bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Overlap of Collaboration and Planning Networks: A Post-Harvey Study
Authors: Hannibal Bryce , Woodruff Sierra , Malecha Matthew
Published: March 2021

This paper uses social network analysis to assess the overlap of organizations involved in hazard mitigation and planning networks in Houston, TX. We compare measures of network centrality and density to highlight unique characteristics across two networks and discuss implications of connectivity within each network. Results suggest that central actors occupy important structural locations within both networks. These overlapping organizations may be highly influential in both planning and hazard mitigation efforts. Finally, we discuss aspects of connectivity in these networks and discuss how the networks can be used to become more equitable and holistic in planning and hazard mitigation efforts.
Right Ventricular Strain Is Common in Intubated COVID-19 Patients and Does Not Reflect Severity of Respiratory Illness
Authors: Gibson Lauren E. , Fenza Raffaele Di , Lang Min , Capriles Martin I. , Li Matthew D. , Kalpathy-Cramer Jayashree , Little Brent P. , Arora Pankaj , Mueller Ariel L. , Ichinose Fumito , Bittner Edward A. , Berra Lorenzo , G. Chang Marvin
Published: March 2021

Background:

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is common and associated with worse outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In non-COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome, RV dysfunction develops due to pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction, inflammation, and alveolar overdistension or atelectasis. Although similar pathogenic mechanisms may induce RV dysfunction in COVID-19, other COVID-19-specific pathology, such as pulmonary endothelialitis, thrombosis, or myocarditis, may also affect RV function. We quantified RV dysfunction by echocardiographic strain analysis and investigated its correlation with disease severity, ventilatory parameters, biomarkers, and imaging findings in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods:

We determined RV free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) in 32 patients receiving mechanical ventilation for COVID-19-associated respiratory failure. Demographics, comorbid conditions, ventilatory parameters, medications, and laboratory findings were extracted from the medical record. Chest imaging was assessed to determine the severity of lung disease and the presence of pulmonary embolism.

Results:

Abnormal FWLS was present in 66% of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients and was associated with higher lung compliance (39.6 vs 29.4 mL/cmH2O, P = 0.016), lower airway plateau pressures (21 vs 24 cmH2O, P = 0.043), lower tidal volume ventilation (5.74 vs 6.17 cc/kg, P = 0.031), and reduced left ventricular function. FWLS correlated negatively with age (r = −0.414, P = 0.018) and with serum troponin (r = 0.402, P = 0.034). Patients with abnormal RV strain did not exhibit decreased oxygenation or increased disease severity based on inflammatory markers, vasopressor requirements, or chest imaging findings.

Conclusions:

RV dysfunction is common among critically ill COVID-19 patients and is not related to abnormal lung mechanics or ventilatory pressures. Instead, patients with abnormal FWLS had more favorable lung compliance. RV dysfunction may be secondary to diffuse intravascular micro- and macro-thrombosis or direct myocardial damage.

Trial Registration:

National Institutes of Health #NCT04306393. Registered 10 March 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04306393
Work–Family Conflict’s Association With the Work Attitudes of Job Involvement, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment Among Southern Prison Staff
Authors: Lambert Eric G. , Morrow Weston , Vickovic Samuel G. , Leone Matthew C. , Keena Linda D. , Haynes Stacy H. , May David
Published: March 2021

Prisons depend on their employees, and staffing a prison is expensive. Approximately 80% of a prison’s budget is for staff wages and benefits. Prisons are not generally viewed as desirable places to work, thus recruiting and retaining correctional officers can be difficult. Work-related stress can negatively affect staff members’ home lives, and home stress can make an employee distracted and endangered at work. Time-, strain-, behavior-, and family-based work–family conflicts were hypothesized to impact three work attitudes (job involvement, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment) negatively. Time-based conflict had no significant effects on any of the work attitudes. Strain-based conflict had significant negative effects on job satisfaction and organizational commitment but not job involvement. Behavior-based conflict had significant negative effects on all three work attitudes. Contrary to our hypotheses, family-based conflict had significant positive effects on all three. Work–family conflict is a significant work attitude-associated stressor for correctional staff; therefore, policy recommendations to address it are made.
Pressure, Cost Accounting, and Resource Allocations: Experimental Evidence on Nonprofit Financial Decision-Making
Authors: Schubert Peter , Boenigk Silke
Published: March 2021

Nonprofit organizations are under pressure to contain their overhead costs. This pressure can affect spending behavior and create an impulse to manipulate financial reporting data. Drawing on stakeholder theory, this study develops a comprehensive framework of ratio management pressure and examines the extent to which external and internal pressures affect financial decisions. We conduct a scenario experiment wherein financial managers perform accounting and spending tasks after subjection to various types of pressure: donor pressure, board pressure, or media pressure. We find that donor pressure significantly affects both accounting and spending behavior, whereas board and media pressure affect only accounting choices. Our research generates insights into the extent to which the observed practice of continuous cost containment is driven by external pressure or rather by organizations themselves. These findings are insightful for nonprofit leaders who wrestle with complex financial challenges and the expectations of multiple stakeholder groups.
Model predictive control based on time-varying efficiency for hydraulic hub-motor driving vehicle
Authors: Zeng Xiaohua , Li Liangyu , Song Dafeng , Li Lixin , Li Guanghan
Published: March 2021

A model predictive feedback control strategy based on time-varying efficiency is investigated and applied to a hydraulic hub-motor auxiliary system (HHMAS) in this paper. Adding HHMAS to a traditional heavy commercial vehicle can improve fuel economy and traction performance on roads with low adhesion coefficients. However, the hydraulic drive system experiences serious disturbance imposed by time-varying parameters and external conditions. Model predictive feedback control based on time-varying efficiency offers a solution for HHMAS to cope with the disadvantage of the hydraulic drive system and improve the environmental adaptability of the vehicle controller. In this study, the control law of hydraulic variable pump (HVP) target displacement is established based on temperature compensation in consideration of the influence of multiple factors on pump target displacement. For coordinated power distribution of HHMAS, the minimum wheel speed difference and the reduction in system impact are regarded as optimal control targets in adjusting the engine torque and HVP displacement and designing the model predictive controller. Simulation results show that the proposed model predictive control method can reduce the speed difference between front and rear wheels by up to 64% and can achieve the wheel speed following effect faster than the traditional proportional-integral-derivative algorithm. Given that the control parameters do not need to be calibrated in the proposed method, the calibration time is saved, and the actual development process of the hydraulic hub-motor driving vehicle is remarkably improved.
Massive Effects of Saliency on Information Processing in Visual Working Memory
Authors: Constant Martin , Liesefeld Heinrich R.
Published: March 2021

Limitations in the ability to temporarily represent information in visual working memory (VWM) are crucial for visual cognition. Whether VWM processing is dependent on an object’s saliency (i.e., how much it stands out) has been neglected in VWM research. Therefore, we developed a novel VWM task that allows direct control over saliency. In three experiments with this task (on 10, 31, and 60 adults, respectively), we consistently found that VWM performance is strongly and parametrically influenced by saliency and that both an object’s relative saliency (compared with concurrently presented objects) and absolute saliency influence VWM processing. We also demonstrated that this effect is indeed due to bottom-up saliency rather than differential fit between each object and the top-down attentional template. A simple computational model assuming that VWM performance is determined by the weighted sum of absolute and relative saliency accounts well for the observed data patterns.
Technical ecstasy: Network-centric warfare redux
Authors: Guha Manabrata
Published: March 2021

How can we think about modes of martial operability that are responsive to the transformative conditions engendered by the information age? This article assumes an exploratory stance and reconsiders the theory of network-centric warfare (NCW) in concert with some elements of Gilbert Simondon’s work. It suggests that the Simondonian concepts of individuation, transduction and information, coupled with his understanding of technical objects, help us shift our focus from the platform-centric to the network-centric, thus enabling us to reengage with the theory of NCW in a manner that is responsive to the information age.
Highlights of Newborn Resuscitation Science, 2020
Authors: Thakre Rhishikesh
Published: March 2021

In October 2020, the neonatal resuscitation science update was published with several new treatment guidelines. The changes are based on an extensive review of literature using the GRADE process, addressing 22 topics. Topics for the review of interest include initial oxygen concentration for term and preterm infants, suctioning for clear and meconium-stained liquor, use of sustained lung inflation for ventilation, appropriate route for drug delivery, and extent of duration of resuscitation.
Book review: Yu-Min Joo and Teck-Boon Tan (Eds.). Smart Cities in Asia, Governing Development in the Era of Hyper-Connectivity
Authors: Lokhande Yogita
Published: March 2021

Yu-Min Joo and Teck-Boon Tan (Eds.). Smart Cities in Asia, Governing Development in the Era of Hyper-Connectivity (UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited in collaboration with Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc.), 2020 ISBN: 978-17-889-7287-1 (cased), 978-17-889-7288-8 (eBook).
Barriers to the Use of Neurologic Criteria to Declare Death in Africa
Authors: Lewis Ariane , Kumpfbeck Andrew , Liebman Jordan , Shemie Sam D. , Sung Gene , Torrance Sylvia , Greer David
Published: March 2021

There are varying medical, legal, social, religious and philosophical perspectives about the distinction between life and death. Death can be declared using cardiopulmonary or neurologic criteria throughout much of the world. After solicitation of brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) protocols from contacts around the world, we found that the percentage of countries with BD/DNC protocols is much lower in Africa than other developing regions. We performed an informal review of the literature to identify barriers to declaration of BD/DNC in Africa. We found that there are numerous medical, legal, social and religious barriers to the creation of BD/DNC protocols in Africa including 1) limited number of healthcare facilities, critical care resources and clinicians with relevant expertise; 2) absence of a political and legal framework codifying death; and 3) cultural and religious perspectives that present ideological conflict with the idea of BD/DNC, in particular, and between traditional and Western medicine, in general. Because there are a number of unique barriers to the creation of BD/DNC protocols in Africa, it remains to be seen how the World Brain Death Project, which is intended to create minimum standards for BD/DNC around the world, will impact BD/DNC determination in Africa.
String stable control of electric heavy vehicle platoon with varying battery pack locations
Authors: Devika K B , Rohith G , Subramanian Shankar C
Published: March 2021

Integration of heavy commercial road vehicle platooning concept and electric vehicle technology is a promising approach as far as sustainable freight transportation is considered. This article attempts to design a string stable controller for an electric heavy commercial road vehicle platoon by incorporating critical factors such as complete vehicle dynamics model, pneumatic brake system model and cooperative braking between friction and regenerative braking systems. The sliding mode control technique has been used for string stable platoon operation. The impact of various battery pack locations on string stability has also been analysed. The performance of the controller has been investigated by considering electric heavy commercial road vehicle platoon operation on different road slope (straight, uphill and downhill) conditions, dry and wet road conditions and vehicle load conditions. It has been observed that the battery pack location has a significant influence on string stability with respect to the platoon operating conditions. During operation on straight and level roads, string stability was achieved irrespective of the location of the battery pack. However, during downhill and uphill driving conditions, it was found that placing the battery pack near front and rear axle locations, respectively, helped in ensuring string stable platoon operation.
Visual acuity and progression of macular atrophy in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF for age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Ji Marco H , Callaway Natalia F , Ludwig Cassie A , Vail Daniel , Al-Moujahed Ahmad , Rosenblatt Tatiana R , Leng Theodore , Sanislo Steven R , Moshfeghi Darius M
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

Whether intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) cause retinal atrophy is still a subject of debate. We reported 13 eyes that received several injections of anti-VEGF for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with good visual acuity despite geographic atrophy on imaging.

Methods:

This is a case series study conducted at Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University. Patients of three retina specialists with wet AMD who received six or more intravitreal injection of anti-VEGFs with visual acuity of 20/60 or better and incomplete RPE and outer retina atrophy (iRORA) or complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA) were enrolled in this case series. Different imaging modalities were reviewed by three retina specialists comparing the baseline with the most recent exam.

Results:

About 13 eyes of 10 patients met the selection criteria. Eleven eyes were classified as iRORA and 2 as cRORA. Despite the development of macular atrophy on imaging after an average of 38.1 injections, eyes maintained stable visual acuity.

Conclusion:

The discrepancy between structural and functional findings in this cohort suggests that patients treated by anti-VEGF drugs exhibit divergent clinical outcomes for currently unknown reasons. The authors propose anti-VEGF may affect melanosomes within RPE without disrupting RPE and photoreceptors function completely. This requires further investigation.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and visual function in North Indian population
Authors: Rehman Obaidur , Ichhpujani Parul , Kumar Suresh , Saroa Richa , Sawal Nishit
Published: March 2021

Background:

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a neurological disorder with varied presentation, visual morbidity being the most important one. Literature is sparse as regards the effects of IIH on the visual system in Asians.

Objective:

Assessment of visual morbidity and change with treatment in IIH patients in North India through a prospective interventional study.

Materials and methods:

Sixty eyes of newly diagnosed IIH patients were evaluated for functional and structural tests of visual system. Lumbar puncture was performed to establish IIH diagnosis and received oral Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor thereafter. Change in visual function was studied from baseline to 6-month follow-up visit.

Results:

Mean age of participants at presentation was 33.27 ± 10.68 years and majority were females (73.3%). Seventy percent eyes ( n = 42) had visual acuity 20/20 at presentation. Average Pelli Robson contrast sensitivity (CS) improved from 1.86 ± 0.34 to 2.11 ± 0.24 (Friedman Test: X2 = 59.2, p ⩽ 0.001) while number of eyes with detectable visual field deficits reduced from 70% to 43.7%. Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness reduced from 176.27 to 114.97 µ (Friedman Test: X2 = 69.3, p ⩽ 0.001).

Conclusions:

The socio-demographic profile in our study showed higher male incidence than noted in previous studies. Visual function deficits were present in patients, even in those with 20/20 visual acuity. Significant improvement was seen after lumbar puncture and initiation of medical treatment. CS and RNFL thickness showed significant improvement even after 1 month of treatment and can be used for monitoring IIH patients.
Prevalence of Substance Use in University Students, Ethiopia
Authors: Shegute Tewodros , Wasihun Yared
Published: March 2021

Background:

Although substance use is a known public health problem and a pressing issue in Ethiopia, its real extent and magnitude are not yet properly explored. The current study aimed to determine the extent and predictors of substance use among regular undergraduate students in the Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University.

Methods:

An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried among 794 undergraduate regular students at the Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, using a self-administered structured questionnaire filled by study participants. Data entry, cleaning, and coding were performed by EPI-INFO version 3.5.1. Statistical Package for Social Sciences; AOR: Adjusted odds ratio (SPSS) SPSS version 21 software was used to analyze data by performing descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analysis.

Results:

73.7% of the study participants used substances at least once. The lifetime use of each substance includes alcohol (68.2%), khat (53.6%), cigarettes (46.1%), and illicit drugs (23.3%). Loss of family (AOR [95%CI], 34.50 [7.569, 157.263]), pocket money between 500 and 999 Ethiopian birr (AOR [95%CI], 9.978 [1.240, 80.280]), and above 1000 Ethiopian birr (AOR [95%CI], 10.831 [1.333, 87.971]) were identified predictors for khat use. The odds of lifetime alcohol use was higher among students coming from a divorced family (AOR [95%CI], 9.346 [3.162, 27.625]), lost one (AOR [95%CI], 37.406 [11.375, 123.008]), or both of their parents (AOR [95%CI], 18.750 [5.798, 60.633]). Students of urban origin (AOR [95%CI], 3.214 [1.950, 5.296]), and students with anxiety symptoms (AOR [95%CI], 2.655 [1.981, 3.557]) have a higher odds of lifetime cigarette smoking. The lifetime exposure to illicit drugs is higher among students in age groups between 20 and 24 years (AOR [95%CI], 5.963 [1.361, 26.135]), students coming from substance user family (AOR [95%CI], 2.172 [1.161, 4.063]), and students of urban origin (AOR [95%CI], 2.661 [1.202, 5.889]).

Conclusion:

A higher prevalence of substance use requiring administrative and educational interventions was observed. Awareness creation interventions on the potential impacts of substance abuse should be performed.
Understanding Smoking Behavior among Physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Al Shahrani Abeer S. , Almudaiheem Najd R. , Bakhsh Esraa M. , Sarhan Nora T. , Aldossari Fay S. , bin Huzeim Budur A.
Published: March 2021

Background:

The prevalence of smoking has increased in recent years in Saudi Arabia. Our objectives were to determine the factors affecting smoking among physicians and to assess physicians’ quitting behavior.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out at 3 district hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It involved physicians with different levels of experience and different specialties. They were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire adapted from validated tools. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic data, lifestyle, and work-related factors as well as smoking cessation and relapse. SPSS statistical software was used for the statistical analysis.

Results:

The study included 290 physicians, of whom 91% were Saudi and 59.7% were male. About 55.2% were younger than age of 30. Overall, 34.8% were smokers. The following factors had a significant association with smoking: a smoking family member/friend, resident occupational status, medical specialty, and frequent on-call duties increased the likelihood of smoking. One-third of the physicians (31.6%) who tried to quit smoking reported seeking information on social media, television, and/or the internet. The most common causes of relapse were social stress and withdrawal symptoms, while the least common was work-related stress.

Conclusions:

Smoking was highly prevalent among physicians. The likelihood of smoking was higher in, residents, medical specialists and those with a high number of on-call duties. Moreover, this study described cessation practices in this group, which might be considered when designing and improving counseling programs for physicians who smoke.
Hate crime and racial discrimination in Ecuador: The case of Michael Arce in ESMIL
Authors: Vera Santos Rocío Elizabeth
Published: March 2021

For the first time in Ecuador a hate crime was tried in court and led to a conviction. This was the case of Michael Arce, a young Afro-Ecuadorian former cadet who won the trial against Captain Fernando Encalada of the Eloy Alfaro Military School (ESMIL). ESMIL belongs to the Ecuadorian Armed Forces, a state institution considered to be of great prestige and a guarantor of citizens’ rights and democracy, but not for all. Arce suffered in ESMIL 2 months of humiliation and torture. Through a socio-legal analysis this article demonstrates the normalization of racial stereotypes and prejudices, and the sometimes subtle existence of structural and institutional racism in the education and judicial systems. This case represents a pioneering judicial action in Ecuador that legally established and defined new pretrial and trial proceedings in regard to litigation concerning violation of human rights, racial discrimination and hate crimes.
The ILO and the future of work: The politics of global labour policy
Authors: Silva Vicente
Published: March 2021

In the late 2010s, the future of work gathered attention from the most influential actors in global social governance. The International Labour Organization (ILO), since 2015 and in the context of its Future of Work Initiative, aimed to position itself in the discussion by putting this issue at the centre of their activities for its centenary (2019). The normative and conceptual approach developed by the ILO in this initiative was named the ‘human-centred agenda’, aimed to align technological change with decent work and social justice. Although preliminary scholarly works have seen these efforts as a humanistic and pro-worker ‘countermovement’, a deeper analysis of the ideas and interests involved in the Future of Work Initiative reveals a different, more complex picture. This article studies the creation of the human-centred agenda led by the ILO secretariat and the Global Commission on the Future of Work, and how it was further negotiated and modified by the social partners in the making of the Centenary Declaration in 2019. In particular, it shows how business at the ILO and right-wing populist governments, in tandem, reoriented the human-centred agenda towards a pro-employer perspective, thus framing social and labour policy as a tool for adapting the workforce to technological change. It concludes with some reflections about the consequences of these developments for the ILO’s position in global governance.
A phenomenological model for the description of unburned hydrocarbons emission in ultra-lean engines
Authors: Malfi Enrica , De Bellis Vincenzo , Bozza Fabio , Cafari Alberto , Caputo Gennaro , Hyvönen Jari
Published: March 2021

The adoption of lean-burn concepts for internal combustion engines working with a homogenous air/fuel charge is under development as a path to simultaneously improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, nitric oxides, and carbon monoxide emissions. This technology may lead to a relevant emission of unburned hydrocarbons (uHC) compared to a stoichiometric engine. The uHC sources are various and the relative importance varies according to fuel characteristics, engine operating point, and some geometrical details of the combustion chamber. This concern becomes even more relevant in the case of engines supplied with natural gas since the methane has a global warming potential much greater than the other major pollutant emissions. In this work, a simulation model describing the main mechanisms for uHC formation is proposed. The model describes uHC production from crevices and flame wall quenching, also considering the post-oxidation. The uHC model is implemented in commercial software (GT-Power) under the form of “user routine”. It is validated with reference to two large bore engines, whose bores are 31 and 46 cm (engines named accordingly W31 and W46). Both engines are fueled with natural gas and operated with lean mixtures (λ > 2), but with different ignition modalities (pre-chamber device or dual fuel mode). The engines under study are preliminarily schematized in the 1D simulation tool. The consistency of 1D engine schematizations is verified against the experimental data of BMEP, air flow rate, and turbocharger rotational speed over a load sweep. Then, the uHC model is validated against the engine-out measurements. The averaged uHC predictions highlight an average error of 7% and 10 % for W31 and W46 engines, respectively. The uHC model reliability is evidenced by the lack of need for a case-dependent adjustment of its tuning constants, also in presence of relevant variations of both engine load and ring pack design.
Calculating level-specific SEM fit indices for multilevel mediation analyses
Authors: Comulada W. Scott
Published: March 2021

Stata’s gsem command provides the ability to fit multilevel structural equation models (SEM) and related multilevel models. A motivating example is provided by multilevel mediation analyses (MA) conducted on patient data from Methadone Maintenance Treatment clinics in China. Multilevel MA conducted through the gsem command examined the mediating effects of patients’ treatment progression and rapport with counselors on their treatment satisfaction. Multilevel models accounted for the clustering of patient observations within clinics. SEM fit indices, such as the comparative fit index and the root mean squared error of approximation, are commonly used in the SEM model selection process. Multilevel models present challenges in constructing fit indices because there are multiple levels of hierarchy to account for in establishing goodness of fit. Level-specific fit indices have been proposed in the literature but have not been incorporated into the gsem command. I created the gsemgof command to fill this role. Model results from the gsem command are used to calculate the level-specific comparative fit index and root mean squared error of approximation fit indices. I illustrate the gsemgof command through multilevel MA applied to two-level Methadone Maintenance Treatment data.
Review of Psychological Statistics and Psychometrics Using Stata, by Scott A. Baldwin
Authors: Wells Christine
Published: March 2021

In this article, I review Psychological Statistics and Psychometrics Using Stata, by Scott A. Baldwin (2019, Stata Press).
Covid-19 as a Generator of Pending Narratives: Developing an Empirical Tool to Analyze Narrative Practices in Constructing Futures
Authors: Törrönen Jukka
Published: March 2021

The article describes the basic elements of the pending narrative and develops them into a tool of qualitative analysis by taking examples from Covid-19-related reports, opinions and editorials in the news. The pending narrative is a powerful story form, persuading the responsible actors in public to take action by stirring up compelling passion for a specific goal. It has a cogency that comes from the threat that if we do not act in the right way now, the continuity of life will be jeopardized. Crises are fertile breeding grounds for pending narratives, and the arrival of the Covid-19 virus is an expressive example of a situation threatening the continuity of human life around the globe. These circumstances feed on the emergence of pending narratives, which translate the unknown, uncertain and frightening future from open, multiple and unpredictable trajectories into more closed, predictable and controllable pathways. In the development of the pending narrative into a tool of qualitative analysis, the article takes influences from narratology, Bamberg’s theory on positioning analysis, Greimas’ narrative semiotics and critical discourse analysis. It proposes that in the analysis of pending narratives we benefit from the separation of three levels. On the first level, pending narratives highlight disorder and the menacing trajectory of the anti-subject, and outline a qualifying trajectory for the subject to overcome the threat. On the second level they persuade the responsible actors and the audience to identify with the qualifying trajectory and to take action or support it. And on the third level they articulate the kind of values, identities and moral order in aid of which the required action is taken.
Effect of rare earth oxide CeO2 on the anodic bonding performance of PEG-based MEMS encapsulation materials
Authors: Du Chao , Liu Cuirong , Yin Xu , Zhao Haocheng
Published: March 2021

Herein, we synthesized a new polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based solid polymer electrolyte containing a rare earth oxide, CeO2, using mechanical metallurgy to prepare an encapsulation bonding material for MEMS. The effects of CeO2 content (0–15 wt.%) on the anodic bonding properties of the composites were investigated. Samples were analyzed and characterized by alternating current impedance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile strength tests, and anodic bonding experiments. CeO2 reduced the crystallinity of the material, promoted ion migration, increased the conductivity, increased the peak current of the bonding process, and increased the tensile strength. The maximum bonding efficiency and optimal bonding layer were obtained at 8 wt% CeO2. This study expands the applications of solid polymer electrolytes as encapsulation bonding materials.
Factors associated with cervical cancer screening behaviour of women attending gynaecological clinics in Kazakhstan: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Issa Torgyn , Babi Aisha , Azizan Azliyati , Alibekova Raushan , Khan Saleem A. , Issanov Alpamys , Chan Chee Kai , Aimagambetova Gulzhanat
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Although cervical cancer could be prevented through medical screening, it remains one of the top causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality all over the world. A number of factors may contribute to cervical cancer screening behaviour of women. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to cervical cancer screening behaviour of women in Kazakhstan.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional survey-based study with a total of 1189 participants. Women attending gynaecological clinics aged between 18 and 70 years were administered paper-based questionnaires about their awareness of cervical cancer, the associated risk factors, and cervical cancer screening. Student t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test and chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, where appropriate, were used to determine associations with categorical independent variables.

Results:

The mean age of participants was 36.5 ± 10.1 years. Less than half (45.7%) of the participants had been screened for cervical cancer. The key factors related to the cervical cancer screening behaviour of women in this study included age, having a larger number of children, regular menstrual function, awareness of Pap smear test, and free screening programme for cervical cancer, and the causal association of human papillomavirus with cervical cancer.

Conclusion:

This study revealed several significant factors predicting screening behaviour in Kazakhstani women. To improve the rate of screening, there is a need to increase public knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and opportunities for the free screening programme in the female population of Kazakhstan.
Within-person variability can improve the identification of unfamiliar faces across changes in viewpoint
Authors: Hunnisett Niamh , Favelle Simone
Published: March 2021

Unfamiliar face identification is concerningly error prone, especially across changes in viewing conditions. Within-person variability has been shown to improve matching performance for unfamiliar faces, but this has only been demonstrated using images of a front view. In this study, we test whether the advantage of within-person variability from front views extends to matching to target images of a face rotated in view. Participants completed either a simultaneous matching task (Experiment 1) or a sequential matching task (Experiment 2) in which they were tested on their ability to match the identity of a face shown in an array of either one or three ambient front-view images, with a target image shown in front, three-quarter, or profile view. While the effect was stronger in Experiment 2, we found a consistent pattern in match trials across both experiments in that there was a multiple image matching benefit for front, three-quarter, and profile-view targets. We found multiple image effects for match trials only, indicating that providing observers with multiple ambient images confers an advantage for recognising different images of the same identity but not for discriminating between images of different identities. Signal detection measures also indicate a multiple image advantage despite a more liberal response bias for multiple image trials. Our results show that within-person variability information for unfamiliar faces can be generalised across views and can provide insights into the initial processes involved in the representation of familiar faces.
Comparison of outcomes of high-flow nasal cannula and noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in patients with hypoxemia and various APACHE II scores after extubation
Authors: Shang Xiaoke , Wang Yanggan
Published: March 2021

Aims:

The study aimed to compare and analyze the outcomes of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) in the treatment of patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) who had extubation after weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Methods:

A total 120 patients with AHRF were enrolled into this study. These patients underwent tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. They were organized into two groups according to the score of Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II); group A: APACHE II score <12; group B: 12⩽ APACHE II score <24. Group A had 72 patients and patients given HFNC were randomly assigned to subgroup I while patients given NPPV were assigned to subgroup II (36 patients in each subgroup). Group B had 48 patients and patients given HFNC were randomly assigned to subgroup I while patients given NPPV were assigned to subgroup II (24 patients in each subgroup). General information, respiratory parameters, endpoint event, and comorbidities of adverse effect were compared and analyzed between the two subgroups.

Results:

The incidence of abdominal distension was significantly higher in patients treated with NPPV than in those treated with HFNC in group A (19.44% versus 0, p = 0.005) and group B (25% versus 0, p = 0.009). There was no significant difference between the HFNC- and NPPV-treated patients in blood pH, oxygenation index, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, and blood lactic acid concentration in either group ( p > 0.05). Occurrence rate of re-intubation within 72 h of extubation was slightly, but not significantly, higher in NPPV-treated patients ( p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

There was no significant difference between HFNC and NPPV in preventing respiratory failure in patients with AHRF with an APACHE II score <24 after extubation. However, HFNC was superior to NPPV with less incidence of abdominal distension. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.
Mediation framework connecting knowledge contract, psychological contract, employee retention, and employee satisfaction: An empirical study
Authors: Nayak Sunanda , Jena Debasish , Patnaik Srikanta
Published: March 2021

The present research is inclined to study the relationship between two important forms of “Contract” in employment relations, psychological contract and knowledge contract, and job outcomes, i.e. employee retention and employee satisfaction. For this purpose, the data were collected from 268 employees working in the IT sector from North India. The results suggest the mediating impact of the psychological contract in the relationship between knowledge contract and job outcomes. Besides, this study develops a theoretical model that establishes the relationship between knowledge sharing and knowledge integration that plays a major role in employee satisfaction as well as retention of employees in the organization.
The anthill and the beam: A response to Elden
Authors: Latour Bruno
Published: March 2021

Is it possible to get away from the distinction between physical space and lived space, where the former is conceived as material, objective, and measurable, and the latter is conceived as historical, subjective, and symbolic? In other words, is it possible to get out of the division of labour between physical geography and human geography? Such a proposition is different from wanting to ‘reconcile’ or ‘bring together’ the two branches of geography. In this response to Stuart Elden’s (2021) article, ‘Terrain, Politics, History’, my proposal is that a distinction must be made elsewhere between terrestrial space – which does not mean physical – and extraterrestrial space – which does not mean subjective.
Efficacy of cystone versus tamsulosin in treatment of stent-related lower urinary tract symptoms
Authors: Ghaed Mohammad Ali , Rezaei Reza , Shafeinia Amineh , Maghsoudi Robab
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Double-J stent is a common tool used in urological procedures that is inserted for 2–6 weeks, but it may induce abdominal and flank pain, incontinence and irritative urinary symptoms. Alleviation of such symptoms would be useful to improve the patients’ quality of life. Accordingly, in this study, the efficacy of cystone versus tamsulosin in the treatment of double-J stent-related lower urinary tract symptoms was determined.

Materials and methods:

In this randomised clinical trial, 128 patients who required double-J stent insertion after transureteral lithotripsy during 2018–2019 were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to receive either cystone, tamsulosin, both, or placebo. The international prostate symptom score and visual analogue score data were recorded at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks across the groups.

Results:

The international prostate symptom score and visual analogue score factors were statistically different across the case groups receiving cystone, tamsulosin and both drugs versus placebo ( P=0.001). Two weeks after drug administration, the visual analogue score and international prostate symptom score were not statistically different in the tamsulosin, cystone and dual therapy groups; however, after 4 weeks the cystone group had the lowest symptoms.

Conclusion:

Both tamsulosin and cystone are efficient drugs which would relieve stent-related lower urinary tract symptoms. The administration of cystone with or without tamsulosin for 4 weeks may have the best result in reducing the visual analogue score and international prostate symptom score. Level of evidence: Level I, 1b, therapeutic study, randomised controlled trial
Reduced radiation fluoroscopy technique for implantation of sacral neuromodulation
Authors: Groegler Jason , Hajiha Mohammad , Wagner Hillary , Jellison Forrest , Amasyali Akin S , Moghisi Reihaneh , Dickinson Mark , Yune Junchan Joshua , Baldwin D Duane , Staack Andrea
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a Food and Drug Administration–approved treatment option for urinary urgency and fecal incontinence. Fluoroscopic imaging is used at various steps during lead placement, which exposes the operating room staff and patient to the harmful effects of radiation. The aim of this study is to describe a reduced radiation technique during lead placement for treatment with SNM.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort of 51 consecutive patients who underwent lead insertion and SNM placement at a single academic institution were investigated. Reduced fluoroscopy (RF; n=11) involved C-arm settings to 1 pulse/second and an activated “low-dose” setting, while conventional fluoroscopy (CF; n=40) involved 30 pulses/second and a deactivated “low-dose” setting. The automatic brightness control and collimation were used optionally in both groups. Comparison of imaging quality, fluoroscopy settings, and radiation exposure during RF and CF was performed.

Results:

RF settings resulted in significant reduction of radiation compared to CF settings, including the fluoroscopy time (8.61 vs. 48.16 seconds; p<0.001), dose (2.66 vs. 26.25 mGy; p=0.001), and current (1.67 vs. 4.18 mAs; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in total operative time (59.18 vs. 61.33 minutes; p=0.77) and the rate of progression from stage 1 to stage 2 during follow-up (75% vs. 84%; p=0.55).

Conclusions:

Lead placement for treatment with SNM can be achieved using RF settings without compromising clinical outcomes. Applying the RF technique reduces overall radiation exposure to the patient and the operating room staff. Further validation of RF in a larger prospective cohort study is needed.

Level of evidence:

Level 4.
Motivations for Emotions in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Millgram Yael , Gruber June , Villanueva Cynthia M. , Rapoport Anna , Tamir Maya
Published: March 2021

Recent work has begun to examine the link between motivation for specific emotions and psychopathology. Yet research on this topic to date has focused primarily on depression. To understand patterns of motivation for emotions within and across affective disorders, we assessed motivation for emotions in adults at increased risk for and diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD). We focused on motivation for negative (i.e., sadness) and positive (i.e., happiness) emotions and for emotional instability using self-report and behavioral measures. Both increased BD risk and diagnosis of BD were associated with increased motivation for sadness and decreased motivation for happiness as assessed by behavioral measures. Such motivational tendencies were less consistent when assessed by self-reports. Higher BD risk was associated with increased self-reported motivation for emotional instability (Studies 1–3), although this association was not evident in BD (Study 4). Findings suggest both similarities and differences in motivation for emotions in affective disorders.
Preventing Recurrence of Depression: Long-Term Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial on Cognitive Control Training for Remitted Depressed Patients
Authors: Hoorelbeke Kristof , Van den Bergh Nathan , De Raedt Rudi , Wichers Marieke , Koster Ernst H. W.
Published: March 2021

Previous studies suggest that cognitive control training (CCT) shows potential as a preventive intervention for depression. In this study, the first to examine long-term preventive effects of CCT, we examined effects on (a) task-specific cognitive transfer at 1-year follow-up, (b) recurrence of depression, and (c) functioning over the course of a year. Each of 92 remitted depressed patients were randomly assigned to a CCT condition or an active control condition (ACT). Effects of training were monitored using weekly assessments of emotion regulation, cognitive complaints, depressive symptoms, and resilience (brief weekly questionnaire). At 1-year follow-up, participants completed a structured clinical interview, cognitive transfer task, and questionnaires. We observed task-specific cognitive transfer ( p < .001, d = 1.23) and lower recurrence rates in the CCT condition ( p = .04; odds ratio = 0.38). However, no long-term beneficial effects of training were observed on the weekly ratings of functioning, and groups did not differ in performance on the self-report questionnaires at 1-year follow-up.
Ibuprofen-loaded biocompatible latex membrane for drug release: Characterization and molecular modeling
Authors: Lima Aline de Freitas , Pegorin Giovana Sant’Ana , Miranda Matheus Carlos Romeiro , Cachaneski-Lopes João Paulo , Silva William de Melo , Borges Felipe Azevedo , Guerra Nayrim Brizuela , Herculano Rondinelli Donizetti , Batagin-Neto Augusto
Published: March 2021

The incorporation of drugs and bioactive compounds in the natural rubber latex (NRL) matrix has been an alternative for the development of transdermal release membranes. Ibuprofen (IBF) is known to be used to treat inflammatory diseases, but when administered orally, high concentrations can cause some adverse problems. In this work, the incorporation of IBF in the NRL membranes was evaluated by physical-chemical, in vitro permeation, hemocompatibility and molecular modeling assays. In addition, the in vitro release profile of IBF in acid and basic media was analyzed during 96 h. The IBF-NRL membrane exhibited the absence of intermolecular bonding that could hinder drug release and presented compatible mechanical properties for applications as a cutaneous adhesive (0.58 and 1.12 MPa to Young’s modulus and rupture tension, respectively). The IBF-NRL system did not present a significant hemolysis degree (1.67%) within 24 h. The release test indicated that in the first hours of the study, 48.5% IBF was released at basic pH and 22.5% at acidic pH, which is characteristic of a burst effect. Then, a stable release profile was observed until the end of the assay, with total IBF release of 60% in alkaline medium and 50% in acidic medium. The drug permeation results indicated that the IBF-NRL membranes can be used for the local skin treatment with permeation of 3.11% of IBF. Dynamic Molecular simulations indicated a pronounced electric dipole in the ionized form of IBF, which suggests a more effective interaction with water, explaining the efficient drug release in alkaline solutions. In general, the results demonstrate that the IBF-NRL membrane has great potential for a new adhesive that can be used for the treatment of inflammatory processes and injuries.