bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Determinants of Health Improve Predictive Accuracy of Clinical Risk Models for Cardiovascular Hospitalization, Annual Cost, and Death
Authors: Hammond Gmerice , Johnston Kenton , Huang Kristine , Joynt Maddox Karen E.
Published: May 2020

Background:

Risk models in the private insurance setting may systematically underpredict in the socially disadvantaged. In this study, we sought to determine whether US minority Medicare beneficiaries had disproportionately low costs compared with their clinical outcomes and whether adding social determinants of health (SDOH) into risk prediction models improves prediction accuracy.

Methods and Results:

Retrospective observational cohort study of 2016 to 2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data (n=3614) linked to Medicare fee-for-service claims. Logistic and linear regressions were used to determine the relationship between race/ethnicity and annual costs of care, all-cause hospitalization, cardiovascular hospitalization, and death. We calculated the observed-to-expected (O:E) ratios for all outcomes under 4 risk models: (1) age+sex, (2) model 1+clinical comorbidity adjustment, (3) model 2+SDOH, and (4) SDOH alone. Our sample was 44% male and 11% black or Hispanic. Among minorities, adverse clinical outcomes were inversely related to cost. After multivariable adjustment, blacks/Hispanics had higher rates of cardiovascular hospitalization (incidence rate ratio, 1.78;
P
=0.012) but similar annual costs ($−336,
P
=0.77) compared with whites. Among whites, models 1 to 4 all showed similar O:E ratios, suggesting high accuracy in risk prediction using current models. Among minorities, adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities underpredicted all-cause hospitalization by 20% (O:E, 1.20) and cardiovascular hospitalization by 70% (O:E, 1.70) and overpredicted death by 21% (O:E, 0.79); adding SDOH brought O:E near 1 for all outcomes. Among both groups, the SDOH risk model alone performed with equal or superior accuracy to the model based on clinical comorbidities.

Conclusions:

A paradoxical relationship was observed between clinical outcomes and costs among racial and ethnic minorities. Because of systematic differences in access to care, cost may not be an appropriate surrogate for predicting clinical risk among vulnerable populations. Adjustment for SDOH improves the accuracy of risk models among racial and ethnic minorities and could guide use of prevention strategies.
Different Microcirculation Response Between Culprit and Non‐Culprit Vessels in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Jo Yoon‐Sung , Moon Hyeyeon , Park Kyungil
Published: May 2020

Background

This study investigated whether the microvascular dysfunction differed between culprit and non‐culprit vessels in patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and Results

In 115 prospectively recruited patients, after successful percutaneous coronary intervention, culprit and non‐culprit intracoronary hemodynamic measurements were performed and repeated at 6‐month follow‐up.
13
N‐ammonia positron emission tomography was performed at 6‐month follow‐up visit to determine absolute myocardial blood flow. The resistance values of each vessel were calculated using the coronary pressure data and the myocardial blood flow values obtained from
13
N‐ammonia positron emission tomography data. We compared the measurements between culprit and non‐culprit vessels and assessed changes in microvascular dysfunction during the study period. In 334 vessels (115 culprit and 219 non‐culprit), the culprit vessel group showed a lower fractional flow reserve and coronary flow reserve than the non‐culprit vessel group at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up, respectively. The value of index of microcirculatory resistance was different between the 2 groups in the baseline but not at 6‐month follow‐up. The microvascular resistance at rest and hyperemic microvascular resistance were not different between the 2 groups, but resistance to stenosis was higher in the culprit vessel group, under both resting and hyperemic status (
P
=0.02 and
P
<0.01, respectively). In the culprit vessel analysis, the fractional flow reserve and index of microcirculatory resistance decreased whereas coronary flow reserve increased (
P
<0.01 for all) at 6‐month follow‐up. However, there was no change in index of microcirculatory resistance, coronary flow reserve, and fractional flow reserve from baseline to 6‐month follow‐up in the non‐culprit vessel analysis.

Conclusions

The observed microvascular dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome is limited to the culprit vessel territory in the acute phase, which is relatively recovered in the chronic phase and there is no out‐of‐culprit territory involvement.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04169516.
Increased Cardiometabolic and Mortality Risk Following Childhood Maltreatment in the United Kingdom
Authors: Chandan Joht Singh , Okoth Kelvin , Gokhale Krishna Margadhamane , Bandyopadhyay Siddhartha , Taylor Julie , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah
Published: May 2020

Background

Childhood maltreatment remains a significant public health issue associated with a number of poor health outcomes. This study explores the association between childhood maltreatment and the subsequent development of cardiometabolic disease and all‐cause mortality.

Methods and Results

Using a
UK
primary care database between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2018, we conducted a population‐based open retrospective cohort study. We matched 80 657 adult patients with a historic recording of childhood maltreatment or maltreatment‐related concerns (exposed group) to 161 314 unexposed patients. Outcomes of interest were the development of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and risk of all‐cause mortality. During the study period there were 243 new diagnoses of cardiovascular disease (incidence rate 8.3 per 10 000 person‐years) in the exposed group compared with 254 in the unexposed group (incidence rate 4.6 per 10 000 person‐years). Following adjustment for key covariates, this translated to an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.71 (95%
CI
1.42–2.06). Additionally, the exposed group had an increased risk of hypertension (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.42; 95%
CI
, 1.26–1.59), type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjusted incidence rate ratio 2.13; 95%
CI
, 1.86–2.45) and all‐cause mortality (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.75; 95%
CI
, 1.52–2.02) during the study period compared with the unexposed group.

Conclusions

Considering the high prevalence of exposure to childhood maltreatment, we have demonstrated the substantial associated burden of preventable cardiometabolic disease. There is a clear need to ensure that public health approaches are implemented to prevent the adverse consequences following exposure to childhood maltreatment.
Development and Validation of a Porous Theory of Mind Scale
Authors: van Elk Michiel , Maij David , Rutjens Bastiaan
Published: May 2020

We report the results of an empirical investigation of the extent to which supernatural believers endorse a porous conception of the mind, i.e., the belief that one’s thoughts can be directly perceived by others. We developed a porous theory of mind (PToM) scale, tested its factor structure by using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and showed its relation with supernatural beliefs in three studies in the Netherlands and one study with North-American participants. We found that endorsement of a PToM is positively related to paranormal beliefs. We also showed that the endorsement of a porous view of the mind differs in meaningful ways between people from different religious backgrounds (i.e., Protestants vs. Catholics; spiritualists vs. religious believers). The finding that supernatural believers endorse a porous conception of the mind fits well with recent work in the field of the anthropology of religion and the psychology of paranormal beliefs. We propose that our PToM scale provides a parsimonious measurement tool (i.e., consisting only of 4 items) that circumvents socially desirable responding, while providing direct insight in the endorsement of paranormal beliefs.
Epistemic Vigilance and the Science/Religion Distinction
Authors: Talmont-Kaminski Konrad
Published: May 2020

Both science and religion are human endeavours that recruit and modify pre-existing human capacity to engage in epistemic vigilance. However, while science relies upon a focus on content vigilance, religion focusses on source vigilance. This difference is due, in turn, to the function of religious claims not being connected to their accuracy – unlike the function of scientific claims. Understanding this difference helps to understand many aspects of scientific and religious institutions.
Conflictual Identities: The State and Feminist Women in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Sedghi Hamideh
Published: May 2020

This study explores the tensions between the state and women’s efforts to construct an alternative vision of gender equality and feminism. The experiences of the One Million Signatures Campaign for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws offer new perspectives on women’s struggles to carve out their own space and place in society. But how and why does the state construct and reproduce patriarchal norms and practices? Conversely, how do women, specifically feminists, address and engage the state in their attempts to form their own feminist rights and gender identities? Although it is important to understand that both the state and women draw on their own political and cultural preferences, I argue that constructing feminist identities is often an uphill battle, as women encounter resistance from the state that is not gender neutral and is patriarchal.
The Essence of Analogy: Conflict Termination and State-building Lessons from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Syria
Authors: Grgić Gorana
Published: May 2020

From the perspective of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) today, the legacy of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) remains mixed. The dominant view is that the DPA is the origin of its political impasse, economic stagnation, and failed nation-building. Yet, it is indisputable that DPA has been successful in preventing the recurrence of a major violent ethnic conflict in BiH. More recently, the failures of Syrian peace talks to yield a durable settlement have evoked the lessons from the DPA. However, most analyses have concluded the parallels with the Bosnian war and its resolution are misplaced given the complexity and severity of the war in Syria. This article argues for a more nuanced approach to distilling the Dayton legacy, particularly when it is employed as a historical analogy. It highlights the usefulness of the DPA as an analogy for successful conflict termination, while offering lessons about the pitfalls of externally imposed consociational arrangements.
In the Streets and at the Table: Civil Society Coordination during Peace Negotiations
Authors: Nilsson Desirée , Svensson Isak , Teixeira Barbara Magalhães , Lorenzo Luís Martínez , Ruus Anton
Published: May 2020

When bringing armed conflicts to a peaceful end, the inclusion of civil society in peacemaking is a vital task. However, whereas previous research on civil society inclusion has made significant advancements, surprisingly little attention has been paid to analyzing how civil resistance and mass action may interact with more elite-driven approaches during peace processes. This study addresses this research gap by examining the interplay between elite and mass-based civil society approaches in three different peace processes in civil wars in Africa in the post-Cold War period: Liberia, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Burundi. We advance the literature by developing a framework that focuses on coordination of these different efforts and we explore this interplay empirically. With this study, we aim to broaden the research agenda, allowing for future synergies at the research frontier of mass action and the inclusion of civil society in peace processes.
States as Drivers of Regionalization? Examining Negotiations in International Economic Organizations
Authors: Panke Diana
Published: May 2020

The political regulation of the economy takes place on domestic, regional and international levels. Often, states are members of regional and international organizations (ROs and IOs) with competencies in the economic realm. This study explores the effects of such overlaps in membership and policy focus, and examines negotiations in economic Ios. It studies the phenomenon of states being drivers of regionalization of international negotiations. This analysis reveals that states make a conscious choice to influence regionalization of international economic policies. States with strong export sectors and strong economies are more inclined to act on behalf of their RO in international economic negotiations. Apart from incentives, capacities also matter. States need to have domestic and diplomatic capacities to become active in Ios in the first place.
The Controversial Role of Litigation in the Struggle to Revive Individual Access to the Tribunal of the Southern African Development Community
Authors: de Wet Erika
Published: May 2020

The article examines four categories of litigation that were undertaken in the wake of the suspension of the sadc Tribunal. The first category of proceedings concerned a claim and request for an advisory opinion under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter); the second related to arbitration proceedings based on the sadc Protocol on Finance and Investment (fip); the third focussed on proceedings regarding the potential unconstitutionality of a government’s participation in the suspension of the sadc Tribunal; while the fourth concerned conflicts between the sadc and employees before the Botswana High Court. In analysing these proceedings, the article assesses whether litigation thus far undertaken is likely to increase pressure on sadc member states to reinstate some form of individual complaints procedure before the sadc Tribunal.
Questioning the Conditional Visibility of the Chinese
Authors: Montt Strabucchi Maria , Chan Carol
Published: May 2020

Despite a long history of Chinese presence in Chile and the Americas, the Chinese tend to remain in a state of conditional visibility. Questioning the paradoxical ubiquity and invisibility of expressions of Chineseness in the physical and cultural landscape of Santiago, we examine cultural and discursive processes of (re)production that contribute to this scenario. Informed by understandings of identity and contextualized by the history of the Chinese presence in Chile, we consider the diverse ways in which Chinese people and Chineseness are portrayed on Chilean television and in films and theatre plays. We examine how these representations enable forms of subordination and silencing, and/or highlight the agency of Chinese persons. We show that while Chineseness and Chinese people are typically depicted as one-dimensional and incomprehensible, some productions visibilize and problematize such empty stereotypes. Finally, we demonstrate how these representations resignify Chineseness in a broader Latin American and global context.
Gazing into Their Hearts: On the Appearance of Kabbalistic Pietism in Thirteenth-century Castile
Authors: Brown Jeremy Phillip
Published: May 2020

The historiography of medieval Jewish pietism has duly described the development of new discourses of pietistic ethics in Judeo-Arabic, as well as the corpus of Hebrew pietistic and penitential literature composed by the Rhineland pietists. Scholars have long clung to the consensus that the contemporaneous appearance of Kabbalah did not give rise to a characteristic mode of penitential pietism of its own prior to early modern period. This article argues against that consensus. Evidence from Moses de León’s writings points to the conclusion that, already in thirteenth-century Castile, kabbalists sought to impart modes of supererogatory living in accord with their esoteric speculations. This article shows how de León constructed at least three different penitential programs based upon his Kabbalah. Focusing on the program of the “Unnamed Composition,” this article coordinates the appearance of kabbalistic pietism with a variety of historical factors, including the proliferation of Franciscan mendicants in medieval Castile.
China’s Food Revolution and Its Sustainability—Internal Environmental Costs, External Import Dependence and Ecological Impacts
Authors: Zhang Yulin
Published: May 2020

After more than ten years of compensatory growth, the Chinese people’s dietary life has undergone a significant consumer revolution since the 1990s: there has been a major change in the quantity, structure, and consumption patterns of food, and animal food intake has increased significantly. The consumer revolution is underpinned not only by the “hidden agricultural revolution” in China, but also by the huge imports of agri-food and the hundreds of millions of acres of “virtual farmland,” which reached 200 million tonnes and one billion mu respectively in 2017. Given the tendency of food consumption to exceed the needs of maintaining health, the heavy ecological pressure on domestic agriculture, as well as the risks of the international situation and the external ecological impact associated with massive imports, the sustainability of this unfinished revolution is in question. At the national strategic level, advocating the moderation of consumption and the reduction of waste and reducing consumption expectations and consumption volume have become necessary choices.
A new species of Pothea, with new records and taxonomic notes on other species of the genus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae)
Authors: GIL-SANTANA HÉLCIO R.
Published: May 2020

Pothea carpinteroi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae) is described based on two male specimens from Mexico. Pothea aeneonitens Stål, 1864 and P. lugens (Fabricius, 1803) are recorded from French Guiana for the first time. Taxonomical notes on these latter two species and P. haematogaster Breddin, 1903 and P. sanguiniventris Miller, 1956 are also presented. A lectotype is designated for P. lugens. Pothea centralis Walker, 1873, treated as a junior synonym of P. lugens by previous authors, is regarded as a potentially valid species. Color variation in the sternites of males and females of P. frontalis (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825) are recorded for the first time. Photographs of the type specimens of P. aeneonitens, P. bivittata Champion, 1899, P. centralis, P. frontalis, P. haematogaster, P. halffteri Carpintero, 1980, P. lugens, P. maculata Champion, 1899, P. reyesi Carpintero, 1980, P. sanguiniventris and P. venatrix Hussey, 1953, are presented.
Parameter Sensitivity of the WRF–LETKF System for Assimilation of Radar Observations: Imperfect-Model Observing System Simulation Experiments
Authors: Maldonado Paula , Ruiz Juan , Saulo Celeste
Published: May 2020

Specification of suitable initial conditions to accurately forecast high-impact weather events associated with intense thunderstorms still poses a significant challenge for convective-scale forecasting. Radar data assimilation has been showing encouraging results to produce an accurate estimate of the state of the atmosphere at the mesoscale, as it combines high-spatiotemporal-resolution observations with convection-permitting numerical weather prediction models. However, many open questions remain regarding the configuration of state-of-the-art data assimilation systems at the mesoscale and their potential impact upon short-range weather forecasts. In this work, several observing system simulation experiments of a mesoscale convective system were performed to assess the sensitivity of the local ensemble transform Kalman filter to both relaxation-to-prior spread (RTPS) inflation and horizontal localization of the error covariance matrix. Realistic large-scale forcing and model errors have been taken into account in the simulation of reflectivity and Doppler velocity observations. Overall, the most accurate analyses in terms of RMSE were produced with a relatively small horizontal localization cutoff radius (~3.6–7.3 km) and large RTPS inflation parameter (~0.9–0.95). Additionally, the impact of horizontal localization on short-range ensemble forecast was larger compared to inflation, almost doubling the lead times up to which the effect of using a more accurate state to initialize the forecast persisted.
A learning-based optimal tracking controller for continuous linear systems with unknown dynamics: Theory and case study
Authors: Zhang Jingren , Wang Qingfeng , Wang Tao
Published: May 2020

In this article, a novel continuous-time optimal tracking controller is proposed for the single-input-single-output linear system with completely unknown dynamics. Unlike those existing solutions to the optimal tracking control problem, the proposed controller introduces an integral compensation to reduce the steady-state error and regulates the feedforward part simultaneously with the feedback part. An augmented system composed of the integral compensation, error dynamics, and desired trajectory is established to formulate the optimal tracking control problem. The input energy and tracking error of the optimal controller are minimized according to the objective function in the infinite horizon. With the application of reinforcement learning techniques, the proposed controller does not require any prior knowledge of the system drift or input dynamics. The integral reinforcement learning method is employed to approximate the Q-function and update the critic network on-line. And the actor network is updated with the deterministic learning method. The Lyapunov stability is proved under the persistence of excitation condition. A case study on a hydraulic loading system has shown the effectiveness of the proposed controller by simulation and experiment.
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Small-for-Gestational-Age Births Before and During the Economic Crisis: An Ecologic Study of Trends in 13 Spanish Cities
Authors: Domínguez-Berjón María Felícitas , Pérez Glòria , Gotsens Mercè , Gènova Ricard , Martín Unai , Ruiz-Ramos Miguel ,   the IMCRISES Project Working Group
Published: May 2020

Economic recessions can increase socioeconomic inequalities in health. The objective of this study was to analyze socioeconomic inequalities in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births before and during the Spanish economic crisis. We conducted an ecological study of trends based on 2 periods before the crisis (1999–2003 and 2004–2008) and another during the crisis (2009–2013). The study population was Spanish women resident in 13 cities who had given birth during 1999–2013. The prevalence of SGA was calculated for each census tract. A hierarchical Bayesian model was used to obtain the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% credible intervals (CI). We analyzed the association between SGA and socioeconomic deprivation in each period for each city and for 3 age groups. The PR was above 1 and statistically significant for all 3 time periods in most of the 13 cities. The differences in PR between periods were only statistically significant for Madrid (PR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.48–1.65 for 1999–2003; PR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.19–1.38 for 2004–2008) and Barcelona (PR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.87–1.12 for 2004–2008; PR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.05–1.36 for 2009–2013). Socioeconomic inequalities in SGA births in small areas (census tracts) of most Spanish cities studied remained stable before and during the economic crisis.
Transformational Leadership and Employees’ Reactions to Organizational Change: Evidence From a Meta-Analysis
Authors: Peng Jian , Li Mingze , Wang Zhen , Lin Yuying
Published: May 2020

Numerous studies have empirically tested the linkage between transformational leadership and employees’ reactions to organizational change. However, no systematic attempt has been made to organize and summarize those findings. Based on a sample of 30 empirical studies that included 39 independent effect sizes and 12,240 participants, this meta-analysis found that transformational leadership exhibited (a) a positive relationship with commitment to change, openness to change, and readiness for change; (b) a negative correlation with resistance to change and cynicism about change; and (c) a nonsignificant correlation with support for change. Moderation analyses showed that in cross-sectional (vs. longitudinal) designs, transformational leadership exhibited a stronger correlation with openness to change and cynicism about change. Using Bass and Avolio’s scale (vs. Podsakoff et al.’s), transformational leadership exhibited a stronger correlation with resistance to change. In the Eastern (vs. Western) cultural context, transformational leadership exhibited a stronger correlation with commitment to change and resistance to change. In low-level (vs. high-level) journals, transformational leadership exhibited a stronger correlation with commitment to change, openness to change, and support for change. This study highlights the value of incorporating transformational leadership theory into the literature on change reactions to obtain a better understanding of how leaders facilitate or hinder organizational change.
Prediction model and parametric study on CFRP flat-joggle-flat hybrid (bonded/bolted) joints
Authors: Xu Chang , Wang Wenjing , Liu Zhiming , Fu Chen
Published: May 2020

As the weakness zone of composite structures, joints are of great concern. Adding fasteners in the bonded joint is another type of jointing, technology used in engineering. In this research, considering a new type of flat-joggle-flat carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) joint, a prediction model based on the commercial software ABAQUS was proposed to predict the joint load carrying capacity and analyse the joint failure modes. Tensile tests were performed to verify the validity of the model. Furthermore, the orthogonal design was applied to explore the effects of four kinds of factors on the hybrid joints. The results showed that the load-carrying capacity of the hybrid joint improved by 40.5% and 31.9% on average, compared with that of the adhesively bonded joint and the bolted joint, respectively. The carrying capacity for the bonded joint, bolted joint and hybrid joint predicted by the model has error values of 3.5%, 2.7% and 3.1%, respectively, which illustrates good accuracy with the test results. The width-to-diameter ratio appears to have the most substantial effect on the first drop load and the maximum load of the hybrid joint. The failure modes are influenced by the width-to-diameter ratio, edge-to-diameter ratio and stacking sequence.
When Seconds Turn Into Minutes: Time Expansion Experiences in Altered States of Consciousness
Authors: Taylor Steve
Published: May 2020

Time Expansion Experiences (TEEs) occur when a person’s normal experience of time slows down or expands significantly. Previous research has associated them mainly with accidents but also with altered states of consciousness such as mystical experiences, psychedelic experiences, and near-death experiences. This article describes a qualitative study of 74 reports of “Time Expansion Experiences” (also a pilot study of 22 reports), which investigated the phenomenology of such experiences, using thematic analysis to highlight the main themes. The most common triggers of TEEs in the study were accidents (40 of 74), followed by spiritual states (12), and, then, psychedelic experiences and sports and games (both 7). Many participants commented on the dramatic nature of their TEEs, with themes of positive affective states (most notably calmness), alertness, the opportunity to take preventative action (related to very rapid cognition), and quietness. Interpretations of TEEs are discussed, arguing against the theory that they are an illusion created by recollection. TEEs are seen as a characteristic of altered states of consciousness, which occur when the normal self-system dissolves in exceptional circumstances. Human beings’ normal experience of time is a psychological construct, produced by the psychological structures and processes of the normal self-system.
Customer Satisfaction and Its Impact on the Future Costs of Selling
Authors: Lim Leon Gim , Tuli Kapil R. , Grewal Rajdeep
Published: May 2020

Although scholars have established that customer satisfaction affects different dimensions of firm financial performance, a managerially important but overlooked aspect is its effect on a firm’s future cost of selling (COS), that is, expenditures associated with persuading customers and providing convenience to them. Accordingly, this study presents the first empirical and theoretical examination of the impact of customer satisfaction on future COS. The authors propose that while higher customer satisfaction can lower future COS, the degree to which a firm realizes this benefit depends on its strategy and operating environment. Analyzing almost two decades of data from 128 firms, the authors find that customer satisfaction has a statistically and economically significant negative effect on future COS. While the negative effect of customer satisfaction on future COS is weaker for firms with higher capital intensity and financial leverage, this effect is stronger for more diversified firms and for firms operating in industries with higher growth and labor intensity. The authors also find that these effects may vary across two components of COS, cost of persuasion and convenience.
Problematizing a popular panacea: A critical examination of the (continued) use of ‘social generations’ in youth sociology
Authors: Roberts Steven , France Alan
Published: May 2020

Scholars using the concept of ‘social generation’ are committed to understanding the relationship between social change and social inequality. However, in this article we raise a variety of concerns about the empirical and theoretical foundations of the social generation approach. Complementing and advancing critical scholarship on social change, our concern is to advocate for a theoretically robust sociology of youth that can properly tackle questions pertaining to contemporary intergenerational relations and tensions, and issues of power and inequality. We argue that, in relation to social generation approaches, (1) the concept of generational habitus is incoherent and moreover, redundant given the triple historicization already built into Bourdieu’s conceptual apparatus; (2) the notion of generational units cannot attend to inequality and, indeed, is absent, and potentially unworkable, in the research by its main advocates; and (3) that the idea of ‘global generation’ relies too heavily on research from the Global North and, thus, is at odds with the experience of the majority of the world’s youth population located in the Global South.
Building energy consumption prediction and energy control of large-scale shopping malls based on a noncentralized self-adaptive energy management control system
Authors: Peng Bao , Zou Hui-Min , Bai Peng-Fei , Feng Yu-Yang
Published: May 2020

Central air conditioning is the main energy-consuming equipment in modern large-scale commercial buildings. Its energy consumption generally accounts for more than 60% of the electricity load of an entire building, and there is a rising trend. Focusing on reducing central air conditioning energy consumption is a first priority to achieve energy savings in modern large-scale commercial buildings. To study the main influencing factors of central air conditioning energy consumption in large shopping malls, in-depth collection and analysis of energy consumption data of Shenzhen Tian-hong shopping mall were considered, and the impact of factors such as the basic composition of central air conditioning, time, and Shenzhen weather on the energy consumption of shopping malls was considered. The most representative Buji Rainbow store of the Rainbow Group is used as the research object. The influencing factors of central air conditioning on its energy consumption are divided into air conditioning pumps, host 1–1, host 1–2, host 2–1, and host 2–2. The power consumption of the freezer and the eight impact indicators of time and weather in Shenzhen were constructed using Pearson correlation coefficients and a long short-term memory neural network method to construct a regression model of the energy consumption prediction of the mall building. The average relative deviation between the predicted energy consumption values and the measured energy consumption values is less than 10%, which indicates that the main influencing factors selected in this paper can better explain the energy consumption of the mall, and the obtained energy consumption prediction model has high accuracy.
Wind potential estimation and proposed energy production in Southern Punjab using Weibull probability density function and surface measured data
Authors: Sumair Muhammad , Aized Tauseef , Gardezi Syed Asad Raza , Ur Rehman Syed Ubaid , Rehman Syed Muhammad Sohail
Published: May 2020

Current work focusses on the wind potential assessment in South Punjab. Eleven locations from South Punjab have been analyzed using two-parameter Weibull model (with Energy Pattern Factor Method to estimate Weibull parameters) and five years (2014–2018) hourly wind data measured at 50 m height and collected from Pakistan Meteorological Department. Techno-economic analysis of energy production using six different turbine models was carried out with the purpose of presenting a clear picture about the importance of turbine selection at particular location. The analysis showed that Rahim Yar Khan carries the highest wind speed, highest wind power density, and wind energy density with values 4.40 ms−1, 77.2 W/m2 and 677.76 kWh/m2/year, respectively. On the other extreme, Bahawalnagar observes the least wind speed i.e. 3.60 ms−1 while Layyah observes the minimum wind power density and wind energy density as 38.96 W/m2 and 352.24 kWh/m2/year, respectively. According to National Renewable Energy Laboratory standards, wind potential ranging from 0 to 200 W/m2 is considered poor. Economic assessment was carried out to find feasibility of the location for energy harvesting. Finally, Polar diagrams drawn to show the optimum wind blowing directions shows that optimum wind direction in the region is southwest.
Sources of democracy: Rights, trust and solidarity
Authors: Kaul Volker
Published: May 2020

Three recently published reports show to what extent democracy is losing ground in a global context increasingly characterized by authoritarianism and populism. The argument this articles proposes is that the deplorable state of democracies around the world is due to the neglect of substantial characteristics and sources of democracy, which are above all trust and solidarity. Democracy has three different, but interrelated sources that are built upon each other according to a lexical order. A democracy is first based upon political rights, there is in an inherent liberal component to democracy. Second, a democracy requires trust among citizens and individuals that only some form of common identity is going to produce. Third, democracy is based upon strong forms of equality that are brought about by solidarity. The article comes to following conclusions: First, as the experience of Islamophobia and racism in Europe and authoritarianism in the Arab world shows, the concepts of illiberal democracy or majoritarianism currently promoted by strongmen around the globe do not stand for proper democratic political systems. Second, in our plural societies, neither thick nationalism nor strong multiculturalism does support the development of the democratic spirit. Third, Republicanism in Rousseau’s tradition is right that inequalities are the main cause undermining full democracies. A democracy requires the solidarity of the welfare state.
Does Contracting Achieve Better Performance for Democratic-Constitutional, Procedural Tasks? Evidence From the EEO Discrimination Complaint Process
Authors: Choi Iseul
Published: May 2020

Contracting out has been considered one of the main performance management strategies to reduce costs and bring more expertise to government agencies. However, there is a lack of research assessing the performance of contractors compared with that of in-house agency employees, when both contractors and public employees deliver complex services. This study examines whether or not contracting achieves better performance in democratic-constitutional, procedural (DCP) tasks compared with in-house delivery, by analyzing contracting use in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) discrimination complaint process. Using agency-level panel data from the Federal EEO Statistical Report of Discrimination Complaints, combined with data from the Federal Procurement Data System and the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, the study offers evidence resolving the competing logics for a relationship between contracting use and performance in DCP tasks. The findings show that an increase in contracting is associated with a decrease in timely completion of case investigations, which is a key measure of DCP task performance.
Selected pathobiological features and principles of pharmacological pain management
Authors: Khammissa Razia Abdool Gafaar , Ballyram Raoul , Fourie Jeanine , Bouckaert Michael , Lemmer Johan , Feller Liviu
Published: May 2020

Pain induced by inflammation and nerve injury arises from abnormal neural activity of primary afferent nociceptors in response to tissue damage, which causes long-term elevation of the sensitivity and responsiveness of spinal cord neurons. Inflammatory pain typically resolves following resolution of inflammation; however, nerve injury—either peripheral or central—may cause persistent neuropathic pain, which frequently manifests as hyperalgesia or allodynia. Neuralgias, malignant metastatic bone disease, and diabetic neuropathy are some of the conditions associated with severe, often unremitting chronic pain that is both physically and psychologically debilitating or disabling. Therefore, optimal pain management for patients with chronic neuropathic pain requires a multimodal approach that comprises pharmacological and psychological interventions. Non-opioid analgesics (e.g., paracetamol, aspirin, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are first-line agents used in the treatment of mild-to-moderate acute pain, while opioids of increasing potency are indicated for the treatment of persistent, moderate-to-severe inflammatory pain. N-methyl D-aspartate receptor antagonists, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or a combination of these should be considered for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. This review discusses the various neural signals that mediate acute and chronic pain, as well as the general principles of pain management.
The relationship between uses of music, musical taste, age, and life goals
Authors: Hird Emily , North Adrian
Published: May 2020

Musical taste and uses of music correlate with age, although there has been little theoretical explanation of these relationships. The present research argues that musical behavior may be explained by chronological age and variations in life goals across the lifespan, and investigated the relationship between life goals, age, musical taste, and uses of music using an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In Phase 1, thematic analysis of responses from 27 adults aged 65+ years allowed development of an improved “Uses of Music” questionnaire for use with adults of all ages. In Phase 2, 799 Australian adults aged 18–81 years completed three questionnaires, namely Uses of Music (amended), Short Test of Music Preference—Revised, and the GOALS Importance Subscale. Chronological age correlated with life goals; and chronological age, life goals, and musical taste predicted using music for each of social reasons, mood regulation, reminiscence, and activities. Future research on music should not regard age as simply a chronological variable, and instead acknowledge that it implies several life goals which themselves relate to musical taste and uses of music in different ways.
Modeling Traffic Flows on Urban Arterials Considering the Downstream Influence
Authors: Zhu Hong , Nakamura Hideki , Alhajyaseen Wael , Iryo-Asano Miho
Published: May 2020

Arterials are important transportation facilities, undertaking the two functions of mobility and accessibility. In the urban area, signalized intersections along arterials are usually closely spaced and bear heavy traffic pressure. Capacities of intersections can be reduced by downstream intersections even without having spillback. This effect will be accumulated and amplified back along the traffic direction and may lead to severe congestion in the upstream intersection which can be frequently observed, especially during peak hours. However, existing traffic simulators cannot capture this phenomenon accurately because they ignore the capacity drop before spillback happens. In this study, downstream influence is quantified by a virtual optimal speed ( vop). vop is the speed by which the upstream platoon reaches the endpoint of the queue ahead when the last vehicle in the downstream queue just starts. Based on that, two piecewise regression models, for start-up lost time and saturation flow rate, are formulated to estimate the capacity reduction. These regression models are further introduced to improve the modified cell transmission model (CTM). The result of the simulation experiment shows that the proposed CTM model has better performance in simulating traffic flow on signalized arterials than the existing CTM, especially in reproducing the traffic congestion in upstream. The analysis emphasized the importance of considering the downstream influence when simulating the traffic on signalized arterials. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is designed to further reveal the causes of upstream congestion.
Using Religious Poetry of the Seventeenth Century to Start Environmental Conversations in Protestant College Classrooms
Authors: Schaak Hogan D.
Published: May 2020

In this paper it is argued that Christian poetry of the seventeenth century, specifically that of John Donne, George Herbert, and Andrew Marvell can be used in the English classrooms of Protestant colleges in order to introduce students studying Bible and theology to the notion that theology can and should be environmentally minded.
Gallbladder Cancer: Imaging Appearance and Pitfalls in Diagnosis
Authors: John Susan , Moyana Terence , Shabana Wael , Walsh Cindy , McInnes Matthew D. F.
Published: May 2020

Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon malignancy with an overall poor prognosis. The clinical and imaging presentation of gallbladder cancer often overlaps with benign disease, making diagnosis difficult. Gallbladder cancer is most easily diagnosed on imaging when it presents as a mass replacing the gallbladder. At this stage, the prognosis is usually poor. Recognizing the features of gallbladder cancer early in the disease can enable complete resection and improve prognosis. Recognition of the patterns of wall enhancement on computed tomography can help differentiate gallbladder cancer from benign disease. Gallbladder wall thickening without pericholecystic fluid presenting in an older patient with raised alkaline phosphatase should raise concern regarding gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder polyps in high-risk individuals need close surveillance or surgery as per guidelines. Small gallbladder cancers in the neck can present as biliary dilatation or cholecystitis, and careful examination of this area is needed to assess for lesion. The imaging appearance of gallbladder cancer is reviewed and supported by local institutional data. Features that differentiate it from its common mimics enabling earlier diagnosis are described.
The Importance of the Social Environment in Achieving High Levels of Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in African American Church Members
Authors: Heredia Natalia , Nguyen Nga , McNeill Lorna H.
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

African Americans experience a high burden of chronic diseases and cancers that are prevented and ameliorated with physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. The purpose of this study is to identify individual, social, and neighborhood variables associated with African Americans attaining high levels of both behaviors.

Design:

This study is a cross-sectional analysis.

Settings and Participants:

Cohort of African Americans adults recruited from black churches in the Greater Houston area.

Measures:

Self-administered questionnaires collected in 2012 assessed correlates and behavioral outcome variables (PA and FV consumption). A combined 4-category behavioral outcome was created: high PA/high FV, low PA/high FV, high PA/low FV, and low PA/low FV.

Analysis:

Standard and stepwise multinomial logistic regression examined the association between the various variables and the behavioral outcome.

Results:

This sample (n = 1009) had a mean age of 49 years, was mostly female, and obese. Compared to the low PA/low FV intake group, the high PA/high FV intake group had significantly lower odds of individual-level variables (worrying about getting cancer, perceived stress, loneliness, and financial strain) and higher odds of social-level variables (social status, social cohesion, social organization involvement, and social norms). Only social-level variables remained significantly associated with higher odds of high PA/high FV intake in stepwise regression.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that social influences may be most critical for high PA and FV intake in African Americans adults.
Economic Development as an Administrative Prerogative: An Event History Analysis of APLU Institutions
Authors: Moore Nathan A. , Burns Rachel A.
Published: May 2020

Economic development has assumed enlarged importance in public postsecondary education in recent decades. In fact, efforts to harness academic functions for statewide economic growth have been accentuated to such a degree that some consider the mission to be the fourth pillar of public higher education. Yet the extent to which economic development has been adopted as a central administrative feature of public institutions and how this has changed over time are unexamined in the current literature. Moreover, what drives the prioritization of economic development as an administrative focus in public postsecondary institutions is also unexplored. The authors explore these questions by deploying an event history analysis in concert with the neo-institutional and strategic action fields theoretical frameworks. The authors’ findings reveal that economic development has been progressively emphasized by public universities and that a variety of institutional and environmental factors appear to influence the mission’s accentuation.