bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Circulating GDF‐15 and Cardio‐Renal Outcomes and Effect of Canagliflozin: Results From the CANVAS Trial
Authors: Sen Taha , Li Jingwei , Neuen Brendon L. , Arnott Clare , Neal Bruce , Perkovic Vlado , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Shaw Wayne , Canovatchel William , Hansen Michael K. , Heerspink Hiddo J. L.
Published: December 2021

Background

Studies have suggested that sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors exert anti‐inflammatory effects. We examined the association of baseline growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15), a marker of inflammation and cellular injury, with cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure (HF), and kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes in the CANVAS (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study) and determined the effect of the sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitor canagliflozin on circulating GDF‐15.

Methods and Results

The CANVAS trial randomized 4330 people with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk to canagliflozin or placebo. The association between baseline GDF‐15 and cardiovascular (non‐fatal myocardial infarction, non‐fatal stroke, cardiovascular death), HF, and kidney (40% estimated glomerular filtration rate decline, end‐stage kidney disease, renal death) outcomes was assessed using multivariable adjusted Cox regression models. During median follow‐up of 6.1 years (N=3549 participants with available samples), 555 cardiovascular, 129 HF, and 137 kidney outcomes occurred. Each doubling in baseline GDF‐15 was significantly associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular (hazard ratio [HR], 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0‒1.3), HF (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2‒2.0) and kidney (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2‒2.0) outcomes. Baseline GDF‐15 did not modify canagliflozin’s effect on cardiovascular, HF, and kidney outcomes. Canaglifozin treatment modestly lowered GDF‐15 compared with placebo; however, GDF‐15 did not mediate the protective effect of canagliflozin on cardiovascular, HF, or kidney outcomes.

Conclusions

In patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk, higher GDF‐15 levels were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular, HF, and kidney outcomes. Canagliflozin modestly lowered GDF‐15, but GDF‐15 reduction did not mediate the protective effect of canagliflozin.
The Connection between Carnot and CAPE Formulations of TC Potential Intensity
Authors: Rousseau-Rizzi Raphaël , Merlis Timothy M. , Jeevanjee Nadir
Published: December 2021

Tropical cyclone (TC) potential intensity (PI) theory has a well-known form, consistent with a Carnot cycle interpretation of TC energetics, which relates PI to mean environmental conditions: the difference between surface and TC outflow temperatures and the air–sea enthalpy disequilibrium. PI has also been defined as a difference in convective available potential energy (CAPE) between two parcels, and quantitative assessments of future changes make use of a numerical algorithm based on this definition. Here, an analysis shows the conditions under which these Carnot and CAPE-based PI definitions are equivalent. There are multiple conditions, not previously enumerated, which in particular reveal a role for irreversible entropy production from surface evaporation. This mathematical analysis is verified by numerical calculations of PI’s sensitivity to large changes in surface-air relative humidity. To gain physical insight into the connection between the CAPE and Carnot formulations of PI, we use a recently developed analytic theory for CAPE to derive, starting from the CAPE-based definition, a new approximate formula for PI that nearly recovers the previous Carnot PI formula. The derivation shows that the difference in undilute buoyancies of saturated and environmental parcels that determines CAPE PI can in fact be expressed as a difference in the parcels’ surface moist static energy, providing a physical link between the Carnot and CAPE formulations of PI. This combination of analysis and physical interpretation builds confidence in previous numerical CAPE-based PI calculations that use climate model projections of the future tropical environment.
Characteristics of Children Diagnosed With SARS-CoV-2 in the Ambulatory Setting
Authors: Guo Nina , Crim Kimberly , Foote Sarah , Batra Bobby , Parrish Catherine , Crocetti Michael
Published: December 2021

The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation and outcomes of children and adolescents testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the ambulatory setting. We found that about 8% of children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with the large majority being symptomatic (80%). The average age of our population was 12.5 years, and females and males were affected equally. However, African American patients (62%) were substantially more likely to test positive compared with other races. Children in this study tended to have a mild course, mostly presenting with respiratory symptoms, and very few required hospitalization. As the epidemiology of the pandemic evolves, it will be important to monitor the effects that changing variants have on infected children and the impact that vaccination programs have on mitigating infection risk.
Spectrum of SARS-CoV-2-Related Clinical Syndromes in Children: A Year in the Life
Authors: Khan Mahjabeen , Dang LeQuan , Singh Harjinderpal , Dalrymple Austin , Miller Aaron , Tanios Aline
Published: December 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a wide pediatric clinical spectrum. Initial reports suggested that children had milder symptoms compared with adults; then diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) emerged. We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients at a children’s hospital over 1 year. Our objectives were to study the demographic and clinical profile of pediatric SARS-CoV-2-associated diagnoses. Based on the clinical syndrome, patients were classified into coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; non-MIS-C) and MIS-C cohorts. Among those who tested positive, 67% were symptomatic. MIS-C was diagnosed in 24 patients. Both diagnoses were more frequent in Caucasians. Both cohorts had different symptom profiles. Inflammatory markers were several-fold higher in MIS-C patients. These patients had critical care needs and longer hospital stays. More COVID-19 patients had respiratory complications, while MIS-C cohort saw cardiovascular involvement. Health care awareness of both syndromes is important for early recognition, diagnosis, and prompt treatment.
A Decline in the Social Status of the Working Class? Conflicting Evidence for 8 Western Countries, 1987–2017
Authors: Oesch Daniel , Vigna Nathalie
Published: December 2021

The consensus view among political scientists is that the subjective social status of low-skilled workers has declined over the last decades, and this status loss of the working class is seen as contributing to the rise of the radical right. We examine the micro-foundation of this claim by tracing the evolution of subjective status for different social classes in Europe and the US. We use all available survey rounds of the International Social Survey Programme 1987–2017 and replicate findings with the European Social Survey 2002–2016. While unskilled workers perceive their status to be lower than members of the middle class everywhere, we find no relative or absolute fall in their subjective social status over time. Unskilled workers were at the bottom of the status hierarchy in the 1990s and 2010s. Our findings throw doubt on the narrative that sees workers’ falling subjective social status as a prominent driver behind the rise of the radical right.
Objectal resistance: The political role of personal objects in workers’ resistance to spatial change
Authors: Taskin Laurent , Courpasson David , Donis Céline
Published: December 2021

Flexwork, that is, the combination of shared offices and telework, is one of the major changes affecting the workplace these days. But how do employees react to these transformations of their work environment? In this article, we investigate employees’ resistance to the introduction of flexwork in a large Belgian organization. We show employees resisting this workspace transformation through the use of personal objects as means to physically reconnect to the place, using objects to convey their claims and objectively occupy places. Though space has become a key analytic concept in the study of organizations, research still largely neglects the concrete role played by personal objects in the capacity of workers to resist change in the occupation of workspaces. We highlight the mutual constitution of objects and space in practices of resistance to workspace change. We show specifically how the politicality of these materials – referred to here as objectal resistance – comes from the meaning that people assign to objects when they place them in order to re-establish workers’ bodily presence at work – that is, from acts of objects embodiment and emplacement. We contribute to studies of resistance in the workplace by showing that objectal resistance is a complex combination of overt and covert activities, which leads to seeing the classic opposition between recognition and post-recognition politics in a new light.
Fabrication of biopolymer nanofibers from natural sources
Authors: Abutaleb Ahmed , ArunPrasanna Vimalanathan
Published: December 2021

The methods available for the disposal of synthetic polymers are not advanced in an environment-friendly way. Consequently, their waste persists as a non-degradable pollutant that discharges toxic substances, which have now reached the deepest parts of the ocean. As an alternative, biopolymers such as polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and poly(butylene succinate), synthesized from natural sources such as plants, animals, and microbes, are an eco-friendly option, as they are biodegradable and a better option to shift from synthetic polymer dependency. The fabrication of electrospun nanofibers (NFs) using biopolymers is a novel approach, by which new ideas have been proposed in various fields, such as agriculture, biomedical, food packing, textiles, adsorption, drug delivery, three-dimensional printing, etc. Electrospun NFs are receiving increasing attention due to their diverse properties, including flexibility. This review provides a perception of the novel biopolymers that are currently utilized by the electrospun technique and their various applications.
The Role of Digital Application Literacy in Online Assessment
Authors: Schmidt LeAnne J. , DeSchryver Michael
Published: December 2021

As educators and administrators look to countless mobile apps, software programs, and web-based learning tools to meet the demands of students in remote, virtual, and hybrid settings, risks and assumptions of online platforms and assessments must be considered. With the urgency of the COVID-response closure of many schools and the unusual methods employed during the return to school in Fall 2020, there is no better time to examine the digital application literacy which is necessary for students to effectively transition to online learning and assessment. “Digital application literacy” (DAppLit), a specific form of media literacy, involves the nimble use of an app (web-based) or application (computer-based) for education, including assessment. Learners with impaired DAppLit face academic consequences, when insufficient literacy in the platform is the culprit. This paper first explores various skills and strategies from both traditional and digital assessments that digital application literacy requires. Then, it presents the value of low-stakes assessment experiences with applications to introduce navigation techniques and troubleshoot barriers users may face before undertaking weighted assessments. The importance of skills instruction and practice of DAppLit methods is presented. A four-step process is introduced to: 1) set learning goals; 2) guide learners through the application with explicit instructions before use; 3) provide low-stakes explorations; and 4) debrief to address any issues which could represent a failing of application literacy and not content knowledge in an assessment.
Book review: T. K. OOMMEN, Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs: Life and Times of a Sociologist
Authors: Pandey Ajit Kumar
Published: December 2021

T. K. OOMMEN, Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs: Life and Times of a Sociologist. New Delhi: Konark Publishers, 2018, 304 pp., ₹695 (Hardback). ISBN: 978-93-220-0888-8. ( Hardback).
Competing Public Values Amidst Fiscal Crisis: The Case of State Takeover System in Michigan
Authors: Jun Kyu-Nahm , Moldavanova Alisa
Published: December 2021

The article analyzes contested reasoning and public values conflict in the state takeover of municipalities via emergency managers (EM) to address fiscal crisis. We investigate the following questions: (1) which public values are associated with the EM intervention strategies?; (2) is there a competition among those values? A content analysis of nearly 500 official documents in four Michigan municipalities reveals that EM interventions reflect a strive for fiscal accountability and legality at the expense of democratic values. This study contributes to the growing body of research on public values, and it advances our understanding of decision-making processes under stress.
Preliminary Analysis of the Past and Planned Investments Measure in Turkish Dual-Career Married Individuals
Authors: Özgülük Üçok Sıdıka Burcu , Sümer Zeynep Hatipoğlu-
Published: December 2021

This study documents the basic psychometrics of the Past and Planned Investments Measure (PPIM; Goodfriend & Agnew, 2008) in a Turkish sample. Two hundred and sixty-four dual-career married individuals participated and completed the Turkish version of the PPIM (PPIM-TR) along with the Investment Model Scale (IMS; Rusbult, Martz, & Agnew, 1998) and a demographic information form. A four-factor structure of PPIM was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis albeit with an item deletion due to its irrelevance to Turkish culture. Adequate criterion validity and satisfactory internal consistency results were obtained as a result of the confirmatory factor analysis. Based on the preliminary investigation, the Turkish PPIM proved to be a promising and psychometrically sound measure of the past and planned investments dual-career married individuals make in their relationships. Consequently, the findings were discussed in relation to the relevant literature, implications for counselors were mentioned, and recommendations for future research were presented.
Developing Behavioral Coding to Understand Family Communication Breakdown in Dementia Care
Authors: Coleman Carissa K. , Aly Iman M. , Dunham Ashlyn , Inderhees Kacie , Richardson Michaela , Wilson Paige , Berkley Amy , Savundranayagam Marie , Williams Kristine
Published: December 2021

Communication breakdown is a challenge for family caregivers of persons living with dementia. We adapted established theory and scales for computer-assisted behavioral coding to characterize caregiver communication for a secondary analysis. We developed verbal, nonverbal, and breakdown coding schemes and established reliability (κ > .85). Within the 221 family caregiving videos analyzed, 55% of exchanges were interactive, 30% were silence, 4% consisted of talking to self or others, and 8% included a breakdown. An average of 2.4 ( SD = 1.9) breakdowns occurred per observation and were successfully resolved 85% of the time, with 31% being resolved most successfully following only one flag and repair strategy. Caregivers were the primary speakers (67%); their communication preceded most breakdown (65%), and they primarily initiated the repairs after a breakdown (70%). Common repair strategies included clarifications (31%), asking questions (24%), and repeating information (24%). Associations between communication strategies and repair success will provide evidence for caregiver training.
A computed tomography-based radiomic nomogram for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with early-stage papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Lai Lisha , Guan Qianwen , Liang Yingying , Chen Junwei , Liao Yuting , Xu Honggang , Wei Xinhua
Published: December 2021

Background

Accurate assessment of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is important for the selection of the optimal therapeutic strategy in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Purpose

To develop and validate a radiomics nomogram based on computed tomography (CT) for predicting LNM in patients with early-stage PTC.

Material and Methods

A total of 92 patients with pathologically confirmed PTC were divided into a training cohort (n =  64) and validation cohort (n  =  28). Radiomic features of the tumor and peritumoral interstitium were extracted from contrast-enhanced CT images. The radiomic signature was constructed and the radiomic score (Rad-score) was calculated. Combined with the Rad-score and independent clinical factors, a radiomic nomogram was constructed and its performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots. The comparison of ROC curves was performed with DeLong's test

Results

A combined nomogram model of the thyroid tumor and peritumoral interstitium was constructed based on the Rad-score, tumor location, maximum diameter, and T stage, and it had areas under the ROC curve of 0.956 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.913–1.000) and 0.876 (95% CI = 0.741–1.000) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis suggested that the combined nomogram model had better clinical usefulness than the other models.

Conclusion

A CT-based radiomics nomogram incorporating the radiomic signature and the selected clinical predictors can be a reliable approach to preoperatively predict the LNM status in patients with early-stage PTC, which is helpful for treatment decisions and prognosis.
Hamster models of COVID-19 pneumonia reviewed: How human can they be?
Authors: Gruber Achim D. , Firsching Theresa C. , Trimpert Jakob , Dietert Kristina
Published: December 2021

The dramatic global consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic soon fueled quests for a suitable model that would facilitate the development and testing of therapies and vaccines. In contrast to other rodents, hamsters are naturally susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the Syrian hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus) rapidly developed into a popular model. It recapitulates many characteristic features as seen in patients with a moderate, self-limiting course of the disease such as specific patterns of respiratory tract inflammation, vascular endothelialitis, and age dependence. Among 4 other hamster species examined, the Roborovski dwarf hamster ( Phodopus roborovskii) more closely mimics the disease in highly susceptible patients with frequent lethal outcome, including devastating diffuse alveolar damage and coagulopathy. Thus, different hamster species are available to mimic different courses of the wide spectrum of COVID-19 manifestations in humans. On the other hand, fewer diagnostic tools and information on immune functions and molecular pathways are available than in mice, which limits mechanistic studies and inference to humans in several aspects. Still, under pandemic conditions with high pressure on progress in both basic and clinically oriented research, the Syrian hamster has turned into the leading non-transgenic model at an unprecedented pace, currently used in innumerable studies that all aim to combat the impact of the virus with its new variants of concern. As in other models, its strength rests upon a solid understanding of its similarities to and differences from the human disease, which we review here.
From Traditional to Autonomous Vehicles: A Systematic Review of Data Availability
Authors: Masello Leandro , Sheehan Barry , Murphy Finbarr , Castignani German , McDonnell Kevin , Ryan Cian
Published: December 2021

The increasing accessibility of mobility datasets has enabled research in green mobility, road safety, vehicular automation, and transportation planning and optimization. Many stakeholders have leveraged vehicular datasets to study conventional driving characteristics and self-driving tasks. Notably, many of these datasets have been made publicly available, fostering collaboration, scientific comparability, and replication. As these datasets encompass several study domains and contain distinctive characteristics, selecting the appropriate dataset to investigate driving aspects might be challenging. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that performs a systematic review of a substantial number of vehicular datasets covering various automation levels. In total, 103 datasets have been reviewed, 35 of which focused on naturalistic driving, and 68 on self-driving tasks. The paper gives researchers the possibility of analyzing the datasets’ principal characteristics and their study domains. Most naturalistic datasets have been centered on road safety and driver behavior, although transportation planning and eco-driving have also been studied. Furthermore, datasets for autonomous driving have been analyzed according to their target self-driving tasks. A particular focus has been placed on data-driven risk assessment for the vehicular ecosystem. It is observed that there exists a lack of relevant publicly available datasets that challenge the creation of new risk assessment models for semi- and fully automated vehicles. Therefore, this paper conducts a gap analysis to identify possible approaches using existing datasets and, additionally, a set of relevant vehicular data fields that could be incorporated in future data collection campaigns to address the challenge.
Application of ArcGIS and QFD-based model for site selection for bio-medical waste disposal
Authors: Jangre Jogendra , Prasad Kanika , Patel Dharmendra
Published: December 2021

With the increasing formalisation of the health sector in India, the bio-medical waste (BMW) disposal regulations are getting stringent and its implementation is being enforced strictly. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) created a healthcare crisis because of the highly contagious nature of the novel virus. Measures employed for the prevention and management of COVID-19 resulted in the generation of an unprecedented amount of BMW in Indian medical history. This BMW needs to be disposed of safely at a suitable site to prevent secondary infection and the potential spread of the virus in the environment. The selection of an appropriate site for BMW disposal requires comparing a wide range of social, economic and environmental factors corresponding to different site locations, which makes it a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. This study aims to solve the BMW site selection problems using a quality function deployment-based model that can consider both the subjective and the objective criteria, and evaluate them as per the user’s requirements. The proposed model is applied to evaluate the suitability of waste disposal sites in the city of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, India. At first, eight possible locations for BMW disposal are identified, while utilising geographical information system (GIS). Consequently, the developed model is applied to evaluate the identified sites, taking 18 relevant criteria into consideration. A software prototype is developed in Visual BASIC 6 to automate the entire decision-making process, further adding to the novelty of the work.
High-Definition Liposuction Body Scale: Expanding Indications for High-Definition Liposuction
Authors: Mowlavi Arian
Published: December 2021

High definition liposuction (HDL) has been coined to identify liposuction results that are superior to traditional liposuction. HDL results are appreciated when body contours are transformed with the ultimate goal of achieving a near perfect 9 or 10 body. High definition liposuction is considered a “game changer” in the body contouring arena as it gives plastic surgeons the ability to precisely sculpt the patient’s body in a 360 degree circumferential manner to previously unattainable results. Until recently, indications for high definition body contouring were reserved for patients with minimal fat excess and skin redundancy. Several factors must be accounted for to achieve high definition liposuction results, and these include appropriate patient selection and a customized and strategically sound operative plan. We introduce the High definition liposuction (HDL) body scale that assigns body scores ranging from 2 to 10 by taking into account degree of fat excess, amount of skin redundancy, as well as quality and extent of skin texture changes. The HDL body scale was created to expand indications for a larger patient population by assisting surgeons to establish preoperative start points, guide patient selection, design a customized, sound surgical plan, and objectifying outcomes. The HDL body scale and subsequent surgical algorithm, and case studies are presented. Using the HDL body scale, surgeons may improve and expand patient populations who can benefit from HDL outcomes.
The Association Between Veteran Status and Obesity Differs Across Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Cuevas Adolfo G. , Cofie Leslie E. , Nolte Sarah
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the interaction between veteran status and race/ethnicity on obesity status.

Design

Cross-sectional survey

Setting

The 2013–2017 National Health Interview Survey

Sample

A total of 151,765 adults (8.62% veterans and 91.38 nonveterans) with 69.30% identifying as White, 13.05% identifying as Hispanic, 12.57% identifying as Black, and 5.08% identifying as Asian

Measures

Obesity status (measured using self-reported body mass index), race/ethnicity, survey year, age, marital status, educational attainment, federal poverty level, health insurance, type of insurance, self-reported health status, and whether participant had a usual care source.

Analysis

Weighted logistic regression analysis

Results

In a fully adjusted model, there was no evidence that veterans overall had higher odds of obesity compared to nonveterans (adjusted odd ratio (aOR): 1.05, 95% CI: .99, 1.11). White veterans had lower odds of obesity compared to White nonveterans (OR: .93, 95% CI: .87, .98). Hispanic veterans had higher odds of obesity compared to Hispanic nonveterans (aOR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.90). There was no evidence of an association between veteran status and obesity status for Black and Asian adults.

Conclusions

Effectual prevention strategies are needed to decrease obesity risks among active and retired Hispanic veterans.
Mechanical and thermal energies transport flow of a second grade fluid with novel fractional derivative
Authors: Ahmad Mushtaq , Asjad Muhammad I , Nisar Kottakkaran S , Khan Ilyas
Published: December 2021

In this study, an unsteady natural convection flow of second-grade fluid over a vertical plate with Newtonian heating by constant proportional Caputo non-integer order derivative is presented. After developing a dimensionless flow model, the set of governing equations are solved with the help of integral transform, namely the Laplace transform and closed solutions are obtained. Also, some graphs of temperature and velocity field are drawn to see the subjectively of fractional parameter [Formula: see text] and other involved parameters of interest. It also shows dual nature for small and large time behavior due to the power-law kernel. Further, a comparative analysis between the temperature as well as the velocity fields with existing literature has been presented. Further, as a result, it is concluded that constant proportional Caputo derivative shows more decaying nature of the fluid flow properties than classical Caputo and Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivatives.
Analysis of hydromagnetically modulated multiple slips motion of hybrid-nanofluid through a converging/diverging moving channel
Authors: Ahmad S. , Sheriff Samreen , Anjum Aisha , Farooq M.
Published: December 2021

The utility of convergent/divergent channel driven flow to improve the effectiveness of heat transport rate in industrial and engineering systems is diverse. This motivates us to disclose hybrid nanofluid flow features through non-parallel walls under hydro-magnetic aspect. The modified Darcian (Darcy–Forchheimer) expression is utilized for formulation. Reflection of improved Darcian form modifies the expression of velocity via square of velocity term. The effects of temperature jump and viscous dissipation are implemented in energy expression. Additionally, the slip flow phenomenon under the stretching/shrinking characteristics is studied. The analysis is carried out under the theory of boundary layer. Significant variables are implemented to acquire the dimensionless mathematical expressions. Dimensionless problem is tackled through a well-known homotopy technique. To observe the upshots of numerous pertinent parameters upon non-dimensional profiles of velocity and temperature, the graphs are plotted for both convergent/divergent channels. The heat transfer rate as well as drag force is also analyzed. In this study, it is concluded that temperature field rises in both divergent/convergent channels for dominant thermal slip parameter. Moreover, inertia parameter effects are seen weaker in converging channel for the velocity profile, while opposite trend is observed for diverging channel.
Experimental investigation on adhesive bonding of similar and dissimilar weld joint used for automotive applications
Authors: Verma Rohit , Sharma Lochan , Chauhan Mayank , Chhibber Rahul , Arora Kanwer Singh
Published: December 2021

The automobile industry has started using adhesive bonding to join load bearing components which aerospace industry has been using for decades. Adhesive lap joints are used frequently in the manufacture of automobile. In present study, structural adhesives were used to join the aluminium alloy (AA5083 H111) with the HSS dual phase (DP780) steel. Adhesive bonding appears to be one of the appropriate methods of joining dissimilar materials. The aim of this work is to analyze the tensile strength of similar and dissimilar joints. The influence of various parameters was also investigated such as the overlap length and the bondline thickness of specimens. In DP steel, there is 22% increase in strength for similar lap joint when overlap length changes from 10 mm to 15 mm, while there is 45% increase in strength when it varies from 15 mm to 20 mm. Similarly in case of Al alloy, there is 26% increased strength for similar lap joints when length varies from 10 mm to 15 mm, while it increased to 42% when length changes from 15 mm to 25 mm and there is about 35% increase in strength for length varies from 20 mm to 25 mm. In case of dissimilar joints, firstly there is about 16% increase in strength then there is 5% decrease while after that there is 45% increase in strength. Adhesion failure, cohesion failure and mixed failure were obtained experimentally during failure mode analysis. As the strength of joint increases, failure mode shows a transition from adhesion failure to cohesion failure. From the literature survey it is evident that limited work has been carried out on analysis of shear-tensile strength of adhesively bonded steel and aluminium joint with variation in bonding parameters. Not much work on failure mode analysis of bonded joints during tensile testing has been reported. In present work a noval attempt has been made to analyze the shear-tensile strength and failure mode of adhesively bonded steel and aluminium joint with variation in bonding parameters.
Societal Digital Platforms: Architecture and Design
Authors: Choudhary Prashant Kumar , Kaushik Anjali , Bharadwaj Sangeeta Shah
Published: December 2021

Societal digital platforms have emerged globally as a new class of digital platforms to address community and social needs in several countries. Based on platform centred ecosystem approach, societal digital platforms not only provide solution to some significant community problem but also enable other ecosystem participants to create innovative solutions on top of such platforms in diverse fields. This study examines how, in absence of any monetary appropriation, architecture and design features of societal digital platforms facilitate achieving platform goals of ecosystem innovation and network effect. A qualitative multiple case study method based on a data-driven approach has been followed to examine a set of propositions. In-depth interpretive case analysis has been used to analyse multiple cases employing NVivo software. It has been established that the architecture and design aspects of societal digital platforms enable ecosystem innovation (due to modularity and by adopting open standards) as well as drive positive network effect (due to scalability and strong ties network). For practitioners and policy planners, this research contributes by bringing out configurations which need to be incorporated in architecture and design to realize societal digital platforms goals. These can be further employed in other similar platforms which are emerging in different countries. Secondly, this study contributes to the theoretical understanding of elements of ecosystem innovation and network effect in case of societal digital platforms.
Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Market-based Instruments and Trade Policies for Environmental Goods: Evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Paramasua Muralitharan , Devadason Evelyn S. , Tehrani Pardis Moslemzadeh
Published: December 2021

This article investigates policy constraints for the environmental goods sector in Malaysia based on the dimensions of market-based (including regulatory) instruments and trade policies. In-depth structured interviews with the government and key industry players are conducted, and six overarching themes constraining the efficacy of the instruments and policies were identified. The findings suggest that incentives and loans for this sector are skewed to manufacturers and low-risk projects, respectively. The major policy gaps in this sector are mostly related to procedural issues, namely non-transparent information, non-uniformity of requirements and complex documentation for certification, licensing and permits.
Neighborhood Collective Efficacy as a Culturally Responsive Resilience Process: A Longitudinal Study of African American Youth From Fragile Families
Authors: Prowell Ashley N.
Published: December 2021

A reliance on informal supports and neighborhood relationships has its history within the African American community as a useful strategy for building and maintaining overall resilience. It is known that a history of systemic oppression gave rise to distinct cultural barriers to social services and resources, leading to a reliance on community to help foster success in the African American community. Thus, the notion of neighborhood collective efficacy (NCE) is assumed to be a valuable protective process to explore for African American youth. The current exploratory study utilizes multilevel growth curve modeling to examine the relationship between NCE and aspects of resilience over time. Findings reveal a significant, positive relationship and important implications for culturally responsive study and practice.
Awareness of Hospice Care Among Rural African-Americans: Findings From Social Determinants of Health Framework
Authors: Noh Hyunjin , Lee Hee Y. , Lee Lewis H. , Luo Yan
Published: December 2021

Background: Despite the need for hospice care as our society ages, adults in the U.S.’s southern rural region have limited awareness of hospice care. Objective: This study aims to assess the rate of awareness of hospice care among rural residents living in Alabama’s Black Belt region and examine social determinants of health (SDH) associated with the awareness. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample living in Alabama’s Black Belt region (N = 179, age = 18-91). Participants’ awareness of hospice care, demographic characteristics (ie, age and gender), and SDH (ie, financial resources strain, food insecurity, education and health literacy, social isolation, and interpersonal safety) were assessed. Lastly, a binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between SDH and hospice awareness among participants while controlling for demographic characteristics. Results: The majority of participants had heard of hospice care (n = 150, 82.1%), and older participants (50 years old or older) were more likely to report having heard of hospice care ( OR = 7.35, P < 0.05). Participants reporting worries about stable housing (OR = 0.05, P < 0.05) and higher social isolation were less likely to have heard of hospice care ( OR = 0.53, P < 0.05), while participants with higher health literacy had a higher likelihood to have heard of it ( OR = 2.60, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our study is the first study assessing the status of hospice awareness among residents of Alabama’s Black Belt region. This study highlighted that factors including age and certain SDH (ie, housing status, health literacy, and social isolation) might be considered in the intervention to improve hospice awareness.
Labial-Nasal Evaluation for Nasal Floor Reconstruction With the New Triangular Flap in Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair
Authors: Liu Yingmeng , Li Chenghao , Yao Meilin , Tsauo Chialing , Wu Min , Shi Bing
Published: December 2021

In this study, we present a modified technique for primary cleft lip repair with a rotation triangular flap from the cleft lateral side to reconstruct the nasal floor; and evaluate the outcome compared with traditional Millard repair.

40 patients with unilateral cleft lip were included in this research. The patients were divided into 2 groups; 17 patients treated with the Millard technique, and 23 patients treated with the newly modified technique. 14 measurement indexes were employed to evaluate the nose-lip morphology of postoperative patients with UCCL in standardized photographs preoperatively, postoperatively and 1-year follow-up.

For lip symmetry, statistical significance was detected in the measurements of the vertical philtral height ratio indicating that the newly modified technique resolve the shortage of lip height on the cleft side 1-year follow-up. ( P < .05). In addition, statistical significance was detected in the 1-year postoperative columellar angle, alar width ratio, nostril width ratio, nostril height ratio, and nostril shape (cleft) ( P < .05), showing more successful repair of the nose compared with the traditional repair.

The modified unilateral cleft lip repair with rotation triangle flap from the cleft lateral side was beneficial in the correction of lip and nasal deformity in and had positive effects on labial symmetry.
Mandibular Measurements at the 20-Week Anatomy Ultrasound as a Prenatal Diagnostic Predictor of Pierre Robin Sequence
Authors: Bruce Madeleine K. , Islam Raeesa , Anstadt Erin E. , Kenkre Tanya S. , Pfaff Miles J. , Canavan Timothy , Goldstein Jesse A.
Published: December 2021

Background

Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) is characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and upper airway obstruction. Early recognition and appropriate perinatal management is crucial for optimizing outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate 20-week fetal ultrasounds to determine if specific mandibular measurements could predict PRS diagnosis and disease severity.

Methods

A retrospective case-control study of 48 patients with PRS and gender-matched controls was performed. Medical records were reviewed for respiratory and surgical interventions. Three parameters to assess micrognathia were measured on mid-sagittal profile ultrasound images: frontal nasal-mental angle (FNMA), facial-maxillary angle (FMA), and alveolar overjet. Student's t-test and univariate logistic regression was performed. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Patients with PRS demonstrated a significantly smaller mean FNMA compared to the control group, 129.3 ± 8.6° and 137.4 ± 3.2°, respectively (p < 0.0001), as well as significantly smaller mean FMA, 63.2 ± 9.2° and 74.8 ± 6.1°, respectively (p < 0.0001). The PRS group also demonstrated significantly larger mean alveolar overjet compared to the control group, 3.9 ± 1.4 mm and 2.1 ± 0.9 mm, respectively (p < 0.0001). The odds of respiratory intervention increased among cases when FMA was <68°. Additionally, there was a significant difference in median overjet between patients with PRS who did and did not require respiratory intervention.

Conclusions

Mandibular features on the 20-week ultrasound can be measured to predict diagnosis and severity of PRS. This is an important first step to prepare for potential respiratory intervention at delivery to minimize perinatal hypoxia. Alveolar overjet, previously not described in prenatal ultrasound literature, is measurable and has utility in prenatal screening for PRS, as do FMA and FNMA.
A review of continuum damage and plasticity in concrete: Part II – Numerical framework
Authors: Voyiadjis George Z , Ahmed Bilal , Park Taehyo
Published: December 2021

In this part II, companion article, we present the numerical review of continuum damage mechanics and plasticity in the context of finite element. The numerical advancements in local, nonlocal, and rate-dependent models are presented. The numerical algorithms, type of elements utilized in numerical analysis, the commercial software’s or in-house codes used for the analysis, iterative schemes, explicit or implicit approaches to solving finite element equations, and degree of continuity of element are discussed in this part. Lastly, some open issues in concrete damage modeling and future research needed are also discussed.
Sore Losers: Does Terrorism and Approval of Terrorism Increase in Democracies When Election Losers Refuse to Accept Election Results?
Authors: Piazza James A.
Published: December 2021

A necessary component of peaceful democratic rule is the willingness of election losers to accept election defeats. When politicians and parties acknowledge defeat in democratic elections, they reinforce the peaceful transition of power that sustains political order. When election losers in democracies reject election results, the public’s confidence in democratic institutions is weakened, grievances and polarization abound, and the potential for violent mobilization grows. In this environment, terrorist activity is more likely. I test this proposition using cross-national time series panel data and within-country public opinion data for a wide set of democracies. I find that democracies experience significantly more domestic terrorist casualties when election losers reject election results. Moreover, I find that public willingness to tolerate and justify terrorism as a tactic increases in democratic countries where election losers reject election results.
“Next, it will be you”: Women’s Fear of Victimization and Precautionary Safety Behaviors in Informal Settlement Communities in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Winter Samantha C. , Aguilar Nathan J. , Obara Lena M. , Johnson Laura
Published: December 2021

Around one billion people live in informal settlements globally, including over half of Nairobi, Kenya’s 3 million residents. The purpose of this study was to explore women’s fear of victimization within Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya and how fear of victimization influences women’s behaviors. Fifty-five in-depth interviews were conducted with women in 2015–2016. A modified grounded theory approach guided data collection and analysis. Findings suggest fear of victimization is a serious concern in informal settlements, but women have found ways to adapt their behaviors to cope and to continue to function and protect their children despite fearing victimization.
Weaponizing COVID-19: How the Pandemic Influenced the Behavior of Those Who Use Violence in Domestic and Family Relationships
Authors: Warren Shane , Morley Christine , Clarke Jo , Vitis Laura , Ryan Vanessa , Carrington Kerry , Ball Matthew
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 has increased threats to women's safety in Australia and globally. This research is based on a 2020 nationwide survey about the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic and family violence (DFV) services and allied sectors throughout Australia. This study focuses on how perpetrator behaviors—coercion, control, and violence—changed and intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two central themes identified from this qualitative analysis were the increase in complexity and severity of DFV during COVID-19. The analysis highlights how perpetrator behavior reflects the weaponizing of COVID-19 against women and children. The article concludes with a discussion about the theoretical, practice, and policy implications.
Making the Invisible Visible: Guidelines for the Coding Process in Meta-Analyses
Authors: Villiger Jessica , Schweiger Simone A. , Baldauf Artur
Published: December 2021

This article contributes to the practice of coding in meta-analyses by offering direction and advice for experienced and novice meta-analysts on the “how” of coding. The coding process, the invisible architecture of any meta-analysis, has received comparably little attention in methodological resources, leaving the research community with insufficient guidance on “how” it should be rigorously planned (i.e., cohere with the research objective), conducted (i.e., make reliable and valid coding decisions), and reported (i.e., in a sufficiently transparent manner for readers to comprehend the authors’ decision-making). A lack of rigor in these areas can lead to erroneous results, which is problematic for entire research communities who build their future knowledge upon meta-analyses. Along four steps, the guidelines presented here elucidate “how” the coding process can be performed in a coherent, efficient, and credible manner that enables connectivity with future research, thereby enhancing the reliability and validity of meta-analytic findings. Our recommendations also support editors and reviewers in advising authors on how to improve the rigor of their coding and ultimately establish higher quality standards in meta-analytic research.
‘Democracy and Active Citizenship Are Not Just About the Elections’: Youth Civic and Political Participation During and Beyond Singapore’s Nine-day Pandemic Election (GE2020)
Authors: Kwan Jin Yao
Published: December 2021

Youths have responded to the unprecedented socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic through civic and political participation. However, knowledge gaps exist with documenting specific motivations and forms involved in participation, as well as the implications for subsequent engagement. Using public podcast episodes produced by the author during Singapore’s nine-day election campaign held under lockdown, youth perspectives were analysed thematically to understand youth motivations, participation forms and how participation shapes future sociopolitical engagement. Findings suggest that Singaporean youth were motivated to build awareness and activism and take action between elections and during GE2020. Youth participation was a mix of conventional and non-conventional activities with seamless digital transitions. That any form of participation during the election resulted in youth resolve to continue or expand their engagement beyond GE2020, with awareness and activism and action perceived as mutually reinforcing motivations, has implications for future political behaviours and activities and issues in which youth are engaged.