bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intersectional Inequalities and Invisibilization in Organizations: The Case of Indian Beauty and Wellness Services
Authors: Majumder Mrinmoy , Arora Shubhda
Published: July 2023

Discourses on social inequalities and the processes that sustain, reproduce, and reify them have been a long-standing area of scholarship. This paper focuses its attention on intersecting inequalities at workplaces and the organizational processes that support and enable their invisibilization. Building on this idea of invisibilization, we take a critical look at the active and conscious work done to keep inequalities hidden within organizations. In doing so, we understand and advance invisibilization as a twin concept that is primarily framed as a power equation but also acts as a visual illusion that obfuscates inequalities. We discuss this obfuscation by exploring intersectional inequalities within the Indian beauty and wellness services (BWS), a majorly unorganized sector that has a visible workforce of women migrants belonging to indigenous communities from the northeast region of the country. Using frameworks of Intersectionality, New Racism, and Othering, we argue that hiring within the BWS normalizes a heteropatriarchal-savarna gaze of the indigenous other, where women are routinely racialized and sexualized to be inducted within the industry. Further, this case study exemplifies how visible frames of gender inequalities invisibilize other ethno-racial, and regional inequalities within workplaces. Building on these findings, we suggest that organizations invisibilize inequalities by (a) co-opting a progressive vocabulary; (b) performing a normalizing function; (c) creating obfuscation; and (d) building a visual facade. Finally, this study contributes by broadening our theoretical understanding of invisibilization, especially in the context of intersectional inequalities, wherein inequalities are normalized through everyday practices within organizational hiring and training, among others.
Alt Tech and the public sphere: Exploring Bitchute as a political media infrastructure
Authors: Siapera Eugenia
Published: July 2023

The article explores Bitchute, a video-hosting platform associated with the Far/Alt Right, with the aim of understanding how it reconfigures political communication and the digital public sphere. Methodologically, the article employs the walkthrough method and non-participant observation to identify the main features and functionalities offered to users. These include a set of values that prioritise creators, an algorithmic organisation that keeps users engaged with a single creator channel rather than with the same topic across channels; and embedded buttons for tips and pledges for creators enabling them to directly monetise their content. The content posted on Bitchute tends to coalesce around politicised cultural issues. It is noteworthy that although Bitchute hosts some advertising, it does not use data for microtargeting and in general makes limited use of user data. We interpret these findings as suggesting that Bitchute constitutes a media infrastructure that encourages, incentivises and sustains microcelebrities of the Far/Alt Right, who act as ideology entrepreneurs. Bitchute can therefore be seen as an infrastructure for the multiplication/sustenance of ideological entrepreneurs/political influencers who vie for the attention and money of far-right publics. If we can speak of a structural transformation of the public sphere associated with Alt Tech, our discussion of Bitchute suggests that this takes the form of a political media infrastructure that enables the continued existence and consolidation of a new type of political actor, the ideology entrepreneur.
Interpersonal Strengths, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction at School, and Well-Being Outcomes Among High-Ability Adolescents in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Datu Jesus Alfonso D. , Fung Eric
Published: July 2023

This brief report explores the associations of interpersonal strengths with subjective well-being and psychological flourishing among high-ability adolescents ( M = 13.08, SD = 2.17) in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. It also examines the indirect effects of strengths on well-being outcomes via satisfaction of basic psychological needs at school. Results demonstrated that love and leadership served as the most robust predictors of basic psychological needs satisfaction. Love was consistently associated with higher well-being outcomes. Whereas leadership was linked to higher levels of satisfaction with all dimensions of basic needs, this strength was related to lower levels of emotional well-being. Further, love, social intelligence, leadership, and kindness had indirect effects on life satisfaction, positive emotions, and flourishing via the satisfaction of basic needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. This research showcases the mental health benefits of selected interpersonal strengths during the pandemic outbreak.
Stabilizing deep Q-learning with Q-graph-based bounds
Authors: Hoppe Sabrina , Giftthaler Markus , Krug Robert , Toussaint Marc
Published: July 2023

State-of-the art deep reinforcement learning has enabled autonomous agents to learn complex strategies from scratch on many problems including continuous control tasks. Deep Q-networks (DQN) and deep deterministic policy gradients (DDPGs) are two such algorithms which are both based on Q-learning. They therefore all share function approximation, off-policy behavior, and bootstrapping—the constituents of the so-called deadly triad that is known for its convergence issues. We suggest to take a graph perspective on the data an agent has collected and show that the structure of this data graph is linked to the degree of divergence that can be expected. We further demonstrate that a subset of states and actions from the data graph can be selected such that the resulting finite graph can be interpreted as a simplified Markov decision process (MDP) for which the Q-values can be computed analytically. These Q-values are lower bounds for the Q-values in the original problem, and enforcing these bounds in temporal difference learning can help to prevent soft divergence. We show further effects on a simulated continuous control task, including improved sample efficiency, increased robustness toward hyperparameters as well as a better ability to cope with limited replay memory. Finally, we demonstrate the benefits of our method on a large robotic benchmark with an industrial assembly task and approximately 60 h of real-world interaction.
A case report of allergic reaction with acute facial swelling: a rare complication of dental acrylic resin
Authors: Obayashi Nami , Shintani Tomoaki , Kamegashira Akiko , Oka Hiroko , Ando Toshinori , Miyata Rie , Kawaguchi Hiroyuki , Kajiya Mikihito
Published: July 2023

Resin components, such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) can cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Allergic reactions to resin are usually delayed. Only a few studies have reported dental resin allergy with acute symptoms. Here, a case of ACD with acute facial swelling after dental treatment using resin material is reported. A 55-year-old woman with a history of periungual inflammation when using gel nail polish had repeated episodes of facial swelling after dental treatment with resin material. The resin temporary crown was removed, and symptoms were alleviated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. With the suspicion of resin allergy, skin tests were performed. Patch testing revealed positive reactions to self-adhesive resin cement (primer and polymerized), self-curing acrylic resin (liquid and polymerized), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), whereas the prick test was negative for all allergens. Complement C4 and C1 inhibitor activity were reference values in the tests for hereditary angioedema. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with ACD to 2-HEMA and EGDMA. Since diagnosis, no similar symptoms have been observed in subsequent dental treatment with non-resin materials. The use of dental resin materials may cause ACD with an acute reaction. This report alerts dentists who routinely use resin materials.
Patients’ behavioral intentions toward robotic adoption in healthcare: An approach on apprehension of embedding robotics
Authors: Kamani Elham , Kalisz David E , Szyran-Resiak Agata
Published: July 2023

The ubiquitous healthcare sector requires a variegated set of emerging innovations and advanced technologies in the healthcare sector. Healthcare stakeholders in a turbulent marketplace continuously strive to maintain relevance; thus, the healthcare robotics notion has emerged to become a game-changer in the human realm. These emerging systems provide new possibilities to create a core value for stakeholders, specifically care providers and care receivers, in the turbulent environment. Although robotics is moving forward in healthcare, human inertia and apprehension are still anchors exerting robotics. Human behaviors and attitudes may change with time and in different circumstances. This paper aims to contribute a new perspective to the patients’ degree of apprehensions—trust, ethical, privacy, and legal concerns—which affect their behavioral intentions toward robotics adoption in healthcare by considering the moderating effect of social crises, including the aging and COVID-19 pandemic. The brink of a robotic era is encountered with challenges, including the aging population and COVID-19 for public and private healthcare stakeholders worldwide. Hence, this study’s essential support is to investigate emerging technology adoption and hurdles to ascertain how the patients’ behavioral intentions might affect robotic adoption in healthcare. Furthermore, this paper examines the anchors’ factors that affect individual behavioral intentions to successfully propose remedies to embed robotics in the human realm. The results indicate that trust, privacy, and ethical concerns are direct predictors of behavioral intentions toward robotic adoption. Moreover, behavioral intentions toward robotics adoption significantly affect the actual use of robotics in the healthcare industry in the future. Furthermore, social inertia, including aging and pandemics, significantly and positively affects behavioral intentions toward healthcare robotic adoption and use. Finally, both aging and pandemic positive interactions affect actual robotic use in the future of the healthcare industry.
Geographies of green industries: The interplay of firms, technologies, and the environment
Authors: Zhou Zhengke , Chung Calvin King Lam , Xu Jiang
Published: July 2023

The emergence of green industries has been considered from multiple social science perspectives. Economic geographers view green industries as unevenly distributed firms forging green development paths. Sustainability transitions scholars view green industries as niche sectors struggling to mainstream green technologies in existing socio-technical systems. Political ecologists view green industries as metabolic actors whose development shapes and is shaped by the environment. Conceptualizing green industries as the interplay of green firms, socio-technical systems and the environment, this article proposes an integrative framework that synthesizes the three aforementioned perspectives for a research agenda of the geographies of green industries.
Auto-Oriented Communities in Developing Countries: Bus Rapid Transit Implementation Prospects
Authors: Mujalli Randa Oqab , Alawadi Roaa , Al-Kasasbeh Maha , Tarawneh Ahmad
Published: July 2023

Public transportation services often face challenges in middle- and low-income nations from both public acceptance and economic constraints. Jordan is classified as a middle-income country with a population of over 10 million, 4 million of whom live in Amman, the capital. The development and operation of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Amman city was recently proposed. The BRT project is anticipated to offer a solution to the city’s escalating congestion problem. This study’s objective is to conduct a “before” analysis to identify the variables that affect the willingness of people to use the Amman BRT system. The socioeconomic characteristics and travel habits of individuals were used to model the willingness to use BRT. An online survey was distributed to Amman residents and 238 valid responses were returned. Two popular techniques were utilized: binary logistic regression and Bayesian networks. Ten models were developed: one binary logistic model and nine Bayesian network models. The results of these models were compared based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, complexity, and number of selected variables. It was found that Bayesian networks were more effective in modeling willingness to use BRT. Willingness to use BRT was shown to be higher among households without cars, youths, females, and university students, and if there were fewer transfers along the route. It became clear that introducing a new public transportation system is well appreciated, particularly in areas with low income, insufficient existing public transportation services, and where driving a car is the norm.
Evaluation of Direct and Indirect Effects of Teleworking on Mobility: The Case of Paris
Authors: Kiko Mwendwa , Coulombel Nicolas , Poulhès Alexis , Seregina Tatiana , Tremblin Guillaume
Published: July 2023

This paper investigates how and to what extent changes in user behavior may mitigate the benefits of teleworking on commuting distance and time, a phenomenon often referred to as a “rebound effect.” The direct effect of teleworking is to reduce the number of commuting trips ( work travel effect). This may trigger behavioral changes among transport users: teleworkers may carry out additional trips for other purposes ( non-work travel effect), and may change their residential/job location, leading to longer commuting distances ( residential location effect). In addition, the improvement in travel conditions consequent to the work travel effect might result in greater mobility by non-teleworkers ( induced demand). Considering the Paris region as a case study, this paper applies a four-step travel demand model to evaluate several teleworking scenarios and quantify the rebound effects. We complete the analysis with an economic evaluation of the scenarios, focusing on mobility effects. The overall rebound effect is found to be substantial, cancelling out 62%–68% of the gains in travel distance and 74%–85% of travel time savings. Nonetheless, the social benefits of teleworking remain significant, amounting to 1.4% of the social cost of road transport in the region. This suggests that teleworking may be able to contribute significantly to a policy mix aimed at reducing travel demand.
#My(white)BodyMyChoice
Authors: Warin Megan , Valdez Natali
Published: July 2023

This article explores the circulation of #MyBodyMyChoice in a series of deeply divisive political debates – abortion rights and mask wearing during COVID-19. We trace the appropriation of this slogan for differing ideological purposes, and its shifts from collective political action concerning pro-choice to the rights of individuals to refuse to comply with mask mandates. Underpinning the values of each is a white liberal racism that operates to uphold dominant gender, class and economic structures.
Scaffolding Learning Via Multimodal STEM Text Sets for Students With Learning Disabilities
Authors: Lannin Amy , van Garderen Delinda , Abdelnaby Heba , Smith Cassandra , Juergensen Rachel , Folk William , Romine William
Published: July 2023

The importance of text complexity has gained recognition since the Common Core State Standards (CCSS-ELA) were developed. The Linking Science and Literacy for All Learners (LS&L4AL) program uses multimodal STEM text sets to link reading grade-band complex texts with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) sense-making. We define a multimodal STEM text set as a coherent collection of resources pertaining to an anchor phenomenon and line of inquiry that support learners’ acquiring the disciplinary literacy skills and sense-making called for by the NGSS and CCSS-ELA shared practices. The anchor phenomenon and line of inquiry are determined by the anchor text—a rich, complex grade-band level text about natural phenomena with research-generated data from recent STEM primary literature. In this study, we report on a qualitative analysis of how English language arts, special education, and science middle school teachers ( N=11) scaffolded instruction to support students, including students with learning disabilities, in reading complex STEM texts to develop sense-making of scientific phenomena.
The Power and Potential of Photography as a Therapeutic Modality for Children with Life-Impacting Illnesses
Authors: Henrich Mason , Henrich Karen
Published: July 2023

Objectives: Art is being increasingly appreciated for its healing capacity in pediatric medicine. However, while mediums like music and painting have already been widely integrated into children's health institutions across the nation, photography is an artform that is greatly understudied in its application to medicine. As a non-profit organization with a 17-year history of providing free in-hospital/in-hospice photography sessions to the families of children with life-impacting illnesses, we set out to evaluate the therapeutic capacity of this intervention. Methods: Individuals having received Moment by Moment Photography's services from June 2022 to January 2023 were invited to complete a five-question survey assessing the nature and quality of their photography session and the resulting photographs they received. Results: All but one of the 177 participants found the photographs impactful, and the overwhelming majority (95.5%) of participants rated the value of the photographs as high as possible (5/5 on a Likert scale). Further, a dozen themes, including love, share, connect, and fight, among others, were identified that articulate the diversity of ways that “impact” manifested in families. Conclusion: Together, these results clearly support the benefit of photography as a legacy making and therapeutic medium.
High Prevalence of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome in ICU Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Karakosta Agathi , Bousvaros Konstantinos , Margaritis Athanasios , Moschovi Ploumi , Mousafiri Ourania , Fousekis Fotios , Papathanakos Georgios , Samara Evangelia , Tzimas Petros , Christodoulou Dimitrios , Koulouras Vasilios , Baltayiannis Gerasimos
Published: July 2023

Background: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), although associated with potentially serious complications, has not been adequately studied in critically ill patients. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of SIBO in critically ill patients. Secondary outcomes included the assessment of its effect on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and all-cause in-hospital mortality rate. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a mixed medical-surgical ICU. In 52 consecutive ICU patients, a noninvasive modified hydrogen breath test (HBT) with lactulose was employed for SIBO diagnosis. The HBT was conducted at predetermined time intervals (first day of admission; third, fifth, and seventh day of ICU stay). Patients with an abnormal HBT suggesting SIBO on the day of ICU admission were excluded from the study. Participants were classified as either positive or negative based on their HBT on the third, fifth, and/or seventh day. A comparative assessment of demographic data, APACHE II score, incidence of VAP, duration of ICU stay, and all-cause in-hospital mortality was conducted. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictive factors for SIBO. Results: The groups were homogeneous in terms of their baseline characteristics. The prevalence of SIBO was 36.5%. The all-cause in-hospital mortality was 34.6%. The presence of SIBO was associated with an increased incidence of VAP ( P < .001) and a prolonged ICU length of stay ( P < .033). All-cause in-hospital mortality was similar between the groups. Regarding the results of the multivariate logistic regression model, only age was identified as a statistically significant independent predictor of SIBO (OR 1.08, P = .018). Conclusions: The prevalence of SIBO in ICU patients appears to be increased. Both early diagnosis and effective treatment are of utmost importance, especially for critically ill patients since it appears to be associated with VAP and prolonged hospitalization.
Navigating the Practical Complexities of Pay Transparency: Implications for Employers and Public Policy
Authors: Bamberger Peter A. , Alterman Valeria
Published: July 2023

While governments around the world have adopted policies and regulations making pay more transparent, pay transparency continues to be a contentious issue. Proponents argue that greater transparency is more consistent with the ethical underpinnings of humanistic societies and likely to benefit employees, employers, and/or society. In contrast, opponents highlight the ethical challenges that transparency may pose to personal privacy, as well as its potential social, psychological, and economic risks for stakeholders. Despite mixed beliefs, there may be some transparency-related shifts that most stakeholders welcome, or at least accept, as well as reforms whose benefits likely outweigh particularistic stakeholder costs, offering society-wide, longer term utility. We first discuss steps that policymakers and leaders may take that are likely to have positive implications for both labor and management while minimizing unintended, negative consequences and then review recent public policy interventions already adopted, as well as additional interventions to be considered for future adoption.
Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress Amongst Parenting Women in Treatment for Opioid Use: Identifying Barriers to Nutritional Equity and Implications for Future Intervention Research
Authors: Gannon Meghan , McLaughlin Kimberly , Short Vanessa , Wu Alice , Inguito Kai , Hand Dennis J. , Abatemarco Diane J.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To describe the prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder (OUD), its association with psychosocial health, and their experience with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infant Child (WIC) program.

Design

This cross-sectional study collected survey data through REDCAP.

Setting

The study was conducted at a single, urban, opioid treatment program.

Subjects

A total of 91 female participants (≥18 years of age and receiving OUD treatment services) were approached about the study and all consented.

Measures

Measures included: US Household Short Form Food Security Survey, Patient Health Questionnaire 4(PHQ4), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and a demographics and food behavior survey.

Analysis

Descriptive analyses (frequency, means) described data and Chi-Square, Fischer’s exact, t-tests were used to compare data between food security groups.

Results

Participants were on average 34 years old, Caucasian (68%), and non-Hispanic (87%). Most reported low (32%) to very low (33%) food security. Pearson correlation analyses indicate a strong positive linear relationship between Food Security Score and PHQ4 Total ( P = .0002), PHQ4 Depression ( P = .0003), PHQ4 Anxiety ( P = .0009), and PSS Total ( P < .0001). Only 38% felt the foods available in WIC supported their breastfeeding. Limitations include a single site and recall bias.

Conclusions

Significant nutritional inequity in families affected by maternal substance use exists, with potential for adverse maternal and child development related implications.
The simulation of microstructural evolutions in friction stir additive manufacturing
Authors: Zhang Z , Zhou HS , Tan ZJ , Kong DS , Wang YF
Published: July 2023

Both recrystallization and solid state phase transformation take key role for the determination of final mechanical properties in friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM) of titanium alloy. Monte Carlo model is developed to simulate the microstructural changes and a two scale strategy is used to simulate both the recrystallization and the solid state phase transformation in FSAM of duplex titanium alloy. Results indicate that the selection of the building direction can lead to different temperature variations in FSAM due to the different heat accumulations. Lower temperature leads to lower cooling rate in FSAM. This is the reason that the volume fraction of α phase is decreased when the process temperature is decreased. Higher temperature leads to the formation of bigger grains when the rotating speed is increased or the transverse speed is decreased.
A numerical study to determine proper steam-to-fuel ratio in a biogas-fueled solid oxide fuel cell for different levels of biogas methane content
Authors: Mehrabian Morteza , Mahmoudimehr Javad
Published: July 2023

It is vital to find the optimal quantity of water added to the fuel in a biogas-fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). An under-optimal water quantity can impede steam reforming reactions, while an over-optimal quantity of water (which is equivalent to reduced biogas portion) may reduce the performance of the fuel cell due to a shortage of fuel. Water production in electrochemical reactions and the carbon deposition constraint add to the complexity of water quantity optimization. The present work develops a 3D numerical model to simulate a direct biogas-fueled SOFC to find the optimal steam/biogas (S/C) ratio. Several biogas mixtures (CH4/CO2 ratios) are analyzed. For each mixture, a wide range of S/C ratios is evaluated in a wide range of voltages. It is found that the polarization curves corresponding to different S/C ratios intersect each other for a given biogas mixture. In other words, an S/C ratio can be optimal at some voltages and non-optimal at others. Based on power density maximization as an explicit criterion, the optimal S/C ratio is found to be 0.75 at low CH4 molar fractions (~50%) and 1.25 at high CH4 molar fractions (~75%).
Development of a dynamical model and energy analysis for wheel loader
Authors: Zhao Gaonan , Edson Connor P , Yao Jie , Sun Zongxuan , Stelson Kim A
Published: July 2023

The objective of this paper is to develop a fully integrated model for the wheel loader, including the subsystem dynamics of the engine, drivetrain, working circuit, steering circuit, and vehicle. It leads to a high-order strongly nonlinear system, and all state variables are coupled together to form a Multi-Input and Multi-Output (MIMO) system. A control architecture is proposed to decouple the MIMO system into several Single-Input and Single-Output (SISO) systems. A tracking problem has been formulated to validate this fully integrated model with the field test data. The accuracy of the model is verified by the 2.3% difference between the measured and simulated fuel consumption. Meanwhile, an energy distribution analysis is conducted to reveal the energy consumption and energy loss of each portion of the wheel loader. Such a model can be used to plan the working pattern, guide the driving habits of human operators, or refine the underlying architecture, leading to the ultimate goal of reducing total fuel consumption and improving productivity.
Research on measuring method of centre of gravity and moment of inertia for car body of high-speed EMUs
Authors: Liu Chaotao , Zhang Jia , Song Ye , Li Fansong , Wu Pingbo
Published: July 2023

The dynamic performance of a high-speed train is heavily influenced by its centre of gravity and moment of inertia. Therefore, accurately measuring these parameters is crucial. This paper proposes an integrated test method for measuring the centre of gravity and moment of inertia based on the excitation method by analyzing the structural characteristics of the vibration test bench. The proposed method is efficient as it only requires installing the car body once, unlike the past method of combining excitation and suspension. This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical derivation of the method used to test the center of gravity and moment of inertia of a specific type of high-speed electrical motor units (EMU) car body. The results of the test were compared to the theoretical values, and the error was found to be minimal, meeting the necessary engineering application requirements.
New insights from selected South Asian countries on the determinants of GHG emissions
Authors: Rahman Md. Hasanur , Voumik Liton Chandra , Akter Salma , Radulescu Magdalena
Published: July 2023

In developing economies, there is a lack of certainty in energy and environmental economic policy. In contrast, research into the interplay between population, economic growth (GDP), renewable energy, nuclear energy, fossil fuels, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has received comparatively little attention. Thus, the main motive of this exploration is to analyze the influence of population, economic growth, and various energy sources consumption on the selected South Asian economy's GHG emissions using the STIRPAT model. The period 1972–2021 is used to estimate results by considering cross-sectional dependence (CSD) and slope homogeneity (SH) tests, as well as second-generation unit root and cointegration tests. Due to the presence of SH, CSD, and mixed-order unit root problems, the cross-sectional autoregressive distributive lag (CS-ARDL) model has been used to estimate the value of selected variables. The impact of GDP and population is positive but insignificant for South Asian countries in the short run, but GDP is significant in the long run. The research also revealed that burning fossil fuels significantly contributes to atmospheric gas emissions level. In addition, renewable and nuclear energy play useful and substantial roles in reducing pollution in South Asian countries. Therefore, it is recommended that the economies of the South Asian countries maintain a uniform approach to economic policy to fully benefit from the advantages of increased green and safe energy production.
Mode selection strategy of energy performance contracting under the regulation of carbon tax policy
Authors: Cao Zong-Hong , Feng Yu , Min Jie , Ou Jian
Published: July 2023

This article considers a two-echelon supply chain consisting of one large-size supplier and one small-size manufacturer. The supplier wholesales raw materials to the manufacturer who processes them into final products and sells them to consumers. The supplier also engages in Cournot competition with the manufacturer by producing its product and direct selling to consumers. In addition, as an energy service company, the supplier may choose low-carbon production for its product and may help the manufacturer to achieve low-carbon production by providing energy performance contracting services to the manufacturer. We investigate whom the supplier should provide energy performance contracting services to and analyze the impact of the unit matching cost and the investment cost coefficient in implementing the energy performance contracting project on the optimal decisions and profits for the two members. The results show that when the investment cost coefficient is not high, the supplier prefers to provide energy performance contracting services to the manufacturer under a low matching cost and to the two members under a high matching cost. However, the manufacturer prefers to enjoy energy performance contracting services for itself regardless of the matching cost. With the increasing investment cost coefficient, the supplier changes the decision to prefer to provide energy performance contracting services for itself. In such case, the manufacturer also prefers to not accept energy performance contracting services, so the two supply chain members’ profits are highest.
Anti-pitching of high-speed multihull ships based on incremental predictive control
Authors: Xu Weidong , Zhang Jun , Zhong Mingjie
Published: July 2023

In order to enhance the suppression ability of high-speed multihulls against wave disturbance and reduce the amplitude of vertical motion, it is necessary to use two types of appendages, active T-foil and flap, to implement closed-loop anti-pitching. Aiming at the problems of sea wave disturbance and appendages input constraints, an anti-pitching scheme based on incremental predictive control is proposed. First, the vertical coupled motion model of the high-speed multihull ship is established, the frequency-domain and time-domain characteristics of random wave disturbance are analyzed, and the wave disturbance force and moment are estimated based on the integral disturbance model. On this basis, the incremental model of multihull vertical motion that includes the change rate of wave disturbance is used as the prediction model to reduce the influence of the average wave disturbance force and disturbance moment on vertical motion, improve the model prediction accuracy, and introduce the amplitude and change rate of heave and pitch into the objective function to minimize both. At the same time, in order to solve the input constraints of the anti-pitching appendages and reduce the amount of online calculation, the Lagrange multiplier method and the stair-like parameterization strategy are used to derive the analytical anti-pitching predictive control law and analyze the stability of the closed-loop system. The simulation results show that the proposed incremental predictive control effectively reduces the change rate and amplitude of heave and pitch, the heave displacement is reduced by 43.51%, and the pitch angle is reduced by 50.88%.
Analysis of risk factors and development of a nomogram prediction model for lupus nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Tang Zhen , Wang Jia-Min , Qin Jia-Min , Wen Li-Ming
Published: July 2023

Background

This study aimed to explore risk factors for lupus nephritis (LN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and establish a Nomogram prediction model based on LASSO-logistic regression.

Methods

The clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients in Meishan People’s Hospital from July 2012 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All SLE patients were divided into two groups with or without LN. Risk factors were screened based on LASSO-logistic regression analysis, and a Nomogram prediction model was established. The receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis were adopted to evaluate the performance of the Nomogram model.

Results

A total of 555 SLE patients were enrolled, including 303 SLE patients with LN and 252 SLE patients without LN. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that ESR, mucosal ulcer, proteinuria, and hematuria were independent risk factors for LN in SLE patients. The four clinical features were incorporated into the Nomogram prediction model. Results showed that calibration curve was basically close to the diagonal dotted line with slope 1 (ideal prediction case), which proved that the prediction ability of the model was acceptable. In addition, the decision curve analysis showed that the Nomogram prediction model could bring net clinical benefits to patients when the threshold probability was 0.12–0.54.

Conclusion

Four clinical indicators of ESR, mucosal ulcer, proteinuria, and hematuria were independent risk factors for LN in SLE patients. The predictive power of the Nomogram model based on LASSO-logistic regression was acceptable and could be used to guide clinical work.
Overlap syndrome of anti-aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review of individual patient data
Authors: Kopp Chirag Rajkumar , Prasad Chandra Bhushan , Naidu Shankar , Sharma Vishal , Misra Durga Prasanna , Agarwal Vikas , Sharma Aman
Published: July 2023

Background

Neurological involvement can occur in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to co-existing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The symptoms can mimic those of neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE. Pathogenic anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies, commonly found in NMOSD, are responsible for the neuroinflammatory response and secondary demyelinating lesions. These anti-AQP4 antibodies can be the drivers of neuroinflammatory process in SLE patients, which is distinct from the immunopathogenesis seen in traditional neuropsychiatric SLE. The clinical course is often a relapsing one and is managed differently. In this review, we describe and outline the clinical course and outcomes of AQP4+ NMOSD/SLE overlap cases.

Methods

To investigate the co-existence of SLE with AQP4+NMOSD, we conducted a systematic review of individual patient data from case reports and case series reported in major databases. The study extracted clinic-demographic features, imaging and laboratory profiles, treatment approaches, and outcomes of these patients. Inclusion criteria for the review required patients to have positivity for AQP4 or NMO in the blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and exhibit at least one manifestation of both NMOSD and SLE.

Results

In this overlap between SLE and AQP4+NMOSD, a high female preponderance was observed, with 42 out of 46 patients (91.3%) being female. Nearly half of the NMOSD cases (47.8%) had onset after lupus, with a median of 5 years between the two diagnoses. Hematological manifestations were seen in the majority of patients (63%), as well as longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (87%), and brainstem involvement on imaging (29.6%). Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a dominantly lymphocytic pleocytosis, with oligoclonal bands being reported scarcely. Although cyclophosphamide was the most common steroid sparing agent used for maintenance, robust evidence for both efficacy and safety in AQP4+NMOSD is available for mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, and rituximab. The majority of reported cases showed a relapsing course, while one patient had a monophasic course.

Conclusion

AQP4+NMOSD in SLE patients is a relapsing and neurologically disabling disorder that can mimic neuropsychiatric manifestations, frequently occurs after the onset of lupus or may predate, responds to immunosuppressants, and necessitates indefinite treatment.
Cure rate models for heterogeneous competing causes
Authors: Brandão Márcia , Leão Jeremias , Gallardo Diego Ignacio , Bourguignon Marcelo
Published: July 2023

Cure rate models have been widely studied to analyze time-to-event data with a cured fraction of patients. In this type of model, the number of concurrent causes is assumed to be a random variable. However, in practice, it is natural to admit that the distribution of the number of competing causes is different from individual to individual. Our proposal is to assume that the number of competing causes belongs to a class of a finite mixture of competing causes distributions. We assume the number of malignant cells follow a mixture of two power series distributions and suppose that the time to the event of interest follows a Weibull distribution. We consider the proportion of the cured number of competing causes depending on covariates, allowing direct modeling of the cure rate. The proposed model includes several well-known models as special cases and defines many new special models. An expectation-maximization algorithm is proposed for parameter estimation, where the expectation step involves the computation of the expected number of concurrent causes for each individual. A Monte Carlo simulation is performed to assess the behavior of the estimation method. In order to show the potential for the practice of our model, we apply it to the real medical data set from a population-based study of incident cases of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, illustrating that the model proposed can outperform traditional models in terms of model fitting.
Using short-term endpoints to improve interim decision making and trial duration in two-stage phase II trials with nested binary endpoints
Authors: Zocholl Dario , Kunz Cornelia U. , Rauch Geraldine
Published: July 2023

In oncology, phase II clinical trials are often planned as single-arm two-stage designs with a binary endpoint, for example, progression-free survival after 12 months, and the option to stop for futility after the first stage. Simon’s two-stage design is a very popular approach but depending on the follow-up time required to measure the patients’ outcomes the trial may have to be paused undesirably long. To shorten this forced interruption, it was proposed to use a short-term endpoint for the interim decision, such as progression-free survival after 3 months. We show that if the assumptions for the short-term endpoint are misspecified, the decision-making in the interim can be misleading, resulting in a great loss of statistical power. For the setting of a binary endpoint with nested measurements, such as progression-free survival, we propose two approaches that utilize all available short-term and long-term assessments of the endpoint to guide the interim decision. One approach is based on conditional power and the other is based on Bayesian posterior predictive probability of success. In extensive simulations, we show that both methods perform similarly, when appropriately calibrated, and can greatly improve power compared to the existing approach in settings with slow patient recruitment. Software code to implement the methods is made publicly available.
PARPi Decreased Primary Ovarian Cancer Organoid Growth Through Early Apoptosis and Base Excision Repair Pathway
Authors: Cao Qi , Li Lanyang , Zhao Yuqing , Wang Chen , Shi Yanghua , Tao Xiang , Cai Chunhui , Han Xin-Xin
Published: July 2023

Ovarian cancer (OC), particularly high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), is the leading cause of mortality among gynecological cancers owing to the treatment difficulty and high recurrence probability. As therapeutic drugs approved for OC, poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) lead to synthetic lethality by inhibiting single-strand DNA repair, particularly in homologous recombination-deficient cancers. However, even PARPi have distinct efficacies and are prone to have drug resistance, the molecular mechanisms underlying the PARPi resistance in OC remain unclear. A patient-derived organoid platform was generated and treated with a PARPi to understand the factors associated with PARPi resistance. PARPi significantly inhibits organoid growth. After 72 h of treatment, both the size of organoids and the numbers of adherent cells decreased. Moreover, immunofluorescence results showed that the proportion of Ki67 positive cells significantly reduced. When the PARPi concentration reached 200 nM, the percentage of Ki67+/4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) cells decreased approximately 50%. PARPi treatment also affected the expression of genes involved in base excision repair and cell cycle. Functional assays revealed that PARPi inhibits cell growth by upregulating early apoptosis. The expression levels of several key genes were validated. In addition to previously reported genes, some promising genes FEN1 and POLA2, were also be founded. The results demonstrate the complex effects of PARPi treatment on changes in potential genes relevant to PARPi resistance, and provide perspectives for further research on the PARPi resistance mechanisms.
Silo Effects and Financial Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Market
Authors: Al Rahahleh Naseem , Altawili Mohammad , Al Bassam Tameem
Published: July 2023

Focusing on identifying the impact of silos, this article addresses a gap in the literature in terms of the mediating role of collaboration between silo-busting techniques and the productivity and financial performance of Saudi firms. Through an investigation of multiple hypotheses tested via partial least-squares structural equation modelling, the relationship between silo-busting techniques and productivity and financial performance is tested in quantitative terms, thereby providing the first evidence for this relationship in the focal context. On the basis of this modelling approach, silo-busting techniques are shown to be a significant predictor of productivity and financial performance. Further, the results show that silo-busting techniques play an additional related role in shaping productivity and financial performance—that is, these techniques foster collaboration within a given firm. In fact, practicing silo-busting techniques can help improve firm performance. In relation to the present business environment, the results indicate that firms should make significant investments in all five silo-busting factors—values, leadership, collaborative environment, collaborative operating model and people reward and development—in order to improve collaboration results and, therefore, productivity and financial performance. However, particular emphasis should be placed on collaborative operating model and people reward and development as the only two factors shown to strongly support firm performance.
Occupational Stress Among Middle-Aged Professionals in India
Authors: Kazmi Syed Sajid Husain , Shukla Jyotsana , Tripathi Rakesh Kumar , Zaidi S.Z.H.
Published: July 2023

Background

Professional world nowadays is very competitive, and surviving the cutthroat competition while sustaining work-related stress and pressure is an important task for employees. Professionals are required to meet daily and monthly objectives and may encounter work-related stressors.

Purpose

The study aims to explore occupational stress among middle-aged professionals in the age range of 45–60 years from the marketing, banking, and teaching sectors.

Methods

A total sample of 180 consented middle-aged professionals in the age range of 45–60 years from the banking, teaching, and marketing sectors were included in the study using a purposive and snowball sampling technique. Professionals having serious medical or psychiatric conditions and undergoing treatment for the same were excluded. The Occupational Stress Index was administered to assess different types of occupational stressors. The statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 software. A descriptive analysis and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to get meaningful results.

Results

Results revealed that 40% of the middle-aged professionals reported experiencing minimal levels of occupational stress, followed by 32.2% experiencing moderate levels and 27.8% experiencing high levels of occupational stress. Additionally, it was found that a significantly higher percentage (91.6%) of banking professionals reported low levels of occupational stress compared to their counterparts. Eighty percent of marketing professionals reported experiencing high levels of occupational stress, whereas a majority (73.3%) of teaching professionals reported moderate levels of occupational stress.

Conclusion

Occupational stress with different severity levels is found to be common among middle-aged professionals, which is a risk factor to develop mental health problems and affects well-being. Large-scale primary and secondary interventions are required to manage stress and facilitate professional growth and development in India.