bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hormonally Active Contraceptives Part I: Risks Acknowledged and Unacknowledged
Authors: Williams William V. , Brind Joel , Haynes Laura , Manhart Michael D. , Klaus Hanna , Lanfranchi Angela , Migeon Gerard , Gaskins Mike , Seman Elvis I. , Ruppersberger Lester , Raviele Kathleen M.
Published: January 2021

Hormonal contraceptives have been on the market for over fifty years and, while their formulations have changed, the basic mechanism of action has remained the same. During this time, numerous studies have been performed documenting side effects, some of which appear over time, some within weeks or months, but all can have a serious impact on health and quality of life. An effort was made to perform a series of comprehensive literature surveys to better understand immediate and long-term side effects of these agents. The results of this literature review uncovered a number of potential side effects, some of which are acknowledged and many of which are not noted in the prescribing information for these agents. Among the unacknowledged side effects are: an increased risk of HIV transmission for depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), and for combination contraceptives breast cancer, cervical cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, depression, mood disorders and suicides (especially among women twenty-five years of age and younger, in the first six months of use), multiple sclerosis, interstitial cystitis, female sexual dysfunction, osteoporotic bone fractures (especially for progesterone-only contraceptives), and fatty weight gain. Misleading prescribing information regarding cardiovascular and thrombotic risks are also noted. Women seeking birth control have a right to be informed and educated about risk avoidance through the use of effective nonhormonal methods like fertility awareness methods. In one case—that of DMPA—the increased risk of HIV acquisition has been conclusively demonstrated to be both real and unique to this drug. Considering the availability of numerous alternatives, there is no justification for the continued marketing of DMPA to the public.

We reviewed the effect of hormonal contraceptives on women’s health. A number of potential side effects were noted including increased risks of breast cancer, cervical cancer, inflammatory bowel  disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, cystitis, bone fractures, depression, mood disorders and suicides,  fatty weight gain, and female sexual dysfunction.  With the long-acting injectable contraceptives there is an increased risk of getting HIV.  Misleading prescribing information regarding the risks of heart attacks, strokes and blood clotting problems were also noted. Women seeking birth control have a right to know about how to avoid these risks by using effective hormone-free Fertility Awareness Methods.
Adoption of improved cassava varieties in Nigeria: Insights from DNA fingerprinting versus self-reporting varietal identification approaches
Authors: Opata Patience Ifeyinwa , Okorie Oguejiofor Joseph , Iwuchukwu Juliana Chinasa , Ume Chukwuma Otum , Oyinbo Oyakhilomen
Published: January 2021

Much of the empirical studies on crop varietal adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa relied on self-reported adoption in farm-household surveys, which is prone to measurement errors. In addition, farmers’ perceptions of consumption-related varietal traits in adoption studies has received limited attention compared with production-related traits. Using DNA-based and self-reported adoption measures, we analyze the adoption of improved cassava varieties (ICVs) with a focus on the extent of varietal misidentification, the sensitivity of the drivers of adoption to varietal misidentification and the role of farmers’ perceptions of biofortification trait in adoption decisions. We find that the adoption rate of ICVs is relatively high using both DNA-based and self-reported adoption measures, but there is notable misclassification in varietal adoption. We find that the mismatch in DNA-based and self-reported adoption measures leads to some variation in the factors that influence the likelihood and intensity of adoption of ICVs. This suggests that appropriate varietal identification helps in better understanding of the drivers of adoption. In addition, we find that despite the observed varietal misclassification, farmers’ perceptions of biofortification trait is significantly correlated with the probability and intensity of adoption of ICVs using both DNA-based and self-reported varietal identification. This suggests that inclusion of biofortification trait in cassava matters for both the likelihood and extent of adoption of ICVs. The latter lends credence to the emerging policy interests in breeding programs for biofortified crops to address hidden hunger in Nigeria.
Capital access and its mobilization for academic achievement: A case of Indian higher education system
Authors: Maheshwari Saurabh , Singh Purnima
Published: January 2021

Previous research has demonstrated a strong relationship between access to capital and academic achievement. The present study explores the mediating role of the individual mindset and class perception in the capital–achievement relation. A survey-based study is conducted on 314 Delhi based undergraduate students. Different measures/proxies of various forms of capital and achievement are used. To see the role of the individual mindset, psychological resources of individual are considered and operationalized in terms of self-motivation and self-confidence. Results show that economic, social, and cultural capital have a significant influence on academic achievement. However, class perception and involvement in highbrow activities do not show any role in academic achievement. Results further reveal a significant mediating role of psychological resources in the capital–achievement relation. Results demonstrate that in the Indian higher education system, various forms of capital largely shape academic achievement and psychological resources significantly facilitate this relationship. Though the individual mindset can help in breaking this capital–achievement nexus, mostly it seems to be facilitating the relation. The results and implications of the study are discussed.
Soft robotic fabric design, fabrication, and thermoregulation evaluation
Authors: Cui Yan , Liu Xiaogang , Fan Jintu , Shou Dahua
Published: January 2021

Usually, traditional insulation materials have a constant thermal resistance value that cannot change within the ambient temperature and will decrease as ambient humidity or external stress increases. Humans heavily rely on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to meet the thermal comfort requirements of their bodies, giving rise to energy waste and global warming. As an infinitely available natural resource, air is one of the most efficient thermal retaining substances known to science. Inspired by soft pneumatic robotics, we propose an architecture for air-driven thermoregulation fabrics called soft robotic fabrics (SRF). By changing the thickness of trapped air layer in fabric system through SRF, wearers could modify garments’ thermal insulation performance. A fabrication method is introduced to rapidly manufacture low-cost pneumatic structures using various types of construction and dimensions. With excellent ductility, elasticity, and compression resistance, the thickness of SRF increases by 12 times or more after inflation, and the fabric even can lift an object 270 times heavier than its weight. The excellent deformability can effectively increase stable air layer between clothing and skin. Based on the Predicted Mean Vote–Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied model, the thermoregulation capability of SRF helps HVAC expand the temperature setpoint range by 3–8 times when compared with traditional fabrics, and has far-reaching significance in saving energy.
The Source of Epistemic Normativity: Scientific Change as an Explanatory Problem
Authors: Dimitrakos Thodoris
Published: January 2021

In this paper, I present the problem of scientific change as an explanatory problem, that is, as a philosophical problem concerning what logical forms of explanation we should employ in order to understand the major conceptual ruptures throughout the history of science. I distinguish between two logical forms of explanation: (a) empirical-scientific and (b) normative explanations. Based on this distinction, I distinguish between the scientific and the liberal versions of naturalism concerning the issue of scientific change. I argue in favor of the latter by showing that normative explanations are indispensable in order to fully understand scientific change. I also argue that we can defend scientific rationality without violating the naturalistic framework which is dominant in contemporary analytic philosophy. I conclude that endorsing scientific realism within a naturalistic framework is the only option for preserving scientific rationality.
Does God care about fashion?
Authors: Handayani Dwi Maria
Published: January 2021

In recent years, Muslim styles have dominated the fashion market in Indonesia. Many well-known brands have switched to producing Muslim clothing and had catwalks at the Muslim Fashion Festival. Although fashion is one of the most visible aspects of a society, it is often the most overlooked, especially by Christians. This article provides a theology of fashion that discusses the theological basis of fashion, how God as the first designer uses clothing as a symbol of redemption and salvation, and how believers should think of fashion as a means of mission and ministry.
An observer-based H∞ linear parameter varying controller for time delayed linear parameter varying systems using dilated linear matrix inequalities and Wirtinger inequality
Authors: Bouazizi Mohamed Hechmi
Published: January 2021

In this study, we give a method for the design of linear parameter varying (LPV) observers in order to perform an LPV time delayed state feedback control for LPV systems with time varying delay. We derive some tractable analysis and synthesis conditions expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). We show how it is possible to reduce significantly the conservatism of the quadratic approach by using parameter dependent Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and LMI dilation techniques jointed to the Wirtinger integral inequality.

We also present a method that makes it possible to do without the separation principle when determining the observer and the state feedback parameters. The synthesis problem is formulated without this principle. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our approach that leads to a better H∞ level compared with other results, from literature, for the same example.
Adaptive event-triggered control for master-slave switched systems subject to attacked state-dependent switching law
Authors: Nie Lingcong , Xu Xindi , Li Yan , Jiang Weiyu , Qi Yiwen , Liu Yanhui
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates adaptive event-triggered [Formula: see text] control for network-based master-slave switched systems subject to actuator saturation and data injection attacks. It is an important and unrecognised issue that the switching signal is affected from both event-triggering scheme and network attacks. An adaptive event-triggering scheme is proposed that can adjust the triggering frequency through a variable threshold based on system performance. Furthermore, considering the impacts of transmission delays and actuator saturation, an event-triggered time-delay error switched system is developed. Subsequently, by utilizing piecewise Lyapunov functional technique, sufficient conditions are derived to render the time-delay error switched system to have an [Formula: see text] performance level. In particular, the coupling between switching instants and data updating instants is analyzed during the system performance analysis. Moreover, sufficient conditions for the desired state-feedback controller gains and event-triggering parameter are presented. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Adaptive fuzzy backstepping control of underactuated multi-cable parallel suspension system with tension constraint
Authors: Wang Naige , Cao Guohua
Published: January 2021

Multi-cable parallel suspension system (MCPSS) is designed to lift a heavy object with rapid development of deep resources exploitation. An adaptive fuzzy backstepping control strategy combining with nonlinear disturbance observer is studied to synthetically control the posture for the underactuated MCPSS with tension constraint in this article. Firstly, a theoretical modelling of the MCPSS with boundary constraints is derived by the extended Hamilton’s Principle. Secondly, the parameter uncertainties and time-varying disturbances are compensated by the fuzzy system and nonlinear disturbance observer, respectively. Thirdly, an adaptive fuzzy backstepping feedback controller based on the reference model is proposed to suppress vibration and control posture of the suspension platform. Finally, an Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems (ADAMS) simulation and a numerical calculation are used to illustrate the theoretical model and the proposed control performance.
Stability of switched Markovian jump systems with time-varying generally bounded transition rates
Authors: Lu Dunke , Li Xiaohang
Published: January 2021

This paper addresses the exponential mean-square stability for a kind of switched Markovian jump systems, which have time-varying generally bounded transition rates and mode-dependent time delay. Since these transition rates are time-varying and generally bounded, they turn out to be more practical. In fact, those existing transition rates can be treated as special cases of the proposed ones in this paper. By constructing a new Lyapunov-Krasovskii function, sufficient conditions in a tractable form are derived for the exponential mean-square stability of the considered systems. For good measure, a numerical example is given to show the efficiency and potential of the proposed method.
The social contagion of utility value: How parents’ beliefs about the usefulness of science predict their children’s motivation and achievement
Authors: Nalipay Ma. Jenina N. , Cai Yuyang , King Ronnel B.
Published: January 2021

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether parents’ utility value perceptions predicted their children’s utility value perceptions, demonstrating social contagion effects. We also examined whether utility value would predict achievement. This is a cross-sectional study that utilized data from a subsample of adolescent students from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA 2015), which focused on science learning and achievement from 18 regions. We performed multi-level structural equation modeling to analyze the data. Results revealed that parents’ utility value perceptions predicted students’ utility value perceptions, which, in turn, predicted science achievement. The findings of this study provide evidence of the social contagion of utility value perceptions from parents to their children and the critical role of utility value in predicting achievement across various regions/countries. Our study highlights the crucial role parents play in adolescents’ motivational and learning outcomes and suggest parental involvement in programs toward enhancing adolescents’ motivation and achievement.
Mind Your Goals, Mind Your Emotions: Mechanisms Explaining the Relation Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Action Crises
Authors: Marion-Jetten Ariane S. , Taylor Geneviève , Schattke Kaspar
Published: January 2021

Action crises describe the intra-psychic conflicts people face when deliberating whether to continue pursuing or to give up a goal for which difficulties keep accumulating. Action crises lead to negative consequences such as elevated distress and depression. Less is known about their predictors. We propose mindfulness as a negative predictor of action crises because mindful people should set more autonomous goals and better regulate their emotions. Three prospective studies examined the relation between mindfulness and action crises and explored goal motivation and emotion regulation as mediators (Study 1, N = 137 students, mean age 22; Study 2, N = 79 students, mean age 24.27; Study 3, N = 236 workers, mean age 40.71). Results showed that mindfulness predicts action crises over time and that this relation is mediated by goal motivation and emotion regulation. We discuss how mindfulness can affect action crises in the phases of the Rubicon Model of goal pursuit.
Critique and cognitive capacities: Towards an action-oriented model
Authors: Hörnqvist Magnus
Published: January 2021

In response to an impasse, articulated in the late 1980s, the cognitive capacities of ordinary people assumed central place in contemporary critical social theory. The participants’ perspective gained precedence over scientific standards branded as external. The notion of cognition, however, went unchallenged. This article continues the move away from external standards, and discusses two models of critique, which differ based on their underlying notions of cognition. The representational model builds on cognitive content, misrecognition and normativity; three features which are illustrated with positions adopted by prominent exponents of critical social theory. An alternative understanding relies on action-oriented disclosure and the participants’ basic familiarity with the social world. On this reading, what clashes with unequal structures is skilful coping, rather than representations and normative standards. The action-oriented approach may overcome the dilemma of understanding both the impact and the possible transcendence of unequal structures, although it cannot ultimately replace representational critique.
Broadening student musicians’ career horizons: The importance of being and becoming a learner in higher education
Authors: López-Íñiguez Guadalupe , Bennett Dawn
Published: January 2021

Research in higher music education acknowledges a persistent divide between performance studies and the realities of musicians’ work. Alongside this is global pressure for curriculum that is more supportive of students’ metacognitive engagement, experiential learning and career preparation. However, scholars assert that the provision of these curricular elements is insufficient unless students recognise their value and engage in them at a deep level; this is because career-long employability in precarious industries such as music is underpinned by strategic, lifelong and self-regulated learning. The study reported here featured a scaffolded employability intervention located within the existing curriculum and trialled with seven student musicians at a European institution. The study had three aims: to understand the students’ career-related thinking and confidence; to determine whether such an intervention might be scalable; and to gauge the intervention’s potential efficacy in helping students to become conscious of their learner identity. Results indicate that many student musicians are aware of the need to extend their essential professional capabilities but unaware of how to address these deficits. Participants realised that ‘learning how to learn’ would help them achieve personal and professional goals. The findings suggest that similar in-curricular interventions are achievable at scale. Furthermore, they have the potential to foster a more holistic vision of performance education and practice such that aspiring musicians might graduate as both skilled professionals and agentic learners.
Communicative predictors of social network resilience skills during the transition to college
Authors: Dorrance Hall Elizabeth , Scharp Kristina M.
Published: January 2021

Persisting in college requires resilience for emerging adults, who must adapt to a new culture with different norms. Many also struggle with financial pressure, mental health issues, and interpersonal stressors. This longitudinal study proposes and tests a model of the communication factors that predict social network resilience skills during the transition to college. A sample of 436 first-year college students in the Mountain West region of the United States reported their family communication patterns, perceived friend and family support, communication confidence, and social network resilience skills (SNRS) at two points in time. Model testing revealed that friend support, family support, and communication confidence mediate the positive effect of conversation orientation on SNRS. Friend support mediates the positive effect of conformity orientation on SNRS. Theoretical implications for the Communication Theory of Resilience and Family Communication Patterns Theory are discussed.
Peering inside mutual adjustment: Rhythmanalysis of return to work from maternity leave
Authors: Rouse Julia , Atkinson Jamie , Rowe Andrew
Published: January 2021

We peer inside the notion that small firm employment relations are a matter of mutual adjustment to conceptualise a key relation subject to negotiation as space–time–energy rhythms. Businesses must offer their goods and services in line with the rhythms of their marketplace and they do so by developing their own rhythms in the form of organisational roles and routines. Staff are only available to fulfil roles if they can synchronise work rhythms with those of their bodies, the people they care for, family members and care services. Mutual adjustment relies on synchronising organisational and market rhythms with non-business rhythms. This demands ‘rhythm intelligence’, practised by managers, workers and teams and, ideally, embedded as an organisational capability. Through empirical exploration of a typical point of negotiation – return from maternity leave – we propose a framework of practices and conditions that constitute rhythm intelligence and outline implications for managers and research.
The management and the usage of electronic resources in academic libraries: A bi-directional relationship
Authors: Bentil Winifred , Liew Chern Li , Chawner Brenda
Published: January 2021

Electronic resources (ERs) in academic libraries have become a global phenomenon due to technological developments, and these resources are changing the expectations of library users as well as the nature of the work of librarians. Although there is an extensive body of literature on the management and usage of ERs in academic institutions, few researchers have taken a holistic view by studying both concepts in a single study to reveal how they are related. Previous studies have investigated only the management or usage of ERs as separate concepts. This study investigates the management and usage of ERs in academic libraries in Ghana to explore the connection between the two concepts. The aim is to provide better recommendations for practice. This research applied a mixed methods design. Twenty-four library staff and three library consortium executives were interviewed. Faculty members and postgraduate students from four institutions were surveyed. Our findings show the various ways in which the management and usage of ERs have an influence on each other. These were mainly in the areas of selection, access provision, publicity, training, evaluation, and usage of ERs. The importance of appropriate and adequate resourcing, the marketing and demonstration of the value of ERs, training and usage evaluation are discussed.
Practice review: Evidence-based quality use of corticosteroids in the palliative care of patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Hardy Janet , Haywood Alison , Rickett Kirsty , Sallnow Libby , Good Phillip
Published: January 2021

Background:

It would be unusual for a patient with advanced cancer not to be prescribed corticosteroids at some stage of their disease course for a variety of specific and non-specific indications.

Aim:

The aim of this practice review was to provide a pragmatic overview of the evidence supporting current practice and to identify areas in which further research is indicated.

Design:

A ‘state-of-the-art’ review approach was used to examine the evidence supporting the use of corticosteroids for the management of cancer-related complications and in symptom control, in the context of known risks and harms to inform quality use of this medicine. We developed ‘Do’, ‘Do not’, and ‘Don’t know’ recommendations based on current literature and identified areas for future investigation and research.

Data sources:

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library from inception to 14th October 2020. Our initial search limited to reviews, reviews of reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled trials was supplemented by supporting literature as appropriate.

Results:

Evidence to support common practice in the use of corticosteroids is lacking for most indications. This is in the context of strong evidence for the potential for significant toxicity and poor quality use of medicine.

Conclusion:

Guidelines recommending the widespread use of corticosteroids should acknowledge the poor evidence base supporting much current dogma. Quality research is essential not only to define the role of corticosteroids in this context but to ensure good prescribing practice.
The Five Stages of the Macromarketing Field of Study: From Raison D’etre to Field of Significant Promise
Authors: Hunt Shelby D. , Hass Ashley , Manis Kerry T.
Published: January 2021

This article contributes to the macromarketing field of study by tracing its evolution through five distinct stages. (1) In Era I (1900-1920), macromarketing was the raison d’etre of the marketing discipline. (2) In Era II (1920-1950), macromarketing became the marketing discipline’s central focus. (3) In Era III (1950-1980), marketing management displaced macromarketing as the discipline’s central focus, but macromarketing continued to be an important part of the discipline. (4) In Era IV (1980-2020), macromarketing became one of four, major, institutionalized fields of study in the marketing discipline, with the others being consumer behavior, quantitative/modeling, and marketing management/strategy. (5) In Era V (2020-?), macromarketing is well-positioned to be not only a major field within the marketing discipline, but also a field of significant promise.
Intravitreal aflibercept partially reverses severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in treatment-naïve patients
Authors: Tao Yuan , Jiang Pengfei , Liu Min , Liu Ying , Song Lihua , Wang Hong
Published: January 2021

Objective

To evaluate whether diabetic retinopathy can be reversed after aflibercept, based on improvements in diabetic macular edema, hard exudates (HEs) of the posterior pole, and retinal microaneurysms (MAs).

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study of 30 patients (34 eyes) with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) who were treated between August and October 2018. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), area of HEs, and number of MAs were compared before and after treatment.

Results

The mean patient age was 61.4 ± 7.1 years; 14 patients (46.7%) were men. The mean number of injections per patient was 3.5 ± 0.5. The time between the last injection and the last follow-up was 82 days (range, 78–110 days). Six months after the first intravitreal injection, significant improvement was observed in BCVA (from 0.70 ± 0.18 to 0.42 ± 0.19 logMAR), CFT (from 377.17 ± 60.41 to 261.21 ± 31.50 µm), and number of MAs (from 182.2 ± 77.4 to 101.5 ± 59.6). Observations over 6 months after the first intravitreal injection showed a statistically significant reduction in the area of HEs (P = 0.007). No adverse events occurred during the treatment period.

Conclusion

Diabetic retinopathy might be partially reversed by aflibercept treatment, as indicated by BCVA, CFT, number of MAs, and area of HEs.
Cardiac arrest caused by accidental severe hypothermia and myocardial infarction during general anesthesia
Authors: Park Dong Ho , Kim Tae Woo , Kim Mo Se , Han Woong , Lee Da Eun , Kim Gyu Seong , Jeong Chang Young
Published: January 2021

Therapeutic hypothermia is often used for traumatic brain injury because of its neuroprotective effect and decreased secondary brain injury. However, this procedure lacks clinical evidence supporting its efficacy, and adverse outcomes have been reported during general anesthesia. A 61-year-old man with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was admitted with traumatic brain injury. Immediately after admission, he underwent mild therapeutic hypothermia with a target temperature of 33.0°C for neuroprotection. During general anesthesia for emergency surgery because he developed a mass effect, hypothermic cardiac arrest occurred following an additional decrease in the core body temperature. Moreover, myocardial infarction caused by restenosis of the previous PCI lesion also contributed to the cardiac arrest. Although the patient recovered spontaneous circulation after an hour-long cardiopulmonary resuscitation with rewarming, he eventually died of subsequent repetitive cardiac arrests. When anesthetizing patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia, caution is required to prevent adverse outcomes that can be caused by unintentional severe hypothermia and exacerbation of underlying heart disease.
Management of Skeletal Class II in a Growing Patient Using a Headgear and a Fixed Functional Appliance, with a Three-Year Follow-up : An Indian Board of Orthodontics Case Report
Authors: Parveen Shahistha , Mascarenhas Rohan
Published: January 2021

This case was submitted to the Indian Board of Orthodontics under category II for phase III examination, in December 2018.

SP, a 13-year-old female patient, presented with the chief complaint of forwardly placed upper front teeth. On clinical examination, she was found to have class II division 1 malocclusion with an increased overjet and overbite, a class II skeletal pattern due to a prognathic maxilla and a retrognathic mandible with positive visual treatment objective (VTO), moderate crowding in the upper and lower arches, retained deciduous 54 and 55, an exaggerated Curve of Spee, and a midline discrepancy of 6 mm.

The treatment objectives were to correct the skeletal pattern and molar and canine relation. The patient was treated with fixed mechanotherapy, along with a headgear and a fixed functional appliance (Forsus). At the end of the treatment, she showed improvement in the skeletal pattern, good posterior occlusion, and an improved overjet and overbite. A bonded fixed retainer in the lower arch and a Begg’s wraparound retainer in the upper arch were used. Occlusion remained stable 3 years after the treatment.
An Evaluation of Self-Care and Caregiving Training Curriculum Content for Chinese Immigrant Caregivers: A Participatory Design Approach
Authors: Wang Ying , Liu Mandong , Chi Iris
Published: January 2021

Immigrant caregivers face unique difficulties in self-care and caregiving practices in the United States. Our aim was to conduct an evaluation of the content of a training curriculum app designed for Chinese immigrant caregivers based on the Body-Mind-Spirit model. An app prototype was developed, and a sample content was examined by prospective users accessing it on their smartphones. Using a participatory design approach, 22 in-depth interviews were conducted with Chinese immigrant caregivers in Los Angeles in 2019, and feedback for spirituality content was sought from an independent expert. Caregivers provided feedback for three self-care categories—body, mind, and community resources—and two caregiving content categories—knowledge and skills, and community resources. From this feedback, five areas for designing training curriculum content emerged: caregiving stress, lifestyle and health behavior change, access to community resources, death education and end-of-life care, and spiritual care.
Effect of additives on melting temperature and energy consumption of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash
Authors: Gao Jing , Dong Changqing , Wang Xiaodong , Zhu Yanjun , Zhao Ying , Lin Yuan , Hu Xiaoying
Published: January 2021

This paper presents the melting temperature (MT) and energy consumption (EC) of model municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash (FA) under the influence of calcium oxide (CaO), silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and boron oxide (B2O3) based on thermochemistry simulations. Nine different base-to-acid ratios (B/A) of raw FA have been explored. The results show that the effects of CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3 vary for different B/A ranges. SiO2 and Al2O3 play positive roles in decreasing the MT and EC of FA4–FA9 with high B/A (B/A: 2.61, 4.48, 6.43, 6.90, 8.32, 8.82). CaO plays a positive role in decreasing the MT and EC of FA1 and FA2 with low B/A (B/A: 0.22, 0.43). In FA3 (B/A: 1.22), the MT and EC of FA cannot be reduced by adding CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3. The addition of B2O3 cannot only further reduce the MT of FA, but also reduce the EC. B2O3 and SiO2 can work together to reduce the MT and EC when B/A is high (2.61–8.82), and SiO2 and B2O3 can be introduced into the FA by adding waste glass and other boron containing waste to realize the coordinated disposal of waste.
The Impact of the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction on Student Self-Determination in Inclusive, Secondary Classrooms
Authors: Raley Sheida K. , Shogren Karrie A. , Rifenbark Graham G. , Lane Kathleen Lynne , Pace Jesse R.
Published: January 2021

Previous research reported differences in student self-determination based on disability status. Specifically, students without disabilities consistently self-report higher self-determination compared with their peers with disabilities, suggesting differential opportunities and supports for self-determination exist within school contexts. To further examine potential differences in student self-determination, the present study examined the impact of an evidence-based practice designed to promote student self-determination, the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI), on student self-determination outcomes when implemented in inclusive, secondary core content classrooms as a universal (i.e., Tier 1) support across an academic year. Findings suggested a relatively small change in overall self-determination during the first year of a multiyear study, but consistent patterns across students with and without disabilities. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Mental health and policing: Picking up the pieces in a broken system
Authors: Pepler Eileen Florence , Barber Clay G.
Published: January 2021

A key theme of this article is the need to view the intersection of public safety and public health through a new lens to break down the traditional information silos of the many agencies that serve vulnerable populations and the impact of inadequate community-based mental health services that contribute to the increasing number of calls to police in responding to people in or approaching a mental health crisis. The manifestation of this crisis in the community is that the police are too often the first port in the storm. This article suggests the system is broken and needs fixing. Implementing a population health approach to identifying the high utilizers in the community and building a case for sustained funding, partnerships, resources, and accountability together with data sharing agreements, community partners and police collaboratively design and evaluate outcome approaches aimed at prevention and recovery to minimize contact with the police.
“The Chinese” in Nigeria: Discursive Ethnicities and (Dis)embedded Experiences
Authors: Xiao Allen Hai , Liu Shaonan
Published: January 2021

In the emerging Africa–China studies, ethnography has been employed to demystify the monolithic Chinese presence in Africa. Drawing on recent concerns about “discourse” in ethnographies of Chinese migrants in Africa, this article recommends the exploration of “discursive ethnicities”: a term coined to frame a conceptualization of ethnicity that, while embedded in migrant experiences, is embodied through discursive practices. Based on inductive analysis of ethnographic fieldwork with Chinese migrants, we propose a framework of discursive ethnicities in the discursive field of “the Chinese” in Nigeria, in which specific subethnicities (Hongkongese, Taiwanese, Fujianese, etc.) emerge, change, or are dismissed, alongside other-ethnicities that are embodied in narrating Nigerians in specific ways as mirrors of Chinese individuals’ self-ethnicities. We also discuss how both embedded and disembedded experiences contribute to embodied discursive Chinese ethnicities. The article concludes that “discursive ethnicities” provides a nonessentialist means of understanding the cognition of ethnicity and discourse in migrant experiences.
Pedagogies of Sport in Youth Detention: Withholding, Developing, or Just “Busying the Youth”?
Authors: Roe Daniel
Published: January 2021

This article examines pedagogies of sport in youth detention, drawing on ethnography (primarily participatory observations and interviews) at two all-male youth detention homes in Sweden. Focusing on youths’ experiences situated in discourse and practice, three pedagogies of doing sport in youth detention are described: withholding sport, busying with sport, and sport as developmental community. The young men in this study experienced mixed messages through sport, revealing how rehabilitation through sport was obscured by predominant pedagogies of withholding sport (i.e., punishment or correction) and busying with sport (i.e., containment or filling the time). Yet there were glimpses of another pedagogy, sport as developmental community, and the experiences and pedagogical work underpinning this endeavor are highlighted. This study illustrates how competing functions of youth justice—punishment, containment, and development—are accomplished, and experienced, through (sport) pedagogical practice.
Does digitalization in higher education help to bridge the gap between academia and industry? An application to COVID-19
Authors: Márquez-Ramos Laura
Published: January 2021

There are three different types of activities performed in higher education institutions that, taken together, form the components of a trilemma in higher education. These include traditional academic activities (research and teaching) and those that aim to transfer knowledge beyond academia (industry-oriented activities). The increased use of digital technology that has resulted from the replacement of face-to-face encounters with digital interactions, or digitalization, is leading to transformations in higher education and is affecting the trilemma; universities face new challenges, and opportunities are emerging. Drawing on lessons learnt from COVID-19, the author explores whether digitalization is helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Multi-objective optimization of WC-12Co coating by high-velocity oxygen fuel spray using multiple regression-based weighted signal-to-noise ratio
Authors: Nguyen Thanh-Phu , Doan Thanh-Hoa , Tong Van-Canh
Published: January 2021

In this study, the optimal process parameters for a high-velocity oxygen fuel spray, which was used to deposit WC-12Co coating on a 16Mn steel substrate, were studied to simultaneously improve the microhardness, adhesion strength, and porosity of the coating. To this end, trial tests were conducted to determine the feasible ranges of the spray parameters: powder feed rate ( A), spray distance ( B), and oxygen/propane mixture ratio ( C). Taguchi orthogonal array (L9) experimental design was used to determine regression formulae for the microhardness, adhesion strength, and porosity. Then, based on a method using the multiple regression-based weighted signal-to-noise ratio, the optimal spray parameters were identified. To verify the optimization results, confirmation experiments were carried out. An analysis of variance was also conducted to check the proportion of contribution of the spray parameters on the output quality characteristics. The confirmation test results proved that the predicted and measured results were in good agreement. The optimal conditions of the high-velocity oxygen fuel spray were: A = 32 g/min, B = 0.35 m, and C = 5. The estimated optimal coating properties were: microhardness = 1335.784 HV, adhesion strength = 64.659 MPa, and porosity = 1.797%. The oxygen/propane ratio showed the highest contribution to the microhardness, whereas the most influential factor for both adhesion strength and porosity was the spraying distance.
Analysis of finishing performance in rotating magnetorheological honing process with the effect of particles motion
Authors: Paswan Sunil K , Singh Anant K
Published: January 2021

The particles used in magnetorheological polishing (MRP) fluid are the key components of the magnetorheological (MR) finishing processes. The rotational magnetorheological honing (R-MRH) process is recently developed as a highly productive MR finishing process which is used for finishing the internal surface of the industrial cylindric components. The involvement of micron-sized abrasive particles of MRP fluid in the finishing operation results in the invisible observation of the finishing mechanism which enables the urge of analyzing the motion of the particles during the present R-MRH process. Therefore, the effect of motions of the MRP-fluid’s particles is analyzed for nano-finishing performance on the inside surface of the cylindric workpieces. The motions performed by active abrasive particles on the inside surface of the rotating hollow cylindric workpiece cause a higher finishing rate. The effects of particle motions on the reduction in surface roughness and improvement in surface morphology confirm the usefulness of the R-MRH process. The surface finish with the effect of the particles' motions of the MRP-fluid in the R-MRH process on the stationary workpiece’s inner surface is achieved upto 100 nm from 420 nm of the initial ground surface in 60 min of finishing. Whereas, the same aforementioned surface of the rotating workpiece is finished upto 50 nm from the same initial ground surface in only 40 min of finishing with the effect of the particles' motions of the MRP-fluid. The improvement in the surface finish is also noticed through the scanning electron micrographs in this work. The significant change in surface finish obtained in experimentations confirms the integrity of the analytical study conducted for understanding the effects of motions of particles while finishing with the R-MRH process.
Finite element analysis of EBM manufactured bespoke implants: A probabilistic study
Authors: Gupta Akash , Millward Huw , Lewis Alan
Published: January 2021

This study analyses three additively manufactured canine implants designed for angular limb deformity correction procedure through probabilistic numerical analysis. These implants have produced excellent results in-vivo and are operational to-date. Therefore, this study uses finite element analysis in conjunction with statistical analysis in order to further validate these implants from a numerical perspective. Due to uncertainties associated with boundary conditions for a bespoke implant geometry, the analyses in this study were conducted on a range of input values. An interrogation of these parameters through sensitivity analysis enabled in identifying the vital inputs. These inputs were then employed to conduct robustness analysis in order to determine the mean value of stress on which these implants ideally operate. These mean values were then compared with the associated safety and failure limit to obtain the probability of reaching these limits through different reliability techniques. A low probability of failure computed from numerical analysis in combination with the continued performance of these implants, suggests a successful integration of the methodology in the design phase of bespoke implants.
Stability analysis of adaptive control using fuzzy adapting rate neural emulator: Experimental validation on a thermal process
Authors: Rhili Fatma Ezzahra , Atig Asma , Ben Abdennour Ridha , Druaux Fabrice , Lefebvre Dimitri
Published: January 2021

In this study, an adaptive control based on fuzzy adapting rate for neural emulator of nonlinear systems having unknown dynamics is proposed. The indirect adaptive control scheme is composed by the neural emulator and the neural controller which are connected by an autonomous algorithm inspired from the real-time recurrent learning. In order to ensure stability and faster convergence, a neural controller adapting rate is established in the sense of the continuous Lyapunov stability method. Numerical simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The performance of the proposed control strategy is also demonstrated through an experimental simulation.
Role of inhibiting Chk1-p53 pathway in hepatotoxicity caused by chronic arsenic exposure from coal-burning
Authors: Yang Yuan , Liu Chunyan , Xie Tingting , Wang Dapeng , Chen Xiong , Ma Lu , Zhang Aihua
Published: January 2021

Arsenic is a naturally occurring environmental toxicant, chronic exposure to arsenic can cause multiorgan damage, except for typical skin lesions, liver damage is the main problem for health concern in population with arsenic poisoning. Abnormal apoptosis is closely related to liver-related diseases, and p53 is one of the important hallmark proteins in apoptosis progression. This study was to investigate whether arsenic poisoning-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and the underlying role of p53 signaling pathway. A rat model of arsenic poisoning was established by feeding corn powder for 90 days, which was baked with high arsenic coal, then were treated with Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) for 45 days by gavage. The results showed that arsenic induced liver damage, increased hepatocyte apoptosis and elevated the expression level of Chk1 and the ratios of p-p53/p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 in liver tissues, which were significantly attenuated by GBE. Additionally, to further demonstrate the potential apoptosis-associated mechanism, L-02 cells were pre-incubated with p53 inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFTα), ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)/ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibitor (CGK733) or GBE, then treated with sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) for 24 h. The results showed that GBE, PFTα or CGK733 significantly reduced arsenic-induced Chk1 expression and the ratios of p-p53/p53 and Bax/Bcl-2. In conclusion, Chk1-p53 pathway was involved in arsenic poisoning-induced hepatotoxicity, and inhibiting of Chk1-p53 pathway ameliorated hepatocyte apoptosis caused by coal-burning arsenic poisoning. The study provides a pivotal clue for understanding of the mechanism of arsenic poisoning-induced liver damage, and possible intervention strategies.