bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing performance for three-phase induction motor by changing the magnetic flux density and core material using COMSOL
Authors: Ahmed Firas Saaduldeen , Hussain Zozan Saadallah , Mohammed Salih Truska Khalid
Published: November 2021

This paper presents a proposed design and analysis of a three-phase squirrel cage induction motor when changing of internal characteristic design for the three-phase induction motor. Two situations have been applied to enhancing the performance of the three-phase induction motor. The first situation has been implemented by changing the magnetic flux density (MFD) via the build of the six-phase for the same induction motor. The second situation has been implemented by changing core materials of the rotor part of the induction motor, like aluminum (AL) and cast iron (CI). The finite element method (FEM) has been used to analyze the rotor part, also to obtain the representation and simulation of the realty cylindrical rotor part of motor. The frequency domain (FD) analysis using to obtain the results within the environment of the COMSOL multiphysics 5.5 version.
A hierarchical RCNN for vehicle and vehicle license plate detection and recognition
Authors: Tu Chunling , Du Shengzhi
Published: November 2021

Vehicle and vehicle license detection obtained incredible achievements during recent years that are also popularly used in real traffic scenarios, such as intelligent traffic monitoring systems, auto parking systems, and vehicle services. Computer vision attracted much attention in vehicle and vehicle license detection, benefit from image processing and machine learning technologies. However, the existing methods still have some issues with vehicle and vehicle license plate recognition, especially in a complex environment. In this paper, we propose a multivehicle detection and license plate recognition system based on a hierarchical region convolutional neural network (RCNN). Firstly, a higher level of RCNN is employed to extract vehicles from the original images or video frames. Secondly, the regions of the detected vehicles are input to a lower level (smaller) RCNN to detect the license plate. Thirdly, the detected license plate is split into single numbers. Finally, the individual numbers are recognized by an even smaller RCNN. The experiments on the real traffic database validated the proposed method. Compared with the commonly used all-in-one deep learning structure, the proposed hierarchical method deals with the license plate recognition task in multiple levels for sub-tasks, which enables the modification of network size and structure according to the complexity of sub-tasks. Therefore, the computation load is reduced.
Intelligent recognition of colorectal cancer combining application of computer-assisted diagnosis with deep learning approaches
Authors: Narasimha Raju Akella S. , Jayavel Kayalvizhi , Rajalakshmi Tulasi
Published: November 2021

The malignancy of the colorectal testing methods has been exposed triumph to decrease the occurrence and death rate; this cancer is the relatively sluggish rising and has an extremely peculiar to develop the premalignant lesions. Now, many patients are not going to colorectal cancer screening, and people who do, are able to diagnose existing tests and screening methods. The most important concept of this motivation for this research idea is to evaluate the recognized data from the immediately available colorectal cancer screening methods. The data provided to laboratory technologists is important in the formulation of appropriate recommendations that will reduce colorectal cancer. With all standard colon cancer tests can be recognized agitatedly, the treatment of colorectal cancer is more efficient. The intelligent computer assisted diagnosis (CAD) is the most powerful technique for recognition of colorectal cancer in recent advances. It is a lot to reduce the level of interference nature has contributed considerably to the advancement of the quality of cancer treatment. To enhance diagnostic accuracy intelligent CAD has a research always active, ongoing with the deep learning and machine learning approaches with the associated convolutional neural network (CNN) scheme.
Measuring driver cognitive distraction through lips and eyebrows
Authors: Azman Afizan , Abdullah Mohd. Fikri Azli , Yogarayan Sumendra , Abdul Razak Siti Fatimah , Azman Hartini , Sonai Muthu Kalaiarasi , Suhaila Hani
Published: November 2021

Cognitive distraction is one of the several contributory factors in road accidents. A number of cognitive distraction detection methods have been developed. One of the most popular methods is based on physiological measurement. Head orientation, gaze rotation, blinking and pupil diameter are among popular physiological parameters that are measured for driver cognitive distraction. In this paper, lips and eyebrows are studied. These new features on human facial expression are obvious and can be easily measured when a person is in cognitive distraction. There are several types of movement on lips and eyebrows that can be captured to indicate cognitive distraction. Correlation and classification techniques are used in this paper for performance measurement and comparison. Real time driving experiment was setup and faceAPI was installed in the car to capture driver’s facial expression. Linear regression, support vector machine (SVM), static Bayesian network (SBN) and logistic regression (LR) are used in this study. Results showed that lips and eyebrows are strongly correlated and have a significant role in improving cognitive distraction detection. Dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) with different confidence of levels was also used in this study to classify whether a driver is distracted or not.
Dropout, a basic and effective regularization method for a deep learning model: a case study
Authors: Jabir Brahim , Falih Noureddine
Published: November 2021

Deep learning is based on a network of artificial neurons inspired by the human brain. This network is made up of tens or even hundreds of "layers" of neurons. The fields of application of deep learning are indeed multiple; Agriculture is one of those fields in which deep learning is used in various agricultural problems (disease detection, pest detection, and weed identification). A major problem with deep learning is how to create a model that works well, not only on the learning set but also on the validation set. Many approaches used in neural networks are explicitly designed to reduce overfit, possibly at the expense of increasing validation accuracy and training accuracy. In this paper, a basic technique (dropout) is proposed to minimize overfit, we integrated it into a convolutional neural network model to classify weed species and see how it impacts performance, a complementary solution (exponential linear units) are proposed to optimize the obtained results. The results showed that these proposed solutions are practical and highly accurate, enabling us to adopt them in deep learning models.
Artificial neural network based meta-heuristic for performance improvement in physical internet supply chain network
Authors: Abdelsamad Chouar , Samir Tetouani , Aziz Soulhi , Jamila Elalami
Published: November 2021

Nowadays, reducing total costs while enhancing customer satisfaction is a major task for many supply chain systems. To deal with this issue, the physical internet (PI) paradigm can be represented as a potential replacement for the current logistics system. This paper devoted the cost reduction and lead time improvement in a PI-SCN using a hybrid framework based on an artificial neural network (ANN) and an improved slime mould algorithm (ISMA). To address the performance of the proposed framework, a real-case study in Morocco is considered. The new trainer ISMA’s performance has been investigated in three approximation datasets from the University of California at Irvine (UCI) machine-learning repository regarding nine recent metaheuristics. The experimental results highlight the effectiveness of ISMA according to other meta heuristics for training feed-forward neural networks (FNNs) to converge speed and to avoid local minima.
IMUW-APP: An instrument for measuring the usability of web applications
Authors: Mousa Ayad Hameed , Mohsen Mowafak K. , Alnasrawi Ali M. , Nasir Intedhar Shakir
Published: November 2021

Conventional usability measurement methods for measuring web applications are costly, sometimes time-consuming, and may require professionals. The frameworks, methods, approaches, and tools in which web applications are designed can fully support these limitations. The main issue is to speed up the evaluation process of websites in an effortless manner. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes an instrument that can use for measuring the usability of web applications (IMUW-APP). A systematic literature review was utilized to determine the instrument dimensions and their items. The validity and reliability test were conducted via face and content validity, goodness testing, and pilot study. Cronbach's Alpha, factor loading, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, and Barlett's test were +calculated to ensure the validity and reliability of the proposed instrument. In the light of our analyses, the obtained findings indicate that the proposed instrument (IMUWAPP) is workable and can adapt. Besides, a case study is used to verify the proposed instrument to evaluate a university website. The collecting data have been analyzed and visualized. Ultimately, the overall findings have highlighted.
Application of the Jaya algorithm to solve the optimal reliability allocation for reduction oxygen supply system of a spacecraft
Authors: Abed Saad Abbas , Aljanabi Mohammad , Ameer Noor Hayder Abdul , Ismail Mohd Arfian , Kasim Shahreen , Hassan Rohayanti , Sutikno Tole
Published: November 2021

In this paper the reliability of reduction oxygen supply system (ROSS) of a spacecraft which was calculated as a complex system using minimal cut method. The reliability of each component of system was calculated as well as the reliability importance of the system. The cost of each component of the system was possible approaches of the allocation values of reliability based the minimization of the overall cost in this system. The advantage of this algorithm can be used to allocate the optimization of reliability for simple or complex system. This optimization is achieved using the Jaya algorithm. The proposed technique is based on the notion that a conclusion reached on a particular problem should pass near the best results and avoid the worst outcomes. The original findings of this paper are: i) the system used in this paper is a spacecraft’s reduced oxygen supply system with the logarithmic cost function; and ii) the results obtained were by using the Jaya algorithm to solve specific system reliability optimization problems.
Green switch: an IoT based energy monitoring system for mabini building in De La Salle Lipa
Authors: Magtibay Oscar Bryan M. , Cabrera Rodelio H. , Roxas Joselito P. , Vera Mark Anthony De
Published: November 2021

Building energy management systems (BEMS) are critical tools for managing and controlling a facility's technical systems and services, such as lighting, ventilation, heating, and air conditioning, to ensure that the building operates at peak efficiency while decreasing energy waste. The Mabini Building at De La Salle Lipa has nearly a hundred rooms, 70 of which are used by college students for lecture and laboratory classes. From 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., these rooms are available. In a daily class schedule, air conditioning units and lights are used an average of 10 hours per day, while fans and power outlets are used an average of 5 hours. Even when no classes are being held, the aforementioned equipment is frequently left open in these rooms. The researchers created and constructed an IoT-based energy monitoring system to monitor and control the lights and outlets in a room. The system will also record the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed. The system employs NodeMCU, current, and voltage sensors, a Raspberry Pi 3, and the school's existing network to send and receive data from the server. The building administrator will use the collected data to give consumption statistics and reduce the carbon footprint.
Experimental study of through the wall imaging for the detection of vital life signs using SFWR
Authors: Thottempudi Pardhu , Kumar Vijay
Published: November 2021

Now a day’s defence applications associated to novel, army and military war fields are required wall imaging discrimination. As of now many wallimaging techniques are designed but didn’t identify the vital signs behind walls with accurate working. Therefore, a novel advance wall image tracking method is required identification of human target. An experimental study on through the wallimaging (TWI) to detect the life signs using sweep frequency continuous wave radar (SFCWR) is explained in this paper. The proposed system consists of agilent vector network analyzer (VNA) (Agilent E5071B ENA), horn antenna and a computer. The information of heart beat and the breathing can be a shift identification routine was used to collect information from the back scattering electric current. The outcomes of the procedure give the information of heart beat and breathing signs of real human being.
Intruder detection and recognition using different image processing techniques for a proactive surveillance
Authors: Rodelas Nelson C. , Ballera Melvin A.
Published: November 2021

To innovate a proactive surveillance camera, there is a need for efficient face detection and recognition algorithm. The researchers used one of the ViolaJones algorithm and used different image processing techniques to recognize intruders or not. The goal of the research is to recognize the fastest way on how the homeowners will be informed if an intruder or burglar enters their home using a proactive surveillance device. This device was programmed based on the different recognition algorithms and a criteria evaluation framework that could recognize intruders and burglars and the design used was developmental research to satisfy the research problem. The researchers used the Viola-Jones algorithm for face detection and five algorithms for face recognition. The criteria evaluation was used to identify the best face recognition algorithm and was tested in a real-world situation and captured a series of images camera and processed by proactive face detection and recognition. The result shows that the system can detect and recognize intruders and proactively send a notification to the homeowners via mobile application. It is concluded that the system can recognize the intruders and proactively notify the household members using the mobile applications and activate the alarm system of the house.
The readiness of Iraqi EFL teachers to use mobile learning in teaching English in schools
Authors: Mussa Ibtihal Hassan , Sazalli Nurhasmiza Abu Hasan
Published: November 2021

The importance of mobile learning (M-learning) has increased during the outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Level of English foreign language (EFL) teachers to use the technology should be assessed to understand the perception and readiness of EFL teachers to use M-learning. Building on existing literature, this study proposed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating condition will affect positively the readiness to use M-learning. The study also proposed attitude as a mediator and technology self-efficacy as a moderator. The data was collected from 163 EFL teachers in Iraq. The findings showed that facilitating condition, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence affected positively the readiness to use M-learning. Attitude fully mediated the effect of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence on readiness to use M-learning. Technology self-efficacy did not moderate the effect of the variables but it has a significant direct effect on readiness to use M-learning. Decision makers are recommended to enhance the infrastructure and to initiate training courses to enhance the information technology knowledge of the EFL teachers.
Combining serial and parallel decoding for turbo codes
Authors: AlMahamdy Mohammed , Al-Falahy Naser
Published: November 2021

Reducing the decoding latency of the turbo codes is important to real-time applications. Conventionally, the decoding of the turbo codes (TC) runs in serial fashion, which means only one of the constituent soft decoders runs at a time. Parallel decoding (PD) refers to running the soft decoders in parallel. Although it delivers the output faster (compared to the serial decoding (SD)), it affects the bit- and frame-error rates. This paper proposes a decoding procedure that combines both PD and SD. It bridges the two decoding modes to determine the best combination scheme to achieve the required level of performance at an acceptable decoding latency. Presented results show how this procedure can mitigate the performance degradation at a slight increase in the decoding latency.
O voto pró-Ditadura: o eleitorado da ARENA nas eleições regionais no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul entre 1966 e 1974
Authors: Ramos Filho Andre Luiz dos Santos
Published: November 2021

A Ditadura Civil-Militar é um dos temas mais abordados na historiografia nacional atualmente. Alguns de seus aspectos, no entanto, ainda merecem um olhar mais aprofundado. É o caso da dinâmica eleitoral durante a vigência do sistema bipartidário. No Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, as eleições para o Senado Federal substituíam, em termos de disputa, o pleito majoritário para o governo do estado, que fora suspenso com a imposição do Ato Institucional n.º 3. O partido do governo, a Aliança Renovadora Nacional (ARENA), atingiu resultados importantes nas urnas, elegendo seus candidatos nos pleitos de 1966 e 1970. Pretendemos analisar, no presente artigo, como se desenvolveu a campanha eleitoral arenista neste período, através da imprensa, e se os votos recebidos por esse partido se constituem como uma forma de apoio que a sociedade gaúcha emprestou à implantação de um regime de exceção.
Pela “alma cheia de esperança”: o contraponto à miséria na Educação
Authors: Ito Alec Ichiro
Published: November 2021

Este texto é uma intervenção crítica baseada na minha experiência em Universidades públicas e privadas. Destarte, problematizo a situação das práticas de leitura e escrita existente nessas duas modalidades de instituição, para depois sugerir que as condições precárias na Educação superior podem implicar uma inclusão excludente. Proponho que a Universidade pública e autônoma exerce um papel importante na transformação e emancipação mentais de educadores e educandos.
The Development and Validation of the Christian Environmentalism Scale (CES) from a Philippine Sample
Authors: Baring Rito , Molino Jeramie , Reysen Stephen
Published: November 2021

Responding to emerging ecotheologies, we articulated a new environmental construct distinct from previous environmental measures which largely follow developmental models. In the present study we developed and reviewed the psychometric properties of the Christian Environmentalism Scale (CES) initially in three dimensions from 970 youth participants in the Philippines. Study design included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for data reduction and best fit model analysis. CES is a unidimensional 15-item measure with a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .95) score and adequate results for best fit model. CES had significant associations with pro-environment and religious attitude scales indicating initial evidence of convergent validity.
Taxonomic monograph of Eugenia sect. Schizocalomyrtus (Myrtaceae: Myrteae), a group within Eugenia with unusual flowers
Authors: GIARETTA AUGUSTO , Lucas Eve , SANO PAULO TAKEO
Published: November 2021

Taxonomic monograph of Eugenia sect. Schizocalomyrtus, supported by molecular and morphological evidence, is presented. The flowers of this section have unusual fused calyces that are contrasted with standard Eugenia flowers with free calyx lobes. Because the fused calyx recurs in Myrtaceae and has been historically misleading for taxonomists, a key to Neotropical genera with fused calyces is presented. Additionally, Eugenia sect. Schizocalomyrtus is circumscribed, and a key to the ten species included in this section (two newly described) is provided. Detailed species descriptions, distribution and habitat notes, phenology, conservation status, nomenclatural and taxonomic comments, illustrations and distribution maps are also provided.
Assessment of Antibacterial Activity of Biosynthesised ZnO Nanoparticles Against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum Causing Bacterial Blight in Cotton
Authors: Promila  , Grewal Sapna , Kumari Santosh , Goel Sonia , Thakur Rajesh , Yashveer Shikha
Published: November 2021

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), is an important fibre and oilseed crop of the world. India in particular has the largest area under cotton cultivation and around 60% proportion in the raw fibre textile industry is contributed by cotton alone. Cotton is affected by many diseases
(bacterial blights, fungal leafspots, mildew) and pests (white flies, bollworms, aphids etc.). The bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum is considered as one of the most devastating one that cause huge losses in production every year. Due to
systemic spread of this bacterial infection, combating this disease is slightly challenging. Spray of toxic chemicals like endosulfan, streptocycline and dimethoate is a common practice in fields but these chemicals are unable to control the disease spread substantially. Nanotechnology is
a newly emerging technology that is being extensively exploited in the agriculture sector these days. Past studies have reported the antimicrobial effect of various metallic nanoparticles including zinc oxide nanoparticles which is known to possess antibacterial potential against both gram
+ve and gram −ve bacteria. Based upon this, synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles was carried out using Morus alba plant leaf extract and the nanoparticles were characterised in detail using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, electron dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy study etc. The zinc oxide nanoparticles were found crystalline in nature and the size ranged between 10–50 nanometers. The efficacy of these nanoparticles was checked against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum under in vitro conditions and
found to be very effective in controlling the bacterial spread in comparison to streptomycin that was used as control. Our results suggest that ZnO nanoparticles can be used as an effective antibacterial agent to control bacterial blight disease of cotton.
Controllable Preparation of Ag–Ce/ZnO Nanorods Photocatalyst and Its Growth on Modified Polyester Surface in Water Bath
Authors: Qiu Yu , Wang Li-Ming , Xu Li-Hui , Shen Yong , Wang Li-Ying , Liu Ya-Dong
Published: November 2021

In this paper, a simple and effective method to prepare Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods photocatalyst and grow them controllably on modified polyester fabrics was presented to fabricate multifunctional textiles. Analytical grade zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide were used as the
main raw materials to prepare Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods. Morphological, structural and chemical characterization of the Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods was performed by XRD, UV-vis and other spectroscopies. The results showed that the Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods had a hexagonal wurtzite structure. After
60 minutes of irradiation under ultraviolet light, the Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods showed a percentage photodegradation of 93.14% for a methylene blue (MB) solution. Modified polyester fabrics covered with the Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods were then prepared in a water bath. By a series of tests,
it was observed that the Ag–Ce/ZnO nanorods on the modified polyester surface were neatly arranged and had good photocatalytic properties. Moreover, the UPF of the modified polyester fabric after finishing increased from 30.4 to 877.2. The multifunctional properties of the finished fabric
exhibited good durability.
Effect of Rapid Cold Stamping on the Evolution of Long Strip-Shaped Nanoprecipitation in Al–Cu–Mg Alloy
Authors: Fan Yunan , Qi Fugang , Hu Zeyi , Shen Tong , Ou Ling , Yang Jianjun
Published: November 2021

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and hardness testing are used to investigate the evolution of the long strip-shaped S′ phase of spray-formed fine-grained Al–Cu–Mg alloy
during rapid cold stamping deformation. The elongated S′ phase of the extruded Al–Cu–Mg alloy is subjected to twisting, brittle fracturing, redissolution, and necking during rapid cold stamping deformation. As a result, the morphology, size, distribution, and orientation
relationship with the matrix of the long strip-shaped S′ phase changed significantly. The regularly distributed long strip-shaped nanoscale precipitates evolved into irregularly distributed short rod-shaped S′ phases and diffusely distributed granular reprecipitates.
The twist and brittle fracture of the long strip-shaped S′ phase significantly increased the contact surface between the precipitated phase and the aluminum matrix, improved the interfacial distortion energy of the precipitated phase and the aluminum matrix, and promoted the redissolution
of the S′ phase. The supersaturation state is reached, thus resulting in reprecipitation, which then lowered the matrix free energy. The hardness of the extruded Al–Cu–Mg alloy increased from 54.2 HB to 128.1 HB during the rapid cold stamping process.
Synthesis of Tower-Like ZnO Nanostructures and Its Optical Properties
Authors: Hu Lingwei , Hu Chunhong , Zhu Qiuxiang , Wu Anquan , Yang Jing , Wang Shaohui , Li Jitao
Published: November 2021

A peculiar tower-like ZnO nanostructure was synthesized using an economical and facile hydrothermal method, with zinc acetate [ZAc, Zn(CH3COO)2 · 2H2O] and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA, C6H12N4) as the source materials.
The as-synthesized tower-like ZnO was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The characterization results indicated that the tower-like ZnO nanostructures are high-quality monocrystals. The as-synthesized ZnO
nanostructures may have application in sensing area due to its high specific surface areas. The growth mechanism, as well as the optical properties of the as-synthesized tower-like ZnO nanostructures was also studied.
More than Means to an End: Assessing Surgical Provider Familiarity with Palliative Care
Authors: Ward Candace L. , Goetz Austin B. , Olafson Samantha N. , Cohen Ryan B. , Kaplan Mark J , Moran Benjamin J. , Strain Jay J. , Parsikia Afshin , Ansari Huma , Leung Pak
Published: November 2021

Background

As palliative medicine concepts emerge as essential surgical education, there has been a resulting spike in surgical palliative care research. Historic surgical dogma viewed mortality and comfort-focused care as a failure of the providers’ endurance, knowledge base, or technical skill. Therefore, many providers avoided consultation to a palliative medicine service until it became evident a patient could not survive or was actively dying. As the need for surgical palliative care grows, the identification of deficits in surgical providers’ understanding of the scope of palliative medicine is necessary to direct further training and development efforts.

Method

A ten-question survey was emailed to all residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and attending physicians in the general surgery and subspecialty surgical departments within the Einstein Healthcare Network.

Results

30 non-trainees (attending surgeons, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) and 26 trainees (PGY-1 to PGY-5) completed the survey. Less than half of participants reported training in conversations regarding withdrawal of life-prolonging treatments in the setting of expected poor outcomes, 55% reported receiving training in pain management, and 64% reported receiving training in delivery of bad news. 54% report being involved in five or more end-of-life discussions in the last year with trainees reporting fewer end-of-life discussions than non-trainees; 67% of trainees reported zero to four discussions while 23% of non-trainees reported over twenty discussions ( P = .009).

Conclusions

Despite many participants training in intensive care settings, providers lack the training to carry out major discussions regarding life-limiting illness, goals of care, and end-of-life independently.
Do Firms Adjust Corporate Social Responsibility Engagement After a Focal Change in Credit Ratings?
Authors: Karampatsas Nikolaos , Aktas Nihat , Witkowski Alexander
Published: November 2021

This study revisits the relation between corporate performance and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of a major shift in firms’ credit risk status. Relying on corporate credit rating as a performance indicator, we examine whether firms under the scrutiny of rating agencies trade-off CSR engagement for credit quality improvement. To explore whether firms adjust their CSR engagement after a focal rating change, we focus on the investment–speculative grade threshold because of its importance in accessing the public debt market. We find that firms that lose the investment grade rating subsequently increase CSR engagement. We also uncover that improving CSR engagement helps firms restore their credit ratings ex post. Our findings support the view of CSR engagement as a valuable risk management strategy.
Social and Structural Determinants of Health: Exploring Occupational Therapy's Structural (In)competence
Authors: Hammell Karen Whalley
Published: November 2021

Background: In high-income countries, such as Canada, 50% of health outcomes are attributable to social determinants. Occupational opportunities are also structurally determined, yet these inequities are obscured by the White, Western assumptions and ableist neoliberal ideology in which the profession is deeply rooted. Purpose. To highlight the impact of structural injustices and other social determinants of health and occupation; explore the occupational therapy profession's structural competence; and build on existing knowledge to advance an agenda for action on injustice and inequity for the occupational therapy profession. Key issues. Occupational therapy's failure to prioritize education, research and action on systemic injustices and other social determinants of health and occupation reflects a lack of commitment to achieving the World Federation of Occupational Therapists' Minimal Standards. Implications. If occupational therapy is to advance knowledge and practices that address inequities in the social and structural determinants of health and occupation, we must strive towards structural competence.
Continuity of Offending in Young Adulthood: A Test of Moffitt’s Snares Hypothesis
Authors: Widdowson Alex O. , Ranson J. W. Andrew , Kyser Anna M.
Published: November 2021

Moffitt’s snares hypothesis posits that snares—such as addiction to drugs and alcohol, time spent incarcerated, unemployment, teenage parenthood, high school dropout, and disabling injuries—can trap individuals into persistent patterns of offending during periods in the lifecourse when desistance is normative. We test this hypothesis using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 to examine the associations and mechanisms between snare exposure and criminal offending during young adulthood. Results indicate that snare exposure was associated with increased offending and that this was in part due to snare exposure undermining a successful transition to adulthood, harming health, and producing social disadvantage. Moreover, the association between snare exposure and offending varied for different life-course offending trajectories.
The Return to Hours Worked within and across Occupations: Implications for the Gender Wage Gap
Authors: Denning Jeffrey T. , Jacob Brian A. , Lefgren Lars J. , vom Lehn Christian
Published: November 2021

Prior research suggests that gender differences in hours worked play an important role in the gender pay gap. Yet common estimates of the wage returns to hours worked are close to zero, implying that hours differences explain little of the gender wage gap, even though men work more hours than women on average. However, while the wage returns to hours worked within occupations are small, the authors document that the wage returns to average hours worked across occupations are large. They develop a conceptual framework that reconciles these facts. Findings show that, under some assumptions, gender differences in hours worked can account for a substantial portion of the gender wage gap and that increases in the returns to hours worked over the past four decades slowed progress in reducing the gender pay gap.
Social Axioms Mediate Gender Differences in Gender Ideologies Among Guatemalan University Students
Authors: Luna-Sánchez Sandra Elizabeth , Gibbons Judith L. , Grazioso María del Pilar , Ureta Morales Francisco José , García de la Cadena Claudia
Published: November 2021

Gender role ideologies are embedded in cultural values and assumptions about life. Women’s greater endorsement of egalitarian beliefs may stem from gender differences in world views as indexed by social axioms. The purpose of this study was to examine potential mediators of gender differences in gender ideologies among university students in Guatemala, a country where traditional views are prevalent. Participants, 2,134 university students from nine campuses in different regions of Guatemala (43% male, 85% emerging adults), completed a Social Axioms Scale, along with three culturally relevant measures of gender ideology: the Historic-Sociocultural Premises Scale (HSCP) and the Machismo Measure that taps both traditional machismo and caballerismo (gentlemanliness). Consistent with previous research in other countries, men held more traditional attitudes about gender and the family than did women on all measures. Gender differences on all scales were mediated by cynicism and religiosity. Fate control mediated the gender differences in traditional machismo and the HSCP. These findings suggest that Guatemalan women and men through socialization, cultural demands, and life experiences develop gender-specific ways of viewing the world, and their attitudes about gender roles are shaped by those worldviews. The achievement of gender equality, a U.N. sustainable development goal, may require attention to the underlying world views of women and men.
Does Perceived Governance Quality Improve Toward the North and South Poles for Eco-Cultural Reasons?
Authors: Van de Vliert Evert , Conway Lucian Gideon
Published: November 2021

Good government is vital to human society. But what proximal and distal factors influence this collective goodness perception? Here, we investigate how and why multi-component evaluations by many institutional observers of public governance vary along the north-south rather than east-west axis of the Earth. Across 190 countries, we show that governance quality improves from the equator toward the North and South Poles in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. By contrast, governance quality hardly varies from east to west. National wealth, surfacing as the main driver of good government, is spatially distributed along latitude and longitude in the same striking way. In broader detail, governance quality is psychologically accounted for by cultural, economic, and pathogenic explanations, all nested within a climate-based explanation. Taken in total, the results suggest a chain of increasingly distal explanations of the equator-to-pole improvements in perceived governance quality.
Arrested Friendships? Justice Involvement and Interpersonal Exclusion among Rural Youth
Authors: Jacobsen Wade C. , Ragan Daniel T. , Yang Mei , Nadel Emily L. , Feinberg Mark E.
Published: November 2021

Objectives: We examine the impacts of adolescent arrest on friendship networks. In particular, we extend labeling theory by testing hypotheses for three potential mechanisms of interpersonal exclusion related to the stigma of arrest: rejection, withdrawal, and homophily. Method: We use longitudinal data on 48 peer networks from PROSPER, a study of rural youth followed through middle and high school. We test our hypotheses using stochastic actor–based models. Results: Our findings suggest that arrested youth are less likely to receive friendship ties from school peers and are also less likely to extend them. Moreover, these negative associations are attenuated by higher levels of risky behaviors among peers, suggesting that results are driven by exclusion from normative rather than nonnormative friendships. We find evidence of homophily on arrest but it appears to be driven by other selection mechanisms rather than a direct preference for similarity on arrest. Conclusions: Overall, our findings speak to how an arrest may foster social exclusion in rural schools, thereby limiting social capital for already disadvantaged youth.
Review: Georg Simmel, Essays on Art and Aesthetics
Authors: Goetschel Willi
Published: November 2021

With the publication of Georg Simmel’s Essays on Art and Aesthetics there is now an illuminating collection of Simmel’s essays that makes a decisive dimension of Simmel’s thought available to English readers. Austin Harrington’s masterfully curated selection, introduced with a thorough and informative discussion, presents Simmel’s thought on art and aesthetics in a way that makes it now for the first time possible to fully appreciate the essayistic yet coherently critical thrust of Simmel’s thought in its extraordinary range and detail.
Investigating and optimizing score dependability of a local ITA speaking test across language groups: A generalizability theory approach
Authors: Shin Ji-young
Published: November 2021

With the present study I investigated the sources of score variance and dependability in a local oral English proficiency test for potential international teaching assistants (ITAs) across four first language (L1) groups, and suggested alternative test designs. Using generalizability theory, I examined the relative importance of L1s (i.e., Indian, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish), examinees, tasks, and ratings to score variability, and estimated dependability across the L1s. The analyses identified examinees as the largest contributor, which is important for high dependability and validity arguments for test scores. Effects of ratings and tasks were small, but L1 effects on score variance were considerable, with the Indian group’s dependability lowest. Unlike previous generalizability theory studies on L1 effects, however, further analyses revealed that the L1 effects highly likely reflect proficiency differences rather than strong bias when comparing the percent agreement of the ratings, external criteria of examinee English proficiency, and underlying score distributions. I discuss the proficiency differences related to varied socio-linguistic contexts of using and learning English. Lastly, I suggest an alternative design with fewer items and one additional rating for improved dependability. Considering multiple test purposes specific to ITA testing (i.e., efficiency, construct representation, formative advantages), I propose a flexible approach.
The Intention-Behavior gap in Ethical Consumption: Mediators, Moderators and Consumer Profiles Based on Ethical Priorities
Authors: Casais Beatriz , Faria Joana
Published: November 2021

Ethical consumers do not always convert their beliefs into purchasing decisions and the impact of influencing variables on the intention-behavior (I-B) gap in ethical consumption remains unresearched. The answers of 364 respondents expressing their intentions regarding ethical consumption and of 346 having ever purchased ethically show that the I-B relationship is mediated by Plans and Habits and moderated by Commitment and Sacrifice, although this was not a full moderation. This study identifies four profiles of ethical consumers, considering the hierarchy of ethical choices and the fact that ethical issues are prioritized as primary and secondary concerns. This paper is the first to measure the mediation and moderation variables regarding the I-B gap in ethical consumption, discussing intervention and priorities to close the gap: promoting ethical consumption as a social norm, expanding the distribution of prioritized ethical products, and mitigating the barriers that entail sacrifices to purchasing ethically.
Instantaneous center/axis of rotation for planar and three-dimensional motion
Authors: Kunz Donald L
Published: November 2021

This article discusses a direct analytical method for calculating the instantaneous center of rotation and the instantaneous axis of rotation for the two-dimensional and three-dimensional motion, respectively, of rigid bodies. In the case of planar motion, this method produces a closed-form expression for the instantaneous center of rotation based on a single point located on the rigid body. It can also be used to derive closed-form expressions for the body and space centrodes. For three-dimensional, rigid body motion, an extension of the technique used for planar motion locates a point on the instantaneous axis of rotation, which is parallel to the body angular velocity vector. In addition, methods are demonstrated that can be used to map the body and space cones for general rigid body motion, and locate the fixed point for the body.
The Twenty-Fifth Dynasty Theban Mortuary Temple of the Vizier Nebneteru, Reused by Khonsuirdis and Others
Authors: Howley Kathryn , Creasman Pearce Paul
Published: November 2021

The Third Intermediate Period temple tomb, or mortuary temple, of Nebneteru, most often referred to as the tomb of Khonsuirdis, was described by Petrie as ‘one of the most prominent landmarks of the western side of Thebes’, yet remains little discussed in the scholarly literature. It was excavated by Petrie in the 1890s and more fully by an Italian team in the 1970s, but never fully published. The scattered references to archaeological and textual evidence for the monument and those interred within it are surveyed in this article, including new evidence from the University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition’s excavations at the adjoining site of the Tausret Memorial Temple. In light of recently updated understandings of Third Intermediate Period material culture, an argument is made for a revised early Twenty-Fifth Dynasty dating of the monument. The mortuary temple of Nebneteru, though little known, offers a rare and interesting glimpse into the funerary belief and practice of the Egyptian high élite in the early Twenty-Fifth Dynasty.
Decellularized Human Umbilical Cord Wharton Jelly Scaffold Improves Tendon Regeneration in a Rabbit Rotator Cuff Tendon Defect Model
Authors: Yuan Zhiguo , Cao Fuyang , Gao Cangjian , Yang Zhen , Guo Quanyi , Wang You
Published: November 2021

Background:

Owing to limited self-healing capacity, failure of rotator cuff tendon healing is a common complication after surgery. Biological scaffolds have garnered attention owing to their potential to enhance healing outcomes.

Purpose:

To verify the effect of the decellularized umbilical cord Wharton jelly (DUCWJ) scaffold as a bridging scaffold in a rabbit model of acute rotator cuff tendon defect.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

We fabricated a DUCWJ scaffold using a physicochemical decellularized method, evaluating changes in the umbilical cord Wharton jelly before and after decellularization. Scanning electron microscopy and biomechanical testing were performed to determine the microstructure and mechanical properties. We assessed cytocompatibility and cell regulatory behavior of the scaffold toward tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs). A supraspinatus tendon defect was created in 54 New Zealand White rabbits, allocated to the DUCWJ scaffold repair group and the negative control group (without scaffold). Histology, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and biomechanical tensile strength were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively.

Results:

Decellularization completely removed cells from the umbilical cord Wharton jelly, retained a considerable amount of glycosaminoglycan and collagen, and preserved the microstructure and tensile strength. The DUCWJ scaffold facilitated migration and proliferation of TSPCs in vitro. Tendon-related gene expression revealed that the DUCWJ scaffold could maintain the tenocyte phenotype of TSPCs. In the in vivo study, the DUCWJ scaffold improved tendon healing and enhanced the biomechanical strength of repaired tendons. Histological evaluation scores of the DUCWJ group were significantly higher than those of the negative control at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery ( P < .05). In repaired tendon tissues, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction findings revealed that the DUCWJ scaffold stimulated tendon development and maturation. Furthermore, an overall increase in ultimate load and tensile modulus was noted over time; the DUCWJ group presented better results than the negative control group ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

The DUCWJ scaffold has an excellent 3-dimensional porous structure, good biocompatibility, and fundamental biomechanical characteristics, and it promotes migration, attachment, and proliferation of TSPCs. The in vivo animal study demonstrated that the DUCWJ scaffold has potential for tendon regeneration in an acute rotator cuff tendon defect model

Clinical Relevance:

DUCWJ scaffolds have potential as a regenerative material to augment rotator cuff healing in the clinical setting.
Transformative Authorship Through Critical Dialogue: Concepts, Theory, and Practice
Authors: Sarja Anneli , Arvaja Maarit
Published: November 2021

This conceptual article deals with components and concepts of transformative learning, emphasizing the organization-level perspective on critical reflection. The discussion leans on the concept of transformative authorship and it is argued that it enables authoring processes through which professionals can recognize and recreate their routinized work practices. The aim of the research is to explore how professional experiences are integrated with reflexive, theoretical knowledge through critical dialogue. The authoring process of transformative authorship is illustrated with two complementary case studies from postgraduate health care education. In both cases, the learning tasks were designed as constructed objects by various instructional interventions where organizational contradictions or dilemmas were used as an inspiring premise for transformation. Transformative authorship was realized as the professionals’ reflexive awareness of their capacity to influence the intentional variation in their modes of action.