bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of variance reduction techniques in the simulation of a retrial M/M/1/K queue
Authors: Ishrat Ibshar , Arfeen Asad , McNickle Don
Published: May 2022

Retrial queueing systems play a significant role in the modeling and performance evaluation of various dynamic stochastic systems, such as computer networks, airlines, communication and financial systems. This article presents a comprehensive assessment on the applicability of three popular variance reduction techniques (VRTs) in the performance evaluation of an M/M/1/K retrial queue based on shortest job first served (SJFS) retrial policy. The M/M/1/K retrial queue with SJFS retrial policy is not currently analytically tractable. Therefore, the credibility of such queueing systems is heavily dependent on simulations and accurate output data analysis. We seek to identify the best possible VRT so that a system performance evaluator can focus on optimizing the accuracy of relevant performance metrics under study. A comparative applicability analysis of three VRTs, i.e., antithetic variates, importance sampling, and control variates, on the retrial M/M/1/K queueing model has been presented. Our analysis showed a significant level of reduction in terms of variance and confidence interval size of the final estimates for the control variates technique. Furthermore, it has been found that unlike the other VRTs, the control variates technique shows a consistent trend in variance reductions as the number of retrials increases.
Social pathologies and urban pathogenicity: Moving towards better pandemic futures
Authors: Atuk Tankut , Craddock Susan L
Published: May 2022

In this article, we suggest rethinking how to move forward in a way that better elucidates socio-economic and political factors driving inequities, and in turn points to more broad sweeping, deep-rooted changes necessary if pandemics in the future are finally going to be mitigated pre-emptively rather than reactively. To this end, we argue that a more comprehensive, flexible and incisive approach is necessary – a hermeneutic framework that focuses analytical attention and action on interventions upstream, on the multifaceted interrelations necessary before lives currently deemed disposable are lost. Unlike dominant public health and epidemiological approaches, that is, Social Determinants of Health and Syndemics, proven unlikely to fuel structural change or to enable pre-emptive response, we propose the framework of pathogenicity and apply it to urban contexts to answer questions concerning the relationship between microbes on the one hand, and on the other, the urban, social, political, ideological, global, scientific, economic and many other relations that galvanise these into pathogens. By employing pathogenicity in the context of two case studies in the US and Turkey, we shift emphasis away from tackling microbes to better understanding what makes those microbes, and even the interventions implemented to stop them, so destructive.
The framing of urban values and qualities in inter-organisational settings: The case of ground floor planning in Gothenburg, Sweden
Authors: Molnar Stefan
Published: May 2022

This article’s overall purpose is to contribute to the recent discussion between the literatures of valuation studies and urban studies. The paper aims to do this by generating knowledge on the framing of urban values and qualities in inter-organisational settings making up wider urban development projects. The paper makes use of a recent framework by Metzger and Wiberg published in 2017 in Urban Studies, although employing it in inter-organisational settings, rather than in the intra-organisational settings of those authors. It also adds a systematic focus on issues of value plurality. The paper pursues its aim by interrogating a recent case of inter-organisational ground floor planning in Gothenburg, Sweden. The article demonstrates how several organisational actors with different reasons for joining the scheme, repeatedly came to shift between different practices, scales, and devices of valuation. One implication of the paper is that the study of inter-organisational valuation allows the researcher to explore the plurality of ways in which actors with different goals evaluate development alternatives to keep the process going. Having said this, the paper also touches upon the fact that the value-agnostic sensibility of valuation studies risks making the researcher neglect power asymmetries.
Findings About Patient Preferences for Medical Care Based on a Decision Tree Method Study Design for Influencing Factors
Authors: Li Yu , Li Wen , Wu Zhihui , Yuang Jianhui , Wei Yanling , Huang Chao , Huang Daizheng
Published: May 2022

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of the medical-seeking behavior of patients in a hospital in Nanning and descriptively analyze the main factors to further improve the medical system and optimize the allocation of health resources. Subject and methods: The willingness to seek medical treatment questionnaire survey was conducted on patients who were in the outpatient clinic of a hospital in Nanning from Jun 2018 to Aug 2019. The patients’ basic information was analyzed descriptively using the SPSS 23.0 software package, and the influencing factors of the willingness to seek medical treatment were analyzed by univariate analysis method. In addition, the importance of influencing factors in patient preference to seek medical treatment was explored by constructing a decision tree model. Results: A total of 3428 questionnaires were valid and the effective rate was 93.78%. Region, age, occupation, educational level, monthly income, insurance type, and disease type demonstrated diverse influences on the medical expenses of patients. In addition, differences were found between occupation and patient insurance situation, personal willingness to seek medical treatment, reasons for visiting the hospital, medical selection standard, preferred medical treatment location for common diseases, waiting time, treatment time, and manner of understanding the disease. Conclusion: Increasing attention has been paid on the patients’ preference for medical treatment and their satisfaction with medical services. Medical institutions should reasonably allocate the proportion of medical insurance reimbursement and diversify the registration and appointment methods. Patients should be treated in different periods and properly allocated to improve the service mechanism of primary medical institutions. In addition, it is necessary to improve the medical publicity model and the efficiency of medical services according to the needs of patients, so as to relieve the pressure of medical treatment in large general hospitals.
Psychological and Sociological Profile of Women Who Have Completed Elite Military Combat Training
Authors: Tharion William J. , Friedl Karl E. , Lavoie Elizabeth M. , Walker Leila A. , McGraw Susan M. , McClung Holly L.
Published: May 2022

More than 75 women have successfully graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger Course since the integration of women into elite military combat training. This study sought to identify the psychological characteristics and sociological variables that contributed to their motivation and success. A guided interview and demographic and psychological questionnaires were used to assess characteristics of 13 women who successfully completed elite military combat training. Collectively, these women were college graduates and had well educated fathers, possessed high levels of grit and resiliency, and described themselves as self-competitive challenge seekers. These women all had a strong male influence in their lives. The characteristics of these pioneer women may be unique from subsequent cohorts as female participation in elite military combat training becomes the norm and as attitudes and experiences change for graduates of female combat training over time.
Speed control of PMSM based on neural network model predictive control
Authors: Mao Hubo , Tang Xiaoming , Tang Hao
Published: May 2022

In order to optimize the control performance of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo system, an improved model predictive control (MPC) scheme based on neural network is investigated in this paper. First, the dynamic characteristics of the PMSM are approximated by echo state network (ESN) to predict the future speed. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to train ESN output weights to solve the problem that instability of output weights caused by pseudo-inverse matrix in ESN weight solving algorithm, called PSO-ESN, which enhances the stability and the accuracy of ESN speed prediction. That provides future plant output for control optimization of the predictive control. Furthermore, in order to reduce the computational cost and improve the response performance of the controller, a fast gradient method (GM) is applied to minimize the quadratic performance index and solve the optimal control input sequences. The simulation results under three different working conditions show that the PSO-ESNMPC controller designed in this paper reduces the overshoot by 5.87% and the rise time by 0.036 s compared with the reference controllers and has better robustness under parameter changes and load disturbances.
Control and synchronization of chaotic spur gear system using adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode controller
Authors: Labbaf Khaniki Mohammad Ali , Salehi Kho Mohammad , Aliyari Shoorehdeli Mahdi
Published: May 2022

This study reports a novel adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode controller for the tracking control and synchronization of a chaotic spur gear system. The proposed novel control law attenuates the chattering phenomena of the conventional sliding mode controller. In addition, a non-singular fast terminal sliding mode surface is employed to remove the singularity problem, increase the convergence rate, and guarantee finite-time convergence. An extreme learning machine (ELM) neural network is utilized to estimate the unknown dynamics of the spur gear system and the reaching law coefficients; hence, this control scheme is a combination of the direct and indirect adaptive control. The adaptation rules of the ELM are derived based on the Lyapunov stability theorem to ensure closed-looped stability. Finally, some different numerical simulations are considered to check the validity and efficiency of the proposed control strategy compared with other control methods.
Self-employment experience effects on well-being: A longitudinal study
Authors: Litsardopoulos Nicholas , Saridakis George , Georgellis Yannis , Hand Chris
Published: May 2022

The notion that self-employed individuals are more satisfied with their jobs than wage-employees has found broad empirical support. Previous research exploring the well-being effects of self-employment typically relies on direct cross-sectional comparisons between wage-employees and self-employed or on longitudinal investigations of transitions in or out of self-employment. In this study, the authors use individuals’ employment status histories in British longitudinal data to examine how accumulated self-employment experience affects job satisfaction, satisfaction with leisure and satisfaction with income. The study finds that those with past work experience only as self-employed report higher levels of job satisfaction than those with experience only as wage-employees. However, individuals with mixed work experience profiles are the most satisfied. This suggests a non-monotonic relationship between self-employment and job satisfaction. Patterns of self-employment experience and other satisfaction domains, such as satisfaction with income or leisure, are more nuanced, differing across gender lines.
Automation and the future of work: An intersectional study of the role of human capital, income, gender and visible minority status
Authors: Petersen Búi K , Chowhan James , Cooke Gordon B , Gosine Ray , Warrian Peter J
Published: May 2022

This study extends prior research assessing the impacts of advancements in automation on employment by focusing on the effect on various population groups. Employing a human capital and intersectionality lens, and a moderated-mediation analysis of Canadian 2016 Census data, this study finds the effects of automation differ significantly depending on the intersections of income level, gender and visible minority status, differences that for the most part are explained (or mediated) by human capital, especially education. The article discusses several public policy implications related to the roles of individuals, employers and governments in addressing the resulting labour market challenges.
The Influence of Regional Resilience Elements on the Performance of Clustered Firms
Authors: Schmidt Vitor K. , Zen Aurora C. , Bittencourt Bruno A.
Published: May 2022

Regional economic resilience is a term used to describe the ability of economic systems to withstand, recover from, and adapt to different economic and technological shocks. The literature argues that clustered firms perform better than isolated firms in regional economic systems. This study aims to analyze the influence of regional resilience elements on the performance of firms in a cluster. Therefore, we surveyed 194 wineries in the Wine Cluster of the Serra Gaúcha (WCSG) in Brazil. We confirmed a positive and significant linear relationship among economic specialization, international relations, technological heterogeneity, and public policies. The case of the WCSG highlights the adaptation process as a source of economic resilience. After facing several shocks in its territory, the cluster was able to organize itself, recombining different knowledge sources to explore new economic paths. This study contributes to the theoretical and managerial fields by discussing resilience along the cluster’s trajectory.
Union Democracy: A European Perspective
Authors: Gumbrell-McCormick Rebecca
Published: May 2022

This paper, written partly in response to Steven Ashby’s article for this journal, ‘Union Democracy in Today’s Labor Movement’, explores the meaning and practice of internal trade union democracy in Europe. Agreeing with many of Ashby’s arguments around the importance and desirability of union democracy, I consider the definition of union democracy, and the question of whether and why it matters. I then present some of the main dimensions of the national models of the main western European unions and how they affect the practice of union democracy. These dimensions include the formal decision-making structures, such as those regarding the setting of policy, the election of representatives, and the payment of dues. Other important aspects include the reliance on paid officials as opposed to lay members and elected officers, and the degree of centralisation or de-centralisation. Beyond this, there is the question of the relationship between unions within countries, whether there is a single national confederation or multiple confederations, and the degree to which they are cooperative or competitive. This part of the article highlights the many differences between trade unions in the United States and in the major European countries. Despite these differences, however, unions in many countries suffer from similar impediments to internal democracy and are seeking ways to build greater democracy. I conclude that unions on both sides of the Atlantic have much to learn from each other, and that internal union democracy can increase the dynamism and effectiveness of unions in their struggles with external forces.
Trabajando en ambos: Toward a Race Radical Mode of Study in Urban Latinx Educational Research and Politics
Authors: Mayorga Edwin
Published: May 2022

Background/Context:

Over the last 60 years, U.S. Latinxs have become the largest minoritized ethnic groups in the United States and U.S. schools, and despite progress and investments attained through activism in the streets, in the courtroom, in policy, and in research, schools chronically underserve Latinx youth, and they are as undereducated and underprepared today as they were in the 1960s. Findings like low rates of participation in early childhood programs, low graduation rates, and underpreparation for college success have led policymakers and scholars to declare that we are in the midst of a “Latinx education crisis.”

Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study:

In this article, I think through the late Jean Anyon’s political economic “mode of study” as part of working toward a race radical approach to understanding and addressing the complexities of U.S. Latinx urban education.

Setting/Population:

The study takes place in the New York City neighborhood of East Harlem (El Barrio) and focuses on individuals and institutions involved in neighborhood politics and education.

Research Design:

The first half of this article is a theoretical analysis and discussion of Jean Anyon’s mode of study. The second half is drawn from a participatory historical ethnography I conducted with the Barrio Education Participatory Action Research (PAR) collaborative (#BarrioEdProject), which was comprised of myself and two college-aged youth co-researchers from El Barrio at the time of the study (2013–2014). The research collaborative designed and implemented the study, which included a series of multigenerational interviews, archival research, and observations of public events.

Conclusions/Recommendations:

If we are to robustly understand and address these issues, we must engage in a mode of study that attends to the ways the combined forces of capitalism and structural racism, or racial capitalism, give shape to the urban and educational ecosystems. We need to employ ways of knowing that are historical, holistic, and justice oriented.
#BlackLivesMatter: Exploring the digital practises of African Australian youth on social media
Authors: Moran Claire , Gatwiri Kathomi
Published: May 2022

African Australian diasporic literature has drawn attention to the anti-Black racism Black African young people endure in everyday Australia. By drawing on a multi-method approach consisting of social media ethnography and multiple participant interviews, this paper explores the use of social media by Black African young people (n=15) to visibilise their experiences of racism. We situate the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, as a significant ‘turning point’ when the social media practises of our participants radically transformed. Our findings indicate that prior to the murder of George Floyd, participants evoked careful boundaries around the type of racial content they posted for fear of the punishments or backlash that could occur if they disrupted the white racial comfort of their friends and followers. After the murder of Floyd, participants used the resurgence of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement to visibilise their own experiences of anti-Black racism and racial violence in Australia, sharing content on social media that marked whiteness, demanded safety and challenged white silence and performative allyship.
Music studies as cultural capital accumulation and its impact on music genre preferences
Authors: Cuadrado-García Manuel , Montoro-Pons Juan D. , Miquel-Romero María-José
Published: May 2022

Music preferences have been shown to be determined by a diversity of factors such as cognitive, emotional, cultural, or experiential. Having studied music is also a factor that has been considered from a musicology standpoint and is linked to the accumulation of cultural capital, as analyzed in cultural economics, arts management, and the sociology of culture. Research on how music studies influence music genre preferences shed light on the role that music education plays in the stock of cultural capital individuals hold. To do so, an exploratory empirical survey was undertaken using self-administered questionnaires targeted to a sample of 231 students. Findings, after performing multivariate analysis, showed that knowledge or familiarity plays an important role in music genre preferences. Specifically, having studied music affects the choice of music genres. These results contribute to the literature on music preferences, and specifically on their determinants, establishing the connection of music education with the accumulation of cultural capital and its influence on the formation of music genre preferences.
Berghain: Space, affect, and sexual disorientation
Authors: Andersson Johan
Published: May 2022

In this article, I think of Berlin’s techno club Berghain as a form of relational aesthetics where encounters mediated by tactile sounds, labyrinthine architecture, and libido-enhancing drugs create an unusually porous sexual subjectivity. By sketching out some changes in the composition of the club’s crowd and drug culture – a shift towards aphrodisiac substances such as G and mephedrone – I argue that Berghain has become a specific pharmacolibidinal constellation. Especially the recreational drug G can be thought of as an unruly liquid that concretises queer theory’s preoccupation with sexual fluidity. Instead of nausea-inducing drugs in combination with same-sex erotica – a popular technique in so-called ‘aversion therapy’ – this is a ‘gay conversion therapy’ in reverse whereby erotic horizons expand and multiply through the combination of chemicals and a multi-sensory overload of pleasurable stimuli. Rather than thinking of sexual orientation as located inside the body, I suggest, we might think of it as located inside the building.
Adaptive communication and perceptions in long-distance dating: Evidence from self-reported and behavioral data
Authors: Jiang Li Crystal
Published: May 2022

Romantic partners in long-distance relationships tend to adapt their communication and their perceptions of the relationship to suit their relational goals. Guided by this premise, the aim of this study was to provide a more nuanced understanding of how communication and perceptions are adapted. For this purpose, self-reports and behavioral data pertaining to 61 heterosexual dating couples were gathered, who all kept a diary for a week, while communicating via a texting platform. By comparing the daily communication and perceptions of the relationship of couples in long-distance relationships to those of couples in geographically close relationships, the study offered solid evidence of behavioral adaption, as the former self-reported greater self-disclosure and greater self-responsiveness to their partners. These findings were supported by human coding and linguistic analysis results. Moreover, while relative to geographically close partners, long-distance partners demonstrated larger differences between partner perceptions and the partner’s self-report for both self-disclosure and responsiveness. The effect of long-distance status on perceived differences was mediated by relationship uncertainty and one’s own adaptive behaviors. The findings suggest that long-distance relationships are maintained through behavioral and perceptual adaptations, which are also meaningful for maintaining geographically close relationships.
Temporal brain transcriptome analysis reveals key pathological events after germinal matrix hemorrhage in neonatal rats
Authors: Song Juan , Nilsson Gisela , Xu Yiran , Zelco Aura , Rocha-Ferreira Eridan , Wang Yafeng , Zhang Xiaoli , Zhang Shan , Ek Joakim , Hagberg Henrik , Zhu Changlian , Wang Xiaoyang
Published: May 2022

Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is a common complication in preterm infants and is associated with high risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. We used a rat GMH model and performed RNA sequencing to investigate the signaling pathways and biological processes following hemorrhage. GMH induced brain injury characterized by early hematoma and subsequent tissue loss. At 6 hours after GMH, gene expression indicated an increase in mitochondrial activity such as ATP metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation along with upregulation of cytoprotective pathways and heme metabolism. At 24 hours after GMH, the expression pattern suggested an increase in cell cycle progression and downregulation of neurodevelopmental-related pathways. At 72 hours after GMH, there was an increase in genes related to inflammation and an upregulation of ferroptosis. Hemoglobin components and genes related to heme metabolism and ferroptosis such as Hmox1, Alox15, and Alas2 were among the most upregulated genes. We observed dysregulation of processes involved in development, mitochondrial function, cholesterol biosynthesis, and inflammation, all of which contribute to neurodevelopmental deterioration following GMH. This study is the first temporal transcriptome profile providing a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying brain injury following GMH, and it provides useful guidance in the search for therapeutic interventions.
The influence of pupil responses on subjective brightness perception
Authors: Wardhani I. K. , Boehler C. N. , Mathôt S.
Published: May 2022

When the pupil dilates, the amount of light that falls onto the retina increases. However, in daily life, this does not make the world look brighter. Here we asked whether pupil size (resulting from active pupil movement) influences subjective brightness in the absence of indirect cues that, in daily life, support brightness constancy. We measured the subjective brightness of a tester stimulus relative to a referent as a function of pupil size during tester presentation. In Experiment 1, we manipulated pupil size through a secondary working-memory task (larger pupils with higher load and after errors). We found some evidence that the tester was perceived as darker, rather than brighter, when pupils were larger. In Experiment 2, we presented a red or blue display (larger pupils following red displays). We again found that the tester was perceived as darker when pupils were larger. We speculate that the visual system takes pupil size into account when making brightness judgments. Finally, we highlight the challenges associated with manipulating pupil size. In summary, the current study (as well as a recent pharmacological study on the same topic by another team) is intriguing first steps towards understanding the role of pupil size in brightness perception.
Threshold Genres: A 10-Year Exploration of a Medical Writer’s Development and Social Apprenticeship Through the Patient SOAP Note
Authors: Driscoll Dana Lynn , Yacoub Omar
Published: May 2022

While writing is a critical part of the medical profession, longitudinal studies exploring the social apprenticeship and genre knowledge development of medical practitioners are almost nonexistent. Through interviews and writing samples, this article traces a 10-year journey of one writer’s engagement with the Patient SOAP note, following his experiences from the first year of his undergraduate education to the end of medical school. Drawing upon theories of social apprenticeship and the RIME framework (reporter, interpreter, mediator, educator) from the field of medicine, we offer an in-depth case study of our focal participant’s growing medical expertise as he masters the Patient SOAP note. Through this in-depth analysis, we argue that the SOAP note functions as a “threshold genre” to assist entry into the medical profession. We conclude by offering additional evidence about the role that key threshold genres play in the development of professional expertise and offer implications for genre theory.
Flavoring Patterns of Exclusive and Dual-Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Among US Adults: Results from the TUS-CPS 2018-2019
Authors: Zavala-Arciniega Luis , Hirschtick Jana L. , Meza Rafael , Fleischer Nancy L.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To describe patterns of menthol/non-menthol cigarettes with flavored e-cigarettes (tobacco, menthol, sweet/spicy, and other flavorings) use.

Design

We used cross-sectional data from the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS).

Setting

United States.

Subjects

Adults over 18 years old.

Sample

A nationally representative sample (n = 135 329).

Measures

We generated a 15-category variable of all combinations of cigarette and e-cigarette flavoring use.

Analysis

We estimated population prevalence (PP) for the 15-category flavored cigarette and e-cigarette use variable and proportion of flavored cigarette and e-cigarette use among adults who used cigarettes or e-cigarettes (PAU) by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income.

Results

Exclusive menthol cigarette use was higher among NH Black (PP = 8.79%, PAU = 68.96%) and low-income (PP = 4.86%, PAU = 29.09%) compared to NH White (PP = 2.63%, PAU = 18.83%) and high-income participants (PP = 1.25%, PAU = 19.02%). Exclusive sweet/spicy e-cigarette use (PP = 1.32%, PAU = 10.22%) and exclusive menthol e-cigarette use (PP = .95%, PAU = 7.40%) was higher in younger (18-34) vs older (35+) adults (PP = .34% and PAU = 2.76%, and PP = .14%, PAU = 1.11%, respectively). Older dual users tended to combine the same flavor in both products (eg, menthol cigarettes + menthol e-cigarettes), while younger adults were more likely to combine menthol and non-menthol cigarettes with sweet/spicy e-cigarettes.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that a menthol cigarette ban might be most effective in conjunction with sweet/spicy e-cigarette flavor restrictions, given these flavors are attractive for younger adults.
Compressive and bending behavior of foam-filled composite sandwich panel with novel M-shaped core reinforced by nano-silica
Authors: Khaledi Himan , Rostamiyan Yasser
Published: May 2022

The present paper has experimentally determined the flexural strength of a glass fiber reinforced polymer sandwich panel with a novel M-shaped lattice core reinforced by nano-silica (nano-SiO2). For this purpose, a polymer composite sandwich panel with an M-shaped core made of glass-epoxy fiber has been fabricated in this experiment using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding method. Afterward, polyurethane foam (PU) was injected into the empty space of the sandwich panel. In order to determine the flexural strength of the sandwich panels, they have been subjected to three-point bending and compressive loads. From the results of the study, it was figured out that: (a) Adding 1–3 wt% of nano-silica into the glass fiber had the most desirable effects on the enhancement of flexural strength of the sandwich panels (b) PU has improved the flexural strength of sandwich panels (c) The new M-shaped core can well postpone the buckling and failure of the composite sandwich structures.
Media Unions’ Online Resistance Rhetoric: Reproducing Social Movement Genres of Organizational Communication
Authors: Salamon Errol
Published: May 2022

This paper examines the resistance rhetoric that media workers use to publicly organize trade unions online in a social movement genre of strategic communication activism: the critical manifesto. The paper provides a genre analysis of the rhetorical strategy, form, and devices of 30 online Why We’ve Organized statements of the Writers Guild of America, East as a case study of a labor movement organization’s resistance rhetoric. Through a promulgation strategy, the statements reproduce and modify the critical manifesto, using resistance rhetoric to strategically negotiate power relations. The statements outline a selective history of workers’ grievances, a solution to them, and proposals to resist them. This rhetorical form and key rhetorical devices inform the content of the organizing statements, revealing important issues affecting work, workers, and employers. This paper contributes a novel framework to understand resistance rhetoric within this genre, better positioning researchers to analyze social movement genres of organizational communication.
An in-silico bone drilling protocol to control thrust forces using finite element analysis coupled with the constitutive models
Authors: Prasannavenkadesan Varatharajan , Pandithevan Ponnusamy
Published: May 2022

In orthopaedic surgeries, drilling through bone is most widely used to fix the plates and implants. The uncontrolled large thrust forces generated during bone drilling cause micro-crack, and fragmentation around the local host bone which further loosen the implant and fixation. Owing to the experimental limitation and the risk of infection in handling the bone specimens, conducting experiments with all possible combinations of parameter values and selecting the suitable combination is largely limited. So in this paper, finite element analysis coupled with the constitutive models was used to early predict the thrust forces generated in the surgical bone drilling process. The constitutive models developed in the earlier study, namely, Johnson–Cook, Cowper–Symonds, and Johnson–Cook combined with Cowper–Symonds that consider the strain rate dependence of plastic curve were used for the simulations. Results revealed that the trends of the thrust force values predicted from the constitutive models matched well with the experiments. However, the study showed that the Johnson–Cook model combined with the Cowper–Symonds model predicted the thrust forces with a maximum error of only 9.51% followed by the Johnson–Cook model and Cowper–Symonds model with 15.83% and 21.89%, respectively. The outcomes of the study can be used to predict the thrust forces generated in the bone drilling process, and thus, suitable parameters values can be selected to avoid the mechanical damages around the bone drilling site. The outcomes can also be used to plan and rehearse the in-silico bone drilling trials with any combinations of parameter values before performing the actual surgery.
Mixing characteristics and pressure drop analysis in a spiral micromixer
Authors: Tripathi Ekta , Patowari Promod Kumar , Pati Sukumar
Published: May 2022

In this work, numerical computations are performed to analyze the mixing characteristics and pressure drop in a spiral micromixer. The effects of variation in width and depth of the micromixer are investigated for Reynolds number ( Re) in the range of 0.1 ≤  Re≤100. Results are enumerated in terms of mass contours, streamlines, mixing index and pressure drop. It is observed that the designed spiral micromixer provides a better mixing for both low and high Re values, and moreover, the mixing index remains almost the same with the variation of the depth and width of the mixer for Re > 50. The mixing index first decreases with Re, reaches a minimum value, and thereafter again increases with a further increase in Re in the range of 0.1 ≤  Re≤50. For intermediate Reynolds number, a high mixing index is observed in micromixer having higher depth and lower width. Although the driving pressure force increases with the increase in Reynolds number, it decreases with the increase in width and depth of the micromixer.
A novel bi-modal extended Huber loss function based refined mask RCNN approach for automatic multi instance detection and localization of breast cancer
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Abhinav , Srivastava Subodh , Padma Sai Yarlagadda
Published: May 2022

Breast cancer is an extremely aggressive cancer in women. Its abnormalities can be observed in the form of masses, calcification and lumps. In order to reduce the mortality rate of women its detection is needed at an early stage. The present paper proposes a novel bi-modal extended Huber loss function based refined mask regional convolutional neural network for automatic multi-instance detection and localization of breast cancer. To refine and increase the efficacy of the proposed method three changes are casted. First, a pre-processing step is performed for mammogram and ultrasound breast images. Second, the features of the region proposal network are separately mapped for accurate region of interest. Third, to reduce overfitting and fast convergence, an extended Huber loss function is used at the place of Smooth L1( x) in boundary loss. To extend the functionality of Huber loss, the delta parameter is automated by the aid of median absolute deviation with grid search algorithm. It provides the best optimum value of delta instead of user-based value. The proposed method is compared with pre-existing methods in terms of accuracy, true positive rate, true negative rate, precision, F-score, balanced classification rate, Youden’s index, Jaccard Index and dice coefficient on CBIS-DDSM and ultrasound database. The experimental result shows that the proposed method is a better suited approach for multi-instance detection, localization and classification of breast cancer. It can be used as a diagnostic medium that helps in clinical purposes and leads to a precise diagnosis of breast cancer abnormalities.
Mothering on the web: A feminist analysis of posts and interactions on a Chilean Instagram account on motherhood
Authors: Astudillo-Mendoza Priscila , Cifuentes-Zunino Francisca
Published: May 2022

Social networking sites (SNS) have become important spaces during the early years of parenting. They allow users to access information, share experiences and provide an opportunity to establish support networks. In this article we present the results of our research on a Chilean motherhood account on Instagram. The research, which takes a feminist approach, used Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to analyze discourses around “good mothering”, and the role of this communication site in this process. We present the results in three sections: a) “Positioning in debates about motherhood”; b) “Real motherhood and maternal love”; and c) “Interactions as regulatory mechanisms”. The main findings suggest that these SNS, through interactions between the account holder and their followers, reproduce dominant discourses of what is considered to be “good mothering” which both sustain asymmetrical gendered power relationships and challenge such power relations. Furthermore, we conclude that although SNS may appear to be an inclusive relational space, the regulatory mechanisms of the sites circumscribe who, and how one, can participate in this space.
Equivocating on unconsciousness
Authors: LaValley Dylan
Published: May 2022

In the language used by those who take an empirical approach to the study of consciousness, the subliminal–supraliminal binary and the unconscious–conscious process binary are treated as one and the same, despite the unconscious–conscious process distinction having a historical association to a different meaning. The historical meaning of the unconscious–conscious process distinction may then become implicitly associated with the interpretations of related studies, resulting in a misinterpretation of evidence. This is to say, where the ability to differentially respond to subliminal and supraliminal stimuli may be indicative of a variety of “unconscious” and “conscious” processes, as these terms relate to a qualitative conception of consciousness, subliminal threshold testing does not tell us anything about consciousness and the associated binary of “unconscious” and “conscious” processes as these terms relate to their historical, metacognitive conceptions.
Safety and efficacy of telitacicept in refractory childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: A self-controlled before–after trial
Authors: Sun Li , Shen Qian , Gong Yinv , Li Yifan , Lv Qianying , Liu Haimei , Zhao Fei , Yu Haiguo , Qiu Lingzhi , Li Xiaozhong , He Xiaoliang , Chen Yuqing , Xu Zhiquan , Xu Hong
Published: May 2022

Objective

To observe the efficacy and safety of telitacicept in refractory childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).

Methods

A self-controlled before–after trial. Children with active SLE, aged 5–18 years, who cannot tolerate side effects of glucocorticoid, were enrolled in our study. Patients received subcutaneous injection of telitacicept weekly based on the standard treatment. SLE responder index-4 (SRI-4) was assessed before the first administration and at least 4 weeks after the first administration.

Results

Among the 15 cases of refractory cSLE, three were males (20%) and 12 were females (80%). The median age and weight were 13 years old and 52 kg, respectively. The median duration of disease was 30 months. 5–26 weeks (80 or 160 mg per week) after administration of telitacicept, 66.7% ( n=10) reached SRI-4 response. 12 cases reduced their glucocorticoid intake from 40 mg/d to 17.5 mg/d. The urinary protein after treatment declined in 8 cases whose 24-h proteinuria was >0.5 g at baseline. The urinary protein in two of the eight cases turned negative and plasma albumin in five of the eight cases rose to normal. In addition, three of these eight cases demonstrated varying degrees of improvement in renal impairment, whose estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, ml/min·1.73 m2) rose from 17.4 to 26.6, 40.7 to 48.2, and 63.2 to 146.0, respectively. There were mild to moderate adverse events after treatment.

Conclusion

Telitacicept combined with the standard treatment may significantly increase the SRI-4 response rate and reduce the glucocorticoid dosage in refractory cSLE, and also shown efficacy on lupus nephritis. The related adverse drug events were controllable.
Making Legal Knowledge Work: Practising Proportionality in the German Repetitorium
Authors: Bomhoff Jacco
Published: May 2022

This article presents a cultural and critical study of ‘proportionality review’ as a legal knowledge format and practice. The setting for this study is German public law, and in particular a domain of German legal education that is rarely analyzed even in Germany: the classes and materials offered by Repetitoren. These are commercial providers that aim to prepare students for the all-important ‘First Juridical Examination’. In this setting, proportionality is presented as a principle that matters, a doctrine that works, and a technique that jurists – lawyers, judges, but especially also law students – can learn to perform. Sustaining the sense that proportionality ‘works’, however, itself requires work, in particular in the form of largely invisible background constraints on what can count as suitable problems and appropriate solutions. In these processes of making proportionality into a ‘doable’ technical instrument, the German legal-constitutional order as a whole is presented as a feasible, achievable project. The article looks at how proportionality's success is produced and experienced, and at what its status as a foundational, near-ideal legal instrument means for the character of the German constitutional and legal imagination.
Xavier Bichat and the renovation of the pathological anatomy
Authors: Perdicoyianni-Paleologou Hélène
Published: May 2022

Xavier Bichat, who lived a short life (1771–1802), was prominent French anatomist and physiologist during the time of revolution and one of the founders of French scientific medicine. He played a key role in the creation of the science of histology. Indeed, he was the first to see the organs of the body as being formed through the specialization of simple, functional units (tissues). Bichat is also known as one of the last of the major theorists of vitalism.
Consumer Buying Behaviour Towards Khadi Fashion Wear
Authors: Datta Dibyendu Bikash , Sarkar Biswajit
Published: May 2022

Studies to examine the perceived authenticity of Khadi Bhandars selling Khadi fashion wear are scarce. There has been research on Khadi textiles, but very few studies have examined consumers’ buying patterns, especially for Khadi, an authentic Indian material. This study focuses on Khadi Bhandars selling Khadi fashion wear products, and it looks at the elements that impact consumer behaviour for buying Khadi products. The participants included people who purchased Khadi textiles and fashion wear. Store atmosphere, perceived authenticity and attitude towards buying are considered as predictor variables. Exploratory factor analysis and a structural equation model were used to analyse the data. The store atmosphere is found to have a substantial influence on perceived authenticity, buying intention and attitude towards buying. An individual’s attitude and perceived authenticity have significantly influenced their buying intention, and their buying intention significantly influenced their buying behaviour.
Religious Tweets During COVID-19: Qualitative Analysis of Articulation of Ideas of Netizens
Authors: Parthasarathi  , Kumari Grishma
Published: May 2022

This study performs content analysis of the tweets on the hashtag Covidiots to comprehend the impact of religious issues and events on netizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current project intended to study and analyse ways people encountered religion on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic. The said tweets are collected using the consecutive day sampling method. The focus of the study is to highlight the articulation of ideas and responses offered to the coronavirus pandemic by religious leaders, groups, and individuals and the consequent reaction of the netizens to the conduct of these religious entities to the scourge of the pandemic. This research indicates that most Twitter users were critical of opinions and actions expressed by religious entities on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and discarded them. It also proves that organised religions appeared out of sync with the threats posed by the pandemic and failed to resonate with society’s evolving norms.
The Perceived Long-Term Influence of Youth Wilderness Expeditions in Participants’ Lives
Authors: Ramírez María-José , Allison Pete
Published: May 2022

Background: Youth expeditions are regarded as beneficial and even “life-changing” experiences for young people, however the evidence on their perceived long-term impact is limited. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to examine the perceived long-term influence of expeditions in participants’ lives 29 and more years after going on a 3–6 week land-based self-sufficient wilderness expedition. Methodology/Approach: This study used a retrospective two-phase sequential research design. The first phase involved a web-based survey followed by individual semi-structured interviews in the second phase. Findings/Conclusions: For the majority of the 144 web-based survey respondents (93.8%), their first BES expedition experience was “enjoyable and meaningful”. Twenty-six interviews were conducted with people who had gone on their first BES expedition 29 to 66 years ago. Interviewed participants perceived seven long-lasting influences of expeditions: (1) ‘Connecting with others’, (2) ‘Fulfilling potential’ such as gaining confidence and resilience, (3) ‘Development of leisure activities and outdoor knowledge/skills’, (4) ‘Knowing thyself’, (5) ‘Sharing the experience’ to others, (6) ‘Impact on academic and professional life’, and (7) ‘Connecting with nature and the world’. Implications: This study provides evidence that the influence of wilderness expedition experiences can be long-lasting and significant on participants’ lives 29 and more years later.
Effect of Initial Design Experience on Students’ Development of Scientific Understanding
Authors: Ladachart Luecha , Radchanet Visit , Phothong Wilawan
Published: May 2022

Background: In countries that endorse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as an educational movement, design-based learning is deemed a pedagogical approach. Purpose: Because the integration of the engineering design process and scientific investigation has been an issue in science education, this study examined the effect of initial design experience on students’ understanding of pulleys. Methodology/Approach: We used quasi-experimental research, comparing two experimental groups with one control group in terms of their understanding of pulleys, measured by 10 multiple-choice conceptual questions. We used a one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD tests to compare the groups prior to and after design-based learning. Paired-sample t-tests were used to compare the pre- and postscores of each group. Findings/Conclusions: The results indicate that, while the experimental groups did not have a better understanding of pulleys than the control group did in the pretest, they outperformed the control group in the posttest. Moreover, although the control group did not demonstrate a significant improvement, the experimental groups did so with large effect size. Implications: Based on the premises of experiential education, it is suggested that, for design-based activities to be effective, students should design using their prior knowledge before engaging in scientific investigation.