bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language lexicons for Hindi-English multilingual text processing
Authors: Ansari Mohd Zeeshan , Ahmad Tanvir , Beg Mirza Mohd Sufyan , Bari Noaima
Published: April 2022

Language identification (LI) in textual documents is the process of automatically detecting the language contained in a document based on its content. The present language identification techniques presume that a document contains text in one of the fixed set of languages. However, this presumption is incorrect when dealing with multilingual document which includes content in more than one possible language. Due to the unavailability of standard corpora for Hindi-English mixed lingual language processing tasks, we propose the language lexicons, a novel kind of lexical database that augments several bilingual language processing tasks. These lexicons are built by learning classifiers over English and transliterated Hindi vocabulary. The designed lexicons possess condensed quantitative characteristics which reflect their linguistic strength in respect of Hindi and English language. On evaluating the lexicons, it is observed that words of the same language tend to cluster together and are separable over language classes. On comparing the classifier performance with existing works, the proposed lexicon models exhibit the better performance.
Ensemble machine learning algorithm optimization of bankruptcy prediction of bank
Authors: Siswoyo Bambang , Abal Abas Zuraida , Che Pee Ahmad Naim , Komalasari Rita , Suryana Nano
Published: April 2022

The ensemble consists of a single set of individually trained models, the predictions of which are combined when classifying new cases, in building a good classification model requires the diversity of a single model. The algorithm, logistic regression, support vector machine, random forest, and neural network are single models as alternative sources of diversity information. Previous research has shown that ensembles are more accurate than single models. Single model and modified ensemble bagging model are some of the techniques we will study in this paper. We experimented with the banking industry’s financial ratios. The results of his observations are: First, an ensemble is always more accurate than a single model. Second, we observe that modified ensemble bagging models show improved classification model performance on balanced datasets, as they can adjust behavior and make them more suitable for relatively small datasets. The accuracy rate is 97% in the bagging ensemble learning model, an increase in the accuracy level of up to 16% compared to other models that use unbalanced datasets.
COVID-19 epidemic: analysis and prediction
Authors: Bhutia Santosini , Patra Bichitrananda , Ray Mitrabinda
Published: April 2022

“Novel Coronavirus”, commonly known as COVID-19 has spread nearly to the entire world. The number of impacted cases and deaths has increased significantly in each country, posing a challenge for the world’s health organizations. The goal of this paper was to better comprehend and analyze the growth of the disease in India, including confirmed, recovered, fatalities, and active cases of COVID-19. Data analysis affects an organization’s decision-making process with interactive visual representation. The proposed model was an ensemble model that was built using linear regression, polynomial regression, and support vector machine (SVM) regression models. The model predicted the number of confirmed cases from 30 th May 2021 to 15 th June 2021 based on the data available from 22 January 2020 to 29 May 2021 and improved accuracy was obtained when compared with the actual data. Forecasting the confirmed cases might assist health organizations in planning medical facilities. Following that, an appropriate machine leraning (ML) model must be found that can predict the number of new cases in the future.
Fake news detection using naïve Bayes and long short term memory algorithms
Authors: Senhadji Sarra , Ahmed Rania Azad San
Published: April 2022

Information and communication technologies have revolutionized the numerical world by offering the freedom to publish and share all types of information. Unfortunately, not all information circulated on the internet is accurate, which can have serious consequences, including misleading readers. Detecting false news is a complicated task to overcome. Massive studies focus on using machine and deep learning techniques in an attempt to classify the news as authentic or not. The goal of this research is an attempt to glance and evaluate how naïve bayes (NB) and long short-term memory (LSTM) classifiers can be used to positively identify fake news. The outcomes of this experiment reveal that LSTM achieves an accuracy of 92 percent over naive bayes. Moreover, the findings of the proposed approach’s results outperform the related work results.
Efeitos do lobbying corporativo na remuneração do diretor executivo e no desempenho empresarial
Authors: Maia Ana Jeniffer Rebouças , Góis Alan Diógenes , Luca Marcia Martins Mendes de , Lima Gerlando Augusto Sampaio Franco
Published: April 2022

Consoante preconiza a Teoria da Regulação Econômica, o lobbying corporativo é considerado um investimento produtivo para as empresas que procuram influenciar a legislação e as políticas públicas. A atividade política corporativa pode gerar benefícios para a organização, porém, na presença de conflitos de agência, essa vantagem é muitas vezes neutralizada pelos custos de agência suportados pelos acionistas. Por vezes, a remuneração excessiva é oferecida pelo principal em troca do compromisso do agente para com a criação de riqueza dos acionistas. Neste estudo, avalia-se a associação entre o lobbying corporativo, a remuneração do Chief Executive Officer e o desempenho empresarial, em 238 empresas com ações negociadas na New York Stock Exchange, abrangendo o quadriênio 2014-2017. As análises de regressão revelam que o lobbying corporativo está positivamente associado à remuneração do Chief Executive Officer e negativamente associado ao desempenho corporativo, sugerindo a ocorrência de custos de agência resultantes daquela prática. Segundo a amostra do estudo, em tais cenários, o lobbying corporativo não melhora o desempenho nem gera benefícios para os acionistas, mas serve como ferramenta pessoal e política para a autopromoção do gestor.
Alguma coisa está fora da ordem: o estado da democracia contemporânea
Authors: Barbosa Marcus Paulo Lisboa
Published: April 2022

Este artigo pretende analisar o estado da democracia contemporânea. Para tanto, dedica-se, inicialmente, a uma breve discussão conceitual sobre democracia e regimes políticos de autoritarismo competitivo. No passo seguinte, utiliza-se das três dimensões da consolidação democrática propostas por Linz e Stepan (1996) — constitucional, comportamental e atitudinal — para analisar dinâmicas atuais. Posteriormente, aborda o caráter não linear da crise democrática e percorre possibilidades de contenção do problema. No fim, conclui que há motivos para preocupação geral, embora os impactos da crise sejam diferentes, a depender do grau de consolidação democrática do regime.
A Subjetividade e as Imagens Alheias: Ressignificação
Authors: Bernadet Jean-Claude
Published: April 2022

Este texto é uma reflexão em torno de dois filmes que realizei, São Paulo sinfonia e cacofonia em 1995, e em 1999, Sobre anos 60. Ambos foram feitos com material de arquivo, o primeiro na totalidade, o segundo tem menos de 10% de filmagens adicionais. Quando São Paulo sinfonia e cacofonia foi apresentado pela primeira vez, Ismail Xavier fez uma piada: você publica um livro contra o cinema de autor e faz um filme de autor. É esta piada que quero comentar aqui. E outra também, esta de Roberto Moreira: você trabalha com imagens prostitutas.
Mentre Accade e Gia Futuro: Il Cinema di Yervant Gianikian e Angela Ricci Lucchi
Authors: Bertozzi Marco
Published: April 2022

Enquanto o documentário tradicional utiliza imagens de qualidade retratada em realidades naturais - numa prova que envolve o pensamento crítico na ilusão da pura referencialidade - o cinema de Gianikian e Ricci Lucchi abre-se à ideia de que as imagens podem/devem significar "de novo". E mais". Se o cinema contemporâneo se torna gradualmente um depósito de olhares mestiços, as práticas de reciclagem de Gianikian e Ricci Lucchi gozam de um caráter exemplar único. Nela, a análise histórico-filológica dos materiais de partida é um momento preliminar, não um mero estratagema para o ato transformador. Origem, dispositivo, imagem, corpo são termos em fibrilação, plataformas de relançamento hermenêutico de uma imaginação historiográfica em que filmes esquecidos encontram uma verdade contemporânea: a nova possibilidade de sentido emerge da dimensão arqueológica e investiga, e mostra, o processo que levou a imagem a perder o seu valor. Para depois recuperá-lo, fazendo explodir novos significados.
Pregnancy and Progression of Cardiomyopathy in Women With LMNA Genotype‐Positive
Authors: Castrini Anna I. , Skjølsvik Eystein , Estensen Mette E. , Almaas Vibeke M. , Skulstad Helge , Lyseggen Erik , Edvardsen Thor , Lie Øyvind H. , Picard Kermshlise C. I. , Lakdawala Neal K. , Haugaa Kristina H.
Published: April 2022

Background

We aimed to assess the association between number of pregnancies and long‐term progression of cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and event‐free survival in women with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants of gene encoding for Lamin A/C proteins ( LMNA+).

Methods and Results

We retrospectively included consecutive women with LMNA+ and recorded pregnancy data. We collected echocardiographic data, occurrence of atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, and implantation of cardiac electronic devices (implantable cardioverter defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator). We analyzed retrospectively complications during pregnancy and the peripartum period.

We included 89 women with LMNA+ (28% probands, age 41±16 years), of which 60 had experienced pregnancy. Follow‐up time was 5 [interquartile range, 3–9] years. We analyzed 452 repeated echocardiographic examinations. Number of pregnancies was not associated with increased long‐term risk of atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, or implantable cardioverter defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator implantation. Women with previous pregnancy and nulliparous women had a similar annual deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction (−0.5/year versus −0.3/year,
P
=0.37) and similar increase of left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (0.1/year versus 0.2/year,
P
=0.09). Number of pregnancies did not decrease survival free from death, left ventricular assist device, or need for cardiac transplantation. Arrhythmias occurred during 9% of pregnancies. No increase in maternal and fetal complications was observed.

Conclusions

In our cohort of women with LMNA+, pregnancy did not seem associated with long‐term adverse disease progression or event‐free survival. Likewise, women with LMNA+ generally well‐tolerated pregnancy, with a small proportion of patients experiencing arrhythmias.
Contributions to the Lichen flora of Turkey: New records from Eastern Anatolia (Van province)
Authors: Karagöz Yalçin , Aslan Ali , Yazici Kenan
Published: April 2022

Our field research in Van province during 2008–2009 resulted in collection of 3766 lichen samples from 55 sites, and identification of 229 lichen taxa, including two subspecies and three varieties, in 108 genera of Ascomycota. We found 182 new records for Van province. These include four new records for Turkey, namely Bibbya ruginosa, Buellia subalbula, Caloplaca tenuatula and Rimularia gibbosa. Lists of species and collection sites are provided. Acarospora (11 species), Lecidea (9 species), Verrucaria (8 species), Caloplaca, Physcia and Rinodina (7 species for each), and Aspicilia, Lecanora and Polyozosia (6 species for each) are the genera richest in species in the study area. Of the identified species, 163 are crustose, 43 are foliose, 7 are fruticose, 13 are squamulose and 3 are leprose. 101 species colonise on calcareous rocks, 86 on siliceous rocks, 23 on various trees (epiphytic), 10 on soil, 12 on moss and 17 on other lichens (lichenicolous). Sites 16, 19 are the richest with 55 identified taxa, followed by sites 52, 34, and 6 with 51, 49 and 44 taxa, respectively. The poorest sites are 40 and 42 with 6 identified taxa, followed by sites 5, 7, and 21 with 8, 8, and 9 taxa, respectively.
Quality and Value in Rural Cancer Care
Authors: Sarap Michael D.
Published: April 2022

Nearly 60 million people reside in rural America with only 10% of US general surgeons providing for their surgical care. Rural cancer care has been maligned in the literature due to a lack of understanding of local resource limitations and to the difficulties involved in documenting the quality of local cancer care in small and rural communities. A majority of US cancer patients are diagnosed and treated in community cancer programs, many of which are Commission on Cancer accredited and deliver care that is of high quality and value. The article discusses the components of high quality health care and offers suggestions for solo or small group rural surgeons to assist in collection of their own quality data and comparison to national benchmarks. One small rural program in Appalachian Ohio is used for a best-case example.
Diagnostic Inaccuracies Using Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography in Trauma for Traumatic Pneumothorax
Authors: Butts C. Caleb , Cline David , Pariyadath Manoj , Avery Martin D. , Nunn Andrew M. , Miller Preston R.
Published: April 2022

Background

Traumatic pneumothorax (PTX) can be deadly, and rapid diagnosis is vital. Ultrasound (US) is rapidly gaining acceptance as an accurate bedside diagnostic tool. While making the diagnosis is important, not all PTX require tube thoracostomy. Our goal was to evaluate the predictive ability of ultrasound in identifying clinically significant PTX.

Methods

Over 13 months, data was collected on patients undergoing evaluation for trauma. Patients were included if they underwent US, radiograph chest X-ray (CXR), and computed tomography of the chest. Predictive ability of ultrasound was evaluated in identifying clinically significant PTX.

Results

Ninety-four patients received evaluation by all 3 modalities. Of these, 32% were diagnosed with PTX. Sixteen patients (17%) had a clinically significant PTX. Chest X-ray and US both had a sensitivity of 75%; however, US had more than twice as many false positives, resulting in a much lower positive predictive value (63% vs 80%).

Conclusions

While US can reliably rule out PTX, it may be overly sensitive diagnosing clinically significant PTX. Ultrasound alone should not be used in determining the need for tube thoracostomy as many patients will not require acute intervention.
Frederic Eugene Basil Foley (1891-1966) and the Foley-type Balloon Catheter
Authors: DuBose Joseph J. , Feliciano David V.
Published: April 2022

The history and physician behind the eponym for the commonly utilized Foley catheter.
Extreme Sawtooth-Sign in Motor Neuron Disease (MND) suggests Laryngeal Resistance to Forced Expiratory Airflow
Authors: Britton Deanna , Kain Alexander , Chen Yu-Wen , Wiedrick Jack , Benditt Joshua O. , Merati Albert L. , Graville Donna
Published: April 2022

Objective:

The impact of laryngeal dysfunction on airflow has not been well characterized in motor neuron disease (MND). This study aimed to detect and characterize extreme airflow oscillations informally observed during volitional cough and forced vital capacity (FVC) tasks in individuals with MND who demonstrated neurolaryngeal impairments including reduced speed and extent of vocal fold abduction compared to healthy controls during volitional cough expulsion. The extreme airflow oscillations in the MND group, when viewed as a flow-volume loop, appeared similar to the “sawtooth-sign.” If the airflow oscillations are periodic in a range similar to phonation, they may reflect reduced laryngeal patency.

Methods:

Volitional cough and FVC airflow data (3 trials each) from 12 participants with MND with bulbar/laryngeal involvement (3 F; ages 45-76) and 12 healthy controls (6 F; ages 41-68) were analyzed for periodicity. Percent and absolute durations of periodicity of the flow oscillations were calculated by an algorithm applied to the airflow signals. In addition, the frequency, magnitude, and kurtosis of the periodic airflow oscillations were described and compared between groups.

Results:

In both volitional cough and FVC trials, the percent of airflow periodicity during forced expiration was significantly higher ( z = 3.54) in individuals with MND, adjusted for age and sex. Periodic airflow accounted for on average 28% of the total time in participants with MND and was within a frequency range similar to phonation. Magnitude of the airflow oscillations was also larger for participants with MND ( z = 3.46), and kurtosis of airflow was smaller ( z = −4.70) during forced expiration, indicating persistent airflow oscillations throughout exhalation.

Conclusions:

The significantly larger-magnitude, lower-kurtosis, and more prominent presence of sawtooth-like airflow periodicity within a frequency range similar to phonation observed in individuals with MND with neurolaryngeal impairments suggests glottic airflow resistance during forced expiration.
The Historical Development of Duress and the Unfounded Result of Denying Duress as a Defence to Murder
Authors: Elkington Amy
Published: April 2022

Duress provides an excuse to most crimes but since Howe is excluded to murder. This means someone who kills due to a fear of death or serious injury is denied the defence and instead faces a conviction, and life imprisonment, for murder. This article focuses on the origins of duress to establish that duress was introduced to excuse treason and as such was used to excuse unlawful killing. In Howe, rather than following Dudley and Stephens, there were other binding and persuasive precedents the Lords could have followed to reach the decision that duress should be available to murder. Furthermore, some of the most influential opinions in denying the defence to murder, Hale and East, were voiced without reference to case authority. In conclusion, there is no historical doctrine for denying duress to murder and doing so today is historically unfounded.
Not a First Language but One Repertoire: Translanguaging as a Decolonizing Project
Authors: Wei Li , García Ofelia
Published: April 2022

Translanguaging has opened up spaces to recognize the dynamic multilingualism of students in classrooms taught in dominant languages, and problematized concepts such as ‘additive bilingualism’. This article aims to further explore two issues that remain little understood. First, translanguaging is often seen as simply the acknowledgement or use of multilingual students’ ‘first language’. This article clarifies that this is a misunderstanding, for the trans- in translanguaging connotes the transcendence of named languages, the going beyond named languages as have been socially constructed. Second, in going beyond named languages, translanguaging is also intended as a decolonizing project, revealing how bilinguals inhabit a world with different knowledge bases and linguistic/cultural practices. We use two bilingual students, in London and New York City respectively, to show how they are viewed and listened to by their teachers as bilinguals with two ‘incomplete’ linguistic systems because each element in their language/semiotic repertoire is seen as a separate entity. We then weave all the elements together to provide a fuller picture of these students. In doing so, we reject raciolinguistic ideologies that have enregistered them as deficient and instead regard them through a translanguaging lens. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding translanguaging as a unitary repertoire, as well as its decolonial potential in education as teachers abandon the focus on named standardized languages and engage fully with their students’ full repertoire of features and meanings.
Novel triangle method for evaluation of fracability in transitional shale: Case study from well ZXY-1 in the southern North China Basin
Authors: Chen Shijing , Li Pei , Qin Liling , Zhang Jinchuan , Li Zhiguo , Shi Miao
Published: April 2022

Fracability is a property widely used to evaluate whether reservoirs can effectively fracture to increase production capacity. The brittleness index, which is used to evaluate reservoir fracability, is calculated via various methods, and the evaluation process of the brittleness index is complicated and not sufficiently intuitive. Thus, we used triangle method to evaluate reservoir fracability. The shale composition is classified into strong (quartz + pyrite), moderate (carbonate + plagioclase + siderite), and poor (clay + TOC + porosity) fracability based on the mechanical parameters of each shale component, which were integrated as the endpoints of the triangle method. Meanwhile, the triangle method is divided into four fracability evaluation grades: strong (I), moderate (II), weak (III) and poor (IV) fracability; each major evaluation grade has four sub-categories: best for fracturing (1), better for fracturing (2), poor for fracturing (3) and worst for fracturing (4). The triangle method is simpler and more convenient than the conventional method, dividing the fracability evaluation grades more specifically. The difference in fracability between samples can be shown intuitively, which enhances the accuracy and reliability of the evaluation of transitional shales and provides theoretical support for reservoir reconstruction.
Reward reduces the fission illusion in the sound-induced flash illusion
Authors: Yu Gaoxin , Liu Chunmei , Liu Xiaole , Wang Aijun , Zhang Ming
Published: April 2022

Pairing a single visual stimulus with multiple auditory stimuli will lead to the illusory perception of multiple visual stimuli, which is known as sound-induced flash illusion (SIFI). The present study adopted the classic SIFI paradigm to investigate whether value-associated tasks could affect the SIFI. By adjusting the sequence of reward and nonreward conditions, we also examined the effect of reward history on SIFI. The results showed that the fission illusion was reduced when associated with momentary reward, demonstrating significantly higher accuracy and discriminability than the nonreward condition. However, the fusion illusion was not affected by the momentary reward, and the explanation was that the fusion illusion was not as stable as the fission illusion and disappeared across different trials and conditions. Moreover, the robustness of reward history in the present study was not as strong as previous studies have suggested, indicating that the effect of sound on the perceptual representation of visual stimuli is strong and robust to reward history. These findings demonstrated that the reward could reduce the SIFI and broaden the existing dichotomy of SIFI. New evidence for the operation of value-driven attention mechanisms is also provided, suggesting that the underlying value-driven attention operates across multiple sensory systems.
Do Prisoners With Reintegration Needs Receive Relevant Professional Assistance?
Authors: Pasma Amanda J. , van Ginneken Esther F. J. C. , Palmen Hanneke , Nieuwbeerta Paul
Published: April 2022

Ex-prisoners often experience barriers to successful transition regarding employment, finances, housing, healthcare, and valid identification. Based on the Offender Management framework, assistance during imprisonment by prison- and community-based professionals is considered key in preparing prisoners for release regarding these reintegration needs. Therefore, the current study examines the degree to which prisoners with reintegration needs are assisted by relevant professionals. We used self-reported data from 4,309 prisoners of the Dutch Prison Visitation Study, part of the Life in Custody Study. The results showed that prisoners have more contact with prison-based than with community-based professionals, but that the latter relatively often have contact with prisoners with related reintegration needs. Yet, a specific group of prisoners with reintegration needs remains invisible. Prisoners with complex, health, or valid identification needs, and prisoners in the start or pre-release phase require further attention. It is discussed what can be learned from these findings on Dutch Offender Management practices.
Large scale rocky desertification reversal in South China karst
Authors: Yue Yuemin , Qi Xiangkun , Wang Kelin , Liao Chujie , Tong Xiaowei , Brandt Martin , Liu Bo
Published: April 2022

The karst area in southwest China is, in recent decades, one of the world’s regions with the fastest vegetation growth and increase in aboveground biomass. The improvement in the ecological conditions within this region can, to a large extent, be attributed to ecological protection projects. However, it remains unclear whether the observed increase in vegetation cover could mitigate rocky desertification at large scale. In this study, we utilized information from large field campaigns in the years 2005, 2011, and 2016, supported by satellite imagery interpretation and statistics on ecological protection projects, to explore the impact of restoration efforts on rocky desertification mitigation and vegetation resilience/resistance. The results show that restoration efforts caused a net decrease of 26.14% in areas affected by rocky desertification from 2005 to 2016. The larger the restoration efforts, the stronger the decrease in rocky desertification areas, and also the vulnerability of landscapes towards desertification; the probability of rocky desertification occurring decreased almost linearly with increased restoration efforts. In addition, both vegetation resilience and resistance against climate variations increased with restoration efforts. Restoration efforts were mainly responsible for the recovery of the ecosystem, showing that human impact is the main driver for the reversal of rocky desertification. Our study provides scientific evidence on rocky desertification control being an important step towards a sustainable development of the landscapes of Southwest China.
Reviewing Manuscripts Reporting Findings From Single-Case Research Design Studies
Authors: Hott Brittany L. , Flores Margaret M. , Morano Stephanie , Randolph Kathleen M. , Peltier Corey
Published: April 2022

This article, part of the Learning Disability Quarterly special series dedicated to single-case research design (SCRD), summarizes the review process and outlines how to provide high-quality SCRD study manuscript reviews. We offer recommendations for the entirety of the review process, including accepting the role of reviewer, evaluating quality of SCRD studies, and, finally, adhering to reporting standards with focused attention on the applied nature of the engaging work that encompasses research in learning disabilities. In addition, we discuss (a) participant and setting description, (b) implementation of particular designs, (c) measurement procedures for dependent variable(s), (d) providing evidence of reliability, (e) graphic display of time-series data, (f) descriptions of results, and (g) acknowledgment of design limitations. We describe the challenges facing SCRD researchers and reviewers engaging in learning disabilities research within applied settings, identify fatal flaws that authors cannot address, and point out omissions that researchers can address through the revision process. Implications for practice, resources, and future directions are shared.
Leveraging Public–Private Partnerships During COVID-19: Providing Virtual Field Opportunities for Student Learners and Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults
Authors: Adepoju Omolola E. , Jennings Sheara , Schrader Patti , Reeve Kathleen , McManaman-Bridges Tracy , Gilbert Lauren , King Ben , Dobbins Jessica , Rollins Andy , Cockerell Tray , Woodard LeChauncy , Torres-Hostos Luis
Published: April 2022

While preventive and management measures are important to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, strategies like social distancing can have devastating effects on older adults who are already at risk for social isolation and loneliness. In response, two Colleges of Health Professions (Social Work and Nursing) at a large public University leveraged a partnership with a national health and wellbeing company to address social isolation and loneliness in Houston area older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This intergenerational linkage initiative involved 707 older adults and 177 graduate social work and nursing students. This study describes the process of developing a virtual educational opportunity for students while also meeting the needs of vulnerable older adults in Houston, the third largest, and one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. Findings include student/learner outcomes, as well as self-reported improvements in loneliness scores, and unhealthy physical and mental health days among enrolled older adults.
“I Called us the Sacrificial Lambs”: Experiences of Nurses Working in Border City Hospitals During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ménard A. Dana , Soucie Kendall , Freeman Laurie A. , Ralph Jody , Chang Yiu-Yin , Morassutti Olivia
Published: April 2022

Background

The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the personal and professional lives of frontline nurses.

Purpose

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of Canadian Registered Nurses (RNs) working in Ontario or United States hospitals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 RNs living in Ontario and employed either at an Ontario or United States hospital. Three main themes were identified across both healthcare contexts.

Results

1) The Initial Response to the pandemic included a rapid onset of chaos and confusion, with significant changes in structure and patient care, often exacerbated by hospital management. Ethical concerns arose (e.g., redeployment, allocation of resources) and participants described negative emotional reactions. 2) Nurses described Managing the Pandemic by finding new ways to nurse and enhanced teamwork/camaraderie; they reported both struggle and resiliency while trying to maintain work and home life balance. Community responses were met with both appreciation and stigma. 3) Participants said they were Looking Forward to a “new normal”, taking pride in patient improvements, accomplishments, and silver linings, with tempered optimism about the future. Many expressed a reaffirmation of their identities as nurses. Differences between participants working in the US and those working in Ontario were noted in several areas (e.g., initial levels of chaos, ethical concerns, community stigma).

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has been very difficult for nursing as a profession. Close attention to post-pandemic issues is warranted.
Self-Regulatory Coping Behaviors and Stress Reactivity: Exploring the Environmental Affordance Model of Health Disparities
Authors: Mezuk Briana , Kalesnikava Viktoryia , Spears Erica , Kirk Keri , Rafferty Jane , Del Toro Juan
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To explore the relationship between self-regulatory coping behaviors (SRCB) and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) stress reactivity.

Methods

Data came from the Richmond Stress and Sugar Study (n=125, median age: 57 years, 46% non-Hispanic White, 48% African American). The relationships between 11 SRCB (“health-harming” [e.g., smoking] and “health-promoting” [e.g., exercising]) with HPA stress reactivity, indicated by salivary cortisol response to the Trier Social Stress Test, was assessed using multi-level modeling.

Results

Health-harming and health-promoting SRCB were positively correlated (+0.33, p<0.001). Several individual behaviors were related to HPA stress reactivity, for example, smoking and meditation were associated with shallower increases in cortisol (smoking: −13.0%, 95%CI: −20.9% to −4.3%; meditation: −14.0%, 95%CI: −22.0% to −5.1%). However, SRCB summary measures were unrelated to stress reactivity.

Discussion

Health-harming and health-promoting SRCB are inter-related. Specific behaviors, rather than groupings as health-harming versus -promoting, are related to HPA stress reactivity.
Transient separation and fluctuation of turbulent flow in an axisymmetric U-turn channel perturbed by periodically passing gust inflow
Authors: Zhang Zheying , Zhang Wei , Zhu Zuchao
Published: April 2022

The flow in the vane-less diffuser bend and return the channel of radial turbo-machines which is perturbed by the time-periodic and circumferentially passing jet-wake structure exited from the upstream impeller, and the transient characteristics of separation and fluctuation occurring in these stationary components determine the operational stability and performances of the turbo-machines especially for the next stage. In this work, we present a numerical investigation on the transient separation and fluctuation behaviors of turbulent flow in a sector of a 180° bended axisymmetric U-turn channel subjected to time-periodic gust inflow which passes in the circumferential direction. The objective is to explore the effect of period of gust inflow, in simulating the non-dimensional blade passing frequency (BPF*) in turbo-machines, on the characteristics of flow in the whole U-turn channel. Numerical results reveal that flow separation occurs in the curved section for about half the cycle at BPF* = 1 and 2, and earlier separation is observed for BPF* = 2, while there is no separation for BPF* = 5 and 10. There is a phase lag between the local skin friction coefficient in the channel and gust inflow, and the magnitude of the phase lag is related to BPF*. As BPF* increases, the thickness of the boundary layer on both walls decreases.
Effect of multi-layer graphene on microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium-based composites
Authors: Sharma Deepak , Singla Vinod Kumar , Singh Sachin
Published: April 2022

To achieve the enhanced mechanical properties of the titanium grade 5 (Ti64) alloy, multi-layer graphene (MLG) reinforced Ti64 nanocomposites were successfully fabricated by using spark plasma sintering process. Spherical Ti64 particles with an average diameter of 25 μm, MLG with an average diameter of 5 μm, and an average thickness of 2.5 nm were used in the present study. Microstructure study reveals the in-suit reaction between Ti (matrix) and C (reinforcement) that leads to the formation of TiC along the interface. Further, it was observed that a maximum grain refinement of 32.56% occurs in the Ti64/1.2 wt% MLG nanocomposite. Strengthening along the Ti64 and MLG interface and grain refinement are the primary reasons for the enhanced mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Nanocomposites with 1.2 wt% MLG exhibit nanohardness of 5.29 GPa, elastic modulus of 119.8 GPa which is 68.4% and 140.5% higher compared with that of Ti64 sintered alloy. The results showed that MLG reinforcement plays an important role in improving the mechanical properties of Ti64 nanocomposites.
A new approach to increase the environmental sustainability of the discharging process in the over-injection of conduits for bowden cables using automation
Authors: Penne R , Silva FJG , Campilho RDSG , Santos G , Sousa VFC , Ferreira LP , Sá JC , Pereira MT
Published: April 2022

The industry of automotive components is highly competitive. Polymer injection, used to over-mould conduits, is used to produce the necessary connections between the end of the Bowden cables and the car parts where they need to be assembled. Depending on the vehicle or the use, there will be a different connection of the conduit. The industry continuously looks for greener and more sustainable solutions. This study presents a strategy to save energy in polymer over-injection moulding. The developed concept consists of replacing the previous moulding system by a custom automatic one, using two more compact injection machines and automation, allowing for increased productivity and sustainability, all while retaining operators’ jobs. An application of the novel methodology is presented, reporting an energy consumption reduction of about 80% and an increase of 12% in production rate. With this work, the benefits of automation for overcoming sustainability and productivity problems are highlighted. Furthermore, the developed strategy may be applied to other production processes, regarding the injection of small parts in large quantities for a variety of materials.
Study on the inner flow mechanisms and unsteady force distribution of side channel pump
Authors: Adu-Poku Kofi Asamoah , Zhang Fan , Appiah Desmond , Chen Ke , Osman Fareed Konadu , Acheaw Emmanuel
Published: April 2022

Stability dynamics in pumps is a key problematic issue which needs to be critically looked at. For instance, in side channel pump, pressure fluctuations and unsteady forces characteristics are inevitable in the clearances and this strongly affects the flow and pressure stability. Therefore, the research work herein seeks to numerically investigate the pressure fluctuation intensity in the clearances and characterize the axial and radial forces distributions around the impeller under different blade suction angles. Three impeller schemes 1, 2, and 3 are modeled with blade suction angles 10°, 20°, and 30°, respectively. Based on the reliable standard SST k-ω turbulent flow model, the unsteady flow state of the side channel pump was obtained by numerical simulation and further verified by experiment results. Variations in amplitude and frequency at different monitoring points in the clearances were observed in both time and frequency domain for each impeller scheme. The findings elucidate that pressure fluctuation intensity in the clearances is significantly different for all the impeller schemes. Obvious asymmetrical distribution of fluctuation magnitudes was noticeable in the axial and radial clearance. Generally, the amplitude of pressure fluctuation intensity of impeller scheme 1 and 2 is substantially reduced compared to impeller scheme 3. Also, impeller scheme 1 exerts the smallest magnitude of axial and radial force. However, when the pump operates under impeller scheme 3, the amplitude of the forces increases significantly. This study provides a solid foundation for the reduction of pressure fluctuations, vibration, and noise performance in side channel pumps.
Sustainable Development Goals and Small and Medium Enterprises: A Comparative Study of Emerging Economies and Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Oppong Nana Boakye
Published: April 2022

As global environmental and humanitarian issues increase, businesses are striving hard to tackle these challenges at the global level and preserve the ecosystem. Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have made sustainability reporting (SR) more imperative for both developing and emerging economies (EEs), igniting interest in literature. The primary purpose of this article is to conduct a comparative study of the state of SR in relation to the UN SDGs. The article analysed data extracted from the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) sustainability disclosure database as submitted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the reporting years 2016–2020. In all 172 SME reports from EEs and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) were analysed using a multivariate multiple regression. The findings show that the listed SMEs are more likely to address the SDGs to address the SDGs than non-listed SMEs. Again, firms with higher sustainability impacts are more likely to integrate the SDGs in their reporting. Lastly, the data confirm regional effects with regard to SDG reporting. Moreover, firms from low-income economies are more likely to report on the SDGs. This study aims to find how sustainable disclosure in EE and SSA is contributing towards SME growth and survival.
Economic Policy Uncertainty Versus Sector Volatility: Evidence from India Using Multi-scale Wavelet Granger Causality Analysis
Authors: Ambatipudi Vamsidhar , Kumar Dilip
Published: April 2022

The present study examines the relationship between Indian economic policy uncertainty (IEPU) and the different sector volatilities (SVs) of the Indian economy over the period 2006–2021. The relationship is studied using a multi-scale correlation framework, combining wavelet coherence analysis with the Granger causality test. The findings indicate a stronger relationship between the IEPU and SV for all sectors during COVID-19, primarily in the medium term. While IEPU led to SV during the global financial crisis (GFC), the SVs led to the IEPU during the COVID-19. However, the Granger causality test provides evidence that, in the long term, the SVs cause the IEPU while the IEPU leads to SV in the short term. The IT sector is crucial as its volatility leads to IEPU across all scales. These results have substantial implications for policymakers and portfolio managers.

JEL Codes: G10, G17, G32
An Innovative Telemedicine Initiative From Sri Lanka: The Value of Volunteerism in a Resource-Constrained Scenario During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Karunathilake Indika , Edirisinghe Sajith , Weerasinghe Manuj , Perera B. J. C. , Hamdani Anver , Mudiyanse Rasnayaka , Randenikumara Sanka , de Silva Dulmini , Senanayake Dulanja , Gamini De Silva Sarath , Guruge Kalyani , Ragunathan M. K. , Sumathipala Athula , Abeykoon Palitha
Published: April 2022

The unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka since July 2021 led to a situation where the health system was getting overwhelmed. The priority shifted toward triaging patients and identifying those who need immediate medical intervention and managing the rest in home settings. An integrated patient management system where patients could access a medical professional through a short messages service (SMS) and calling system was established. This service provided telephone triage, patient advice, and coordinated with the national ambulance system to evacuate ill patients. This integrated helpline system had a major impact on the management of the recent surge of COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka by patients needing urgent care were directed for hospitalization and the rest managed at home with support, reassurance, and guidance. The numbers of oxygen-dependent patients and deaths declined rapidly and the number of available beds increased. The system played a major role in bringing the crisis under control. Despite many challenges, this innovative integrated system is a unique example of medical volunteerism. The pandemic catalyzed the utilization of information and communication technologies effectively by providing healthcare with a reduction of the burden on healthcare institutions and professionals.
A Messianic Jewish Approach to Jewish Catholicism: Responding to Antoine Lévy's Jewish Church
Authors: Kinzer Mark S.
Published: April 2022

Antoine Lévy's recent volume, Jewish Church, presents his vision of a Catholic bilateral ecclesiology in which the Jewishness of the universal Church is manifested through the particular Torah-based corporate life of Jewish Catholics. Lévy articulates this vision through a sustained engagement with my writings on this subject. In this article, I first summarize and affirm the heart of Lévy's ecclesiological thesis, along with its soteriological foundation. I then show how his misunderstanding of my work sometimes leads him to exaggerate the extent of disagreement that exists between us. I conclude by highlighting three areas of genuine disagreement that merit further discussion: (1) Do the Jewish people bear any corporate responsibility for the death of Jesus? (2) Does the Church bear responsibility for the emergence of supersessionism? (3) Is there symmetry or asymmetry in the authority of Jewish and Christian tradition for Jewish disciples of Jesus?
Multimodal Virtual Reality-Based Assessment of Adult ADHD: A Feasibility Study in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Wiebe Annika , Kannen Kyra , Li Mengtong , Aslan Behrem , Anders David , Selaskowski Benjamin , Ettinger Ulrich , Lux Silke , Philipsen Alexandra , Braun Niclas
Published: April 2022

Neuropsychological assessments are often surprisingly inaccurate in mapping clinically-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, presumably due to their low ecological validity. Virtual reality (VR) might offer a potential solution for this problem, given its capability to generate standardized and yet highly realistic virtual environments. As the first adaptation of existing virtual classroom scenarios to an adult population, we developed a Virtual Seminar Room (VSR) for multimodal characterization of ADHD symptoms. To test its feasibility, N = 35 healthy participants were immersed into the VSR via a head-mounted display and carried out a VR-embedded continuous performance task (CPT) under varying levels of distractions in two experimental blocks (24 min each). CPT performance, electroencephalography (EEG) measures, and head movements (actigraphy) were simultaneously recorded and analyzed offline. Although CPT performance remained constant throughout the task, head movements increased significantly from Block 1 to Block 2. In addition, EEG theta (4–7 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) power was higher during Block 1 than Block 2, and during distractor-present than distractor-absent phases. Moreover, P300 amplitudes were higher during Block 1 than Block 2, and P300 latencies were prolonged in distractor-absent compared with distractor-present phases. Although the paradigm awaits further improvements, this study confirms the general feasibility of the VSR and provides a first step toward a multimodal, ecologically valid, and reliable VR-based adult ADHD assessment.
Measurement Invariance and Application of an Alcohol-Related Consequence Scale for American Indian Adolescents
Authors: Goldstein Silvi C. , Spillane Nichea S. , Schick Melissa R. , Rossi Joseph S.
Published: April 2022

American Indian (AI) adolescents experience disproportionate alcohol-related consequences. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties and application of the American Drug and Alcohol Survey (ADAS™) alcohol-related consequence scale for AI adolescents through a secondary analysis of a large population-based sample of adolescents living on or near AI reservations. We found support for the ADAS alcohol-related consequence scale as a one-factor model, invariant discretely across race, sex assigned at birth, and age, and with good internal consistency. Evidence for construct validity was found through significant positive correlations between frequency of past 12 months of drinking, frequency of past 12 months of intoxication, and lifetime alcohol-related consequences. AI adolescents were significantly more likely to report more alcohol-related consequences than their non-Hispanic White peers. Race significantly interacted with frequency of drinking in predicting alcohol-related consequences such that these associations were stronger for AI adolescents. However, race did not significantly interact with frequency of intoxication in predicting alcohol-related consequences. Results from this study demonstrate the utility of the ADAS alcohol-related consequence scale for use across demographic groups with little risk of measurement bias.
Protecting Youth from Racism and Prejudice: Contexts, Interventions, and Future Directions
Authors: Brown Christia Spears
Published: April 2022

In the first half of the 21st century, it is clear that racism and prejudice are prevalent worldwide and begin in childhood—as children can be perpetrators, victims, and bystanders of racism and prejudice. Reducing racism in youth is a critical step toward improving the society we all live in. This special issue reviews and synthesizes the latest research on racism and prejudice in childhood and adolescence, examining the role of families, schools, media, and friendships in reducing prejudice in youth and highlighting how to enhance collective well-being. By focusing on research over the past two decades, and including a range of international perspectives, this special section helps make theoretical, conceptual, and methodological advances on the topic of reducing and protecting children from racism.