bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child‐to‐Parent Violence: Examining the Frequency and Reasons in Spanish Youth
Authors: Cano‐Lozano M. Carmen , León Samuel P. , Contreras Lourdes
Published: June 2021

Objective

The structure, reliability, and validity of the Child‐to‐Parent Violence Questionnaire (CPV‐Q) for youth is analyzed. Additionally, the frequency of child‐to‐parent violence and the reasons for carrying it out are analyzed.

Background

Child violence toward parents is a type of violence that has recently garnered great social and scientific interest. The frequency rates found vary considerably (psychological violence between 8.5% and 27% and physical violence between 1.8% and 6.1%), in part due to the type of assessment instruments used.

Method

A total of 1,543 young Spanish people between 18 and 25 years of age (50.2% male; Mage = 19.2 years; SD = 1.9) participated in this study and reported on the frequency of violent behavior toward parents when they were 12 and 17 years old.

Results

The results confirm a factorial structure of the CPV‐Q, with four factors: psychological, physical, financial, and control/domain. The reasons for child‐to‐parent violence were grouped into instrumental and reactive.

Conclusions

The CPV‐Q for young people presents adequate psychometric properties. The high frequency rates of child‐to‐parent violence justify the need to continue advancing the study of this phenomenon.

Implications

The CPV‐Q is a useful instrument for assessing child‐to‐parent violence for both research and professional practice. It allows evaluating the frequency of a wide range of violent behaviors and the underlying reasons motivating this type of violence, which is of great help for interventions.
Protocol Design and Implementation for Monitoring Parental Substance Use in Child Custody Litigation
Authors: Weiss Carol J.
Published: June 2021

In child custody litigation, protecting child safety during access with a parent with substance use disorder (SUD) presents a vexing challenge for the court, parents, and parents’ counsel. Standardization of monitoring protocols for this population is lacking. Monitoring protocols utilized in clinical settings and child welfare agencies are not necessarily applicable to child custody litigation. This article is the first of its kind to initiate standardization of monitoring protocols for parental substance use in child custody litigation. This article also proposes the inclusion of, and rationale for, a neutral evaluator and a separate neutral monitor to oversee the monitoring protocol. Topics that inform the practical aspects of protocol design and implementation, such as relapse risk, monitoring duration, treatment recommendations, mandated treatment, mutual help groups, and confidentiality, are described. Family courts and matrimonial counsel benefit from an understanding of the rationale for the evaluation, treatment, and monitoring of parental substance use disorders by individuals with expertise and/or certification in substance use disorders and forensic toxicology.
Ripley’s K‐function for Network‐Constrained Flow Data
Authors: Kan Zihan , Kwan Mei‐Po , Tang Luliang
Published: June 2021

Many types of spatial flows, including pedestrian flows and vehicle flows, are constrained by and distribute on spatial networks. In the literature, network‐constrained flows are usually modeled as a direct line in planar space using methods designed for flows in planar space. Further, in spatial statistical analysis of flow patterns, distance measures and the hypothesis of spatial randomness of flows also have a significant impact on the determination of flow patterns. In this study, we extend the global and local Ripley’s K functions for planar flows to network space. Both the network and planar K‐functions for flows are applied to detect the patterns of taxi Origin‐Destination flow data on a road network at multiple scales. The effect of distance measures and simulation methods in the network and planar Ripley’s K functions are examined. We found that the planar K function is more sensitive to the changes in scale and tends to detect more clustered flows compared with the network K function at the same scale. Distance measures and simulation methods have a more significant influence on the detection of patterns of network‐constrained flows than the selection of the network or planar Ripley’s K functions. This study suggests that distance measures and hypotheses of spatial randomness have to be chosen carefully before applying flow pattern analytic methods to network‐constrained flows and interpreting the results of flow patterns.
Is there a nonlinear economic threshold effect of financial development on the efficiency of sci‐tech innovation? An empirical test from the Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Yan Xiang , Huang Yongchun
Published: June 2021

As the core element of technological innovation, financial resources can play the role of financial support, risk sharing, service guidance, and other aspects, thereby enhancing the efficiency of sci‐tech innovation (STIE). Whether there is a complex nonlinear economic threshold effect of financial development (FD) on STIE in different regional context is worth further discussion. This paper selects the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) of China as the research object, based on the panel data of 110 cities, uses the Hansen threshold model to test the nonlinear “economic threshold effect” of FD on STIE. The results show that under different development scenarios in different regions, FD has a nonlinear “economic threshold effect” on STIE. This study extends the research sample to the cities of river basin, and elucidating the importance of regional context to the nonlinear “economic threshold effect” of FD on STIE further proposes that the sole focus of promoting the quantity of technology innovation by taking advantage of FD do not guarantee a positive effect on the development of STIE. Instead, the diverse, multiple financial policy instruments and stimulating the driving force of FD should be adopted towards the improvement of STIE in a phased and context specific manner.
Local embeddedness and training intensity: The mobility constraints perspective
Authors: Piasecki Przemysław
Published: June 2021

The aim of this article is to analyse the relationship between a company's local embeddedness and training intensity. It is argued that local embeddedness might influence training through several mechanisms, which eventually should lead to a higher level of training intensity. In order to verify this hypothesis, several two‐level ordered logit models were analysed on the basis of data gathered from employees working in Polish cooperative banks (N = 1707). Results confirm a positive correlation between local embeddedness and training intensity (measured by the number of training events and the number of training days). Next, it was verified to what extent this relationship might be attributed to the employees’ mobility constraints. To reach this goal, the level of education was employed as a moderator in a company's local embeddedness and training intensity relationship. The interaction analysis revealed that for lower thresholds (lower intensity of training) the positive correlation between local embeddedness and training intensity occurred only for employees with higher education. Since the employees with a higher level of education are generally perceived as those who receive more training, but are also more willing to change the employer, this result suggests the occurrence of a mobility constraints mechanism of local embeddedness.
Experimentally induced flight costs do not lead to increased reliance on supplemental food in winter by a small songbird
Authors: Lajoie Janel L. , Ganio Lisa M. , Rivers James W.
Published: June 2021

Each year hundreds of millions of people intentionally feed wild animals throughout the world. For decades, concerns have persisted regarding the potential for intentional feeding to promote dependency on human‐supplemented food, particularly during energetically demanding periods of the annual cycle. In this study, we evaluated whether individuals subjected to experimentally increased flight costs responded by increasing their use of supplemental feeders in a wild, free‐ranging population of the black‐capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus. We subjected 67 RFID‐tagged chickadees to one of three handicapping treatments (heavy feather‐clipping, light feather‐clipping or unclipped controls) and then evaluated feeder use of each individual relative to their pre‐treatment level. Contrary to predictions, we found that chickadees in both feather‐clipping treatments exhibited a short‐term reduction in feeder use, returning to feeding levels of unmanipulated controls within approximately two weeks of treatment implementation. Similarly, experimental feather‐clipping treatments had little influence on changes in the number of feeders used or on the timing of feeder visits across the daily cycle, relative to controls. Our results indicate that experimental handicapping of chickadees led to relatively minor and transient changes in the use of supplemental food with no evidence that handicapped individuals increased their reliance on supplemental bird feeders. These findings suggest that recreational bird feeding is unlikely to lead to feeder dependency in small songbirds during winter, although additional research on this topic should be a priority given the global footprint of intentional feeding of wildlife.
Sirtuin 3 deficiency aggravates angiotensin II‐induced hypertensive cardiac injury by the impairment of lymphangiogenesis
Authors: Zhang Chen , Li Na , Suo Mengying , Zhang Chunmei , Liu Jing , Liu Lingxin , Qi Yan , Zheng Xuehui , Xie Lin , Hu Yang , Bu Peili
Published: June 2021

Lymphangiogenesis is possibly capable of attenuating hypertension‐induced cardiac injury. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is an effective mitochondrial deacetylase that has the potential to modulate this process; however, its role in hypertension‐induced cardiac lymphangiogenesis to date has not been investigated. Our experiments were performed on 8‐week‐old wild‐type (WT), SIRT3 knockout (SIRT3‐KO) and SIRT3 overexpression (SIRT3‐LV) mice infused with angiotensin II (Ang II) (1000 ng/kg per minute) or saline for 28 days. After Ang II infusion, SIRT3‐KO mice developed a more severe cardiac remodelling, less lymphatic capillaries and lower expression of lymphatic marker when compared to wild‐type mice. In comparison, SIRT3‐LV restored lymphangiogenesis and attenuated cardiac injury. Furthermore, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) exposed to Ang II in vitro exhibited decreased migration and proliferation. Silencing SIRT3 induced functional decrease in LECs, while SIRT3 overexpression LECs facilitated. Moreover, SIRT3 may up‐regulate lymphangiogenesis by affecting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) and ERK pathway. These findings suggest that SIRT3 could promote lymphangiogenesis and attenuate hypertensive cardiac injury.
Pathways from maternal shyness to adolescent social anxiety
Authors: Zeytinoglu Selin , Neuman Keara J. , Degnan Kathryn A. , Almas Alisa N. , Henderson Heather , Chronis‐Tuscano Andrea , Pine Daniel S. , Fox Nathan A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Social anxiety is amongst the most prevalent adolescent mental health problems; however, it is often unrecognized due to its comorbidity with other anxiety problems such as generalized anxiety. Thus, understanding the unique developmental pathways to social anxiety is critical for improving its prevention. We examined the pathway from maternal shyness, when children were 4 years old, to adolescents’ social anxiety at age 15 through social wariness at age 7. We hypothesized that childhood social wariness would mediate the association between maternal shyness and social anxiety in adolescence.

Methods

Participants (N = 291; 54% female) were followed from early childhood to adolescence. Mothers reported on their own shyness when children were 4 years old. Social wariness toward unfamiliar peers was observed in the laboratory at ages 4 and 7. Adolescent social anxiety and generalized anxiety were assessed via self‐report, parent‐report, and clinical diagnoses at age 15.

Results

Maternal shyness was positively associated with adolescent social anxiety but not generalized anxiety at age 15. Higher levels of maternal shyness at age 4 predicted greater social wariness at age 7, which in turn predicted greater social anxiety but not generalized anxiety at age 15. Social wariness at age 7 partially mediated the association between maternal shyness and adolescent social anxiety.

Conclusions

This study identifies a unique developmental pathway from maternal shyness to adolescent social anxiety. Findings suggest that childhood social wariness connects maternal shyness to adolescent social anxiety.
Effect of post‐processing treatments on the quality of three‐dimensional printed rice starch constructs
Authors: Theagarajan Radhika , Nimbkar Shubham , Moses Jeyan Arthur , Anandharamakrishnan Chinnaswamy
Published: June 2021

This study evaluated the effect of post‐processing techniques such as blanching, steaming, roasting, microwaving, shallow, and deep‐frying on the quality of three‐dimensional (3D) printed rice starch constructs. To explain this, post‐processed samples were subsequently analyzed for physico‐mechanical properties, microscopic structure, cooking loss, and sensory attributes. The impact of post‐processing was significantly evident (p ≤ .05), also explaining significant differences in the sensorial quality of 3D‐printed constructs. Overall, deep‐fried constructs exhibited the best characteristics, with the least cooking loss (0.73 ± 0.02%), increased hardness (1,708.59 ± 0.05 g), and comparatively better shape stability, followed by steaming, shallow‐frying, and roasting. Besides, the principal component analysis revealed that factors such as thread quality, dimensional stability, and overall acceptability justify deep‐frying as the most suitable post‐processing method for rice‐based 3D‐printed constructs. This study provides insights into the choice of post‐processing treatments for 3D‐printed foods, particularly applicable to rice starch‐based products.

Practical Applications

In the context of three‐dimensional (3D) food printing, printability is not the sole criteria determining the quality of the product. Structural stability and consumer acceptance are significantly influenced by the post‐processing methods. The present work focuses on this aspect and provides insights into the effect of post‐processing methods on stability and sensory acceptance.

Post‐processing methods and conditions also relate to the development of “novel food products” using 3D printing technology.

The findings of this study provide information on explaining the most suitable post‐processing technique for rice‐based 3D‐printed products.
Risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver‐related events using ultrasonography and transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Yoo Sung Hwan , Lim Tae Seop , Lee Hyun Woong , Kim Ja Kyung , Lee Jae Seung , Lee Hye Won , Kim Beom Kyung , Park Jun Yong , Kim Do Young , Ahn Sang Hoon , Lee Jung Il , Lee Kwan Sik , Kim Seung Up
Published: June 2021

Cirrhosis has prognostic value. We investigated whether the combined use of ultrasonography (US) and transient elastography (TE) to diagnose cirrhosis is beneficial for the risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver‐related events in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 9300 patients with CHB who underwent US and TE in two institutions between 2006 and 2018 were enrolled. TE value ≥13 kPa was set to indicate cirrhosis. Patients were divided into four groups: US(+)TE(+) (cirrhosis by US and TE), US(+)TE(−) (cirrhosis by US, but not by TE), US(−)TE(+) (cirrhosis by TE, but not by US) and US(−)TE(−) (non‐cirrhosis by US and TE).The patients were predominantly male (n = 5474, 58.9%) with a mean age of 47.5 years. The proportions of patients with cirrhosis diagnosed by US and TE were 17.2% (n = 1595) and 13.2% (n = 1225), respectively. The proportion of patients with discordant results in diagnosing cirrhosis by US and TE was 18.7% (n = 1740). During follow‐up (median: 60.0 months), HCC and liver‐related events developed in 481 (5.2%) and 759 (8.2%) patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of HCC and liver‐related events were highest in the US(+)TE(+) group, intermediate‐high in the US(−)TE(+) group, intermediate‐low in the US(+)TE(−) group and lowest in the US(−)TE(−) group (overall p < .001). Cirrhosis assessed using US and TE was a major predictor of HCC and liver‐related event development in patients with CHB. Cirrhosis assessed using TE seemed better in predicting HCC or liver‐related events than using US, when cirrhosis diagnosis was discordant by US and TE.
Human activity strongly influences genetic dynamics of the most widespread invasive plant in the sub‐Antarctic
Authors: Mairal Mario , Chown Steven L. , Shaw Justine , Chala Desalegn , Chau John H. , Hui Cang , Kalwij Jesse M. , Münzbergová Zuzana , Jansen van Vuuren Bettine , Le Roux Johannes J.
Published: June 2021

The link between the successful establishment of alien species and propagule pressure is well‐documented. Less known is how humans influence the post‐introduction dynamics of invasive alien populations. The latter requires studying parallel invasions by the same species in habitats that are differently impacted by humans. We analysed microsatellite and genome size variation, and then compared the genetic diversity and structure of invasive Poa annua L. on two sub‐Antarctic islands: human‐occupied Marion Island and unoccupied Prince Edward Island. We also carried out niche modelling to map the potential distribution of the species on both islands. We found high levels of genetic diversity and evidence for extensive admixture between genetically distinct lineages of P. annua on Marion Island. By contrast, the Prince Edward Island populations showed low genetic diversity, no apparent admixture, and had smaller genomes. On both islands, high genetic diversity was apparent at human landing sites, and on Marion Island, also around human settlements, suggesting that these areas received multiple introductions and/or acted as initial introduction sites and secondary sources (bridgeheads) for invasive populations. More than 70 years of continuous human activity associated with a meteorological station on Marion Island led to a distribution of this species around human settlements and along footpaths, which facilitates ongoing gene flow among geographically separated populations. By contrast, this was not the case for Prince Edward Island, where P. annua populations showed high genetic structure. The high levels of genetic variation and admixture in P. annua facilitated by human activity, coupled with high habitat suitability on both islands, suggest that P. annua is likely to increase its distribution and abundance in the future.
Regions of genetic divergence in depth‐separated Sebastes rockfish species pairs: Depth as a potential driver of speciation
Authors: Behrens Kristen A. , Girasek Quinn L. , Sickler Alex , Hyde John , Buonaccorsi Vincent P.
Published: June 2021

Depth separation is a proposed driver of speciation in marine fishes, with marine rockfish (genus Sebastes) providing a potentially informative study system. Sebastes rockfishes are commercially and ecologically important. This genus encompasses more than one hundred species and the ecological and morphological variance between these species provides opportunity for identifying speciation‐driving adaptations, particularly along a depth gradient. A reduced‐representation sequencing method (ddRADseq) was used to compare 95 individuals encompassing six Sebastes species. In this study, we sought to identify regions of divergence between species that were indicative of divergent adaptation and reproductive barriers leading to speciation. A pairwise comparison of S. chrysomelas (black‐and‐yellow rockfish) and S. carnatus (gopher rockfish) FST values revealed three major regions of elevated genomic divergence, two of which were also present in the S. miniatus (vermilion rockfish) and S. crocotulus (sunset rockfish) comparison. These corresponded with regions of both elevated DXY values and reduced nucleotide diversity in two cases, suggesting a speciation‐with‐gene‐flow evolutionary model followed by post‐speciation selective sweeps within each species. Limited whole‐genome resequencing was also performed to identify mutations with predicted effects between S. chrysomelas and S. carnatus. Within these islands, we identified important SNPs in genes involved in immune function and vision. This supports their potential role in speciation, as these are adaptive vectors noted in other organisms. Additionally, changes to genes involved in pigment expression and mate recognition shed light on how S. chrysomelas and S. carnatus may have become reproductively isolated.
Pleistocene origins, western ghost lineages, and the emerging phylogeographic history of the red wolf and coyote
Authors: Sacks Benjamin N. , Mitchell Kieren J. , Quinn Cate B. , Hennelly Lauren M. , Sinding Mikkel‐Holger S. , Statham Mark J. , Preckler‐Quisquater Sophie , Fain Steven R. , Kistler Logan , Vanderzwan Stevi L. , Meachen Julie A. , Ostrander Elaine A. , Frantz Laurent A. F.
Published: June 2021

The red wolf (Canis rufus) of the eastern US was driven to near‐extinction by colonial‐era persecution and habitat conversion, which facilitated coyote (C. latrans) range expansion and widespread hybridization with red wolves. The observation of some grey wolf (C. lupus) ancestry within red wolves sparked controversy over whether it was historically a subspecies of grey wolf with its predominant “coyote‐like” ancestry obtained from post‐colonial coyote hybridization (2‐species hypothesis) versus a distinct species closely related to the coyote that hybridized with grey wolf (3‐species hypothesis). We analysed mitogenomes sourced from before the 20th century bottleneck and coyote invasion, along with hundreds of modern amplicons, which led us to reject the 2‐species model and to investigate a broader phylogeographic 3‐species model suggested by the fossil record. Our findings broadly support this model, in which red wolves ranged the width of the American continent prior to arrival of the grey wolf to the mid‐continent 60–80 ka; red wolves subsequently disappeared from the mid‐continent, relegated to California and the eastern forests, which ushered in emergence of the coyote in their place (50–30 ka); by the early Holocene (12–10 ka), coyotes had expanded into California, where they admixed with and phenotypically replaced western red wolves in a process analogous to the 20th century coyote invasion of the eastern forests. Findings indicate that the red wolf pre‐dated not only European colonization but human, and possibly coyote, presence in North America. These findings highlight the urgency of expanding conservation efforts for the red wolf.
A novel receptor for platelet‐activating factor and lysophosphatidylcholine in Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Coelho Felipe S. , Oliveira Mauricio M. , Vieira Danielle P. , Torres Pedro H. M. , Moreira Isabel C. F. , Martins‐Duarte Erica S. , Gonçalves Inês C. , Cabanelas Adriana , Pascutti Pedro G. , Fragoso Stenio P. , Lopes Angela H.
Published: June 2021

The lipid mediators, platelet‐activating factor (PAF) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), play relevant pathophysiological roles in Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Several species of LPC, including C18:1 LPC, which mimics the effects of PAF, are synthesized by T. cruzi. The present study identified a receptor in T. cruzi, which was predicted to bind to PAF, and found it to be homologous to members of the progestin and adiponectin family of receptors (PAQRs). We constructed a three‐dimensional model of the T. cruzi PAQR (TcPAQR) and performed molecular docking to predict the interactions of the TcPAQR model with C16:0 PAF and C18:1 LPC. We knocked out T. cruzi PAQR (TcPAQR) gene and confirmed the identity of the expressed protein through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays using an anti‐human PAQR antibody. Wild‐type and knockout (KO) parasites were also used to investigate the in vitro cell differentiation and interactions with peritoneal mouse macrophages; TcPAQR KO parasites were unable to react to C16:0 PAF or C18:1 LPC. Our data are highly suggestive that PAF and LPC act through TcPAQR in T. cruzi, triggering its cellular differentiation and ability to infect macrophages.
Helvellosebacina granulata sp. nov. (Basidiomycota: Sebacinaceae) from the East Black Sea Region of Turkey
Authors: Sesli Ertugrul
Published: June 2021

Helvellosebacina granulata, collected from the Euro‐Siberian phytogeographical region by the eastern Black Sea in Turkey but most probably also present in Estonia, is described as a species new to science based on both morphological and rDNA data. The new species is well distinguished from similar taxa by typically granular, tough, smooth, whitish to beige basidiomata, elliptical to cylindrical or allantoid basidiospores and elliptical to subglobose or pyriform, longitudinally septate hypobasidia. Several DNA sequences originating from unidentified Estonian material but almost identical or closely similar to those of the type of Helvellosebacina granulata were found in databases, suggesting a wider distribution of the species. The species was found in mixed deciduous forest but is presumed to form mycorrhiza with Carpinus spp. The presence of the genus Helvellosebacina in Turkey is herby revealed for the first time in this study. A full description of the new species is provided with field photos of holotype and paratype collections, micromorphological illustrations, a phylogenetic reconstruction and a short discussion.
A prospective examination of COVID‐19‐related social distancing practices on suicidal ideation
Authors: Ammerman Brooke A. , Burke Taylor A. , McClure Kenneth , Jacobucci Ross , Liu Richard T.
Published: June 2021

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic has spurred the implementation of several public safety measures to contain virus spread, most notably socially distancing policies. Prior research has linked similar public safety measures (i.e., quarantine) with suicide risk, in addition to supporting the role of social connection in suicidal thoughts and behaviors; consequently, there is a need to better understand the relationship between widespread social distancing policies and suicide risk. The current study aimed to examine the prospective association between COVID‐19‐related social distancing practices and suicidal ideation.

Methods

Participants (N = 472) completed measures of suicidal ideation and impacts of social distancing practices at baseline and two weeks later.

Results

After controlling for general psychosocial distress (i.e., depression, social connectedness), cross‐lagged regression models identified prospective, bidirectional relationships between perceived impacts of social distancing on one's mental health and both passive and active suicidal ideation. The impact of social distancing on work/social routine was not associated with suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

Overall, findings suggest the importance of an individual's perception regarding the effect of social distancing on their mental health, rather than the disruption to work or social routine, in suicide risk. Findings highlight potential targets for suicide risk prevention and intervention.
Zamucoan Person Marking as a Perturbed System*
Authors: Bertinetto Pier Marco
Published: June 2021

This paper analyzes the Zamucoan system of Person markers: personal pronouns, verbal and possessive inflection. Comparing the three documented languages (Ayoreo and Chamacoco, currently spoken, and extinct Old Zamuco), one can reconstruct for a very ancient stage of this language family an agglutinating structure for both personal pronouns and verbal inflection, with Person and Number dealt with by, respectively, prefixes and suffixes. However, possessive inflection could not be accommodated within this system, since the noun suffix can only expresspossessumNumber, while possessor Number has to be expressed by a dedicated prefix. This structural conflict forced the Zamucoan languages to attempt various solutions, departing from the original agglutinating logic.
Treatment outcomes of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in lung transplant recipients
Authors: Hirama Takashi , Singer Lianne G. , Brode Sarah K. , Marras Theodore K. , Husain Shahid
Published: June 2021

Background

Lung transplant (LTX) recipients are at risk miscellaneous infections, among whom the clinical significance of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasingly recognized. Despite anti‐mycobacterial therapy becoming standardized worldwide, there is a lack of data on treatment outcomes in LTX recipients who develop NTM‐pulmonary disease (PD). We aimed to review the treatment outcomes of NTM‐PD among LTX recipients in our center.

Methods

Patients who underwent LTX from January 2013 to December 2014 were consecutively enrolled in the retrospective cohort, with follow‐up of data retrieved to December 2017. Clinical and radiological improvement and culture conversion after anti‐mycobacterial therapy were reviewed in those who developed post‐transplant NTM‐PD.

Results

Sixteen of 230 LTX recipients developed post‐transplant NTM‐PD. Ten of 16 patients with post‐transplant NTM‐PD were treated with macrolide‐containing anti‐mycobacterial therapy, leading to clinical improvement in 5/10 (50%), radiological improvement in 5/10 (50%) and culture conversion in 6/10 (60%) patients.

Conclusion

Anti‐mycobacterial therapy may relieve pulmonary symptoms and reduce microbial load among individuals with post‐transplant NTM‐PD.
Investigating Dispute and its Effect on Real Estate Transactions: Evidence from Traditional Urban City in Nigeria
Authors: Ayodele Olukolajo Michael , Benjamin Oluleye Ifeoluwa , Kolawole Oyetunji Abiodun
Published: June 2021

Clash of interest seems to be unavoidable in real estate matters. This could be due to the market’s complexity and the heterogeneous participants involved. The study examined the causes of dispute and its implication on real estate transactions in Akure (a traditional urban city), Nigeria. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to the target respondents, which comprise disputant residents and Estate Surveyors, and Valuers. The results were analyzed with mean item score and agreement analysis. Findings are that multiple allocations of land and boundary conflicts are the significant factors causing disputes within the study area. It was also discovered that development delay and market interruptions are the substantial implication in the disputes arising from real estate transactions. The study recommends that the concerned authority on land matters should ensure proper land record-keeping. This will help put to check the problem of multiple land allocations. Also, the appropriate land boundary mapping should be done to mitigate issues arising from boundary conflicts.
Exploring Measures for Improving Small and Medium Construction Enterprises’ (SMCEs) Participation in the Nigerian Public Procurement
Authors: A. Ahmadu Hassan , Madugu Abdullahi Abdulrasheed , M. Badmos Abdulkareem , Abdullahi Muhammad
Published: June 2021

Despite the roles which small and medium construction enterprises (SMCEs) play in the Nigeria construction industry and the economy at large, extant research revealed that their participation in public procurement is poor as large firms have dominated the public procurement market. Previous studies have identified barriers responsible for their low participation and also suggested improvement measures. However, improvement measures best suited to dismantle/mitigate each barrier is not known. This study thus, assessed measures for improving SMCEs’ participation in Nigeria public procurement. The study collected data from 100 SMCEs in Nigeria, via a questionnaire survey. Mean/relative importance index was used for ranking the measures and ANOVA for checking difference between the studied measures. The result of the study revealed that E-procurement is the best measure for improving SMCEs’ participation in public procurement as it is best in dismantling barriers related to “problematic procurement procedure”, “lack of awareness of public procurement” and “legal issues/corruption”. Training which is suitable for eliminating barriers related to “lack of skilled employees and partners”, emerged as the second best followed by Division of Contract into lots that is best suitable for tackling barriers related to “lack of resources” which is contrary to previous researchers’ belief that it is the best measure. The study concludes that E-procurement, training and division of contract into lots are all suitable measures for improving SMCEs’ participation in Nigeria public procurement in their other of priority. The study’s findings show that it is desirous that the measures are applied together as none of these measures is singularly sufficient in dismantling all barriers to SMCEs’ participation in public procurement.
New Working Practices: A Scientometric Review
Authors: Timo Oladinrin Olugbenga , Mesthrige Jayantha Wadu , Moses Tochukwu
Published: June 2021

Study on New Working Practices (NWPs), which is the subject of this review paper, has created a large body of literature. Studies in this research area are progressing quickly, and it is important to stay abreast of new trends and essential factors in the growth of mutual awareness. This study evaluates the global scientific output of New Working Practices (NWPs) research and explores their hotspots and frontiers from 1980 to 2018 (pre-COVID-19), using bibliometric methods. 850 relevant articles were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and analysed. Scientometric method and Citespace VI were used to analyse the bibliometric data. Reference citation and cocitation networks were plotted, while keywords were used to analyse the research hotspots and trends. There is a significant increase in the number of annual publications with time. The United Kingdom (UK) ranked highest in the countries with most publications, and the leading author is Friedhelm Nachreiner based on publication counts. The most cited author/organisation is the UK Department of Health. Performance, work, and flexible working are the research hotspots, while flexible working arrangement represents the prominent research domain. The study offers valuable references for researchers, industry practitioners and policymakers.
Awareness and Usage of Mobile Technology in Real Estate Practice in Developing Countries: The Case of Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Adepeju Akeju Modinat , Thompson Olapade Daramola , Olugbenga Babatunde Theophilus
Published: June 2021

Mobile technology offers the opportunity for accurate, timely and quality service delivery; however, its adoption in real estate is limited. This study assessed the awareness and utilisation of mobile technology among real estate firms in Ikeja Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. This is with a view to provide information that is capable of increasing the awareness level and promoting the usage of mobile technology in real estate practice. Questionnaire were administered on 78 estate surveying and valuation (ESV) firms in the study area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The result indicated that the level of awareness of ESV firms to mobile technology in real estate was somewhat high (mean=3.77 on a scale of 5) but its adoption was limited to few mobile applications such as social media apps, email, Google Earth and Google Map while others such as Sitegeist, Vert and Argus Valuation have not gained popularity among the ESV firms. The low level of adoption of mobile technology might negatively impact the service delivery of real estate firms in the future where such technology will become indispensable.
Evaluation of Year 6 KSSR English (SK) Textbook: Teachers’ Perspectives
Authors: Kalyany Ponnusamy Nithya , C Sandaran Shanti , Hashim Nur-al Huda , Gunasegaran Iswaran
Published: June 2021

Textbook evaluation is the process for ensuring that the right textbook is selected for use in the teaching and learning scenario. During educational reforms, such as the adoption of the Common European Framework of Reference for the ELT scenario, textbook evaluation should be a crucial part of the textbook selection process. In Malaysia, with the adoption of CEFR, new books such as the Super Minds and Get Smart, which are imported textbooks, have replaced locally produced books. The Year 6 KSSR (SK) English textbook is currently still in use but would be phased out in the near future as part of the CEFR reform. Since the introduction of the ‘global’ textbooks, there have been mixed concerns amongst teachers and researchers about the suitability of the imported textbooks. This study investigated the effectiveness and suitability of the currently-in-use KSSR Year 6 English (SK) textbook, which was locally produced. It looked at the perceptions of teachers on the general attributes of the textbook, such as syllabus and curriculum, the methodology, the book’s suitability to learners, as well as the learning-teaching content such as skills, grammar, vocabulary, exercises, and pronunciation, etc. Adopting a mixed method design, Nimehchisalem & Mukundan’s (2015) revised textbook evaluation checklist was used as the instrument for the quantitiative part, where twenty, Year 6 English teachers, from three primary schools in the Kulai district (in Johor) evaluated the textbook. For the qualitative part, five teachers were involved in semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that the teachers perceived the Year 6 KSSR English SK Textbook that is currently used in primary (SK) schools, as highly useful for the learners, in terms of both the general attributes as well as learning-teaching content. Our findings highlight that locally produced textbooks are better suited for our learners, and if imported ‘global’ textbooks replace the local ones, they should first be customized (custom textbooks) that would be infused with local cultures, etc, to be better suited to local learner needs.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Young James
Published: June 2021

International Journal of Social Science Studies (IJSSS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJSSS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 9, Number 4Ahmet Yıkmış, Abant Izzet Baysal Univeersity, TurkeyAntónio Calha, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, PortugalBishnu Prasad Dahal, Tribhuvan University, NepalHao Liu, Beijing Normal University , ChinaIvan Lenard, Elementary school Ladimirevci, CroatiaJihyoung Kim, Pyeongtaek University, South KoreaMd. Nasir Uddin, Prime Minister’s Office, BangladeshMei-Ling Lin, National Open University, TaiwanRima Meilita Sari, STKIP Al-Washliyah, IndonesiaRonaldo R. Larioque, NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Philippines   James YoungEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of International Journal of Social Science StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://ijsss.redfame.com
Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy compared with other conventional therapies on wound healing and pain reduction in patients with median sternotomy: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Murugan Mahendiran , Regan Raja , Arumugam Ashokan
Published: June 2021

Objective:

The objective of this review is to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy, used alone or in combination with conventional therapies, on wound healing and pain reduction in patients with median sternotomy.

Introduction:

In the previous two decades, the incidence of postsurgical complications following median sternotomy has remained reasonably unchanged. Owing to the shortcomings of conventional therapies in wound healing, alternative solutions are sought. Photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy has become a preferred therapy for augmenting tissue repair and stimulating immediate analgesia by releasing local neurotransmitters and endorphins, or through anti-inflammatory effects.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will include only randomized controlled trials that studied the effects of low-level laser therapy used as a monotherapy or in combination with other conventional therapies in promoting wound healing and reducing pain in adult patients with median sternotomy. Comparators may include other forms of photobiomodulation therapy/phototherapy, other conventional therapies, control, or placebo/sham interventions.

Methods:

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (EBSCO), AMED (EBSCO), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Scopus will be searched from database inception to the present date. Two reviewers will independently screen, extract data, and examine methodological quality of the eligible studies using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for randomized controlled trials. A meta-analysis will be done if adequate data with homogeneous population, interventions, and outcomes are available. The overall level of evidence will be synthesized using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42020203011.
Young black women demonstrate impaired microvascular but preserved macrovascular function compared to white women
Authors: D'Agata Michele N. , Hoopes Elissa K. , Berube Felicia R. , Hirt Alexandra E. , Witman Melissa A.
Published: June 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Is there a racial disparity in macrovascular and/or microvascular function between young black and white women?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Black women (BLW) demonstrated impaired microvascular function but similar macrovascular function compared to white women (WHW). These findings suggest an identifiable racial disparity in microvascular function between BLW and WHW as early as young adulthood. Microvascular dysfunction is predictive of future cardiovascular disease (CVD) and generally precedes the development of macrovascular dysfunction. Therefore, these findings also suggest that evaluating microvascular function and CVD risk in young, otherwise healthy BLW are important, as there are known racial disparities in CVD morbidity and mortality in black adults.

Black women (BLW) have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality compared to white women (WHW). Vascular dysfunction is a non‐traditional risk factor for CVD and BLW demonstrate impaired vascular function when compared to WHW throughout the lifespan. Several previous studies assessed macrovascular and microvascular function in young BLW compared to WHW, but there has been no recent work exploring this disparity in young women using current, up‐to‐date methodologies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate both macrovascular and microvascular function as assessed by haemodynamic responses to flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD), following current FMD guidelines, in young adult BLW and WHW. We hypothesized that BLW would demonstrate attenuated macrovascular and microvascular responses to FMD compared to WHW. Macrovascular function was assessed as the percentage dilatation of the brachial artery following FMD occlusion‐cuff release (FMD%). Microvascular function was assessed by total reactive hyperaemia area under the curve (RH‐AUC), calculated as the cumulative increase in brachial artery blood flow above baseline following FMD occlusion‐cuff release. Participants were tested in the morning hours during the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Twenty‐eight young, apparently healthy women completed the study: 17 WHW (23 ± 4 years) and 11 BLW (24 ± 5 years). FMD% was lower in BLW (WHW: 8.0 ± 1.6, BLW: 6.2 ± 2.4%; P = 0.02), but significance was abolished when FMD% was normalized for shear (WHW: 0.1230 ± 0.0388, BLW: 0.1132 ± 0.0405; P = 0.53). RH‐AUC was lower in BLW (WHW: 438 ± 133, BLW: 268 ± 66 ml/min; P < 0.001). Young, otherwise healthy BLW demonstrated impaired microvascular function compared to WHW.
Using Energy Shaping and Regulation for Limit Cycle Stabilization, Generation, and Transition in Simple Locomotive Systems
Authors: Yeatman Mark , Gregg Robert D.
Published: June 2021

This paper explores new ways to use energy shaping and regulation methods in walking systems to generate new passive-like gaits and dynamically transition between them. We recapitulate a control framework for Lagrangian hybrid systems, and show that regulating a state varying energy function is equivalent to applying energy shaping and regulating the system to a constant energy value. We then consider a simple one-dimensional hopping robot and show how energy shaping and regulation control can be used to generate and transition between nearly globally stable hopping limit cycles. The principles from this example are then applied on two canonical walking models, the spring loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) and compass gait biped, to generate and transition between locomotive gaits. These examples show that piecewise jumps in control parameters can be used to achieve stable changes in desired gait characteristics dynamically/online.
Pole Placement for Delay Differential Equations With Time-Periodic Delays Using Galerkin Approximations
Authors: Kandala Shanti Swaroop , Uchida Thomas K. , Vyasarayani C. P.
Published: June 2021

Many practical systems have inherent time delays that cannot be ignored; thus, their dynamics are described using delay differential equations (DDEs). The Galerkin approximation method is one strategy for studying the stability of time-delay systems (TDS). In this work, we consider delays that are time-varying and, specifically, time-periodic. The Galerkin method can be used to obtain a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) from a second-order time-periodic DDE in two ways: either by converting the DDE into a second-order time-periodic partial differential equation (PDE) and then into a system of second-order ODEs, or by first expressing the original DDE as two first-order time-periodic DDEs, then converting into a system of first-order time-periodic PDEs, and finally converting into a first-order time-periodic ODE system. The difference between these two formulations in the context of control is presented in this paper. Specifically, we show that the former produces spurious Floquet multipliers at a spectral radius of 1. We also propose an optimization-based framework to obtain feedback gains that stabilize closed-loop control systems with time-periodic delays. The proposed optimization-based framework employs the Galerkin method and Floquet theory and is shown to be capable of stabilizing systems considered in the literature. Finally, we present experimental validation of our theoretical results using a rotary inverted pendulum apparatus with inherent sensing delays as well as additional time-periodic state-feedback delays that are introduced deliberately.