bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive database of the optical properties of irregular aerosol particles for radiative transfer simulations
Authors: Saito Masanori , Yang Ping , Ding Jiachen , Liu Xu
Published: April 2021

A database (TAMUdust2020) of the optical properties of irregular aerosol particles is developed for applications to radiative transfer simulations involving aerosols, particularly dust and volcanic ash particles. The particle shape model assumes an ensemble of irregular hexahedral geometries to mimic complex aerosol particle shapes in nature. State-of-the-art light scattering computational capabilities are employed to compute the single-scattering properties of these particles for wide ranges of values of the size parameter, the index of refraction, and the degree of sphericity. The database therefore is useful for various radiative transfer applications over a broad spectral region from ultraviolet to infrared. Overall, agreement between simulations and laboratory/in-situ measurements is achieved for the scattering phase matrix and backscattering of various dust aerosol and volcanic ash particles. Radiative transfer simulations of active and passive spaceborne sensor signals for dust plumes with various aerosol optical depths and the effective particle sizes clearly demonstrate the applicability of the database for aerosol studies. In particular, the present database includes, for the first time, robust backscattering of nonspherical particles spanning the entire range of aerosol particle sizes, which shall be useful to appropriately interpret lidar signals related to the physical properties of aerosol plumes. Furthermore, thermal infrared simulations based on in-situ measured refractive indices of dust aerosol particles manifest the effects of the regional variations of aerosol optical properties. This database includes a user-friendly interface to obtain user-customized aerosol single-scattering properties with respect to spectrally dependent complex refractive index, size, and the degree of sphericity.
The role of partnering and assortative mating for income inequality: The case of Finland, 1991–2014
Authors: Erola Jani , Kilpi-Jakonen Elina
Published: April 2021

Previous studies covering various developed countries suggest that changes in assortative mating by education have contributed only a little to the changes in income inequality, opposite to the expectations of many. In this paper we consider two potential reasons for the zero effects: (a) that it is the selection into partnership rather than assortative mating according to specific characteristics that matters; and (b) that for assortative mating to matter, a broader spectrum of matching characteristics than just education should be considered, such as matching by employment and social origin. We study these assumptions using register data on household income inequalities, education, employment and parental class background in Finland 1991–2014. We analyze men and women separately and focus on individuals aged 35–40. We concentrate on between-group income inequality as measured by the Theil index. The results suggest that partnership is an important factor behind income inequality, and changes in selection into partnership can explain a substantial part of the changes in income inequality. Assortative mating does not matter as much, even if more sorting characteristics are taken into account. Social origin contributes very little to the income inequality of families in Finland
Suicide deaths among medical students, residents and physicians in India spanning a decade (2010–2019): An exploratory study using on line news portals and Google database
Authors: Chahal Savita , Nadda Anuradha , Govil Nikhil , Gupta Nishu , Nadda Diviyanshu , Goel Kapil , Behra Priyamadhaba
Published: April 2021

Background:

Despite having one of the world’s largest medical education consortium, India lacks a comprehensive and nationally representative data on suicide deaths among medical students and physicians unlike the one found in most of the developed nations of the world.

Aim:

We aimed to explore the different characteristics of suicide deaths among medical students, residents and physicians in India over a decade (2010–2019).

Methods:

Content analysis of all suicide death reports among medical students, residents and physicians available from online news portals and other publicly available sites was done. Search was done retrospectively using pertinent search words individually or in combination with language restricted to Hindi and English and timed from January 2010 to December 2019. Reports on completed suicide by allopathic medical students, residents and physicians from India were included. Socio-demographic and suicidological variables were analysed using R software.

Results:

A total of 358 suicide deaths among medical students (125), residents (105) and physicians (128) were reported between 2010 and 2019. Around 7 out of 10 suicides happened before the age of 30 and had mean age 29.9 (±12.2) years. Female residents and physicians were younger than their male counterparts at the time of suicide. Overall maximum suicide deaths were concentrated in South India except the state of Kerala. The specialty of anesthesiology (22.4%) followed by obstetrics-gynaecology (16.0%) had the highest suicide deaths. Violent suicide methods were more commonly used by all, with hanging being the most common mean of suicide. Academic stress among medical students (45.2%) and residents (23.1%), and marital discord among physicians (26.7%) were the most noticeable reasons for suicide. Mental health problems were the next most common reason in medical students (24%) and physicians (20%) while harassment (20.5%) was in residents. Twenty six percent had exhibited suicide warning signs and only 13% had ever sought psychiatric help before ending their lives. A total of nine reports of suicide pact were found with the average deaths per pact being 2.4 and predominantly driven by financial reasons.

Conclusion:

Academic stress among medical students and residents, and marital discord in physicians emerged as the key reasons for suicide. However, this preventable domain should be further explored through focused research. This is the first of its kind study from India which attempted to explore this vital yet neglected public health issue using the most feasible and practical method of online news content-based analysis.
Introducing the new CPOST dataset on suicide attacks
Authors: Pape Robert A , Rivas Alejandro Albanez , Chinchilla Alexandra C
Published: April 2021

The University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats presents the updated and expanded Database on Suicide Attacks (DSAT), which now links to Uppsala Conflict Data Program data on armed conflicts and includes a new dataset measuring the alliance and rivalry relationships among militant groups with connections to suicide attack groups. We assess global trends in suicide attacks over four decades, and demonstrate the value of the expanded DSAT with special attention to the growing diffusion of suicide attacks in armed conflicts and the large role of networks established by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State through 2019 in this diffusion. Overall, the expanded DSAT demonstrates the advantages of integration across datasets of political violence for expanding research on important outcomes, generating new knowledge about the spread of particularly deadly forms of political violence, and raising important new questions about the efficacy of current policies to curb their spread.
New Data on UN Mission Mandates 1948–2015: Tasks Assigned to Missions in their Mandates (TAMM)
Authors: Lloyd Gabriella
Published: April 2021

Tasks Assigned to Missions in their Mandates (TAMM) provides comprehensive new data on the mandates of UN missions between 1948 and 2015. Until now, datasets have described mandates in terms of their influential characteristics, such as whether they are robust or multidimensional, or placed them into broad categories driven by idiosyncratic theoretical expectations. Despite limitations on data availability, mandates have been tied to numerous outcomes related to peacekeeping effectiveness. TAMM meets the need for flexible, minimally processed, and fine-grained data on mission mandates by recording the full range of tasks in mandates. The dataset comes in mission-resolution and mission-month versions that are designed to complement existing data on peacekeeping and to be easily adaptable to a wide range of research interests. In this article, I introduce TAMM and use the data to conduct a replication and expansion of Hultman, Kathman and Shannon (2014). I find evidence that missions with mandates that dictate they provide security guarantees and raise the costs of fighting, reduce battlefield hostilities.
Assessment, improvement, and comparison of different computational tools used for the simulation of heat transport in nanostructures
Authors: Bea EA , Mancardo Viotti A , Carusela MF , Monastra AG , Soba A
Published: April 2021

In this work we compare different implementations of two interatomic potential models, one the empirical Tersoff–Brenner and the other the semi-empirical tight-binding, to be used in the thermal transport study of silicon nanosystems. The calculations are based on molecular dynamics simulations. In the case of Tersoff–Brenner potential, two free software packages were used, while for tight-binding potential, an in-house code was developed. Both approaches require an enormous amount of computing effort, so the use of acceleration tools for adequate performance is crucial. We present a detailed study of each computational tool used: efficiency, advantages and disadvantages, and the results of application to the calculation of thermal conductance of structured silicon nanocrystals subjected to a temperature gradient.
Motorists’ perceptions of factors that influence payment of speeding fines in Cape Town, South Africa: application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour
Authors: Bantjes Jason , Plessis Sophia du , Jansen Ada , Siebrits Krige , Slabbert Philip
Published: April 2021

Despite the aggressive enforcement of speed limits, speeding remains the second leading cause of fatalities in vehicle accidents in South Africa. Speeding fines are one mechanism for enforcing speed limits; however, these are only effective deterrents against speeding if fines are enforced. The potential effectiveness of speeding fines to increase safety on South African roads is rendered almost obsolete because so many offenders default on payment. Our aim was to utilise the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a framework to explore motorists’ perceptions of factors that may influence the payment of speeding fines in Cape Town, South Africa. Self-report data were collected from participants who had received fines ( n = 268), about their speed fine-paying behaviour, their perceptions of the consequences of non-payment, subjective and social norms, and control beliefs about the ease with which fines can be paid and motorists’ ability to afford fines. Regression analysis showed that motorists who report paying their fines are more likely than those who do not pay to hold beliefs that non-payment will result in serious consequences, affirm injunctive norms supporting the payment of fines, believe that it is easy to pay fines, and are able to afford to pay. This study provides novel insights into the potential of theories of behaviour change to design evidence-based behavioural interventions to encourage motorists to comply with speeding fines and hence to improve road safety in South Africa.
Modeling Individual Defiance of COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation Strategies: Insights From the Expanded Model of Deterrence and Protection Motivation Theory
Authors: Burruss George W. , Jaynes Chae M. , Moule Richard K. , Fairchild Rachel E.
Published: April 2021

The governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic include concerns for both public health and formal social control. Government leaders asked the public to help mitigate the spread of the virus by adopting various protective behaviors. Our purpose was to evaluate and explain defiance of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, drawing from the expanded model of deterrence and protection motivation theory. A national sample of 600 American adults were surveyed about perceptions of, and behaviors during, the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, including defiance of COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Perceived severity of the disease, certainty about dying from it, and how much control one has over getting it each predicted fear of COVID-19. Defiance of COVID-19 mitigation guidelines appear to be a combination of rational choice considerations and emotions. Government and health officials should consider how the public evaluates messages about taking protective actions to maximize compliance.
Inter-turn fault stability enrichment and diagnostic analysis of power system network using wavelet transformation-based sample data control and fuzzy logic controller
Authors: Singh Arunesh Kumar , Saxena Abhinav , Roy Nathuni , Choudhury Umakanta
Published: April 2021

In this paper, performance analysis of power system network is carried out by injecting the inter-turn fault at the power transformer. The injection of inter-turn fault generates the inrush current in the network. The power system network consists of transformer, current transformer, potential transformer, circuit breaker, isolator, resistance, inductance, loads, and generating source. The fault detection and termination related to inrush current has some drawbacks and limitations such as slow convergence rate, less stability and more distortion with the existing methods. These drawbacks motivate the researchers to overcome the drawbacks with new proposed methods using wavelet transformation with sample data control and fuzzy logic controller. The wavelet transformation is used to diagnose the fault type but contribute lesser for fault termination; due to that, sample data of different signals are collected at different frequencies. Further, the analysis of collected sample data is assessed by using Z-transformation and fuzzy logic controller for fault termination. The stability, total harmonic distortion and convergence rate of collected sample data among all three methods (wavelet transformation, Z-transformation and fuzzy logic controller) are compared for fault termination by using linear regression analysis. The complete performance of fault diagnosis along with fault termination has been analyzed on Simulink. It is observed that after fault injection at power transformer, fault recovers faster under fuzzy logic controller in comparison with Z-transformation followed by wavelet transformation due to higher stability, less total harmonic distortion and faster convergence.
Evaluations of Healthcare Providers’ Perceived Support From Personal, Hospital, and System Resources: Implications for Well-Being and Management in Healthcare in Montreal, Quebec, During COVID-19
Authors: Lou Nigel Mantou , Montreuil Tina , Feldman Liane S. , Fried Gerald M. , Lavoie-Tremblay Mélanie , Bhanji Farhan , Kennedy Heather , Kaneva Pepa , Drouin Susan , Harley Jason M.
Published: April 2021

Increased stressful experiences are pervasive among healthcare providers (HCPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying resources that help mitigate stress is critical to maintaining HCPs’ well-being. However, to our knowledge, no instrument has systematically examined how different levels of resources help HCPs cope with stress during COVID-19. This cross-sectional study involved 119 HCPs (64 nurses and 55 physicians) and evaluated the perceived availability, utilization, and helpfulness of a list of personal, hospital, and healthcare system resources. Participants also reported on their level of burnout, psychological distress, and intentions to quit. Results revealed that HCPs perceived the most useful personal resource to be family support; the most useful hospital resources were a safe environment, personal protective equipment, and support from colleagues; the most useful system resources were job protection, and clear communication and information about COVID. Moreover, HCPs who perceived having more available hospital resources also reported lower levels of psychological distress symptoms, burnout, and intentions to quit. Finally, although training and counseling services were perceived as useful to reduce stress, training was not perceived as widely available, and counseling services, though reported as being available, were underutilized. This instrument helps identify resources that support HCPs, providing implications for healthcare management.
Family Size, Household Wealth and Socio-economic Status Across the Body Mass Index Distribution During US Economic Development
Authors: Carson Scott Alan
Published: April 2021

Households behave systematically in family planning and intra-household resource allocation. A neglected area in historical health studies is the relationship between body mass index (BMI), health and family size. Using robust statistics and a large nineteenth-century BMI data set, this study uses an overlapping generations model to explain resource allocation within the household and illustrates that there is a positive relationship across the BMI distribution with family size. There is also a positive relationship between BMIs and average wealth, and an inverse relationship between BMI and inequality. After controlling for family size and wealth characteristics, there was a positive relationship between BMI and worker’s agricultural rural status.

JEL: N3, D1, I1
Drivers and Barriers of Households’ Carsharing Decisions
Authors: Carmen Raïsa , Alaerts Luc , Bachus Kris , Chapman Donald A. , Eyckmans Johan , Van Acker Karel , Van Ootegem Luc , Rousseau Sandra
Published: April 2021

Based on a survey of 2,106 individuals, this study aims to get a better understanding of the attitudes toward carsharing in Flanders, Belgium. Several drivers and barriers that influence household decisions to participate in a carsharing system are identified. An ordinal logit model reveals that highly educated, younger males with high ecological concerns are more likely to share cars. It is shown that living in a rural environment or owning a company car are important barriers. A parking policy aimed at discouraging private car use while stimulating sustainable mobility choices appears to be an interesting avenue for future research.
Stabilization of the Highway Slope using Recycled Plastic Pins
Authors: Khan Mohammad Sadik , Hossain MD Sahadat , Nobahar Masoud
Published: April 2021

The recycled plastic pin (RPP) is made from recycled plastics and waste materials (i.e., polymer, sawdust, fly ash, etc.). It is a lightweight material and is less susceptible to chemical and biological degradation than the alternative reinforcing element. RPPs are driven into the slope face and provide additional resistance along the slip surface which increases the factor of safety against shallow slope failure. The current paper summarizes a case study using RPPs to repair highway slopes, investigating the use of a finite element method, and summarizes a design method. The highway slope was located over US 287 near the St. Paul overpass in Midlothian, Texas. The surficial movement had taken place over the slope, resulting in cracks over the shoulder near the bridge abutment. Three 15.2-m sections over the slope were reinforced using RPPs. After RPP installation, the slope was instrumented with inclinometers, rain gauges, moisture sensors, and water potential probes, and was monitored periodically. The performance monitoring results indicated that RPP provides resistance in the slope constructed using highly plastic clay. Further analysis of the slope using finite element analysis indicates that RPP can significantly improve the marginal slopes to a factor of safety more than 2.0. Finally, a simple design chart is presented to calculate the capacity of RPPs for slope repair design using an infinite slope approach.
Effectiveness of Green Warning Lights with Different Flashing Patterns for Winter Maintenance Operations
Authors: Fakhrmoosavi Fatemeh , Saedi Ramin , Jazlan Farish , Zockaie Ali , Ghamami Mehrnaz , Gates Timothy J. , Savolainen Peter T.
Published: April 2021

Snow removal activities are performed by roadway agencies to enhance winter mobility and safety. Slower travel speeds during these operations, combined with low visibility and reduced pavement friction, mean that safety and collision avoidance remain a persistent concern. Many studies have implemented signing and lighting technologies to improve the visibility of snowplows. Although a few studies have evaluated the use of different colors on snowplows, there is no rigorous study that evaluates the potential impacts of using green warning lights for winter maintenance operations. This study, therefore, investigates the impacts of various warning light configurations on the visibility of snowplows, with the focus on green lights. To this end, 37 warning light configurations are designed using various color combinations (green and amber), and flashing patterns (single and quad) on the back (LED), the top (beacon), or both, of snowplows. These configurations are evaluated to identify the most effective configurations. Three sets of experiments are designed and implemented: static, dynamic, and weather to evaluate the visibility effectiveness in different contexts: day versus night, clear versus snowy weather, and static versus dynamic scenarios. Human subjects are employed to conduct the experiments and the test results are evaluated using statistical analyses. The conspicuity during the day time and glare during the night time are statistically different among various configurations. In addition, adding green lights with a single flash pattern to amber warning lights improves the conspicuity, while keeping the glare at an acceptable level relative to configurations using only amber.
Use of the Pavement Surface Cracking Metric to Quantify Distresses from Digital Images
Authors: Balzarini Danilo , Erskine James , Nieminen Michael
Published: April 2021

The development of new laser technologies in recent years has changed pavement data collection, opening the door to a fully automated approach. In this paper the application of the Pavement Surface Cracking Metric (PSCM), inspired by the Universal Cracking Indicator proposed by William Paterson in 1994, and developed by the ASTM E17 group is presented. The method uses quantitative definitions to ensure consistency of the results and eliminate the subjectivity associated with human ratings of pavement distresses. Multiple runs of pavement data have been collected on three asphalt sections to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the method. The application of the Pavement Surface Cracking Index to convert the PSCM value, which is a physical property of the pavement, into a 100-0 score of the pavement section is also presented. Finally, the use of the PSCM to classify pavement distress and the inclusion of potholes and patching in the metrics are discussed.
Rethinking the Diagnosis of Mental Disorders: Data-Driven Psychological Dimensions, Not Categories, as a Framework for Mental-Health Research, Treatment, and Training
Authors: Conway Christopher C. , Krueger Robert F. ,   HiTOP Consortium Executive Board, Cicero David C. , DeYoung Colin G. , Eaton Nicholas R. , Forbes Miriam K. , Hallquist Michael N. , Kotov Roman , Latzman Robert D. , Ruggero Camilo J. , Simms Leonard J. , Waldman Irwin D. , Waszczuk Monika A. , Watson David , Widiger Thomas A. , Wright Aidan G. C.
Published: April 2021

Generations of psychologists have been taught that mental disorder can be carved into discrete categories, each qualitatively different from the others and from normality. This model is now outdated. A preponderance of evidence indicates that (a) individual differences in mental health (health vs. illness) are a matter of degree, not kind, and (b) broad mental-health conditions (e.g., internalizing) account for the tendency of narrower ones (e.g., depression, social anxiety, panic) to co-occur. With these observations in mind, we discuss an alternative diagnostic system, called the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP), that describes the broad and specific components of mental disorder. It deconstructs traditional diagnostic categories, such as those listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and recasts them in terms of profiles of dimensions. Recent findings support the utility of this approach for mental-health research and intervention efforts. HiTOP has the potential to put mental-health research, training, and treatment on a much sounder scientific footing.
Beyond Cause: The Development of Clockwork Cognition
Authors: Keil Frank C. , Lockhart Kristi L.
Published: April 2021

Thinking of the world in mechanistic terms—how things work—is both cognitively natural and motivating for humans from the preschool years onward. Mechanisms have distinct structural properties that go far beyond mere causal facts. They typically contain layers of causal clusters and the systematic interactions between those clusters that give rise to the next level up. Following developments in the philosophy of science and studies on children’s questioning behaviors, recent research shows that, from an early age, people appreciate the informational and inductive potential of mechanistic information. People selectively notice and choose mechanistic explanations as especially useful opportunities for learning; but they also soon forget the details of what they encounter. We argue that enduring cognitive abstractions from such details provide powerful ways of accessing and evaluating expertise in other people.
Utilization of tyre rubber hybrid with ceramic and wood for impact energy absorption application
Authors: Sermaraj M , Ramanathan K , Athijayamani A
Published: April 2021

The used tyre rubber, scrap ceramic tiles and wood dust are largely dumped into landfills, which create environmental pollution to the surrounding. The recycling of tyre rubber is very limited, but it has good property to absorb the impact energy. Hence, these materials are used to prepare the composite in the present work. Composite materials were prepared by the resin transfer moulding method with different weight percentage of particles. The tensile, flexural and impact strength of composite specimens were compared with other combination of composites and also with the neat resin sample specimen. The tensile and flexural strength of composites were decreased with the addition of the rubber. But, the rubber particle with the ceramic in the resin matrix increases the impact strength of composite by 45.91% when compared with the neat resin sample. The addition of rubber enhances the impact strength of composite materials with all the combination of particles. The better distribution and good interfacial adhesion of particles with a resin matrix along the fractured surface were observed by the scanning electron microscope. And also, the nature of failure was identified by morphological studies.
Revitalizing Infrastructure Sector to Accelerate Economic Recovery in India
Authors: Krishna Ram , Mukherjee Jaydeep
Published: April 2021

Infrastructure has a strong, positive correlation with economic growth, making it a preferred instrument for the government to achieve post-pandemic economic recovery. Other large economies too are similarly investing in infrastructure. Indian projects will thus need to compete with other global projects for financing, investors, technology and developers. It is therefore necessary to improve the attractiveness and marketability of India’s infrastructure projects by reducing risks and improving visibility of projects. With increased competition and changes in the environment, the risks of future cash flows from infrastructure investments have increased manifold. This paper examines the perceived risks in the entire lifecycle of infrastructure projects from infrastructure planning to project planning, bidding, implementation and operations along with best practices in each area. A long-term vision for the infrastructure development will provide visibility to projects for the current National Infrastructure Pipeline. The development of the entire project delivery ecosystem requires initiatives in capacity building in the technical, financial and entrepreneurial resources, and engagement with project affected people. Other desirable outcomes of infrastructure investments, for example, job creation, sustainability and reduction in disparity are also discussed. The paper presents a perspective for revitalizing infrastructure development in India so that its efficacy for post-pandemic economic recovery is enhanced.
Emerging Adults and Developing Awareness of Siblings’ Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Authors: Graves Jillian , Marsack-Topolewski Christina N. , Chan Keith T. , Shapiro Janet
Published: April 2021

Emerging adults who are siblings to individuals with schizophrenia are an understudied though important population. This study examined perceptions of emerging adults to better understand developmental experiences and needs for supportive intervention. Using grounded theory, 23 emerging adults participated in open-ended, in-depth interviews. Results indicated themes related to emerging adults and their developing awareness of siblings’ experiences with schizophrenia. These included (a) the first break: changing roles and patterns, (b) influence of family and adjustment to a new reality, and (c) the effect on the emerging adult and their sense of self. Understanding experiences of this population can inform practice at key points such as during crises and transitions, which can help support a healthy developmental trajectory for siblings of individuals with schizophrenia.
A Mixed-Methods Study of Two Modes of the Circle of Security
Authors: Sadowski Christina , Goff Rachel , Sawyer Neroli
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

This study compared the impact, challenges, and benefits of the Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) intervention across two delivery modes: group center-based (GCCOS-P) and individual home-based (IHCOS-P).

Methods:

This mixed-methods study compared the impact of the COS-P on parental reflective functioning and parental stress across two delivery modes: GCCOS-P ( n = 7) and IHCOS-P ( n = 7). It compared the challenges and benefits of each, from the qualitative perspectives of participants ( n = 2 IHCOS-P; n = 3 GCCOS-P) and facilitators ( n = 4).

Results:

Quantitative statistical analysis comparing pre- and postintervention measures suggest that each delivery mode was equally effective in reducing parental stress and generally noneffective with respect to parental reflective functioning. Challenges and benefits of each mode, inherent in the peer/shared learning environment of the GCOS-P and the individualized, flexible delivery of the IHCOS-P, were identified.

Discussion:

This study adds to knowledge about the widely utilized COS-P, highlighting challenges and benefits of two modes of delivery.
Challenging the Autonomous Wall: Literacy Work in an Urban High School
Authors: Larson Joanne , Duret Eleni , Rees Jennifer , Anderson Jessica
Published: April 2021

This article explores how one urban high school under threat of state closure developed a multifaceted literacy program to transform the teaching and learning of literacy in a novel university/school partnership. Analyses of ethnographic and quantitative school data illustrate how the evolution of the literacy program could be understood as a consequence of generative frictions which produced changes in the program and some indication of changes in understanding of literacy and of students’ needs. We weave a story of multiple layers of changed curriculum, scheduling, assessments, and pedagogy to argue that we need to rethink the continuum of autonomous and ideological literacy to focus more on what the intersections of literacy ideologies generate.
Effects of upper limb exercise programs on the arteriovenous fistula in patients on hemodialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Andrade Francini Porcher , Benvenutti Heloíse , da Silva Kacylen Costa , Rovedder Paula Maria Eidt
Published: April 2021

Background:

The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a commonly used vascular access for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients; exercise interventions may boost its maturation and help in its maintenance. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on the effects of upper limb exercise programs on the AVF was conducted.

Methods:

The primary outcomes were draining vein diameter (DVD) and draining vein blood flow rate (DVBFR), and secondary outcomes were handgrip strength (HGS) and brachial artery flow rate (BAFR). Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results:

Four studies met the inclusion criteria. When compared to usual care groups, the experimental groups did not improve DVD (mean difference [MD] 0.23, confidence interval [CI] −0.20–0.65). There were significant differences in DVBFR (mL/min) according to the fixed-effect model (MD 141.13, CI 36.84–245.42). HGS (kg) was significantly different between groups (MD 2.95, CI 0.55–5.35), but BAFR (mL/min) was not (MD 91.65, CI −94.72–278.01).

Conclusions:

Although exercise programs did not improve DVD and BAFR, they increased muscle strength and DVBFR. Therefore, experimental exercise programs should be emphasized for AVF maturation and maintenance. Research Registry number: reviewregistry924.
Development of second language speech fluency in foreign language classrooms: A longitudinal study
Authors: Hanzawa Keiko
Published: April 2021

Although several researchers have demonstrated that foreign language (FL) learning experience has a limited effect on the short-term development of second language (L2) fluency, recent studies have suggested that learners can gain long-term (over one year) benefits from FL learning experiences. As a part of the present study, 50 Japanese university students were exposed to L2 learning experience over the course of one academic year to monitor its impact on L2 fluency measures (i.e. speed, breakdown, and repair fluency) in FL context. The relationship between the development of L2 fluency measures and learners’ learning experiences inside and outside the classroom was also investigated. The results showed a significant decrease in the length of between-clause and within-clause pauses that learners made. Furthermore, the correlational analysis showed that their L2 learning experience was uniquely associated with the development of between-clause pause frequency and repair frequency. These findings suggest that, while relatively long-term FL learning impacts the development of L2 fluency, it produces a unique pattern, whereby the effectiveness of FL learning is influenced by how students make the best use of their learning experiences.
Trans*it: Transgender and gender nonconforming asylum claimants’ narratives in Greece
Authors: Avgeri Mariza
Published: April 2021

In this article, I reflect on two interviews of transgender/gender nonconforming asylum claimants in the broader West. In the Trans*it documentary that my partners and I created, a non-binary person and a transgender woman, Ilios and Christina, interview each other on the difficulties of being a transgender/gender nonconforming asylum applicant in Greece. Greece is an understudied area with huge migration flows at the border of the EU and has no official data for Sexual Orientation Gender Identity asylum claims. The documentary, this article contends, provides a starting point for reflecting on the experiences of transgender/gender nonconforming applicants at the borders of Europe and their transition from their country of origin to the West/Greece, and for importing non-Western migrant subjectivities into our current thinking on sexuality/gender. In particular, I problematize the legal framework of Refugee Status Determination and explore the decolonization of gender identity/expression in refugee law. Finally, I reflect on the process of making the documentary and my attempt to centre the voices of gender nonconforming asylum claimants while minimizing the impact of my gaze as a white Greek researcher in the field. In doing so, this article shows how documentary film can be used as a means to further considerations of gendered normativities of asylum claims in a key, yet understudied, context. It concludes by arguing for a decolonializing approach that questions the normalization of Western standards of gender, and their transgression, in Refugee Status Determination.
Serious games for Parkinson’s Disease management as implemented in PROPHETIC platform
Authors: Tarousi Marilena , Sarafidis Michail , Androutsou Thelma , Manta Ourania , Giannakopoulou Olympia , Koutsouri Georgia , Ibáñez Francisco , Kouris Ioannis , Vellidou Eleftheria , Koutsouris Dimitrios
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we describe the serious games, integrated into PROPHETIC which is an innovating personal healthcare service for a holistic remote management of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The main objective of the three developed serious games is to allow health professionals to remotely monitor and appraise the overall physical status of their patients. The significant benefits for the patients, making use of this platform, is the improvement of their engagement, empowerment and, consequently, the provision of education about their condition and its management. The design of the serious games was based on the clinical needs derived from the literature and their primary target is to assess and record specific physical capabilities of the patient. All the games scores and the recorded parameters are gathered and also presented to the clinicians, offering them a precise overview of the patient’s motor status and the possibility to modify the therapeutic plan, if required.
Host-Country Parent Perspectives on International Schooling: A study from Bahrain
Authors: Bailey Lucy
Published: April 2021

Despite the rapid growth in international schooling worldwide, little attention has been paid to understanding why parents choose this kind of schooling and what they believe their choice has meant for their child. Most saliently, the extant literature has not considered the views of Arab parents, although a number of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries are seen as hubs of international schooling. This study explores international school choice in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Drawing on survey and interview data from Bahraini parents whose children attend international schools in Bahrain, this paper contributes to school choice literature, exploring what the parents see as the consequences of their choice. The concepts of acculturation strategies (Berry, 2003; Berry, 2005) and school choice as a technology of subjectification (Leyton & Rojas, 2017) are used to understand the social meaning of these parental decisions.
The Effect of Household Debt and Wealth on Subsequent Housing Tenure Choice
Authors: Anderson D. Augustus , Han Hye-Sung , Hisnanick John
Published: April 2021

The purchase of a home is the largest investment made by most American families, and home equity is the largest component of family wealth. Scholars have long documented the social and economic merits of homeownership and explored the factors that influence access to it. However, despite the abundance of literature on homeownership and housing tenure choice, we lack a study that focuses on whether and how debt and wealth influence a household’s decision to own or rent a home. Using 2004 and 2008 panel data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), this study attempts to identify the causal effect of household debt and wealth on a household’s decision to change tenure choice by examining what factors influence transition from homeowner to renter or from renter to homeowner. Data analysis shows that household secured debt, household wealth, and household income play a significant role in household’s change in tenure choice. While race is not a significant factor influencing the likelihood of a homeowner transitioning to a renter, it was a significant factor for a renter transitioning to a homeowner. Minority renters are significantly less likely to become homeowners compared with white renters, even when controlling for wealth and debt.
Analysis of flow field characteristics of multi-degree-of-freedom motor with air-floatation
Authors: Li Zheng , Xing Xuanxuan , Wang Xueting , Du Shenhui , Sun Hexu
Published: April 2021

In order to combine the working performance of the motor and the specific requirements for accuracy, a model combining gas bearing with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) motor is invoked. The bearing structure is optimized in terms of lubrication characteristics, which makes the motor life and deflection accuracy have been significantly improved. This kind of special bearing mainly provides a certain supporting force for the motor. Its stability directly affects the output performance of the motor. It should be ensured that the bearing can be used as a stable supporting structure. This paper mainly analyzes the flow field characteristics of this kind of motor, and discusses the stability of the motor by changing the gas film thickness and the motor rotor speed. Firstly, the structure and basic parameters of the air bearing motor are introduced, and the role of the bearing in the motor is described. Then, the film flow field is analyzed theoretically and simulated by finite element software. Finally, the experimental platform of gas bearing stability is built to verify the rationality of finite element analysis. The results provide references for the application of gas bearings in MDOF motors, and provide a direction for the development of precision in MDOF motors.
Geometry and design of spur gear drive associated with low sliding ratio
Authors: Sheng Wei , Li Zhengminqing , Zhang Hong , Zhu Rupeng
Published: April 2021

The relative sliding between tooth surfaces is the main cause of tooth wear and power loss, which directly affects the transmission efficiency and durability of gear. The aim of this paper is to provide a method to design such spur gear with low sliding ratio (LSR). Based on kinematics, differential geometry and contact path, the general mathematical models of the generating rack, the pinion and the mating gear tooth profiles are established in turn. Then, according to the relationship between the contact path and sliding ratio, a contact path described by a cubic function is proposed to construct a spur gear drive with low sliding ratio. In order to ensure the continuity of action and non-interference, solid models of the mated gear pair are established, and the motion simulation is carried out by an example. Moreover, the effects of the contact path function coefficients on sliding ratio, tooth shape, and contact ratio are analyzed. Meshing efficiency and tooth wear of LSR gear drive are evaluated by comparing with those of the involute gear drive. The results show that, this LSR spur gear drive has higher transmission efficiency and better anti-wear performance.
Extinction Rebellion: Green activism and the fantasy of leaderlessness in a decentralized movement
Authors: Fotaki Marianna , Foroughi Hamid
Published: April 2021

This article interrogates the idea of leadership in a decentralized organization, using Extinction Rebellion (XR) as a case study. Through close observation of this environmental movement, we problematize the notion of leaderless organizations and question whether the idea of a hierarchy- and power-free ‘decentralized organization’ is a fantasmatic endeavour. Psychoanalytic analysis of discussions between XR members following two disruptive actions during XR’s International Rebellion in October 2019 reveals that these actions temporarily provoked members to question the attainability and effectiveness of XR’s so-called ‘leaderless autonomous organization’. This article contributes to psychoanalytic studies of leadership and to the social movements literature and argues that the power relations present in any form of organized endeavour must be recognized in order to develop effective and democratic activism.
Pernicious executive order 13950 revoked, yet structural racism looms large
Authors: Fix Rebecca L
Published: April 2021

This commentary piece discusses the important and harmful outcomes that would have followed the recently signed United States’ Executive Order 13950—Combatting Race and Sex Stereotyping. Put simply, the Executive Order would have seriously restricted federal diversity training content, and federal funding toward training and research work of federal contractors, on structural racism, sexism, and implicit bias. Executive Order 13950 was revoked by President Biden on his Inauguration Day; still, more needs to be done to address structural racism. Below, I describe why trainings that target implicit bias and structural racism and related research—are necessary for the public good. I also talk about critical next steps in trainings, research, and policy for key leadership toward reduction of structural racism. Given the recent change in US presidential administration, this timely paper has important implications for research focused on structural racism. Additionally, this discourse addresses how those in leadership positions within public health, through evaluation and modification of policies, can dramatically hinder or promote racial equity.
Implications of a Psychological Approach to Collective Remembering: Social Representations as Cultural Ground for Interpreting Survey and Experimental Results
Authors: Liu James H. , Khan Sammyh S.
Published: April 2021

Psychology has become connected to the “memory boom” in research, that highlights the concept of social representations, defined as a shared system of knowledge and belief that facilitates communication about social objects where culture is conceptualized as a meta-system of social representations mediated by language, symbols, and their institutional carriers. Six articles on collective remembering, including survey results, text analysis, and experiments, are summarized in this introduction. All rely on content-rich meanings, embedded in sociocultural contexts that influence the results of the surveys and experiments. In the cases of Germany and China, the “historical charter” of the states in the late 19th century was ruptured, resulting in substantially different expressions of nationalism and national identity (in Germany) and filial piety and nationalism (in China) today. Surveys on the organization of living historical memory in Hungary and Finland found that the European Union formed an enduring social context for the formation of memory groups regarding recent history. Finally, in experiments, historical reminders are likely to be anchored in existing networks of meaning, and prime people about what they already believe, rather than exert independent causal effects. This anchoring of historical memory in communicating societies explains why the experimental results in this area are so inconsistent.