bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inscriptions arabes chrétiennes à Najrān et aux environs (Arabie saʿūdite)
Authors: Robin Christian Julien , Qurād Mashʿal ʿAbd Allāh Āl
Published: March 2024

L’émirat de Najrān qui se trouve dans le sud du royaume d’Arabie saʿūdite, juste au nord de la frontière avec le Yémen, est une zone exceptionnellement riche en vestiges archéologiques et épigraphiques. Parmi ces vestiges, il faut mentionner tout d’abord les ruines d’une importante ville ancienne dans l’oasis de Najrān; le site de cette ville qui s’appelait Ẓirbān a été renommé à l’époque islamique al-Ukhdūd. On retiendra ensuite les quelques dizaines d’inscriptions antiques et proto-islamiques trouvées sur ce site. Ce sont enfin et surtout les très nombreux textes rupestres découverts sur la rive méridionale du wādī Najrān et dans le désert, notamment dans la zone de Ḥimà (à 90 km au nord-nord-est de Najrān).

Dans l’histoire de la formation de l’Islam, Najrān est surtout connue pour sa communauté chrétienne. Mais, jusqu’à une date récente, aucun vestige chrétien n’y avait été repéré. Ce n’est plus le cas désormais: plusieurs textes arabes chrétiens, tous d’époque islamique, ont été découverts par un jeune Saʿūdien passionné d’archéologie, M. Mashʿal ʿAbd Allāh Āl Qurād. Le plus spectaculaire est une belle inscription verticale qui peut être très approximativement datée entre 900 et 1000 de l’ère chrétienne. Pour les environs de Najrān, on peut désormais ajouter notamment, aux inscriptions paléo-arabes chrétiennes découvertes en 2014, quelques graffites d’époque islamique, et un curieux texte, qui commence en écriture arabe et se termine en écriture sudarabique, remontant semble-t-il, au VIIIe siècle.
Redistributing Power: Land Reform, Rural Cooptation, and Grassroots Regime Institutions in Authoritarian Taiwan
Authors: Luo Kevin Wei
Published: March 2024

Can redistributive policies such as land reform help authoritarian regimes coopt rural societies? Given that land reform has the potential to disrupt preexisting sociopolitical orders, this article highlights an unresolved puzzle of how regimes balance between the objectives of expanding its rural coalitional support through transformative redistribution and stabilizing its political control over rural institutions during land reform. Using a novel dataset of Taiwan’s 1950s rural reforms under the Kuomintang authoritarian regime, I find that stronger redistributive effects facilitated cooptation of new land reform beneficiaries through a key institution – the farmers’ association (FA). However, I also find that the restructuring of rank-and-file FA membership was still subject to meddling by the native landlord class. I thus argue that land reform, while allowing regimes to broaden their rural coalitions through socioeconomic redistribution, can also paradoxically compel regimes to concede power during institutional cooptation.
Disaggregated defense spending: Introduction to data
Authors: Becker Jordan , Benson Seth , Dunne J Paul , Malesky Edmund
Published: March 2024

Theoretical and empirical research on causes and consequences of defense spending is plentiful. Most of this research uses ‘top line’ defense spending data, either as a share of GDP or as a raw monetary figure. Empirical research has been limited, however, by the ‘blunt’ nature of this data, which does not help to explain what countries are spending on. We introduce a dataset that provides information on disaggregated defense spending from 35 NATO and EU members over as many as 51 years. We discuss the main features of this data in the paper, and the replication files will enable other scholars to automate accessing it in the future. In addition to automating the extraction of NATO and European Defence Agency data on overall military expenditures, we make data on equipment, personnel, operating, and infrastructure spending available in a single dataset. We illustrate the utility of the disaggregated defense spending dataset by replicating canonical and newer analyses using both the overall data and its disaggregated components. The findings differ depending on which type of spending is considered. We found that differences in the relationship between national wealth and defense spending depended on the category of spending considered, as did the tendency toward ‘free-riding’. These exercises shed new light on seminal theories on burden-sharing and the political economy of security. Our initial analysis suggests that disaggregating defense spending is likely to improve the analysis of old and emerging research questions of considerable policy importance, and points to several opportunities to do so.
Introducing the Lynching in Latin America (LYLA) dataset
Authors: Nussio Enzo , Clayton Govinda
Published: March 2024

This article introduces the Lynching in Latin America (LYLA) dataset. Lynching is a surprisingly prevalent form of collective violence, but the systematic study of this phenomenon has previously been hampered by a lack of cross-national event data. The LYLA data covers reported lynching incidents across Latin America between 2010 and 2019. In total, it includes 2818 lynching events in 18 countries. The data features information on the alleged wrongdoing that motivated the event, the type of violence deployed, the size of the mob, the exact date of the event and geo-coded coordinates capturing where the event took place at the street level. The LYLA data provides an empirical basis to assess questions concerning the conditions that give rise to lynching, the impact of lynching on communities and social processes, and policies to prevent this form of violence. This article introduces the rationale for the data collection, the coding rules and procedures, and offers an illustrative example of how this data can be used, focusing on state illegitimacy as a key condition for lynching.
Establishing Motivational Profiles to Drink among College Students: Converging Patterns Using Multiple Theories of Alcohol use
Authors: Noyes Emily T. , Davis Jared A. , Schlauch Robert C.
Published: March 2024

Objective: While college student drinking has been studied utilizing many different theories and approaches, it is unclear how these theories may overlap in their explanation of problematic drinking. Rather than relying on one theory, examining overlap between multiple theories of alcohol use may lead to a better understanding of the motivational process underlying drinking behavior. The current study proposes that the Ambivalence Model of Craving, Behavioral Economics, and Alcohol Outcome Expectancy Theory account for the same underlying anticipatory process and sought to demonstrate this by establishing motivational profiles utilizing constructs within each theory. Methods: A total of 318 college student drinkers completed a series of surveys assessing their drinking behavior and the measures pertaining to each theory (i.e., Approach and Avoidance of Alcohol Questionnaire, Alcohol Purchase Task, Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire). A latent profile analysis was used to establish profiles of motivational tendencies. Results: Results from the latent profile analysis indicated four profiles emerged, three of which were consistent with our hypotheses: approach, avoidance, and indifferent. The fourth motivational profile appeared to represent drinkers with an emerging approach tendency but relatively newer to drinking. The lack of ambivalent profile suggests that avoidant tendencies may develop later in response to an accumulation of experience with drinking. Lastly, these profiles demonstrated expected relationships with drinking behavior. Conclusion: This study is unique in its attempt to highlight similarities between theories. Results provide a useful integration of theories to allow for a more generalized understanding of motivational tendencies that develop in response to drinking experiences.
Associations between religion and suicidality for LGBTQ individuals: A systematic review
Authors: Goodman Michael A.
Published: March 2024

Studies have consistently shown that LGBTQ individuals are at increased risk for several mental and physical health challenges including suicidality. The relationship between religion and LGBTQ well-being in general and LGBTQ suicidality specifically has increasingly been the subject of scholarly investigation. This systematic review examines all peer-reviewed articles included in the EBSCO PsycInfo database since 2000 that examined the relationship between religiosity and LGBTQ suicide (50 studies in all). These studies reveal a complex relationship that is nuanced and, at times, contradictory. Overall, 65% identified at least one religiosity-related predictor as a risk factor for LGBTQ suicidality, 41% identified at least one religiosity-related predictor as a protective factor against suicidality, while 53% found no associations between religiosity-related predictors and suicide risk. However, when specifically examining religious affiliation/denomination, salience, or beliefs and behaviors, typically, religiosity was either protective or unassociated with LGBTQ suicidality. This held particularly true for studies that had population-based samples, employed control variables and included comparison groups, thus enhancing their generalizability. The one religiosity-related predictor that was almost universally identified as a risk factor was when an individual felt conflicted between their religious and sexual-gender identities.
Trump(ing) Tradition: Old Laws, New Norms, and the Danger to Civil–Military Relations
Authors: Burke Ryan , Matisek Jahara
Published: March 2024

Before, during, and after his presidency, Donald J. Trump’s behavior and statements provoked segments of the U.S. military and civil society, with some decisions criticized and declared illegal by critics. Some current and former U.S. military personnel openly criticized and displayed contempt toward the president, thereby violating Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Prior to the 2021 conviction of a Marine Corps officer, the last Article 88 conviction occurred in 1966 when an off-duty Army Lieutenant held a sign criticizing President Johnson at an anti-Vietnam War protest. Despite Trump engaging in norm-eroding behaviors that politicized the Armed Forces, these actions were well within his legal rights. However, open criticism against President Trump by many retired flag officers was illegal per UCMJ laws, yet not enforced. The paradox of a UCMJ law becoming dead letter law indicates a major disjuncture between normative civil–military relations and the laws regulating the behavior of active and retired U.S. military officers. We conclude that UCMJ laws must be enforced, rewritten, or abolished because non-enforcement degrades civil–military relations and military professionalism.
As Many as Were Baptised: Re-examining the Relationship Between Faith and Baptism in Galatians 3.27
Authors: Deenick Karl
Published: March 2024

Baptism has long been a point of contention among Christians. One passage that may have more to offer than has previously been suggested, particularly with regard to the relationship between faith and baptism, is Gal. 3.27. Of special interest is the precise way that the two clauses pertaining to (i) baptism and (ii) putting on Christ are related. Usually, it has been understood that baptism is, in some sense, the means by which Christ is put on. But an exploration of ὅσος, which connects the two clauses, together with the study of Gal. 3.27 and its context, suggests that ‘putting on Christ’, which is best understood as the action of faith, is the appropriate response to baptism.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Food Access: An Examination of People’s Food Shopping Methods Change
Authors: Jin Xueting , Tong Daoqin
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the food insecurity issue across the nation, especially for vulnerable population groups. As an important way to access food, online grocery shopping has gained substantial popularity during COVID-19. However, it is not clear how COVID-19 impacted both the in-store and online grocery shopping simultaneously and how the impacts varied among different population groups. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 on food access, we conducted two rounds of online survey during the initial and middle stages of COVID-19 in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. In addition to the factors that have been examined in the literature, we examined how travel behavior, food environment, and lifestyle change affected both in-store and online shopping during COVID-19 when compared with before COVID-19. Analysis results suggest that the methods people used for grocery shopping varied with different stages of COVID-19 and among different population groups. Changes of people’s daily life and travel behavior during COVID-19 are found to be associated with people’s grocery shopping method selection. While people with better food environment were more likely to keep in-store grocery shopping, as the pandemic progressed, food environment became less important as a factor influencing the adoption of online grocery shopping. Food assistance program participants had a higher demand for the online grocery shopping service. However, the barriers associated with redeeming their benefits online prohibited them from becoming new online grocery shoppers during COVID-19. The study provides important insights into planning of food provision and formulating effective intervention strategies during future shocks.
Social class differences in attribution of stability and purchase intention following a product-harm crisis / Diferencias entre clases sociales en la atribución de estabilidad y la intención de compra tras una crisis de reputación de un producto
Authors: Ng Andy H.
Published: March 2024

Middle-class contexts foster solipsism, a social cognitive tendency that focuses on one’s internal states, goals and motivations and favours dispositional attribution. By contrast, working-class contexts foster contextualism, a social cognitive tendency that focuses on uncontrollable situational forces and favours situational attribution. The current research investigates social class differences in attribution of stability and purchase intention following a product-harm crisis. Consistent with previous research on social class differences in social cognitive tendency, four studies ( N = 680) demonstrate that middle- (vs. working-) class individuals perceive themselves as having a higher social status in society (Studies 1A and 3), which leads to a stronger tendency to attribute stability to a product-harm crisis (Studies 1A, 1B, 2 and 3), believing to a greater extent that the problem is typical of the brand’s products and the brand will likely run into similar problems in the future. Moreover, this stability attribution has downstream consequences for purchase intention — middle- (vs. working-) class individuals are less likely to purchase products from the same brand following a product-harm crisis (Study 3).
Hostile classism and admiration: antecedents of the perceived humanity of low- and high-socioeconomic-status groups / Clasismo hostil y admiración: antecedentes de la humanidad percibida de los grupos de alto y bajo estatus socioeconómico
Authors: Sainz Mario , Jiménez-Moya Gloria , Lobato Roberto M.
Published: March 2024

Previous research shows that animalistically dehumanizing low-socioeconomic-status (SES) groups, compared to high, favours maintaining socioeconomic differences. Less is known about the variables that trigger the (de)humanization of these groups. We rely on previous literature about the causes of dehumanization to perform an extended analysis of the variables that potentially predict the attribution of humanity to these groups. In a large study ( N = 765), we included several steps using hierarchical regression analysis to identify the contribution of each psychosocial process. Results highlight that low-SES (de)humanization was predicted by unrest and security towards the poor along with social dominance and hostile classic attitudes, while high-SES (de)humanization was predicted by individuals’ sex, admiration and (lack of) shame towards the rich. This double path of ascribing humanity to groups based on their status is discussed and practical interventions to narrow the perceived humanity gap between low and high SES are highlighted.
A Cross-sectional Study on Internet Gaming Disorder and Its Association with Personality Traits in Engineering Students
Authors: Mohamed Imran H  , Chowdhury Sharan Roy , Reddy Indla Ramasubba , Maji Sayan
Published: March 2024

Background:

In the field of psychiatry and mental health, Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a relatively new concept. In the past few decades, as online gaming and internet usage became increasingly prevalent, this became a topic of concern and research. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of IGD and its association with personality traits among students.

Methods and material:

The present cross-sectional study was conducted at an Engineering college in Nunna, Andhra Pradesh. The planned duration of the study was 12 months, from March 2020 to March 2021. However, it was extended until August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, as colleges were closed indefinitely until further instructions. In the current study, a total of 170 students (first year to final year) from an engineering college, aged between 19 and 25 years, were included. Students who provided informed consent or expressed willingness to participate in the study through a self-structured questionnaire and those who had internet access or experience with online gaming in the past 12 months were included. The demographic profile, including age, sex, academic year, accommodation status, and departmental course was studied. Also, the device used for gaming was examined.

Results:

The gender distribution in the given population indicates that approximately 65.88% are males and 34.12% are females, for a total of 170 individuals studied. In that 18 participants (10.58%) were found to have IGD. Among 18 participants with IGD, 14 were males and 4 were females. The gender prevalence for male and female participants was calculated separately and found to be 12.5% for males, and 6.9% for females which is almost a ratio of 2:1. The summary explores the relation between the Big Five personality traits and IGD. The current study subjects were categorized as low, medium, or high for each trait based on their IGD status (positive or negative). Significant correlations were determined between extraversion and IGD ( p = .02), conscientiousness and IGD ( p = .02), and neuroticism and IGD ( p = .02).

Conclusion:

The current study findings suggest that the overall prevalence of IGD among college students is 10.58% with a higher prevalence among males, IGD is positively connected with neuroticism and negatively correlated with extraversion and conscientiousness. This implies that certain characteristics, either alone or in combination, may raise the likelihood of individuals developing an IGD.
Creating more comparable cohorts in observational palliative care studies: A proposed framework to improve applicability and replicability of research
Authors: Kochovska Slavica , Murtagh Fliss EM , Agar Meera , Phillips Jane L , Dudgeon Deborah , Lujic Sanja , Johnson Miriam J , Currow David C
Published: March 2024

Background:

Palliative care is characterised by heterogeneous patient and caregiver populations who are provided care in different health systems and a research base including a large proportion of observational, mostly retrospective studies. The inherent diversity of palliative care populations and the often inadequate study descriptions challenge the application of new knowledge into practice and reproducibility for confirmatory studies. Being able to define systematically study populations would significantly increase their generalisability and effective translation into practice.

Proposal:

Based on an informal consensus process by active palliative care researchers challenged by this problem and a review of the current evidence, we propose an approach to creating more comparable cohorts in observational (non-randomised) palliative care studies that relies on defining the study population in relation to a fixed, well-defined event from which analyses are built (‘anchoring’). In addition to providing a detailed and complete description of the study population, anchoring is the critical step in creating more comparable cohorts in observational palliative care studies. Anchoring can be done with respect to a single or multiple data points, and can support both prospective and retrospective data collection and analysis.

Discussion:

Anchoring the cohort to reproducible data points will help create more comparable cohorts in palliative care whilst mitigating its inherent heterogeneity. This, in turn, will help optimise the generalisability, applicability and reproducibility of observational palliative care studies to strengthen the evidence base and improve practice.
A Model Minority? Asian-White Differences in Federal Careers
Authors: Lewis Gregory B. , Han Esther
Published: March 2024

The stereotype of Asians as a model minority suggests that they either do not experience discrimination or overcome it through higher education, hard work, and respect for authority. We test that stereotype for Asian Americans in the federal service using both Census data and surveys of federal employees. We examine (1) whether Asians attain the same pay levels and managerial authority as whites; (2) whether differences in education, experience, citizenship, and English ability explain differences in pay and authority; (3) whether those differences vary across Asian sub-groups; and (4) whether Asians are as satisfied with their jobs and the treatment they receive. We find moderate Asian-white pay differences, which varied substantially across national origin groups. Asian-white differences in access to managerial authority, however, are substantial across all national origin groups. Asians’ higher educational attainment and weaker English abilities contributed to differences in pay and authority, but unexplained disparities remained, potentially due to discrimination and/or unmeasured factors. Surprisingly, Asians expressed a stronger belief that the federal service allocates rewards fairly and were more satisfied than whites with their own developmental and advancement opportunities despite those pay and leadership disparities. They were, however, somewhat less satisfied with pay, co-workers, and supervisors.
Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modeling of Spray-Applied Pipe Liners Repaired Corrugated Metal Pipes Buried Under Shallow Cover
Authors: Raut Samrat , Azizian Mehran , Chimauriya Hiramani Raj , Tehrani Amin Darabnoush , Najafi Mohammad , Yu Xinbao
Published: March 2024

Corrugated metal pipes (CMPs) corrode over time. To maintain structural performance, deteriorated CMPS must be replaced or rehabilitated. Spray-applied pipe liners (SAPLs) are one of the quickest ways to rehabilitate deteriorated CMPs among other ways. Only a few lab tests and finite element studies from the past have been done on this new method. The calibration of a three-dimensional (3D) full-scale finite element method model using test results obtained at the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education laboratory at the University of Texas at Arlington is covered in this paper. The tests were carried out on circular invert cut CMPs that had been rehabilitated with polymeric SAPLs. To repair the invert-cut CMPs, three different thicknesses were used: 0.25, 0.5, and 1-in. The removal of an 18-in. invert from the intact CMP represented the deterioration of the CMP. A full 3D corrugated model was developed to represent the test setup in the FE model using ABAQUS. To perform the calibration process, the load–displacement curves, earth pressure distribution, and strain around the liner were compared to the test results. The comparison of these parameters showed the capability of the model for verification. The verified FE model was used to generate the load–displacement graphs for other thicknesses and elastic modulus of the liner. In addition, the role of the embedment depth is also considered in the analyses in which the maximum deformation of the rehabilitated pipe has decreased by 58.9% with increasing the burial depth of the pipe from 0.4D (D = external pipe diameter) to 1.0D.
Experimental Study on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Cellular Concrete Specimens Cast in Field and Laboratory
Authors: Ye Yu-qiu , Han Jie , O’Reilly Matt , Dolton Brad , Parsons Robert L.
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a series of laboratory tests for evaluating the material properties of Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) with different cement-to-fly ash ratios and at different ages. LCC specimens used in this study were cast in the field and/or laboratory. Large and small direct shear box tests were used to determine the shear strengths of LCC specimens. The test results show that the average wet densities for the LCC specimens cast in the laboratory ranged from 460 to 491 kg/m3, whereas the average wet densities for the specimens cast in the field ranged from 480 to 578 kg/m3 at the age of 28 days. The permeability values for the LCC specimens cast in the field ranged from 5.4 × 10-7 to 7.7 × 10-6 m/s and the permeability values for the LCC specimens cast in the laboratory ranged from 6.8 × 10-7 to 2.5 × 10-6 m/s. The measured peak friction angles of the LCC specimens from the small direct shear box tests ranged from 19° to 63°, whereas the measured peak friction angles of the LCC specimens from large direct shear box tests ranged from 23° to 79°. The average measured compressive strengths for the LCC specimens cast in the field and laboratory ranged from 0.43 to 1.15 MPa and 1.08 to 1.11 MPa at the age of 28 days, respectively. LCC specimens showed shrinkage behavior when subjected to wet–dry cycles and had good resistance to freeze–thaw cycles following ASTM D560/560M. The paper also compares the material properties of LCC measured in this study with those reported in the literature and the comparison shows good agreement overall.
Exploring the Commuting Decision-Making Behavior of Low-Income Groups Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory
Authors: Geng Qingqiao , Wang Yu , Cui Shu , Wang Jiali
Published: March 2024

Based on cumulative prospect theory, this study proposes a decision-making model to reveal the commuting behavior of low-income groups under uncertain conditions. Considering the commuting characteristics of this group, travel economic cost is incorporated into the model. The decision-making behavior of low-income groups under different travel scenarios is analyzed to acquire the priority of commuting plans. Based on a stated preference survey of residents in Beijing, the commuting behavior of low-income groups is empirically analyzed. The results show that low-income groups will be affected by individual risk preference and characterized by bounded rational characteristics when making commuting decisions under uncertain conditions. Moreover, travel economic cost is a crucial factor for the decision-making of this group. When the travel budget time is less than the perceived time, they tend to seek risks and take punctual arrival as their primary goal. On the contrary, they tend to avoid risks. On the basis of ensuring the travel time meets their needs, low-income commuters always seek the economy and reliability of their travel plans. The empirical results further verify that the proposed model effectively describes the commuting decision-making behavior of low-income groups, and it is superior to the expected utility theory with respect to performance and behavior disclosure. This study provides a reference for improving the commuting efficiency and experience of low-income groups.
Associations Between Pornography Use Frequency and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Young Adult Couples: A 2-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Vasquez Mandy , Daspe Marie-Ève , Bőthe Beáta , Brassard Audrey , Lussier Yvan , Vaillancourt-Morel Marie-Pier
Published: March 2024

Pornography use is a common sexual activity for many individuals including those in a romantic relationship. Some studies have shown that violent content depicted in pornography is a risk factor for perpetration of violence in real life. Even if most of these studies examined perpetration of violent behaviors in general, not specifically toward the intimate partner, some studies have shown that pornography use frequency is related to a greater perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), while other studies have found that it is not significantly related. However, most previous studies were cross-sectional, sampled individuals rather than couples, and did not include separately forms of IPV (e.g., physical, psychological, and sexual). The present study examined the associations between pornography use frequency and the perpetration of physical and psychological IPV, and sexual coercion among young adult couples. A convenience sample of 113 couples aged between 16 and 29 years old completed self-reported online questionnaires two times over a 2-year period. The results of autoregressive cross-lagged models showed that a person’s pornography use frequency at Time 1 was related to their own higher sexual coercion perpetration 2 years later and that a person’s sexual coercion perpetration was related to their partner’s lower pornography use frequency 2 years later. However, no significant association between pornography use frequency and physical and psychological IPV emerged. In line with previous studies, our results suggest that pornography use represents an important risk factor for the perpetration of sexual coercion. Findings support the need to include education around pornography use in sexual violence prevention programs to avoid that young adults reproduce pornographic scripts in their sexuality.
How Do Men Evaluate and Blame Victims of Mobbing? Depending on the Victims’ Identification as Feminist or Egalitarian
Authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez Ángel , Megías Jesús López
Published: March 2024

In the current research, our objective was to explore how men assess and assign blame to both a man and a woman who are victims of workplace mobbing, depending on whether they identify as feminist or egalitarian. It is well recognized that the label “feminist” carries distinct connotations when applied to individuals of different genders. However, it remains unclear whether these varied connotations are due to the label itself or its underlying meaning. Given that the feminist label has been traditionally stigmatized, we aimed to disentangle the influence of the label from its semantic content. To achieve this, we compared the evaluations and attributions of victim blame directed toward targets labeled as feminist with those labeled with a similar but more neutral term—that is, egalitarian—as well as with unlabeled targets. Considering that much of the previous research in this area has focused on samples predominantly composed of women, we aimed to investigate how men respond to these labels. Through three experiments involving male participants ( N = 628), we presented fictitious scenarios depicting a man or a woman who were victims of workplace mobbing due to their identification as feminist or egalitarian. The key finding of our research is that the feminist label, rather than its semantic content, significantly influences the evaluations and assignment of blame expressed by men who strongly adhere to traditional male role norms. These findings underscore the importance of these labels (feminist and egalitarian) in social judgments, particularly when applied to victims of workplace mobbing.
Preparation of KH550-grafted-nanosilica microspheres to improve the mechanical, thermal and wear resistance properties of fluoroelastomer
Authors: Shen Ping , Bao Yong , Zhang Yiwen , Wu Yadong , Li Jun , Wang Shun , Zhu Yong , Gao Junchang , Jin Huile
Published: March 2024

We presents an innovative approach to addressing the mechanical properties limitations of fluororubber (FKM) in the industrial field. A novel functionalized nano-silica spheres (SiO2), grafted with amino groups, were constructed by utilizing chemical grafting. The surface modification of the nanosilica microspheres enables the formation of C=N bonds between the amino-functionalized nanosilica microspheres and FKM promoting high dispersion and strong interfacial bonding of SiO2, resulting in an exceptional mechanical enhancement function for FKM composite. Compared to original FKM, the FKM/SM-A-10 composite demonstrates remarkable improvements in both tensile strength and hardness by 242% and 49%, respectively. Additionally, there is a notable 40% enhancement in thermal conductivity of the FKM/SM-A-10 composite. This straightforward and efficient manufacturing approach for achieving high-performance FKM proves to be a valuable and practical foundation for industrial design.
Rapid point-of-care test for diagnosis of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Htay Htay , Choo Jason Chon Jun , Huang Dorothy Hannah , Jayaballa Mathini , Johnson David W , Koniman Riece , Oei Elizabeth Ley , Suai Tan Chieh , Wu Sin Yan , Foo Marjorie Wai Yin
Published: March 2024

Background:

Periplex® is a rapid point-of-care test based on the detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6) or matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) to diagnose peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods:

This single-centre study was conducted in Singapore General Hospital from 2019 to 2022. The study recruited PD patients suspected of having peritonitis. Periplex was performed at the presentation and recovery of peritonitis. Primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of Periplex at presentation. The positive and negative predictive values of tests were also performed.

Results:

A total of 120 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 60.9 ± 14.9 years, 53% were male, 79% were Chinese and 47.5% had diabetes mellitus. Periplex was positive in all patients with peritonitis ( n = 114); sensitivity of 100%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 100–100%. Periplex was falsely positive in three patients with non-infective eosinophilic peritonitis, resulting in a low specificity of 50%; 95% CI: 41.1–59.0%. Periplex had a positive predictive value of 97.4% and a negative predictive value of 100%. During recovery from peritonitis, Periplex had high specificity (93.6%) and negative predictive value (98.7%) to indicate the resolution of infection. MMP-8 was more sensitive than IL-6 in detecting peritonitis. Periplex was positive in all patients with peritonitis regardless of the types of PD solutions used.

Conclusions:

Periplex had high sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values in the diagnosis of peritonitis can be considered as a screening tool for peritonitis. Given its high specificity and negative predictive value, it may also be used to document the resolution of peritonitis.
Protecting occupant in autonomous vehicle accident with rotating seat and belt airbag
Authors: Wu Hequan , Zhang Kai , Hu Lin
Published: March 2024

In autonomous vehicle, since that occupants no long need to operate the vehicle, they will have time to relax and entertain or communicate with other people. In order to improve the collision safety of the occupants who move freely and have different seat orientation angles in autonomous vehicle, a protection strategy based on the cooperative control of the rotating seat and belt airbag to avoid occupant injuries is proposed: in the pre-crash phase, the occupant on a rotated seat is repositioned into a close-to-standard frontal facing position, while the belt airbag deploys; in the crash phase, the fully deployed belt airbag cushions and absorbs occupant impact with the support of the occupant’s legs to reduce injury. Firstly, the current prediction time for unavoidable collisions in self-driving cars is about 350 ms, therefore, the airbag can be inflated by enlarging the inflation duration to reduce its impact during deployment. Due to the fixed installation position of the dashboard airbag, which cannot accompany the deficiency of seat movement, a new type of belt airbag is designed; Then, the simulation models of ±45° and ±90° seat orientation were established to study the injury mechanism and kinematic response of occupants with different seat orientations in frontal crashes; Finally, the simulation models of active rotating seat with belt airbag were established to study the kinematic response and injury risk of occupants with rotating seat and belt airbag protection strategy. The belt airbag with a capacity of 65 L developed in this paper could effectively protect occupants in a frontal collision at an inflation time of 200 ms and a total inflation mass of 31.4 g; The occupant safety strategy based on rotating seat and belt airbag can effectively reduce the risk of collision injury of occupants with different seat orientations in autonomous vehicle.
British association for sexual health and HIV national guideline for the management of anogenital warts in adults (2024)
Authors: Nugent Diarmuid , Apoola Ade , Coleman Harry , Gilmour Cindy , Lawton Mark David , Nori Achyuta , D C Ross Jonathan , Whitlock Gary , Yeend-Curd-Trimble Hannah
Published: March 2024

This guideline offers recommendations on the diagnosis, treatment and health promotion principles needed for the effective management of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related warts at anogenital sites including the external genitals, vagina, cervix, urethra, perianus and anal canal. The guideline is aimed primarily at patients aged 16 years or older presenting to healthcare professionals working in level 3 sexual health services in the United Kingdom. However, the principles of the recommendations may be applied in other care settings, including in primary care, using locally adapted care pathways where appropriate. The management of HPV-related anogenital dysplasia or warts at other extragenital sites is outside the scope of this guideline.
Giant inflamed fibroepithelial scrotal polyp mimicking an anogenital wart
Authors: Ezeh Izuchukwu , Tomkins Andrew
Published: March 2024

We report the case of a young man who has never had any sexual contact presenting with a large scrotal lump with secondary bacterial infection. He reported no prior warts – genital or cutaneous. On examination, he had a large pink cauliform mass on the scrotum with four smaller but similar satellite lesions. Appearances were thought to be consistent with giant condyloma of Buschke and Lowenstein. Once superinfection was treated with oral antibiotics, he had a trial of imiquimod without success and was then referred to urology. After surgical excision, pathology concluded it was an inflamed fibroepithelial polyp with no malignant changes. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a giant scrotal fibroepithelial polyp with characteristic gross warty features in an adult.
Audience agency in a curious instance of failed securitization: Public resistance to the Singapore government’s eugenics program
Authors: Krishnan Pradeep
Published: March 2024

Securitization theory posits that security threats are socially constructed. Yet, how audiences influence the failure and success of securitization attempts is still not well understood. In this article, I argue that audiences bring their normative perspectives to bear upon the interpretation of securitization attempts. This theoretical addendum, I hold, permits a fuller appreciation of how audiences express their agency when receiving securitization attempts. I examine the Singaporean context, where the discursive backdrop favours the construction of security threats. While the Singaporean government has successfully securitized many issues, Lee Kuan Yew’s attempt to securitize the country’s declining birth rates failed dramatically. This occurred, I contend, as the Singaporean public was deeply offended by the normative premises of Lee’s eugenicist argument, thus refusing to engage with the issue on the government’s terms. These objections were only fuelled by the eugenics programme the government later introduced, ultimately causing the government to discontinue its pronatalist policies and significantly revise its rhetoric. This article develops the understanding of how securitization unfolds by expanding on the conceptualization of audience behaviour. By examining Singapore, which has failed to inspire many analyses of securitization, it also diversifies securitization theory’s empirical reach, highlighting its intelligibility within non-democratic contexts.
Age-specific differences in tumour characteristics between screen-detected and non-screen-detected breast cancers in women aged 40–74 at diagnosis in Sweden from 2008 to 2017
Authors: Jonsson Håkan , Andersson Anne , Mao Zheng , Nyström Lennarth
Published: March 2024

Objective

To analyze differences between screen-detected and non-screen-detected invasive breast cancers by tumour characteristics and age at diagnosis in the nationwide population-based mammography screening program in Sweden.

Methods

Data were retrieved from the National Quality Register for Breast Cancer for 2008–2017. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the likelihood for a tumour to be screen-detected by tumour characteristics and age group at diagnosis.

Results

In total there were 51,429 invasive breast cancers in the target age group for mammography screening of 40–74 years. Likelihood of screen detection decreased with larger tumour size, lymph node metastases, higher histological grade and distant metastasis. Odds ratios (ORs) for negative oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) were 0.41 and 0.57; for positive HER2, 0.62; for Ki-67 high versus low, 0.49. Molecular sub-types had OR of 0.56, 0.40 and 0.28, respectively, for luminal B-like, HER2-positive and triple negative versus luminal A-like. Adjusting for tumour size (T), lymph node status (N), age, year and county at diagnosis slightly elevated the ORs. Statistically significant interactions between tumour characteristics and age were found ( p < 0.05) except for ER and PgR. The age group 40–49 deviated most from the other age groups.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that screen-detected invasive breast cancers had more favourable tumour characteristics than non-screen-detected after adjusting for age, year and county of diagnosis, and even after adjusting for T and N. The trend towards favourable tumour characteristics was less pronounced in the 40–49 age group compared to the other age groups, except for ER and PgR.
Institutional Quality and Economic Performance: A Study of Asian Countries
Authors: Nayak Alfa Rani , Pradhan Kailash Chandra
Published: March 2024

The objective of this article is to investigate the influence of institutional quality on the economic performance of 47 Asian countries, categorized into four income levels (low-income, lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income and high-income countries) over the period 1981–2021. The study utilizes six governance indicators, and a composite governance index is constructed to evaluate institutional quality. Economic performance is assessed through three key indicators: real gross domestic product (GDP), real GDP per capita (GDPPC) and the human development index (HDI). Except for HDI data, all variable data were sourced from the World Bank, while HDI data were obtained from the UNDP. The study employed panel regression, panel co-integration techniques and the autoregressive distributed lag model. The findings indicate that governance indicators have a positive and significant impact on GDP, GDPPC and HDI in Asian countries. Moreover, the study reveals that the influence of governance indicators on economic performance is more pronounced in high-income countries compared to other income levels in Asia. Consequently, the research emphasizes the importance of focusing on governance indicators for fostering economic growth and enhancing HDI in Asian countries.
From coercion to consent: Dutch rape law reform and the complexities of consent
Authors: Keiler Johannes
Published: March 2024

Rape law reform currently ranks high on the agenda of many criminal justice systems. In this context, the distinction between different conceptions of rape as either consent- or coercion-based has traditionally played an important role. This paper analyses the shift from a coercion to a consent-based model of rape, using Dutch law as a backdrop to take a closer look at the ongoing discussion on how to regulate rape, as well as the uncertainties and complexities that reforms need to address. It departs from a theoretical level and first outlines the main features of the two aforementioned models of rape. Subsequently, the paper looks at the international level and the emerging European definition of rape. Next, the current Dutch coercion-based model as well as the pending consent-based reform proposal are discussed. To shed further light on the conceptual architecture and inherent definitional complexities of consent, a comparison with the consent-based system of England and Wales is undertaken. This helps to gauge the current Dutch proposal and highlights complex (normative) questions that rape law reform needs to address, providing impetus for future discussions as to how the guidance and scope of protection of sexual autonomy provided by consent-based models of rape may be further improved.
Laboratory tools for the direct detection of bacterial respiratory infections and antimicrobial resistance: a scoping review
Authors: Adewusi Olufunto O. , Waldner Cheryl L. , Hanington Patrick C. , Hill Janet E. , Freeman Claire N. , Otto Simon J. G.
Published: March 2024

Rapid laboratory tests are urgently required to inform antimicrobial use in food animals. Our objective was to synthesize knowledge on the direct application of long-read metagenomic sequencing to respiratory samples to detect bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) compared to PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and recombinase polymerase amplification. Our scoping review protocol followed the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA Scoping Review reporting guidelines. Included studies reported on the direct application of these methods to respiratory samples from animals or humans to detect bacterial pathogens ±ARGs and included turnaround time (TAT) and analytical sensitivity. We excluded studies not reporting these or that were focused exclusively on bioinformatics. We identified 5,636 unique articles from 5 databases. Two-reviewer screening excluded 3,964, 788, and 784 articles at 3 levels, leaving 100 articles (19 animal and 81 human), of which only 7 studied long-read sequencing (only 1 in animals). Thirty-two studies investigated ARGs (only one in animals). Reported TATs ranged from minutes to 2 d; steps did not always include sample collection to results, and analytical sensitivity varied by study. Our review reveals a knowledge gap in research for the direct detection of bacterial respiratory pathogens and ARGs in animals using long-read metagenomic sequencing. There is an opportunity to harness the rapid development in this space to detect multiple pathogens and ARGs on a single sequencing run. Long-read metagenomic sequencing tools show potential to address the urgent need for research into rapid tests to support antimicrobial stewardship in food animal production.
Exploring Roots of Profound Moments: An Empirical Study
Authors: Holyoke Laura B. , Kokenge Elise , Jenkins Nanci , Ball Jonathon A. , Heward Heather , Wilson Shannon
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the components of a profound moment. We provisionally defined a profound moment as an experience that intentionally or unintentionally continues to surface in consciousness, has transformed an individual’s fundamental perspectives, and been integrated into an individual’s life. Participants who the researchers felt had experienced highly memorable moments and demonstrated an introspective personality were purposefully selected. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interpretive phenomenological approach; interviews were transcribed, coded, analyzed, and considered in the analysis. Results from preliminary analysis indicate components of profound moments include acceptance, permeation, humanity, and change.