2,703 research outputs found
Syrian Refugees and the Digital Passage to Europe: Smartphone Infrastructures and Affordances
This research examines the role of smartphones in refugeesâ journeys. It traces the risks and possibilities afforded by smartphones for facilitating information, communication, and migration flows in the digital passage to Europe. For the Syrian and Iraqi refugee respondents in this France-based qualitative study, smartphones are lifelines, as important as water and food. They afford the planning, navigation, and documentation of journeys, enabling regular contact with family, friends, smugglers, and those who help them. However, refugees are simultaneously exposed to new forms of exploitation and surveillance with smartphones as migrations are financialised by smugglers and criminalized by European policies, and the digital passage is dependent on a contingent range of sociotechnical and material assemblages. Through an infrastructural lens, we capture the dialectical dynamics of opportunity and vulnerability, and the forms of resilience and solidarity, that arise as forced migration and digital connectivity coincide
Segond's fracture: a biomechanical cadaveric study using navigation
Background Segondâs fracture is a well-recognised radiological
sign of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.
While previous studies evaluated the role of the anterolateral
ligament (ALL) and complex injuries on rotational
stability of the knee, there are no studies on the biomechanical
effect of Segondâs fracture in an ACL deficient
knee. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a
Segondâs fracture on knee rotation stability as evaluated by
a navigation system in an ACL deficient knee.
Materials and methods Three different conditions were
tested on seven knee specimens: intact knee, ACL deficient
knee and ACL deficient knee with Segondâs fracture. Static
and dynamic measurements of anterior tibial translation
(ATT) and axial tibial rotation (ATR) were recorded by the
navigation system (2.2 OrthoPilot ACL navigation system
B. Braun Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany).
Results Static measurements at 30 showed that the mean
ATT at 30 of knee flexion was 5.1 ± 2.7 mm in the ACL
intact condition, 14.3 ± 3.1 mm after ACL cut
(P = 0.005), and 15.2 ± 3.6 mm after Segondâs fracture
(P = 0.08). The mean ATR at 30 of knee flexion was
20.7 ± 4.8 in the ACL intact condition, 26.9 ± 4.1 in
the ACL deficient knee (P[0.05) and 30.9 ± 3.8 after
Segondâs fracture (P = 0.005). Dynamic measurements
during the pivot-shift showed that the mean ATT was
7.2 ± 2.7 mm in the intact knee, 9.1 ± 3.3 mm in the
ACL deficient knee(P = 0.04) and 9.7 ± 4.3 mm in the
ACL deficient knee with Segondâs fracture (P = 0.07).
The mean ATR was 9.6 ± 1.8 in the intact knee,
12.3 ± 2.3 in the ACL deficient knee (P[0.05) and
19.1 ± 3.1 in the ACL deficient knee with Segondâs
lesion (P = 0.016).
Conclusion An isolated lesion of the ACL only affects
ATT during static and dynamic measurements, while the
addition of Segondâs fracture has a significant effect on
ATR in both static and dynamic execution of the pivot-shift
test, as evaluated with the aid of navigation
Development of industrially viable geopolymers from treated petroleum fly ash
This paper investigates the development of stable geopolymers using petroleum fly ash with high compressive strength and water absorption to promote cleaner production, sustainability, and recycling of waste. The paper provided detailed characterizations of the petroleum fly ash, which involved the determination of the particle size diameter, density, surface area, pore-volume, mineralogical identification of recording X-ray diffraction pattern, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope. Moreover, metals leachability from the petroleum fly ash using different extracting agents, namely H2SO4, H3PO4, (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, and NH4O2CCO2H was also considered. Five geopolymers were prepared using different amounts of petroleum fly ash to assess the influence of petroleum fly ash on the final performance of the prepared geopolymers. The results revealed that the petroleum fly ash was carbonaceous in nature and rich in vanadium oxide and nickel oxide with low in SiO2 and Al2O3. Furthermore, it was found that petroleum fly ash has a low calcium level. The maximum extraction values were 15.6% for V and 55.6% for Ni using H2SO4. All the prepared geopolymers displayed high compressive strength for longer curing times, and the water absorption properties of all geopolymers were improved by incorporating more petroleum fly ash. Increasing the petroleum fly ash from 0 vol% to 61 vol% increased the water absorption value from 6.6 to 13.3 wt% for the samples collected after 28 days of curing. It was concluded that the petroleum fly ash did tend to form successful stable geopolymers with high compressive strength and water absorption.Scopu
Mindfulness-based interventions for young offenders: a scoping review
Youth offending is a problem worldwide. Young people in the criminal justice system have frequently experienced adverse childhood circumstances, mental health problems, difficulties regulating emotions and poor quality of life. Mindfulness-based interventions can help people manage problems resulting from these experiences, but their usefulness for youth offending populations is not clear. This review evaluated existing evidence for mindfulness-based interventions among such populations. To be included, each study used an intervention with at least one of the three core components of mindfulness-based stress reduction (breath awareness, body awareness, mindful movement) that was delivered to young people in prison or community rehabilitation programs. No restrictions were placed on methods used. Thirteen studies were included: three randomized controlled trials, one controlled trial, three pre-post study designs, three mixed-methods approaches and three qualitative studies. Pooled numbers (nâ=â842) comprised 99% males aged between 14 and 23. Interventions varied so it was not possible to identify an optimal approach in terms of content, dose or intensity. Studies found some improvement in various measures of mental health, self-regulation, problematic behaviour, substance use, quality of life and criminal propensity. In those studies measuring mindfulness, changes did not reach statistical significance. Qualitative studies reported participants feeling less stressed, better able to concentrate, manage emotions and behaviour, improved social skills and that the interventions were acceptable. Generally low study quality limits the generalizability of these findings. Greater clarity on intervention components and robust mixed-methods evaluation would improve clarity of reporting and better guide future youth offending prevention programs
Reporting of Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) association studies: An empirical assessment
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several thousand human genome epidemiology association studies are published every year investigating the relationship between common genetic variants and diverse phenotypes. Transparent reporting of study methods and results allows readers to better assess the validity of study findings. Here, we document reporting practices of human genome epidemiology studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Articles were randomly selected from a continuously updated database of human genome epidemiology association studies to be representative of genetic epidemiology literature. The main analysis evaluated 315 articles published in 2001â2003. For a comparative update, we evaluated 28 more recent articles published in 2006, focusing on issues that were poorly reported in 2001â2003.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During both time periods, most studies comprised relatively small study populations and examined one or more genetic variants within a single gene. Articles were inconsistent in reporting the data needed to assess selection bias and the methods used to minimize misclassification (of the genotype, outcome, and environmental exposure) or to identify population stratification. Statistical power, the use of unrelated study participants, and the use of replicate samples were reported more often in articles published during 2006 when compared with the earlier sample.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that many items needed to assess error and bias in human genome epidemiology association studies are not consistently reported. Although some improvements were seen over time, reporting guidelines and online supplemental material may help enhance the transparency of this literature.</p
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Z boson production in Pb+Pb collisions at âSnn = 5.02 TeV measured by the ATLAS experiment
The production yield of Z bosons is measured in the electron and muon decay channels in Pb+Pb collisions at âS = 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Data from the 2015 LHC run corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.49 nb are used for the analysis. The Z boson yield, normalised by the total number of minimum-bias events and the mean nuclear thickness function, is measured as a function of dilepton rapidity and event centrality. The measurements in Pb+Pb collisions are compared with similar measurements made in proton-proton collisions at the same centre-of-mass energy. The nuclear modification factor is found to be consistent with unity for all centrality intervals. The results are compared with theoretical predictions obtained at next-to-leading order using nucleon and nuclear parton distribution functions. The normalised Z boson yields in Pb+Pb collisions lie 1-3Ï above the predictions. The nuclear modification factor measured as a function of rapidity agrees with unity and is consistent with a next-to-leading-order QCD calculation including the isospin effect. nn -
Search for flavour-changing neutral currents in processes with one top quark and a photon using 81 fbâ1 of pp collisions at s=13TeV with the ATLAS experiment
A search for flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) events via the coupling of a top quark, a photon, and an up or charm quark is presented using 81 fbâ1 of protonâproton collision data taken at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events with a photon, an electron or muon, a b-tagged jet, and missing transverse momentum are selected. A neural network based on kinematic variables differentiates between events from signal and background processes. The data are consistent with the background-only hypothesis, and limits are set on the strength of the tqÎł coupling in an effective field theory. These are also interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC tÎł production via a left-handed (right-handed) tuÎł coupling of 36 fb (78 fb) and on the branching ratio for tâÎłu of 2.8Ă10â5 (6.1Ă10â5). In addition, they are interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC tÎł production via a left-handed (right-handed) tcÎł coupling of 40 fb (33 fb) and on the branching ratio for tâÎłc of 22Ă10â5 (18Ă10â5)
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Combination of searches for Higgs boson pairs in pp collisions at s=13TeV with the ATLAS detector
This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fbâ1 of protonâproton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy s=13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the bbÂŻbbÂŻ, bbÂŻW+Wâ, bbÂŻÏ+Ïâ, W+WâW+Wâ, bb¯γγ and W+Wâγγ final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. No statistically significant excess in data above the Standard Model predictions is found. The combined observed (expected) limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 (10) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio (Îșλ) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level in observation (expectation) to â5.0<Îșλ<12.0 (â5.8<Îșλ<12.0). In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 KaluzaâKlein RandallâSundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model
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