bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minority rights and violence: A comparative analysis of the conflict in Southern Cameroon and Biafran separatism in Nigeria
Authors: Ezemenaka Kingsley Emeka
Published: May 2021

Rights disparity within a population, alongside an unresolved and long‐standing feud concerning minority rights, is a key factor in fuelling agitation and violence in a country. Consequently, it has a significant effect on a state’s peace, security, and development. This article presents a comparative analysis regarding the violence experienced in Southern Cameroon and in Southeastern Nigeria. The analysis is carried out using a qualitative approach based on a revised model of Relative Deprivation (RD) theory. Documentary evidence focusing on the causes of violence is analysed to explain specific factors associated with minority rights. The article argues that while the two cases studied are quite distinct, there are also certain similarities which illustrate how state‐destabilizing violence originates out of horizontal inequalities created by a state’s government. This conclusion is showcased in a model of RD theory as it relates to West Africa and the Central African States.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DPB1*1139:01 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Blandin Lucie , Blouin Laura , Cargou Marine , Lemal Richard , Rouzaire Paul
Published: May 2021

HLA‐DPB1*1139:01 differs from HLA‐DPB1*04:01:01:03 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 15 in exon 2.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DQA1*01:01:10 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Blandin Lucie , Cargou Marine , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Rouzaire Paul , Lemal Richard
Published: May 2021

HLA‐DQA1*01:01:10 differs from HLA‐DQA1*01:01:01:01 by a single nucleotide change in codon 7 in exon 2.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DRB1*11:282 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Cargou Marine , Elsermans Vincent , Top Isabelle , Blouin Laura , Visentin Jonathan
Published: May 2021

HLA‐DRB1*11:282 differs from HLA‐DRB1*11:04:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 41 in exon 2.
Creating supportive learning environments: The role of the medical educator
Authors: Samuel Anita , Konopasky Abigail
Published: May 2021

Systemic problems of discrimination plague diversity and inclusion efforts in medical education globally. Medical educators need to acknowledge that learners are dealing with considerable emotional and perhaps social and economic stress and that this stress is likely worse for minoritized learners. In this milieu, what is the role of the medical educator? This article takes an inclusive approach to supporting students and explores various threads in the medical education literature to provide a roadmap for medical educators. This article traces the medical educator's journey with (1) understanding why medical students need educators to intervene, (2) exploring how to create a space for dialog, and (3) beginning the conversation with medical students. It ends with a series of concrete suggestions for medical educators.
The plant DNA polymerase theta is essential for the repair of replication‐associated DNA damage
Authors: Nisa Maherun , Bergis Clara , Pedroza‐Garcia Jose‐Antonio , Drouin‐Wahbi Jeannine , Mazubert Christelle , Bergounioux Catherine , Benhamed Moussa , Raynaud Cécile
Published: May 2021

Safeguarding of genome integrity is a key process in all living organisms. Due to their sessile lifestyle, plants are particularly exposed to all kinds of stress conditions that could induce DNA damage. However, very few genes involved in the maintenance of genome integrity are indispensable to plants’ viability. One remarkable exception is the POLQ gene, which encodes DNA polymerase theta (Pol θ), a non‐replicative polymerase involved in trans‐lesion synthesis during DNA replication and double‐strand break (DSB) repair. The Arabidopsis tebichi (teb) mutants, deficient in Pol θ, have been reported to display severe developmental defects, leading to the conclusion that Pol θ is required for normal plant development. However, this essential role of Pol θ in plants is challenged by contradictory reports regarding the phenotypic defects of teb mutants and the recent finding that rice (Oryza sativa) null mutants develop normally. Here we show that the phenotype of teb mutants is highly variable. Taking advantage of hypomorphic mutants for the replicative DNA polymerase epsilon, which display constitutive replicative stress, we show that Pol θ allows maintenance of meristem activity when DNA replication is partially compromised. Furthermore, we found that the phenotype of Pol θ mutants can be aggravated by modifying their growth conditions, suggesting that environmental conditions impact the basal level of replicative stress and providing evidence for a link between plants’ responses to adverse conditions and mechanisms involved in the maintenance of genome integrity.
Whistles of the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) in Santos Basin, western South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Pires Clara R. , Rossi-Santos Marcos R. , Paro Alexandre D. , Wedekin Leonardo L.
Published: May 2021

The vocal repertoire of the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) is poorly documented, with no published information about acoustic signals from South Atlantic Ocean populations. We conducted passive acoustic monitoring and recording of S. attenuata population in the Santos Basin, Brazil, using a towed hydrophone array during line-transects surveys. Our monitoring yielded whistle samples derived from eight groups of S. attenuata, from which we selected 155 whistles for further analysis. Approximately 48% of the whistles presented ultrasonic frequency values, with maximum frequencies up to 31.1 kHz. Across the sample, the number of steps ranged from 0 to 20 and inflection points ranged from 0 to 8. On average, end frequencies were higher than start frequencies, and whistles generally presented wide frequency ranges, with an average of 11.3 kHz. The most predominant whistle contour category was “ascending-descending.” Our study provides new information regarding the acoustic repertoire of this poorly documented species and will aid efforts for using acoustics to identify and monitor cetaceans in this region.
The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation
Authors: Newton Natalee D. , Hardy Joshua M. , Modhiran Naphak , Hugo Leon E. , Amarilla Alberto A. , Bibby Summa , Venugopal Hariprasad , Harrison Jessica J. , Traves Renee J. , Hall Roy A. , Hobson-Peters Jody , Coulibaly Fasséli , Watterson Daniel
Published: May 2021

The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation.
Decoupling electron and phonon transport in single-nanowire hybrid materials for high-performance thermoelectrics
Authors: Yang Lin , Gordon Madeleine P. , Menon Akanksha K. , Bruefach Alexandra , Haas Kyle , Scott M. C. , Prasher Ravi S. , Urban Jeffrey J.
Published: May 2021

Te-PEDOT:PSS single-nanowire thermoelectric measurements reveal decoupling of electron and phonon transport to achieve high
ZT
.
Thermodynamics of a fast-moving Greenlandic outlet glacier revealed by fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing
Authors: Law Robert , Christoffersen Poul , Hubbard Bryn , Doyle Samuel H. , Chudley Thomas R. , Schoonman Charlotte M. , Bougamont Marion , des Tombe Bas , Schilperoort Bart , Kechavarzi Cedric , Booth Adam , Young Tun Jan
Published: May 2021

High-resolution observations from a 1043-m-deep borehole show highly variable ice properties and heterogeneous deformation.
Cork-in-bottle mechanism of inhibitor binding to mammalian complex I
Authors: Chung Injae , Serreli Riccardo , Cross Jason B. , Di Francesco M. Emilia , Marszalek Joseph R. , Hirst Judy
Published: May 2021

A multidisciplinary approach reveals a unique mechanism of mammalian complex I inhibition relevant for cancer therapeutics.
Bioinspired electrospun dECM scaffolds guide cell growth and control the formation of myotubes
Authors: Smoak Mollie M. , Hogan Katie J. , Grande-Allen K. Jane , Mikos Antonios G.
Published: May 2021

Electrospun decellularized skeletal muscle with tunable physicochemical properties controls myoblast growth and myotube formation.
Ostertagia ostertagiMediates Early Host Immune Responses via Macrophage and Toll-Like Receptor Pathways
Authors: Bakshi Mariam , Hebert Deborah , Gulbronson Connor , Bauchan Gary , Tuo Wenbin , Zarlenga Dante
Published: May 2021

Ostertagia ostertagiis an abomasal parasite with significant economic impact on the cattle industry. Early host immune responses are poorly understood.
Self-management of iron and folic acid supplementation during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postnatal periods: a systematic review
Authors: King Shannon E , Yeh Ping Teresa , Rhee Dong Keun , Tuncalp Özge , Rogers Lisa M , Narasimhan Manjulaa
Published: May 2021

Introduction

While the use of folic acid pre-pregnancy and iron and folic acid (IFA) during pregnancy and postnatal have been demonstrated to be effective and are recommended interventions by WHO, ensuring individuals adhere to the supplementation regimen can be a challenge. Self-care interventions that support an individual’s ability to promote their own health with or without the support of health workers could help promote the uptake and adherence to supplementation. This systematic review assessed the evidence around self-management of IFA or folic acid supplementation accessed over-the-counter during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postnatal periods.

Methods

Peer-reviewed studies were included if they compared self-management of IFA or folic acid supplementation with health worker-initiated supplement use on maternal and/or fetal and newborn health outcomes, end-users’ or health workers’ values and preferences, or cost and/or cost-effectiveness. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS and EMBASE for articles published through November 2020, hand-searched clinical trial registries, reviewed databases and contacted experts in the field. Abstract screening and full-text review were conducted independently by two reviewers.

Results

Overall, 2344 results were identified, and 28 studies were identified for full-text review. All studies were excluded, as they were not primary research, lacked the outcomes of interest, lacked specificity in supplement type, and/or lacked a comparison group.

Conclusion

No evidence was identified that distinguishes self-management of folic acid supplements pre-pregnancy and of IFA supplements during pregnancy and postnatal, highlighting a gap in our current understanding of self-care related to dietary supplementation in pregnancy. The findings of this review identify an area for further research to support the current movement towards self-care interventions as an added choice to help individuals more fully attain their reproductive health and rights.

Systematic review registration number

PROSPERO CRD42020205548
Effect of smoke-free policies in military settings on tobacco smoke exposure and smoking behaviour: a systematic review
Authors: Falconer Hall Thomas , Siddiqi K
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Smoke-free legislation has been instrumental in reducing secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in public places. However, the evidence of the impact of institutional smoke-free policies in settings such as healthcare and defence is weaker. Specifically, the literature on the effect of smoke-free policies in military settings has not yet been synthesised.

Methods

This review aimed to identify, critically appraise and synthesise the available evidence to evaluate the effect of defence smoke-free policies on SHS exposure. Eight electronic databases (eg, EMBASE, MEDLINE) were searched from inception to June 2020. We included English-language studies on smoke-free policies introduced in a defence setting, assessing their impact on SHS exposure (primary outcome) and healthcare utilisation, smoking behaviours and defence efficiency (secondary outcomes). Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I. Synthesis without meta-analysis was conducted using vote counting of direction of effect.

Results

The search retrieved 4503 citations of which eight met inclusion criteria; two controlled and six uncontrolled before-and-after studies. The evidence, although low-quality, from one study indicated reduced SHS exposure following the introduction of a defence smoke-free policy. For secondary outcomes the review found mixed results, with the quit rate being the one outcome favouring smoke-free policies. The cumulative confidence of evidence is uncertain and therefore reliable conclusions cannot be drawn from these studies.

Conclusions

A research gap exists for high-quality studies on the impact of defence smoke-free policies which should use comparators and, if possible, randomisation. Policy-makers should introduce institutional smoke-free policies in defence settings within an evaluative framework to generate such evidence.
How, why and under what circumstances does a quality improvement collaborative build knowledge and skills in clinicians working with people with dementia? A realist informed process evaluation
Authors: de la Perrelle Lenore , Cations Monica , Barbery Gaery , Radisic Gorjana , Kaambwa Billingsley , Crotty Maria , Fitzgerald Janna Anneke , Kurrle Susan , Cameron Ian , Whitehead Craig , Thompson Jane , Laver Kate
Published: May 2021

In increasingly constrained health and aged care services, strategies are needed to improve quality and translate evidence into practice. In dementia care, recent failures in quality and safety have led the WHO to prioritise the translation of known evidence into practice. While quality improvement collaboratives have been widely used in healthcare, there are few examples in dementia care.

We describe a recent quality improvement collaborative to improve dementia care across Australia and assess the implementation outcomes of acceptability and feasibility of this strategy to translate known evidence into practice. A realist-informed process evaluation was used to analyse how, why and under what circumstances a quality improvement collaborative built knowledge and skills in clinicians working in dementia care.

This realist-informed process evaluation developed, tested and refined the programme theory of a quality improvement collaborative. Data were collected pre-intervention and post-intervention using surveys and interviews with participants (n=28). A combined inductive and deductive data analysis process integrated three frameworks to examine the context and mechanisms of knowledge and skill building in participant clinicians.

A refined program theory showed how and why clinicians built knowledge and skills in quality improvement in dementia care. Six mechanisms were identified: motivation, accountability, identity, collective learning, credibility and reflective practice. These mechanisms, in combination, operated to overcome constraints, role boundaries and pessimism about improved practice in dementia care.

A quality improvement collaborative designed for clinicians in different contexts and roles was acceptable and feasible in building knowledge, skills and confidence of clinicians to improve dementia care. Supportive reflective practice and a credible, flexible and collaborative process optimised quality improvement knowledge and skills in clinicians working with people with dementia.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12618000268246.
Effect of preoperative cannabis use on perioperative outcomes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Betty Huiyu , Saud Haris , Sengupta Neil , Chen Max , Bakshi Devyani , Richardson Liz , Wang Li , Shanthanna Harsha
Published: May 2021

Introduction

The reported use of cannabis within surgical population is increasing. Cannabis use is potentially associated with increased harms and varied effects on pain control. These have important implications to perioperative care.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing surgical patients reporting cannabis use preoperatively to control patients with no cannabis exposure, in a 1:2 ratio. To control for confounding, we used a propensity score-matched analysis to assess the adjusted association between cannabis use and study outcomes. Our primary outcome was a composite of (1) respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest, (2) intensive care admission, (3) stroke, (4) myocardial infarction and (5) mortality during this hospital stay. Secondarily, we assessed the effects on pain control, opioid usage, induction agent dose and nausea-vomiting.

Results

Between January 2018 and March 2019, we captured 1818 patients consisting of cannabis users (606) and controls (1212). For propensity score-matched analyses, 524 cannabis patients were compared with 1152 control patients. No difference in the incidence of composite outcome was observed (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.23 to 3.98). Although a higher incidence of arrhythmias (2.7% vs 1.6%) and decreased incidence of nausea-vomiting needing treatment (9.6% vs 12.6%) was observed with cannabis users vs controls, results were not statistically significant. No significant differences were observed with other secondary outcomes.

Conclusion

Our results do not demonstrate a convincing association between self-reported cannabis use and major surgical outcomes or pain management. Perioperative decisions should be made based on considerations of dose, duration, and indication.
Anatomy of the thoracic paravertebral space: 3D micro-CT findings and their clinical implications for nerve blockade
Authors: Cho Tae-Hyeon , Kim Shin Hyung , O Jehoon , Kwon Hyun-Jin , Kim Ki Wook , Yang Hun-Mu
Published: May 2021

Background

A precise anatomical understanding of the thoracic paravertebral space (TPVS) is essential to understanding how an injection outside this space can result in paravertebral spread. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the three-dimensional (3D) structures of the TPVS and adjacent tissues using micro-CT, and investigate the potential routes for nerve blockade in this area.

Methods

Eleven embalmed cadavers were used in this study. Micro-CT images of the TPVS were acquired after phosphotungstic acid preparation at the mid-thoracic region. The TPVS was examined meticulously based on its 3D topography.

Results

Micro-CT images clearly showed the serial topography of the TPVS and its adjacent spaces. First, the TPVS was a very narrow space with the posterior intercostal vessels very close to the pleura. Second, the superior costotransverse ligament (SCTL) incompletely formed the posterior wall of the TPVS between the internal intercostal membrane and vertebral body. Third, the retro-SCTL space broadly communicated with the TPVS via slits, costotransverse space, intervertebral foramen, and erector spinae compartment. Fourth, the costotransverse space was intersegmentally connected to the adjacent retro-SCTL space.

Conclusions

A non-destructive, multi-sectional approach using 3D micro-CT more comprehensively demonstrated the real topography of the intricate TPVS than previous cadaver studies. The posterior boundary and connectivity of the TPVS provides an anatomical rationale for the notion that paravertebral spread can be achieved with an injection outside this space.
Genome-wide identification of citrus calmodulin-like genes and their expression in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and drought
Authors: Shu Bo , Xie Yachao , Zhang Fei , Zhang Dejian , Liu Chunyan , Wu Qiangsheng , Luo Chun
Published: May 2021

Calmodulin-like (CML) proteins represent a diverse family of protein in plants, and play significant roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses. However, the involvement of citrus CMLs in plant responses to drought stress (abiotic stress) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization remain relatively unknown. We characterized the citrus CML genes by analyzing the EF-hand domains and a genome-wide search, and identified a total of 38 such genes, distributed across at least nine chromosomes. Six tandem duplication clusters were observed in the CsCMLs, and 12 CsCMLs exhibited syntenic relationships with Arabidopsis thaliana CMLs. Gene expression analysis showed that 29 CsCMLs were expressed in the roots, and exhibited differential expression patterns. The regulation of CsCMLs expression was not consistent with the cis-elements identified in their promoters. CsCML2, 3, and 5 were upregulated in response to drought stress, and AMF colonization repressed the expression of CsCML7, 9, 12, 13,20, 27, 28, and 35,and induced that of CsCML1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 25, 30, 33, and 37. Furthermore, AMF colonization and drought stress exerted a synergistic effect, evident from the enhanced repression of CsCML7, 9, 12, 13, 27, 28, and 35 and enhanced expression of CsCML2, 3, and 5 under AMF colonization and drought stress. The present study provides valuable insights into the CsCML gene family and its responses to AMF colonization and drought stress.
Identification and expression analysis of E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes in cucumber
Authors: Lai Wei , Hu Zhaoyang , Zhu Chuxia , Yang Yingui , Liu Shiqiang , Zhou Yong
Published: May 2021

Protein ubiquitination is one of the most common modifications that can degrade or modify proteins in eukaryotic cells. The E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBCs) are involved in multiple biological processes of eukaryotes and their response to adverse stresses. Genome-wide survey of the UBC gene family has been performed in many plant species but not in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). In this study, a total of 38 UBC family genes (designated as CsUBC1–CsUBC38) were identified in cucumber. The phylogenetic analysis of UBC proteins from cucumber, Arabidopsis and maize indicated that these proteins could be divided into 15 groups. Most of the phylogenetically related CsUBC members had similar conserved motif patterns and gene structures. The CsUBC genes were unevenly distributed on seven chromosomes, and gene duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication has played a significant role in the expansion of the cucumber UBC gene family. Promoter analysis of these genes resulted in the identification of many hormone-, stress- and development-related cis-elements. The CsUBC genes exhibited differential expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages of fruit ripening. In addition, a total of 14 CsUBC genes were differentially expressed upon downy mildew (DM) infection compared with the control. Our results lay the foundation for further clarification of the roles of the CsUBC genes in the future.
Domestic Pressure and International Climate Cooperation
Authors: Tavoni Alessandro , Winkler Ralph
Published: May 2021

In the wake of 25 United Nations Climate Change Conferences of the Parties (and counting), international cooperation on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions to avoid substantial and potentially irreversible climate change remains an important challenge. The limited impact of the Kyoto Protocol on curbing emissions, and the gap between the ambitions of its successor and the Paris Agreement's lack of sanctioning mechanisms for addressing noncompliance, demonstrates both the difficulties in negotiating ambitious environmental agreements and the reluctance of countries to comply with their agreed emission targets once they have joined the treaty. Therefore, a better understanding of the obstacles and opportunities that the interactions between domestic and international policy pose for the design of successful international climate cooperation is of utmost importance. To shed light on the roots of the stalemate (and suggest possible ways out), this article reviews and draws lessons from a growing theoretical, experimental, and empirical literature that accounts for the hierarchical interplay between domestic political pressure and international climate policy.
Impacts of circulating microRNAs in exercise-induced vascular remodeling
Authors: Van Guilder Gary P. , Preston Claudia C. , Munce Thayne A. , Faustino Randolph S.
Published: May 2021

Cardiovascular adaptation underlies all athletic training modalities, with a variety of factors contributing to overall response during exercise-induced stimulation. In this regard the role of circulating biomarkers is a well-established and invaluable tool for monitoring cardiovascular function. Specifically, novel biomarkers such as circulating cell free DNA and RNA are now becoming attractive tools for monitoring cardiovascular function with the advent of next generation technologies that can provide unprecedented precision and resolution of these molecular signatures, paving the way for novel diagnostic and prognostic avenues to better understand physiological remodeling that occurs in trained versus untrained states. In particular, microRNAs are a species of regulatory RNAs with pleiotropic effects on multiple pathways in tissue-specific manners. Furthermore, the identification of cell free microRNAs within peripheral circulation represents a distal signaling mechanism that is just beginning to be explored via a diversity of molecular and bioinformatic approaches. This article provides an overview of the emerging field of sports/performance genomics with a focus on the role of microRNAs as novel functional diagnostic and prognostic tools, and discusses present knowledge in the context of athletic vascular remodeling. This review concludes with current advantages and limitations, touching upon future directions and implications for applying contemporary systems biology knowledge of exercise-induced physiology to better understand how disruption can lead to pathology.
The Relationship between Experienced Respiratory Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life in the Elderly with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Masror-Roudsary Daryadokht , Fadaee Aghdam Nasrin , Rafii Forough , Baha Robabe , Khajeh Mahboobeh , Mardani Abbas
Published: May 2021

Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the diseases that usually present at an advanced age. Respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD are the most important for making treatment decisions and understanding the adverse effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate HRQoL in elderly patients with COPD and examine the relationship between this in relation to respiratory symptoms experienced by them and their demographic characteristics. Methods. This is a descriptive, correlational study of elderly patients with COPD who were hospitalized in five different hospitals in an urban area of Iran. A consecutive sampling method was used. Demographic data form, the respiratory symptoms component of St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) were applied for data collection. Results. The patients (n = 217) reported low HRQoL, and this impairment was more observed in the physical component. There was a significant inverse relationship between the experienced respiratory symptoms and physical (

p
=
0.03

) and mental (

p
<
0.001

) components of HRQoL. Moreover, the female gender, the low level of education, the increased duration of the disease, the increased number of hospitalizations during the past year, and the use of two classes of drugs simultaneously were associated with the impaired HRQoL. Conclusion. Our findings inform healthcare providers about the negative impacts of respiratory symptoms and other related factors on the HRQoL of elderly patients with COPD. Nurses and other healthcare providers should proactively identify respiratory symptoms and design appropriate caring strategies to improve HRQoL among this group.
Evolution of Autopoiesis and Multicellularity in the Game of Life
Authors: Turney Peter D.
Published: May 2021

Recently we introduced a model of symbiosis, Model-S, based on the evolution of seed patterns in Conway's Game of Life. In the model, the fitness of a seed pattern is measured by one-on-one competitions in the Immigration Game, a two-player variation of the Game of Life. Our previous article showed that Model-S can serve as a highly abstract, simplified model of biological life: (1) The initial seed pattern is analogous to a genome. (2) The changes as the game runs are analogous to the development of the phenome. (3) “Tournament selection in Model-S is analogous to natural selection in biology. (4) The Immigration Game in Model-S is analogous to competition in biology. (5) The first three layers in Model-S are analogous to biological reproduction. (6) The fusion of seed patterns in Model-S is analogous to symbiosis. The current article takes this analogy two steps further: (7) Autopoietic structures in the Game of Life (still lifes, oscillators, and spaceships—collectively known as ashes) are analogous to cells in biology. (8) The seed patterns in the Game of Life give rise to multiple, diverse, cooperating autopoietic structures, analogous to multicellular biological life. We use the apgsearch software (Ash Pattern Generator Search), developed by Adam Goucher for the study of ashes, to analyze autopoiesis and multicellularity in Model-S. We find that the fitness of evolved seed patterns in Model-S is highly correlated with the diversity and quantity of multicellular autopoietic structures.
The Function of Documents in Islamic Court Procedure: a Multi-Dimensional Approach
Authors: Oberauer Norbert
Published: May 2021

The present study investigates the role of written documents in Islamic court procedure, and especially the evidential status of such documents. For this purpose, I analyze different kinds of sources that vary in their proximity to practice. In addition to furūʿ-literature, I draw on shurūṭ manuals, fatwās and court records from 16th-century Jerusalem. This approach allows for a multi-dimensional reconstruction of the legal discourse on written documents. I argue that this discourse operated on several levels, some of which are virtually invisible if these sources are studied in isolation. By contrast, a holistic perspective reveals a subtle interaction between these discursive levels that reduced the tension between legal doctrine and practical concerns.
The Predictability of the Extratropical Flow Response to Recurving Atlantic Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Brannan Allison Lynn , Chagnon Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2021

Given the ability of recurving Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) to disturb the amplitude of Rossby waves on the extratropical jet, this study investigates whether the predictability of the synoptic-scale flow is significantly modified from climatology downstream from and after TC recurvature events. Predictability is evaluated as the standard deviation of isentropic potential vorticity among a 50-member ensemble and is compared to a model climatology. It is shown that forecast uncertainty is dependent upon the relative location of the nearest trough at the time of recurvature and the relative zonal speed between the aforementioned trough and the TC in the 72 hours after recurvature. Predictability is significantly degraded when recurvature occurs downstream of a trough; the elevated uncertainty subsequently propagates downstream along with the trough axis. Furthermore, this study evaluates predictability in spectral space in order to distinguish between uncertainty tied to the exact location of troughs and ridges and uncertainty in Rossby wave amplitude. The wavelet analysis demonstrates that the increase in uncertainty is not solely limited to the trough location, as there is also significantly elevated uncertainty in the Rossby wave amplitude that originates from the upstream trough and spans across downstream troughs and ridges. Uncertainty is also increased near the recurvature longitude in the subset of cases in which the Rossby wave train propagates zonally slower than the TC after recurvature, which is hypothesized to be linked to baroclinic growth processes.
Digital disintermediation, technical and national sovereignty: The Internet shutdown of Catalonia’s ‘independence referendum’
Authors: Sampedro Víctor , López-Ferrández F Javier , Hidalgo Patricia
Published: May 2021

This article analyses the digital shutdown experienced in Catalonia within the framework of the independence referendum of 1 October 2017, which had been declared illegal by Spain’s Constitutional Court. We question the notion of digital disintermediation and examine how Internet control and blackout processes are not exclusive to authoritarian political systems, but have instead begun to develop in Western democracies in situations of socio-political crisis. We analyse the type of shutdown implemented in Catalonia, the players (both institutional and corporate) taking part in the process, and the resistance strategies implemented by civil society to maintain the flow of digital communications. In our conclusion, we reflect upon the implications of the events that took place in Catalonia for the future of digital sovereignty and suggest further lines of research for monitoring similar shutdown processes.
A National Survey of Data Currently being Collected by Adult Day Service Centers Across the United States
Authors: Sadarangani Tina , Anderson Keith , Vora Paayal , Missaelides Lydia , Zagorski William
Published: May 2021

An understanding of adult day service centers’ (ADC) impacts on clients’ health and well-being has been hampered by a lack of large-scale data. Standardizing data collection is critical to strengthening ADC programs, demonstrating their effectiveness, and enabling them to leverage additional funding streams beyond Medicaid. We distributed an electronic survey on current data collection efforts to ADCs nationally to determine categories of data ADCs are collecting related to clients’ health. In our sample ( N = 248), only 32% of ADCs collected patient-level data for research and analysis—most commonly on activities of daily living, cognition, nutrition, and caregiver strain. However, validated assessment tools were used in less than 50% of the cases. ADCs are willing to collect data: More than 70% reported a willingness to participate in future studies. National studies piloting data collection protocols with uniform outcome measures are needed to advance the understanding of ADCs’ capabilities and impacts.
Doing Ethnography on Social Media: A Methodological Reflection on the Study of Online Groups in China
Authors: Wang Di , Liu Sida
Published: May 2021

This article draws on the two authors’ extensive fieldwork experiences in studying Chinese feminists and lawyers on social media to offer some thoughts on how to conduct qualitative research in the digitalized world. We argue that qualitative methods such as participation observation, in-depth interview, and textual analysis can provide thick descriptions and deep, localized knowledge of social processes that go far beyond the sketches of Big Data. Social science data collection and analysis on social media need not only Big Data’s bird’s-eye view, but also the day-to-day ethnographic immersion—“living on the sites” and interacting with research subjects over a long period of time. The rise of social media has not changed the basic principles of doing ethnography, such as the importance of immersion and reflexivity. Nevertheless, ethnography of online groups presents new challenges and opportunities in terms of accessing field sites, analyzing ethnographic data, and research ethics.
Effect of Power Message on Employee Response and Job Recruitment in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Kim Ji-Hern , Ahn Sojung , Lee Eunkyung
Published: May 2021

In the hospitality sector, it is often believed that giving more power to customers (e.g., “the customer is king”) would enhance the service quality, customer satisfaction, and organizational performance. However, it can cause a backlash by excessively elevating the level of the customers’ perceived power, which could result in their power abuse against the employees. Based on the organizational support theory, this research argues that balancing the level of power between the customers and the employees (vs. shifting the power to the customers) can be more effective for improving the perceptions of both the current and the potential employees. The argument is empirically supported by the findings from three studies, which showed that adopting a power-balancing message positively affects the current employees’ perceived organizational support and motivates them to feel obliged to give back to the organization and also potential job applicants’ organizational attraction and the job pursuit intention.
Trusting relationships, learning bureaucrats: International organizations and early-stage policy diffusion
Authors: Beleli Ozsel
Published: May 2021

This article examines the diffusion of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) model to Turkey and Indonesia, and the role of World Bank bureaucrats in these cases of early-stage diffusion. The article finds that learning, and not coercion or emulation, is the primary mechanism of policy diffusion in both cases. This learning was mediated by the World Bank bureaucrats even before the CCT model gained mainstream acceptance inside the World Bank. The findings from these two cases suggest World Bank bureaucrats to be engaging in domestic policy processes not by ‘powering’ but by participating in the national bureaucrats’ ‘puzzling’. The findings also underline the importance of trusting relationships between international and national bureaucrats in these policy processes. More broadly, the article makes the case for conceptualizing international organizations (IOs) as organizations with heterogeneous staff who play more nuanced and contingent roles in policy diffusion processes than is commonly conceived.
Influences on Academic Talent Development of Black Girls in K-12: A Systematic Review
Authors: Davis Brenda K.
Published: May 2021

Black girls experience numerous challenges to their academic development. This study examines the literature from the last 30 years related to the influences on the academic talent development of school-aged Black girls. Environmental and intrapersonal influences to Black girls’ academic talent development are explored. Using a systematic approach, 43 articles are reviewed and summarized. Thematic analysis conducted on the results and findings sections from each article reveal four major themes related to personal attributes, racial identity, relationships, and institutions. The themes expand the understanding of the complexity of talent development of Black girls and identify several intrapersonal and environmental influences that can promote or hinder academic achievement. Implications for future research are discussed.
“Celebrity Avatar” Feasting on In-Game Items: A Gamers’ Play Arena
Authors: Wang Xuhui , Butt Asad Hassan , Zhang Qilin , Shafique Nouman , Ahmad Hassan
Published: May 2021

Gamers like to socially interact with other players and show off their avatar whenever it is conceivable in performance and appearance. This study aimed to develop a new construct—“Celebrity Avatar”—based on the celebrity endorsement model and player-avatar identification theory and add value to the survey using theory of consumption value (TCV) as a mediating role. As we know, celebrity and avatar identification show a positive influence on consumer behavioral decisions, so celebrity avatars altogether as a new construct showed positive results. The self-brand connection (SBC) and fantasy have a positive effect on the celebrity avatar. We found that four components of TCV, that is, enjoyment value, character competency value, visual character value, and monetary value, are applicable for depicting how celebrity avatars can persuade consumers to buy in-game items.
Low-cost transcriptional diagnostic to accurately categorize lymphomas in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Valvert Fabiola , Silva Oscar , Solórzano-Ortiz Elizabeth , Puligandla Maneka , Siliézar Tala Marcos Mauricio , Guyon Timothy , Dixon Samuel L. , López Nelly , López Francisco , Carías Alvarado César Camilo , Terbrueggen Robert , Stevenson Kristen E. , Natkunam Yasodha , Weinstock David M. , Briercheck Edward L.
Published: May 2021

Inadequate diagnostics compromise cancer care across lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We hypothesized that an inexpensive gene expression assay using paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from LMICs could distinguish lymphoma subtypes without pathologist input. We reviewed all biopsy specimens obtained at the Instituto de Cancerología y Hospital Dr. Bernardo Del Valle in Guatemala City between 2006 and 2018 for suspicion of lymphoma. Diagnoses were established based on the World Health Organization classification and then binned into 9 categories: nonmalignant, aggressive B-cell, diffuse large B-cell, follicular, Hodgkin, mantle cell, marginal zone, natural killer/T-cell, or mature T-cell lymphoma. We established a chemical ligation probe-based assay (CLPA) that quantifies expression of 37 genes by capillary electrophoresis with reagent/consumable cost of approximately $10/sample. To assign bins based on gene expression, 13 models were evaluated as candidate base learners, and class probabilities from each model were then used as predictors in an extreme gradient boosting super learner. Cases with call probabilities < 60% were classified as indeterminate. Four (2%) of 194 biopsy specimens in storage <3 years experienced assay failure. Diagnostic samples were divided into 70% (n = 397) training and 30% (n = 163) validation cohorts. Overall accuracy for the validation cohort was 86% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 80%-91%). After excluding 28 (17%) indeterminate calls, accuracy increased to 94% (95% CI: 89%-97%). Concordance was 97% for a set of high-probability calls (n = 37) assayed by CLPA in both the United States and Guatemala. Accuracy for a cohort of relapsed/refractory biopsy specimens (n = 39) was 79% and 88%, respectively, after excluding indeterminate cases. Machine-learning analysis of gene expression accurately classifies paraffin-embedded lymphoma biopsy specimens and could transform diagnosis in LMICs.
Daily stair climbing is associated with decreased risk for the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Whittaker Anna C. , Eves Frank F. , Carroll Douglas , Roseboom Tessa J. , Ginty Annie T. , Painter Rebecca C. , de Rooij Susanne R.
Published: May 2021

Background

Stair climbing can be a vigorous lifestyle physical activity, and is associated with healthier lipoprotein profiles, lower body weight and blood pressure, as well as higher aerobic fitness. The present analysis of data from a cohort of late middle-aged men and women examined the association between daily stair climbing and the metabolic syndrome.

Methods

Data from 782 (423 women) participants (mean (SD) age 58.3 (0.95) years in the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort Study (2002–2004) were used to examine the cross-sectional association between self-reported daily stair climbing and the metabolic syndrome. Stair climbing was assessed by the question ‘Do you climb stairs daily?’ and the metabolic syndrome was defined using the established five components relating to lipid fractions, blood glucose levels, blood pressure and abdominal obesity.

Results

Not climbing stairs daily was associated with an increased incidence of the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.23, 2.92, p = 0.004) and a greater number of its components (F1,780 = 8.48, p = 0.004): these associations were still evident after adjusting for a variety of potential confounders.

Conclusions

The most likely explanation for the current findings is that daily stair climbing may be protective against the metabolic syndrome. This result reinforces public health recommendations for increased stair climbing with evidence from physiological outcomes.
Modular prosthesis fracture in a patient with developmental dysplasia of the hip: a case report and literature review
Authors: Cheng Yuan-Pei , Cheng Xiao-Kang , Li Yong-Bo , Zhang Qian-Ru , Feng Hao , Zhong Yi-Han , Zhang Yan-Bo , Wu Han
Published: May 2021

Background

Modular prosthesis fracture, especially distal femoral fracture, is a rare complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, it is catastrophic, and may have a serious impact on the patients. A distal femoral prosthesis fracture in a patient with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) with nonunion at the subtrochanteric osteotomy site has not yet been reported in any literature. This report presents the first such case, with a purpose of analyzing the causes of modular prosthesis fractures and nonunion of the osteotomy area, so as to provide orthopedic surgeons with experience and lessons.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with the distal femoral prosthesis fracture after THA and subtrochanteric osteotomy for Crowe type IV DDH. The patient had severe pain in the left thigh and her activities were limited. Plain radiographs revealed fracture of the left distal femoral prosthesis and nonunion in the subtrochanteric osteotomy region of the left femur. After a revision of the THA, the patient’s symptoms were resolved.

Conclusions

A prosthesis fracture combined with nonunion at the subtrochanteric osteotomy site is a rare complication. Modular THA combined with a subtrochanteric osteotomy in the treatment of Crowe type IV DDH should reduce the damage to blood supply and avoid further nonunion of the osteotomy area, which may otherwise lead to modular prosthesis fractures. A detailed preoperative plan and suitable rehabilitation program may help minimize the occurrence of subtrochanteric osteotomy nonunion and reduce complications, including femoral prosthesis fractures, in patients with DDH.
Evaluation of the durability of long‐lasting insecticidal nets in Guatemala
Authors: Castellanos María Eugenia , Rodas Soledad , Juárez José Guillermo , Lol Juan Carlos , Chanquin Sayra , Morales Zoraida , Vizcaino Lucrecia , Smith Stephen C. , Vanden Eng Jodi , Woldu Henok G. , Lenhart Audrey , Padilla Norma
Published: May 2021

Background

Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are widely used for the prevention and control of malaria. In Guatemala, since 2006, ITNs have been distributed free of charge in the highest risk malaria-endemic areas and constitute one of the primary vector control measures in the country. Despite relying on ITNs for almost 15 years, there is a lack of data to inform the timely replacement of ITNs whose effectiveness becomes diminished by routine use.

Methods

The survivorship, physical integrity, insecticide content and bio-efficacy of ITNs were assessed through cross-sectional surveys conducted at 18, 24 and 32 months after a 2012 distribution of PermaNet® 2.0 in a malaria focus in Guatemala. A working definition of ‘LLIN providing adequate protection’ was developed based on the combination of the previous parameters and usage of the net. A total of 988 ITNs were analysed (290 at 18 months, 349 at 24 months and 349 at 32 months).

Results

The functional survivorship of bed nets decreased over time, from 92% at 18 months, to 81% at 24 months and 69% at 32 months. Independent of the time of the survey, less than 80% of the bed nets that were still present in the household were reported to have been used the night before. The proportion of bed nets categorized as “in good condition” per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of the total hole surface area, diminished from 77% to 18 months to 58% at 32 months. The portion of ITNs with deltamethrin concentration less than 10 mg/m2 increased over time. Among the bed nets for which bioassays were conducted, the percentage that met WHO criteria for efficacy dropped from 90% to 18 months to 52% at 32 months. The proportion of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) providing adequate protection was 38% at 24 months and 21% at 32 months.

Conclusions

At 32 months, only one in five of the LLINs distributed in the campaign provided adequate protection in terms of survivorship, physical integrity, bio-efficacy and usage. Efforts to encourage the community to retain, use, and properly care for the LLINs may improve their impact. Durability assessments should be included in future campaigns.