bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘The History of Political Thought Above All’
Authors: Cuttica Cesare
Published: March 2022

Well-known for his work on absolutism, divine right theory, and his contextual reading of Hobbes’ ideas, Sommerville also published successful critical editions of Sir Robert Filmer and King James vi and I’s political writing. Sommerville’s engagement in key historiographical debates on early- modern British history, involving “opposing camps” of revisionists and post-revisionists, is less explored. Here, I focus on the question whether pre-Civil War England was immune to ideological conflict or, instead, featured a confrontation between King and Parliament based on ideas of power, liberty and obedience. I also highlight the continued relevance of Sommerville’s innovative account of English political thought as deeply shaped by European theories. His work reminds us of the role of the history of political thought in rectifying false claims and unchecked opinions, so commonly expounded in our divided world. In conclusion, I advance my own critical interpretation of Sommerville’s views on absolutism and patriarchalism.
Trapp’s Trap: Classical Nationalism versus Bounded Rationality
Authors: Miščević Nenad
Published: March 2022

How rational are classical nationalist attitudes, and their more recent cousins, populist quasi-nationalist attitudes? This article addresses these questions from the perspectives of instrumental and bounded conceptions of rationality. It demonstrates that on both conceptions pernicious nationalistic attitudes may count as perfectly rational, while remaining clearly irrational in a wider prescriptive sense. The article concludes by pointing to alternative conceptions of rationality and to cosmopolitan remedies for global problems inadequately addressed within nationalistic frameworks.
Gendered Citizenship and Liminal Space: The Ambiguity of Women’s Organizing
Authors: Walsh Denise Marie
Published: March 2022

In this reflection on Natasha Behl’s book, Gendered Citizenship: Understanding Gendered Violence in Democratic India, I highlight its singular contributions to political science, which I attribute to its exemplary engagement with lived experience and reflexivity. Behl leverages both to demonstrate how the wide spectrum of violence committed in the public and private spheres is of central importance for citizenship. I then turn to several conundrums the book raises about women, gender, religion, and politics. Contesting Behl’s characterization of Indian women’s participation in Sikh sex-segregated religious groups as a form of democratic political interaction, I argue that groups like these are more ambiguous and characterize them as liminal. The distinction is fruitful because it provides a conceptual opening for empirically analyzing the many religious and civic sites in which women organize to better understand the role this participation plays in shaping democratic citizenship.
Caring as Research, Researching with Care
Authors: Anumol Dipali
Published: March 2022

In Gendered Citizenship, Natasha Behl proposes a theory of situated citizenship that makes visible the practices of exclusionary inclusion that explain the gap between women’s formal equality in the Indian Constitution and their actual lived experiences of inequality and violence. By focusing on the lived experiences of women, Behl’s approach foregrounds reflexivity and meaning-making. In doing so, Behl provides a blueprint for research in political science that centers care and community.
The Acoustics of Traditional Italian Mandolins and Their Relation with Soundboard Wood Properties
Authors: Quintavalla Martino , Gabrielli Federico , Canevari Claudio
Published: March 2022

Stringed musical instruments, which have a long and rich worldwide cultural history, have slowly evolved from ancient lutes to contemporary instruments such as the Italian mandolin. The mandolin has been an iconic element of Italian musical tradition and culture for more than 400 years. In this study, we report on the acoustic characterization of modern Italian mandolins in terms of bridge admittance, sound radiation, and modal shape measurements. The vibrational behavior of the soundboard was studied by means of finite element analysis (FEA) to establish a link between the mechanical and physical properties of wood and the acoustic response of the instrument. This study presents some important features of the acoustic behavior of mandolins and sheds some light on the influence of wood properties on the instrument’s timbre and its variability.
The Ice Particle and Aggregate Simulator (IPAS). Part II: Analysis of a Database of Theoretical Aggregates for Microphysical Parameterization
Authors: Przybylo Vanessa M. , Sulia Kara J. , Lebo Zachary J. , Schmitt Carl G.
Published: March 2022

Bulk ice-microphysical models parameterize the dynamic evolution of ice particles from advection, collection, and sedimentation through a cloud layer to the surface. Frozen hydrometeors can grow to acquire a multitude of shapes and sizes, which influence the distribution of mass within cloud systems. Aggregates, defined herein as the collection of ice particles, have a variety of formations based on initial ice particle size, shape, falling orientation, and the number of particles that collect. This work focuses on using the Ice Particle and Aggregate Simulator (IPAS) as a statistical tool to repetitively collect ice crystals of identical properties to derive bulk aggregate characteristics. A database of 9 744 000 aggregates is generated with resulting properties analyzed. After 150 single ice crystals (monomers) collect, the most extreme aggregate aspect ratio calculations asymptote toward and ϕca ≈ 0.50 for aggregates composed of quasi-horizontally oriented and randomly oriented monomers, respectively. The results presented are largely consistent with both a previous theoretical study and estimates derived from ground-based observations from two different geographic locations. Particle falling orientation highly influences newly formed aggregate aspect ratios from the collection of particles with extreme aspect ratios; quasi-horizontally oriented particles can produce aggregate aspect ratios an order of magnitude more extreme than randomly oriented particles but can also produce near-spherical aggregates as the number of monomers comprising the aggregate reach approximately 100. Finally, a majority of collections result in aggregates that are closer to prolate than oblate spheroids.
Global Oceanic Mass Transport by Coherent Eddies
Authors: Xia Qiong , Li Gaocong , Dong Changming
Published: March 2022

Mesoscale eddies are one of the most prominent processes in the world’s ocean. The eddy-induced transport of water mass, heat, and energy has a great impact on the ocean and atmosphere. The study of global mass transport by mesoscale eddies is important. However, most existing studies have used Eulerian eddy detection methods. Compared with Lagrangian methods, Eulerian methods fail to distinguish the coherent transport from the incoherent transport induced by eddies. Using a Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD)-based coherent eddy detection method, this study identifies global coherent mesoscale eddies in the upper 1000 m of the ocean. Based on the eddy dataset, the eddy-induced coherent mass transport is calculated. Compared with Eulerian estimates, the Lagrangian results shown in this study are one order of magnitude smaller. This means that roughly only about 10% of eddy-induced global water mass transport is coherent. The cumulative eddy-induced coherent transport across each latitude or longitude is only around 1 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1), which is much less than the transport induced by wind-driven gyres and thermohaline circulation.
Movements and Culture: Expanding the Terrain of Environmental Politics
Authors: Chewinski Max
Published: March 2022

Research on environmental politics typically focuses on the state as the unit of analysis. This special issue considers the larger terrain within which contention surrounding the environment occurs by focusing on two key drivers of environmental politics: (1) environmental movements and (2) the cultural dynamics of environmental issues. The articles engage with underexplored research questions, adopt novel methodologies, examine unique data sources, and contribute to existing theory about political contests over the natural environment.
Comovement of Fear Index, Stock Returns, Brent Oil Prices in BRIC Countries: The Case of COVID-19
Authors: Sharma Sakshi , Malik Kunjana
Published: March 2022

The study investigates long-run and short-run cointegrating relationship between stock market returns, fear index (VIX), brent crude oil prices and growth in deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic for BRIC countries using daily data from 23 January 2020 to 24 August 2020 using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. CUSUM test and serial correlation test estimates point towards the robustness of the model used. The evidence reveals that for India and Brazil, with the outbreak of COVID-19, decrease in crude oil prices and increase in volatility index, the stock returns started declining in the short run, but the impact has declined and the stock returns have regained in the long run. For China, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and increase in fear index, stock returns declined in the short run, but the Chinese economy has recovered well due to a strong industrial and services sector. For Russia, increase in deaths due to COVID and decline in oil prices has impacted the stock returns in the long- and short run. Due to a decline of 53% for crude oil prices from January 2020 to May 2020, the Russian economy would face the consequences in the long run as well. The results suggest that though BRIC countries were impacted by growth in COVID-19 deaths, but the recovery trajectory and stability has resumed for all countries except Russia. Results of Granger Causality indicate a bidirectional causality between VIX and stock returns for the Indian market.
Poor mental health is associated with the exacerbation of personal debt problems: A study of debt advice adherence
Authors: Andelic Nicole , Feeney Aidan
Published: March 2022

Background:

It is known that there is an association between debt and poor mental health. However, much of the literature is observational and focuses on how debt may lead to poor mental health. Here, we are interested in how poor mental health may be associated with debt advice adherence.

Aims:

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between mental health and debt advice adherence in individuals applying for a formal debt resolution mechanism (an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, IVA).

Method:

Eighty-six participants completed a survey measuring mental health (MHI-5), memory for information discussed during the appointment, attitudes towards IVAs, and trust in the advisor shortly after having a debt advice appointment. Adherence to the advice (whether participants completed the IVA application) was measured 10 weeks later.

Results:

The study found that the sample demonstrated poor levels of mental health overall but that non-adherent participants had significantly poorer mental health than those who adhered to the advice.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that (a) mental health needs to be considered when advising people with problem debt and (b) future research might examine if mental health support should coincide with important decision points in the debtor’s journey out of debt.
Post-secession Sudan and South Sudan: A Comparative Study of Economic Performance, Export Diversification, and Institutions
Authors: Abbass Ali Sabna Mohamed
Published: March 2022

Oil has played a determinant role in the economic development of Sudan and South Sudan before and after their separation. The introduction of oil into the Sudanese economy in 1999 has been associated with many challenges, especially those related to export diversification, and institutional quality. Oil dependency increased with the growth of oil share in total exports. Therefore, the secession of South Sudan in 2011 represents a great shock to both economies. This event creates a situation in which the new country experienced a sudden influx of oil revenues. At the same time, the parent country witnessed a sudden loss of 70% of its proven oil reserves. This makes the case of Sudan unique and provides a very rare opportunity for macroeconomists to address the impacts of this shock on both economies. This paper uses the recent secondary data of both counties to analyze and compare the impact of oil revenues transfer on Sudan and South Sudan’s economies in the post-secession period. The conclusion of this paper shows that oil loss has created incentives for better economic performance in Sudan. Reciprocally, South Sudan experiences a premature oil dependence that led to export concentration, institutional degradation, and macroeconomic instability.
Thermoplastic matrix material influences on the mechanical performance of additively manufactured carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic composites
Authors: Adeniran Olusanmi , Cong Weilong , Oluwabunmi Kayode
Published: March 2022

Materials design and development continue to be more relevant as applications continue to rise for additively manufactured carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) composites. Plastic matrixes bond and protect the fiber and help to transfer load through the composite to support intended applications. This makes it more necessary to understand the influences of thermoplastic matrixes on the mechanical performance of the composites fabricated through the additive manufacturing (AM) technique. This study investigated Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS) and Polyamide (PA) matrixes, which represent the bulk of the amorphous and semicrystalline engineering-grade thermoplastics matrixes, respectively, used in CFRP composite applications. Mechanical properties: tensile, compression, flexural, and thermal properties were examined, with the results showing the thermoplastic matrixes compositions and morphologies influences on the mechanical properties. The CF-PA was found to offer superior strength, ductility, and toughness because of their close-packed ordered lamellar matrix morphology, while the CF-ABS was found to offer superior modulus because of their loose morphology which more easily rearrange in reaction to stress upon elastic deformation. The mechanical properties results were reinforced by the fracture failure modes and the thermal analysis results which showed the CF-PA composite’s ability to withstand higher mechanical performance and temperatures before failure.
Brewing Violence: Foreign Investment and Civil Conflict
Authors: Pinto Pablo M. , Zhu Boliang
Published: March 2022

Two prominent features in current world affairs are the unprecedented level of global economic integration and the growing incidence of intrastate violence. We develop and test a novel argument linking global integration through foreign investment to intrastate armed conflict. The presence of multinational corporations in developing countries can cause market concentration, resulting in high rents. Disputes between governments and would-be challengers over the appropriation of these rents are likely to turn violent, increasing the incidence of armed conflict. State capacity mitigates this positive association between foreign investment and intrastate war. Strong states have the capacity to deter rebellions, address citizens’ demands through institutionalized mechanisms, and credibly commit to the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Using data from developing countries for over four decades and addressing potential endogeneity and selection biases, we find strong support for our hypotheses. Our findings have important implications for understanding the link between economic interdependence and conflict.
Kinetic and Kinematic Analyses of Countermovement Jump in a Small Sample of Individuals with Congenital Vision Loss
Authors: Iguchi Masaki , Nozu Shojiro , Sakuma Toru
Published: March 2022

In the present study, we aimed to explore whether countermovement jumps (CMJs) performed by young adults with and without visual impairment (VI) differ. We compared three participants with congenital VI to 10 participants without congenital VI when both groups performed CMJs with maximum effort. Although the maximum jump height did not differ between groups, all three participants with VI showed such reduced maximum downward velocity of the center of body mass and a relative net negative vertical impulse that, on these measures, they fell beyond two standard deviations from the mean scores of participants without VI. The range of motion for the leg joints and countermovement depth did not differ between groups. Although findings from our small sample should be cross-validated and trainers should take care to protect athletes from falls, it appears from our preliminary data that a path to improved CMJ performance for athletes with VI is to increase their movement velocity in the countermovement phase of the jump.
When Can Dictators Go It Alone? Personalization and Oversight in Authoritarian Regimes
Authors: Leber Andrew , Carothers Christopher , Reichert Matthew
Published: March 2022

Why are some autocrats able to personalize power within their regimes while others are not? Past studies have focused on the balance of power between the autocrat and his or her supporting coalition of peer or subordinate elites, but we find that often the crucial relationship is between the autocrat and the “old guard”—retired leaders, party elders, and other elites of the outgoing generation. Using an original data set of authoritarian leadership transitions, we argue that when members of the old guard retain oversight capacity over their incoming successor, he or she is less likely to overturn power-sharing arrangements and consolidate individual power. We illustrate this argument with a case study of three leadership transitions in China between 1989 and 2012. This study’s findings advance our understanding of elite politics and intergenerational conflict in authoritarian regimes.
Can body awareness training improve recovery following stroke: A study to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy
Authors: Serrada Ines , Fryer Caroline , Hordacre Brenton , Hillier Susan
Published: March 2022

Background

Impairments in body awareness are common after stroke and are associated with decreased participation and performance in everyday activities.

Objectives

To explore the feasibility and safety of a body awareness program after stroke, and identify the preliminary efficacy of class-based lessons compared to home-based lessons on sensation, body awareness, motor impairment and quality of life.

Methods

A two-armed pilot randomized controlled trial with a nested qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Individuals with a diagnosis of stroke (at least three months post injury) were randomized to either class-based face-to-face body awareness lessons or home-based individually performed body awareness lessons. Outcome measures were safety, feasibility, sensation, body awareness, motor impairment, self-efficacy and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews were used to allow greater exploration and understanding of participants’ experience of the program.

Results

Twenty participants were randomized, 16 participants completed the program. Feasibility was greater in the class-based group. No adverse events were detected. The class-based group led to improvement in body awareness (p = 0.002), quality of life (p = 0.002), and the arm (p = 0.025) and leg (p = 0.005) motor impairment scores. Qualitative data similarly indicated that the class-based group experienced a stronger sense of awareness, achievement and connection than the home-based group.

Conclusions

Body awareness training was safe, feasible and acceptable in people with stroke. Individuals in the class-based group showed greater benefit compared to those receiving home-based therapy.
Victimization of Sexual Minority Latinx Youth: Results From a National Survey
Authors: Sabina Chiara , Wills Candence , Robles Gabriel , Cuevas Carlos A.
Published: March 2022

Limited previous research has explored the intersectional stress and trauma sexual minority (SM) Latinx youth experience generated by being part of at least two minoritized groups. The Dating Violence among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study employed a national sample of Latinx youth and queried a range of victimizations in the past year, via a bilingual phone survey. Of the 1525 12–18-year-old youth interviewed for DAVILA, 123 either identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual or had at least one same-sex dating partner. Measures included the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Conflict Tactics Scale Short Form, Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Rates of dating violence, psychological dating violence, sexual victimization, and polyvictimization were significantly higher among sexual minority (SM) youth, compared to heterosexual (HET) youth. Victimized SM youth had significantly more depression, anxiety, and hostility than victimized HET youth. Sexual minority youth also reported less social support from family and significant others. A sequential regression showed psychosocial factors of mental health functioning and social support were associated with the number of victimizations above and beyond demographic factors, including SM status. Together these results underscore that SM youth experience greater adverse outcomes than HET youth. However, it is not SM status that directly relates to victimization, but the negative effects of psychological distress and low social support, that account for the higher number of victimizations of SM Latinx youth. These factors are closely linked to the stigmatization that SM youth face. As such efforts to destigmatize SM identities are needed to address the health and safety of SM Latinx youth.
The Theory of Planned Behavior & Bystander Intention: Differences Based on Gender and Heavy Episodic Drinking
Authors: John Dylan A. , Hoxmeier Jill C. , Brown Amy L.
Published: March 2022

Research indicates that people who engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED) report less intention to intervene and intervention behavior to prevent sexual violence. Researchers have also found gender differences across bystander intention, bystander confidence, and intervention behavior. However, research in this area could benefit from use of an evidence-based health behavior theory. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) posits that personal attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) predict behavioral intention. Substantial evidence supports the utility of the TPB for predicting behavioral intention in a variety of health-related behaviors, yet few researchers have applied this theory when predicting bystander intention to prevent sexual violence. Undergraduate students ( N = 395) from a southern university (77% female; 70% White, Non-Hispanic) completed a modified Sexual Assault Bystander Behavior Questionnaire and the Daily Drinking Questionnaire. Our findings did not reveal significant differences in attitudes, subjective norms, PBC, nor intention based on HED; however, there were significant differences based on gender, with women indicating more positive attitudes and supportive subjective norms regarding bystander intervention. Multiple regression analysis indicated that theoretical antecedents of intention positively predicted bystander intention, however, the relations were not moderated by prior engagement in HED. These findings support the utility of the TPB for predicting bystander intention to intervene; however, they do not support previous research examining how HED influences bystanders’ intention to engage in prosocial actions.
Design principles for introducing 21st century skills by means of game-based learning
Authors: Robberts Anna S , Van Ryneveld Linda
Published: March 2022

Educators are drawn into a battle for student attention and engagement in any learning environment. This article describes how a learning environment can be changed into a game-based activity to ensure student engagement. Modules aimed at the professional development of students present numerous challenges in the structuring of learning environments that develop communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking skills, the 4Cs of 21st century skills. This article is based on an activity designed for 145 engineering students and intended to habituate them to the university while simultaneously exposing them to opportunities for the development of the 4Cs. During the design, execution and refinement of the learning environment in five consecutive years, 15 design principles that could be employed to facilitate the implementation of a game-based learning activity emerged. Student reflection essays, lecturer observations, field notes and a focus group interview conducted with tutors and colleagues were analysed qualitatively to inform the investigation into students’ experiences of a game-based learning environment aimed at their professional development. The voices of the students were used to confirm the value of this environment. The design principles can be employed in other learning environments to support practitioners’ game-based learning efforts.
Impacts of polyimide enhanced by amino-modified fluorinated graphene: Thermal, mechanical and tribological behaviors
Authors: Ye Xiangyuan , Wang Meigui
Published: March 2022

The fluorinated graphene (FG) is modified to get the amino-FG (AFG) which is applied as nanofiller of the polyimide (PI). The repulsion between the C-F bonds endows the AFG with well dispersion in polyimide (PI) matrix, and the amino groups of the AFG react with pyromellitic dianhydride to form strong physical and chemical interactions between the AFG and the PI chains. The results exhibit that the AFG obviously enhances the thermal stability, mechanical performances and wear resistant properties of the PI. When the AFG content reaches 0.5 wt%, the PI/AFG-0.5 composite shows the 35.5% higher tensile stress and 50% higher wear resistance than the PI, which are also higher than the PI/FG-0.5. The strong physical and chemical interactions between the AFG and the PI matrix enhance the interfacial compatibility of the PI/AFG composite, which is better to transfer the stress and heat, so as to enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of the PI. The worn surface changes of the PI/AFG composites indicate that the tribological mechanisms are the synergistic reaction of the abrasive wear and the fatigue wear.
Process parameter selection for laser welding of aluminium alloy from the perspective of energy effectiveness
Authors: He Yan , Xiong Jiaji , Li Yufeng , Tian Xiaocheng , Jiang Ping
Published: March 2022

Laser welding is an indispensable part of competitive manufacturing, but it has a critical issue with energy consumption. The existing literature is limited to the energy supplied to the laser-material interaction for the material welding, and the welding quality is not well considered for energy saving. To reduce the total energy consumption of laser welding without compromising the welding quality, this study investigates the effects of process parameters including the laser power, welding speed and focus position on the specific energy consumption (SEC), welding quality and related energy effectiveness (EE) of the laser welding of 6061 aluminium alloy. The results reveal that adjusting the laser power to improve the welding quality will inevitably lead to a significant increase in the SEC. Energy can be saved with a relatively stable welding quality by varying the welding speed, and the welding quality can be improved without appreciably increasing the energy consumption by setting the focus position to approximately −0.5 mm. The EE can be enhanced with a higher laser power within a moderate welding speed range at the negative focus position. A case demonstrated that with a reasonable process parameter configuration, an energy savings of 12.45% could be realised for laser welding, while the tensile strength was increased by 4.29%, and the weld bead integrity remained stable (a decrease of 0.11%).
Mean line aerodynamic design of an axial compressor using a novel design approach based on reinforcement learning
Authors: Liu Yi , Chen Jiang , Cheng Jinxin
Published: March 2022

This paper develops a novel design approach based on reinforcement learning, which can independently complete the mean line aerodynamic design process of the axial compressor. The approach combines Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm with mean line aerodynamic predicting program HARIKA to acquire the design experiences of the axial compressor. DDPG combines basic reinforcement learning algorithm with artificial neural networks to get continuous observation and give corresponding actions. After the specific modification of the DDPG, multi-objective optimization can be integrated into the design process. Under the guidance of this approach, the design and optimization processes of a 9-stage high-pressure axial compressor were completed without expert experiences. At the design point, the isentropic efficiency was 88.5% and the surge margin was 25%, which meets the requirement of the compressor’s efficiency and stability. And there was an increase of 13.4% and 22%, respectively, compared to the initial design. Moreover, through the analysis of the design results, the distributions of aerodynamic parameters conform to expert experiences. To verify the approach, traditional optimization methods, multi-island genetic optimization algorithm (GA), and multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOPSO) were used to solve the same optimization problem. The DDPG optimized efficiency was 0.2% lower than the traditional optimization method, and the pressure ratio at the work point was, respectively, 0.6% and 2% higher than that of the MOPSO and GA, which proved the effectiveness of the new design approach. Furthermore, after training, this approach can give design results immediately near the specific design requirements, which is different from the traditional optimization methods. The new approach saved 93% evaluation steps compared to the GA in the −3% design point and finished the design process in 8 steps in the +3% design point, where GA failed to complete.
Serum and urinary galectin-9 and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10
Authors: Mehta Pankti , Singh Pratibha , Aggarwal Amita
Published: March 2022

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by a type I interferon (IFN) signature, and traditional methods for its measurement like gene expression analysis are cumbersome for routine use. Thus, we aimed to study galectin-9 as a biomarker and compared it with a validated marker, C-X-C motifchemokine ligand 10(CXCL-10).

Methods

Ninety-seven patients with SLE (26 years; 89 females) were included and stratified based on renal involvement and activity into - active (SLEDAI > 4) renal (35), active non-renal (32) and inactive renal subgroups (30) along with 20 healthy controls (HC, 25 years; 15 females). The median disease duration was 24 months (6-48), and SLEDAI 2K was 9 (2–15). Serum and urine galectin-9 and CXCL-10 levels were measured by ELISA. Urine levels were normalized with spot urine creatinine values. Follow-up serum and urine galectin-9 levels were measured for those in the active renal group at 6 months.

Results

Patients with SLE had higher serum galectin-9 (5.6 vs 1.7 μg/mL, p = .0001) but not urine galectin-9 (0.52 vs 0.32 μg, p = .7) levels as compared to HC. Serum galectin-9 but not urine galectin-9 was higher in patients with active as compared to inactive lupus (12.9 - active renal, 16.7 - active non-renal vs 3.57 μg/mL, p = .04 and .005). Serum CXCL-10 (0.16 vs 0.05, p = .01) and urine CXCL-10 (0 vs 0, p = .01) were both significantly higher in the SLE group as compared with HC. Serum but not urine CXCL-10 was higher in the active as compared to inactive lupus (0.2 - active renal, 0.3 - active non-renal vs 0.08 μg/mL, p = .9 and .02). Serum galectin-9 showed a modest correlation with CXCL-10 0.4 (0.2–0.6), whereas none was found between their urine levels. Serum galectin-9 and CXCL-10 showed a moderate positive correlation with SLEDAI 2K. Serum galectin-9 showed a greater AUC than CXCL-10 (0.77 vs 0.67) in differentiating active from inactive SLE, and both tested together had the best AUC of 0.82. However, urinary levels had no association with SLEDAI 2K or renal SLEDAI. In a subset of patients with active renal disease, serum galectin-9 but not urine levels declined significantly after 6 months.

Conclusion

Serum galectin-9 is a good marker of lupus activity; however, it does not differentiate between active renal and active non-renal disease. It performs slightly better than CXCL-10. Urinary galectin-9 does not reflect renal activity.
Effects of Various Financial and Non-financial Incentives on the Performance of Accredited Social Health Activist: Evidence from Two Selected Districts of Odisha
Authors: Pani Saumya Ranjan , Nallala Srinivas , Rout Sarit Kumar , Sundari Shyama , Chokshi Maulik , Mokashi Tushar , Nair Arun , Kadam Shridhar M.
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

The performance of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) is crucial for the achievement of the ‘health for all’ goal in India. The performance and motivation of workforce are dependent on various financial and non-financial incentives. This study analyses the linkage of current incentive practices and perceived rewards/sanctions, with the motivation and performance of ASHA.

Methods:

Cross-sectional qualitative approach and interpretive structural modelling (ISM).

Results:

The motivation and performance of ASHAs were driven by various inter-related factors. The predominant rewarding factors identified were: monetary incentives, awards, and support and respect of the community towards the ASHAs. Dissatisfaction was fuelled by factors, such as sense of underpayment, comparison with peers and the community cadres of other departments, erratic duty hours, scarce disbursement of resources, financial insecurity post-retirement, difficulty in reading or writing, unavailability of health services and medicines in the nearby healthcare facilities.

Conclusions:

For a sustained advance in motivation and performance of ASHAs, the public health systems’ focus needs to be oriented on: capacity building; optimal resource allocation, rationalised payoffs to the ASHAs working in difficult terrains and improving availability of healthcare services in primary healthcare facilities.
Mathematics Instruction for Students With Learning Disabilities: Applied Examples Using Virtual Manipulatives
Authors: Shin Mikyung , Simmons Michelle , Meador Audrey , Goode Francis J. , Deal Alexa , Jackson Tammye
Published: March 2022

Technology has changed the practices related to teaching and learning mathematics in schools. The demand for learning mathematics in virtual environments is increasing in the 21st-century classroom. There has been widespread expansion of the use of technology in education. This column reviews three types of instruction—synchronous, asynchronous, and blended—and provides applied examples regarding the use of virtual manipulatives in teaching mathematics to students with learning disabilities.
Dyslexia Identification: Tackling Current Issues in Schools
Authors: Rice Marianne , Gilson Carly B.
Published: March 2022

Recent advocacy efforts and state policies have recognized the identification of and support for students with dyslexia as a critical issue for schools. Current issues related to dyslexia identification include the lack of a universal definition for dyslexia and the possible confusion created by state legislation related to dyslexia. Tackling these issues in schools may include using current research to implement hybrid models of identification, evaluating and improving screening tools for dyslexia risk, and addressing data-based decision-making through response-to-intervention frameworks.
Critical velocities and displacements of anisotropic tubes under a moving pressure
Authors: Gao Xin-Lin , Littlefield Andrew G
Published: March 2022

Critical velocities and middle-surface displacements of anisotropic axisymmetric cylindrical shells (tubes) under a uniform internal pressure moving at a constant velocity are derived in closed-form expressions by using the Love–Kirchhoff thin shell theory incorporating the rotary inertia and material anisotropy. The formulation is based on the general three-dimensional constitutive relations for orthotropic elastic materials and provides a unified treatment of orthotropic, transversely isotropic, cubic and isotropic tubes, which can represent various composite and metallic tubes. Closed-form formulas are first obtained for the general case with both the rotary inertia and radial stress effects, which are then reduced to the special cases without the rotary inertia effect and/or radial stress effect. It is shown that when the rotary inertia effect is suppressed and the radial normal stress is neglected, the newly derived formulas for the critical velocities of orthotropic and isotropic tubes recover the two existing ones for thin tubes as special cases. An example for an isotropic tube is provided to illustrate the new formulas, which give the values of the critical velocity and dynamic amplification factor that agree well with those obtained experimentally and computationally by others.
Modifying Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Peripartum Adolescents in Sub-Saharan African Context: Reviewing Differential Contextual and Implementation Considerations
Authors: Kumar Manasi , Verdeli Helen , Saxena Shekhar , Petersen Inge , Huang Keng Yen , Othieno Caleb , Grote Nancy , Law Roslyn , Unutzer Jurgen , McKay Mary
Published: March 2022

Background

This study describes adaptation and modification of World Health Organization (WHO) recommended group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) for depressed peripartum adolescents. The adaptation process includes accommodating contextual factors and strategies to address intervention implementation barriers, such as engagement problems with adolescents, caregivers, and providers, and stigma and dearth of mental health specialists. The modifications include and adolescent relevant iterations to the therapy format and content.

Methods

A multi-stakeholder led two-stage intervention adaptation and modification process integrating mixed qualitative methods were used with pregnant and parenting adolescents, their partners, and health care workers. In-depth interviews focusing on personal, relationship, social, and cultural barriers experienced by adolescents were carried out modeled on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Focus group discussions with depressed adolescents on their experiences, feedback from caregivers, partners, health workers inform focused modifications. An IPT expert committee of three practitioners, along with UNICEF adolescent officer, and mental health policy expert from Ministry of Health and representative community advisory body reviewed the adaptations and modifications made to the WHO IPT-G manual.

Discussion

Integration of mental health needs of peripartum adolescents as demonstrated in the stakeholder engagement process, adaptation of key terms into locally relevant language, determination of number of sessions, and user-centric design modifications to digitize a brief version of group interpersonal psychotherapy are presented.
A synergetic perspective on students’ perception of classroom environment, expectancy value belief, and engagement in an EFL context
Authors: Hoi Vo Ngoc
Published: March 2022

Engaging students in the second language (L2) classroom is a critical task that requires a clear understanding of the multilayered characteristics of the L2 classroom and the motivational mechanisms through which these characteristics influence student engagement. This study contributes to the L2 engagement literature in this regard by examining the relationship among students’ expectancy and task value belief, their perception of the three L2 classroom conditions, namely classroom structure, teaching relevance, and peer support, and their engagement in an instructed L2 learning setting. Structural equation modelling was employed to analyse self-report data collected from 413 first year students of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Vietnam. Results suggest that teaching relevance and peer support significantly predicted students’ expectancy and task value belief, which in turn enhanced all dimensions of engagement. On the other hand, classroom structure was found to have no effect on students’ expectancy value belief and their engagement in the L2 classroom. Multi-group analyses further revealed that the effect of teaching relevance on expectancy belief was significant and strong only for high-proficiency students while peer support predicted task value belief more strongly among English major students than non-English major students. The findings offer important implications for the development of an engaging L2 classroom that caters to students with different L2 proficiency levels and academic majors.
Free vibration of a taut cable with a parallel-connected viscous mass damper and a grounded cross-tie
Authors: Li Xin , Cheng Zhi-peng , Wang Zhi-hao , Fan Bu-qiao
Published: March 2022

Recent studies have shown that the combination of external dampers and cross-ties can overcome their respective deficiencies while retaining their respective merits. Inspired by the advantages of a viscous damper (VD) and a cross-tie on a single stay cable, the coupled damping effect of a parallel-connected viscous mass damper (PVMD) and a grounded cross-tie on a single stay cable is investigated in this paper. The complex wave number equations of the cable–PVMD–cross-tie system are first formulated through the complex modal analysis. Subsequently, the asymptotic and iterative complex wave numbers are compared to evaluate the applicability of the asymptotic and iterative solutions. Furthermore, parametric studies are carried out to investigate the effects of the stiffness coefficients and the installation positions of the cross-tie on the first supplemental modal damping ratio and frequency of the cable. Finally, the installation positions of the cross-tie are optimized to achieve the optimal vibration control of the cable with the PVMD and the cross-tie.
Lundgren Tours: Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire. A young entrepreneur survives and thrives after the ‘double-whammy’ of Brexit and Coronavirus
Authors: Pearce Alison , Quan Rose , Dziewanowska Katarzyna
Published: March 2022

Lundgren Tours (LT) is an awarding-winning regional tour company founded by a student entrepreneur in 2016. In 2020, the UK left the EU and the country's first Covid-19 patients were identified, leading to international anti-coronavirus restrictions and the cancellation of tours for 12 months. The case considers several aspects (explained in ‘Themes’) of the catastrophe through the founder's eyes, revealing the influence of entrepreneurial psychological capital and how striving to survive disaster can lead to new strengths and opportunities.
Reproduction, discipline, inequality: Critiquing East-Asian developmentalism through a strategic-relational examination of Singapore’s Central Provident Fund
Authors: Greener Joe , Yeo Eve
Published: March 2022

The five ‘developmentalist’ welfare states of East Asia (South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan) have been presented as successful projects of economic progress, positively aligning citizen-interests with business objective. Utilising Jessop’s Strategic-Relational Approach (SRA), we analyse the Central Provident Fund (CPF), Singapore’s ‘forced savings’ social policy which organises housing, healthcare, education and retirement. Through a myriad of eligibilities/ineligibilities, Singapore’s CPF administers desired social behaviours while sustaining a series of inequalities supporting certain classed and gendered interests over others. Our analysis breaks down the CPF into three social relational orientations: (1) heteronormative familial responsiblisation, (2) labour market activation and (3) class reproduction. The article highlights the function of CPF in institutionalising conservative and pro-market political interests. CPF reproduces material inequalities and fashions behaviours conducive with the dominant accumulation strategy while discouraging those which are not, privileging some interests over others.
Editorial: The diversification of the teaching profession in Europe and beyond. Ambivalences of recognition in the context of (forced) migration
Authors: Terhart Henrike , Rosen Lisa
Published: March 2022

The topic of teacher diversification relating to migration has come to the fore in recent years in many European countries and beyond. This Special Issue focuses on the ambivalent structures of recognition in national school systems regarding the situation of international teachers on the one side, as well as teachers with a family migration history on the other. Addressing these teachers’ experiences of migration discourses and structural barriers in the respective societies, without framing them as ‘the other’ teachers, is central to the intertwining of the teaching profession and migration. First, the topic of teacher diversification is introduced as a policy issue on a European level as well as on a national level in European countries. Second, recognition as an ambivalent theoretical concept is presented. Third, we use this perspective to point out dimensions of ambivalence of recognition for migrant teachers that become visible in the research presented in this Special Issue from Australia, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland: formal (non-)recognition of professional certificates and experiences of international teachers, social recognition and misrecognition as well as recognition as a (powerful) practice of subject constitution in the context of migration research.
Computational aeroacoustics of aerofoil leading edge noise using the volume penalization-based immersed boundary methods
Authors: Ying Wei , Fattah Ryu , Cantos Sinforiano , Zhong Siyang , Kozubskaya Tatiana
Published: March 2022

Broadband noise due to the turbulence-aerofoil interaction, which is also called the leading edge noise, is one of the major noise sources of aircraft (including the engine). To study the noise properties numerically is a popular approach with the increasing power of computers. Conventional approaches of using body-fitted grids at the boundaries would be convoluted due to the complex geometries, which can constrain the efficiency of parametric studies. A promising approach to tackle this issue is to use the immersed boundary method (IBM). Among various IBM variants, the volume penalization (VP) approach employs a masking function to identify the immersed solid boundary, and continuous forcing terms are added to the original flow governing equations to account for the boundary conditions. It is, therefore, efficient and easy to implement into the existing computational aeroacoustics solvers. In this work, the VP-based IBM is used to simulate the leading edge noise by combining with the advanced synthetic turbulence method. The simulations are conducted for both the isolated aerofoils and cascade, and the results are compared with the well-validated body-fitted grid solutions. The viscosity effect is also highlighted by comparing the results obtained by solving both Euler and Navier–Stokes equations.