bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Function of Play in Low Vision Children (Part 1): A Review of the Research and Literature
Authors: Parsons Sandy
Published: August 2021

Play is important in the growth and development of young children. Throughout the early years, play routines provide opportunities for learning new information and perfecting new skills. Many benefits of play have been discussed in the literature including concepts acquired, developing competence, releasing tension, and therapeutic results. Other uses of play include an alternative approach to assessment and intervention programming. This review synthesizes viewpoints on the various functions of play, and provides an overview of available information on effects of visual impairment on play patterns. The importance of play as a medium for learning and a showcase of acquired concepts is stressed. Specific needs for research on the play behavior of young children with low vision are identified.
Sport Socialization of Blind Athletes: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Sherrill Claudine , Pope Carol , Arnhold Robert
Published: August 2021

Because the United States Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) is the only organization that offers national competition in two or more sports for blind persons, and because few athletes take advantage of the opportunities presented, the USABA was selected as the population to be studied with the aim of gaining insight into social systems which contribute to sport socialization of blind persons. Interview data were obtained from 133 athletes (44% of entrants) competing in the sixth national USABA games. Findings are presented as percentages and chi-square values for personal attributes, socializing agents, and socializing situations. Information is given also on national meets: number of events entered, frequency of participation in each sport, and amount of training or practice before competition. The social learning model (Bandura, 1969; Kenyon & McPherson, 1973) is used as the theoretical framework of the study. Findings are discussed with reference to what is known about sport socialization of sighted athletes.
Blind and Visually Impaired Young Canadians S.C.O.R.E. at Computer Camp
Authors: Scanlon Alayne
Published: August 2021

A monthly section highlighting the impact of technological development on consumers and the blindness/visual impairment field. We need your support. Please send news, reviews, and descriptions of new hardware, software, interfacing ideas, prototypes, training programs, job opportunities, volunteer usage, user evaluations, educational opportunities, exhibits—in short, anything and everything—to the Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 15 W. 16th St., New York, NY 10011. In addition, we will attempt to direct reader queries to the appropriate experts, and publish questions and answers of general interest. Ideas and suggestions are welcomed.
Function of Play in Low Vision Children (Part 2): Emerging Patterns of Behavior
Authors: Parsons Sandy
Published: August 2021

Patterns of play behavior in young low vision children in a structured free-play situation with toys were analyzed. The study included 18 children with low vision (20/200-20/800) ranging in age from 20 months to 4 years 4 months. A group of normally sighted peers was also included in the study. The children were videotaped during a 15-minute free-play session. The play behaviors were coded into four categories of play: functional, stereotypical, relational, and undifferentiated. The presence of visual impairment was associated with significantly less functional and more stereotypical play behavior indicating quantitative and qualitative differences between groups. Developmental patterns across age levels in the incidence of functional, stereotypical, active play and the number of different appropriate uses of toys generated were also analyzed. Significant main effects of visual impairment and age on these patterns were identified. Results provided evidence that the patterns of play in young children with low vision differ significantly from those of their normally sighted peers.
Spatial Mobility of the Visually Handicapped Active Person: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Passini R. , Dupré A. , Langlois C.
Published: August 2021

Specific aspects of mobility and spatial orientation of the visually handicapped have attracted the attention of researchers for a quarter of a century; generally speaking, their work can be placed in four fields of study. First, interest has been focused on the capacity of blind people to move unaided in various spatial settings and to mentally map an environment. A second preoccupation revealed by the literature has been the spatial information transmitted to the visually handicapped by tactile maps, by adapted sign system and by electronic guidance systems. Other projects have focused on the environment in which visually handicapped move and on the environmental aspects that affect their mobility. Finally, some researchers have investigated how the development of technical aids has facilitated the mobility of blind people.
The Use of Echolocation as a Mobility Aid for Blind Persons
Authors: Boehm R.
Published: August 2021

This study concerns echolocation as a viable means for the enhancement of mobility for visually impaired and blind persons. The experimental group: five totally blind subjects, one with light perception only; the control group: eleven sighted, blindfolded subjects. Results showed a significant difference between the two groups’ ability to identify obstacles correctly using reflected sounds (echoes) with the experimental group being much more proficient.
Exposure Therapy in the Treatment of a Phobic Blind Person
Authors: Thyer B. A. , Stocks J. T.
Published: August 2021

A persistent and irrational fear of riding elevators was handicapping a blind client's mobility. Brief treatment involving real-life graduated therapeutic exposure to elevator-related stimuli effectively alleviated these fears in a single treatment lasting 90 minutes. This case history illustrates that exposure therapy, the treatment of choice for most phobic disorders, can be readily adapted to meet the special needs of visually impaired and blind individuals suffering from irrational fears.
Current Therapeutic Approaches to Subglottic Stenosis in Patients With GPA: A Systematic Review
Authors: Almuhanna Ashjan , Almahboob Ayshah , Alhussien Ahmed , Aljurayyed Reem , Alammar Ahmed
Published: August 2021

Background:

The management of subglottic stenosis (SGS) in granulomatosis patients with polyangiitis (GPA) has no clear guidelines. This systematic review aimed to identify different surgical techniques and evaluate the outcomes of applied procedures.

Methods:

An electronic search was performed using 3 major databases, CINAHL, PubMed, and Clinical key, to include relevant studies published from the databases from inception through January 2017. All primary studies reporting treatment of SGS in cases with GPA were included. Articles were excluded if not relevant to the research topic or if they were duplicates, review articles, editorials, short comments, unpublished data, conference abstracts, case reports, animal studies, or non-English studies.

Results:

Thirteen papers were included in our systematic review with a total of 267 cases for the qualitative review Endoscopic approaches showed favorable outcomes with the need to use multiple procedures to achieve remission. The open transcervical approach showed excellent results mainly after failure of other endoscopic techniques. Tracheostomy was necessary for severe respiratory obstruction symptoms. Medical treatment was essential for stabilizing the active disease and therefore may enhance the success rate postoperatively.

Conclusion:

Subglottic stenosis in patients with GPA requires a multidisciplinary approach to provide optimal management regarding disease activity, grade of stenosis, and severity of symptoms.
Management of the penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer in the descending thoracic aorta
Authors: Meharban Nehman , Munir Wahaj , Idhrees Mohammed , Bashir Ali , Bashir Mohamad
Published: August 2021

Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers present with an insidious onset with a reported mortality of 9%, varying across populations. With vast arrays of risk factors and potentially ominous complications, it is vital to efficiently provide optimum strategies for management. There exists controversy in the literature regarding management, especially for Type B penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers; the decision-making framework encompasses numerous factors in considerations for medical management versus invasive intervention and choice of endovascular versus open repair in the latter. The concomitant presence of intramural haematoma adds further complexity to the already intricate decision-making for management. We performed searches through PubMed and SCOPUS analysing studies reporting outcomes for management strategies for penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers treatment, focusing on Type B, further seeking to analyse studies reporting their experiences of PAU patients with concomitant intramural haematoma. Our review highlights the ambiguity and controversy existing in the literature, comprising studies burdened by their inherent hindering limitations of their single-centre retrospective experiences. Endovascular therapy has come to the forefront of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers management, often considered first line therapy. In the case of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers alongside intramural haematoma, there have been reports of potential hybrid surgical approaches to management. Studies further show misdiagnosis of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers in earlier data sets further complicates management. However, it is clear we must progress on the journey towards precision medicine, allowing delivery of optimum care to our patients.
Transformation of non-small cell lung cancer into small cell lung cancer in a patient with advanced lung cancer: a case report
Authors: Yang Zhengyuan , Lin Yingcheng , Wang Hongbiao
Published: August 2021

Targeted therapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often fails because of drug resistance. Here, we report a 57-year-old male patient with stage IV small cell lung cancer (SCLC) transformation during targeted therapy. Chest computerized tomography (CT), hematoxylin and eosin histological examination, immunohistochemistry, allele refractory mutation system‐based quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of EGFR point mutations, and next-generation sequencing were performed for diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy evaluation. A combination of chest CT, histological examination, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the initial NSCLC diagnosis. Next-generation sequencing detected only EGFR exon 19 deletion ( ex19del) before treatment and later identified EGFR exon20p.T790M point mutation, EGFR amplification, myc proto-oncogene ( MYC) amplification, retinoblastoma 1 ( RB1) mutation, and tumor protein 53 ( TP53) mutation. Histology and immunohistochemistry revealed transformation from NSCLC to SCLC during treatment, which eventually returned to NSCLC. Drug resistance to targeted therapy for patients with NSCLC frequently occurs because of EGFR exon20p.T790M point mutation, TP53 mutation, RB1 mutation, and MYC amplification. These mutations are also the major determining factors of NSCLC outcomes. Therefore, next-generation sequencing should be performed to confirm drug efficacy during targeted therapy for NSCLC.
A Case–Control Study Evaluating the Impact of Dedicated Palliative Care Training on Critical Care Interventions at the end of Life
Authors: You Jee Y. , Ligasaputri Lie D. , Katamreddy Adarsh , Para Kiran , Kavanagh Elizabeth , Salgunan Reka , Gulani Perminder
Published: August 2021

Many patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of dying. We hypothesize that focused training sessions for ICU providers by palliative care (PC) certified experts will decrease aggressive medical interventions at the end of life. We designed and implemented a 6-session PC training program in communication skills and goals of care (GOC) meetings for ICU teams, including house staff, critical care fellows, and attendings. We then reviewed charts of ICU patients treated before and after the intervention. Forty-nine of 177 (28%) and 63 of 173 (38%) patients were identified to be at high risk of death in the pre- and postintervention periods, respectively, and were included based on the study criteria. Inpatient mortality (45% vs 33%; P = .24) and need for mechanical ventilation (59% vs 44%, P = .13) were slightly higher in the preintervention population, but the difference was not statistically significant. The proportion of patients in whom the decision not to initiate renal replacement therapy was made because of poor prognosis was significantly higher in the postintervention population (14% vs 67%, P = .05). There was a nonstatistically significant trend toward earlier GOC discussions (median time from ICU admission to GOC 4 vs 3 days) and fewer critical care interventions such as tracheostomies (17% vs 4%, P = .19). Our study demonstrates that directed PC training of ICU teams has a potential to reduce end of life critical care interventions in patients with a poor prognosis.
Reproducibility of MRI Features of Uterine Leiomyomas: A Study on Interobserver Agreement and Inter-Method Agreement With Surgery
Authors: de Lima Guilherme Castilho Sorensen , Torres Ulysses S. , Bueno Leticia Ferreira , Rodi Gustavo Pedreira , Favaro Larissa Rossini , Neme Glaucy Lane , Pereira Ricardo Mendes Alves , de Mattos Leandro Accardo , D’Ippolito Giuseppe
Published: August 2021

Purpose:

To evaluate interobserver agreement in the interpretation of different MRI features of uterine leiomyomas (UL) according to observers’ experience, and to assess the inter-method reproducibility (MRI versus surgery) regarding the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification.

Methods:

Retrospective study including UL patients who underwent MRI and surgical treatment. Four blinded observers (2 vs >10 years of experience) assessed UL regarding dimensions and volume; inner and outer mantles; FIGO classification; vascularization; degeneration; and diffusion-weighted imaging features. Uterine dimensions and volume were calculated. FIGO classification as ascertained by observers was compared to surgical findings. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates were used for interobserver comparison of numerical variables, and kappa statistic for categorical variables.

Results:

Thirty-five patients (26y-73y) with 61 UL were included in the interobserver analyses, and 31 patients (54 UL) had available data allowing retrospective surgical FIGO classification for assessment of inter-method reproducibility. Both groups of observers had good to excellent agreement in assessing UL (ICC = 0.980-0.994) and uterine volumes (ICC = 0.857-0.914), mantles measurement (ICC = 0.797-0.920), and apparent diffusion coefficient calculation (ICC = 0.787-0.883). There was substantial agreement for both groups regarding FIGO classification (κ = 0.645-0.767). Vascularization, degeneration and restricted diffusion had lower agreement, varying from reasonable to moderate. Inter-method agreement was reasonable (κ = 0.341-0.395).

Conclusions:

Interobserver agreement of MRI for UL was higher for quantitative than qualitative features, with a little impact of observers’ experience for most features. MRI agreement with surgery was reasonable. Further efforts should be taken to improve interobserver and inter-method reproducibility for MRI in this scenario.
Emergent Organizing in Crisis: US Nurses’ Sensemaking and Job Crafting During COVID-19
Authors: Sahay Surabhi , Dwyer Maria
Published: August 2021

Crisis situations may render some roles meaningless or modify the meanings of existing roles. In general, employees participate in job crafting to alter or redefine their tasks and relationships to enhance their meaningfulness. Drawing on Weick’s sensemaking theory, this article explores how nurses working directly with COVID-19 patients participate in job crafting amid a pandemic crisis. It proposes an iterative conceptual framework in which sensemaking via the cycle of enactment, selection, and retention informs job crafting, thus contributing to emergent organizing. This enactment of emergent organizing provides fodder for further sensemaking, which highlights the symbiotic relationship between sensemaking and job crafting. Practically speaking, in order to facilitate sensemaking, job crafting, and organizing, management must acknowledge and impart flexibility, and must be open to impromptu thinking by nurses.
Machining performance evaluation under recently developed sustainable HAJM process of zirconia ceramic using hot SiC abrasives: An experimental and simulation approach
Authors: Pradhan Subhadip , Das Sudhansu Ranjan , Jena Pankaj Charan , Dhupal Debabrata
Published: August 2021

The proposed research work accomplishes the experimental study and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique for erosive footprint prediction extent in hot abrasive jet machining (HAJMing) constraints on target surface erosion rate, surface roughness of intricately shaped tapered holes generation. The CFD-obtained footprints were in superior agreement with experimentally measured data. HAJMing process uses a relatively high speed air-hot abrasive stream to produce both high accuracy micro-channels and tapered holes. HAJM also defines itself phenomenal competence over all advanced manufacturing techniques due to its growing demands for better surface reliability with defects (mostly stress, heat) free surfaces. Zirconia is widely accepted and associated in the non-conventional machining processes and industries with the years of track on record of proven performance in a vast number of brittle materials. Most perceptible act in this research is the selection of abrasive particle to achieve the appropriate intricate shaped holes on zirconia ceramic with hot silicon carbide (SiC) abrasives. Machining of these features are done with varying the abrasive temperature. Optical microscopic view was considered for the generation of machined holes during HAJMing. All the experimental data were presented to study the effect of machining constraints on target surface erosion rate and surface roughness using HAJMing. Single impact experiments were executed to measure the target surface erosion due to impact of individual hot silicon carbide abrasive particles. An experimental setup has been designed to conduct the machining trials using Box-Behnken design of experiments. It is also shown that the generated workpiece surface contour and erosion rate are the function of machining constraints which have a negligible influence on air-abrasive flow characteristics. This research work also deals with the sustainability assessment under environmental-friendly hot abrasive-assisted machining conditions.
A review study on the performance of a parabolic trough receiver using twisted tape inserts
Authors: Thapa Sashank , Samir Sushant , Kumar Khushmeet
Published: August 2021

Heat transfer in concentrating solar collectors like parabolic troughs has proven nowadays a very efficient method by using different passive techniques to increase the heat transfer rate. The use of passive techniques also increases the pumping power requirements to make the flow through the receiver. So, a number of researchers are working to find out the optimum performance conditions for parabolic trough receivers by using different types of inserts in flow paths. This paper presents a wide range of literature available for solar parabolic troughs in one place. Based on this extensive study, it is found that twisted tape inserts is a very wide field for investigation and the use of different shapes, pitch value, free space, and angle of twist tape are the parameters that can be considered for further studies to improve the performance of solar troughs. Also, various combinations of perforation and cuts on twisted tapes can be used to achieve enhanced performance.
Experimental analysis of mechanical behaviour and residual stresses of EN-36C alloy steel with and without tempering
Authors: Maurya Rajesh K , Niranjan Mahendra S
Published: August 2021

The intense demands of nickel chromium case hardened steel (EN-36C) alloy steel in different engineering applications are increasing day by day due to its cheap and easy availability. The effect of different stages of tempering on EN-36C alloy steel has been carried out to check the mechanical behavioural, microstructural properties and residual stresses in the present work. The effect of tempering on response variables viz., material removal rate, surface roughness, tool tip temperature and residual stresses are evaluated. The cosα method is used to measure the residual stresses in the specimen using two-dimensional detectors such as imaging plates. Further, the influence of tempering on mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness, toughness and percentage elongation has been observed. Experimental results depicted that the ductility and toughness are improved without significant change in hardness in the specimen tempered at 500°C. The mechanical properties of specimens tempered at 500°C are found to be a tensile strength of 680.42 MPa, hardness 92 Rockwell hardness of scale B and toughness 187 J. The maximum value of material removal rate (12596.80 mm3/min), minimum tool tip temperature (61.33°C), average surface roughness ( Ra = 1.93, Rq = 2.36, Rz = 10.30) and lowest residual stress 217 MPa are observed in the specimens tempered at 500°C.
“If a black hole is an oyster, then . . .”: The discoursal trends of popularization in science fiction movies
Authors: Babaii Esmat , Asadnia Fatemeh
Published: August 2021

Science fiction movies could play a pivotal role in making scientific discoveries available to the public. In this study, we explored the dialogue-based strategies these movies employ to appealingly communicate science. To investigate the discursive resources these movies use to represent science, we analyzed the content of 10 award-winning science fiction movies over the last decade (2010–2019). The findings demonstrated that although these movies deploy certain discursive features such as pseudoscientific hints, question markers, probability signals, statistical estimates, science boosters, paradox clues, comparison markers, exemplification, and figurative language that may influence audience thought patterns and a critical-reflective attitude toward science, they predominantly represent a partial distorted version of science characterized by inconsistency, inaccuracy, and skepticism. The study posits implications for science communicators to safeguard the legitimacy of science.
The Role of Emotions in Middle Managers’ Sensemaking and Sensegiving Practices During Post-merger Integration
Authors: Kroon David P. , Reif Hannah
Published: August 2021

In this in-depth, qualitative case study, we elucidate how the emotions of middle managers impact their sensemaking and sensegiving practices during post-merger integration (PMI). The recursive and reciprocal interactions between emotions, sensemaking, and sensegiving we observed led to the development of a process model illustrating how middle managers make sense of the PMI phase through the processes of “senseseeking” and “rationalizing.” The model further demonstrates two important sensegiving practices, “emotional reversal” and “emotional hiding,” which turned out to be essential drivers for enacting (positive) emotions among organization members. Our findings have important implications for research on sensemaking and sensegiving, the crucial role of middle managers in organizations, and studies on PMI.
Effect of inhaler and topical lavender oil on pain management of arteriovenous fistula cannulation
Authors: Tüzün Özdemir Sevda , Akyol Asiye
Published: August 2021

Background:

The recurrent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) intervention in the treatment of hemodialysis induces pain in patients. Lavender oil has analgesic, antimicrobial, and calming effects. This oil is widely used in patients to reduce anxiety and stress associated with pain caused by analgesics.

Method:

The present study is a randomized controlled and experimental clinical trial in which patients ( n = 90) who underwent hemodialysis with AVFs were randomly divided into three groups. The intensity of pain was measured in all patients at three different stages during the insertion of arterial needles for hemodialysis: (1) The topical application of 100% lavender essential oil, (2) the inhaler application of 100% lavender essential oil, and (3) no intervention. The placebo (water) was applied to groups 1 and 2.

Results:

Our findings revealed that the mean pre-application pain scores in hemodialysis patients were 57.58 ± 20.28 in the working group, 48.53 ± 20.23 in the control group, 19.49 ± 15.66 in the post-application group, and 45.33 ± 25.52 in the control group ( p < 0.005). The average pain scores after the application of lavender oil were 22.66 ± 15.35 in the inhaler lavender group, 16.33 ± 15.97 in the topical lavender group, and 45.33 ± 25.52 in the control group.

Conclusions:

After inhaler and topical application of lavender oil, a significant decrease in the severity of pain was recorded for patients at the time of arterial insertion of needles.
Exploring CSF neurofilament light as a biomarker for MS in clinical practice; a retrospective registry-based study
Authors: Rosenstein Igal , Axelsson Markus , Novakova Lenka , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Lycke Jan
Published: August 2021

Background:

Neurofilament light (NFL) has been increasingly recognized for prognostic and therapeutic decisions.

Objective:

To validate the utility of cerebrospinal fluid NFL (cNFL) as a biomarker in clinical practice of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods:

RRMS patients ( n = 757) who had cNFL analyzed as part of the diagnostic work-up in a single academic multiple sclerosis (MS) center, 2001–2018, were retrospectively identified. cNFL concentrations were determined with two different immunoassays and the ratio of means between them was used for normalization.

Results:

RRMS with relapse had 4.4 times higher median cNFL concentration (1134 [interquartile range (IQR) 499–2744] ng/L) than those without relapse (264 [125–537] ng/L, p < 0.001) and patients with gadolinium-enhancing lesions had 3.3 times higher median NFL (1414 [606.8–3210] ng/L) than those without (426 [IQR 221–851] ng/L, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of cNFL to detect disease activity was 75% and 98.5%, respectively. High cNFL at MS onset predicted progression to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ⩾ 3 ( p < 0.001, hazard ratios (HR) = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.44–2.65) and conversion to secondary progressive MS (SPMS, p = 0.001, HR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.4–4.2).

Conclusions:

cNFL is a robust and reliable biomarker of disease activity, treatment response, and prediction of disability and conversion from RRMS to SPMS. Our data suggest that cNFL should be included in the assessment of patients at MS-onset.
An estimate of the economic burden of venous leg ulcers associated with deep venous disease
Authors: Kolluri Raghu , Lugli Marzia , Villalba Laurencia , Varcoe Ramon , Maleti Oscar , Gallardo Fernando , Black Stephen , Forgues Fannie , Lichtenberg Michael , Hinahara Jordan , Ramakrishnan Saranya , Beckman Joshua A.
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

Venous leg ulcers (VLU) embody the most severe stage of the broad spectrum of chronic venous disease. Approximately 40% of patients with VLU present with the underlying deep venous disease (DVD). Although the data are scarce, these deep venous disease-related VLU (DRV) are thought to have higher recurrence rates and a substantial economic burden. The objective of this study was to assess the economic burden of DRV across Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to identify publications documenting the incidence and prevalence of VLU and DRV, medical resource utilization, and associated costs of DRV. Findings from this literature review were used to estimate the economic burden of illness, including direct medical costs over a 12-month interval following initial presentation of a newly formed DRV.

Results:

Total annual incidence of new or recurrent DRV in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and the US are estimated at 122,000, 263,000, 345,000, 253,000, 85,000, 230,000, and 643,000 events, respectively, in 2019. Incidence ranges from 0.73 to 3.12 per 1000 persons per year. The estimated annual direct medical costs for patients managed conservatively in these geographies total ~ $10.73 billion (USD) or $5527 per person per year.

Conclusion:

The availability of published data on the costs of VLU care varies widely across countries considered in this analysis. Although country-specific VLU practice patterns vary, there is a uniform pattern of high-cost care.
Review of piezoelectric impedance based structural health monitoring: Physics-based and data-driven methods
Authors: Fan Xingyu , Li Jun , Hao Hong
Published: August 2021

Vibration based structural health monitoring methods are usually dependent on the first several orders of modal information, such as natural frequencies, mode shapes and the related derived features. These information are usually in a low frequency range. These global vibration characteristics may not be sufficiently sensitive to minor structural damage. The alternative non-destructive testing method using piezoelectric transducers, called as electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique, has been developed for more than two decades. Numerous studies on the EMI based structural health monitoring have been carried out based on representing impedance signatures in frequency domain by statistical indicators, which can be used for damage detection. On the other hand, damage quantification and localization remain a great challenge for EMI based methods. Physics-based EMI methods have been developed for quantifying the structural damage, by using the impedance responses and an accurate numerical model. This article provides a comprehensive review of the exciting researches and sorts out these approaches into two categories: data-driven based and physics-based EMI techniques. The merits and limitations of these methods are discussed. In addition, practical issues and research gaps for EMI based structural health monitoring methods are summarized.
Character assassination as a right-wing populist communication tactic on social media: The case of Matteo Salvini in Italy
Authors: Berti Carlo , Loner Enzo
Published: August 2021

The article conceptualizes character assassination (CA) as a tactic of populist communication on social media by using the case study of Italian politician Matteo Salvini. CA consists of personal attacks aimed at damaging the reputation of individuals, used as political means to attack the “enemies of the people.” By means of CA, populists operate a shift from issues and arguments toward individual traits and behaviors. CA’s importance is linked to the features of social media communication (i.e. disintermediation, speed, virality, fragmentation, emotionality). The article uses content analysis of tweets, and qualitative analysis of relevant examples; it demonstrates the strategic nature of CA in Salvini’s communication and identifies five functions (i.e. polarizing, personalizing, symbolic, discriminating, emotional) of CA in right-wing populist communication. CA’s logic is unpacked, by showing how the delegitimization of individuals is used to reinforce a populist communication strategy. Potential implications and responses to CA are discussed.
Do Mock-Ups, Presentations of Evidence, and Q&As Help Participants Voice their Opinions During Focus Groups and Interviews About Supervised Injection Services?
Authors: Kryszajtys David T. , Rudzinski Katherine , Chan Carusone Soo , Guta Adrian , King Kenneth , Strike Carol
Published: August 2021

Controversial facilities (e.g., supervised injection services (SIS), methadone clinics, and social housing) may require feasibility studies that asses their acceptability among community stakeholders before their implementation. However, controversies about these facilities may make stakeholders ambivalent or hesitant to express opinions about them because various sources of information disagree about their harms and benefits. We responded to this challenge by creating and piloting the use of “grounding aids” or tools, objects, and methods used before qualitative data collection to provide research participants with an experience in which they can learn about how the controversial facility operates in practice. Before interviews and focus groups in a recent SIS feasibility study we conducted, participants were introduced to three of these grounding aids: a physical mock-up of an SIS, a presentation regarding evidence on SIS, and a Q&A with SIS staff. We then asked additional questions in the interviews and focus groups about participants’ experience with these grounding aids. With few exceptions, participants generally perceived the grounding aids to help them express their opinions without feeling that we were directing their opinions about SIS. Participants’ reasons for this included that the grounding aids helped them experience unfamiliar aspects of SIS visually and concretely, served as a cue for questions and as a reference for discussions, and personalized SIS and its operations. We also observed that they voiced less hesitancy overall regarding SIS than participants in our previous feasibility studies where we did not employ these grounding aids before data collection. Researchers planning to study perceptions of controversial facilities or other phenomena about which sources of information tend to disagree on may want to consider creating, evaluating, and using grounding aids to improve participant responsiveness.
Fifty-five years of managerial shared leadership research: A review of an empirical field
Authors: Döös Marianne , Wilhelmson Lena
Published: August 2021

Managerial shared leadership is a practice that goes beyond traditional ways of organising leadership functions. It is an organisational phenomenon where a few individuals share responsibility for the tasks of a managerial position. This paper reviews 67 empirical papers published in scientific journals. The review covers 55 years (1965–2019). The aim is to contribute knowledge about managerial shared leadership as a research field and offer some relevant theoretical concepts. No review to date has specifically focused on managerial shared leadership, and this paper intends to close this knowledge gap. The paper details the start of managerial shared leadership as a research field, presents a bibliometric analysis and the methodological approaches used, and describes the structural characteristics of managerial shared leadership. The paper includes a thematic content analysis of necessary and enabling antecedents and outcomes. Historically, the imprecise use of concepts has hampered managerial shared leadership’s development into a cohesive research field, so this paper develops and uses theoretical concepts to form a theoretical construct for the entire field. This construct is briefly discussed in relation to general shared leadership theory and critical leadership studies. In practice, managerial shared leadership may provide leadership solutions where there is an imbalance between demands and resources while managing complex situations.
Oxford guidelines for adult day-case tonsillectomy
Authors: Chaidas Konstantinos , Winterborn Claire
Published: August 2021

Oxford guidelines were developed after critically reviewing the existing literature and aim to assist anaesthetists, surgeons and allied healthcare staff in providing optimal care for patients undergoing tonsillectomy as a day-case procedure. Appropriate patient selection, provision of robust analgesia, antiemesis, perioperative warming and hydration are key factors to ensure patient comfort and allow same-day discharge. Patients can be discharged home after a minimum observation of 6h as this is the period with the greatest risk of primary haemorrhage. All patients must have a clear and safe understanding of which complications may occur and know how to seek help. A team effort and close collaboration between the anaesthetic, surgical, theatre and ward teams are essential to achieve optimum outcomes and reduce the rate of failed discharges.
Rotating cylinder and magnetic field on solid particles diffusion inside a porous cavity filled with a nanofluid
Authors: Aly Abdelraheem M. , Mohamed Ehab Mahmoud , Oztop Hakan F. , Alsedais Noura
Published: August 2021

This study deals with the roles of a magnetic field and circular rotation of a circular cylinder on the dissemination of solid phase within a nanofluid-filled square cavity. Two wavy layers of the non-Darcy porous media are situated on the vertical sides of a cavity. An incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method was endorsed to carry out the blending process concerning solid phase into nanofluid and porous media layers. Initially, the solid phase is stationed in a circular cylinder containing two open gates. Implications of a buoyancy ratio ( N = −2: 2), Hartmann number ( Ha = 0: 100), rotational frequency [Formula: see text], Darcy parameter [Formula: see text], Rayleigh number [Formula: see text], nanoparticles parameter [Formula: see text], and amplitude of wavy porous layers [Formula: see text] on the lineaments of heat/mass transport have been carried out. The results revealed that the diffusion of the solid phase is permanently moving toward upward except at opposing flow mode [Formula: see text] toward downward. The lower Rayleigh number reduces the solid-phase diffusions. A reduction in a Darcy parameter lessens the nanofluid speed and solid-phase diffusions in the porous layers. A reduction in [Formula: see text] from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] diminishes the maximum of streamlines [Formula: see text] by 13.19% at [Formula: see text], by 46.75% at [Formula: see text], and by 74.75% at [Formula: see text].
Understanding Drivers of Unsustainable Natural Resource Use in the Comoro Islands
Authors: Ibouroi Mohamed Thani , Dhurham Said Ali Ousseni , Besnard Aurélien , Lescureux Nicolas
Published: August 2021

The Comoros archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot by virtue of its high level of endemism. However, it suffers one of the highest rates of forest loss worldwide, mainly due to strong anthropogenic pressures. As Comorian populations depend on forest resources for subsistence, establishing relevant conservation strategies for their sustainable management requires the consideration of multiple stakeholders’ perspectives toward biodiversity and habitat conservation. To better understand the relationships between humans and nature; how comorian people use natural resource and the relevance of a protected area for long-term biodiversity conservation, we used Q-methodology to assess local people’s perceptions regarding biodiversity and conservation actions. Three discourses are identified during analysis: “Pro-environment discourse”, “Keeping things as usual” and “Social and environmental concerns”. According to the results, employed respondents, were favorable to long-term forest and biodiversity conservation. In contrast, unemployed respondents were in favor of more immediate benefits while unemployed but educated respondents were in favor to both long-term forest conservation and immediate benefits from forests. This suggests that poverty and a lack of access to basic services is associated with overharvesting of natural resources by rural people. These results suggest that biodiversity conservation of the Comoros archipelagos may benefit for plan aiming at (1) developing tourism and maintaining sustainable production of crops and livestock that could allow enhancing livelihoods and well-being of all social groups, (2) developing projects such as local markets that could allow villagers to sell agricultural productions, (3) setting up awareness campaign for tree-planting and reforestation. Reforestation could allow re-establishing natural plants and make large trees available for long-term purposes.
Professors Who Signal a Fixed Mindset About Ability Undermine Women’s Performance in STEM
Authors: Canning Elizabeth A. , Ozier Elise , Williams Heidi E. , AlRasheed Rashed , Murphy Mary C.
Published: August 2021

Two studies investigate how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professors’ fixed mindsets—the belief that intelligence is fixed and unchangeable—may induce stereotype threat and undermine women’s performance. In an experiment ( N = 217), we manipulated professors’ mindset beliefs (fixed vs. growth) within a course syllabus. While both men and women perceived the fixed mindset professor to endorse more gender stereotypes and anticipated feeling less belonging in the course, women reported these effects more than men. However, only for women did this threat undermine performance. In a 2-year longitudinal field study (884 students enrolled in 46 STEM courses), students who perceived their professor to endorse a fixed (vs. growth) mindset thought the professor would endorse more gender stereotypes and experienced less belonging in those courses. However, only women’s grades in those courses suffered as a result. Together, these studies demonstrate that professors’ fixed mindset beliefs may trigger stereotype threat among women in STEM courses.
Breaking It Down: Disaggregated Personal Finance Test Scores of Teachers and Students
Authors: Harter Cynthia
Published: August 2021

The financial and public health crises that have impacted the global economy in the past two decades have heightened awareness of the importance of financial literacy for consumers, businesses, and governments. This study uses secondary school teacher and student pretest and posttest scores on the Test of Financial Literacy to identify persistence and changes in learning for teachers and students by content standard. Using non-random data collected as part of Mississippi's Master Teacher of Personal Finance standards-based teacher training program, results show that teacher participants know a lot about personal finance prior to the training and learn more during the training while their students do not know very much about personal finance prior to starting a class that includes this content and know a little more when they finish the class. Disaggregating teacher and student results shows that teacher knowledge about financial investing is relatively low, and student learning in investing, saving, and insuring is also low. The study highlights the need for implementation guidelines for teachers and required assessment for students. Specifically, the guidelines and assessment could be used to reallocate scarce resources more effectively to teach these content areas where deficiencies are identified.
Association of vitamin D deficiency with clinical presentation of COVID-19
Authors: Almehmadi Mazen , Turjoman Abdullah , El-Askary Ahmad , Shafie Alaa , Rebh Fatimah , Alenazi Muhannad , Halawi Mustafa , Gharib Amal F.
Published: August 2021

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory virus, the spread of which has caused a global pandemic with catastrophic consequences. The current study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and the clinical presentation of COVID-19.

Patients and methods

The current study included 166 COVID-19 patients recruited from Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021. Patients were diagnosed by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. History and clinical data were collected for all subjects. In addition, laboratory analysis was done to estimate blood levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), D-dimer, calcium, and relative lymphocytic count. COVID-19 patients were divided into three subgroups according to their vitamin D status. Patients were considered sufficient when their vitamin D level was above 30 ng/mL. Patients with vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL were considered deficient. Patients with vitamin D levels ranging from 20 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL were considered insufficient.

Results

Our results showed that 81 patients (49%) were deficient in vitamin D, and 48 patients (29%) were insufficient in vitamin D. Only 37 patients (22%) had normal vitamin D levels. Moreover, a significant difference was found regarding the inflammatory markers of COVID-19 severity. Also, vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with the markers used for monitoring the condition of COVID-19 patients: ferritin, CRP, and D-dimer.

Conclusion

Our results showed that vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers of COVID-19 infection.
Evaluation of tree shade effectiveness and its renewal strategy in typical historic districts: A case study in Harbin, China
Authors: Li Guanghao , He Nan , Zhan Changhong
Published: August 2021

China’s rapid and extraordinary urbanisation has resulted in a dichotomy between the urban form of historic districts and that of new urban areas. Unlike the new planning of new urban areas, the optimisation of the thermal environment in historic districts is achieved through an important means of regulating the shading effectiveness of trees in street canyons, without destruction of current buildings in existing districts. In this paper, the sky view factor, an index for evaluating the shading capacity of street canyons, is used to calculate the shading efficiency of trees and reveal their influence mechanism by using a convolutional neural network (SegNet) to segment the Baidu street view images. The results show that: (1) tree shading in Harbin’s historic districts has a significant impact on the thermal environment of street canyons, with an average shade effectiveness of 56.3%; (2) based on geospatial autocorrelation analysis and a typological reconstruction of street canyons, the study reveals that tree shading has significant spatial aggregation characteristics in historic districts and proposes guidelines for the planning and design of different types of street canyon trees. The study provides important data and strategic support for optimising the thermal environment of urban historic districts in Northeast China.
Can urinary biomarkers be used in the outcome assessment of pyeloplasty in children?
Authors: Keshri Rupesh , Govindarajan Krishna Kumar , Rajappa Medha , Sambandan Kumaravel , Naredi Bikash Kumar , Jindal Bibekanand
Published: August 2021

Background

To compare the urinary biomarkers—beta 2-microglobulin (β2M), monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1)—in the outcome assessment of children with pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) undergoing pyeloplasty.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted on children with PUJO who had pyeloplasty in a tertiary care center from July 2016 to March 2018. Urine samples were obtained from freshly voided urine samples before surgery and after 6 months of pyeloplasty. Ratio between the levels of biomarkers and urinary creatinine before and after surgery were compared.

Results

A total of 72 patients had pyeloplasty during this period. The mean levels of standardized urinary β2M, MCP-1 and TGF-β1 before surgery were 3.94 ± 4.06, 96.63 ± 117.68 and 310.65 ± 423.87, respectively, which was significantly higher than the corresponding values in the postoperative period, obtained after 6 months of surgery; postoperative mean values were 3.12 ± 3.95, 25.28 ± 32.06, 109.95 ± 118.72 (P < 0.001), respectively. Using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, fall of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 was more significant compared to β2M.

Conclusion

Urinary biomarkers (β2M, MCP-1 and TGF-β) offer an effective way of outcome assessment of pyeloplasty for PUJO in children, especially MCP-1 and TGF-β1.