECD calculated via non-contact specular microscopy (NCSM) before and at 1 or 3 months post-Rip instillation. The change of CECD was plotted along with elapsed time from last instillation of Rip. The patients were divided into the following three groups based on the elapsed time post-Rip instillation: Early Group (<2 hours), Middle Group (≥2 hours, yet <6 hours) and Late Group (≥6 hours). The rate of CECD change was then analysed and compared among the three groups. An additional eight eyes of four patients with glaucoma were enrolled for a time-dependent study, with NCSM images evaluated before and at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hours post-Rip instillation.

Results

Morphological changes in the CECs appeared within 1 hour and recovered to normal within 6 hours post instillation. In the Early, Middle and Late Group, the median rate of CECD change as calculated by the NCSM automated software was −5.68%, −4.95% and −0.07%, respectively. The CEC images showed the same morphological changes with observational study in all four cases.

Conclusion

Due to transient morphological changes, the NCSM software produced misleading data for determining CECD within 1 hour post-Rip instillation, yet revealed that CEC morphology gradually recovered to normal within 6 hours.
Are anti-smoking social norms associated with tobacco control mass media campaigns, tax and policy changes? Findings from an Australian serial cross-sectional population study of smokers
Authors: Durkin Sarah J , Schoenaker Danielle , Brennan Emily , Bayly Megan , Wakefield Melanie A
Published: April 2020

Background

Anti-smoking social norms are associated with subsequent quitting behaviours. We examined if exposure to tobacco control advertisements and policy changes predict subjective (perceived disapproval of smoking among close family and friends) and internalised injunctive norms (embarrassed about telling others you are a smoker).

Methods

A serial cross-sectional population survey of Australian adult smokers (n=6649; 2012 to 2015). Logistic regression analyses examined associations of social norms with exposure to different types of tobacco control advertisements, tax increases and other tobacco control policies, adjusting for key demographic, smoking and media exposure covariates. Interaction analyses examined differences by age and socioeconomic status (SES).

Results

Greater past month exposure to predominantly fear-evoking advertisements was associated with increased odds of perceiving disapproval (per 1000 gross rating points: adjusted OR (AOR) 2.69, 95% CI: 1.34 to 5.39), while exposure to advertisements evoking multiple negative emotions (fear, guilt, sadness) reduced perceived disapproval (AOR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.87). Increased perceived disapproval was also associated with anticipation (AOR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.88), and implementation of a series of annual 12.5% tobacco tax rises (AOR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.94). Associations were consistent across age and SES. There were no associations nor subgroup interactions between advertisement exposure or policy changes and feeling embarrassed about telling others you are a smoker.

Conclusion

Smokers’ perceptions of family and friends’ disapproval of their smoking was more common after exposure to fear-evoking tobacco control campaigns and after large tobacco tax increases were announced and implemented.
A New Model for Reassignment of Tasks to Available Employees in Iraq’s Firms
Authors: Ibrahim Alsaad Dhurgam Kalel , Ghanbari Reza , Sohrabi Ali Akbar , Ghorbani Moghadam Khatere
Published: April 2020

Generalized assignment problem (GAP) is a well-known problem in the combinatorial optimization. This problem is a specific form of assignment problem (AP) when the employees can carry out more than one task simultaneously or each work can be assigned to more than one employee. In this paper, a new model is proposed for reassigning tasks on the available employees of Iraq companies when at least one of the jobholders is absent. Likewise, the returning workers from long holidays assumption are incorporated. Finally, a heuristic algorithm for solving reassignment tasks on laborers is introduced.
The Predictors of High Dietary Salt Intake among Hypertensive Patients in Iran
Authors: Reyhani Parvin , Azabdaftari Fariba , Ebrahimi-Mamagani Mehrangiz , Asghari-Jafarabadi Mohammad , Shokrvash Behjat
Published: April 2020

Background. Hypertension and its complications are among the major health problems all over the world, particularly in developing countries. The aims of this study were to show that, weather the hypertensive patients follow the expertise recommendations and differences between men and women in their levels of knowledge and behavior in salt taking.Methods. The present cross-sectional study was conducted among all hypertensive patients in rural health centers of Tabriz, Iran, in Feb–May; 2016. Data were collected by an interviewer-administrated questionnaire, along with anthropometric, blood pressure, and 24-hour urinary sodium excretion measurements. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compute adjusted odds ratio (OR).Results. In all 205 patients, 62.9% female, 40.5% aged over 60 years, and 53.7% with low or moderate socioeconomic status, 49.3% body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m2and above, 10.2% of the patients had systolic/diastolic equal and above (≥) 40/90 mmHg, participated in the study. In total, 16.6% were aware of the daily salt allowance for healthy people with sex difference (P<0.001). Significant predictors of adding salt beyond the dietary recommendations in food preparation were occupation (unemployed) (OR = 4.05, 95% CI = 1.041–15.78, (P=0.044)) and blood pressure level (systolic/diastolic ≥140/90) (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.28–5.96 (P=0.010)), while adding salt at the table correlated with sex (men) (OR = 4.47, 95% CI = 1.21–16.57 (P=0.025)), age (54–59) (OR = 0.05 95% CI = 0.01–0.39, (P=0.005)), and knowledge (general) (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.99–1.13 (P=0.05)).Conclusion. The different pattern of salt intake was observed between men and women. In general, the amount of salt taken by hypertensive patients is higher than recommended allowances. Both men and women add extra amount of salt to food, women when preparing food and men at the table. Salt intake level both during preparing and eating food may be associated with occupation (unemployed), blood pressure level (systolic/diastolic ≥140/90), sex (men), age (54–59), and also patient knowledge (general).
Comparison between Dexmedetomidine and Midazolam for Sedation in Patients with Intubation after Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Authors: Wang Li , Zhang Tiejun , Huang Lili , Peng Wei
Published: April 2020

The aim of the investigation is to clarify the beneficial sedative effects for patients with postoperative intubation in the intensive care unit (ICU) after oral and maxillofacial surgery. Forty patients with postoperative intubation were divided into two groups in method of random number table: midazolam group and dexmedetomidine group. The Ramsay score, the behavioral pain scale (BPS) score, SpO2, HR, MAP, and RR were recorded before sedation (T0), 30 minutes (T1), 1 hour (T2), 2 hours (T3), 6 hours (T4), and 12 hours (T5) after dexmedetomidine or midazolam initiation in intensive care unit, and 10 minutes after extubation (T6). The rate of incidences of side effects was calculated. Sedation with midazolam was as good as standard sedation with dexmedetomidine in maintaining target sedation level. The BPS score in the midazolam group was higher than that in the dexmedetomidine group. The time of tracheal catheter extraction in the dexmedetomidine group was shorter than that in the midazolam group (p ≤ 0.001). The incidence of bradycardia in the dexmedetomidine group was higher than that in the midazolam group (p = 0.028). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of hypotension between the two groups (p = 0.732). The incidence of respiratory depression of group midazolam was higher than that of group dexmedetomidine (p = 0.018). The incidence of delirium in the dexmedetomidine group was significantly lower than that in the midazolam group, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.003). Dexmedetomidine and midazolam can meet the needs for sedation in ICU patients. And dexmedetomidine can improve patients’ ability to communicate pain compared with midazolam.
Assessorias esportivas e prática de corrida de rua: avaliação do cenário na cidade de São Paulo
Authors: Benetti Marino , Sierra Ana Paula , Kiss Maria Augusta Peduti Dal'Molin , Rocco Junior Ary José , Bastos Flávia Cunha
Published: April 2020

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil das assessorias esportivas e treinadores de corrida de rua que atuam nas áreas comuns do campus Butantã da Universidade de São Paulo e, a partir da análise do crescimento deste segmento, estabelecer uma relação com o crescimento da corrida de rua em São Paulo. Trata-se de estudo exploratório de caráter quantitativo. Os dados foram coletados junto aos responsáveis ​​pelas assessorias esportivas e os treinadores que realizam treinamento no campus Butantã da Universidade de São Paulo. O instrumento incluiu questões sobre o perfil e fatores demográficos. Os resultados demonstram que, desde 1979, 100 profissionais começaram a trabalhar no campus da USP, e que, a partir de 1983, as assessorias esportivas começaram a surgir. Os profissionais são, predominantemente, do sexo masculino, com idade média de 39 anos, e, trabalham com corrida de rua em média há 12 anos. Quanto à escolaridade, 3% têm mestrado, 76% especializações diversas e 21% graduação. Sobre as assessorias, os dados revelam a heterogeneidade entre essas empresas que foram constituídas nos últimos 30 anos. As assessorias esportivas foram classificadas em 4 grupos de acordo com seu tamanho (número de corredores). Para análise das empresas, foi realizada uma comparação entre os grupos. Diversas variáveis apresentam diferenças significativas entre pelo menos dois Grupos (p <0,001), e o Grupo 4 da amostra foi o grupo dicotômico e mais distante, com características estruturais próprias, em comparação com os outros três. Com base nos resultados, foi possível concluir que há um crescimento constante e diversificação na prestação de serviços das assessorias de corrida no mercado nacional.
Danger zone
Authors: Reis Diego Dos Santos
Published: April 2020

Este ensaio busca pensar de que modo parte da dramaturgia beckettiana pode ser lida como uma espectropoética, isto é, concebida como modo de trabalhar o elemento espectral em suas composições via procedimentos sonoros e imagéticos específicos. Pautadas pela fragmentação sonora, pela polifonia, pela duplicação vocal e figural, as peças televisivas de Beckett teriam como traço comum a ênfase na dimensão auditiva e no universo acústico das operações características de meios sonoros, o que resultaria na criação de zonas de tensão entre temporalidade e espacialidade, matéria sonora das palavras e imagem. Essas espectropoéticas se configurariam então como exercícios de experimentação vocal e de escuta marcados por traço lacunar, por reduplicações, ressonâncias e espelhamentos que caracterizariam a indeterminação da ausência-presença como procedimento formal privilegiado dessa dramaturgia.
Sobre Beethoven, O Silêncio de Hegel
Authors: Galon Lucas Eduardo Da Silva
Published: April 2020

É amplamente reconhecida a magnitude que ganhou a música como objeto do pensamento filosófico no século XIX. Mesmo compositores, antes considerados na condição de artesãos, tornaram-se pensadores influentes, na esteira da importância da música no pensamento de grandes filósofos. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) se destaca como pioneiro de uma tendência que culminará na relevância adquirida por Richard Wagner para a história da filosofia: no século XIX os mais importantes filósofos darão certa primazia à estética – incluindo a musical – há pouco organizada como disciplina. É o caso de G. W. F. Hegel (1770-1831), o mais influente filósofo contemporâneo de Beethoven. A hipótese deste estudo parte da não relação entre esses dois importantes protagonistas, o que, na conjuntura histórica indicada, é estranhamente notável. Hegel, em suas muitas preleções dedicadas à arte e à música, jamais cita Beethoven entre os muitos compositores dos quais lança mão como seus exemplos; além disso, é possível que haja determinadas censuras veladas de caráter poético-estilístico desenvolvidas em seus escritos, aplicáveis à música do compositor alemão. Por outro lado, embora não haja registro de comentários de Beethoven acerca de sua ausência na filosofia de Hegel, a hipótese deste estudo sugere que a resposta ao programa hegeliano possa ter se dado no campo artístico, especificamente através de sua Nona Sinfonia. Ainda pouco explorada, a conjunção arte-filosofia, tomada no âmbito da relação entre compositores e filósofos, pode encontrar aqui uma prévia menos ruidosa do consagrado embate Nietzsche-Wagner. Assim sendo, devido aos muitos pontos movediços que são base da hipótese proposta, curiosamente, este ensaio visa especular justamente sobre aquilo que surge do silêncio de ambos os atores em questão: aquilo que Hegel não disse, e o que este silêncio quer dizer; aquilo que Beethoven não expôs em forma de registro escrito, respondendo ao silêncio hegeliano sobre si com uma obra musical, e a efetividade desta resposta.
Liquid Water Path Steady States in Stratocumulus: Insights from Process-Level Emulation and Mixed-Layer Theory
Authors: Hoffmann Fabian , Glassmeier Franziska , Yamaguchi Takanobu , Feingold Graham
Published: April 2020

Stratocumulus clouds constitute one of the largest negative climate forcings in the global radiation budget. This forcing is determined, inter alia, by the cloud liquid water path (LWP), which we analyze using a combination of Gaussian process emulation and mixed-layer theory. For nocturnal, nonprecipitating stratocumuli, we show that LWP steady states constitute an equilibrium primarily between radiative cooling and entrainment warming and drying. These steady states are approached from lower LWPs due to reduced entrainment, while higher LWPs are depleted by stronger entrainment. An analytical solution for the LWP steady state reveals not only the environmental conditions in which a stratocumulus cloud can be maintained, but also distinct analytical properties of the entrainment velocity that are required for a stable LWP steady state that opposes perturbations. In particular, the results highlight the importance of an entrainment velocity that increases strictly monotonically with the LWP if stratocumuli are to attain a stable LWP steady state. This is demonstrated through analysis of two commonly used mixed-layer entrainment parameterizations.
Countering Violence Against Women by Encouraging Disclosure: A Mass Media Experiment in Rural Uganda
Authors: Green Donald P. , Wilke Anna M. , Cooper Jasper
Published: April 2020

Violence against women (VAW) is widespread in East Africa, with almost half of married women experiencing physical abuse. Those seeking to address this issue confront two challenges: some forms of domestic violence are widely condoned and it is the norm for witnesses to not report incidents. Building on a growing literature showing that education-entertainment can change norms and behaviors, we present experimental evidence from a media campaign attended by more than 10,000 Ugandans in 112 rural villages. In randomly assigned villages, video dramatizations discouraged VAW and encouraged reporting. Results from interviews conducted several months after the intervention show no change in attitudes condoning VAW yet a substantial increase in willingness to report to authorities, especially among women, and a decline in the share of women who experienced violence. The theoretical implication is that interventions that affect disclosure norms may reduce socially harmful behavior even if they do not reduce its acceptability.
Effect of warp and fill-fiber volume fractions on mechanical properties of glass/epoxy woven fabric composites
Authors: Aghaei Mohammad , Shokrieh Mahmood M , Mosalmani Reza
Published: April 2020

Mechanical properties of woven fabric composites are influenced by fabric geometry and harness. In the present research, woven fabric composites made of ML-506 epoxy resin and E-glass woven fabrics with three different fabric geometries (harnesses of 2, 5, and 8) were studied experimentally. The new concepts of warp and fill-fiber volume fractions were introduced. Based on these new concepts, a micromechanical model for predicting the stiffness and strength of composites made of woven fabrics was developed. An experimental program was conducted to evaluate the present model and the new concepts of warp and fill-fiber volume fractions. The results obtained by the new micromechanical model have been compared with the conducted experimental results as well as the experimental data available in the literature, and very good correlations were obtained.
Experimental analysis of the impact protection properties for Kevlar® fabrics under different orientation layers and non-Newtonian fluid compositions
Authors: Santos Thiago F , Santos Caroliny M , Fonseca Rubens T , Melo Kátia M , Aquino Marcos S , Oliveira Fernando R , Medeiros José I
Published: April 2020

Use of colloidal silica suspensions impregnated in Kevlar® fabrics is new avant-garde of protection equipment for stab wounds and piercing objects. Kevlar® fabrics impregnated with non-Newtonian fluids have been used for protection against sharp blows, mainly due to their lightweight, good flexibility, and superior resistance properties. The aims of this investigation are to demonstrate that Kevlar® fabric impregnated with shear thickening fluids could be improved its performance through the use Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, as well as by increasing the concentration of silica nanoparticles in its composition. Friction tests on yarns showed that Kevlar® yarns with shear thickening fluids (sample C3—25% Silica and 75%polyethylene glycol with 38% aminopropyltrimethoxysilane), presented higher strength values (10.5 N) when compared with other samples. Impact resistance tests showed that Kevlar® samples with highest concentration shear thickening fluids nanoparticles and oriented fabric layers (C3 OR) presented better performance regarding to penetration depth of stabs P1 (17 mm), S1 (18 mm) and as well as residual energy dissipation, when compared with the standard and other samples. Addition of shear thickening fluids cause reduction in the flexibility of the Kevlar® fabrics, producing sample with 42.74% less flexibility than the standard sample (C3). Adhesion tests for C3 samples exhibited more stable wettability and spreading rate, i.e., a greater adhesion of shear thickening fluids in Kevlar® fabrics than other samples due to its composition (higher concentration of nanoparticles and superior amount of silane agent). Finally, results showed that the shear thickening fluids composition as well as Kevlar® layers orientation should be used to improve the performance of Kevlar® fabrics under impact tests.
Reconstruction of cracks in a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer laminate plate from signals of eddy current testing
Authors: Du Yali , Li Xudong , Xie Shejuan , Yang Shiyou , Chen Zhenmao
Published: April 2020

This article aims to study the quantitative eddy current testing of structures of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material; numerical schemes for forward and inverse analysis of eddy current testing signals are proposed and validated for eddy current testing of the CFRP material. At first, an efficient forward solver based on the database approach is updated to treat anisotropic eddy current problem for efficient simulation of the eddy current testing signals due to crack in CFRP material, and an inversion scheme based on the conjugate gradient method is developed using the updated fast forward solver for sizing defect in a CFRP plate. Second, a hybrid inverse analysis scheme is proposed and implemented to improve the sizing accuracy of crack in a CFRP plate using eddy current testing signals of high frequency. Third, eddy current testing signals due to artificial cracks in a CFRP plate are measured and adopted to reconstruct the profile of the cracks. A good agreement between the true and the reconstructed defect sizes demonstrated the validity of both the fast forward solver and the new inversion scheme for sizing defects in the CFRP plate from eddy current testing signals.
Australian industrial relations in 2019: The year wage theft went mainstream
Authors: Clibborn Stephen
Published: April 2020

This article introduces the Journal of Industrial Relations’ Annual Review of Industrial Relations in 2019. It provides an overview of the six Annual Review articles, an international review and a practitioner review. Wage theft and other forms of employer non-compliance with minimum wage laws evolved into a major issue in 2019, with household brands bringing it to media prominence and state and Commonwealth governments exploring criminal sanctions for employers. For these reasons, this article focuses on wage theft and other employer non-compliance, interrogating in particular the Commonwealth government’s response.
Fostering EFL Learners’ Digital Empathy through Multimodal Composing
Authors: Jiang Lianjiang , Gao Jinyuan
Published: April 2020

The emergent cyber-violence along with the omnipresence of digital media has made the development of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ digital empathy a shared concern among contemporary language educators. Yet how this could be done in EFL/ second language (L2) pedagogies remains underexplored. Informed by a conceptualization of digital empathy as ‘cognitive and emotional ability to be reflective and socially responsible while strategically using digital media’, this study reports on a study that explores whether and how digital empathy can be fostered through a pedagogic innovation that engages students with digital multimodal composing (DMC) of videos in their conventional English curriculum. Aligning with a DMC approach to literacy through which learners were encouraged to construct meanings by drawing on multiple modes from their everyday media experiences, this study took place in a secondary English classroom at a vocational school in China. Data from interviews, observations and student-authored videos and documents showed that the DMC process enhanced students’ awareness of having more empathy when engaging with online activities. The findings also show that with such enhanced awareness, students learned to use digital technologies for resolving important social issues and then became more active and responsible participants online. Implications about using DMC as an approach to develop students’ digital empathy in the mainstream English curriculum are also discussed.
Volunteer Tourism as a Transformative Experience: A Mixed Methods Empirical Study
Authors: Magrizos Solon , Kostopoulos Ioannis , Powers Laura
Published: April 2020

In an effort to combine tourism with pro-social giving and personal development, more and more people choose to go abroad on volunteer tourism trips. We explore the potential transformational influence such trips have on travelers, aiming to map the transformation process stages and examine their boundary conditions. In doing so, we follow a mixed methods approach using a qualitative study comprising ethnographically informed in-depth interviews and a quantitative one, by means of a structured questionnaire. Findings indicate that the transformation process volunteer tourists undergo involves three stages related to liminality. We conceptualize the degree of liminality as immersiveness and show how the transformation process is significantly influenced by the degree of authenticity and the immersiveness of volunteer tourists’ experiences, as well as their own perceptions on how societally meaningful their actions were during their trips. Based on our conclusions, we present important implications for academics, managers, and tour operators.
Regional Event Tourism Funding Policies: A Strategic-Relational Critique of Current Practice
Authors: Ormerod Neil , Wood Emma H.
Published: April 2020

Taking a strategic-relational approach we critique a range of event tourism funding policies and practices that seek to create regional and/or national event strategies. A multiple case study method combining document analysis and key informant interviews within selected regions provides insights into the political nature of event funding, the equity of its distribution, and the decision processes involved.

Programs were found to operate in a sensitive and complex context due to intertwined power relationships between policy and agency embedded within governments.

We conclude that to bring about broader benefits and legacies a paradigm shift is needed to rebalance economic and social outcomes within funder objectives and governance structures. This needs to include innovation in evaluation and wider more meaningful stakeholder engagement. The study shows that without fundamental change in policy, national and regional funding programs are likely to continue to operate within their existing narrow remit.
Effectiveness of Video Prompting Delivered via Augmented Reality for Teaching Transition-Related Math Skills to Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Kellems Ryan O. , Cacciatore Giulia , Hansen Blake D. , Sabey Christian V. , Bussey Heidi C. , Morris Jared R.
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a video-based instruction packet for teaching math-based vocational skills delivered through augmented reality (AR) to three adults with intellectual disabilities. The dependent variable was the percentage of steps performed correctly to solve each selected type of math problem. The independent variable was the video-based math intervention delivered via AR, which modeled the individual steps for solving three different multistep math problems: (1) adjusting a recipe to serve a different number of people, (2) calculating salary, and (3) calculating unit prices. Visual and statistical analyses demonstrated a functional relationship between the video-based math intervention and an increase in the percentage of steps completed correctly for each type of problem. All three participants showed significant gains immediately after receiving the intervention and maintained the learned skills following withdrawal of the intervention. Implications for practitioners and further research are discussed.
Life-Course Religious Attendance and Cognitive Functioning in Later Life
Authors: Hill Terrence D. , Carr Dawn C. , Burdette Amy M. , Dowd-Arrow Benjamin
Published: April 2020

Although several studies suggest that religious attendance is associated with better cognitive functioning in later life, researchers have generally failed to connect with any established life-course perspectives or theories of cognitive aging. Building on previous work, we examine the effects of life-course religious attendance on a range of cognitive functioning outcomes. We employ data from the religious life histories module of the 2016 Health and Retirement Study, a subsample of 516 adults aged 65 and older. Our key findings demonstrate that older adults who attended religious services for more of their life course tend to exhibit poorer working memory and mental status and better self-rated memory than older adults who attended less often. We contribute to previous research by reconceptualizing religious attendance as a cumulative life-course exposure, exploring the effects of religious attendance net of secular social engagement, and examining a wider range of cognitive functioning outcomes.
Importance of Activity Engagement and Neighborhood to Cognitive Function Among Older Chinese Americans
Authors: Tang Fengyan , Zhang Wei , Chi Iris , Li Mengting , Dong Xin Qi
Published: April 2020

This study investigates the differential associations of activity engagement and perceived neighborhood characteristics (i.e., cohesion, disorder, sense of community) with cognitive measures. Using data of 2,713 Chinese older adults in Chicago, who completed two interviews between 2011 and 2015, we identified three activity domains: reading, social, and games. In general, engagement in more reading and social activities was associated with better baseline cognitive function, but the positive effects tapered off over time in some cases. Neighborhood cohesion had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive function. Engagement in social activities mediated the neighborhood cohesion effects, that is, living in a cohesive neighborhood promoted social activities and consequently benefited cognitive function. Findings speak to the importance of activity engagement and neighborhood cohesion for cognition among the U.S. Chinese older adults. Future research is needed to investigate the longitudinal relationships of activity engagement and environmental factors with cognitive change.
Workforce Diversity in Eating Disorders: A Multi-Methods Study
Authors: Jennings Mathis Karen , Anaya Carolina , Rambur Betty , Bodell Lindsay P. , Graham Andrea K. , Forney K. Jean , Anam Seeba , Wildes Jennifer E.
Published: April 2020

Despite growing recognition of the importance of workforce diversity in health care, limited research has explored diversity among eating disorder (ED) professionals globally. This multi-methods study examined diversity across demographic and professional variables. Participants were recruited from ED and discipline-specific professional organizations. Participants’ (n = 512) mean age was 41.1 years (SD = 12.5); 89.6% (n=459) of participants identified as women, 84.1% (n = 419) as heterosexual/straight, and 73.0% (n = 365) as White. Mean years working in EDs was 10.7 years (SD = 9.2). Qualitative analysis revealed three themes resulting in a theoretical framework to address barriers to increasing diversity. Perceived barriers were the following: “stigma, bias, stereotypes, myths”; “field of eating disorders pipeline”; and “homogeneity of the existing field.” Findings suggest limited workforce diversity within and across nations. The theoretical model suggests a need for focused attention to the educational pipeline, workforce homogeneity, and false assumptions about EDs, and it should be tested to evaluate its utility within the EDs field.
Dyadic profiles of personality among older couples: Associations with marital quality
Authors: Wang Shuangshuang , Kim Kyungmin , Stokes Jeffrey E.
Published: April 2020

Understanding dyadic personality configurations and their associations with marital quality helps identify couples who are at high risk of marital strain. However, current research on personality similarity among spouses usually confounds couples with similarly positive and similarly negative personalities. This study aimed to (1) provide a clearer classification of dyadic personality profiles among older couples, (2) examine the associations between these profiles and both partners’ marital quality, and (3) explore gender differences in these associations. Data came from 3,178 older couples drawn from the 2010/2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Latent profile analysis was used to identify dyadic personality profiles based on spouses’ standardized Big Five personality scores. Multilevel models examined associations between dyadic personality profiles and each partner’s marital quality, testing for gender differences as well. Six dyadic personality profiles were identified, including two opposite profiles (52%; positive wife–negative husband and positive husband–negative wife), two similar profiles (40%; similarly positive and similarly negative), and two extreme profiles (8%; extremely negative husband and extremely negative wife). Couples in the similarly positive profile reported the best marital quality, whereas couples in the similarly negative profile and the two extreme profiles reported the worst marital quality. The associations between profiles characterized by negative traits and marital quality were more pronounced among wives than husbands. This study advances the understanding of personality similarity and its consequences, suggesting heterogeneous subgroups of dyadic personalities among older couples and providing evidence of gender differences in the implications of personality similarity for relationship quality.
Rare missense variant p.Ala505Ser in the ZAK protein observed in a patient with split-hand/foot malformation from a non-consanguineous pedigree
Authors: Funk Christopher Ronald , Huey Elizabeth S. , May Melanie M. , Peng Yunhui , Michonova Ekaterina , Best Robert G. , Schwartz Charles E. , Blenda Anna V.
Published: April 2020

Objective

Split-hand/foot malformation (SHFM) is a rare, often debilitating, congenital limb malformation. A single nucleotide polymorphism within the leucine zipper containing kinase AZK ( ZAK) gene was recently associated with SHFM in two consanguineous Pakistani pedigrees. We hypothesized that additional unrelated patients with the phenotype may carry a pathogenic mutation in ZAK.

Methods

DNA samples were collected from 38 patients with SHFM and associated hearing loss for Sanger DNA sequencing and in silico analysis.

Results

Two missense mutations within ZAK were detected in 11 patients, but only one missense variant, p.Ala505Ser, occurred with a presumed rare allele frequency. In silico modeling of the ZAK protein with the p.Ala505Ser substitution indicated a negative binding free energy change (mean ΔΔG = −0.9), representing destabilization of the ZAK tertiary structure. Additional laboratory analysis demonstrated a chromosome region 7q21.3-q22.1 deletion. This locus contains the SHFM-1 causative genes SHFM1, DLX5, and DLX6 (distal-less homeobox-5 and -6).

Conclusions

We report a novel and rare missense variant, ZAK p.Ala505Ser, in one patient with SHFM from a non-consanguineous pedigree. This variant mildly destabilizes the ZAK tertiary structure. Although this mutation involved a deletion at the SHFM1 locus (7q21.3-q22.1), ZAK signaling destabilization may have contributed to the phenotype, which included hearing loss.
Motives for foreign direct investment location in Europe and EU enlargement
Authors: Jones Jonathan , Serwicka Ilona , Wren Colin
Published: April 2020

European Union (EU) enlargement of the mid-2000s is likely to have changed the motives for foreign direct investment (FDI) location between the existing Member States (the EU15) and the new entrants of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), but it is poorly understood. This paper uses the framework of Dunning’s eclectic paradigm and data for 35,105 foreign investments in Europe not only to examine if the motives differ between these, but also how they are affected by the enlargement. Three asset-exploiting motives of market, resource and efficiency seeking are explored using a conditional logit model for the location choice. This is separately for greenfield and brownfield FDI, involving new facilities or jobs, where the latter is efficiency seeking from an expansion or a co-location of functions. The paper finds greenfield FDI in the CEECs seeks an export platform for the EU market and a low-skilled workforce but a national market and higher skills in the EU15. Brownfield FDI differs from this for expansions only, for which the EU market is important, reflecting scale economies. Surprisingly, EU enlargement has a much stronger effect on the FDI location motives in the EU15 by increasing the importance of the European market, which is possibly because the CEEC liberalisation was ongoing throughout the accession process. The paper finds evidence that the differences in the motives between the CEECs and EU15 are narrowing over time, but they are pronounced, and it is argued that they will persist.