bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Democracy Necessary for Foreign Direct Investment Inflows in India?
Authors: Hamid Ishfaq , Jena Pabitra Kumar
Published: December 2021

India has developed a positive attitude towards the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows during the last five years and made several changes in the market conditions, enhanced civil rights and liberties to attract more FDI inflows. This study examines the impact of democracy on FDI inflows in India by employing an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. For the said purpose, the study uses the annual data from 1980–2017. The findings demonstrate that the democratic setup does not induce FDI inflows in the short run, but there is a positive and significant impact of democracy in the long run. Furthermore, it confirms that gross national income per capita; trade openness, political rights, and civil liberties are significant and positive determinants of FDI inflows in India. Based on findings, this study recommends that India nurture democratic values, property rights security, and values of civil liberty & freedom to appeal for more foreign investment inflows into India progressively.

JEL Codes: D73, C22, F14
Institutional characteristics of education systems and inequalities: Introduction II
Authors: Gross Christiane , Hadjar Andreas , Zapfe Laura
Published: December 2021

The second special issue of International Journal of Comparative Sociology (IJCS) on the role of education systems as institutional settings on the reproduction of inequalities includes three papers that focus on stratification of the education system as key driver of educational inequalities, the role of digital inequalities in the school and beyond, as well as how students navigate through the institutional setting of the Taiwanese education system. While we already elaborated on the research program, conceptual framework, and methodological challenges in the first introduction (published in January 2021), we will deal with the current state-of-research in this second introduction.
Recovery of impact-damaged carbon fiber–reinforced composites using induction heating
Authors: Bayazeid Sultan M , Poon Kim-Leng , Subeshan Balakrishnan , Alamir Mohammed , Asmatulu Eylem
Published: December 2021

Carbon fiber–reinforced composites (CFRCs) have been used extensively in structural applications within the aerospace and automotive manufacturing industries. However, several other applications have been recognized. These take advantage of the additional properties of CFRCs, which lead to providing better performance for structures. However, in their service environment, these CFRCs are inevitably susceptible to impact damage from multiple sources, and they must be able to recover from impacts to meet structural requirements. This study directs an experimental investigation of using induction heating (IH) for an impact-damaged CFRC. Here, IH process parameters, including the effects of electromagnetic frequency and generator power on the recovery of impact-damaged CFRC, have been analyzed. The anisotropic conductivity characteristics and the relationship between the drop-weight impact depth and conductivity of CFRC garnered much attention. This paper also offers the electromagnetic properties of CFRC for various applications. In this study, CFRC cured samples were obtained from Cetex® TC1200 PEEK, AS4 145 gsm, 16 unidirectional plies. Three variants of CFRC samples were tested: undamaged samples; samples with impact damage introduced in the center by a drop-weight impact test, according to the ASTM D7136/7136M standard; and samples with drop-weight impact damage recovered using the IH system. This work presents the results of the tensile strength of CFRC samples to assess the comparison of undamaged samples, samples damaged after the drop-weight impact test, and samples recovered after the drop-weight impact test. IH is appropriate for the recovery of impact-damaged CFRC samples, aiding in the conversion of electromagnetic energy to heat in order to generate mechanisms on components to recover the impact-damaged CFRC samples. Experimental results show that the impact-damaged area of the recovered CFRC samples is 37.0% less than that of damaged CFRC samples, and tensile strength results also improved after the impact-damaged CFRC samples were recovered. These results show that the IH method can effectively improve the impact damage performance of CFRC. The outcome of this study is promising for use in many applications, especially in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Narratives on Sex and Contraception From Pregnant Adolescent Women in a Northern Province in Thailand: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Leekuan Panitsara , Kane Ros , Sukwong Panpimol
Published: December 2021

Gaps in understanding, a lack of awareness of contraceptive use and a lack of control, related to gender dynamics, may influence the demand for contraception among adolescents and their decision-making around pregnancy prevention. This study explored the experiences of pregnant adolescents at the time of pregnancy and prior to becoming pregnant, examining attitudes toward sex and contraception. An interpretive phenomenological study guided by Heideggerian philosophy, analysed data from 30 in-depth interviews conducted with purposively selected consenting pregnant adolescents aged 15–19. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and were analysed using a modified interpretative phenomenological approach. Participants exposed 5 key findings or experiences associated with sex and contraception: ‘ Premarital cohabitation and sex’, ‘ Staying in the relationship’, ‘ Unforeseen future’, ‘ Parental conformity’, and ‘ Male command’. These findings can have far-reaching implications for the holistic understanding of the needs of adolescents in Thailand. They can be used to inform the development of appropriate and responsive interventions to support female and male adolescents, their families, and society. This includes interventions around reproductive health rights and sex education from health care providers, educators providing counselling to facilitate adolescents’ decision-making in order to reduce unintended adolescent pregnancy.
The effect of OMMT reinforcement and annealing treatment on mechanical and thermal properties of Polyurethane Copolymer nanocomposites
Authors: Albozahid Muayad , Naji Haneen , Alobad Zoalfokkar , Saiani Alberto
Published: December 2021

This study focuses on a new fabrication of nanocomposite based on Polyurethane Copolymer (PUC) intercalated with organo-modified montmorillonite nanoparticles (OMMT), via an efficient combination of solution mixing and melt blending processes. The combination of solution mixing and melt interaction processes produced PUC/OMMT nanocomposites with enhanced properties. The OMMT filled PUC was characterised by TEM and tensile test. The effect of thermal treatment process was also studied due to subsequent microphase separation of PUC resulting from microdomain miscibility. TEM observation recognised a decent dispersion state of OMMT within PUC, owing to their exfoliated and intercalated structure. This morphology was greatly influenced by induced thermal treatment. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) revealed that storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites increased with OMMT incorporation. The tensile modulus and tensile strength of nanocomposites showed an improvement with the addition of OMMT.
Understanding the costs and challenges of the digital divide through UK council services
Authors: Harvey Morgan , Hastings David P , Chowdhury Gobinda
Published: December 2021

This study investigates the issue of digital exclusion resulting from the digitisation of government and council services within the United Kingdom. An initial analysis of customer support log data from a council in a large UK city helped identify the most commonly queried services and modes of support. The main findings are based on qualitative analysis of 10 interviews, structured around the results from the log analysis, conducted with front-line staff members at the central library of the same council. The study identifies a range of issues associated with the provision of e-government services and the subsequent under-utilisation by the public, including poor design, issues with effective access and the level of digital literacy among end users. The study also proposes the concept of the ‘digital carer’, a friend or family member who is relied upon by users unable to interact with e-government services themselves. The findings of this study have implications for the way in which these services are designed and delivered and point to the need for further work that can contribute to the UK digital economy by facilitating better access to e-government services and reduce digital exclusion, especially for elderly and marginalised users.
Laboratory Studies of the Effects of Carbohydrate Consumption on Wakefulness
Authors: Landström Ulf , Knutsson Anders , Lennernäs Maria , Söderberg Lena
Published: December 2021

Changes in wakefulness before and after exposure to carbohydrate intake were tested in 30 test persons. Changes in wakefulness were tested via EEG and subjective estimates. The intakes consisted of 400 ml glucose, 250 kcal (GI 100), 400 ml fructose, 209 kcal (GI 20), and 400 ml water. The study has indicated that intake of fructose, glucose and water had a similar stimulating effect on wakefulness in drowsy subjects immediately after intake. Our results also indicate that intake of fructose can lead to a delay in the development of drowsiness. Compared to water, a 20–30 minutes delay of the point in time when high-degree drowsiness developed, took place. There was no significant difference between glucose and water.
Evaluating online education for gifted students: Parents’ views
Authors: Kaya Nisa Gökden , Akgül Gülendam
Published: December 2021

Due to the effects of a worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, as in many countries, students in Turkey started to have online education since March 2020. Factors such as their motivation and need for learning, and higher cognitive arousal would make it more difficult for gifted students to become away from schools. In this context, this research aimed to examine the experiences of gifted students during the online education process from their parents’ viewpoint. The data, obtained from 15 parents via telephone interviews, were analyzed by descriptive interpretive approach, one of the qualitative research methods. The validity and reliability of the data were ensured. According to the results, seven categories emerged: reflections on education, advantages, disadvantages, psychological impacts, solutions, observed emotions, and suggestions. The results were discussed in terms of gifted students’ characteristics, previous online education practices, and suggestions for future use of online education for gifted children after the pandemic period.
The importance of attachment to fathers in Latinx mental health
Authors: Venta Amanda , Walker Jesse , Bailey Cassandra , Long Tessa , Mercado Alfonso , Colunga-Rodríguez Cecilia
Published: December 2021

The impact of attachment to fathers on mental health in Latinx communities is understudied and not fully understood, though extant research focusing on maternal attachment forms a solid base of knowledge regarding the importance of attachment (to mothers) on mental health. The broad aim of this study was to examine the importance of paternal attachment in relation to maternal attachment on mental health in Latinx young adults. The current study used two large, young adult samples: one collected in Latin America ( n = 774) and one collected in the United States ( n = 1084). We hypothesized that paternal attachment would be a significant predictor of internalizing (emotional symptoms), externalizing (hyperactivity, conduct problems), and interpersonal (social problems, prosocial behavior) functioning beyond maternal attachment. Exploratory analyses examined whether paternal communication, trust, or feelings of alienation, three established facets of attachment, differentially related to mental health outcomes. Findings broadly supported hypotheses, as attachment to fathers made a significant, incremental contribution to all outcome variables. Further, paternal alienation emerged as a potent potential risk factor, while paternal trust emerged as a potential protective factor for mental health outcomes in these samples. This study is the first to endeavor to understand the links between paternal attachment and mental health beyond maternal attachment in two distinct samples with varying immigration statuses, countries of residence, and cultural norms and has important implications for working with Latinx populations from a clinical, assessment, and research standpoint.
A Critical Framework for Examining Sustainability Claims of the Sharing Economy: Exploring the Tensions Within Platform Brand Discourses
Authors: Beverland Michael , Cankurtaran Pinar , Loussaïef Leila
Published: December 2021

The sharing economy represents a market-driven response to the perceived inefficient resource use arising from materialism, and as such, offers the possibility of a more environmentally sustainable form of consumption. However, the sustainability benefits attributed to the sharing economy remain contentious and fraught with paradox. Drawing on a critical discourse analysis of three sharing economy brands (Lime, Rent the Runway and BlaBlaCar) we identify that sustainability discourses compete with claims arising from the espoused benefits of immateriality and platform brands’ desire for rapid growth. We identify and explore three platform brand discourses (disrupting unsustainable leaders, guilt-free choice, and non-commercial appeals) and their associated practices. In doing so we identify that tensions between these discourses and practices give rise to three sustainability-related contradictions: displacement of sustainable alternatives, hidden materiality, and creeping usage. Our findings contribute to our understanding of the sharing economy and its role in sustainability.
Binegativity Exacerbates the Effects of Sexual Victimization Disclosure on Posttraumatic Stress and Drinking Among Bisexual Women
Authors: Salim Selime R. , Eshelman Lee R. , Messman Terri L.
Published: December 2021

Bisexual women experience higher rates of sexual victimization and mental health problems compared to heterosexual and lesbian women. Bisexual women also receive more unsupportive or overtly negative reactions when they disclose experiences of sexual victimization. The current study aimed to examine the interaction of negative social reactions and binegativity (i.e., experiences of stigma due to bisexual identity) in predicting posttraumatic stress, depression, and hazardous drinking among bisexual women. The sample consisted of 161 young adult bisexual women (ages 18–35) who disclosed a sexual victimization experience to at least one person. Moderation analyses were conducted via the PROCESS macro for SPSS. “Turning against” reactions to disclosure (e.g., victim blame and avoidance of the victim) predicted increased posttraumatic stress and hazardous drinking in the presence of binegativity. In addition, reactions to disclosure that acknowledged the experience but were unsupportive predicted increased drinking in the context of binegativity. Depression was not associated with either type of negative reactions, regardless of binegativity. Thus, findings suggest that binegativity in combination with negative responses to disclosure of sexual victimization are important factors in specific types of distress related to sexual violence among bisexual women. Implications for research, clinical intervention, and policy are discussed.
A Culturally Adapted Colorectal Cancer Education Video for the Somali Community in Minnesota: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Nakajima Motohiro , Haji Abdifatah , Mohamud Sakhaudiin , Ahmed Osmon , Hodges James S. , Pratt Rebekah
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop and test feasibility of a colorectal cancer (CRC) education video appropriate for Somali immigrants.

Design

One-group pretest–posttest design.

Setting

Minneapolis, MN.

Sample

Thirty-one Somali men (mean age = 60.6; SD = 13.0).

Intervention

A CRC education video was developed in the Somali language with Somali community partners. Participants were invited to a workshop and watched the video.

Measures

Levels of understanding about CRC and screening were assessed before vs after the video.

Analysis

Binomial tests were conducted to examine changes in level of understanding.

Results

Analysis on pre–post, within-person changes in understanding about cancer, and CRC screening showed that proportions with a positive change in understanding risks of cancer (80%) and benefits of CRC screening (90%) were significantly higher than expected if the video had no effect (50%; P = .012, P < .001, respectively). Ninety-three percent of participants agreed that the video contained useful information.

Conclusion

These results provide evidence of usefulness of culturally tailored videos to facilitate CRC screening in the Somali community. Results of this study were limited by a small sample size and lack of a control group.
Development of an instrument to assess self-management capacity of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis: CAPABLE
Authors: Devia Martha , Vesga Jasmin , Sanchez Ricardo , Sanabria Rafael M , Figueiredo Ana Elizabeth
Published: December 2021

Background:

Treatment of kidney failure with peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home implies that the patient and/or their caregiver develop a series of skills and basic knowledge about this therapy. There is not a specific inventory of the patient’s abilities to safely perform the PD procedure at home. The objective of this study was to describe the development of an instrument that allows measuring the self-management capacity of patients receiving PD, locating the performance areas that justify the need for intervention by a caregiver.

Methods:

This is a qualitative study developed in three phases: The first phase was the identification of performance areas through bibliographic search and validation of the results with focus groups of experts in PD. The second phase was the design of a system to measure self-management capacities. The third phase was a pilot test of the preliminary version of the instrument applied in 20 incident PD patients.

Results:

Three domains were identified to evaluate the fundamental components of self-management capacity: cognitive and sensory, each one evaluated with four items and motor domain evaluated with eight items. After applying the instrument, we found that 15 patients (75%) did not require support from the caregiver in any of the items. PD patients and nurses found the tool valuable, easy to understand and applicable in the early evaluation of a PD patient.

Conclusions:

We developed an easy-to-administer instrument to measure the self-management capacity of patients receiving PD. This inventory could locate areas that require specific support from a caregiver. Planning an individualised and focused education and training process could result in better health outcomes.
Influence of B4C on enhancing mechanical properties of AA2014 aluminum matrix composites
Authors: Kara Memduh , Coskun Tolga , Gunoz Alper
Published: December 2021

Aluminum is a material with advantageous properties such as lightness, good conductivity, high plastic deformation ability, and superior corrosion resistance. However, aluminum and many aluminum alloys have disadvantages in terms of mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, and wear resistance. To overcome this disadvantage of aluminum, it is a good method to add ceramic particles to the matrix. For this purpose, in this study, B4C (boron carbide)-reinforced AA2014 aluminum matrix composites were fabricated at 3%, 5%, and 7% reinforcement ratios using the stir casting method. Tensile tests, wear tests, cutting force measurements, and microhardness measurements were performed to determine the fabricated composite materials’ mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy were used to analyze the microstructure of composite. X-ray diffraction analysis was utilized to study the phase identification. As a result of the study, it was observed that with the increase in the B4C reinforcement ratio, the mechanical properties of the aluminum matrix composite material, such as wear resistance, cutting strength, and hardness, increased. On the other hand, the change in tensile strength did not occur in this way. Tensile strength first increased and then decreased. The highest value of tensile strength was achieved at 5% B4C reinforcement. X-ray diffraction results showed that AA2014 and B4C were the fundamental elements in composites and are free from intermetallics.
Post-crisis developments in young adults’ housing wealth
Authors: Dewilde Caroline , Flynn Lindsay B.
Published: December 2021

How has housing wealth inequality changed for young-adult households in the post-financial crisis period, and what is driving such change? We chart a path for subsequent studies by analysing the previously unexamined post-crisis housing wealth profile of young adults via different angles and using multiple inequality measures. Using household micro-data for 11 European countries ( Household Finance and Consumption Survey, 2010–2017) and the United States ( Survey of Consumer Finances, 2010–2016), we find that the accumulation of housing assets for 22–44 year olds is unevenly concentrated among high-income homeowners, over and above what would be expected given the well-known decline in homeownership. We describe and assess several potential drivers for these wealth profile changes, finding that the current explanations offered in the literature do not adequately account for the unequal wealth profile of young people. We conclude that a mix of dynamics, including housing market volatility, housing market configurations leading to uneven capital gains and losses, and the increased social selectivity of homeownership intersect to shape the ways that young adults navigate the housing market in post-crisis times.
Electroacupuncture modulates cortical excitability in a manner dependent on the parameters used
Authors: de Brito Francisco Xavier , Luz-Santos Cleber , Camatti Janine Ribeiro , de Souza da Fonseca Rodrigo Jorge , Suzarth Giovana , Moraes Laise Monteiro Campos , da Silva Marcelo Lourenço , da Silva Josie Resende Torres , Vercelino Rafael , Sá Katia Nunes , Zana Yossi , Baptista Abrahão Fontes
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

There is evidence that electroacupuncture (EA) acts through the modulation of brain activity, but little is known about its influence on corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1).

Objective:

To investigate the influence of EA parameters on the excitability of M1 in healthy individuals.

Methods:

A parallel, double blind, randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects, evaluating the influence of an EA intervention on M1 excitability. Participants had a needle inserted at LI4 in the dominant hand and received electrical stimulation of different frequencies (10 or 100 Hz) and amplitude (sensory or motor threshold) for 20 min. In the control group, only a brief (30 s) electrical stimulation was applied. Single and paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation coupled with electromyography was applied before and immediately after the EA intervention. Resting motor threshold, motor evoked potential, short intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation were measured.

Results:

EA increased corticospinal excitability of M1 compared to the control group only when administered with a frequency of 100 Hz at the sensory threshold ( p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the other measures.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that EA with an intensity level at the sensorial threshold and 100 Hz frequency increases the corticospinal excitability of M1. This effect may be associated with a decrease in the activity of inhibitory intracortical mechanisms.

Trial registration number:

U1111-1173-1946 (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos; http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/ )
Treatment of Positive Urine Cultures at End-of-Life and the Effect on Terminal Delirium Management
Authors: Latuga Natalie M. , Grant Pei C. , Levy Kathryn , Luczkiewicz Debra L.
Published: December 2021

Background: The decision to initiate antibiotics in hospice patients that are very near end-of-life is a complex ethical and stewardship decision. Antibiotics may be ordered to improve urinary tract infection–related symptoms, such as delirium. However, infection symptoms may be managed using antipsychotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics, and analgesics instead. Currently, there are no studies that compare symptom management between those who receive antibiotics and those who do not. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted to a hospice inpatient unit. Charts were included if the patient was admitted for delirium and had a Palliative Performance Scale score ≤40%, the urine culture was positive for organism growth, and the patient died while in the HIU. Clinical and demographic data was collected. Medication use was tallied for the 5 days prior to the date of death. Results: Sixty-one charts met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-five patients received antibiotics (ABX+) and 26 did not (ABX−). There was no difference in any medication consumption between groups during the 5 days prior to death. The ABX+ group died 8.2 days after obtaining the urine sample vs 6 days ( P =0.046). The ABX+ group had more documented urinary tract–specific infection symptoms (66% vs 38%, P =0.042). More than half of antibiotic courses were discontinued prematurely. Conclusion: The results of this study do not show a difference in overall medication consumption between groups, which suggests that antibiotics may not help improve terminal delirium symptoms in those with a suspected urinary tract infection at end-of-life.
Self-care in Adults With a Retro-auricular Left Ventricular Assist Device: An Interpretive Description
Authors: Trenta Alessia Martina , Luciani Michela , Moro Massimo , Patella Sara , Di Mauro Stefania , Vellone Ercole , Ausili Davide
Published: December 2021

Having a retro-auricular left ventricular assist device (LVAD) requires patients to learn specific self-care behaviors, with a considerable burden; the present study aimed at exploring and describing the experience of self-care in this population. An Interpretive Description was conducted, informing the analysis with the Middle-Range Theory of Self-care of Chronic Illness. A purposeful sample of ten people with a retro-auricular LVAD participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Four themes were identified: Innovations and Limitations in Daily Life, Problems Detection, Response to Problems, and Learning Process. All of these were deeply influenced by a cross-cutting theme: Support System. People with a retro-auricular LVAD have self-care needs different from those of people with heart failure or with the abdominal version of the device, and there is a great need for targeted intervention that could be developed in consideration of our findings.
Safety and Efficacy of Postoperative Indwelling Popliteal Nerve Catheters for Outpatient Charcot-Marie-Tooth Surgery
Authors: An Tonya , Schwartz Elliot , Kissen Michael , Pollock Gabriel , Pfeffer Glenn
Published: December 2021

Background:

Outpatient surgical deformity correction for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is limited by effective postoperative pain control. Our previous institutional protocol for foot and ankle surgery in this population included preoperative single-injection nerve blocks, but patients often experienced uncontrolled pain when the block wore off postoperative day 0 or 1, resulting in high opioid requirements and unplanned emergency department visits. The use of ultrasonography-guided continuous nerve catheters in CMT patients has not previously been studied. We aimed to prospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of ultrasonography-guided indwelling popliteal catheters in CMT patients undergoing outpatient foot deformity correction surgery.

Methods:

Twenty CMT patients, average 28 (range 13-53) years old, undergoing reconstructive surgery by a single foot and ankle attending surgeon were consented for preoperative ultrasonography-guided popliteal catheters. This series included 24 total outpatient procedures; 4 were staged bilateral. Indwelling popliteal catheters were maintained on discharge, providing continuous infusion until postoperative day (POD) 3, and then self-discontinued. Patients were prescribed oxycodone 5 mg (60-80 pills) as needed for breakthrough pain. Outcomes collected included daily pain scores (0-10), an opioid pill count on POD 14, and patient satisfaction ratings. Neurologic evaluation by 5-point 10g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing was performed preoperatively and on POD 14.

Results:

There were no observed catheter-site infections or hematomas. Nine of the patients had pre-existing sensory deficits involving at least 2 areas on the 5-point monofilament test. Postoperative testing showed these deficits were unchanged and there were no instances of new sensory deficits. Postoperative pain scores were typically low, with median values (interquartile ranges [IQRs]) of 3.5 (2.0-5.0) on POD 1, 2.5 (2.0-5.0) on POD 2, and 2.5 (1.0-3.75) on POD 3. At POD 14, pain was 1.0 (0-1.0). Patients consumed a median of 25 oxycodone pills (IQR 8-43) over 2 weeks, less than half the prescribed number. Patient satisfaction was high. All patients reported they would choose to have a nerve catheter again for a similar surgery.

Conclusion:

This cases series demonstrated that regional anesthesia using ultrasonography-guided indwelling popliteal catheters was safe and effective for pain control in CMT patients undergoing outpatient foot and ankle surgery. Opioid consumption was comparable to published rates following major bony procedures, and no patients required emergent treatment or hospital admission for uncontrolled pain. No new sensory deficits were detected and patients with underlying sensory deficits remained unchanged. Patients were highly satisfied.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
The relationship between active coping and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of meaning in life
Authors: Jin Shuai , Zheng Lei , Wen Jie , Miao Miao
Published: December 2021

This study aims to examine the relationship between active coping and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the underlying mechanism based on meaning making theory. We conducted a two-wave survey and recruited 521 Chinese adults (aged 18–65). Results show that all three active coping strategies (personal hygiene practice, support seeking, and positive reappraisal) at T1 was positively associated with T2 hope. Importantly, T2 meaning in life serves as a mediator between T1 active coping and T2 hope. Our findings suggest that active coping could be an effective approach to maintain mental health by making meaning and promoting hope.
The effect of resilience on the relationship between perceived stress and change in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Tudehope Lucy , Lee Patricia , Wiseman Nicola , Dwirahmadi Febi , Sofija Ernesta
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of stress and alcohol consumption. This study examined the effect of resilience on the relationship between stress and changes in alcohol consumption in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. A cross-sectional survey of 502 adults in Queensland, Australia (mean age = 45.68 (16.61)), found 23.9% of individuals had increased their alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic. Regression modelling demonstrated a significant association between perceived stress and change in alcohol consumption. The study also revealed resilience was a moderating factor, where high levels of resilience buffered against increases in alcohol consumption associated with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reputation belongs in more strategic decision models (and some data to measure it)
Authors: Parker Owen , Gong Ke , Mui Rachel
Published: December 2021

Organizational reputation is compelling to layman audiences, it is critical for firm performance and myriad organizational phenomena, and recent theory articulates how it shapes the very managerial discretion underpinning strategic decisions. Yet, reputation is still excluded from much of mainstream strategic organization research. We make the case for reputation’s wider inclusion in studies of managerial discretion or strategic decision making. We first demonstrate reputation’s potential theoretical importance in explaining nuances or non-findings in such studies, detail ways to measure reputation accurately, provide five sources of data for readers to facilitate the inclusion of reputation in their studies, and illustrate how scholars can use freelancers to collect their own archival data for their own, context-specific purposes. By shedding light on reputation’s unique role in shaping managerial discretion and, thereby, strategic decisions, we hope this essay helps scholars better account for decision-making patterns that might otherwise defy the predictions of other organizational theories.
A Possible Role for Arterial Duplex and Hand Acceleration Time in Diagnosing and Managing Shock
Authors: Sommerset Jill , Sapru Abharika Bahaar , Teso Desarom , Karmy-Jones Riyad
Published: December 2021

Shock represents a state when arterial perfusion is inadequate to supply the needs of cellular respiration, leading to anerobic metabolism, acidosis, and cell death. Although typically described in terms of blood pressure and heart rate, these measures can both lead to delayed recognition of shock and under appreciation of the severity of end-organ malperfusion. Recently, there has been increased interest in monitoring peripheral perfusion both to detect early shock and monitor the response to treatment. However, current methods are variable and, in some cases, require specialized equipment. We present a case in which duplex ultrasound assessment of peripheral palmar acceleration time identified a post-hemorrhagic shock state before it was clinically apparent. Bedside arterial duplex and hand acceleration time may provide a simple tool to assess the degree of shock and response to intervention.
Environmental friendly application of ultrasonic rays for extraction of natural colorant from Harmal (P. harmala) for dyeing of bio-mordanted silk
Authors: Adeel Shahid , Rehman Fazal-ur- , Zuber Mohammad , Batool Fatima , Habib Noman , Hussaan Muhammad , Amin Nimra
Published: December 2021

Global heat, carcinogenic, and viral diseases created due to industrial pollutants has led people to shift toward natural products particularly natural dyes in all walks of life. In this study, U.S. rays up-to 60 min, were used to extract the color in aqueous medium and employed onto silk fabric at selected conditions. It has been observed that good color strength has been found when 30 mL of acidic extract ( pH = 4.0) obtained from 6.0 g of Harmal powder containing 3.0 g/100 mL of salt as an exhausting agent was employed onto the US treated silk at 65ºC for 55 min. The utilization of the extract obtained from 7% of pomegranate as post-bio-mordant, 3% of acacia extract as meta-bio-mordant, and 7% of henna extract as meta-bio-mordants has given excellent color strength. In comparison, 5% of Al salt as meta mordant, 5% of Fe salt as pre mordant, and 7% of tannic acid as meta-mordant has given better results. ISO standard methods for fastness employed onto optimum mordanted dyed fabrics have given well to excellent fastness ratings. Hence, natural colorant extracted from Harmal seeds has excellent coloring efficacy to dye silk fabric under sustainable conditions, whereas the addition of eco-friendly mordants for shade development process has made the coloration of silk more sustainable with improved colorfastness properties.
Wheel fault diagnosis model based on multichannel attention and supervised contrastive learning
Authors: Chen Yanxiang , Zhao Zuxing , Kim Euiyoul , Liu Haiyang , Xu Juan , Min Hai , Cui Yong
Published: December 2021

As wheels are important components of train operation, diagnosing and predicting wheel faults are essential to ensure the reliability of rail transit. Currently, the existing studies always separately deal with two main types of wheel faults, namely wheel radius difference and wheel flat, even though they are both reflected by wheel radius changes. Moreover, traditional diagnostic methods, such as mechanical methods or a combination of data analysis methods, have limited abilities to efficiently extract data features. Deep learning models have become useful tools to automatically learn features from raw vibration signals. However, research on improving the feature-learning capabilities of models under noise interference to yield higher wheel diagnostic accuracies has not yet been conducted. In this paper, a unified training framework with the same model architecture and loss function is established for two homologous wheel faults. After selecting deep residual networks (ResNets) as the backbone network to build the model, we add the squeeze and excitation (SE) module based on a multichannel attention mechanism to the backbone network to learn the global relationships among feature channels. Then the influence of noise interference features is reduced while the extraction of useful information features is enhanced, leading to the improved feature-learning ability of ResNet. To further obtain effective feature representation using the model, we introduce supervised contrastive loss (SCL) on the basis of ResNet + SE to enlarge the feature distances of different fault classes through a comparison between positive and negative examples under label supervision to obtain a better class differentiation and higher diagnostic accuracy. We also complete a regression task to predict the fault degrees of wheel radius difference and wheel flat without changing the network architecture. The extensive experimental results show that the proposed model has a high accuracy in diagnosing and predicting two types of wheel faults.
The curation of European Netflix catalogues on social media: The key role of transnational and local cultural traits
Authors: Navarro Celina , Monclús Belén
Published: December 2021

This article aims to analyse how Netflix uses social media to generate a dialogue between the local and transnational layers of television, to position its brand and curate content in domestic markets. Within the frame of transnationalism, a cross-cultural comparative study has been conducted in three different local European markets: the United Kingdom, Spain and the Nordic region. The results show the negotiation between transnationalisation and the needs of local cultural distinctiveness through language adaptation, emphasis on in-house original US flagship productions, the overrepresentation of original local content and use of cultural references at different levels.
Needle Technology for Insulin Administration: A Century of Innovation
Authors: Heinemann Lutz , Nguyen Trung , Bailey Timothy S. , Hassoun Ahmed , Kulzer Bernd , Oliveria Teresa , Reznik Yves , de Valk Harold W. , Mader Julia K.
Published: December 2021

Innovations in syringe and pen needle (PN) technology over the last 100 years have led to important advances in insulin delivery for people with diabetes, paralleling the strides made in developing recombinant DNA human insulin and insulin analogs with varying onset and duration of action. In this review, the history of advances in insulin delivery is described, focusing on progress in syringe, needle, and PN technologies. The early glass and metal syringes that required sterilization by boiling have been replaced by disposable, single-use syringes or pens with clear labeling for precise insulin dosing. The early needles ranging in length from 19 to 26 mm that required manual sharpening against a whetstone have been replaced by syringe needles of 6 mm and PNs of 4 mm in length as slender as 34 gauge. Imaging studies using ultrasound and computed tomography measured the thickness of skin and subcutaneous tissue layers to show feasibility of targeted insulin administration with shorter needles. These developments, coupled with innovations in needle/PN wall and tip structure, have led to improved injection experience for people with diabetes. It is also important to acknowledge the role of injection technique education, together with these advances in injection technology, for improving clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. With continued projected growth of diabetes prevalence, particularly in developing countries where expensive and complex insulin delivery systems may not be practical, insulin syringes and pens will continue to serve as reliable and cost-effective means of insulin delivery for people with diabetes.
Clinical Study of a High Accuracy Green Design Blood Glucose Monitor Using an Innovative Optical Transmission Absorbance System
Authors: Moriuchi Takeyuki , Otaki Yuto , Satou Hiroya , Chai Fumihiko , Hayashida Yuma , Aikawa Ryokei , Sugiyama Takayuki , Sode Koji
Published: December 2021

Background:

Blood glucose monitoring (BGM) is essential for glycemic control in diabetic therapy. Followingly, accurate sensors are required for both daily personal and clinical use. The frequency of sensor use in patients with diabetes facilitates the use of disposable components. However, BGM systems are not exempt from green innovation sustainability initiatives.

Methods:

Clinical study of a high-accuracy green design blood glucose monitor using an innovative optical transmission absorbance system was carried out. Venous blood samples were collected from 104 patients with type II diabetes. The heat resistance of sensor strips was evaluated by storing sensor strips at 25℃ and 60℃ for approximately 3 months. Accuracy of the BGM system was evaluated via the ISO 15197:2013 protocol.

Results:

The BGM system achieved ±7.1% accuracy in glycemic level measurement, with 84% of all measurements within ±5% of the reference values. Furthermore, the sensor strip demonstrated heat resistance for more than 3 months when stored at 60℃.

Conclusions:

A new, highly accurate BGM system was developed based on the latest optical measurement system, introducing a rare metal-free “green-strip.” The developed BGM system achieved the highest reported accuracy in clinical research, using venous blood from patients with diabetes. The sensor strip also exhibited high heat resistance, reducing limitations on storage conditions.
Predicting the Molecular Mechanism of Sini Jia Renshen Decoction in Treating Severe COVID-19 Patients Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Authors: Liu Yi Wen , Yang Ai Xia , Lu Li , Huang Tie Hua
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To explore the potential mechanism of Sini jia Renshen Decoction (SJRD) in the treatment of COVID-19 based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Methods:

The active compounds and potential therapeutic targets of SJRD were collected through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). Then a string database was used to build a protein–protein interactions (PPI) network between proteins, and use the David database to perform gene ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis on core targets. Then we used Cytoscape software to construct an active ingredients-core target-signaling pathway network, and finally the active ingredients of SJRD were molecularly docked with the core targets to predict the mechanism of SJRD in the treatment of COVID-19.

Results:

A total of 136 active compounds, 51 core targets and 93 signaling pathways were selected. Molecular docking results revealed that quercetin, 3,22-dihydroxy-11-oxo-delta(12)-oleanene-27-alpha-methoxycarbonyl-29-oic acid, 18α-hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, gomisin B and ignavine had considerable binding ability with ADRB2, PRKACA, DPP4, PIK3CG and IL6.

Conclusions:

This study preliminarily explored the mechanism of multiple components，multiple targets，and multiple pathways of SJRD in the treatment of COVID-19 by network pharmacology．
News by Popular Demand: Ideological Congruence, Issue Salience, and Media Reputation in News Sharing
Authors: Aruguete Natalia , Calvo Ernesto , Ventura Tiago
Published: December 2021

Social media news sharing has become a central subject of scholarly research in communication studies. To test current theories, it is of an utmost importance to estimate the meaningful parameters of news sharing behavior from observational data. In this article, we retrieve measures of ideological congruence, issue salience, and media reputation to explain news sharing in social media. We describe how the proposed statistical model connects to different strands of the news sharing literature. We then exemplify the usefulness of the model with an analysis of the relationship between ideological congruence and issue salience. Results show that if ideology and salience correlate with each other, the preferences of ideologues (i.e., users who give higher weight to ideological congruence) will be overrepresented in observational data. This will result in the heightened perceptions of polarization. We test the performance of the model using data from Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
School Nursing for the Novice: How Do I Begin?
Authors: Blake Cheryl , Trano Gail
Published: December 2021

Obtaining a position as a school nurse is an exciting career opportunity, but the reality of a new position in a new specialty area can quickly lead to anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Your first thoughts might be “Can I really do this job?” and “Where and how do I begin?” The answer to these questions will depend on your situation—are you a nurse hired for a previously established school nurse position or are you the first nurse at your school, charged with initiating a school health program? The purpose of this article is to offer guidance for the novice school nurse in establishing a school health program and school nurse office, as well as to encourage and provide direction for the development of your school nursing practice.