bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distance-based Classification and Regression Trees for the analysis of complex predictors in health and medical research
Authors: Johns Hannah , Bernhardt Julie , Churilov Leonid
Published: July 2021

Predicting patient outcomes based on patient characteristics and care processes is a common task in medical research. Such predictive features are often multifaceted and complex, and are usually simplified into one or more scalar variables to facilitate statistical analysis. This process, while necessary, results in a loss of important clinical detail. While this loss may be prevented by using distance-based predictive methods which better represent complex healthcare features, the statistical literature on such methods is limited, and the range of tools facilitating distance-based analysis is substantially smaller than those of other methods. Consequently, medical researchers must choose to either reduce complex predictive features to scalar variables to facilitate analysis, or instead use a limited number of distance-based predictive methods which may not fulfil the needs of the analysis problem at hand. We address this limitation by developing a Distance-Based extension of Classification and Regression Trees (DB-CART) capable of making distance-based predictions of categorical, ordinal and numeric patient outcomes. We also demonstrate how this extension is compatible with other extensions to CART, including a recently published method for predicting care trajectories in chronic disease. We demonstrate DB-CART by using it to expand upon previously published dose–response analysis of stroke rehabilitation data. Our method identified additional detail not captured by the previously published analysis, reinforcing previous conclusions. We also demonstrate how by combining DB-CART with other extensions to CART, the method is capable of making predictions about complex, multifaceted outcome data based on complex, multifaceted predictive features.
General regression methods for respondent-driven sampling data
Authors: Yauck Mamadou , Moodie Erica EM , Apelian Herak , Fourmigue Alain , Grace Daniel , Hart Trevor , Lambert Gilles , Cox Joseph
Published: July 2021

Respondent-driven sampling is a variant of link-tracing sampling techniques that aim to recruit hard-to-reach populations by leveraging individuals’ social relationships. As such, a respondent-driven sample has a graphical component which represents a partially observed network of unknown structure. Moreover, it is common to observe homophily, or the tendency to form connections with individuals who share similar traits. Currently, there is a lack of principled guidance on multivariate modelling strategies for respondent-driven sampling to address peer effects driven by homophily and the dependence between observations within the network. In this work, we propose a methodology for general regression techniques using respondent-driven sampling data. This is used to study the socio-demographic predictors of HIV treatment optimism (about the value of antiretroviral therapy) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, recruited into a respondent-driven sampling study in Montreal, Canada.
Chemistry in the mail: Stamps from around the globe and public science communication in the twentieth century
Authors: Krall Madison A. , Parks Melissa M. , Krebs Emily , Mann Benjamin W. , Maison Kourtney , Jensen Robin E.
Published: July 2021

Postage stamps are designed to convey messages that reverberate symbolically with broad swaths of the public, and their content has been employed as a window into how members of the public understand the ideas represented therein. In this rhetorical analysis, we analyze Philadelphia’s Science History Institute’s Witco Stamp Collection, which features 430 stamps from countries around the globe dating from 1910 to 1983, to identify how chemistry is portrayed in this ubiquitous medium. We find the vernacular of science reflected and supported by these images functions to (a) define chemistry in terms of its invisibility and abstraction; (b) uphold chemical operations as instrumental and daedal, or exceptional, in nature; and (c) delineate practitioners of chemistry as—on the whole—privileged and preternatural. Our findings reveal some of the overarching communicative tools made available to twentieth-century non-experts for articulating chemistry as an enterprise and reveal how those tools positioned chemistry in terms of values related to opacity and exclusivity.
α-Mangostin Induces Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma Cells Through ROS-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via the WNT Pathway
Authors: Yang Shengsen , Zhou Fei , Dong Yi , Ren Fei
Published: July 2021

α-mangostin has been confirmed to promote the apoptosis of MG-63 cells, but its specific pro-apoptosis mechanism in osteosarcoma (OS) remains further investigation. Here, we demonstrated that α-mangostin restrained the viability of OS cells (143B and Saos-2), but had little effect on the growth of normal human osteoblast. α-mangostin increased OS cell apoptosis by activating the caspase-3/8 cascade. Besides, α-mangostin induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and restrained the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity. 4PBA (an ER stress inhibitor) or LiCl (an effective Wnt activator) treatment effectively hindered α-mangostin-induced apoptosis and the caspase-3/8 cascade. Furthermore, we also found that α-mangostin induced ER stress by promoting ROS production. And ER stress-mediated apoptosis caused by ROS accumulation depended on the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In addition, α-mangostin significantly hindered the growth of xenograft tumors, induced the expression of ER stress marker proteins and activation of the caspase-3/8 cascade, and restrained the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo. In short, ROS-mediated ER stress was involved in α-mangostin triggered apoptosis, which might depended on Wnt/β-catenin signaling inactivation.
Workplace Spirituality and Employee Job Attitude: Direct Test Effect: An Empirical Check Among Nursing Community
Authors: Baskar B. , Indradevi R.
Published: July 2021

Workplace spirituality is a concept that is gaining traction in the business world. Finding opportunities for self-expression, practicing moral ideals at work, and experiencing sacredness in all aspects of life is what workplace spirituality entails. Nursing is a physically and emotionally taxing career when compared to other occupations, especially given the large amount of physical and emotional labour needed in patient care. The goal of this paper was to synthesise the relationship between workplace spirituality and one of three forms of employee job attitude. The study finding shows that there is a high relationship between spirituality in the workplace and employee job attitude. An integrated environment is necessary for any successful job. This study seems to be of value to researchers and practitioners. Spirituality in the workplace needs to be strengthened by an establishment's HR ethic, which in effect helps to build a positive work atmosphere for the future.
Citizens’ Perceptions of Local Government Services and Their Trust in Local Authorities: Implications for Local Government in Mauritius
Authors: Naraidoo Sanju , Sobhee Sanjeev K.
Published: July 2021

The linkage between local perceptions of municipal services and the level of trust in the local government is an under-researched and yet relevant aspect for a small multi-ethnic island like Mauritius. This research draws from the opinions of some 400 Mauritian inhabitants gathered through a Citizens’ Satisfaction Survey carried out in 2018 to evaluate the attitudes of citizens towards local government services and trigger further research on future options for improving the local government sector. The results from a structural equation modelling (SEM) indicate that satisfaction with local outputs is a significant predictor of trust in local authorities. Trust in public institutions is also found to be a possible mediator in this nexus. Further probing into citizens’ responses reveals that their preferences for local public goods differ across jurisdictions and vary with level of education. Findings also point to a tendency for citizen mobility which can have important implications for improving local services through fiscal decentralisation.

JEL Classification: H1, H3, H4
Imagine the Postpandemic Classroom
Authors: Liu Chiao-Wei
Published: July 2021

In this column, I direct the readers’ attention to issues that deserve to be addressed in the postpandemic classroom. While recent reports identified that learning loss, social isolation, political turmoil, and social upheaval have put an enormous strain on students’ mental health, I invite the readers reflect on your own experiences and consider pedagogical shifts that would help us meet the students where they are. I propose that topics like uncertainty, flexibility, and versatility should also be taken into serious consideration as we plan for the next school year. I end this column with a few curriculum ideas and suggest that we make space for uncertainty in our classroom and create space for what could yet become.
Hospice Enrollment, Future Hospitalization, and Future Costs Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Patients Who Received Palliative Care Consultation
Authors: Starr Lauren T. , Ulrich Connie M. , Perez G. Adriana , Aryal Subhash , Junker Paul , O’Connor Nina R. , Meghani Salimah H.
Published: July 2021

Background:

Palliative care consultation to discuss goals-of-care (“PCC”) may mitigate end-of-life care disparities.

Objective:

To compare hospitalization and cost outcomes by race and ethnicity among PCC patients; identify predictors of hospice discharge and post-discharge hospitalization utilization and costs.

Methods:

This secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study assessed hospice discharge, do-not-resuscitate status, 30-day readmissions, days hospitalized, ICU care, any hospitalization cost, and total costs for hospitalization with PCC and hospitalization(s) post-discharge among 1,306 Black/African American, Latinx, White, and Other race PCC patients at a United States academic hospital.

Results:

In adjusted analyses, hospice enrollment was less likely with Medicaid (AOR = 0.59, P = 0.02). Thirty-day readmission was less likely among age 75+ (AOR = 0.43, P = 0.02); more likely with Medicaid (AOR = 2.02, P = 0.004), 30-day prior admission (AOR = 2.42, P < 0.0001), and Black/African American race (AOR = 1.57, P = 0.02). Future days hospitalized was greater with Medicaid (Coefficient = 4.49, P = 0.001), 30-day prior admission (Coefficient = 2.08, P = 0.02), and Black/African American race (Coefficient = 2.16, P = 0.01). Any future hospitalization cost was less likely among patients ages 65-74 and 75+ (AOR = 0.54, P = 0.02; AOR = 0.53, P = 0.02); more likely with Medicaid (AOR = 1.67, P = 0.01), 30-day prior admission (AOR = 1.81, P = 0.0001), and Black/African American race (AOR = 1.40, P = 0.02). Total future hospitalization costs were lower for females (Coefficient = −3616.64, P = 0.03); greater with Medicaid (Coefficient = 7388.43, P = 0.01), 30-day prior admission (Coefficient = 3868.07, P = 0.04), and Black/African American race (Coefficient = 3856.90, P = 0.04). Do-not-resuscitate documentation (48%) differed by race.

Conclusions:

Among PCC patients, Black/African American race and social determinants of health were risk factors for future hospitalization utilization and costs. Medicaid use predicted hospice discharge. Social support interventions are needed to reduce future hospitalization disparities.
Developing the Future End-of-Life Health Care Workforce: Lessons Learned From a Survey of Advanced Health Professions Students
Authors: Boucher Nathan A. , Dries Emma , Franzione Anita , Burton-Chase Allison M. , Morris Deborah , Sautter Jessica
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To examine health professions trainees’ end-of-life (EOL) care knowledge, attitudes, and intentions.

Methods:

IRB-approved online survey of 346 students/5 universities in final training years—public health, pharmacy, physician, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and physical therapy (April-May 2016). Queried knowledge, attitudes, and intentions toward EOL care.

Results:

Sufficient knowledge of palliative care was reported by 25% while sufficient knowledge of advance care planning (ACP) was 17%. Ninety-six percent thought it important to discuss EOL issues in training; 92% believed their professions played important roles in EOL care. Managing pain was chosen as the best example of palliative care by 93.6% and designating healthcare proxies was reported as the best example of ACP (5.8%). Pharmacy, public health, and rehabilitation therapy students were less likely than physician and physician assistant trainees to report intent to work in EOL care. Among those who want to work in EOL care, 65% reported having clinical experience with seriously ill or dying patients/clients. We discuss other findings related to perceptions of didactic preparation in palliative care, palliative care knowledge access/function, death/dying attitudes, and intentions toward seriously illness care.

Discussion:

There is interest in and knowledge of palliative care, including EOL care, among multiple health professions. Provides guidance for how we train health professionals to improve population health by optimizing EOL care.
Effect of Acupressure and Abdominal Massage on Constipation in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Durmuş İskender Mahinur , Çalışkan Nurcan
Published: July 2021

This study was a randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of acupressure and abdominal massage on constipation development for patients with TKA. The patients were randomly assigned to each group: control group ( n = 31), acupressure group ( n = 30), and abdominal massage group ( n = 30). The finding showed that the severity of constipation and straining stool consistency of the groups in which acupressure and abdominal massage was applied are significantly better than the control group ( p < .05). When the first defecation times of the groups are analyzed, it is seen that the patients to whom acupressure and abdominal massage are applied defecate significantly earlier than the control group ( p < .05). It has been concluded that safe non-invasive acupressure and abdominal massage that can be easily applied by health professions, healthy individuals, and patients is effective on patients with total knee arthroplasty for the prevention of constipation.
Arousing Motives or Eliciting Stories? On the Role of Pictures in a Picture–Story Exercise
Authors: Schäpers Philipp , Krumm Stefan , Lievens Filip , Stenzel Nikola
Published: July 2021

Picture–story exercises (PSE) form a popular measurement approach that has been widely used for the assessment of implicit motives. However, current theorizing offers two diverging perspectives on the role of pictures in PSEs: either to elicit stories or to arouse motives. In the current study, we tested these perspectives in an experimental design. We administered a PSE either with or without pictures. Results from N = 281 participants revealed that the experimental manipulation had a medium to large effect for the affiliation and power motive domains, but no effect for the achievement motive domain. We conclude that the herein chosen pictures cues function differentially across motives, as they aroused the affiliation and power motives, but not the achievement motive.
Decentralized control for large scale systems with inherently coupled subsystems
Authors: Svoboda Filip , Hengster-Movric Kristian , Hromčík Martin
Published: July 2021

This paper brings a novel scalable control design methodology for Large-Scale Systems. Such systems are considered as multi-agent systems with inherent interactions between neighboring agents. The presented design methodology uses single-agent dynamics and their interaction topology, rather than relying on the model of the entire system. The dimension of the design problem therefore remains the same with growing number of agents. This allows a feasible control design even for large systems. Moreover, the proposed design is based on simple Linear Matrix Inequalities, efficiently solvable using standard computational tools. Numerical results validate the proposed approach.
A corrugated-core sandwich beam with local resonators for low-frequency broadband elastic wave attenuation
Authors: Xi Chenyang , Zhu Xiaosong , Zheng Hui
Published: July 2021

This article attempts to enhance the low-frequency vibration suppression performance of corrugated-core sandwich beams. Multiple local resonators are introduced into the corrugated-core sandwich beam to acquire low-frequency bandgaps with broader bandwidth and higher wave attenuation capability. The governing equations for vibration analysis of the local resonator–attached corrugated-core sandwich beam are established based on the spectral element method, which incorporates the locally resonant effect by adding the dynamic stiffness term of one specific resonator to the degree of freedom that it attaches to. The bandgaps of the proposed periodic structure are further derived by imposing the Bloch boundary conditions. After validating the numerical model through finite element simulations as well as experimental investigations, the bandgaps and vibration transmissibility of the corrugated-core sandwich beam are carried out, both with and without attached local resonators. It is found that the vibration reduction capability of the corrugated-core sandwich beam is greatly enhanced, bringing two low-frequency bandgaps with high attenuation factors and wide bandwidths. Meantime, the first bandgap of resonator-free corrugated-core sandwich beam is broadened apparently. An interesting result is that the bandgap with higher frequency is split by a newly generated passband. Furthermore, parametric studies are performed, and it is found that the regulating characteristics of the bandgaps obtained through varying the attachment location of local resonators are similar to those through tuning their inherent parameters.
All-composite integrated 3D-Kagome lattice cores sandwich structure with flexible mortise-tenon joints
Authors: Xie Minhui , Gao Liang , Cao Dong , Xie Botao , Li Kai , Yan Changqing , Zhang Shangda
Published: July 2021

Composite lattice cores sandwich structures have shown obvious advantages in specific mechanical property and potential multifunctional integration. 3D-Kagome lattice core is regarded as a classic core configuration with relative optimal theoretical performance. However, it is still unavailable due to preparation problem of the overlap joint-node of composite cores. In this paper, a self-locking mortise-tenon joint method is presented to sucessfully fabricate the integrated 3D-Kagome cores with the expected mechanical properties. The out-of-plane compressive behaviour and energy absorption characteristics are experimentally studied. For the composite structures with various relative densities, three kinds of compressive curves are observed, following by different failure modes. An obvious bearing reinforcement emerges for the lattice cores with high relative density. As the length-to-thickness ratio of the core-rods increases, the initial peak strength and modulus of structures both decrease with a slowing rate. Though the mortises weaken the load-bearing capacity of core-rods, the active constraint of mortise-tenon joint suppresses an obvious degradation. The dominated failure more depends on the core-height than rod-thickness. The composite 3D-Kagome cores show more excellent mechanical properties than other similar structures, especially for the elastic strain before the initial peak stress. The semi-rigid power-wasting mortise-tenon joint and load-bearing characteristics of Kagome core together provide a large deformation tolerance at a relatively high stress level. All suggest that the presented 3D-Kagome lattice cores could be considered as a potential energy absorbing material.
Cloud Computing Enabled Big Multi-Omics Data Analytics
Authors: Koppad Saraswati , B Annappa , Gkoutos Georgios V , Acharjee Animesh
Published: July 2021

High-throughput experiments enable researchers to explore complex multifactorial diseases through large-scale analysis of omics data. Challenges for such high-dimensional data sets include storage, analyses, and sharing. Recent innovations in computational technologies and approaches, especially in cloud computing, offer a promising, low-cost, and highly flexible solution in the bioinformatics domain. Cloud computing is rapidly proving increasingly useful in molecular modeling, omics data analytics (eg, RNA sequencing, metabolomics, or proteomics data sets), and for the integration, analysis, and interpretation of phenotypic data. We review the adoption of advanced cloud-based and big data technologies for processing and analyzing omics data and provide insights into state-of-the-art cloud bioinformatics applications.
Streaming ambivalence: Livestreaming and indie game development
Authors: Parker Felan , Perks Matthew E
Published: July 2021

Commercial game makers at all scales of production have increasingly come to incorporate livestreaming into every stage of the game development cycle. Mainstream hits like Fortnite and League of Legends owe their ongoing success in no small part to their massive uptake by streamers, and triple-A releases from major publishers can reliably expect significant attention on streaming platforms. But what about smaller, lower budget games? For independent game developers, the costs and benefits of streaming are less clear. Based on interviews with small commercial indie developers in Toronto and Montréal, this article critically examines different discourses around streaming and commercial indie games, focusing on developer perceptions of the benefits and risks of streaming and its impacts on indie game-making practices, including production, promotion, and community-building. Contrary to persistent popular myths about streaming as the key to ‘discoverability’, commercial indie game development remains a precarious form of cultural work, and indie games collectively attract only a tiny fraction of the overall audience on streaming platforms. There is a high level of uncertainty about the factors that led to a given game’s success, leaving many indie developers ambivalent about leveraging influencer attention and even as they commit significant time and energy trying to doing so.
Challenges of using asthma admission rates as a measure of primary care quality in children: An international comparison
Authors: Lut Irina , Lewis Kate , Wijlaars Linda , Gilbert Ruth , Fitzpatrick Tiffany , Lu Hong , Guttmann Astrid , Goldfield Sharon , Lei Shaoke , Gunnlaugsson Geir , Hrafn Jónsson Stefán , Mechtler Reli , Gissler Mika , Hjern Anders , Hardelid Pia
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To demonstrate the challenges of interpreting cross-country comparisons of paediatric asthma hospital admission rates as an indicator of primary care quality.

Methods

We used hospital administrative data from >10 million children aged 6–15 years, resident in Austria, England, Finland, Iceland, Ontario (Canada), Sweden or Victoria (Australia) between 2008 and 2015. Asthma hospital admission and emergency department (ED) attendance rates were compared between countries using Poisson regression models, adjusted for age and sex.

Results

Hospital admission rates for asthma per 1000 child-years varied eight-fold across jurisdictions. Admission rates were 3.5 times higher when admissions with asthma recorded as any diagnosis were considered, compared with admissions with asthma as the primary diagnosis. Iceland had the lowest asthma admission rates; however, when ED attendance rates were considered, Sweden had the lowest rate of asthma hospital contacts.

Conclusions

The large variations in childhood hospital admission rates for asthma based on the whole child population reflect differing definitions, admission thresholds and underlying disease prevalence rather than primary care quality. Asthma hospital admissions among children diagnosed with asthma is a more meaningful indicator for inter-country comparisons of primary care quality.
COVID-19 magnifies the vulnerabilities: The Brazilian case
Authors: Denny Danielle Mendes Thame , Duarte Clarice Seixas , de Castro Douglas , Pereira Luiz Ismael
Published: July 2021

This paper discusses inequalities of the health system in Brazil and advocates that now, more than ever in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world needs to put in place a more collaborative and egalitarian way of financing health research and investments in public health systems. The role of the state and institutions in the design of public policies for the realization of social rights is debated in the face of the economic and political crisis. Here we draw upon Martha Fineman’s vulnerability theory and Thomas Pogge’s view on justice with regard to health.
What’s Work Got to Do with It? How Precarity Influences Radical Party Support in France and the Netherlands
Authors: Antonucci Lorenza , D’Ippoliti Carlo , Horvath Laszlo , Krouwel André
Published: July 2021

The rising support for radical parties in Europe has triggered a new interest in the political sociology of voting and how voters with socio-economic insecurity are moving away from establishment politics. In this article, we apply Standing’s concept of ‘precarity’ to capture insecurity among ordinary voters and thereby expand the individual socio-economic explanations behind the vote for radical populist right (RPR) and radical left (RL) parties. We develop a multidimensional measure of precarity to capture subjective labour market insecurity in its different manifestations. The article examines the influence of precarity on voting in two countries – France and the Netherlands – that, in the 2017 elections, saw the culmination of a decline in support for establishment parties and a rise in support for both RPR and RL parties. We use panels of voters collected during these elections through online Voting Advice Applications, weighted against national census benchmarks. We identify and assess the role of two dimensions of precarity: ‘precarity of tenure’ and ‘precarity at work’. We find that in both France and the Netherlands precarity is, overall, negatively correlated with voting for established parties and positively correlated with voting for RPR and RL parties. Furthermore, our investigation shows that ‘precarity at work’ is more significant in explaining voting support than the more widely investigated ‘precarity of tenure’. Our results stress the importance of assessing how subjective work insecurity explains voting and support for RPR and RL parties.
A Life in Motion: Exploring Auto/Biographical Exchanges by ‘Walking With’ Nelson Sullivan
Authors: Goodwin John , Parsons Laurie
Published: July 2021

In this article, we combine a number of related elements – YouTube films, autobiographical methods, diaries, letters, and walking – to explore the sociological value of the films of Nelson Sullivan (1948–1989). Sullivan was a film maker who documented New York, and elsewhere, in the mid-late 1980s; however, the films are ‘vlogger style’ and offer richly detailed, relational, and dialogical accounts of the ever-changing figurations between Nelson and a cast of other characters. Here we aim to walk sociologically with Nelson. We explain of how we analysed Nelson’s films before considering the implications of repositioning ‘vlogs’ as something of a hybrid between letters and diaries. We then explore walking as an autobiographical act a little further. Finally, we conclude by considering the implications of Nelson’s work for past, present, and future sociological practice which uses YouTube videos and vlogs, by emphasising the importance of the ‘dialogic exchange’.
Wind tunnel tests and dynamic analysis of wind-induced response of a transmission tower on a hill
Authors: Guo Jian , Xiao Changliang , Li Jiantao
Published: July 2021

A hill with a lattice transmission tower presents complex wind field characteristics. The commonly used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are difficult to analyze the wind resistance and dynamic responses of the transmission tower due to structural complexity. In this study, wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the wind field of the hill and the dynamic responses of the transmission tower built on it. The hill models with different slopes are investigated by wind tunnel tests to measure the wind field characteristics, such as mean speed and turbulence intensity. The study shows that the existence of a transmission tower reduces the wind speed on the leeward slope significantly but has little effect on the windward slope. To study the dynamic behavior of the transmission tower, a hybrid analysis procedure is used by introducing the measured experimental wind information to the finite element tower model established using ANSYS. The effects of hill slope on the maximum displacement response of the tower are studied. The results show that the maximum value of the response is the largest when the hill slope is 25° compared to those when hill slope is 15° and 35°. The results extend the knowledge concerning wind tunnel tests on hills of different terrain and provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactive effects between the hill and existing transmission tower regarding to the wind field characteristics and structural dynamic responses.
Partisan media, untrustworthy news sites, and political misperceptions
Authors: Weeks Brian E , Menchen-Trevino Ericka , Calabrese Christopher , Casas Andreu , Wojcieszak Magdalena
Published: July 2021

This study investigates the potential role both untrustworthy and partisan websites play in misinforming audiences by testing whether actual exposure to these sites is associated with political misperceptions. Using a sample of American adult social media users, we match data from individuals’ Internet browser histories with a survey measuring the accuracy of political beliefs. We find that visits to partisan websites are at times related to misperceptions consistent with the political bias of the site. However, we do not find strong evidence that untrustworthy websites consistently relate to false beliefs. There is also little evidence that visits to less partisan, centrist news sites are associated with more accurate political beliefs about these issues, suggesting that exposure to politically neutral news is not necessarily the antidote to misinformation. Results suggest that focusing on partisan news sites—rather than untrustworthy sites—may be fruitful to understanding how media contribute to political misperceptions.
Do Social Relationships With Those Who Witness Moral Transgression Affect the Sense of Guilt?
Authors: Oda Ryo , Sawada Kazuki
Published: July 2021

Moral emotion is thought to have evolved to guide our behavior and control our impulse to achieve immediate rewards, thus serving to enforce pro-social behavior. Guilt, one of the moral emotions, is a social, other-oriented emotion that is experienced primarily in interpersonal situations, although it may also be experienced in non-interpersonal situations. We predicted that the intensity of the sense of guilt would differ depending on the relationship between a witness and the person who performed the antisocial behavior because building a good reputation plays an important role in the evolution of reciprocal altruism through indirect reciprocity. Participants were asked to imagine that they had been observed by a third party while committing five kinds of moral transgression based on moral foundation theory, and to describe the intensity of their sense of guilt when witnessed by parents, a cordial friend, a neighbor, or a stranger. The intensity of guilt was significantly lower when the act was witnessed by a stranger regardless of the moral foundation involved. The effects of the kind of witness, however, differed for each moral foundation. The results support the hypothesis that guilt functions to guide our behavior, to achieve cooperation.
Adapting and Enduring: Lessons Learned from International School Educators During COVID-19
Authors: Doll Kathleen , Ragan Moira , Calnin Gerard , Mason Sarah , House Kevin
Published: July 2021

With the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, school buildings across the globe closed, leading educators, students and families to transition rapidly to online education. It is clear that schools will in the future continue to employ online learning, even as students and educators return to school buildings. While the education community has over a number of years generated a range of practical tips and guidance about online education—especially since the onset of COVID-19—many are not supported by research (DiPietro et al., 2010) and neglect international school settings (Barbour, 2014). This study investigates the experiences of sixty-one K-12 international educators via nineteen focus groups, contributing to the literature base on pedagogical, leadership and practical strategies needed to support effective online learning. Four lessons learned emerged from the data: technological challenges are exacerbated during a crisis; educators adapted to revise pedagogical strategies when under pressure; student and parent experiences were inconsistent and complex; and school leaders play an important role during a transition to online education. Although COVID-19 posed challenges, educators are resilient, adaptable, and deeply committed to student learning. School leaders now have an opportunity to reconstruct a model of education which offers students the best of face-to-face learning augmented by the most effective use of virtual technologies. This is more than planning for potential crises; this is reimagining the future of education.
Pulled in all directions: Open strategy participation as an attention contest
Authors: Brielmaier Christoph , Friesl Martin
Published: July 2021

In this article, we investigate a crucial factor in open strategy research: participation. By drawing on the attention-based view, we argue that the degree of participation in both analog and digital practices of open strategy is the result of “attention contests.” These attention contests arise as the attention structure of Open Strategy initiatives (as quasi-temporary organizations) and the attention structure of the main organization compete for actors’ limited attention. As these attention structures collide, four tensions emerge (process ambiguity, status transitions, time constraints, and identity shifts). We argue that the impact of these tensions is contingent on the type of Open Strategy practice; digital or analog forms of Open Strategy-making. Therefore, we offer a new theoretical understanding of why and how actors participate in Open Strategy initiatives. Based on this, we offer various mechanisms of how firms can facilitate meaningful participation in these different practices. This essay opens up promising avenues for future Open Strategy and participation research.
Electric heating behavior of flexible knitted fabrics comprising reduced graphene oxide, with emphasis on resistance temperature-sensitive behavior and decoupling of contact resistance
Authors: Hong Xinghua , Yu Rufang , Dong Yubing , Wan Junmin , Zhang Hongxia , Zhu Chengyan
Published: July 2021

Electric fabric heaters have demonstrated potential applications in a wide range of fields for medical electrothermal, human healthcare and athletic rehabilitation. Whereas, little attention has been paid to the resistance variations and the interface of electric heaters. Here, this paper focuses on the resistance temperature-sensitive behavior and interfacial electricity of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/polyester (PET) fabrics, which are obatained through a facile and scalable dip-coating method. When a current of 0.055 ampere (A) is applied, the RGO/PET fabric can achieve an equilibrium temperature about 89 °C in 20 s, with a maximum heating rate of 11.78 °C/s. Besides, the relative resistance changes of RGO/PET fabric are linearly related to the temperature. When the RGO/PET fabric reaches its steady-state temperature of 89 °C, the value of ΔR/R0 drops by ∼30%, showing that the fabric is endowed with temperature sensitivity. These prominent results indicate that the RGO/PET fabric owns great promise in the field of wearable electric heaters. Notably, the contact resistance at the interface of RGO/PET fabric heater is investigated and the mechanism of the temperature in middle part of heater is higher than that of both ends is analyzed. This provides a qualitative decoupling analysis method for the study and analysis of interfacial electricity and electrothermal distribution of carbon materials.
The Effect of Heterogenous Subregions in Glioblastomas on Survival Stratification: A Radiomics Analysis Using the Multimodality MRI
Authors: Yin Lulu , Liu Yan , Zhang Xi , Lu Hongbing , Liu Yang
Published: July 2021

Intratumor heterogeneity is partly responsible for the poor prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) patients. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of different heterogeneous subregions of GBM on overall survival (OS) stratification. A total of 105 GBM patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into long-term and short-term OS groups. Four MRI sequences, including contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (T1C), T1, T2, and FLAIR, were collected for each patient. Then, 4 heterogeneous subregions, i.e. the region of entire abnormality (rEA), the regions of contrast-enhanced tumor (rCET), necrosis (rNec) and edema/non-contrast-enhanced tumor (rE/nCET), were manually drawn from the 4 MRI sequences. For each subregion, 50 radiomics features were extracted. The stratification performance of 4 heterogeneous subregions, as well as the performances of 4 MRI sequences, was evaluated both alone and in combination. Our results showed that rEA was superior in stratifying long-and short-term OS. For the 4 MRI sequences used in this study, the FLAIR sequence demonstrated the best performance of survival stratification based on the manual delineation of heterogeneous subregions. Our results suggest that heterogeneous subregions of GBMs contain different prognostic information, which should be considered when investigating survival stratification in patients with GBM.
制备人脐静脉内皮细胞和人肺腺癌细胞融合细胞的新方法
Authors: 席 玉峰
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

Human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) have been proved to be an effective whole-cell vaccine inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. In this study, we fused HUVECs with human lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 s, aiming at preparing lung cancer vaccine to achieve dual effects of anti-tumor angiogenesis and specific immunity to tumor cells.

Methods:

A549 cells were induced by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and 8-azaguanine (8-AG) to get hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) auxotrophic A549 cells. Then Fused HGPRT auxotrophic A549 cells with primary HUVEC cells by combining electrofusion with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Afterward the fusion cells were screened by HAT and HT selective medium and sorted by flow cell sorter to obtain high-purity HUVEC-A549 cells. Finally, HUVEC-A549 cells were identified by karyotype analysis and western blotting.

Results:

The fusion efficiency of HUVEC-A549 cells prepared by combining electrofusion with polyethylene glycol (PEG) was significantly higher than that of electrofusion and PEG (43.0% vs 17.60% vs 2.71%, P < 0.05). After screened by HAT and HT selective medium and sorted by flow cell sorter, the proportion of HUVEC-A549 cells can count for 71.2% ± 3.2%. The mode of chromosomes in HUVEC-A549 cells was 68, and the chromosome was triploid. VE-cadherin and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) were highly expressed in HUVECs and HUVEC-A549 cells, but not in A549 cells.

Conclusions:

These results indicate that HUVEC-A549 cells retain the biological characteristics of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and A549 cells. It can be used in the experimental study of lung cancer cell vaccine.
Challenges of Estimating Accurate Prevalence of Arm Weakness Early After Stroke
Authors: Simpson Lisa A. , Hayward Kathryn S. , McPeake Moira , Field Thalia S. , Eng Janice J.
Published: July 2021

Background. Recent studies have reported lower statistics of upper limb (UL) weakness (48-57%) compared to widely cited values collected over 2 decades ago (70-80%). Objective. To explore potential factors contributing to the accuracy of prevalence values of UL weakness using a case study from a single regional centre. Methods. All patients admitted to the acute stroke unit with suspected diagnosis of stroke were screened from February 2016 to August 2017. Upper limb weakness was captured (a) prospectively using the Shoulder Abduction and Finger Extension (SAFE) score performed by unit physical therapists within 7 days post-stroke and (b) retrospectively via chart review using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) arm score at admission and 24 hours post-admission. Results. A total of 656 patients were admitted with a first-ever stroke, and 621 (95%) individuals were administered the SAFE score. A total of 40% of individuals had UL weakness using the SAFE score (SAFE ≤8) at a mean time of 1.9 (SD 1.5) days post-stroke. In the same sample, 57% and 49% had UL weakness using the admission and 24-hour post-admission NIHSS arm score, respectively. Conclusions. The accuracy of population-level UL weakness prevalence values can be affected by weakness measure and score cut-off, time post-stroke weakness is captured, sample characteristics and use of single or multiple sites. Researchers using prevalence values for clinical trial planning should consider these attributes when using prevalence data for estimating recruitment rates and resource needs.
What We Really can Learn From Aviation: Checklist-based Team Time-Out in Conjunction With Interpersonal Competence Training for the Daily Management of a Surgical Department
Authors: Hirche Christoph , Kneser Ulrich
Published: July 2021

Objective. Aviation and affiliated training concepts have gained a pioneering role in the establishment of interpersonal competence training for physicians and in particular for surgical disciplines. Strengthening interpersonal competence in conjunction with standardized processes and tools aims at implementing safety and error culture in the clinical surroundings while improving patient safety. In a surgical center, safety culture starts with decisive day-to-day management, continues with WHO team time-out and optimal surroundings for the operation, and goes beyond mortality and morbidity conferences and reevaluation of the daily work. Nevertheless, operational day-to-day management has been only little in the focus of security and error culture in surgical literature yet. Method. Interpersonal competence training has been introduced in the hospital group. In 2017, a checklist-based team time-out was implemented to optimize day-to-day management so that conflicts and collisions can be identified timely. Results. The daily completed checklist addresses changes in staff and resource availability, patient-relevant, and other organizational factors. The introduction has provided a significant level of stability and proven itself as part of the safety culture and exemplary leadership beyond the “classical” fields in surgery. Conclusion. This “simple” instrument from the aviation toolbox in conjunction with interpersonal competence training can be recommended to improve the management and safety culture in a surgical clinic to streamline operations and positively affect patient safety and staff development as well as employee satisfaction. Nevertheless, it is not sufficient to implement standard operation procedures templates and checklists, and they have to be lived daily and by everyone.
Force sensitivity analysis and scale design of Stewart parallel manipulator
Authors: Wang Yuheng , Tang Xiaoqiang , Xiang Chengyuan , Hou Senhao
Published: July 2021

There are many indices for evaluating the operational performance of parallel robots, but most of them start from kinematics and rarely pay special attention to the force transmission process. After studying the relationship and characteristics of the forward and reverse force transmission of the Stewart parallel manipulator under quasi-static conditions, three new indices are proposed in this paper, which are forward force sensitivity, reverse force sensitivity, and overall force sensitivity. Subsequently, the influences of six parameters on the overall force sensitivity index are analyzed. Furthermore, this paper propose three new structural optimization design schemes based on the three newly proposed indices. Finally, it is verified experimentally that the unit reverse force sensitivity of a single joint is consistent with the theory and the error between the theoretical and experimental values is obtained.
Optimal allocation of reliability improvement target under dependent component failures
Authors: Kim Dain , Kim Kyungmee O.
Published: July 2021

We study the problem of apportioning the reliability improvement target of a series system to components by considering the failure risk and improvement cost when both common cause and cascading failures exist. To solve this problem, previous research has developed different allocation weights in which every component is improved independently in proportion to the allocation weight. In practice, however, allocation weights are not independent among components because several components improve simultaneously when the occurrences of common cause failures are reduced. Therefore, in this study, we partition dependent component failures into mutually exclusive sub-failures to express the system risk in terms of the risk of component sub-failures, where the common cause failures, and cascading failures are incorporated into occurrence and severity evaluations, respectively. Then, an optimization problem is considered to maximize the effectiveness of the system improvement, which is measured as the difference between the decreased failure risk and the increased improvement cost. Finally, a numerical example is presented to illustrate that a component selected for improvement at a low budget would not necessarily be selected at a high budget if different marginal improvement costs were associated with different component failures. In other words, components are selected for improvement only if the reduction in the risk is sufficiently large to offset the improvement cost.
Adjunctive Therapies to Optimize Closed-loop Glucose Control
Authors: Srinivasan Shylaja , Ekhlaspour Laya , Cengiz Eda
Published: July 2021

Closed-loop insulin delivery systems are fast becoming the standard of care in the management of type 1 diabetes and have led to significant improvements in diabetes management. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement for the closed-loop systems to optimize treatment and meet target glycemic control. Adjunct treatments have been introduced as an alternative method to insulin-only treatment methods to overcome diabetes treatment challenges and improve clinical and patient reported outcomes during closed-loop treatment. The adjunct treatment agents mostly consist of medications that are already approved for type 2 diabetes treatment and aim to complete the missing physiologic factors, such as the entero-endocrine system, that regulate glycemia in addition to insulin. This paper will review many of these adjunct therapies, including the basic mechanisms of action, potential benefits, side effects, and the evidence supporting their use during closed-loop treatment.