bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Elevated Terrain and the Gulf of Mexico in the Production of Severe Local Storm Environments over North America
Authors: Li Funing , Chavas Daniel R. , Reed Kevin A. , Rosenbloom Nan , Dawson II Daniel T.
Published: July 2021

The prevailing conceptual model for the production of severe local storm (SLS) environments over North America asserts that upstream elevated terrain and the Gulf of Mexico are both essential to their formation. This work tests this hypothesis using two prescribed-ocean climate model experiments with North American topography removed or the Gulf of Mexico converted to land and analyzes how SLS environments and associated synoptic-scale drivers (southerly Great Plains low-level jets, drylines, elevated mixed layers, and extratropical cyclones) change relative to a control historical run. Overall, SLS environments depend strongly on upstream elevated terrain but more weakly on the Gulf of Mexico. Removing elevated terrain substantially reduces SLS environments especially over the continental interior due to broad reductions in both thermodynamic instability and vertical wind shear, leaving a more zonally uniform residual distribution that is maximized near the Gulf coast and decays toward the continental interior. This response is associated with a strong reduction in synoptic-scale drivers and a cooler and drier mean-state atmosphere. Replacing the Gulf of Mexico with land modestly reduces SLS environments over the Great Plains (driven primarily thermodynamically) and increases them over the eastern United States (driven primarily kinematically), shifting the primary local maximum eastward into Illinois; it also eliminates the secondary, smaller local maximum over southern Texas. This response is associated with modest changes in synoptic-scale drivers and a warmer and drier lower troposphere. These experiments provide insight into the role of elevated terrain and the Gulf of Mexico in modifying the spatial distribution and seasonality of SLS environments.
Preliminary Investigation of In vitro, Bidirectional Vocal Fold Muscle-Mucosa Interactions
Authors: Nakamura Rysouke , Doyle Carina , Bing Renjie , Johnson Aaron M. , Branski Ryan C.
Published: July 2021

Objective:

Oversimplified clinical dogma suggests that laryngeal diseases fall into two broad, mutually exclusive diagnostic categories-mucosal injury or neuromuscular/functional disorders. Extensive investigation in the lower airway as well as other organ systems suggest complex interactions between tissue types underlying both tissue health and pathological states. To date, no such relationship has been described in the vocal folds, likely the most bioactive organ in the body. We hypothesize interactions between the vocal fold muscle and mucosa likely contribute to aberrant phonatory physiology and warrant further investigation to ultimately develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Methods:

Primary culture of myoblasts from rat thyroarytenoid muscle and fibroblasts from the vocal fold mucosa were established. Co-culture and conditioned media experiments were performed to established bidirectional interactions between cell types. Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β was employed to stimulate a fibrotic phenotype in culture. In addition to quantitative PCR, standard migration and proliferation assays were performed as well as immunocytochemistry.

Results:

Bidirectional cell-cell interactions were observed. Without TGF-β stimulation, myoblast conditioned media inhibited fibroblast migration, but enhanced proliferation. Conversely, fibroblast conditioned media increased both myoblast proliferation and migration. Myoblast conditioned media decreased TGF-β-mediated gene expression and of particular interest, ACTA2 mRNA expression. In both co-culture and in response to fibroblast conditioned media, myosin heavy chain (Myh2) mRNA expression decreased in myoblasts.

Conclusions:

These data are the first to describe interactions between cell types within the vocal fold. The implications for these interactions in vivo warrant further investigation to develop and refine optimal treatment strategies.
Three-Dimensional Measurements in Assessing the Results of Inferior Turbinate Surgery
Authors: Valtonen Olli , Ormiskangas Jaakko , Harju Teemu , Rautiainen Markus , Kivekäs Ilkka
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

Acoustic rhinometry is widely used in evaluating patients with nasal congestion, but it only has a partial correlation with patient symptoms. The use and focus of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans are mainly on the paranasal sinuses and less on the nasal cavities. Therefore, information acquired from CBCT scans is not used to its full extent. In our present study, we have studied patients with enlarged inferior turbinates. Our aim was to investigate and compare the use of 3D volumetric measurements and cross-sectional area measurements taken from CBCT scans to results obtained from acoustic rhinometry.

Material and methods:

In total, 25 patients with enlarged inferior turbinates were studied. CBCT scans were obtained preoperatively and at twelve months postoperatively. 3D volumetric and cross-sectional area measurements were compared to results from acoustic rhinometry, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Glasgow Health Status Inventory (GHSI) questionnaires.

Results:

A statistically significant change in 3D volume and cross-sectional area was measured in the anterior part of the inferior turbinate and surrounding air space after inferior turbinate surgery. VAS and GHSI results had mild correlations with the 3D volume and cross-sectional area measurements of the anterior part of the inferior turbinate. Acoustic rhinometry correlated with the air space 3D volume measurements in the anterior part.

Conclusions:

Fully utilized CBCT scans provide more comprehensive and accurate information. Furthermore, 3D analysis of the inferior turbinates provides valuable information and more precise measurements compared to acoustic rhinometry.
Follow the Money: Gender, Incumbency, and Campaign Funding in Chile
Authors: Piscopo Jennifer M. , Hinojosa Magda , Thomas Gwynn , Siavelis Peter M.
Published: July 2021

We examine women’s access to campaign resources using data from all 960 candidates competing in Chile’s 2017 legislative elections. Even when controlling for district characteristics, women candidates receive less money in party transfers, bank loans, and donations; place fewer personal funds in their campaigns; and have fewer resources overall. However, previous experience and incumbency narrow the gap. When women are newcomers, gender serves as an important cue about candidate quality and funders default to favoring men. Our results lend credence to practitioners’ claims that money disadvantages women candidates in democracies, but focuses attention on the disadvantage faced by women newcomers. Moreover, this gender gap in campaign funding exists despite a gendered electoral financing scheme designed to make political actors more likely to invest in women’s campaigns. While increasingly popular among development experts, our research suggests such schemes might be insufficient for equalizing campaign funding between men and women.
Federal employees or rogue rangers: Sharing and resisting organizational authority through Twitter communication practices
Authors: Dawson Veronica R , Bencherki Nicolas
Published: July 2021

On 24 January 2017, the Trump administration tried to censor various science-related federal agencies, most notably the National Park Service. This case study presents the emergence of “alternative” National Park Service Twitter accounts that subverted the ban and explores how “rogue rangers” share in and resist organizational authority through communication practices we interpret as dis/attributing communicative action to various figures to do so. Through qualitative analysis of textual and non-textual data pertaining to the accounts, we demonstrate that organizational members create ambiguity through communicative dis/attribution to do and say more things than authorized, while maintaining a link to their organization, for it is as members that their actions and words are authoritative. The study concludes by theorizing three contributions to the literature on authority and resistance, in particular in the context of social media: (1) it shows that authority and resistance are at play even outside of conventional organizations, which conversely means that social media activity can display a level of organizationality; (2) it demonstrates that the communicative performance of authority and resistance rests on membership ambiguity; and (3) it extends current conversations on the communicative performance of authority by showing that the same practices can also perform resistance.
The management of second-generation migrant workers in China: A case study of centrifugal paternalism
Authors: Zhu Jingqi , Delbridge Rick
Published: July 2021

How have organisations sought to manage tensions between the needs for flexible labour in neoliberal market economies and the benefits of a committed and motivated workforce? Through an in-depth, qualitative study of a Chinese company, we identify and theorise a novel variation of paternalism that was developed by the organisation to manage the tensions under neoliberal capitalism. We label this management regime ‘centrifugal paternalism’ since it organises employment relations along the lines of ‘adult-like’ employers and ‘child-like’ employees but involves the diminution of employee dependency over time with an ultimate impulse away from the employing organisation. We find that the emergence of centrifugal paternalism is closely related both to the socio-demographic identity of the company’s employees as China’s second-generation migrant workers and to the economic context of the organisation. Through a ‘tough love’ approach, this regime allows the firm to secure flexible labour while responding to migrant workers’ needs for personal skills development and a fruitful rural-to-urban transition. Our research responds to recent calls for reconnecting organisation studies with society and situating workplace practices within their contexts. It also underlines the enduring importance of paternalism for understanding the dynamic and evolving nature of capitalist employment relations and management regimes.
Attitudes of laboratory animal professionals and researchers towards carbon dioxide euthanasia for rodents and perceived barriers to change
Authors: Brunt Michael W , Améndola Lucia , Weary Daniel M.
Published: July 2021

Evidence indicates that carbon dioxide (CO2) induces negative affective states (including anxiety, fear and distress) in laboratory rodents, but many countries still accept it for euthanasia. Alternative methods (e.g. inhalant anaesthetic) may represent a refinement over CO2 but are not widely adopted. We conducted an online survey of Canadian and European laboratory animal professionals and researchers ( n = 592) to assess their attitudes towards the use of CO2 and alternative methods for rodent euthanasia using quantitative 7-point scale (from 1 (= strongly oppose) to 7 (= strongly favour) and qualitative (open-ended text) responses. CO2 was identified as the most common method used to kill rodents, and attitudes towards this method were variable and on average ambivalent (mean ± SD score on our 7-point scale was 4.4 ± 1.46). Qualitative analysis revealed four themes relating to participant attitude: (a) the animal’s experience during gas exposure; (b) practical considerations for humans; (c) compromise between the animal’s experience and practical considerations; and (d) technical description of the procedure or policies. Many participants (51%) felt that there were alternatives available that could be considered an improvement over CO2, but perceived barriers to implementing these refinements. Qualitative analysis of these responses revealed five themes: (a) financial constraints; (b) institutional culture; (c) regulatory constraints; (d) research constraints; and (e) safety concerns. In conclusion, concerns regarding the use of CO2 often focused on the animal’s experience, but barriers to alternatives related to operational limitations. New research is now required on to how best to overcome these barriers.
How Czecho-Slovakia Bounces Back: Population-Based Validation of the Brief Resilience Scale in Two Central European Countries
Authors: Furstova Jana , Kascakova Natalia , Polackova Solcova Iva , Hasto Jozef , Tavel Peter
Published: July 2021

Objective

In recent years, resilience has become a focus of research in the medical and behavioral sciences. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was developed to assess the individual ability to recover from stress (“to bounce back”) after experiencing adversities. The aim of the study was to validate the Czech and Slovak versions of the BRS.

Methods

A representative sample of the Czech and Slovak populations (NCZ = 1800, mean age MCZ = 46.6, SDCZ = 17.4, 48.7% of men; NSK = 1018, mean age MSK = 46.2, SDSK = 16.6, 48.7% men) completed a survey assessing their health and well-being. Several confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models of the BRS were compared to find the best fit. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients of reliability were evaluated. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating resilience (BRS), physical and mental well-being (SF-8) and psychopathology symptoms (BSI-53). Differences in gender and age groups were appraised.

Results

A single-factor model with method effects on the reverse items was evaluated to best fit the data in both the Czech and Slovak samples (χ2CZ(6) = 39.0, p < 0.001, CFICZ = 0.998, TLICZ = 0.995, RMSEACZ = 0.055, SRMRCZ = 0.024; χ2SK(6) = 23.9, p < 0.001, CFISK = 0.998, TLISK = 0.995, RMSEASK = 0.054, SRMRSK = 0.009). The reliability was high in both samples (αCZ = 0.80, ωCZ = 0.85; αSK = 0.86, ωSK = 0.91). The BRS was positively associated with physical and mental well-being and negatively associated with somatization, depression and anxiety. In both countries, a lower BRS score was associated with higher age. Czech men reported significantly higher BRS scores than women. No significant difference was found in the mean BRS scores between the two countries.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence of good psychometric properties, reliability and validity of the Czech and Slovak adaptations of the BRS.
Book review: K. Seeta Prabhu and S. Parasuraman (Ed.), Making Development Happen: Transformational Change in Rural India, Volume I
Authors: Pandey Ajit Kumar
Published: July 2021

K. Seeta Prabhu and S. Parasuraman (Ed.), Making Development Happen: Transformational Change in Rural India, Volume I. Orient BlackSwan, 2020, xxv + 328 pp., ₹1095 (hardback). ISBN: 978-93-5287-931-1.
Medication adherence in bipolar disorder: Exploring the role of predominant polarity
Authors: Ghosal Sutanuka , Mallik Nitu , Acharya Rudraprasad , Dasgupta Gargi , Mondal Dilip Kumar , Pal Arghya
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Medication non-adherence is one important reason behind sub-optimal outcome from treatment of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Though various reasons behind medication non-adherence have been identified, little is known about the medication adherence patterns across various predominant polarities (PP) in BPAD.

Methods

100 euthymic patients of BPAD were purposively recruited and the PP were determined. Subsequently, Morisky Medication adherence scale (MMAS); Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF); Oslo Social Support Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale- Brief version (WHOQOL-Bref) were administered. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was done to estimate the difference of scores of MMAS after adjusting for any potential confounders.

Results

Overall, 44 patients with manic PP (MPP), 17 with depressive PP (DPP) and 39 with indeterminate PP (IPP) were recruited. It was found that patients who presented with DPP showed significantly higher medication adherence as compared to MPP.

Conclusion

Knowledge of PP of a patient of BPAD can be useful in anticipating medication adherence and treatment outcome. The major limitations included non-probability sampling, cross-sectional design and limited generalizability of the results.
Investigating the Impact of an Intervention to Promote Mastery Goal Orientation
Authors: Edwards Ordene V. , Ray Herman G. , Granger Marion
Published: July 2021

Background

Encouraging students to adopt a mastery goal orientation can help increase learning and motivation. However, the effect of mastery goal orientation interventions specifically in upper-division online elective psychology courses has not been studied.

Objective

The purpose of this replication study was to examine the effects of a mastery goal intervention on fear of failure, mastery and performance-approach goals, self-efficacy, and academic performance over time.

Method

Fifty-eight students enrolled in an online upper-division educational psychology course were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group engaged in activities that steered them toward a mastery goal orientation, while the control group completed a stress management activity. Outcomes were measured four times during the study.

Results

Contrary to our predictions, there were no significant differences between conditions on any of the outcomes.

Conclusion

Although a mastery adoption intervention has been shown to be effective in prior studies, the current intervention had no impact on students in an upper-level online psychology course.

Teaching Implications

Considering that a mastery goal orientation is consistently linked to adaptive academic outcomes, potentially impactful ways to apply the intervention are discussed.
From zones to Zoom: Shakespeare on screen in the digital era
Authors: Hatchuel Sarah , Vienne-Guerrin Nathalie
Published: July 2021

This introduction explores the consequences of the digital revolution on the production, distribution, dissemination, and study of Shakespeare on screen. Since the end of the 20th century, the rise (and fall) of the DVD, the digitalisation of sounds and images allowing us to experience and store films on our computers, the spreading of easy filming/editing tools, the live broadcasts of theatre performances in cinemas or on the Internet, the development of online archives and social media, as well as the globalisation of production and distribution have definitely changed the ways Shakespeare on screen is (re)created, consumed, shared, and examined.
The Trajectory of Subjective Well-Being: A Partial Explanation of the Marriage Advantage
Authors: DeMaris Alfred , Oates Gary
Published: July 2021

Although several studies have documented a distinct marriage advantage in well-being, it is still unclear what it is about marriage that renders this benefit. We hypothesize that it is due to factors theorized to accrue to matrimony, such as elevated financial status and specific social psychological supports. We examine the trajectory of subjective well-being for 1135 respondents from the three-wave 2010 GSS panel survey utilizing linear mixed-effects modeling. We find that about two-fifths of the marriage advantage in subjective well-being is accounted for by a mixture of control variables, finances, and emotional factors, with most of this due to elements that are associated with the marital context. Higher annual income, enhanced interpersonal trust, greater sociability, and less of a sense of loneliness and isolation appear to be responsible for a substantial component of the marital advantage. We further find that the marriage advantage is invariant to both race and gender.
Adverse Childhood Experiences in Parents and Their Effects on Adult Children
Authors: Seteanu Simona L. , Giosan Cezar
Published: July 2021

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with negative psychological consequences later in life, for both the victims and their children. The present study examines the links between parents’ ACE and psychological outcomes in their adult children. A sample of 162 participants from 54 intact families with adult children was evaluated for ACE history and current mental health. Results showed that ACE was a predictor of mental health for all the participants, explaining 31.2% of the variance. Furthermore, parents’ ACE, negative parenting, and parents’ marital satisfaction had a significant influence on their adult children’s mental health. The results also showed that fathers’ ACE are associated with negative parenting, as well as their adult children’s ACE and self-reported psychopathological symptoms. These results point to the importance of examining multiple familial factors in the development of psychopathology in young adults. Limitations of the study are also presented.
Could Personality and Parental Relations Be a Risk Factor for Self-Injurious Behavior?
Authors: Soyyiğit Oktan Vesile , Saylan Ezgi , Toksoy Pınar
Published: July 2021

Self-injurious behavior is one of the important problems expanding especially among adolescents day by day. The aim of this study is to examine the personal traits and parental relations of the adolescents showing self-injurious behavior. In this study with correlational survey model, the research group consists of a total of 739 adolescents, 361 of whom are females and 378 of whom are males from six high schools randomly selected in a city centrum in the north of Turkey. The findings have revealed that the adolescents show significant difference in terms of the sub-dimensions of “responsibility,” “untidiness,” and “sentimental unbalance” depending on whether they show NSSI or not. No significant difference has been found between the adolescents showing and not showing NSSI in Adolescents’ Parental and Adolescent Relation Quality Scale “Explanation to mother” sub-dimension, but significant differences have been found in the other sub-dimensions.
Association between Sleep Duration and Hand Grip Strength among COPD Patients
Authors: Wang Cui , Wang Mengqi , Chen Jieru , Wang Limin , Shang Shaomei
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the association between night-time sleep duration and hand grip strength (HGS) among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Participants aged ≥45 years were included in a nationally representative investigation clinical study in 2015. HGS was measured using dynamometers. The data on night-time sleep duration, sociodemographic information, and health-related variables were systematically collected. For analysis, sleep duration was categorized as <5 h, 5–7 h, 7 h, 7–9 h, and >9 h. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the possible association between the night-time sleep duration and HGS. Our results indicated that the shortest (<5 h) or the longest sleep duration (>9 h) was relevant to high risk of weaker HGS in females. In males, the shortest (<5 h) sleep duration was correlated to lower HGS. Thus, our findings clearly suggest that health care providers should focus on the potential influence of sleep duration on HGS among COPD patients.
Evaluation of an ex-vivo neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit on antiepileptic drug sequestration
Authors: Kalaria Shamir N , Kishk Omayma A , Gopalakrishnan Mathangi , Bagdure Dayanand N
Published: July 2021

Antiepileptic dosing information used to manage neonatal patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is limited. The objective of this study is to quantify the extent of sequestration of various antiepileptic drugs using an ex-vivo neonatal ECMO circuit. Two neonatal closed-loop ECMO circuits were prepared using a Rotaflow centrifugal pump, custom polyvinylchloride tubing and a Quadrox-i Neonatal membrane oxygenator. After 5 minutes of circuit priming and stabilization with normal saline/albumin or expired human whole blood, single boluses of levetiracetam (200 mg), lacosamide (20 mg), and phenytoin (200 mg) were injected into the circuit. To account for spontaneous drug degradation, two polyvinylchloride beakers were filled with normal saline/albumin or expired human whole blood and equivalent antiepileptic drug doses were prepared. Simultaneous pharmacokinetic samples were collected from the control solution and the pre-centrifugal pump, pre-oxygenator, and post-oxygenator sampling ports from each circuit. Similar drug recovery profiles were observed among the three sampling sites investigated. Percent drug sequestration after a 24-hour circuit flow period was relatively similar between the two different circuits and ranged between 5.5%–13.2% for levetiracetam, 18.4%–22.3% for lacosamide, and 24.5%–30.2% for phenytoin. A comparison at 12 and 24 hours demonstrated similar percent drug sequestration across all three drugs in each circuit. Percent drug sequestrations for levetiracetam and lacosamide were less than 20% and for phenytoin were as high as 30% based on the sampling following single bolus dose administration into a neonatal ECMO circuit. Careful consideration of patient clinical status should be taken in consideration when optimizing antiepileptic therapy in neonates receiving ECMO.
Providing Balanced Information about Options in Patient Decision Aids: An Update from the International Patient Decision Aid Standards
Authors: Martin Richard W. , Brogård Andersen Stina , O’Brien Mary Ann , Bravo Paulina , Hoffmann Tammy , Olling Karina , Shepherd Heather L. , Dankl Kathrina , Stacey Dawn , Dahl Steffensen Karina
Published: July 2021

Background

The objective of this International Patient Decision Aids Standard (IPDAS) review is to update and synthesize theoretical and empirical evidence on how balanced information can be presented and measured in patient decision aids (PtDAs).

Methods

A multidisciplinary team conducted a scoping review using 2 search strategies in multiple electronic databases evaluating the ways investigators defined and measured the balance of information provided about options in PtDAs. The first strategy combined a search informed by the Cochrane Review of the Effectiveness of Decision Aids with a search on balanced information. The second strategy repeated the search published in the 2013 IPDAS update on balanced presentation.

Results

Of 2450 unique citations reviewed, the full text of 168 articles was screened for eligibility. Sixty-four articles were included in the review, of which 13 provided definitions of balanced presentation, 8 evaluated mechanisms that may introduce bias, and 42 quantitatively measured balanced with methods consistent with the IPDAS criteria in PtDAs. The revised definition of balanced information is, “Objective, complete, salient, transparent, evidence-informed, and unbiased presentation of text and visual information about the condition and all relevant options (with important elements including the features, benefits, harms and procedures of those options) in a way that does not favor one option over another and enables individuals to focus attention on important elements and process this information.”

Conclusions

Developers can increase the balance of information in PtDAs by informing their structure and design elements using the IPDAS checklist. We suggest that new PtDA components pertaining to balance be evaluated for cognitive bias with experimental methods as well by objectively evaluating patients’ and content experts’ beliefs from multiple perspectives.
The Influence of Patient and Provider Religious and Spiritual Beliefs on Treatment Decision Making in the Cancer Care Context
Authors: Kelly Elizabeth Palmer , Myers Brian , Henderson Brent , Sprik Petra , White Kelsey B. , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: July 2021

Background

Providers often underestimate the influence of patient religious and spiritual (R&S) needs. The current study sought to determine the influence of R&S beliefs on treatment decision making among patients and providers in the context of cancer care.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the literature using web-based search engines and discipline-specific databases. Search terms included a combination of the following Medical Subject Headings and key terms: “cancer,”“spirituality,”“religion,” and “decision making.” We used Covidence to screen relevant studies and extracted data into Microsoft Excel.

Results

Among 311 screened studies, 32 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Most studies evaluated the patient perspective ( n = 29), while 2 studies evaluated the provider perspective and 1 study examined both. In assessing patient R&S relative to treatment decision making, we thematically characterized articles according to decision-making contexts, including general ( n = 11), end-of-life/advance care planning ( n = 13), and other: specific ( n = 8). Specific contexts included, but were not limited to, clinical trial participation ( n = 2) and use of complementary and alternative medicine ( n = 4). Within end-of-life/advance care planning, there was a discrepancy regarding how R&S influenced treatment decision making. The influence of R&S on general treatment decision making was both active and passive, with some patients wanting more direct integration of their R&S beliefs in treatment decision making. In contrast, other patients were less aware of indirect R&S influences. Patient perception of the impact of R&S on treatment decision making varied relative to race/ethnicity, being more pronounced among Black patients.

Conclusion

Most articles focused on R&S relative to treatment decision making at the end of life, even though R&S appeared important across the care continuum. To improve patient-centered cancer care, providers need to be more aware of the impact of R&S on treatment decision making.
Occult lymph node metastasis in patients with laryngeal cancer and relevant predicting factors: a single-center experience
Authors: Bayır Ömer , Toptaş Gökhan , Saylam Güleser , İzgi Turan Canmurat , Han Ünsal , Keseroğlu Kemal , Akyıldız İlker , Korkmaz Mehmet Hakan
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To reveal the incidence and predictive parameters of occult cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with cN0 laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) who underwent surgery as definitive treatment.

Methods:

Patients with cN0 laryngeal cancer who had undergone elective neck dissection together with partial or total laryngectomy between January 2006 and November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and histopathologic predictors of occult metastasis were also analyzed. Follow-up data were used to obtain recurrence and survival analysis.

Results:

A total of 86 patients with a mean age of 62.5 years were included in the study. Occult LNM was detected in 15 (17.4%) patients. Tumor grade, pT stage, thyroid cartilage invasion, and extralaryngeal extension were found to predict occult neck metastasis in univariate analysis. The mean follow-up time was 60.7 months and in the survival/recurrence analysis, pT stage, tumor location, tumor grade, presence of occult metastasis, pre-epiglottic space involvement. and extralaryngeal extension were found to predict poorer outcome.

Conclusion:

Overall occult LNM is low (17.4%) in N0 laryngeal cancer, but the presence of LNM is a poor prognostic factor. Correct determination of the neck status and proper treatment is crucial. The incidence of LNM is very low in T1–T2 stages and well-differentiated tumors. The “wait and see” strategy may be applied in T1–T2 cases as well as selected T3 cases with well-differentiated tumors.
Impact of Turning Lane Storage Length and Turning Proportions on Throughput at Oversaturated Signalized Intersections
Authors: Emtenan A. M. Tahsin , Day Christopher M.
Published: July 2021

During oversaturated conditions, common objectives of signal timing are to maximize vehicle throughput and manage queues. A common response to increases in vehicle volumes is to increase the cycle length. Because the clearance intervals are displayed less frequently with longer cycle lengths and fewer cycles, more of the total time is used for green indications, which implies that the signal timing is more efficient. However, previous studies have shown that throughput reaches a peak at a moderate cycle length and extending the cycle length beyond this actually decreases the total throughput. Part of the reason for this is that spillback caused by the turning traffic may cause starvation of the through lanes resulting in a reduction of the saturation flow rate within each lane. Gaps created by the turning traffic after a lane change may also reduce the saturation flow rate. There is a relationship between the proportions of turning traffic, the storage length of turning lanes, and the total throughput that can be achieved on an approach for a given cycle length and green time. This study seeks to explore this relationship to yield better signal timing strategies for oversaturated operations. A microsimulation model of an oversaturated left-turn movement with varying storage lengths and turning proportions is used to determine these relationships and establish a mathematical model of throughput as a function of the duration of green, storage length, and turning proportion. The model outcomes are compared against real-world data.
Narrative Continuity/Rupture: Projected Professional Futures amid Pervasive Employment Precarity
Authors: Ayala-Hurtado Elena
Published: July 2021

As working conditions change worldwide, employment precarity is increasing, including for groups for whom such conditions are unexpected. This study investigates how members of one such group—educationally advantaged young adults—describe their professional futures in a context of unprecedented employment precarity where their expected trajectories are no longer easily achievable. Using 75 interviews with young university graduates in Madrid, Spain, I find that most young graduates drew on a long-standing cultural narrative, which I call the “achievement narrative,” to imagine future stable employment. Simultaneously, most denounced this narrative as fraudulent. To explain this finding, I draw on the concept of hysteresis: the mismatch between beliefs that are dependent on the past conditions that produced them and the available opportunities in the present. I argue that hysteresis can extend into future projections; projected futures can be guided by beliefs based on past conditions more than by lived experiences in the present. Further, I argue that the achievement narrative itself reinforces hysteresis in future projections due to its resonance and institutional support. The paper offers new insights into projected futures and employment precarity by analyzing the future projections of a privileged cohort facing unexpected precarity, further develops the concept of hysteresis, and extends the study of cultural narratives.
Sources of Stress and Coping Strategies Among Undergraduate Nursing Students Across All Years
Authors: Lavoie-Tremblay Mélanie , Sanzone Lia , Aubé Thalia , Paquet Maxime
Published: July 2021

Background

Undergraduate nursing students experience high levels of stress during their programs. The literature on their stress is extensive, however, what is less well-known are the specific sources of stresses for students in different years of study.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to understand nursing students’ sources of stress and coping strategies in each year of study.

Method

A transversal descriptive qualitative study was used. A sample of 26 undergraduate students attending a university in Montreal, Canada were recruited and participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

The sources of stress differed according to year of study and related significantly to the specific novelty of that year. For first-year students, their stress was related to their academic courses. High clinical performance expectations and a lack of time for their personal lives was a main source of stress for second-year students. The prospect of graduating and transitioning into the work environment caused stress for students in their final year. Students across all years of study utilized similar coping strategies.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that interventions can be developed to address the sources of stress experienced by nursing students in each year of study.
Effect of social deprivation on peritoneal dialysis uptake: A mediation analysis with the data of the REIN registry
Authors: Beaumier Mathilde , Calvar Eve , Launay Ludivine , Béchade Clémence , Lanot Antoine , Schauder Nicole , Touré Fatouma , Lassalle Mathilde , Couchoud Cécile , Châtelet Valérie , Lobbedez Thierry ,   on behalf of the REIN registry
Published: July 2021

Background:

Social deprivation could act as a barrier to peritoneal dialysis (PD). The objective of this study was to assess the association between social deprivation estimated by the European deprivation index (EDI) and PD uptake and to explore the potential mediators of this association.

Methods:

From the Renal Epidemiology and Information Network registry, patients who started dialysis in 2017 were included. The EDI was calculated based on the patient’s address. The event of interest was the proportion of PD 3 months after dialysis initiation. A mediation analysis with a counterfactual approach was carried out to evaluate the direct and indirect effect of the EDI on the proportion of PD.

Results:

Among the 9588 patients included, 1116 patients were on PD; 2894 (30.2%) patients belonged to the most deprived quintile (Q5). PD was associated with age >70 years (odds ratio (OR) 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69–0.91]), male gender (0.85 [95% CI: 0.74–0.97]), cardiovascular disease (OR 0.86 [95% CI: 0.86–1.00]), chronic heart failure (OR 1.34 [95% CI: 1.13–1.58]), active cancer (OR 0.67 [95% CI: 0.53–0.85]) and obesity (OR 0.75 [95% CI: 0.63–0.89]). In the mediation analysis, Q5 had a direct effect on PD proportion OR 0.84 [95% CI: 0.73–0.96]. The effect of Q5 on the proportion of PD was mediated by haemoglobin level at dialysis initiation (OR 0.96 [95% CI: 0.94–0.98]) and emergency start (OR 0.98 [95% CI: 0.96–0.99]).

Conclusion:

Social deprivation, estimated by the EDI, was associated with a lower PD uptake. The effect of social deprivation was mediated by haemoglobin level, a proxy of predialysis care and emergency start.
An investigation into the role of specimen geometry when undertaking tribological testing on seal fin components
Authors: Zhang Boxiu , Marshall Matthew , Lewis Roger
Published: July 2021

Labyrinth seal systems are used in aeroengines to seal the clearance, the understanding of the wear mechanism of labyrinth seal system is necessary to achieve better sealing performance. In this work a series of tests are conducted on a high-speed test rig capable of fin tip speeds of 100 m/s. With force and temperature measurements recorded in each case, the influence of specimen geometry is investigated. Surface examination and debris analysis is also performed using microscopy post-test. The wear mechanism was found to be influenced by fin geometry. A discrete fin was observed to trigger a more efficient material removal mechanism at both incursion conditions. Where the fin segment and ring-shaped fin leading to increased temperatures and material smearing. The heat dissipate role of fin was also observed during test where longer contact time of fin and abradable gives better heat removal performance.
Exhaust gas recirculation effect on the performance of a CRDI diesel engine fuelled with linseed biodiesel/diesel blend through response surface methodology
Authors: Singh Varun Kumar , Ansari Naushad Ahmad , Sharma Abhishek , Gautam Samsher , Kumar Manish , Singh Yashvir
Published: July 2021

Biodiesel such as linseed oil can be derived from the feedstock of vegetables without disturbing supplies of food and the ecosystem. An experimental and comparative analysis was carried out to explore the effect of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and fuel injection pressure (FIP) on the emissions and efficiency of a CRDI diesel engine fuelled with linseed biodiesel/diesel blend. The engine characteristics were calculated using variable EGR (up to 14%) and adjustment of the injection pressure (up to 600 bar) under various load conditions. Multiple regression models were generated to evaluate responses such as Carbon monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), hydrocarbon (HC), Brake power (BP), and Brake thermal efficiency (BTE) using response surface methodology (RSM). For all blends, a combination of FIP and EGR was employed and their impact was evaluated by plotting response surface contour. In RSM, the desirability approach is used to maximize the performance and minimize the emissions parameters of the engine. Linseed/diesel blend ratio 18.3%, FIP 576.76 bar, EGR 7.07%, and load 5.76 kg were estimated to be optimum for the tested engine. From this methodology, it was found that the optimal value of BTE, BP, HC, NOx, and CO is 19.55%, 1.758 kW, 16.7534 ppm, 505.56 ppm, and 0.0676% respectively.
Decisive impact of Filler-free joining processes on the Microstructural evolution, tensile and impact properties of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb to 316 L(N) dissimilar joints
Authors: Venkatakrishna A , Lakshminarayanan AK , Vasantharaja P , Vasudevan M
Published: July 2021

Filler-free (FF) welding processes namely, Activated Tungsten Inert Gas welding (ATIG), Laser Beam Welding (LBW), and Friction Stir Welding (FSW) were utilized for joining the nuclear grade 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb ferritic-martensitic steel and 316 L(N) austenitic stainless steel. A comparative investigation was made by assessing the weld geometries, metallurgical features, material mixing proportions, carbon diffusion behaviour, and mechanical properties of the post-weld heat-treated (PWHT) dissimilar weld joints. Geometries of the weld zones were observed with the transverse and longitudinal macrographs. Metallurgical features were examined by optical microscopy (OM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three-phase microstructures were identified in the dissimilar weld zones (DWZ). The elemental distributions were identified by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The mixing proportions of the dissimilar alloys and the formation of δ-ferrite in the dissimilar heat-affected zones (HAZ) and DWZ were analytically quantified. Moreover, the diffusion activity of carbides/interstitial carbon atoms was examined by Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). In the FSW joints, the intermingled microstructures are recorded with high and stabilized hardness values as compared to the DWZ of the ATIG and LBW joints. In the transverse tensile test, all FF joints were failed at the 316 L(N) base metal (BM) region. Tensile and impact testing of all weld metal indicated that, the weld metal region of the LBW joint exhibited higher strength and lower toughness as compared to the ATIG and FSW joints. The presence of untransformed, recrystallized fine equiaxed austenite along and refined martensitic structure arranged in an alternate layers within the weld metal region of FSW joint caused the higher toughness property than the ATIG and LBW joints.
Numerical analysis on evolution process of multiple rotating detonation waves with ethylene–oxygen–nitrogen mixture
Authors: Meng Haolong , Weng ChunSheng , Xiao Qiang , Zheng Quan , Wu Yuwen , Wang Fang
Published: July 2021

Two-dimensional numerical simulations of a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) fueled by ethylene–oxygen–nitrogen were performed to investigate the evolution process of multiple rotating detonation waves (RDWs), that is, initial chaotic stage, self-adjustment stage, and the final stable stage. The number of stable RDWs corresponding to the initial conditions was in good agreement with that predicted by an empirical model proposed by Daniau et al. from Lavrenty’ev Institute of Hydrodynamics (LIH). From the simulation results, the spontaneous formation of a reverse RDW and the transition of trailing waves to detonation waves contribute to the emergence of the chaotic stage. The self-adjustment stage comprises three distinctive parts, which are the self-adjustment of the propagation direction, the number, and the propagation characteristics of RDWs. Furthermore, the double-wave collision was found to play a significant role in modulating the propagation direction as well as the number of RDWs. The same self-adjusting trend of different instantaneous propagation characteristics (e.g., peak pressure, propagation velocity, and wave front height) of the RDWs was observed, suggesting the self-similarity property of the adjusting mechanism demonstrated in the evolution of rotating detonation dynamics.
Modeling adaptive preview time of driver model for intelligent vehicles based on deep learning
Authors: Xie Ju , Xu Xing , Wang Feng , Chen Long
Published: July 2021

In order to improve the adaptability and tracking performance of intelligent vehicles under complex driving conditions, and simulate the manipulation characteristics of the real driver in the driver–vehicle–road closed-loop system, a kind of adaptive preview time model for intelligent vehicle driver model is proposed. This article builds the intelligent vehicle driver model based on optimal preview control theory and the basic preview time is identified to minimize path error under various conditions based on particle swarm optimization. Then, the ideal compensation preview time is constructed in various conditions and the appropriate factors affecting compensation preview time are filtered out according to correlation analysis. Moreover, the architecture and training procedure of deep network is specified for compensation preview time prediction. Finally, the adaptive preview time is modeled by combining the basic preview time with the compensation preview time and the validity of adaptive preview time model is verified by the driver–vehicle–road closed-loop system under normal and aggressive driving conditions. The results show that the proposed adaptive preview time model can help intelligent vehicles better adapt complex driving conditions and effectively improve the path-following performance.
A semiparametric mixture model approach for regression analysis of partly interval-censored data with a cured subgroup
Authors: Sun Liuquan , Li Shuwei , Wang Lianming , Song Xinyuan
Published: July 2021

Failure time data with a cured subgroup are frequently confronted in various scientific fields and many methods have been proposed for their analysis under right or interval censoring. However, a cure model approach does not seem to exist in the analysis of partly interval-censored data, which consist of both exactly observed and interval-censored observations on the failure time of interest. In this article, we propose a two-component mixture cure model approach for analyzing such type of data. We employ a logistic model to describe the cured probability and a proportional hazards model to model the latent failure time distribution for uncured subjects. We consider maximum likelihood estimation and develop a new expectation-maximization algorithm for its implementation. The asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established and the finite sample performance of the proposed method is examined through simulation studies. An application to a set of real data on childhood mortality in Nigeria is provided.