bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy in major depressive disorder with somatic symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with clinical and electroencephalography evidence
Authors: Kim Hee Jin , Han Doug Hyun , Choi Kang Ta , Hwang Hyun Chan , Min Kyoung Joon , Kim Sun Mi
Published: October 2022

Background:

Somatic symptoms, which are common in major depressive disorder (MDD), are associated with a worse prognosis and increased health costs.

Aims:

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy of aripiprazole augmentation in MDD patients with somatic symptoms.

Methods:

In all, 41 MDD patients with somatic symptoms completed the study. Participants who had been on a stable dose of antidepressants for at least 1 month were randomly assigned to receive an 8-week adjunctive treatment with either aripiprazole or placebo. The initiation dose of aripiprazole was 2 mg/day, which was later adjusted to 1–10 mg/day. The primary endpoint was the change in the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised-Somatization (SCL-90-R-SOM) score. We collected quantitative electroencephalogram data and performed spectral analyses to obtain the absolute power of frequency bands.

Results/outcomes:

The aripiprazole group ( n = 20; 2.98 ± 1.75 mg/day) showed a significant improvement in SCL-90-R-SOM scores compared to the placebo group ( n = 21; F = 8.56, p = 0.006), without significant differences in changes in depression and anxiety symptoms. Compared to the control, the aripiprazole group showed a greater decrease in total alpha power ( F = 7.03, p = 0.01). Changes in frontal alpha power were positively correlated with changes in SCL-90-R-SOM scores in the aripiprazole group ( r = 0.53, p = 0.014).

Conclusions/interpretation:

Aripiprazole adjunctive to antidepressants in patients with MDD and somatic symptoms improved somatic symptom severity without significant safety concerns, and this improvement correlated with a decrease in total and frontal alpha power. Trial Registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr ; identifier: KCT0004607.
COVID‐19 induces gastrointestinal symptoms and affects patients’ prognosis
Authors: Jin Shuxun , Lu Xiaofeng , Xu Chaoyang
Published: October 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection caused the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement is common among patients with COVID-19, and GI symptoms can appear earlier than respiratory symptoms. Except for direct infectious effects, patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk of complications requiring gastroenterological management. Diarrhea is the most common GI symptom in patients with COVID-19 and occurs in up to half of them. Other GI symptoms, such as anorexia, discomfort, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of taste sensation, and vomiting, have been reported. GI symptoms are associated with a poor prognosis. Fecal viral excretion may have clinical significance because of the possible fecal–oral transmission of infection. In the present narrative review article, six different aspects of studies published to date are summarized as follows: GI manifestations of COVID-19, the roles of fecal–oral transmission, poor prognosis of GI symptoms; abnormal abdominal imaging findings, COVID-19 in patients with irritable bowel disease, and prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the digestive endoscopy room. Timely understanding of the association between COVID-19 and the digestive system and effective preventive measures are critical to improve this disease and help clinicians take appropriate measures to mitigate further transmission.
Disrespect and abuse experienced by women giving birth in public health facilities of Eastern Ethiopia: a multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Gebregziabher Sintayehu , Hawulte Behailu , Abera Legesse , Goshu Abel Tibebu
Published: October 2022

Objective

We assessed the magnitude of disrespect and abuse experienced by women giving birth at public health facilities in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted a facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study in Dire Dawa City Administration from 21 October to 8 December 2020. We used a pre-tested structured questionnaire to interview 555 randomly selected women who gave birth in public health facilities during the study period. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed in statistical analysis.

Results

Among 555 women, 473 (85.2%) reported having experienced at least one form of disrespect and abuse. Giving birth at a hospital (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.29–7.51) and being attended by male providers (AOR = 3.27; 95% CI, 1.57–6.81), as well as being attended by three or four providers (AOR = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.22–0.88) and delivering at night (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15–0.48) were significantly associated with greater or less likelihood, respectively, of disrespect and abuse.

Conclusion

We revealed an unacceptable level of disrespect and abuse toward women giving birth at public health facilities. Health care providers must understand the importance of respectful maternity care. The city's health bureau should conduct provider training and enforce adherence to respectful care.
New geographical directions for food systems governance research
Authors: Yap Christopher
Published: October 2022

Food systems governance has emerged as a distinct focus of geographical research. Researchers and policymakers are increasingly engaging with food systems as complex, multi-scalar and cross-cutting sets of issues. This article examines the potential of critical, interdisciplinary readings of the relationships between the state, space and territory to explore new directions and opportunities for food systems governance research and practice. In doing so, the article proposes a critical research agenda that emphasises the interdependent spatial and relational character of food systems governance.
Radical Structural Change in North American Dress and Textile Museums and Collections: Critically Analyzing Social Justice, Oppression, and Empowerment
Authors: Stanciel Ginger , Reddy-Best Kelly L. , Simon Joshua D. , Streck Kyra G. , Green Denise , Matthews Dyese , Gordon Jennifer
Published: October 2022

The purpose of our research was to examine how dress and textile collections or museums have explicitly and implicitly conveyed solidarity with social-justice efforts. This includes how institutions have made antidiscrimination part of their guiding principles, as well as how these ideologies may have materialized in exhibitions. Using content analysis, we analyzed mission statements, diversity statements, and exhibition titles and descriptions of 134 North American dress and textile museums or collections. We identified five themes in the mission statements: preserving knowledge, education, spectrum of social-justice related language, oppressive language, and other commitments. We found that about half of the museums or collections had diversity statements and most created solidarity statements against racism on social media. A little less than half of the institutions explicitly incorporated social justice within exhibition titles and descriptions. Positive steps were made among these institutions to combat discrimination, but there is work still to be done.
Enhancing the work placement experience of students with disabilities
Authors: Mogaji Emmanuel , Nguyen Nguyen P
Published: October 2022

Work placement learning enhances self-efficacy and work readiness for students. However, students with disabilities often have a different experience with regard to work placements. With a growing number of people with disabilities in universities, it is essential to provide students who have disabilities with an inclusive learning and working environment. Expanding on previous studies that have explored industrial work placement in higher education across different levels of disabilities, this study is contextualised in Nigeria and adopts an integrative literature review approach to critically review and synthesise the literature on student experience, disability, work placement and higher education in the country. This process enables the development of a new theoretical framework and perspective for enhancing the work placement experience of students with disabilities. The study contributes to the existing knowledge regarding work experience, students with disabilities and student experiences in developing countries. It also has practical implications for stakeholders involved in work placements for students with disabilities.
Circular sawblade vibration suppression by thermal stress stiffening method
Authors: Yang Fan , Pei Yong-Chen , Liu Zhong-Hao , Liu Qin-Jian
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a temperature-controlled circular saw is proposed by a thermal stress stiffening method, which provides a novel approach that is easy to implement for suppressing sawblade’s vibration and improving machining quality. In this method, the sawblade’s inner boundary is heated by infrared radiation to generate in-plane thermal stress and improve the sawblade’s bending stiffness. Through theoretical calculation and experiment, it is found that increasing the inner boundary’s temperature can effectively increase the natural frequency of the sawblade’s dominant mode. Considering that the saw blade operates near and far from its resonant speed, four cutting experiments are performed on a same beech wood bar under temperature-controlled or uncontrolled conditions. The transverse vibration of the sawblade is measured by a laser displacement sensor, and the surface topography of the cut workpiece is obtained by a three-dimensional surface topography measuring device. This vibration suppression method significantly reduces the vibration amplitude of the sawblade, and effectively improves the machining quality of the circular saw. The experimental results show that using this method can reduce the defect depth of cutting processing by more than 60% when the sawblade rotates near its resonance speed, and is also effective when resonance does not occur.
Investigation on the optimal machining of Mg-based composites considering surface roughness, tool life, cutting forces, and productivity
Authors: Asgari Ali , Sedighi Mohammad
Published: October 2022

Machining of metal matrix composites (MMC) are being increasingly taken into consideration due to MMCs’ especial features like high strength to weight ratio, resistance to wear and creep. In this paper, effects of cutting parameters on the surface quality, tool life, and cutting force when machining of AZ91/SiC composites are analyzed to make the process optimized. To this end, a design of experiment based on the response surface methodology are done to consider variations of cutting parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut. Challenges like particles pulled out and tool worn out in the machining process are evaluated. Subsequently, the results of cutting responses are analyzed and a multi-objective optimization is applied on the data to obtain the best surface quality, the highest production volume and the condition at which tool life is longest. The results showed although increasing the feed rate from 0.05 to 0.1 mm/rev leads to the tool life reduction about 70%, it enhances the productivity considerably about 100% for composites with volume fraction 5%. Moreover, at cutting speed 41.05 m/min and feed rate 0.07 mm/rev, machining process of AZ91/SiC-vol.5% becomes efficient.
Nonlinear model predictive trajectory following control with feedback compensation for autonomous four-wheel independent drive electric vehicles
Authors: Ye Xingyu , Zhu Shaopeng , Ao Di , Huang Wei
Published: October 2022

Trajectory following is an important function of autonomous vehicles. To enable a four-wheel independent drive electric vehicle to precisely follow a predefined or real-time generated trajectory with good lateral stability and ride comfort at high velocity, a model predictive control (MPC) scheme with feedback compensation considering model mismatch is proposed in this paper to coordinate the direct yaw-moment control and active front steering. The system input signal computed by model predictive control is corrected by the feedback compensation to cope with the model mismatch existing between the controlled vehicle and the nominal model. Moreover, co-simulation is carried out between the software MATLAB/Simulink and Carsim to verify the proposed method. In comparison, the integration of the direct yaw-moment control and active front steering through model predictive control can overcome the non-smooth problem of vehicle dynamics while implementing the active front steering only. However, the value of the external yaw moment computed by the model predictive controller might be too large due to the predictive error in extreme situations, which could endanger the vehicle. The results reveal that the proposed model predictive control scheme with feedback compensation can effectively compensate the front steering angle and enhance the control effect. Therefore, it can significantly improve the trajectory following accuracy and yaw stability.
An active multiobjective real-time vibration control algorithm for parallel hybrid electric vehicle
Authors: Song Dafeng , Wu Jiajun , Yang Dongpo , Chen Hongxu , Zeng Xiaohua
Published: October 2022

To improve the contradiction between vehicle dynamic performance and ride comfort by using the motor active output torque compensation method to reduce the torsional vibration of the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain, an active multiobjective real-time vibration control (AMRVC) algorithm based on model prediction control (MPC) is proposed in this paper, and the current mainstream parallel HEV is taken as the research object to verify the proposed algorithm. Firstly, the torsional vibration model of the parallel HEV powertrain is established, simplified, and verified according to the experimental data, which provides the basis for the multimode adaptability and the application of the controller. Then, based on the state space equation of the torsional vibration system, the MPC controller considering the balance between ride comfort and power performance is designed, which can meet the multiobjective and real-time control effect of the hybrid power system while realizing the active vibration control. Finally, the effectiveness and real-time performance of the AMRVC algorithm are verified by multimode simulation analysis and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experiment. The simulation results show that the AMRVC algorithm based on MPC has good real-time application conditions, which can well coordinate the multiobjective requirements of vehicle ride comfort and dynamic performance, and remarkably improve the torsional vibration response of the powertrain by more than 55% in all HEV typical operating modes.
Pulverized coal combustion computational modeling approach: A review
Authors: Ghose Prakash , Sahoo Tarak Kumar , Sahu Ajay K
Published: October 2022

CFD (Computational fluid dynamics) is a tool, through which, the entire combustion process for pulverized coal combustion (PCC) can be predicted. The solid fuel combustion modeling is not as simple as gaseous or liquid fuel combustion modeling. In the solid fuel combustion process, various physical transformations and chemical reactions occur simultaneously. Therefore in the computational modeling approach for PCC, basic physical and chemical processes such as; turbulence, radiation, devolatilization, gas-phase combustion, char reaction and soot formation/reduction are integrated to obtain the desired results. However, in order to reach the desired accuracy, different computational models should be chosen carefully. In this review, various common models that are widely used in PCC simulation are discussed scientifically along with their modeling aspects. The basic advantages and disadvantages of these models are also discussed in this study. Moreover, different models preferred by various authors for pulverized coal combustion simulation process are also summarized. From the review, it has been observed that the eddy viscosity based two-equation turbulent models and Eulerian-Lagrangian multiphase approach are mostly preferred due to better computational economy. Two competing rate devolatilization model from various finite rate models and FG-DVC devolatilization model from various phenomenological models are mostly used for PCC. Diffusion kinetic control and Intrinsic char combustion models are mostly chosen to predict the char reaction. Finite reaction rate models are preferred when the computational economy is a concern, whereas phenomenological models provide results with better accuracy because in phenomenological models realistic inputs are given as input for simulation whereas, in finite rate models, finite rate constants are mostly empirical. Most of the gas phase models are given almost equal importance. Discrete ordinate (DO) is mostly used for PCC due to its ability of volumetric radiation calculation and the ability to evaluate radiation effect on the particle phase.
Assessing the Factors Related to a Start-Up’s Valuation Using Prediction and Causal Discovery
Authors: Garkavenko Mariia , Beliaeva Tatiana , Gaussier Eric , Mirisaee Hamid , Lagnier Cédric , Guerraz Agnès
Published: October 2022

Research indicates that investors rely on various criteria to evaluate early-stage companies. However, past research in this area has focused on subsets of factors and does not distinguish between the predictors and causal determinants of start-up valuation. In our study, we applied machine learning and causal discovery to analyze a comprehensive dataset with 57 independent variables and 2,366 valuations of start-ups in the United Kingdom. The results show a strong relationship between good predictors and causal determinants of valuation. However, noncausal variables may still be useful for prediction, and inversely, some observed causes may not help in the prediction task.
The Loss of a Service Dog Through Death: Experiences of Partners
Authors: Bussolari Cori , Currin-McCulloch Jennifer , Packman Wendy , Kogan Lori , Erdman Phyllis
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this research was to explore how service dog partners experience the death of their service dog. Twenty-five partners who had lost a service dog self-selected from those who participated in a larger quantitative study. The quantitative study consisted of an online, anonymous survey targeting service dog handlers who had lost a dog within the last five years. Directed content analysis was used to identify prevalent themes. Results demonstrate that while the death of their service dog was a central life event, their grief was often disenfranchised. Many struggled with both the need to quickly acquire another service dog and the subsequent impact this had on their ability to grieve. Given the unique relationship between service dog and handler, it is important that counselors, service dog organizations and veterinarians are aware of the challenges associated with both loss and replacement and offer appropriate support to their clients.
Kinematic Analysis of Sequential Partial-Midfoot Arthrodesis in Simulated Gait Cadaver Model
Authors: Kim Jaeyoung , Hoffman Jeffrey , Steineman Brett , Eble Stephanie K. , Roberts Lauren E. , Ellis Scott J. , Drakos Mark C.
Published: October 2022

Background:

Primary tarsometatarsal (TMT) arthrodesis is gaining popularity in the surgical treatment of Lisfranc injuries. However, few studies have evaluated biomechanical effects of TMT arthrodesis. The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematics of joints adjacent to the midfoot during simulations of stance before and after sequential arthrodesis of the first, second, and third TMT joints.

Methods:

Ten midtibia cadaveric specimens were loaded on a 6-degree-of-freedom robotic gait simulator. Motion capture cameras were used to collect joint kinematics throughout simulations of the stance phase. Simulations were performed for the intact and sequential arthrodesis conditions of the first, second, and third TMT joints. The sagittal, coronal, and transverse plane rotational kinematics of the intact condition were compared to kinematics after each sequential arthrodesis condition.

Results:

Sequential arthrodesis of the first and second TMT joints had no significant effect on ankle, subtalar, talonavicular, and first metatarsophalangeal joint motion during simulated stance when compared to the intact condition. In contrast, inclusion of the third TMT joint into the sequential arthrodesis significantly increased subtalar inversion ( P = .032) in late stance and increased range of motion values in the ankle and subtalar joints by 2.1 degrees ( P = .009) and 2.8 degrees ( P = .014), respectively.

Conclusion:

Sequential primary arthrodesis induced changes to ankle and adjacent joint kinematics during stance phase simulations, although not until the third TMT joint was included into the primary arthrodesis. The significant changes to kinematics due to arthrodesis of the first, second, and third TMT joints were small.

Clinical Relevance:

The minimal changes in sagittal, coronal, and transverse plane rotational kinematics support the positive clinical outcomes reported in the literature for primary partial arthrodesis of Lisfranc injuries. The inclusion of the third TMT joint should be done judiciously.
Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Rani Indu , Agarwal Vivek , Arya Amit , Mahour Pooja
Published: October 2022

Objective:

The aim is to assess the sensory processing difficulties in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Methods:

In all, 38 ADHD children of the age group 6–14 years and 34 age- and gender-matched typically developing controls were included in the study. Sensory processing was assessed on Child Sensory Profile-2. The child behavior checklist and Weiss functional impairment rating scale were applied to assess behavioral problems and functional impairments, respectively.

Results:

A significantly higher sensory processing difficulties were seen in children with ADHD than typically developing controls. There were positive correlations between the scores of Child sensory profile 2 with internalizing (with Sensitivity p = .036, Avoiding p = .001, and Auditory p = .029) and externalizing T scores (with Seeking p = .031, Movement p = .025, and Visual p = .018) of CBCL and also with scores of Weiss functional impairment rating scale (with Seeking p = .001, Sensitivity p = .019, and Registration p = .045).

Conclusions:

Sensory problems were common in children with ADHD and add to the functional impairments.
The practice of arterial catheters in ICUs and nurses’ perceptions of infection prevention: A multicentre cross-sectional study
Authors: Yuan Cui , Wang Yi , Xiao Yanyan , Du Gui Fang
Published: October 2022

Background:

Peripheral arterial catheters (AC) are increasingly used in intensive care units (ICUs). Arterial catheter-related bloodstream infection is a serious complication that can increase patients’ morbidity and length of stay. Standardised infection prevention practices are important when using AC. However, the current practices regarding AC insertion, use and removal and the perceived infection prevention attitudes of nurses in ICUs are unknown.

Methods:

This was a multicentre cross-sectional study; 20 tertiary general hospitals were selected with a stratified random method in Beijing, China, using a self-reported internet survey.

Results:

A total of 981 valid questionnaires were collected. Overall, some infection prevention practices, such as AC insertion and disinfection of the blood sample hub, were generally consistent with clinical guidelines, whereas others were inconsistent: eye protection, skin antiseptic solution, dressing choice, blood sample collection and replacement of AC. More than 60% of participants mentioned occasionally or never having used eye protection. Only 6.0% of them stated using the chlorhexidine dressings. Among the participants, 80.6% reported that they replaced AC routinely rather than based on clinical indications, 64.2% self-rated that they did not routinely culture a catheter specimen after removal and 53.4% of participants positively agreed that AC could cause infection. Nurses with a higher education level were more likely to agree that an infection risk with AC exists (trend χ2 = 5.456, p = 0.019*).

Conclusions:

Significant heterogeneity exists across hospitals in China in terms of antiseptic techniques and perception of infection prevention during AC insertion, use and removal. Critical care nurses’ practices partially complied with guideline recommendations. Educational level was found to be a risk factor for their perceived infection prevention attitudes. Nurses with a lower education level underestimated the infection risk of AC. Future research may examine optimal preventive strategies for reducing infection.
Relationship Between Preoperative Nutritional Indices and Sarcopenia in Patients With Stage III Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Aoyama Takashi
Published: October 2022

We aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative nutritional indicators and sarcopenia in patients diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer for the first time. To this end, we evaluated the relationships of preoperative anthropometric and nutritional indices obtained by physical measurements and nutritional assessments with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measurements obtained using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. The participants were 135 patients (58 women; median age, 69 years). The anthropometric values obtained using an adipometer, and tape measure were evaluated in relation to the Japanese Anthropometric Reference Data (JARD 2001). The anthropometric values were associated with SMI and were highly sensitive to the sarcopenia reference cutoff values indicated by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019. Among the nutritional assessment tools, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index was associated with SMI. Thus, preoperative anthropometric values in stage III colorectal cancer patients were associated with measurements obtained using the BIA method and can be considered clinically significant.
This Free Life Campaign: Increasing Intention to Quit Among LGBTQ+ Young Adult Nondaily Smokers in Minneapolis
Authors: Beckerley Shiloh , Fernandez Priscilla , Matter Chris , Wagner Dana , Tate Brandon , Jordan Jeff
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

LGBTQ+ young adults smoke at disproportionately higher rates than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts, but prevention efforts are limited. Furthermore, prior to This Free Life ( TFL), no known campaigns target LGBTQ+ nondaily smokers. In this study Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota evaluated a local partnership extension of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products’ TFL campaign.

METHODS

The intervention featured a variety of LGBTQ+-tailored events, social/digital media, and out-of-home media placed in locations with a high density of LGBTQ+ young adults. Cross-sectional surveys (n = 1215) were collected from LGBTQ+ young adult (18-26) nondaily smokers at 4 time points between 2016 and 2019. The national TFL campaign was tracked in a separate evaluation conducted by the FDA.

RESULTS

43.0% of nondaily LGBTQ+ smokers reported awareness of the campaign (n = 522), and 63.4% of those also engaged with TFL (n = 330) . Engagement was highest for gay, lesbian and transgender participants, and for Asian and Black/African American participants. Each additional instance of campaign engagement increased participants’ odds of intending to quit smoking by 20% ( AOR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.36). The relationship between campaign engagement and intention to quit was fully mediated by the campaign’s impact on attitudes against smoking and perceived normative trends, but not by perceived behavioral control.

CONCLUSION

The local extension of TFL increased intentions to quit for LGBTQ+ nondaily smokers. Future research should further explore the relationship between perceived behavioral control and intentions to quit for nondaily smokers.
Getting Under the Skin Trade: Towards a Global Sociology of Skin-Lightening Practices
Authors: Garner Steve , Bibi Somia
Published: October 2022

Skin lightening cuts across multiple and intersecting areas of interest to sociologists. These include consumerism, capital, the body, femininities, masculinities, the power of the media in shaping people’s imaginations, constructions of beauty, and racialised and gendered social relations and representations, with the legacies of colonial pasts playing out in the present. Here, we set out some key themes, patterns, and frames observed in the multidisciplinary work published on skin lightening, and advocate for the addition of other frames for strategic reasons, which we argue in the second half of the article. Foucault’s technologies of self is recommended as a platform for critiquing individualism and the framing of choice; a political economy approach would help establish that skin lightening is a global business and grasp industry-wide patterns. Finally, a shift to looking at discourse and counter-discourse would reframe women as active agents in cultural resistance and change, and not just the relatively passive dupes of the colonial legacy. We thus map out a broad research agenda that would transform skin lightening into an object of broad, sustained sociological research.
Lost (and Found) in Translation – Queer ‘Wedding-Engagement’ Tactics in Poland
Authors: Stasińska Agata
Published: October 2022

In many Western countries, LGBTQ couples experience the ‘after marriage era’, allowing them to cherish their intimate bonds openly and legally. Meanwhile, Poland remains the biggest country in the European Union, refusing legal recognition. Some LGBTQ couples from Poland decide to get married or enter into a civil partnership abroad, which is not recognised by the Polish state. Many invent their own couple rituals to celebrate their relationships. The article critically engages with Western scholarship on queer weddings, commitment ceremonies, and couple rituals, mainly analysed through the polarised notions of subversion versus normativity. In contrast, the present article proposes to go beyond this dichotomy and apply a more tender and nuanced research approach. It maps a broader repertoire of naming, timing, and displaying tactics entangled in the local socio-political and cultural context where these couple rituals are developed. The article argues that these tactics are developed not only regardless of lack of legal recognition, but also that the socio-political context deeply influences how these rituals are shaped. It also demonstrates how notions of authenticity and agency transgress the dichotomy between subversion versus normativity often applied in analysing such rituals. The article concludes by sharing research implications and future paths for research on queer couple rituals. The article draws on 53 individual in-depth narrative interviews and a monthly ethnographic study conducted with 21 non-heterosexual families done within the Families of Choice in Poland research project.
Stay cable vibration mitigation: A review
Authors: Sun Limin , Chen Lin , Huang Hongwei
Published: October 2022

Stay cables in cable-stayed bridges are subjected to various types of dynamic excitation mechanisms under environmental loads. The excited vibrations can have a large amplitude because of low vibration frequencies and small inherent damping of cables. As cables become longer (the longest cables are around 600 m in cable-stayed bridges with a main span of 1000 m), more modes are vulnerable to wind and rain-wind induced vibrations, posing challenges to vibration mitigation. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in stay cable vibration mitigation, including theoretical modeling of cable damping system and techniques for enhancing multimode damping. Recent results on cable damping measurements, understanding of cable vibrations, and relevant aerodynamic countermeasures are also recalled. The reflections can provide guidance for cable vibration control design of cable-supported bridges and for the maintenance/upgrade of cable vibration mitigation system of existing bridges.
Enhanced piezoelectric performance of electrospun PVDF nanofibers by regulating the solvent systems
Authors: Zaarour Bilal , Liu Wanjun
Published: October 2022

In recreant years, the attention of researchers has been focused on enhancing the electrical outputs of energy harvesting devices. This study reports the generation and characterization of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber webs obtained from different solvents (Acetone (ACE), ACE: N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) /3:1, ACE: DMF/1:1, ACE: DMF/1:3, and DMF). These electrospun webs will be used as active layers for piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG). We found that fibers electrospun using DMF have the highest phase content (F(β)), while fibers electrospun using ACE have the lowest one. Furthermore, the results show that PENG based on fiber web electrospun using DMF has the highest electrical outputs, whereas, the lowest electrical outputs were for PENG based on fiber web electrospun using ACE. We believe this work can serve as a good reference for investigating the effect of solvent systems on diameters of fibers, crystalline phases, and piezoelectric properties.
Homolytic aromatic substitution of acyl radicals: Oxidative coupling of 2-methylquinolines with quinoxalines
Authors: Li Xue , Wu Xian Hao , Yu Jia Feng , Zhang Yuan Yuan , Hou Zhong Ke , Xie Yuan Yuan
Published: October 2022

Oxidative coupling of 2-methylquinolines with quinoxalines via a TBHP ( t-butyl hydroperoxide) and TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) mediated Minisci reaction affords quinolin-2-yl(quinoxalin-2-yl)methanone derivatives. This approach provides a simple and efficient method to construct various acyl derivatives in moderate to good yields (45%–92%) without any metal catalyst. Mechanistically, homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) of acyl radicals mediated by TBHP is crucial for the construction of the quinolin-2-yl(quinoxalin-2-yl)methanone products.
Emotional Feelings: Evaluative Perceptions or Position-Takings? Introduction to the Special Section
Authors: Reisenzein Rainer , Schmidt Philipp
Published: October 2022

This special section of Emotion Review is devoted to the discussion of a recent philosophical emotion theory, the theory of emotions as affective position-takings (Jean Moritz Müller, The World-Directedness of Emotional Feeling: On Affect and Intentionality, Palgrave MacMillan, 2019). The aims of the special section are to provide readers with a spotlight view of recent research in the philosophy of emotion, to advance emotion theory, and support the interdisciplinary dialogue. To increase the accessibility of the special section texts to a nonphilosophical readership, we first discuss the relationship between the philosophy and the psychology of emotions and give a brief review the main types of theories of emotional experience.
Multiparty work relationships across Europe: A comparative overview
Authors: Maran Emiliano , Chieregato Elisa
Published: October 2022

This article aims to contribute to the growing labour law discussion on Multiparty Work Relationships (MWRs), a term used to refer to temporary agency work, subcontracting, franchising and all other working arrangements in which the traditional bipartite structure is complicated by the presence of one or more intermediaries.

Based on a large-scale comparative study which involved the participation of national experts from 30 European countries, the article seeks to shed light on MWRs across Europe, developing a tripartite classification of the various types of MWRs that can be found across Europe. On the basis of this classification, it provides a comparative overview of the extent to which these relationships are regulated and captured by national and EU labour law, presenting some specific domestic reactions to the problems emerging from the proliferation of these contractual arrangements.
Smart retail at Algramo: Addressing environmental issues competitively
Authors: Ahmed Jashim Uddin , Sadrul Huda Syed SM , Uddin Mohammad Jasim , Ahmed Asma , Sharif Raihan
Published: October 2022

The retail sector constantly works hard to enhance consumer experience and maximize profit margins by improving operational effectiveness. The approach of smart technology in-store management, known as “smart retailing” works on this issue and helps increase positive customer experience. This case narrates the use of smart technology in Algramo—a start-up based in Chile, by getting information from secondary sources. It discusses the execution of the mission of Algramo to help everyone drastically alter their consumption patterns to ensure a prosperous future for both the current and following generations. This case portrays how Algramo is using this technology-led innovation to combat tax for the poor, revolutionize the way consumers spend, and mitigate climate change.
Small-Group Investigation of the True Goals Curriculum With Elementary and Middle School Students: A Randomized Control Study
Authors: Martin Ian , Choi Jihyeon , Zyromski Brett , Campos Larissa , Mansheim Selaina , Cunningham Patrick D. , Callahan Wendell
Published: October 2022

To explore the impact of the True Goals (TG) school counseling curriculum on important constructs related to school success for students, we conducted two studies: one with elementary and middle school students and the other with high school students. In this, the first of the two studies, 43 students in Grades 4 through 7 participated in the intervention delivered by two school counselor trainees, across two schools in one school district in the Southwest region of the United States. The study used a waitlist control design with a randomized assignment to intervention and control groups to assess the impact of the TG small-group intervention on (a) students’ goal-setting skills; (b) students’ academic self-regulation; and (c) teachers’ rating of students’ motivation, self-knowledge, self-direction, and relationships. Results indicated that students in the treatment group showed significantly higher scores in motivation, self-knowledge, self-direction, and relationship skills than students in the control group, with a large effect size. Please refer to the second study for information on the impact of TG on a high school population.
Past, Present and Future of FinTech Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Bajwa Ishtiaq Ahmad , Ur Rehman Shafiq , Iqbal Abid , Anwer Zaheer , Ashiq Murtaza , Khan Muhammad Ajmal
Published: October 2022

This study has conducted a meta-literature review examining the past, present and possible future trends of Fintech research using 360 selected articles published between 2006 and June 2020. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied. In the quantitative approach, a bibliometric citation analysis using HistCite and VOSviewer software was conducted and the qualitative analysis covered the identification of four main research streams related to (i) Bitcoin and digital currency, (ii) crowdfunding, (iii) mobile payment, and (iv) blockchain. The study results highlight the most influential aspects of the FinTech literature, such as the leading countries, institutions, journals, authors, and articles. Suggestions for the potential future direction of FinTech literature have also been made.
The Dynamic Financial Implications of the Community College Baccalaureate: An Institutional Exploration
Authors: Wright-Kim Jeremy
Published: October 2022

Using generalized difference-in-difference and synthetic control modeling, this study estimates the influence of the community-college baccalaureate (CCB) on institutional finance over time and by intensity. Leveraging data spanning 19 years (1999–2017), I find no impact on overall revenue but suggestive evidence of upfront costs and slight increases in total spending post-adoption. Coupled with increased enrollment, per-full-time-equivalent (FTE) revenue and spending decrease, on average, by approximately 12% and 6%, respectively. Adoption of an additional CCB is associated with a 3% decrease in revenue and a suggestive 2% reduction in spending per FTE. Additional robustness checks suggest that these impacts may vary by state. These results suggest that institutions should consider the trade-offs in broadening access to baccalaureate-level education with the associated strain on resources. Policymakers should consider how best to financially support adoptive institutions as they work to meet student and workforce needs. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
Tabulating Home Owners’ Loan Corporation area description sheet data
Authors: Markley Scott
Published: October 2022

In the late 1930s, an agency of the United States government called the “Home Owners’ Loan Corporation” (HOLC) graded thousands of urban neighborhoods on the perceived risk they posed to property owners. To make these determinations, HOLC field agents collected vast amounts of socioeconomic, demographic, and housing data about these places and presented their findings in an impressive set of maps. While these “redlining” maps have received considerable academic and media attention, the neighborhood-level race, housing, and socioeconomic data used to assign risk grades—available for most cities in their “area description” sheets—remain virtually unusable. Correcting this issue, I convert eight of the most consequential variables from 129 cities into an accessible and analyzable tabular format. These include the Black population percentage, “foreign-born” population percentage and group, family income, occupation class, average building age, home repair status, and mortgage availability. This data product will allow researchers to gain a more complete picture of the HOLC’s City Survey program, and it will provide a valuable new source of historical socio-demographic data at the neighborhood level.
Experiences of healthcare providers with eligible patients’ loss of decision-making capacity while awaiting medical assistance in dying
Authors: Variath Caroline , Peter Elizabeth , Cranley Lisa , Godkin Dianne
Published: October 2022

Background:

In Canada, under Bill C-14, patients who met all eligibility requirements were prevented from accessing medical assistance in dying (MAiD) following their loss of decision-making capacity while awaiting MAiD. The changes introduced with Bill C-7 continue to limit access to patients who did not enter a waiver of final consent agreement with their healthcare providers. Little is known about the experiences with patients’ loss of capacity to consent and subsequent ineligibility for MAiD. Understanding healthcare providers’ experiences has important implications for improving end-of-life care for those with capacity-limiting conditions.

Purpose:

To explore Canadian healthcare providers’ experiences with end-of-life of eligible patients who became ineligible for MAiD due to their loss of decision-making capacity to consent and the relational influences on their experiences prior to the implementation of Bill C-7 in Canada.

Method:

A critical qualitative methodology and a feminist ethics theoretical lens guided this study. A voice-centred relational approach that allowed an in-depth exploration of how power, relationality and moral agency influenced participants’ experiences was used for data analysis. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with 30 healthcare providers.

Findings:

The analysis resulted in the following four main themes and corresponding subthemes: (1) identifying factors that may result in ineligibility for MAiD due to capacity loss; (2) maintaining eligibility required to access MAiD; (3) preparing for an alternative end-of-life; (4) experiencing patients’ capacity loss.

Discussion:

This study highlights that while MAiD is legally available to eligible Canadians, access to MAiD and care for eligible patients who were unable to access MAiD due to their loss of decision-making varied based on the geographical locations and access to willing MAiD and end-of-life care providers. The availability of high-quality palliative care for patients throughout the MAiD process, including following the loss of capacity to consent and subsequent ineligibility, would improve the end-of-life experience for all those involved. The need to establish a systematic approach to prepare and care for patients and their families following the patients’ loss of capacity and subsequent ineligibility for MAiD is also identified.
Circ_0003570 Suppresses the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through miR-182-5p/STARD13 regulatory axis
Authors: Zhang Xu , Chen Wenwen , Guo Dan , Li Yarui , Zhao Yan , Ren Mudan , Lu Guifang , Lu Xinlan , He Shuixiang
Published: October 2022

Background

Emerging evidence have revealed that circRNAs exert important biological effects in the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer. Our study aimed to elaborated the biological effects of hsa-circ_0003570 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development at the molecular level.

Results

The results of functional experiments showed that knockdown of circ_0003570 induced HCC cell growth, migration and invasion, whereas overexpression of circ_0003570 presented the opposite effects. In vivo experiments, xenograft tumors grown from circ-overexpressed cells had smaller tumor volume and weight than the control group. Further investigations suggested that circ_0003570 may function as a competing endogenous RNA via competitively binding miR-182-5p and thereby regulating the repression of downstream target gene STARD13, which were demonstrated by dual luciferase reporter assay and functional rescued experiments.

Conclusions

Taken together, circ_0003570 suppresses the development of HCC by modulating miR-182-5p/STARD13 axis.
DENSEN: a convolutional neural network for estimating chronological ages from panoramic radiographs
Authors: Wang Xuedong , Liu Yanle , Miao Xinyao , Chen Yin , Cao Xiao , Zhang Yuchen , Li Shuaicheng , Zhou Qin
Published: October 2022

Background

Age estimation from panoramic radiographs is a fundamental task in forensic sciences. Previous age assessment studies mainly focused on juvenile rather than elderly populations (> 25 years old). Most proposed studies were statistical or scoring-based, requiring wet-lab experiments and professional skills, and suffering from low reliability.

Result

Based on Soft Stagewise Regression Network (SSR-Net), we developed DENSEN to estimate the chronological age for both juvenile and older adults, based on their orthopantomograms (OPTs, also known as orthopantomographs, pantomograms, or panoramic radiographs). We collected 1903 clinical panoramic radiographs of individuals between 3 and 85 years old to train and validate the model. We evaluated the model by the mean absolute error (MAE) between the estimated age and ground truth. For different age groups, 3–11 (children), 12–18 (teens), 19–25 (young adults), and 25+ (adults), DENSEN produced MAEs as 0.6885, 0.7615, 1.3502, and 2.8770, respectively. Our results imply that the model works in situations where genders are unknown. Moreover, DENSEN has lower errors for the adult group (> 25 years) than other methods. The proposed model is memory compact, consuming about 1.0 MB of memory overhead.

Conclusions

We introduced a novel deep learning approach DENSEN to estimate a subject’s age from a panoramic radiograph for the first time. Our approach required less laboratory work compared with existing methods. The package we developed is an open-source tool and applies to all different age groups.