bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The values of culture? Social closure in the political identities, policy preferences, and social attitudes of cultural and creative workers
Authors: McAndrew Siobhan , O’Brien Dave , Taylor Mark
Published: August 2019

Cultural consumption and production are both characterised by multiple dimensions of inequality. Research in cultural stratification has highlighted the links between the exclusivity of cultural production, the type of cultural works created, and the audiences and public receptions for culture. We contribute to this agenda by examining a hitherto unexplored area: the cultural values and political identities of workers in the creative industries and cultural sector. Analysis of the British Social Attitudes (2010–2015) surveys and British Election Study Internet Panel (2016–2017) surveys demonstrates that creative and cultural workers have distinct cultural values. They are among the most left-wing, liberal and pro-welfare of any occupations and industries. This sets them apart from the average respondent who is relatively more right-wing, authoritarian and more in favour of welfare control. When examining their non-electoral participation, we also find they are highly civically engaged in terms of contacting elected representatives and government officials, signing petitions, political volunteering, political donations, participating in demonstrations, ethical consumption and boycotts, and industrial action. Moreover, they are more likely to report that they supported Remain in the 2016 EU ‘Brexit’ Referendum, to report unhappiness with the Leave result, and to identify with Remain voters. We conclude that distinct occupational cultures are particularly significant in the case of the cultural and creative sector, given creative workers’ role in representing society and the civic realm via the products of their work. We also argue that occupational cultures constitute an important, under-recognised source of social and cultural division.
Activating the Welfare Subject: The Problem of Agency
Authors: Morris Lydia
Published: August 2019

While accepting Banton’s recently expressed view that sociology and social policy are distinct disciplines, this article argues that times of radical change can profitably bring the two into closer dialogue. Considering an argument from Emirbayer and Mische that agency becomes especially apparent in unsettled times, it focuses on conceptions of agency at play in the design and implementation of recent UK welfare reforms, and in subsequent legal challenges. Identifying a series of key measures in the Welfare Reform Act of 2012 and the Welfare and Work Act of 2016, this article examines the challenges that have ensued, and the way that agency is revealed as both a site of disciplinary control and as a focus for contestation, pitting the purposive rationality of welfare reform against the practical reason that emerges from claimant experience.
Difficult texts: humility, difference and the global Christian in 1 Corinthians 9.20–21
Authors: Dormor Duncan
Published: August 2019

A rigorous interrogation of the past and of personal humility is essential to being a global Christian.
Disappointment in God and Relational Spirituality: Moderator Effects for Meditative Prayer
Authors: Paine David R. , Sandage Steven J.
Published: August 2019

In recent years, there have been a number of studies exploring the positive and negative aspects of spirituality. While many studies have indicated spirituality has a generally positive influence in persons’ lives, people also experience negative effects associated with spiritual struggles. Studies have also suggested that spiritual practices such as prayer have the potential to mitigate the difficult and distressing aspects of spirituality. In this study, we explore the role of prayer in the relationship between disappointment in God and relational spirituality (i.e. how one relates to what they perceive to be sacred). Our results indicated that meditative prayer has a moderating effect, such that the negative relationship between disappointment in God and relational spirituality outcomes became less significant as subjects engaged in more frequent meditative prayer. Significant effects were not found for colloquial prayer or petitionary prayer.
Sleep Restriction Effects on BP: Systematic Review & Meta-analysis of RCTs
Authors: Hu Shan , Jing Songbo , Gao Yixuan
Published: August 2019

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of sleep restriction on blood pressure (BP) among healthy adults. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using partial sleep deprivation were included. The pooled effect size was calculated by the inverse variance method, and forest plot was used. Six studies were included (n = 10–43). Only one study obtained continuous BP readings. Overall, sleep restriction did not result in significant changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR). The respective weighted mean difference (MD) was 1.0 mmHg (95%CI, -2.3–4.2; p = 0.57), -0.4 mmHg (95%CI, -3.2–2.4; p = 0.80), and 2.0 bpm (95%CI, -2.2–6.2; p = 0.34). There is preliminary evidence suggesting that sleep restriction might affect sympathetic/parasympathetic modulation of cardiac autonomy and the inflammatory system. In this review, we did not find significant effects of sleep restriction on BP or HR measured by cross-sectional methods. More studies are warranted to confirm these findings by using continuous monitoring.
Youth Neighborhood Maps From Around the World: A Preliminary Look Through a Studio Thinking Lens
Authors: Tishman Shari
Published: August 2019

This article takes a look at 624 neighborhood maps, drawn by students aged 8 to 18 years from 24 countries, between 2017 and 2018. The maps were made as part of an online cultural exchange program called Out of Eden Learn, developed at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In honor of Dr. Ellen Winner, a preliminary analysis of the maps is offered using The Studio Thinking framework as a lens. Developed by Winner and her colleagues, the Studio Thinking framework identifies eight habits of mind—sometimes called thinking dispositions—that are characteristic of high-quality thinking in the arts and elsewhere. The article focuses on three of these dispositions in particular: Envision, Observe, and Express. With a twist, it also says a few words about a fourth, Understanding Art World.
Babao Dan induces gastric cancer cell apoptosis via regulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways
Authors: Shang Haixia , Cao Zhiyun , Zhao Jinyan , Guan Jianhua , Liu Jianxin , Peng Jun , Chen Youqin , Joseph Sferra Thomas , Sankararaman Senthilkumar , Lin Jiumao
Published: August 2019

Objective

The objective was to further investigate apoptosis induction by Babao Dan (BBD), which supports its anti-tumor mechanisms, using two human gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and MGC80-3).

Methods

After treatment with various BBD concentrations, cell viability and cytotoxic effects were investigated using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, respectively. The following indicators of cell apoptosis were evaluated: Annexin V-APC staining, caspase-3/-8/-9 activation, and mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Apoptosis-related protein levels (including Bcl-2-associated X protein [Bax], B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2], factor associated suicide [Fas], and Fas ligand [FasL]) were determined by western blot. The following multi-pathway factors were also assessed: p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, p-p38, and p-NF-κB.

Results

The MTT and LDH assays both demonstrated increased BBD cytotoxicity. BBD induced cell apoptosis by stimulating caspase-3/-8/-9 activity and destroying the mitochondrial membrane potential. BBD also regulated key factor expression levels including Bcl-2, Bax, Fas, and FasL and down-regulated protein phosphorylation via the MAPK and NF-κB pathway.

Conclusions

The possible anti-tumor mechanism is that BBD induces apoptosis via the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Unusual skin toxicity associated with sustained disease response induced by nivolumab in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Galli Giulia , Proto Claudia , Cossa Mara , Valeri Barbara , Sdao Silvana , Signorelli Diego , Imbimbo Martina , de Braud Filippo , Garassino Marina Chiara , Lo Russo Giuseppe
Published: August 2019

Introduction:

Immunotherapy has shown efficacy in the treatment of different malignancies. Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor directed against programmed death-1, has been approved for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in pretreated patients. Although it is generally well-tolerated, immunotherapy may be complicated by a wide range of immune-mediated adverse events. We describe the case of an uncommon skin toxicity arising as alopecia universalis induced by nivolumab in a patient with NSCLC.

Case description:

A 58-year-old man received nivolumab for metastatic NSCLC after progression to 3 lines of chemotherapy. The treatment was prescribed in June 2016, and induced a rapid and significant disease response. Nivolumab was well-tolerated until May 2017, when partial alopecia at hair and eyelashes appeared. In the next months, alopecia became complete and extended to the whole body surface. The dermatologic picture was compatible with alopecia areata. A topical steroid therapy was attempted, without benefit. The patient refused systemic treatments and is still undergoing nivolumab without new toxicities and with persistent disease response.

Conclusions:

This case suggests that alopecia areata may be a rare immune-related adverse event of immune checkpoint agents. Its late onset in our patient is uncommon and unexpected, underlining that the risk of nivolumab-induced toxicity is not limited to the beginning of treatment. Despite its rarity, alopecia areata should be considered in the range of adverse events potentially induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors even in the long term. Potential association between toxicity and efficacy of immunotherapy in NSCLC warrants further investigation.
Effects of Conditioned Medium From Osteoarthritic Cartilage Fragments on Donor-Matched Infrapatellar Fat Pad–Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Fu Zhenlan , Song Xiongbo , Guo Lin , Yang Liu , Chen Cheng
Published: August 2019

Background:

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)–based therapies have emerged as a promising strategy for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. In particular, infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP)–derived MSCs have become a good option to treat knee OA.

Purpose:

To investigate the influence of the local microenvironment of the knee joint, especially OA cartilage, on the bioactivities of injected/implanted IPFP MSCs.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Conditioned medium (CM) derived from OA cartilage fragments was collected and characterized. Donor-matched IPFP MSCs were treated with control medium (Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM)/F-12 or chondrogenic medium), control medium + CM, or CM alone; and a series of behaviors including the viability, migration, chondrogenic and hypertrophic differentiation, and catabolic activity of IPFP MSCs were evaluated among groups.

Results:

There were 14 cytokines detected in CM. CM treatment improved the viability of IPFP MSCs. CM hindered the migration of IPFP MSCs. In chondrogenic differentiation, the presence of CM increased the expression of chondrogenic markers but also enhanced the state of hypertrophy and catabolism.

Conclusion:

OA cartilage–secreted factors could induce chondrogenic differentiation but also resulted in negative effects including the weakened migration, increased hypertrophy, and catabolism of IPFP MSCs in vitro.

Clinical Relevance:

These findings provide an insight on the fate of IPFP MSCs after intra-articular injections.
The Effectiveness of a Hinged Elbow Orthosis in Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study
Authors: Manocha Ranita H.K. , Johnson James A. , King Graham J.W.
Published: August 2019

Background:

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries are common after elbow trauma and in overhead throwing athletes. A hinged elbow orthosis (HEO) is often used to protect the elbow from valgus stress early after injury and during early return to play. However, there is minimal evidence regarding the efficacy of these orthoses in controlling instability and their influence on long-term clinical outcomes.

Purpose:

(1) To quantify the effect of an HEO on elbow stability after simulated MCL injury. (2) To determine whether arm position, forearm rotation, and muscle activation influence the effectiveness of an HEO.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Seven cadaveric upper extremity specimens were tested in a custom simulator that enabled elbow motion via computer-controlled actuators and motors attached to relevant tendons. Specimens were examined in 2 arm positions (dependent, valgus) and 2 forearm positions (pronation, supination) during passive and simulated active elbow flexion while unbraced and then while braced with an HEO. Testing was performed in intact elbows and repeated after simulated MCL injury. An electromagnetic tracking device measured valgus angulation as an indicator of elbow stability.

Results:

When the arm was dependent, the HEO increased valgus angle with the forearm in pronation (+1.0°± 0.2°, P = .003) and supination (+1.5°± 0.0°, P = .006) during active motion. It had no significant effect on elbow stability during passive motion. In the valgus position, the HEO had no effect on elbow stability during passive or active motion in pronation and supination. With the arm in the valgus position with the HEO, muscle activation reduced instability during pronation (–10.3°± 2.5°, P = .006) but not supination ( P = .61).

Conclusion:

In this in vitro study, this HEO did not enhance mechanical stability when the arm was in the valgus and dependent positions after MCL injury.

Clinical Relevance:

After MCL injury, an HEO likely does not provide mechanical elbow stability during rehabilitative exercises or when the elbow is subjected to valgus stress such as occurs during throwing.
Language and End Time (Sections I, IV and V of ‘Sprache und Endzeit’)
Authors: Anders Günther , Müller Translated by Christopher John
Published: August 2019

‘Language and End Time’ is a translation of Sections I, IV and V of ‘Sprache und Endzeit’, a substantial essay by Günther Anders that was published in eight instalments in the Austrian journal FORVM from 1989 to 1991 (the full essay consists of 38 sections). The original essay was planned for inclusion in the third (unrealised) volume of The Obsolescence of Human Beings. ‘Language and End Time’ builds on the diagnosis of ‘our blindness toward the apocalypse’ that was advanced in the first volume of The Obsolescence in 1956. The essay asks if there is a language that is capable of making us fully comprehend the looming ‘man-made apocalypse’. In response to this, it offers a critique of philosophical jargon and of the putatively ‘objective’ language of (nuclear) science, which are both dismissed as unsuitable. Sections I, IV and V introduce this core problematic. The selection of this text for inclusion in this special journal issue responds to present-day realities that inscribe Anders’s reflections on nuclear science and the nuclear situation into new contexts. The critique that ‘Language and End Time’ advances resonates with the way in which the (undemocratic) decisions of a few companies and individuals are shaping the future of life on earth. At the same time, the wider stakes of Anders’s turn against the language employed by (weapons) scientists are newly laid bare by the realities and politics of climate change and fake news. In this new context, the language of science is all too readily dismissed as if it were a mere idiom that can be ignored without consequence. It is against the backdrop of a future that is, if anything, more uncertain than at the time of Anders’s writing, that the essay’s reflections on popularisation, the limits of language and the nature of truth gain added significance.
Utilization and Costs of Health Care in a Kidney Supportive Care Program
Authors: Sowa P. Marcin , Purtell Louise , Hoy Wendy E. , Healy Helen G. , Bonner Ann , Connelly Luke B.
Published: August 2019

Kidney supportive care (KSC) is a patient-centered model of multidisciplinary care designed for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Our goal was to characterize the types, frequencies, and costs of services accessed by patients enrolled in a KSC program. We analyzed health care utilization data prospectively collected from 102 patients who enrolled in the KSC program during the first 52 weeks of its existence. The data comprised program appointments, emergency department presentations, ambulance service use, outpatient visits, inpatient episodes, and dialysis treatments made within the Brisbane area of Metro North. Costs of resource use were estimated using Queensland Health funding principles and guidelines. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multivariate regressions. During the median program participation of 22 weeks, patients had 3975 contacts with health care, with the total value of services amounting to nearly A$3 million. Dialysis treatments accounted for 70% of visits and 49% of costs. Patients receiving dialysis had higher utilization of outpatient services and associated cost, compared to patients who were not dialyzed. The presence of diabetes and the choice of conservative pathway were both predictors of higher frequency and cost of services. Longer program participation was associated with lower weekly utilization and cost. The program attracted patients representing various characteristics, pathways, needs, and outcomes. Exploring these patterns will enable better understanding of the patient population and improved service planning, in KSC and similar programs that aim to comprehensively address the needs of patients with advanced CKD and ESKD.
Early Tracheostomy for Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury is Associated with Reduced Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay and Total Ventilator Days
Authors: Sheehan Brian M. , Grigorian Areg , Gambhir Sahil , Maithel Shelley , Kuza Catherine M. , Dolich Matthew O. , Lekawa Michael E. , Nahmias Jeffry
Published: August 2019

Objectives:

To determine whether, similar to adults, early tracheostomy in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves inhospital outcomes including ventilator days, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and total hospital LOS when compared to late tracheostomy.

Design:

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting:

The Pediatric Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database

Patients:

One hundred twenty-seven pediatric patients <16 years old with severe (>3) abbreviated injury scale TBI who underwent early (days 1-6) or late (day ≥7) tracheostomy between 2014 and 2016.

Interventions:

Not applicable.

Measurements and Main Results:

The Pediatric TQIP database was queried for patients <16 years old with severe TBI, who underwent tracheostomy. Patient demographics and outcomes of early versus late tracheostomy were compared using Student t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 analysis. Sixteen patients underwent early tracheostomy while 111 underwent late tracheostomy. The groups had similar distributions of age, gender, mechanism of injury, and mean injury severity scores (P > .05). Early tracheostomy was associated with decreased ICU LOS (early: 17 vs late: 32 days, P < .05) and ventilator days (early: 9.7 vs late: 27.1 days, P < .05). There was no difference in total LOS (early: 26.7 vs late: 41.3 days, P = .06), the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (early: 6.3% vs late: 2.7%, P = .45), pneumonia (early: 12.5% vs late: 29.7%, P = .15), or mortality (early: 0% vs late: 2%, P = .588) between the 2 groups.

Conclusion:

Similar to adults, early tracheostomy in pediatric patients with severe TBI is associated with decreased ICU LOS and ventilator days. Future prospective trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Article Tweet:

Early tracheostomy in pediatric patients with severe TBI is associated with decreased ICU LOS and ventilator days.
A Structural Model of Adverse Childhood Experiences as Antecedents of Rumination Leading to Lower Hope
Authors: Muñoz Ricky T. , Hanks Heather
Published: August 2019

Hope is well established within the positive psychology literature as a construct associated with psychological well-being. Recent research has also linked experiences of childhood trauma with lower hope into adulthood. Snyder’s hope theory explains this link by suggesting that rumination, as a byproduct of trauma, limits survivors’ ability to focus on present day goals, thereby lowering hope. To test this proposed link between childhood trauma and lower hope, we conducted two studies using independent samples of adults living in the United States (Study 1: N’ = 258; Study 2: N’ = 374). Per Snyder, the studies modeled childhood trauma as a driver of rumination leading to lower hope. The results of Study 1 indicated that a “full mediation” model, directly representing Snyder’s theory, produced good fit ( χ2 = 254.02, p > .001; df = 131); root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) = .06 (90% confidence interval [CI]: .049, .072); standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = .055; comparative fit index (CFI): .927. A subsequent bootstrapping analysis ( N = 5,000) validated the full mediation model. Study 2 provided identical results, indicating again that a full mediation model of the variables produced good fit. The data from both studies was consistent with Snyder’s understanding of the link between trauma and lower hope. The article concludes with a discussion of the studies’ implications, particularly how the data supports interventions, such as meditation, that may work to help buffer the ruminating impacts of childhood trauma.
Wave dispersion analysis of magnetic-electrically affected fluid-conveying nanotubes in thermal environment
Authors: Dehghan M , Ebrahimi F , Vinyas M
Published: August 2019

In this paper, the wave propagation analysis of fluid-conveying Magneto-Electro-Elastic (MEE) nanotube subjected to multi-physical fields is investigated via nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory (NSGT). To take into account the small-scale effects, the nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen is employed. Nonlocal governing equations of MEE nanotube have been derived utilizing Hamilton’s principle. The results of this study have been verified by checking them of antecedent investigations. An analytical solution of governing equations is used to acquire wave frequencies and phase velocities. The Knudsen number is considered to study the slip boundary wall of nanotube and flow. The effects of various parameters such as multi-physical fields, the Knudsen number, different mode, length parameter, nonlocal parameter, fluid velocity, fluid effect and the slip boundary condition on wave propagation characteristics of fluid-conveying MEE nanotube are investigated in detail.
Normal-gamma distribution–based stochastic knock probability control scheme for spark-ignition engines
Authors: Zhao Kai , Shen Tielong
Published: August 2019

Spark timing, one of the essential parameters to control combustion in spark-ignition gasoline engines, is often advanced to optimize the power output and fuel economy. An overly advanced spark timing, or equivalently a large spark advance, however, can lead to severe knocking under heavy load engine operating conditions. In a trade-off between engine damage avoidance and power enhancement, the knock probability has to be regulated at a low percentage. Based on the observation that the logarithm of the knock intensity under steady operating conditions follows a normal distribution, in this research, a Bayesian knock probability estimation method is proposed using the normal-gamma distribution and the observed knock intensity. Based on the estimation, a spark advance control algorithm is also developed. The proposed knock probability control algorithm is validated on a full-scale test bench with a production spark-ignition engine. The results show that the proposed method is capable of regulating the knock probability to be close to the target percentage. With different parameter settings, the controller can further be configured to behave more aggressively or conservatively in knock probability estimation and regulation. In comparison with the conventional controller and the maximum likelihood–based controller, and in the tip-in/tip-out test, the proposed method also presents a quick response to transient engine operating conditions and a low spark advance dispersion after the spark advance converges close to the borderline.
Subgroup balancing propensity score
Authors: Dong Jing , Zhang Junni L , Zeng Shuxi , Li Fan
Published: August 2019

This paper concerns estimation of subgroup treatment effects with observational data. Existing propensity score methods are mostly developed for estimating overall treatment effect. Although the true propensity scores balance covariates in any subpopulations, the estimated propensity scores may result in severe imbalance in subgroup samples. Indeed, subgroup analysis amplifies a bias-variance tradeoff, whereby increasing complexity of the propensity score model may help to achieve covariate balance within subgroups, but it also increases variance. We propose a new method, the subgroup balancing propensity score, to ensure good subgroup balance as well as to control the variance inflation. For each subgroup, the subgroup balancing propensity score chooses to use either the overall sample or the subgroup (sub)sample to estimate the propensity scores for the units within that subgroup, in order to optimize a criterion accounting for a set of covariate-balancing moment conditions for both the overall sample and the subgroup samples. We develop two versions of subgroup balancing propensity score corresponding to matching and weighting, respectively. We devise a stochastic search algorithm to estimate the subgroup balancing propensity score when the number of subgroups is large. We demonstrate through simulations that the subgroup balancing propensity score improves the performance of propensity score methods in estimating subgroup treatment effects. We apply the subgroup balancing propensity score method to the Italy Survey of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) to estimate the causal effects of having debit card on household consumption for different income groups.
Why Does George Clooney Make Coffee Sexy? The Case for Attribute Conditioning
Authors: Unkelbach Christian , Högden Fabia
Published: August 2019

When a celebrity (e.g., George Clooney) endorses a brand (e.g., a coffee type), people’s assessment of this brand typically changes. We suggest that the mere repeated pairing of celebrities with brands imbues brands with the celebrities’ attributes. We call this effect attribute conditioning, which is, more generally, the phenomenon that people assess a stimulus’s attributes differently as a results of its pairing with another stimulus possessing that attribute. We review evidence showing that this effect goes beyond evaluative-conditioning effects, that it is not a demand effect, and that it is easily shown with many attributes (e.g., sexy, athletic, healthy) and many different stimuli (e.g., faces, shapes, brand logos). In addition, we review process evidence supporting the hypothesis that the effect is based on a memory structure that links the mental representations of the paired stimuli. We conclude with a brief outline of possible applied (e.g., marketing) and theoretical avenues for further research.
‘Colloquialization’ in fiction: A corpus-driven analysis of present-tense fiction
Authors: Ikeo Reiko
Published: August 2019

Over the past decade, more and more writers have used the present tense as the primary tense for their fictional narratives. This article shows that contemporary present-tense fiction has more lexical and syntactic characteristics which are similar to spoken discourse than past-tense fiction by comparing lexis and structures in two corpora: a corpus consisting of present-tense narratives and a corpus of past-tense narratives. It also discusses how the use of the present tense affects the management of viewpoint in narrative by relating its lexical, structural characteristics to the presentation of characters’ speech and thoughts.
Measuring Dependence Between the USA and the Asian Economies: A Time-varying Copula Approach
Authors: Rajwani Shegorika , Kumar Dilip
Published: August 2019

During the past few years, many of the financial markets have gone through devastating effects due to the crisis in one or the other economy of the world. The recent global financial crisis has triggered dramatic movements in various stock markets which may arise from interdependence or contagion between the markets. This article attempts to measure the contagion between the equity markets of Asia and the US stock market. The countries considered in the Asian group are China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Japan. Most of the Asian economies have experienced drastic higher volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets. If the markets are contagious, then the investors will be unable to reap benefits through international diversification of the portfolio. In such a case, the policymakers will further frame policies so that they can insulate themselves from inflicting heavy damage from various crises. To achieve our goal, we make use of the time-varying copula approach which helps us to study the joint behaviour of the series based on their marginal distribution. Time-varying copula approach can also capture the non-linear dependence in the series and exhibits a rich pattern of tail behaviour. Our findings support the contagion between the Asian stock markets and the US stock market during the global financial crisis. This article also highlights that the increased tail dependence is an important factor for the contagion between the Asian stock markets and the US market.
Women and Water Management: A Policy Assessment—A Case Study in An Giang Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Thai Nguyen Van , Guevara Jose Roberto
Published: August 2019

Women in developing countries are domestic water managers and therefore can be regarded as the primary beneficiaries of water supply project, particularly domestic water supply services (DWSSs). Globally, women are active in water supply policymaking, planning and implementation. However, women are often excluded from water management activities; this can result in the failure of water projects. Research to date shows that women’s exclusion from water management processes stems from top-down approaches and traditional norms and gender differences. The work described in this research involved an examination of the effectiveness of DWSS policies implemented in rural Vietnamese communities, and was designed to produce an understanding of women’s roles and responsibilities in water management, specifically within the Vinh Phuoc community of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The research found that women participation in Vinh Phuoc was greatly restricted in the water management and in the public sphere in general. Also, it sought to reveal whether women are involved in water management activities and the roles they play in achieving final outcomes.
Consensus Building Gaming Which Promotes Creative Solutions to Wildlife Management Dilemmas
Authors: Oyamada Shin , Kitani Shinobu
Published: August 2019

Background. Wildlife management is becoming a more challenging problem throughout the world. One of the main difficulties it encounters is that residents tend to have ambivalent attitudes regarding whether wildlife should be eliminated or conserved.

Aim. We made a consensus building gaming scenario for promoting creative solutions to wildlife management dilemmas. In this article, we aim to show the prerequisites for high performance of this gaming.

Method. The gaming consists of three phases: a game playing phase, a presenting dilemma phase, and a game remodeling phase. The game playing phase consists of playing the game which is based on the actual wildlife management problem in Japan. Players can learn the difficulties of real wildlife management from the perspective of farmers. In presenting the dilemma phase, they are presented with the dilemma structure of wildlife problems and motivated to solve the dilemma. In the game remodeling phase, the players remodel the played game to design a new society wherein the residents can coexist successfully with wildlife. The remodeling phase is a kind of well-constructed debriefing process. With this game remodeling process, players can use their creativity for consensus building.

Results. The gaming society functioned well especially for players with high pragmatic attitudes or those good at generating ideas especially through talking with others.

Conclusion. The prerequisites for high performance of this gaming were verified. But further research is necessary for producing creative consensus building theory and objectively evaluating the quality of players’ ideas.
Crafting a Subjective Experience of a Rehabilitative Facility: An Autoethnographic Account
Authors: Winslade John M.
Published: August 2019

Using an autoethnographic method, this article explores the discourses, lines of force, and narratives that constitute the kind of human being it is possible to become in a rehabilitative skilled nursing facility. It is written from the point of view of a patient who is using the facility. It gives an account of an encounter with the liability discourse and teases out the biomedical discourse from the phenomenological discourse. It also traces the restitution narrative that dominates healthcare and contrasts it with a chaos narrative. The author’s subjective experience is crafted between these various discourses and narratives and is not entirely an individual’s decision.
Partnership or insanity: why do health partnerships do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result?
Authors: Perkins Neil , Hunter David J , Visram Shelina , Finn Rachael , Gosling Jennifer , Adams Lee , Forrest Amanda
Published: August 2019

Objectives

The paper reports on an empirical study of Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) in England. Established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, HWBs act as place-based hubs for leaders in health, social care, local government and other sectors to come together to address health improvement and the wider determinants of health.

Methods

We conducted a three-year study of HWBs (2015–2017) in five localities across England. This involved collecting qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with key actors in the HWBs at strategic and operational levels, and focus group sessions with voluntary-sector participants at each HWB.

Results

HWBs have largely followed the path of previous partnerships in terms of a lack of clear aims and objectives, lack of ownership and accountability by partners, and an absence of any significant impact on health outcomes.

Conclusions

Many of the features of unsuccessful partnership working were largely displayed by HWBs. Boards require more executive power and ownership from the bottom up if they are to have any real impact.
Negotiating paradise lost: Refugee narratives of pre-war Syria – A discursive approach to memory, metaphors and religious identifications
Authors: Løland Ingrid
Published: August 2019

How are social relations and ethno-religious identifications of pre-war Syria remembered and narrated by Syrian refugees in exile? Crossing the abyss of war, and negotiated through the shifting times and sites of forced displacement, this article addresses Syrian refugee narratives as discursive practices that attempt to reclaim an irretrievably lost terrain. The metaphor of a ‘paradise lost’ is an unmistakable component of the Syrian refugees’ stories, illustrating multiple understandings of ‘paradise’ in which memories of the past gain a particularly idealized character. At the same time, however, and to some extent belying this metaphor, there are traces of tension-filled undercurrents that call for a plural reading of the past. Discussed within a theoretical framework of memory, metaphors and religious identifications, the empirical analysis highlights two narrative themes: (1) coexistence and diversity: narratives of intercultural and inter-religious relations and (2) living under authoritarian rule: narratives of fear and compliance. Leading up to the revolution and subsequent civil war, these narratives display the ambivalent ways in which Syrian refugees conceptualize the past.
Elucidation of ball bearing performance utilizing product functions of vibration signals and locality sensitive discriminant analysis
Authors: Tiwari Prashant , Upadhyay SH
Published: August 2019

Dimensionality is a decent term utilized for the dimension-related issues of feature vectors for the condition assessment of bearings. It has been a challenging task while dealing with the characteristic information conservation of the sampled data. Feature vectors with higher dimensions provide an accurate description of the condition, while lower dimension vectors are easy to be classified. These conditions make the dimensionality of feature space a big challenge in the performance evaluation of critical machine parts like bearings. This paper presents a judicious and wise application of a linear approach, locality sensitive discriminant analysis along with the rational use of local mean decomposition in performance degradation assessment. The combination effectively solves the problems of insufficient training samples and large dimensionality of fault features, which imparts excessive noise and causes loss of competent hidden characteristics. In such cases, local structures of feature space are more crucial than the global one. These obstacles can be answered by imparting locality sensitive discriminant analysis as an initial operation. Locality sensitive discriminant analysis is a linear dimensionality reduction tool, which explores the precise projections that amplify the margin between data points and prepare a conservation aid to preserve faulty information of bearings. The steps are followed to achieve the same: decomposition of vibration signal into product functions; calculation of fault features; third, higher dimensionality of the features is reduced with the implementation of locality sensitive discriminant analysis and some prime features are selected with the proposed criterion; the reduced features are further clustered and a trained model of assessment is prepared. Finally, health indicator is calculated from the trained model and test features. The proposed technique is verified on two bearing datasets. The superiority of the technique has been envisaged by comparing the method with different similar assessment methods i.e. time domain features, linear discriminant analysis, and principal component analysis.
Numerical study of mode I fracture toughness of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic under an impact load
Authors: Machado JJM , Nunes PDP , Marques EAS , Campilho RDSG , da Silva Lucas FM
Published: August 2019

The main objective of this work is, by using cohesive zone modelling, to compute the fracture toughness behaviour in mode I of unidirectional carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic subjected to an impact load at 4.7 m/s. To perform this task, double-cantilever beam specimens were simulated, with its opening displacement and crack propagation being assessed, as well as the evolution of strain rate through the test. Therefore, by plotting the crack propagation, it was possible to calculate the fracture toughness in mode I ( GIC). A comparison of the numerical results with experimental tests previously performed by using a drop weight falling-wedge impact test equipment was made, allowing to infer that the numerical approach, based on a triangular cohesive zone modelling, is capable to predict the behaviour of such specimens under impact, accurately obtain GIC, and to determine the value of strain rate achieved through the test.
Mortality After Paclitaxel-Coated Device Use in Dialysis Access: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dinh Krystal , Limmer Alexandra M. , Paravastu Sharath C. V. , Thomas Shannon D. , Bennett Michael H. , Holden Andrew , Varcoe Ramon L.
Published: August 2019

Purpose: To report the risk of all-cause mortality in patients who underwent dialysis access treatment using paclitaxel-coated devices compared with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with an uncoated balloon. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed to investigate the mortality outcomes associated with paclitaxel-coated devices in the treatment of patients with a failing dialysis access (last search date February 28, 2019). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. This analysis included 8 studies comparing paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty (n=327) and PTA (n=331) in the treatment of failing dialysis access. None investigated paclitaxel-coated stents. Mortality data were pooled using a random effects model. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated with a chi-square test and the I2 statistic. Summary statistics are expressed as relative risk ratios (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: At the pooled mean follow-up of 13.5 months (median 12, range 6–24) all-cause mortality was similar in the PCB group (13.8%) compared with PTA (11.2%; RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.89, p=0.25; I2=0%). Subgroup analysis, stratified according to length of follow-up, confirmed that there were no statistically significant differences in mortality at short- and midterm follow-up [6-month (8 studies): 5.2% vs 4.8%, RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.62 to 2.47, p=0.55; 12-month (6 studies): 6.3% vs 6.0%, RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.43 to 2.63, p=0.90; and 24-month (3 studies): 19.0% vs 13.5%, RR 1.38, 95% CI 0.90 to 2.12, p=0.14). Conclusion: The analysis found no difference in short- to midterm mortality among patients treated with a drug-coated balloon compared with PTA. With proven benefit and no evidence of harm, the authors recommend ongoing use of PCB for the failing dialysis access.
Prospects of siRNA cocktails as tools for modifying multiple gene targets in the injured spinal cord
Authors: Michael Felicia Mary , Chandran Preeja , Chandramohan Khaviyaa , Iyer Krithika , Jayaraj Kevin , Sundaramoorthy Revathidevi , Venkatachalam Sankar
Published: August 2019

Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) has been touted as a boon for identifying potential therapies for difficult-to-treat pathologies. In this regard, siRNA-mediated gene silencing for tackling the multifaceted pathophysiology of spinal cord injury seemed promising. The genes caspase 3 and sarm1 were targeted in the present study, using siRNAs in a rodent model of spinal cord injury, as the feasibility of concomitant silencing of more than one gene had not been previously attempted. The results indicated meager benefits in terms of functional recovery and tissue preservation. Interestingly, differential transfection efficiencies due to the heterogeneous nature of cells in the spinal cord along with variability in efficacy based on time of intervention affected the reproducibility of this approach. Complex gene interactions and inadequacies in molecular evaluation strategies further complicated the interpretation of the outcome. If these glitches are resolved through further research, gene therapy in general and RNAi, in particular, may become a mainstay approach for treating contusion spinal cord injury.

Impact statement

Gene therapy has reached the level of clinical trials. However, safety and efficacy are yet to be confirmed. The present study tested the prospects of gene silencing using siRNAs in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Some noteworthy observations include the effective and long-lasting silencing effects of siRNAs, inhibition of one gene's expression resulting in silencing of multiple genes in associated pathways, possibility of targeting more than one gene through siRNA cocktails, and differential gene silencing effects based on temporal changes in their expression patterns. It is argued that differential uptake of siRNAs by cells as observed and limitations in the analysis methods available can skew interpretations. Thus, this study may serve as a cautionary tale indicating that gene silencing using siRNAs for spinal cord injury can be a potential therapy, but practical issues are to be addressed in order to ensure consistency and safety.
Latency and energy-efficient multi-hop routing protocol for unmanned aerial vehicle networks
Authors: Ateya Abdelhamied A , Muthanna Ammar , Gudkova Irina , Gaidamaka Yuliya , Algarni Abeer D
Published: August 2019

Unmanned aerial vehicle is one of the main announced use cases of 5G/IMT2020, which is expected to have various applications in many fields. These devices have limited capabilities in terms of energy and processing. Due to the complex structure of unmanned aerial vehicle networks and the high mobility constraints, design of efficient routing protocol, for supporting such network, is a challenge. Thus, efficient routing of data among unmanned aerial vehicles between source and destination is an important issue in designing unmanned aerial vehicle networks. Proactive routing protocols are one of the main categories of routing protocols developed for mobile ad hoc networks and vehicular ad hoc networks. Optimized link state routing protocol is one of the most common proactive routing protocols that has been modified to support unmanned aerial vehicle networks, considering high mobility feature of the network. In this work, we propose a latency and energy-efficient proactive routing protocol for dense unmanned aerial vehicle networks, with high-density devices, based on optimized link state routing protocol algorithm, referred to as multi-objective optimized link state routing protocol. The proposed routing protocol is topology aware and can be used for low-latency and high-mobility applications. The proposed multi-objective optimized link state routing protocol routing algorithm considers all modified versions of optimized link state routing protocol and introduces a novel method for selecting multipoint relay nodes that considers the traffic load on the communication channel and the load on each unmanned aerial vehicle node. Moreover, the proposed algorithm considers the communication link stability and the energy constraints. The system is simulated over a reliable environment for various scenarios, and it is compared to the original optimized link state routing protocol and its modified versions. Simulation results indicate that the proposed protocol achieves higher efficiency in terms of latency, energy, and reliability.