bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical study of the propulsive performance of two-dimensional pitching foils at very high frequencies: scaling laws and turbulence effects
Authors: Sanmiguel-Rojas Enrique , Fernandez-Feria Ramon
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the propulsive performance of small-amplitude pitching foils at very high frequencies with double objectives: to find out scaling laws for the time-averaged thrust and propulsive efficiency at very high frequencies; and to characterize the Strouhal number above which the effect of turbulence on the mean values cannot be neglected.

Design/methodology/approach

The thrust force and propulsive efficiency of a pitching NACA0012 foil at high reduced frequencies (k) and a Reynolds number Re = 16 000 are analyzed using accurate numerical simulations, both assuming laminar flow and using a transition turbulence model. The time-averaged results are validated with available experimental data for k up to about 12 (Strouhal number, St, up to 0.6). This study also compares the present numerical results with the predictions of theoretical models and existing numerical results. For a foil pitching about its quarter chord with amplitude α0 = 8o, the reduced frequency is varied here up to k = 30 (St up to 2), much higher than in any previous numerical or experimental work.

Findings

For this pitch amplitude, turbulence effects are found negligible for St ≲ 0.8, and affecting less than 10% to the time-averaged thrust coefficient

CT¯ for larger St Linear potential theory fails for very large k, even for the small pitch amplitude considered, particularly for the power coefficient, and therefore for the propulsive efficiency. It is found that

CT¯ ∼ St2 for large St, in agreement with recent models, and the propulsive efficiency decays as 1/k, in disagreement with the linear potential theory.

Originality/value

Pitching foils are increasingly studied as efficient propellers and energy harvesting devices. Their performance at very high reduced frequencies has not been sufficiently analyzed before. The authors provide accurate numerical simulations to discern when turbulence is relevant for the computation of the time-averaged thrust and efficiency and how their scaling with the reduced frequency is affected in relation to the laminar-flow predictions. This is relevant because some small-amplitude theoretical models predict high propulsive efficiency of pitching foils at very high frequencies over certain ranges of the structural parameters, and only very accurate numerical simulations may decide on these predictions.
Numerical modelling of convection-diffusion problems with first-order chemical reaction using the dual reciprocity boundary element method
Authors: Al-Bayati Salam Adel , Wrobel Luiz C.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an extension of the boundary element method (BEM) and the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) formulations developed for one- and two-dimensional steady-state problems, to analyse transient convection–diffusion problems associated with first-order chemical reaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The mathematical modelling has used a dual reciprocity approximation to transform the domain integrals arising in the transient equation into equivalent boundary integrals. The integral representation formula for the corresponding problem is obtained from the Green’s second identity, using the fundamental solution of the corresponding steady-state equation with constant coefficients. The finite difference method is used to simulate the time evolution procedure for solving the resulting system of equations. Three different radial basis functions have been successfully implemented to increase the accuracy of the solution and improving the rate of convergence.

Findings

The numerical results obtained demonstrate the excellent agreement with the analytical solutions to establish the validity of the proposed approach and to confirm its efficiency.

Originality/value

Finally, the proposed BEM and DRBEM numerical solutions have not displayed any artificial diffusion, oscillatory behaviour or damping of the wave front, as appears in other different numerical methods.
Articulating key obligations of states to persons deprived of liberty under a right to health framework: the Philippine case study
Authors: Yarcia Lee Edson P. , Bernadas Jan Michael Alexandre C.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine key obligations of states to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the right to health framework in the context of COVID-19. As a case study, it also describes the state of health in places of detention in the Philippines during the pandemic, with an end view of providing granular recommendations for prison policy reforms.

Design/methodology/approach

Relevant rules under international human rights law related to places of detention were thematically analyzed to articulate the scope of the right to health of PDLs. To describe the state of places of detention in the Philippines, this paper relied on archival research of news from selected local mainstream and specialized media.

Findings

The right to health framework provides a foundation for the response to COVID-19 in places of detention. Key concerns include increase in the number of infections, vulnerabilities in physical and mental health, and the spread of infection among correctional staff. Long-standing structural constraints and limited health information compound the threat of COVID-19. The Philippines must comply with its human rights obligations to PDLs to effectively address COVID-19-related concerns.

Practical implications

Policy reforms in Philippine places of detention must include application of community standards on physical and mental health, implementation of emergency release and application of non-custodial measures for long-term prison decongestion.

Originality/value

This is one of the few papers to analyze human rights in health care in places of detention during a pandemic, as nuanced in the context of the Philippines.
Behavioral intention of traveling in the period of COVID-19: an application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and perceived risk
Authors: Sujood  , Hamid Sheeba , Bano Naseem
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine travelers’ behavioral intention of traveling in the period of coronavirus by using the theory of planned behavior. The framework incorporates attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and a very crucial construct, i.e. perceived risk, as per the current critical scenario of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected using a survey instrument on the internet by posting the questionnaire link over social network web pages of online traveling websites. The data was analyzed using structural equations modeling with AMOS 22.0 and SPSS software and the proposed hypotheses were statistically tested. The sample under consideration constitutes 417 responses.

Findings

Empirical findings suggest that attitude, perceived behavioral control and perceived risk are significant for predicting behavioral intention while subjective norms do not. Then, these variables explained about 35% of the variance in the behavioral intention of traveling in the period of coronavirus.

Research limitations/implications

This study can benefit travelers, the tourism and hospitality industry, governments, the aviation industry and other relevant organizations as this paper offers the latest updates and essential information regarding traveler’s intention of traveling in the period of coronavirus. The study mainly focuses on India, so the generalizations of results to other countries are unwanted.

Originality/value

The primary value of this paper is that it tested the theory of planned behavior by incorporating perceived risk in the context of COVID-19. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, in the Indian context, there is no study, which has tested the TPB by adding perceived risk in explaining the Indian citizens’ behavioral intention of traveling in the period of Coronavirus.
Exploring customer satisfaction in cold chain logistics using a text mining approach
Authors: Lim Ming K. , Li Yan , Song Xinyu
Published: August 2021

Purpose

With the fierce competition in the cold chain logistics market, achieving and maintaining excellent customer satisfaction is the key to an enterprise's ability to stand out. This research aims to determine the factors that affect customer satisfaction in cold chain logistics, which helps cold chain logistics enterprises identify the main aspects of the problem. Further, the suggestions are provided for cold chain logistics enterprises to improve customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses the text mining approach, including topic modeling and sentiment analysis, to analyze the information implicit in customer-generated reviews. First, latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model is used to identify the topics that customers focus on. Furthermore, to explore the sentiment polarity of different topics, bi-directional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM), a type of deep learning model, is adopted to quantify the sentiment score. Last, regression analysis is performed to identify the significant factors that affect positive, neutral and negative sentiment.

Findings

The results show that eight topics that customer focus are determined, namely, speed, price, cold chain transportation, package, quality, error handling, service staff and logistics information. Among them, speed, price, transportation and product quality significantly affect customer positive sentiment, and error handling and service staff are significant factors affecting customer neutral and negative sentiment, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The data of the customer-generated reviews in this research are in Chinese. In the future, multi-lingual research can be conducted to obtain more comprehensive insights.

Originality/value

Prior studies on customer satisfaction in cold chain logistics predominantly used questionnaire method, and the disadvantage of which is that interviewees may fill out the questionnaire arbitrarily, which leads to inaccurate data. For this reason, it is more scientific to discover customer satisfaction from real behavioral data. In response, customer-generated reviews that reflect true emotions are used as the data source for this research.
Open defecation near a world heritage site: causes and implication for sustainable tourism and heritage management
Authors: Mensah Justice , Tachie Benjamin Yaw , Potakey Harriet M.D.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The sixth of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has access to improved sanitation as one of its targets. Sanitation is important not only for environmental quality and public health but also for the outstanding universal value (OUV) of heritage monument sites and tourism promotion. The study examined the causes of open defecation (OD) in the neighbourhood of a World Heritage (WH) site in Ghana and the implications of the practice for sustainable tourism and heritage management.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the qualitative approach. Data were gathered from purposively targeted respondents (an Environmental Health Officer, Heritage Managers, a Tourism Expert, Hoteliers, Zoomlion Staff, Open Defecators, Community Opinion Leaders and Ordinary Community Residents) and analysed using the thematic approach.

Findings

It became evident that the causes of OD were: the lack of toilet facilities in many houses in the community, filthy and foul-smelling public latrines, poor attitude and heritage culture, mental and income poverty, inadequate sensitisation and a poor law enforcement regime. OD threatened the sustainability of heritage tourism and its associated livelihoods, as well as public health. In addition, it impaired the authenticity and integrity of the heritage monument, culminating in a detraction from the OUV of the heritage property.

Practical implications

In collaboration with the local, national and international stakeholders, the managers of the heritage monument should design and implement a comprehensive environmentally friendly plan. The plan should consider demarcating the boundaries of the heritage asset, monitoring the protected area, enforcing sanitation laws and mounting intensive sanitation education campaigns. It should also consider providing a decent toilet in the vicinity of the monument for the transit population, facilitate the provision of a toilet in every house through the community-led total sanitation approach, installing digital cameras at vantage points in the buffer zone of the castle to capture open defecators and punishing offenders severely to deter others from engaging in the ignoble practice of OD.

Originality/value

The authors argue that sanitation at heritage sites in developing countries merits further discussion within the WH network to promote sustainable heritage conservation management and tourism.
“Dodging the bullet”: are effectual managers better off in a crisis? A case of Ghanaian agricultural SMEs
Authors: Aggrey Oliver Kwabena , Djan Alfred Kwadwo , Antoh Naomi Abena Dei , Tettey Louis Numelio
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of causation decision-making and effectual decision-making logic in challenging economic situations within agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collect and derive composite variables from effectuation, causation, financial capital availability (FCA) and crisis performance data through a randomized system based on literature precedents. This study analyzes the data using descriptive analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and ordinary least squared regression through STATA 15.

Findings

The authors find that effectual managers are indeed better off during crisis conditions. Also, there is a significant moderation relationship between the effectuation, FCA and crisis performance.

Originality/value

From strategic management and entrepreneurial process standpoint, the effectuation theory thrives within uncertain business environments. This notwithstanding, literature has often focused on hypothetical, uncertain business environments. The authors present plausible evidence of effectual business behavior from a real crisis, from small agriculture firms’ perspectives and an emerging economy context.
Linkages between gold and Latin American equity markets: portfolio implications
Authors: Yousaf Imran , Hanif Hasan , Ali Shoaib , Moudud-Ul-Huq Syed
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The authors aim to examine the mean and volatility linkages between the gold market and the Latin American equity markets in the entire sample period and two crises periods, namely the US financial crisis and the Chinese crash.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the return and volatility spillovers, the authors employ VAR-BEKK-GARCH model on the daily data of four emerging Latin American equity markets which include Peru, Chile, Brazil and Mexico, which ranges from January 2000 to June 2018.

Findings

The results show that the return transmissions vary across the stock markets and the crises periods. The volatility transmission is found to be bidirectional between the gold and stock markets of Brazil and Chile during the US financial crisis. Furthermore, the volatility spillover is unidirectional from Brazil to gold and from gold to Peru stock market during the Chinese crash. We also calculate the optimal weights hedge ratios for gold and stock portfolio. The result suggests that portfolio managers need to increase the weight of gold for the equity portfolios of Peru and Mexico during the US financial crisis. Furthermore, during the Chinese crisis, investors may raise the investment in gold for the equity portfolios of Brazil and Chile. Finally, the cheapest hedging strategy is CHIL/GOLD during the US financial crisis, whereas MEXI/GOLD during the Chinese crash.

Practical implications

These findings have useful insights for portfolio diversification, asset pricing and risk management.

Originality/value

The study's outcome provides policymakers and investors with in-depth insights regarding hedging, risk management and portfolio management.
Corporate governance and fraudulent financial reporting
Authors: Rostami Vahab , Rezaei Leyla
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to trace the impact of corporate governance and its mechanisms in preventing companies from turning to fraudulent financial reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, using the systematic elimination pattern, the information of 187 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange over six years from 2013 to 2019 were collected, and the hypotheses were examined using a linear regression model. To measure fraudulent financial reporting, the adjusted model of Beneish (1999) was used to evaluate corporate governance. Its mechanisms based on nine corporate governance mechanisms, including board independence, board remuneration, CEO financial expertise, expertise in CEO industry, board financial expertise, board industry expertise, board effort, CEO duality and managerial ownership, have been examined. These mechanisms are calculated as a combined index of corporate governance.

Findings

The findings indicate that robust corporate governance significantly reduces companies’ intention toward fraudulent financial reporting. In the same way, a negative and significant relationship was observed between each of the nine corporate governance mechanisms, except for board compensation and fraudulent financial reporting.

Originality/value

This study’s findings provide valuable insight into the importance of strengthening companies to prevent companies’ managers from engaging in fraudulent financial reporting activities. Hence, it is suggested that professional references bodies more seriously follow the rules to dictate to companies for using and empowering their corporate governance.
Trump's January 6 Address: Hate Speech or Freedom of Speech? A Transdisciplinary Study
Authors: Hamed Dalia M.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This research is a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of Trump's speech on January 6, 2021, which results in his supporters' storming the US Capitol in order to challenge certifying Biden's victory. The Democrats accused Trump of incitement of insurrection. Consequently, Trump was impeached. This article investigates Trump's speech to label it as hate speech or free speech.

Design/methodology/approach

Analytical framework is tri-dimensional. The textual analysis is based on Halliday's notion of process types and Huckin's discourse tools of foregrounding and topicalization. The socio-cognitive analysis is based on Van Dijk's ideological square and his theory of mental models. The philosophical dimension is founded on Habermas's theory of discourse. These parameters are the cornerstones of the barometer that will be utilized to reach an objective evaluation of Trump's speech.

Findings

Findings suggest that Trump usually endows “I, We, You” with topic positions to lay importance on himself and his supporters. He frequently uses material process to urge the crowds' action. He categorizes Americans into two conflicting poles: He and his supporters versus the media and the Democrats. Mental models are created and activated so that the other is always negatively depicted. Reports about corruption are denied in court. Despite that, Trump repeats such reports. This is immoral in Habermas's terms. The study concludes that Trump delivered hate speech in order to incite the mob to act in a manner that may change the election results.

Originality/value

The study is original in its tri-dimensional framework and its data of analysis.
A risk-based approach for structural assessment against fire considering escalation and passive fire protection (PFP) optimization
Authors: Sari Ali , Azimov Umid
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Accidental loadings such as fire constitute a great majority of potential and actual fatalities in both onshore and offshore installations. In order to prevent human loss and for a safe design of an asset, the risk of fire loading needs to be quantified, in terms of both probability/frequency and consequence aspects. In this paper the authors propose a novel risk-based approach for the assessment against accidental fire loading.

Design/methodology/approach

In a conventional passive fire protection (PFP) analysis using ductility level analysis (DLA), fire loads are deterministically applied to a structure whose response is then analyzed. The initial PFP scheme is developed based on the analysis and then optimized. This approach is sometimes misinterpreted as a “risk-based” approach; however, it does not take into account the frequency aspect of the risk assessment. In a risk-based PFP analysis using DLA, fire scenarios are developed in a particular target zone. Then DLA is performed to determine the structural consequence. If personnel safety is of interest, the consequence of the structure is then linked to individual risk (IR) to determine fatalities. The amount of PFP to be applied on the structure is fully based on the risk that is produced by the fire scenarios in target zones.

Findings

A new perspective on safe design of onshore/offshore structures for accidental loadings is outlined to estimate the associated risk to potential targets such as personnel as well as asset. The proposed assessment methodology will contribute toward identifying the mitigation measures and safety-critical procedures and equipment and toward a safer design.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new perspective in a safer design of onshore and offshore structures for a fire accidental loading based on risk calculation. Risk is defined as a combination of the frequency and consequence. An event frequency analysis is carried out to determine how often one should expect the event to occur. A consequence analysis is carried out to determine the severity levels of the event. In a risk-based consequence analysis, the severity levels are fully determined based on the risk associated with the event. The proposed novel risk-based assessment methodology against accidental fire loading contributes toward fully understanding the risk from an impact to personnel and to asset perspectives and leads toward safer and optimal design.
Debt financing and classification shifting of private firms
Authors: Chung Heesun , Kim Bum-Joon , Lee Eugenia Y. , Sunwoo Hee-Yeon
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether debt financing creates incentives for private firms to engage in earnings management via classification shifting. Especially, the authors examine whether debt-induced financial reporting incentives differ depending on the type of debt (i.e. public bonds versus private loans) and whether such incentives are influenced by the characteristics of external auditors (i.e. initial audits and auditor size).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data on 93,427 Korean private firms from 2001 to 2016. Classification shifting is measured by the positive correlation between non-core expenses and unexpected core earnings estimated with ordinary least squares.

Findings

The empirical analyses reveal that private firms engage in classification shifting as do public firms. Importantly, classification shifting is observed only in private firms that have outstanding debt, but not in private firms without debt. Among debt-financing private firms, classification shifting is more prevalent for firms that issue public debt than for firms that only use private debt. In addition, classification shifting of debt-financing private firms is more successful when they are audited by new auditors that are one of the non-Big 4 firms.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides evidence of classification shifting in private firms, which is novel to the literature. However, the inferences in the study depend on the validity of the model for detecting classification shifting.

Practical implications

This study helps lenders enhance their understanding on the financial reporting behaviors of borrowing firms. The results in this study suggest that lenders should be cautious in using core earnings for their investment decisions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by providing novel evidence of classification shifting in private firms. In addition, the authors contribute to the literature on debt-induced incentives for financial reporting.
Exploiting limitations of fused deposition modeling to enhance mixing in 3D printed microfluidic devices
Authors: Zeraatkar Mojtaba , de Tullio Marco Donato , Pricci Alessio , Pignatelli Francesco , Percoco Gianluca
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to introduce an alternative construction for microfluidic micromixers, where the effect of the extruded filaments in the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is used to enhance mixing performance identified as a challenge in microfluidic micromixers.

Design/methodology/approach

A simple Y-shaped micromixer was designed and printed using FDM technique. Experimental and numerical studies were conducted to investigate the effect of the extruded filaments on the flow behavior. The effects of the extruded width (LW), distance between adjacent filaments (b) and filament height (h1) are investigated on the mixing performance and enhancing mixing in the fabricated devices. The performance of fabricated devices in mixing two solutions was tested at flow rates of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 150 µL/min.

Findings

The experimental results showed that the presence of geometrical features on microchannels, because of the nature of the FDM process, can act as ridges and generate a lateral transform through the transverse movement of fluids along the groove. The results showed the effect of increasing ridge height on the transverse movement of the fluids and, therefore, chaotic mixing over the ridges. In contrast, in the shallow ridge, diffusion is the only mechanism for mixing, which confirms the numerical results.

Originality/value

The study presents an exciting aspect of FDM for fabrication of micromixers and enhance mixing process. In comparison to other methods, no complexity was added in fabrication process and the ridges are an inherent property of the FDM process.
Testing the relationships among event personality, event image and runners’ loyalty: a study of an international running event
Authors: Lianopoulos Yannis , Theodorakis Nicholas D. , Alexandris Kostas , Papanikolaou Magda
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Given the increased competition among running events, it is important for event organizers to comprehend how they can retain a base of loyal customers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between sport event personality and loyalty intentions of runners participating in a running event. More specifically, it examined the relationship of sport event personality dimensions with the overall image of a sporting event as well as the association of event image with runners’ loyalty intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 247 participants of an international running event. A structural equation model analysis was followed.

Findings

The results showed that three dimensions of event personality (namely, excitement, sophistication and sincerity) predicted event image, which in turn positively associated with loyalty intentions.

Practical implications

The study discusses how event managers can improve the image of their events in order to increase their customers’ loyalty levels.

Originality/value

This is one of the first endeavors that examined the role of event image, a construct that has not received much attention in the context of road races, in a model concerning event participation.
Bird strikes at commercial airports explained by citizen science and weather radar data
Authors: Nilsson Cecilia , La Sorte Frank A. , Dokter Adriaan , Horton Kyle , Van Doren Benjamin M. , Kolodzinski Jeffrey J. , Shamoun‐Baranes Judy , Farnsworth Andrew
Published: August 2021

Aircraft collisions with birds span the entire history of human aviation, including fatal collisions during some of the first powered human flights. Much effort has been expended to reduce such collisions, but increased knowledge about bird movements and species occurrence could dramatically improve decision support and proactive measures to reduce them. Migratory movements of birds pose a unique, often overlooked, threat to aviation that is particularly difficult for individual airports to monitor and predict the occurrence of birds vary extensively in space and time at the local scales of airport responses.

We use two publicly available datasets, radar data from the US NEXRAD network characterizing migration movements and eBird data collected by citizen scientists to map bird movements and species composition with low human effort expenditures but high temporal and spatial resolution relative to other large‐scale bird survey methods. As a test case, we compare results from weather radar distributions and eBird species composition with detailed bird strike records from three major New York airports.

We show that weather radar‐based estimates of migration intensity can accurately predict the probability of bird strikes, with 80% of the variation in bird strikes across the year explained by the average amount of migratory movements captured on weather radar. We also show that eBird‐based estimates of species occurrence can, using species’ body mass and flocking propensity, accurately predict when most damaging strikes occur.

Synthesis and applications. By better understanding when and where different bird species occur, airports across the world can predict seasonal periods of collision risks with greater temporal and spatial resolution; such predictions include potential to predict when the most severe and damaging strikes may occur. Our results highlight the power of federating datasets with bird movement and distribution data for developing better and more taxonomically and ecologically tuned models of likelihood of strikes occurring and severity of strikes.
Negative effects of neonicotinoids on male honeybee survival, behaviour and physiology in the field
Authors: Straub Lars , Villamar‐Bouza Laura , Bruckner Selina , Chantawannakul Panuwan , Kolari Eleonora , Maitip Jakkrawut , Vidondo Beatriz , Neumann Peter , Williams Geoffrey R.
Published: August 2021

Agricultural chemicals such as neonicotinoid insecticides are believed to be one important factor responsible for the recent reduction in health of pollinating insects like the western honeybee Apis mellifera. However, effects of neonicotinoids on male (drone) honeybee health remain severely understudied.

We examined for the first time the multidimensional effects of field‐realistic concentrations of two common neonicotinoid insecticides (thiamethoxam and clothianidin) on drone honeybee survival, behaviour and physiology using individuals reared and maintained as adults in the field.

Our data showed that neonicotinoids reduced honeybee drone survival by 51%, increased drifting behaviour to non‐maternal colonies by 100%, delayed flight activities by 3 days and reduced number of living sperm by 28%. However, they did not influence the sperm concentration produced by the drones, the strength of the drone's maternal colonies or the total number of drones produced by those colonies.

Policy implications. Our study demonstrated that neonicotinoids can elicit a diverse array of lethal (survival) and sublethal (behaviour, reproductive physiology) effects on male honeybees Apis mellifera in the field. These findings should be considered by policy makers looking to adopt and implement science‐based, holistic risk assessments to more comprehensively assess effects of chemicals on important ecosystem service providing insects like the honeybee. To date, risk assessment schemes do not specifically address potential effects on male bees.
Differential effects of inhibitors of PTZ‐induced kindling on glutamate transporters and enzyme expression
Authors: Taspinar Numan , Hacimuftuoglu Ahmet , Butuner Selcuk , Togar Basak , Arslan Gokhan , Taghizadehghalehjoughi Ali , Okkay Ufuk , Agar Erdal , Stephens Robert , Turkez Hasan , Abd El‐Aty A. M.
Published: August 2021

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder resulting from abnormal neuronal firing in the brain. Glutamate transporters and the glutamate–glutamine cycle play crucial roles in the development of seizures. In the present study, the correlation of epilepsy with glutamate transporters and enzymes was investigated. Herein, male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups (six animals/group); 35 mg/kg pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) was used to induce a kindling model of epilepsy. Once the kindling model was established, animals were treated for 15 days with either valproic acid (VPA, 350 mg/kg) or ceftriaxone (CEF, 200 mg/kg) in addition to the control group receiving saline. After treatment, electrocorticography (ECoG) was performed to record the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex. The glutamate reuptake time (T80) was also determined in situ using an in vivo voltammetry. The expression levels of glutamate transporters and enzymes in the M1 and CA3 areas of the brain were determined using a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). ECoG measurements showed that the mean spike number of the PTZ + VPA and PTZ + CEF groups was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the PTZ group. Compared with the PTZ group, VPA or CEF treatment decreased the glutamate reuptake time (T80). The expression levels of EAAC1, GLT‐1, GLAST, glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutaminase were increased in the PTZ group. Treatment with VPA or CEF enhanced the expression levels of GLT‐1, GLAST, EAAC1, and GS, whereas the glutaminase expression level was reduced. The current results suggest that VPA or CEF decreases seizure activity by increasing glutamate reuptake by upregulating GLT‐1 and GLAST expression, implying a possible mechanism for treating epilepsy. Also, we have suggested a novel mechanism for the antiepileptic activity of VPA via decreasing glutaminase expression levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure the glutamate reuptake time in situ during the seizure (i.e., real‐time measurement).
“Addressing White privilege in family therapy: A discourse analysis”
Authors: Cottrell‐Boyce Joe
Published: August 2021

For this qualitative study, four family therapists were interviewed about the significance of White privilege to their therapeutic practice. The interview data were analysed using Foucauldian discourse analysis. The study highlights the relevance of White privilege to systemic family therapy as a historically contextualised social reality, manifested in unequal experiences, outcomes and relationships. Constraints to addressing White privilege are identified in the form of alternative discourses, such as ‘colour blindness’, which problematise the naming of race and contribute to ‘race anxiety’. ‘Talk‐about‐talk‐about‐race’, acknowledging the contradictions and uncertainty inherent to dialogue around race, may help overcome the mutually negating imperatives of these discourses. Acknowledging White privilege requires ‘relational risk‐taking’ (Mason 2018); to neglect this task risks complicity with the maintenance of White privilege, which, “depends for its power on silence” (Berndt 2008: 190).

Practitioner points

Naming race and spelling out the possible implications of White privilege can help puncture White normativity and warm the context for further exploration of racial subjectivity.

Making White privilege explicit via appropriate use‐of‐self can help challenge the ‘myth of meritocracy’ which reinforces narratives of individual deficit.

Metacommunication in the form of ‘talk‐about‐talk‐about‐race’ may help practitioners overcome the double‐binds of ‘race‐anxiety’.
Is It ‘Dog Days’ for the Young in the Australian Labour Market?
Authors: Borland Jeff , Coelli Michael
Published: August 2021

From 2008–2019 there was a substantial deterioration in employment outcomes for the young (aged 15–24 years) in Australia. Their employment/population rate decreased by 4.3 percentage points, whereas for those aged 25 years and above it increased by 1 percentage point. We argue that the major cause was the young being ‘crowded out’ from employment due to an increase in labour market competition. Adjustment to increased competition also meant they were more likely to: be employed part‐time or long‐term unemployed; start their work careers in lower‐quality jobs; and need to compete for jobs through activities such as unpaid internships.
Advanced applications of chemo‐responsive dyes based odor imaging technology for fast sensing food quality and safety: A review
Authors: Kang Wencui , Lin Hao , Jiang Hao , Yao‐Say Solomon Adade Selorm , Xue Zhaoli , Chen Quansheng
Published: August 2021

Public attention to foodquality and safety has been increased significantly. Therefore, appropriate analytical tools are needed to analyze and sense the food quality and safety. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important indicators for the quality and safety of food products. Odor imaging technology based on chemo‐responsive dyes is one of the most promising methods for analysis of food products. This article reviews the sensing and imaging fundamentals of odor imaging technology based on chemo‐responsive dyes. The aim is to give detailed outlines about the theory and principles of using odor imaging technology for VOCs detection, and to focus primarily on its applications in the field of quality and safety evaluation of food products, as well as its future applicability in modern food industries and research. The literatures presented in this review clearly demonstrated that imaging technology based on chemo‐responsive dyes has the exciting effect to inspect such as quality assessment of cereal , wine and vinegar flavored foods , poultry meat, aquatic products, fruits and vegetables, and tea. It has the potential for the rapid, reliable, and inline assessment of food safety and quality by providing odor‐image‐basedmonitoring tool.

Practical Application: The literatures presented in this review clearly demonstrated that imaging technology based on chemo‐responsive dyes has the exciting effect to inspect such as quality assessment of cereal , wine and vinegar flavored foods, poultry meat, aquatic products, fruits and vegetables, and tea.
The accumulation of disadvantage: Criminal justice contact, credit, and debt in the transition to adulthood*
Authors: DeMarco Laura M. , Dwyer Rachel E. , Haynie Dana L.
Published: August 2021

Social exclusion of those with criminal justice experience increasingly includes a financial component, but the structure of disadvantage in credit and debt remains unclear. We develop a model of financial disadvantage in debt holding during the transition to adulthood among justice‐involved groups. We study cumulative criminal justice contact and debt holding by age 30 using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97). The NLSY97 cohort transitioned to adulthood during an era of historically high criminal justice contact, with many experiencing arrests, convictions, and incarceration. We develop a distinct measurement approach to cumulative criminal justice contact by age 30 that captures variation between young adults in the severity of justice encounters in the early life course. We conceptualize financial disadvantage as a lower likelihood of holding debt that facilitates property and attainment investments and a higher likelihood of holding higher cost debts used for consumption or emergencies. We find that those with the most punitive criminal justice contact evidence the most disadvantageous form of debt holding, potentially exacerbating social exclusion. We consider the implications of the accumulation of financial disadvantage for our understanding of criminal justice contact as a life‐course process.
Study protocol: A single‐arm, multicenter, phase II trial of camrelizumab plus apatinib for advanced nonsquamous NSCLC previously treated with first‐line immunotherapy
Authors: Xing Puyuan , Wang Mengzhao , Zhao Jun , Zhong Wei , Chi Yujia , Xu Ziyi , Li Junling
Published: August 2021

Background

For advanced nonsquamous non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the mechanisms of resistance to first‐line immunotherapy are not clear. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with agents targeting other pathways may serve as second‐line therapy options. Apatinib (a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor) could increase the efficacy of camrelizumab (an ICI agent). The efficacy and safety of this combination regimen as a second‐line therapy for NSCLC patients after failure on first‐line immunotherapy has not previously been evaluated.

Methods

In this single‐arm, multicenter, phase II trial, metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC patients previously treated with single‐agent ICI or ICI plus chemotherapy will be enrolled. Participants will receive intravenous camrelizumab 200 mg D1 and oral apatinib 250 mg D1‐21 for a 21‐day cycle. The study treatment will continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. The primary endpoint is progression‐free survival by investigator. Secondary endpoints are overall survival, objective response rate, disease control rate, duration of response by investigator, quality of life, safety, and toxicity.

Conclusions

This trial will provide evidence of the benefit of treatment with camrelizumab combined with apatinib in advanced nonsquamous NSCLC patients who were previously treated with first‐line immunotherapy.
Risk factors for acute exacerbation in lung cancer complicated by interstitial lung disease with slight reticular shadows
Authors: Takahara Yutaka , Tanaka Takuya , Ishige Yoko , Shionoya Ikuyo , Yamamura Kouichi , Sakuma Takashi , Nishiki Kazuaki , Nakase Keisuke , Nojiri Masafumi , Kato Ryo , Shinomiya Shohei , Fujimoto Yuki , Oikawa Taku , Mizuno Shiro
Published: August 2021

Background

The risk of cancer treatment‐related acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with lung cancer and mild interstitial lung disease (ILD) on imaging, classified as indeterminate for usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), has not previously been clarified.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 27 patients with lung cancer and ILD who were diagnosed and treated from April 2016 to March 2021.

Results

Among the 27 patients, 21 were classified as indeterminate for UIP and six as UIP/probable UIP; furthermore, 10 (46.6%) and three (50%) patients from each group, respectively, developed treatment‐related AEs. No significant difference was observed regarding the incidence of AEs between the two groups. However, significantly more patients in the AE group received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) compared to the non‐AE group (p = 0.021). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of ICIs was a significant independent risk factor for treatment‐related AEs.

Conclusions

Lung cancer patients with mild ILD suggestive of indeterminate for UIP and UIP patterns are at an increased risk for treatment‐related AEs. Furthermore, ICI use is an independent risk factor for AEs in patients with lung cancer complicated by ILD, and ICIs should be used with great caution.
Does short‐selling affect mutual fund shareholdings? Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Xufeng , Wan Die
Published: August 2021

Taking the gradual lifting of short‐sale bans in China as natural experiments, the paper shows that mutual funds reduce the number of shares in shortable stocks compared to short‐selling forbidden stocks after short‐selling reforms, and their selling is more intensive in stocks with higher valuation, larger market value, higher profitability, more media coverage or better corporate governance. These strategies are not just short‐term reactions, nor are they applied by other institutional investors. Short‐sellers process negative information to dampen overvaluation or spread pessimistic beliefs which undervalue high quality, so mutual funds’ negative reaction towards short‐selling is stronger among overvalued or high‐quality stocks.
Stillbirth risks and rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies in North Queensland
Authors: Kilcullen Meegan , Kandasamy Yogavijayan , Watson David , Cadet‐James Yvonne
Published: August 2021

Background

The stillbirth rate for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants remains higher than non‐Indigenous rates. Risks for stillbirth include maternal factors such as ethnicity, age, geographic location, and physical health. Fetal risk factors include gestational age, birthweight and congenital anomalies. The total stillbirth rate for all babies born at the Townsville University Hospital during the study period was 11 per 1000 births.

Aims

To identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stillbirth rates, risk factors and causes in North Queensland.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective chart audit was conducted to identify Indigenous women who had experienced stillbirth in the Townsville University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2014.

Results

Thirty‐two charts were available for audit. The stillbirth rate for non‐Indigenous infants was 10.3 per 1000 births. The stillbirth rate for Indigenous infants was 11.7 per 1000 births. Almost half of the women lived in rural, remote or very remote areas. Maternal risk factors included poorer physical health, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking, fertility issues and lack of antenatal care. Fetal risk factors included congenital anomalies, including cardiac and skeletal abnormalities, placental disorders, and preterm birth.

Conclusions

Stillbirth risk remains higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies. Supporting women to enhance their health is paramount, particularly during pregnancy. Further, increasing awareness of stillbirth risk factors through education for both women and healthcare professionals will support culturally responsive care for women and their families to mitigate stillbirth risk and enhance pregnancy outcomes in non‐urban Queensland.
Pliable Prejudice: The Case of Welfare
Authors: Goren Paul
Published: August 2021

The conventional wisdom maintains that whites’ racial predispositions are exogenous to their views of welfare. Against this position, scattered studies report that prejudice moves in response to new information about policies and groups. Likewise, theories of mediated intergroup contact propose that when individuals encounter messages about racial outgroups, their levels of prejudice may wax or wane. In conjunction, these lines of work suggest that whites update their global views of blacks based on how they feel about people on welfare. The current article tests this “prejudice revision” hypothesis with data from “welfare mother” vignettes embedded on national surveys administered in 1991, 2014, and 2015 and ANES panel data from the 1990s. The results indicate that views of welfare recipients systematically affect racial stereotypes, racial resentment, individualistic explanations for racial inequality, and structural explanations for racial inequality. Prejudice, in short, is endogenous to welfare attitudes.