bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diet, training habits and fitness of Masters cyclists
Authors: Shaw Keely A , Bertrand Leandy , Deprez Dalton , Ko Jongbum , Zello Gordon A , Chilibeck Philip D
Published: March 2021

Background: The number of Masters-level athletes (≥ 35 years of age) taking part in cycling has increased in the past years which may have beneficial effects on their health. The restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to negatively impact the diet, training and fitness of these individuals due to restrictions in place to slow the spread of the virus. Aim: To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the diet, training and fitness of Masters-level cyclists. Methods: 32 Masters cyclists (12 males, 20 females; mean age 47 ± 10 years) completed two incremental exercise tests one month apart during the pandemic to assess sport-specific fitness. Participants also completed online questionnaires to report their sedentary behavior and dietary intake before and during the pandemic, and their training volume and intensity for a specified week in February (before the pandemic) and each of March, April and May (during the pandemic). Results: No differences were seen in fitness ( p = 0.6), training volume ( p = 0.24) or intensity ( p = 0.79) and sedentary behavior ( p = 0.14) during the pandemic. Energy intake was unchanged ( p = 1.0) during the pandemic, but participants consumed lower amounts of key nutrients such as fiber, vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and potassium ( p < 0.05) while consuming more alcohol ( p = 0.008) and vitamin C ( p = 0.03). Conclusions: Our data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has undesirable effects on nutrient and alcohol intake of Masters cyclists without impacting their training regimes, which may have adverse effects on their overall health and fitness in the long term.
Meaningful, but effective? A critical evaluation of Ireland’s citizens’ dialogues on the future of Europe
Authors: Costello Anthony
Published: March 2021

On the 25 March 2017, leaders of the EU27 and European Union (EU) institutions ratified the Rome Declaration. They committed to invite citizens to discuss Europe’s future and to provide recommendations that would facilitate their decision-makers in shaping their national positions on Europe. In response, citizens’ dialogues on the future of Europe were instituted across the Union to facilitate public participation in shaping Europe. This paper explores Ireland’s set of dialogues which took place during 2018. Although event organisers in Ireland applied a relatively atypical and more systematic and participatory approach to their dialogues, evidence suggests that Irelands’ dialogues were reminiscent of a public relations exercise which showcased the country’s commitment to incorporating citizens into the debate on Europe while avoiding a deliberative design which could have strengthened the quality of public discourse and the quality of public recommendations. Due to an absence of elite political will for a deliberative process, as well as structural weaknesses in design, participants’ recommendations lacked any clear and prescriptive direction which could shape Ireland’s national position on the future of Europe in any constructive or meaningful way.
“Now is the real Jungle!” Institutional hunting and migrants’ survival after the eviction of the Calais camp
Authors: Palmas Luca Queirolo
Published: March 2021

The refugee makeshift settlement of Calais, globally known as the “Calais Jungle”, was dismantled in October 2016. Its existence, as a spectacle repeatedly spread by the media all over the world, was a key element in the representation of the so-called “migration crisis” in Europe. One year after the end of the camp, this article focuses on a new scenario in which dispersed settlements keep reappearing and migrants are hunted by the authorities and the police on a daily basis, observing the everyday life of the many who continue to reach this borderland in the hope of crossing to the other side, by any means and at any risk. This ethnographic and visual sociology project follows a group of young Afghans, identifying the crucial phases that structure widespread daily routines and a broad moral landscape: survival, the hunt, and the attempt to get across.
‘Things should be better’ – Immobility, labour and the negotiation of hope amongst young Ghanaian craftsmen
Authors: Clifford Collard Niamh Jane
Published: March 2021

Drawing on an ethnography of life in a Ghanaian weaving workshop, this article traces the intersections between young rural weavers’ affective labour, hope and their experiences of immobility. Hope is explored as an ambivalent resource which shapes the shared, social materiality of their craftwork, the spiritual beliefs which give meaningful shape to the challenges of craft livelihoods and the imaginaries and lived experiences which compose young weavers’ sense of migration and mobility. Entangled in the precarious logics of late capitalism, these hopes simultaneously offer young craftsmen a sense of existential mobility, whilst curtailing and circumscribing possibilities for sustained and systemic change. In this, the ‘not-yet’ hopefulness of immobility is examined as a complex affective and political field, shot through with tense anticipation, longing and disappointment.
Family Socioeconomic Status, Parental Involvement, and Academic Achievement: The Moderating Role of Adolescents’ Subjective Social Mobility
Authors: Zhang Feng , Jiang Ying , Huang Silin , Ming Hua , Ren Yi , Wang Lei
Published: March 2021

The correlations between a low family socioeconomic status (SES) and adolescents’ poor academic outcomes have been widely documented. However, the mechanisms through which family SES is associated with adolescents’ academic achievement are not well understood. Therefore, this study examined the mediating roles of different types of parental involvement (i.e., parental school-based involvement, academic socialization, and home-based involvement) and the moderating role of adolescents’ subjective social mobility in the relationships between family SES and academic achievement by using multisource data. The valid sample consisted of 842 adolescents ([Formula: see text] = 12.28 years, 40.97% girls) who were recruited from five township public schools in China. The results indicated that all three types of parental involvement partially mediated the relationships between family SES and adolescents’ Chinese and math achievement; parental school-based involvement had the strongest mediating effects, followed by academic socialization, and home-based involvement had the lowest mediating effects. Moreover, the path from parental home-based involvement to Chinese achievement in the mediation model was moderated by the adolescents’ subjective social mobility. In conclusion, parental involvement is an important mediating mechanism through which a low family SES impedes adolescents’ academic achievement, and adolescents’ subjective social mobility can play a buffering role in the relationship between parental home-based involvement and Chinese achievement.
Early Adolescent Predictors of Violent Behavior: Child and Contextual Risk, and Moderation by Rejecting Parenting
Authors: Friedman Abbey , Taraban Lindsay , Sitnick Stephanie , Shaw Daniel S.
Published: March 2021

The current study explored early adolescent child-level predictors (physical aggression, impulsivity, empathy) and contextual-level predictors (peer deviance, neighborhood dangerousness) of violent and nonviolent antisocial behavior (AB) in late adolescence. Additionally, we tested the moderating role of rejecting parenting on these associations based on the importance of parent-child relationships in early adolescence and documented bidirectional associations between parenting and our predictor variables. Participants ( N = 272) came from the Pitt Mother and Child Project, a longitudinal study of high-risk boys. Higher levels of early adolescent physical aggression significantly predicted late adolescent engagement in both nonviolent and violent crimes. Peer deviance, impulsivity, and neighborhood dangerousness were also associated with later juvenile AB. Rejecting parenting moderated several of these associations. Results support the predictive validity of several early adolescent child- and contextual-level variables—particularly early adolescent aggression—for subsequent engagement in both violent and nonviolent AB.
Effects of Training on HIV Risk Perception, Knowledge and Sexual Behaviour Among Fisherfolks in Two Communities in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Abiodun Aiyedun Sunday , Ajuwon Ademola J.
Published: March 2021

Fisherfolks participate in unsafe sexual behaviors which can predispose them to HIV infection. This research was designed to assess the effects of training on HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and sexual behavior among fisherfolks in two fishing communities in Nigeria. Respondents were allocated into Experimental Group (EG, n = 103) and Control Group (CG, n = 105). Data were collected at baseline using a questionnaire which included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behavior among others. A 3-day HIV/AIDS training was conducted for EG. Fisherfolks in EG and CG with good knowledge were 16.5% and 54.3%, respectively at baseline. The number increased to 100.0% in EG than CG (60%) at follow-up. At baseline, fisherfolks in EG and CG with high riskperception scores were 26.2% and 59.0%, respectively; corresponding figures at post intervention for EG and CG were 100.0% and 70.0% respectively. Training increased HIV/AIDS knowledge, improved risk perception and reduced risky sexual practices among fisherfolks.
“OMG, I Get Like 100 Teaspoons of Sugar a Day!” Rural Teens’ Grasp of Their Beverage Consumption Habits
Authors: Lilo Emily A. , West Andrew
Published: March 2021

As part of a campaign to encourage healthier beverage consumption in a rural New Mexico high school, we wanted to understand students’ perceptions of their habits, and the associated health risks and benefits surrounding water and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to influence future messaging to change behavior. We conducted a posthoc qualitative analysis of 27 student interviews from the program evaluation with both students who participated in the campaign and those who did not. Pre-campaign, students appeared largely unaware of the health risks posed by their beverage consumption habits, lacking any knowledge of nutritional recommendations, water recommendations, or of the sugar levels in products. When informed of the risks, students expressed concern for themselves, their family members, and friends, indicated a desire to make significant changes, and reported making changes for themselves, and educating others regarding the risks. Given the large amounts of money spent and concentrated efforts focused on marketing SSBs to teens, it is critically important to be educating teens and engaging them in behavior change strategies. These data can inform future strategies to improve teen health behaviors and encourage teens to become family health messengers for obesity and diabetes prevention.
Using Normalized Entropy to Measure Uncertainty of Rankings for Network Meta-analyses
Authors: Wu Yun-Chun , Shih Ming-Chieh , Tu Yu-Kang
Published: March 2021

Ranking of treatments offers a straightforward interpretation of results derived from network meta-analysis. However, some published network meta-analyses have overemphasized treatment ranking without paying attention to its uncertainty. According to a review of 91 network meta-analyses, 52 reported treatment ranking, but 43 of them did not report the uncertainty of ranking. Without reporting the uncertainty, small differences in the ranking of treatments may be overinterpreted. Rankograms, cumulative rankograms, the credible/confidence interval of mean rank, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), and the interquartile range of median rank have been used to show the uncertainty of rankings. However, it is not always straightforward to compare the differences in the distribution of probabilities by inspecting rankograms or to compare the intervals or ranges of treatment ranks. We therefore proposed normalized entropy, which transforms the distribution of ranking probabilities into a single quantitative measure, to facilitate a refined interpretation of uncertainty of treatment ranking. We used 4 real examples to demonstrate the uncertainty of ranking quantified by ranking probabilities, 95% confidence interval of SUCRA, and normalized entropy. We showed that as normalized entropy ranges from 0 to 1 and is independent of the number of treatments, it can be used to compare the uncertainty of treatment ranking within a network meta-analysis (NMA) and between different NMAs. Normalized entropy is an alternative tool for measuring the uncertainty of treatment ranking by improving the translation of results from NMAs to clinical practice and avoiding naïve interpretation of treatment ranking. We therefore recommend normalized entropy to be included in the presentation and interpretation of results from NMAs.
Cellular solitary fibrous tumor in the mental area: a case report and literature review
Authors: Sun Qiaochu , Choi Yoo-Duk , Kim Young
Published: March 2021

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare benign mesenchymal tumors that occur mainly in the pleura. We herein report the first case of a cellular SFT located in the mental region of the head and neck in a 46-year-old woman. Facial computed tomography revealed a mass measuring 0.8 cm with clear boundaries in the right mental region. After excision of the mass, expert pathologists diagnosed a cellular SFT. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a cellular SFT identified in the subcutaneous tissue of the mental region of the head and neck. Because the postsurgical prognosis of SFTs is unpredictable, long-term follow-up and further studies are necessary to determine the characteristics of cellular SFTs in the head and neck region.
A new risk-scoring system to predict Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma in adults
Authors: Shi Qiancheng , Liu Ning , Zhu Yiqi , Qu Feng , Xu Linfeng , Li Xiaogong , Zhang Gutian , Guo Hongqian , Li Dongmei , Gan Weidong
Published: March 2021

Objective

The objective was to derive and validate a practical scoring system for preoperative diagnosis of Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in adults.

Methods

Epidemiology, symptomatology, and imaging methods were correlated between patients with common RCC and those with Xp11.2 translocation RCC using a derivation study (N = 6352) and a validation study (N = 127). Univariate analysis of risk factors was performed to derive a scoring system to predict the occurrence of Xp11.2 translocation RCC in adults. The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to validate the scoring system.

Results

Based on odd ratios, three low-risk factors (sex, gross haematuria, and intratumoural calcification) and three high-risk factors (age, unenhanced computed tomography density, and enhancement pattern) were given weighted scores of 1 and 2, respectively. Patients who scored 3 to 5 points underwent an additional magnetic resonance imaging examination. The final scoring system had a sensitivity of 81.0% and a specificity of 98.0%.

Conclusion

We established a practical scoring system for the preoperative diagnosis of Xp11.2 translocation RCC in adults, which can be optimised through further clinical findings in the future.
Clinical features of cardiac lymphoma: an analysis of 37 cases
Authors: Zhao Yu , Huang Sai , Ma Chao , Zhu Haiyan , Bo Jian
Published: March 2021

Objective

To summarize the clinical and pathological features of patients with cardiac lymphoma.

Methods

The general conditions, clinical features, pathological types, and prognostic indices of 37 patients with cardiac lymphoma treated in our hospital were analyzed.

Results

Among the 37 patients, only one had primary cardiac lymphoma, and the other 36 patients had secondary cardiac lymphoma. The cardiac manifestations were mainly chest tightness, shortness of breath, increased heart rates, and electrocardiographic abnormality caused by pericardial effusion, but myocardial enzyme levels were normal in all patients. Only three patients displayed solid heart-occupying manifestations. These lesions were mainly located in the right atrium, and the masses were all larger than 5 cm. The pathological type was diffuse large B cell lymphoma that did not arise from the germinal center in all three patients.

Conclusions

Cardiac lymphoma was mostly secondary, and pericardial effusion was the primary objective sign. Moreover, cardiac lymphoma was characterized by a high international prognostic index, late stage, and high rates of T and NK cell lymphoma. Most cases were accompanied by serous cavity effusion, extranodal involvement of important organs, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, hypoalbuminemia, and normal myocardial enzyme levels.
Role of the ratio of NSE serum concentration in evaluating the therapeutic effect on metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms of the liver
Authors: Kan Jingbao , Tian Ye , Shao Yun , Xu Haicheng , Li Xiaolin , Tang Qiyun
Published: March 2021

Background:

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is one of the biomarkers of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). Its level of evidence is significantly lower than some other biomarkers. However, the ratio of NSE serum concentration (NSE ratio) before and after the treatment cycle may be a good tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms of the liver (MNENOL).

Methods:

We collected clinical cases of NEN with liver metastases, calculating the ratio of NSE in each case before and after the treatment cycle, using thin-slice computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging as a reference to evaluate the therapeutic effect. We analyzed the correlation between NSE ratio and NSE serum concentration and curative effect, and then compared the evaluation performance of the two.

Results:

We found that increase in the NSE ratio is a risk factor for the progression of MNENOL. Compared with NSE, NSE ratio has a greater advantage in evaluating the effect of MNENOL. NSE ratio is related to the curative effect of NEN, and the correlation is better than that of NSE. When judging whether NEN has new metastasis, the NSE ratio shows a similar effect to NSE, and there is no significant difference between the two.

Conclusion:

NSE ratio is more effective than NSE in evaluating the therapeutic effect of MNENOL, but it is not significantly different from NSE in terms of predicting new metastases.
Social capital and economic growth in the regions of Europe
Authors: Muringani Jonathan , Fitjar Rune D , Rodríguez-Pose Andrés
Published: March 2021

Social capital is an important factor explaining differences in economic growth among regions. However, the key distinction between bonding social capital, which can lead to lock-in and myopia, and bridging social capital, which promotes knowledge flows across diverse groups, has been overlooked in growth research. In this paper, we address this shortcoming by examining how bonding and bridging social capital affect regional economic growth, using data for 190 regions in 21 EU countries, covering eight waves of the European Social Survey between 2002 and 2016. The findings confirm that bridging social capital is linked to higher levels of regional economic growth. Bonding social capital is highly correlated with bridging social capital and associated with lower growth when this is controlled for. We do not find significantly different effects of bonding social capital in regions with more or less bridging social capital, or vice versa. We examine the interaction between social and human capital, finding that bridging social capital is fundamental for stimulating economic growth, especially in low-skilled regions. Human capital also moderates the relationship between bonding social capital and growth, reducing the negative externalities imposed by excessive bonding.
Self-Regulating Demand and Supply Equilibrium in Joint Simulation of Travel Demand and a Ride-Pooling Service
Authors: Wilkes Gabriel , Engelhardt Roman , Briem Lars , Dandl Florian , Vortisch Peter , Bogenberger Klaus , Kagerbauer Martin
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the coupling of a state-of-the-art ride-pooling fleet simulation package with the mobiTopp travel demand modeling framework. The coupling of both models enables a detailed agent- and activity-based demand model, in which travelers have the option to use ride-pooling based on real-time offers of an optimized ride-pooling operation. On the one hand, this approach allows the application of detailed mode-choice models based on agent-level attributes coming from mobiTopp functionalities. On the other hand, existing state-of-the-art ride-pooling optimization can be applied to utilize the full potential of ride-pooling. The introduced interface allows mode choice based on real-time fleet information and thereby does not require multiple iterations per simulated day to achieve a balance of ride-pooling demand and supply. The introduced methodology is applied to a case study of an example model where in total approximately 70,000 trips are performed. Simulations with a simplified mode-choice model with varying fleet size (0–150 vehicles), fares, and further fleet operators’ settings show that (i) ride-pooling can be a very attractive alternative to existing modes and (ii) the fare model can affect the mode shifts to ride-pooling. Depending on the scenario, the mode share of ride-pooling is between 7.6% and 16.8% and the average distance-weighed occupancy of the ride-pooling fleet varies between 0.75 and 1.17.
Localization simulation of forming-induced residual stresses of composite using prescribed boundary
Authors: Wu Qi , Zhai Hongzhou , Yoshikawa Nobuhiro , Ogasawara Tomotaka , Morita Naoki
Published: March 2021

A novel localization approach that seamlessly bridges the macro- and micro-scale models is proposed and used to model the forming-induced residual stresses within a representative volume element of a fiber reinforced composite. The approach uses a prescribed boundary that is theoretically deduced by integrating the asymptotic expansion of a composite and the equal strain transfer, thus rendering the simulation setting to be easier than conventional approaches. When the localization approach is used for the finite element analysis, the temperature and residual stresses within an ideal cubic representative volume element are precisely simulated, given a sandwiched thermoplastic composite is formed under one-side cooling condition. The simulation results, after being validated, show that the temperature gradient has an impact on the local residual stresses, especially on the in-plane normal stress transverse to the fiber, and consequently, influences the structural deformation. This newly designed localization approach demonstrates the advantages of enhanced precision and reduced computational cost owing to the fast modeling of the finely meshed representative volume element. This is beneficial for a detailed understanding of the actual residual stresses at the micro-scale.
Influence of Successful Aging, Quality of Life, and Factors Related to Potential Stressors on Older Consumers’ Purchase of Private Health Insurance in South Korea: An Empirical Study Based on Proactive Coping Theory
Authors: Lee Jimin , Bae Hyeyoon , Lee Euehun
Published: March 2021

Considering the weak role of public health insurance in South Korea, this study identified the impact of older consumers’ coping resources such as income and education, well-being (e. g., successful aging and quality of life), and psychological and economic aspects affecting potential stressors on their purchasing of private health insurance (PHI) based on proactive coping theory. From the sixth wave of the 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), a sample of 1,224 Korean older adults aged above 65 years was used; binary logistic regression was conducted to identify the association of PHI and purchase decision factors, first separately for two groups (lower/higher use of health care services), and then for the total group. The results showed that older adults with higher levels of well-being, especially with a higher successful aging index and coping resources such as income are more likely to purchase PHI in all three groups.
Effect of gas pressure on municipal solid waste landfill slope stability
Authors: Shu Shi , Li Yuping , Sun Zhenming , Shi Jianyong
Published: March 2021

Slope failure in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills is a common environmental disaster that poses serious ecological and health risks. Landfill slope stability (SS) is sensitive to leachate levels and gas pressure (GP) caused by the degradation of organic material, but the extent of these combined effects remains poorly understood. In this study, a simplified landfill GP calculation method is presented and a circular slide method that considers the combined effects of leachate and GP is established. The results show that the landfill GP is mainly affected by the gas production rate, gas conductivity of the solid waste (SW), and landfill depth. The safety factor of landfill SS is also significantly lower when GP is considered. The distribution of GP is affected by the depth of the failure circle and SW. Landfill slope instability can be explained by localized damage caused by GP breakthrough of the filled SW. This study probably provides important guidance for the design, operation, and management of MSW landfills.
New approach for selecting a suitable recycling collection program for recovered paper and pulp recyclables using AHP-TOPSIS techniques
Authors: Bafail Omer A , Abdulaal Reda MS
Published: March 2021

In the past decade, the use of multiple-criteria decision analysis technology has dramatically increased in solving complex real-world problems in solid waste management. Likewise, many municipalities have paid attention to finding feasible solutions for disposal and recycling of solid waste due to the increase in waste generation rates worldwide. Therefore, policy-makers must determine which recycling program to be implemented among various recycling program options. In this paper, a new approach to select a recycling program for recovered paper and pulp recyclables was proposed using analytic hierarchy process–Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (AHP-TOPSIS) techniques. A set of essential parameters of the decision-making system were identified, and a numerical case to illustrate the procedure was conducted. Our findings show very encouraging results to use a combined model between AHP and TOPSIS to select a suitable recycling program for different recovered recyclable materials.
Analysis of Computational Thinking in Children’s Literature for K-6 Students: Literature as a Non-Programming Unplugged Resource
Authors: Ballard Evan David , Haroldson Rachelle
Published: March 2021

As schools and districts across the United States adopt computer science standards and curriculum for K-12 computer science education, they look to integrate the foundational concepts of computational thinking (CT) into existing core subjects of elementary-age students. Research has shown the effectiveness of teaching CT elements (abstraction, generalization, decomposition, algorithmic thinking, debugging) using non-programming, unplugged approaches. These approaches address common barriers teachers face with lack of knowledge, familiarity, or technology tools. Picture books and graphic novels present an unexplored non-programming, unplugged resource for teachers to integrate computational thinking into their CT or CT-integrated lessons. This analysis examines 27 picture books and graphic novels published between 2015 and 2020 targeted to K-6 students for representation of computational thinking elements. Using the computational thinking curriculum framework for K-6, we identify the grade-level competencies of the CT elements featured in the books compared to the books’ target age groups. We compare grade-level competencies to interest level to identify each CT element representation as “foundational,” “on-target,” or “advanced.” We conclude that literature offers teachers a non-programming unplugged resource to expose students to CT and enhance CT and CT-integrated lessons, while also personalizing learning based on CT readiness and interest level.
Diversifying Planning Education through Course Readings
Authors: Millard-Ball Adam , Desai Garima , Fahrney Jessica
Published: March 2021

We investigate diversity in urban planning education by analyzing the gender and race/ethnicity of authors who are assigned on reading lists for urban sustainability courses. Using a sample of 772 readings from thirty-two syllabi, we find that assigned authors are even less diverse than planning faculty. Female authors account for 28 percent of assigned readings on the syllabi, and authors of color for 20 percent. Wide variation between courses suggests that a paucity of potential readings is not the main constraint. We urge instructors to revisit or “decolonize” their course syllabi and think critically about whose voices students are taught to hear.
Preparation of bioactive and antibacterial PMMA-based bone cement by modification with quaternary ammonium and alkoxysilane
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Maeda Toshinari , Miyazaki Toshiki
Published: March 2021

Bone cement based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) powder and methyl methacrylate (MMA) liquid is a very popular biomaterial used for the fixation of artificial joints. However, there is a risk of this cement loosening from bone because of a lack of bone-bonding bioactivity. Apatite formation in the body environment is a prerequisite for cement bioactivity. Additionally, suppression of infection during implantation is required for bone cements to be successfully introduced into the human body. In this study, we modified PMMA cement with γ-methacryloxypropyltrimetoxysilane and calcium acetate to introduce bioactive properties and 2-( tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate (TBAEMA) to provide antibacterial properties. The long-term antibacterial activity is attributed to the copolymerization of TBAEMA and MMA. As the TBAEMA content increased, the setting time increased and the compressive strength decreased. After soaking in simulated body fluid, an apatite layer was detected within 7 days, irrespective of the TBAEMA content. The cement showed better antibacterial activity against Gram-negative E. Coli than Gram-positive bacteria; however, of the Gram-positive bacteria investigated, B. subtilis was more susceptible than S. aureus.
Male Victims’ Experiences With and Perceptions of the Criminal Justice Response to Intimate Partner Abuse
Authors: Dim Eugene Emeka , Lysova Alexandra
Published: March 2021

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) carries severe physical and psychological consequences for victims, and the police and courts are some of the essential formal structures that help victims address their victimization. Studies suggest that male victims of IPA are reluctant to speak about or report their victimization to the police. This qualitative study examines the experiences male victims of IPA had with the criminal justice system (i.e., the courts and police). We conducted interviews with 16 men who had experienced IPA in their previous relationship in Canada. Two major themes about the police response were identified: the barriers to contacting the police for help and negative experiences with the police response. We found that men who chose not to contact the police did it due to the negative expectations of being ridiculed by the police, not being believed, and fear of being arrested. Those men who called the police for help reported unfriendly and antagonistic police treatment and the police’s reluctance to charge abusive female partners. The themes that reflected the male victims’ interactions with the court pointed to: (1) legal and administrative abuse by female partners, including false accusations and manipulations of child custody, and (2) a general bias against men in the courtroom. This study brings attention to the need for law enforcement officers to be aware of the experiences and perceptions male victims have of the criminal justice system and the need for the criminal justice system to create more inclusive strategies to help male victims of IPA.
Examining Teacher and Teacher Educator Perspectives of Teacher Leadership in Extensive Support Needs
Authors: Shurr Jordan , Bouck Emily C. , McCollow Meaghan
Published: March 2021

Teachers of students with extensive support needs (ESN) often perform many leadership-related tasks, such as supervising paraprofessionals or advocating school wide for student accessibility and inclusion. While teacher leadership has received considerable attention in research and practice, much of the attention has resided in general education and on formal pathways toward increased responsibility in the school. In this study, the authors explored the perspective and experiences related to teacher leadership competencies of both teachers and teacher educators in the field of ESN in one midwestern state. Teachers reported high confidence and moderate to high engagement in each of the competencies, contrasted with self-reported low coverage of many related topics in their teacher training programs. Teacher educators perceived the competencies as highly relevant to the teaching position and generally held moderate to high confidence in their program coverage and their student preparation to perform the related activities.
Resource Over-Utilization in Hospitalized Patients With Uncomplicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Authors: Venugopalan Veena , Crawford Robert , Ho Kennedy , Garg Mahek , Park Haesuk , Premraj Sasha , Klinker Kenneth , Cherabuddi Kartikeya , DeSear Kathryn
Published: March 2021

Background:

Inpatient management of SSTIs utilizes considerable healthcare resources. The CREST+SEWS score categorizes patients with SSTIs into 4 severity classes. Hospitalizations can be avoided in Class I as they are treated as outpatients with oral antibiotics, whereas Class IV require hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to perform a budget impact analysis on CREST+SEWS Class 1 patients, to compare the medical costs of current treatment, in the inpatient setting with intravenous antibiotics, with a proposed alternative of using oral antibiotics in the outpatient setting. Further, resource utilization in Class I was evaluated.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study of adult patients hospitalized in 2015 for SSTIs who received >24 hours of antimicrobials. The CREST+SEWS scoring system was used to stratify patients into Class I to IV. Pharmacy and medical costs and resources associated with inpatient management of Class I SSTIs were derived from the itemized discharge records.

Results:

Of the 252 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 61 (24%) were classified as Class I. The total cost of treating Class I SSTI patients in the inpatient setting was $281,816 (cost per patient: $4,619) in 2015 USD. In the hypothetical situation of treatment with oral antibiotics in the outpatient setting, the cost savings were estimated to be $4,398 per patient. Fifty-three percent of patients had blood cultures, and on average, each patient received 2 radiographic tests.

Conclusions:

Identifying outpatient candidates, and avoiding tests with low diagnostic can reduce the economic burden of SSTIs.
An Academic-Community Collaboration to Deliver Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services to Patients Living in Rural Counties of a Southwestern State in the United States
Authors: Axon David Rhys , Johnson Melissa , Abeln Brittany , Forbes Stephanie , Anderson Elizabeth J. , Taylor Ann M. , Aseret-Manygoats Teresa , Warholak Terri , Hall-Lipsy Elizabeth
Published: March 2021

Background:

Patients living in rural communities often experience pronounced health disparities, have a higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and poorer access to care compared to urban areas. To address these unmet healthcare service needs, an established, academic-based MTM provider created a novel, collaborative program to provide comprehensive, telephonic services to patients living in rural Arizona counties.

Objective:

This study assessed the program effectiveness and described differences in health process and outcome measures (e.g., clinical outcomes, gaps in care for prescribed medications, medication-related problems) between individuals residing in different rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) groups (urban, micropolitan, and small town) in rural Arizona counties.

Methods:

Subjects eligible for inclusion were 18 years or older with diabetes and/or hypertension, living in rural Arizona counties. Data were collected on: demographic characteristics, medical conditions, clinical values, gaps in care, medication-related problems (MRPs), and health promotion guidance. Subjects were analyzed using 3 intra-county RUCA levels (i.e., urban, micropolitan, and small town).

Results:

A total of 384 patients were included from: urban (36.7%), micropolitan (19.3%) and small town (44.0%) areas. Positive trends were observed for clinical values, gaps in care, and MRPs between initial and follow-up consultations. Urban dwellers had significantly lower average SBP values at follow-up than those from small towns (p < 0.05). A total of 192 MRPs were identified; 75.0% were resolved immediately or referred to providers and 16.7% were accepted by prescribers.

Conclusion:

This academic-community partnership highlights the benefits of innovative collaborative programs, such as this, for individuals living in underserved, rural areas.
Interleukin-6 Antagonists: Lessons From Cytokine Release Syndrome to the Therapeutic Application in Severe COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Meanwatthana Jennis , Majam Teerapat
Published: March 2021

Current retrospective data have found up to 20% of COVID-19 infection had developed into severe cases with hyperinflammatory pulmonary symptoms. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is recognized as a key mediator of hyperinflammation previously mentioned in cytokine release syndrome. This leads to implementing IL-6 pathway inhibition in severe COVID-19. This review aimed to explore the clinical evidences of using IL-6 antagonists in COVID-19 infection based on most recent available data. Relevant studies were searched through PubMed, scopus, and ISI databases focusing on interleukin-6 antagonists in cytokine release syndrome and prospective data on COVID-19 infection. Only papers in English were included in the search. There were several studies conducted to evaluate the potential efficacy and safety of IL-6 antagonists and mostly with tocilizumab. After the search, we found that studies recruited patients with severe COVID-19 and elevated inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, or ferritin to receive tocilizumab, situximab or sarilumab in combination with other medications. Result showed that these agents may provide a clinical advantage as patients were able to refrain from invasive ventilation support after initiating IL-6 antagonists. In summary, IL-6 pathway inhibition in severe COVID-19 may be an emerging candidate to subside pulmonary complication. These agents may carry benefits in COVID-19 infection as well as safety risks such as bone marrow suppression. Current pharmacists’ role is to provide most recent update information as well as intensive monitoring plan in patients who receive IL-6 inhibitor. However, robust clinical evidences are warranted to confirm efficacy and safety of IL-6 antagonists.
Efficacy and Safety of Vancomycin Therapy After the Transition to AUC/MIC Monitoring in a Primary Facility
Authors: Eads Andrea V , Cole Jennifer L
Published: March 2021

Background:

New guidance recommends area under the curve/minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) instead of trough-based monitoring for vancomycin therapy. While this transition has demonstrated improved safety and efficacy in large, tertiary centers, this has not been assessed in the primary hospital setting.

Objective:

The primary objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AUC/MIC monitoring in inpatient veterans treated with intravenous vancomycin for ≥72 hours compared to a historical cohort of trough-based monitoring.

Methods:

This was a retrospective, quasi-experimental study over 2 five-month study periods. Efficacy was evaluated by comparing clinical failure rates as defined by a persistent fever, clinical deterioration, or escalation of gram-positive therapy. Safety was determined by the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) defined by an acute increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dL over 48 hours.

Results:

25 patients met the criteria in the before group and 19 in the after group. Efficacy was equivalent between groups; no patients exhibited clinical failure of vancomycin therapy. In the before group, 2 patients (8%) met defined criteria for AKI, while none in the after group experienced AKI (P = 0.21). Total vancomycin exposure was similar between groups (P = 0.56).

Conclusion:

AUC-based monitoring was equally efficacious as trough-based monitoring with similarly low rates of AKI.
A pace of life indicator. Development and validation of a General Acceleration Scale
Authors: Bergener Jens , Santarius Tilman
Published: March 2021

Ever since Georg Simmel (1895) introduced the notion into sociological accounts of modernity, scholars have tried to empirically test the claim of an increasing “speed of life” in modern society. The acceleration of speed or pace of life has been characterized as an “intensification” of our experience of time, a “time squeeze,” and “hurriedness” in leisure time. However, to date, no comprehensive instrument, scale, or indicator has been developed that is grounded in solid theory and serves to empirically measure and compare the pace of life in a straightforward manner. The purpose of this research is to develop and validate a scale-based measure that reveals whether individuals pursue a fast or slow pace of life in a leisure-time context. The result is the fifteen-item General Acceleration Scale (GAS), which conceptually rests on the comprehensive theory of social acceleration by Hartmut Rosa (2013). The scale systematically tests the pace of life along four temporal strategies of speedup: performing activities faster, doing multitasking, replacing time-consuming by time-saving activities, and filling breaks or waiting times with productive activities. If these temporal strategies form a consistent pattern, they consequently lead to an increase in the rate, speed, or relative density of experiences and activities per unit of time and thus to an increase in the pace of life. Validation of the GAS was completed by a large sample ( N = 1161) as part of a self-report online survey in Germany in 2019. We examined the convergent and discriminant validity as well as internal consistency reliability of the scale and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis via maximum likelihood estimation. Control variables and discriminant measures were included to access construct validity. Overall, we can validate the GAS as a reliable measure of time use that can be used as a straightforward pace of life indicator.
Evaluating the response of a modified Gent-Thomas strain energy function having limiting chain extensibility condition in torsion and azimuthal shear
Authors: Sayyad Amir Ghafouri , Imam Ali , Haghighi Shahram Etemadi
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the torsion and azimuthal shear of an incompressible hyperelastic cylinder having a modified Gent-Thomas strain energy with limiting chain extensibility condition. First, the torsional response of the modified Gent-Thomas model is obtained analytically and compared with those of Gent-Gent, Gent-Thomas, and Carroll strain energy models where the former model incorporates the limiting chain extensibility condition while the latter two are phenomenological models. The results show the modified Gent-Thomas model to be in better agreement with the experimental data of Rivlin and Saunders on torsion than the other three models. To further evaluate the response of the modified Gent-Thomas model, azimuthal shear deformation of an incompressible hyperelastic cylinder with the modified Gent-Thomas, Gent-Thomas, Gent-Gent, and Carroll strain energies is considered, where the angular displacement in azimuthal shear is determined analytically for the first three models and numerically for the fourth model. It is shown that the strain hardening effect, predicted either by the limiting chain extensibility condition for the modified Gent-Thomas and Gent-Gent models or phenomenologically by the Carroll model, is quite significant in the azimuthal shear response of the incompressible cylinder.
Vibration-based delamination evaluation in GFRP composite beams using ANN
Authors: Sreekanth TG , Senthilkumar M , Reddy S Manikanta
Published: March 2021

Delamination is definitely an important topic in the area of composite structures as it progressively worsens the mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced polymer composite structures in its service period. The detection and severity analysis of delaminations in engineering areas like the aviation industry is vital for safety and economic considerations. The existence of delaminations varies the vibration characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes, etc. of composites and hence this indication can be effectively used for locating and quantifying the delaminations. The changes in vibration characteristics are considered as inputs for the inverse problem to determine the location and size of delaminations. In this paper Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used for delamination evaluationof glass fiber-reinforced composite beams using natural frequency as typical vibration parameter. The Finite Element Analysis is used for generating the required dataset for ANN. The frequency-based delamination prediction technique is validated by finite element models and experimental modal analysis. The results indicate that the ANN-based back propagation algorithm can predict the location and size of delaminations in composites with good accuracy for numerical natural frequency data but the accuracy is comparitivelyless for experimental natural frequency data.
COVID-19 Pandemic and India’s Regional Diplomacy
Authors: Pattanaik Smruti S.
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic placed enormous stress on the fledgling health infrastructure in the South Asian region. The economic distress compounded the problem as many business houses closed down and people working in the informal sector lost their jobs. The governments in the region, except in Pakistan, went for a complete lockdown to contain the spread of the pandemic. India which prides itself as the ‘Pharmacy of the world’ geared up to provide humanitarian assistance by supplying essential medicines, ventilators and providing rapid-action teams consisting of medical professionals to assist its neighbours as a first responder. It also supplied vaccines to the immediate neighbourhood once they were ready. India’s health diplomacy enhanced its soft-power projection and helped it project itself as a country that is concerned about its neighbours—a major shift in its regional diplomacy, compared to the Cold War period. This article maps India’s regional diplomacy in the historical context and analyses the making of India’s regional diplomacy in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.