bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Echocardiography‐Detected Rheumatic Heart Disease: Validating a Simplified Score in Cohorts From Different Countries
Authors: Nascimento Bruno R. , Nunes Maria Carmo P. , Lima Emily M. , Sanyahumbi Amy E. , Wilson Nigel , Tilton Elizabeth , Rémond Marc G. W. , Maguire Graeme P. , Ribeiro Antonio Luiz P. , Kazembe Peter N. , Sable Craig , Beaton Andrea Z. , Reese Alison T , Beaton Andrea Z , Ribeiro Antonio Luiz P. , Rezende Breno D. F , Nascimento Bruno R , Fraga Clara L , Sable Craig , Ferreira‐Filho Domingos Sávio G. , Macedo Frederico V. B , Franco Juliane , Oliveira Kaciane K. B , Santos Luiza P. A , Barbosa Márcia M , Nunes Maria Carmo P. , Rocha Rodrigo T. L , Faria Sanny Cristina C.
Published: September 2021

Background

The natural history of latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) detected by echocardiography remains unclear. We aimed to assess the accuracy of a simplified score based on the 2012 World Heart Federation criteria in predicting mid‐term RHD echocardiography outcomes in children from 4 different countries.

Methods and Results

Patient‐level baseline and follow‐up data of children with latent RHD from 4 countries (Australia, n=62; Brazil, n=197; Malawi, n=40; New Zealand, n=94) were combined. A simplified echocardiographic scoring system previously developed from Brazilian and Ugandan cohorts, consisting of 5 point‐based variables with respective weights, was applied: mitral valveanterior leaflet thickening (weight=3), excessive leaflet tip motion (3), regurgitation jet length ≥2 cm (6), aortic valve focal thickening (4), and any regurgitation (5). Unfavorable outcome was defined as worsening diagnostic category, persistent definite RHD or development/worsening of valve regurgitation/stenosis. The score model was updated using methods for recalibration. 393 patients (314 borderline, 79 definite RHD) with median follow‐up of 36 (interquartile range, 25–48) months were included. Median age was 14 (interquartile range, 11–16) years and secondary prophylaxis was prescribed to 16%. The echocardiographic score model applied to this external population showed significant association with unfavorable outcome (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04–1.16;
P
=0.001). Unfavorable outcome rates in low (≤5 points), intermediate (6–9), and high‐risk (≥10) children at 3‐year follow‐up were 14.3%, 20.8%, and 38.5% respectively (
P
<0.001). The updated score model showed good performance in predicting unfavorable outcome.

Conclusions

The echocardiographic score model for predicting RHD outcome was updated and validated for different latent RHD populations. It has potential utility in the clinical and screening setting for risk stratification of latent RHD.
Increased Blood Pressure Variability and the Risk of Probable Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SPRINT MIND Trial
Authors: de Havenon Adam , Anadani Mohammad , Prabhakaran Shyam , Wong Ka‐Ho , Yaghi Shadi , Rost Natalia
Published: September 2021

Background

Increased systolic blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with stroke, cardiovascular disease, and dementia and mild cognitive impairment. However, prior studies assessing the relationship between BPV and dementia or mild cognitive impairment had infrequent measurement of blood pressure or suboptimal blood pressure control.

Methods and Results

We performed a post hoc analysis of the SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) MIND (Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension) trial. The primary outcome was probable dementia during follow‐up. We defined our exposure period, during which blood pressures were collected, as the first 600 days of the trial, and outcomes were ascertained during the subsequent follow‐up. BPV was measured as tertiles of systolic blood pressure standard deviation. We fit Cox proportional hazards models to our outcome. We included 8379 patients. The mean follow‐up was 3.2±1.4 years, during which 316 (3.8%) patients developed dementia. The mean number of blood pressure measurements was 7.8, and in the tertiles of BPV, the SD was 6.3±1.6, 10.3±1.1, and 16.3±3.6 mm Hg, respectively. The rate of dementia was 2.4%, 3.6%, and 5.4% by ascending tertile, respectively (
P
<0.001). In the Cox models, compared with the lowest tertile of BPV, the highest tertile of BPV increased the risk of dementia in both unadjusted (hazard ratio [HR], 2.36; 95% CI, 1.77–3.15) and adjusted (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.25–2.28) models.

Conclusions

In a post hoc analysis of the SPRINT MIND trial, we found that higher BPV was associated with the development of probable dementia despite excellent blood pressure control. Additional research is needed to understand how to reduce BPV and if its reduction lowers the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
The Impersonal Use of German 1st Person SingularIch
Authors: Zobel Sarah
Published: September 2021

This article replies to Ackema and Neeleman’s (2018) claim that 1st person singular pronouns are grammatically blocked from having impersonal uses. In connection with this claim, they argue that the impersonal use of German 1st person singular ich described in Zobel 2014 does not exist. I show that Ackema and Neeleman’s alternative analysis of the German data analyzed in Zobel 2014 is flawed, and that new considerations inspired by their proposal further support the claim that German ich has an impersonal use. This result has ramifications not only for Ackema and Neeleman’s account of the morphosyntax and semantics of (impersonally usable) personal pronouns, but also for anyone researching the morphosyntax and semantics of pronominal expressions and how these interact.
Diversity in citations to a single study: A citation context network analysis of how evidence from a prospective cohort study was cited
Authors: Leng Rhodri Ivor
Published: September 2021

Between its origin in the 1950s and its endorsement by a consensus conference in 1984, the diet–heart hypothesis was the subject of intense controversy. Paul et al. (1963) is a highly cited prospective cohort study that reported findings inconvenient for this hypothesis, reporting no association between diet and heart disease; however, many other findings were also reported. By citation context and network analysis of 343 citing papers, I show how Paul et al. was cited in the 20 years after its publication. Generally, different findings were cited by different communities focusing on different risk factors; these communities were established by either research foci title terms or via cluster membership as established via modularity maximization. The most frequently cited findings were the significant associations between heart disease and serum cholesterol (n = 85), blood pressure (n = 57), and coffee consumption (n = 54). The lack of association between diet and heart disease was cited in just 41 papers. Yet, no single empirical finding was referred to in more than 25% of the citing papers. This raises questions about the value of inferring impact from citation counts alone and raises problems for studies using such counts to measure citation bias.
Inevitable Influences: AI-Based Medical Devices at the Intersection of Medical Devices Regulation and the Proposal for AI Regulation
Authors: Palmieri Sofia , Walraet Paulien , Goffin Tom
Published: September 2021

In recent years, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the medical field has attracted increased attention. Due to their impressive advantages, AI systems offer excellent prospects for medical device manufacturers using these systems to upgrade their products. Such AI-based medical devices are already subject to partial regulation within the lines of Medical device regulation 745/2017. However, following the proposal for a regulation on artificial intelligence published by the European Commission, the regulatory landscape for these devices has partially changed. This article aims to clarify the influences that this regulatory intervention by the European Commission brings to the path towards the use and marketing of AI-based medical devices.
Predicting Rapid Changes in Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) and Soil Moisture Anomalies over the Continental United States.
Authors: Lorenz David J. , Otkin Jason A. , Zaitchik Benjamin , Hain Christopher , Anderson Martha C.
Published: September 2021

Probabilistic forecasts ofchangesin soil moisture and an Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) on sub-seasonal time scales over the contiguous U.S. are developed. The forecasts use the current land surface conditions and numerical weather prediction forecasts from the Sub-seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Prediction Project. Changes in soil moisture are quite predictable 8-14 days in advance with 50% or more of the variance explained over the majority of the contiguous U.S.; however, changes in ESI are significantly less predictable. A simple red noise model of predictability shows that the spatial variations in forecast skill are primarily a result of variations in the autocorrelation, or persistence, of the predicted variable, especially for the ESI. The difference in overall skill between soil moisture and ESI, on the other hand, is due to the greater soil moisture predictability by the numerical model forecasts. As the forecast lead time increases from 8-14 days to 15-28 days, however, the autocorrelation dominates the soil moisture and ESI differences as well. An analysis of modelled transpiration, and bare soil and canopy water evaporation contributions to total evaporation, suggests improvements to the ESI forecasts can be achieved by estimating the relative contributions of these components to the initial ESI state. The importance of probabilistic forecasts for reproducing the correct probability of anomaly intensification is also shown.
Full Vorticity Budget of the Arabian Sea from a 0.1° Ocean Model: Sverdrup Dynamics, Rossby Waves, and Nonlinear Eddy Effects
Authors: Wang He , McClean Julie L. , Talley Lynne D.
Published: September 2021

The Arabian Sea, influenced by the Indian monsoon, has many unique features, including its basin-scale seasonally reversing surface circulation and the Great Whirl, a seasonal anticyclonic system appearing during the southwest monsoon close to the western boundary. To establish a comprehensive dynamical picture of the Arabian Sea, we utilize numerical model output and design a full vorticity budget that includes a fully decomposed nonlinear term. The ocean general circulation model has 0.1° resolution and is mesoscale eddy-resolving in the region. In the western boundary current system, we highlight the role of nonlinear eddies in the life cycle of the Great Whirl. The nonlinear eddy term is of leading-order importance in this feature’s vorticity balance. Specifically, it contributes to the Great Whirl’s persistence in boreal fall after the weakening of the southwesterly winds. In the open ocean, Sverdrup dynamics and annual Rossby waves are found to dominate the vorticity balance; the latter is considered as a key factor in the formation of the Great Whirl and the seasonal reversal of the western boundary current. In addition, we discuss different forms of vertically integrated vorticity equations in the model and argue that the bottom pressure torque term can be interpreted analogously as friction in the western boundary and vortex stretching in the open ocean.
Not a mirror but a tool: User experience research and the production of useful social knowledge
Authors: Rudnicki Seweryn
Published: September 2021

It has been a common assumption in sociology that the usefulness of knowledge on ‘the social’ is largely dependent on its ability to offer a truthful, complete and reliable account of social life. However, the efforts to produce instrumental social knowledge or to establish the ‘applied sociology’ have often been viewed as hindered by such difficulties as the overwhelming complexity of social phenomena and the alleged epistemological ‘deficiencies’ of the social sciences. This article starts by revisiting these arguments as underpinned by the representational understanding of knowledge as ‘the mirror of the world’, and then draws on social studies of science to articulate a different, pragmatic and translational understanding of knowledge as ‘a tool’. The two analytical views are then employed to account for the practical success of so-called user experience research – a relatively new and increasingly popular domain of the production of social knowledge to be used in the process of designing digital products like mobile apps and services. The article argues that the usefulness of knowledge generated in this field cannot be attributed to its epistemological superiority or theoretical edge, but rather to maximising the ability to engage, provoke understanding, foster collaboration and create action possibilities for the specific recipients of knowledge. These effects are achieved by simplifying the analytical framework and loosening methodological rigour, but also by offering innovative methods of articulation of research results and benefiting from the generative capabilities of knowledge. The article concludes by outlining the complex consequences of the translational and pragmatic approach to producing social knowledge.
Social order in the de-differentiated society: Deleuzian social theory and the penal institution
Authors: Rye Johan Fredrik , Oppegaard Sigurd M Nordli
Published: September 2021

The article problematises the assumption that modern society is characterised by institutional differentiation as a unidirectional process. Inspired by Deleuze’s sketch of the ‘society of control’, in this article the authors explore institutional de-differentiation in contemporary society. They illustrate the process of de-differentiation by developments in the penal institution, employing empirical materials from the Norwegian prison system. They show how this institution increasingly integrates (imports) elements from other institutions while expanding (exports) its activities into said institutions, resulting in a blurring of institutional borders. Furthermore, the question of institutional differentiation has been related to the question of social control in modern society. The authors discuss the characteristics of the social order of a de-differentiated society by drawing on Deleuze’s social theory and arguing that de-differentiation gives rise to forms of power and social logics no longer restricted by institutional confinements.
Facilitators and barriers to fitness bootcamp participation using the Behaviour Change Wheel
Authors: De Winter Leo , Gutman Leslie Morrison
Published: September 2021

Objective:

Despite its importance for mental and physical health, many adults fail to meet current physical activity recommendations. Furthermore, most adults who begin a physical activity programme revert to being less active or even inactive within the first 6 months. Fitness bootcamps represent a potential intervention for improving physical activity in healthy adults. However, no study to date has examined the influences on long-term participation in fitness bootcamps, which is the first step to developing an effective intervention. Using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) framework, this study identified the facilitators and barriers to long-term (1 year or more) fitness bootcamp participation, which were then linked to behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to facilitate intervention development.

Design:

Qualitative research design.

Setting:

Data collection occurred in England.

Method:

Interviews were conducted with 15 long-term fitness bootcamp participants.

Results:

Thematic analysis revealed 17 facilitators and 6 barriers to long-term fitness bootcamp participation. Participants highlighted the importance of facilitators such as convenience, being outdoors and enjoyment. The social environment, including having a positive instructor and supportive group members, was further noted as a key influence on participation. While long-term participants faced occasional barriers to their routine such as physical injury, bad weather and competing events, the impact of these could be minimised through appropriate BCTs such as ‘demonstration of the behaviour’ and ‘restructuring the social/physical environment’.

Conclusion:

Findings from this study highlight the importance of social and environmental factors to promoting long-term fitness bootcamp participation and the inclusion of social and physical environmental restructuring as key intervention components.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting of Healthcare Professionals in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nguyen-Thi Hai-Yen , Do-Tran Minh-Thu , Ngoc Thuyen Lu , Nguyen-Ngoc Thuy-Tram , Le Nguyen Dang Tu
Published: September 2021

Background: Under-reporting is a major issue of ADR spontaneous reporting system. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals in Children’s Hospital in Vietnam and suggests solutions to enhance ADR reporting rate based on findings. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and 397 self-administered structured questionnaires were distributed to all potential HCPs working in surveyed hospital within 2 weeks from June 03 to June 20, 2020. Results: Overall response rate was 97% with 384 responses. A majority answered correctly ADRs’ knowledge apart from form supplier (1.6%) and possible causes (2.6%). The need to focus on patient care (33.3%) and the trivia of reaction (31.5%) reduced HCPs’ attention. About 61.7% reported once in their career, 49.7% had training. Having trained group had numbers of practice significantly higher than their counterparts. Major reason for not reporting was lack of information and instruction. Preferred solutions were regularly training, updating, and collaboration of HCPs in reporting ADR. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals had adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and moderate practice. Training significantly raised the number of practices in reporting ADR. Preferred solutions were regular training, updating, and collaboration of healthcare professionals in ADR reporting.
Suppression by Stealth: The Partisan Response to Protest in State Legislatures
Authors: Suh Chan S. , Tarrow Sidney G.
Published: September 2021

Many scholars have investigated the relationship between protest and repression. Less often examined is the legislative suppression of protest by elites seeking to make protest more costly to protesters. Because state legislatures are largely invisible to the public, this “wholesale” suppression of protest is less likely to trigger public opposition than repression by the police. This study explains the sharp increase in the number and the severity of state legislative bills to repress the right to protest both before and after the election of Donald Trump. In particular, it examines whether these can be attributed either to Republican control of state legislatures or to protest threat. Contrary to the findings in much of the literature, bills aimed at suppressing protest are less closely related to threat than to the realignment of state politics. The article also finds that these proposals were influenced by diffusion through policy brokerage.
Technology Tools Available for Implementing Social Skill Instruction
Authors: Mosher Maggie A.
Published: September 2021

General and special education teachers report feeling inadequate in providing social skill instruction to students. Yet, researchers and government bodies (ASELA, 2015) report students receiving social skill instruction display marked improvements in: (a) motivation to learn, (b) commitment to school, (c) time devoted to schoolwork, (d) mastery of subject matter, (e) school attendance, (f) graduation rates, (g) grades, and (h) test scores. Numerous technology tools are available to assist educators in providing social skill instruction to students with disabilities. However, determining a student's social skill need and finding tools that utilize effective research-based interventions can be a time-consuming and daunting task for educators. In this article, the authors provide a streamlined process for determining an individual student’s social skill instructional need and present technology tools available that utilize high-leverage and evidence-based practices (EBPs) to provide instruction for these targeted areas.
MASK UP! Supporting Mask Wearing of Children With Extensive Support Needs
Authors: Pennington Robert C. , Tapp Melissa C. , Enriquez Janet Sanchez , Sanchez Fitz
Published: September 2021

Since the reopening of schools after COVID-19, students and staff have been required to wear face masks. Some students, including those with extensive support needs (ESN), may have difficulty in wearing these novel protective garments. Fortunately, researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of several procedures for supporting the wearing of similar equipment (e.g., glasses, hearing aids). In this paper, we draw upon the available research to propose a protocol for teaching students with ESN to put on and maintain the use of face masks.
Internship alternatives: Solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
Authors: Wheeler Darren A , Waite Brandon C
Published: September 2021

Internships are an integral component of most undergraduate and graduate public administration programs. These learning opportunities allow students to get practical experience in a workplace setting before graduation and provide them with an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to the “real world.” But what are students, departments, and employers to do when circumstances—including major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic as well as situations unique to specific students—complicate or even prevent on-site internship experiences? This article outlines a variety of approaches to finding a solution to this problem, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Dream and the aesthetics of existence: Revisiting “Foucault’s ethical imagination”
Authors: McGushin Edward
Published: September 2021

For the later Foucault, as for the early Foucault, the dream represents a privileged disclosure of the ethics of the self, and the relation to truth. What, then, is the function of the dream in the ethics of the self? This article brings together Foucault’s early work on the dream and his late work on the care of the self to answer this question. Foucault’s archeologies and genealogies of power and discourse show how the modern disciplinary, bio-political, neo-liberal individual is constituted simultaneously as self-sovereign and as subject to governmental management. The dream awakens when the self-sovereign subject of modern power goes to sleep. The dream, then, problematizes and displaces the sovereign subject and opens the door to disruptive forms of experience, counter to modern power’s demand that we be always awake, productive, and in control of our thoughts and feelings.
Mechanistic-Empirical Faulting Prediction Model for Unbonded Concrete Overlays of Concrete
Authors: Donnelly Charles , DeSantis John , Vandenbossche Julie Marie , Sachs Steven G.
Published: September 2021

Transverse joint faulting is a distress that develops in unbonded concrete overlays (UBOL). Historically, faulting models used for predicting the performance of a UBOL have not accounted for the effects of the interlayer between the overlay and the existing pavement on the development of faulting. This is a significant limitation since characteristics of the interlayer play a primary role in the rate at which faulting develops in UBOLs. To develop a more robust faulting prediction model for UBOLs, enhancements were made to the current process to address this limitation. This includes the use of a structural response model that can account for the effects of the interlayer properties on the response of the UBOL. Additional enhancements include the use of a deflection basin of the overlay (in lieu of corner deflections of an equivalent slab system for accumulating differential energy [DE]), the incorporation of an erosion model that can account for the erodibility of the interlayer material, the adjustment of the incremental faulting equations to accommodate small slab sizes that are common in UBOLs, and a national calibration using faulting data from in-service UBOLs. This enhanced faulting model has been implemented in the mechanistic-empirical design tool Pitt UBOL-ME.
Teacher Effectiveness in Adult Education: The Relationship Between Teacher Characteristics and Student Test Gains and Transitions Into Postsecondary Education
Authors: Yin Michelle , Cronen Stephanie , Condelli Larry , Ogut Burhan
Published: September 2021

The federal adult education program serves over 2 million eligible adults who seek basic literacy and English language skills. Using administrative student-level panel data, this study provides the very first assessment of the relationships between adult education teacher characteristics and student achievement using hierarchical linear modeling design. Results show that students in classes with teachers with a bachelor’s or higher degree have higher post-test scores. Having a part-time adult education teacher was associated with lower odds of students transitioning to postsecondary education. Compared to teachers specialized in English as a second language, having an adult secondary education teacher is correlated with an increase in test score gains as well as higher odds of transitioning to postsecondary education. We also identified student characteristics (age, disability status, attendance hours, race, and employment status) and program characteristics (size, quality, and setting) that are statistically significantly correlated with student learning and students’ transition to postsecondary education.
A Qualitative Study of Social Media and Electronic Communication among Canadian Adolescent Female Soccer Players
Authors: Dunn Rachel , Kim Jeemin , Poucher Zoë A. , Ellard Chloe , Tamminen Katherine A.
Published: September 2021

Social media and electronic communication perpetuate adolescents’ lives and have the potential to shape the nature of adolescent athletes’ experiences and interactions with members of their sports teams. However, there is no research to date that has examined adolescent female athletes’ use of social media and electronic communication. Athletes, parents, and coaches (N = 22) from one soccer organization participated in semistructured interviews discussing their use of and perspectives on social media and electronic communication. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings include four themes: (a) uses of social media and electronic communication (in and out of the sport context); (b) athlete, parent, and coaches’ perspectives of social media engagement; (c) friendships and trust with teammates; and (d) the development and perception of subgroups. Recommendations include developing policies for the use of social media and electronic communication for adolescents in sports settings and for coaches, parents, and athletes to engage in open communication about the uses of social media and electronic communication.
Organizational Rhetoric as Subjectification
Authors: Hanchey Jenna N. , Jensen Peter R.
Published: September 2021

Given arguments that organizational rhetoric is disconnected from contemporary and useful trends in rhetorical theory writ-large, we build a case for rethinking organizational rhetoric’s founding concept of identification through recent innovations in rhetorical theory. Drawing from theories of psychoanalysis, racialization, and coloniality, we argue for an alternative understanding of organizational rhetoric premised on subjectification, where subjectification is the process through which a subject is brought into being on the basis of shifting contexts, relations, and imbrication in forces of power. We highlight three facets of organizational subjectification that can contribute to innovative organizational rhetorical research: differential relations, dependence on Otherness, and uneven mutuality. These facets, we argue, highlight how processes of coloniality and racialization are fundamental to our very being and becoming, providing a means of understanding organizational rhetoric as inherently political.
Tribological investigations into pin-on-disc tribometer under dry sliding conditions at various temperature ranges
Authors: Verma Jagannath , Nagdeve Leeladhar , Kumar Harish
Published: September 2021

In this research work, the interaction of aluminum alloy (6061) and EN-31 steel is examined, and interaction is studied on the basis of tribological outcomes under dry sliding conditions at various ranges of temperature. The extrusion process is actually an intricate process, which depends on environmental temperature, sliding velocity with respect to the mating part, the type of external shape, wear and coefficient of friction. Here, variables which directly or indirectly influence the interactions are designed for this system in such a manner that the results can be co-related with another system that has equivalent working condition as there in hot forming and cold forming (up to 250°C) of material interactions. The current work is done on a pin which slides on a disc of aluminium alloy 6061 and EN-31 steel set-up. Experiments are carried out under different conditions by using the design of experiments (DoE) for each case. In the first case (Case-I), the disc is steel and the aluminum alloy works as a pin. In the second case (Case-II), the disc is aluminum alloy and steel works as a pin. Henceforth, frictional coefficient and difference in the weight or wear (volume loss) before and after experiment is achieved. Finally, experiments are designed with the help of design tool to optimize the results and execute the different parameters by involving the analysis of variance . Lower wear volume loss is observed in a steel disc compared to the aluminium alloy pin at room temperature.
Pakistan's energy sector—from a power outage to sustainable supply. Examining the role of China–Pakistan economic corridor
Authors: Duan Wenqi , Khurshid Adnan , Nazir Naila , Calin Adrian Cantemir
Published: September 2021

The industrial development alongside inadequate planning in the energy sector put demand-side pressure on Pakistan's energy demand. Similarly, the excessive dependency on fossil fuels has an ecological footprint. Moreover, the abuse of energy tariff subsidies and deficits had a detrimental effect on department earnings, limiting the sector's emergence and intensifying its crisis. This research examines the electric demand and supply imbalance in the context of the China–Pakistan economic corridor investments using the system dynamics modeling approach, highlights the renewable resources, and discusses the hurdles in the way of green conversion. Moreover, the study forecasts the production capacity, electric demand, and supply up to 2040. The results show that China–Pakistan economic corridor investments will uplift the production capacity up to 12.9%, whereas the average production will reach 15.8%, variables that were 5% and 4.8% before China–Pakistan economic corridor. As a result, the energy sector will be able to meet the energy demand after 2021. However, the current investment in the renewable industry will not help in achieving policy targets. The study provides targeted implications to overcome potential barriers to the green path.
The Experiences of Chinese Children 5- to 7-year-old during Cancer Treatment Reflected Through Interviews and Drawings
Authors: Cheng Lei , Zhao Xinlei , Ge Youhong , Wang Yingwen , Kang Qiongfang
Published: September 2021

Background: For children with cancer, the experience during treatment can be challenging. There is a limited number of studies on self-reported treatment experiences of younger Chinese children with cancer using qualitative methods. Objectives: This study aimed at exploring the experience of Chinese children aged 5 to 7 years during cancer treatment reflected through interviews and drawings. Methods: This study used a descriptive qualitative design with the technique of “draw-and-tell.” Participants were enrolled from the pediatric oncology inpatient department of one national children's medical center in China. They were asked to draw a picture of “your feelings in the hospital.” An inductive content analysis approach was used. Results: Twelve participants were enrolled (8 male, mean age 5.7 years). Four themes were established: (1) suffering from adverse treatment effects; (2) perceiving changed relationships; (3) being thankful for others; and (4) trying out coping strategies. Conclusion: Chinese children aged 5 to 7 years expressed multiple cancer treatment impacts. They appreciated others’ support and had their own way to cope with treatment demands. The authors also extended the dynamic nature of using the “draw-and-tell” methodology. Study findings highlight the importance of inviting and hearing the voice of young children during their cancer treatment, with particular consideration of the influence of disease, treatment, child development, family dynamics, and culture.
Securing the Safety Net: Lessons From Nonprofit Organizations on TANF Access During COVID-19
Authors: Holcomb Stephanie , Roman Jessica L. , Rodriguez Sabrina , Hetling Andrea
Published: September 2021

The functioning of the U.S. social safety net as a support for low-income families depends on various means-tested programs and a system of both public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Using in-depth interviews ( n = 5) and a survey of nonprofit employees ( n = 73), we seek to understand the role of nonprofits in promoting equitable access to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Our findings reveal that public assistance programs are a necessary support for families, but that access is not always easy or equitable, and nonprofits form a protective layer of support providing resources and guidance for those most in need. Implications for policy and partnerships between the various components of the social safety net are discussed.
Design, modeling and evaluation of a millimeter-scale SMA bending actuator with variable length
Authors: Chen Jianghua , Ding Qingpeng , Kim Yeongjin , Cheng Shing Shin
Published: September 2021

Millimeter-scale continuum bending actuators are useful in minimally invasive surgery to allow distal visualization and manipulation outside the line of sight. This paper presents a new continuum bending actuator based on shape memory alloy (SMA) with variable bending length. It consists of two SMA wires antagonistically configured to produce bidirectional bending under Joule heating. A linearly actuated rigid tube along the longitudinal axis enables continuous bending length adjustment, thus enhancing its workspace and force range. The proposed fabrication method tackles the challenging assembly tasks of maintaining the antagonistic configuration of long SMA wires, and robust electrical and mechanical connection during actuation. A quasi-static model of the actuator based on beam model and SMA constitutive model is presented and verified. The bending actuator was evaluated comprehensively for its workspace, blocked force, and trajectory tracking capability at different bending lengths and under different cooling conditions. It is the first work that demonstrates real-time continuous bending length adjustment in SMA-based bending actuator, leading to the potential development of compact and compliant robotic end effectors with improved distal workspace and force.
The Effect of Gender Inequities in the Classroom and Beyond in U.S. Business Schools
Authors: Balkin David B. , Treviño Len J. , Straub Caroline
Published: September 2021

When women teach management in U.S. business schools they are likely to experience more gender inequities than men. In this essay we examine three dimensions of management teaching where gender inequities are likely to occur: (1) student-faculty interactions; (2) student evaluations of teaching; and (3) interactions between faculty peers. The types of inequities experienced by women when they teach include feeling social pressure to submit to ad hoc student demands for personal favors and emotional support that infringe on a professor’s time; having their teaching performance judged from student evaluations of teaching that are subject to gender bias; and experiencing lower levels of organizational inclusion compared to their male colleagues. We utilize theoretical logic from social role theory, relational practice, and perceived organizational inclusion frameworks supported by the research literature to provide greater insight as to why women are likely to experience more adversity when they teach management in business schools. After we explain the basis for gender inequities we prescribe action steps that should improve equity for all faculty who teach management. Finally, we provide a call-to-action for business school administrators to implement action steps to make an equitable teaching culture a reality.
Controlling Reperfusion Injury With Controlled Reperfusion: Historical Perspectives and New Paradigms
Authors: Fischesser Demetria M. , Bo Bin , Benton Rachel P. , Su Haili , Jahanpanah Newsha , Haworth Kevin J.
Published: September 2021

Cardiac reperfusion injury is a well-established outcome following treatment of acute myocardial infarction and other types of ischemic heart conditions. Numerous cardioprotection protocols and therapies have been pursued with success in pre-clinical models. Unfortunately, there has been lack of successful large-scale clinical translation, perhaps in part due to the multiple pathways that reperfusion can contribute to cell death. The search continues for new cardioprotection protocols based on what has been learned from past results. One class of cardioprotection protocols that remain under active investigation is that of controlled reperfusion. This class consists of those approaches that modify, in a controlled manner, the content of the reperfusate or the mechanical properties of the reperfusate (e.g., pressure and flow). This review article first provides a basic overview of the primary pathways to cell death that have the potential to be addressed by various forms of controlled reperfusion, including no-reflow phenomenon, ion imbalances (particularly calcium overload), and oxidative stress. Descriptions of various controlled reperfusion approaches are described, along with summaries of both mechanistic and outcome-oriented studies at the pre-clinical and clinical phases. This review will constrain itself to approaches that modify endogenously-occurring blood components. These approaches include ischemic postconditioning, gentle reperfusion, controlled hypoxic reperfusion, controlled hyperoxic reperfusion, controlled acidotic reperfusion, and controlled ionic reperfusion. This review concludes with a discussion of the limitations of past approaches and how they point to potential directions of investigation for the future.
Simultaneous transepithelial topographic-guided laser and cross-linking to correct irregular astigmatism in a pediatric patient
Authors: Buzzonetti Luca , Petrocelli Gianni , Petroni Sergio , Valente Paola , Iarossi Giancarlo
Published: September 2021

Purpose:

To evaluate an original approach for treating corneal ectasia and irregular astigmatism secondary to penetrating trauma in a pediatric patient.

Case report:

An 11 year old patient had a penetrating trauma in right eye when he was two and the refractive error was +1.50 diopters sphere −6.00 diopters cylinder axis 95°. To correct irregular astigmatism, the patient underwent simultaneous transepithelial topographic-guided laser Central Corneal Remodeling (CCR) and Corneal Cross-linking (CXL) in the attempt to regularize corneal ectasia and to improve the quality of vision. Uncorrected and Corrected Distance Visual Acuity were measured using Efficacy and Safety indexes; objective and subjective qualities of vision were evaluated using respectively corneal morphological irregularity index and National Eye Institute Visual Function questionnaires.

Conclusions:

Twelve month follow up suggests that simultaneous CCR and CXL could be effective to improve the quality of vision and to halt the progression of post-traumatic ectasia in pediatric patients.
Visions for intercultural music teacher education in complex societies
Authors: Westerlund Heidi , Karlsen Sidsel , Kallio Alexis Anja , Treacy Danielle Shannon , Miettinen Laura , Timonen Vilma , Gluschankof Claudia , Ehrlich Amira , Shah Iman Bikram
Published: September 2021

This article presents a synthesis of findings from a large-scale research project, the Global Visions Through Mobilizing Networks—Co-developing Intercultural Music Teacher Education in Finland, Israel and Nepal ( https://sites.uniarts.fi/web/globalvisions/home ), and conveys its theoretical and practical explorations and insights. By envisioning 21st-century music teacher education from the perspective of interculturality and through transnational collaboration, Global Visions has engaged with international societal changes and struggles related to the rising tides of xenophobia, populism, and social disharmony, by focusing on what happens at the boundaries, in dialogue, and in conflict when difference is encountered, experienced, and reflected upon. While the dominant culturalist view presents music as neutral and diversity as tied mainly to ethnicity, Global Visions has recognized, analyzed, exemplified, and increased understanding of the complex politics of diversity. Resulting in envisioned music teacher education programs as innovative game changers, the project has enhanced professional reflexivity through considering the responsibility and moral aspects of music teacher education. Six main focus areas of the project are presented with recommendations for future research and practice in music teacher education: (a) research education and research as intervention; (b) reflexivity and professional learning in intercultural encounters; (c) the capacity to aspire in music teacher education; (d) the development of intersectional praxis; (e) intercultural music education as a political engagement; and (f) transcultural professional development and international professionalization.
Public value of media innovation systems: Building on Stuart Cunningham's work on media industries and innovation policy
Authors: Ibrus Indrek
Published: September 2021

Stuart Cunningham's important contribution to media innovation studies is the work towards a unique combination of evolutionary economics and innovation systems studies with the studies of media and culture. Therein Cunningham's special contribution has been in highlighting the related novel implications for media and creative industries policy making. This essay exemplifies how some of these implications have been addressed in Estonia and how Cunningham's work can be combined with new ideas on designing value-driven innovation systems as ‘national missions’ in order to address the risks of global platformisation for media and other creative sectors.
Oseltamivir and acute hepatitis, reality association or coincidence?
Authors: Mastroianni Antonio , Vangeli Valeria , Greco Sonia , Urso Filippo , Greco Francesca , Chidichimo Luciana , Mauro Maria Vittoria
Published: September 2021

Oseltamivir is an orally administered antiviral medication that selectively inhibits the influenza neuraminidase enzymes that are essential for viral replication and it is active against both influenza A and B viruses. Oseltamivir is indicated for therapy or post-exposure prevention of influenza A and B. Side effects are uncommon and include mild nausea, gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, and headache. Despite widespread use, oseltamivir has not been associated with clinically apparent liver injury; however, there is growing evidence of possible toxic liver involvement during oseltamivir therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in Italy linking the development of acute hepatitis and oseltamivir therapy, in a patient suffering from influenza H1N1 infection. We also present a review of the literature on cases of oseltamivir hepatotoxicity, through the consultation of PubMed database, the bibliographical references of various articles and an extensive search using Google. In view of the analyzed results, we suggest that experts should carefully consider the need for inclusion of potential serious liver reactions be added to the oseltamivir product label.
Experimental study on flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete beams with U-shaped steel under secondary load
Authors: Lin Qingli , Lu Yiyan , Tang Wenshui , Lei Dongshan
Published: September 2021

This study proposes a new method to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) beams with U-shaped steel, which can achieve rapid construction and great improvement in the flexural performance of RC beams. To investigate the influence of secondary load defined as newly applied loads after strengthening on the strengthening effect, a total of nine specimens were tested under four-point bending, including a reference beam, a strengthened beam under initial load, and seven strengthened beams under secondary load. The initial loading degree, the thickness of the bottom plate, and the height of the steel box were the main variables considered in this study. Testing results showed that compared with the reference beam, the flexural performance of strengthened beams was significantly enhanced, indicating the good joint performance of the U-shaped steel and the RC beams. Among the three main variables, the initial loading degree was found to have a minimal effect on the flexural performance while the thickness of the bottom plate and the height of the steel box had considerable influence, with the latter having a more pronounced effect. Testing results also showed that most of the strengthened beams experienced flexural failures, which were reflected by steel web peeling and buckling, and concrete crushing. Moreover, a formula was derived for calculating the flexural capacity of strengthened beams under secondary load. The results from the derived formula were found to be in good agreement with those from experiments.
Democratic Decline and the Politics of the Upswing: How the United States May Have Come Together a Century Ago but Can It Do It Again?
Authors: Flinders Matthew
Published: September 2021

Robert Putman’s The Upswing (written with Shaylyn Romney Garrett) provides a powerful meta-analysis of American social, political, economic and cultural change throughout the twentieth century. What this analysis reveals is the existence of an almost perfect arc of social progress which begins from a low position around the Gilded Age at the beginning of the twentieth century and then climbs across all variables until reaching a highpoint around 1960. The Progressive Era, Putnam argues, engineered an ‘upswing’ against inequality, polarisation, social disarray and a culture of self-centredness. Since then, however, the data suggest that a severe downswing has occurred which explains the existence of deep divisions and polarised politics in the United States. Putnam’s core argument is simple: The United States has pulled itself out of a trough before and it can do it again. In a post-Trump context, this argument could hardly be more welcome which may explain the rave reviews this book has generally received. Nevertheless, the core weakness of The Upswing is that it arguably tells us far more about how the United States ‘came together a century ago’ but far less about how it ‘can do it again’ in the future.