bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Escaping the Survival Trap: Network Transition among Early-Career Freelance Songwriters
Authors: Lee Yonghoon G. , Gargiulo Martin
Published: October 2021

People in the early stages of their careers often face a trade-off between cultivating a closed network that helps them secure the resources they need to survive or developing an open network that can help them succeed. Actors who overcome this trade-off transition from a closed network to an open network; those who fail to do so can be caught in a survival trap that jeopardizes their chances of having a successful career. We identify the factors that enable and constrain network transitions and test our theory on a sample of Korean pop (K-pop) freelance songwriters before they have attained their first commercial hit. These songwriters initially rely on a closed network of collaborators and transition toward an open network by working with fellow songwriters who are not connected to those collaborators. This network transition occurs faster among songwriters who eventually attain their first hit than among those who remain unsuccessful. Songwriters are more likely to collaborate with new distant colleagues when they have a reference group of commercially successful peers and when they have created stylistically similar songs in the past that have failed to become hits. However, most of their new distant colleagues also lack a hit, revealing a status barrier that constrains the network transition of early-career songwriters.
The dynamics of attitudes toward immigrants: Cohort analyses for Western EU member states
Authors: Schmidt Katja
Published: October 2021

Public opinion climates on immigrants are subject to certain dynamics. This study examines two mechanisms for such dynamics in Western EU member states for the 2002–2018 period. First, the impact of cohort replacement and, second, the impact of periodic threat perceptions, namely, changing macroeconomic conditions and shifts in immigration rates. To date, empirical research on anti-immigrant sentiments rarely combines these two concepts simultaneously to disentangle the interplay of period and cohort effects and determine the factors for long- and short-term attitude changes in societies. Motivated by this gap in the literature, I conduct multiple linear regression analyses of pooled data from all waves of the European Social Survey to show that the process of cohort replacement has led to a substantially more positive opinion climate toward immigrants since the 2000s. However, results indicate that in the future, this positive development is likely to come to a halt since younger cohorts no longer hold significantly more immigrant-friendly attitudes than their immediate predecessors. Furthermore, we observe different period effects to impact cohorts’ attitudes. Fixed-effects panel analyses show that the effect of changing macroeconomic conditions on cohorts’ attitudes is low. Changes in immigration rates, however, lead to significantly more dismissive attitudes when immigrants originate from the Global South as opposed to when they enter from EU countries. These insights suggest that it is less economic or cultural threat perceptions, but ethnic prejudice that plays a key role for natives to oppose immigration. Overall, findings suggest that it is not either cohort or period effects driving large-scale attitude changes, but rather we observe an interplay of both.
Learning with Immersive Virtual Reality: An Exploratory Study of Chinese College Nursing Students
Authors: Wu Junjie Gavin , Miller Lindsay , Huang Qing , Wang Minjuan
Published: October 2021

As an emerging technology, virtual reality (VR) is now being used in education, particularly with STEM-related learning. However, as with all pedagogical innovation, there is a lack of empirical research on the application of VR in situations where students are using it with their second language (L2) and existing studies generally rely on the use of non-immersive VR tools. This paper is one step in a process of understanding the affordances and constraints of a fully immersive VR system in facilitating language learning for English as a foreign language (EFL) nurses. The results of a small-scale study suggested that learners appreciated the different features of VR, which enhanced the integration of virtuality, reality, and mentality. In addition, mediating factors of this VR learning experience were discussed based on the data set. Informed by the current findings, the paper puts forward suggestions for designing VR-supported language learning, which hopefully sheds some light on the complex nature of the effective use of VR in learning.
SUICIDE, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND HATE GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Szendro Brendan
Published: October 2021

In recent years, hate groups have increasingly attracted public attention while at the same time escaping the purview of scholars. Although overt prejudiced attitudes have lost public support in recent decades, hate group and hate-group activity has remained relatively consistent. What, then, explains the enduring power of hate? I argue that hate groups have arisen in reaction to the loss of social capital, particularly in regard to rural and exurban communities. Using county-level suicide rates as a proxy for the loss of social capital, I test this theory using data from the lower 48 states from 2010 to 2019. I find that each 5.38 percent increase in suicide rates is associated with 1 additional hate group forming. These findings highlight the importance of examining quality-of-life in understanding far-right activity, and challenge previous findings with regard to rurality and hate.
International crisis in the midst of civil war
Authors: Mishali-Ram Meirav
Published: October 2021

This article examines the nexus between international crises and civil wars. Based on the premise that not all simultaneous civil and international conflicts are related, the study aims to explore the circumstances in which civil wars affect violent escalation in international crises. The study identifies ‘composite’ crises – where the civil war is the core issue of the international dispute – as a unique subset of international crises. These crises are distinguished from ‘unrelated-civil war’ situations, in which the issues in the internal and international conflicts are separate. Using data from the ICB, COW, and UCDP/PRIO datasets, the article tests a dual-conflict argument, positing that interconnected issues and interactions between actors in composite situations inhibit moderate crisis management and aggravate interstate behavior. The findings show that while civil war in composite situations has a negative impact on crisis escalation, unrelated-civil war has an inverse impact on interstate relations in crisis.
Evaluation of a Community-Based Harm Reduction Intervention Aimed at Adjudicated College Students
Authors: Parker Lauren , O’Sullivan Deirdre , Watts Justin
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study was to develop, test, and use an instrument to measure the effectiveness of a community-based, mandated drug education intervention program, Youthful Offenders Program (YOP), targeting college students at risk. A total of N = 350 students voluntarily agreed to participate in an evaluation of program effectiveness using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a newly developed measure to compare changes in substance related behaviors over time. Results revealed sound psychometric structure for the new scale for use in program evaluation; results suggest that YOP significantly enhanced safety practices and reduced hazardous drinking and recidivism, but not avoidance of risky behaviors.
Power resource theory revisited: The perils and promises for understanding contemporary labour politics
Authors: Refslund Bjarke , Arnholtz Jens
Published: October 2021

While their power is declining, unions and workers remain prominent actors in society. Therefore, there is a need to bring power resource theory back to the analytical forefront in the study of contemporary labour politics and labour market sociology. It provides the analytical perspectives necessary for a comprehensive and historical understanding of labour markets and labour politics. However, this article argues that the original theory developed by Korpi needs to be reassessed and further developed. Revisiting the original theory and reviewing common criticism, the authors argue that power resource theory should pay closer attention to how different types of power resources are mobilised and used and how actors’ interests are shaped during that process. The article seeks to address these issues and thus move power resource theory forward and pave the way for future theorisation.
Assessing and Treating Anxiety in Individuals with Autism
Authors: Moore Keira , Bullard Amanda , Sweetman Gemma , Ahearn William H.
Published: October 2021

Anxiety is a cluster of responses that can involve both operant and respondent behavior, which can be both public and/or private in nature, and occurs when an upcoming aversive stimulus is signaled. Despite the reported high comorbidity of autism and anxiety, there has been very limited research on how to directly assess and treat anxiety, especially with individuals who have limited communication skills. In Study 1, anxiety was assessed in five individuals with autism, ranging in age from 10 to 19 years old. Anxiety was assessed by measuring behavior during (1) a baseline (with no putative anxiety-provoking stimuli present), (2) signals for an upcoming aversive event, and (3) exposure to that aversive event. Anxiety presented in several different ways, as both conditioned activation and suppression, and both with and without problem behavior during the aversive event. In Study 2, individualized treatments involving differential reinforcement of alternative responses and stimulus fading were used to successfully reduce anxious responding in all four participants who displayed anxiety. These studies demonstrated a potentially useful means of assessing anxiety in individuals with autism which may not only help to measure anxious behavior and identify anxiety-provoking events, but may also lead to effective treatment.
The Impact of Integrated Support and Context on Treatment Implementation and Child Outcomes Following Behavioral Consultation
Authors: Noell George , Gansle Kristin , Gulley Veronica
Published: October 2021

Assuring treatment plan implementation following consultation is critically important because implementation is strongly related to outcomes. Treatment implementation has been hypothesized to be influenced by both the nature of the follow-up support provided and contextual variables. However, studies to date have not examined both issues while directly measuring implementation. This study examined treatment implementation following consultation for 48 teachers in public schools who had referred a student for intervention services in a randomized clinical field trial. Participating teachers in the experimental group received Integrated Support (IS). IS includes social influence, planning, and performance feedback elements. IS was compared to weekly follow-up meetings alone. Treatment implementation and child outcomes were markedly superior for IS as compared to weekly follow-up. Three school climate factors were found to be correlated with treatment implementation for the IS group, but not the weekly follow-up group. Participants rated treatment implementation, treatment acceptability, and consultant effectiveness positively and similarly across conditions. The implications of these findings for future work examining school culture, consultation and intervention are discussed.
Extensive Parapharyngeal Abscess in a 4-Month-Old Infant
Authors: Petrová Barbora , Šikolová Soňa , Bartoš Michal , Jančíková Jana , Jabandžiev Petr , Klabusayová Eva , Urík Milan
Published: October 2021

Parapharyngeal abscess in an infant is a very rare condition. We present the case of a 4-month-old girl with large masses on the neck’s left side. Computed tomography showed an extensive parapharyngeal abscess. Left tonsillectomy was performed under general anesthesia from a transoral approach, followed by an incision and evacuation of the abscess from the parapharyngeal space. Microbiological analysis identified a massive occurrence of Streptococcus intermedius.
Weakening the Strong Mayor: Partisan Division and Presidential Intervention in Istanbul
Authors: İkizer İhsan
Published: October 2021

Istanbul, the leading city of Turkey, is a good case for analyzing the conflictual relations of the mayor with the city council and the central government. Istanbul had been governed by the mayors from the ruling party, the Justice and Development Party ( Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi; AKP) and its predecessor parties since 1994. In the local elections held in March 2019, which was repeated only for Istanbul after two months with a highly suspicious decision by the Supreme Election Board, the AKP lost this city. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, has harsh relations with the city council, which is dominated by the AKP and its alliance party, the Nationalist Movement Party ( Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi; MHP). What exacerbates this situation is the partisan intervention of the increasingly authoritarian central government that weakens the mayor's position. The mayor tries to counterbalance the power of the city council and central government agencies through livestreaming the city council meetings and attracting civic engagement on his side. This article is expected to contribute to the literature on mayoral leadership, partisan constraints to mayoral powers as well as the mayor's strategies against the authoritarian intervention of the central governments. Mayor İmamoğlu's strategies and measures adopted for overcoming the efforts of blocking his agenda by both the council and central government might inspire other mayors experiencing similar partisan constraints.
Union Activism and the Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Process: Labor-Management Conflict and Media Bias
Authors: Hinkel Matthew , McHugh Patrick P.
Published: October 2021

Media bias is well documented in the industrial relations domain. This paper extends this research by exploring whether union participation among former professional baseball players affects the likelihood of moving through two stages of the selection process for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF), a selection process controlled by sports media. At the HOF ballot inclusion stage, union activism increased position players’ and pitchers’ likelihoods of inclusion, regardless of time period. Conversely, at the HOF voting stage, position players who were union representatives during labor-management conflict (i.e., strikes and lockouts) received significantly less votes than non-activists, while position players who were representatives during labor-management cooperation received significantly more votes. Union activism did not affect pitchers at this stage. We conclude that union activists can be subject to negative media bias during labor-management conflict that, in turn, negatively affects post-employment outcomes.
Feasibility of Quantitative Tissue Characterization Using Novel Parameters Extracted From Photoacoustic Power Spectrum Considering Multiple Absorbers
Authors: Rathi Nikita , Sinha Saugata , Chinni Bhargava , Dogra Vikram , Rao Navalgund
Published: October 2021

Frequency domain analysis of radio frequency signal is performed to differentiate between different tissue categories in terms of spectral parameters. However, due to complex relationship between the absorber size and spectral parameters, they cannot be used for quantitative tissue characterization. In an earlier study, we showed that using linear relationship between absorber size and two new spectral parameters namely number of lobes and average lobe width, absorber size can be successfully recovered from photoacoustic signal generated by single absorber. As actual biological tissue contains multiple absorbers, in this study we extended the application of these two new spectral parameters for computing absorber size from signals generated by multiple PA absorbers. We revisited our analytical model to establish two new linear relationships between the absorber radius and number of lobes as well as average lobe width considering multiple absorbers with bandlimited acquisition. A simulation study was performed to validate these linear relationships. A retrospective ex vivo study, in which the spectral parameters were computed using multiwavelength photoacoustic signals, was performed with freshly exercised thyroid specimens from 38 actual human patients undergoing thyroidectomy after having a diagnosis of suspected thyroid lesions. From statistical analysis it is shown that both the parameters were significantly different between malignant and non-malignant thyroid and malignant and normal thyroid tissue. Performance of the supervised classification with the computed spectral parameters showed that the extracted parameters could be successfully used to differentiate malignant thyroid tissue from normal thyroid tissue with reasonable degree of accuracy.
Remarriage After Divorce and Health in Later Life: Findings From CHARLS in China
Authors: Li Xiaomin , Jiang Quanbao , Cheng Xinfeng , Ge Tingshuai
Published: October 2021

Marriage has a positive effect on health. After the dissolution of a marriage, the health of divorcees worsens. This study focuses on whether remarriage can help a person regain the health benefits that comes with marriage. Using national baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which conducted from 2011 to 2012, this article applies instrumental variables (IV) method to investigate the association between remarriage after divorce and late-life health. We found that, compared with divorcees who had not remarried, those who remarried suffered less from depression and had better self-rated health. There were gender differences in the relationship between remarriage after divorce and mental health. Remarriage can improve the mental health of men, but there is no significant correlation between remarriage and the mental health of women.
Experiences of Family Caregivers of People with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Harris Melissa L. , Titler Marita G.
Published: October 2021

Although behavioral and psychological symptoms are burdensome for people with dementia and their caregivers, perceptions of family caregivers regarding management of these symptoms are unclear. This study explored the experiences of family caregivers regarding behavioral and psychological symptoms experienced by relatives with dementia, management of these symptoms, and changes in their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative, exploratory approach using constant comparative methods was used; 21 family caregivers were interviewed virtually. The following 10 major themes emerged: (1) Emotional and psychological experiences of caregiver, (2) emotional, psychological, and behavioral responses of person with dementia, (3) cognition of person with dementia, (4) loss, (5) concerns for the future, (6) reliance, (7) learning to caregive, (8) rewarding aspects of caregiving, (9) caregiver perspectives, and (10) care strategies. Caregivers described many challenges to care before and during the pandemic. Acceptable and effective care strategies are needed to promote the well-being of families living with dementia.
An analysis of four instructional strategies used by secondary school music teachers in Uganda
Authors: Sekalegga Lawrence Branco
Published: October 2021

This paper provides an analysis of how secondary school music teachers (N = 10) in Uganda apply instructional strategies (peer teaching, practical music-making, modeling, and feedback) in their music lessons. Analysis was undertaken to establish if there were any similarities or differences amongst the urban, suburban, and rural music teachers and between experienced and inexperienced teachers in ways they employed instructional strategies. Data were gathered through videotaped classroom observations and analyzed via SCRIBE (Simple Computer Recording Interface for Behavioral Evaluation). Results showed that practical music-making was the most observed strategy while negative feedback (disapprovals) was the least observed strategy. Experienced teachers provided more feedback in form of approval and engaged their students more in practical music-making activities. Results from the study are discussed in terms of implications for improved teacher preparation. The strategies discussed in this study should be encouraged through teacher professional development, and through greater emphasis in teacher preparation courses.
Digital assemblages, information infrastructures, and mobile knowledge work
Authors: Jarrahi Mohammad Hossein , Sawyer Steve , Erickson Ingrid
Published: October 2021

We theorize mobile knowledge workers’ uses of digital and material resources in support of their working practices. We do so to advance current conceptualizations of both “information infrastructures” and “digital assemblages” as elements of contemporary knowledge work. We focus on mobile knowledge workers as they are (increasingly) self-employed (e.g., as freelancers, entrepreneurs, temporary workers, and contractors), competing for work, and collaborating with others: one likely future of work that we can study empirically. To pursue their work, mobile knowledge workers draw together collections of commodity digital technologies or digital assemblages (e.g., laptops, phones, public WiFi, cloud storage, and apps), relying on a reservoir of knowledge about new and emergent means to navigate this professional terrain. We find that digital assemblages are created and repurposed by workers in their infrastructuring practices and in response to mobility demands and technological environments. In their constitution, they are generative to both collaborative and organizational goals. Building from this, we theorize that digital assemblages, as individuated forms of information infrastructure, sustain stability and internal cohesion even as they allow for openness and generativity.
Adult male victims of female-perpetrated sexual violence: Australian social media responses, myths and flipped expectations
Authors: Loxton April , Groves Andrew
Published: October 2021

In the era of #metoo, conversations regarding rape and sexual violence have received increased attention in mainstream media, giving voice to some of the many victims impacted by sexual assault. Despite the significant social upheaval this movement has given credence to, male victims of female-perpetrated sexual assault remain largely absent from Australian media. Adherence to strict representations of masculinity and femininity, often reinforced on social media, has resulted in cultural omission and problematic characterisations of both offenders and victims. International research has examined socially-constructed, gendered perceptions; however, Australian literature remains limited. This study examined what factors influence perceptions of male victims of female-perpetrated sexual violence, evaluated through Christie’s (1986) Ideal Victim/Offender framework. This mixed-method study analysed social media users’ comments on incidents of female-perpetrated sexual assault on men, presented in 28 Facebook posts, across 13 popular Australian newspapers. The findings identified a tendency of users to question victims’ masculinity, downplay harms experienced by male victims, or deny victimisation entirely. Furthermore, women were typecast as ‘fragile nurturers’ who did not have the capacity to offend, rejecting the possibility of male victims. Conclusions highlight the need for further Australian-based research and practical support, as male victims are more than simply an online myth.
A construction and demolition waste management model applied to social housing to trigger post-pandemic economic recovery in Mexico
Authors: Mercader-Moyano Pilar , Camporeale Patricia Edith , López-López Jesús
Published: October 2021

Buildings consume 40% of raw material and primary energy and generate 35% of industrial waste worldwide, making this sector play a main role in raw material depletion, energy consumption and carbon emissions which provoke great environmental impact and worsen Global Warming. Latin American countries including Mexico have the world’s highest urbanisation rate (84%) but lack effective construction and demolition waste (CDW) management to thrive in regenerative sustainability, climate change mitigation and post-pandemic economic recovery. This work applies the Spanish current model to quantify on-site 61 Mexican social housing CDW with surveys to workers and supervisors as an additional source of data. The results of the case study show that social housing consumes 1.24 t.m−2 of raw materials and produces 0.083 t.m−2 of CDW. Cement-based, ceramic and mixed CDW represent 83.44% of total CDW. When considering inert soil as a recyclable resource, 78% of the remaining CDW ends in landfills and only 22% of it goes to recycling plants. The implementation of this methodology will deliver sustainable CDW management in Mexico, by minimising CDW production, promoting related legislation and allowing replacement of current construction materials for eco-efficient ones. Furthermore, these data can broaden the Spanish coefficients of the construction resources that become CDW to build an internationally sourced database.
In-Person Versus Online Learning in Relation to Students’ Perceptions of Mattering During COVID-19: A Brief Report
Authors: Vaillancourt Tracy , Brittain Heather , Krygsman Amanda , Farrell Ann H. , Pepler Debra , Landon Sally , Saint-Georges Zacharie , Vitoroulis Irene
Published: October 2021

We examined students’ perceptions of mattering during the pandemic in relation to in-person versus online learning in a sample of 6578 Canadian students in Grades 4–12. We found that elementary school students who attended school in-person reported mattering the most, followed by secondary school students who learned part-time in-person and the rest of the time online (blended learning group). The students who felt that they mattered the least were those who learned online full-time during the pandemic (elementary and secondary students). These results were not driven by a selection effect for school choice during the pandemic—our experimental design showed that students’ perceptions of mattering did not differ by current learning modality when they were asked to reflect on their experiences before the pandemic even though some were also learning online full-time at the time they responded to our questions. No gender differences were found. As a validity check, we examined if mattering was correlated with school climate, as it has in past research. Results were similar in that a modest association between mattering and positive school climate was found in both experimental conditions. The results of this brief study show that in-person learning seems to help convey to students that they matter. This is important to know because students who feel like they matter are more protected, resilient, and engaged. Accordingly, mattering is a key educational indicator that ought to be considered when contemplating the merits of remote learning.
A Product- and Process-Oriented Tagset for Revisions in Writing
Authors: Conijn Rianne , Speltz Emily Dux , Zaanen Menno van , Waes Luuk Van , Chukharev-Hudilainen Evgeny
Published: October 2021

The study of revision has been a topic of interest in writing research over the past decades. Numerous studies have, for instance, shown that learning-to-revise is one of the key competences in writing development. Moreover, several models of revision have been developed, and a variety of taxonomies have been used to measure revision in empirical studies. Current advances in data collection and analysis have made it possible to study revision in increasingly precise detail. The present study aimed to combine previous models and current advances by providing a comprehensive product- and process-oriented tagset of revision. The presented tagset includes properties of external revisions: trigger, orientation, evaluation, action, linguistic domain, spatial location, temporal location, duration, and sequencing. We identified how keystroke logging, screen replays, and eye tracking can be used to extract both manually and automatically extract features related to these properties. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate how this tagset can be used to annotate revisions made by higher education students in various academic tasks. To conclude, we discuss how this tagset forms a scalable basis for studying revision in writing in depth.
COVID-19 Tracheostomy: Experience in a University Hospital With Intermediate Follow-up
Authors: Sood Rahul N , Palleiko Benjamin A. , Alape-Moya Daniel , Maxfield Mark W. , Holdorf Jonathan , Uy Karl Fabian
Published: October 2021

The benefits of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) placement have been well documented in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. However, the data regarding the benefit of PDT in coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) patients are scarce. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of a cohort of 37 patients who underwent tracheostomy as part of their COVID-19 care. Retrospective data from a series for 37 patients undergoing tracheostomy was collected using chart review. Primary outcomes included 30 and 60 day mortality, weaning rate, and decannulation rate. Secondary outcomes collected included admission demographics, comorbidities, and procedural information. Thirty-seven (37) patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19. Of these 37 patients, 35 were alive 60 days post-PDT placement, 33 have been weaned from mechanical ventilation and 18 have been decannulated. The low mortality and high decannulation rates in this cohort in is a promising development in the care of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Of note, all participating physicians underwent routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus and no physician contracted COVID-19 as a result of their involvement. Overall, this case series describes the modified PDT technique used by our team and discusses the feasibility and potential benefit to PDT placement in COVID-19 patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation.
China's new Towns in Controversy: A Literature Review
Authors: Xu Boqian
Published: October 2021

In the past forty years, more than 3,800 new towns emerged and accommodated over 150 million urban inhabitants in China, which drew much attention since they were reported as “ghost cities” by media in the late 2000s. This literature review examines existing research and synthesizes current discussions through a meta-analysis. It concludes that existing literature, led by environmental scientists and designers, exhibits two polarized debates around the new towns’ uniqueness and the future of ghost cities. Gaps exist in national-scale surveys, criticism of planning methodology, and theories that can explain the current disputes.
Teacher Quality and Students’ Post-Secondary Outcomes
Authors: Graham Jerome , Flamini Monica
Published: October 2021

Research suggests teachers’ observable characteristics are inequitably distributed across schools, leaving minoritized students with less exposure to experienced and credentialed teachers. While prior research focuses on how the teacher sorting explains disparities in students’ test scores, little research explores how teacher quality gaps might implicate students’ post-secondary outcomes. To fill this gap, we analyze administrative data on high schools in Georgia and explicate how variations in teachers’ human capital correlate with the percentage of students who enroll and persist in college. Our study confirms prior research accentuating widespread disparities in access to highly qualified teachers, and finds students attending schools with more experienced and credentialed teachers are more likely to have positive post-secondary outcomes.
Numerical analysis of non-aligned inputs M-type micromixers with different shaped obstacles for biomedical applications
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Shah Imran , Niazi Usama M , Ali Muhsin , Ali Sadaqat , Jalalah Mohammed S , Asif Khan Muhammad K , Almawgani Abdulkarem Hussein Mohammed , Rahman Saifur
Published: October 2021

Fluid mixing in lab-on-a-chip devices at laminar flow conditions result in a low mixing index. The reason is dominant diffusion over the convection process. The mixing index can be improved by certain changes in the micromixer structural design like introducing obstacles in the path of fluid flow. These obstacles will make dominant the advection process over the diffusion process. The main contribution of this work is based on proposing the novel hybrid type micromixer design for enhancing the mixing quality. Three non-aligned M-type and non-aligned M-type with obstacles passive type micromixers are analyzed by COMSOL5.5. These designs are hybrid types because different structural changes are combined in a single design for mixing improvement. First of all the straight non-aligned inlets, M-type passive micromixer (SMTM) is analyzed. It is observed that mixing performance is improved because of M-shaped mixing units and non-aligned inlets. This improvement is deemed to be not enough so different shaped obstacles are introduced in the micromixer design. These designs based on obstacles are named horizontal rectangular M-type micromixer, square M-type micromixer, and vertical rectangular M-type micromixer. The mixing index for SMTM, square M-type micromixer, horizontal rectangular M-type micromixer, and vertical rectangular M-type micromixer at Reynolds number Re = 60 is respectively given by 71.1%, 83.21%, 84.45%, and 89.99%. The mixing index of vertical rectangular M-type micromixer was 59.34% − 87.65% for Re = 0.5–100. Vertical rectangular M-type micromixer is concluded with the better-mixing capability design among the proposed ones. Based on these simulation results, the vertical rectangular M-type micromixer design can be utilized for mixing purposes in biomedical applications like nanoparticle synthesis and biomedical sample preparation for drug delivery.
Vlogger’s Reputation: Connecting Trust and Perceived Usefulness of Vloggers’ Recommendation with Intention to Shop Online
Authors: Aslam Wajeeha , Khan Sadia Mehfooz , Arif Imtiaz , Zaman Sohaib Uz
Published: October 2021

The study aims to determine the impact of vlogger’s reputation on viewers’ trust on vlogger’s recommendations (TVR) and perceived usefulness of vlogger’s recommendations (PUVR). Moreover, the study examines the impact of TVR and PUVR on attitude and intention to shop online. A sample of 250 responses was collected from social media users and structural equation analysis technique was employed. The findings indicate that vlogger’s reputation has a significant role in building TVR, and PUVR and TVR and PUVR significantly influence the attitude and intention to shop online. The study also identified a positive impact of attitude towards online shopping on online shopping intention. The research provides insights to the marketers and practitioners as the findings guides on crafting promotional strategies using vloggers.
“A reward rather than a right”: Facilitators’ perspectives on the place of music in Norwegian prison exceptionalism
Authors: Mangaoang Áine
Published: October 2021

Scholarship on prison music-making projects and programmes to date has largely overlooked the perspectives of prison music facilitators, who form an integral part of many prison music activities. The aim of the study, which was exploratory in nature, was to contribute to a better understanding overall of the relationship between music and imprisonment by focusing on the perspectives of prison music practitioners. Drawing from data collected in four Norwegian prisons through ethnographic research, data was analysed thematically with four key themes emerging: interpersonal communication and emotional connection; social responsibility; prison system and environment, and (in)difference and exclusion. The findings highlight the fact that the range of prison music activities offered in many Norwegian prisons affects music facilitators deeply in a number of ways, and support existing studies that find that prison music practices can contribute to creating a community of caring individuals both inside and outside prisons. Notably, the emergence of the (in)difference and exclusion theme demonstrates a more critical and nuanced view of prison music facilitators’ experiences as going beyond simplistic, romantic notions of music’s function in social transformation. Concerns raised for those who appear to be excluded or differentiated from music-making opportunities in prison – in particular foreign nationals and women – suggest that (even) in the Norwegian context, music in prisons remains a “reward” rather than a fundamental “right.” This study marks a step towards a richer and more critical understanding of prison musicking and aims to inform future research, practice, and the processes involved in the possibilities for offering music in prisons.
From Substitute to Supported Decision-Making: Participatory Action Research on the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities
Authors: Eyraud Benoît , Taran Iuliia
Published: October 2021

In this article, we present findings from a participatory action-research program in France on the exercise of human rights and supported and substitute decision-making, inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“CRPD”). Bringing together persons with the lived experience of disability; academics; and health, social care, and support professionals, the project used the method of “experience-based construction of public problem” to transform experience into collective expertise. This enabled the exploration of support that people in vulnerable situations, whose capacity to exercise their human rights has weakened, need to make decisions in their lives and participate meaningfully in public debate. The relationship between the awareness of rights and exercise of rights is discussed. We argue for the need to balance out the positions of different contributors in participatory action research, in a reasoned manner, by recognizing the scientific and citizen-based participation of all partners.
Oral Rehabilitation of Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patient with Simultaneous LeFort I Osteotomy and Zygomatic Implants: A Case Report
Authors: Goker Funda , Grecchi Emma , Del Fabbro Massimo , Grecchi Francesco
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study is to evaluate Le Fort I Osteotomy and zygomatic implantation without any graft placement for management of a cleft lip and palate patient. This case report describes oral rehabilitation of a 33-year-old patient with bilateral cleft lip-palate and oronasal fistula and atrophic pre-maxilla. As treatment, the patient received simultaneous Le Fort I osteotomy, palatoplasty and two zygomatic implant insertions. The prosthetic superstructure included zygomatic implant-supported removable hybrid prosthesis on bar locator and metal-ceramic fixed bridges in the posterior region. As conclusion, this protocol can be promising for management of patients with cleft lip-palate and malocclusion.
Epidemiological Characteristics of Pancreatic Cancer in China From 1990 to 2019
Authors: Zhu Bo , Wu Xiaomei , Guo Tianyu , Guan Ning , Liu Yefu
Published: October 2021

Background

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer and is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China. To understand the epidemic trend of pancreatic cancer and formulate targeted preventive measures, it is important to analyze the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer.

Methods

The incidence and mortality data of pancreatic cancer in China were obtained from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data. We used joinpoint regression analysis to calculate the magnitude and direction of trends, and the age-period-cohort method to analyze the effects of chronological age, time period, and birth cohort.

Results

The age-standardized rates (ASRs) for both incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer increased from 1990 to 2019, and were higher in males than females. The incidence and mortality rates have increased year by year in the age group above 25 years. The most common age group was 55–79 years, accounting for approximately 50% of all incident cases. In terms of incidence and mortality rates, the overall net drifts were above 0. The local drifts in all age groups were above 0 in both sexes and males, while the local drifts in the 15–39 age groups were below 0 in females. The longitudinal age curves increased with age, with higher incidence and mortality rates, mainly in older age groups. The period rate ratios increased by year. The cohort rate ratios showed an upward trend before 1970 and fluctuated after 1975.

Conclusions

The burden of pancreatic cancer is still very high in China, and attention should be paid to the key population that is, males and older people. The results of our study can be used by policy makers to allocate resources efficiently to improve early diagnosis and treatment, improving the awareness of self-protection, and advocating a healthy lifestyle to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Low Incidence of Symptomatic Thrombotic Events in Adult Patients Hospitalized with Coronavirus 19: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Vallone Marcelo G. , Vazquez Carolina , Chuliber Fernando A. , Privitera Verónica , Ferraris Augusto , Cantarella Ramiro F. , Indo María F. , Sanchez Thomas Diego M. , Peuchot Verónica A. , Vazquez Fernando J.
Published: October 2021

Background

Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic, there have been many reports of increased incidence of venous thromboembolism and arterial events as a complication.

Objective

To determine the incidence of symptomatic thrombotic events (TEs) in patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV2 disease (coronavirus 19 [Covid-19]).

Methods

A retrospective single-center cohort study with adult patients with a positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) for SARS-CoV2, included from the date of diagnosis of Covid-19 and followed for 90 days or until death.

Results

A total of 1621 patients were included in this study. The median age was 73 years (interquartile range25th-75th [IQR] 53-87 years) and 57% (913) were female. Overall mortality was 21.6% (348). The overall incidence of symptomatic TEs within 90 days of diagnosis was 1.8% (30 of 1621) occurring in 28 patients, including an incidence of pulmonary embolism of 0.9% (15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60%-1.6%), deep venous thrombosis of 0.61% (10, 95% CI 0.2%-1%), ischemic stroke of 0.25% (4, 95% CI 0.09%-0.65%), and ischemic arterial events of 0.06% (1, 95% CI 0.008%-0.43%). No acute coronary syndrome events were recorded. The incidence of symptomatic TEs was significantly lower in the general ward than in intensive care units (1.2% vs 5.7%; p < .001). The median time since positive rt-PCR for SARS-CoV2 to symptomatic TE was 22.5 days (IQR 19-43 days). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients receiving (53.6%) and not receiving thromboprophylaxis (66.5%) and the development of TEs.

Conclusion

The overall incidence of symptomatic TEs among these patients was lower than the incidence previously reported.
Revisiting Medellin's Governance Arrangement After the Dust Settled
Authors: Betancur John J. , Brand Peter
Published: October 2021

Governance is a polysemic prescription for contemporary government and at an urban level has been instrumental in some radical and often striking reshaping of cities. This paper examines the interests and power structures behind those changes through the critical examination of the case of Medellin, Colombia, until recently a model of “good governance,” internationally acknowledged for its early millennium transformation from “murder capital to model city.” Based on extensive literature reviews and interviews, we unveil the forces underlying concrete governance practices. Major characteristics emerging from this perspective concern i) market hegemony, ii) the disempowerment of grass-roots movements and iii) the influence of illegal actors in the complex and shifting dynamics within and between the city's major players. The notion of both “good governance” and model practice are strongly revisited.
Barriers to Healthy Eating and Diabetes Diet Education: Divergent Perspectives of Patients and Their Providers
Authors: Bross Rachelle , Genter Pauline , Lu Yang , Serpas Lilian , Campa David , Ipp Eli
Published: October 2021

Patients report that adhering to diet is the most challenging aspect of diabetes management. Provision of diet education is often delegated to health care providers, despite a lack of nutrition education and training and limited awareness of environmental and cultural challenges faced by patients. Aim. We examined perceived barriers to diet self-management among low-income minority patients with type 2 diabetes and their health care providers within a single ecosystem, to test whether providers understood patient barriers. Method. We surveyed 149 members of a safety-net clinic (99 patients, 50 providers), using barriers derived from the literature. Binomial logistic regression was applied to investigate relationships between barriers and patients’ sociodemographic variables and Pearson’s χ2 was used to compare differences in perceived barriers between patients and providers. Results. Providers expressed divergent perceptions of patients’ barriers to healthy eating, including more total barriers and little agreement with patients on their relative importance. Largest differences in providers’ perceptions of patient barriers included poor motivation, high use of fast food, inadequate family support, and lack of cooking skills—all suggesting patient inadequacy. In contrast, patients showed evidence of high motivation—in rate of blood glucose measurement and desire for diet education. Patients identified primary care providers as a main source of nutrition education, yet providers indicated lack of time for diet discussion and preferred other staff do the teaching. Conclusion. The findings from this study strongly suggest that health systems need to consider patient, provider, and system barriers when implementing nutrition education and management programs.
Applying the Integrative Model to Predict Intention to Use Corporal Punishment Among Low-income Parents
Authors: Duong Hue Trong
Published: October 2021

Child corporal punishment (CP) is associated with child physical abuse, which is a public health problem in the United States. Informed by the integrative model of behavioral prediction, this study surveyed low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents who had children younger than 6 years old ( N = 260) to identify major risk factors that determined intention to use CP to discipline children. Structural equation modeling revealed that attitudes, descriptive norms, and perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies were associated with intention to use CP. Additionally, parents’ childhood CP frequency and past use of CP with their own children were influential distal variables that indirectly predicted CP intention. Results indicated the utility of the model in this behavioral context. Communication intervention programs targeting low-income parents should leverage perceived norms, perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies, and attitudes to change CP behavior.