bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dark Triad Personality and Phubbing: The Mediator Role of Fomo
Authors: Akat Muhammed , Arslan Coşkun , Hamarta Erdal
Published: June 2022

Phubbing among undergraduate has become an area of increasing research interest in recent years. In recent years, studies on phubbing have increased. However, no empirical study has deal with the mediating effect of fear of missing out (FoMO) on the relationship between dark triad and phubbing. The dark triad refers to three personality traits: Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Machiavellianism is characterized by prioritizing one’s own wishes and desires. Psychopathy, is a personality trait where lack of emotion and self-control is seen. Narcissism is characterized by low empathy and egocentrism. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether FoMO mediator between dark triad and phubbing among undergraduates. For this purpose, structural equation modeling and bootstrapping method was used. Mediation analyses were performed using AMOS 22.00. The present study comprised 506 undergraduate (%70.7 female; %29.3 male). The age of the participants ranged between 18 and 29 (x = 22.41).The measures used included the General Scale of Phubbing, Fear of Missing Out Scale, and Dirty Dozen Scale. The results showed that FoMO mediated the relationship between dark triad and phubbing. The results of bootstrapping procedure indicated that the indirect effect of FoMO on the relationship between dark triad and phubbing was significant. In conclusion, the study suggests that FoMO is a meaningful mediator in the relationship between dark triad and phubbing. Research results are discussed in the light of the related literature and suggestions are presented for future researchers.
The Role of Religious Poetry in Enhancing Children’s Spiritual Intelligence (SI)
Authors: Jalali Maryam , Nikoogoftar Mansooreh
Published: June 2022

The nature and quality of presenting religious literature to children have engaged the minds of many scholars of children’s literature, sometimes posing remarkable challenges. Today’s knowledge declares that children brim with a variety of intelligences and modes of interpretation. A great portion of their competence, dubbed “spiritual intelligence,” may be created and reinforced by dint of religious literature. Mastering the working of the elements of spiritual intelligence and applying them to poetry may contribute to the enhancement of the quality of children’s religious poetry. To this end, the authors analyzed 300 pieces of poetry written for children with a religious theme, using descriptive and analytic methods in restoring and appraising the elements of spiritual intelligence. The findings suggest that self-awareness and posing questions are among the most efficacious elements of spiritual intelligence in children’s religious poetry whereas some aspects are neglected.
Whiteness and the So-Called Problem of Preaching the Old Testament
Authors: Stark David M.
Published: June 2022

This article explores the long-lamented problem of preaching the Old Testament in light of recent conversations about Whiteness in the Academy of Homiletics. Through an overview of the way the problem of the Old Testament is framed, I argue that Whiteness harmfully amplifies the quantity and severity of Old Testament problems encountered. Then, looking at several significant approaches to preaching the Old Testament, I argue that Whiteness contributes to a glaring neglect of power dynamics in solutions offered. Finally, I point to insights from many African American homileticians as a confrontation with Whiteness that offers a more fruitful foundation for an Old Testament homiletic.
Seriously Seeking a Christian Theology to Resist White Supremacy
Authors: Benders Alison M.
Published: June 2022

This brief exploratory essay considers the gap between Christian theologians’ call for anti-black theological reflection and the full theological renovation that this work would entail. “Unlearning Eurocentrism” by taking the experiences of oppressed people as a serious challenge to the meaning of Christianity is a formidable but essential project. After exploring factors that explain the gap between call and action, the essay poses five key questions for the shared project of a regenerative Christianity, a “jubilee” theology, for Christian theologians who take their faith and vocations seriously.
An Impossible Task? Australian Food Law and the Challenge of Novel Meat Analogues
Authors: Johnson Hope , Parker Christine
Published: June 2022

This paper asks what the regulatory assessment of the novel processed meat analogue products reveals about the nature of food regulation in Australia. We analyse Food Standards Australia and New Zealand’s (‘FSANZ’) assessment of the recent application by Californian technology company Impossible Foods Inc to sell its proprietary burger products which contain a genetically modified protein that is said to make their burger ‘bleed’. We show that FSANZ’s assessment process has little capacity to engage with broader and longer term, social, ecological and public health implications of novel foods and changing food markets. FSANZ’s regulatory pre-approval process focuses almost exclusively on the safety of individual ingredients rather than the impact of novel foods on the food supply as whole and leaves broader issues to the market and consumer choice with limited support from laws addressing misleading labelling and marketing of foods. Extending the capacity of Australia’s regulatory regime for food to deal with more than the safety of individual ingredients will become more urgent as other novel foods, such as cell-based meats, enter the marketplace.
Investigating the Effect of Differential Rapid Guessing on Population Invariance in Equating
Authors: Deng Jiayi , Rios Joseph A.
Published: June 2022

Score equating is an essential tool in improving the fairness of test score interpretations when employing multiple test forms. To ensure that the equating functions used to connect scores from one form to another are valid, they must be invariant across different populations of examinees. Given that equating is used in many low-stakes testing programs, examinees’ test-taking effort should be considered carefully when evaluating population invariance in equating, particularly as the occurrence of rapid guessing (RG) has been found to differ across subgroups. To this end, the current study investigated whether differential RG rates between subgroups can lead to incorrect inferences concerning population invariance in test equating. A simulation was built to generate data for two examinee subgroups (one more motivated than the other) administered two alternative forms of multiple-choice items. The rate of RG and ability characteristics of rapid guessers were manipulated. Results showed that as RG responses increased, false positive and false negative inferences of equating invariance were respectively observed at the lower and upper ends of the observed score scale. This result was supported by an empirical analysis of an international assessment. These findings suggest that RG should be investigated and documented prior to test equating, especially in low-stakes assessment contexts. A failure to do so may lead to incorrect inferences concerning fairness in equating.
Item Response Theory True Score Equating for the Bifactor Model Under the Common-Item Nonequivalent Groups Design
Authors: Kim Kyung Yong
Published: June 2022

Applying item response theory (IRT) true score equating to multidimensional IRT models is not straightforward due to the one-to-many relationship between a true score and latent variables. Under the common-item nonequivalent groups design, the purpose of the current study was to introduce two IRT true score equating procedures that adopted different dimension reduction strategies for the bifactor model. The first procedure, which was referred to as the integration procedure, linked the latent variable scales for the bifactor model and integrated out the specific factors from the item response function of the bifactor model. Then, IRT true score equating was applied to the marginalized bifactor model. The second procedure, which was referred to as the PIRT-based procedure, projected the specific dimensions onto the general dimension to obtain a locally dependent unidimensional IRT (UIRT) model and linked the scales of the UIRT model, followed by the application of IRT true score equating to the locally dependent UIRT model. Equating results obtained with the two equating procedures along with those obtained with the unidimensional three-parameter logistic (3PL) model were compared using both simulated and real data. In general, the integration and PIRT-based procedures provided equating results that were not practically different. Furthermore, the equating results produced by the two bifactor-based procedures became more accurate than the results returned by the 3PL model as tests became more multidimensional.
To Change or Not to Change? Evidence on the Steadiness of More Hubristic CEOs
Authors: Kowalzick Marc , Appels Moritz
Published: June 2022

Extant research on CEO hubris has amassed substantial evidence on the positive association of this prominent managerial disposition and CEOs’ attraction to challenging and consequential strategic activities. Similarly, one may well anticipate more hubristic CEOs to strive for frequent transformations of their firms’ overarching trajectories as they overestimate their ability to reap the fruits of such challenging and highly consequential endeavors. In contrast to these arguments, however, higher levels of hubris might also lead CEOs to see little reason for scrutinizing and adapting extant paths in light of the magnificent prospects under their outstanding leadership. We explicate this theoretical obscurity surrounding the dispositional preference for change or steadiness associated with higher degrees of CEO hubris by carving out sets of competing hypotheses on the effect of CEO hubris on two key domains of change within the immediate purview of a CEO: strategic change and top management team (TMT) membership change. Empirically, we examine these arguments using a panel data set comprising 1, 197 S&P 1500 CEOs and find strong support for a negative effect of CEO hubris on a set of indicators of strategic change as well as on TMT membership change. Our results indicate that, beyond their attraction to manifold and challenging strategic activities, more hubristic CEOs exhibit a preference for steadiness that may prevail in the overall effect of hubris on certain organizational outcomes.
Online astroturfing: A problem beyond disinformation
Authors: Chan Jovy
Published: June 2022

Coordinated inauthentic behaviours online are becoming a more serious problem throughout the world. One common type of manipulative behaviour is astroturfing. It happens when an entity artificially creates an impression of widespread support for a product, policy, or concept, when in reality only limited support exists. Online astroturfing is often considered to be just like any other coordinated inauthentic behaviour; with considerable discussion focusing on how it aggravates the spread of fake news and disinformation. This paper shows that astroturfing creates additional problems for social media platforms and the online environment in general. The practice of astroturfing exploits our natural tendency to conform to what the crowd does; and because of the importance of conformity in our decision-making process, the negative consequences brought about by astroturfing can be much more far-reaching and alarming than just the spread of disinformation.
Applying Stress and Coping Theory to Understand Diuretic Adherence Experiences in Persons with Heart Failure
Authors: Meraz Rebecca , Osteen Kathryn , McGee Jocelyn Shealy , Noblitt Paul , Viejo Henry
Published: June 2022

Despite the benefits of diuretics for treating the symptoms of heart failure (HF), patients may report side effects and intentionally not adhere to diuretic regimens. Positive internal motivators, such as positive emotions, may benefit individuals in their adaptation to medication-related stress. However, there has been limited study of these potential motivators in those with HF. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, 82 adults taking diuretics for HF were interviewed. This study applied stress and coping theory to understand the diuretic-taking experiences of patients with HF. Data analysis revealed three themes: (a) diuretics are bothersome, (b) staying positive in the mid of hardship, and (c) adapting to endure. Findings suggest that adherent participants stayed positive amid the perceived hardship, maintaining resilient and grateful attitudes. Adherent participants adapted to bothersome diuretic effects and utilized creative strategies. More research is needed to understand the relationships between resilience, adaptive coping, and diuretic adherence.
In vitro research of combination therapy for multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections
Authors: Sun Leiming , Sun Jing , Ding Shibiao
Published: June 2022

Objective

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR KP) bloodstream infections are a serious problem. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of appropriate combination therapies on MDR KP bloodstream infections.

Methods

MDR KP strains isolated from clinical samples were assessed for antibiotic susceptibility using the broth microdilution method. Twenty consecutive MDR KP clinical isolates from patients with bloodstream infections were examined in this study. The experiments were conducted at the Bacterial Laboratory of Tongde Hospital from March to August 2021. Antibiotic combination tests were performed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, and the sum of the fractional inhibitory concentration was used to assess synergy.

Results

Following treatment with a combination of two antibiotic agents, the MIC50 and MIC90 values decreased compared with that before treatment. MIC50 decreased by at least 50%, with one value reduced to 6.25% of the pretreatment value. None of the antibiotic combinations were antagonistic. Combination of polymyxin B with rifampicin or tigecycline had a synergistic effect on 70% and 65% of the strains, respectively.

Conclusions

In vitro combination therapies with two active drug agents (polymyxin B plus rifampicin or tigecycline) had a better effect on MDR KP infections compared with that in other regimens.
Analyzing the Safety Consequences of Pedestrian Spatial Violation at Mid-Blocks: A Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Ghomi Haniyeh , Hussein Mohamed
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study is to understand the impact of a variety of factors on the frequency and severity of pedestrian-vehicle collisions that involve pedestrian spatial violations at mid-blocks. To that end, the historical collision records of the City of Hamilton between 2010 and 2017 were obtained, and collisions that had occurred at mid-blocks were filtered out. A Bayesian structural equation modeling (SEM) framework was developed to investigate the impact of a wide range of factors on such collisions. First, a classical SEM was developed to group the different factors into sets of latent variables. Four latent variables were defined, including location amenities and attractions, pedestrian/road network characteristics, exposure parameters, and location/collision-specific factors. The Bayesian SEM was then implemented to investigate the relationship between the latent variables and collisions. The results showed that the amenities and attractions of a location (e.g., parks, schools, bike-share stations, and bus stops) were the most influential factor on the frequency of collisions that involve spatial violation, followed by pedestrian network characteristics. Pedestrian network characteristics and location/collision-specific factors were found to be the most influential factors on the severity of collisions. The location of bike-share stations, pedestrian network connectivity, exposure to walkers, and the number of lanes were the four observed variables that explained the highest percentage of the variance in each latent group, respectively. The results of this study should assist engineers and planners to develop better design concepts to mitigate collisions that are caused by pedestrian spatial violations in urban areas.
Students’ Questions in Writing Center Conferences
Authors: Mackiewicz Jo , Thompson Isabelle
Published: June 2022

Questions are an important means by which students actively participate in and exercise some control over the moment-to-moment focus of writing center conferences. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis of student questions in 35 writing center conferences, we examined the frequency and type of students’ questions, finding no differences between native English speakers and non-native English speakers’ overall question frequency or their use of each question type. Students used common-ground questions most frequently, and knowledge-deficit questions second-most frequently. Our qualitative analysis revealed how students used questions to coconstruct potential language for their papers and to steer the course of their conferences. It also revealed the dilemma that arises when a student’s questions probe not only the tutor’s writing knowledge but also their subject-matter knowledge. This study demonstrates some ways that students take power over their conferences by asking questions and indicates that tutors might expect similar question frequency and similar types of questions from NESs and NNESs. It also suggests that tutors might use the tutoring strategy of reading aloud to create conversational openings for students’ questions. And it suggests potential benefits of attending to the type of questions that students use, as these types can indicate on a local level the extent of students’ contribution to their papers.
Clouded Motives and Pharmacological Calvinism: How Recreational Use of a Drug Affects Moral Judgments of Its Medical Use
Authors: Wilson Anne V.
Published: June 2022

While many drugs are used exclusively for medical reasons, and others are used solely for recreation, some drugs are commonly used for both purposes. For example, cannabis, opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants are unique in many ways, but they share the fact that they are regularly consumed both medicinally and recreationally. However, it is not clear how the existence of recreational markets for substances affects moral judgments of their medical use. The current work shows that using a drug for medical reasons is viewed as less morally acceptable if other consumers use the same drug for recreation. This effect emerges because observers infer that medical users are less purely motivated by medical need. Accordingly, the negative effect of recreational drug use on moral judgments of its medical use is mitigated when patients do not have alternative treatment options. These findings have implications for patient stigmatization, drug marketing and lobbying, and policy and legislation designed to regulate the use of medical drugs with recreational benefits.
The adoption of socially assistive robots for long-term care: During COVID-19 and in a post-pandemic society
Authors: Getson Cristina , Nejat Goldie
Published: June 2022

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has prompted a surge in the adoption of technology, highlighting a number of potential applications for Socially Assistive Robots (SARs). Our entire healthcare system has been under unprecedented strain, and going forward, we must consider how robotic technology could help improve the quality of care and day-to-day functionality of our care facilities. Herein, we present our human-robot interaction study in a local long-term care centre during the pandemic and the lessons learned from deploying a SAR to screen staff members. We investigate staff acceptance and the influence of demographics on perceptions of the SAR. Results show that overall, staff were positive about the screening robot, and that autonomous screening with a social robot is a potential application in long-term care homes. We further detail the challenges and future opportunities to develop SARs, including recommendations to successfully implement and adopt these robots in a post-pandemic society.
Disclosing Personal Information in mHealth Apps. Testing the Role of Privacy Attitudes, App Habits, and Social Norm Cues
Authors: Dogruel Leyla , Joeckel Sven , Henke Jakob
Published: June 2022

Communication privacy research has employed a plethora of theoretical approaches to explain the information disclosing behavior of users. To explain information disclosure intentions in mHealth apps, this article integrates the attitude-behavior model of privacy decisions with approaches on the role of heuristics and the impact of habitual app use. Specifically, we examine the relationship between privacy attitudes, privacy concerns, app habits, and social norm cues with the intention to disclose three types of information (personal, budget, health) in two types of mHealth apps. Testing our model in an online survey including an experimental manipulation of social norm cue strength (high/ medium/ low) among N = 475 smartphone users, our findings underline the importance of privacy attitudes for the intention to disclose information, but also point out the influence of app habits and the role of subjective evaluations of social norm cues.
Perception of Interprofessional Education among Students Following Pharmacy Studies
Authors: Zaccomer Alessandro , Wirth Francesca , Camilleri Liberato , Azzopardi Lilian M.
Published: June 2022

Introduction:

Interprofessional Education (IPE) activities are a first experience of real-world patient care practice for students, where collaboration with different professions is appreciated. Methods and timing of inclusion of IPE are not well-defined, and it is interesting to assess students’ perception on IPE activities.

Objective:

To assess changes in pharmacy students’ perception of IPE before (t0) and after (t1) an IPE activity.

Methods:

The ‘Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education–Revised 2’ (SPICE-R2) tool was adopted to assess perception of IPE activities in third year pharmacy students, final year pharmacy students and in postgraduate Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD) students at t0 and t1.

Results:

The SPICE-R2 tool was completed at t0 and t1 by 61 students: 12 third year pharmacy students, 13 final year students and 36 PharmD students. A significant improvement between t0 and t1 ( P < .05) was measured in the three groups of students for all three subscales of the tool. The largest improvement was observed in the ‘Roles/Responsibilities for Collaborative Practice’ subscale in all three groups of students.

Conclusion:

Perception of IPE was positively increased in all three student groups. The results could be useful to support the design of IPE activities within pharmacy programmes.
Correlation Between Radiographic and Histopathologic Findings Associated with Unerupted Teeth in Dogs
Authors: Hutt Jason P. , Volker Mary Krakowski , Sánchez Melissa D.
Published: June 2022

An association between unerupted teeth and dentigerous cysts is well known, 1 – 4 however little is known about the presence of disease and histopathologic changes in unerupted teeth without radiographic evidence of cyst formation. Forty-two dogs representing 25 breeds, ranging in age from 5 months to 12 years were selected based on radiographic evidence of an unerupted tooth or teeth, either as a primary complaint or incidental finding. Dogs meeting the study criteria were presented to a private dental referral practice within a period of eighteen months from December 2016 through May 2018. Patients were treated with conservative en bloc resection of the unerupted tooth and overlying bone as well as debridement of any cystic structure and biopsy of the samples collected. Radiographs were evaluated using criteria previously established to assess for evidence of a cyst. 1 , 5 – 7 A total of 68 unerupted teeth were identified; 63 (92.7%) were mandibular first premolar teeth. Of the 63 unerupted mandibular first premolar teeth, 28 (44.4%) had radiographic evidence of a cystic structure. Histopathology revealed that 21 of 28 (75.0%) had evidence of non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium consistent with a cyst lining. Of the remaining 35 of 63 (55.6%) mandibular first premolar teeth with no radiographic evidence of a cyst, 27 (77.1%) had no histologic evidence of epithelium associated with the impacted tooth. Notably however, the remaining 8 of 35 (22.9%) unerupted teeth without radiographic evidence of a cyst did have histologic evidence of non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium associated with the impacted tooth.
Reconfigurable configuration model and bifurcation motion characteristics of Rubik’s Cube mechanism
Authors: Fan Dabao , Zeng Daxing , Dong Shihao , Lu Wenjuan , Zhou Zirong , Hou Yulei
Published: June 2022

There are several Rubik Cube types; their internal structure is complex, making them harder to understand, analyze, and design. Since the Rubik’s Cube is a complex mechanism consisting of a large number of parts, its reconfigurable theory and bifurcation characteristics need to be studied. Thus, this paper first presents the piece matrix for each Rubik’s Cube piece based on its motion characteristics, taking the classic third-order Rubik’s Cube and Square-1 Rubik’s Cube as examples. This allows the authors to explain the meaning of elements within the piece matrix. The Rubik’s Cube reconfigurable configuration model is established next, and its reconfigurable motion model and the associated configuration are given. The Rubik’s Cube reconfigurable motion model in any configuration is obtained by using the transformation matrix. The Rubik’s Cube bifurcation characteristics are analyzed on the basis of reconfigurable configuration model. The work at hand improves the existing reconfigurable theory of Rubik’s Cube mechanism and offers beneficial classification cubes to the subsequent research and synthesis.
Input-output feedback linearization control of a tractor with n-trailers mechanism considering the path curvature
Authors: Shojaei Khoshnam , Taghavifar Hamid
Published: June 2022

In this paper, an observer-based proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is proposed for an autonomous tractor with n-trailer units with prescribed transient and steady-state performances by compensating the negative effect of the path curvature during the turning of the trailers. The control objective is to place the position of the last trailer on a desired trajectory without any deviation in the course of its turning. Since the curvature of the trajectory causes a remarkable unwanted deviation of the trailers’ positions from the path, an input-output model is derived for the tractor with n-trailers based on the extended look-ahead control concept which employs a corrective angle to compensate the path curvature. A nonlinear transformation is employed to transform constrained errors into unconstrained ones and to obtain an open-loop error dynamic model in terms of the unconstrained errors. Then, a neural network adaptive PID output-feedback linearization-based controller is proposed to force the tracking errors to the zero neighbourhood with a guaranteed prescribed performance with preferable overshoot/undershoot, convergence speed and final tracking accuracy. The Kalman–Yakobovich (KY) lemma is employed to prove the closed-loop stability of the observer-controller system strongly. Numerical simulations are given to show the controller’s effectiveness in practice.
Methods for shrinkage measurement considering stress development of curing structural adhesives
Authors: Wirries Jonas , Ruetters Martin
Published: June 2022

Joint strength and methods for their determination play a crucial role for component design within the development phase of adhesively bonded components. Shrinkage-induced stresses due to adhesive’s curing may reduce the maximum strength of the bonded components; conversely, ignoring their effects may overestimate the design value thereof. Accordingly, the accurate prediction of residual stresses is of high importance, and so is determination of relevant material parameters. Adhesive properties, such as Young’s modulus and shrinkage, change significantly throughout curing. These have to be determined according to various material models, which are tributary to the experimental determination of corresponding material parameters. In this paper, the effects of shrinkage and residual stresses on simple joint geometries are transiently determined using the extended rheometer (ExRheo). The ExRheo proved to be a reliable method to determine volume shrinkage through successful validation by mercury dilatometry. Furthermore, shrinkage of constrained specimens can be measured using ExRheo and showed to be lower compared to specimens that could shrink freely. Material-specific properties like onset of vitrification could also be detected with the presented method. Based upon these experimental results of thermo-analytical characterisation of structural adhesives during curing, data for finite element analysis (FEA) is gathered. Aforementioned results will lead to improvements of stress prediction for industrial applications.
A rapid approximate dynamic programing based on constraint satisfaction for a series-parallel hybrid electric vehicle with a three-speed gearbox
Authors: Sun Qinpeng , Wu Wei , Peng Zengxiong , Xing Wei , Wang Haibin
Published: June 2022

Dynamic programing (DP) algorithm is frequently utilized in studies to solve the energy management schemes (EMS) of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The results of this method are global optimal but computationally inefficient. This paper proposed a rapid approximate DP (RADP) algorithm to improve the time complexity to solve an off-line EMS for a series-parallel HEVs. The key step is to shorten search domain at each grid point of by calculating constraint variables and check constraints before implement Bellman equation. The results demonstrate the computing time has decreased to 1.6% of conventional DP with a slight increase of fuel consumption. And the control policy trajectories, SOC trajectories, and engine working point distribution of RADP are nearly identical to the DP in two driving missions for heavy vehicles.
Vehicle heading angle and IMU heading mounting angle improvement leveraging GNSS course angle
Authors: Lu Yishi , Xiong Lu , Xia Xin , Gao Letian , Yu Zhuoping
Published: June 2022

Using vehicle chassis information can significantly improve the accuracy of GNSS/INS fusion system when GNSS signals are unavailable. The IMU mounting angles play an important role when fusing vehicle chassis information with GNSS/INS system. However, the IMU mounting angles cannot be directly measured conveniently. This paper proposed a new method to simultaneously improve the estimation accuracy of both the vehicle heading angle and the IMU heading mounting angle by leveraging GNSS course angle as an additional measurement. Firstly, an error state Kalman filter is constructed with state variables including the attitude errors, velocity errors, position errors, gyro, and acceleration bias errors, IMU mounting angle and vehicle velocity scale factor. The GNSS course angle is augmented to the Kalman filter as a measurement when the vehicle travels in straight line. Then, the observability analysis of the GNSS/INS/Onboard sensors fusion system is carried out and the results show that the observability of the system using GNSS course angle is better than that of only using vehicle velocity and non-holonomic constraint (NHC) as measurements if the heading mounting angle and pitch mounting angle are not zero. Finally, the experiment results show that the accuracy of the vehicle heading angle and the IMU heading mounting angle can be improved by 14% judging from the lateral velocity error of vehicle compared to that of only using vehicle velocity and NHC as measurements.
Non-Newtonian power-law fluids with variable magnetic field and slip conditions
Authors: Dawood Muhammad , Yousaf Muhammad , Ahmad Shafiq , Zeb Salman
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of heat transfer and flow of non-Newtonian power-law fluids towards a stretching sheet in the appearance of transverse magnetic field with slip boundary conditions. Suitable similarity transformations are used to change the non-linear partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations. For the numerical solution Maple software by applying built-in command dsolve with numeric is utilized. It is noticed from the obtained results that an increase in the magnetic parameter results in a decrease in the dimensionless velocity profile and in the stream function while the temperature profile increases for the Newtonian, dilatant, and pseudo-plastic fluids. Increasing the velocity slip parameter, a reducing behavior can be seen in the stream function and in the velocity profile while temperature profile is enhancing. Moreover, with increasing thermal slip, a decrease occurs in the dimensionless temperature. The variations in the velocity and temperature profiles under dimensionless parameters are significant for n  = 0.8 (pseudo-plastic fluid) rather than for n  = 1 (Newtonian fluid) and n  = 1.02 (dilatant fluid).
Horizontal curvature estimation of tram tracks using OpenStreetMap
Authors: Bettinger Tobias , Leibner Philipp , Schindler Christian
Published: June 2022

For analysing, understanding and predicting the track/train-dynamics in order to develop comfortable and sustainable vehicles a sufficient description of the track course and conditions are key requirements. Not only the track irregularities but also the horizontal curvature affects the vehicle dynamics strongly. Nearly all cities owning light rail systems have gradually established the light rail traffic. By reasons of building density, road transportation infrastructure, and progress of the overall urban planning, the light rail infrastructure was constrained to the pre-existing environment. Thus, the track course is mainly optimized for efficient space use but not for best possible vehicle dynamics. To be able to analyse the track layout of tram networks at a bigger scale, an appropriate methodology that allows acquiring track course data is needed, which is the main objective of this paper. For this purpose, an open data approach was developed by the authors utilizing OpenStreetMap (OSM) to derive the horizontal track curvature based on geodata. This groundbreaking approach improves the state of the art since professional geodetic measurements of light rail tracks are generally rarely publicly available, cost-intensive and their preprocessing can potentially be time consuming. The outcome is a simple, robust, and fast approach that was validated using already existing reference track data which was available to the authors. Additionally, an error estimation of the methodology was carried out. Using a quadratic error function, the median standard deviation of the curvature can be determined and used to rate the exactness of the estimated curvature depending on its magnitude. In this approach, the curvature estimations exactness is generally high for small curve radii and decreases for bigger radii. Therefore it can be concluded that the field of application is especially promising for light rail infrastructure. But also for mainline tracks the new method can be used as a rough estimate, if no curvature data is at hand.
Conceptual design and feasibility study of industrial sludge-based biosolid fuel production facility
Authors: Sapmaz S. , Kılıçaslan İ.
Published: June 2022

Industrial sludge must be disposed of by incineration or storage methods. It is possible to produce energy by incinerating the sludge after drying. However, some sludges cannot be incinerated due to their low calorific value and/or high pollutant load. In this study, a novel process in which sludges with high calorific value and other sludges are mixed, dried and processed to produce solid fuel without using any additives is described. A technical and economic model of the process was established and feasibility analysis was carried out for different capacities. According to the results of the study, with the increase in capacity, the cost for the unit capacity and the return for the unit capacity increase. Most of the plant's income comes from waste disposal. When the investment is made with equity, the payback period is shorter than 2 years for wet feeding capacities of 1 ton/h and above. The cost of the investment increases more than 2 times when 50% of the investment cost is supplied by a bank loan. In this case, the payback period is also increasing. In order for the profitability of the facility to be sustainable, the composition and amounts of sludge produced in the region should be analysed. In this study, it is assumed that the types and amounts of waste that will come to the facility are capable of filling the facility's capacity and providing the required calorific value standards.
Circle RNA circCSPP1 promotes human osteosarcoma cell proliferation and increases glucose metabolism by suppressing miR-200c maturation
Authors: Zhang L , Yang ST , Wang C , Zhang LC , Zhang X , Li FC , Wang SY , Ma K
Published: June 2022

Introduction

MiR-200c plays a central role in glucose metabolism in cancer cells. However, its upstream regulators in this process are unknown. CircRNA CSPP1 (circCSPP1) was predicted to bind to premature miR-200c, an oncogenic miRNA. Therefore, we explored their interaction in osteosarcoma (OS).

Methods

Differential circCSPP1 and miR-200c expression in OS was analyzed using RT-qPCR. Glucose metabolism was analyzed by glucose uptake assay. Subcellular circCSPP1 location in OS cells was detected using cellular fractionation assay. The direct interaction between circCSPP1 and miR-200c was explored using RNA-RNA pull-down assay. The role of circCSPP1 in miR-200c maturation was investigated by analyzing both mature and premature miR-200c levels in OS cells with circCSPP1 overexpression.

Results

CircCSPP1 and premature miR-200c levels were increased while mature miR-200c level was decreased in OS. CircCSPP1 was detected in both the nuclear and cytoplasm fractions of OS cells. CircCSPP1 directly interacted with premature miR-200c. CircCSPP1 overexpression increased premature miR-200c level, glucose uptake, and cell proliferation, but decreased mature miR-200c level. MiR-200c overexpression suppressed the role of circCSPP1 in OS cells.

Conclusions

CircCSPP1 promotes OS cell proliferation and increases glucose metabolism by suppressing miR-200c maturation.
Methods of analysis for survival outcomes with time-updated mediators, with application to longitudinal disease registry data
Authors: Tanner Kamaryn T , Sharples Linda D , Daniel Rhian M , Keogh Ruth H
Published: June 2022

Mediation analysis is a useful tool to illuminate the mechanisms through which an exposure affects an outcome but statistical challenges exist with time-to-event outcomes and longitudinal observational data. Natural direct and indirect effects cannot be identified when there are exposure-induced confounders of the mediator-outcome relationship. Previous measurements of a repeatedly-measured mediator may themselves confound the relationship between the mediator and the outcome. To overcome these obstacles, two recent methods have been proposed, one based on path-specific effects and one based on an additive hazards model and the concept of exposure splitting. We investigate these techniques, focusing on their application to observational datasets. We apply both methods to an analysis of the UK Cystic Fibrosis Registry dataset to identify how much of the relationship between onset of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and subsequent survival acts through pulmonary function. Statistical properties of the methods are investigated using simulation. Both methods produce unbiased estimates of indirect and direct effects in scenarios consistent with their stated assumptions but, if the data are measured infrequently, estimates may be biased. Findings are used to highlight considerations in the interpretation of the observational data analysis.
Endometrial Cancer-Infiltrating Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exhibit Immunosuppressive Effects
Authors: Wang Kai-Hung , Chang Yu-Hsun , Harnod Tomor , Ding Dah-Ching
Published: June 2022

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer with high heterogeneity. However, there are limited treatment options for advanced endometrial carcinoma. In recent years, immunotherapy has broadly been used for the treatment of various cancers. However, the efficacy of immunotherapy against endometrial cancer is limited. The tumor microenvironment, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), may contribute to tumor progression through cancer cells themselves and through cells of the immune system. We successfully isolated endometrial cancer–derived MSCs (EmCaMSCs) from patients and found that the population of MSCs in tumor tissues was approximately 1%–5%. The population of MSCs correlated with the stage of the disease. EmCaMSCs expressed MSC markers and exhibited trilineage differentiation ability. The programmed death ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 were highly expressed in EmCaMSCs; their expression could be further enhanced by tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ. When cocultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), anti-CD3, and anti-CD28, EmCaMSCs inhibited the proliferation of PBMCs, which were partially rescued by treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibodies. From the profile of conditioned medium of EmCaMSCs, we discovered that interleukin (IL)-8 and insulin-like growth factor–binding protein 6 could also rescue the proliferation of PBMCs. Furthermore, EmCaMSCs cocultured with IL-2-induced PBMCs exhibited decreased expression of CD56, CD4, and CD8 and showed decreased cytotoxicity toward K562 cells and endometrial cancer cells. Overall, EmCaMSCs were isolated successfully from endometrial cancer tissues and exhibited immunosuppressive effects and may be targeted for the treatment of endometrial cancer by anti-cytokine and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The percentage of MSCs in tumor stroma might predict the prognosis of endometrial cancer.
Extraction, characterization, and kinetics of N-deacetylation of chitin obtained from mud crab shells
Authors: Narudin Nur Alimatul Hakimah , Rosman Nurul ‘Aqilah , Shahrin Ensan Waatriah ES , Sofyan Nofrijon , Hanif Mahadi Abdul , Kusrini Eny , Hobley Jonathan , Usman Anwar
Published: June 2022

This study focuses on the isolation, chemical and crystalline structures, and the kinetics of heterogeneous deacetylation of chitin from mud crab shells ( Scylla serrata). The independent variables in this work are temperature, NaOH concentration, and reaction time. The degree of deacetylation (DD) of the resulting chitosan was determined for different reaction times. It was found that the DD increases nonlinearly with the reaction time. The deacetylation of the chitin followed pseudo first-order kinetics and it occurred in two stages, which are respectively attributed to the reaction of acetamide groups in the amorphous region on the external layer, and in the crystalline region inside the chitin particles. The rate constants for the latter stage of the deacetylation at 35°C, 75°C, and 105°C were 4.67×10−4 min−1, 3.00×10−3 min−1, and 4.61×10−3 min−1, respectively. Based on this temperature-dependent rate constant, the activation energy of the slow deacetylation stage was estimated to be 32.6 kJ mol−1.
Book review: Meera Kosambi, A Fragmented Feminism: The Life and Letters of Anandibai Joshee
Authors: Poonacha Veena
Published: June 2022

Meera Kosambi, A Fragmented Feminism: The Life and Letters of Anandibai Joshee. Ram Ramasamy, Madhavi Kolhatkar and Aban Mukerjee (Eds.) (London/New York: Routledge, South Asia Edition, 2020), 249 pages, ₹995, (Hardback). ISBN 9780429266386.
Book review: Nandini Manjrekar (Ed.) assisted by Simran Luthra, Gender and Education in India: A Reader
Authors: Devarapalli Sujatha
Published: June 2022

Nandini Manjrekar (Ed.) assisted by Simran Luthra, Gender and Education in India: A Reader (New Delhi: Aakar Publications, 2020), 295 pages, ₹1,695 (Hardback). ISBN 978955002632
Book review: Sadhna Arya, Gaining Ground: The Changing Contours of Feminist Organizing in Post-1990s India
Authors: Misra Manashi
Published: June 2022

Sadhna Arya, Gaining Ground: The Changing Contours of Feminist Organizing in Post-1990s India (Delhi: Women Unlimited, 2020), 265 pp. ₹650 (Paperback), ISBN 9789385606281.
Pedestrians’ rights in the time of the e-scooter: What happened to the ‘foot’ in footpath?
Authors: Radavoi Ciprian N , Potter Wellett
Published: June 2022

Hailed as a ‘green’ solution for decongesting traffic, electric scooters are invading the footpath in numerous cities in Australia. This article argues that legislative and local administrative action taken regarding the use of e-scooters in a space traditionally occupied by pedestrians and slow mobility devices should better balance the rights and interests at stake.
Screening for obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with serious mental illness
Authors: Zhang Lai-Ying , Anderson James , Higgins Niall , Robinson Jan , Francey Sonia , Burke Andrew , Robinson Gail , Curtin Deanne , Tay George
Published: June 2022

Objective:

Patients with serious mental illness (SMI) are at increased risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Despite this, OSA is frequently under-recognised in the psychiatric population. This study describes the results of OSA screening in SMI patients.

Method:

Patients with SMI attending a metropolitan mental health clinic were screened for OSA using the OSA50, STOP-BANG Questionnaire (SBQ), Epworth Sleep Score (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). They were then offered diagnostic sleep testing via ResMed ApneaLinkTM and polysomnography.

Results:

Of the 65 patients recruited, 65% had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, 85% were on antipsychotic medications and the majority were obese. Approximately 50% of patients reported poor sleep quality via the PSQI, in contrast to 12% with elevated daytime sleepiness via the ESS. 46% of our cohort were at risk of OSA due to an elevated OSA50 or SBQ. Of the five patients who agreed to proceed to diagnostic sleep testing, three were diagnosed with OSA.

Conclusion:

A high proportion of patients with psychiatric illness are at risk of sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep dissatisfaction is high. The low uptake of sleep investigation requires improved patient engagement to improve OSA diagnosis in this high-risk group.
Clinical Social Work Practice in Canada: A Critical Examination of Regulation
Authors: Kourgiantakis Toula , Ashcroft Rachelle , Mohamud Faisa , Benedict Alison , Lee Eunjung , Craig Shelley , Sewell Karen , Johnston Marjorie , McLuckie Alan , Sur Deepy
Published: June 2022

Purpose: The most common form of social work (SW) practice in Canada is clinical which requires specialized knowledge and advanced clinical skills. The SW profession is more than 100 years old, but regulation is new to Canada and presently most jurisdictions have regulatory bodies to advance safe, competent, and ethical practices. Regulatory bodies establish admission requirements, standards of practice, ethical guidelines, supervision, continuing education requirements, and measures for complaints and discipline. Methods: This article examines regulation of SW practice in Canada with a focus on registration requirements, clinical SW designation, use of controlled acts such as psychotherapy and diagnosis, supervision, continuing education, technology, private practice, and how regulatory bodies address diversity, equity, reconciliation, racism, and discrimination. Results: This critical examination of clinical SW practice found inconsistent standards across the country. Conclusions: It is important to harmonize the three pillars including education, association, and regulation to strengthen clinical SW practice in Canada.