bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repetita Iuvant? A Repeated Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of an At-Scale Teacher Professional Development Program
Authors: Abbiati Giovanni , Argentin Gianluca , Caputo Andrea , Pennisi Aline
Published: November 2021

A recent stream of literature recognizes the impact of good/poor implementation on the effectiveness of programs. However, implementation is often disregarded in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) because they are run on a small scale. Replicated RCTs, although rare, provide a unique opportunity to study the relevance of implementation for program effectiveness. Evaluating the effectiveness of an at-scale professional development program for lower secondary school math teachers through two repeated RCTs. The program lasts a full school year and provides innovative methods for teaching math. The evaluation was conducted on two cohorts of teachers in the 2009/10 and 2010/11 school years. The program and RCTs were held at scale. Participating teachers and their classes were followed for 3 years. Impact is estimated by comparing the math scores of treatment and control students. The evaluation involved 195 teachers and their 3940 students (first cohort) and 146 teachers and their 2858 students (second cohort). The key outcome is students’ math achievement, measured through standardized assessment. In the first wave, the program did not impact on students’ achievement, while in the second wave, a positive, persistent, and not insignificant effect was found. After excluding other sources of change, different findings across waves are interpreted in the light of improvements in the program implementation, such as enrollment procedure, teacher collaboration, and integration of innovation in daily teaching. Repeated assessment of interventions already at-scale provides the opportunity to better identify and correct sources of weak implementation, potentially improving effectiveness.
A Systematic Review of Published Physiologically-based Kinetic Models and an Assessment of their Chemical Space Coverage
Authors: Thompson Courtney V. , Firman James W. , Goldsmith Michael R. , Grulke Christopher M. , Tan Yu-Mei , Paini Alicia , Penson Peter E. , Sayre Risa R. , Webb Steven , Madden Judith C.
Published: November 2021

Across multiple sectors, including food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, there is a need to predict the potential effects of xenobiotics. These effects are determined by the intrinsic ability of the substance, or its derivatives, to interact with the biological system, and its concentration–time profile at the target site. Physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) models can predict organ-level concentration–time profiles, however, the models are time and resource intensive to generate de novo. Read-across is an approach used to reduce or replace animal testing, wherein information from a data-rich chemical is used to make predictions for a data-poor chemical. The recent increase in published PBK models presents the opportunity to use a read-across approach for PBK modelling, that is, to use PBK model information from one chemical to inform the development or evaluation of a PBK model for a similar chemical. Essential to this process, is identifying the chemicals for which a PBK model already exists. Herein, the results of a systematic review of existing PBK models, compliant with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) format, are presented. Model information, including species, sex, life-stage, route of administration, software platform used and the availability of model equations, was captured for 7541 PBK models. Chemical information (identifiers and physico-chemical properties) has also been recorded for 1150 unique chemicals associated with these models. This PBK model data set has been made readily accessible, as a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet, providing a valuable resource for those developing, using or evaluating PBK models in industry, academia and the regulatory sectors.
World-ranking performance in judo athletes with visual impairment: An approach considering sport classes and weight categories
Authors: Kons Rafael L , Haegele Justin A , Detanico Daniele
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to analyze the ranking scores in Paralympic judo athletes in different visual impairment classifications (B1, B2, and B3) and describe the frequency of athletes of each classification allocated in the first five and last five positions in the ranking list. A total of 488 judo athletes with visual impairment (332 male and 156 female) took part in this study. Data were extracted from the Official Ranking List, documented and organized by the International Blind Sports Federation, and analyzed according to sport classes (B1, B2, and B3) and weight categories. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the scores among different groups. The main results showed that B1 athletes presented lower total and best scores compared to B2 and B3 counterparts in both female ( p = .020, p < .001, respectively) and male groups ( p = .010, p = .005, respectively). In addition, when analyzing the ranking list position, there was a higher percentage of B1 athletes in the last five positions in female (60%) and male groups (60%) than B2 and B3 athletes. Investigations about classification and competitive system can assist coaches and sports organizations to identify the appropriateness of the ranking system scores adopted for athletes with visual impairment. Our findings showed some issues when considering competitive programming that includes all visual impairment classes in the same category.
Dialing up desire and dampening disinterest: regulating sexual desire in the bedroom and sexual and relationship well-being
Authors: Horne Rebecca M. , Raposo Stephanie , Muise Amy , Harasymchuk Cheryl , Impett Emily A.
Published: November 2021

Romantic partners often regulate their emotions and affection to achieve certain goals, but research has yet to explore how partners regulate their expression of sexual desire during sex and its implications for couples’ well-being. In two multi-part dyadic diary studies of primarily mixed-gender couples in longer-term relationships residing in North America, we examined three questions. First, is amplifying desire and suppressing disinterest during sex associated with both partners’ daily sexual and relationship satisfaction? Second, do these associations differ by level of sexual desire and gender? Third, tested in our second sample, can these associations be explained by feelings of sexual inauthenticity? Across both samples (Ntotal = 225 couples, 450 participants), amplifying desire was associated with lower sexual satisfaction, while suppressing disinterest was not associated with daily satisfaction. Importantly, sexual desire played a role in the links between desire regulation during sex and satisfaction: on days when people were low in sexual desire, amplification was associated with both partners’ lower sexual satisfaction, while suppression was associated with a partner’s higher relationship satisfaction. In addition, amplification (on low desire days) and suppression (regardless of desire level) were associated with lower sexual authenticity which, in turn, was linked to lower relationship satisfaction. The findings suggest that desire regulation during sex plays an important role in couples’ daily sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction—in part because it feels sexually inauthentic—with the implications of this regulation being particularly strong when people feel low sexual desire.
Adult children’s goals as predictors of communication satisfaction with their parent: The moderating roles of inferences of the parent’s goals and future time perspective of the parent
Authors: Bernhold Quinten S.
Published: November 2021

Adult children ( N = 245, MAge = 50.55 years, 62.0% women, 80.0% European American) reported on their own prosocial goals during typical interactions with their parent, inferences of their parent’s prosocial goals, assessment of their parent’s future, and general communication satisfaction in their relationship with their parent. Prosocial goals were considered as social support goals and relationship protection goals. The study examined how children’s own prosocial goals predicted children’s general communication satisfaction, as well as how children’s inferences of their parent’s goals and future time perspective of their parent moderated these associations. The associations between children’s own goals and children’s communication satisfaction were positive (1) when children inferred that their parent held the same goals and perceived their parent’s future as restricted, or (2) when children inferred that their parent held relatively low levels of the goals and perceived their parent’s future as expansive. The study illuminates the contingencies under which children’s goals predict children’s general communication satisfaction.
Against generalisation: Data-driven decisions need context to be human-compatible
Authors: Richardson Sharon
Published: November 2021

During the past two decades, there have been a number of breakthroughs in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, made possible by advanced machine learning algorithms trained through access to massive volumes of data. However, their adoption and use in real-world applications remains a challenge. This paper posits that a key limitation in making AI applicable has been a failure to modernise the theoretical frameworks needed to evaluate and adopt outcomes. Such a need was anticipated with the arrival of the digital computer in the 1950s but has remained unrealised. This paper reviews how the field of data science emerged and led to rapid breakthroughs in algorithms underpinning research into artificial intelligence. It then discusses the contextual framework now needed to advance the use of AI in real-world decisions that impact human lives and livelihoods.
Morphological generalization in heritage speakers: The Turkish aorist
Authors: Uygun Serkan , Schwarz Lara , Clahsen Harald
Published: November 2021

Heritage speakers (HS) have been shown to experience difficulties with inflectional morphology (particularly with irregular morphology) and to frequently overapply regular morphology. The present study seeks to get further insight into the inflectional processes of HS by investigating how these are generalized to nonce words in language production, the first study of this kind for heritage Turkish. We specifically examined morphological generalization processes in the Turkish aorist which – unusual for this language – includes both regular and irregular forms. A written elicited-production experiment containing nonce verbs with varying degrees of similarity to existing verbs was administered to Turkish HS and native monolingually-raised Turkish speakers (MS). We also explored how well a formal model that was trained on a large lexical corpus of Turkish matches the human speakers’ performance. Our main finding is that HS employ both similarity-based and rule-based mechanisms for morphological generalization of the Turkish aorist, with subtle differences to the way these mechanisms are applied by Turkish MS.
Interpreting and predicting tactile signals for the SynTouch BioTac
Authors: Narang Yashraj S. , Sundaralingam Balakumar , Van Wyk Karl , Mousavian Arsalan , Fox Dieter
Published: November 2021

In the human hand, high-density contact information provided by afferent neurons is essential for many human grasping and manipulation capabilities. In contrast, robotic tactile sensors, including the state-of-the-art SynTouch BioTac, are typically used to provide low-density contact information, such as contact location, center of pressure, and net force. Although useful, these data do not convey or leverage the rich information content that some tactile sensors naturally measure. This research extends robotic tactile sensing beyond reduced-order models through (1) the automated creation of a precise experimental tactile dataset for the BioTac over a diverse range of physical interactions, (2) a 3D finite-element (FE) model of the BioTac, which complements the experimental dataset with high-density, distributed contact data, (3) neural-network-based mappings from raw BioTac signals to not only low-dimensional experimental data, but also high-density FE deformation fields, and (4) mappings from the FE deformation fields to the raw signals themselves. The high-density data streams can provide a far greater quantity of interpretable information for grasping and manipulation algorithms than previously accessible. Datasets, CAD files for the experimental testbed, FE model files, and videos are available at https://sites.google.com/nvidia.com/tactiledata .
Latent Classes of Bidirectional Face-to-Face and Cyber Intimate Partner Violence Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults: The Role of Minority Stressors
Authors: Ronzón-Tirado Roman , Charak Ruby , Cano-Gonzalez Ines , Karsberg Sidsel , Schnarrs Phillip W.
Published: November 2021

The rates of intimate partner violence have been found to be higher among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals when compared with heterosexual populations. However, lesser is known about the impact of specific minority stressors experienced by LGB populations on their face-to-face intimate partner violence (IPV) and cyber IPV experiences. Using a three-step latent class approach, the present study investigated (i) the latent classes of self-reported types of face-to-face IPV and cyber IPV perpetration and victimization and (ii) their associations with LGB distal and proximal minority stressors (i.e., vicarious trauma, discrimination, family rejection, and LGB-identity disclosure). Participants were 288 LGB emerging adults in the age range of 18–29 years (bisexual: n = 168, gay: n = 72, and lesbian: n = 48). Findings showed the presence of four latent classes, namely, face-to-face IPV ( n = 32; 37.5% gay, 18.8% lesbian, and 43.8% bisexual individuals), cyber IPV ( n = 66; 33.3% gay, 12.1% lesbian, and 54.5% bisexual individuals), psychological and stalking cyber IPV ( n = 89; 15.7% gay, 15.7% lesbian, and 68.5% bisexual individuals), and low IPV ( n = 101; 23.8% gay, 19.8% lesbian, and 56.4% bisexual individuals). Furthermore, multinomial logistic regressions indicated that greater exposure to the minority stressors such as exposure to heterosexism, namely, discrimination and harassment, rejection from one’s family of origin, and exposure to vicarious trauma, as well as a lower degree of LGB-identity disclosure, largely predicted latent classes with greater probabilities of IPV exposure, namely, cyber IPV, face-to-face IPV classes, and psychological and stalking cyber IPV. Findings suggest the importance of addressing the role of minority stressors in IPV interventions and the creation of competent LGB-related services and training modules for clinicians.
School as a Hostile Institution: How Black and Immigrant Girls of Color Experience the Classroom
Authors: Ray Ranita
Published: November 2021

The paradox of girls’ academic gains over boys, across race and class, has perplexed scholars for the last few decades. Through a 3-year longitudinal ethnography of two predominantly economically marginalized and racially minoritized schools, I contend that while racially marginalized girls may have made academic gains, school is nevertheless a hostile institution for them. Focusing on the case of Black girls and recent immigrant girls of color, I identify three specific ways in which school functions as hostile institution for them: (1) gendered racial harassment from teachers, (2) erasure of intellect, and (3) estrangement within their communities. Furthermore, the denigration of immigrant girls becomes the conduit for misogynoir. I find that the gains of some racially marginalized girls in school often justify hostility against all of them. Bringing into conversation a feminist analysis of schooling that rejects girls’ educational gains as ubiquitous evidence of a gender revolution with a Black-colonial education framework that emphasizes schooling as a technology of oppression, I explore the current role of school as a hostile institution for Black girls and immigrant girls of color.
Free vibration characteristics of multi-core sandwich composite beams: Experimental and numerical investigation
Authors: Selvaraj Rajeshkumar , Gupta Kamesh , Singh Shubham Kumar , Patel Ankur , Ramamoorthy Manoharan
Published: November 2021

This study investigates the free vibration responses of laminated composite sandwich beam with multi-cores using experimental and numerical methods. The laminated composite face sheets are made by using hand layup method. An experimental modal test has been carried for different configurations of multi-core sandwich beams under different end conditions. The single-core and multi-core sandwich beams has been modeled and the natural frequencies of sandwich beams are determined using ANSYS software. The numerical model is verified by comparing the obtained natural frequencies with experimental results. The numerical and experimental results indicate that the multi-core sandwich beam greatly influences the structural stiffness compared with single-core sandwich beam under different end conditions. Furthermore, the influence of several parameters such as the end conditions, thickness of the core layer, and stacking sequence on the natural frequencies of the various configurations of the multi-core sandwich beams are presented.
Increment in Phototherapy After Adopting Delayed Cord Clamping Practice
Authors: Chetan Chinmay , Banait Nishant , Athelli Vikramaditya , Gupta Bhvya , Pareek Prince , Malshe Nandini , Maheshwari Rajesh , Suryawanshi Pradeep
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014 recommended delayed cord clamping (DCC) in all babies who cry immediately after birth. Despite many benefits, there are concerns of increased rate of phototherapy in babies receiving DCC. This study was done to determine the increment in the rate of phototherapy required in infants managed with DCC vs infants managed with early cord clamping (ECC).

Methods:

A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Pune, India. All the infants born between January 2018 and July 2018, for whom ECC was done, were compared with infants who were born between January 2019 and July 2019, after DCC policy was adopted. All the infants with birth weight ≥2 kg and gestation ≥35 weeks, who were with their mother, were included. Baseline characteristics were compared for both the groups. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for treatment of neonatal jaundice were used to determine the need for phototherapy. Number of infants in both the groups who required phototherapy were compared.

Results:

The ECC group had 565 infants while DCC group had 731 infants. There was no difference in the baseline characteristics of the 2 groups. Jaundice requiring phototherapy was noted in 31% of infants in the ECC group, compared to 45% in infants in the DCC group (relative risk: 1.47 [1.27-1.71] [ P < .001]).

Conclusion:

In this study, DCC increased the need for phototherapy by 47% in late preterm and term infants. Randomized control trials with larger sample size are required to confirm this finding.
Electrocardiographic abnormalities and psychotropic polypharmacy in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders
Authors: Tirupati Srinivasan , Gulati Sachal
Published: November 2021

Background:

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a significant cause for increased mortality in people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. Cardiac arrhythmia is one cause of SCD. Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities predictive of arrhythmias are associated with antipsychotic drug use.

Method:

This chart audit examined the types and frequency of ECG abnormalities (ECG-Abs) in 169 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in a long-stay inpatient unit. We examined the association of ECG-Abs with demographic details and psychotropic drug prescription using chi-square test, Fisher’s Exact test, independent two-sample t-test, Pearson’s correlation, and one-way ANOVA.

Results:

Eighty-eight patients (52.1%) recorded at least one ECG-Ab, and 20.7% had two or more ECG-Abs. The use of multiple antipsychotics, with or without other psychotropic drugs, did not associate significantly with the presence or number of ECG-Abs.

Conclusion:

A significant proportion of patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have ECG-Abs other than prolonged QTc interval, which can predispose them to cardiac arrhythmias. The abnormalities were not limited to patients on psychotropic polypharmacy. ECG evaluation is indicated for all patients and should consider various electrical abnormalities to identify arrhythmia risk.
Private psychiatric hospital care in Australia: a descriptive analysis of casemix and outcomes
Authors: Looi Jeffrey CL , Bastiampillai Tarun , Pring William , Kisely Stephen R , Allison Stephen
Published: November 2021

Objective:

To provide a rapid clinical update on casemix, average length of stay, and the effectiveness of Australian private psychiatric hospitals.

Methods:

We conducted a descriptive analysis of the publicly available patient data from the Australian Private Hospitals Association Private Psychiatric Hospitals Data Reporting and Analysis Service website, from 2015–2016 to 2019–2020. This was compared with corresponding reporting on public and private hospitals from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network.

Results:

In 2019–2020, there were 72 private psychiatric hospitals in Australia with 3582 acute beds. There were 42,942 inpatients with 1,286,470 days of care, and a mean length of stay 19.6 days (SD 13.9) for the financial year 2019–2020. The main diagnoses were major affective and other mood disorders (49%), and alcohol and other substance abuse disorders (21%). Clinician-rated outcome measures, that is, the HoNOS, showed an improvement effect size of 1.64, while the patient-rated MHQ-14 showed an improvement effect size of 1.18. Results are similar for previous years.

Conclusions:

Private psychiatric hospitals provide substantial, effective psychiatric care.
The Consortium of Australian Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy Research and Analysis (CAPIPRA): Aims, model, outputs, and implications for clinical academic advocacy
Authors: Looi Jeffrey C.L. , Allison Stephen , Bastiampillai Tarun , Kisely Stephen R.
Published: November 2021

Objective:

We describe an independent model of clinical academic mental health services research that is able to provide synthesised views for medico-political organisations that are engaged in advocacy for national and state evidence-based policy and planning of mental healthcare.

Conclusions:

CAPIPRA focuses on independent research and policy analysis using publicly available datasets on population mental health at national and state/territory levels, published in international and national peer-reviewed journals (>50 papers since 2019). We partner with medico-political organisations in evidence-based advocacy across a wide range of issues.
Towards Zero Suicide: need and opportunities to improve implementation of clinical elements for older adults
Authors: Wand Anne , McKay Roderick , Pond Dimity
Published: November 2021

Objective:

The Zero Suicide (ZS) framework is increasingly used in Australia, but without published adaptations for older people, and limited access by older people when implemented. The aim of this paper is to inform Towards Zero Suicide (TZS) implementations to benefit older adults by considering the key differences in older adults at risk of suicide according to each clinical component of the ZS framework.

Conclusion:

TZS aspires to reduce deaths by suicide for people within healthcare by refocusing interventions on suicidality rather than diagnosis alone, emphasising evidence-based practices and cultural change. For TZS to be effective for older people, it is essential to ensure practices are based upon evidence relevant to older people and to ensure ageism is effectively counteracted. Older adults have distinct patterns of help seeking and service use, accompanied by differences in risk factors, presentations, and outcomes of suicidal behaviours. Ageism affects assessment, decision-making and actions to address self-harm and suicide for older people. Immediate and longer-term actions are essential to effectively implement TZS in this population.
Against All Odds, Femicide Did Not Increase During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From Six Spanish-Speaking Countries
Authors: Aebi Marcelo F. , Molnar Lorena , Baquerizas Francisca
Published: November 2021

This paper tests a situational hypothesis which postulates that the number of femicides should increase as an unintended consequence of the COVID-19-related lockdowns. The monthly data on femicides from 2017 to 2020 collected in six Spanish-speaking countries—Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Panama, Mexico, and Spain—and analyzed using threshold models indicate that the hypothesis must be rejected. The total number of femicides in 2020 was similar to that recorded during each of the three previous years, and femicides did not peak during the months of the strictest lockdowns. In fact, their monthly distribution in 2020 did not differ from the seasonal distribution of femicides in any former year. The discussion criticizes the current state of research on femicide and its inability to inspire effective criminal polices. It also proposes three lines of intervention. The latter are based on a holistic approach that places femicide in the context of crimes against persons, incorporates biology and neuroscience approaches, and expands the current cultural explanations of femicide.
Experimental validation of axially polarized multilayer piezoelectric composite cylindrical transducers with adjustable multifrequency
Authors: Qin Lei , Wang Jianjun , Li Weijie , Wei Peijun , Tang Lihua
Published: November 2021

The axially polarized multilayer piezoelectric composite cylindrical transducers with adjustable multifrequency capability have been proposed by adjusting the external electric resistance and the ratio of piezoelectric layer numbers between the actuator part and the sensor part, which have promising potential in designing the novel cymbal transducer for underwater sound projector and ultrasonic radiator applications. In the previous studies, the multilayer models were established to guide the design of the transducers with arbitrary layer number, and analyzed the dynamic characteristics theoretically. In this work, an experimental study is performed to validate the theoretical models and predictions. Piezoelectric rings with multiple concentric annular electrodes are designed to characterize the multilayer piezoelectric composite cylindrical transducers. The top surface of the piezoelectric rings is divided into two separate parts. One part is covered by multiple concentric annular electrodes, corresponding to the piezoelectric layers, and the other part is uncovered, corresponding to the elastic layers. Four prototypes are fabricated and each consists of four concentric annular electrodes. The impedance spectra are measured by the impedance analyzer to obtain the resonance and anti-resonance frequencies. Effects of two adjusting methods on the dynamic characteristics are evaluated experimentally. The experimental results basically coincide with the theoretical ones. This comprehensive experimental work assures the feasibility of using axially polarized multilayer piezoelectric composite cylindrical transducers with adjustable multifrequencies and confirms the benefit of the developed theoretical models for guiding the fabrication and optimization of this type of transducers.
Understanding the Lived Experience of Children With Type 1 Diabetes in Kenya: Daily Routines and Adaptation Over Time
Authors: Palmer Tom , Waliaula Cynthia , Shannon Geordan , Salustri Francesco , Grewal Gulraj , Chelagat Winnie , Jennings Hannah M. , Skordis Jolene
Published: November 2021

Focusing only on biomedical targets neglects the important role that psychosocial factors play in effective diabetes self-management. This study aims to understand the lived experiences of children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) in Kenya. Children ( n = 15) participated in focus group discussions and photo diary data collection. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were also conducted with caregivers ( n = 14). We describe an adaptation to diabetes over time, identifying four overarching themes: knowledge and awareness, economic exclusion, the importance of social support, and striving for normality. Photo diaries are then categorized to explore daily realities of diabetes management. Children with T1DM in Kenya face varied barriers to care but can lead a “normal” and fulfilling life, provided adequate support is in place. To improve the lives of children with diabetes in this context and others like it, stakeholders must take note of children’s experiences and recognize their multidimensional needs.
The Meaning of Critical Illness for People Suffering From COVID-19: When a Frightening Unreality Becomes Reality
Authors: Engström Åsa , Juuso Päivi , Andersson Maria , Nordin Anna , Strömbäck Ulrica
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to elucidate the meaning of critical illness for people with COVID-19. This study used a qualitative design. Thirteen people who were critically ill with COVID-19 during 2020 and admitted to a COVID-19 intensive care unit in northern Sweden participated in the study. Data collection was conducted as individual interviews with a narrative approach, and data were analyzed with phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation. The participants did not think they would get critically ill with this unexpected illness. They experienced terrible nightmares where their relatives had been killed, and they missed their relatives both in their dreams and in reality, as they had not been allowed to be with them due to the virus. Gratefulness was described for surviving. Participants described thoughts of not being able to imagine going through this again. They felt fear and loneliness, as a terrifying unreality had become a reality.
Couples Coping with Cancer: Implications of Adaptive Process and Relationship Outcomes in Recent Findings for Marriage and Family Therapists and Medical Family Therapists
Authors: Rajaei Afarin
Published: November 2021

The majority of patients with cancer experience clinically significant levels of distress (Dyson et al., 2012; Kwak et al., 2013; Yanez, Garcia, Victorson, & Salsman, 2013) that varies by age at diagnosis, cancer type, and psychosocial needs. Across multiple oncology studies, it has been reported that relationships with family and friends are important sources of support throughout the cancer experience (e.g., Goodall, King, Ewing, Smith, & Kenny, 2012; Miedema, Zebrack, 2011). However, a close relationship can also be a source of distress for patients with cancer, particularly those who are emotionally unavailable or unable to handle stress (Synder & Pearse, 2010; Zebrack, Chesler, & Kaplan, 2010). Contributors to the oncology literature suggested that distress levels between patients and their partners are interrelated (Gregorio et al., 2012; Juth et al., 2015; Kim & Given, 2008; Segrin et al., 2007). Dyadic research that includes patients and their partners is necessary for developing programs and interventions better targeted at meeting patients’ and their partners’ needs. Yet, these factors and the exploration of adaptive processes have not been examined among couples who are facing cancer. In light of these facts, several implications are provided for clinical practice, future research, policy, and the field of medical family therapy based on the above-mentioned studies (Rajaei & Jensen, 2020; Rajaei et al., 2021a).
Psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk) in frozen banana pulp: Influence on rheological, nutritional and sensory characteristics
Authors: Franco Elisangela Aparecida Nazario , Chávez Davy William Hidalgo , Barbosa de Lima Antonia , Bastos Maria do Socorro Rocha , de Melo Nathália Ramos
Published: November 2021

A frozen banana pulp with functional properties was developed and characterized in this work. For this, 0 g, 3 g, 5 g and 7 g of psyllium in 100 g of banana pulp were added. The use of this fiber in industrialized products can contribute to the nutritional enrichment of the products and provide functional benefits already acknowledged, such as lowering LDL cholesterol, lowering blood glucose, increasing satiety and relieving constipation. According to the World Health Organization, vegetable consumption should be increased, as it reduces the risk of chronic diseases. The main purpose of this work was to incorporate psyllium in frozen banana pulp to develop a healthy product. The samples were evaluated through chemical analyses, rheological properties and sensory testing with Check-All-That-Apply questions (CATA). The addition of psyllium had a significant effect not only on the viscosity but also on the sensory and nutritional properties of the frozen banana pulp. This study indicated that the production of frozen banana pulp with psyllium is viable, as it has desirable nutritional and sensory characteristics which can contribute to the maintenance of health.
Mechanical behaviour in shear and compression of polyurethane foam at elevated temperature
Authors: Mazzuca Pietro , Firmo João P , Correia João R , Garrido Mário
Published: November 2021

This paper presents an experimental investigation about the effect of elevated temperature on the mechanical properties of two polyurethane (PUR) foams, with densities of 40 kg/m3 and 93 kg/m3. The experimental campaign included shear and compressive tests over a temperature range of 20°C–200°C, performed to assess the degradation of the mechanical properties of the PUR foams with temperature. To validate the diagonal tension shear test method adopted in this investigation, a numerical study was also performed, namely to assess the (shear) stress state developed within the foam. The results obtained validated the adopted test procedures, showing that the compressive and shear responses are strongly affected by elevated temperature, due to the softening of the polymeric material when it undergoes the glass transition process. For the temperature range considered in this study, both strength and modulus in shear and compression present an approximately linear reduction with temperature.
Sparse Regression in Cancer Genomics: Comparing Variable Selection and Predictions in Real World Data
Authors: O’Shea Robert J , Tsoka Sophia , Cook Gary JR , Goh Vicky
Published: November 2021

Background:

Evaluation of gene interaction models in cancer genomics is challenging, as the true distribution is uncertain. Previous analyses have benchmarked models using synthetic data or databases of experimentally verified interactions – approaches which are susceptible to misrepresentation and incompleteness, respectively. The objectives of this analysis are to (1) provide a real-world data-driven approach for comparing performance of genomic model inference algorithms, (2) compare the performance of LASSO, elastic net, best-subset selection, [Formula: see text] penalisation and [Formula: see text] penalisation in real genomic data and (3) compare algorithmic preselection according to performance in our benchmark datasets to algorithmic selection by internal cross-validation.

Methods:

Five large [Formula: see text] genomic datasets were extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus. ‘Gold-standard’ regression models were trained on subspaces of these datasets ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Penalised regression models were trained on small samples from these subspaces ([Formula: see text]) and validated against the gold-standard models. Variable selection performance and out-of-sample prediction were assessed. Penalty ‘preselection’ according to test performance in the other 4 datasets was compared to selection internal cross-validation error minimisation.

Results:

[Formula: see text]-penalisation achieved the highest cosine similarity between estimated coefficients and those of gold-standard models. [Formula: see text]-penalised models explained the greatest proportion of variance in test responses, though performance was unreliable in low signal:noise conditions. [Formula: see text] also attained the highest overall median variable selection F1 score. Penalty preselection significantly outperformed selection by internal cross-validation in each of 3 examined metrics.

Conclusions:

This analysis explores a novel approach for comparisons of model selection approaches in real genomic data from 5 cancers. Our benchmarking datasets have been made publicly available for use in future research. Our findings support the use of [Formula: see text] penalisation for structural selection and [Formula: see text] penalisation for coefficient recovery in genomic data. Evaluation of learning algorithms according to observed test performance in external genomic datasets yields valuable insights into actual test performance, providing a data-driven complement to internal cross-validation in genomic regression tasks.
Structural and Energetic Insights Into the Interaction of Niacin With the GPR109A Receptor
Authors: Adepu Kiran Kumar , Kachhap Sangita , Anishkin Andriy , Chintapalli Sree V
Published: November 2021

The transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor GPR109A has been previously shown to function as a receptor for niacin in mediating antilipolytic effects. Although administration of high doses of niacin has shown beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, however, it is often accompanied by disturbing side effects such as flushing, liver damage, glucose intolerance, or gastrointestinal problems. Thus, it is important to understand niacin-GPR109A interactions, which can be beneficial for the development of alternate drugs having antilipolytic effects with less or no side effects. To get into the structural insights on niacin binding to GPR109A, we have performed 100 nanoseconds long all-atom MD simulations of five niacin-GPR109A complexes (automatically docked pose 0, and randomly placed niacin in poses 1 to 4 in the receptor crevice) and analyzed using binding free energy calculations and H-bond analysis. Steered MD simulations were used to get an average force for niacin translocation between the bulk and the external crevice of the wild type and mutant (N86Y, W91 S, S178I, and triple mutant of all three residues) GPR109A receptors, as well as GPR109B (as a control that does not bind niacin). The H-bond analysis revealed that TMH3 residue R111 interacts with niacin in a total of 4 (poses 0 to 3) complexes, while residues C177, S178, and S179 contact niacin in complex pose 4, and all these complexes were energetically stable. According to steered MD simulations, all the GPR109A mutants and GPR109B required greater force than that of wild-type GPR109A to translocate in the external crevice, suggesting increased sterical obstacles. Thus, the residues N86 (at the junction of TMH2/ECL2), W91 (ECL2), R111 (TMH3), and ECL3 residues (C177, S178, S179) play an important role for optimal routing of niacin entry and to bind GPR109A.
FastMLST: A Multi-core Tool for Multilocus Sequence Typing of Draft Genome Assemblies
Authors: Guerrero-Araya Enzo , Muñoz Marina , Rodríguez César , Paredes-Sabja Daniel
Published: November 2021

Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) is a precise microbial typing approach at the intra-species level for epidemiologic and evolutionary purposes. It operates by assigning a sequence type (ST) identifier to each specimen, based on a combination of alleles of multiple housekeeping genes included in a defined scheme. The use of MLST has multiplied due to the availability of large numbers of genomic sequences and epidemiologic data in public repositories. However, data processing speed has become problematic due to the massive size of modern datasets. Here, we present FastMLST, a tool that is designed to perform PubMLST searches using BLASTn and a divide-and-conquer approach that processes each genome assembly in parallel. The output offered by FastMLST includes a table with the ST, allelic profile, and clonal complex or clade (when available), detected for a query, as well as a multi-FASTA file or a series of FASTA files with the concatenated or single allele sequences detected, respectively. FastMLST was validated with 91 different species, with a wide range of guanine-cytosine content (%GC), genome sizes, and fragmentation levels, and a speed test was performed on 3 datasets with varying genome sizes. Compared with other tools such as mlst, CGE/MLST, MLSTar, and PubMLST, FastMLST takes advantage of multiple processors to simultaneously type up to 28 000 genomes in less than 10 minutes, reducing processing times by at least 3-fold with 100% concordance to PubMLST, if contaminated genomes are excluded from the analysis. The source code, installation instructions, and documentation of FastMLST are available at https://github.com/EnzoAndree/FastMLST
‘Anyway, the dashboard is dead’: On trying to build urban informatics
Authors: Sadowski Jathan
Published: November 2021

How do the idealised promises and purposes of urban informatics compare to the material politics and practices of their implementation? To answer this question, I ethnographically trace the development of two data dashboards by strategic planners in an Australian city over the course of 2 years. By studying this techno-political process from its origins onward, I uncovered an interesting story of obdurate institutions, bureaucratic momentum, unexpected troubles, and, ultimately, frustration and failure. These kinds of stories, which often go untold in the annals of innovation, contrast starkly with more common framings of technological triumph and transformation. They also, I argue, reveal much more about how techno-political systems are actualised in the world.
Shifting moods on Sina Weibo: The first 12 weeks of COVID-19 in Wuhan
Authors: Zheng Peng , Adams Paul C , Wang Jiejie
Published: November 2021

Better understanding of social media uses in crisis situations can help improve disaster management by policy-makers, organizations, businesses, and members of the public. It can also build theoretical understanding of how social life and citizenship incorporate social media usage. This study tracks the evolution of public sentiment in Wuhan, China, during the first 12 weeks after the identification of COVID-19 on the Chinese microblogging platform Sina Weibo. Data consist of 133,079 original Sina Weibo posts dealing with the novel coronavirus. The relative prevalence of eight different emotion groups is traced longitudinally using the ROST Content Mining System and the Emotion Vocabulary of Dalian University of Technology. The study finds a progression from confusion/fear, to disappointment/frustration, to depression/anxiety, then finally to happiness/gratitude. It argues that this progression indexes the changing affective energies of digital medical citizenship, which in turn indicates the context for intervention in future crises.
Social media news deserts: Digital inequalities and incidental news exposure on social media platforms
Authors: Barnidge Matthew , Xenos Michael A
Published: November 2021

Some people live in social media “news deserts,” while others are embedded in online networks that are rich in news content. These news deserts represent a new form of digital inequality—distinct from problems of access, resources, or civic skills—that could foreclose one of the ways social media are believed to contribute to informing citizens and engaging them in democratic processes: providing opportunities for incidental news exposure. This study investigates incidental exposure on social media platforms, drawing on an online survey administered just before the 2018 US Midterm Elections ( N = 1493). The study finds that even after controlling for key individual-level factors, characteristics of social media discussion networks play a role in explaining variation in incidental exposure. The results are discussed in light of prevailing theory about incidental exposure, public engagement, and digital inequalities.
Microbial colonisation associated with conventional and self-ligating brackets: a systematic review
Authors: Parmar Nidhi P , Thompson Gabrielle L , Atack Nikki E , Ireland Anthony J , Sherriff Martyn , Haworth Jennifer A
Published: November 2021

Background:

Decalcification and gingivitis caused by plaque accumulation around brackets are common iatrogenic effects of fixed appliances. The influence of conventional versus self-ligating bracket design on microbial colonisation is unknown.

Objective:

To assess the levels of microbial colonisation associated with conventional and self-ligating brackets.

Search sources:

Three databases were searched for publications from 2009 to 2021.

Data selection:

Randomised controlled trials comparing levels of microbial colonisation before and during treatment with conventional and self-ligating brackets were assessed independently and in duplicate.

Data extraction:

Data were extracted independently by two authors from the studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias assessments were made using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist.

Results:

A total of 11 randomised controlled trials were included in this systematic review. Six of the studies were found to be at low risk of bias and five presented with some concerns. The studies were considered moderate to high quality. Five trials reported no statistically significant difference in microbial colonisation between bracket types. The remaining studies showed mixed results, with some reporting increased colonisation of conventional brackets and others increased colonisation of self-ligating brackets. The heterogeneity of study methods and outcomes precluded meta-analysis.

Conclusion:

Of the 11 studies included in this systematic review, five found no differences in colonisation between conventional and self-ligating brackets. The remaining studies showed mixed results. The evidence is inconclusive regarding the association between bracket design and levels of microbial colonisation.
Diversity in the teachers’ lounge in Germany – casting doubt on the statistical category of ‘migration background’
Authors: Rosen Lisa , Jacob Marita
Published: November 2021

Teachers with so-called migration backgrounds are often assumed to possess higher intercultural competencies or skills for more adequately dealing with migration-related diversity than other teachers. However, these assumptions of higher intercultural competencies, specific pedagogical orientations and attitudes have rarely been systematically empirically examined. On the other hand, such a utilitarian ethnicization is increasingly criticized by migration researchers in educational science in Germany as furthering stigmatization and deprofessionalization. Against this background, our paper aims to contribute to the lively discourse about teacher with so-called migration backgrounds. We start with analysing teacher data from the German National Education Panel Study (NEPS). Our analyses indicate that teachers with and without so-called migration backgrounds do not differ significantly in most respects. These findings led us to methodological considerations with regard to the (non-)usefulness of the statistical category of ‘migration background’ in educational migration research.