bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized Clinical Trial of a Prenatal Breastfeeding and Mental Health Mixed Management Intervention
Authors: Zhao Ying , Lin Qiping , Zhu Xinli , Wang Jing
Published: February 2021

Background

The continuity of maternal depressive symptoms throughout the perinatal period and breastfeeding problems have adverse influences on breastfeeding.

Research aim

To compare the feeding patterns and breastfeeding experiences, maternal health and mental health, and breastfeeding self-efficacy between women with depressive symptoms who participated in a prenatal individualized mixed management intervention and those who received usual care.

Methods

Chinese primigravida ( N = 182) with an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥ 9 in late pregnancy (≥ 28 weeks and < 35 weeks) were randomly assigned to the intervention group ( n = 84) or the control group ( n = 84). Intervention group participants received four sessions of individualized mixed management combining psycho-education and breastfeeding education. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, feeding patterns, maternal depression, and health status were evaluated in both groups.

Results

Significant differences were noted between the groups in breastfeeding self-efficacy at 42 days postpartum ( p < .05) and feeding patterns at 3 months and 6 months postpartum ( p < .05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant differences in the EPDS scores between groups at three postpartum time points ( p < .05). The intervention group had significantly lower postpartum depression as diagnosed by the MINI ( p < .05).

Conclusions

A prenatal individualized mixed management intervention holds promise as an effective prevention and health promotion program addressing breastfeeding outcomes and maternal mental health. This RCT was registered (ChiCTR-IOR-17013761) with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn/enIndex.aspx on 12/7/2017.
Reliability of Markers for Breast Hypoplasia in the Early Postpartum Period
Authors: Kam Renee L. , Cullinane Meabh , Vicendese Don , Amir Lisa H.
Published: February 2021

Background

Breast hypoplasia is one reason for insufficient milk supply. Case reports use wide intra-mammary width and certain breast appearances as markers of breast hypoplasia. However, the reliability of these variables has not been determined.

Research aims

To test the (i) interrater and intrarater reliability of intra-mammary width measurement and interrater reliability of categorizing women’s breasts into breast types, and (ii) feasibility and acceptability of study procedures for the participants.

Methods

This was a prospective, longitudinal, non-experimental design with survey and observational components of a convenience sample of early postpartum women ( N = 31). Interrater and intrarater reliability were measured using intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement for intra-mammary width measurements. Interrater reliability was measured using weighted kappa for agreement for categorizing breast type. Feasibility and acceptability of study procedures were collected 1 month later.

Results

Excellent intrarater and interrater reliability for the intra-mammary width measurement (ICC = 0.99, 95% CI [0.99, 0.997] and ICC = 0.88, 95% CI [0.74, 0.94], respectively) and fair interrater reliability for breast type categorization (k = 0.35, 95% CI [−0.05, 0.75]) with high level of agreement between raters (97%) were achieved. Proportions of participants agreeing to breast photography and acceptability of study procedures were 68% (21/31) and 100% (28/28) respectively.

Conclusion

The excellent reliability for the intra-mammary width measurement means it provides a useful measure for future research. Since the “fair” reliability of categorizing breast type was due to lack of breast shape range in our sample, future research could assess the breasts of women with different medical profiles.
Postpartum Marijuana Use, Perceptions of Safety, and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration: An Analysis of PRAMS Data From Seven States, 2017
Authors: Coy Kelsey C. , Haight Sarah C. , Anstey Erica , Grant Althea M. , Ruffo Nan , Ko Jean Y.
Published: February 2021

Background

Little is known about breastfeeding initiation and duration in the context of postpartum marijuana use and safety beliefs.

Research Aims

(1) To describe characteristics of women who used marijuana postpartum; (2) to evaluate the relationship between postpartum marijuana use and breastfeeding behaviors; and 3) to assess, among women who used marijuana postpartum, how safety perceptions are associated with breastfeeding behaviors.

Methods

Data from the cross-sectional Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a United States national governmental survey, 2017, were analyzed for participants with infants aged ≥ 12 weeks (seven states, unweighted N = 4604). Chi-square tests were used to compare characteristics and counseling for postpartum marijuana use. For participants with postpartum use, adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated to evaluate relationships between safety perceptions and breastfeeding initiation and duration.

Results

Overall, 5.5% (95% CI [4.6, 6.6]) of participants reported postpartum marijuana use; among these women, 47.2% (CI [37.6, 56.9]) were breastfeeding at the time of the survey. Overall, 25.7% of participants indicated that they had been advised, by their prenatal care provider, against marijuana use while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding initiation or duration did not differ by postpartum marijuana use. Among participants with postpartum use, those who perceived marijuana was safe for breastfeeding women to use were more likely to have breastfed (aPR = 1.22, CI [1.04, 1.43]) and have a breastfeeding duration > 12 weeks (aPR = 1.57, CI [1.08, 2.27]) compared to those who perceived it to be unsafe.

Conclusions

Understanding maternal safety beliefs and provider education about the latest evidence and guidance related to postpartum marijuana use may improve clinical care.
Proactive Lactation Care is Associated With Improved Outcomes in a Referral NICU
Authors: Hoban Rebecca , McLean Laura , Sullivan Samantha , Currie Caroline
Published: February 2021

Background

Mother’s milk improves outcomes. Referral neonatal intensive care units face unique lactation challenges with maternal–infant separation and maternal pump dependency. Little is known about lactation resource allocation in this high-risk population.

Research Aims

To determine differences in human milk outcomes, (1) the proportion of infants fed exclusive or any mother’s milk and (2) recorded number and volume of pumped mothers’ milk bottles, between two models of lactation care in a referral neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods

This retrospective, longitudinal, two-group comparison study utilized medical record individual feeding data for infants admitted at ≤ Day 7 of age and milk room storage records from reactive and proactive care model time periods (April, 2017–March, 2018; May, 2018–April, 2019). The reactive care model ( n = 509 infants, 58% male, median birth weight and gestational age of 37 weeks,) involved International Board Certified Lactation Consultant referral for identified lactation problems; whereas, the proactive model ( n = 472 infants, 56% male, median birth weight and gestational age 37 weeks) increased International Board Certified Lactation Consultant staffing, who then saw all admissions. Comparisons were performed using chi square, Mann Whitney, and t-tests.

Results

A proactive lactation approach was associated with an increase in the receipt of any mother’s milk from 74.3% to 80.2% ( p = .03) among participants in the proactive model group. Additionally, their milk room mean monthly bottle storage increased from 5153 ( SD 788) to 6620 ( SD 1314) bottles ( p < .01).

Conclusions

In this retrospective study at a tertiary referral neonatal intensive care unit, significant improvement inhuman milk outcomes suggests that increased resources for proactive lactation care may improve mother’s milk provision for a high-risk population.
A Systematic Review of Apathy and Depression in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: Flavell Joshua , Nestor Peter J.
Published: February 2021

Depression and apathy can be significant problems in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Using PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review examined prevalence estimates for depression and apathy in PSP, and, how different methods of definition may influence results. 29 studies meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were identified: 12 on depression, 9 on apathy, and 8 on both. Studies were stratified according to whether a diagnostic criteria, rating scale or screening question methodology was employed. The weighted mean prevalence was 59.7% for depression (sample size = 473) and 58.3% for apathy (sample size = 858). Results for depression using diagnostic criteria or rating scales were similar whereas screening questions were associated with considerable inconsistency. Depression prevalence appeared to be influenced by apathy but not somatic symptoms. Most apathy studies relied only on a screening question method. Depression and apathy are common in PSP but there is a need for consensus on how they are defined (both tools and cut-off scores). In particular, more studies probing apathy in greater detail than a simple screening question are required.
Positioning school business practitioners in the English school system
Authors: Creaby Fiona
Published: February 2021

This article explores the increasing professionalisation of school business practitioners in the state school system in England. Often referred to a ‘school business managers’ or ‘school business leaders’, this cohort of the school workforce have been increasingly tasked with leading crucial site-based management functions in schools, such as finance and budgeting, human resources and school operations. As this area of practitioner activity has grown over the last two decades, ‘school business leadership’ has increasingly been positioned by education policy makers and professional bodies as a distinct field of practice within the school system. However, despite increasing recognition of the value of school business leadership within the school system, there is evidence of continued tensions around the inclusion of such practitioners in matters of leadership. Further, there is a paucity of scholarly research exploring school business activity and the increasing professionalisation of its practitioners. Therefore, this article serves to contribute to this gap by exploring the evolution of school business practitioners and their positioning within the wider field of education in England. It argues for further research in England and for knowledge exchange with other education contexts to share insight and explore future potential.
Job Seekers’ Self-Directed Learning Activities Explained Through the Lens of Regulatory Focus
Authors: Kanar Adam M. , Bouckenooghe Dave
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to understand the role of regulatory focus for influencing self-directed learning activities during a job search. The authors surveyed 185 job-searching university students at two time points to explore the conditions under which regulatory focus (promotion and prevention foci) impacts self-directed learning activities and the number of employment interviews secured. Both promotion and prevention foci showed significant relationships with self-directed learning activities and number of interviews, and positive and negative affect partially mediated these relationships. The relationships between both regulatory focus strategies and self-directed learning were also contingent on self-efficacy. More specifically, prevention focus and self-directed learning showed a positive relationship for job seekers with high levels of self-efficacy but a negative one for job seekers with low levels of self-efficacy. This research extends the understanding of the role of regulatory focus in the context of self-directed learning during a job search. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
‘Race might be a unicorn, but its horn could draw blood’: Racialisation, Class and Racism in a Non-Western Context
Authors: Baber Zaheer
Published: February 2021

In this article, the concepts of ‘racialisation’, ‘racial projects’, and ‘racisms’ are deployed to analyse the social construction of distinctive groups and the dynamics of group conflicts in India where the white vs. non-white binary as the key element of race relations does not exist. My main argument is that in India the racialisation of specific groups constructs racial categories that intersect with class relations, to produce inequalities and struggles over material and non-material resources. A related argument is that despite the seemingly seamless braiding of race and class, it is in fact class that plays a more significant role in producing as well as sustaining racialised social inequality.
Impact of COVID-19 ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ Orders on Function among Older Adults Participating in a Community-Based, Behavioral Intervention Study
Authors: Adams Leah M. , Gell Nancy M. , Hoffman Elise V. , Gibbons Laura E. , Phelan Elizabeth A. , Sturgeon John A. , Turk Dennis C. , Patel Kushang V.
Published: February 2021

Background: Early mitigation orders for COVID-19 halted participation in community-based programs. We examined the early impact of “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” orders on functioning in older adults participating in a behavioral intervention study involving community-based exercise. Methods: A quasi-natural experiment, using mixed methods ( n = 39). Participants completed interviews and questionnaires after 3–4 weeks of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy directive. PROMIS-29 outcomes were compared to pre-COVID-19 responses. Results: Participants had a mean age of 74.1 (6.5) years, 79.5% were women, and 20.5% were racial/ethnic minorities. Compared to pre-COVID-19, there was a significant increase in anxiety and decrease in fatigue and social participation. Thematic analysis revealed five main themes related to disruption of daily life, the emotional and physical impact of stay-at-home orders, unexpected positive outcomes, and perspectives on messaging surrounding the pandemic. Conclusions: Efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 have substantially impacted the lives of older adults participating in community-based exercise.
Do Service Provision NGOs Perform Civil Society Functions? Evidence of NGOs’ Relationship With Democratic Participation
Authors: Brass Jennifer N.
Published: February 2021

Scholars have long been interested in the relationship between civil society and democracy. Today, international donors promote civil society in developing countries, and they explicitly define civil society to include nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). It remains an open question, however, whether service provision NGOs in developing countries fulfill this civil society function. Some prominent scholarship argues that only NGOs that explicitly pursue advocacy perform civil society roles; service provision NGOs do not. I address this question, testing the relationship between individuals’ experience with, and perceptions of, NGOs and their political participation in voting, protests, and raising issues with public officials. Using data from Kenya, I find that individuals who report contact with, or positive views of, NGOs are more likely to engage in certain political activities, providing some evidence for the inclusion of NGOs in the concept of civil society. I theorize mechanisms by which service provision NGOs may affect various forms of participation.
The Role of Mediators in Diffusing the Community Foundation Model of Philanthropy
Authors: Yang Ruomei , Harvey Charles , Mueller Frank , Maclean Mairi
Published: February 2021

We examine the role of mediators in locally embedding the community foundation model of philanthropy to enable its global diffusion. We hold that mediators, as trusted agents within elite networks, promote and legitimate institutional innovation by tailoring the model to satisfy local requirements. They thereby limit resistance while creating future potentialities. Our novel addition to the community foundation literature stems from research on the transatlantic diffusion of the community foundation template from the United States to the United Kingdom focused on an in-depth case study of one of Europe’s largest community foundation, that serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland in North East England. Our findings suggest that success in embedding the community foundation model depends on rendering it fit-for-context and fit-for-purpose. Mediators operating at both the macro and micro level matter because they have the cultural, social, and symbolic capital needed to win acceptance for initially alien philanthropic principles, practices, and structures.
What sparks academic engagement with society? A comparison of incentives appealing to motives
Authors: Sormani Eva , Baaken Thomas , van der Sijde Peter
Published: February 2021

The pressure on higher education institutions (HEIs) to realize third mission activities continues to grow, intensifying the search for incentives to motivate academics to engage with stakeholders outside their HEI. Previous studies have found limitations in intrinsically motivating academic engagement; therefore, this study investigates the extrinsic regulation of motivations via incentives. The authors identified a broad range of incentives for third mission activities, belonging to four motivation categories: pecuniary incentives, career advancement, appreciation and research support. Drawing on self-determination theory, incentives (nudges and rewards) are empirically compared in a between-subject design with a sample of 324 academics from the business and economics disciplines. The analysis showed that nudges affect business and economics academics’ intention to engage with society in a joint research project. Furthermore, these academics responded well to incentives concerned with the research support motivation category. The findings contribute to the literature by highlighting the relevance of marginal incentives—nudges—in implementing appropriate incentives in HEIs.
A comparison of different models of passive seat suspensions
Authors: Desai Raj , Guha Anirban , Seshu P.
Published: February 2021

Long duration exposure to vehicle induced vibration causes various ailments to humans. Amongst the various components of the human-vehicle system, the seat suspension plays a major role in determining the level of vibration transferred to humans. However, optimising the suspension for maximising human comfort leads to poor vehicle handling characteristics. Thus, predicting human comfort through various seat suspension models is a widely researched topic. However, the appropriate seat suspension model to be used has not been identified so far. Neither has any prior work reported integrating models of all the components necessary for this analysis, namely human body, cushion, seat suspension and vehicle chassis, each with the appropriate level of complexity. This work uses a two-dimensional 12 DoF seated human body model with inclined backrest support, a nonlinear cushion model, a seat suspension model and a full vehicle model. Two kinds of road profiles – one with random roughness and one with a bump – have been used. It then compares the performance of five different seat suspension models based on a number of human comfort related parameters (seat to head transmissibility, suspension travel, seat acceleration, cushion contact force and head acceleration in both vertical and fore-aft directions) and vehicle handling parameters (vertical, rolling and pitching acceleration of chassis). The results clearly show the superiority of the configuration which involves a spring parallel to an inclined multi-stage damper. A separate analysis was also done to judge whether the integration of the vehicle model (with its associated complication) was necessary for this analysis. A comparison of the human body’s internal forces, moments, acceleration, and absorbed power with and without the vehicle model clearly indicates the need of using the former.
Investigations of process parameters during dissolution studies of drug loaded 3D printed tablets
Authors: Sharma Varun , Shaik Khaja Moinuddin , Choudhury Archita , Kumar Pramod , Kala Prateek , Sultana Yasmin , Shukla Rahul , Kumar Dalip
Published: February 2021

The present research paper attempts to study the effect of different process parameters on the dissolution rate during 3D printed tablets. Three-dimensional printing has the potential of serving tailored made tablets to cater personalized drug delivery systems. Fluorescein loaded PVA filaments through impregnation route was used to fabricate tablets based on Taguchi based design of experimentation using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The effect of print speed, infill percentage and layer thickness were analyzed to study the effect on rate of dissolution. Infill percentage followed by print speed were found to be critical parameters affecting dissolution rate. The data analysis provided an insight into the study of interaction among different 3D printing parameters to develop an empirical relation for percentage release of the drug in human body.
The staff of madness: the visualization of insanity and the othering of the insane
Authors: Sforza Tarabochia Alvise
Published: February 2021

In this article I trace a history of the most ubiquitous visual symbol of madness: the staff. First, I argue that the staff, in its variants (such as the pinwheel) and with its attachments (such as an inflated bladder), represents madness as air. It thus represents madness as an invisible entity that must be made visible. Secondly, I claim that the staff – being iconic of other ‘unwanted’ categories such as vagabonds – represents the insane as outsiders. Also in this case, the staff serves the purpose of making madness visible. Through this interpretation I show that the urge to make madness visible outlives icons of insanity such as the staff, making it a constant presence in popular culture and medical practice.
Numerical investigation of non-uniform flow in twin-silo combustors and impact on axial turbine stage performance
Authors: Hassan Hafiz M , Javed Adeel , Khoja Asif H , Ali Majid , Sajid Muhammad B
Published: February 2021

A clear understanding of the flow characteristics in the older generation of industrial gas turbines operating with silo combustors is important for potential upgrades. Non-uniformities in the form of circumferential and radial variations in internal flow properties can have a significant impact on the gas turbine stage performance and durability. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the underlying internal flow features involved in the advent of non-uniformities from twin-silo combustors and their propagation through a single axial turbine stage of the Siemens v94.2 industrial gas turbine. Results indicate the formation of strong vortical structures alongside large temperature, pressure, velocity, and flow angle deviations that are mostly located in the top and bottom sections of the turbine stage caused by the excessive flow turning in the upstream tandem silo combustors. A favorable validation of the simulated exhaust gas temperature (EGT) profile is also achieved via comparison with the measured data. A drop in isentropic efficiency and power output equivalent to 2.28% points and 2.1 MW, respectively is observed at baseload compared to an ideal straight hot gas path reference case. Furthermore, the analysis of internal flow topography identifies the underperforming turbine blading due to the upstream non-uniformities. The findings not only have implications for the turbine aerothermodynamic design, but also the combustor layout from a repowering perspective.
Nanobiotechnology: Nature-inspired silver nanoparticles towards green synthesis
Authors: Rosman Nur Syakirah Rabiha , Harun Noor Aniza , Idris Izwandy , Wan Ismail Wan Iryani
Published: February 2021

The emergence of technology to produce nanoparticles (1 nm – 100 nm in size) has drawn significant researchers’ interests. Nanoparticles can boost the antimicrobial, catalytic, optical, and electrical conductivity properties, which cannot be achieved by their corresponding bulk. Among other noble metal nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attained a special emphasis in the industry due to their superior physical, chemical, and biological properties, closely linked to their shapes, sizes, and morphologies. Proper knowledge of these NPs is essential to maximise the potential of biosynthesised AgNPs in various applications while mitigating risks to humans and the environment. This paper aims to critically review the global consumption of AgNPs and compare the AgNPs synthesis between conventional methods (physical and chemical) and current trend method (biological). Related work, advantages, and drawbacks are also highlighted. Pertinently, this review extensively discusses the current application of AgNPs in various fields. Lastly, the challenges and prospects of biosynthesised AgNPs, including application safety, oxidation, and stability, commercialisation, and sustainability of resources towards a green environment, were discussed.
Making sense of “superbugs” on YouTube: A storytelling approach
Authors: Djerf-Pierre Monika , Lindgren Mia
Published: February 2021

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. With the rapid growth of social media, YouTube has become an influential social media platform providing publics with expert health knowledge. This article explores how antimicrobial resistance is communicated on YouTube. Drawing on qualitative media analyses of the most viewed YouTube videos 2016–2020, we identify seven different genres and two main storytelling approaches, personalized and fictionalized storytelling, used to make sense of antimicrobial resistance and its complexities. The study contributes new knowledge about YouTube as a platform for health communication and the types of videos about antimicrobial resistance that gets most traffic. This is useful, not the least for public health experts working to improve communication strategies that target hard-to-reach media publics.
Re-visioning public engagement with emerging technology: A digital methods experiment on ‘vertical farming’
Authors: Waller Laurie , Gugganig Mascha
Published: February 2021

This article presents the results of a public engagement experiment on a project trialling ‘vertical farming’, an emerging technology addressing urban food issues. The experiment developed within an issue mapping project, analysing debates about vertical farming on the digital platforms, Twitter and Instagram. The article presents a software tool designed to engage ‘offline’ publics in the issue mapping process, using images collected from Instagram. We describe testing this software tool with visitors to exhibitions of vertical farming in two science and technology museums. Our findings highlight the predominance of commercial publicity about vertical farming on Twitter and Instagram and the organisation of public attention around technological novelty. The article discusses the challenges such publicity dynamics pose to mapping issues on platforms. We suggest some ways digital methods might contribute to public engagement with technologies, like vertical farming, that are a focus of organised commercialised innovation.
The rheological behaviour and thermal ageing characteristics of PP/MWCNT/glass fibre multiscale composites
Authors: Rasana N , Jayanarayanan K , Rajan Krishna Prasad , Gopanna Aravinthan
Published: February 2021

Multiscale hybrid composites were prepared using varying weight percentages (0 to 5) of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as nanofiller and a fixed weight percentage (20) of short glass fibres as micro filler (in polypropylene (PP) matrix. The shear and extensional viscosity of the composites was measured using a capillary rheometer. It was observed that even at higher shear rates the synergism of micro and nanofillers in the matrix significantly enhanced the melt viscosity. The complex nanotube network entanglement with micro fillers and PP chains imparted restrictions to the polymer chain movements. The prepared samples were subjected to thermal ageing at 100°C for 4 days in hot air oven. After ageing, multiscale composite with 3 wt% MWCNTs exhibited 28.57% enhancement in strain at break, whereas the tensile strength and modulus reduced by 6.8% and 8% respectively. The fracture toughness properties like strain energy release rate and critical stress intensity factor were not affected for multiscale composite at the optimum content of 3 wt% MWCNT, even after thermal ageing.
Green synthesis of chitosan/nanosilver hybrid bionanocomposites with promising antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticervical cancer activity
Authors: Annu  , Ahmed Shakeel , Nirala Ranjeet Kumar , Kumar Ravi , Ikram Saiqa
Published: February 2021

Being a versatile biopolymer, chitosan has been used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (SNPs) impregnated hybrid chitosan-nanosilver bionanocomposite (CSSNC) films via a green ex-situ and in-situ route using fruit waste extract. CSSNC hybrid bionanocomposite films were prepared in six different concentrations and characterized by using different techniques i.e. UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Among the CSSNC, CS9AGE1 has been optimized for further biological assays for which the antimicrobial activity revealed the highest zone of inhibition against E. coli (20 mm) and S. aureus (17.5 mm). The antioxidant activity revealed dose-dependent radical scavenging against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (50 µg mL−1), nitric oxide (50 µg mL−1) radical, and total reduction capability (40 µg mL−1). Furthermore, low percent cell viability was observed for cancerous cells at a concentration of 50 µg mL−1 against cervical cancer cells, (HeLa cell line). Therefore, the overall accomplishment confesses a strong potential of CSSNC fabrication via an eco-friendly route exhibiting remarkable anticancer and antioxidant activity and hence provide a gateway to be further explored in the biomedical sciences.
Comparison of cytology and human papillomavirus-based primary testing in cervical screening programs in the Nordic countries
Authors: Partanen Veli-Matti , Dillner Joakim , Tropé Ameli , Ágústsson Ágúst Ingi , Pankakoski Maiju , Heinävaara Sirpa , Sarkeala Tytti , Wang Jiangrong , Skare Gry Baadstrand , Anttila Ahti , Lönnberg Stefan
Published: February 2021

Objective

To compare primary test positivity in cytology and human papillomavirus-based screening between different Nordic cervical cancer screening programs using harmonized register data.

Methods

This study utilized individual-level data available in national databases in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Cervical test data from each country were converted to standard format and aggregated by calculating the number of test episodes for every test result for each calendar year and one-year age group and test method. Test positivity was estimated as the proportion of positive test results of all primary test episodes with a valid test result for “any positive” and “clearly positive” results.

Results

The age-adjusted rate ratio for any positive test results in primary human papillomavirus-based screening compared to cytology was 1.66 (95% CI 1.64–1.68). The age-adjusted rate ratio for clearly positive test results was 1.02 (95% CI 1.00–1.05). A decreasing rate ratio by age was seen in both any positive and clearly positive test results. Test positivity increased over time in Iceland, Norway, and Sweden but slightly decreased in Finland.

Conclusions

The probability of any positive test result was higher in human papillomavirus testing than in primary cytology, even though the cross-sectional detection of a clearly positive test result was the same. Human papillomavirus testing can still lead to an improved longitudinal sensitivity through a larger number of follow-up tests and the opportunity to identify women with a persistent human papillomavirus infection. Further research on histologically verified precancerous lesions is needed in primary as well as repeat testing.
Analysis of Effect of Microfinance on the Performance of MSEs in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Semegn Abiot Animaw , Bishnoi Narendra Kumar
Published: February 2021

This article examines the effect of microcredit on the performance of the micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 340 MSEs were randomly selected, and a survey method was used. Average Sales volume was used to measure performances of MSEs. The findings suggested that the majority of MSEs in Ethiopia were engaged in manufacturing and urban agriculture sectors with a share of 48.53% and 26.76% of the total, respectively. Paired t-test analysis of the study confirmed that there was a significant difference between the sales, total asset, employment and net profit performance of MSEs after microcredit loan. The study concluded that loan size, savings and entrepreneurship training had a significant positive effect on the performance of MSEs. It is suggested that microfinancial institutions should strengthen their existing policies and strategies to increase credit to MSEs, enhancing the modalities of entrepreneurship training and mobilizing savings to achieve the envisioned targets of reducing unemployment and promoting the growth of MSEs in Ethiopia.
Role of Domestic NGOs in Policy Transfer and Policy Diffusion: Case Study of PO 2002 in Pakistan
Authors: Siddiqi Huma
Published: February 2021

Pakistan is a fragile democracy repeatedly facing problems in the design and implementation of police reforms. The scholarship on public policy highlights the role of non-state actors like NGOs in improving policies, especially through policy transfer and diffusion. In 2002, Pakistan designed a police reform, PO 2002, through collaborative methods, and implemented it nationwide for a short time. Using process tracing within case study and interviews with key informants, this article evaluates the role of domestic NGOs in the design, implementation and change of PO 2002, with special focus on policy transfer and policy diffusion. The evidence collected showed that in 2000, the nascent NGOs lacked expert knowledge to make any contribution to policy transfer. Later, their absence from the implementation phase and faulty methods blinded them from unveiling the critical policy lessons and impeded their ability to play any credible role in future policy diffusion.
The Changing Narrative in the Health Insurance Industry: Wearables Technology in Health Insurance Products and Services for the COVID-19 World
Authors: Nayak Bishwajit , Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 pandemic, the associated economic lockdown and the norms of social distancing have disrupted the business world. Most managers have struggled to make sense of the chaos and complexity around. Health insurance industry mangers are at the forefront of this challenge as new products and services covering COVID-19 had to be launched fast. This was both a market as well as the societal requirement. In the COVID-19 world, in different countries like United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Germany and India, attempts are being made to develop mobile applications for tracking COVID-19 patients. Emerging technologies have been altering the business landscape in most industries. The health insurance industry has also been witnessing the effects of technologies such as wearables technology, big data analytics, cloud technologies, blockchain, machine learning and such others. The advent of these technologies is fundamentally changing the health insurance industry. Given the realities of the COVID-19 world, the health insurance industry is poised at a crossroad of evolution where the industry would become data-intensive and data-driven. Health insurance firms have to enter into interfirm collaboration with wearable technology firms in the conversation on tracking social distancing from COVID-19 positive and potential cases. Health insurance firms might develop a service mechanism which could while maintaining the anonymity of COVID-19 positive or potential cases, ensure that customers who are using the wearable technology products and following social distancing norms are provided favourable premium for COVID-19 related health insurance products in case they were infected. This would be a novel addition to COVID-19 related products of health insurance firms. Deliberating on these aspects in this article, the authors propose a fundamental shift in the strategic orientation of health insurance firms.
Sustainability Time and Its Determinant Factors of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises in East Gojjam Zone: Parametric Survival Regression Model
Authors: Ayele Amare Wubishet , Derseh Abebaw Bizuayehu
Published: February 2021

The contributions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to socio-economic development are generally recognized, but they have faced several obstacles that impede their sustainability. This manuscript seeks to identify factors for the survival of SMEs in the East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. The prospective study design was employed. Both descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly families of parametric survival regression models, have been used. Of the 650 enterprises included in this study, 330 (50.8%) were censored (sustained enterprises) and the remaining 320 (49.2%) were events or withdrawn enterprises. The findings of this study revealed that the incidence of termination or withdrawal of SMEs in the study area is relatively common. The results from multivariable Weibull regression model revealed that woreda, sector, manger profile (gender, age, educational status, experience (in year) and source of experience), working place, marketing channel and profitability district status of enterprise were found to be statistically significant factors for the sustainability of enterprises in the study area. The bodies concerned, in particular the enterprise administrative offices at various levels, should work with collaborative organizations to develop a strong marketing platform (network), should be able to make workplaces accessible with the required infrastructure at minimal rental costs, and should prioritize the type of sector that has the highest customer needs at the onset, for instance, agriculture and service sectors.
The Role of Pedagogy in Developing Life Skills
Authors: Gupta Renu
Published: February 2021

In response to recent concerns expressed by Indian industry about the ‘employability’ of school and university graduates, this article examines the role of pedagogy in developing life skills (or twenty-first-century skills) and how these can be incorporated in the school/university curriculum. Recent curricular frameworks have incorporated life skills within the school curriculum by stressing the importance of inquiry and collaborative work through all subjects taught in school. The article finds a similar emphasis in the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in India, but classroom observations and textbook analyses show that learning objectives in schools are frequently incorrect or misaligned with the NCF vision. The article briefly touches on how the beliefs of teachers affect their classroom practices and recommends that attention should be paid to the professionalisation of teachers, as only then can students acquire skills that are relevant for the twenty-first century, which is what employers want.

JEL Classification: O15, J24, I21
Does Vocational Training Promote Female Labour Force Participation? An Analysis for India
Authors: Bairagya Indrajit , Bhattacharya Tulika , Tiwari Pragati
Published: February 2021

The objective of the article is to assess the impact of formal and informal vocational training on female labour force participation in India, based on the Periodic Labour Force Survey data for 2017–2018, employing a trivariate probit model. Results show that participation both in formal and informal vocational training has a positive and statistically significant impact on female labour force participation across all specifications of the regression models, thus showing the robustness of the relationship. Most importantly, the provision of vocational training helps break the traditional U-shaped relationship between female labour force participation and educational levels. However, the fact that the percentage of formal vocational training holders is much lower than that of informal vocational training holders and that it varies among males and females, points to the need for special policy attention on the promotion of female participation in formal vocational training on a large scale.

JEL Codes: J21, J24, J71
Structural Transformation of Jobs from Manufacturing to Services: Will It Work for India?
Authors: Bhadury Soumya , Narayanan Abhinav , Pratap Bhanu
Published: February 2021

India has struggled with the question of what to make in India—manufacturing or services. The Economic Survey 2014–2015 articulated that this was a false choice. Instead, India faced a choice between two disparate types of sectors, unskilled-intensive and skilled-intensive, in both of which India possessed a comparative advantage. Two years down the line, the Economic Survey 2016–2017 suggested that labour-intensive sectors may be more effective in addressing India’s job challenge. The World Economic Outlook Report 2018 has suggested that a rapid replacement in the share of manufacturing jobs by services is likely to have a welfare-enhancing effect on developed and developing economies alike. As the Economic Survey 2014–2015 suggested that this is both a positive and a policy question. This article re-examines this question of manufacturing versus services in the Indian context to contribute to this debate. Specifically, we use the KLEMS India dataset to examine the dynamics of labour productivity associated with (a) a steady shift in the composition of the workforce towards the services sector and (b) investment in human capital proxied by changes in the labour quality index. Contrary to the WEO’s policy prescription, our findings suggest that an increasing prevalence of informal job contracts in services could potentially weaken the positive relationship between labour quality and labour productivity. Additionally, we observe that India’s labour force seems to be rapidly shifting towards services sub-sectors with lower productivity. This mechanism is likely to obstruct any potential gains in productivity, associated with an optimal relocation of factors of production.

JEL codes: J21, J24, O14, C31, C33
Author–Screenwriter– Director (1930s–1950s): Articulating Authorship Through Self-Adaptations and Film Novelisations in Bengali
Authors: Sen Priyanjali
Published: February 2021

During the 1930s, one of the significant factors that strengthened the connection between Bengali literature and film was the emergence of certain key figures who straddled overlapping roles as author–screenwriter–director, frequently adapting their own literary works and reframing the contentious ‘authorship issue’ that arises between writer and filmmaker. By focusing on three such figures—Premankur Atorthy (1890–1964), Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay (1901–1976) and Premendra Mitra (1904–1988)—this essay examines the manner in which self-adaptations served to transfer the power of the literary author to the nascent cinematic auteur, particularly through the intermediary process of screenwriting. The essay also draws attention to the practice of film novelisations that was mobilised since the mid-1940s by Mitra and others like Jyotirmoy Roy and Panchugopal Mukhopadhyay, where novels were written based on cinematic works, akin to French cinéromans and contrary to ‘authorless’ novelisations by ghostwriters. In subsequent years, film novels were written by director Hemen Gupta, writers Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, Shaktipada Rajguru and Kalkut, which brings to light a largely unexplored dimension of the relationship between Bengali film and literature.
Soviet Tanks, American Sedans: Traces of India’s Cold War-era Hedging Towards the United States, 1966–1971
Authors: Tiwary Bipin K. , Roy Anubhav
Published: February 2021

Having fought its third war and staring at food shortages, independent India needed to get its act together both militarily and economically by the mid-1960s. With the United States revoking its military assistance and delaying its food aid despite New Delhi’s devaluation of the rupee, India’s newly elected Indira Gandhi government turned to deepen its ties with the Soviet Union in 1966 with the aim of balancing the United States internally through a rearmament campaign and externally through a formal alliance with Moscow. The US formation of a triumvirate with Pakistan and China in India’s neighbourhood only bolstered its intent. Yet India consciously limited the extent of both its balancing strategies and allowed adequate space to simultaneously adopt the contradictory sustenance of its complex interdependence with the United States economically. Did this contrasting choice of strategies constitute India’s recourse to hedging after 1966 until 1971, when it liberated Bangladesh by militarily defeating a US-aligned Pakistan? Utilising a historical-evaluative study of archival data and the contents of a few Bollywood films from the period, this paper seeks to address the question by empirically establishing the extents of India’s balancing of, and complex interdependence with, the United States.
A new era? How the European ESPN covered the 2019 Women’s World Cup online
Authors: Coche Roxane
Published: February 2021

This study is a content analysis of Eurosport’s football coverage on its French, English, German and Spanish websites during the 2019 Women’s World Cup. It examines the place given to women’s football by leading sports news websites in Europe and explores cultural differences across those four countries while limiting corporate differences (as all four websites belong to the same company). Analysis found the women’s game represented up to 20% of coverage on two websites, much more than the usual 5% or less usually dedicated to women’s sports, but the tournament still took a back seat to offseason men’s club football. The production value also showed some sex differences with Eurosport’s staff resources seemingly more directed toward coverage of the men’s game – despite the Women’s World Cup being the only Europe-based senior tournament played by European nations during the study. Differences in coverage among the four countries studied suggest Spain is embracing women’s football more than its neighbours, and the vast colonial histories of France, Spain and the UK, and the international relations they shaped, are profoundly affecting the sex gap in football coverage.
Multiple jobholding in the digital platform economy: signs of segmentation
Authors: Ilsøe Anna , Larsen Trine P. , Bach Emma S.
Published: February 2021

Although recent studies indicate that multiple jobholding is widespread in the digital platform economy, the interaction between people’s engagement with digital platforms and the conventional labour market is rarely explored. This article brings new insights into this interaction, exploring the income of individuals combining paid work in the conventional labour market with income from distinct digital platforms. Based on two large-scale representative surveys of a random sample of 18,000 people in 2017 and 2019 in combination with administrative register data, we demonstrate how labour and capital platforms attract different income groups. We also find that online income in combination with non-platform income sources such as traditional jobs exacerbate the segmentation tendencies found in the conventional labour market. An increasing share of rich and poor seem to use different platforms, indicating a potential hierarchy of labour market segments in both the online and the conventional labour markets.