bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative studies of nitrogen plasma and argon plasma treatment on the strength of PBO fibre reinforced high-temperature resistant thermoplastic composite
Authors: Sudheendra K , Vinodhini Jennifer , Govindaraju M , Bhowmik Shantanu
Published: February 2021

The study involves the processing of a novel poly [1, 4-phenylene-cis-benzobisoxazole] (PBO) fibre reinforced high-temperature thermoplastic composite with polyaryletherketone (PAEK) as the matrix. The PBO fibre and the PAEK film surface was modified using the method of argon and nitrogen plasma treatment. The investigation primarily focuses on evaluating the tensile properties of the fabricated laminates and correlating it with the effect of plasma treatment, surface characteristics, and its fracture surface. A 5% decrease in tensile strength was observed post argon plasma treatment while a 27% increase in strength was observed post nitrogen plasma treatment. The morphology of the failure surface was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and an interfacial failure was observed. Furthermore, the effect of plasma on the wettability of PBO fibres and PAEK film surface was confirmed by the Dynamic Contact Angle analysis and sessile drop method respectively. FTIR spectral analysis was done to investigate the effect of plasma treatment on the chemical structure on the surface. The results of the wettability study showed that the argon plasma treatment of the fibre surface increased its hydrophobicity while nitrogen plasma treatment resulted in the reduction of contact angle.
Research on blade grouping method for array machining
Authors: Xiao-Dong Wang , Yun Zhang
Published: February 2021

Blades are the core component of aero-engines. The complexity of aero-engine blades deformation after multi-axis milling causes poor consistency in batch blades. In turn, the poor consistency of blades affects the aerodynamic performance of an aero-engine. Hence it is critical to ensure the consistency of blades before precise machining. This article proposes a clustering-based blade grouping strategy aiming to improve the consistency of the same group of blades automatically and efficiently. First, the feature vector of the blade and the distance between two blade surfaces are defined. Then the K-medoids clustering algorithm is used to group the blades. According to the maximum allowable distance between the blade surfaces and the Ray-Turi index, the ideal number of clusters, that is the number of groups, is determined. Finally, the clustering center of each cluster is selected as the blade processing model of each group. The experiment for aero-engine blade grouping and machining was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and the results show that it can improve the consistency of the blades in each group. The geometric contour differences of the blades in the group are not more than 0.02 mm, which can satisfy the requirements of the following precise array machining.
Modelling and control of a semi-active dual-chamber hydro-pneumatic inerter-based suspension system
Authors: Zhu Zhihao , Wang Ruochen , Yang Lin , Sun Zeyu , Meng Xiangpeng
Published: February 2021

This study develops a new type of semi-active dual-chamber hydro-pneumatic inerter-based suspension (SADHPIS) based on the ‘inerter–spring–damping’ vibration isolation system and semi-active control. The mathematical model of SADHPIS is linearised to match the nonlinear SADHPIS system with a linear control strategy, and the equivalent parameters are calculated. A linear–quadratic–Gaussian (LQG) controller that matches the nonlinear characteristics of the SADHPIS system is designed. Furthermore, the performance of a quarter-vehicle model with SADHPIS is analysed and compared with that with normal semi-active hydro-pneumatic suspension (SAHPS). Simulation results show that the performance of SADHPIS is better than that of SAHPS, indicating that ride comfort and handle stability are improved greatly in SADHPIS. A prototype is also developed, and a comparative bench test is conducted to verify the accuracy of the simulations. SADHPIS can realise adjustable inertia with a small space and low energy consumption. This work provides new insights for research on variable inertia, promotes the matching of inerters and hydro-pneumatic suspension systems and further proves the practical application value of hydro-pneumatic inerter-based suspension.
A simplified iterative approach for testing the pulse derailment of light rail vehicles across a viaduct to near-fault earthquake scenarios
Authors: Chen Ling-Kun , Liu Peng , Zhu Li-Ming , Ding Jing-Bo , Feng Yu-Lin , Moreu Fernando
Published: February 2021

Near-fault (NF) earthquakes cause severe bridge damage, particularly urban bridges subjected to light rail transit (LRT), which could affect the safety of the light rail transit vehicle (“light rail vehicle” or “LRV” for short). Now when a variety of studies on the fault fracture effect on the working protection of LRVs are available for the study of cars subjected to far-reaching soil motion (FFGMs), further examination is appropriate. For the first time, this paper introduced the LRV derailment mechanism caused by pulse-type near-fault ground motions (NFGMs), suggesting the concept of pulse derailment. The effects of near-fault ground motions (NFGMs) are included in an available numerical process developed for the LRV analysis of the VBI system. A simplified iterative algorithm is proposed to assess the stability and nonlinear seismic response of an LRV-reinforced concrete (RC) viaduct (LRVBRCV) system to a long-period NFGMs using the dynamic substructure method (DSM). Furthermore, a computer simulation software was developed to compute the nonlinear seismic responses of the VBI system to pulse-type NFGMs, non-pulse-type NFGMs, and FFGMs named Dynamic Interaction Analysis for Light-Rail-Vehicle Bridge System (DIALRVBS). The nonlinear bridge seismic reaction determines the impact of pulses on lateral peak earth acceleration (Ap) and lateral peak land (Vp) ratios. The analysis results quantify the effects of pulse-type NFGMs seismic responses on the LRV operations' safety. In contrast with the pulse-type non-pulse NFGMs and FFGMs, this article's research shows that pulse-type NFGM derail trains primarily via the transverse velocity pulse effect. Hence, this study's results and the proposed method can improve the LRT bridges' seismic designs.
Acceptability of dual HIV/syphilis rapid test in community- and home-based testing strategy among transgender women in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Zalazar Virginia , Frola Claudia E , Gun Ana , Radusky Pablo D , Panis Natalia K , Cardozo Nadir F , Fabian Solange , Duarte Mariana I , Aristegui Inés , Cahn Pedro , Sued Omar
Published: February 2021

Background: Little is known of acceptability and feasibility of dual HIV and syphilis rapid tests in community- and home-based provider-initiated strategies among transgender women (TGW), in Latin America. Objectives were (1) to assess the acceptability of this strategy and, (2) to determine the percentage of positive results of HIV and syphilis, analyze the correlates of HIV or syphilis positive results, and measure the rates of effective referral and treatment completion among TGW. Methods: A multidisciplinary team tested 89 TGW in Buenos Aires. An acceptability survey was administered after the HIV/syphilis Duo test was used. All confirmed cases were referred for treatment initiation. Results: We found high levels of acceptability (98.8%) of this strategy among TGW. However, only 60.7% preferred simultaneous HIV and syphilis diagnosis test. Moreover, we found 9% of positive results of HIV, 51.7% of syphilis, and 3.4% of positive results for both infections. Only not being tested before was associated with an HIV positive result, and only low level of education was associated with a positive syphilis result. Among 8 TGW who tested positive for HIV, 37.5% ( n = 3) started antiretroviral therapy. Of 46 who tested positive for syphilis, only 73.9% ( n = 34) were effectively referred and from 23 who started treatment, only 39.1% completed it. Conclusions: Community- and home-based dual HIV and syphilis rapid test is a feasible and highly acceptable approach for this hard-to-reach population. Implementing similar strategies could improve screening uptake and accessibility. However, these results highlight the need to improve strategies for treatment uptake, in order to reduce morbidity and risk of onward transmission.
Duration of anti-treponemal immunoglobulin M seroreversion after successful syphilis treatment in HIV-positive and -negative patients
Authors: Paparizos Vasilios , Tsimpidakis Antonios , Nicolaidou Electra , Daskalakis Evangelos , Paparizou Eleni , Vasalou Varvara , Vrioni Georgia , Rigopoulos Dimitris
Published: February 2021

Treponemal immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody detection is currently among serologic tests used for syphilis diagnosis. However, the exact role of these antibodies is unclear. In this retrospective study of 326 (198 HIV positive and 128 negative) patients with early syphilis and positive IgM serology, data were analysed to investigate the time of IgM seroreversion after treatment and correlation with covariate factors. Median time of IgM seroreversion in the study population was 9 months (range 3–84, interquartile range 5–12). No statistically significant difference was observed between HIV-positive and -negative patients. At 12 months, 80.1% of the patients had a negative IgM test. At 6 months, 100% of HIV-positive patients had a fourfold decrease or greater in Venereal Disease Research Laboratory titres, but only 35.4% had a negative treponemal IgM. Secondary and early latent stage patients had a slower seroreversion of IgM (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.73, p = 0.064 and HR = 0.60, p = 0.023, respectively) than those with primary syphilis. A very strong association was observed of time to seroreversion of treponemal IgM with baseline VDRL titre ( p < 0.001). Treponemal IgM antibody detection often cannot distinguish between active and successfully treated syphilis. Treponemal IgM may only be useful in the cases recommended in the guidelines, and in cases of untreated syphilis, it could support but not confirm the diagnosis.
Assessing community pharmacists’ involvement and clients’ opinion on HIV/AIDS services in community pharmacies in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Oseni Yejide O , Erhun Wilson O
Published: February 2021

The World Health Organization is promoting community-based services to end HIV/AIDS by 2030. In Nigeria, studies on community pharmacists’ involvement in HIV testing services (HTS) and antiretroviral (ARV) medication therapy management (MTM) are scarce, and no study had evaluated the clients’ opinion on community pharmacy HTS. We assessed the community pharmacists’ involvement in HIV/AIDS services and clients’ opinions of community pharmacy HTS. Semi-structured questionnaires on a five-point Likert scale were administered to 701 selected community pharmacists and 5840 clients in southwest Nigeria in 2019. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Response rates were 68.6% and 69.8% for community pharmacists and clients, respectively. Only 18.5% of community pharmacists offered rapid HTS and 30% refills of ARV. The total score of their involvement on the HTS was 20.94 ± 17.521 (range 8–40; midpoint 24) and on ARV/MTM was 22.98 ± 19.61 (range 9–45; midpoint 27), while 91% were willing to participate in training. Barriers to integrating services into practice were lack of clinical tools (46.8%), lack of collaboration with other healthcare professionals (39.1%), and lack of training on HIV/AIDS services (36.2%) among others. Also, 77% of the clients were willing to participate in community pharmacy HTS, and about 83% of them responded that knowing their HIV status will help them to take necessary precautionary actions. Community pharmacists’ involvement in HIV/AIDS services was low. However, they showed willingness to participate in training to improve services. Also, clients were willing to receive community pharmacies HTS to know their status.
Training for Wisdom: The Distanced-Self-Reflection Diary Method
Authors: Grossmann Igor , Dorfman Anna , Oakes Harrison , Santos Henri C. , Vohs Kathleen D. , Scholer Abigail A.
Published: February 2021

How can people wisely navigate social conflict? Two preregistered longitudinal experiments (Study 1: Canadian adults; Study 2: American and Canadian adults; total N = 555) tested whether encouraging distanced (i.e., third-person) self-reflection would help promote wisdom. Both experiments measured wise reasoning (i.e., intellectual humility, open-mindedness about how situations could unfold, consideration of and attempts to integrate diverse viewpoints) about challenging interpersonal events. In a month-long experiment (Study 1), participants used either a third- or first-person perspective in diary reflections on each day’s most significant experience. Compared with preintervention assessments, assessments made after the intervention revealed that participants reflecting in the third person showed a significant increase in wise reasoning about interpersonal challenges. These effects were statistically accounted for by shifts in diary-based reflections toward a broader self-focus. A week-long experiment (Study 2) replicated the third-person self-reflection effect on wise reasoning (vs. first-person and no-pronoun control conditions). These findings suggest an efficient and evidence-based method for fostering wise reasoning.
Properties of styrene-ethylene-butylene styrene block copolymer/exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets nanocomposites
Authors: Paglicawan Marissa A , Celorico Josefina R
Published: February 2021

Three different types of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) with varying ratios of styrene and rubber were melt-compounded with exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets at different loadings. The morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were studied and compared. Morphological observation under SEM and AFM found that the xGnPs were dispersed at the sub-micron level throughout the SEBS matrix. Good interfacial adhesion between the xGnPs and the matrix was also observed. However, the behavior of dispersion was dependent on the styrene/rubber content. SEBS with higher styrene content showed better dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion between the xGnPs and SEBS matrix. These results contributed to the enhancement of the tensile strength of the nanocomposites. Low styrene content behaved like rubber that resulted in low tensile strength but higher elongation compared to SEBS of different amounts of styrene. The XRD patterns indicated that the melt compounding process did not change the d-spacing of xGnPs in all types of SEBS. From the thermal analysis, there was no change in the glass transition of the polymer and no improvement in the thermal stability of the nanocomposites.
Identifying ethical and legal issues in elder care
Authors: Podgorica Nertila , Pjetri Emiljano , Müller Andreas W , Deufert Daniela
Published: February 2021

Background:

As a non–European Union member state, Albania is increasingly orienting itself on Western models regarding human rights, patient rights, and legal regulations for healthcare. Due to its limited fiscal and legal power, enforcing legal and ethical regulations poses a major problem.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to investigate nurse’s knowledge and experiences regarding ethical and legal issues in Albanian elder care in state-funded and privately run institutions.

Research design:

The study was conducted using an inductive and qualitative design, utilizing a focused ethnographic approach, based on Roper and Shapira’s framework.

Method:

Data were collected between June 2017 and September 2018 using participant observation, field notes, and semi-structured interviews with 15 nurses in seven different elder care institutions. In total, 100 h of observation and 15 interviews were performed. Data analysis was based on Mayring’s qualitative content analysis.

Ethical consideration:

The approval for the study was obtained from UMIT—The Health and Life Sciences University, Austria.

Findings:

The findings of the study fell into the following main categories: “Everyday care issues,” “End-of-life issues,” “Legal issues,” and “Ethical-legal education and conflicts.”

Discussion:

The participants reported many ethical and legal issues when describing their everyday challenges and displayed a strong lack of ethical and legal education. Despite a wide spectrum in the quality of care between private and state-funded nursing homes, older people mostly do not know their own diagnosis.

Conclusion:

This study indicates that further ethical and legal education is needed. Furthermore, nurses need to be better prepared for ethical conflicts with families, as strengthening patient rights could come into conflict with traditional rights of the Albanian family.
Beating the buzzer: The construction of ageing hockey masculinity
Authors: Allain Kristi A
Published: February 2021

In spite of the fact that the media and the public often revere elite male hockey players as exemplars of masculinity, these same groups largely ignore these men when they become old. Moreover, there is very little scholarly research on old(er) hockey players. In contrast, this paper examines the gender expressions of the men who played for the Silver Skaters, an old-timers hockey league in a mid-sized central Canadian city. Although sometimes players met the standard of youthful hegemonic masculinity, they more often broke with it, expressing their own unique forms of ageing hockey masculinity focused on a censure of violence and aggression and an emphasis on an ethic of care and inclusion. In the wake of calls to change the culture of young men’s elite-level hockey, the gender performances of these late(r)-life men, shaped by the structure of their hockey league, demonstrates that alternative hockey masculinities are possible.
A panel study of the consequences of multiple jobholding: enrichment and depletion effects
Authors: Conen Wieteke , Stein Jonas
Published: February 2021

This article contributes to research on the embeddedness of multiple work arrangements in the employment biography. We investigate transition and duration effects of multiple jobholding on financial and non-financial job outcomes, and the role of flexible work arrangements and household contexts. To that end, we examine panel data from Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for the period between 2002 and 2017. The findings underscore the importance of economic factors in the decision to work multiple jobs and reveal that labour market contexts play a significant role in outcomes. Findings furthermore indicate negative well-being effects for those who have both multiple jobs and children. For a substantial share of workers, holding multiple jobs occurs in relatively short-term episodes, posing the question of whether episodes of multiple jobholding necessarily come with either clear enrichment or depletion effects, or are merely a phase in the overall employment biography.
A new interleaving eddy current array-based sensing film for fatigue crack quantification of bolted joints
Authors: Sun Hu , Yi Junyan , Wang Tao , Wang Yishou , Qing Xinlin
Published: February 2021

Fatigue crack quantification for bolted joints attracts much attention to determine the structural integrity for aircraft structures. In this paper, a new sensing film with interleaving eddy current array is proposed to evaluate the parameters of the hole-edge crack for single- or multiple-lap bolted joints. In this sensing film, the exciting layer is one coil throughout the hole wall which consists of a one-dimension rectangle coil array in the axial direction connecting in series, while the sensing layer is made up of two interleaving layers with a two-dimensional sensing coil array distributed in the circumferential and axial directions for each layer. Finite element simulation is conducted to study the effect of different crack parameters on the induced voltage of sensing coils. Simulation results reveal that the sensing film has no blind angle of crack detection but a strong capability of quantifying the crack angle, and the arctangent value of the ratio between interleaving coils can be used for estimating the crack angle. After the crack angle is estimated, induced voltages of sensing coils at this angle may be used to track the crack propagation in the axial or radial directions of the bolt hole. Experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the new sensing film to monitor the angle, depth, and length of the hole-edge crack of bolted joints.
Subannular Tubes in Children With Cleft Palate
Authors: Martins Sónia Pires , Alexandre Pedro Lopes , Santos Margarida , Moura Carla Pinto
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To investigate subannular tube (SAT) placement as an alternative treatment of chronic middle ear disease in children with cleft palate.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Participants:

All children with cleft palate with intractable otitis media with effusion and/or with tympanic membrane retraction, operated for insertion of 1 or more sets of transtympanic tubes followed by SAT in a tertiary center.

Main Outcome Measures:

Audiological outcomes, average duration of tubes, and postoperative complications were analyzed.

Results:

This study included 21 children with cleft palate, aged 3 to 14 years. A total of 38 ears was evaluated. The median time of follow-up was 42 months. During follow-up, 69.2% of the patients had no complications. Observed complications were otorrhea (13.5%) and tube obstruction (7.7%). In 7.9% of the cases, otitis media with effusion relapsed after tube extrusion. By the end of the study, 76.3% of the tubes remained in situ and 68.4% of the tympanic membranes had the SAT in place and had no significant alterations. The mean duration of SATs was 16 months, which was significantly superior to transtympanic tube duration. A significant sustained improvement in the hearing of children with SATs was observed.

Conclusion:

Subannular tube insertion results in hearing improvement to normal range and tympanic retraction pockets reversion in children with cleft palate with persistent otitis media with effusion and tympanic retraction/atelectasis. This surgery appears to be safe and provides long-term efficient middle ear aeration. Strict postoperative follow-up is crucial for the success of the treatment.
Closest to the People? Incumbency Advantage and the Personal Vote in Non-Partisan Elections
Authors: Lucas Jack , McGregor R. Michael , Tuxhorn Kim-Lee
Published: February 2021

Do incumbents dominate non-partisan elections because of an especially large personal vote? This question has important implications for understanding the causes of incumbent success and the benefits or drawbacks of non-partisan elections. This paper uses a natural experiment, combined with three original datasets, to estimate the size, persistence, and consequences of the personal vote in a large non-partisan city election. We first use individual-level survey data to show that individuals assigned quasi-randomly to a new incumbent are substantially less likely to support the incumbent. We use a second survey, one year later, to demonstrate the persistence of this effect. Finally, we use historical election results to simulate the electoral consequences of the personal vote; we find that the personal vote is sufficiently large to affect one in four incumbent races. We conclude that the personal vote, while large and important, is not sufficient to explain incumbent dominance in non-partisan contests.
Ki-67 Labeling Index Variability Between Surgically Resected Primary and Metastatic Hepatic Lesions of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Furukawa Takaaki , Ozaka Masato , Takamatsu Manabu , Takazawa Yutaka , Inamura Kentaro , Inoue Yosuke , Mie Takafumi , Takeda Tsuyoshi , Kanata Ryo , Kasuga Akiyoshi , Matsuyama Masato , Sasaki Takashi , Takahashi Yu , Sasahira Naoki
Published: February 2021

Background. A higher Ki-67 labeling index is associated with a poorer prognosis in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. It has also been proposed that the Ki-67 labeling index may increase during disease progression from the primary site to metastatic sites. Although biopsy specimens are used to measure the Ki-67 labeling index, heterogeneity in lesions is thought to affect the assessment of the Ki-67 labeling index. To overcome tumor heterogeneity, we evaluated the variability in the Ki-67 labeling index between primary lesions and hepatic metastases by analyzing only surgically resected specimens. Methods. We conducted a single-center retrospective study to analyze the variability in the Ki-67 labeling index and the change in tumor grade between the primary site and metastatic hepatic sites in 19 patients diagnosed with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms at the Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research from 1998 to 2018. Both the primary site and metastatic hepatic sites were surgically resected. Results. Among the 19 patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms, 12 patients (63%) showed higher levels of the Ki-67 labeling index at metastatic hepatic sites than at the primary site. The median Ki-67 labeling index levels for the primary lesion and metastatic hepatic lesions were 5% and 10%, respectively. The Ki-67 labeling index levels were significantly elevated in the metastatic hepatic lesions compared to the primary lesion ( P = .002). Conclusions. This study addressed the heterogeneity of the Ki-67 labeling index by analyzing only surgically resected specimens. We observed a statistically significant increase in the Ki-67 labeling index in hepatic metastases compared to the primary lesion.
Avoiding Punishment? Electoral Accountability for Local Fee Increases
Authors: Hansen Katy , Eskaf Shadi , Mullin Megan
Published: February 2021

Do voters punish incumbent legislators for raising service costs? Concern about electoral punishment is considered a leading obstacle to increasing taxes and fees to fund service provision, but empirical evidence of such backlash is surprisingly sparse. This paper examines whether voters hold local elected officials accountable for raising water service costs. Using 10 years of panel data on municipal elections and water rates in North Carolina, we find rate increases do not reduce incumbent city council members’ vote shares. Local politicians may overestimate their electoral risk from raising taxes and fees to fund public services.
Evaluation of the chemical, antinutritional and antioxidant properties of composite flour comprising native and modified acha (digitaria exilis stapf) flour supplemented with mango kernel seed and soy cake flours
Authors: Olorunfemi Margaret A , Awolu Olugbenga O , Enujiugha Victor N
Published: February 2021

Gluten-free flours that are nutritionally balanced with appropriate functional characteristics were developed by supplementation of native and modified acha flours with protein, dietary fiber and antioxidants-rich mango kernel and soy cakes flours. Acha flour was subjected to chemical and enzymatic modifications. The proximate, mineral compositions, bioactive and antinutrients properties of the composite flours were evaluated. The water content of the composite flours with native and chemically modified acha flour was between 7.62 and 9.30%, while that of enzymatic acha flour was between 10.12 and 10.79%. However, samples made with 20 and 30% incorporated mango kernel flour had around 13 and 19% increase in the protein content respectively, others including sample with enzymatically modified acha flour had lower protein content. On the other hand, all samples with enzymatically modified acha flour had between 83 and 100% increase in fibre content. The Na/K ratio of all the samples were less than one, as nutritionally required. Samples with enzymatically modified acha flour had best total flavonoid (0.03–0.77 mgGAE/g), total phenol (2.35–11.99 mgTAE/g) and DPPH radical scavenging activities (58.29–94.02%) contents. In addition, samples with enzymatically modified acha flour had the least antinutritional values. Although all the samples had values that were significantly (p ≥ 0.05) different, the samples had significant protein, dietary fiber, minerals and antioxidants contents, while the antinutritional contents were well lower than the standard.
Moving Beyond Two Goals: An Integrative Review and Framework for the Study of Multiple Goals
Authors: Kung Franki Y. H. , Scholer Abigail A.
Published: February 2021

Historically, the study of multiple goals has focused on the dynamics between two goals as the prototypical example of multiple goals. This focus on dyadic relations means that many issues central to the psychology of more than two goals are still unexplored. We argue that a deeper understanding of multiple-goal issues involves moving beyond two goals. Doing so not only reveals new insights about goal relations (e.g., how one dyadic relation affects another) but also introduces goal structure (how goals and goal relations are positioned relative to each other) as a variable in its own right worthy of study. In our review, we discuss current knowledge gaps, review methodologies both in terms of existing techniques and novel techniques we propose, and highlight new directions from moving beyond two goals—what new questions emerge and what dynamics, including intersectional issues (e.g., between goal properties and goal structure), become possible to explore.
Co-Occurrence of Symptoms and Gut Microbiota Composition Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer: A Proof of Concept
Authors: González-Mercado Velda J. , Lim Jean , Yu Gary , Penedo Frank , Pedro Elsa , Bernabe Raul , Tirado-Gómez Maribel , Aouizerat Bradley
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

To examine a) whether there are significant differences in gut microbial diversity and in the abundance of gut microbial taxa; and b) differences in predicted functional pathways of the gut microbiome between those participants with high co-occurring symptoms and those with low co-occurring symptoms, prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT) for rectal cancer.

Methods:

Rectal cancer patients (n = 41) provided stool samples for 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and symptom ratings for fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms prior to CRT. Descriptive statistics were computed for symptoms. Gut microbiome data were analyzed using QIIME2, LEfSe, and the R statistical package.

Results:

Participants with high co-occurring symptoms (n = 19) had significantly higher bacterial abundances of Ezakiella, Clostridium sensu stricto, Porphyromonas, Barnesiella, Coriobacteriales Incertae Sedis, Synergistiaceae, Echerichia-Shigella, and Turicibacter compared to those with low co-occurring symptoms before CRT (n = 22). Biosynthesis pathways for lipopolysaccharide, L-tryptophan, and colanic acid building blocks were enriched in participants with high co-occurring symptoms. Participants with low co-occurring symptoms showed enriched abundances of Enterococcus and Lachnospiraceae, as well as pathways for β-D-glucoronosides, hexuronide/hexuronate, and nicotinate degradation, methanogenesis, and L-lysine biosynthesis.

Conclusion:

A number of bacterial taxa and predicted functional pathways were differentially abundant in patients with high co-occurring symptoms compared to those with low co-occurring symptoms before CRT for rectal cancer. Detailed examination of bacterial taxa and pathways mediating co-occurring symptoms is warranted.
Functional Prediction of Long Noncoding RNAs in Cutaneous Melanoma Using a Systems Biology Approach
Authors: Shahmoradi Mozhdeh , Rezvani Zahra
Published: February 2021

Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer which its incidence has significantly increased in recent years worldwide. Thus, more investigations are required to identify the underlying mechanisms of melanoma malignant transformation and metastasis. In this context, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new type of noncoding transcripts that their dysregulations are associated with almost all cancers including melanoma. However, the precise functional roles of most of the significantly altered lncRNAs in melanoma have not yet been fully inspected. In this study, a comprehensive list of lncRNAs was interrogated across cutaneous melanoma samples to identify the significantly altered/dysregulated lncRNAs. To this end, lncRNAs were filtered in several steps and the selected lncRNAs projected to a bioinformatic and systems biology analysis using several publicly available databases and tools such as GEPIA and cBioPortal. According to our results, 30 lncRNAs were notably altered/dysregulated in cutaneous melanoma most of which were co-expressed with each other. Also, co-expression/alteration and differential expression analyses led to the selection of 12 out of these 30 lncRNAs as cutaneous melanoma key lncRNAs. Furthermore, functional demonstrated that these 12 lncRNAs might be involved in melanoma-relevant biological processes and pathways. In addition, the end result of our analyses demonstrated that these lncRNAs are associated with the clinicopathological features of melanoma patients. These 12 lncRNAs need to be further investigated in future studies to characterize their exact roles in melanoma development and to identify their potential for being used as drug targets and/or biomarkers for cutaneous melanoma.
Superficial Granulomatous Pyoderma Gangrenosum Involving the Face: A Case Series of Five Patients and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Shavit Eran , Cecchini Michael , Limacher James J. , Walsh Scott , Wentworth Ashely , Davis Mark Denis P. , Alavi Afsaneh
Published: February 2021

Background

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by painful and ulcerating lesions on the skin. It rarely involves the face and is often difficult to diagnose. There are few cases reported in the literature of PG involving the face.

Aim

To share our experience with 5 patients in whom the final diagnosis was PG involving the face, and to review the literature.

Methods

We report a series of 5 patients with a final diagnosis of PG involving the face and reviewed relevant literature. We searched through PubMed and EMBASE using keywords such as “face” and “pyoderma gangrenosum,” “blastomycosis-like pyoderma gangrenosum, vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum and granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum.”

Results

We report 5 patients (4 females) with pyoderma gangrenosum involving the face. All 5 had a final diagnosis of superficial granulomatous PG. All cases presented with nonhealing facial ulcer most commonly on cheeks and a common histopathology of mixed inflammatory infiltrates, multinucleated giant cells, and plasma cells with some granulomatous inflammation.

Conclusions

PG can involve the face, and all 5 of our patients had the superficial granulomatous as the most common form.
Paying to party: Candidate resources and party switching in new democracies
Authors: Arriola Leonardo R , Choi Donghyun Danny , Davis Justine M , Phillips Melanie L , Rakner Lise
Published: February 2021

Party switching among legislative candidates has important implications for accountability and representation in democratizing countries. We argue that party switching is influenced by campaign costs tied to the clientelistic politics that persist in many such countries. Candidates who are expected to personally pay for their campaigns, including handouts for voters, will seek to affiliate with parties that can lower those costs through personal inducements and organizational support. Campaign costs also drive candidate selection among party leaders, as they seek to recruit candidates who can finance their own campaigns. We corroborate these expectations with an original survey and embedded choice experiment conducted among parliamentary candidates in Zambia. The conjoint analysis shows that candidates prefer larger parties that offer particularistic benefits. The survey further reveals that parties select for business owners as candidates—the very candidates most likely to defect from one party to another.
Nordic stock market performance of the travel and leisure industry during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Lin Xiang , Falk Martin Thomas
Published: February 2021

This article investigates the performance of the stock market and its volatility in the travel and leisure industry for three Nordic countries using daily data from June 2018 to June 2020, a period that includes the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic. The methodology is based on the Markov regime switching model that allows unobservable regime shifts in the stock return relationship between the travel and leisure industry and the overall market in the period before the outbreak of Covid-19 crisis and during the recovery period at the end of the first wave. The results provide strong evidence of regime switching behaviour in the form of idiosyncratic risk as measured by volatility. The period before Covid-19 corresponds to a low/medium idiosyncratic risk, while the period of the pandemic is characterized by a regime with high idiosyncratic risk. Overall, the timing, likelihood and duration of this crisis regime depend on the composition of the travel and leisure firms. Those with a large proportion of online gambling firms perform better, while those consisting of international transportation firms, hotels and restaurants perform negatively. This study shows that the high-frequency data and the model chosen here can provide timely information on the impact of the pandemic on various tourism and leisure businesses that could be useful for policymaking.
Comparing patient-reported outcomes across countries: An assessment of methodological challenges
Authors: Sutherland Jason M , Rajapakshe Shanika , Crump Trafford , Chartrand Andrée , Liu Guiping , Karimuddin Ahmer
Published: February 2021

Objectives

There is little published literature on the comparison of patient-reported outcomes between countries. This study aimed to assess pre- and postoperative health among samples of patients undergoing elective groin hernia repair procedures in the National Health Service (NHS), England, and groin hernia patients in Vancouver, Canada.

Methods

We used datasets from two different sources. For the English NHS we used published anonymized patient-level data files which include the EQ-5D(3L) patient-reported outcome measure and a number of demographic and clinical characteristics. For Vancouver, we used data from a sample of Vancouver patients who completed the same instrument during a similar time frame. English patients were matched with Vancouver participant’s characteristics using propensity score methods. A linear regression model was used to measure differences in postoperative visual analogue scale values between countries, adjusting for patient characteristics.

Results

Our study revealed a range of methodological issues concerning the comparability of patient-reported outcomes following hernia repair surgery in the two health systems. These related to differences in approaches to collecting patient-reported outcome measures and the nature of explanatory variables (self-report vs. administrative data), among other challenges. As a consequence, there were differences between the matched samples and the NHS data, indicating a healthy participant bias. Unadjusted results found that Vancouver patients (N = 280) reported more problems in domains of mobility, self care, usual activities and anxiety/depression than the matched cohort of NHS patients (N = 840). Interpreting differences is challenging given different sampling designs.

Conclusions

There are significant hurdles facing comparisons of surgical patients’ outcomes between countries, including adjusting for patient differences, health system factors and approaches to survey administration. While between-country comparisons of surgical outcomes using patient-reported outcomes shows significant promise, much work on standardizing sampling design, variables and analytic methods is needed.
Untangling discrimination in the private sector workplace in South Africa: Paving the way for Black African women progression to managerial positions
Authors: Matotoka Motlhatlego Dennis , Odeku Kolawole Olusola
Published: February 2021

Black African women in South Africa are poorly represented at managerial levels in the South African private sector since the advent of democracy. Their exclusion at these occupational levels persists despite the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA) requiring that the private sector must ensure that all occupational levels are equitably represented and reflects the demographics of South Africa. The South African private sector demonstrates its lack of commitment to proliferating black African women into managerial positions by deliberately engaging in race-based recruitment and failing to develop and promote suitably qualified women into managerial positions. As such, the private sector is failing to create upward mobility for black African women to break the glass ceiling. The EEA requires the private sector to apply affirmative action measures in order to achieve equity in the workplace. It is submitted that since 1998, the private sector has been provided with an opportunity to set it own targets in order to achieve equity. However, 22 years later, black African women are still excluded in key managerial positions. However, the EEA does not specifically impose penalties if the private sector fails to achieve the set targets.This approach has failed to increase the representation of black women in managerial positions. However, the EEA does not specifically impose penalties if the private sector fails to achieve the set targets. Whilst this approach seeks to afford the private sector importunity to set its own target, this approach has failed to increase the representation of black women in managerial positions. Employing black African women in managerial levels enhances their skills and increases their prospects to promotions and assuming further leadership roles in the private sector. This paper seeks to show that the progression of black African women requires South Africa to adopt a quota system without flexibility that will result in the private sector being compelled to appoint suitably qualified black African women in managerial levels.
Gaining access to the field in medical ethnography: Reflections on ethical, methodological, and structural challenges in the study of long-term care facilities
Authors: Roitenberg Neta
Published: February 2021

The article extends the discussion on the challenges in gaining access to the field in medical ethnographic research, focusing on long-term care (LTC) facilities. Medical institutions have been documented to be difficult sites to access. The reference, however, is to the recruitment of patients as informants. The challenges of recruiting practitioners as informants have not been investigated at all. The article presents the key issues that emerged in the process of gaining social access at the sites of two LTC facilities as part of a study on care workers’ identities. The main obstacles encountered during the fieldwork were organizational constraints and negotiating control over the process of recruiting the lower occupational tier of care workers with gatekeepers. The article presents the coping strategies implemented to overcome the ethical and methodological obstacles: continually reassessing the consent and cooperation of participants and developing a rapport with nurse’s aides during interviews.
Seismic Performance and Confinement Reinforcement Design of High-Strength Concrete Columns Confined with High-Strength Stirrups
Authors: Yang Kun , Shi Qing-xuan , Lin Qi
Published: February 2021

This paper aims at analyzing the failure process, failure modes, characteristics of hysteresis loop and the ductility of 10 high-strength concrete (HSC) columns confined by high-strength complex stirrups under cyclic lateral force and a higher constant axial loading. It is indicated that the hysteresis loop of this type of columns still show plump spindle-shaped at higher axial compression ratio, which shows better ductility, energy dissipation and anti-collapse performance. Therefore, it is an effective measure of setting high-strength stirrups to ensure the good ductility of HSC columns under high axial compression ratio and to increase the limit value of axial compression ratio. The stress of transverse reinforcement is evaluated, which shows that high-strength stirrups have yielded when most of the specimens are destroyed, and the strength of stirrups can be fully developed to provide a better effect of restraint. Based on a large number of experimental data, the relationships between the limit drift, the ductility coefficient of HSC columns and axial compression ratio, stirrup characteristic values, covering layer as well as longitudinal reinforcement ratio are established; the calculation formula of minimum stirrups characteristic value of HSC columns at different seismic levels considering of axial compression ratio is presented.
From Substitutive to Supplementary: Institutional Interplay between Public and Occupational Sickness Benefits in Finland, 1947-2016
Authors: Järvi Laura
Published: February 2021

In the context of the Finnish welfare state, this article examines the role of occupational welfare in the interplay between public and occupational sickness benefits from 1947 to 2016, to analyse how the two sickness benefits have interacted over time and the role occupational welfare has played in sickness provision. Previous research has noted that occupational benefits may support or compensate for the much-debated declining welfare state. Hence, it is important to acquire greater knowledge about the public-occupational interplay. The study uses in-depth individual-level analysis from a retrospective point of view, which has been rare in previous research, and examines the public-occupational interplay in the Finnish sickness benefit system from the first national collective agreements to 2016. Based on the reforms made to the public system, the article identifies and utilises six different phases of the Finnish sickness allowance system in the main analysis. The institutional development of sickness provision is investigated by analysing the compensation rate and benefit period, using metalworkers as a representative example of blue-collar workers. The results indicate that occupational benefits are strongly institutionalised in the Finnish sickness benefit system. The interplay between statutory and occupational sickness benefits has taken different forms over time, and occupational benefits have been re-negotiated as the statutory system has been reformed. The article provides valuable information on the historical development and relevance of occupational welfare, in terms of not only understanding its significance for individuals but also comprehending the logic of the interplay in the public-private mix of welfare provision.
Digital technology and the subjects of literacy and mathematics in the preschool atelier
Authors: Magnusson Lena O
Published: February 2021

In this article, the focus is on the entangled relations between digital technology, art activities, mathematics, literacy and children in Swedish preschool ateliers. As part of an ethnographic study, the researcher follows how children use digital technologies and non-digital materials (such as shells, pens, paper, wood, bubble wrap and light) to create and make the visual and aesthetic aspects of the technology seen. In the analysis of the children’s play-based and art-oriented activities in the atelier, the subjects of literacy and mathematics become visible. The analytical approach includes the use of sociocultural theory and multimodal theory, and looking at mathematics in accordance with the six organising principles described by Alan Bishop. The results show that the children’s activities with digital technology and non-digital artefacts appear to activate, expand and transform their understanding and use of literacy and mathematics.