bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children’s Rights and Online Age Assurance Systems
Authors: Livingstone Sonia , Nair Abhilash , Stoilova Mariya , van der Hof Simone , Caglar Cansu
Published: October 2024

Age assurance is a way to prevent children accessing content, products or services that are potentially harmful to them, ranging from gambling services or alcohol or tobacco or, increasingly, certain products and services online. Now that children’s lives are mediated by digital technologies, policymakers are deliberating over the legal, technical and practical challenges. These have been little examined from the perspective of children’s rights. By combining legal and social research methods, this article examines the legal requirements for age assurance in Europe, assesses compliance by companies and reveals the consequences for family life. In law and practice, we show that age assurance is often ineffective in protecting children from online risk of harm. Further, as currently implemented it risks children’s other rights – to non-discrimination, privacy, to be heard, and their civil rights and freedoms, and remedy. We identify promising directions for the use of age assurance in child online protection, focusing on European policy, regulators and civil society actors.
We are Who we Represent: A Theory of “Immersive” Representation in Student Activism
Authors: Hanna Amy , Kane James , Savage Cormac , Lundy Laura
Published: October 2024

Children and young people have a right to freedom of association and to have their views given due weight when they act collectively. However, when they come together in groups to engage in collective action, in school and elsewhere, they are often criticised for not being “representative” of all/other young people. The concept, while frequently cited, remains undefined and fails to incorporate how young people understand, experience and enact representation. This article presents data from an empirical study with youth activists who established a Secondary Schools Students’ Union during the Covid-19 pandemic to lobby for change in education decision-making. The study was carried out as a collaboration between two university-based researchers and two secondary school students who were founding members of the union. Drawing on focus groups and interviews with union executive members, this article presents findings that convey young people’s navigation of adults’ perceptions of their representativeness, focusing on issues of legitimacy and efficacy. Based on this study, we propose a new youth co-authored and youth-informed theory of representation that conceptualises it as immersive and mutually symbiotic and, we suggest, enables meaningful implementation of child and youth activists’ civil and political rights.
Care as a Prerequisite for the Realisation of Rights
Authors: Nordvik Marie Lindsjørn , Martnes Mona
Published: October 2024

Care is both a fundamental right for children, and central for a holistic realisation of other rights in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children have a right to care as is necessary for his or her “well-being”. Therefore, an analysis of the right to care, requires an understanding of the term well-being. In jurisprudence, well-being is underexamined. Nonetheless, there are several legal theories that are connected or relevant to care and well-being. Nevertheless, children’s rights are not based on one single theoretical fundament. In this article, we examine the right to care by exploring the role of well-being and three legal theories: vulnerability theory; care theory; and the capability approach.
Advancing Children’s Participation Rights in Healthcare Through Play
Authors: Głos Aleksandra
Published: October 2024

Within the vulnerable clinical context, children’s participation rights are easily compromised in relation to their protection and service provision. Unfortunately, failure to engage children in medical conversations can make this stressful context even more acute. In response to this problem, this Article presents the legal, philosophical and evidence-based arguments for incorporating play as a child-friendly intervention to engage young patients in meaningful participation in clinical settings. Play as the natural language of children can make them receive and assimilate medical information without fear. Play is also a well-recognised mechanism of child agency and their most natural form of participation, and as such can become a springboard for engaging and empowering children in healthcare.
Children’s Rights and Childhood Negligence Proceedings
Authors: Barnes Macfarlane Lesley-Anne
Published: October 2024

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (crc) provides that children require ‘special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection’ (Preamble). In recent years various attempts have been made by Scottish lawmakers to safeguard and promote children’s rights across a range of legal fields. However, the field of delict (termed “tort law” in many jurisdictions) has been excluded from the process of mainstreaming children’s rights in domestic law. Most of the contemporary litigation in the field is about liability for negligence (i.e., unintentional wrongdoing). In negligence proceedings, children are typically victims seeking redress from adults through the judicial system following childhood injury. Using Scotland as a case study, this article examines legal reasoning in what are termed “childhood negligence proceedings”. Drawing on the jurisprudence of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and wider literature, the article raises concerns about both the substance and established practices of the law. In particular, an absence of judicial engagement with children and research about childhood development is observed. Consideration is given as to what might be the nature of the obligations imposed upon states in this field of law by Articles 1 (age), 2 (non-discrimination), 3 (best interests), 6 (life, survival and development) and 12 (voice) of the crc. Two overarching questions persist: first, can findings of negligence or contributory negligence against children ever be justified? And secondly, if so, what should be the model for imposing childhood liability? As Scotland fully incorporates the crc in domestic law, the article concludes by framing a series of questions directed towards creating new knowledge and developing new understanding capable of transforming the child’s position in delict/tort law.
“Unduly Harsh?”: An Empirical Examination of Best Interests Assessments in the Context of Parental Deportation
Authors: Griffiths Melanie , Jackson Naomi , Woodhouse Sarah , Yaqub Nazia , Stalford͌ Helen
Published: October 2024

Thousands of people are deported from the UK every year, having served a sentence for a serious criminal offence, it being determined that it is no longer in the public interest for them to remain in the UK. For those who are parents, they can appeal against deportation on grounds that it would breach their right to family life and have an unduly harsh impact on their children. Detailed guidance has emerged, setting out the factors that should be taken into account in determining this question in a manner that is compliant with children’s rights. Drawing on an in-depth analysis of a sample of deportation case files, this paper provides a unique empirical insight into the extent to which this guidance is applied in practice, with a particular reference to children’s rights principles and processes.
Fisheries Co-management and Conflict Management in Inland Openwater Fisheries in Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir G. M. Shamsul , Mustafa Golam
Published: October 2024

Community based management of inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh has introduced and practiced through the Community Based Fisheries Management (cbfm) approach with partnership arrangement of government and non-government organisations, fisher communities and other stakeholders. One of the principles behind the community based fisheries management is to improve fisheries conflict management and its resolution. The implementation of the cbfm approach has experienced a significant contribution towards fishers’ conflict management. cbfm arrangement introduced fisher led, community led and women led approaches. Community based organisations (cbo s) as local institutions have been established through community participation under cbfm approach to mitigate conflict and its reducing and resolution.

This paper assesses the impact of cbfm approaches on fishers’ conflict management in inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh. It identifies the nature and causes of conflicts and develops ways of communicating good practice and reducing conflicts through fisheries co-management arrangement.

This study might have policy implication to scale up cbfm approaches to promote fishers’ conflict resolution and its affective management of inland open water fisheries with a long- term commitment.
Leptodactylus sertanejo Giaretta & Costa, 2007, a junior synonym of Leptodactylus jolyi Sazima & Bokermann, 1978 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)
Authors: CARAMASCHI ULISSES , PEDERASSI JONAS , LIMA MAURO SÉRGIO CRUZ SOUZA
Published: October 2024

The genus Leptodactylus currently comprises 84 species of predominantly Neotropical lowland frogs. The L. fuscus group is the most species-rich in the genus, including the nominal species L. jolyi and L. sertanejo. In a published comprehensive study, involving a total evidence analysis of molecular and non-molecular traits, the grouping of L. jolyi and L. sertanejo was very poorly supported, denoting indifferentiation, and indicated that both species cannot be reliably distinguished from each other morphologically. We analysed the overall morphology and color pattern of the specimens attributed to L. jolyi and L. sertanejo and verified that they are closely similar or even identical. The Comparative Anatomy Index did not present dissimilarities for any morphometric variable. Submitting the values to the Principal Component Analysis, we confirmed the morphometric similarity for all variables. To evaluate the discrepancy degree, the values obtained were submitted to the adherence test of the χ2 and we found that no significant morphometric differences did exist. The advertisement calls of 17 specimens attributed to L. jolyi and L. sertanejo are composed of a single harmonic note constituted by one to four pulses. There are no bioacoustic dissimilarities among the specimens analyzed. The multivariate canonical analysis did not discriminate differences among the specimens. Consequently, considering the poor molecular differentiation and based on the analysis of morphological and meristic characters and on advertisement calls, the synonymization of Leptodactylus sertanejo with L. jolyi is proposed.
In and out of the city: Generational disaffiliation among evangelicals in the age of mobility and religious choice
Authors: Gagné Benjamin
Published: October 2024

The intergenerational transmission effect reveals an important trend behind the current growth of ‘nones’ in Canada, the fastest-growing religious identity in North America. On the other hand, ‘dones’, who distinguish themselves from ‘nones’ in terms of non-religion, reveal another important facet of this trend. These are people who have distanced themselves from their religious affiliation. This article highlights issues of generational succession and religious transmission in the disaffiliation process. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 12 formerly self-identifying evangelicals aged 25 to 36 in Quebec, it argues that evangelical disaffiliations are also influenced by the religious choices of one’s parents. Like their children, parents’ conversion often involved disaffiliation from the religion of their upbringing, which in Quebec is mostly Roman Catholic. In the contemporary context, high geographical mobility also plays an important role in the disaffiliation of these young evangelicals, creating the conditions for a gradual erosion of social ties. At the same time, the emergence of new urban churches, combined with a sense of generational unity, has created a space for transition outside the traditional evangelical milieu. Taken together, these factors suggest that, even in evangelicalism, a religious movement that resisted decline until very recently, certain features of modern religious transmission are implicated in the disaffiliation process.
Debiasing Judgements Using a Distributed Cognition Approach: A Scoping Review of Technological Strategies
Authors: Dharanikota Harini , Howie Emma , Hope Lorraine , Wigmore Stephen J. , Skipworth Richard J. E. , Yule Steven
Published: October 2024

Objective

To review and synthesise research on technological debiasing strategies across domains, present a novel distributed cognition-based classification system, and discuss theoretical implications for the field.

Background

Distributed cognition theory is valuable for understanding and mitigating cognitive biases in high-stakes settings where sensemaking and problem-solving are contingent upon information representations and flows in the decision environment. Shifting the focus of debiasing from individuals to systems, technological debiasing strategies involve designing system components to minimise the negative impacts of cognitive bias on performance. To integrate these strategies into real-world practices effectively, it is imperative to clarify the current state of evidence and types of strategies utilised.

Methods

We conducted systematic searches across six databases. Following screening and data charting, identified strategies were classified into (i) group composition and structure, (ii) information design and (iii) procedural debiasing, based on distributed cognition principles, and cognitive biases, classified into eight categories.

Results

Eighty articles met the inclusion criteria, addressing 100 debiasing investigations and 91 cognitive biases. A majority (80%) of the identified debiasing strategies were reportedly effective, whereas fourteen were ineffective and six were partially effective. Information design strategies were studied most, followed by procedural debiasing, and group structure and composition. Gaps and directions for future work are discussed.

Conclusion

Through the lens of distributed cognition theory, technological debiasing represents a reconceptualisation of cognitive bias mitigation, showing promise for real-world application.

Application

The study results and debiasing classification presented can inform the design of high-stakes work systems to support cognition and minimise judgement errors.
Examining the Determinants of Financial Inclusion in South Asian Countries
Authors: Khushboo Miss , Pradhan Kailash Chandra
Published: October 2024

Financial inclusion is an important aspect of achieving economic growth in South Asia. The present study is offered to examine the key factors of financial inclusion in South Asian countries. The study considered the 2017 World Bank Global Findex database for the analysis. The probit regression model is used to find the relationship between financial inclusion and its determinants for individual country level as well as for the group of South Asian countries. The results have shown that socio-economic variables like age, gender, education, income and workforce are important factors of financial inclusion. The higher income quintiles, upper education classes and workforce participation have a higher probability of owning bank accounts and greater chances of accessing formal savings and borrowings. Female households are still vulnerable in the process of financial inclusion in South Asian countries. The study suggested that financial inclusion can be enhanced with higher education, higher income and more workforce participation.

JEL Codes: G21, D14, C25
Investigation of the hygrothermal effects on in-plane failure mechanisms of fine Z-pinned laminates
Authors: Liu Yuchi , Wang WeiWei , Wang Han , Ding Huiming , Cheng Liang , Wang Haijin , Bi Yunbo
Published: October 2024

Hygrothermal effect on the in-plane behavior of fine Z-pinned laminates were studied and the failure mechanisms were explained. Artificial seawater aging experiments were carried out on Z-pinned laminates prepared by ultrasonic vibration equipment. A compression progressive damage numerical model of fine Z-pinned laminates based on moisture-induced interface degradation was proposed to analyze the damage initialization and development of composites. The mechanical results show that the unpinned and Φ0.11 mm Z-pinned laminates have similar in-plane strength retention after 6 months of aging, and the tensile and compressive strengths decrease by 20% and 29%, respectively. EDS analysis confirms that Z-pin provides an additional moisture channel, leading to more elements with high relative atomic mass inside the laminates. It is found through the simulation studies that moisture leads to matrix compression and interlaminar interfacial damage regions to localized areas, weakening the interlayer effect of Z-pins and leading to the decrease of the ultimate bearing capacity of laminates. It denotes that Φ0.11 mm fine Z-pin has the potential to be used in composite marine structures.
Mobilising tensions: transnational union network formation in the Asia-Pacific region
Authors: Delaney Helen , Casey Catherine , Fiedler Antje
Published: October 2024

Trade unions are an important actor in the social regulation of the transnational corporation. How and why trade unions engage with the continued rise of global corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives remains largely under-researched, particularly in transnational arenas beyond Europe. Transnational trade union networks are a concerted development intended to advance collective worker voice and influence, especially in contexts without a history of strong social dialogue. Our qualitative fieldwork centres on a transnational trade union network comprised of global, national, and local union representatives from different countries in the Asia-Pacific representing workers from one Germany-headquartered multinational corporation in the chemical sector. We examine how labour actors involved in the network engage with global CSR initiatives to advance worker voice and influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Our micro-sociological and relational approach focused on the practices, relations, and affective dimensions of building and sustaining a transnational network. What emerged is the centrality of tensions and how actors creatively utilise and shape those tensions into resources for building the network. We analyse the nature of the tensions and their effects and discuss how key actors work generatively with tensions.
ACTU Congress Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Forum 2024
Authors: Leroy-Dyer Sharlene
Published: October 2024

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak body for Australian unions, which is made up of 38 affiliated unions, who together represent approximately 1.8 million workers, their families and their communities. Every three years the ACTU holds its congress. Congress is ‘effectively a parliament for working people, where delegates debate and vote on policies regarding the workplace, rights, and campaigns to improve wages, conditions and quality of life for Australian workers and their families’ (ACTU, 2024). As the ACTU's highest decision-making authority, congress sets the union agenda for the next three years
The Life + Death Education Framework: Proposition of a ‘Universal’ Framework for Implementation
Authors: Phan Huy , Ngu Bing , Hsu Chao-Sheng , Chen Si-Chi
Published: October 2024

Life and death education is a distinct field of study that has potential life relevance for consideration (e.g., self-awareness and subsequent improvement of one’s own health well-being). Existing research development, situating in different learning-sociocultural contexts, has provided consistent evidence that showcases the differing viewpoints of life functioning (e.g., what is the true meaning of life?) and the intricate nature of death and dying (e.g., a death ritual that closely associates with a particular cultural group). Some of the research studies undertaken indicate the effective use of ‘philosophization’ or the discourse of philosophical analysis, enabling individuals to philosophize, contemplate, and seek transpersonal understanding of the subject matters of life and death (e.g., can a state of ‘spiritual transcendence’ help to alleviate a person’s fear of death?). Such discourse, interestingly, has offered some informative yields for enriching and meaningful life purposes – for example, the seeking to attain transpersonal understanding of life (e.g., what does a state of self-transcendence actually mean?) and/or transpersonal life experience may assist a senior citizen to cope with his mental health during a temporary health crisis. Our teaching and research interest of life and death education over the past decade has led us to consider one important line of inquiry for development: namely, the proposition of a ‘universal’ blueprint or framework of life and death education for curriculum development, teaching, and research purposes. We are cognizant of the fact that, to date, there is no clear consensus or agreement as to what one is expected (e.g., specific learning outcome) to teach students who wish to study and learn about life and death education. On this basis, the present theoretical article introduces a theoretical framework, termed as ‘The Life + Death Education Framework’ (e.g., for universities), to assist educators for their quality teaching and/or research inquiries of life and death education. We firmly believe that the Life + Death Education Framework can be universal and, in this case, apply to different learning-sociocultural contexts.
Impact of stochastic vehicle generation on traffic microsimulation model output
Authors: Hurtado-Beltran Antonio , Pérez-Cruz José R , Madrigal-Arteaga Víctor M
Published: October 2024

One of the most important characteristics of microsimulation is the ability to model the temporal and spatial nature of traffic demand. Every traffic microsimulation has a vehicle generation model that determines how and when the driver–vehicle units are introduced in the simulation. While microsimulation use has become increasingly popular, it is unclear how the vehicle generation options affect the final result. The purpose of this paper is to examine the stochastic component of the vehicle generation model and how it may affect the simulation output. Three scenarios, including the passenger car equivalent (PCE) model of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM-7), were used for assessing stochastic volumes and their impacts on performance measures. Results indicate a statistically significant impact of the variability of stochastic volumes on the estimation of performance measures at the breakdown flow phase and synchronized flow phase for interrupted and uninterrupted flow conditions, respectively. This finding highlights the importance of reporting vehicle generation as a calibration parameter, enabling others to replicate the experiments. When utilizing microsimulations for the assessment of roadway/system performance, it is crucial for users to have a thorough understanding of demand generation.
Fixing motorisation: The logics of infrastructure solutionism in Bengaluru
Authors: Ramachandran Sreelakshmi , Rathod Apoorva , Baby Jacob , Joseph Yogi , Gopakumar Govind
Published: October 2024

Cities often deploy infrastructure-based solutions to tackle problems such as congestion caused by increasing motorisation rates. Such solutions include the introduction of complete streets or improved public transit systems. However, these solutions are often viewed as ‘quick fixes’ that are expected to resolve issues with ease. This article examines this phenomenon, which we call infrastructure solutionism, through two case studies in Bengaluru, India – re-shaping public transportation to attract car users through demand management, and redesigning major streets to accommodate varied users through parcelling. Through these case studies, it becomes evident that infrastructure solutions did not address the problems caused due to motorisation. Building upon the literature on technological solutionism in Science and Technology Studies, this article unpacks rationalities of infrastructure solutionism by examining material, valuational and expectational commitments mobilised through each case, and suggests that such solutions appear to be concerned with city image building, rather than addressing the chokehold of automobilisation.
Robust data-driven model-free adaptive control to uncertainties and disturbances for NARMAX systems
Authors: Heydari Mohsen , Novinzadeh Alireza B , Tayefi Morteza
Published: October 2024

This paper introduces an enhancement to the model-free adaptive control (MFAC) method based on a new control input cost function for full-form dynamic linearization (FFDL) for NARMAX systems. The new control cost function includes the one-step-ahead tracking error, OER, and output error integral. The main feature of the approach is that it has a high ability to overcome disturbances in the control input and measured noise in the output. Analytical and extensive simulations have demonstrated that the novel control law exhibits superior response and robustness in comparison to the prototype MFAC. Moreover, it guarantees stability and convergence of the tracking error by enforcing bounded-input bounded-output (BIBO) criteria. In addition, 20 Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to test the initial conditions and random control parameters, and the results demonstrated that the proposed control outperformed the prototype MFAC.
Bridging Global Mandates and Local Realities: Intermediary clusters and interorganizational collaboration for international development
Authors: Cappellaro Giulia , Mele Valentina , Ansari Shaz
Published: October 2024

Addressing international sustainable development is an urgent and critical challenge. Existing research has focused on the role of individual intermediary organizations in supporting and shaping inclusive local markets to enhance development. However, it has overlooked how clusters of organizations act as intermediaries to build development capacity, and how they do so through local public institutions. This study focuses on the United Nations (UN) system and examines a specific transnational governance arrangement (Delivering as One) that envisioned the creation of local clusters of UN organizations to facilitate institutional capacity-building in developing countries. By comparing the evolution of the eight pilot UN arrangements, we distil a model of how intermediary clusters facilitate local capacity-building through a process of contextual bridging driven by interorganizational collaboration within the cluster. Our findings identify four mechanisms of contextual bridging. The first two – functional amalgamation of operations and development of a cohesive collective voice – strengthened internal collaboration among cluster members; subsequently, sharing authority with local stakeholders and the local calibration of interorganizational collaboration (IOC) allowed the entrenchment of IOC into the local context. Our work contributes to the literature on interorganizational collaboration and transnational governance in the face of global challenges.
Kayanapussana Satipatthana and the Buddhist practices of Samadhi and Sati as foundational practices in the development of Thai musical skills
Authors: Bhrammaputra Wanida , Kanchanapradit Jarun , Garzoli John , Grant Stuart , McLachlan Neil
Published: October 2024

The Buddhist Vipassana technique of Kayanupassana Satipatthana is used to develop samadhi (concentration) and sati (awareness) in the practices of Thai classical music (dontri Thai) teachers working in a Thai primary school and the specialist music school in a Thai university. While previous studies have explored the use of mediation as a means of alleviating stress or spiritual progress, the techniques described here are adapted in this dontri Thai pedagogy to help musicians optimize learning and performing through the cultivation of concentration, awareness, and bodily control. Within this pedagogy, sharpened concentration leads to heightened awareness which allows greater insight into the students’ state of mind, musical sounds, and sensory feelings in their bodies. This enable performers to reproduce what is conceptualized as the “ideal” sound. Students commence musical training by practicing meditation while producing a single note, a short melody, or a technical skill. The task is repeated until the tripartite goal of mental and physical immersion and the production of the ideal sound is achieved. The four key components of the method are integrated within a holistic and iterative learning process in which the student progressively develops the ability to focus on all relevant elements in a single moment.
Lupus anticoagulant and valvular cardiac surgery
Authors: Kamath Pooja Bola Rajendra Devendra , Braham Deborah L , Arachchillage Deepa J , Loja Dennis
Published: October 2024

Despite its name, lupus anticoagulant (LAC) neither exclusively occurs in lupus nor induces anticoagulation. It is an antiphospholipid antibody found in 2%–4% of the population that promotes clot formation by targeting phospholipid-protein complexes in cell membranes. However, in vitro, LAC exhibits paradoxical effects, prolonging clotting times in phospholipid-dependent assays such as Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT). This unpredictability extends to point-of-care tests like Activated Clotting Time (ACT), which are frequently used to monitor anticoagulation during cardiac surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). High doses of unfractionated heparin (UFH) are administered in these procedures, but the presence of LAC complicates ACT measurements, creating challenges for both anesthesiologists and surgeons. This case report highlights the clinical implications of LAC in perioperative management, underscoring the difficulties in ensuring adequate anticoagulation during CPB.
Effects of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation return cannula side hole structure on aortic hemodynamic features under different perfusion levels
Authors: Xi Yifeng , Li Yuan , Wang Hongyu , Sun Anqiang , Deng Xiaoyan , Chen Zengsheng , Fan Yubo
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The interaction between primary left ventricular output and Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane pulmonary oxygenation (VA ECMO) flow may impede the perfusion of aortic vessels with hyperoxic blood, leading to differential oxygenation. ECMO return cannula design significantly influences the perfusion level of blood supplied via ECMO. This study aimed to investigate the impact of various cannula designs (side hole number) on intravascular flow patterns under different blood perfusion conditions.

Methods

Six return cannula models with different side hole number and three cardiac output waveforms were designed based on clinical data for comparative analysis.

Results

The position of the blood mixing zone (MZ) was influenced by the flow-volume ratio of the heart output (CO/(CO+Qec)) and cannula design. As the CO/(CO+Qec) and the number of side holes in the cannula increased, the MZ shifted from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta. Concurrently, aortic wall and scalar shear stress on the impact side of ECMO cannulation reduced progressively. Return cannula with side holes effectively mitigated discrepancies in the perfusion of the renal artery and inadequate perfusion of the lower limb vessels on the cannula side while simultaneously reducing damage to the vessel walls and blood. However, increasing the number of side holes in the return cannulas resulted in diminished perfusion of the aortic arch bifurcation vessels by hyperoxic blood supplied via ECMO.

Conclusion

Increasing the number of return cannula side holes for VA ECMO femoral artery cannulation improves hypoxic perfusion in the lower limb and reduces vascular endothelial injury, but may also lead to inadequate hypoxic perfusion in the upper body.
Enhancing Urban Mobility with Aerial Ropeway Transit (ART): Future Accessibility Impacts of Multimodal Transit Expansion Scenarios
Authors: Pani Agnivesh , Puppala Harish , Jha Shreepati , Gupta Ankit , Mukhopadhyay Ayan , Dubey Abhishek
Published: October 2024

Aerial ropeway transit (ART) systems are emerging alternatives to augment existing transit systems in congested cities in the Global South, especially in urban areas with limited transit coverage because of road width constraints or topography. Integration of aerial cable car stations to an existing transit network can improve the overall accessibility of various population segments with significant positive benefits in relation to reducing transport-related social exclusion. This study evaluated the impact of introducing ART in the city of Varanasi (India) and assessed the spatial accessibility improvements to critical facility locations such as heritage sites, educational institutions, hospitals, and employment centers. Several multimodal transit expansion scenarios were considered in this study and the potential benefits of each case were quantified using the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was subsequently employed for identifying the optimal locations of ART stops. Microlevel analysis findings suggest that the mean accessibility values could increase up to 10.92% in the first phase of the ART implementation, which could subsequently increase to 24.7% and 49.8% for the subsequent transit expansion scenarios. The study also investigated the Varanasi ART DPR prepared by Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and showed that a significant increase of 16% in accessibility levels could be achieved if optimal stop locations identified in this study were implemented. The proposed two-step (2SFCA+MCDM) method for identifying the optimal locations of ART stations in a multimodal transit network is expected to be an effective tool for transit system redesign using place-based accessibility measures.
On the Selection of Workplace in the COVID-19 Era Using Attitudinal Factors
Authors: Dianat Alireza , Nurul Habib Khandker
Published: October 2024

After two years of living with the threat of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada, pre-pandemic circumstances returned. During the pandemic, we relied on ICT-based tools to carry out our daily tasks, and now we have reached a tipping point. Should we keep our new routines to benefit us in the future? Or should we return to our routines before the pandemic? This study utilized a travel survey to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work activity-travel behavior and the persistence of new traditions in the post-pandemic era. The data for this study comes from a sample of 1,000 Greater Toronto Area residents who participated in a web-based survey in July, 2021, when Ontario began the third phase of reopening. This paper investigates work activity and workplace selection in more depth. Using factor analysis, a collection of latent attitudinal variables was identified. An integrated choice and latent variable model estimated the influential systematic and latent variables on the perceived workplace selection in the post-pandemic condition. The results showed that 71% of responders want to continue working from home at least once weekly after the pandemic. The preferred frequency of telecommuting in the post-pandemic period was positively correlated with education level, positive feelings about telecommuting experience, and certain occupation types, while negatively associated with age.
Exploration of the Traffic Safety of Battery Electric Vehicles: A Case Study of Tesla Vehicle-Involved Crashes in Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Liu Chenhui , Su Meiling , Ma Zhuanzhuan , Long Kejun , Lu Chaoru
Published: October 2024

After decades of efforts, the number of battery electric vehicles (BEV) has increased greatly around the world. Meanwhile, their unique technical features also bring many new traffic safety challenges. Using traffic crash data from Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2021, this study aims to identify characteristics and trends of BEV crashes by comparing those crashes involving Tesla vehicles (the premier BEV brand in the auto market of the United States) with crashes involving internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV). First, Tesla and ICEV crashes are compared for crash severity, collision type, spatial and temporal distributions, and environmental features. Tesla crashes show no significant difference from those of ICEVs in severity, but they have many more rear-end and angle collisions. In addition, Tesla crashes are found to concentrate in peak hours and around noon, occurring mainly in urban areas, at intersections, and on state roads. A logistic regression model is then built to identify the important factors influencing the severity of Tesla crashes. The findings are expected to provide new insights which will help researchers understand better traffic safety issues around BEVs.
Predictors of urethral stricture recurrence following internal urethrotomy: A systematic review
Authors: Endo David , Robayo Jaime , García-Perdomo Herney Andrés
Published: October 2024

Objective:

To estimate the factors associated with urethral stricture recurrence in patients undergoing internal urethrotomy by direct vision.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed in MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, LILACS, and central databases. Clinical, quasi-experimental, cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional trials were included.

Results:

The search strategy found 402 studies, and 6 were finally included. All of them were clinical trials. A total of 1723 patients diagnosed with urethral stricture undergoing internal urethrotomy were included. The primary associated factor was the association between the length of stricture and recurrence. Other factors described were post-RTU as etiology, previous interventions for urethral stricture management, and previous Qmax on uroflowmetry less than 5 ml/s.

Conclusion:

The length of urethral stricture was identified as the leading association with stricture recurrence following internal urethrotomy. Other associated factors were post-URT as etiology, previous interventions for managing stricture, and Qmax less than 5 ml/s. However, studies with better methodology are required.
Association of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) score with testicular tumor aggressiveness and prognosis
Authors: Ekici Ozgur , Akgun Ugur , Buyukdemirci Erkan , Avci Sinan , Caglayan Volkan , Erdogan Abdullah , Onen Efe , Ozcan Ridvan , Oner Sedat
Published: October 2024

Background:

The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) score integrates readily available blood markers that reflect systemic inflammation, nutritional status, and immune response, all of which can influence cancer progression. This study investigated the association between the HALP score and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with testicular tumor.

Methods:

Data of patients who underwent radical orchiectomy for testicular tumors between January 2020 and January 2024 were reviewed. Preoperative serum tumor markers, hemogram parameters and albumin levels were recorded. Tumor stages were recorded from postoperative radiological imaging and serum tumor markers. The association between postoperative results and HALP score was analyzed.

Results:

A total of 74 male patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 30.27 ± 6.42 years. The mean HALP score in the patient group with metastasis and retroperitoneal lypmh node invasion (RPLNI) was statistically significantly lower than the patients without metastasis and RPLNI. HALP score decreased statistically significantly with increasing tumor T stage, N stage and M stage. In addition, the mean HALP score values of patients who received chemotherapy, developed progression and mortality were statistically significantly lower than those of patients who did not.

Conclusions:

Lower HALP scores are significantly associated with advanced disease and poorer prognosis in patients with testicular tumor. The HALP score, composed of routinely measured blood markers, may serve as a convenient and cost-effective prognostic tool to identify patients at higher risk and guide personalized management strategies.
Accountability frameworks: A critical evolution in healthcare
Authors: Innes Grant
Published: October 2024

Canadians face prolonged waits for primary care, specialist care, hospital care, elective surgery, and advanced imaging relative to peer countries. A root problem is unclear queue management expectations. If programs have no mandate to provide timely care, the intuitive approach to demand challenges is not to innovate and improve, but to block access, create a queue, and force patients elsewhere. Patient care accountability frameworks define program expectations and accountability zones, clarifying that every patient has an accountable healthcare home and every program has a population (accountability zone). Program accountabilities include timely patient assessment and disposition; budget, space, and nursing care for program patients; and contingency plans for surges and queues. Accountability frameworks are an evolutionary stressor that would drive strategies to expedite appropriate care in the right place, to move patients out of queues into care. This article discusses accountability, accountability frameworks, and accountability strategies to improve system-wide access.
A Practical Guide to Loco-Regional Nerve Blocks for Oromaxillofacial Surgery in Dogs and Cats
Authors: Hailstone Kirsten
Published: October 2024

This article provides an overview of the neuroanatomy of the head with a detailed explanation and visual images to enable accurate placement of loco-regional nerve blocks to achieve pre-emptive blockade of the nociceptive input which occurs when performing oral surgery. Variations in anatomy and between species are addressed to assist in accurate placement.
Investigation of the influence of initial residual stress and toolpaths on milling deformation of titanium alloy
Authors: Peng Ruitao , Shen Jiacheng , Li Mengdan , Chen Meiliang , Zhao Linfeng , Yao Jinchi
Published: October 2024

Titanium alloy structural components are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their excellent physical properties. However, their susceptibility to machining deformation during milling, attributed to the presence of initial residual stress, poses a significant challenge. Therefore, this paper proposes a finite element model for predicting milling deformation in Ti6Al4V titanium alloy structural parts, considering initial residual stress. The methodology involves establishing the initial residual stress field of titanium alloy components based on a mathematical model of annealing heat transfer and a theoretical study of thermal elasto-plastic constitutive relation, with experimental confirmation of model accuracy. Based on the initial residual stress, a finite element model was developed to predict the maximum deformation under different toolpaths. Finally, a comparative analysis with milling experiments validated the proposed models. The experimental results demonstrated a remarkable alignment with the finite element model, showcasing the correctness of the developed models. The maximum deviation in deformation observed was within the range of 0.003 mm–0.011 mm. This study is the first to comprehensively consider the effects of initial residual stress and toolpaths on titanium alloy milling deformation, and to experimentally verify the proposed model’s accuracy and practicality. It provides a new theoretical basis and technical guidelines for titanium alloy milling deformation.
Mechanical, thermal, and microstructure analysis of 3D printed polyolefin elastomer-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends for tunable mechanical properties
Authors: Lv Jun
Published: October 2024

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) has emerged as a cost-effective and user-friendly technique that has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, challenges persist when printing soft materials using FDM technology. This study proposes a solution by blending a soft polyolefin elastomer (POE) with a stiffer material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). A comprehensive experimental investigation utilizing a direct pellet printing method was conducted to 3D print POE-ABS blends in various ratios (10%, 30%, and 50% ABS content). The study encompassed material preparation, 3D printing, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis, Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), uniaxial tensile testing, and compression testing to assess the mechanical properties and energy absorption capabilities of the 3D printed blends. The results of the DMTA showed that the blends with a higher amount of ABS have a larger area under the Tan δ curve, indicating their ability to absorb more energy. The SEM images revealed that as the proportion of ABS increases, the gaps between layers and beads become smaller. The mechanical properties of the pure printed POE, such as its elongation at break and tensile strength, were 2138% and 2.83 MPa, respectively. However, as the ABS content increased, the samples exhibited more rigid behavior, with a final transition to 50/50 ratio resulting in 9.4 MPa tensile strength and 160% elongation at break. The energy absorption test demonstrated that the sample with 30% ABS content has the highest energy absorption capability among all the tested samples. This research underscores the potential of blending soft and stiff materials to tailor properties for additive manufacturing applications, emphasizing the significance of material composition in achieving desired mechanical performance, printability, and functionality in printed objects.
Skepticism regarding the use of carbon nanotubes as reinforcing agent in ceramics for biomedical applications: A critical review
Authors: Bocanegra-Bernal Miguel Humberto , Reyes-Rojas Armando , Esparza-Ponce Hilda Esperanza , Aguilar-Elguézabal Alfredo
Published: October 2024

Recent advancements in composite materials, including ceramics, metals, and polymers, have shown significant promise for biomedical applications. In particular, the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcement in alumina and zirconia ceramics has garnered attention due to their potential to greatly enhance mechanical properties. CNTs, with their high aspect ratio, mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity, offer unique advantages for improving traditional ceramics used in biomedical applications, such as hip and knee replacements, where alumina and zirconia have been employed since the 1970s for their superior wear resistance and biocompatibility. This review critically examines the mechanical benefits of CNT-reinforced ceramics, focusing on factors such as CNT distribution, reinforcement mechanisms, fracture toughness, and long-term durability. Additionally, it explores the significant challenge of CNT toxicity, cytocompatibility, and potential long-term health risks, particularly their non-biodegradable and carcinogenic nature, which could limit their use in medical implants. While promising, inconsistencies in reported improvements, largely due to dispersion issues and ceramic-CNT interactions, along with unresolved toxicity concerns, indicate the need for further research. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of both the mechanical potential and the biological risks of CNT-reinforced ceramics in biomedical applications.