bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in trauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A case series
Authors: Weidemann Friederike , Decker Sebastian , Epping Jelena , Örgel Marcus , Krettek Christian , Kühn Christian , Wilhelmi Michaela
Published: January 2021

Background:

Thoracic trauma is the most common injury in polytrauma patients. Often associated with the development of an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), conservative treatment options are very restricted and reach their limits quickly.

Objective:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a wellestablished therapy in cardio-thoracic surgery and internal medicine intensive care units. The purpose of this study is to analyse the potential benefit of ECMO therapy in ARDS treatment in polytrauma patients.

Design:

Retrospective case series.

Setting:

Level 1 trauma centre, Germany, 04/2011-04/2019.

Patients:

Nineteen patients with ARDS treated with a veno-venous ECMO system.

Main outcome measures:

This study focused on the time leading to therapy initiation, the severity of thoracic and overall injury. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score, the Murray Score, the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2005 level and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) were analysed. The results were analysed regarding survival and death.

Results:

The survival rate was 53%. The ISS was the same for survivors and deceased patients ( p = 0.604). Early initiation of ECMO therapy showed a significant trend for survivors ( p = 0.071). The SOFA Score level before ECMO therapy was significantly lower in the survivors than in those who died ( p = 0.035). The AISThorax level for survivors showed a significantly higher score level than the one for deceased patients ( p = 0.05).

Conclusion:

ECMO therapy in polytrauma patients is a safe and effective option, in particular when used early in ARDS treatment. The overall severity of organ failure determined the likelihood of survival rather than the thoracic trauma itself.
Sequential versus mono double plasma molecular adsorption system in acute-on-chronic liver failures: A propensity-score matched study
Authors: Zhang Jing , Luo Hui , Han Ying , Zhou Xinmin
Published: January 2021

Aims:

Efficacy of sequential double plasma molecular adsorb system (DPMAS) and plasma exchange (PE) on patients with acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) has been rarely reported. We hereby reported the outcomes of a consecutive cohort of ACLF patients treated with sequential and mono DPMAS.

Method:

Patients treated with artificial liver support system between January 2011 and December 2016 in XiJing hospital were retrospectively reviewed. A toal of 125 ACLF patients either received mono (DPMAS only) or sequential DPMAS (PE followed by DPMAS) therapy. One to one propensity-score matching (PSM) was used to compare the effects of sequential and mono DPMAS on survival and liver function.

Results:

After PSM, 80 patients were included with 40 patients in each group. Sequential therapy achieved significantly higher removal of total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase than mono DPMAS, but stabilized international normalized ratio. The effects of both regimens on white blood cell, platelet, creatinine, and liver function scores were similar. Survival rate on 90-day was 50% in the sequential group and 47.5% in the mono group.

Conclusion:

For ACLF patients, sequential DPMAS and PE seemed to have a better effect on liver function improvement but provided no survival benefit compared with mono DPMAS.
Searching for Metacognitive Generalities: Areas of Convergence in Learning to Write for Publication Across Doctoral Students in Science and Engineering
Authors: Negretti Raffaella
Published: January 2021

What aspects of writing are doctoral students metacognitive about when they write research articles for publication? Contributing to the recent conversation about metacognition in genre pedagogy, this study adopts a qualitative approach to illustrate what students have in common, across disciplines and levels of expertise, and the dynamic interplay of genre knowledge and metacognition in learning to write for research. 24 doctoral students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) were recruited from subsequent runs of a genre-based writing course and were interviewed within a 2-year period when they submitted an article for publication, 3 to 11 months after course completion. Over time and across disciplines, doctoral students’ metacognition converges on four main themes: genre analysis as a “tool” to read and write, audience and the readers’ mind, rhetorical strategies, and the writing process. Furthermore, these themes are extensively combined in the students’ thinking, confirming conceptualizations of expertise as an integration of knowledge types. Metacognition of these themes invoked increased perceived confidence and control over writing, suggesting key areas where metacognitive intervention may be promising.
The Role of Error Type and Working Memory in Written Corrective Feedback Effectiveness on First-Language Self Error-Correction
Authors: Nowbakht Mohammad , Olive Thierry
Published: January 2021

This study examined the role of error-type and working memory (WM) in the effectiveness of direct-metalinguistic and indirect written corrective feedback (WCF) on self error-correction in first-language writing. Fifty-one French first-year psychology students volunteered to participate in the experiment. They carried out a first-language error-correction task after receiving WCF on typographical, orthographic, grammatical, and semantic errors. Results indicated that error-type affected the efficacy of WCF. In both groups, typographical error-correction was performed better than the others; orthographic and grammatical error-correction were not different, but both were corrected more frequently than semantic errors. Between-group comparisons showed no difference between the two groups in correcting typographical, orthographic, and grammatical errors, while semantic error-correction was performed significantly better for the direct group. Results revealed that WM was not involved in correcting typographical, orthographic, and grammatical errors in both groups. It did, however, predict semantic error-correction only in response to direct-metalinguistic WCF. In addition, the processing component of WM was predictive of semantic error-correction in the direct WCF group. These findings suggest that error-type mediates the effectiveness of WCF on written error-correction at the monitoring stage of writing, while WM does not associate with all WCF types efficacy at this stage.
Hospice Care Provider Perspectives of Medical Assistance in Dying in a Canadian Hospice That Does Not Provide Medical Assistance in Dying
Authors: Ward Valerie , Freeman Shannon , Banner Davina
Published: January 2021

Background

Medical assistance in Dying (MAiD) is offered across diverse settings, including hospices. There is little research exploring the experiences of hospice care providers who support patients who undergo MAiD at an off-site location.

Purpose

To describe hospice care provider perceptions of MAiD in an in-patient hospice facility that does not provide MAiD.

Methods

Participants included hospice administrators, nurses, staff and volunteers who provide care at an in-patient hospice facility in a geographically isolated medium sized city (population <100,000) in a western Canadian province. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, eight in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken. Data were digitally recorded, transcribed, analyzed inductively, and organized thematically.

Results

Introduction of MAiD challenged and disrupted care practices. Themes included: Situating MAiD within hospice and palliative care, caring for patients undergoing MAiD within a non-provider facility, and balancing interpersonal dynamics in an interdisciplinary team environment. Themes were underpinned by participants’ attempts to reconcile MAiD within personal beliefs and work environment.

Conclusion

Caring for patients who chose MAiD changed the dynamic of care. Participants focused on providing patient-centred care while attempting to normalize the MAiD process. Educational resources to support patient-centred care for patients who undergo MAiD off-site, address care provider self-care, and to facilitate safe and effective interdisciplinary communication are needed.
The National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace: A Psychometric and Descriptive Study of the Nursing Workforce in British Columbia Hospitals
Authors: Havaei Farinaz , Park Minjeong , Astivia Oscar L. Olvera
Published: January 2021

Background

In 2013, the Mental Health Commission of Canada created a National Standard that includes 13 workplace factors associated with employee mental health.

Purpose

This study (a) examined the psychometric properties of Guarding Minds at Work (GMW), the instrument used to measure the Standard’s 13 workplace factors and (b) assessed BC nurses’ workplace risk factors.

Methods

A province-wide survey study of 3,077 direct care nurses working in acute care settings was conducted.

Results

Subscale internal consistencies were acceptable. For most items, the original alphas were greater than the alpha-if-item-deleted. All corrected item-subtotal correlations were moderate to high. The 13-factor structure showed an adequate model fit based on absolute fit indices (SRMR = 0.057 and RMSEA = 0.054) but the relative fit indices were lower than the recommended cutoff (CFI = 0.827 and TLI = 0.815). Nurses identified nine of the 13 GMW factors as serious or significant concern in their workplace.

Conclusions

The findings were consistent with a plethora of evidence pointing to shortcomings in nurses’ work environments. This was the first study partially supporting the reliability and validity of the GMW. More work is required to refine the GMW and gain a better understanding of its psychometric properties.
Hippocampal Involvement With Vigabatrin-Related MRI Signal Abnormalities in Patients With Infantile Spasms: A Novel Finding
Authors: Harini Chellamani , Yuskaitis Christopher J. , Libenson Mark H. , Yang Edward , DeLeo Michelle , Zhang Bo , Mysak Kate , Marti Candice , Peters Jurriaan M. , Bergin Ann Marie , Pearl Phillip L. , Prabhu Sanjay P.
Published: January 2021

Background:

In a subset of infants exhibiting typical vigabatrin-related magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, the authors observed additional hippocampal signal abnormalities. The authors investigated occurrence and significance of additional signal abnormalities.

Methods:

A retrospective review of infantile spasms patients with typical vigabatrin-related MRI abnormalities was performed. Atypical features included signal changes unilaterally or at previously unreported sites. Comparisons were made between patients with and without atypical features.

Results:

In all, 26/55 (47%) exhibited typical vigabatrin-related MRI changes, with additional signal abnormalities in the hippocampi in 6 of 26. On follow-up, evolution of hippocampal signal changes paralleled changes at typical locations in 4 patients. Two patients, clinically well, without follow-up MRI. Patients with and without additional hippocampal signal changes did not differ with respect to clinical factors, including seizure status. One patient had unilateral thalamic/cerebral peduncle signal abnormality along with typical vigabatrin changes.

Conclusions:

Hippocampal changes seen in subset of patients with typical vigabatrin-related changes may be attributable to vigabatrin exposure in the appropriate circumstance.
Point-of-Care Echocardiography and Hemodynamic Monitoring in Cirrhosis and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure in the COVID-19 Era
Authors: Premkumar Madhumita , Kajal Kamal , Kulkarni Anand V. , Gupta Ankur , Divyaveer Smita
Published: January 2021

Point-of-Care (POC) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is transforming the management of patients with cirrhosis presenting with septic shock, acute kidney injury, hepatorenal syndrome and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) by correctly assessing the hemodynamic and volume status at the bedside using combined echocardiography and POC ultrasound (POCUS). When POC TTE is performed by the hepatologist or intensivist in the intensive care unit (ICU), and interpreted remotely by a cardiologist, it can rule out cardiovascular conditions that may be contributing to undifferentiated shock, such as diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, regional wall motion abnormalities and pulmonary embolism. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in seeking medical treatment, reduced invasive interventions and deferment in referrals leading to “collateral damage” in critically ill patients with liver disease. Thus, the use of telemedicine in the ICU (Tele-ICU) has integrated cardiology, intensive care, and hepatology practices across the spectrum of ICU, operating room, and transplant healthcare. Telecardiology tools have improved bedside diagnosis when introduced as part of COVID-19 care by remote supervision and interpretation of POCUS and echocardiographic data. In this review, we present the contemporary approach of using POC echocardiography and offer a practical guide for primary care hepatologists and gastroenterologists for cardiac assessment in critically ill patients with cirrhosis and ACLF. Evidenced based use of Tele-ICU can prevent delay in cardiac diagnosis, optimize safe use of expert resources and ensure timely care in the setting of critically ill cirrhosis, ACLF and liver transplantation in the COVID-19 era.
Optimization of extracellular matrix extraction from human perirenal adipose tissue
Authors: Chun So Young , Lee Jun Nyung , Ha Yun-Sok , Yoon Bo Hyun , Lee Eun Hye , Kim Bo Mi , Gil Haejung , Han Man-Hoon , Oh Woo Seok , Kwon Tae Gyun , Kim Tae-Hwan , Kim Bum Soo
Published: January 2021

Human adipose tissue includes useful substrates for regenerative medicine such as the extracellular matrix (ECM), but most perirenal fat tissue is wasted after kidney surgery. Since a lot of adipose tissue can be procured after a kidney, we extracted ECM from human perirenal adipose tissue and optimized the extraction process. To verify the efficacy for ECM extraction, we compared the products in several steps. Perirenal adipose tissue was either finely homogenized or underwent crude manual dissection. The amount of extracted ECM was quantified with ELISA for verification of the initial tissue downsizing effect. To validate the drying effect for fast and complete delipidation, tissues were prepared in a dry or wet phase, and residual lipids were visualized with Oil-Red-O staining. The extracted lipid was assayed at each time point to quantify the appropriate delipidation time. To select the optimal decellularization method, tissues were treated with physical, chemical, or enzymatic method, and the residual cell debris were identified with histological staining. The biochemical properties of the ECM extracted by the above methods were analyzed. The ECM extracted by fine homogenization showed a significantly enhanced amount of collagen, laminin and fibronectin compared to the crude dissection method. The dried tissue showed fast and complete lipid elimination compared to the wet tissue. Complete delipidation was achieved at 45 min after acetone treatment. Additionally, 1% triton X-100 chemical treatment showed complete decellularization with well-preserved collagen fibers. Biochemical analysis revealed preserved ECM proteins, a high cell proliferation rate and normal cell morphology without cell debris or lipids. The established process of homogenization, drying, delipidation with acetone, and decellularization with Triton X-100 treatment can be an optimal method for ECM extraction from human perirenal adipose tissue. Using this technique, human perirenal adipose tissue may be a valuable source for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Analysis of Bystander Behavior Towards Intimate Partner Violence via Peerformance
Authors: Yoshihama Mieko , Hammock Amy C. , Baidoun Fatmeh
Published: January 2021

This study of a South Asian community in the midwestern USA examines what bystanders do when they witness an incident of intimate partner violence (IPV). Because of ethical and safety constraints, in lieu of observation in a natural setting, data were collected at a Peerformance, a peer-led IPV prevention program, using the forum theatre method introduced in Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. Event attendees were invited to respond to an IPV incident enacted by peer educators in which a controlling husband’s behavior escalates to the point of suggesting physical violence. Using a grounded theory approach, we analyzed the videotaped bystander actions while applying pertinent aspects of visual analysis. Event attendees responded in variety of ways, exploring and/or de-escalating the situation, providing information, and encouraging the couple to resolve their conflict and/or seek outside help. They expressed empathy, support, and (dis)agreement with the husband and the wife. Their actions encompassed a number of dimensions: introductory, investigative, supportive/empathic, informational, instructional, instrumental, and confrontational. Participants’ vastly varied responses to IPV within the same scenario suggest difficulty in developing a generic IPV bystander program. The findings also suggest possible directions for developing bystander programs to address IPV. In lieu of prescribing and/or proscribing specific actions in a given risk situation, bystander training can help participants build their repertoire of actions while collectively examining the strengths and limitations of various actions in their sociocultural context. Such bystander training is complex and difficult to manualize; it will involve reflexive and critical discussions and learning and trying out various possible alternatives. A Peerformance is a site of action, a realistic and familiar milieu where community members can imagine and try out interventions that may be different from the norm of indifference and non-intervention. It can open up new possibilities for addressing IPV in diverse communities.
Emotional Regulation in Male Batterers When Faced With Pictures of Intimate Partner Violence. Do They Have a Problem With Suppressing or Experiencing Emotions?
Authors: Marín-Morales Agar , Pérez-García Miguel , Catena-Martínez Andrés , Verdejo-Román Juan
Published: January 2021

Emotional regulation is crucial to psychological functioning and mental health. Studies of male batterers indicate the critical role that emotional processing plays in the violence they exert upon their partners or ex-partners. The aim of this study was to investigate the neural bases of emotional regulation in male batterers—both in experiencing and suppressing emotions—when faced with pictures of intimate partner violence (IPV). We conducted a fMRI study to compare brain functioning when emotions were experienced or increased with the case in which emotions were suppressed or reduced in response to IPV pictures and unpleasant pictures. The sample consisted of three groups: Male Batterers Group (MBG, n = 26), that is, men convicted for IPV; Other Offenders Group (OOG, n = 27), men convicted of crimes other than IPV; and a Non-offenders Group ( n = 29), that is, men without a criminal history. The results reveal that in MBG, the brain areas that previous studies have related to suppression and experience processes were activated when faced with unpleasant pictures. However, a different pattern of functioning was found when experiencing IPV pictures. That could be explained by a low capacity to empathize with their partners or ex-partners and by the use of maladaptive emotional regulation strategies. In addition, MBG showed activation in brain areas previously related to suppression but did not modulate their emotions, showing a similar emotional state after suppression and experience. The results of this preliminary study suggest that in psychological treatments for male batterers, it is important to promote empathy towards partners or ex-partners, along with adaptive strategies of emotional regulation.
Sympathetic Nervous System Predominance in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators After Coping With Acute Stress
Authors: Romero-Martínez A. , Lila M. , Moya-Albiol L.
Published: January 2021

It has been suggested that intimate partner violence (IPV) against women perpetrators present emotional dysregulations when dealing with acute stress, which in turn could help to explain their proneness to violence. Emotional regulation can be objectively measured by means of psychophysiological parameters/variables/indicators of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, such as cardiorespiratory (heart rate [HR], pre-ejection period [PEP] and respiratory sinus arrythmia [RSA]) and electrodermal (skin conductance levels [SCL]) signals. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether IPV perpetrators ( n = 107) present differential psychophysiological and psychological state changes when coping with an acute cognitive laboratory stressor (a set of cognitive tests performed in front of an expert committee) in comparison with nonviolent men ( n = 87). Moreover, the study assesses whether psychological state variables foster the psychophysiological response to acute stress. Our results demonstrate that, compared to nonviolent controls, IPV perpetrators showed higher HR and SCL values, shorter PEP, and lower RSA values during recovery from stress. They also presented higher negative affect (i.e., more anger and worse mood) after stress. Thus, high baseline anger explained the increases in emotional arousal when measured as SCL increases. The present study contributes evidence showing that IPV perpetrators and nonviolent men cope differently with stress. These findings might help forensic science to identify characteristics of violent individuals to establish their therapeutic needs. Furthermore, it would be appropriate to combine psychophysiological measurements with self-reports, thus increasing the reliability of the assessment of violent individuals.
Is Religious Self-Regulation a Risk or Protective Factor for Men’s Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration?
Authors: Davis Rachel E. , Renzetti Claire M.
Published: January 2021

Recent research has indicated that religiosity has multiple dimensions and that religious self-regulation may be a more effective predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration than other measures of religiosity, such as frequency of prayer or church attendance. Nonetheless, studies have produced inconsistent results regarding the associations between religious self-regulation and IPV perpetration. Moreover, no studies have included self-reported level of religiosity in addition to religious self-regulation in predictive models of IPV perpetration. The present study sought to address the following research question: What is the association between religious self-regulation and men’s IPV perpetration, accounting for self-reported level of religiosity? A convenience sample of 289 men, who had been in their current committed heterosexual relationship for at least one year, were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and responded to an online survey. Logistic and negative binomial regression analyses indicated that introjected religious self-regulation was significantly positively associated with physical, psychological, and sexual IPV perpetration, while identified religious self-regulation was significantly negatively associated with physical, psychological, and sexual IPV perpetration, supporting both hypotheses. These findings have implications for faith leaders and secular service providers seeking to develop effective, culturally sensitive, and empirically informed IPV intervention and prevention strategies.
Media Coverage and Framing of Oakland’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, 2016-2019
Authors: Asada Yuka , Taher Sabira , Pipito Andrea , Chriqui Jamie F.
Published: January 2021

Purpose:

To describe media coverage and framing of Oakland, California’s, sugar-sweetened beverage tax.

Design:

Media content analysis.

Sample:

Media documents (n = 90), published January 1, 2016-August 31, 2019, were retrieved from Oakland news outlets and ProQuest, NexusUni, EBSCO, and Google.

Analysis:

Documents were coded using constant comparative analysis in Atlas.ti v8; with descriptive analyses conducted using Stata/SE v. 15.1.

Results:

Documents were published evenly between pre- and post-ballot periods (n = 45); the majority (n = 47) provided neutral framing. Protax documents (n = 33) highlighted SSB consumption and health associations and countered antitax messaging; antitax documents (n = 10) focused on misinformation and sowing public confusion.

Conclusion:

Neutral media educates and raises awareness. Published prior to a vote, the media may help influence public opinion regarding SSB taxes. SSB tax media advocacy campaigns, giving particular attention to timing and perspective-based framing, may help to secure adoption and support implementation.
Heterogeneous Effects of State Enterprise Zone Programs in the Shorter Run and Longer Run
Authors: Neumark David , Young Timothy
Published: January 2021

The authors take up two questions that have not been explored in research on enterprise zones. First, does a considerably longer-run perspective on the effects of state enterprise zones lead to different answers? And second, are there heterogeneous effects of enterprise zones that depend on the set of incentives these programs offer, which can vary widely? The results indicate that whether state enterprise zone programs were observed through a longer-term lens, or through the lens of program heterogeneity, the authors generally did not find any consistent indication of beneficial effects of state enterprise zone programs; if anything, the longer-run effects are negative. The lack of positive effects is consistent with most of the prior evidence that focuses on effects that are short term and homogeneous.
Governance Effectiveness: The Interaction of Ethno-Racial Diversity and Social Capital
Authors: Fredette Christopher , Sessler Bernstein Ruth
Published: January 2021

This research examines the relationship among Board Diversity, Social Capital, and Governance Effectiveness by asking, “does board ethno-racial diversity moderate the relationship between Social Capital and Governance Effectiveness, and if so, how?” Exploring the direct and interacting effects of demographic diversity and Social Capital, and their relation to governing-group effectiveness using a two-sample field survey design, we illustrate whether heterogeneous or homogeneous group compositions amplify or attenuate Governance Effectiveness, and to what degree. Primary analyses find no support for Board Diversity moderating the Social Capital-Governance Effectiveness relationship, with secondary analysis revealing a more complex interaction for Governance Effectiveness, albeit inconsistently, across samples. Our investigation points to the value of social resources in understanding governance as an inherently socially complex activity or capability, predicated on truce or mutual agreement and shaped by the composition and connections of boards.
Sanctions and incentives to repudiate external debt
Authors: de Bassa Carlo , Grillo Edoardo , Passarelli Francesco
Published: January 2021

Often foreign countries levy sanctions in the attempt to foment discontent with a hostile government. But sanctions may provoke costly reactions by the leaders of the target country. This paper presents a model in which sanctions exhaust the target country economically and impair its government’s fiscal capacity. Then, an office-motivated leader may find it convenient to default on foreign debt in order to free resources that she can invest to regain internal political support. The default thus becomes a defensive tool to partially dampen the internal political turmoil sanctions generate.
Local public corporate responsibility: A scale development and validation
Authors: Abellan-Gimenez MaríaDolores , Marín-Rives JoaquinLonginos , Paredes-Gazquez Juandiego
Published: January 2021

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a long tradition in business, but it is relatively new in public administration. Recently, there has been general consensus that there is a need to promote CSR in public administrations so as to improve transparency, governance, and the efficient allocation of public resources. We develop a new scale for measuring local public corporate responsibility (LPCR) based on CSR international standards and inputs from experts and academics, who evaluate whether the selected indicators are relevant, useful, adequate and practical for measuring LPCR. We test the tool empirically by analysing the CSR practices of 24 municipal councils in a Spanish territory. The result is a scale that allows us to determine the extent to which the municipal councils are socially responsible. This tool gives citizens access to information about CSR in their municipal councils and enables the identification of areas where municipal councils face challenges and require improvement.
Study on bearing stiffness characteristics with residual stress in carburized layer
Authors: Liang Junshuai , Li Ning , Zhai Jingyu , Wen BaoGang , Han Qingkai , Yu Changxin
Published: January 2021

In this study, a layering method of carburized ring is presented. A finite element (FE) model for analyzing bearing stiffness characteristics is established considering the residual stress in the carburized layer. The residual stress in the carburized layer of a double-row conical roller bearing is tested and the influence of the distribution of residual stress in carburized layer on the bearing stiffness is investigated. Results show that the residual stress in the carburized layer increases the contact stiffness of the bearing by 5% in the low-load zone and 3% in the high-load zone. The radial stiffness of the bearing is increased by 5% in the low-load zone and 3% in the high-load zone. The axial stiffness is increased by 6%, and the angular stiffness increased by 4%. The larger the thickness of the carburized layer, the greater the residual compressive stress in the carburized layer, the deeper the position of the maximum residual stresses in the carburized layer will lead to the greater stiffness of the bearing.
A novel optimization-based method to find multiple solutions for path synthesis of planar four-bar and slider-crank mechanisms
Authors: Zarkandi Soheil
Published: January 2021

The classical method to find possible solutions for path synthesis problem of planar mechanisms is continuation method. However, this method has some disadvantages such as producing unwanted extraneous and degenerate solutions and also producing mechanisms having defects. Moreover, many of the solutions are cognate of each other which can be obtained geometrically. Thus, finding the most feasible solution among all solutions is a cumbersome and time-consuming task. The main purpose of this paper is to explore applicability of heuristic algorithms to find multiple cognate- and defect-free solutions for path synthesis problems of planar four-bar and slider-crank mechanisms. To this aim, a new modified error function and an optimization-based algorithm is presented. The gravitational search algorithm (GSA) is utilized to minimize the modified error function. Efficiency of the method is proved through five case studies for path synthesis of four-bar and slider-crank mechanisms with and without prescribed timing.
Optimization of μEDM process assisted with rotating magnetic pulling force and ultrasonic vibration
Authors: Singh Gurpreet , Prajapati DR , Satsangi PS
Published: January 2021

The micro-electrical discharge machining process is hindered by low material removal rate and low surface quality, which bound its capability. The assistance of ultrasonic vibration and magnetic pulling force in micro-electrical discharge machining helps to overcome this limitation and increase the stability of the machining process. In the present research, an attempt has been made on Taguchi based GRA optimization for µEDM assisted with ultrasonic vibration and magnetic pulling force while µEDM of SKD-5 die steel with the tubular copper electrode. The process parameters such as ultrasonic vibration, magnetic pulling force, tool rotation, energy and feed rate have been chosen as process variables. Material removal rate and taper of the feature have been selected as response measures. From the experimental study, it has been found that response output measures have been significantly improved by 18% as compared to non assisted µEDM. The best optimal combination of input parameters for improved performance measures were recorded as machining with ultrasonic vibration (U1), 0.25 kgf of magnetic pulling force (M1), 600 rpm of tool rotation (R2), 3.38 mJ of energy (E3) and 1.5 mm/min of Tool feed rate (F3). The confirmation trail was also carried out for the validation of the results attained by Grey Relational Analysis and confirmed that there is a substantial improvement with both assistance applied simultaneously.
Comparative study on electromagnetohydrodynamic single-wall carbon nanotube–water dusty nanofluid in the presence of radiation and Ohmic heating
Authors: Wahidunnisa L , Suneetha S , Reddy SRR , Reddy P Bala Anki
Published: January 2021

The main intention of this article is to explore the significance of electronmagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) dusty nanofluid on the stagnation point flow in the presence of radiation and Ohmic heating. Water is considered as base fluid with single-wall carbon nanotubes along with suspended dust particles. The numerical solutions for both dusty phase and fluid phase differential systems are obtained by using Runge Kutta 4th order with shooting method. Influence of embedded parameters such as Biot number, electric field, viscous dissipation, magnetic field, thermal radiation, Joule heating and stagnation point flow are presented graphically. Dust particles play a significant role in food pharmaceutical industries particularly for efficient cultivation of microorganisms and also these type of studies may be applicable in atmospheric fields, wastewater treatment, metal objects covered with plastic materials and solids drying. The higher values of electric field parameter ( E) increases the fluid phase velocity and dusty phase velocity. An increase in the thermal radiation parameter releases thermal energy into the flow, so this energy helps to increase the fluid phase temperature and dusty phase temperature. The fluid phase temperature and dusty phase temperature declines with increasing the electric field parameter for dusty fluid and dusty nanofluid cases.
Numerical investigation on fluid flow and convective heat transfer in a microchannel heat sink with fan-shaped cavities and ribs
Authors: Bala Subrahmanyam K , Das Pritam , Datta Aparesh
Published: January 2021

In the present study, a detailed numerical simulations of liquid flow in microchannel heat sink with four different geometry of ribs: rectangular (RR), backward triangular (BTR), forward triangular (FTR) and diamond (DR) arranged symmetrically inside reentrant fan shaped cavities (FC) on side walls has been conducted and compared with smooth channel (SC) to acquire fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics between Reynolds numbers of 136−588. The local pressure, temperature and heat transfer coefficients were determined to understand the convective heat transfer regimes and to analyze local flow behavior. The three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer model, investigation is done extensively to identify the influence of geometrical parameters towards augmenting thermal performance with parametric optimization. Evolved governing equations are solved by using SIMPLEC algorithm. Attempt has been made to improve heat extraction ability with reasonable pressure drop by replacing the existing simple design of microsink. It is observed that Nusselt number and friction factor are in good agreement with previous experimental data. Based on detailed parametric study, it was found that FC-RR is good in achieving maximum Nusselt number, but due to higher pressure drop penalty giving lower performance. Out of four proposed, FC-DR is conferring upstanding balance between heat transfer, pressure drop and giving the best thermal performance of 1.97 at Re = 391.47.
Experimental modeling of adjacent parallel shield tunnels subjected to train-induced vibration loads
Authors: Zhang Junchen , Yan Qixiang , Yang Kai , Sun Minghui
Published: January 2021

Previous studies have performed numerical simulations of adjacent parallel shield tunnels under train-induced vibration loads. However, few experimental studies have been performed for the interaction mechanisms. In this study, experimental modeling is conduced to explore the interaction of adjacent parallel shield tunnels subjected to different train-induced vibration loads. A new Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) is applied to obtain the instantaneous responses of tunnels. The results show that the acceleration of the tunnel follows the trend of the train load curve. The peak accelerations of the tunnels experience a unimodal distribution along the train speed, while the dominant frequencies of the tunnels follow a bimodal distribution. The interaction between the adjacent parallel tunnels is significant. The transform of the vibration loads to the adjacent tunnel is through the soil below the tunnel. The farther away from the train load is, the greater the train speed corresponding to the dominant frequency peak.
An optimal brain tumor detection by convolutional neural network and Enhanced Sparrow Search Algorithm
Authors: Liu Tingting , Yuan Zhi , Wu Li , Badami Benjamin
Published: January 2021

Precise and timely detection of brain tumor area has a very high effect on the selection of medical care, its success rate and following the disease process during treatment. Existing algorithms for brain tumor diagnosis have problems in terms of better performance on various brain images with different qualities, low sensitivity of the results to the parameters introduced in the algorithm and also reliable diagnosis of tumors in the early stages of formation. A computer aided system is proposed in this research for automatic brain tumors diagnosis. The method includes four main parts: pre-processing and segmentation techniques, features extraction and final categorization. Gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) were applied for characteristic extraction of the MR images which are then injected to an optimized convolutional neural network (CNN) for the final diagnosis. The CNN is optimized by a new design of Sparrow Search Algorithm classification (ESSA). Finally, a comparison of the results of the method with three state of the art technique on the Whole Brain Atlas (WBA) database to show its higher efficiency.
First case report of eosinophilic meningitis associated with cerebral toxoplasmosis in an HIV-positive patient
Authors: Vidal José E , Cunha Mirella Alves , Kassab Maria J , Dauar Rafi F , Vasconcelos Dewton de Moraes
Published: January 2021

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is the most common cause of focal brain lesion in people living with HIV (PLWH) and usually causes multifocal encephalitis with little or no meningeal involvement. Classically, only subtle cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities are described. There are no prior case reports in the literature on eosinophilic meningitis associated with cerebral toxoplasmosis in PLWH. We report on an HIV-positive man from Brazil who presented to the emergency department with headache, nausea, vomiting, and hemiparesis. He had a T-CD4+ lymphocyte count of 145 cells/mm3, and antiretroviral failure was identified. Brain computed tomography showed a contrast-enhancing lesion with mild mass effect and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole and dexamethasone were started. Examination of CSF showed 194 cells/mm3 (74% eosinophils, 18% lymphocytes, 4% monocytes, and 2% neutrophils), protein = 83 mg/dL, and glucose = 49 mg/dL. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii on CSF by polymerase chain reaction confirmed the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis. An exhaustive laboratorial investigation excluded other possible etiologies. After 14 days, the patient showed complete resolution of neurological and CSF alterations and substantial improvement in the brain lesion and was discharged home. We suggest that eosinophilic meningitis should be included in the spectrum of manifestations of HIV-related cerebral toxoplasmosis, especially in countries with high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the general population.
‘Re-educating the Roma? You must be joking. . .’: Racism and prejudice in online discussion forums
Authors: Chovanec Jan
Published: January 2021

This article explores prejudicial and racist discourse in reader comments in internet news discussion forums. Based on data from an online debate among Czech commenters on the mainstream iDnes.cz news site, it seeks to contribute to the existing critical linguistic approaches to discursive strategies of othering. Analysing user comments referencing a news article on a sensitive social topic, namely the complicated reception of Central European Roma immigrants in the UK, the paper focuses on three salient themes found in the data: (a) the re-education of the ethnic minority; (b) the users’ perception of the media as politically correct and siding with the outgroup; and (c) the outgroup’s negative stereotype associating it with criminality. The paper argues that the discourse on these topics simultaneously relies on and reinforces the negative stereotype of the ethnic group, while revealing a complicated relationship between three stakeholders: the ingroup, represented by the commenters; the outgroup, made up of members of the ethnic groups; and the media, as representatives of the authorities and the elites. The findings reveal how quasi-humorous comments that involve such stereotypical representations contribute to the normalization of everyday racism against ethnic outgroups.1
Improving convergence in growth mixture models without covariance structure constraints
Authors: McNeish Daniel , Harring Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2021

Growth mixture models are a popular method to uncover heterogeneity in growth trajectories. Harnessing the power of growth mixture models in applications is difficult given the prevalence of nonconvergence when fitting growth mixture models to empirical data. Growth mixture models are rooted in the random effect tradition, and nonconvergence often leads researchers to modify their intended model with constraints in the random effect covariance structure to facilitate estimation. While practical, doing so has been shown to adversely affect parameter estimates, class assignment, and class enumeration. Instead, we advocate specifying the models with a marginal approach to prevent the widespread practice of sacrificing class-specific covariance structures to appease nonconvergence. A simulation is provided to show the importance of modeling class-specific covariance structures and builds off existing literature showing that applying constraints to the covariance leads to poor performance. These results suggest that retaining class-specific covariance structures should be a top priority and that marginal models like covariance pattern growth mixture models that model the covariance structure without random effects are well-suited for such a purpose, particularly with modest sample sizes and attrition commonly found in applications. An application to PTSD data with such characteristics is provided to demonstrate (a) convergence difficulties with random effect models, (b) how covariance structure constraints improve convergence but to the detriment of performance, and (c) how covariance pattern growth mixture models may provide a path forward that improves convergence without forfeiting class-specific covariance structures.
Pornography Use and Psychological Science: A Call for Consideration
Authors: Grubbs Joshua B. , Kraus Shane W.
Published: January 2021

Pornography use is both ubiquitous and controversial in developed nations. Although research related to pornography use has flourished in topical and special-interest journals for several decades, much of this work has remained in the periphery of mainstream interests. The current article reviews how pornography use is likely relevant to various domains within psychological science, particularly emphasizing its significance in relationship research, adolescent-development research, and clinical science. Specifically, pornography use is likely salient to research examining both sexual and romantic satisfaction. Additionally, it is also likely relevant to understanding adolescent sexual development, particularly among sexual-minority populations. Finally, a large body of research suggests that pornography use may become problematic, either because of excessive use or moral incongruence about such use, illustrating its salience in clinical psychological science. Collectively, the current research related to pornography use suggests that it is of interest to multiple domains in psychological science and that its effects can range from positive to neutral to negative.
Sacred Self-Expression: Love and Trans Authenticity
Authors: Huegerich Rachael
Published: January 2021

Theistic cosmologies have inspired many religious communities to alienate transgender individuals. While the growth in tolerance among congregations and institutions is important, there remains a pressing need to address the cosmologies at the root of intolerance. A re-examination of theological conceptions of God and the human person reveal not only acceptability, but significance, in the trans experience itself. Synthesizing gender studies with theology, this interdisciplinary article argues that God’s nature as deeply personal Love implies a sacredness in gender authenticity. The human person is part of an evolution toward deeply personalized consciousness. Gender, when freed from rigid constraints, is a social expression of this personalized self in a common cultural language. As infinite Love, God actualizes in the universe in deeply personal love. Therefore, by personalizing knowledge of one another and enabling deeper love between human persons, gender authenticity, in its fluidity, ambiguity, and continuous newness, deepens God’s existence. Ultimately, I argue, expressing one’s authentic gender(s) is a sacred act.
Evaluation of swelling properties and drug release from mechanochemical pre-gelatinized glutinous rice starch matrix tablets by near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Takaku Tomomi , Hattori Yusuke , Sasaki Tetsuo , Sakamoto Tomoaki , Otsuka Makoto
Published: January 2021

The effect of grinding on the pharmaceutical properties of matrix tablets consisting of ground glutinous rice starch (GRS) and theophylline (TH) was predicted by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Ground GRS samples were prepared by grinding GRS in a planetary ball mill for 0-120 min, measured by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and NIR, and then evaluated for crystallinity (%XRD) based on XRD profiles. Tablets containing TH (5 w/w%), ground GRS (94 w/w%), and magnesium stearate (1 w/w%) were formed by compression. Gel-forming and drug-release processes of the tablets were measured using a dissolution instrument with X-ray computed tomography (XCT). Swelling ratio (SWE) and mean drug-release time (MDT) were evaluated based on XCT and drug-release profiles, respectively. Calibration models for predicting percent %XRD, MDT, and SWE were constructed based on the NIR of ground GRS using partial least-squares. The results indicated the possibility of controlling the pharmaceutical properties of matrix tablets by altering the pre-gelatinization of GRS based on changes in their NIR spectra during the milling process.