bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(How) can international trade union organisations be democratic?
Authors: Hyman Richard , Gumbrell-McCormick Rebecca
Published: August 2020

International trade union organisations, like unions at national level, commonly affirm their commitment to internal democracy. But what does this mean? There exists a vast literature on union democracy, addressing the questions whether democracy in trade unions is desirable; whether it is possible; and if so, how it can be achieved. However, the focus of analysis is almost exclusively at the national (or sub-national) level, with the premise that union members are individual workers. But international unions (like many national confederations indeed) do not have individual workers as members: they are organisations of organisations. What does this imply for our understanding of union democracy? We begin our article by summarising the broader literature on union democracy, then develop an interpretation of international unions as ‘meta-organisations’. We next explore some of the implications for debates on democracy at international level, and end by asking whether theories of deliberative democracy can help in understanding the options for international union democracy.
From preservation to entertainment: Accounting for the transformation of participation in Italian state museums
Authors: Agostino Deborah , Arnaboldi Michela
Published: August 2020

This study investigates the evolution of performance measures in Italian state museums, alongside the evolution of their role from preservation institutes to entertainment sites, remodelling themselves as participatory museums of the digital era. Italian autonomous state museums, and in particular four of these museums, were chosen as the main field of analysis because this category of state museums was affected the most by the move from the participatory to the entertainment model through successive reforms. Results underlined a renewed role for entertainment, which acted as a mediator between the notion of enjoyment and that of knowledge; the primary importance of the measure about the number of visitors, which assumed different nuances along the years; and the double function of digital technologies in entertaining visitors and providing new sources of measurement.
Delivering Person-Centered Care in Community Mental Health Programs
Authors: Choy-Brown Mimi , Stanhope Victoria , Williams Nathaniel , Bond Lynden
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the extent of and variation in person-centered care across programs within community mental health clinics. Service plans ( N = 160) from programs within eight clinics were assessed for person-centered care planning using an objective fidelity measure. Univariate statistics calculated overall fidelity to person-centered care planning and mixed-effect regression models examined person-centered care planning by program type. Overall, providers demonstrated low levels of competency in person-centered care planning. There were significant differences according to program type, with providers from assertive community treatment programs demonstrating the highest level of competency. Providers need more training and support to implement person-centered care consistently across community mental health programs. Those program types with associated fidelity measures that include person-centered care had a higher level of competence confirming the value of fidelity measurement in promoting quality services.
Geographic Variation in Knowledge of Palliative Care Among US Adults: Findings From 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey
Authors: Chen Guanming , Hong Young-Rock , Wilkie Diana J. , Kittleson Sheri , Huo Jinhai , Bian Jiang
Published: August 2020

Background:

Public knowledge and awareness of palliative care (PC) is important to its effective use. However, it remains unclear whether the geographic variation in knowledge of PC exits in the United States. This study examined the national geographic variation in knowledge of PC.

Methods:

The study sample was obtained from the 2018 National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey. Basic knowledge of PC, goal concordant treatment, misconceptions, and primary information source of PC were compared across 4 census regions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with awareness of PC among 9 census divisions.

Results:

A total of 3194 respondents (weighted sample size: 229 591 005) were included in this study. Overall, 29% of all respondents reported having knowledge of PC; 32.9% of those residing in Northeast had some knowledge of PC, followed by 30.8% in the South, 26.2% in Midwest, and 25.6% in West. By census divisions, respondents residing in 3 divisions were more likely to have PC knowledge (New England, odds ratio: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.48-6.32, P = .003; South Atlantic, odds ratio: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.15-3.35, P = .014; Pacific, odds ratio: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.12-3.09, P = .018) compared to those in the Mountain division.

Conclusions:

The variation of PC knowledge on census division and state level in 2018 was consistent with the real-world geographic disparities in the availability of PC programs. These findings represent an opportunity for minimizing the gap of geographic disparity by initiating strategic programs and promoting PC programs nationwide.
Progress Toward an Early Social Indicator for Infants and Toddlers
Authors: Greenwood Charles R. , Carta Judith J. , Schnitz Alana G. , Higgins Susan , Buzhardt Jay , Walker Dale , Jia Fan , Irvin Dwight
Published: August 2020

Measures of young children’s social development are needed in the Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) approach to early childhood. In 2004, we reported initial development of an observational measure of infants’ and toddlers’ social skills designed for early educators, the Early Social Indicator (ESI). Here, we report preliminary findings on the ESI’s feasibility, sustainability, and sensitivity to growth in social engagement based on a large, multiyear sample of children in one early childhood program that agreed to pilot the measure. Results indicated that ESI use by program staff was sustained over a 5-year period. Program staff were reliable coding a range of children’s positive and negative nonverbal and verbal social skills. However, staff were not reliable when coding the target of a child’s social response when it was not the Adult play partner (i.e., the Peer, or Nondirected target). Results documented sensitivity to growth over time, dynamic patterns of change within and across key skills consistent with the typical course of social development, and moderation by children’s home language and Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) status. Implications are discussed.
Development of the Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Self-Care Scale
Authors: Deveci Zeynep , Karayurt Özgül , Bilik Ozlem , Eyigör Sibel
Published: August 2020

The purpose of study was to develop the Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Self-Care Scale to evaluate the self-care practices of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BRCL); and to examine the psycholinguistic and psychometric characteristics of this scale. The item pool of the scale was created based on the literature in this descriptive study. Content validity, explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses used in evaluation of the validity; and item analyzes, the Cronbach’s Alpha and Split Half analyzes were made for reliability in the study. The content validity index was found to be above 0.80. In the Explanatory Factor Analysis, a four-factor structure was obtained. In Confirmatory Factor Analysis, fit indices were found to be acceptable. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients of the sub-dimensions of the scale varied between 0.62 and 0.86. It was determined the Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Self-Care Scale was a valid and reliable scale for women with BRCL.
Musculoskeletal Pain Survey Outcomes in Cleft Surgeons and Orthodontists
Authors: Kim Justine S. , Chen Wendy , Grunwaldt Lorelei , Losee Joseph E. , Bise Christopher , Schuster Lindsay
Published: August 2020

Objective:

Determine prevalence and characteristics of musculoskeletal pain and pathology in cleft providers.

Design:

An IRB-exempt survey based on previously validated surveys was administered. Data collected included demographics, practice description, musculoskeletal pain history, formal diagnoses, and interventions.

Setting:

Survey was sent to all cleft centers approved by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association worldwide.

Patients, Participants:

All cleft surgeons and orthodontists at these centers met entry criteria. Eighty-three providers responded. Cleft center coordinators were unable to confirm the number of survey recipients.

Main Outcome Measures:

The hypothesis formulated prior to data collection was that prevalence would be comparable to general plastic surgeons and other at-risk health care providers.

Results:

Average age of respondents was 49.8 ± 11.3 years; 33.9% of respondents were female. Average body mass index was 24.8 ± 3.5 kg/m2. Headaches were observed in 62.7% of surveyed respondents while musculoskeletal symptoms were reported in 89.8%. Of the 12 body parts addressed, most commonly affected were the neck (71.2%), shoulders (52.5%), and lower back (67.8%). Pain interfered with hobbies and home life in the majority of respondents (62.7%). Those who reported a formal diagnosis were more likely to undergo treatment including surgery ( P < .01), medication ( P = .03), and physical therapies ( P < .01).

Conclusions:

Cleft surgeons and orthodontists experience a higher frequency of headaches compared to the general population, and musculoskeletal disorders are more prevalent than reported by general plastic surgeons. Pain interferes with hobbies and home life. Formal diagnosis leads to treatment. Preventative exercises and interventions are presented.
Exploring Health Behaviors in Ugandan Adolescents Living in Rural Fishing Communities
Authors: Ngabirano Tom D. , Saftner Melissa A. , McMorris Barbara J.
Published: August 2020

Adolescents in rural Uganda face unique opportunities and challenges to their health. The primary goal of this exploratory cross-sectional survey study was to describe the health behaviors of adolescents of age 13–19 living in four Ugandan fishing communities as a foundation for developing programs to reduce risky health behaviors and HIV/AIDS transmission. The majority of boys (59.6%) and one third of girls reported lifetime sexual intercourse; girls reported earlier sexual debut than boys, as well as higher rates of sexual assault, rape, and/or coerced intercourse. Sexually active youth were more likely to have viewed pornography, be tested for other sexually transmitted infections, and attend boarding schools. Alcohol use was prevalent among both sexes; however, the use of other substances was infrequently reported. Since the majority of adolescents in Uganda attend boarding school, there is an opportunity to expand the school nurse scope of care to include health promotion education and counseling.
Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcomes of Microfracture Plus Chitosan/Blood Implant vs Microfracture for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Authors: Camurcu Yalkin , Ucpunar Hanifi , Yapici Furkan , Karakose Resit , Ozcan Seckin , Cobden Adem , Duman Serda , Sofu Hakan
Published: August 2020

Background:

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes of arthroscopic microfracture (MF) plus chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant and MF alone for the treatment of the osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLTs).

Methods:

Patients who underwent either MF plus chitosan (group 1, n = 32) or MF alone (group 2, n = 31) between 2015 and 2019 in 2 separate time periods were retrospectively analyzed. Visual analog scale (VAS) score and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score were used for clinical evaluation. The magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) system was used for MRI evaluation. The mean follow-up time was 32 ± 13 months (range, 12-61 months).

Results:

Postoperatively, we detected significant improvements in both groups in terms of VAS and AOFAS scores. However, we observed no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of clinical scores, except the mean VAS function score, which was significantly higher in group 1 ( P = .022). According to MOCART scale, complete repair with the filling of the chondral defect and intactness of the surface of the repair tissue were more common in group 1. However, these parameters did not significantly differ between groups ( P = .257 and .242, respectively).

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic MF plus chitosan glycerol phosphate/blood implant did not result in better clinical and MRI outcomes compared with MF alone in the treatment of OCLTs.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Bearing performance degradation assessment based on topological representation and hidden Markov model
Authors: Wang Ran , Jin Jihao , Hu Xiong , Chen Jin
Published: August 2020

Bearing performance degradation assessment is essential to avoid abrupt machinery breakdown. However, background noise, outliers, and other interferences in the monitoring data may restrict the accuracy and stability of bearing performance degradation assessment in practical applications. In this study, a bearing performance degradation assessment method based on the topological representation and hidden Markov model is proposed. To construct a robust and representative feature space, the topological representations, specifically, topological meshes of the original features are obtained by self-organizing map, which can represent the general structure of the original feature space and eliminate outliers and other interferences. Then, the weight vectors of topological meshes are used as degradation features. Finally, the hidden Markov model is adopted as the assessment model to evaluate the bearing performance degradation tendency and detect the initial degradation effectively. To validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, two experimental datasets are analyzed. Compared with peer methods, the performance indicator curve of the proposed method presents a more smooth and accurate degradation tendency than comparative methods. Moreover, initial degradation can be identified accurately.
New Empiricisms in the Anthropocene: Thinking With Speculative Fiction About Science and Social Inquiry
Authors: de Freitas Elizabeth , Truman Sarah E.
Published: August 2020

Interest in new empiricisms and transdisciplinary methods has led many social inquirers to engage with 20th-century post-classical physical science. Many of these projects have focused on alternative matter–mind mixtures and in/organic variation, concerned that past theories of sociality have dismissed the vibrancy and animacy of the nonhuman material world. This paper explores the power of speculative fiction to help us rethink empiricism in posthuman ecologies of the Anthropocene, in the midst of post-truth conditions and growing science denialism. We foreground speculative fiction as a way to open up scientific imaginaries, rethinking the relationship between nature, technics, and human “sense” making. We show how such texts offer alternative images of research methods for studying pluralist ecologies and new forms of worldly belonging.
Prework
Authors: Gloviczki Peter Joseph
Published: August 2020

I work toward a conceptualization of prework, especially its place in the classroom, as a way to articulate what it means to begin research writing.
Technology-Facilitated Domestic Abuse in Political Economy: A New Theoretical Framework
Authors: Yardley Elizabeth
Published: August 2020

This article presents a new theoretical framework around technology-facilitated domestic abuse (TFDA) in identifying four distinct types of omnipresent behavior. Perpetrators are increasingly drawing upon networked technologies like smartphones, social media, and GPS trackers in monitoring, controlling, and abusing survivors. There is considerable academic literature developing in response to this. While this scholarship is valuable, this article argues that TFDA must be understood as a neoliberal manifestation of patriarchal legacies of misogyny and sexism. A failure to recognize this will serve to prioritize abusers’ freedom to do harm over rights of survivors to be protected from harm.
Combining Egalitarian and Proportional Sharing Rules in Team Tournaments to Incentivize Energy-Efficient Behavior in a Principal-Agent Context
Authors: Hoffmann Christin , Thommes Kirsten
Published: August 2020

Triggering the energy-efficient behavior of agents in firms simultaneously decreases costs and mitigates CO2 emissions. If firms use team tournaments to increase energy-efficient behavior and thus employee performance, they may face unintended consequences, like a bifurcation effect: Individuals drop out if they believe that they cannot win the contest. By contrast, high-performing employees may overexert themselves. Additionally, some individuals might be tempted to free-ride. In a field experiment with truck drivers, we analyze whether proportional sharing of the bonus within teams based on individual effort instead of egalitarian sharing reduces both bifurcation and free-riding during team tournaments. Our results reveal that (1) the team contest improves performance; (2) this increase in performance is overall slightly stronger under the proportional than under the egalitarian sharing rule, using ceteris paribus comparisons; and (3) the performance increase is mainly driven by the team member performing worse.
Theorizing Through Literature Reviews: The Miner-Prospector Continuum
Authors: Breslin Dermot , Gatrell Caroline
Published: August 2020

While literature reviews play an increasingly important role in theory development, understanding how they contribute to the process of theorizing is lacking. This article develops the metaphor of a miner-prospector continuum, which allows review scholars to identify approaches taken in literature reviews to develop theory. We identify eight strategies located on a continuum ranging from miners—who position their contributions within a bounded and established domain of study alongside other researchers—to prospectors, who are more likely to step outside disciplinary boundaries, introducing novel perspectives and venture beyond knowledge silos. We explore the pathways between miner and prospector in terms of strategies followed, choices made, risks borne, and benefits gained. We identify the roles to be played by different stakeholders in balancing the mix between miners and prospectors. While respecting the need for both miner and prospector approaches, we suggest that collective efforts toward encouraging prospector reviews could assist management research in tackling, through reviews, the complex challenges facing organizations and society today.
The Asian Paradigm in Hospitality and Tourism
Authors: Chon Kaye , Park Eunhye (Olivia) , Zoltan Judit
Published: August 2020

The emergence of Asian countries, powered by economic growth, has set the stage for Asia’s tourist destinations and hospitality companies to stand out in the global sphere. This study contemplates the shifting center of modern hospitality and tourism gravity toward Asia by implementing the three pillars of capital theory: economic, cultural, and social. The concept of the Asian paradigm was revisited to demonstrate the unique service provision and care for guests that forms the basis for Asian hospitality and tourism. This study offers perspectives about how Asian tradition and evolving Asian identities influence the leisure industry and create competitive advantage. The cycle of economic, cultural, and social capital that drives the Asian paradigm can provide implications for both hospitality practitioners and policymakers.
Secondary Teachers’ Self-Efficacy During Initial Implementation of Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered Models
Authors: Lane Kathleen Lynne , Oakes Wendy Peia , Royer David James , Menzies Holly M. , Brunsting Nelson C. , Buckman Mark Matthew , Common Eric Alan , Lane Nathan Allen , Schatschneider Christopher , Lane Katie Scarlett
Published: August 2020

We examined educators’ sense of efficacy and burnout within comprehensive, integrated, three-tiered (Ci3T) models of prevention implemented in four middle and two high schools. At the time of this study, schools had completed 2 years of implementing Ci3T models as part of a larger district initiative. We examined how educators were faring with a specific interest in their well-being. We explored four sets of educator-reported variables: Ci3T treatment integrity, Ci3T social validity, sense of efficacy, and feelings related to burnout. Results indicated educators experienced emotional exhaustion nearly identical to a national sample; however, depersonalization and personal accomplishment scores revealed positive and moderate-to-large-magnitude differences compared with a national sample. Moreover, educators reported higher levels of efficacy related to instructional strategies and classroom management than a national sample. Higher self-reported levels of Ci3T treatment integrity were associated with increased levels of efficacy related to the efficacy subscales of Student Engagement, Instructional Strategies, and Classroom Management. We conclude with a discussion of limitations and directions for future inquiry.
Corneal graft surgery: A monocentric long-term analysis
Authors: Montesel Andrea , Alió del Barrio Jorge L , Yébana Rubio Pilar , Alió Jorge L
Published: August 2020

Purpose:

To investigate indications, outcomes and changes in clinical patterns of keratoplasty surgery in a Spanish tertiary eye center.

Setting:

Vissum Instituto Oftalmológico, Alicante, Spain.

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed on clinical records of patients that underwent any kind of corneal transplant from 2001 to 2017 in the study center. Inclusion criteria involved the presence of detailed preoperative examination, surgical report and at least 12 months follow-up after the surgery. A statistical analysis was performed on the indications for keratoplasty, survival rates, type of graft failures, and visual outcomes.

Results:

A total of 907 keratoplasties procedures were identified. About 432 penetrating keratoplasty (PK), 148 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and 134 endothelial keratoplasty (EK) met the inclusion criteria. Cumulative survival rate ranged from 94% to 69% in a 1-year period and from 85% to 45% in a 5-years period according to the different graft types. The main cause for failure was immunological rejection for PK, surface diseases for DALK and primary graft failure for EK. Postoperative visual function improved for all the surgical techniques.

Conclusion:

Corneal transplant is a challenging surgery still complicated by a relevant risk of failure. Our study offers a useful opinion of the current trends on keratoplasty in our country, where the outcomes of the grafts differ considerably in relation to the indications and the different surgical techniques, with lamellar procedures that showed higher rates of success and better visual outcomes than full-thickness grafts.
SD-OCT parameters and visual field defect in chiasmal compression and the diagnostic value of neural network model
Authors: Jeon Hyeshin , Park Keun-hyung , Kim Huikyung , Choi Heeyoung
Published: August 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with chiasmal compression and analyze the diagnostic value of a neural network model.

Methods:

Forty-seven patients with chiasmal compressive disorder were recruited and divided into two groups depending on the visual field defect (perimetric; group 1 and preperimetric; group 2). Fifty-seven normal subjects were also recruited (group 3). Peripapillary RNFL and macular GCIPL were analyzed in each group. A multilayer perceptron was trained using a training dataset and derived a neural network model. The diagnostic performances were compared using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) between each parameters and neural network model.

Results:

All macular GCIPL parameters, except inferotemporal GCIPL thickness, were thinner in group 1 than in group 2 and group 3, with barely any difference between group 2 and group 3 parameter values. The diagnostic power of the neural network model, minimum GCIPL, and inferonasal GCIPL were superior when compared with other parameters; the diagnostic values of these three parameters are not significantly different in discriminating the patients and normal control. However, the neural network exhibited the best diagnostic power in distinguishing group 2 and group 3.

Conclusion:

Macular GCIPL was reduced in chiasmal compression patients with visual field defect which was not evident in the preperimetric state. Neural network model showed superior diagnostic value in discriminating the preperimetric patients from normal control. The results suggest that neural networks may be helpful in the early diagnosis of chiasmal compression.
Predicting future axial length in patients with paediatric cataract and primary intraocular lens implantation
Authors: Lottelli Antonio Carlos
Published: August 2020

Objective:

Creating a model to predict Axial Length (AL) growth in paediatric cataract and evaluating influence factors.

Material and methods:

Eyes with AL measured at surgery and at least one measurement after a 6-month period, from children with unilateral or bilateral cataract and primary IOL implantation, were evaluated. A “rate of axial length growth” (RALG) was calculated for every single eye using these AL measurements and log10 age. One average RALG was calculated for All Eyes and for the groups of Bilateral and Unilateral, Gender, Age at the Surgery, different Visual Acuity, Bilateral Excluded and Not-excluded eye, and Affected and Not-affected eye in unilateral, for comparisons.

Results:

Average age at surgery from 76 children was 2.83 ± 2.74 (0.11–12.21) years with follow up of 2.84 ± 1.84 (0.52–8.17) years, 29 (37.66%) had unilateral cataract. A total of 357 AL measurements were used, average of 4.70 ± 2.13 (2–10) measurements per eye. The average RALG for all eyes was 4.51 ± 3.06. There were no RALG significant differences comparing Unilateral and Bilateral eyes ( p = 0.51), Male and Female ( p = 0.26), Age at Surgery <0.5 and >0.5 years old ( p = 0.21), both eyes in Bilateral cases ( p = 0.70) and Unilateral Affected and Not-affected eyes ( p = 0.18). The equation Al = initial AL + slope ×  Log10 ((age + 0.6)⁄(initial age + 0.6)) estimates ALs in different ages.

Conclusions:

A model to predict AL growth in paediatric cataract was developed. Different studied factors did not significantly influence AL growth.
A comparison of measured film thicknesses with quantitative predictions from an elastohydrodynamic, perturbation analysis at high slide-roll ratios
Authors: Hooke Chris , Šperka Petr , Bair Scott , Morales-Espejel Guillermo E
Published: August 2020

The behaviour of elastohydrodynamic contacts at high slide-roll ratios (SRR) differs markedly from that found in rolling conjunctions and at low SRRs. Behaviour is dominated by viscosity reduction due to shear-thinning and by temperature rises in the fluid and mating surfaces. These have a major influence on both the performance of smooth contacts and the behaviour of rough surfaces. This paper presents a set of experimental results for these conditions where artificial roughness in the form of transverse ridges is present. These are then compared to the results of a perturbation analysis to see whether this rapid analysis technique can adequately predict the behaviour.

It is shown that very powerful feedback mechanisms exist in both the thermal and shear thinning and that these make the behaviour of surface roughness relatively insensitive to changes in fluid properties.

In contrast to most previous work, real temperature, pressure and shear dependences of viscosity as measured in viscometers have been employed.
Impact of austenitizing temperature on the wear behaviour of AISI H13 steel
Authors: Jagota Vishal , Sharma Rajesh Kumar , Sehgal Rakesh
Published: August 2020

Austenitizing temperature is of great importance to achieve the desired properties of die steel. It governs the number of carbides dissolved in the austenitic matrix, which later transforms to martensite. This paper intends to find out the impact of austenitizing temperature on the wear behaviour of AISI H13 die steel. Austenitizing of H13 steel is done at different temperatures, i.e., 1000 °C, 1020 °C, 1040 °C, 1060 °C and then tempering is done twice at 560 °C for two hours. H13 die steel when tempered after austenitizing at 1020 °C lath martensite of large size is produced. Whereas, quite smaller lath martensitic structure has been observed in H13 die steel tempered after austenitizing at 1060 °C. Wear test investigation carried out using a pin on disc tribometer for H13 steel pins austenitized at different temperatures against D2 steel disc having 61 HRC. It is observed that the wear volume of H13 die steel exhibits an inverse linear relationship with its austenitizing temperature due to an increase in hardness. It is seen that small protective layer like patches of oxidized debris formed on the worn surface of H13 steel austenitized at 1060 °C. Whereas, no such protective layer formation is found on H13 die steel austenitized at a lower temperature. Post wear test, subsurface cross-section study shows plastic deformation of grains just beneath the worn surface along the direction of wear tracks. H13 die steel austenitized at 1060 °C with larger grains shows plastic deformation of grains up to a greater depth. Whereas, H13 die steel austenitized at 1000 °C with finer grain exhibits plastic deformation up to a lesser depth. An increase in grain boundaries of nearly twice is also found below the worn subsurface up to 80 to 100 µm depth. The present study will help to select the austenitizing temperature for H13 die steel to have better wear resistance.
The role of pontine lesion location in differentiating multiple sclerosis from vascular risk factor-related small vessel disease
Authors: Geraldes Ruth , Juryńczyk Maciej , dos Passos Giordani Rodrigues , Pichler Alexander , Chung Karen , Hagens Marloes , Ruggieri Serena , Auger Cristina , Sastre-Garriga Jaume , Enzinger Christian , Chard Declan , Barkhof Frederik , Gasperini Claudio , Rovira Alex , DeLuca Gabriele , Palace Jacqueline ,   on behalf of the MAGNIMS study group
Published: August 2020

Background:

Differentiating multiple sclerosis (MS) from vascular risk factor (VRF)-small vessel disease (SVD) can be challenging.

Objective and Methods:

In order to determine whether or not pontine lesion location is a useful discriminator of MS and VRF-SVD, we classified pontine lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as central or peripheral in 93 MS cases without VRF, 108 MS patients with VRF and 43 non-MS cases with VRF.

Results:

MS without VRF were more likely to have peripheral pons lesions (31.2%, 29/93) than non-MS with VRF (0%, 0/43) (Exp( B) = 29.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.98, 448.3); p = 0.014) but there were no significant differences regarding central pons lesions between MS without VRF (5.4%, 5/93) and non-MS with VRF patients (16.3%, 7/43) (Exp( B) = 0.89; 95% CI = (0.2, 3.94); p = 0.87). The presence of peripheral pons lesions discriminated between MS and VRF-SVD with 100% (95% CI = (91.8, 100)) specificity. The proportion of peripheral pons lesions in MS with VRF (30.5%, 33/108) was similar to that seen in MS without VRF (31.2%, 29/93, p = 0.99). Central lesions occurred in similar frequency in MS with VRF (8.3%, 9/108) and non-MS with VRF (16.3%, 7/43, p = 0.15).

Conclusion:

Peripheral pons lesion location is a good discriminator of MS from vascular lesions.
Trickstery: pluralising stigma in international society
Authors: Kurowska Xymena , Reshetnikov Anatoly
Published: August 2020

International politics is often imagined via a binary opposition between the oppressor and the oppressed. Attention to entrenched hierarchies of power is essential in the study of international politics. However, taking this division too rigidly can obfuscate the very mechanisms of power that must be understood in order to grasp these hierarchies. We identify one such mechanism in the practice of trickstery, particularly as practiced in the context of Russia’s ambivalent and conflicted place in international society. Through the dynamics of trickstery, we show the workings of stigmatisation to be a plural phenomenon, giving rise to various normative challenges. The trickster is both conformist and deviant, hero and anti-hero – a “plural figure” both reflecting the rich cultural texture of international society and contesting its hierarchies. The trickster particularly unsettles the ideal liberal (global) public sphere through its simultaneous performance of emancipatory and anti-emancipatory logics. In this, trickstery produces normatively undecidable situations that exceed the analytical capacities of, for example, the strategic use of norms, norm contestation, and stigma management literatures. We find trickstery to be encapsulated in the contemporary international situation of Russia, while recognising that its practices are potentially available to other actors with similarly liminal status and cultural repertoires. We particularly analyse the trickster practice of ‘overidentification’ with norms, which apparently endorses but indirectly subverts the normative frameworks within which it is performed. Such overidentification is a form of satire, contemporaneously appropriated by state actors, which has indeterminate yet significant effects.
Biosecurity, crisis management, automation technologies and economic performance of travel, tourism and hospitality companies – A conceptual framework
Authors: Ivanov Stanislav Hristov , Webster Craig , Stoilova Elitza , Slobodskoy Daniel
Published: August 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 will have a significant influence on travel, tourism and hospitality (TTH) globally. With a massive reduction in tourism globally because of the health crisis, the industry will have to plan recovery and rebuilding of the industry with greater consideration of the biosecurity of customers. A critical element in the reorganisation of the industry will involve the increased incorporation of automation technologies. This article adopts a supply-side perspective and elaborates on the opportunities that automation technologies provide to TTH companies to mitigate the negative impacts of biosecurity threats on their economic performance. It discusses the costs and benefits of the incorporation of increased levels of automation, especially in regard to the benefits of the safety and health of the consumer. It elaborates on how the current pandemic would stimulate the adoption of automation technologies. Finally, the article discusses how this fit into the business models of tourism-related industries and outlines the micro- and macroeconomic implications of the greater incorporation of automation into the industry.
Crosslinguistic influence on English and Chinese L2 speakers’ conceptualization of event series
Authors: Tang Mengmeng , Vanek Norbert , Roberts Leah
Published: August 2020

Aims and objectives/purpose/research question:

The expression of event series varies across languages in intriguing ways. One key difference is that in some linguistic systems, such as Chinese, events can be tightly sequenced using serial verb constructions (SVCs), for example, qù kāi mén ‘go open door’. Linguistic systems with this property are known as serializing, and those without it, such as English, as non-serializing. This paper explores whether second language (L2) learners with a serializing first language (L1) conceptually transfer tight L1-based event serialization patterns into their non-serializing L2, and, if L2 learners with a non-serializing L1 acquire tight SVC-modulated event serialization in the L2.

Design/methodology/approach:

To investigate this, a task was created to estimate temporal distances between events on a time axis. Participants were asked to circle two numbers on the axis (0 = far past, 9 = far future) based on their understanding of when two events expressed by two verbs in each stimulus sentence happen.

Data and analysis:

Results showed that Chinese learners of English estimated significantly shorter temporal distances between multiple events in English SVC-like sentences compared to English natives. Tighter temporal sequencing in L2 English is interpreted as L1-based conceptual transfer of event serialization patterns. In the opposite direction, English learners of Chinese marked events in Chinese SVCs as significantly further apart than did Chinese natives, also showing that their event serialization is L1-based.

Originality:

This study demonstrates for the first time crosslinguistic influence on the conceptual level in the domain of event serialization.

Significance/implications:

The reported findings inform L2 acquisition research by providing empirical support for the idea that L1-based event serialization patterns influence how L2 learners conceptualize event distances, and this holds in both directions, from a serializing to a non-serializing language as well as vice versa.
Evidence of a dynamic association between intergroup contact and intercultural competence
Authors: Meleady Rose , Seger Charles R. , Vermue Marieke
Published: August 2020

Three studies explored the association between intergroup contact and intercultural competence. Study 1 and Study 2 provided evidence of a cross-sectional association between intergroup contact and intercultural competence in which positive contact was associated with increased intercultural competence and negative contact was associated with reductions in this outcome. In Study 3, longitudinal data allowed us to test the possibility of mutual influence between these variables whereby intercultural competence is not only a consequence of intergroup contact but is also predictive of the quality of future intergroup contact. Results showed that positive contact was longitudinally associated with improvements in intercultural competence, and that higher intercultural competence was associated with a reduction in future negative contact. Findings speak to the importance of taking a dynamic outlook on contact effects. The beneficial consequences of positive contact may be the same variables capable of transforming future contact encounters and reducing the likelihood of negative interactions.
Dual cues: Women of color anticipate both gender and racial bias in the face of a single identity cue
Authors: Chaney Kimberly E. , Sanchez Diana T. , Remedios Jessica D.
Published: August 2020

Integrating past research on women of color, stigma transfers, and generalized prejudice, the present research examined the extent to which threats and safety cues to one identity dimension (e.g., gender) results in threat or safety to women of color’s other stigmatized identity dimension (e.g., race). Across three experimental studies (Total N = 638), the present research found support for a dual cue hypothesis, such that Black and Latina women anticipated gender bias from a racial identity threat (Studies 1 and 2) and anticipated racial bias from a gender identity threat (Study 2) resulting in greater overall anticipated bias compared to White women (Study 3). Moreover, Black and Latina women anticipated racial identity safety from a gender identity safety cue (Study 3) supporting a dual safety hypothesis. These studies add to work on double jeopardy by extending a dual threat framework to anticipation of discrimination and highlighting the transferability of threat and safety cues for women of color.
Strength compensation of deep beams with large web openings using carbon fiber–reinforced polymer sheets
Authors: Allawi Abbas A , Oukaili Nazar K , Jasim Waleed A
Published: August 2020

This article presents the results of an experimental investigation of using carbon fiber–reinforced polymer sheets to enhance the behavior of reinforced concrete deep beams with large web openings in shear spans. A set of 18 specimens were fabricated and tested up to a failure to evaluate the structural performance in terms of cracking, deformation, and load-carrying capacity. All tested specimens were with 1500-mm length, 500-mm cross-sectional deep, and 150-mm wide. Parameters that studied were opening size, opening location, and the strengthening factor. Two deep beams were implemented as control specimens without opening and without strengthening. Eight deep beams were fabricated with openings but without strengthening, while the other eight deep beams were with openings in shear spans and with carbon fiber–reinforced polymer sheet strengthening around opening zones. The opening size was adopted to be 200 × 200 mm dimensions in eight deep beams, while it was considered to be 230 × 230 mm dimensions in the other eight specimens. In eight specimens the opening was located at the center of the shear span, while in the other eight beams the opening was attached to the interior edge of the shear span. Carbon fiber–reinforced polymer sheets were installed around openings to compensate for the cutout area of concrete. Results gained from the experimental test showed that the creation of openings in shear spans affect the load-carrying capacity, where the reduction of the failure load for specimens with the opening but without strengthening may attain 66% compared to deep beams without openings. On the other hand, the strengthening by carbon fiber–reinforced polymer sheets for beams with openings increased the failure load by 20%–47% compared with the identical deep beam without strengthening. A significant contribution of carbon fiber–reinforced polymer sheets in restricting the deformability of deep beams was observed.
Durability of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites under seawater and sea-sand concrete coupled with harsh outdoor environments
Authors: Bazli Milad , Zhao Xiao-Ling , Jafari Armin , Ashrafi Hamed , Raman RK Singh , Bai Yu , Khezrzadeh Hamed
Published: August 2020

This article presents an investigation on the durability of different glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites when subjected to harsh outdoor conditions, including freeze/thaw cycles, ultraviolet radiation and moisture, as well as when used with seawater sea-sand concrete for construction applications. To achieve this, the effects of a number of parameters, including the environment of exposure, exposure time, profile cross-sectional configuration and orientation of fibres, on the mechanical properties of different glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites were studied. To investigate the degradation of the mechanical properties, three-point bending, compression and tension tests were conducted on both reference and conditioned samples. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed to examine the contribution of microstructural deterioration to the damage mechanisms of the conditioned composites. Finally, the test results were used to develop empirical regression models to predict the level of retention of mechanical properties of different composites under different environmental conditions. The findings showed the maximum flexural, compressive and tensile strength reductions to be 35%, 48% and 37%, respectively, with regards to the pultruded profiles exposed for 3000 h to freeze/thaw cycles followed by 90 days of seawater sea-sand concrete immersion, while the flexural strength reductions recorded for the vacuum-infused samples subjected to 2000 h of freeze/thaw cycles followed by 90 days of seawater sea-sand concrete immersion were 28%, 72% and 56% for the unidirectional, woven and chopped strand mat laminates, respectively.
Estimation model for natural ventilation by wind force considering wind direction and building orientation for low-rise building in China
Authors: Wang Tian-Wen , Yin Wei , Fu Lin-Li , Zhang Zhi-Yi
Published: August 2020

Building natural ventilation can effectively prevent the building from overheating and eliminate indoor pollutants, including viral aerosols and volatile organic compounds, without consuming energy. Natural ventilation by wind force is influenced by many factors, making it difficult to calculate accurately. This increases the complexity of designing natural ventilation systems. In this study, we use a computational fluid dynamics simulation and wind tunnel verification to determine the wind pressure coefficients of each facade of a cube-shaped building and draw their corresponding curves. Subsequently, we input the climate data of 31 major cities in China to analyse their potential for natural ventilation. The results show that although some cities have long ventilation hours, the wind-forced ventilation rate is relatively low. For example, cities such as Guangzhou and Nanning that were previously considered suitable for natural ventilation have relatively small ventilation rates that may reduce the cooling capacity of natural ventilation. The ratio, 0.12, of the average airflow rate to the local average wind velocity should be used to estimate the wind-ventilation rate during the early stages of architectural design to determine the total windows area in every facade.
Mechanical and microstructural analysis of Al-Al2O3/B4C hybrid composites
Authors: Gupta Pankaj K , Gupta MK
Published: August 2020

The present work aims to enhance the mechanical performance of monolithic Al alloy and single reinforced metal matrix composite using a hybridization technique. The microparticles of alumina and boron carbide were reinforced into cast Al alloy (6061) in a systematic varying ratio (i.e.100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100) to prepare the hybrid metal matrix composites via stir casting method. The mechanical properties (i.e. tensile, impact, hardness and flexural) of the prepared composites were investigated as per ASTM standards. Furthermore, microstructural analysis of unfractured and fractured composite samples was also carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope. It was observed that hybrid composites comprising of microparticles revealed an enhanced tensile, flexural and hardness properties, and reduced impact energy and porosity as compared to Al alloy and single reinforced metal matrix composites. The highest values of tensile strength and modulus were offered by a hybrid composite (B50A50), which was 40% and 52.12% higher than that of Al alloy. Furthermore, there was an improvement of 105.72% in flexural strength and a reduction of 23.88% in impact energy for composite B50A50 than that of Al alloy. The present developed hybrid metal matrix composites can be proposed to be used in automobile parts and construction applications.