bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“I’m a Strong Independent Black Woman”: The Strong Black Woman Schema and Mental Health in College-Aged Black Women
Authors: Castelin Stephanie , White Grace
Published: February 2022

The Strong Black Woman Schema (SBWS) is a cultural expectation for Black women to unfailingly display signs of strength and caretaker qualities, while suppressing their emotions. Although this schema is a purported source of strength for Black women, quantitative explorations of its psychological impact have been limited. In the present study, we examined associations between endorsement of the SBWS and several indicators of mental health and resilience in Black women. We analyzed responses from 212 college-aged, Black women assessing psychological distress, suicidal behaviors, resilience, and SBWS endorsement. Findings indicated that endorsement of the SBWS was positively related to both psychological distress and self-reported suicidal behaviors. In addition, the SBWS’ link to suicidal behaviors was mediated by psychological distress. Lastly, results from moderated mediation analysis supported a buffering effect of resilience. That is, when resilience was high, the association between psychological distress and suicidal behaviors, as well as the conditional indirect effects of the SBWS, was lessened. Implications of these findings suggest that prevalent endorsement of SBWS within Black communities may be harmful to Black women’s mental health. We call for additional research and provide recommendations on how the media, mental health professionals, and community leaders can mitigate its negative effects.
A Nutrition Behavior Change Program Moderately Improves Minimum Diet Diversity and Handwashing Behaviors Among Tea Workers in Assam and Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Nyhus Dhillon Christina , Vossenaar Marieke , Weiligmann Bärbel , Sanwal Neha , Djimeu Eric W. , Kneepkens Mirjam , Mushahary Biju , Stone Genevieve , Neufeld Lynnette M.
Published: February 2022

Many workers in global supply chains remain nutritionally vulnerable despite the income they earn. The Seeds of Prosperity (SOP) program was implemented in Tamil Nadu and Assam, India, for tea supply chain workers (estate workers, small holder farmers, and farm workers). The aim was to enhance demand for diverse and nutritious foods and improve practices related to handwashing. The program used a behavior change communication approach wherein participants received weekly 1-hour group sessions with messaging on dietary diversity for 5 weeks and handwashing for 4 weeks. An impact evaluation was conducted to estimate changes in reported dietary and hygiene knowledge and behaviors among women. The study used a longitudinal quasi-experimental design in a subsample of program participants at baseline and post-intervention among both intervention and comparison. There was a small but significant increase in mean dietary diversity (DD) for all 4 worker groups (ranging from DD score changes of 0.3 to 0.7; P < .05) and in the proportion of women meeting the minimum dietary diversity in 2 of the 4 groups. Similarly, a significant increase in the mean number of handwashing moments was observed in 2 of the worker groups. An increase in home garden use was observed in 1 of the 4 worker groups. While the SOP program resulted in improvements in dietary diversity, most tea farming women still do not achieve minimum dietary diversity. Nutritious food access may be an important constraint to further improvement.
How Can We Better Study the Links between Regional Governance and Public Service Outcomes? Governance Topologies in Metropolitan Public Transportation Systems
Authors: Skuzinski Thomas , Weinreich David P. , Velandia Hernandez Carolina
Published: February 2022

Metropolitan public transportation systems vary in their performance and governance, and evidence suggests linkages between these. However, such linkages remain largely untested due to the complexity of governance and the absence of reliable and valid measures of it. We develop a conceptual framework for understanding metropolitan public transportation system governance using the familiar concepts of polycentricity and fragmentation. We introduce the novel concept of governance topology to parse the complexity of the many organizational arrangements and interorganizational relationships that comprise metropolitan governance. We then propose a method of measurement using a concentration index, and apply it to the Chicagoland region.
Surveying Elementary Schools’ Summer Reading Interventions in a State Policy Context
Authors: Reed Deborah K. , Meginnis Tracy , Park Seohee , Gibbs Anna
Published: February 2022

This study sought to better understand how schools were addressing U.S. state policies targeting summer reading interventions for students not meeting accountability standards. Survey data were gathered from 580 public and private elementary schools in one state (67% response rate) regarding the barriers to offering summer programs, characteristics of the students served, amount of instructional and enrichment time provided, curricular materials used, means of monitoring students’ progress, and staff qualifications. Approximately 65% of respondents held summer reading programs, despite not being required or specially funded to do so. Because the programs usually were intended for students not reading proficiently and those in special education, we discuss the practical implications of common program features and the potential misalignment with the existing literature base guiding the design of summer programs.
The impact of management practices on relative patient mortality: Evidence from public hospitals
Authors: Salehnejad Reza , Ali Manhal , Proudlove Nathan C
Published: February 2022

A small, but growing, body of empirical evidence shows that the material and persistent variation in many aspects of the performance of healthcare organisations can be related to variation in their management practices. This study uses public data on hospital patient mortality outcomes, the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) to extend this programme of research. We assemble a five-year dataset combining SHMI with potential confounding variables for all English NHS non-specialist acute hospital trusts. The large number of providers working within a common system provides a powerful environment for such investigations. We find considerable variation in SHMI between trusts and a high degree of persistence of high- or low performance. This variation is associated with a composite metric for management practices based on the NHS National Staff Survey. We then use a machine learning technique to suggest potential clusters of individual management practices related to patient mortality performance and test some of these using traditional multivariate regression. The results support the hypothesis that such clusters do matter for patient mortality, and so we conclude that any systematic effort at improving patient mortality should consider adopting an optimal cluster of management practices.
Reinforcement learning based path planning of multiple agents of SwarmItFIX robot for fixturing operation in sheetmetal milling process
Authors: Veeramani Satheeshkumar , Muthuswamy Sreekumar
Published: February 2022

SwarmItFIX (self-reconfigurable intelligent swarm fixtures) is a multi-agent setup mainly used as a robotic fixture for large Sheet metal machining operations. A Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) based planning model is utilized currently for computing the locomotion sequence of multiple agents of the SwarmItFIX. But the SwarmItFIX faces several challenges with the current planner as it fails on several occasions. Moreover, the current planner computes only the goal positions of the base agent, not the path. To overcome these issues, a novel hierarchical planner is proposed, which employs Monte Carlo and SARSA TD based model-free Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms for the computation of locomotion sequences of head and base agents, respectively. These methods hold two distinct features when compared with the existing methods (i) the transition model is not required for obtaining the locomotion sequence of the computational agent, and (ii) the state-space of the computational agent become scalable. The obtained results show that the proposed planner is capable of delivering optimal makespan for effective fixturing during the sheet metal milling process.
A study on accuracy of linear ball guide
Authors: Zhang Penghai , Wang Tao , Zha Jun
Published: February 2022

The accuracy of linear motion guide greatly affects the form accuracy of the processed parts in precision machine tools. For the linear ball guide, it is an important issue that how to improve accuracy by optimizing structure parameters based on the geometric errors. Due to the diversity of geometric errors and structure parameters, it requires a quantitative indicator of error averaging ability to judge whether a linear ball guide has higher accuracy. In this article, based on the newly built accuracy model and the newly defined averaging coefficient, the influence of rail profile errors and deformation errors on the error motions in five degrees of freedom can be quantitatively studied for the guides with one row of balls, one block and four blocks. It finds that, both the straightness and angular accuracies increase as the number of contact balls increases. For the guides with one and four blocks, the profile errors with integer wave numbers have main influence on the straightness and primary angular (around the moving direction) error motions, while those near both sides of integer wave numbers have main influence on the supporting angular error motions. The influence of deformation errors on accuracy coincides with that of profile errors. The accuracy model discussed can be conveniently used to predict error motions, select optimized number of contact balls and select optimized spacing of adjacent mounting holes in the design process of linear ball guide.
Stress distribution of a cylindrical sandwich sector with FG-CNT core and piezoelectric face sheets subjected to low-velocity impact
Authors: Raissi Hamed
Published: February 2022

A new theoretical solution based on Layerwise theory is presented to determine the stress distribution in a simply-supported cylindrical sandwich sector with a functionally graded carbon nanotube core and piezoelectric face sheets subjected to low-velocity impact. The spherical elastic ball hits the top face sheet of the sector at an initial velocity of 50  m/s. The classical non-adhesive elastic contact theory and Hunter's relationship were used to determine the normal contact pressure distribution in terms of time and distance of the contact location. Moreover, Hamilton's principle and Maxwell's static equation were used to obtain the nineteen equations of motion. The numerical code was written to solve these nonlinear equations and the stress components in each layer were calculated in terms of time. In addition, it was assumed that the out-of-shell displacement of the sector at each layer is a quadratic polynomial function of the radial component in addition to a function of the coordinate components within the shell. Due to this assumption, the normal out-of-shell strain is not only zero, or not even a constant, but it changes in the form of a linear function along with the thickness of each layer.
Influence of titanium diboride and graphite on microstructure characteristics and mechanical behaviors of aluminium hybrid nanocomposites
Authors: Anitha P , Srinivas Rao M
Published: February 2022

The present work investigates the influence of graphite (Gr) on microstructure and mechanical behaviour of Al7075/TiB2/2wt%Gr hybrid nanocomposite. Aluminium matrix hybrid nanocomposites (AMNCs) were fabricated using electromagnetic stir casting technique. The hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by optical Microstructure (OM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrum (EDAS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The Al7075/TiB2/Gr hybrid nanocomposties was prepared with 2 wt% Gr nanoparticles addition and 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 wt% of TiB2 nanoparticles. Results revealed that with the addition of reinforcement hardness of nanocomposties were increased by 145.42BHN to 173.48BHN. Significant improvements in tensile strength, compression strength and flexural strength of AMNCs were attained upto10 wt% TiB2 addition, further decrease in strength at 12.5 wt% TiB2 addition in Al7075 and Al7075 alloy. Considerable enhancement in mechanical properties shows homogenous distribution and agglomerated along the grain boundaries decreases the mechanical properties of the reinforced nanoparticles in the matrix.
Monitoring of total acidity content in continuous vinegar fermentation using a self-made modification of a micro-electro-mechanical system near-infrared spectrometer
Authors: Zhu Shenghu , Cui Pengjing , Yan Hui , Siesler HW
Published: February 2022

This study evaluated the potential of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) near-infrared spectrometer for the on-line monitoring of total acids in the continuous fermentation process of rice vinegar and white vinegar. A self-made modification of the digital light processing NIRscan nano spectrometer was used for this purpose. As best pretreatment method, the multiplicative scatter correction was used to pretreat the raw spectra, which were subsequently subjected to a partial least square regression calibration. The results showed that total acids could be determined by this experimental setup with root-mean-square errors of predictions of 0.12% (w/v) and 0.27% (w/v) for rice vinegar and white vinegar, respectively. In conclusion, this low-cost MEMS near-infrared instrument can be applied to monitor total acids in the industrial continuous fermentation process of rice and white vinegar.
Acknowledging caregivers’ vulnerability in the managment of challenging behaviours to reduce control measures in psychiatry
Authors: Lefèvre-Utile Jean , Montreuil Marjorie , Perron Amélie , Reyre Aymeric , Carnevale Franco
Published: February 2022

Background:

The management of challenging behaviours in inpatient with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorders can lead to an escalation of control measures. In these complex situations where patients have an intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder accompanied by a psychiatric comorbidity, the experiences of caregivers related to the crisis management have rarely been studied.

Purpose:

This study examined the moral experiences of caregivers related to challenging behaviours’ management and alternatives to control measures.

Research design:

Using Charles Taylor’s hermeneutic framework, a 2-month focused ethnography with a participatory approach was used.

Participants and research context:

Sixteen caregivers were interviewed in a Canadian mental health setting for adults with intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder and psychiatric comorbidity.

Ethical considerations:

The research was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and local Research Ethics Board approval. Written informed consent was collected systematically from participants.

Findings:

By accounting for caregivers’ moral experiences, this study sheds light on a neglected dimension of the care relationship: the vulnerability of the caregiver. We highlight the main barriers and facilitators to alternatives to control measures. First, a caregiver’s vulnerability was characterised by the overall impact of challenging behaviours and the moral distress associated with the use of control measures and exclusion mechanisms of intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder patients. Second, a strong ambiguity between care and control measures and a lack of inclusive approaches were identified as the two main barriers to challenging behaviour management. Third, the involvement, both professional and personal, of caregivers was deemed necessary to implement alternatives to control measures.

Discussion:

A conflict of values opposes two conceptions of autonomy: a rational autonomy, which is counterproductive to the reduction of control measures, versus a relational autonomy based on shared vulnerability.

Conclusion:

The recognition of caregiver’s vulnerability is a benchmark to create alternative approaches, which defuse the logic of control and promote an ethics of care within which caregivers’ self-concern can be understood as fostering mutual respect.
Open Innovation Dynamics of Furniture Design and Function: The Difference between IKEA and Nitori
Authors: Yun JINHYO Joseph , Zhao Xiaofei , Kim Sun Ah , Sadoi Yuri
Published: February 2022

Even though global markets are transferring from offline to online, offline sales are rapidly increasing in two top global furniture firms in Korea and Japan each—IKEA and Nitori. This study aims to answer the following research question: ‘What are the differences and similarities between IKEA and Nitori in the open innovation dynamics of furniture design and function?’ Diverse naturalistic qualitative research methods such as participatory observation, or focus group interviews were used. IKEA is mainly pursuing engineering open innovation strategies, including advanced furniture design with engineering knowledge, fusion with new IT and other technologies for new and innovative furniture function and design, and pursuit of creative design idea frontiers. Nitori is mainly pursuing a strategy towards customer open innovation, which is focused on domestic and regional requirements.
Changing Patterns of Work–Life Balance of Women Scientists and Engineers in India
Authors: Kurup Anitha , Raj Anjali
Published: February 2022

India has witnessed a steady rise in the number of women scientists and engineers in the last two decades. At the same time, the country has experienced the transition from the joint family to a nuclear family system. This has brought with it unique challenges for the women professionals as they negotiate their roles in families with successful careers. While documenting and analysing the changing patterns of the work–life balance of women scientists and engineers, the article highlights the critical role that the scientific institutions can play as enablers in this process.
Exploring the Drivers of Vulnerability Among Disadvantaged Internal Migrants in Riverbank Erosion Prone Areas in North-West Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir Mohammad Ehsanul , Kamruzzaman Palash
Published: February 2022

Bangladesh frequently suffers from acute riverbank erosions and, as a result, every year a large number of people internally migrate to new places mainly in search of livelihoods. While very few studies focus on the multifaceted nature of vulnerability experienced from riverbank erosions, the present study examines to what extent different drivers of vulnerability affect socio-economically disadvantaged internal migrants living in riverbank erosion-prone areas in Bangladesh. Empirical evidence from two north-western riverbank erosion-prone districts in Bangladesh demonstrates that the disadvantaged internal migrants and their household members were exposed to a range of vulnerabilities connected to economic, institutional, infrastructural, environmental, and social drivers. It is contended that evidently there are different types of vulnerability some of which are perceived to be more severe than others in the study areas. This study, therefore, suggests extending some specific support programmes including income generation schemes, access to institutional credit for the landless, improved inexpensive means of transportation, and improved communication. This article also proposes improving rural infrastructure including irrigation facilities, inexpensive transportation means for agricultural inputs or other farming materials, reasonable prices for daily necessities, and improved health care benefits.
Reading Scripture with Gratitude: Joseph Mangina's Contribution to Theological Exegesis
Authors: R. J. Holmes Christopher
Published: February 2022

This article introduces a symposium in honour of Joseph Mangina, the previous editor of Pro Ecclesia. Mangina's two books on Karl Barth lead to his commentary on the book of Revelation, for Barth shows that Scripture matters because God matters—a conviction that informs all Mangina's work. Scripture's claims about God have practical and affective consequences for the Christian life, most prominently in our gratitude to God for his love of creatures. Thus Mangina's commentary on Revelation is not merely an exercise in interpretation but specifically theological exegesis, whose telos is an encounter in gratitude and joy with the reality of God in Jesus Christ, which no theory of interpretation can secure for us.
Asian American Influencer Cultural Identity Portrayal on Instagram
Authors: King Jesse , Fretwell Leah
Published: February 2022

Social media provides minority groups with more control over their portrayals than stereotypical misrepresentations of Hollywood. To understand how Asian Americans are negotiating their own ethnic, racial, and national identities on social media, constant comparative analysis was employed to examine patterns in visual and textual communication of Asian American influencers’ Instagram posts. Their cultural identities were communicated as a cultural hybridity, which included the use of Asian, American/Western, and Asian American cultural values, products, and behaviors. This study indicates that multicultural identity analysis can be applied to visual texts, and Instagram can provide fluid, authentic representations of identity.
Justifying force: international law, foreign policy decision-making, and the use of force
Authors: Rapp Kyle
Published: February 2022

What is the role of international law in foreign-policy decision-making? In particular, why do leaders justify policy decisions with appeals to international law and why do these appeals make the references that they do? This paper combines scholarship on the role of justifications and the permissive power of international law, theorizing that decisionmakers will seek out international legal justifications over justifications that reference non-legal claims. These justifications are seen as particularly important in the contemporary world, reflecting the legalized nature of international relations today. In particular, decision-makers will especially prefer to reference codified international agreements over customary international law, seeing a particular value to referencing a written text even if it is not as directly connected to the issue at hand. These more general justifications are, in turn, preferred over non-legal justifications. This reflects the importance of international law in international relations—in a deeply legalized system actors feel compelled to portray their behaviors as legal, even if these justifications are tenuous or if pursuing them is time and resource consuming. The United Kingdom’s 1956 intervention in the Suez and the United States’ 1983 intervention in Grenada—are used to test these assumptions. Both cases support the theory: decision-makers prefer legal justifications, pursuing these over other options. In addition, decision-makers appear to prefer legal arguments built on codified law, keeping with the theoretical predictions. These findings deepen our understanding of how actors understand and use international law, its role in justifications, and the legalized nature of international relations today.
Publicness and commoning: Pandemic intersections and collective visions at times of crisis
Authors: Georgiou Myria , Titley Gavan
Published: February 2022

In this article, we examine publicness during the pandemic, with a particular focus on the conditions it creates or constricts for engagement, solidarity and collective action. We interrogate the intensive publicness of the crisis to reflect on its assumed and established equation with progressive political possibility – transparency, accountability and democratic procedure. Theoretically, we cut into the contemporary ambiguity of publicness by putting it into conceptual dialogue with the idea of commoning, a notion that speaks to the resources and political consequences of coming together, and publicness not as coexistence and speech acts but as a domain of struggle. By considering the intersection of publicness and commoning, we aim to provide one way of thinking about how and when public revelation can be oriented towards material and political change. We propose three lines of examination: publicness without commoning; publicness with contingent commoning; and commoning without publicness.
An anatomy of carewashing: Corporate branding and the commodification of care during Covid-19
Authors: Chatzidakis Andreas , Littler Jo
Published: February 2022

This article defines ‘carewashing’ as commercial branding strategies which commodify care and attempt to increase corporate profit, and provides the first theorisation and historicisation of the term. The first section of the article situates ‘carewashing’ in relation to longer-term strategies of corporate ‘social responsibility’ and cause-related marketing. The second shows how established corporate practices are being reinvented in an era of Covid-19 and amidst profound neoliberal instability. The third section focuses on specific examples of contemporary carewashing, showing their variation and pinpointing three tendencies: ‘opportunistic branding’; ‘community resourcing’; and ‘reputational steamrolling’. The concluding section argues that carewashing also needs to be understood as a political act which is involved in wider social struggles. It argues that, in the Gramscian sense, carewashing is part of a ‘passive revolution’ in that it is attempting to claim and demarcate the realm of care for corporate capitalism and against social democracy.
Factors that predict the referral of adult Modern Day Slavery cases to the UK's National Referral Mechanism
Authors: O’Brien Freya , Palmer Sasha , Blinkhorn Victoria
Published: February 2022

There is a high drop-out or attrition rate of Modern Day Slavery (MDS) cases in the Criminal Justice System although there has been a paucity of academic research examining the factors that could be related to this attrition. Similar work has been carried out examining attrition in rape cases (Feist A, Ashe J, Lawrence J et al. (2007) Investigating and detecting recorded offences of rape. Home Office Online Research Report, 18/07. London: Home Office). The aim of this study was to examine whether factors of MDS cases were associated with and could predict referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) (either by the police or other agencies). Two hundred and sixteen suspected cases of MDS were examined, 29 of which had been referred to the NRM. Content analysis was used to extract variables from the cases. These pertained to aspects of the offence (e.g. types of exploitation, offender strategies), the victim (e.g. gender, ability to speak English), and the offender (e.g. details on any recruiter, transporter and exploiter). Cases were more likely to be referred when the victim was locked, controlled or had their movement restricted, not recruited in the UK, when the trafficking flow was non-domestic, when debt bondage had occurred and when the recruiter was not in the UK when they recruited the victim. Cases were less likely to be referred when sexual exploitation was suspected, there was more than one victim and when the exploitation was thought to be occurring/have occurred in a brothel, massage parlour and or via a website. These findings may indicate that certain victims are more likely to come forward and/or that the cases are more likely to be considered MDS by those investigating the cases. Recommendations for practice include a consideration of the best way to handle suspected cases of sexual exploitation, considering adopting investigative strategies from domestic violence investigations, proactively addressing the gaps in the data and better linking of data. Limitations and future research ideas are discussed.
The 6 A’s model of social worker associations and COVID-19: A preliminary insight
Authors: Yadav Raj , Yadav Amit
Published: February 2022

This paper offers the 6 A’s model of social worker associations and COVID-19, which includes (i) ‘Apprehend’, (ii) ‘act’, (iii) ‘advocate’, (iv) ‘alliance’, (v) ‘an emphasis on solidarity and resilience’ and (vi) ‘a future prospect’. The model is based on the findings of qualitative analysis of social worker associations’ reports on COVID-19. It also offers insights that can be utilised in similar crises in the future.
Restricting access to property: Citizens, owners, residents, and claims to property
Authors: Hamill Sarah E
Published: February 2022

This article seeks to collate and compare the various restrictions on accessing residential property. These restrictions include those targeted at ownership, such as additional taxes for non-nationals or even outright bans on foreign ownership, as well as limits on who can use the property such as rights to rent or prohibition on vacation rentals. The article argues that these restrictions can tell us something about property law more broadly. In particular, these restrictions invoke a communal claim to otherwise private property. The article argues that the restrictions can be divided into those which target who can be owners and those which target the use of the property. The article concludes that the latter are to be preferred as the former are often discriminatory while doing do little to guarantee that residential property be used as residential property.
Ethical and regulatory oversight of clinical research: The role of the Institutional Review Board
Authors: McNair Lindsay
Published: February 2022

The history of clinical research is, unfortunately, filled with examples of research studies that took advantage of and harmed research participants, to fulfill the research goals of scientists. Over time, we have created a system of ethical codes, principles, and regulations that are designed to prevent these abuses and to ensure that the rights and welfare of research participants are protected and honored. This review article will provide a brief history of clinical research ethics and ethical codes, outlining how those codes developed into the current regulatory requirements for the ethical oversight of clinical research. Understanding the current human subject protection systems will allow researchers to use best practices for planning and conducting rigorous, scientifically valid and ethical clinical studies. Understanding the history, principles, and foundations of the development of this system will equip researchers to understand what resources are available to them and how to make the best decisions when confronted with unique ethical situations in the conduct of their research.
The Influence of Vitamin E and Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Reproductive Health Indices Among Male Workers Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields
Authors: Mohammadi Hamzeh , Golbabaei Farideh , Dehghan Somayeh Farhang , Imani Hossein , Ramezani Tehrani Fahimeh , Khodakarim Ardakani Soheila
Published: February 2022

The present study aims to investigate the effects of using the supplementation of vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids on reproductive indices among workers in an automobile parts manufacturing plant. The effect of exposure to electromagnetic fields on certain sex hormones and sperm parameters will also be assessed. The participants were deployed into four groups as per the double-blind block randomization method. Semen parameters and sex hormones of the participants were analyzed before and after 3-month consumption of supplements. The level of workers’ exposure to low-frequency magnetic and electrical fields was measured through the recommendation of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Univariate analysis of variance indicated that exposure to electric fields had a statistically significant effect on sperm count, morphology, and motility. The simultaneous consumption of vitamin E + Omega 3 had a statistically significant effect on sperm morphology and motility.
Simulation of Gamma-Ray Transmission Buildup Factors for Stratified Spherical Layers
Authors: Alfuraih Abdulrahman A.
Published: February 2022

Deterministic particle transport codes usually take into account scattered photons with correct attenuation laws and application of buildup factor to incident beam. Transmission buildup factors for adipose, bone, muscle, and skin human tissues, as well as for various combinations of these media for point isotropic photon source with energies of .15, 1.5 and 15 MeV, for different thickness of layers, were carried out using Geant4 (version 10.5) simulation toolkit. Also, we performed the analysis of existing multilayered shield fitting models (Lin and Jiang, Kalos, Burke and Beck) of buildup factor and the proposition of a new model. We found that the model combining those of Burke and Beck, for low atomic number (Z) followed by high Z materials and Kalos 1 for high Z followed by low Z materials, accurately reproduces simulation results with approximated deviation of 3 ± 3%, 2 ± 2%, and 3 ± 2% for 2, 3, and 4 layers, respectively. Since buildup factors are the key parameter for point kernel calculations, a correct study can be of great interest to the large community of radiation physicists, in general, and to medical imaging and radiotreatment physicists, especially.
‘I Enjoy Having Someone to Rant to, I Feel Like Someone is Listening to Me’: Exploring Emotion in the Use of Qualitative, Longitudinal Diary-Based Methods
Authors: Scott Stephanie
Published: February 2022

Emotions and the emotional labour of researchers have been increasingly recognised in social science disciplines, with many researchers providing personal and reflexive accounts. Such debates are less well recognised in health-related disciplines, particularly public health, who remain at earlier stages of valuing and understanding qualitative research. Drawing on personal experiences and methodological reflections gathered from a qualitative study, undertaken with young people over the course of 16 months during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, UK, the aim of this article is to offer further insight into the impact of researcher emotion, by specifically focussing on longitudinal, diary-based methods. My reflections are framed as three overlapping and intersecting themes. First, that qualitative longitudinal methods (and diary studies in particular) have enormous potential to curate rich emotional narratives. Second, that despite these positives, there are tensions or conflicting dynamics in using a method which helps to explore young people’s emotions but also involves emotional labour for the researcher. Third, that greater attention should be paid to ensuring ethical care for researchers, particularly those engaging with qualitative longitudinal and/or creative methods. Such strategies should not solely rely on self-care and must be considered at institutional or funding body level. To this end, my personal experiences and reflections, as well as those from previous offerings, are used here to underpin a framework for researchers or research teams embarking upon novel qualitative longitudinal methods: 1. Do not underestimate emotional burden. 2. Ensure meaningful debriefing is available. 3. Establish boundaries. 4. Make space for emotion throughout fieldwork as well as during analysis and writing (‘entering and exiting the field’).
Research of visual attention in basketball shooting: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Sirnik Matic , Erčulj Frane , Rošker Jernej
Published: February 2022

Visual attention has a significant impact on shooting performance in basketball. Over the past 35 years, researchers have explored individual concepts of visual attention, such as gaze fixation, the number and direction of saccades, and their effects on shooting accuracy. The last gaze fixation, also known as the quiet eye, was found to be particularly important. The aim of this paper was therefore to systematically review the literature to present how visual attention and the quiet eye contribute to shooting performance and how they are affected by anxiety, training, defensive pressure, and fatigue. The 26 articles selected were divided into two categories; the first category included studies that examined visual attention during free throws, and the second category included studies examining jump shots. In addition, we performed a meta-analytic comparison to determine whether the duration of the quiet eye differs with respect to temporal constraints. Results show that for both jump shots with or without defence and free throws, a longer quiet eye durations and a lower number of gaze fixations are associated with better performance. For a successful shot, the quiet eye phase must occur at the right moment, which is likely due to visuomotor reaction latency prior to elbow extension. Furthermore, improvement in shooting performance can be achieved through quiet eye training or traditional training. Nevertheless, individual factors such as quiet eye timing, systematic training, and visual attention in top basketball players of different playing positions need to be further explored as this will provide even more information for individual’s improvement.
Establishing Diagnostic Criteria for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 3]
Authors: Hilton Bryn , Gardner Emma L. , Jiang Zhilin , Tetreault Lindsay , Wilson Jamie R. F. , Zipser Carl Moritz , Riew K. Daniel , Guest James D. , Harrop James S. , Fehlings Michael G. , Rodrigues-Pinto Ricardo , Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa , Aarabi Bizhan , Koljonen Paul A. , Kotter Mark R. N. , Davies Benjamin M. , Kwon Brian K.
Published: February 2022

Study Design:

Narrative review.

Objectives:

To discuss the importance of establishing diagnostic criteria in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM), including factors that must be taken into account and challenges that must be overcome in this process.

Methods:

Literature review summarising current evidence of establishing diagnostic criteria for DCM.

Results:

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is characterised by a degenerative process of the cervical spine resulting in chronic spinal cord dysfunction and subsequent neurological disability. Diagnostic delays lead to progressive neurological decline with associated reduction in quality of life for patients. Surgical decompression may halt neurologic worsening and, in many cases, improves function. Therefore, making a prompt diagnosis of DCM in order to facilitate early surgical intervention is a clinical priority in DCM.

Conclusion:

There are often extensive delays in the diagnosis of DCM. Presently, no single set of diagnostic criteria exists for DCM, making it challenging for clinicians to make the diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis and subsequent specialist referral could lead to improved patient outcomes using existing treatment modalities.
Developing Novel Therapies for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 7]: Opportunities From Restorative Neurobiology
Authors: Gharooni Aref-Ali , Kwon Brian K. , Fehlings Michael G. , Boerger Timothy F. , Rodrigues-Pinto Ricardo , Koljonen Paul Aarne , Kurpad Shekar N. , Harrop James S. , Aarabi Bizhan , Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa , Wilson Jefferson R. , Davies Benjamin M. , Kotter Mark R. N. , Guest James D.
Published: February 2022

Study design

Narrative review.

Objectives

To provide an overview of contemporary therapies for the James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) question: ‘Can novel therapies, including stem-cell, gene, pharmacological and neuroprotective therapies, be identified to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with DCM and slow down disease progression?’

Methods

A review of the literature was conducted to outline the pathophysiology of DCM and present contemporary therapies that may hold therapeutic value in 3 broad categories of neuroprotection, neuroregeneration, and neuromodulation.

Results

Chronic spinal cord compression leads to ischaemia, neuroinflammation, demyelination, and neuronal loss. Surgical intervention may halt progression and improve symptoms, though the majority do not make a full recovery leading to lifelong disability. Neuroprotective agents disrupt deleterious secondary injury pathways, and one agent, Riluzole, has undergone Phase-III investigation in DCM. Although it did not show efficacy on the primary outcome modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale, it showed promising results in pain reduction. Regenerative approaches are in the early stage, with one agent, Ibudilast, currently in a phase-III investigation. Neuromodulation approaches aim to therapeutically alter the state of spinal cord excitation by electrical stimulation with a variety of approaches. Case studies using electrical neuromuscular and spinal cord stimulation have shown positive therapeutic utility.

Conclusion

There is limited research into interventions in the 3 broad areas of neuroprotection, neuroregeneration, and neuromodulation for DCM. Contemporary and novel therapies for DCM are now a top 10 priority, and whilst research in these areas is limited in DCM, it is hoped that this review will encourage research into this priority.
Assessing the Clinical Consequences of Untreated Caries in 8- to 10-Year-Old Children with Pufa Index
Authors: Gören Berrin Deniz , Derelioğlu Sera Şimşek , Yılmaz Sinan
Published: February 2022

Aim:

The aim of this study is to assess the oral health conditions of 8- to 10-year-old students in the mixed dentition stage in Erzurum, Turkey, by determining their dental caries’ status and the soft tissue damages by untreated caries.

Materials and Methods:

The study was carried out in two randomly selected schools in the residential areas populated predominantly by families with mid-and-low socioeconomic levels. A total of 586 children, 275 girls, and 365 boys with a mean age of 8.95 ± 0.8 participated in the study. Number of decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth in the permanent dentition/number of decayed and filled teeth in the primary dentition (DMFT/dft) and visible pulpal involvement (P/p), ulceration caused by dislocated tooth fragments (U/u), fistula (F/f) and abscess (A/a) (PUFA)/pufa indices are included in the clinical examination section of the study. Obtained data were analyzed with SPSS (IBM Corp. 2013, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY).

Results:

Our research revealed a DMFT score of 2.43 ± 1.7, dft 4.12 ± 2.7, pufa 0.75 ±1.2, PUFA 0.05± 0.24, a caries frequency of 96.1, PUFA/pufa frequency of 40.9, and untreated caries PUFA/pufa ratio was found as 13.3%. A significant difference with positive correlation was found between d and pufa scores ( P < .01). Increasing DMFT, decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) in the permanent dentition, and decreasing dft, decayed, and filled surfaces (dfs) in the primary dentition, and pufa scores with the age increment were found to be significant ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

The frequency of soft tissue damage associated with untreated caries, caries index scores, and frequency of dental caries was found to be quite high in the study population consisting of children belonging to families with similar socioeconomic status.
Accessible Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility: Development and Preliminary Evaluation of an Online Module
Authors: Rossetti Alessandra , Van Waes Luuk
Published: February 2022

Communicating clearly about their socially responsible activities is becoming increasingly important for companies, as a growing number of stakeholders with different goals, knowledge, and language skills seek information on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Furthermore, the ability to communicate clearly is particularly appreciated in the workplace. To fill a gap in CSR communication training, this article describes the development and preliminary evaluation of an interdisciplinary and multimodal online module whose goal is to train Dutch-speaking business students in the production of accessible CSR content in English. After presenting our module, we discuss its implications for future training and for corporate communication.
Predatory Inclusion in the Market for Rental Housing: A Multicity Empirical Test
Authors: Besbris Max , Kuk John , Owens Ann , Schachter Ariela
Published: February 2022

Using a unique data set of millions of advertisements for rental housing and data on the geographic distribution of housing voucher holders, we examine the limits of housing market policies that rely on private-market landlords to meet public needs. We find that although advertised affordable housing is more prevalent in some zip codes than others, voucher households are more geographically clustered than affordable housing. Moreover, voucher holders are overly concentrated in “lower opportunity” zip codes, those with fewer resources for children’s well-being, despite the advertisement of affordable housing in higher opportunity neighborhoods. Using text-analysis techniques, we identify advertisements that explicitly accept or reject voucher holders and find that ads seeking voucher-holding tenants are overrepresented in lower opportunity neighborhoods. We evaluate the significance of these findings for theories of predatory inclusion.
How Is It To Be Done? Building a Social Science of Radical Reform
Authors: Jackson Michelle
Published: February 2022

The science of inequality has delivered robust evidence on the depth and severity of inequality in the contemporary United States. Yet despite the accumulation of evidence highlighting the consequences of profound inequality for individuals and communities, our inequality policy is largely focused on incremental interventions. Faced with this disconnect, sociologists reasonably ask what can be done to forge closer links between research and policy. In this commentary, for the Socius “Special Collection: Sociology’s Role in Responding to Inequality,” I consider just how such links might be forged. I argue that we must invest in infrastructures that support sociologists in developing policies that reflect the ambition and insights of our discipline. Of special importance is building institutions that increase cross-disciplinary research communication, improve access to administrative data, and increase the influence of sociologists in the public sphere.