bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on NCF fabric CFRP pultrusion beam mechanical performance and laminate design for railway vehicle application
Authors: Tang Juan , Zhou Zhiping , Tan Yuan , Chen Hao , Wang Shiyou , Gutiérrez Asier
Published: April 2022

This paper presents the conducted research on an innovative pultrusion beam made of NCF carbon fabric for an enhanced flexural behavior. This includes laminate design and optimization. By changing the ply thickness of each 0°-, ±45°- and 90°- orientations (while fixing the others), their influence on the strength and stiffness of the pultrusion beam was studied by the finite element method. 7 different combinations of layups were designed to analyze mechanical performance. The simulation results show the layup of 4/5/1 ply ratio is the best one for strength and stiffness; therefore, the carbon fabric pultrusion beam samples were manufactured according to this layup. Bending experimental testing was conducted for both CFRP pultrusion beam and aluminum beam under the design case of equal thickness to compare their strength and stiffness. The testing results show the strength of fabric pultrusion beam is 82.5% of that of aluminum beam, weight is 60% of the aluminum one, and the stiffness is 75% of it. From the results obtained from FEA and physical testing, it is shown the pultrusion beam with complex multi-cavities shapes possess high mechanical performance. This research concludes the CFRP NCF pultrusion beam entails great advantages for railway structure parts and other industries.
Construct Validity Evidence in the Motor Coordination Test with Ball - MCTB
Authors: Ribas Schelyne , Aburachid Layla M. C. , Marôco João , Mazzardo Tatiane , de Oliveira Castro Henrique , Greco Pablo Juan
Published: April 2022

Our purpose with this study was to analyze construct validity evidence for the Motor Coordination Test with Ball (MCTB). Our participant sample included 1620 students (741 girls; 879 boys) aged between 10-12 years. Evidence for construct-validity of the four tasks using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and adequacy indices confirmed a good fit of a final two-dimensional model (BTS = .000; KMO = .83; loading .53 to .91; communalities ranging from .31 to .86; explained variance of 63.5%; goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = .99; adjusted GFI (AGFI) = .97; RMSR = .03), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (X2/df = 4.9; GFI = .97; comparative fit index (CFI) = .92; TLI = .90; Root-Mean-Square Error of Aproximation (RMSEA) = .03). We concluded that, in a Brazilian sample, the MCTB has good construct validity for motor coordination tests with balls; this helps qualify this test for use in schools and in the sports context.
How Disasters Made the Modern City of Tokyo
Authors: Jun Suzuki
Published: April 2022

A variety of Western technologies were introduced to Japan after the opening of the country’s ports in 1859. These included newly developed technologies as well as technologies that had been used for centuries, such as brick architecture. The new regime introduced the country’s first experiment in building a fire-resistant cityscape of brick following a large fire in 1872. The government also put imported Western systems of policing and sanitation in place, but it was the modern piped water system introduced by the City of Tokyo that had the greatest impact. A massive flood in Tokyo in 1910 spurred the national project to channel and reinforce waterways. In the middle of this project, the capital was hit in 1923 by the Great Kantō Earthquake, which burned down the majority of the city. Post-earthquake reconstruction brought reinforced concrete buildings to the center city. Streets were widened and regularized. In the meantime, the waterway improvement project was completed, encouraging urbanization of districts to the north and east of the city. This, in turn, resulted in expansion of the administrative area in 1932 to incorporate all of the area of Tokyo’s present 23 wards. In this way, efforts to overcome natural disasters with new technology transformed Tokyo’s cityscape, changed the city’s boundaries, and had a significant effect on local government and municipal autonomy. This essay examines the ways in which Tokyo’s modern development was determined by technological responses to natural disaster.
The Effects of Partner Extraversion and Agreeableness on Trust
Authors: Stavrova Olga , Evans Anthony M. , van Beest Ilja
Published: April 2022

Existing research has documented the social benefits (i.e., higher popularity and liking) of extraversion and agreeableness. Do these positive reputational consequences extend to social dilemma situations that require trust? We found that people do not trust extraverts more than introverts. Instead, people’s trust decisions are guided by their partner’s level of agreeableness. In a trust game (Studies 1 and 2), individuals were more likely to trust a partner who was described as agreeable (vs. disagreeable); and, in a laboratory study of work groups, participants trusted more (vs. less) agreeable group members (Study 3). Individuals anticipated others’ preferences for agreeable partners and tried to come across as more agreeable, but not more extraverted, in social dilemmas (Study 4). These findings suggest that the social benefits of agreeableness (but not extraversion) extend to social interactions involving trust and highlight the importance of target personality traits in shaping trust decisions.
Quality of reporting of literature search strategies in systematic reviews published on the role of telehealth during COVID-19
Authors: Sadeghi-Ghyassi Fatemeh , Zarea Gavgani Vahideh , Fathifar Zahra , Makani Nasrin , Vaez Reyhaneh , Montazeri Maryam
Published: April 2022

A comprehensive and reproducible search strategy for systematic reviews especially about COVID-19 plays a pivotal role in conducting a reliable and unbiased review. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the quality of the search strategy reporting in systematic reviews conducted on the role of telehealth during COVID-19. The secondary aim of study was to explore some affecting factor in the quality of search strategy. The study evaluated the quality of the search strategy reporting with PRISMA-S checklist. The search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and other related databases. Systematic reviews were included. There was no language restriction. The correlation of the PRISMA-S scores with journal impact factor, CiteScore, and librarians’ role were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. A total of 85 articles were included in the review. The overall mean score of PRISMA-S checklist was 6.12 ± 1.46. PubMed was the most popular database for search. More than half of the studies did not provide a full search strategy. There was a significant positive correlation between PRISMA-S score and the journal impact factor (Spearman’s rho = 0.217; P = 0.46) and CiteScore (Spearman’s rho = 0.235; P = 0.03). The quality of literature search was poor in the included studies. Using the PRISMA-S as a search reporting guideline can be a helpful tool for authors. A professional librarian can be beneficial in improving the quality of the search. It is recommended to use a new pattern in COVID-19-related searches, such as preprint sources.
Becoming Cleopatra
Authors: Lucking David , Lucking David
Published: April 2022

This article investigates the ramifications of the word ‘become’ as it is deployed in Antony and Cleopatra, the term being invested with several distinct meanings which Shakespeare pursues the implications of and at the same time plays off against one another. It is argued that the play is deeply concerned with questions of an ontological nature, and that the contraposition between the rival perspectives of Rome and Egypt reflects a tension between the different conceptions of being, becoming, and identity articulated within it.
Surgical resection of lupus nephritis with pulmonary Aspergillus infection: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Pan Xiaoli , Yuan Yuan , Tian Yu , Wang Jinjing , Li Yida , Tian Mei
Published: April 2022

We report a 58-year-old Asian woman who was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, together with a mixed pulmonary bacterial and fungal infection including Aspergillus. The infection did not respond well to the routine administration of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal drugs, and the patient’s creatinine levels continued to rise and protein remained in her urine. The patient’s SLE persisted without going into remission. Finally, surgical resection of the pulmonary aspergilloma brought the SLE back under control.
Strategies for Modeling Partial Pile Head Fixity in Laterally Loaded Pier Foundations
Authors: Shishlov Alexander S. , Bollmann Henry T. , Davidson Michael T.
Published: April 2022

When designing pile groups subjected to lateral loading, modeling and analysis of the connections between piles and the overlying pile caps require careful consideration. For a given pier foundation, characterization of the pile-to-cap connections typically corresponds to one of: pinned (no moment transfer); fixed (moment transfer up to pile rotational capacity); or, partially fixed pile head conditions. The present study aims to provide bridge engineers with practical resources for modeling laterally loaded pile group behaviors, in association with partially fixed pile head conditions. Modeling strategies are presented for both relatively simple (i.e., highly idealized) configurations, as well as for an array of conceivable pier foundations. In particular, an analytical approach is presented, which is suitable for preliminary design of configurations analyzed in a linear elastic manner, and on a representative-pile basis. For nonlinear analysis of pile groups (including soil–structure interaction), a search algorithm is developed that converges on a given target level of partial pile head fixity and associated pile group response (e.g., group lateral displacements, pile head moments). The search algorithm is utilized to investigate 20 unique pier foundation configurations under various lateral load intensities and across target levels of partial fixity. Pairing of the computed foundation responses with the levels of partial fixity, in the ensemble, is intended to serve as a resource to bridge engineers when making initial estimates to model partially fixed pile head conditions.
Community Characteristics and the Geographic Distribution of Intimate Partner Violence: A Partial Test of Social Disorganization Theory
Authors: McDowell Molly , Reinhard Daniel
Published: April 2022

Shaw and McKay’s social disorganization theory has provided a framework to examine the relationship between community-level structural variables and neighborhood crime. Although empirical support for the theory has been widely demonstrated using property and violent crime data, the body of literature examining the theory’s applicability to intimate partner violence (IPV) is more limited. Further, much of the existing literature in this area applies the theory’s macro-level variables to individual outcomes instead of assessing community effects. Using negative binomial regression to analyze incident data from the Austin (TX) Police Department and demographic information from the United States Census Bureau, this study assesses the relationship between concentrated disadvantage, racial/ethnic heterogeneity, residential instability, and the geographic distribution of IPV incidents in a major U.S. city with no racial or ethnic majority. The independent variables of interest were constructed using principal axis factoring, and a spatial lag variable was included in the model to control for spatial clustering. The analysis showed that concentrated disadvantage was significantly, positively associated with annual counts of IPV incidents in neighborhoods, as was the control variable total crime reports. These results demonstrate that the geographic distribution of IPV is influenced by community factors. They underscore the importance of considering community-wide prevention and intervention efforts in tandem with individual services to those impacted by IPV.
Social Relationships, Wealth, and Cardiometabolic Risk: Evidence from a National Longitudinal Study of U.S. Older Adults
Authors: Shartle Kaitlin , Yang Yang Claire , Richman Laura S. , Belsky Daniel W. , Aiello Allison E. , Harris Kathleen Mullan
Published: April 2022

Objectives: To investigate multiple dimensions of social relationships related to biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and how their associations vary by wealth in older adults. Methods: Growth curve models were used to investigate the longitudinal associations between measures of both positive and negative social relationships and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2016 and the moderation of this association by wealth in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Results: Older adults with better social relationships had lower CMR on average. The protective effects of positive social relationships, however, waned at older ages, particularly for low-wealth individuals. Discussion: Our results suggest that good social relationships promote healthy aging by buffering against harmful cardiometabolic consequences of psychosocial stress, particularly among relatively wealthy individuals. Efforts to improve old age health would be more effective when focusing simultaneously on fostering social connections and boosting financial resources.
Association of Affect and Performance in Dual-Task Walking in Non-demented Older Adults
Authors: Guharajan Deepan , Holtzer Roee
Published: April 2022

Objective: We examined whether individual differences in positive and negative affective states predicted dual-task costs using an established Dual-Task Walking protocol in non-demented older adults. We hypothesized that positive and negative affect would be associated with smaller and larger dual-task costs, respectively. Methods: Participants ( N = 403; mean age = 76.22 ± 6.55; females = 56%) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the walking protocol involving three conditions: Single-Task-Alpha, Single-Task-Walk (STW), and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW). Gait velocity was assessed via an instrumented walkway. Results: Negative affect was associated with greater decline in gait velocity from STW to DTW (95% confidence interval [−0.73 to −0.03]) but not the decline of the rate of correct letter generation. There was no significant relationship between positive affect and DTW performance. Discussion: Findings suggest negative affect is adversely associated with allocation of attentional resources, leading to worse mobility outcomes in older adults.
Universities and innovation strategies in rural regions: The case of the Greater Lincolnshire Innovation Programme (UK)
Authors: Salomaa Maria , Charles David , Bosworth Gary
Published: April 2022

There is limited experience with innovation policies in rural areas, often based on a one-size-fits-all approach. However, rural businesses have diverse needs and there is difficulty in applying smart specialisation approaches for the use of European Union Cohesion funding in rural areas. A key resource in rural areas is the local university, and universities face increased demands to support local firms. This paper examines one particular case of a university in a rural region and its use of the European Regional Development Fund to support innovation activities. The challenges of working with rural businesses are explored, as is the focus on one-to-one support rather than the more collective smart specialisation approach. Universities need to take a pragmatic approach to ensure that the needs of firms can be balanced with the capacities of rural universities which are often smaller and more specialised than urban universities.
Modal analysis of a beam with bilateral breathing oblique cracks
Authors: Ma Yijiang , Wu Jie , Qian Denghui , Ren Peng , Li Yuxin , Li Haoyun
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a theoretical method is proposed to conduct the modal analysis of a beam with bilateral breathing oblique cracks. Based on the principle of Virtual Work, the oblique crack is transformed into the local flexibility. Considering the breathing behavior of bilateral oblique cracks, the trigonometric interpolation function is used to simulate the stiffness variation of cracked beam. Galerkin method is applied to simplify the vibration differential equation of the beam to several single degree of freedom systems, and natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cracked beam can be obtained easily. Compared with the numerical simulation method, the theoretical method proposed can be verified. Example analysis shows that the inclined angle of oblique crack is also an important factor for the modal of cracked beam, and breathing model of bilateral cracks is quite different from that of bilateral open cracks.
Enhancement in creep resistance of pristine polystyrene with incorporation of exfoliated 2D graphene nanosheets at low filler loading
Authors: Malik Arfa , Raza Hassan , Ahmad Arslan , Raza Muhammad Rafi , Arshad Muhammad Usama
Published: April 2022

Determination of the reliability and durability of polymers in structural applications is highly dependent on the resistance to time-dependent plastic deformation. In this study, creep behaviour and enhancement in creep resistance of polystyrene-graphene nanocomposites is investigated at low filler loading. Herein, 2D material (graphene) is synthesised by the liquid-phase exfoliation method ( LPE) using the tetrahydrofuran ( THF) solvent via batch sonication. Samples are characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy ( SEM) for morphology analysis and X-rays Diffraction ( XRD) for identification of polystyrene-graphene (PS-G) peaks in nanocomposites. Additionally, Atomic Force Microscopy ( AFM) is employed to quantify sheet’s thickness and Optical Microscopy ( OM) to corroborate the dispersion of 2D sheets. The creep resistance of PS-G nanocomposites is measured at room temperature (25°C) by incorporating 2D sheets of flake length ∼359 μm with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 wt.%. A significant enhancement in the time to withstand constant creep load (1 N) is observed. The creep resistance of the samples exhibits a maximum increase of 79%, 258.24%, 647.25%, 417.58% and 760.44%, respectively, compared to pristine polystyrene. This increase in creep resistance resulted from intense interfacial contact between polymer chains and filler accompanied by adequate scattering/dispersion in the polymer matrix.
‘Wrap our arms around them here in Ireland’: Social media campaigns in the Irish abortion referendum
Authors: Statham Simon , Ringrow Helen
Published: April 2022

The 8th Amendment to the Irish Constitution, which codified a near-absolute ban on abortion in Ireland, was ratified in 1983 and removed after a high profile campaign to ‘Repeal the 8th’ in 2018. This article analyses the language of the pro-choice group Together for Yes and the anti-choice groups Love Both and Pro-Life Ireland that campaigned to ‘Save the 8th’. We combine an application of the Appraisal framework with an account of conceptual metaphor in a Critical Discourse Analysis of the language of both campaigns on the social network platform Twitter. Both sides of the ‘Repeal Referendum’ strategically utilised language across a wide range of semiotic modes. This article assesses the specific role of social media language in the Irish abortion referendum and connects these strategies to the wider campaign tactics of both sides.
Poly-truth, or the limits of pluralism: Popular debates on conspiracy theories in a post-truth era
Authors: Harambam Jaron , Grusauskaite Kamile , de Wildt Lars
Published: April 2022

Conspiracy theories are central to “post-truth” discussions. Official knowledge, backed by science, politics, and media, is distrusted by various people resorting to alternative (conspiratorial) explanations. While elite commentators lament the rise of such “untruths,” we know little of people’s everyday opinions on this topic, despite their societal ramifications. We therefore performed a qualitative content analysis of 522 comments under a Dutch newspaper article on conspiracy theories to study how ordinary people discuss post-truth matters. We found four main points of controversy: “habitus of distrust”; “who to involve in public debates”; “which ways of knowing to allow”; and “what is at stake?” The diverging opinions outline the limits of pluralism in a post-truth era, revealing tensions between technocratic and democratic ideals in society. We show that popular opinions on conspiracy theories embody more complexity and nuance than elite conceptions of post-truth allow for: they lay bare the multiple sociological dimensions of poly-truth.
Characterization of mechanical and thermal properties of esterified lignin modified polypropylene composites filled with chitosan fibers
Authors: Tanjung Faisal A , Kuswardani Retna A , Idumah Christopher I , Siregar Januar P , Karim Abdul
Published: April 2022

A comparative study was performed on the use of esterified alkaline lignin (AAL) and esterified organosolv lignin (AOSL) as the interfacial modifying agent to improve the properties of polypropylene-chitosan composites. Chitosan was chemically modified through a reaction with the esterified lignin in an alcohol medium. The composites were prepared using an internal mixer and hot-pressed method. Both modified chitosan showed a different chemical structure upon modification with the esterified lignins as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra. With a lower molecular weight, the AOSL attachment on the chitosan surface resulted in more efficiency in decreasing hydrophilic characters. Tensile tests showed the increased tensile strength by 32.15% and 26.43% for AOSL-modified composites and AAL-modified composites as compared with the unmodified composites. Overall, the AOSL was superior in improving the mechanical strength and thermal stability of the composites, while the AAL exhibited the most apparent enhancement in ductility and crystallization.
Franco-British military co-operation in the Great Gas War 1915-1918
Authors: Zoghlami Hanene
Published: April 2022

Because the Anglophone historiography has tended to marginalize the French contribution to the allied chemical war during the Great War 1914-1918, this study has attempted to re-balance the historical narrative by emphasizing the collective nature and importance of this joint Franco-British enterprise. By interrogating a raft of under-utilized primary evidence in the French and British archives, elements of the two armies’ defensive and offensive gas warfare performance have been reassessed through the co-operation prism. The investigation demonstrates how closely, comprehensively, and effectively the two allies worked together in chemical weapon production and exchange, research and development, anti-gas protection, and indirect battlefield applications.
‘A kind of useless man’? An evaluation of AIF cooks and cookery, 1914–1918
Authors: Reynaud Daniel , Reynaud Emanuela
Published: April 2022

While the Australian Imperial Force of 1914–1918 experienced a significant shift from amateurism to professionalism over the course of the war in most areas, one crucial role not yet examined in the literature on the Australian Imperial Force is that of army cook. This article argues that their role was not taken sufficiently seriously during the Great War, leaving them effectively still amateurs at the end of the war. It explores the regulations for army cooks, the processes of selection, training and monitoring, as well as their performance in camps and in the field, and draws the conclusion that the army failed to professionalize role.
The Role of Green Human Resource Management Practices and Eco-innovation in Enhancing the Organizational Performance
Authors: Ansari Nabeel , Zill-E-Huma  , Ali Raza , Huma Shakira , Baig Adnan
Published: April 2022

The growing awareness regarding environmental issues has encouraged stakeholders’ broader participation in green management and production. The article aims to investigate the role of green human resource management (GHRM) and eco-innovation (GI) in firm performance. Drawing upon the quantitative data collected through a structured questionnaire, the present study investigated how GHRM influences firms’ financial performance through the mediation of eco-innovation. The study findings suggested the significance of GHRM in influencing financial performance through the mediating role of GI. Despite the rising scholarly interest in studying GHRM, very few studies examined its influence on organizational performance in general and financial performance in particular. The present study intends to bridge the literary gaps by examining both the direct relationship between GHRM and firms’ financial performance and the indirect mechanism linking GHRM with a firm’s financial performance through GI, adding a unique contribution to literature and practice
Problems Faced by the Indian MSME due to COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence
Authors: Mukherjee Subhodeep , Mohan Baral Manish , Chittipaka Venkataiah
Published: April 2022

COVID-19 (COV) pandemic has brought many misfortunes to the economies of the country. Industries were shut down due to lockdown; production was stopped, which affected their profit margins. Many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) had to close their operations permanently due to lack of funds and lack of labor force. This research is being conducted to study the MSME’s problems due to this pandemic crisis. Five problems have been identified from the available literature. These five problems are lack of transportation facilities, non-availability of raw materials, deficiency of cash flow, lack of manpower, and local law enforcement. The data is collected in the MSME sector of the country. The target population are the employees working in those industries. After collecting data, we have used exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling using the software SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 20.0. The result showed that all the proposed hypotheses got accepted. The model fit parameters are within the threshold level. This study also provides recommendations for the MSME sector to revive the COV pandemic situation.
Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Uterus Harboring MEIS1::NCOA1 Fusion Gene and Mimicking Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma
Authors: Mejbel Haider A. , Harada Shuko , Stevens Todd M. , Huang Xiao , Netto George J. , Mackinnon Alexander C. , Al Diffalha Sameer
Published: April 2022

MEIS1::NCOA1/2 sarcomas are a newly recognized group of exceedingly rare low-grade spindle cell sarcomas that often involve the genitourinary and gynecologic tracts. Due to its deceptively low-grade morphology and the non-specific immunoprofile, these neoplasms may pose a diagnostic challenge by histologically mimicking other entities such as endometrial stromal sarcoma, smooth muscle tumor, or uterine perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa). Histologically, MEIS1::NCOA1/2 sarcomas typically show spindle cell proliferation with hyperchromatic nuclei and a generalized cytologic uniformity, arranged in short fascicles and exhibiting alternating zones of hypo- and hypercellularity. Among the previously reported cases, molecular analysis revealed the MEIS1::NCOA2 fusion as the most commonly detected fusion gene, whereas the MEIS1::NCOA1 fusion gene has been reported in only a single case that involved kidney. Herein we report the first case of uterine sarcoma harboring the MEIS1::NCOA1 fusion gene that was initially misclassified as low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma, demonstrating its clinicopathologic features, and highlighting the essential role of molecular pathology to arrive at the accurate diagnosis that may alter disease classification and inform therapy.
Atypical Sexual Interests in Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Results From a Phallometric Study
Authors: Castro-Calvo Jesús , Giménez-García Cristina , García-Barba Marta , Gil-Llario María Dolores , Ballester-Arnal Rafael
Published: April 2022

The link between Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB) and atypical sexual interests is elusive. This study aimed to provide preliminary insights into the relationship between both aspects. The study sample comprised 61 self-identified straight men. CSB was measured through a composite self-report index assessing symptoms of CSB, whereas sexual interests –atypical and normophilic– were assessed objectively through penile plethysmography. The CSB index had small, non-significant correlation with greater sexual response to different sexual stimuli ( rgeneral sexual responsiveness=.127 [95% CI: −.137, .384]). In terms of overall sexual interest, increased scores on the CSB index had small, non-significant correlation with a higher preference for younger sexual stimuli ( r = −.098 [95% CI: −.499, .215]) and persuasive sex ( r = .10 [95% CI: −.168, .316]). Finally, CSB had a moderate correlation with sexual response when presented with stimuli depicting “female toddler coercive” ( r = .27 [95% CI: −.083, .544]). We conclude that our findings do not support the hypotheses that CSB is significantly related to an increased arousability across sexual stimuli. The study findings also suggest that CSB may be, to a small degree, predisposed to experience sexual attraction toward children. Given the preliminary nature of the study, these conclusions warrant further research. Alternative explanations for the study findings related to the particular components of CSB that may be related to typical and atypical sexual interests are also considered.
Feline Comorbidities: Balancing hyperthyroidism and concurrent chronic kidney disease
Authors: Geddes Rebecca , Aguiar Joana
Published: April 2022

Practical relevance:

Both hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common long-term conditions in older cats, which might be diagnosed concurrently or develop at different times. Hyperthyroidism may mask the presence of CKD, and vice versa, by various mechanisms that are described in this review. Hyperthyroidism treatment options should be carefully considered when CKD has also been diagnosed.

Clinical challenges:

Although it can be difficult to diagnose hyperthyroidism and CKD simultaneously, given that one condition may mask the other, it is important to consider the presence of both diseases when examining an older cat presenting with vomiting, weight loss, polyuria/ polydipsia, anorexia or sarcopenia. The concurrent presence of hyperthyroidism and CKD requires careful monitoring of glomerular filtration rate biomarkers, and adequate and prompt support of kidney function when normal thyroid function is re-established. Iatrogenic hypothyroidism is a recognised complication of all of the treatment options for hyperthyroidism, and increases the risk of azotaemia. Therapy with levothyroxine is recommended for cats that are hypothyroid and azotaemic.

Evidence base:

The information in this review draws on current literature and guidelines related to the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment recommendations for feline hyperthyroidism and CKD.
Identification of Phosphorylated Proteins Regulated by SDF2L1 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Luo Chengchang , Zhang Zunni , Su Qisheng , Mo Wuning
Published: April 2022

SDF2L1 is a new type of endoplasmic reticulum stress inducible protein, which is related to poor prognosis of various cancer, we initially studied the low expression level of SDF2L1 in NPC, but the molecular mechanism of SDF2L1 in NPC needs further elucidation. To identify phosphorylated proteins regulated by SDF2L1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), Label-free Quantitative (LFQ) Proteomics and 2D-LC-MS/MS analysis were performed on high metastatic NPC 5-8F cells with overexpression of SDF2L1 and empty segment. Western blotting was applied to validate the differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins (DEPPs). As a result, 331 DEPPs were identified by proteomics, and PARVA phosphorylation (ser8) was validated. The present results suggested that PARVA phosphorylation may be a new promising biomarker for predicting NPC and play a key role in the occurrence and development of NPC.
Homopopulism: A new layer of LGBTQ politics in India
Authors: Banerjea Niharika
Published: April 2022

This paper seeks to conceptualize homopopulism as a popular relationality in shifting contexts of inclusion/exclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) identified persons. A new layer of queer politics is visible in contemporary India. Hinged between older colonial discourses, current neoliberal systems, and promises by state actors to include LGBTQ concerns, sexuality is explicitly and implicitly mobilized to create, claim, and resist the present social. This consists of organizational left and liberal efforts to include and represent LGBTQ identified bodies in election promises, with effects that are titled heavily toward the middle to upper-middle class, able, caste-Hindu bodies. Alongside this, groups such as Queer Hindu Alliance are working to claim a stake in the Hindutva regime. Parallel to this, the bodies and voices of queer and trans* persons aim and struggle to connect with Muslim and Dalit individuals and groups around survival and citizenship. This paper attempts to comprehend these unique and tumultuous moments through the concept of homopopulism. I argue that homopopulism offers a useful reference point to understand how a complex democracy, consisting of right-wing, left-liberal, and centrist state practices, uses populist discourses and methods to gradually mobilize LGBTQ identities for thin centered ideologies without necessarily having to create a recognizable population group with affirmative action policies and anti-discriminatory guarantees, as facilitating conditions for a liveable life.
“I Didn’t Know Ace Was a Thing”: Bisexuality and pansexuality as identity pathways in asexual identity formation
Authors: Winer Canton , Carroll Megan , Yang Yuchen , Linder Katherine , Miles Brittney
Published: April 2022

Identity formation for asexual people can be complicated by limited societal awareness of asexualities. Consequently, people who eventually identify on the asexuality spectrum often adopt other sexual identities in their early lives. In this paper, we extend sexual identity development theory by analyzing the identity trajectories of asexual-spectrum people who once identified as bisexual or pansexual. Quantitative data suggests that about half of asexual-spectrum respondents once identified as bisexual or pansexual and a third closely associate with bisexual or pansexual terminology. Qualitative data supports these findings, revealing that bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality are not always seen as mutually exclusive categories by asexual individuals. We argue that the intelligibility of bi-/pansexuality positions them as identity pathways for many asexual-spectrum individuals who experience equal (albeit little to no) attraction toward people of any gender.
“Who is the mum? Who is the dad?”: Same-sex couples’ motivations for and experiences of parenthood
Authors: Charlton Kayleigh
Published: April 2022

This research is an interpretative phenomenological analysis of same-sex couples’ decision-making process and experience when starting a family. Four same-sex couples with children participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. There is limited sociological research offering in-depth analysis of the relationship between sexual minority identities and the motivations, desires, and experiences of parenthood. This research reveals an array of complexities in the timing of parenthood. Participants also discuss the importance of financial and relationship stability before starting a family and the challenges and uncertainties throughout their unique adoption and IVF journeys. Moreover, participants reported the ongoing impact of the institutions of, and assumptions underpinning, heteronormativity on their experiences as a family, as well as the coping mechanisms they employed to counteract the consequences of heteronormativity.
Global residue harmonic balance method for strongly nonlinear oscillator with cubic and harmonic restoring force
Authors: Lu Junfeng
Published: April 2022

Abstract

This paper focuses on the numerical investigation of a strongly nonlinear oscillator with cubic and harmonic restoring force. We transform this oscillator as a free damped cubic-quintic Duffing oscillator equation by Taylor approximation. The approximated solutions with high accuracy are provided by using the global residue harmonic balance method (GRHBM) without any discretization or restrict assumptions. The sensitive analysis of the approximation or the frequency with respect to the amplitude is considered in detail. Numerical comparisons with Runge–Kutta method and harmonic balance method are given to show the efficiency and stability of GRHBM.
Acoustic and thermal analysis of geometrically different treated kenaf/polylactic acid green composite laminates
Authors: Manral Ankit , Bajpai Pramendra K
Published: April 2022

Kenaf fiber reinforced polylactic acid green composites possess mentionable thermal and acoustic insulating properties. Sound transmission and sound absorption coefficients are the minimum required necessary parameters for predicting the acoustic properties while thermal conductivity is alone sufficient for predicting the thermal behavior of natural fiber reinforced green composites. In the present chapter, the effect of utilizing different types of kenaf fiber mats and their chemical treatment (sodium acetate) on the thermal and acoustic properties of developed composites is presented. The results showed that the thermal conductivity of developed composites increased with chemical treatment concentration and treatment time. Additionally, the geometry of kenaf fiber mats also influenced the thermal and acoustic properties of developed composites.
The educator’s experience of using flipped classrooms in a higher education setting
Authors: Verdonck Michèle , Wright Hattie , Hamilton Anita , Taylor Jane
Published: April 2022

Although there is growing evidence that the flipped classroom approach (FCA) positively impacts the student learning experience and outcomes, much less is known about the educator’s experience. This study aimed to explore how educators across several disciplines in a regional Australian University describe their experience of using the FCA. Qualitative description methodology guided the research whereby individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews collected qualitative data from educators who had used the FCA in the previous 4 years which was then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Eleven educators across seven disciplines were recruited, eight of whom had fully and three partially flipped a course. Four broad themes described the educator’s experience of the FCA namely, the environmental influence, preparation and implementation, emotional response and metacognition. There were 20 sub-themes across the four themes. Educators in this study were both ambivalent and internally motivated by the FCA, valued scholarly and institutional support, highlighted the importance of reflexive teaching practice and appreciated the affordance of more active learning opportunities in class. The human aspect of competing emotions was clear when implementing the FCA. Educators need to prepare themselves for the emotional investment that accompanies the FCA, to be responsive and adaptive in what and how content is delivered. Institutions should provide adequate support to cater for both the well-being of educators as well as the practicalities of implementing the FCA.
Strategies and challenges to University Internationalization in Russia: A case study of S University
Authors: Hong Min , Xiao Yarui
Published: April 2022

Under the context of globalization and marketization, the internationalization of higher education has become a common pursuit of nations and higher education institutions. Nonetheless, current studies on the internationalization of higher education are still largely dominated by the westernized paradigm. There is relatively limited research on the internationalization of Russian higher education, especially on the strategies and challenges of internationalization at the institutional level. By conducting a case study of a Russian elite research university, this paper explores the strategies and challenges of internationalization of higher education in Russia. It finds there are some doubts behind the practice from the faculty’s perspective, which would be the improvement direction for future internationalization of Russian universities.
White Constituents and Congressional Voting
Authors: Hansen Eric R.
Published: April 2022

Why do some members of Congress vote more on the extremes of their party than others? I argue that lawmakers representing more homogeneously white districts have greater electoral incentive to moderate their voting records, since the two parties compete more for support of white voters than for the support of minority voters. I provide evidence using roll-call votes from the U.S. House and Senate. I find members representing more homogeneously white districts have more moderate voting records, a finding that holds for Democrats and Republicans. I explore two potential mechanisms: legislator responsiveness and electoral punishment. While legislators do not seem to adjust their voting behavior in response to short-term changes in district racial composition, more homogeneously white districts are found to assess larger vote share penalties on more extreme candidates in general elections. The findings have implications for our understanding of race, representation, and electoral accountability.
Enhancement of Conventional and Photodynamic Therapy for Treatment of Cervical Cancer with Cannabidiol
Authors: Razlog Radmila , Kruger Cherie Ann , Abrahamse Heidi
Published: April 2022

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Conventional treatments include surgery, chemo- and radiotherapy, however these are invasive and may cause severe side effects. Furthermore, approximately 70% of late-stage CC patients experience metastasis, due to treatment resistance and limitations. Thus, there is a dire need to investigate alternative therapeutic combination therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative CC treatment modality that has been clinically proven to treat primary CC, as well as to limit secondary metastasis. Since PDT is a non-invasive localized treatment, with fewer side effects and lessened resistance to dose repeats, it is considered far more advantageous. However, more clinical trials are required to refine its delivery and dosing, as well as improve its ability to activate specific immune responses to eradicate secondary CC spread. Cannabidiol (CBD) isolates have been shown to exert in vitro CC anticancer effects, causing apoptosis post treatment, as well as inducing specific immune responses, which obstruct tumor invasion and angiogenesis, and so hinder CC metastatic spread. This review paper discusses the current conventional and alternative PDT treatment modalities for CC, as well as their limitations over the last 10 years. It has a particular focus on the combinative administration of CBD with these treatments in order to prevent CC secondary migration and so possibly encourage future research studies to focus on this synergistic effect to eradicate CC.
Preferred Content in Occupational Therapy-Based Weight Loss Interventions: A Survey
Authors: Christensen Jeanette Reffstrup , Konge Maria B. , Devantier Martin , Brandt Carl J. , Gommesen Joakim B. , Kolind Mikkel I.
Published: April 2022

Despite decades of attempts from doctors and dietitians to break the obesity curve, obesity rates are increasing in Denmark. To counteract this, municipal occupational therapy-based interventions are in development as part of the Danish Obesity Intervention Trial (DO: IT). The objective was to survey Danish adults on preferred content in an occupational therapy municipal weight loss intervention and determine if preferences differed by gender and age. A 21-item questionnaire was developed to explore preferences related to diet, physical activity, occupational balance, habits, and social relations. In all, 429 respondents were included. Chi-square statistics were performed to determine if preferences differed by gender and age. A total of 15 of the 21 items indicated gender-based differences in preferences. Two items indicated age-based differences. Notably, compared to men, women indicated significantly more interest in content relating to habit formation and occupational balance. Gender-based differences should be considered when developing a weight loss intervention.
An efficient XOR-based visual cryptography scheme with lossless reconfigurable algorithms
Authors: Wang Huan , Jiang Zhongyuan , Qian Qing , Wang Hong
Published: April 2022

This article proposes an efficient XOR-based visual cryptography scheme with lossless reconfigurable algorithms, which includes an encryption and a decryption schemes for gray-scale and color secret images. The encryption scheme aims to encrypt secret images by mapping them to several shared images that do not suffer any pixel expansion problem and do not reveal any information of the secret images by considering a random column selection algorithm based on the 0-mapping and 1-mapping matrices, where the two matrices are dynamically generated in the encryption scheme. Moreover, the proposed decryption scheme can reconstruct the secret images with only a series of XOR operations. The reconstructed images do not suffer any contrast distortion and pixel expansion problems comparing with their original secret images. Finally, the proposed two schemes are illustrated with the practical examples.
Sediment wear of turbine guide vane before and after tungsten carbide treatment
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyi , Peng Yuanjie , Yang Junxiang , Chen Jiarui , Xu Lianchen , Tang Wen , Liu Xiaobing
Published: April 2022

This paper describes three-dimensional unsteady simulations of sand–water flow within a turbine passage. Sand abrasion of a movable guide vane made from ZG06Cr13Ni4Mo is tested before and after tungsten carbide spray-coating. ZG06Cr13Ni4Mo forms medium- and high-strength stainless steel castings for engineering structures. Different sand particle sizes produce different wear forms on the guide vane. For 0.4-mm sediment particles, the guide vane head is more seriously worn by impact; for 0.058-mm sediment particles, the guide vane tail is more seriously worn by sediment scouring. Spray-coating the guide vane with tungsten carbide produces significant anti-sand-wear performance. Before tungsten carbide spraying, the total guide vane wear at the maximum position reached 45 μm after 90 h of testing, but after spray-coating, the guide vane wear at the maximum position was only 2.6 μm after 136 h of testing. Sand abrasion test results before and after tungsten carbide treatment are used to derive a calculation formula that provides a basis for anti-silt-abrasion hydraulic turbine design and operation. The movable guide vane’s life expectancy in a power plant was estimated. Before spraying, the guide vane had to be replaced after 22.7 months of operation at P = 11.4 MW, but it operated for 44.2 months after spray-coating.