bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differentiating risks to academic freedom in the globalised university in China
Authors: Woodman Sophia , Pringle Tim
Published: April 2022

Academic freedom in China is unquestionably under threat from various quarters. Yet the assumption that only the logics of authoritarian Communist Party power shape the terrain in which scholars operate provides us with a limited perspective on these threats. The Chinese academy has become deeply entangled with transnational forces, and is increasingly driven by similar business logics to those in play in universities around the world. We argue that these forces too contribute to the context for the exercise of academic freedom and its restriction. As is the case elsewhere, discourses around developing the national ‘knowledge economy’ and related logics of securitisation around knowledge production create conditions in which some forms of academic research are prioritised over others. Echoing the ‘culture wars’ plaguing the academy in many other countries, the research agendas most under threat in China are ones that connect to transnational movements and struggles, especially those focussed on labour and class, gender and feminism, race and ethnicity and human rights. In this article, we outline what we see as the key forces shaping the landscape for academic freedom in China, with a concentration on areas of research and teaching in the social sciences and humanities that are most at risk in the current conjuncture.
Effects of flaxseed consumption on plasma lipids, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity and gut microbiota composition in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Khandouzi Nafiseh , Zahedmehr Ali , Firoozi Ata , Nasrollahzadehp Javad
Published: April 2022

Background: Clinical studies have demonstrated possible beneficial effects of flaxseed on cardiovascular disease risk factors, but limited studies have evaluated the effects of flaxseed on the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and gut microbial composition in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Aim: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of flaxseed consumption on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, Lp-PLA2 activity, as well as the relative abundance of some gut microbiota in CAD patients. Methods: In a randomized controlled parallel trial, 50 patients with CAD were randomly allocated to 12 weeks of supplementation of flaxseed (30 g/day) or control (usual care). Before and after the intervention, plasma lipids, Lp-PLA2 activity, and some gut microbiota composition (4 different bacterial genera, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes) were measured. Results: Compared to control, flaxseed consumption was associated with improved Lp-PLA2 activity. After 12 weeks of intervention, no significant changes were observed in plasma lipids and fecal microbial composition in the two study groups. Conclusion: The present study showed that in patients with CAD, flaxseed supplementation reduced plasma Lp-PLA2 activity but had no effect on plasma lipids and the composition of some intestinal bacteria.
The VEGAHUB Platform: The Philosophy and the Tools
Authors: Roncaglioni Alessandra , Lombardo Anna , Benfenati Emilio
Published: April 2022

VEGAHUB ( www.vegahub.eu ) is a repository of freely available, downloadable tools based on computational toxicology methodologies. The main software tool available in VEGAHUB is VEGA QSAR software encoding more than 90 quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models for tens of endpoints for human toxicology, ecotoxicology, environmental, physico-chemical and toxicokinetic properties. However, beyond VEGA QSAR, VEGAHUB offers several other tools. Here, we present these resources, the possibilities to fully exploit them and the ways in which to integrate results provided by different VEGAHUB tools. Read-across and weight-of-evidence represent a major advantage of VEGAHUB. Integration between hazard and exposure is provided within innovative tools, which are specific for well-defined scenarios, such as those for cosmetic products. Prioritisation can be achieved by integrating results from 48 models. Finally, we highlight how some tools may not only fit predefined endpoints but also could be applied to general problems and research applications in the QSAR field. A couple of examples are provided, in which a critical assessment of the predictions and the documentation associated with the prediction are considered, in order to properly assess the quality of the results. These results may be associated with different levels of uncertainty or even be conflicting.
A Clinical Audit of Cross-Infection Control Practices in Orthodontic Setups During the COVID-19 Scenario
Authors: Thakur Agrima , Sowmya Jangam , Chitra Prasad
Published: April 2022

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in the practice of orthodontics, with the main focus being prevention of cross-infection. Clinical audits can help assess the extent to which practices/practitioners adhere to standard cross-infection control protocols, thereby providing scope for improvement resulting in better treatment outcomes.

Objective:

Phase 1—to investigate the type of cross-infection control procedures being followed by orthodontic residents of 5 dental institutes in Hyderabad city and compare them to recommended guidelines. Phase 2—after identification of the shortcomings, analyzing how re-education and revision of guidelines can lead to improvements in cross-infection prevention protocols.

Methodology:

Orthodontic residents of 5 dental institutes were observed with regard to their routine infection control practices, which were compared to a set standard. A second audit cycle was conducted on the same clinicians after a seminar where they were encouraged to work on shortcomings at their workplace. The results from the 2 audit cycles were then compared to assess differences.

Results and Conclusion:

While most clinicians were aware of the recommended cross-infection control guidelines, few steps were neglected while in practice. Comparisons between the 2 audit cycles revealed definite improvements.
The Mental Life of a Telephone Pole and Other Trifles: Affective Practices in the Context of Research Funding
Authors: Olsson Pia
Published: April 2022

This article uses ethnographic social media analysis to interpret affective practices concerning research funding. The analysis is based on Finnish Twitter discussions both within academia and between researchers and those outside academia. Different kinds of affective practices, both sharing and othering, are present in the discussions that guide the ways we make sense of the role of science in our individual lives, as well as in society more generally. We need to see these emotions at work as signals of negotiations of values in the context of neoliberal universities and freedom of science.
Messaging, Posting, and Browsing: A Mobile Experience Sampling Study Investigating Youth’s Social Media Use, Affective Well-Being, and Loneliness
Authors: Karsay Kathrin , Matthes Jörg , Schmuck Desirée , Ecklebe Sarah
Published: April 2022

Employing a mobile experience sampling design, we investigated in the present study how different types of mobile social media use relate to young individuals’ momentary affective well-being and momentary loneliness. We differentiated between three types of social media use: Messaging, posting, and browsing. Moreover, we studied fear of missing out (FoMO) as a moderating variable. We collected data from 79 middle and late adolescents ( M age = 17.55 years, SD = 1.29; 59% girls) yielding 956 momentary assessments. The results showed that messaging and posting were positively related to affective well-being, while browsing was associated with higher levels of loneliness. Furthermore, some of the relations between social media use, affective well-being, and loneliness were also moderated by FoMO. Our results highlight the need to differentiate between different types of social media use, to include individual predispositions, and to apply methods that account for daily fluctuations in psychological well-being when studying the complex relationship between youth’s mobile social media use and well-being.
Vulnerabilisation: Between mainstreaming and human rights overreach
Authors: Engström Viljam , Heikkilä Mikaela , Mustaniemi-Laakso Maija
Published: April 2022

There is an ongoing process of ‘vulnerabilisation’ of international protection. This process is the outcome of the establishment of special protection regimes within human rights law and of extending and specifying the scope of existing norms. Vulnerabilisation also increasingly takes place through the expansion of the sphere of international actors embedding the protection of vulnerable groups as a core element of their policymaking. This article takes hold of this ongoing vulnerabilisation and sets out to explore some of its consequences. Vulnerabilisation, the article claims, is a necessary and important element of ensuring protection of those most in need. However, the development also comes with possible downsides. Vulnerability-reasoning enables selectivity and prioritisation, which can turn into exclusion and politicisation. The vulnerabilisation phenomenon also comes with compartmentalisation and potential instrumentalisation of protection. As such, vulnerabilisation walks a tightrope between mainstreaming and overreach.
Analysis of collaboration between AstraZeneca and the higher education sector in the UK
Authors: Rezaei Asma , Kamali Ali Reza
Published: April 2022

Collaboration between industry and universities is a driving force for scientific and technological advancements. Due to the role of AstraZeneca (AZ), a British–Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, an analysis of the collaboration between the company and universities in the UK is of importance. Here, the collaboration of AZ with top UK universities, namely the University of Cambridge (UoC), the University of Oxford (UoO), Imperial College London (ICL) and University College London (UCL), is investigated. The investigation is based on two different measures: the well-developed Salton’s measure and the scientific impact of collaboration (SIC). The former considers the scientific articles published by each party as well as the joint articles published in the period 2010–2021. The SIC, which is introduced for the first time in this article, involves the number of joint articles and citations to them in the same period. An unprecedented increase in the value of the Salton’s measure for the collaboration between AZ and UoO is observed in 2021, and this is discussed with regard to the development of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The findings support the argument that strategic alliances are more important than co-location in drug discovery and development.
The relationship between motivational factors and librarians’ professional development (PD): A systematic review
Authors: Shahzad Khurram , Khan Shakeel Ahmad
Published: April 2022

The main objectives of the study were to examine the motivational factors influencing professional development activities, to find out the relation between motivation and librarians’ professional development, and to identify challenges in the implementation of professional development activities. The study followed the “Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” (PRISMA) guidelines as the methodology of the instant study. Different searching methods and techniques were applied to find and locate the relevant literature to meet the set objectives of the study. The data were gathered from different databases, research repositories, federated tools, and core journals of the field. Twenty-four key studies were included after four steps known as identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. The findings of the study revealed that five major categories of motivational factors known as IT advancements, active leadership, the role of library associations, personal interest, and institutional support influenced the professional development of library professionals. Satisfaction, facilities, rewards, work atmosphere, and autonomy were the key categories of motivation that encouraged information professionals to build professional expertise to implement innovative services for facilitating the end-users. Practical solutions attained through study-findings will guide the policymakers, decision-makers, and institutional heads to devise such strategies that might encourage library professionals to strengthen their knowledge and skills for developing smart library services.
Are We in Time? How Predictive Coding and Dynamical Systems Explain Musical Synchrony
Authors: Palmer Caroline , Demos Alexander P.
Published: April 2022

Humans tend to anticipate events when they synchronize their actions with sound (such as when they clap to music), which has puzzled scientists for decades. What accounts for this anticipation? We review two theoretical mechanisms for synchrony: predictive coding and dynamical systems. Both theories are grounded in neural activation patterns, but there are important distinctions. We contrast their assumptions, their computations, and their musical applications to anticipatory synchronization.
Cognitive Modeling With Representations From Large-Scale Digital Data
Authors: Bhatia Sudeep , Aka Ada
Published: April 2022

Deep-learning methods can extract high-dimensional feature vectors for objects, concepts, images, and texts from large-scale digital data sets. These vectors are proxies for the mental representations that people use in everyday cognition and behavior. For this reason, they can serve as inputs into computational models of cognition, giving these models the ability to process and respond to naturalistic prompts. Over the past few years, researchers have applied this approach to topics such as similarity judgment, memory search, categorization, decision making, and conceptual knowledge. In this article, we summarize these applications, identify underlying trends, and outline directions for future research on the computational modeling of naturalistic cognition and behavior.
Knowledge Accumulation in Entrepreneurship
Authors: Chrisman James J. , Neubaum Donald O. , Welter Friederike , Wennberg Karl
Published: April 2022

As the field of entrepreneurship has grown, so has the accumulated knowledge about individual entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial ventures, and the entrepreneurial environment. The purpose of this special issue is to offer a forum for articles that used different approaches to examine the literature for the purpose of accumulating knowledge on various facets of entrepreneurship. We first provide context for the special issue and then attempt to extend the contributions of the eight articles it contains. We conclude by calling for further knowledge accumulation efforts and discussing the kinds of efforts needed to advance the state of knowledge of the field.
Party competition and the structuring of party preferences by the left-right dimension
Authors: Reinermann Holger
Published: April 2022

There is a wide selection of theoretical approaches to explain preferences citizens have for political parties, among them the spatial model of party competition in which voters choose based on proximity in a policy space, such as the left-right dimension. However, it has not ultimately prevailed against its competitors. Thus, a literature has emerged that allows for heterogeneity, asking whose preferences follow this logic and whose do not. However, research on how context affects spatial structuring is still sparse. Therefore, I combine CSES survey data with manifesto data in a sample of established democracies to examine the effects of party competition structure, measured by the “effective” number of parties and the polarization and dimensionality of party positions, on left-right structuration of party preferences in a single model. While I do not find significant context effects with a conventional measure of proximity voting, I propose a different operationalization which shows that while there are systematic effects of the party system, party preferences are mostly quite strongly structured by the left–right dimension.
Teacher-Implemented Parent Coaching in Inclusive Preschool Settings for Children With Autism
Authors: Siller Michael , Pickard Katherine , Fuhrmeister Sally , Kushner Elizabeth , Rudrabhatla Asha , Morgan Lindee
Published: April 2022

This mixed-methods study aimed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of involving early childhood education (ECE) staff without special education training or prior parent coaching experience in the delivery of an adapted evidence-based parent coaching intervention for young children with autism (Focused Playtime Intervention-Preschool, FPI-P). Ten staff members of a university-affiliated, inclusive ECE program were trained to deliver parent coaching procedures during temporary classroom closures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Child participants included nine preschool students with ASD aged between 34 and 52 months. While findings highlight several opportunities for improving FPI-P staff training and implementation procedures, results demonstrate (a) the feasibility of involving ECE staff in the delivery of ASD-specific parent coaching to promote social communication, (b) that both parents and preschool staff viewed the experience as beneficial for themselves and the child, and (c) that parents perceived the program to be aligned with family-centered intervention principles.
Police Violence and Public Opinion After George Floyd: How the Black Lives Matter Movement and Endorsements Affect Support for Reforms
Authors: Boudreau Cheryl , MacKenzie Scott A. , Simmons Daniel J.
Published: April 2022

What factors shape public opinion about government solutions to address police violence? We address this question by conducting a survey in which respondents express their opinions about actual proposals to reform police practices. Within the survey, we randomly assign respondents to receive the positions of traditional advocates (Black lawmakers) and/or opponents (law enforcement) of police reform efforts. Our results reveal broad bipartisan support for the proposals, but that information about groups that support or oppose these proposals polarizes partisans’ opinions. However, Democrats and even Republicans who support Black Lives Matter (BLM) express high levels of support for the proposals regardless of the information they receive. These results suggest that partisanship in the mass public is not necessarily a barrier to police reform efforts. A bipartisan majority of the public supports meaningful reforms, and any polarizing effects of elite signals are muted by Democrats’ and Republicans’ support for BLM.
Development and Validation of the Beliefs About Revenge Pornography Questionnaire
Authors: Harper Craig A. , Smith Lorraine , Leach Jessie , Daruwala Neil A. , Fido Dean
Published: April 2022

The non-consensual sharing of private sexual images (so-called ‘revenge pornography’) has become an increasingly prominent topic in social and legislative discussions about sexual crime but has received relatively little attention within psychological research. Here, we leveraged existing theorizing in the area of sexual offending proclivity to systematically develop and validate a measure of beliefs about this type of offending. There is currently a lack of validated assessment tools in this area, and these are important to better understand the role of offense-supportive cognition in predicting both proclivity of these offenses and judgements of both victims and perpetrators. Using an international community sample ( N = 511) we found our ‘Beliefs about Revenge Pornography Questionnaire (BRPQ)’ to be comprised of four underpinning domains: ‘Victims as Promiscuous’, ‘Victim Harm’, ‘Avoiding Vulnerable Behaviors’ and ‘Offense Minimization’. Concurrent validity is demonstrated through relationships with trait empathy, belief in a just world, dark personality traits and rape myth acceptance. Randomly dividing the sample, we also show that the BRPQ was associated with both proclivity ( n = 227) and social judgements of this type of offending ( n = 232). Implications and future directions are discussed. An open-access preprint is available at https://psyarxiv.com/6qr7t/ .
Theoretical research of couple stress effect and surface roughness on lubrication regimes transition of misaligned hydrodynamic journal
Authors: Zheng Liangyan , Zhu Hanhua , Fan Shidong , Wu Jie , Cao Jiyin
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the combined effects of couple stress and surface roughness on lubrication performance and regime transition of misaligned hydrodynamic journals. New lubrication models considering misalignment angle, couple stress, and surface roughness were established. Under the multi-coupled factors, Stribeck curves were exploited to reveal the lubrication regimes of journals. Following Greenwood’s aspect contact theory, force relational equations among external load, asperity support capacity, and oil film bearing capacity have been further discussed. Results showed that the growth of the minimum film thickness, the maximum film pressure, and friction coefficient versus couple stress parameters trended to be opposite to those versus misalignment angle. The speed of the lubrication regime transition and the minimum friction coefficient increased with the enlargement of the misalignment angle but decreased as the couple stress parameter increased. Higher couple stress parameters resulted in an increment of the safety speed of the journal and were conducive to maintaining the hydrodynamic lubrication regime of the misaligned bearing at low speed, which is applicable to such misaligned journal bearings in practical engineering.
Experimental and statistical evaluation of wear and friction behaviour on AA 7475/GFRP multi-stacked fibre metal laminates
Authors: Manoharan Thirukumaran
Published: April 2022

Fibre metal laminates (FMLs) are used to make lugs and cargo doors in the aviation industry. In both the assembly and service of aircraft, friction and wear are unavoidable. This paper explores the experimental and statistical evaluation of wear and friction response of multi-stacked glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy (GLARE) under dry sliding conditions. Testing was conducted by a pin on disc machine with four parameters namely specimen condition, contact pressure, sliding velocity, and sliding distance. Material heterogeneity is a factor that is supposed to improve the damping of the hybrid system. The design of experiment (DOE) reveals that specimen condition significantly promotes wear and friction. On the other hand, sliding velocity did not effectively contribute to loading the hybrid towards the dry slide. The best specimen condition for wear was C2, with contact pressure of 50 MPa, sliding velocity of 1 m/s, and sliding distance of 3000 m. For friction, best specimen condition C3, with contact pressure 100 MPa, sliding velocity 1 m/s, and sliding distance 1000 m. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to investigate the wear mechanisms on the worn surface. A linear regression model shows a 98% correlation of experimental with predicted values.
Lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic in undergraduate surgical education
Authors: Koljonen Virve , Puolakkainen Pauli , Helenius Ilkka
Published: April 2022

In this editorial, we review our experience on distance teaching and based on our experiences suggest modifications to undergraduate surgical education.
The effects of social, familial, and economic stress on social workers working with disabled individuals
Authors: Alsabti Khawlah A
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to employ a social survey method to define the social, familial, and economic stresses experienced by a sample of 135 Saudi social workers who work with people with disabilities. It also aimed to understand the impact of these stresses on the degree of burnout these workers experienced in the following three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

Findings

We found that the degree of social, familial, and economic stress among social workers was moderate, whereas the degree of depersonalization was high; emotional exhaustion was medium; and personal accomplishment was low. We found a medium proportional correlation between the total stress experienced by a social worker and the emotional exhaustion they were likely to experience, which had a weak inverse correlation with personal accomplishment. Social workers’ total stress predicted their burnout to be 18.7% in terms of emotional exhaustion, 19.6% for depersonalization, and 7.5% for personal accomplishment. These predicted values also differed with regards to each focus. There was no correlation between workers’ burnout and the quantitative demographic variations.

Applications

The social and familial stresses encountered by social workers working with disabled individuals should be considered in order to map the causes of their suffering and, ultimately, to establish ways of alleviating the severity of the burnout they experience. Finally, there was evidence to support the idea that a review of their monthly salaries might serve as a solution to burnout.
Hsa_circ_0030042 Facilitates the Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via the miR-514a-3p/FOXO1 Axis
Authors: Ma Ji , Liu Jia , Li Tengfei , Ren Jianzhuang
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Circular RNA (circRNA) has been proved to play a vital role in atherosclerosis (AS) progression, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are involved in the progression of AS. However, the in-depth mechanism by which circRNA regulates VSMC proliferation and migration remains to be elusive.

Methods:

We used tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to treat VSMCs to establish a cell model of AS. We used Cell Counting Kit-8, terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase–mediated nick end labeling, and transwell assays to assess the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration in TNF-α-induced VSMCs. Moreover, the interaction between molecules was measured by RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down, and luciferase reporter assays.

Results:

Our study found that a novel circRNA hsa_circ_0030042, which is derived from its host gene forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), was upregulated in TNF-α-induced VSMCs. Silencing of hsa_circ_0030042 inhibited proliferation and migration while promoting apoptosis in TNF-α-induced VSMCs. Mechanically, hsa_circ_0030042 positively regulated FOXO1 expression via sponging miR-514a-3p.

Conclusions:

Our study stated the vital role of the hsa_circ_0030042/miR-514a-3p/FOXO1 axis and provides a profound understanding about the circRNA in AS.
Rationale for Tailoring an Alternative Oncology Trial Using a Novel Gallium-Based Nanocomplex: Mechanistic Insights and Preclinical Challenges
Authors: Mostafa Nihal , Salem Ahmed , Mansour Somaya Z. , El-Sonbaty Sawsan M. , Moawed Fatma S. M. , Kandil Eman I.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: In the fight against cancer, cisplatin is most widely used as a clinical mainstay for the chemotherapy of various human cancers. Meanwhile, its cytotoxic profile, as well as drug resistance, limits its widespread application. The goal of precision medicine is to tailor an optimized therapeutic program based on the biology of the disease. Recently, nanotechnology has been demonstrated to be promising in this scenario. Objective: The current work provides a rationale for the design of an alternative oncology trial for the treatment of hepatocarcinogenesis using a novel eco-friendly nanocomplex, namely gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles. Moreover, the study tests whether the antineoplastic efficacy of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could be enhanced or not when it is administrated together with cisplatin. Methods: The work comprised a series of both in vitro and in vivo investigations. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy of such treatments, against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, was strictly evaluated by tracking target genes expressions, iron homeostasis, diverse biomarkers alterations, and lastly, routine paraclinical investigations were also assessed. Results: The in vitro biological evaluation of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles in a HepG-2 cancer cell line established its superior cytotoxicity. Else more, the results of the in vivo experiment highlighted that gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could diminish key hallmarks of cancer by ameliorating most of the investigated parameters. This was well-appreciated with the histopathological findings of the liver architectures of the treated groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that novel biogenic Ga-based nanocomplexes may potentially present new hope for the development of alternative liver cancer therapeutics, which should attract further scientific interest.
Parameter optimization of unmanned surface vessel propulsion motor based on BAS-PSO
Authors: Bian Li , Che Xiangqian , Chengyang Liu , Jiageng Dai , Hui He
Published: April 2022

Despite advances in modern control theory and artificial intelligence technology, current methods for tuning proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller parameters based on the traditional particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm do not meet the requirements for controlling an unmanned surface vessel (USV) propulsion motor. To overcome the disadvantages of the PSO algorithm, such as low precision and easily falling into a local optimum, the beetle antennae search (BAS) algorithm can be introduced into the PSO algorithm by replacing particles with beetles, and effectively prevents the PSO algorithm from easily falling into the local optimum. At the same time, the BAS algorithm will no longer be limited to single objective parameterization. Herein, we propose a PID parameter optimization method based on the hybrid BAS-PSO algorithm for a USV propulsion motor. The PID parameter optimization of propulsion motor effectively becomes a beetle foraging problem with group optimization. Numerical results show that the method can effectively solve the problems of PSO and greatly improve convergence speed. Compared with the genetic algorithm and standard PSO algorithm, the BAS-PSO algorithm is superior for PID parameter tuning and can improve performance of USV propulsion system.
Variation in patient information and rehabilitation regimens after flexor tendon repair in the United Kingdom
Authors: Newington Lisa , Lane Jennifer CE , Holmes David GW , Gardiner Matthew D
Published: April 2022

Introduction

There is clinical uncertainty regarding the optimal method of rehabilitation following flexor tendon repair. Many splint designs and rehabilitation regimens are reported in the literature; however, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of any one regimen. The aim of this study was to describe rehabilitation guidelines used in the United Kingdom (UK) following zone I/II flexor tendon repair.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional design, hand units in the UK were invited to complete a short survey and to upload their flexor tendon rehabilitation guidelines and patient information material. Approval was granted by the British Association of Hand Therapists. Data were extracted in duplicate, using a pre-piloted form, and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Thirty-five hand units responded (21%), providing 52 treatment guidelines. Three splinting regimens were described, and all involved early active mobilisation: (i) long dorsal-blocking splint (DBS); (ii) short DBS; and (iii) relative motion flexion splint. Duration of full-time splint wear ranged from 4 to 6 weeks. There were variations in splint design and composition of home exercise programmes, particularly for the long DBS. Where reported, recommended return to driving ranged from 8 to 12 weeks, and return to light work activities ranged from 5 to 10 weeks.

Discussion

Treatment guidelines varied across UK hand therapy departments, suggesting that patients receive differing advice about how to protect, move and use their hand after zone I/II flexor tendon repair. The disparity in splint wear duration, home exercise frequency and prescribed functional restrictions raises potential financial and social implications for patients. Future research should explore rehabilitation burden in addition to clinical outcomes.
Identification of Antifungal Compounds from Piper Plants Against Fusarium oxysporum: An Untargeted Metabolite Profiling-Based Approach
Authors: Cárdenas-Laverde Diego , Rincón-Aceldas Sebastián , Coy-Barrera Ericsson
Published: April 2022

The phytopathogen Fusarium oxysporum produces considerable losses in economically important crops, making alternative control measures urgently required. Piper plants are widely distributed in tropical regions, and they are also known to produce metabolites with biological activity against infectious agents. As part of our continuous search for antifungals, 18 Piper-derived ethanolic extracts were evaluated by their in vitro effect on F oxysporum mycelial growth inhibition. The total content of phenol and flavonoid measurements and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis served as the chemical characterization of the investigated extracts. Piper pulchrum, Piper barcoense, and Piper tuberculatum exhibited the highest mycelial growth inhibition (>74%). The integration of chemical fingerprints and bioactivity datasets led to recognizing 4 bioactive candidates among extracts through single- Y orthogonal partial least squares regression and univariate statistics. These candidates were 2 amides (1,3), an alkyl lactone (2), and a prenylated benzoquinone (4), subsequently isolated and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These isolated compounds exhibited reasonable antifungal activity (IC50 < 50 µM). The findings indicated that the correlative association is advantageous for identifying bioactive metabolites within active extracts.
The effectiveness of automated digital health solutions at successfully managing obesity and obesity-associated disorders: A PICO-structured investigation
Authors: Price James Christopher , Santos Heitor Oliveira , Bueno Allain Amador
Published: April 2022

Most adults in the UK and USA are classified as overweight or obese. Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of obesity has further increased during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and associated lockdowns. Digital technologies may be effective at managing obesity and related comorbidities, a potential further justified by social isolation and distancing circumstances.

This review of published literature employed a Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome structured approach on the use of digital solutions to determine the effectiveness of their use in the management and treatment of obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes and included commercially available, automated devices and applications that did not require intervention from a clinician. Our search covered studies published between January 2004 and February 2019, and 18 papers were included in the final analysis. The digital solutions reviewed were smartphone applications, wearable activity trackers, and ‘digital medicine offerings’ (DMO), including ingestible sensors and wearable patches.

This study found that not all interventions were effective at encouraging the lifestyle changes required for the management of obesity. Smartphone applications requiring interaction from the patient appeared to be more effective at encouraging engagement with treatment interventions than more passive wearable activity trackers. Automated feedback from smartphone applications was effective at managing type 2 diabetes, while DMO were effective at reducing blood pressure.

With the advancement of new technologies alongside a rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity and associated disorders, further studies comparing the various technologies available in larger sample populations for longer periods would help determine the most cost-effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.
In Their Experience: A Review of Racial and Sexual Minority Experience in Academe and Proposals for Building an Inclusive Criminology
Authors: Blount-Hill Kwan-Lamar , St. John Victor , Moton Lauren N. , Ajil Ahmed
Published: April 2022

Feminist criminologists were pioneers in highlighting that academics’ standpoints (i.e., their social and societal positionalities) influence which “objective” truth they tell. Testimonies, the sharing of one's story, can provide important angles to our understandings of social phenomenon, including of life in the academic sphere. In the present work, we introduce our conceptualization of “inclusive criminology” as a framework for integrating criminological inquiry into a cohesive whole which asserts societies’ rights to valid and complete knowledge as requiring inclusion of previously marginalized identities. In response to this requisite, we conduct a review of published testimonial narratives within criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) as well as a sample of works from other social sciences to inform recommendations on how to meet this inclusive aim.
Traumatic Kidney in a Patient With Unilateral Renal Cystic Disease
Authors: Hoang Van Trung , Hoang The Huan , Nguyen Thanh Tam Thi , Trinh Cong Thao , Chansomphou Vichit , Hoang Duc Thanh
Published: April 2022

Renal trauma occurring in patients with unilateral renal cystic disease (URCD) is extremely rare. Unilateral renal cystic disease is benign, nonprogressive, nonfamilial, nonencapsulated, and unrelated to cysts in other organs. It should be differentiated from autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) parenthesis, multicystic dysplastic kidney disease, multiple renal simple cysts, and cystic renal neoplasms. We report a case of a 15-year-old male with URCD admitted to the hospital sustaining blunt trauma to his right flank after a motor vehicle crash. Final diagnosis in this case was renal injury in a URCD patient. The patient was treated conservatively and subsequently discharged. Unilateral renal cystic disease can be diagnosed and followed by a combination of imaging methods and functional studies. The management of URCD is conservative. Although the disease is stable, nephrectomy may occasionally be indicated when there is a strong suspicion for malignancy.
Webinars for English Language Teachers During the Pandemic: Global Perspectives on Transitioning to Remote Online Teaching
Authors: Shin Joan Kang , Borup Jered , Barbour Michael K. , Quiroga Velasquez Rocio V.
Published: April 2022

The current pandemic closed schools worldwide, tasking teachers to engage learners remotely without time to prepare. This study focuses on a professional development webinar series for English language teachers worldwide. Access to geographically dispersed English language teachers created an opportunity to gain international perspectives on teachers’ challenges, perceptions, and needs related to transitioning to remote, online teaching. We found webinars were an effective way to provide just-in-time professional development for teachers globally, particularly about engaging students, providing feedback, developing online presence, and creating activities specific for online learning environments. The main challenges teachers reported facing were keeping their students engaged and progressing in the learning activities; unequal student access to technology and the internet; and learning and troubleshooting technology. At the same time, learning new technology and online resources was also what teachers most frequently reported enjoying about remote teaching.
Social Capital Leveraging Knowledge-Sharing Ties and Learning Performance in Higher Education: Evidence From Social Network Analysis in an Engineering Classroom
Authors: Han Seung-hyun , Grace Oh Eunjung , “Pil” Kang Sung
Published: April 2022

With the growing attention to the effective use of social network analysis in explaining student learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, the authors explore why college students share knowledge and how they achieve their learning in a laboratory class. In particular, the authors investigate how the social capital each student builds influences individual knowledge sharing and its related learning. The authors establish a research model derived from social capital theory that explains the relational, structural, and cognitive capital the class builds. Network data from 120 students in a lab class in a mechanical engineering department in the United States were collected and analyzed to test the research model and hypotheses using the multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure and UCINET. The findings show that the knowledge sharing mechanism and student learning outcomes can be explained in terms of their social capital within social networks. Last, the authors discuss the theoretical and practical implications for college student learning in a laboratory class in STEM education.
Book review: Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters
Authors: Nandgaye Vicky
Published: April 2022

Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters. New Delhi: Penguin Random House India Publication, 2019, 304 pp., ₹599 (Hardback). ISBN: 978-0670091225.
What are the characteristics of good Chinese second language readers? Evidence from eye movements
Authors: Wang Jun , An Na
Published: April 2022

This study investigated the characteristics of good Chinese second language readers by observing their eye-movement patterns in reading articles manipulated to highlight different linguistic features. Participants’ linguistic resources were included as covariant variables. Results showed that good readers should be defined as both accurate and fast readers, although the two traits did not correlate with each other. Accurate reading was predicted by good orthographic knowledge, while fast reading was predicted by good lexical knowledge. Longer sentences did not show a significant impact on readers’ performance, which might imply that higher-level processes did not contribute as much as lower-level processes to the construction of good reading capabilities. All results were validated, while text readability was checked across different reading materials. Both reading universals and writing system specific features were found to be effective in explaining Chinese as a second language (CSL) reading processes. The research findings also informed the instruction of CSL reading, as Chinese is a very challenging logographic text.
Molecular Regulations of FUNDC1 at ER-Mitochondria Contacts Under Hypoxic Stress
Authors: Zhang Yi , Zhuang Haixia , Liu Hao , Feng Du
Published: April 2022

A recent research paper published in Journal of Cell Biology by Chen and colleagues describes a novel mechanism by which the MAM (Mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane) protein FUNDC1 (FUN14 domain-containing protein 1) regulates mitochondrial division through altered protein post-translational modifications under hypoxic stress. The authors found that in a hypoxic environment, the endoplasmic reticulum-localized deubiquitinating enzyme USP19 accumulates at the MAM and interacts with the enriched mitochondrial outer membrane protein FUNDC1, which subsequently induces its deubiquitination and promotes the oligomerization and activity of DRP1, and mitochondria eventually divide in the presence of DRP1. This article provides new insights into the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics by FUNDC1 under hypoxic condition.
Workspace and Accuracy Analysis on a Novel 6-UCU Bone-attached Parallel Manipulator
Authors: Dong Kaijie , Li Duanling , Xue Xingyu , Xu Chang , Wang Haowei , Gao Xianming
Published: April 2022

With the increasingly more extensive application of the medical surgical robot in the clinic, higher requirements have been put forward for medical robots. The bone-attached robot, a popular orthopedic robot in recent years, has a tendency of miniaturization and refinement. Thus, a bone-attached parallel manipulator (PM) based on 6-UCU (universal-cylindrical-universal) configuration is proposed, which is characterized by small volume, compact structure, high precision and six-dimensional force feedback. To optimize the structure and make it more compact, the workspace of the 6-UCU PM is analyzed based on the analysis of three kinds of constraint, and workspace model is established through spherical coordinate search method. This study also analyzes the influence of structural parameters on workspace, which may contribute to improving the efficiency of design and ensuring small-sized robots possess relatively large workspace. Moreover, to improve the motion accuracy, an error modeling method is developed based on the structure of 6-UCU PMs. According to this established error model, the output pose error curves are drawn using MATLAB software when the structure parameters change, and the influence of the structure and pose parameters change on the output pose error of PMs is analyzed. The proposed research provides the instruction to design and analysis of small PMs such as bone-attached robots.
Relationship and distribution of Salmonella enterica serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- strain sequences in the NCBI Pathogen Detection database
Authors: Trachsel Julian M. , Bearson Bradley L. , Brunelle Brian W. , Bearson Shawn M. D.
Published: April 2022

Background

Of the > 2600 Salmonella serovars, Salmonella enterica serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- (serovar I 4,[5],12:i:-) has emerged as one of the most common causes of human salmonellosis and the most frequent multidrug-resistant (MDR; resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) nontyphoidal Salmonella serovar in the U.S. Serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- isolates have been described globally with resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline (R-type ASSuT) and an integrative and conjugative element with multi-metal tolerance named Salmonella Genomic Island 4 (SGI-4).

Results

We analyzed 13,612 serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- strain sequences available in the NCBI Pathogen Detection database to determine global distribution, animal sources, presence of SGI-4, occurrence of R-type ASSuT, frequency of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and potential transmission clusters. Genome sequences for serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- strains represented 30 countries from 5 continents (North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South America), but sequences from the United States (59%) and the United Kingdom (28%) were dominant. The metal tolerance island SGI-4 and the R-type ASSuT were present in 71 and 55% of serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- strain sequences, respectively. Sixty-five percent of strain sequences were MDR which correlates to serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- being the most frequent MDR serovar. The distribution of serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- strain sequences in the NCBI Pathogen Detection database suggests that swine-associated strain sequences were the most frequent food-animal source and were significantly more likely to contain the metal tolerance island SGI-4 and genes for MDR compared to all other animal-associated isolate sequences.

Conclusions

Our study illustrates how analysis of genomic sequences from the NCBI Pathogen Detection database can be utilized to identify the prevalence of genetic features such as antimicrobial resistance, metal tolerance, and virulence genes that may be responsible for the successful emergence of bacterial foodborne pathogens.