bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive approach to a seamless transition into kindergarten
Authors: Bornfreund Laura , Ewen Danielle
Published: September 2021

Every year, children enter PreK and kindergarten with varied early education experiences, and the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the problem. The need to respond to students’ changing situations gives school districts and states an opportunity to reconsider how they are helping children and their families make the transition into kindergarten. Laura Bornfreund and Danielle Ewen suggest that, instead of developing more activities like information nights and school visits, districts and states should develop and implement annual transition plans designed to create alignment among all who support young children in the community, bringing them together to create goals and strategies for helping children move smoothly through early education.
What early childhood educators know about developmentally appropriate practice
Authors: Thompson Josh , Stanković-Ramirez Zlata
Published: September 2021

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recently revised its Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), the standard for early childhood care and education. Josh Thompson and Zlata Stanković-Ramirez explore how DAP has evolved over time and what guidance it provides early childhood educators regarding the interaction between typical waves of child development, children’s individual characteristics, and social and cultural context.
Toward policies that promote access and equity in early education: A conversation with Shantel Meek
Authors: Heller Rafael
Published: September 2021

Shantel Meek of the Children’s Equity Project talks with Kappan about the challenges facing early childhood education. These include the splintered nature of the system, a lack of funding, and the low status and pay afforded to the early childhood workforce. Although early care programs, such as Head Start, have helped children in poverty, disparities in access and program quality in early childcare persist for young children of color, children with disabilities, and young dual-language learners.
Learning from recording video of your own classroom
Authors: Sherin Miriam Gamoran , Richards Jennifer , Altshuler Mari
Published: September 2021

Advances in technology have made it increasingly easy for teachers to film and share video recordings from their own classrooms, and much research exists highlights the rich learning that can occur when teachers watch and discuss video. Here, Miriam Gamoran Sherin, Jennifer Richards, and Mari Altshuler examine the opportunities for learning that teachers experience when recording and viewing video of their own classrooms. They specifically describe how recording can support teachers in learning to notice, focusing their attention on aspects of classroom interactions that are most important for student learning.
Social media and students’ privacy: What schools and districts should know
Authors: Rosenberg Joshua M. , Burchfield Macy , Borchers Conrad , Gibbons Benjamin , Anderson Daniel , Fischer Christian
Published: September 2021

For many schools and districts in the United States, Facebook has emerged as an important tool for sharing timely information, building a sense of community, highlighting staff and students, and many other purposes. However, neither researchers nor schools and districts have paid enough attention to how their Facebook use may pose a risk to the privacy of individuals — often students who are minors. Joshua Rosenberg, Macy Burchfield, Conrad Borchers, Benjamin Gibbons, Daniel Anderson, and Christian Fischer describe their recent studies showing that 15-20 million photos of students have been shared on publicly accessible Facebook pages of public schools and districts. They estimate that at least 150,000 of these photos — and perhaps as many as a million or more — depict students who are identifiable by name and school or district. They review some of the risks to students that might result from such social media posts and offer practical steps that schools and districts can take to minimize these risks.
Washington View: Money doesn’t buy easy answers
Authors: Ferguson Maria
Published: September 2021

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Congress has allocated just under $190 billion to support K-12 education. As Maria Ferguson explains, these much-needed funds will require states and districts to make plans for how best to use them, and the planning process is complicated in districts that are already stretched and facing unpredictable circumstances. The plans that have been submitted so far vary in their level of detail, but common themes include the effects of the pandemic on student achievement and the mental health needs of both students and school staff.
An efficient field-programmable gate array-based hardware oriented block motion estimation algorithm based on diamond adaptive rood pattern search algorithm for multi-standard video codec
Authors: Balamurugan S M , Seshasayanan R
Published: September 2021

Motion estimation and motion compensation techniques are effectively used for removing temporal redundancy between adjacent frames during video compression, but video quality will be degraded with the traditional pixel-based matching algorithms. To overcome this issue, diamond adaptive rood pattern search algorithm-based block-matching motion estimation algorithms are proposed in this manuscript for multi-stranded codec hardware design, which provide a high compression rate with less computational complexity. In this work, a diamond adaptive rood pattern search algorithm is used, which is a combination of a diamond-search algorithm and adaptive rood pattern search. In addition, the proposed algorithm applies multiple search strategies and terminates unnecessary searching while reserving high data regularity. The proposed diamond adaptive rood pattern search algorithm-based block-matching motion estimation algorithm for multi-stranded codec hardware design provides good performance in terms of complex calculations reduction and reaches a high speed in comparison to traditional search algorithms. The proposed architecture is implemented in Xilinx ISE design 14.5 suite and the implemented results are compared to the existing motion estimation techniques on field-programmable gate array devices. Simulation results shows that the diamond adaptive rood pattern search algorithm for multi-stranded codec hardware design provides a very good improvement in terms of computations overhead reduction, with 96.4%, 97.3% latency and 98.7% throughput and achieves a high compression rate without video quality degradation.
Parapharyngeal Lymph Node Metastasis From Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Masmoudi Mohamed , Hasnaoui Mehdi , Njima Manel , Zitouni Chaima , Thabet Wadii , Chebil Ezer , Mighri Khalifa
Published: September 2021

Metastatic parapharyngeal lymph nodes (LNs) from papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) are uncommon and can easily remain undetected. We describe a case that involves a 62-year-old woman treated for a PTC, who presented a rise in serum thyroglobulin (TG) levels. A computed tomography scan was performed, and revealed metastatic nodes in the left parapharyngeal space (PPS). A surgical resection of the nodes was performed with external cervical approach. A histological exam confirmed the diagnosis of a metastatic LN of a PTC. The aim of this report is to emphasize on the possibility of parapharyngeal metastatic nodes in PTC and to describe the diagnosis methods, treatment options, and impact on the prognosis.
Remembering COVID-19: memory, crisis, and social media
Authors: Adams Tracy , Kopelman Sara
Published: September 2021

Worldwide, pubic memory initiatives are attempting to memorialize the current COVID-19 crisis whilst it is still ongoing. The Picturing Lockdown collection is one such initiative, led by Historic England (HE), the UK’s statutory adviser on historic environment. Calling out to the public to submit photographed experiences of lockdown to both its website and via social media, HE recruited the public to partake in a national memory-making endeavor. To examine memorialization practices of the present, this research asks: in an era of social media, how is an archive of an ongoing crisis represented? Using a qualitative method for visual and textual analysis, this research compares the official HE Picturing Lockdown archive collection and #PicturingLockdown on Instagram. Analysis reveals tensions in three spheres: the institutional, the temporal, and the spatial. Demonstrating the dynamism and “presentism” introduced by social media, this research illustrates how traditional practices of commemoration are shifting.
Comparative Milestones in Rodent and Human Postnatal Central Nervous System Development
Authors: Zeiss Caroline J.
Published: September 2021

Within the substantially different time scales characterizing human and rodent brain development, key developmental processes are remarkably preserved. Shared processes include neurogenesis, myelination, synaptogenesis, and neuronal and synaptic pruning. In general, altricial rodents experience greater central nervous system (CNS) immaturity at birth and accelerated postnatal development compared to humans, in which protracted development of certain processes such as neocortical myelination and synaptic maturation extend into adulthood. Within this generalization, differences in developmental rates of various structures must be understood to accurately model human neurodevelopmental toxicity in rodents. Examples include greater postnatal neurogenesis in rodents, particularly within the dentate gyrus of rats, ongoing generation of neurons in the rodent olfactory bulb, differing time lines of neurotransmitter maturation, and differing time lines of cerebellar development. Comparisons are made to the precocial guinea pig and the long-lived naked mole rat, which, like primates, experiences more advanced CNS development at birth, with more protracted postnatal development. Methods to study various developmental processes are summarized using examples of comparative postnatal injury in humans and rodents.
Joint Provision of Non-audit Services to Audit Clients: Empirical Evidences from India
Authors: Tiwari Reshma Kumari , Debnath Jasojit
Published: September 2021

Executive Summary

The provision of non-audit services (NAS) by an incumbent auditor has remained a highly contentious issue. One school argues that the joint provision does not impair an auditor’s independence. Instead, it reduces total costs, enhances the ability to detect material misstatements, increases technical competence due to knowledge spillovers and leads to intense competition. However, a substantial tranche of an audit firms’ income is derived from NAS, and the joint provision increases economic ties with the client. Therefore, another school of thought perceives that the joint provision impairs auditor independence. It is also alleged that auditors expect non-audit work after finishing the auditing job. Their independence is also affected by the risks of self-review. Extant literature reveals that the majority of the studies on the issue are archival and experimental. The studies are concentrated in the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa, China, and some of the European Union Nations. The article examines the perspective of chartered accountants (CAs) on the joint provision of NAS in India. The study samples 119 CAs. The reliability of the survey result was measured using Cronbach’s α, and a score of 0.77 indicated acceptable internal consistency reliability. The data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann Whitney U test statistic. The summary of their suggestions for ensuring auditor independence is presented separately. The findings reflect that existing prohibitions imposed by the Companies Act, 2013, are not enough to ensure auditor independence, and the Management Services u/s 144 of the Act needs to be clearly defined. Practitioners do not support the proposition that joint provision should end and a separate category of professionals be mandated to render NAS. However, the recommendations include strengthening provisions to reduce the conflict of interest.
Ministry Amidst the Refugee Crisis in Europe: Understanding Missionary-Refugee Relationships
Authors: Sanchez Jamie N. , Dzubinski Leanne M. , Parke Jacqueline
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of an investigation into missionary-refugee relationships in Europe. The main research question guiding this study was: How do missionaries understand and describe their relationship with the refugees they serve? The data for this study were collected at an international consultation on ministry with refugees held in the fall of 2017 from 21 missionaries using semi-structured interview protocols. Findings demonstrate that missionaries shared a liminal identity with the refugees in their ministry, viewed hospitality as a Christian lifestyle, perceived Christianity to be an inclusive faith, and discussed the challenges and opportunities in their ministry with refugees. Based on the findings we offer implications for mission theorizing and practice in the 21st century church.
Treatment of HeartMate III–LVAD driveline infection by negative pressure wound therapy: Result of our case series
Authors: Cikirikcioglu Mustafa , Ponchant Kevin , Murith Nicolas , Meyer Philippe , Yilmaz Nurcan , Huber Christoph
Published: September 2021

Driveline infection is one of the most frequent complications following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) treatment and there is no consensus for its management. The standard approach to treat foreign-body infection is complete device ablation, which is not always feasible and therefore not an elected method for LVAD driveline infections. Here we share the results from a series of cases successfully treated for driveline infection by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) therapy. Between 2016 and 2020, five male patients were hospitalized in our unit with a driveline infection of HeartMate III-LVAD®. Ultrasonography and/or thoraco-abdominal CT confirmed the diagnosis, infection localization, and abscess formation. Following an antibiotic treatment, an urgent surgical abscess drainage and debridement of the infected tissues were performed. At the end of the procedure, NPWT was applied. NPWT re-dressing and debridement of wound was performed every 3–4 days. The wound was closed surgically after obtaining negative culture results and good healing. The patients were discharged in good condition, without signs of infection. Two patients underwent successful heart transplantation after 1 and 13 months. Other patients did not show any residual or recurrent infection during the follow-up within 25 months. Driveline infection following LVAD implantation is a significant complication and a challenging in terms of management for both; the surgical team and the patient. These results from our case series report a successful and less invasive approach by using NPWT for the treatment of LVAD driveline infections.
Solving the guardianship dilemma by war
Authors: Gao Jacque
Published: September 2021

This article develops a new theory of how dictators can solve the guardianship dilemma. I study a dynamic game to show that the dictator may build a large army and deal with the guardianship dilemma by resorting to international conflicts. Specifically, when a military revolt is imminent, the dictator can obtain enough resources to buy off the military by attacking and ultimately defeating his international opponent. The framework thus shows that a weakly institutionalized polity may either have a small military or have a large military and be more aggressive on the international stage.
Design rules for timber log reciprocal floors, based on mass optimization under stiffness constraint
Authors: Latteur Pierre , Geno Julien , Vandamme Marie
Published: September 2021

Building with raw timber allows to reduce the price of construction and to make it more competitive with respect to concrete or steel construction. For a few years now, the combination of parametric design and robotic tools make possible the fast and precise milling of timber logs for their accurate connection. However, the spans are quickly limited by the logs length. In this context, reciprocal structures are relevant, since they allow to build large spans structures with short beams. Finally, the architectural interest of reciprocal structures is not to prove. However, the choice of the most efficient reciprocal frame, as well as its structural relevance in terms of mass and stiffness is, most of the time, ruled by subjective considerations. This paper focuses on rectangular floors composed of reciprocal moduli and has three objectives: (1) to develop a general mass and stiffness optimization method for reciprocal floors, which is not only necessary to limit the price, but also to reduce their thickness, (2) to define design rules for reciprocal floors, in particular for the choice of the best engagement ratio, and (3) to compare the structural efficiency of reciprocal floors with the one of “traditional” floors with parallel logs. Coming from a dimensionless transformation of the equilibrium equations, the results of this article will thus give the designers keys to better design reciprocal structures, evaluate their structural performances and relevance, and justify their choices.
Semiparametric estimation for nonparametric frailty models using nonparametric maximum likelihood approach
Authors: Chee Chew-Seng , Do Ha Il , Seo Byungtae , Lee Youngjo
Published: September 2021

A consequence of using a parametric frailty model with nonparametric baseline hazard for analyzing clustered time-to-event data is that its regression coefficient estimates could be sensitive to the underlying frailty distribution. Recently, there has been a proposal for specifying both the baseline hazard and the frailty distribution nonparametrically, and estimating the unknown parameters by the maximum penalized likelihood method. Instead, in this paper, we propose the nonparametric maximum likelihood method for a general class of nonparametric frailty models, i.e. models where the frailty distribution is completely unspecified but the baseline hazard can be either parametric or nonparametric. The implementation of the estimation procedure can be based on a combination of either the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno or expectation-maximization algorithm and the constrained Newton algorithm with multiple support point inclusion. Simulation studies to investigate the performance of estimation of a regression coefficient by several different model-fitting methods were conducted. The simulation results show that our proposed regression coefficient estimator generally gives a reasonable bias reduction when the number of clusters is increased under various frailty distributions. Our proposed method is also illustrated with two data examples.
Inference for the treatment effect in longitudinal cluster randomized trials when treatment effect heterogeneity is ignored
Authors: Bowden Rhys , Forbes Andrew B , Kasza Jessica
Published: September 2021

In cluster-randomized trials, sometimes the effect of the intervention being studied differs between clusters, commonly referred to as treatment effect heterogeneity. In the analysis of stepped wedge and cluster-randomized crossover trials, it is possible to include terms in outcome regression models to allow for such treatment effect heterogeneity yet this is not frequently considered. Outside of some simulation studies of specific cases where the outcome is binary, the impact of failing to include terms for treatment effect heterogeneity on the variance of the treatment effect estimator is unknown. We analytically examine the impact of failing to include terms for treatment effect heterogeneity on the variance of the treatment effect estimator, when outcomes are continuous. Using analysis of variance and feasible generalized least squares we provide expressions for this variance. For both the cluster-randomized crossover design and the stepped wedge design, our analytic derivations indicate that failing to include treatment effect heterogeneity results in the estimates for variance of the treatment effect that are too small, leading to inflation of type I error rates. We therefore recommend assessing the sensitivity of sample size calculations and conclusions drawn from the analysis of cluster randomized trials to the inclusion of treatment effect heterogeneity.
How Field Experiments in Economics Can Complement Psychological Research on Judgment Biases
Authors: List John A.
Published: September 2021

This review summarizes results of field experiments examining individual behaviors across several market settings—from open-air markets to rideshare markets to tax-compliance markets—where people sort themselves into market roles wherein they make consequential decisions. Using three distinct examples from my own research on the endowment effect, left-digit bias, and omission bias, I showcase how field experiments can help researchers understand mediators, heterogeneity, and causal moderation involved in judgment biases in the field. In this manner, the review highlights that economic field experiments can serve an invaluable intellectual role alongside traditional laboratory research.
Book review: Roli Misra (ed.), Migration, Trafficking and Gender Construction: Women in Transition
Authors: Ray Nilanjana
Published: September 2021

Roli Misra (ed.), Migration, Trafficking and Gender Construction: Women in Transition. New Delhi: SAGE/Stree, 2020, 226 pages, ₹1,095 (hardbound). ISBN 978-93-81345-47-4.
Women are the Better Halves: Gender-based Variations in Virtues and Character Strengths
Authors: Husain Waqar
Published: September 2021

Several feminists have been arguing on the superiority of women over men. This debate, instead of being biological, revolves around the gender roles and moral characteristics of humans, based on which women have been regarded better than men. The current study supported this claim by involving 620 participants, including men and women. Character Strengths Rating Form (Ruch et al., 2014) was used to obtain data. Women projected significantly higher levels on a variety of character strengths as compared to men. The results revealed that women had significantly higher levels of wisdom, justice, curiosity, love of learning, social intelligence, leadership and appreciation of beauty and excellence. The overall picture confirmed women to be more virtuous than men.
Developing a Predictive Model for Plasmodium knowlesi–Susceptible Areas in Malaysia Using Geospatial Data and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Hod Rozita , Mokhtar Siti Aisah , Muharam Farrah Melissa , Shamsudin Ummi Kalthom , Hisham Hashim Jamal
Published: September 2021

Plasmodium knowlesi is an emerging species for malaria in Malaysia, particularly in East Malaysia. This infection contributes to almost half of all malaria cases and deaths in Malaysia and poses a challenge in eradicating malaria. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for P. knowlesi susceptibility areas in Sabah, Malaysia, using geospatial data and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Weekly malaria cases from 2013 to 2014 were used to identify the malaria hotspot areas. The association of malaria cases with environmental factors (elevation, water bodies, and population density, and satellite images providing rainfall, land surface temperature, and normalized difference vegetation indices) were statistically determined. The significant environmental factors were used as input for the ANN analysis to predict malaria cases. Finally, the malaria susceptibility index and zones were mapped out. The results suggested integrating geospatial data and ANNs to predict malaria cases, with overall correlation coefficient of 0.70 and overall accuracy of 91.04%. From the malaria susceptibility index and zoning analyses, it was found that areas located along the Crocker Range of Sabah and the East part of Sabah were highly susceptible to P. knowlesi infections. Following this analysis, targetted entomological mapping and malaria control programs can be initiated.
Self-Monitoring for Students With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Balaghi Danielle , Hierl Kiley , Snyder Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are neuropsychological disorders that can be challenging to students both academically and social-emotionally, especially when they occur together. Students with ASD can have co-occurring OCD, which can complicate social-emotional and academic outcomes. Teachers are in an ideal situation to provide classroom-based strategies, such as self-monitoring, that can help facilitate students’ social and academic success. With self-monitoring, students observe and measure their behavior and compare it against a goal, which can promote greater self-awareness and behavior change. This column provides a step-by-step guide on how to implement self-monitoring with students who have OCD and ASD.
Validation of Skully Care as a Fast Method for Quantifying Positional Cranial Deformities
Authors: Van Adrichem Léon N.A. , Kronig Sophia A.J. , Kronig Otto D.M.
Published: September 2021

Objective

Craniofacial measuring is valuable for diagnosis and evaluation of growth and treatment of positional skull deformities. Plagiocephalometry (PCM) quantifies skull deformities and is proven to be reliable and valid. However, PCM needs direct skin contact with thermoplastic material, is laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, Skully Care (SC) was developed to measure positional skull deformities with a smartphone application.

Design

SC is retrospectively compared to PCM.

Setting

Pediatric physiotherapy centers.

Patients

Age ≤1 year, analyzed or treated for positional skull deformities.

Interventions

A total of 60 skull shape analyses were performed.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures employed are Pearson correlation coefficient between cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI; in SC) and oblique diameter difference index (ODDI; in PCM) and between cranial index (CI; in SC) and cranial proportional index (CPI; in PCM). Mann–Whitney U test determined difference of time consumption between PCM and SC.

Results

High correlation was found between CVAI and ODDI ( r = 0.849; P < .01) in positional plagiocephaly and very high correlation between CI and CPI ( r  = 0.938; P < .01) in positional brachycephaly. SC is significantly faster than PCM ( P < .001).

Conclusions

SC is valid in analyzing positional skull deformities and strongly correlates to PCM, the gold standard in daily physiotherapy practice. The combination of simplicity, validity, speed, and user and child convenience makes SC a promising craniofacial measuring method in daily practice. SC has potential to be the modern successor for analyzing positional skull deformities.
A Low Literacy, Multimedia Health Information Technology Intervention to Enhance Patient-Centered Cancer Care in Safety Net Settings Increased Cancer Knowledge in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Peipert John D. , Lad Thomas , Khosla Pam G. , Garcia Sofia F. , Hahn Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2021

We tested whether a low-literacy-friendly, multimedia information and assessment system used in daily clinical practice enhanced patient-centered care and improved patient outcomes. This was a prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with 2 arms, CancerHelp-Talking Touchscreen (CancerHelp-TT) versus control, among adults with Stage I–III breast or colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in safety net settings. Each patient was assessed for outcomes at 4 timepoints: after starting treatment (baseline), during treatment, immediately after treatment, and at follow-up assessment. The primary outcomes were health beliefs, cancer knowledge, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with communication about cancer and its treatments. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was a secondary outcome. A total of 129 patients participated in the study (65 intervention and 64 control), and approximately 50% of these completed the study. Patients randomized to receive the CancerHelp-TT program had a significantly larger increase in their cancer knowledge in comparison to those randomized to the control arm (effect size = .48, P = .05). While effect sizes for differences between randomized groups in self-efficacy, health beliefs, HRQOL, and satisfaction with communication were small (.10–.48), there was a consistent trend that participants in the intervention group showed larger increases over time in all outcomes compared to the control group. The CancerHelp-TT software was favorably rated by intervention participants. The CancerHelp-TT program showed promise to increase vulnerable cancer patients’ cancer knowledge and adaptive health beliefs and attitudes. However, vulnerable patients may need additional interventional support in settings outside cancer clinics.
Incidence and Demographics of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Cheung Chau Island of Hong Kong—A Distinct Geographical Area With Minimal Residential Mobility and Restricted Public Healthcare Referral Network
Authors: Chan Sik-Kwan , Chau Sze-Chun , Chan Sum-Yin , Tong Chi-Chung , Lam Ka-On , Lai-Wan Kwong Dora , Leung To-Wai , Luk Mai-Yee , Lee Anne Wing-Mui , Choi Horace Cheuk-Wai , Lee Victor Ho-Fun
Published: September 2021

Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is endemic in Hong Kong with a skewed geographical and ethnic distribution. We performed an epidemiological study of NPC in Cheung Chau Island, a fishing village with very minimal residential mobility, and compared its demographics and survival with the rest of Hong Kong.

Methods

NPC data in Cheung Chau and non–Cheung Chau residents between 2006 and 2017 treated in our tertiary center were collected. The incidence, stage distribution, and mortality of Cheung Chau NPC residents were compared with those of their counterparts in the whole Hong Kong obtained from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed between Cheung Chau and non–Cheung Chau cases in a 1:4 ratio. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared between these two cohorts by product limit estimation and log-rank tests.

Results

Sixty-one patients residing in Cheung Chau were identified between 2006 and 2017. There was a significantly higher NPC incidence ( P < .001) but an insignificant difference in the mortality rate in Cheung Chau compared to the whole Hong Kong data. After PSM with 237 non–Cheung Chau patients, the Cheung Chau cohort revealed a stronger NPC family history ( P < .001). However, there were no significant differences in OS ( P = .170), PFS ( P = .053), and CSS ( P = .160) between these two cohorts.

Conclusion

Our results revealed that Cheung Chau had a higher NPC incidence but similar survival outcomes compared to the whole of Hong Kong. Further prospective studies are warranted to verify this finding and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms.
Shaking table test of acceleration response of surrounding rock of the 3D cross tunnel under earthquake
Authors: Pai Lifang , Wu Honggang , Lei Hao
Published: September 2021

Taking the 3D cross-engineering of Caomeigou No.1 Tunnel and Pandaoling Tunnel as an example, a shaking table test was carried out to study the effect of tunnel spatial position on seismic wave propagation characteristics and acceleration response of surrounding rock under earthquake seismic excitation. Based on the influence of the spatial position of the tunnel, the characteristic form of the surrounding rock between the cross section and non-cross section is divided, and the accelerometer layout scheme is designed. Based on statistical probability, the ratio of peak ground velocity to peak ground acceleration (PGA) was introduced to quantitatively characterize the characteristics of seismic wave propagation spectrum. Furthermore, the SPECTR calculation was used to obtain the regional difference in the seismic wave propagation potential damage potential displacement parameter ( P d). Under the influence of the spatial location of the 3D cross tunnel, the peak acceleration and motion duration of the seismic wave are mainly reflected in the variation of the section along the elevation direction. Low-frequency (≤20 Hz) seismic waves have a greater impact on the tunnel structure, and peak ground velocity/peak ground acceleration ratio has a positive correlation with the peak input energy of ground motion. The ultra-small net-spacing cross tunnel has a spatially distributed coupling deformation effect. The crown of the upper-span tunnel is highly sensitive to earthquakes and becomes a weak link in seismic design. These results help us provide a theoretical basis for the seismic design of the cross-tunnel.
Positive progress for non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 insertion mutations: A novel targeted therapy option
Authors: Zhang Weisan , Dong Xifeng
Published: September 2021

Epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations are seen in ∼4–12% of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. However, there is no targeted therapy approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with these rare epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. Previous studies revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations are unique in their ability to activate epidermal growth factor receptor without the typical structural changes associated with the common epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, reducing the clinical efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors currently approved for non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify active epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other effective treatment strategies for non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations. Mobocertinib is a novel irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively targets epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations. Preclinical study revealed that mobocertinib inhibited the viability of epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations-driven patient-derived xenografts and murine orthotopic tumors more potently than traditional epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In a study recently published in Cancer Discovery, Gonzalvez et al. assessed the safety, tolerability, and antitumor efficacy of mobocertinib in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations. They found that non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion mutations can benefit from mobocertinib treatment. Additionally, the treatment-related toxicity of mobocertinib was manageable. These findings lay the foundation for the application of mobocertinib in epidermal growth factor receptor gene exon 20 insertion-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.
Tourism Demand Forecasting Using Nonadditive Forecast Combinations
Authors: Hu Yi-Chung , Wu Geng , Jiang Peng
Published: September 2021

Accurately forecasting the demand for tourism can help governments formulate industrial policies and guide the business sector in investment planning. Combining forecasts can improve the accuracy of forecasting the demand for tourism, but limited work has been devoted to developing such combinations. This article addresses two significant issues in this context. First, the linear combination is the commonly used method of combining tourism forecasts. However, additive techniques unreasonably ignore interactions among the inputs. Second, the available data often do not adhere to specific statistical assumptions. Grey prediction has thus drawn attention because it does not require that the data follow any statistical distribution. This study proposes a nonadditive combination method by using the fuzzy integral to integrate single-model forecasts obtained from individual grey prediction models. Using China and Taiwan tourism demand as empirical cases, the results show that the proposed method outperforms the other combined methods considered here.
On the causes of electoral volatility in Asia since 1948
Authors: Lee Don S , Casal Bertoa Fernando
Published: September 2021

Electoral stability has been viewed as an essential condition for the healthy functioning of representative democracy. However, there is little agreement in the literature about what shapes the stability of the electorate in general nor much attention paid to that of the Asian electorates in particular. We propose historical legacies, uniquely testable in Asia, as central determinants, but also test for conventional factors examined in other regions. By analyzing more than 150 elections in 19 post-WWII Asian democracies, we find that certain types of authoritarian (military or personalist) and colonial (non-British) legacies have a detrimental impact on the stabilization of the electorate, while some of the findings from other regions apply also to Asia. Our additional finding that such effects of historical legacies, particularly authoritarian interludes, are attenuated and cease to be significant with sufficient maturation of democracy, has important implications for the way party systems develop and democracies consolidate.
Video modeling examples are effective tools for self-regulated learning in physical education: Students learn through repeated viewing, self-talk, and mental rehearsal
Authors: Trabelsi Omar , Gharbi Adnene , Souissi Mohamed Abdelkader , Mezghanni Nourhen , Bouchiba Mustapha , Mrayeh Maher
Published: September 2021

This study aimed at assessing the impact of video modeling examples (VMEs) on secondary school students’ self-regulated learning experiences in gymnastics in original physical education (PE) settings. A total of 56 students (28 males and 28 females), aged 16–17, took part in a seven-week gymnastics learning unit for the purpose of acquiring new motor skills and knowledge using VMEs, in the absence of teacher and peer assistance. Repeated measurements were collected through gymnastics floor routines and a custom-designed written test. Semi-structured interviews were administered to explore students’ self-regulated learning strategies. The analysis of quantitative data revealed significant improvements in males’ skill performance (pre: 4.54  ±  2.42, post: 10.97  ±  3.25 points; p <  0.001) and knowledge (pre: 6.43  ±  2.26, post: 13.19  ±  3.09 points; p < 0.001), as well as females’ skill performance (pre: 2.64  ±  2.09, post: 8.96  ±  4.12 points; p < 0.001) and knowledge (pre: 6.14  ±  2.48, post: 10.97  ±  3.25 points; p < 0.001) after taking part in the practical intervention. Sex-based differences, in favor of the males, were only observed in knowledge outcomes (males: Δ (Δ%) = 6.76 (105.1%), females: Δ (Δ%) = 4.25 (69.2%); p < 0.05). Qualitative data analysis yielded three major learning strategies: repeated viewing and interpretation of VMEs, self-talk and mental rehearsal. In conclusion, VMEs were able to empower the participating students to acquire motor skills and knowledge in PE classes through activating different metacognitive learning strategies, and even without resorting to teacher/peer assistance. Data from this study could prompt PE teachers to incorporate VME-mediated self-regulated learning methods into their teaching practices for better classroom management and for improving their students’ metacognition.
Ritual act, technology, and the efficacy of traditional tattooing among the Igorots of north Luzon, Philippines
Authors: Salvador-Amores Analyn
Published: September 2021

What are the social dimensions involved in the technology of traditional tattooing among the Igorots of north Luzon, the Philippines? Based on a long-term anthropological fieldwork among the Igorots, an examination of the varying traditional tattooing practices of these ethnic groups demonstrates that the significance of batok (traditional tattoos) does not only lie in their symbolic and aesthetic qualities, but also in the rituals performed, the taboos observed, and the technology employed in the production of tattoos. The tattoo's appearance on skin is also dependent on the method or technique employed in the production of designs; the varying pigments used to produce a blackish, greenish, or bluish color in tattoos that mark the identity of a group; and the symmetry and arrangement of tattoos. More importantly, this paper explores the social and cultural practices involved in the production of batok for these to achieve the efficacy of purpose and function . This paper examines how the technology of tattoos, along with rituals and their associated taboos, contributes to the production of what is classified among the Butbut of Kalinga as: whayyu or maphod (“beautiful”), rather than lagwing (“unpleasant”); unfinished versus finished; and “thin or thick” tattoos. Traditional tattooing was formerly practiced in the confines of collective and place-based rituals among the people of the Philippine Cordillera. However, the rarity, rawness, and the particularity of the technology used in the production of these tattoos render them more “authentic,” as such, traditional tattooing has entered contemporary tattoo practices in the Philippines as a form of revival.
Growth in the face of overwhelming pressure: A narrative review of sibling donor experiences in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Klippenstein Andrea D Winther , Piotrowski Caroline C , Winkler Janice , West Christina H
Published: September 2021

Sibling donation in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) can be emotionally distressing for children, but may simultaneously evoke positive emotions, and has the potential to facilitate personal growth. We conducted a narrative review of sibling donor experiences, which included an analysis of psychosocial distress and post-traumatic growth (PTG). We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and SCOPUS. Search concepts used to develop key terms included HSCT, siblings, children, and psychosocial outcomes. Specific inclusion criteria included a) research articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals until September 2020, and b) reported trauma symptoms and PTG characteristics of sibling donation experiences. Four themes were identified: fear and anxiety related to HLA testing, overwhelming pressure to donate, guilt and blame when the ill child died, as well as emotional and physical isolation following donation. Sibling responses also included evidence of PTG, articulated as a deepened appreciation for life, closer relationships with the ill child and other family members, increased personal strength, and spiritual growth. These results highlight a critical need for future research approaches that further empower sibling donor voices, such as those found in participatory, arts-based methodologies.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression in people with dementia: A qualitative study on participant, carer and facilitator experiences
Authors: Douglas Sarah , Stott Josh , Spector Aimee , Brede Janina , Hanratty Éanna , Charlesworth Georgina , Noone Deirdre , Payne Jacob , Patel Mina , Aguirre Elisa
Published: September 2021

Background

Depression in dementia is common and associated with negative health outcomes. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a recommended treatment of choice for recurrent depression, but its use for depression in dementia is yet to be assessed.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the experiences of people with depression and dementia who participated in the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention and those of their carers and facilitators.

Methods

This qualitative study was nested within a randomised controlled feasibility study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 people (eight people with dementia and depression, six carers and four course facilitators). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Several beneficial effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy were described. These were a sense of shared suffering among the group, greater present moment focus and awareness, various positive emotional changes, including greater self-compassion, and benefits for carers, such as the reduction of anxiety. Specific aspects of the programme were identified as particularly useful, including facilitator characteristics and certain mindfulness practices. Carer involvement, cognitive difficulties and barriers to home practice influenced engagement with the course. Facilitators described adaptations made to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and suggested additional modifications for future groups.

Conclusion

Results of this process evaluation suggest that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a potentially useful intervention for people with depression in dementia, but that further adaptation of the intervention is required to make the programme suitable for this clinical population.
Moving to opportunity: Student trajectories in the post-Bologna university system in Denmark
Authors: Thomsen Jens-Peter
Published: September 2021

This paper examines whether the implementation of the Bologna bachelor’s + master’s structure has been followed by an increase of university students from under-represented groups, and whether the Bologna structure has been accompanied by new forms of student mobility between Danish university institutions. Looking at student movements from bachelor’s to master’s degrees from 1993 to 2011, I do not find that the implementation of the Bologna structure has been followed by changes in the inclusion of under-represented groups. The social gap in progression to master’s degrees remained small and constant across the period. However, the formal instalment of a new transition point in the Danish university system (from bachelor’s to master’s) has provided bachelor’s degree holders with the opportunity to flee less lucrative fields of study and less prestigious institutions, and they increasingly do so. I discuss the implications of these movements in the light of the aim to make higher education more inclusive.