bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Recent Trends in Class 1 Freight Railroad Train Length and Weight by Train Type
Authors: Dick C. Tyler , Zhao Jiaxi , Liu Xiang , Kirkpatrick Steven W.
Published: September 2021

Railroads have a strong economic incentive to maximize the length and weight of freight trains. Since the mid-1990s, various technological innovations have facilitated operation of longer and heavier trains, and railroads have made infrastructure investments to accommodate them. Recent shifts in railway operating and management strategies have placed added emphasis on long trains but have also drawn public and agency scrutiny. The advantages and disadvantages of increased train size are difficult to analyze because public data on train length and weight over time are limited. Articulated intermodal railcars, artificially short local trains, and light empty unit trains skew industry averages across all train types and mask trends over time. To provide greater insight on the average and distribution of train length and weight for different train types over time, the research team conducted a detailed analysis of Class 1 railroad annual report financial data and Surface Transportation Board waybill sample data collected for the years 1996 through 2018. Dividing traffic statistics by train type allows for a specific focus on loaded unit train length and weight distributions that isolates many factors skewing overall averages. Over the past 23 years, the average length and weight of loaded non-hazmat unit trains have steadily increased. Train size distributions indicate that unit trains exceeding 140 railcars in length have become more frequent over the past 10 years, whereas hazmat unit trains are typically smaller in size. This information can aid researchers and industry practitioners in assessing the benefits and disadvantages of operating longer trains.
Examining the Discrepancies between Self-Reported and Actual Commuting Behavior at the Individual Level
Authors: Su Tianyu , Elena Renda M. , Zhao Jinhua
Published: September 2021

For decades, transportation researchers have used survey data to understand the factors that affect travel-related choices. Nowadays, travel surveys lay the foundation of travel behavior analysis for transportation modeling, planning, and policy-making. The development of information technology for urban sensing has enabled substantial improvements to be made in survey-elicited and passive mobility data collection. Actively collected and passive data are very different, and being able to compare and integrate them could allow stakeholders to achieve a greater understanding of human mobility. The comparison between survey self-reported travel behavior and actual travel behavior revealed by urban and mobile systems provides us with the opportunity to find potential discrepancies. Previous work has examined these discrepancies mostly at the population level. An individual-level investigation of these discrepancies could provide many benefits, from increasing our understanding of survey and passive data accuracy and collection, to designing personalized transportation services. In this study, the discrepancies between self-reported and observed travel behavior are analyzed at both the individual and aggregated level by utilizing the available mobility data, namely, survey-based commuting diaries and passive mobility records. We propose a group of discrepancy metrics for commuting activities for which we have available and comparable data, and apply the framework to an empirical analysis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, U.S.A. Our results show that survey-elicited commuting diaries are quite reliable when examining overall commuting trends, whereas passive mobility data are more suitable for investigating individual-level commuting behavior. Furthermore, we identify the association between discrepancies in commuting behavior and certain individual characteristics, for example, employee type and age.
Clinical and Structural Results of Rotator Cuff Repair Compared With Rotator Cuff Debridement in Arthroscopic Treatment of Calcifying Tendinitis of the Shoulder
Authors: Lorbach Olaf , Haupert Alexander , Berger Catharina , Brockmeyer Matthias
Published: September 2021

Background:

Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder reveals good to excellent results. However, whether the tendon needs to be repaired after removal of the calcific deposit or simply debrided remains unclear.

Purpose:

To evaluate the structural and clinical results after arthroscopic calcific deposit removal with additional rotator cuff repair or rotator cuff debridement.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 44 patients (46 shoulders) were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study with a mean follow-up of 58.4 months. Patients underwent arthroscopic removal of a calcific deposit and bursectomy after failed nonoperative treatment. A total of 22 patients received additional rotator cuff repair irrespective of the degree of debridement (the repair group), whereas 22 patients received a simple rotator cuff debridement without additional repair (the debridement group). Groups were comparable in sex, age, and size and consistency of the deposits according to the Gärtner and Bosworth classifications. Clinical evaluation was performed by the Constant score, Simple Shoulder Test, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and numerical rating scales for pain, function, and satisfaction. In 29 patients (14 in the debridement group and 15 in the repair group), additional magnetic resonance imaging at follow-up was performed to evaluate the structural results using the Sugaya classification.

Results:

All patients were satisfied with the results of surgery; 100% of the repair group and 95.7% of the debridement group reported they would undergo the surgical procedure again. Comparison of the clinical results showed significantly better results in the repair group versus the debridement group for the Constant score (86.2 vs 80.6, respectively; P = .04), the ASES score (98.3 vs 88.9; P = .004), the Simple Shoulder Test (11.6 vs 10; P = .005), and the numerical rating scales for pain (0.1 vs 0.8; P = .007), function (9.6 vs 8.8; P = .008), and satisfaction (9.8 vs 9.1; P = .036). Comparison of the postoperative tendon integrity showed 80% Sugaya grade I in the rotator cuff repair group and 64% Sugaya grade II in the debridement group, with a statistically significant difference in favor of the repair group ( P = .004). Postoperative clinical evaluation revealed no positive O’Brien tests in the repair group, whereas approximately one-third of the debridement group showed a positive O’Brien test during examination.

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic removal of calcific deposits with rotator cuff debridement or cuff repair showed good to excellent clinical and structural midterm results. However, patients who underwent additional repair of the tendon defect had significantly better clinical results as well as better structural results in terms of tendon integrity.
Melanoma of glans penis and urethra: A case report and systematic review of the literature of a rare and complex neoplasm
Authors: Franceschelli Alessandro , Palmisano Franco , Gentile Giorgio , Vagnoni Valerio , Zannetti Guido , Cipriani Riccardo , Colombo Fulvio
Published: September 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the features and prognosis of melanoma of glans penis and urethra, with the presentation of a significant case report.

Materials and methods:

A systematic literature review was performed using the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Cochrane Libraries databases to identify all cases of male mucosal melanoma reported.

Results:

Two hundred fifty-two patients with male mucosal primary melanoma were found. Glans penis and fossa navicularis as primary site includes the 81.6% of all lesions considered. Median Breslow’s depth is 2.1 mm, whereas nine in situ melanomas have been reported. At the diagnosis, the disease was at a non-localized stage in 21.4% for glans penis melanomas and 11.7% urethral lesions, respectively. The 2 and 5-year survival for glans melanoma is 62.5% and 38.4%; higher rates were observed in the 2012–2020 period (76% and 58.8%, respectively). Two-year survival for urethral melanomas is 66.7%, while 5-year survival is 12.5%. 22 patients survived over 5 years with a Breslow’s depth reported always < 3.3 mm.

Conclusion:

Melanoma of the glans penis and urethra is a rare neoplasm associated with a poor prognosis, however recent reports show higher survival rates. Surgery remains the mainstay for a localized disease. Taking into account the small number of cases reported, topical imiquimod seems to be a valid non-surgical alterative for melanoma in situ. The use of immunotherapy and targeted therapy should be considered only in an adjuvant setting according to the recommendations of cutaneous melanoma; however, additional clinical data on male mucosal melanoma are needed to draw definitive conclusions.
New perspectives on Rosa Luxemburg’s concept of the transition to socialism
Authors: Hudis Peter
Published: September 2021

The ongoing project to issue the Complete Works of Rosa Luxemburg, which will make all of her writings available in English translation, provides a critical lens to re-evaluate aspects of Luxemburg’s theoretical contribution that has often been passed over in much of the secondary literature on her. Of foremost importance in this regard is the distinctive contribution that she made to the understanding of how to achieve a transition to socialism in a developing society that remains surrounded by the capitalist world market and imperialist powers. This paper aims to show that her reflections during and after the 1905 Revolution, especially as reflected in a series of rarely studied articles and essays in the Polish revolutionary press, provides an important corrective to how the transition to socialism was understood by other Marxist currents.
Jetfire lab: Jetfire at reduced scale
Authors: Sarazin Johan , Franchini Elsa , Dréan Virginie , Chiva Roman , Bourbigot Serge
Published: September 2021

This article addresses the development of a bench-scale test (jetfire lab) mimicking the fire exposure of the large-scale jetfire facility. An experimental approach was addressed to develop direct correlation and to validate the similitude between bench-scale test and large-scale jetfire. Comparisons were made by testing Zaltex passive fire protection material in the form of panels. Novel setups were designed to make the jetfire lab able to measure time/temperature curves similar to those obtained at a large scale. The assembly of the tested samples was also investigated. An experimental protocol was elaborated to consider the junction between parts of the sample at the reduced scale. Direct correlation was found between the large and the bench scale and it was evidenced that jetfire lab can be used for preliminary study and development of new thermal barriers for fire protection.
The Impact of Compensation Structure on Salesperson Perceptions and Behaviors: Insights From the Sales Literature
Authors: O’Donnell Edward , Marsh Laurence
Published: September 2021

Compensation is one of the most effective methods used to align and motivate salespeople to accomplish sales and organizational objectives. For this reason, sales researchers have made considerable strides in understanding the impact that compensation structure has on salespeople and salesforce performance. In this article, we examine the theoretical foundations of the sales compensation literature. We then perform an extensive review of this literature to identify the perceptual and behavioral outcomes associated with incentive- and salary-based compensation. Finally, the limitations of the sales compensation research are identified, and future studies are proposed.
Hysteresis modelling and compensation for piezoelectric actuator using Jaya-BP neural network
Authors: Son Nguyen Ngoc , Anh Ho Pham Huy
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes a new training algorithm using a hybrid Jaya-back propagation algorithm (called H-Jaya) to optimize the neural network weights, which is applied to identify the nonlinear hysteresis Piezoelectric actuator based on the experimental input-output data. The identified H-Jaya-neural model will be used to design an advanced feed-forward (FF) controller for compensating the hysteresis nonlinearity. Furthermore as to improve the tracking performance, a feed-forward-feedback control scheme is conducted. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, firstly, it is tested through identifying the nonlinear hysteresis of Piezoelectric (PZT) actuator and compared with other meta-heuristic techniques, including differential evolution (DE), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and Jaya. Then, the accuracy of the hysteresis model-based compensator is evaluated under various control experiments using the piezoelectric actuator. The results of experiments executed on PZT   actuator configured with a PZS001 from Thorlabs prove that the proposed approach obtains an excellent performance in hysteresis modeling and compensation.
Studies of kerf width and surface roughness using the response surface methodology in AA 4032–TiC composites
Authors: Senthilkumar TS , Muralikannan R , Ramkumar T , Senthil Kumar S
Published: September 2021

A substantially developed machining process, namely wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), is used to machine complex shapes with high accuracy. This existent work investigates the optimization of the process parameters of wire electrical discharge machining, such as pulse on time ( Ton), peak current ( I), and gap voltage ( V), to analyze the output performance, such as kerf width and surface roughness, of AA 4032–TiC metal matrix composite using response surface methodology. The metal matrix composite was developed by handling the stir casting system. Response surface methodology is implemented through the Box–Behnken design to reduce experiments and design a mathematical model for the responses. The Box–Behnken design was conducted at a confident level of 99.5%, and a mathematical model was established for the responses, especially kerf width and surface roughness. Analysis of variance table was demarcated to check the cogency of the established model and determine the significant process. Surface roughness attains a maximum value at a high peak current value because high thermal energy was released, leading to poor surface finish. A validation test was directed between the predicted value and the actual value; however, the deviation is insignificant. Moreover, a confirmation test was handled for predicted and experimental values, and a minimal error was 2.3% and 2.12% for kerf width and surface roughness, respectively. Furthermore, the size of the crater, globules, microvoids, and microcracks were increased by amplifying the pulse on time.
Modelling and iterative learning control of internal pressure for high-speed trains under excitation of varying-amplitude tunnel pressure waves
Authors: He Zhiying , Chen Chunjun , Wang Dongwei , Hu Jia , Yang Lu
Published: September 2021

Traditional control algorithm of shutting down the air ducts for a fixed period is not applicable to take both the riding comfort and the air quality inside high-speed train carriages into account in long tunnels. Inspired by the morphological similarity of the tunnel pressure waves generated by the same train passes through the same tunnel, an upgraded iterative learning control algorithm for suppressing the air pressure variation excited by the quasi-periodic varying-amplitude tunnel pressure wave is developed. Firstly, the mathematical model of the control system is established, in which the air ducts, gaps and random interferences are considered. Then, the methodology of determining the goal in each iteration is formed, and the implementation of the iterative learning control algorithm is discussed. Finally, simulations of the algorithm are carried out. The simulation results show that in the upgraded iterative learning control algorithm, both the goal and the output of the air pressure inside the carriage will converge into a range determined by the amplitude and random interferences. By comparing with the traditional control algorithm, the upgraded iterative learning control algorithm is more adaptable to meet the needs of riding comfort.
A survey of condom use among female sex workers in Northern Sydney; declining condom use for fellatio
Authors: Lee Casey , McManus Hamish , Foster Rosalind , Davies Stephen C
Published: September 2021

Condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) is dynamic. We conducted a survey, by anonymous questionnaire, of condom use among FSWs routinely attending our clinical service in Northern Sydney. Logistic regression models determined associations with inconsistent condom use. All 201 women approached completed a questionnaire. Chinese-born women comprised 67% of participants. The median age was 35 years. Clients requesting unprotected fellatio was reported by 95% of participants, and approximately two-thirds felt pressure to have unprotected fellatio and vaginal sex (VSI). Inconsistent condom use at work was reported by 74% for fellatio and by 24% for VSI. The strongest adjusted association with inconsistent condom use for fellatio was monetary inducement by clients (aOR = 40.7, 95% CI 4.87–340, p = 0.001). The only other significant adjusted association was age ≥ 30 years ( p = 0.02). The strongest adjusted association with inconsistent condom use for VSI was also monetary inducement by clients (aOR = 56.1, 95% CI 9.26–340, p < 0.001). Other significant adjusted associations were Chinese-speaking participants ( p = 0.03) and clients requesting unprotected VSI ( p = 0.02). We report high levels of inconsistent condom use. Health promotion should assist FSWs, particularly those of Chinese ethnicity, develop skills in dealing with pressure for unprotected sex, particularly fellatio.
The Effect of Replications on Citation Patterns: Evidence From a Large-Scale Reproducibility Project
Authors: Schafmeister Felix
Published: September 2021

Replication of existing research is often referred to as one of the cornerstones of modern science. In this study, I tested whether the publication of independent replication attempts affects the citation patterns of the original studies. Investigating 95 replications conducted in the context of the Reproducibility Project: Psychology, I found little evidence for an adjustment of citation patterns in response to the publication of these independent replication attempts. This finding was robust to the choice of replication criterion, various model specifications, and the composition of the contrast group. I further present some suggestive evidence that shifts in the underlying composition of supporting and disputing citations have likely been small. I conclude with a review of the evidence in favor of the remaining explanations and discuss the potential consequences of these findings for the workings of the scientific process.
Ukukupukula Pampoto: Cultural Construction of Silence Regarding Gender-Based Violence among Pentecostal Married Women in Zambia
Authors: Kaunda Mutale Mulenga
Published: September 2021

Currently Pentecostalism has become endemic especially because of the changing landscape of Christianity in Zambia where most Christians have shifted faith allegiance from the mainline Eurocentric missionary founded churches to newer churches with charismatic leaders. The Pentecostal Church has been encouraging women’s empowerment in public spheres while subtly expecting them to submit totally and often uncritically to their husbands in private spheres. This article seeks to evaluate the ambivalence of women’s silence regarding spousal violence in Pentecostal Church in Zambia and how the silence is secretly encouraged by some older women within the church.
Sacred Subtexts: Depictions of Girls as Christ Figure and Holy Fool in the Films Moana and Whale Rider
Authors: du Plooy Belinda
Published: September 2021

Christ figures and holy fools are familiar religious symbols often repeated and adapted in film making. They have historically most often been depicted as male, and among the slowly growing body of female filmic christ figures, they are usually depicted as adult White women. In this article, I consider two films, Niki Caro’s Whale Rider and Disney’s Moana, in which young Indigenous girls are depicted within this trope. I engage in close reading of the films, in relation to Anton Karl Kozlovic’s theoretical framework for structural characteristics of the filmic christ figure, as I focus my discussion here on the christological symbolism of the two female child figures in these films, while also folding this back to the long-standing religious and literary tradition of the holy fool. The aim of this article is to contribute to the growing body of critical and theoretical work about the representation and reading of women and religion in film.
The Purpose of Evil Was to Survive It: Black and Womanist Rejecting the Cross for Salvation
Authors: Calloway Jamall A.
Published: September 2021

Taking the Hagar story as the central biblical resource to address the particular plight of Black women—a plight that reckons with patriarchal and White supremacist forces that desire its enclosure—Delores Williams challenges both the traditional understanding of atonement theory which embraces the Cross as salvific and Black liberation theologies’ apocalyptical conceptions of a mighty liberating God. This article seeks to read Delores Williams closely to take seriously her theological development through literature more broadly and her soteriological critiques of the Cross specifically. A rereading of Williams will provide the grounds for continuing the debate of the Cross’s (in)significance within Black theological thought at large. Analyzing Williams’ soteriological critiques will allow me to offer a reading of the Cross that ultimately relies on Williams’ emphatic rejection. Such a rejection of the Cross is necessary for understanding how Black Christianity centers the Cross in order to reject it, as it is intended to be.
Discovering dignity through experience: How nursing students discover the expression of dignity
Authors: Stikholmen Tone , Nåden Dagfinn , Alvsvåg Herdis
Published: September 2021

Introduction:

Dignity is a core value in nursing. Nursing education shall prepare students for ethical professional practice and facilitate insight into the phenomenon of dignity and its significance. There is limited knowledge about how nursing students discover dignity in their education.

Research aim:

The aim of the study is to develop an understanding of how nursing students discover and acquire dignity.

Research design:

The study has a hermeneutic approach where qualitative interviews of nursing students were employed. The process of interpretation was inspired by text of Fleming, Gaidys and Robbs.

Participants and research context:

Nineteen nursing students agreed to be included in the study, representing six different campuses at three different educational institutions. All were in the final year of their study. The interviews took place at the educational institutions.

Ethical considerations:

The educational institutions facilitated recruitment of the students who signed voluntarily for participation and continuous informed consent. The study was approved by The Norwegian Center of Reporting Data (NSD). The research recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki were followed.

Findings:

The nursing students discovered the expression and significance of dignity through experiences, gained through introspection and in interaction with others during the education.

Discussion:

The findings are discussed using Gadamer’s concept of experience and how experiences can create new insight. In particular, the students’ experiences with the inner ethical and external aesthetic dimension of dignity are discussed.

Conclusion:

The study shows that students discovered the inner ethical dignity through experiencing vulnerability, pride and shame. They discovered the external aesthetic dignity through incidents, where they experienced both to be confirmed and not to be confirmed, and through observation of good or bad role models. Crucial negative and positive experiences are important for discovering the expression and significance of dignity.
Hand hygiene monitoring technology: A descriptive study of ethics and acceptance in nursing
Authors: Meng Michael , Seidlein Anna-Henrikje , Kugler Christiane
Published: September 2021

Background:

Nosocomial infections represent a serious challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Adherence to hand hygiene plays a major role in infection prevention and control. These adherence rates can be improved through behaviour tracking innovations. This requires the systems to be widely implemented and accepted. Therefore, both a systematic analysis of the normative issues related and the evaluation of technology acceptance are equally important.

Objectives:

To explore and describe relevant aspects regarding the acceptance of technology and ethical implications using a tracking device to measure and improve adherence to hand hygiene.

Research design:

A quantitative study with a descriptive design was performed.

Participants and research context:

A total of 75 questionnaires were collected in three hospitals in Germany. Acceptance of technology was measured with n = 60 participants (n = 50 nurses; n = 9 physicians; n = 1 not disclosed) and ethical assessment with n = 15 participants (nurses only).

Ethical considerations:

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the institutional review board.

Findings:

The acceptance of technologies improving hygiene in general was good (median = 80.5, interquartile range = 28, range: 0–100). The experience with technologies in general (median = 48.5, interquartile range = 57, range: 0–100) and the acceptance of the specific technology (mean = 82.23, standard deviation = 15.16 (range: 23–138)) was moderate. There was a significant positive correlation between the acceptance and experience of technology in general ( r = 0.217, p = .025). Ethical concerns played a minor role. The need for practical support was a key topic.

Discussion:

Study participants accepted technologies improving hygiene; however, the specific device implemented was only moderately accepted. This creates specific opportunities in the implementation process for higher later acceptance. More practical support and an increase in experience may create opportunities for device implementation with high acceptance and low ethical concerns.

Conclusion:

Study results indicate a vast potential for improving the implementation process of hand hygiene technologies. Ethical concerns in this study did not seem to be a relevant barrier for successful implementation of hand hygiene technologies.
The Democratic Peace Theory: Is War a Means to Peace?
Authors: Nausheen Sadaf , Srivastava Varya , Seth Shubhra
Published: September 2021

In the twenty first century, the idea of democracy has transcended its original conception of domestic governance to actively influence international relations. The nature of state—democratic or nondemocratic—has come to determine hierarchy, alliances, and status in international relations. It tends to bestow a degree of moral superiority to democratic states in dealings of international relations. This moral superiority in its most aggressive form, in the past two decades, has led to wars in the name of democracy. It has been used to justify military intervention in nondemocratic states by democratic nations. The use of force to bring about desired consequences has become the norm in inter-state relations. The focus is not on the action, but on its intent. This article studies the use of force and war by Western democratic countries to establish democracies through military intervention in other parts of the world. The article analyzes the widespread impact of foreign policies of the stronger nation-states and seeks to understand if the desired results are achieved or not. Beginning with the democratic peace theory that is held in high opinion by democracies of today, the article moves toward Immanuel Kant and his idea of perpetual peace. The democratic peace theory finds its base in Kant’s perpetual peace and finds an echo in Western democracies’ foreign policies. The article then sees how this theory is used to justify war, through the case study of Afghanistan, and what is the intention behind the wars. The article concludes that the desired aim of “positive peace” cannot be achieved via violent means. In the process of establishing peaceful and healthy democracy, Kant’s categorical imperatives are crucial.
Association of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) with Elevated Fecal Hemoglobin Concentration and Colorectal Carcinogenesis: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ku Mei-Sheng , Liu Chen-Yu , Hsu Chen-Yang , Chiu Han-Mo , Chen Hsiu-Hsi , Chan Chang-Chuan
Published: September 2021

The roles of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been scarcely highlighted as there is short of empirical evidence regarding the influences of PM2.5 on multistep carcinogenic processes of CRC. A retrospective cohort design with multistate outcomes was envisaged by linking monthly average PM2.5 concentrations at 22 city/county level with large-scale cohorts of cancer-screened population to study the influences of PM2.5 on short-term inflammatory process and multistep carcinogenic processes of CRC. Our study included a nationwide CRC screening cohort of 4,628,995 aged 50–69 years who attended first screen between 2004 and 2009 and continued periodical screens until 2016. We aimed to illustrate the carcinogenesis of PM2.5 related to CRC by applying both hierarchical logistical and multistate Markov regression models to estimate the effects of air pollution on fecal immunochemical test (FIT) positive (a proxy of inflammatory marker) and pre-clinical and clinical states of CRC in the nationwide cohort. We found a significant association of high PM2.5 exposure and FIT-positive by an increased risk of 11% [95% confidence interval (CI), 10–12]. PM2.5 enhanced the risk of being preclinical state by 14% (95% CI, 10–18) and that of subsequent progression from pre-clinical to clinical state by 21% (95% CI, 14–28). Furthermore, the elevated risks for CRC carcinogenesis were significantly higher for people living in high PM2.5 pollution areas in terms of yearly averages and the number days above 35 µg/m3 than those living in low PM2.5 pollution areas. We concluded that both short-term and long-term PM2.5 exposure were associated with multistep progression of CRC, which were useful to design precision primary and secondary prevention strategies of CRC for people who are exposed to high PM2.5 pollution.
Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid Associated With Improved Child Health Outcomes
Authors: Brantley Erin , Ku Leighton
Published: September 2021

Fluctuating insurance coverage, or churning, is a recognized barrier to health care access. We assessed whether state policies that allow children to remain covered in Medicaid for a 12-month period, regardless of fluctuations in income, are associated with health and health care outcomes, after controlling for individual factors and other Medicaid policies. This cross-sectional study uses a large, nationally representative database of children ages 0 to 17. Continuous eligibility was associated with improved rates of insurance, reductions in gaps in insurance and gaps due to application problems, and lower probability of being in fair or poor health. For children with special health care needs, it was associated with increases in use of medical care and preventive and specialty care access. However, continuous eligibility was not associated with health care utilization outcomes for the full sample. Continuous eligibility may be an effective strategy to reduce gaps in coverage for children and reduce paperwork burden on Medicaid agencies.
Between Crisis and Opportunity: Eritrean Refugee Men in Israel Negotiating Masculinity
Authors: Birger Lior , Peled Einat
Published: September 2021

The complex intersection of migration and masculinity is a growing field of study. This research explores how married Eritrean refugee men in Israel negotiated masculinity-related challenges within the context of gender relations. A constructivist notion of masculinity informed an interpretive analysis of in-depths interviews with the Eritrean men. It depicted the men’s experiences of a loss of power within gender relations as a “crisis” of masculinity. We explore the intersecting contexts of migration, gender, and culture surrounding these masculinity experiences, as well as the impact of state power that is enacted upon the men via their legal status of “permanent temporariness” and in gendered encounters with state authorities. Finally, we describe and discuss three main strategies the men employed to negotiate masculinity in their relationships with women within these complex circumstances: ruling, migration as an opportunity, and temporary acceptance.
OCT-A evaluation of radiation vasculopathy following slotted plaque brachytherapy
Authors: Fam Anthony , Tomar Ankit S , Finger Paul T
Published: September 2021

Purpose:

To determine a reliable diagnostic method to reveal and monitor subclinical progression of neural and perineural radiation vasculopathy.

Methods:

A retrospective cross-sectional study, where optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) imaging data was collected and analyzed from 22 consecutive patients that had been treated with circumneural slotted plaque brachytherapy for peripapillary, juxtapapillary, or circumpapillary choroidal melanomas. Pre-operative dosimetry of palladium-103 radiation dose to the optic nerve and fovea were collected. Quantified differences in OCT-A-measured vessel density and length in treated verses untreated contralateral control eyes were collected. Vessel density and length were correlated to radiation dose, plaque slot depth, visual acuity outcomes, and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

Results:

Patients had post-irradiation follow-up of median 39 months, interquartile range 62 months). The mean optic disc radiation dose was 89.9 Gy ± 39.2 (86.5, 30.8–189.0). In comparison to controls, OCT-A imaging revealed significant differences in radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (18 μm2 in case eyes, 34 μm2 in control eyes; p < 0.001) and length (10 μm in case eyes, 14 μm in control eyes; p < 0.001). Change in vessel density did not show a significant correlation to radiation dose, slot depth, or visual acuity. However, change in vessel length was significantly correlated to radiation dose ( p = 0.049) and change in visual acuity ( p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

OCT-A imaging revealed that radial peripapillary capillary vessel density and length were significantly reduced after circumneural irradiation for choroidal melanoma. Therefore, OCT-A imaging can be used to monitor progression of papillary vasculopathy associated with radiation optic neuropathy.
To what extent is pregnancy-induced keratoconus progression reversible? A case-report and literature review
Authors: Toprak Ibrahim
Published: September 2021

Purpose:

This report aims to present a case with pregnancy-induced keratoconus (KC) progression and recovery in topographical parameters after a period from delivery/breastfeeding.

Methods:

A 29-year-old woman with bilateral KC experienced progression in maximum keratometry (Kmax; from 47.6 to 48.2 D in the OD and from 53.7 to 55.2 D in the OS) and several Pentacam indices in both eyes.

Results:

The Belin ABCD progression score remained unchanged in the right eye (A0B2C0D0) but increased in the left eye (from A2B3C1D1 to A2B4C1D1) (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) during pregnancy/breastfeeding. About 6-months after cessation of breastfeeding, Kmax improved to baseline values in both eyes. Although there were improvements in “A” and “B” scores, final ABCD stage remained higher than the baseline value in the left eye.

Conclusions:

The current report shows asymmetrically bilateral progression of KC during pregnancy and early post-delivery period, which was followed by a partial recovery in Pentacam parameters after discontinuation of breastfeeding. These findings seem to confirm the postulated link between pregnancy and KC progression. On the other hand, in patients with KC, pregnancy-induced corneal alterations might recover after delivery/breastfeeding and clinician should wait for stabilization of corneal parameters to determine treatment strategy.
Agrochemicals Use Practices and Health Challenges of Smallholder Farmers in Ghana
Authors: Demi Suleyman M , Sicchia Suzanne R
Published: September 2021

Background:

Globally, Africa is one of the continents that uses the lowest quantity of agrochemicals in farming. However, unsafe chemical use practices are high among farmers in Africa, posing serious health and environmental consequences. This study seeks to address three questions: (1) What factors motivate/compel smallholder farmers in Ghana to use agrochemicals? (2) What safety precautions or unsafe chemical use practices can be found in the communities? (3) What are the health implications of agrochemical use among smallholder farmers in Ghana?

Methodology:

The study used purposive and simple random sampling techniques to select 136 individuals for the survey, out of which 31 individuals were eliminated, and 105 participants were selected for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Additionally, participants’ observations were collected, workshops were facilitated, and documents analyses were conducted. Qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo software and the quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0.

Findings:

The study found that environmental challenges, activities of NGOs, government policy, lack of or high cost of labor, and competition among farmers were major factors influencing farmers’ decisions to use agrochemicals. Present agrochemical use in Ghana poses a risk to health and the environment. Finally, the study discovered chemical poisoning and low self-reported health quality as major health implications of agrochemical use in the communities.
Architectural acoustic design: Observation of use cases including audio-only and multimodal auralizations
Authors: Thery David , Poirier-Quinot David , Jouan Sebastien , Katz Brian FG , Boccara Vincent
Published: September 2021

Auralization technology has reached a satisfactory level of ecological validity, enabling its use in architectural acoustic design. Only recently have the actual uses of auralization in the consulting community been explored, resulting in the identification of a variety of uses, including (1) to present to clients, (2) to test design ideas, (3) as a verification tool, (4) as a verification tool, (5) as a marketing tool, and (6) to improve internal company discussions. Taking advantage of methodologies from ergonomics research, the present study investigates effective uses through the observation of a collaboration project between an acoustic research team and an acoustic consultant, as a case study. Two spaces have been auralized in the context of the conception of a new skyscraper during the design phase of the project. The two spaces faced different problematics: an Atrium for which three different acoustic treatment options were suggested and experienced through multi-modal auralizations and audio-only auralizations of an Auditorium where an intrusive noise was to be acoustically treated. The ergonomic observation and analysis of this project revealed key impediments to the integration of auralization in common acoustic design practices.
Religious freedom and the right against religious discrimination: Democracy as the missing link
Authors: Hunter-Henin Myriam
Published: September 2021

The article puts forward a novel democratic framework to rethink the relationships between religious freedom and religious discrimination. First, it makes a case for a unifying normative basis for all religious interests grounded in a democratic framework, which emphasises the dual dimension of religious interests, both as negative rights protecting individual autonomy against interferences as well as positive rights of participation. Second, it builds upon this democratic framework to revisit the relationships between discrimination law and religious freedom and guard against trends to subject discrimination law claims to preliminary (higher) thresholds. Third, the article examines how contextual balancing exercises between competing interests should (and to a large extent have) become a key unifying feature of both routes and draws from the democratic framework insights as to how these balancing exercises should be carried out.
Arts, language and intercultural education
Authors: Fleming Mike
Published: September 2021

This article is structured around four questions related to the arts, language and intercultural education. Are the claims for the value of the arts over-stated? Does the use of the arts in the service of non-art outcomes run the risk of distorting the art form itself? Is there a danger that incorporating the arts in language education will distract from its central purpose? Are there any risks in employing the arts to support the teaching of interculturalism? These questions are used as a focus for discussing theoretical perspectives in the arts, including justifying the arts, theories of art, the importance of form, the concept of ‘aesthetic experience’, ‘learning in’ and ‘learning through’ the arts. These issues are examined in order to illuminate practical implications related to the use of the arts in the context of language and intercultural education. The article highlights the way in which theoretical perspectives can help widen pedagogic horizons.
Damping estimation using free decays response in short telecom structures
Authors: Jimenez Capilla Jose A , Wang Ying , Brownjohn James Mark William
Published: September 2021

The constant changes to which telecommunications have accustomed us in recent decades oblige a similar adaptation in other branches of engineering. Structures such as monopoles and short lattice towers are becoming increasingly wind-sensitive and dynamically active with the introduction of 5G technology, which will require new larger and heavier antenna equipment. Expert consultants agree the need to revise the current accounting for structural damping that has not changed in design codes after more than 30 years. A complete set of full-scale field tests is presented to obtain reliable structural damping values in short communications structures. The described methodology analyses free-decaying responses obtained after excitation of the main analysed cantilevered modes in the time domain. A standardized acquisition system based on local accelerometers and an external innovative system using the Video GaugeTM system are required to obtain the desired responses, which use curve-fitting and the eigensystem realization algorithm to estimate modal properties such as the corresponding modal structural damping. The results obtained using the presented methodology agree on higher values of structural damping for both damping estimators and perfectly converge with consultant feedback, which suggested over-conservative (i.e. low) values of structural damping as compared to the conventional values used in civil engineering.
Deontic authority and the maintenance of lay and expert identities during joint decision making: Balancing resistance and compliance
Authors: Stevanovic Melisa
Published: September 2021

Expertise is commonly viewed as a professionalized competence in a specific field. Expert professional identities are produced and reproduced through professional training and other socialization mechanisms, which work to generate for a specific group of individuals a specific set of expert skills and knowledge. In this paper, I examine participants’ orientations to their distinct expert professional identities from the perspective of deontic authority. Drawing on 15 video-recorded church workplace meetings between pastors and cantors as data, and conversation analysis as a theoretical and methodological framework, I analyze situations where a non-expert participant makes a proposal that the expert participant orients to as reasonable to comply with. Specifically, I demonstrate how the expert participants respond to these proposals with displays of deontic authority, arguably in an attempt to maintain their expert identities in the face of their de facto compliance with the proposals. In these situations, the expert participants are shown to invoke (1) a past decision of their own, (2) a future decision of their own, or (3) a pattern that is beyond both participants’ control. Each of these practices involves the expert participant balancing resistance and compliance by minimally acknowledging the content of the non-expert participant’s proposal, while excluding the non-expert from those who have deontic authority in the matter. In so doing, the expert speaker implies that the non-expert proposal speaker lacks (1) procedural knowledge about the specific matters about which it is relevant to make proposals to experts and (2) access to the distinct experiential perspective that characterizes expert perception of things. It is thus argued that, in this context, the mere claims of deontic authority, produced without any substantial displays of expert knowledge, can serve the maintenance of expert professional identities.
Book review: Andrea Ballestero. 2019. A Future History of Water
Authors: Birkinshaw Matt
Published: September 2021

Andrea Ballestero. 2019. A Future History of Water. Durham and London: Duke University Press. ISBN: 9781478004516 (ebook); ISBN: 9781478003595 (hardcover: alk. paper). Hardback £79.99; Paperback £19.99.
Triple powerlessness traps and old age: Implications for social work practice
Authors: Kam Ping Kwong
Published: September 2021

Over the last two decades older people in Hong Kong have experienced increased powerlessness. This article argues that the prevalent use of structural analysis, mainly the political economy approach, provides an inadequate explanation of the strong sense of powerlessness experienced by older people in a Chinese society like Hong Kong. The article extends structural level analysis by embracing two additional levels, cultural and professional practice, to examine old age powerlessness in Hong Kong.

Theoretical advances

This paper contributes to increasing knowledge relating the concept of powerlessness to aging through a new analytical perspective, the “triple powerlessness traps” that include the structural, cultural, and professional practice levels of analysis.

Applications

The inclusion of two additional levels—cultural and professional practice—adds a necessary new dimension and depth to the analysis by suggesting that cultural explanations and the disempowering effects of professional practice should be afforded increased weight in the study of old age powerlessness in the Chinese context. The “triple powerlessness traps” help enhance analysis of old age powerlessness in societies facing cultural changes and the erosion of cultural values. They also have the practical value of arousing the awareness of social work professionals of the negative effects of the disempowered professional practice in producing or sustaining old age powerlessness and the need for changing social work practice at the policy, societal, agency, or organizational and personal levels.