bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causes and predictors of 30-day readmissions in patients with cardiogenic shock requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support
Authors: Tashtish Nour , Al-Kindi Sadeer G , Karnib Mohamad , Zanath Erica , Mitchell Steven , Di Felice Christopher , Zacharias Michael , Oliveira Guilherme H , Medalion Benjamin , Lytle Francis , Elamm Chantal
Published: October 2019

Background:

Cardiogenic shock is associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and healthcare cost. Utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock has increased in the United States. We sought to identify the rates and predictors of hospital readmissions in patients with cardiogenic shock after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Methods:

Using the 2016 Nationwide Readmission Database, we identified all patients (⩾18 years) with cardiogenic shock (ICD-10 CM R57.0) that have been implanted with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ICD-10-PSC of 5A15223) and were discharged alive (January–November 2016). We explored the rates, causes, and predictors of all-cause readmissions within 30 days.

Results:

Out of 69,040 admissions with cardiogenic shock, 1641 (2.4%) underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (581 were implanted during or after cardiac surgery). A total of 734 (44.7%) patients of all extracorporeal membrane oxygenations survived to discharge, and 661 were available for analysis. Out of those, 158 (23.9%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. More than 50% of these readmissions happened within the first 11 days. Out of 158 patients who were readmitted, 12 (7.4%) died during the readmission hospitalization. Leading causes of readmission were cardiovascular (31.6%) (heart failure: 24.1%, arrhythmia: 20.6%, neurovascular: 10.3%, hypertension: 10.3%, and endocarditis: 6.8%), followed by complications of medical/device care (17.7%), infection (11.3%), and gastrointestinal/liver (10.1%) complications. Factors associated with readmissions include the following: discharge to skilled nursing facility or with home healthcare (odds ratio: 2.10; 95% confidence interval: 1.18–3.74), durable ventricular assisted device implantation, asthma, and chronic liver disease.

Conclusion:

Patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation had a readmission rate. Identifying patients at high risk of readmissions might help improve outcomes.
When Death With Dementia Is “A Memory Seared in My Brain”: Caregivers’ Recommendations to Health Care Professionals
Authors: Hovland Cynthia
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this study is to determine family caregivers’ recommendations for professional health care professionals on how to help prepare them for the death of an elder with dementia. Purposive criterion sampling was employed to identify 30 bereaved caregivers of family members aged 65 and older who died with a dementia-related diagnosis. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted over a 12-month period, and qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Three primary themes emerged: (a) Educate Caregivers, (b) Lead Caregivers, and (c) Provide a Caring and Compassionate Presence. The results highlight the importance of various health care professionals’ roles in preparing family caregivers for a death. In doing so, both the dying and their caregivers may have a better end-of-life experience with improved bereavement outcomes.
Use of Meta-Analysis to Uncover the Critical Issues of Mobile Inquiry-Based Learning
Authors: Yang Je-Ming , Sung Yao-Ting , Chang Kuo-En
Published: October 2019

Using mobile devices to support the process and products of learning activities is a trend in inquiry-based learning, which is culminating in the formation of the subfield of mobile inquiry-based learning (m-IBL). However, even though mobile devices have been widely used in IBL activities in recent years, evaluative evidence for their substantial contributions to IBL is still deficient. Therefore, this study collected and analyzed 40 peer-reviewed journal articles published during 2001 to 2017 involving 3,542 participants and further discovered that m-IBL has produced meaningful improvements for IBL with an overall mean effect size of 0.803, with a 95% confidence interval [0.61, 0.99]. In addition, moderator variables such as control group types, learning outcomes, inquiry types, teaching methods, and domain subjects were related to different effect sizes. Finally, the results of the meta-analysis were discussed along with their implications for future research and practice.
Evaluating China’s Automated Essay Scoring System iWrite
Authors: Qian Leyi , Zhao Yali , Cheng Yan
Published: October 2019

Automated writing scoring can not only provide holistic scores but also instant and corrective feedback on L2 learners’ writing quality. It has been increasing in use throughout China and internationally. Given the advantages, the past several years has witnessed the emergence and growth of writing evaluation products in China. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have touched upon the validity of China’s automated essay scoring systems. By drawing on the four major categories of argument for validity framework proposed by Kane—scoring, generalization, extrapolation, and implication, this article aims to evaluate the performance of one of the China’s automated essay scoring systems—iWrite against human scores. The results show that iWrite fails to be a valid tool to assess L2 writings and predict human scores. Therefore, iWrite currently should be restricted to nonconsequential uses and cannot be employed as an alternative to or a substitute for human raters.
“It’s Just the Thing You Do”: Physical and Digital Fields, and the Flow of Capital for Young People’s Gendered Identity Negotiation
Authors: Metcalfe Sarah Nicola , Llewellyn Anna
Published: October 2019

This article examines young people’s negotiation of their identities in relation to gender. We explore this through two important sites for young people—physical relationships in the school environment and mainstream social media sites (e.g., Instagram and Facebook)—with the suggestion that social media is an important site for young people that permits discursive and identity exploration. Specifically, we use a Bourdieusian framework to examine the flow of capital between fields as well as the identities that arise. We draw on the experiences of young people aged 15 or 16 from 70 semistructured interviews (33 young men, 37 young women; M age = 15.7) at three socioeconomically contrasting schools. We argue that for capital to be accrued, young people’s identities are largely required to be consistent between the physical and digital worlds. Moreover, these identities are heavily tied to polarized gender stereotypes of heightened masculinities and femininities. Thus, a young person’s popularity (reinforced in both the fields of social media and schooling) is partly maintained by the negotiation of their gendered body and a gendered identity.
The Bulgarian PEN Club: A Study in Interwar Cultural Internationalism
Authors: Gigova Irina
Published: October 2019

This article reconstructs the history of the Bulgarian section of the International PEN. The PEN (initially standing for Poet, Essayists and Novelists) remains a global society of writers, founded in London in 1921, with the intent of promoting international understanding and higher social standing for writers and literature. The Bulgarian PEN was formed in 1926 by authors seeking to break the international isolation of Bulgaria, a former member of the Central Powers. The International PEN enabled Bulgarian literati to engage as non-state agents in cultural diplomacy of their own and to expand their intellectual and professional networks. Based on a variety of sources, the article analyzes the hopes, real limitations, and actual achievements of the Bulgarian PEN until its closing in 1941. It uses the organization’s interwar history to examine the workings in eastern Europe of what Akira Iriye called “cultural internationalism.” It demonstrates that while global literary and cultural relations remained inherently unequal, as discussed by Pascale Casanova, the International PEN did afford opportunities to smaller nations and literatures to establish regional and global contacts and become integrated in continental literary networks.
Effect of HMDS-modified silica aerogel nanoparticles on ATRP of styrene and methyl methacrylate: Kinetics and thermal studies
Authors: Khezri Khezrollah , Fazli Yousef
Published: October 2019

Surface of pristine silica aerogel nanoparticles was hydrophobically modified with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). Then, the resultant modified nanoparticles were used for in situ atom transfer radical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate. Surface area and structural characteristics of the HMDS-modified silica aerogel nanoparticles (H-SANs) were examined by nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm. Evaluation of size distribution and morphological studies were also performed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Conversion and molecular weight determinations were carried out using gas chromatography and size exclusion chromatography, respectively. Adding of H-SAN by 3 wt% results in decrement of conversion from 98% to 79%. In addition, molecular weight of copolymer chains decreases from 20,372 g·mol−1 to 16,487 g·mol−1. However, polydispersity index values increases from 1.38 to 1.76. Linear increase of ln( M0/ M) with time for all the samples shows that polymerization proceeds in a living manner. Increasing thermal stability of the nanocomposites is demonstrated by thermal gravimetric analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry shows a decrease in glass transition temperature from 67.4°C to 59.8°C by the addition of 3 wt% of the H-SAN.
Evaluation flammability, mechanical and electrical properties of polypropylene after using zinc borates and montmorillonite
Authors: Younis AA
Published: October 2019

This manuscript was built on studying the ignition, thermal, mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of the polypropylene by blending with different weight percentages of zinc borate (ZB) and potassium montmorillonite (MM). The tensile strength (TS) and elongation percentage ( E%) of the specimen were investigated. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry) were examined. LCR Meter instrument (Agilent E4980A, USA) was used to measure the electrical characteristics of the specimens. The heat capacity of the test specimens was determined according to EN ISO 1716:2004 (oxygen bomb calorimeter). By comparing the heat capacity results of the unblended with composite specimens, the difference in values is noticed. The flammability behaviours of the specimen were investigated by Underwriters Laboratories Horizontal Burning (UL-94HB) and limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests. The burning rate decreased by increasing the time of ignition with slightly LOI increased. These prove the main role of the ZB and MM at increasing the mechanical properties and electrical resistivity. The ash residue increased as the percentage of MM increased, while the heat capacity deceased.
Effect of the organically modified vermiculite clay loading on the rheological and flammability properties of biopolyethylene/vermiculite clay biocomposites
Authors: Hanken Ruth BL , Cavalcanti Shirley N , Araújo Aylanna PM , Alves Amanda M , Arimatéia Rafaela R , Freitas Daniel MG , Agrawal Pankaj , Santana Lisiane NL , de Mélo Tomás JA
Published: October 2019

In this work, the effect of the vermiculite (VMT) clay loading on the rheological properties and flammability of bio-based high-density polyethylene/organically modified VMT (BioHDPE/OVMT) clay biocomposites containing 0.5–10 phr of OVMT clay was investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the BioHDPE was intercalated between the OVMT clay galleries. BioHDPE/OVMT biocomposites containing 5 and 10 phr of OVMT clay exhibited a shear-thinning behavior and a better dispersion/distribution in the BioHDPE matrix. The biocomposite containing 10 phr of organoclay presented a percolated network structure. The elastic modulus increased with the increase in the OVMT loading whereas the tensile and impact strength remained almost unaffected. For the biocomposites containing the unmodified VMT clay, the burning rate decreased with the increase in the VMT loading. The opposite was observed for the biocomposites containing OVMT clay.
Patterns of incident genital human papillomavirus infection in women: A literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wheeler Bradford S , Rositch Anne F , Poole Charles , Taylor Sylvia M , Smith Jennifer S
Published: October 2019

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection acquisition is a necessary step in the development of cervical cancer. No study has systematically quantified the rate of newly acquired HPV infections from the published literature and determined its relationship with age. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to describe incident HPV infections in women. Medline® and Thomson Reuters Web of Science via PubMed® databases were searched. A total of 46 of 5136 studies met inclusion criteria and contributed results. We conducted a meta-regression analysis of 13 studies, which reported incidence rate estimates on over 13 high-risk HPV types, to provide pooled stratum-specific incidence rates and rate ratios for key population and study characteristics among 8488 women. Studies with mean age < 30 years had relatively higher HPV incidence rates compared to studies with mean age ≥30 years: relative risk = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.41–6.93. HPV-16 was most frequently detected, followed by HPV-18: relative risk = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.33–0.67, and by HPV-58: relative risk = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.27–0.74. Younger age is a key predictor of genital HPV incidence in women. These data on the relative distribution of incident HPV infections will provide a baseline comparison for monitoring of changes in HPV incidence following the implementation of population-level HPV vaccination.
Cyclization of flavokawain B reduces its activity against human colon cancer cells
Authors: Palko-Łabuz A , Kostrzewa-Susłow E , Janeczko T , Środa-Pomianek K , Poła A , Uryga A , Michalak K
Published: October 2019

Chalcones are naturally occurring compounds exhibiting biological activity through multiple mechanisms. Flavokawain B is one of chalcones found in kava plant. In our studies, we focused on the anticancer activity of flavokawain B in colorectal cancer cells LoVo and its resistant to doxorubicin subline—LoVo/Dx. Strong cytotoxic activity of flavokawain B and its ability to inhibit the proliferation in both cell lines was detected. These effects accompanied with induction cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and the presence of SubG1 fraction. Flavokawain B at low concentration led to increase of caspase-3 activity. The chalcone-induced apoptosis was also confirmed by DNA fragmentation. In our work, the conversion of flavokawain B to corresponding flavanone—5,7-dimetoxyflavanone—was shown to be more extensive in cancer than in non-cancer cells. We found that the cyclization of the chalcone was related to the significant decrease in the cytotoxicity. Cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were not impaired significantly in the studied cancer cells incubated with 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone. We did not observe apoptosis in the cells incubated with flavanone. The results from biological studies agreed with the theoretical activity that emerges from structural parameters.
Prednisolone dose during treatment of tuberculosis might be a risk factor for mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a hospital-based cohort study
Authors: Cheng C F , Huang Y M , Lu C H , Hsieh S C , Li K J
Published: October 2019

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at high risk of tuberculosis (TB) because of their immunocompromised status and the use of immunosuppressive drugs. In endemic regions, TB complicates the diagnosis and treatment of SLE, but the risk factors of mortality in these patients have not been investigated. In this study, we reviewed medical records during 2006–2016. Patients who fulfilled the 1997 American College of Rheumatology SLE criteria and presented with definite TB were enrolled. The primary outcome was mortality during TB treatment. There were 5388 SLE patients screened, and 30 patients were enrolled. Seven patients died during follow-up. Compared with the survival group, patients in the mortality group had significantly more central nervous system involvement of TB, higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 scores and more cyclophosphamide use before TB, and higher prednisolone dose before and during TB treatment. Cox regression showed that prednisolone dose during TB treatment was an independent risk factor for mortality (per 10 mg/day increase, hazard ratio (HR) 1.61, p = .019). For SLE patients, prednisolone dose during TB treatment is an independent risk factor for mortality. Keeping prednisolone dose at less than 25 mg per day during TB treatment might be a reasonable strategy in these patients.
Estimating the quantile medical cost under time-dependent covariates and right censored time-to-event variable based on a state process
Authors: Liu Xiufang , Deng Dianliang , Wang Dehui
Published: October 2019

Estimating the medical costs from disease diagnosis to a terminal event is of immense interest to researchers. However, most of existing literature on such research focused on the estimation of cumulative mean function (CMF) for history process. In this paper, the combined scheme of both inverse probability of censoring weighting (IPCW) technique and longitudinal quantile regression model is used to develop a novel procedure to the estimation of cumulative quantile function (CQF) based on history process with time-dependent covariates and right censored time-to-event variable. The consistency of proposed estimator is derived. The extensive simulation study is conducted to investigate the performance of the estimator given in this paper. A medical cost data from a multicenter automatic defibrillator implantation trial (MADIT) is analyzed to illustrate the application of developed method.
White-Collar Crime: The Privileging of Serious Financial Fraud in New Zealand
Authors: Marriott Lisa
Published: October 2019

Bagaric and Alexander ( 2014 ) argue for fundamental reform of the sentencing process for white-collar offenders in Australia and other jurisdictions. This study has two objectives. First, it challenges Bagaric and Alexander’s proposals. Second, using data from cases prosecuted by the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office, it instead proposes that white-collar offenders should not receive more lenient treatment in the justice system due to the privileged position from which the offending commences. This article suggests that an absence of restitution should be considered an aggravating factor, rather than the presence of restitution viewed as a mitigating factor; as an offender’s good character is often an enabler of the offending, this should not be considered as a mitigating factor and as extra-curial punishments, such as reputation damage or loss of future employment opportunities, are short-term for white-collar offenders, there is little justification for reduced sentences and extra-curial punishments can be viewed as a natural corollary of the offending.
Reshaping the Business Incubator Model: The Case of the Value Chain Model of Innovation Works in China
Authors: Tang Mingfeng , Li Cuiwen , Baskaran Angathevar , Cheng Yu , Chandran VGR
Published: October 2019

Since the late 1980s, the business incubator model in China has been evolving—from the early traditional model that focused mainly on providing basic services, such as office space and one-stop administrative services, to an emerging value chain model (value position, value creation, value transfer and value capture), which efficiently combines the profits of an incubator with the success of its incubating tenant ventures. This article analyses the case of ‘Innovation Works’, which is one of the pioneers of the value chain model in China. It raises the following research questions: (a) how does the incubator business model evolve over time in China? (b) What differentiates the value chain business incubator model from the traditional model? (c) What are the critical elements that contribute to the success of a value chain business incubator model? Using primary data gathered through interviews, on-site visits and surveys, the study found that the incubator business model in China has been reshaping towards more complex value propositions and more efficient value chain models. The study also found that specialisation, flat organisational structure and professional management team are the critical elements that contribute to the success or efficient performance of the value chain business incubator model. This article makes significant contributions to the literature and draws policy implications for future business incubator development—both in China and in other emerging economies.
Dialogical Value for Cultural Organizations
Authors: Shorthose Jim
Published: October 2019

The ‘cultural system’ (Holden, 2006, Retrieved from www.demos.co.uk/publications ) is underpinned by instrumental and institutional values, and this results in a ‘closed conversation’ which does not sufficiently include the public—the participants in local cultural life and the independent creative practitioners who often create such local culture. This article provides a critique of this situation and suggests that by developing more dialogical value—genuinely open conversations between cultural organizations and various local communities, as a cultural outcome in and of itself—the cultural organizations can become more responsive and innovative, greatly enhance their local cultural role, add a dynamic social infrastructural role to their remit and contribute to overcoming the democratic deficit within the cultural system as a whole.
The Bridge Between Education for Sustainable Development and Transformative Learning: Towards New Collaborative Learning Spaces
Authors: Schnitzler Tobias
Published: October 2019

Recent research has become increasingly interested in the concepts of education for sustainable development (ESD) and transformative learning (TL). However, even as ESD can be described as holistic and transformational education with the purpose to transform our society, only few studies have examined potential bridges between these two concepts. The article at hand gives an indication on this issue by studying the literature of ESD and TL. Strengthening the transformative aspect of ESD requires taking into account critical reflection, participation and social engagement, all of which all express key features of the new collaborative learning spaces (CLS). Subsequently, the potential of such CLS for the transformative mission of ESD are emphasized. In ESD as well as in CLS, the bridge between learning and action is crucial and a core element of social transformation. In order to clarify this, the new method of WeQ is described, aiming to better understand and develop CLS.
Is There Cross-Country Income Convergence Among the BRICS Nations? An Examination
Authors: Das Ramesh Chandra
Published: October 2019

Narrowing the developmental gaps of a relatively poor country with a relatively rich one is one of the priorities to the policymakers of the former. One way to reduce the developmental gaps is making different countries in a group to converge to a single steady-state value. Under this background, this study aims to examine whether the BRICS nations are converging in per capita GDP for the period 1990–2016. Applying the neoclassical methodology of β convergence and σ convergence, the study observes that the countries are not unconditionally β converging but converging in conditional terms with the variables such as foreign direct investment (FDI) flow and working population acting as the deciding factor. Furthermore, the study shows that the countries are converging in σ definition meaning the cross-country dispersion in per capita gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen significantly. Hence, formation of BRICS has made the countries relatively better off compared to pre-BRICS phase.

JEL Classification: E01, O4, J21
From Global Rights to Local Relationships: Exploring Disconnects in Respectful Maternity Care in Malawi
Authors: de Kok Bregje Christina , Uny Isabelle , Immamura Mari , Bell Jacqueline , Geddes Jane , Phoya Ann
Published: October 2019

Widespread reports of “disrespect and abuse” in maternity wards in low- and middle-income countries have triggered the development of rights-based respectful maternity care (RMC) standards and initiatives. To explore how international standards translate into local realities, we conducted a team ethnography, involving observations in labor wards in government facilities in central Malawi, and interviews and focus groups with midwives, women, and guardians. We identified a dual disconnect between, first, universal RMC principles and local notions of good care and, second, between midwives and women and guardians. The latter disconnect pertains to fraught relationships, reproduced by and manifested in mechanistic care, mutual responsibilization for trouble, and misunderstandings and distrust. RMC initiatives should be tailored to local contexts and midwife-client relationships. In a hierarchical, resource-strapped context like Malawi, promoting mutual love, understanding, and collaboration may be a more productive way to stimulate “respectful” care than the current emphasis on formal rights and respect.
Goal-Setting Instruction: A Step-by-Step Guide for High School Students
Authors: Estrapala Sara , Reed Deborah K.
Published: October 2019

Teaching self-determination skills to students with disabilities can improve both behavior and academic achievement while having a lasting impact on life outcomes. Specifically, goal setting is a highly useful and transferrable life skill that can enhance motivation, increase access to curriculum, and promote independence while improving academics and behavior. Unfortunately, students with disabilities are often not provided with adequate instruction to learn and practice goal-setting skills in school. To that end, this article presents a step-by-step guide for teachers to explicitly teach high school students with disabilities how to self-set goals to improve their behavior and academic achievement.
TRENDS: How Internet Search Undermines the Validity of Political Knowledge Measures
Authors: Smith Brianna , Clifford Scott , Jerit Jennifer
Published: October 2019

Political knowledge is central to understanding citizens’ engagement with politics. Yet, as surveys are increasingly conducted online, participants’ ability to search the web may undermine the validity of factual knowledge measures. Recent research shows this search behavior is common, even when respondents are instructed otherwise. However, we know little about how outside search affects the validity of political knowledge measures. Using a series of experimental and observational studies, we provide consistent evidence that outside search degrades the validity of political knowledge measures. Our findings imply that researchers conducting online surveys need to take steps to discourage and diagnose search engine use.
The Utility of ERBB4 and RB1 Immunohistochemistry in Distinguishing Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma From Renal Oncocytoma
Authors: Sun Tong , Hutchinson Lloyd , Zhou Amy G. , Liu Qingqing , Cosar Ediz F. , St. Cyr Maryann , Ninteau Nicole , Dresser Karen , Cheng Liang , Jiang Zhong , Cornejo Kristine M.
Published: October 2019

Objectives. Differentiating renal oncocytoma (RO) from chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) can occasionally be challenging. We evaluated the expression of RB1 and ERBB4 in RO and ChRCC, and compared the immunohistochemistry (IHC) results to RB1 and ERBB4 gene abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Materials and Methods. Fifty-three kidney resections (ChRCC, n=28; RO, n=25) were stained for RB1 and ERBB4 IHC and FISH was performed to evaluate gene copy number analysis. Results. A loss of RB1 staining was identified in 64% (18/28) of ChRCCs, which was not found in any ROs (0/25; P <.001). FISH analysis revealed 36% (10/28) of ChRCCs contained a RB1 hemizygous deletion with a concordance of 56% (10/18) between the IHC and FISH findings. No RB1 gene copy number variations were detected in any of the ROs (0/25; P <.001) and retained expression of RB1 by IHC. ERBB4 showed cytoplasmic/membranous staining in all ROs and ChRCCs. However, 75% (21/28) of ChRCCs also contained nuclear positivity for ERBB4, which was uncommonly seen in ROs (3/25, 12%; P < .001). A hemizygous ERBB4 gene deletion was detected in 46% of ChRCCs (13/28), but none of the ROs (0/25; 0%). Loss of labeling by RB1 or nuclear staining for ERBB4 IHC identified 25 of 28 (89%) of ChRCCs. Conclusion. In summary, the loss of RB1 expression is a highly specific diagnostic biomarker in distinguishing ChRCC from RO. Nuclear ERBB4 expression also appears to be a sensitive diagnostic biomarker for ChRCC, albeit the mechanism is unknown.
A Loss of Innocence—Infertility
Authors: Lahman Maria K. E.
Published: October 2019

Through an autoethnographic account, the author reengages reflexively with infertility, a companion of old.
Trouble in Paradigm: “Gender Transformative” Programming in Violence Prevention
Authors: Brush Lisa D. , Miller Elizabeth
Published: October 2019

The World Health Organization encourages a “gender transformative” paradigm for preventing violence against women and girls. Gender transformative interventions engage men and boys to reflect critically on—and then to challenge and change—gender-inequitable attitudes and behaviors. To interpret the mixed findings of research evaluating such programs, we review the “social norms” model that informs the paradigm. We bolster the paradigmatic conceptualization of social norms through insights about how exposure to trauma shapes gendered patterns of victimization and perpetration, about gendered violence from research on homophobic bullying, and about transforming local regimes of gender accountability.
Gender-Transformative Approaches to Engaging Men in Reducing Gender-Based Violence: A Response to Brush & Miller’s “Trouble in Paradigm”
Authors: Dworkin Shari L. , Barker Gary
Published: October 2019

Brush and Miller’s paper is critical of gender-transformative interventions and they believe that the paradigm is in trouble. In this response, we examine the body of evidence and the conceptual frames that undergird gender-transformative interventions, along with the emergence of these interventions and their efficacy. We argue here that it is reductionist to state either (a) that gender-transformative programs do not work, or (b) that gender-transformative programs only rely on social norms theory. We reveal how these claims omit important developments emerging from research on homophobia, feminist thought, and intersectionality that have made their way into gender-transformative interventions in several countries. We show that the implementation of gender-transformative interventions is far from uniform and we examine how changing power relations, relationships, communities, and masculinities, as well as other structures and practices that negatively influence health and well-being are integrated into this large body of work. We highlight how gender-transformative interventions show solid promise on balance, as measured in several evaluation studies in several settings, when implemented well and sustained. Overall then, gender-transformative interventions represent a tremendous advance over the previous “risk group-focused,” single-topic approaches with men that have been implemented in public and global health interventions.
Comment on Brush and Miller’s “Trouble in Paradigm: ‘Gender Transformative Programming’ in Violence Prevention”
Authors: Hollander Jocelyn A. , Pascoe C. J.
Published: October 2019

Brush and Miller have provided an astute critique of “gender-transformative” antiviolence programming, encouraging us to take more seriously the effects of history, gender, and social structure. In this commentary, we extend their analysis in four directions by highlighting the everydayness of gendered violence, the relationship between masculinity and social legibility, the seductive rewards of masculine conformity, and the way norms are enforced through nets of accountability. We elaborate on the model provided by women’s empowerment self-defense training to suggest a potential way forward for these programs.
Social Psychological Theory as History: Outlining the Critical-Historical Approach to Theory
Authors: Sullivan Daniel
Published: October 2019

The mainstream epistemology of social psychology is markedly ahistorical, prioritizing the quantification of processes assumed to be lawful and generalizable. Social psychologists often consider theory to be either a practical tool for summarizing what is known about a problem area and making predictions or a torch that illuminates the counterintuitive causal force underlying a variety of disparate phenomena. I propose a third vision of critical-historical theory. From this perspective, theories should be committed to deep interdisciplinarity and historical validity claims—understanding individual and group experiences as part of historically contingent forces. Theories also should be critical, containing an awareness of the researcher as implicated in the social process and committed to actively improving society. To demonstrate its viability, I review classic works from the history of the discipline that exemplify critical-historical theory and offer concrete implications for theorists interested in employing this approach in their own work.
Ellipsoid layer restoration after Ozurdex® treatment in a patient with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy
Authors: Mora-Cantallops Arnau , Pérez M Dolores , Revenga Marcelino , González-López Julio Jose
Published: October 2019

An atypical case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy with a clear reappearance of the ellipsoid layer of the retina after Ozurdex® intravitreal implantation is presented. A 51-year-old woman reported a 3-week history of left eye photopsia. On slit-lamp examination, yellowish placoid lesions were found on her left eye fundus. Ancillary tests were performed. The patient was diagnosed as a left eye acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, and observational approach was decided. Later, the condition started to progress in an ampiginous manner and a decrease of visual acuity caused by an increase in number and size of the lesions was observed. As the disease was progressing with the conservative, observational approach, and the macula was menaced, an intravitreal dexamethasone implant was injected in the left eye with a consequent improvement of the visual acuity and lesion stabilization. The ellipsoid layer, unidentifiable inside the placoid lesions in previous optical coherence tomography tests, reappeared after the treatment. Intravitreal dexamethasone implants can be used to stabilize acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy lesions and help resolve the condition. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography can also be useful for monitoring these lesions, as the ellipsoid layer may reappear upon resolution.
One flew over the duck pond: Autoethnography, academic identity, and language
Authors: Tienari Janne
Published: October 2019

Autoethnography is about studying a community through the author’s personal experience. I offer my autoethnography of moving from a Finnish-speaking business school to a Swedish-speaking one in Helsinki, Finland. This is my story as a Finnish speaker who works in English, develops a sense of lack and guilt for not contributing in Swedish, and enacts an identity of an outsider in his community. My ambivalent identity work as a privileged yet increasingly anxious white male professor elucidates connections between identity, language, and power, and it may enable me to see glimpses of what those who are truly marginalized and excluded experience. I argue that academic identity is based on language, and once that foundation is shaken, it can trigger self-reflection that helps to show how language is inevitably tied in with complex power relations in organizations. I offer my story as an invitation to discuss how we learn to deal with the complexity of identity work and language. My story lays bare how autoethnographies by the privileged, too, can be useful if they show the vulnerability we all experience in contemporary universities.
Historical reflections at the intersection of past and future: Celebrating 50 years of Management Learning
Authors: Durepos Gabrielle , Maclean Mairi , Alcadipani Rafael , Cummings Stephen
Published: October 2019

Management Learning marks its 50th anniversary in 2020. The journal has a long history of publishing critical, reflexive scholarship on organizational learning and knowledge. This Special Issue is a forum to celebrate and build on this history through critical and reflective engagement with the past, present and future of management learning, knowledge and education. In particular, the Special Issue guest editors reflect on the future of Management Learning and outline the importance of learning from the history of and history in management learning, on reflexivity, on the archive and on the geopolitics of knowledge.
Using participatory drama workshops to explore children’s beliefs, understandings and experiences of coming to hospital for clinical procedures
Authors: Bray Lucy , Horowicz Ed , Preston Kimberley , Carter Bernie
Published: October 2019

Children attending hospital for a clinical procedure such as a scan or blood test can experience anxiety and uncertainty. Children who are informed and supported before and during procedures tend to have a more positive experience. Despite this, there is a lack of empirical evidence directly from children around how they would like to be supported before, during and after a procedure. This qualitative study used improvised drama workshops to investigate children’s ( n = 15, aged 7–14 years) perceptions and opinions of attending hospital for a procedure and what would help them have a positive encounter. Children portrayed themselves as having a small presence during a hospital procedure, depicted by the two themes of ‘having to be brave but feeling scared inside’ and ‘wanting to get involved but being too afraid to ask’. Within both themes, children described how the directive and reassuring language and actions used by health professionals and parents marginalized their contributions. This study shows that children attending hospital for procedures value the opportunity to have a presence and active role, to express their emotions, join in interactions and be involved in making choices about their care.
The optimization design of thin piezoelectric force sensor and theoretical analysis of static loading estimation
Authors: Wang Sheng-He
Published: October 2019

In the development of automation industry, external force detection/monitoring is essential for the safety of human and machines. To detect or measure these forces easily, a static loading sensor is required. However, commercially available sensors are too bulky and cause installation difficulties in automated machines. A piezoelectric element is an electro-mechanical component wildly used for actuator sensing or harvesting applications. In this paper, a 10 N capacity thin piezoelectric force sensor is designed and tested for external static load detection. This paper considers that larger strain made by an external force on a proposed piezoelectric sensor generates higher voltage, thereby increasing its force estimation accuracy. Meanwhile, in most piezoelectric force sensors, a cantilever beam mechanism is usually adopted for its simple structure; however, large deformations seen in cantilever piezoelectric sensors are not proportional to its measuring accuracy nor force bearing capacity. Therefore, in this paper, an amplified trapezoidal shape mechanism is designed to convert external vertical load into horizontal displacement deformation in order to obtain higher voltage generation. The Taguchi optimization design method is proposed to analyze the key factors that affect the amplified mechanism design of the piezoelectric sensor. Moreover, static loading force applied on a piezoelectric component generates constant voltage that eventually decreases with time. This is because of its internal electric impedance property, which causes difficulty in static loading force estimation. To represent the theoretical model of the static force estimation in this paper, a chain scattering description matrix of a two-port network was proposed to represent the electric impedance in relation to the mechanical properties’ variation. The measured results demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed theoretical method which implies that the external force can be estimated by measuring its electric impedance variation, particularly the shift in resonance frequency Therefore, based on the developed theoretical model, a driving voltage with fixed frequency can measure its electric current in the same time, thereby achieving the external force monitoring technology.
Between ritual and information: Three phases of Norwegian news audiences’ sense-making of the election of Donald Trump
Authors: Moe Hallvard , Ytre-Arne Brita , Nærland Torgeir Uberg
Published: October 2019

This article investigates sense-making processes of news audiences when faced with destabilizing global events. The destabilizing event is Trump’s 2016 election win, which we study from the perspective of audiences far removed: in the Nordic region. Asking how we can understand shifts in the balance between the informational and ritual aspects of news over time, we study how journalism matters when ordinary practices are suddenly uprooted, and in the gradual return to everyday life. Based on the analysis of extensive qualitative material, we formulate three successive phases of Norwegian news audiences’ reactions to the election: annoying circus far away, world-shattering shock and regained stability. We underline not only shared experiences but also nuances which we link to differences in media use routines, levels of interests in news as well as resources for the sense-making of politics. Our findings contribute to the scrutiny of news use in everyday life and at times of political upheaval, and add an audience perspective to research on Trump and the media.
Self-employed or Paid Employed: Who can Earn more among the Slum Dwellers and Why?
Authors: Banerjee Shashwati , Goswami Kishor
Published: October 2019

Past literature in the context of slum dwellers rarely acknowledges the occupational variation in informal job types. The dearth of studies also exists in specifying the informal types where public policy can result in their improved livelihoods. Based on 240 respondents settled in the slums of four districts of West Bengal, it analyses the types of informal employment in offsetting poverty of the slum dwellers. The participation of only 27 percent of the women in informal employment as compared to 73 percent of the male suggests the existence of gender gap in informal employment. The study finds that irrespective of the types of informal employment, the workers mostly belong to the economically weaker sections. The self-employed population is better regarding earning, using the formal account for savings, and job security (tenure). The findings suggest the enhancement of opportunities for the vendors and drivers among the self-employed, and the labourers working in the electrical and electronic sectors among the paid-employees. The district, gender, relationship status, and social network are among the major variables that determine the self-employment pattern of the slum dwellers.
Experimental study of pre-chamber jet ignition in a rapid compression machine and single-cylinder natural gas engine
Authors: Li Fubai , Zhao Ziqing , Wang Boyuan , Wang Zhi
Published: October 2019

Pre-chamber jet ignition is a promising combustion technology to achieve fast combustion in natural gas engines. First, the ignition and combustion characteristics of mixtures in a pre-chamber system with different diameter orifices were studied under engine-relevant pressures and temperatures in a rapid compression machine. The tested fuels, CH4/air stoichiometric mixtures, were diluted by different proportions of CO2/N2 to simulate the corresponding exhaust gas recirculation conditions in engines. High-speed photography was applied to visualize the jet ignition and combustion processes. The experimental results revealed that two ignition patterns existed in the pre-chambers depending on the diameter of orifices. Pre-chamber jet flame ignition pattern appeared when the orifice diameter of the pre-chamber exceeded a critical value, which produced jet flame and ignited the mixtures in the main chamber directly. Pre-chamber jet auto-ignition pattern produced jet which promoted the auto-ignition of mixture in the main chamber when the orifice diameter was smaller and presented much shorter combustion durations. Based on the experimental results in the rapid compression machine, a practical pre-chamber system was designed in a single-cylinder natural gas engine to investigate the combustion performance and emission characteristics. The experimental results indicated appropriate 0.8%–1.4% increases of indicated thermal efficiency were achieved by pre-chamber jet ignition due to the higher combustion efficiency and shorter combustion duration compared to conventional spark ignition. Lower total hydrocarbon and CO emissions but higher NO x emissions were produced by pre-chamber jet ignition due to the faster burning velocity and higher combustion temperature.
Damage identification from static tests by eigenparameter decomposition and sparse regularization
Authors: Lu Zhong-Rong , Zhou Junxian , Wang Li , Liu Jike
Published: October 2019

Identifying the damages from test data is central to assuring the structural safety. The static model is the simplest model to describe the mechanical behavior of the structure where only the stiffness is involved and it is independent of the mass and the complex damping. As a result, damage identification based on the static data will not be deteriorated by the inexact damping and the possible error in the mass. Notwithstanding, the major difficulty regarding damage identification with static test data is that the amount of the static data is quite limited and insufficient with respect to the amount of damage parameters, rendering the identification very sensitive to the measurement noise. Attempting to circumvent this difficulty, a novel damage identification approach is developed in this article where the sparse regularization is introduced to implicitly enforce the sparsity constraint of the damage locations. Moreover, in order to work well with the sparse regularization, a new goal function is established by resorting to the eigenparameter decomposition for which the decoupling feature would make the sparse regularization be tackled immediately with closed-form solutions. Then, the alternating minimization approach is used to get the solution of the new goal function and the threshold setting method is simply called to determine a proper regularization parameter. Numerical and experimental examples are studied to testify the feasibility, accuracy, and robustness of the proposed damage identification approach.