bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification, Heritability, and Relation With Gene Expression of Novel DNA Methylation Loci for Blood Pressure
Authors: Huang Yisong , Ollikainen Miina , Muniandy Maheswary , Zhang Tao , van Dongen Jenny , Hao Guang , van der Most Peter J. , Pan Yue , Pervjakova Natalia , Sun Yan V. , Hui Qin , Lahti Jari , Fraszczyk Eliza , Lu Xueling , Sun Dianjianyi , Richard Melissa A. , Willemsen Gonneke , Heikkila Kauko , Mateo Leach Irene , Mononen Nina , Kähönen Mika , Hurme Mikko A. , Raitakari Olli T. , Drake Amanda J. , Perola Markus , Nuotio Marja-Liisa , Huang Yunfeng , Khulan Batbayar , Räikkönen Katri , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H.R. , Zhernakova Alexandra , Fu Jingyuan , Zhu Haidong , Dong Yanbin , van Vliet-Ostaptchouk Jana V. , Franke Lude , Eriksson Johan G. , Fornage Myriam , Milani Lili , Lehtimäki Terho , Vaccarino Viola , Boomsma Dorret I. , van der Harst Pim , de Geus Eco J.C. , Salomaa Veikko , Li Shengxu , Chen Wei , Su Shaoyong , Wilson James , Snieder Harold , Kaprio Jaakko , Wang Xiaoling
Published: June 2020

We conducted an epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis on blood pressure (BP) in 4820 individuals of European and African ancestry aged 14 to 69. Genome-wide DNA methylation data from peripheral leukocytes were obtained using the Infinium Human Methylation 450k BeadChip. The epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis identified 39 BP-related CpG sites with
P
<1×10
−5
. In silico replication in the CHARGE consortium of 17 010 individuals validated 16 of these CpG sites. Out of the 16 CpG sites, 13 showed novel association with BP. Conversely, out of the 126 CpG sites identified as being associated (
P
<1×10
−7
) with BP in the CHARGE consortium, 21 were replicated in the current study. Methylation levels of all the 34 CpG sites that were cross-validated by the current study and the CHARGE consortium were heritable and 6 showed association with gene expression. Furthermore, 9 CpG sites also showed association with BP with
P
<0.05 and consistent direction of the effect in the meta-analysis of the Finnish Twin Cohort (199 twin pairs and 4 singletons; 61% monozygous) and the Netherlands Twin Register (266 twin pairs and 62 singletons; 84% monozygous). Bivariate quantitative genetic modeling of the twin data showed that a majority of the phenotypic correlations between methylation levels of these CpG sites and BP could be explained by shared unique environmental rather than genetic factors, with 100% of the correlations of systolic BP with cg19693031 (
TXNIP
) and cg00716257 (
JDP2
) determined by environmental effects acting on both systolic BP and methylation levels.
Copyright violation of predators in scientific publishing - Biochemia Medica’s harmful experience and proposed solution
Authors: Pašalić Daria , Šupak Smolčić Vesna
Published: June 2020

Biochemia Medica is an open access journal that does not charge manuscript processing or publishing. All editorial staff are continuously educated and directed to follow the highest ethical and scholarly publishing standards in all steps of the manuscript processing. They are all laboratory medicine professionals, who apart from their regular jobs, are in charge of different phases in Journal processing as volunteers. The publisher of the Journal is scientific and professional association of laboratory medicine professionals, Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory medicine (CSMBLM).
During November and December 2018, without knowledge of the editorial staff, unknown perpetrator(s) downloaded a respectable number of articles published in Biochemia Medica as PDF and launched an illegal web page under the same journal name with downloaded articles. Although this was a very harmful experience, we have learned a lot from it and we would like to share this with scientific journals’ community. Therefore, we would like to share this harmful experience, and to present a short workflow on how to manage situations like this if it will be necessary for any scientific journal in the future.
In sickness and in health: pivotal role of vitamin D
Authors: Nikolac Gabaj Nora , Pavicic Tomislav , Vrtaric Alen , Milevoj Kopcinovic Lara , Herman Mahecic Davorka , Bolanca Ivan , Culej Jelena , Miler Marijana , Unic Adriana
Published: June 2020

Within the last several years, frequency of vitamin D testing has multiplied substantially all over the world, since it has been shown to have an important role in many diseases and conditions. Even though liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been identified as “gold standard” method for vitamin D measurement, most laboratories still use immunochemistry methods. Besides analytical problems (hydrophobicity, low circulating concentrations, ability to bind to lipids, albumins and vitamin D binding protein, presence of multiple vitamin D metabolites and variable ratios of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 in the blood), vitamin D shows great preanalytical variability, since its concentration is drastically influenced by seasonal changes, exposure to sun, type of clothes or sun block creams. Vitamin D is mostly measured in serum or plasma, but new studies are showing importance of measuring vitamin D in pleural effusions, breast milk, urine, synovial fluid and saliva. Besides the main role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism, many studies linked vitamin D deficiency with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, fertility and many other conditions. However, even though initial observational studies indicated that supplementation with vitamin D might be beneficial in disease development and progression; first results of well-designed randomized controlled prospective studies did not find differences in frequency of cardiovascular events or invasive cancer between patients taking vitamin D supplementation compared to placebo. In the light of these recent findings, validity of excessive vitamin D testing remains an open question.
On a Scalable Entropic Breaching of the Overfitting Barrier for Small Data Problems in Machine Learning
Authors: Horenko Illia
Published: June 2020

Overfitting and treatment of small data are among the most challenging problems in machine learning (ML), when a relatively small data statistics size [Formula: see text] is not enough to provide a robust ML fit for a relatively large data feature dimension [Formula: see text]. Deploying a massively parallel ML analysis of generic classification problems for different [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we demonstrate the existence of statistically significant linear overfitting barriers for common ML methods. The results reveal that for a robust classification of bioinformatics-motivated generic problems with the long short-term memory deep learning classifier (LSTM), one needs in the best case a statistics [Formula: see text] that is at least 13.8 times larger than the feature dimension [Formula: see text]. We show that this overfitting barrier can be breached at a 10[Formula: see text] fraction of the computational cost by means of the entropy-optimal scalable probabilistic approximations algorithm (eSPA), performing a joint solution of the entropy-optimal Bayesian network inference and feature space segmentation problems. Application of eSPA to experimental single cell RNA sequencing data exhibits a 30-fold classification performance boost when compared to standard bioinformatics tools and a 7-fold boost when compared to the deep learning LSTM classifier.
Situating Salafī Islam in Azerbaijan
Authors: Aliyev Fuad
Published: June 2020

Salafī daʿwa is a new phenomenon in the religious life of Azerbaijan. Entering the scene in the mid‑1990s as a result of Gulf-funded organizations and the proselytizing activities of foreign students-turned-preachers, Salafīs gradually turned into important actors of Islamic revival in the post-Communist country. Operating in a highly secularized and, moreover, Shīʿī-majority environment, the Salafī daʿwa in Azerbaijan had ex ante limitations that shaped its development patterns. A comprehensive overview of the historical development of the Salafī daʿwa shows that, over three stages, the transnational Salafī movement had become increasingly indigenized. Following these historical observations, the development patterns of the Salafī daʿwa in Azerbaijan are explored, and an attempt is made to explain them through a framework provided by social movement theory. Finally, based on its ideological variations in Azerbaijan, an attempt is undertaken to develop a refined taxonomy of the Salafī movement in this country, based on a critical reassessment of existing classifications.
An Eleventh-Century Eastern Masoretic Codex of the Pentateuch
Authors: Penkower Jordan S.
Published: June 2020

The Washington Pentateuch consists of an eleventh-century Pentateuch codex, and a small group of 1141 CE replacement folios. The former presents another early witness to the Masoretic Text. The text in the second hand is very close to the Aleppo Codex, but the section division exhibits several variants as compared to the Aleppo codex. The layout of the Song of the Sea and the lines before are like in the Aleppo codex, but not so the lines after the song. The 1141 CE folios are another witness to the Masoretic Text. The text is very close to the Aleppo Codex, but here, too, there are a number of section variants (which later continued in the Ashkenazi codices). The Song of Moses, though differing from the Aleppo codex, follows an alternate standard layout of 70 lines, and 6 lines before and 6 lines after the Song (later found in Sefardi manuscripts).
Sedum nanlingense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Authors: ZOU CHUN-YU , MENG SHI-YONG , LU ZHAO-CEN , LIU YAN
Published: June 2020

Sedum nanlingense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Guangxi, is described and illustrated here. We analyzed its morphological characteristics, which are largely similar to S. onychopetalum and S. kiangnanense. However, the morphology of this new species differs from other taxa in some important ways, including its 3-merous flowers, which contain six stamens and three carpels. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences resolved S. nanlingense as a distinct clade, lending further support to its classification. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this new species is closely related to S. onychopetalum and S. kiangnanense.
New species of Mecopodinae (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) from Tanzania
Authors: HEMP CLAUDIA
Published: June 2020

New species of Mecopodinae are described from Tanzanian mountain ranges. These are Apteroscirtus densissimus n. sp. from the Nguru Mountains, Gymnoscirtus corifterus n. sp. from the Udzungwa Mountains Nationalpark and a new subspecies of Phyloscirtus cordipennis Karsch, P. c. spinosus n. ssp. from the Nguru Mountains. Data on habitat are provided.
Diagnosis of Distant Metastasis of Lung Cancer Using Anarchic Society Optimization with Support Vector Machine
Authors: Kodieswari A. , Deepa D.
Published: June 2020

The most widely recognized threatening tumours is the lung cancer one amongst the most preeminent disease and mortality which prompts significant risk to individuals’ wellbeing and life. Propelled lung malignant growth is probably prompt to produce comparing side effects in patients
with extraordinary torment and life-threatening. Computed Tomography (CT) is one of the efficient solutions to investigate the distant metastasis plausibility for which system with computer aided diagnosis is desirable. So to diagnose distant metastasis of cancer in lung, the past framework
is accomplished by Support Vector Machine (SVM) based classification for manual segmentation and the precision achieved is 89.09% for the classification. To enumerate large data sets, manual segmentation is time consuming, tedious and labour-intensive and hence achieving feasibility is not
that easy. The desired prediction accuracy is attained by the techniques namely efficient segmentation method and feature selection methods. The proposed system utilizes Improved Markov Random Field (MRF) with SVM based classification, thereby improving the system performance. In this research
work, the input is nothing but the CT lung images and adaptive median filtering is utilized for preprocessing technique. Improved MRF approach is one of the solutions to segment the pre-processed image after which CT images are used to extricate the clinical features and radiomic features.
Anarchic Society Optimization (ASO) algorithm provides assistance for choosing the optimal features which in turn progresses the classification accuracy. In view of the selected feature, SVM classifier is utilized for cancer classification. The test outcome proves that the projected framework
achieves improved performance compared to the existing frameworks parameters like correctness, accuracy and review.
Research on Radial Basis Function Neural Network Based on Improved Hierarchical Genetic Algorithm in Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Han Peiyin , Ma Jie , Fang Fang , Barbara Sevlever
Published: June 2020

With the increasing aging level of China’s population, the probability of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease also increases. Genetic Algorithm-Back-Propagation (GA-BP) were introduced and compared, and the effectiveness of Genetic Algorithm-Radial Basis Function (GA-RBF)
algorithm in diagnosis and prediction of Alzheimer’s disease was verified by simulation experiments. The results showed that GA-RBF modeling time increased by about 75%, It showed that GA-RBF algorithm can be used helpful to accurately predict the cognitive status of the elderly.
Clinical Effect and Safety of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Laparoscopic Catheter Drainage for Severe Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Qin Minzhen , Liang Zhihai , Yang Huiying , Tang Guoduo , Kalevi Mentula A
Published: June 2020

In order to study the clinical effect and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided laparoscopic catheter drainage for severe acute pancreatitis, the patients with severe acute pancreatitis were selected as the research objects, the laparoscopic catheter drainage under the guidance of
endoscopic ultrasound was carried out, and the efficacy and safety of the operation were evaluated. The results showed that after endoscopic ultrasound-guided laparoscopic catheterization and drainage, the number of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and white blood cells was decreased, and
the inflammation was improved after treatment; the body temperature of 45% patients returned to normal on the first day after operation, and 55% patients returned to normal on the third day after operation; only 1 case of patients followed up had infectious necrosis of pancreas. In summary,
endoscopic ultrasound-guided laparoscopic catheter drainage is a safe and effective treatment for severe acute pancreatitis.
Effect of Nursing Intervention of Different Nutrition on Quality of Life of Patients with Intestinal Cancer During Perioperative Period by Artificial Neural Network Model
Authors: Sun Lin , Chu Aiqin , Huang Jiali , Yao Hanhui , Liu Liu , Zhang Hailing , Maria Perkhounkova
Published: June 2020

In order to explore the colorectal cancer during perioperative period based on the structure model of artificial neural network, and to provide reference for the selection of perioperative nursing measures for patients with colorectal cancer, the artificial neural network models of
rectal colon cancer patients with different nutritional interventions based on biomedicine were established. 264 patients with rectal colon cancer and accelerated rehabilitation nutritional nursing group. There were 132 patients in each group who were given different nutritional intervention
measures to compare the quality of life after nursing. The results suggested that artificial neural network had a certain value in predicting the impact of different nutritional interventions on patients’ quality of life. In addition, the initial anal ventilation time, initial anal defecation
time, infusion time and hospitalization time of patients in accelerated rehabilitation nursing group were shorter than those in routine nursing group, and the incidence of abdominal distension after operation was significantly lower than that of routine nursing group (P < 0.05).
The cancer-related fatigue (P < 0.05). To sum up, artificial neural network can adapt to the non-linear effect of the model and has a strong advantage in survival analysis. Accelerated rehabilitation nursing intervention measures can promote the rehabilitation of patients with rectal
colon cancer during perioperative period and improve the overall quality of life, which is worthy of clinical reference.
The Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Examination in the Diagnosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Infiltration Along Cranial Nerve
Authors: Li Manyi , Cheng Fuwei , Liu Jisheng , Mustafa Temucin
Published: June 2020

Objective: To study the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with pericranial infiltration. Methods: 86 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were selected as the research objected and examined by MRI and clinical examination,
and the results of the two methods were compared. Results: In MRI examination, the positive rate of cranial nerve infiltration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma was 23.26%, which was significantly higher than 8.13% in clinical diagnosis. The coincidence rate between clinical diagnosis and
MRI diagnosis was 35.00%. Conclusion: Nuclear MRI has important application value in the diagnosis of cranial nerve infiltration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
Scheduling Problem of Biochemical Analyzer and Exploration of Neural Network-Greedy Algorithm
Authors: Huang Xiaohui , Zheng Shuxia , Li Shilong , Wu Jinxiang , Spence Graham
Published: June 2020

The mathematical model of biochemical analysis system was established based on neural network-greedy algorithm. The optimal task scheduling sequence was solved by neural network algorithm. At the same time, the local optimization was obtained by combining greedy algorithm. In this way,
the task scheduling problem in biochemical analyzer was transformed into a mathematical problem, and the mathematical model of scheduling algorithm was established. On the platform of MATLAB, eight groups of simulation tests were carried out on the same task scheduling problem using the neural
network-greedy scheduling algorithm and the traditional fixedperiod scheduling algorithm. The task-time Gantt charts of the two algorithms were compared under different scheduling orders. The results showed that the average speed of the neural network-greedy algorithm was improved by 31% compared
with that of the fixed-period scheduling algorithm. The mathematical model of biochemical analysis system on scheduling problem established by neural network-greedy scheduling algorithm has high efficiency compared with the traditional fixed-period scheduling algorithm.
Prediction and Analysis of Respiratory Circulation System in Radiotherapy Patients by Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography Image Technology
Authors: Ding Wenxiu , Wang Huiyang , Zhu Xisong , Zimmer Bernhard
Published: June 2020

Usually, radiotherapy not only acts on the parts that need to be treated, but also radiates on the normal parts of the human body, resulting in damage to the normal parts. Recently, some scholars have used the fourdimensional CT image technology to monitor and adjust the radiotherapy
process in real time, which can reduce the damage to the normal parts. Therefore, it is a very meaningful subject to apply the real-time monitoring technology to the radiotherapy process of the respiratory circulation system. In order to reduce the damage of related organs in the respiratory
circulation system during radiotherapy, this paper optimizes the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and combines it with artificial neural network (ANN) technology to predict and analyze the respiratory circulation system of human body. The results show that in the analysis of CT
image results, there is no significant difference in respiratory flow velocity between the left lung and the right lung from three-dimensional point of view (P > 0.05). Different algorithms are used to analyze the respiratory circulation system, and it is found that the model constructed
in this paper can effectively reduce the probability of BP-NN (Back Propagation-Neural Network) falling into the local optimum, and the error is reduced by 25%, while the effect of the original PSO algorithm is inferior to that of the model constructed. Therefore, through this study, it is
found that the PSO algorithm can be used in real-time monitoring of the radiotherapy process, and its prediction accuracy has been significantly improved, which achieves the expected effect, and provides experimental basis for the later clinical radiotherapy of respiratory circulation system.
Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Sisters with LMNA Associated Familial Partial Lipodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Youssef Stephanie J. , Macielak Robert J. , Schimmenti Lisa A. , Chatzopoulos Kyriakos , Price Daniel L.
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

LMNA-associated familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) is a rare autosomal dominant A-type laminopathy characterized by variable loss and redistribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Though A-type lamins play a key role in nuclear membrane structure and regulation of cell proliferation, an association between cancer and LMNA-associated FPLD has not been reported.

Methods and Results:

This report outlines the case of two biological sisters with LMNA-associated FPLD who developed hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the absence of any other risk factors for head and neck cancer.

Conclusion:

These observations prompt further investigation into the potential role of A-type lamins in the development and progression of head and neck cancers.
“Acceptable” Cartels at the Crossroads of EU Competition Law and the Common Agricultural Policy: A Legal Inquiry into the Political, Economic, and Social Dimensions of (Strengthening Farmers’) Bargaining Power
Authors: Cseres K. J.
Published: June 2020

Why does the European Union (EU) law allow for special treatment of the agricultural sector? Which exceptions exist in applying the EU competition rules in this sphere, and how has their interpretation evolved? How do these derogations address the fragmented nature of the agricultural sector and strengthen farmers’ bargaining powers, and what are the justifications for doing so? These are the questions that the current article seeks to answer, by analyzing the specific constitutional constellation of the EU’s agricultural policy alongside its competition rules. This article critically analyzes how derogations in the field of agriculture have developed in a market-oriented way, yet an unresolved tension remains with the objectives of the Treaty’s competition rules. This article revisits this tension and its underlying legal framework by taking account of the risk of political capture as well as of relevant socioenvironmental externalities, most notably environmental and social sustainability, which could shape its transformation in the future.
Evolving Trust in Robots: Specification Through Sequential and Comparative Meta-Analyses
Authors: Hancock P. A. , Kessler Theresa T. , Kaplan Alexandra D. , Brill John C. , Szalma James L.
Published: June 2020

Objective

The objectives of this meta-analysis are to explore the presently available empirical findings on the antecedents of trust in robots and use this information to expand upon a previous meta-analytic review of the area.

Background

Human–robot interaction (HRI) represents an increasingly important dimension of our everyday existence. Currently, the most important element of these interactions is proposed to be whether the human trusts the robot or not. We have identified three overarching categories that exert effects on the expression of trust. These consist of factors associated with (a) the human, (b) the robot, and (c) the context in which any specific HRI event occurs.

Method

The current body of literature was examined and all qualifying articles pertaining to trust in robots were included in the meta-analysis. A previous meta-analysis on HRI trust was used as the basis for this extended, updated, and evolving analysis.

Results

Multiple additional factors, which have now been demonstrated to significantly influence trust, were identified. The present results, expressed as points of difference and points of commonality between the current and previous analyses, are identified, explained, and cast in the setting of the emerging wave of HRI.

Conclusion

The present meta-analysis expands upon previous work and validates the overarching categories of trust antecedent (human-related, robot-related, and contextual), as well as identifying the significant individual precursors to trust within each category. A new and updated model of these complex interactions is offered.

Application

The identified trust factors can be used in order to promote appropriate levels of trust in robots.
Early Warnings: The Lessons of COVID-19 for Public Health Climate Preparedness
Authors: Sheehan Mary C. , Fox Mary A.
Published: June 2020

The early 2020 response to COVID-19 revealed major gaps in public health systems around the world as many were overwhelmed by a quickly-spreading new coronavirus. While the critical task at hand is turning the tide on COVID-19, this pandemic serves as a clarion call to governments and citizens alike to ensure public health systems are better prepared to meet the emergencies of the future, many of which will be climate-related. Learning from the successes as well as the failures of the pandemic response provides some guidance. We apply several recommendations of a recent World Health Organization Policy Brief on COVID-19 response to 5 key areas of public health systems – governance, information, services, determinants, and capacity – to suggest early lessons from the coronavirus pandemic for climate change preparedness. COVID-19 has demonstrated how essential public health is to well-functioning human societies and how high the economic cost of an unprepared health system can be. This pandemic provides valuable early warnings, with lessons for building public health resilience.
Colonial World of Postcolonial Historians: Reification, Theoreticism, and the Neoliberal Reinvention of Tribal Identity in India
Authors: Nayak Bhabani Shankar
Published: June 2020

This article develops a critical analysis of the colonial world of the postcolonial historians whose works inadvertently contribute to the process of reconstituting the colonial construction of tribal identities in neoliberal India. The monolithic and colonial construction of tribal identities in postcolonial India reinforces and preserves tribal identities along the lines of the colonial methods of identity formation based on territorialization. The article highlights the problematic features of the territorialization and deterritorialization of tribal identities and their reconstitution. Territorial-based identity formation is now being used and sustained by the neoliberal political and economic ruling and non-ruling elites in order to exploit tribal communities. The existence of upper-caste and class-based Hindu social order is concomitant with a social hierarchy based on the exploitation of tribal communities in India. This article locates the colonial and neoliberal capitalist logic of identity formation that serves elites, and helps to advance the neoliberal political-economic project of the Hindu right. A postmodern logic of identity formation facilitates the expansion of the neoliberal capitalist economy with the process of Hinduization. It contributes to identity formations that divide the people on territorial grounds. The article is divided into four parts. The first outlines the philosophical basis of identity formation and its links with neoliberalism; the second deals with identity formation based on territory; part three documents the debates on tribal identity formation in postcolonial India; and the final part elucidates the capitalist logic inherent in territorial-based identity formations.
How Terrorism Spreads: Emulation and the Diffusion of Ethnic and Ethnoreligious Terrorism
Authors: Polo Sara M. T.
Published: June 2020

Previous research on the causes of domestic terrorism has tended to focus on domestic determinants. Although this approach can be helpful to understand many causes of terrorism, it implicitly disregards how the tactical choices made by similar nonstate actors elsewhere influence a group’s decision to resort to terrorist tactics. This study argues that the adoption of terrorism among ethnic and ethnoreligious groups results from a process of conditional emulation. Groups are more likely to emulate the terrorist choice of others with whom they are connected by shared political grievances and spatial networks. The theory is tested on a new and original group-level data set of ethnic and ethnoreligious terrorism (1970 to 2009) using geospatial analysis and spatial econometric models. The results provide strong support for the hypothesized mechanism leading to the diffusion of terrorism and suggest that emulation—more than domestic and contextual factors—substantially influences dissidents’ tactic choice.
Disability and the Meaning of Social Justice in Teacher Education Research: A Precarious Guest at the Table?
Authors: Pugach Marleen C. , Matewos Ananya M. , Gomez-Najarro Joyce
Published: June 2020

Although disability is assumed to be part of the teacher education social justice landscape, its position in the context of social justice is contested and has not been informed by an analysis of the empirical record. To address this gap, we examined 25 years of research on social justice in teacher education, focusing on how disability is presented in relationship to other social markers of identity. Disability is only modestly visible within this literature; when included, it is typically treated as an isolated marker of identity, absent considerations of intersectionality. Overcoming this marginalization of disability requires new, robust cross-faculty alliances in conceptualizing research on social justice in teacher education; adopting discursive practices that complicate disability in terms of its intersectional, reciprocal relationship with the full range of social markers of identity; and intersectionality-driven instruction connecting multiple identities and the multiple instructional strategies required to transform teacher education for social justice.
Turkish Adaptation of the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale
Authors: Akbolat Mahmut , Ünal Özgün , Karakaya Bilge Güneş
Published: June 2020

The aim of the research was to conduct the Turkish validity and reliability study of the Frommelt Attitude toward Care of the Dying Scale. The study used a cross-sectional research design. The sample of the study consists of 236 intensive care nurses. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and SPSS AMOS 22.0 programs. Descriptive statistical methods, reliability analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used in the analysis of the data. According to the findings of the exploratory factor analysis, the scale was divided into six factors as in its original. According to results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the goodness of fit of the scale was acceptable level. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the Frommelt Attitude toward Care of the Dying and subdimensions were found to be between 0.606 and 0.800. These results showed that the Turkish form of scale was valid and reliable and it had the necessary conditions for using Turkish form.
Children’s work in African agriculture: Time for a rethink
Authors: Sumberg James , Sabates-Wheeler Rachel
Published: June 2020

This article outlines a tension that plays itself out in rural areas throughout Africa. On the one hand, it is recognized that children throughout the world engage in economic activity, and this is particularly so in rural areas. On the other hand, is the policy, corporate and NGO focus on the elimination of child labour from the production of a small number of African export commodities. We argue that a key to resolving this tension and opening the door to more effective interventions to address children’s harmful work is to reframe the problem of, and debates around, child labour by changing the focus to children’s work. The article briefly explores some implications of this shift.
A hierarchical multi-resolution agent-based modeling and simulation framework for household electricity demand profile
Authors: Mahmood Imran , Quair-tul-ain  , Nasir Hasan Arshad , Javed Fahad , Aguado José A
Published: June 2020

Analyzing demand behavior of end consumers is pivotal in long term energy planning. Various models exist for simulating household load profiles to cater different purposes. A macroscopic viewpoint necessitates modeling of a large-scale population at an aggregate level, whereas a microscopic perspective requires measuring loads at a granular level, pertinent to the individual devices of a household. Both aspects have lucrative benefits, instigating the need to combine them into a modeling framework which allows model scalability and flexibility, and to analyze domestic electricity consumption at different resolutions. In this applied research, we propose a multi-resolution agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) framework for estimating domestic electricity consumption. Our proposed framework simulates per minute electricity consumption by combining large neighborhoods, the behavior of household individuals, their interactions with the electrical appliances, their sociological habits and the effects of exogenous conditions such as weather and seasons. In comparison with the existing energy models, our framework uniquely provides a hierarchical, multi-scale, multi-resolution implementation using a multi-layer architecture. This allows the modelers flexibility in order to model large-scale neighborhoods at one end, without any loss of expressiveness in modeling microscopic details of individuals’ activities at house level, and energy consumption at the appliance level, at the other end. The validity of our framework is demonstrated using a case study of 264 houses. A validated ABMS framework will support: (a) Effective energy planning; (b) Estimation of the future energy demand; (c) and the analysis of the complex dynamic behavior of the consumers.
Neighbourhood cohesion as a form of privilege
Authors: Méndez María Luisa , Otero Gabriel , Link Felipe , López Morales Ernesto , Gayo Modesto
Published: June 2020

Contrary to the idea that neighbourhood cohesion is something that inherently benefits the poor or counterbalances the forces of social exclusion, in this article we argue that it can also function as a mechanism of cumulative advantage. In order to explore this proposal, we offer a definition and key dimensions of neighbourhood cohesion based on three components: place attachment, local relations and commitment to the local common good. We test our proposal in a highly segregated Latin American city: Santiago, Chile. A combination of survey data and georeferenced information was obtained from a random sample of 700 residents. The results reveal the existence of four neighbourhood cohesion types: Communitarians, Belongers, Strangers and Outsiders. As expected, we found that people who reside in affluent areas and perceive themselves to live in more reputable neighbourhoods are those who report the strongest patterns of neighbourhood cohesion. We conclude by questioning the scope and effectiveness of policies which have promoted neighbourhood cohesion as a ‘tool’ of governance without first attempting to reduce socio-spatial rifts. We also ask whether these notable spatial differences in neighbourhood cohesion contribute to improving the overall social cohesion at the city level.
Influence of Transnational Leisure on Diaspora Tourism among Contemporary Migrants
Authors: Huang Wei-Jue , Chen Chun-Chu
Published: June 2020

Leisure and tourism constitute important means for migrants to keep in touch with their homeland. This study is the first to investigate the relationship between the leisure and tourism activities of contemporary migrants in a transnational social field. Overseas Chinese residing in North America were surveyed to compare transnational leisure participation and travel behavior across five migrant generations, and examine the effects of transnational leisure on travel behavior and intention. A U-shaped pattern was found in respondents’ media-based and event-based transnational leisure, frequency of travel, and intention to visit China, with the second generation being the lowest. Media-based leisure influenced the first and 1.5-generations’ number of homeland trips whereas event-based leisure influenced that of the second, third, and fourth-plus generations. Overall, there is a positive relationship between transnational leisure and diaspora tourism, and different types of transnational leisure have varying effects on the travel behavior and intention of different generations.
Fixed Effects Individual Slopes: Accounting and Testing for Heterogeneous Effects in Panel Data or Other Multilevel Models
Authors: Rüttenauer Tobias , Ludwig Volker
Published: June 2020

Fixed effects (FE) panel models have been used extensively in the past, as those models control for all stable heterogeneity between units. Still, the conventional FE estimator relies on the assumption of parallel trends between treated and untreated groups. It returns biased results in the presence of heterogeneous slopes or growth curves that are related to the parameter of interest (e.g., selection into treatment is based on individual growth of the outcome). In this study, we derive the bias in conventional FE models and show that fixed effects individual slope (FEIS) models can overcome this problem. This is a more general version of the conventional FE model, which accounts for heterogeneous slopes or trends, thereby providing a powerful tool for panel data and other multilevel data in general. We propose two versions of the Hausman test that can be used to identify misspecification in FE models. The performance of the FEIS estimator and the specification tests is evaluated in a series of Monte Carlo experiments. Using the examples of the marital wage premium and returns to preschool education (Head Start), we demonstrate how taking heterogeneous effects into account can seriously change the conclusions drawn from conventional FE models. Thus, we propose to test for bias in FE models in practical applications and to apply FEIS if indicated by the specification tests.
Making matters of fraud: Sociomaterial technology in the case of Hwang and Schatten
Authors: Park Buhm Soon
Published: June 2020

This paper revisits the “Hwang case,” which shook Korean society and the world of stem cell research in 2005 with the fraudulent claim of creating patient-specific embryonic stem cells. My goal is to overcome a human-centered, Korea-oriented narrative, by illustrating how materials can have an integral role in the construction and judgment of fraud. To this end, I pay attention to Woo Suk Hwang’s lab at Seoul National University as a whole, including human and nonhuman agents, that functioned as what I call sociomaterial technology, and Gerald P. Schatten at the University of Pittsburgh, Hwang’s collaborator, who played a crucial role in demonstrating the potency of this technology to the members of the scientific community. By recasting the whole event as the “case of Hwang and Schatten,” I argue that fraud is, like all knowledge claims, a sociotechnical construct, and that matters of fraud are locally judged. Fraud leaves its mark on materials, but I show that material evidence alone never tells the whole story and instead can be used to limit the range of responsibility.
Perceived Social Standing in Assisted Living Communities: A Mixed-Methods Study of Social Hierarchies Among Residents
Authors: Plys Evan , Johnson-Koenke Rachel
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to measure perceived social standing within an assisted living (PSS-AL), and to identify individual determinants and empirical correlates of this construct. The sample consisted of 200 residents of 21 assisted livings (ALs). A self-anchoring ladder measured PSS-AL ( M = 6.95, SD = 2.04) and an open-ended follow-up question assessed individual determinants of PSS-AL ratings. In a multiple regression, mental health ( β = .27, p = .001), intimate staff-resident relationships ( β = .22, p = .024), and extraversion ( β = .27, p < .001) were significant predictors of PSS-AL. Qualitative findings revealed that inter-personal factors, prosocial behaviors, and health were key determinants of PSS-AL. Results highlight the social demands of AL and associated implications for residents with varying social abilities, skills, and interests. Findings also suggest that staff-resident relationships may shape and-or reinforce resident social hierarchies. The authors discuss implications for research and practice.
From words to connections: Word use similarity as an honest signal conducive to employees’ digital communication
Authors: Fronzetti Colladon Andrea , Saint-Charles Johanne , Mongeau Pierre
Published: June 2020

Bringing together considerations from three research trends (honest signals of collaboration, socio-semantic networks and homophily theory), we hypothesise that word use similarity and having similar social network positions are linked with the level of employees’ digital interaction. To verify our hypothesis, we analyse the communication of close to 1600 employees, interacting on the intranet communication forum of a large company. We study their social dynamics and the ‘honest signals’ that, in past research, proved to be conducive to employees’ engagement and collaboration. We find that word use similarity is the main driver of interaction, much more than other language characteristics or similarity in network position. Our results suggest carefully choosing the language according to the target audience and have practical implications for both company managers and online community administrators. Understanding how to better use language could, for example, support the development of knowledge sharing practices or internal communication campaigns.
Unpacking the Parenting Well-Being Gap: The Role of Dynamic Features of Daily Life across Broader Social Contexts
Authors: Negraia Daniela Veronica , Augustine Jennifer March
Published: June 2020

Although public debate ensues over whether parents or nonparents have higher levels of emotional well-being, scholars suggest that being a parent is associated with a mixed bag of emotions. Drawing on the American Time Use Survey for the years 2010, 2012, and 2013 and unique measures of subjective well-being that capture positive and negative emotions linked to daily activities, we “unpack” this mixed bag. We do so by examining contextual variation in the parenting emotions gap based on activity type, whether parents’ children were present, parenting stage, and respondent’s gender. We found that parenting was associated with more positive emotions than nonparenting, but also more negative emotions. This pattern existed only during housework and leisure, not during paid work. Moreover, patterns in positive emotions existed only when parents’ children were present; patterns in negative emotions were primarily observed during earlier stages of parenting. Results were similar for men and women.
Affective computing in the modern workplace
Authors: Richardson Sharon
Published: June 2020

Affective computing refers to a class of computer-based solutions that analyse data about human behaviour, such as facial expressions, gestures, and language, for its emotional information. The term was first coined 25 years ago when the ability for computers to perform basic sensorimotor tasks such as object detection in images was in its infancy. This article revisits the subject and considers how it is being applied in real-world applications today. We look at research from cognitive science informing our understanding of emotions and how computing capabilities have advanced in recent years to produce cognitive algorithms capable of detecting human attention, emotion and health. Affective computing offers the potential to revolutionise how we incorporate emotion as information in communications and decision systems. However, much of the underlying research that forms the foundations for emotion detection is being challenged, raising concerns about the ethics, trustworthiness and viability of such platforms. This article presents a critique of the technologies and appraises their suitability for real-world applications as part of a modern workplace.
Trends analysis of specialized palliative care services in 51 countries of the WHO European region in the last 14 years
Authors: Arias-Casais Natalia , López-Fidalgo Jesús , Garralda Eduardo , Pons Juan José , Rhee John Y , Lukas Radbruch , de Lima Liliana , Centeno Carlos
Published: June 2020

Background:

Service provision is a key domain to assess national-level palliative care development. Three editions of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) Atlas of Palliative Care monitored the changes in service provision across Europe since 2005.

Aim:

To study European trends of specialized service provision at home care teams, hospital support teams, and inpatient palliative care services between 2005 and 2019.

Design:

Secondary analysis was conducted drawing from databases on the number of specialized services in 2005, 2012, and 2019. Ratios of services per 100,000 inhabitants and increase rates on number of services for three periods were calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) analyses were conducted to determine significant changes and chi-square to identify countries accounting for the variance. Income-level and sub-regional ANOVA analysis were undertaken.

Setting:

51 countries.

Results:

Forty-two countries (82%) increased the number of specialized services between 2005 and 2019 with changes for home care teams (104% increase-rate), inpatient services (82%), and hospital support teams (48%). High-income countries showed significant increase in all types of services ( p < 0.001), while low-to-middle-income countries showed significant increase only for inpatient services. Central–Eastern European countries showed significant improvement in home care teams and inpatient services, while Western countries showed significant improvement in hospital support and home care teams. Home care was the most prominent service in Western Europe.

Conclusion:

Specialized service provision increased throughout Europe, yet ratios per 100,000 inhabitants fell below the EAPC recommendations. Western Europe ratios’ achieved half of the suggested services, while Central–Eastern countries achieved only a fourth. High-income countries and Western European countries account for the major increase. Central–Eastern Europe and low-to-middle-income countries reported little increase on specialized service provision.