bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can’t clap to a beat? How rhythmically challenged people experience and strategize keeping time to music
Authors: Velautham Leela , Yoong Rachel Chen Siew
Published: December 2021

While the phenomenon of beat-deafness has been explored in clinical contexts, few studies have investigated how rhythmically challenged people experience the act of keeping time with music. Task-based semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants who self-identified as being unable to clap in time to a beat. Participants were asked to keep time with a gradated battery of musical stimuli using both claps and alternative gestures (e.g. head nodding, swaying) and to articulate their timekeeping experience and strategies. Analysis reveals three core themes: (a) an apparent disconnect between the act of identifying the beat and the physical act of clapping, (b) variation in strategies for keeping time depending on the type of musical example (i.e., whether the beat was explicitly played by a percussive instrument or not), and (c) variation in the ease of coordination and listening experience when a movement other than clapping was used to keep time. Despite being small in scale, this qualitative study sheds light on some of the underlying strategies and processes involved in beat abstraction and keeping time to music, informing options for the musical training of rhythmically challenged people.
Achilles Tendon Ruptures in Middle-Aged Rats Heal Poorly Compared With Those in Young and Old Rats
Authors: Leahy Thomas P. , Nuss Courtney A. , Evans Mary Kate , Fung Ashley K. , Shetye Snehal S. , Soslowsky Louis J.
Published: December 2021

Background:

Achilles tendon ruptures are painful and debilitating injuries and are most common in middle-aged patients. There is a lack of understanding of the underlying causes for increased rupture rates in middle-aged patients and how healing outcomes after a rupture might be affected by patient age. Therefore, the objective of this study was to define age-specific Achilles tendon healing by assessing ankle functional outcomes and Achilles tendon mechanical and histological properties after a rupture using a rat model.

Hypothesis:

Rats representing the middle-aged patient population would demonstrate reduced healing capability after an Achilles tendon rupture, as demonstrated by a slower return to baseline ankle functional properties and inferior biomechanical and histological tendon properties.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Fischer 344 rats were categorized by age to represent young, middle-aged, and old patients, and Achilles tendon ruptures were induced in the right hindlimb. Animals were allowed to heal and were euthanized at 3 or 6 weeks after the injury. In vivo functional assays and ultrasound imaging were performed throughout the healing period, and ex vivo tendon mechanical and histological properties were assessed after euthanasia.

Results:

Rats representing middle-aged patients displayed reduced healing potential compared with the other age groups, as they demonstrated decreased recovery of in vivo functional and ultrasound assessment parameters and inferior mechanical and histological properties after an Achilles tendon rupture.

Conclusion:

These findings may help explain the increased rupture rate observed clinically in middle-aged patients by suggesting that there may be altered tendon responses to daily trauma.

Clinical Relevance:

The results provide novel data on age-specific healing outcomes after an Achilles tendon rupture, which underscores the importance of considering a patient’s age during treatment and expectations for outcomes.
The Context of Caring and Concern for Falling Differentiate Which Mobile Fall Technology Features Chinese Family Caregivers Find Most Important
Authors: Mejía Shannon T. , Su Tai-Te , Lan Qingyi , Zou Ajiang , Griffin Aileen , Sosnoff Jacob J.
Published: December 2021

Falls are not only a leading cause of death and disability, but also a strain on the capacity for caregivers to provide care. This study examined how the context of caregiving relates to the importance of caregiver-defined mobile fall prevention feature sets. A sample of 266 family caregivers, recruited from a Chinese social media platform, reported care for an older adult and interest in mobile fall prevention technology features. Factor analysis identified three caregiver-defined feature sets: automatic fall response, digitized fall prevention tools, and social features. Multiple regression showed caregivers’ concern about falling was the most robust predictor of a feature set’s importance. Poisson regression revealed that caregiver concern and assistance with instrumental activities of daily living were associated with rating more features as important. Our findings suggest that caregivers are interested in mobile fall prevention technologies that support older adults’ independence while also alleviating concerns about falling.
Mine conveyor belt fire classification
Authors: Barros-Daza Manuel J , Luxbacher Kray D , Lattimer Brian Y , Hodges Jonathan L
Published: December 2021

This article presents a conveyor belt fire classification model that allows for the determination of the most effective firefighting strategy. In addition, the effect of belt design parameters on the fire classification was determined. A methodology that involves the use of numerical simulations and artificial neural networks was implemented. An approach previously proposed for modeling fires over conveyor belts was used. With the objective of obtaining some required modeling input parameter and verifying the capacity of this approach to get realistic results, computational fluid dynamics model calibration and validation were carried out using experimental test results available in the literature. Results indicated that scenarios with belt positions closer to the mine roof and greater tunnel heights require a higher longitudinal air velocity to be attacked directly. Furthermore, the belt fire classification model provided by the artificial neural network had an accuracy around 95% when test scenarios were classified.
The politics of emotion during COVID-19: Turning fear into pride in China's WeChat discourse
Authors: de Kloet Jeroen , Lin Jian , Hu Jueling
Published: December 2021

In this article, we analyse the most popular stories that circulated on WeChat public accounts concerning personalized experiences of COVID-19 in China during the first three months of 2020. Among these non-fictional online writings, we probe into ‘individual’ and mediated experiences with the coronavirus in China by questioning the visualizations and discourses of these stories and their producers, as well as the concomitant emotions they invoked. Parallel to the changing situation of the pandemic, we observe a diachronic evolution of emotions, from fear and doubt to (nationalist) pride. While articulating personalized experiences of the pandemic from disparate perspectives, the stories invariably built on, and were shaped by, the workings of the WeChat public account platform (公众平台) as evidenced by its content moderation logic and political economy. The analysis shows that emotions, rather than facts, propel the popularity of these stories. The measures taken by the state are mostly applauded, and only sometimes questioned; tragic memories are rewritten, and a political and economic order is consolidated.
A novel method to design tolerance of aero-engine casing by integrating 3-D assembly tolerance with performance instability
Authors: Kang Hehe , Li Zhi-Min , Liu Tao , Yuan Wei , Wu Yuping
Published: December 2021

Assembly quality of aero-engine casing plays a key role in the whole aero-engine, since it is directly related to the final function and dynamic performance. However, during the design phase, the tolerance analysis is usually conducted independently without any consideration of the effect on the dynamic characteristic. This paper aims to integrate manufacturing precision with dynamic performance instability together. First, the 3-D tolerance model of the aero-engine casing is constructed based on the Jacobian-Torsor theory. The target deviation from the tolerance model is defined as the input variable into the vibratory governing equation. Then, the effect of 3-D assembly deviation on the natural frequency is studied. The corresponding frequency distributions for different vibration modes are illustrated. Finally, the mapping relationship between assembly tolerance and fluctuation ratio of natural frequency is established through the 3-D fitted surface. Under the given constraint of performance stability, the optimized tolerance zone is obtained. This work provides a significant guidance for performance improvement and tolerance design in the aero-engine casing assembly.
Mechanical characterization of eggshell ash and boron carbide reinforced ZA-27 hybrid metal matrix composites
Authors: Singh Pawandeep , Mishra RK , Singh Balbir
Published: December 2021

This study aimed at discovering the influence of low-cost eggshell ash (ESA) and boron carbide (B4C) addition on microstructure and mechanical characteristics of ZA-27 hybrid composites. Six different composites were fabricated utilizing the stir casting technique with different weight percentages of ESA and B4C particles varied from 0-5 wt.%. Composites were tested for density, hardness, compressive strength, tensile strength, and impact strength. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized for the characterization of composites. Microstructure examination using SEM exhibited homogeneously dispersed reinforcements in the matrix. ESA particles decreased the composite density by 3.12%, and after the addition of B4C particles, density was found to be increased but was still lower than the base ZA-27 alloy. The hardness, tensile and compressive strength of the composites increased with the addition of reinforcements. However, composite reinforced with maximum wt.% of B4C particles showed a decreasing trend. The impact strength of the composites decreased when compared with the base alloy, but the reduction was marginal. Improved hardness, tensile and compressive strength of the composites was attributed to homogeneously dispersed ESA and B4C particles in the matrix. Higher tensile strength resulted from strong interfacial bonding between reinforcements and metal matrix, and low impact strength was due to brittle failure and plastic deformation.
Is information literacy ability, and metacognition of that ability, related to interest, gender, or education level? A cross-sectional study of higher education students
Authors: Nierenberg Ellen , Dahl Tove I.
Published: December 2021

How information literate are students in higher education, and how accurate is their metacognition related to that ability? Are students’ perceived needs to learn more and their level of interest in becoming information literate related to their pursuit of information literacy (IL) skill development? First-year undergraduates, master’s, and PhD students ( N = 760) took an objective IL test and estimated their scores both before and after the test. IL ability, as well as students’ estimation of their IL ability, increased with higher education experience and IL test experience, though also varied notably within groups. Low-performers tended to overestimate their abilities, while high-performers tended to underestimate them—both evidence of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Furthermore, gender comparisons revealed that men tended to estimate higher, and more accurate, scores than women. Finally, PhD students reported greater interest in becoming information literate than undergraduates. Although undergraduates felt a greater need to learn more, PhD students were more inclined to pursue IL growth. For both groups, interest in becoming information literate correlated far more with their likelihood to invest effort into developing IL competencies than their perceived need to know more. What implications might these findings have for how we conceptualize the teaching of IL?
Agri-input Buying Behaviour of Paddy Farmers: A Study in the Context of the New Normal Due to COVID-19
Authors: Haidery Ferman Haider , Kundu Kaushik , Sarkar Dev Narayan
Published: December 2021

Humanity has witnessed diseases and illnesses since the ancient days. These diseases and illnesses resulted in days of suffering leading to disabilities or deaths of many people within communities and are termed as epidemics. As the society progressed, widespread trade increased the interactions between human, animals and ecosystems, thereby increasing the occurrence of these epidemics, often named as pandemics. Several pandemics have afflicted the world throughout history, be it malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, influenza, smallpox, plagues or HIV/AIDS or the recent incidence of Novel Coronavirus.

Diseases affect the supply chain of farm produce and agriculture. Consequently, it may impact food security. It is assumed that pandemic affects the buying behaviour of farmers and it has the capacity to alter the buying behaviour of paddy farmers in India. In this study, an attempt is made to investigate the effect of certain factors on farmers purchase behaviour during pandemic situation among rice farmers in Chhattisgarh, India. The studied sample included 120 farmers in Dhamtari, Raipur, India, selected randomly. Narratives were collected from the farmers and were analysed using qualitative data analysis software. From the qualitative data analysis, the implication for marketers is that itinerant trainers should be sent to villages to train the farmers, especially the bigger farmers (who have secondary influence), on the new technologies in agricultural inputs. The farmers also influence each other, and some amount of training coverage may eventually reach all farmers. The local dealers and the village headmen should also be influenced. An attempt should be made to marry the new technologies with the traditional methods, as much as possible.
Development of an Integrated Approach to Virtual Mind-Mapping: Methodology and Applied Experiences to Enhance Qualitative Health Research
Authors: Ali Shahmir H. , Merdjanoff Alexis A. , Parekh Niyati , DiClemente Ralph J.
Published: December 2021

There is a growing need to better capture comprehensive, nuanced, and multi-faceted qualitative data while also better engaging with participants in data collection, especially in virtual environments. This study describes the development of a novel 3-step approach to virtual mind-mapping that involves (1) ranked free-listing, (2) respondent-driven mind-mapping, and (3) interviewing to enhance both data collection and analysis of complex health behaviors. The method was employed in 32 virtual interviews as part of a study on eating behaviors among second-generation South Asian Americans. Participants noted the mind-mapping experience to be (1) helpful for visual learners, (2) helpful in elucidating new ideas and to structure thoughts, as well as (3) novel and interesting. They also noted some suggestions that included improving interpretability of visual data and avoiding repetition of certain discussion points. Data collection revealed the adaptability of the method, and the power of mind-maps to guide targeted, comprehensive discussions with participants.
Modeling and simulation of ductile damage in forged steel used to encapsulate high-level radioactive waste
Authors: Serveaux Jérémy , Labergere Carl , Bumbieler Frédéric , Saanouni Khémais
Published: December 2021

Andra, the French national radioactive waste management agency, is in charge of studying the disposal of high-level and long-lived intermediate-level waste (HLW and ILW-LL) in a deep geological repository. According to the reference concept, it is planned to encapsulate high-level waste in non-alloy P285NH steel overpacks before inserting them into horizontal steel cased micro-tunnels. This work is a part of the study about the long-term behavior of a welded steel overpack subjected to external hydrostatic pressure and several localized loading paths.

Indeed, the main objective of this work is to develop the most suitable model for non-alloy steel P285NH to be used in the prediction of the long-term overpack behavior. Dealing with a ductile steel, elastoplastic constitutive equations accounting for mixed nonlinear isotropic and kinematic hardening strongly coupled with ductile isotropic damage are adopted. They are formulated based on the classical thermodynamics of irreversible processes framework with state variables at the macroscopic scale, (Germain, 1973) (Lemaitre 1985, Saanouni 2012). In this paper, a new coupling formulation between the scalar isotropic ductile damage and the deviatoric and spherical part of the Cauchy stress and elastic strain tensors is proposed. In order to calibrate the developed model on P285NH steel, multiple tensile tests are performed using classical cylindrical specimens, notched specimens and double notched specimens. In the last part, some experimental fields are measured using digital image correlation. Application is made to a simplified overpack represented by thick walled cylinder subject to compressive loading path. A FEM (Finite Element method) crushing operation of an overpack’s cylindrical part has simulated and analysed.
Rethinking Gifted Education in Tanzania: Toward Its Development in the Country
Authors: Milinga Joseph Reginard
Published: December 2021

Educating gifted and talented students is of paramount importance not only for individuals but also for enhancing a nation’s socioeconomic development, science and technology. However, while there appears to be increasing evidence at the international scholarly space on the importance of promoting gifted education, the situation is different in Tanzania where there is yet no systematic provision for it. This article reviews literature to establish the need for the systematic provision of gifted education in Tanzania and suggests ways on how its development can be initiated in the country. The article identifies areas considered essential in improving gifted education while promoting equity and excellence in nurturing the gifted in Tanzania. These areas are discussed within the context of the proposed model for developing a system of gifted education in the country. In this development, the article argues for the integration of prosocial education with gifted education for the desired future of Tanzania’s gifted education.
A Sociological Examination of Parenting Practices and Gifted Education
Authors: Ecker-Lyster Meghan , Coleman-Tempel Lauren , Gregersen Sabrina , Snyder Jamie
Published: December 2021

This literature review uses a socio-cultural lens to explore how income, race, culture, and parenting practices interact to cause, complicate, and further exacerbate the gap in gifted student identification. The article reframes the aforementioned factors using Annette Lareau’s work on concerted cultivation and natural growth models as a theoretical explanation. The authors recommend the following to address gifted education enrollment inequity: enhanced preparation and training of gifted student identification for educators, education about culturally relevant teaching practices, and improvements to the curricula in schools serving minority and low-income students.
Vibration suppression and dynamic behavior analysis of an axially loaded beam with NES and nonlinear elastic supports
Authors: Zhao Yuhao , Du Jingtao , Liu Yang
Published: December 2021

Recently, dynamic analysis of a beam structure with nonlinear energy sink (NES) and various supports is attracting great attention. Most of the existing studies are about the beam structure with NES or nonlinear boundary supports with zero rotational restraint, respectively. However, there is little research accounting for such two types of complex factors simultaneously. In this work, the dynamic behavior of an axially loaded beam with both NES and general boundary supports is modeled and studied. The Galerkin truncated method (GTM) is employed to make the prediction of dynamic behavior of such a beam system, in which the mode functions of axially loaded Euler–Bernoulli beam with linear elastic boundary conditions are selected as the trail and weight functions. Then, the Galerkin condition is used to discretize the nonlinear governing equation of the beam system and establish the residual equations. The Runge–Kutta method is used to solve the residual matrix which consists of residual equations directly, and the harmonic balance method is also used to verify the results from the GTM. The influence of NES on vibration suppression and dynamic behavior of the beam structure is investigated and discussed. Results show that the vibration states of the beam structure can be transformed effectively through the change of NES parameters. On the other hand, the NES with suitable parameters has a beneficial effect on the vibration suppression at both ends of the beam structure.
Balanced Budget Requirements Revisited
Authors: Kioko Sharon N. , Lofton Michelle L.
Published: December 2021

We test the effect of balanced budget requirements (BBRs) on budget outcomes using data published in audited financial statements. With a focus on the General Fund, we find states frequently reported deficits in their adopted budgets and relied on sizeable and favorable expenditure variances to close budget gaps before the end of the budget period. Empirical analysis shows that technical or strict BBRs procedures did not increase the likelihood that a state would report a balanced budget. We corroborate our findings using fund balance data. If technical or strict BBRs are effective, states would report higher fund balances, all else equal. Results show that states that adopted political BBRs reported lower fund balances. More importantly, the adoption of strict or technical BBRs did not lead to higher fund balances.
The relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and microvascular changes in retinal zones and optic disc in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ulutas Hafize Gokben , Guclu Metin , Aslanci Mehmet Emin , Karatas Gokhan
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to detect early retinal vascular changes with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients without diabetic retinopathy and to evaluate the correlation of the results with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).

Design

This is a case–control and cross-sectional study.

Methods

This study included 38 adult patients with T1DM, and 38 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Retinal and optic disc (OD) measurements were taken using OCTA. The carotid artery IMT of each patient was measured using Doppler ultrasonography. Superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ), non-flow area (NFA) and foveal density (FD) were analysed in the fovea centred 6 × 6 mm macular area. The superficial capillary plexus and DCP were also scanned centred on the peripapillary region. The correlations between OCTA measurements and carotid IMT, duration of DM and haemoglobin A1c levels in patients with T1DM were evaluated.

Results

The mean values for carotid IMT were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls ( p < 0.001). The mean values for vessel density SCP, DCP and OD were significantly lower in the diabetic group ( p < 0.05). There were correlations between the carotid IMT and duration of T1DM and the evaluated parameters of OCTA.

Conclusion

Microvascular changes in the SCP and DCP in patients with T1DM without DR offer important data. OCTA can be used to detect early microvascular changes in patients with T1DM without DR. In addition, a relationship was found between SCP vascular dropout and carotid IMT.
Indigenizing Forum Theatre through a strength-based approach
Authors: Lines Laurie-Ann , Marty Casadaya , Anderson Shaun , Stanley Philip , Stanley Kelly , Jardine Cindy
Published: December 2021

Strength-based approaches with Indigenous populations are recognized as empowering and promoting change, but there are minimal published explicit examples in Indigenous health in Canada. Working with three First Nations community partners in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, we explored an Indigenous strength-based application of Forum Theatre as a tool for mental wellness. Forum Theatre is differentiated by the interactive participation of the audience, who can change the play outcome. Collectively, community members were trained as community facilitators and used an Indigenous strength-based approach to indigenize Forum Theatre activities. We share strengths highlighted in our approach including inclusivity, relationality, language revitalization, intergenerational connectivity, team facilitation, partnerships, protocols, safety, empowerment, resilience, community connection, community-specific strengths, and relational responsibilities. An Indigenous strength-based approach must include the Indigenous group leading the project and has multiple benefits to the participants, facilitators, and community at-large, particularly when intertwined with relational, communal, and cultural assets.
How can we measure the creative economy? The Cunningham Project
Authors: Bakhshi Hasan
Published: December 2021

In this short essay, I discuss the challenges in measuring the creative economy and Stuart Cunningham's critical contributions to methodology and scholarship in this area, from his foundational work on the Creative Trident and his influence on the Dynamic Mapping to his ongoing conceptual contributions, as in his work on creative industries as social network markets. These contributions remain vital worldwide today, as controversies continue to rage on what sectors are a legitimate focus for industrial policy.
Social media engagements of music videos on YouTube’s official artist channels
Authors: Oh Yun Kyung , Choeh Joon Yeon
Published: December 2021

As social platforms become essential in promoting songs, many artists create an official channel on YouTube and encourage their fans’ engagements. However, little is known about the effectiveness of official videos in generating fans’ media engagements. We conduct two empirical studies to investigate the relationship between official video attributes, media engagements and channel subscribers. First, we propose a model to explain how music video attributes facilitate the relative social media engagements of a video. Second, we test whether three types of social engagements are associated with an increase in official channel subscribers. To do so, we collect social media engagement data for the 2896 music videos uploaded between May 2016 and April 2019 by 105 artists who own their YouTube official artist channels. The empirical evidence shows that the official videos incorporating visual, performance and storytelling components can generate more positive engagement from the viewers, while audio-only videos exhibit lower overall engagement intensity. Furthermore, we find that active media engagement, such as leaving ‘comments’, contributes to the increase in channel subscribers beyond the effect of the number of registered videos. Our results suggest that highly involved music fans may show the active types of social engagements, such as leaving a comment on live and follow-up videos. In practice, our findings imply that YouTube creators need to incorporate visual-focused platform characteristics to stimulate in-depth social engagement.
A randomized clinical trial of home telemonitoring in patients with advanced heart and lung diseases
Authors: Hernandez-Quiles Carlos , Bernabeu-Wittel Máximo , Barón-Franco Bosco , Palacios Alfonso Aguirre , Garcia-Serrano M Rocio , Lopez-Jimeno Wilfredo , Antonio Perez-de-Leon-Serrano Jose , Gómez-Barranco Jose Manuel , Ruiz-Cantero Alberto , Quero-Haro Manuel , Cubiles-Montero Elisa , Vergara-Lopez Salvador , Ollero-Baturone Manuel
Published: December 2021

Brief Summary

The addition of home monitoring to an integrated care model in patients with advanced chronic heart/lung diseases decreases mortality, hospital and emergency admissions, improves functional status, HRQoL, and is cost-effective.

Background

Telemonitoring is a promising implement for medicine, but its efficacy is unknown in patients with advanced heart and lung failure (AHLF).

Objective

To determine the efficacy of a telemonitoring system added to coordinated clinical care in patients with AHLF.

Design

Randomized phase 3 multicenter clinical trial with parallel groups in adult patients.

Participants

Five spanish centers including patients with AHLF at discharge or in out-patient clinics.

Intervention

Patients were randomly assigned to receive a remote bio-parameters telemonitoring system (TELECARE) or best usual care (UCARE). TELECARE patients were provided with devices that collected symptoms and bio-parameters, and transferred them synchronously to a call-center, with a real-time health-care response.

Main Measures

Primary end point was the need of admissions/emergency room visits at 45, 90, 180 days. Secondary end points included health care requirements, mortality, functional assessment, health related quality of life (HRQoL), perceived satisfaction, and cost-efficacy.

Results

510 patients were included (54.5% women, median age 76.5 years; 63.1% suffered heart failure, 13.9% lung failure, and 22.9% both conditions). Clinical and functional features were comparable in both arms. TELECARE globally needed less admissions with respect UCARE after 45 days of inclusion (35.4% vs. 46.9%, p < 0.05). This tendency was maintained in the subgroups of patients with multimorbidity (34.2% vs. 46.9%, p < 0.05), intermediate risk of mortality (36.5% vs. 51.1%, p < 0.05), and those included after hospital discharge (34.9% vs. 50.5%, p < 0.01). HRQoL significantly improved (TELECARE/UCARE EuroQol baseline of 56.2 ± 18.2/55.1 ± 19.7, p = 0.054, and 64 ± 19.9/56.3 ± 21.6; p < 0.01 at the end), and perceived satisfaction was also higher (6.77 ± 0.52 vs. 6.62 ± 0.81, p < 0.001; highest possible score = 7). A trend to mortality decrease was also observed (12.9% vs. 19.3%, p = 0.13). TELECARE was cost-efficacious (TELECARE/UCARE QALY 3.94 Euros/0.81Euros).

Conclusions

The addition of a telemonitoring system to an integrated care model in patients with AHLF decreases hospital and emergency admissions, improves functional status as well as HRQoL, and is cost-efficacious.
The effects of pre-task explicit instruction on L2 oral self-repair behaviour
Authors: Sadeghi Michael , Pourhaji Mostafa
Published: December 2021

The present study examines the effects of pre-task explicit instruction on second language (L2) oral self-repair behaviour while controlling for the effects of working memory. The participants were 121 Iranian learners of English at incipient levels of language proficiency. Their working memory was measured using an operation span task and then they were randomly assigned to a control and an experimental group. Both groups performed a picture story-retelling task that was preceded by five minutes of planning time. During the planning time, the experimental group also received a grammar handout that explained English relative clauses. The instances of self-repairs were identified through stimulated recall interviews that immediately followed performance on the oral task. They were then classified into categories of global form repairs (FG-repairs), local form repairs (FL-repairs), and content repairs (C-repairs). A series of one-way ANCOVAs were run, the results of which indicated pre-task explicit instruction had significant and beneficial effects on FL-repairs and adverse effects on C-repairs. The covariate was only associated with repairing the target structure. The findings are discussed in light of the Extended Trade-off Hypothesis and confirm the view that pre-task explicit instruction tends to foster a focus on form at the expense of meaning.
Psychiatric Evaluation in Chinese Criminal Proceedings:A Legal Perspective
Authors: Guo Zhiyuan
Published: December 2021

Psychiatric evaluation is widely used in criminal cases to screen people with mental disorder because insanity can either exempt the offender from criminal responsibility or mitigate his/her criminal punishment. The operation of psychiatric evaluation in China used to carry a typical characteristic of civil law tradition, but recent reforms have strengthened the procedural safeguards for psychiatric evaluation and stressed the requirement of its presentation and examination in criminal trials. This article will explore how psychiatric evaluation is conducted, and how the expert opinion is presented and examined as evidence in criminal trials in China. Part I will give a historical overview of psychiatric evaluation in China's criminal cases. Part II will introduce the current legislation on psychiatric evaluation in China. Part III will explore problems with current legislation and practice. In this part, high-profile cases will be cited to illustrate loopholes in the psychiatric evaluation law and practical problems with the operation of evaluation. Potential solutions to these loopholes or problems will also be explored. Part IV will focus on the presentation and examination of psychiatrists’ expert opinion in criminal trials. Although expert witnesses are also required to testify before the court in China, very few of them take the stand in practice. This part will discuss why reforms kept failing and what should be done to bring expert witnesses to court. Psychiatrists are important expert witnesses; the discussion of live psychiatrists will shed light on the appearance of all the expert witnesses in Chinese criminal trials.
Combating the ‘myth of physical restraint’ in human trafficking and modern slavery trials heard in the Crown Court
Authors: Murphy Jack
Published: December 2021

The greatest hurdle to an effective criminal justice response to human trafficking is the prevalence of myths about how exploitation happens and who ‘counts’ as a genuine victim. This includes the myth that, to be a genuine victim, an individual must have been subject to some form of physical restraint. Previous work has demonstrated how this myth undermines trafficking prosecutions in various jurisdictions. It has demonstrated that, in the absence of physical restraint during their exploitation, victims are deemed to lack credibility. However, what is missing in the current body literature is a robust analysis of whether something should be done to address this issue. By engaging with the foundational principle of accurate fact-finding, this article argues that some form of regulation of cross-examination in the English and Welsh jurisdiction, with a view to preventing this myth from manifesting in trials, would be justified.
Are all complainants of sexual assault vulnerable? Views of Australian criminal justice professionals on the evidence-sharing process
Authors: Deck Sarah L. , Powell Martine B. , Goodman-Delahunty Jane , Westera Nina
Published: December 2021

Cases of historic child assault typically rely on the complainant's narrative due to lack of corroborating evidence. Although it is important that complainants give their best evidence, concern has been expressed that evidence-sharing procedures are suboptimal. This study explored criminal justice professionals’ perspectives on the utility of introducing reforms to the evidence-sharing process. We interviewed judges, prosecutors, defence counsel and witness assistance officers ( N = 43) on the utility of regulating the questioning of complainants and of using video-recorded interviews as evidence-in-chief. Many professionals perceived that adult complainants of child assault were vulnerable and supported reforms to evidence-sharing. Primary objections to these reforms were the belief that all adult complainants should share evidence in the same way and the poor quality of investigative interviews. This study illuminates potential barriers to the implementation of reforms which would change how adult complainants of child assault give evidence.
Danish population health measured by the EQ-5D-5L
Authors: Jensen Morten B. , Jensen Cathrine E. , Gudex Claire , Pedersen Kjeld M. , Sørensen Sabrina S. , Ehlers Lars H.
Published: December 2021

Aims:

The aims of this study were to provide Danish population norms for the EQ-5D-5L and to assess the measurement properties of the instrument in a Danish population setting.

Methods:

We used data from the Danish 5L valuation study in which a representative sample of the Danish population completed the EQ-5D-5L and answered socio-demographic questions. We generated population norms for the five EQ-5D-5L dimensions, corresponding utility scores and the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) according to age and sex. Measurement properties of ceiling effects, known-group construct validity and convergent validity were assessed.

Results:

The mean EQ-5D-5L utility score for the 1014 respondents completing the EQ-5D-5L was 0.90 (standard deviation ( SD)=0.16). No significant differences emerged across age groups (minimum mean utility score=0.88 ( SD=0.19); maximum mean utility score=0.93 ( SD=0.11)) or sex (mean utility score for women=0.89 ( SD=0.17); mean utility score for men=0.91 ( SD=0.15)). Statistical differences were found across educational level, occupational status, income and living situation. Similar patterns were observed for the EQ VAS. Generally, respondents most often reported problems with pain and discomfort, but young women most often reported problems with anxiety/depression. There was a significant strong correlation between EQ-5D-5L utility and the EQ VAS and a significant correlation between overall health and each of the five EQ-5D-5L dimensions. The overall ceiling effect for the EQ-5D-5L was 39% (compared to 56% for the EQ-5D-3L).

Conclusions:

Danish population norms for the EQ-5D-5L are now available. We found fewer ceiling effects for the EQ-5D-5L compared to the EQ-5D-3L, and we provide evidence for convergent and known-group validity of the EQ-5D-5L.
Mental health symptoms during the first months of the COVID-19 outbreak in Norway: A cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Hagen Kristen , Solem Stian , Stavrum Anne Kristin , Eid Jarle , Kvale Gerd , Samdal Oddrun , Hellard Stephanie le
Published: December 2021

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major social and economic changes that could impact public mental health. The main aim of the current study was to investigate mental health in Norway during the COVID-19 outbreak (since the first confirmed case on 26 February 2020).

Methods:

The results are from the first wave of the data collection (1 April–2 June 2020), which took place during the outbreak along with its initial restrictions. A total of 19,372 (11,883 students) people participated in a cross-sectional web-based survey.

Results:

A total of 21.8% scored above the cut-off for depression and 23.7% for anxiety. Severity of symptoms was associated with the accumulation of risk factors, such as possible/confirmed infection for oneself or one’s family, female/other sex, students, having mental health problems, increased use of tobacco, increased use of alcohol, less exercise, losing one’s job, suffering economic impact and lower education.

Conclusions:

COVID-19 could have a negative association with public mental health, especially for certain risk groups. Future data-collection waves will provide further insight into the development of symptoms following the pandemic.
Book Review: Joo, Y.M. and Tan, T.B. editors. 2020: Smart Cities in Asia: Governing Development in the Era of Hyper-Connectivity
Authors: Laki Balazs
Published: December 2021

Joo, Y.M. and Tan, T.B. editors. 2020: Smart Cities in Asia: Governing Development in the Era of Hyper-Connectivity. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 224 pp. £85.00. ISBN: 9781788972871 (hardback).
Book Review: Bjarnesen, J. and Turner, S. editors. 2020: Invisibility in African Displacements: From Structural Marginalization to Strategies of Avoidance
Authors: Jordan Zoë
Published: December 2021

Bjarnesen, J. and Turner, S. editors. 2020: Invisibility in African Displacements: From Structural Marginalization to Strategies of Avoidance. Africa Now series, The Nordic Africa Institute. London: Zed Books. 312 pp. £24.99. ISBN: 9781786999207 (paperback).
Party Fragmentation, the Proportional System and Democracy in Slovenia
Authors: Fink-Hafner Danica , Novak Meta
Published: December 2021

In Slovenia, political parties have been the key actors in opting for a proportional electoral system and constitutional choice of a parliamentary system, both of which are believed to help to develop a consensual type of democracy. However, a vicious circle involving a fragmented party system and a proportional electoral system has not only led to polarisation within the party system, but has also contributed to problems of democratic governability and legitimacy. The destabilisation of the party system since 2011 has not only caused a crisis of political legitimacy and accountability, but has also contributed to a recent trend of de-democratisation. At the moment, there does not appear to be a realistic alternative to the existing electoral rules in the near future, in spite of recurring calls by an anti-communist party (Slovenian Democratic Party) to introduce a majoritarian system.
PrivItem2Vec: A privacy-preserving algorithm for top-N recommendation
Authors: Ge Zhengqiang , Liu Xinyu , Li Qiang , Li Yu , Guo Dong
Published: December 2021

To significantly protect the user’s privacy and prevent the user’s preference disclosure from leading to malicious entrapment, we present a combination of the recommendation algorithm and the privacy protection mechanism. In this article, we present a privacy recommendation algorithm, PrivItem2Vec, and the concept of the recommended-internet of things, which is a privacy recommendation algorithm, consisting of user’s information, devices, and items. Recommended-internet of things uses bidirectional long short-term memory, based on item2vec, which improves algorithm time series and the recommended accuracy. In addition, we reconstructed the data set in conjunction with the Paillier algorithm. The data on the server are encrypted and embedded, which reduces the readability of the data and ensures the data’s security to a certain extent. Experiments show that our algorithm is superior to other works in terms of recommended accuracy and efficiency.
Four-corner arthrodesis using the 4Fusion® quadripodal shape memory staple: a long-term review
Authors: Mevel Gwenaël , De Geyer Aymeric , Kim Warren , Ebalard Maud , Ropars Mickaël , Dreano Thierry
Published: December 2021

We investigated the reliability of the 4Fusion® quadripodal memory staple in a consecutive series of 59 four-corner arthrodeses in a single centre. Forty-one patients (46 wrists) had a radiological and clinical assessment at a mean follow-up of 7.4 years. Thirteen patients (13 wrists) were lost to follow-up. Bone union was achieved in all but one patient. Seven patients were reoperated, six for device removal and one for nonunion. Most patients were satisfied, had a functional range of wrist mobility, good strength and were free of pain, comparable with the best previously reported series.

Level of evidence: IV
Thermal explosion characteristics of a combustible gas containing fuel droplets
Authors: El-Sayed Saad A.
Published: December 2021

This paper investigated the critical ignition conditions of combustible gas containing liquid fuel droplets. The analysis is done based on the criteria of the thermal explosion theory. It includes analytical and numerical solutions of modeling equations of fuel droplets heating and evaporation by convection and radiation from the surrounding reactive hot gas. The exothermic reaction is usually modeled as a single-step reaction obeying an Arrhenius temperature dependence. The thermal conductivity of the fuel droplet is dependent on temperature. The analytical solution produced relations between the main critical characteristic parameters in all planes of the solution. The results obtained from investigating the effect of the characteristic parameters on the explosion behavior of gas and fuel droplets and the thermal radiation proved that both of them are significant. The study proved that the criticality definitions of the thermal explosion of a single-phase system can be used effectively and efficiently to determine the critical conditions of a multi-phase system. Finally, the application of the numerical solutions of the modeling equations was used to analyze the explosion characteristics of a diesel fuel spray system.
Rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair: A survey exploring clinical equipoise among surgical members of the British Elbow and Shoulder Society
Authors: Mazuquin Bruno , Bateman Marcus , Realpe Alba , Drew Steve , Rees Jonathan , Littlewood Chris
Published: December 2021

Background

We investigated clinical equipoise across surgical members of the British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS) in relation to rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair.

Method

An online survey explored clinical equipoise regarding early patient-directed versus standard rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair to inform the design of a national randomised controlled trial (RCT). It described different clinical scenarios relating to patient age, tear size, location and whether other patient-related and intra-operative factors would influence equipoise.

Results

76 surgeons completed the survey. 81% agreed/ strongly agreed that early mobilisation might benefit recovery; 57% were neutral/ disagreed that this approach risks re-tear. 87% agreed/ strongly agreed that there is clinical uncertainty about the effectiveness of different approaches to rehabilitation. As age of the patient and tear size increased, the proportion of respondents who would agree to recruit and accept the outcome of randomisation reduced, and this was compounded if subscapularis was torn. Other factors that influenced equipoise were diabetes and non-secure repair.

Conclusion

Surgical members of BESS recognise uncertainty about the effectiveness of different approaches to rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair. We identified a range of factors that influence clinical equipoise that will be considered in the design of a new RCT.
State-level Citizen Response to COVID-19 Containment Measures in Brazil and Mexico
Authors: Dunn Claire , Laterzo Isabel
Published: December 2021

In Brazil and Mexico, presidents failed to take swift, national action to stop the spread of COVID-19. Instead, the burden of imposing and enforcing public health measures has largely fallen to subnational leaders, resulting in varied approaches within each country and conflicting messaging from elites. We likewise see variation in compliance with social distancing across subnational units. To explain this variation, we contend that citizen responses are driven both by the comprehensiveness of state policies and whether they take cues from national or subnational elites. We hypothesize that support for national and subnational elites, and the nature of the state-level policy response, affect citizen compliance with public health guidelines. In both countries, we find that support for the governor has an interactive relationship with policy response. In Brazil, support for the president is associated with lower compliance. In Mexico, this effect is not present. We argue that these distinct relationships are due to the different cues emerging from each leader.