bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-monolingual Anglophone Novels
Authors: Neumann Birgit
Published: June 2023

A range of recent anglophone novels is committed to weaving connections between English and other languages, thus turning English into a language of encounter. Activating both multilingual and translingual configurations, these novels are what one might—in line with Yasemin Yildiz (2012)—call “post-monolingual.” Post-monolingual novels are powerful expressions of the plurality of languages that coexist within seemingly homogeneous spaces. Fluidizing the boundaries between languages, these novels pose intricate challenges for literary studies, which concern all major dimensions of the literary text, that is, its poetics, its modes of reading, and the logic of publishing. The article explores the complexities at the heart of post-monolingual novels, offering close readings of Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor’s The Dragonfly Sea (2019) and Karina Lickorish Quinn’s The Dust Never Settles (2021).
A new species of Cretevania Rasnitsyn, 1975 (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber
Authors: ROSSE-GUILLEVIC SIMON , JOUAULT CORENTIN
Published: June 2023

Cretevania kachinensis sp. nov., a new species of evaniid wasp (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae), is described and illustrated from a male specimen preserved in the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber of the Noije Bum deposits (Myanmar). Cretevania kachinensis sp. nov. is readily attributed to the genus Cretevania because of its forewing venation (i.e., forewing with cell 1+2r elongate, longer than 3r and more than twice as long as pterostigma length, 3r narrower triangular, nearly as wide as 1+2r), but differs from all other species mainly because of its veins 2Rs+M (more developed than a simple contacting point) and 1Rs (subvertical to R), and the cell 2cua conformation (i.e., rectangular). This description highlights the underestimated diversity of evanioids in the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber.
In Pursuit of Cultural Equity: DEI Grantmaking Practices of U.S. Local Arts Agencies in Community Context
Authors: Cornfield Daniel B. , Herbolsheimer Chancey , Bastian Savannah
Published: June 2023

As grantmaking intermediary organizations, local arts agencies (LAAs) play an important but under-researched role in realizing cultural equity—the incorporation of underrepresented groups and counternarratives into democratic discourse—in thousands of local communities throughout the United States. In deploying their diversity, equity, and inclusion grantmaking practices, LAAs vary in the degree to which they proactively encourage the artistic expression of underrepresented groups, such as immigrants and racial-ethnic minorities. Little research has been directed at the relationship between the relative population size of underrepresented groups in an LAA service area and an LAA’s likelihood of having a formal “race-ethnic targeting” policy, the proactive channeling of arts economic resources toward underrepresented community groups. Framing our analysis in sociological race relations theories, we examine patterns of association between an LAA’s likelihood of having a formal race-ethnic targeting policy and the percentage foreign-born of the residential population in an LAA service area based on 462 LAAs of the 2018 Local Arts Agency Profile collected by Americans for the Arts, a national dataset of LAAs that we augmented with U.S. Census demographic data on LAA service-area populations. We conclude by deriving from the curvilinear pattern of findings a “representation thesis” on the community social contexts in which proactive LAAs tend to target race-ethnic minorities for distributing arts economic resources.
Are Mental Health Problems and Mindfulness Awareness Related to Levothyroxine Replacement in Adolescent Patients With Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
Authors: Uzun Mehmet Erdem , Kaymaz Nazan , Kara Ozlem , Kasap Tolga
Published: June 2023

Considering the possible adverse effects of thyroid autoantibodies on the brain, the present study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in mental health difficulties and mindfulness awareness levels between subclinical Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients with and without levothyroxine (LT4) use. A case-control study was conducted. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were used to screen mental health difficulties and mindfulness awareness. Scale scores were compared by performing correlation analysis between the groups with respect to LT4 use and thyroid autoantibodies. Levothyroxine alone does not affect scale results. Higher thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) titers were positively correlated with the behavioral problems subscale of the SDQ, while awareness level in patients was inversely correlated with higher thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels.
Ultrasonic guided waves through Coalesence of matrix cracks and delaminations in laminated composites
Authors: Munian Rajendra Kumar , Mahapatra D Roy
Published: June 2023

Composite fabric-matrix interface mismatch during manufacturing and applied loads cause matrix micro-cracks and their evolution toward interface delamination and stiffness reduction. Fatigue and impact loads can grow these matrix cracks further as early damage precursors, which are not easily detectable. We simulate ultrasonic guided wave propagation in laminated composite with matrix crack mixed delamination site to understand better detection possibilities for these damage precursors using the ultrasonic inspection method. Since extremely small wavelength ultrasonic waves attenuate rapidly in composites, whereas long wavelength guided waves may not produce high sensitivity to small-scale defects, therefore we attempt to analyze super-resolution quantitative scheme with suitable frequencies to correlate defect parameters. We employ a time-domain spectral finite element method for fast computation of high-frequency wavefield while accurately resolving the matrix crack-delamination geometric features. Its high-order field interpolation enables us to model the nearfield interactions of the waves with the transverse micro-cracks and further with an evolved macro-scale delamination. The computational scheme is aimed to scale to complex defect local field simulations and cover larger size composite structures. This is achieved due to a mathematically consistent diagonalized mass matrix property which makes the implicit time marching-based computation highly efficient for highly resolved and large-size finite element systems. The transient dynamic stress field around the cracks modulates the guided wave mode packets. We analyze the characteristics of the signal sensitivities due to the defect features, most notably, an interesting correlation between matrix crack density and frequency modulation or sub-band contribution. Wave interaction with the defect region creates weak but distinct reflection patterns while transmitting through the region. The study provides useful and new understanding towards defect size estimation and indicative measure of thickness wise layers of matrix cracks and its coalescence into delamination in terms of energy spectral density of the sub-bands.
Kinect-ing the Dots: Using Motion-Capture Technology to Distinguish Sign Language Linguistic From Gestural Expressions
Authors: Stamp Rose , Cohn David , Hel-Or Hagit , Sandler Wendy
Published: June 2023

Just as vocalization proceeds in a continuous stream in speech, so too do movements of the hands, face, and body in sign languages. Here, we use motion-capture technology to distinguish lexical signs in sign language from other common types of expression in the signing stream. One type of expression is constructed action, the enactment of (aspects of) referents and events by (parts of) the body. Another is classifier constructions, the manual representation of analogue and gradient motions and locations simultaneously with specified referent morphemes. The term signing is commonly used for all of these, but we show that not all visual signals in sign languages are of the same type. In this study of Israeli Sign Language, we use motion capture to show that the motion of lexical signs differs significantly along several kinematic parameters from that of the two other modes of expression: constructed action and the classifier forms. In so doing, we show how motion-capture technology can help to define the universal linguistic category “word,” and to distinguish it from the expressive gestural elements that are commonly found across sign languages.
The Stubborn Persistence of Grief Stage Theory
Authors: Daniel Terri
Published: June 2023

Bereavement professionals who keep up with current research have wisely discarded the “five stages of grief” theory in favor of more contemporary, more functional models, including continuing bonds , tasks of grieving. meaning-reconstruction , the six Rs of mourning ,and Stroebe & Schut’s dual-process model. But the stage theory has stubbornly persisted, despite a steady stream of criticism in academia and countless commentaries on the dangers of using it in bereavement counseling . Public support and pockets of professional endorsement for the stages continues to exist, undeterred by the knowledge that there is very little, if any, evidence to support its usefulness. Because there is a tendency for the general public to embrace ideas popularized in mainstream media, the stage theory clings tenaciously to public acceptance.
Anticipating Sabbath Predicts Higher Quality Sleep: A Longitudinal Adventist Study
Authors: Viehmann-Wical Katie , Lee Jerry W. , Wiafe Seth A. , Sathananthan Matheni , Nelson Anna
Published: June 2023

High-quality sleep is essential for a healthy long life. Low-quality sleep is an unrecognized worldwide epidemic. To determine whether: (a) individuals who positively viewed that “the Sabbath brings rest” report higher-quality sleep in the future, (b) individuals who avoided secular activities on Sabbath report higher-quality sleep in the future, (c) moderation analysis identified the significant covariates effect of Sabbath rest on sleep disturbance, and (d) mediation clarified the covariate relationships of the two independent variables (Sabbath rest and secular activities). A generalized linear model was used for analysis. Multiple imputation was used for missing data. Less than 5% of total data was missing before imputation in this longitudinal, prospective-design study. Total sleep disturbance (TSD) in wave 2 predicted Sabbath rest from wave 1, p = .010. Results showed that participants who believed that “the Sabbath brings rest” had significantly less TSD overall, 4 years in the future. All ages, ethnicities, and genders benefited from Sabbath rest. None of the covariates lost significance for Sabbath rest. Anticipating a weekly Sabbath appears to improve longterm sleep quality, and therefore potentially contributes to long-term health benefits.
Towards Understanding Small Cities: Zero Mile Series
Authors: Alam Mahtab
Published: June 2023

Sanjay Kundan, Zero Mile Patna (Hindi), New Delhi, Vaam Prakashan, 2021, 148 pp., ₹250, ISBN 9789392017025 (Paperback).

Bhuvendra Tyagi, Zero Mile Meerut (Hindi), New Delhi, Vaam Prakashan, 2022, 156 pp., ₹250, ISBN 9789392017025 (Paperback).

Jai Singh, Zero Mile Aligarh (Hindi), New Delhi, Vaam Prakashan, 2023, 139 pp., ₹250, ISBN 978-93-92017-08-7 (Paperback).
Nationalist Urbanisms on the National Peripheries
Authors: Jamil Ghazala
Published: June 2023

Nations have been imagined from urban centres of power, and nation-building in post-colonial states has been one of the most important forces powering developmental urbanisms. While dominant nationalist urbanisms transforming the core of the national space have garnered scholarly attention, the prevailing view in literature empties peripheries of agency and nationalist vision. This special issue explores nationalist urbanisms in civic, provincial, precarious and everyday spaces that are peripheral to the dominant national imaginations. It argues that both dominant and peripheral imaginaries of the nation draw on competing forms of nationalisms giving rise to urbanisms which reflect ideological shifts in the nation-state.
Disentangling Forced Migration Governance: Actors and Drivers Along the Displacement Continuum
Authors: Müller-Funk Lea , Fröhlich Christiane , Bank André
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study the question of who and what drives forced migration governance in origin, host, and transit states, drawing on empirical material from the contemporary Syrian and Libyan, and the historical Algerian displacement situations. These three cases are examples for different forced migration governance approaches, ranging from open-supportive (Algeria), to restrictive-selective (Syria) and laissez-faire (Libya). We identify three key drivers of forced migration governance to explain variation in governance outcome: domestic, geopolitical, and international-normative drivers. We understand forced migration governance as a state-making strategy for different state and non-state actors in origin, transit, and host countries. We argue that while forced migration governance is negotiated around humanitarian principles in which international organizations and civil society play a crucial role, the international-normative driver remains strongly bound to domestic and geopolitical logics. Political and economic interests are key factors of forced migration governance in host countries, especially if they align with political interests and state-making strategies of state and non-state actors in origin countries.
High prevalence of food insecurity in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan: The flood aftermath
Authors: Haider Kaniz Amna , Surani Zoya , Khalid Ayesha , Jaffar Zaidi Syed Ali , Chohan Rumassah , Hoodbhoy Zahra
Published: June 2023

Background

Food insecurity (FI) is at a steep risk, especially in low middle-income countries. FI is further compounded in areas that experience environmental and economic instability, thus a reassessment in such critical times is required for burden estimation and to propose targeted interventions.

Aims

The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of, and sociodemographic factors associated with FI, as well as the coping strategies utilized in response to FI in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey from November-December 2022 on 400 households in four peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI) questionnaire were used to assess FI. A Poisson regression was used to assess associations between sociodemographic factors and FI.

Results

The overall prevalence of FI was found to be 60.2% ( n = 241) of which 33.8% ( n = 135) were severely food insecure. Age, women's and breadwinners’ education, women's occupation, and parity were significantly associated with FI. Participants reported relying on less expensive foods (44%) and borrowing food or help from others (35%) as the most common coping strategies overall in the FI households.

Conclusion

With more than half the households facing FI and adopting severe measures to cope in these communities, it is pivotal to design and test interventions that can withstand economic and climate catastrophes and help ensure a safety need for food security for the most vulnerable.
Under pressure: Catching the pulse of a Cuban crisis
Authors: Boudreault-Fournier Alexandrine
Published: June 2023

Pressure refers to a force exerted on humans, objects, and ecosystems that prevents or facilitates the flow and growth of things, movements, bodies, and ideas. Cuba has to cope with a lot of pressure due to the collapse of the tourist industry in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, an aging infrastructure, a malfunctioning system, and the long-lasting U.S. embargo. I propose to think through pressure in order to highlight some of the strategies adopted by people and other organisms to deal with or lower the pressure felt in their daily life. In reflecting on the current Cuban economic, social and humanitarian crisis, I aim at catching the pulse of the moment to shift the crisis-based discourse to one based on pressure. I focus on two types of pressure – air and blood – to think through the pulse of the post-COVID Cuban crisis. Pressure allows for a cross-sectorial and multi-scalar understanding of the connections between how people live and how they strive to develop coping mechanisms to face pressure.
Radiomics model based on intravoxel incoherent motion and diffusion kurtosis imaging for predicting histopathological grade and Ki-67 expression level of soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Zhu Yi-feng , Li Yu-shi , Zhang Yu , Liu Ya-jie , Zhang Yi-ni , Tao Juan , Wang Shao-wu
Published: June 2023

Background

Accurate identification of the histopathological grade and the Ki-67 expression level is important in clinical cases of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs).

Purpose

To explore the feasibility of a radiomics model based on intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) MRI parameter maps in predicting the histopathological grade and Ki-67 expression level of STSs.

Material and Methods

In total, 42 patients diagnosed with STSs between May 2018 and January 2020 were selected. The MADC software in Functool of GE ADW 4.7 workstation was used to obtain standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), D, D*, f, mean diffusivity, and mean kurtosis (MK). The histopathological grade and Ki-67 expression level of STSs were identified. The radiomics features of IVIM and DKI parameter maps were used as the dataset. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and F1-score were calculated.

Results

D-SVM achieved the best diagnostic performance for histopathological grade. The AUC in the validation cohort was 0.88 (sensitivity: 0.75 [low level] and 0.83 [high level]; specificity: 0.83 [low level] and 0.75 [high level]; F1-score: 0.75 [low level] and 0.83 [high level]). MK-SVM achieved the best diagnostic performance for Ki-67 expression level. The AUC in the validation cohort was 0.83 (sensitivity: 0.83 [low level] and 0.50 [high level; specificity: 0.50 [low level] and 0.83 [high level]; F1-score: 0.77 [low level] and 0.57 [high level]).

Conclusion

The proposed radiomics classifier could predict the pathological grade of STSs and the Ki-67 expression level in STSs.
Central nervous system mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium genavense in degus (Octodon degus)
Authors: Ii Tatsuhito , Chambers James K. , Uneyama Mizuho , Sumi Ayumi , Nakayama Yutaro , Tsurita Nanae , Miwa Yasutsugu , Uchida Kazuyuki
Published: June 2023

Degus ( Octodon degus) that were kept at a breeding facility presented with neurological or respiratory symptoms and died. Necropsies were performed on 9 individuals, and no significant gross lesions were found. Histologically, spinal cord necrosis was observed in all 9 cases and granulomatous myelitis in 5 of the 9 cases. Locally extensive necrosis of the brain and encephalitis were observed in 7 of the 9 cases. Acid-fast bacteria were found in the spinal cords, brains, and lungs from all 9 cases. Immunohistochemically, Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen was observed in the spinal cords, brains, and lungs from all 9 cases. Double-labeling immunofluorescence revealed M. tuberculosis antigen in IBA1- and myeloperoxidase-immunopositive cells. Extracted genomic DNA from 8 of the 9 cases was successfully amplified with the primers for Mycobacterium genavense ITS1 and hypothetical 21 kDa protein genes, and the polymerase chain reaction products were identified as M. genavense by DNA sequencing. This report highlights the susceptibility of degus to M. genavense infection in the central nervous system.
Personal Adaptations to Remote Working in the Post-Pandemic City and Its Potential Impact on Residential Relocations: The Case of Istanbul
Authors: Paköz Muhammed Ziya , Kaya Nergis
Published: June 2023

A forced and rapid increase in remote working because of the COVID-19 pandemic has afforded today’s megacities several important opportunities for reducing traffic congestion, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and certain threats such as the promotion of urban sprawl. The way in which employees have adapted to working remotely during the pandemic and the potential it offers for improving their work/life balance provide indicators for developing urban policies in the post-pandemic city. The present study aims to examine the potential impact the increase in remote working during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on residential relocations in Istanbul by investigating how employees have adapted to remote working and their thoughts about leaving the city after the pandemic. To do so, an online survey was conducted between June 1 and June 5, 2020 with 186 employees living in the city of Istanbul. The survey consisted of investigations into changes in work life during the pandemic. The differences between participants’ responses were analyzed and interpreted with respect to their personal characteristics and leisure-time preferences using Pearson’s chi-squared test and the Mantel–Haenszel test of trends (linear-by-linear association). The study finds significant relationships between personal/social characteristics and how people adapt to remote working and provides important indicators of the effects these adaptation processes have on residential relocations.
Rôle du branding interne dans la transformation sociétale de la marque
Authors: Regany Fatima , Longo Cristina
Published: June 2023

Résumé

La recherche a étudié le contexte organisationnel nécessaire au développement de marques durables sans explorer comment leur transformation s’opère. En adoptant le cadre conceptuel du branding interne, nous étudions la transformation sociétale de la marque gérée par les acteurs internes et les enjeux émergeants. Une étude qualitative révèle des dynamiques de collaboration et de tension entre responsables RSE et marketing, donnant lieu à la co-création de marques durables et visant un positionnement RSE. La figure de l’ activiste, leader œuvrant pour faire de ses collègues des champions de marque en transition vers la durabilité, émerge. En connectant marketing interne et externe, des contradictions alimentent les dilemmes de la marque : communication transparente contre silence opaque, confiance en soi contre doute. Nos apports théoriques s’inscrivent en branding interne, co-création de marque et complexités des marques durables. Des recommandations visant à gérer en interne et à accélérer la transformation sociétale des marques sont proposées.
Collective Bargaining Agreement Restrictiveness in Unionized Charter Schools
Authors: Marianno Bradley D. , Woo David S. , Kennedy Kate
Published: June 2023

Although charter schools are frequently afforded flexibility from many state laws that govern traditional public schools, a growing number of charter school teachers have now unionized and introduced collective bargaining to the charter sector. Using data from a detailed content analysis of teacher CBAs from California, we compare the restrictiveness of CBAs in 75 unionized charter bargaining units to the restrictiveness of CBAs in 31 nearest neighbor traditional public school district bargaining units. We find that independent charter CBAs are much more flexible than the CBAs of traditional public school districts, but charter school CBAs of bargaining units combined with traditional public school districts are comparably restrictive.
Performance and emissions of a diesel engine burning blends of Jatropha and waste cooking oil biodiesel
Authors: Ibrahim Said M.A. , Abed K.A. , Gad M.S. , Hashish H.M. Abu
Published: June 2023

Blending of biodiesels is a straightforward but efficient solution to the issue of improving biodiesel characteristics in cold climates. A comparison of emissions and performance of a diesel engine powered by methyl ester blends made from jatropha and waste cooking oil (WCO) was investigated. Jatropha oil was converted into biodiesel through esterification and transesterification, but WCO biodiesel was produced by transesterification. Volume percentages of WCO and jatropha biodiesels as 5, 10, 15, 20, and 100% were prepared. Peak improvements in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) were 7% and 6% for JB20 and WB10 + JB10, respectively, at 75% of engine output power over diesel fuel. Maximum reductions in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) related to diesel oil were for JB20 and WB10 + JB10 6 and 5%, respectively. For JB100, the maximum increase in exhaust gas temperature over diesel oil was 45%. For WB10 + JB10, the maximum reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission about pure diesel was 10%. WB10 + JB10 blend had carbon monoxide (CO) emission reduction up to 6% than fossil diesel. For WB10 + JB10, the maximum reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission relative to crude diesel was 10%. WB10 + JB10 had the greatest reduction in smoke emission when compared to diesel oil as 22%. WB10 + JB10 had the largest reduction in unburned hydrocarbons (HC) of 14% over diesel oil at 75% of output power. In comparison to other fuels, the WB10 + JB10 and JB20 biodiesel blends produce better engine performance and lower emissions as compared to other biodiesel blends. As an alternative fuel in conventional diesel engines, it is recommended to use a mixture of jatropha and WCO biodiesels of 10% by volume.
A finite element model of the elastic planar and spherical contact with hard and soft coatings
Authors: Sun Zhaoning , Wen Bangchun , Li Xiaopeng
Published: June 2023

A finite element model of a rigid sphere contact with a deformable coating flat was used to study the elastic contact between the soft and hard coatings. Meanwhile, the contact of a rigid flat and a deformable coating sphere under the same condition was used for comparison. The contact area, load, interference, and maximum equivalent von Mises stresses in the coating system were normalized by the corresponding elastic contact parameters. The empirical expressions for the above two models which contained a wide range of the mechanical and geometric properties in soft and hard coatings were established by fitting the numerical results. The changes in the location of the maximum von Mises stress distribution in the models’ soft and hard coatings were compared when the displacement loads were used. The relationships between the dimensionless maximum von Mises stress on the substrate and coating and the dimensionless contact parameters were provided when the elastic limit (plastic yield onset) occurred. The range of the dimensionless coating thickness which led to the onset of plastic yield in the coating was determined when the rigid sphere was contacting with the deformable coating flat.
Tanshinone IIA inhibits ischemia-reperfusion-induced inflammation, ferroptosis and apoptosis through activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway
Authors: Zhang Rui , Liu Yunen , You Jihui , Ge Baiping
Published: June 2023

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a common clinical process, and the lung is one of the most sensitive organs of I/R injury, which often leads to acute lung injury (ALI). Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities. However, the effects of Tan IIA on lung I/R injury remain uncertain. Twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: control (Ctrl), I/R, I/R + Tan IIA, I/R + LY294002 and I/R + Tan IIA + LY294002 group. Tan IIA (30 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1 h before injury in the I/R + Tan IIA and I/R + Tan IIA + LY294002 groups. These data showed that Tan IIA significantly improved I/R-induced histological changes and scores of lung injury, decreased lung W/D ratio, MPO and MDA contents, reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells, and decreased the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Meanwhile, Tan IIA significantly increased the expression of Gpx4 and SLC7A11, and decreased the expression of Ptgs2 and MDA. Moreover, Tan IIA significantly reversed the low expression of Bcl2, and the high expression of Bax, Bim, Bad and cleave-caspase 3. Furthermore, Tan IIA caused a significant increase in the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and mTOR in the lungs. However, these beneficial effects of Tan IIA on I/R-induced lung inflammation, ferroptosis and apoptosis were offset by LY294002. Our data suggest that Tan IIA significantly ameliorates I/R-induced ALI, which is mediated through activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Vibration control of MR whole-spacecraft under medium–high frequency and small amplitude considering actuator time-delay
Authors: Deng Xiong , Pan Zhongwen , Xing Jianwei , Zhang Zhiyuan , Ran Jinchao , Fei Zhenyang , Dong Xiaomin
Published: June 2023

The satellite bears complex vibration loads transmitted from the satellite-rocket interface during launch, where medium–high frequency and small amplitude vibration is highly likely to harm the satellite’s internal precision instruments. Under such special conditions, the time-delay factor of the MR damper as the actuator cannot be ignored in the vibration control of the magnetorheological (MR) whole-spacecraft. To compensate actuator time-delay, and consider the system’s nonlinear characteristics under medium–high frequency and small amplitude conditions, a gray prediction time-delay compensation method is proposed based on the human-simulated intelligent controller (HSIC). After verifying through simulation and experiment that actuator time-delay affects the vibration response of the MR whole-spacecraft, the HSIC based on gray prediction is designed. Then, the control effect of HSIC with or without time-delay is simulated numerically. The results reveal that after considering the time-delay factor, the resonance peak increases by 17%, and the transmissibility of the concerned particularly frequency band (40 Hz) increases by 62%, which implies a significant deterioration in the control effect. Following, to make up for the response deterioration caused by the time-delay, the HSIC based on gray prediction is used for numerical simulation. The results confirm that reasonable time-delay compensation can effectively improve the system dynamics. This study provides a reference for the practical application of the whole-spacecraft controller.
Black-box statistical prediction of lossy compression ratios for scientific data
Authors: Underwood Robert , Bessac Julie , Krasowska David , Calhoun Jon C , Di Sheng , Cappello Franck
Published: June 2023

Lossy compressors are increasingly adopted in scientific research, tackling volumes of data from experiments or parallel numerical simulations and facilitating data storage and movement. In contrast with the notion of entropy in lossless compression, no theoretical or data-based quantification of lossy compressibility exists for scientific data. Users rely on trial and error to assess lossy compression performance. As a strong data-driven effort toward quantifying lossy compressibility of scientific datasets, we provide a statistical framework to predict compression ratios of lossy compressors. Our method is a two-step framework where (i) compressor-agnostic predictors are computed and (ii) statistical prediction models relying on these predictors are trained on observed compression ratios. Proposed predictors exploit spatial correlations and notions of entropy and lossyness via the quantized entropy. We study 8+ compressors on 6 scientific datasets and achieve a median percentage prediction error less than 12%, which is substantially smaller than that of other methods while achieving at least a 8.8× speedup for searching for a specific compression ratio and 7.8× speedup for determining the best compressor out of a collection.
TERT Mutations in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Clinicopathologic Features and Prognostic Implications
Authors: Yang Liu , Wang Meng , Li Na , Yan Lu-Da , Zhou Wen , Yu Zhi-Qiong , Peng Xiao-Chun , Cai Jun , Yang Yong-Hua
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

The associations between the clinical characteristics of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase ( TERT) gene remain unclear. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the incidence rate and clinical correlates of TERT mutations in patients with NSCLC.

Methods:

In total, 283 tumor samples from patients with NSCLC were tested using an NGS panel from September 2017 to May 2020. The genetic testing results and clinical data of all patients were collected.

Results:

TERT mutations were found in 30 patients, which were significantly associated with age, smoking history, sex, and metastasis ( P < 0.05). Survival analyses showed that patients who carried TERT mutations had a poorer prognosis. Of the 30 TERT-mutation carriers, 17 harbored epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) mutations, which were significantly associated with sex, histopathology type, and metastasis ( P < 0.05; overall survival [OS], 21 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.153-33.847 months). Three TERT mutation patients harbored Kirsten rat sarcoma virus ( KRAS) mutations, which were significantly associated with metastasis risk ( P < 0.05), KRAS mutations carriers had a worse prognosis, with an OS of 10 months (95% CI, 8.153-33.847 months). Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that age, cancer stage, and TERT mutation carrier status were independent risk factors for NSCLC, and the TERT mutation was 2.731 times higher than that without TERT mutation (95% CI, 1.689-4.418, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

TERT mutations were present in 11% of patients with NSCLC. TERT mutations were associated with age, smoking history, sex, and distant metastasis. Co-mutations in TERT and EGFR/KRAS indicated a poor prognosis. The co-mutations of TERT and EGFR differed according to sex, histopathology type, and metastasis, whereas TERT and KRAS co-mutations were only associated with patient metastasis. Age, cancer stage, and TERT mutation carrier status were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC.
Dynamic characteristics of a non-Newtonian lubrication mechanical seal with herringbone grooves considering cavitation effect
Authors: Liu Fuyu , Yu Bo , Li Yongfan , Ren Baojie , Hao Muming , Sun Xinhui , Wang Zengli , Li Zhentao
Published: June 2023

This research investigated the effect of lubricant's non-Newtonian properties on dynamic characteristics of a herringbone grooved liquid film seal (HG-LFS) considering cavitation. A modified steady-state perturbation Reynolds equation of the non-Newtonian was derived. Visualized experiments were conducted to verify the accuracy of calculations. The non-Newtonian effect on stiffness, cavitation, damping coefficients, and other sealing performance of the liquid film seal at different velocity, pressure and film thickness were discussed and analyzed. The results indicate that the seal has larger stiffness and damping coefficients with the dilatant lubricant, the cavitation can be inhibited by the shearing-thinning lubricant, and the impact of non-Newtonian on the seal stability decreases with the increase of film thickness. This study would contribute to the design and theoretical research of liquid film seals.
The Politics of Path-Creation: Theory-Building of Social Policy Reform in Post-Economic Crisis Indonesia
Authors: Yuda Tauchid Komara
Published: June 2023

Institutional scholarship highlights policy as a frozen landscape, explaining its reluctance to depart from the predetermined trajectories. However, this argument needs to be reassessed to better capture the reality of the Indonesian social policy reform, most notably in healthcare. The reform involved sudden and radical changes from a segmented and decentralized model to a more integrated and inclusive one—outside the critical juncture of the 1998 economic crisis—creating a patchwork of old and new ideas and features within policy institutions. Empirical interview data show that path-creation changes in healthcare reform are characterized by a deviation from the path followed as an institutionally embedded principle. This deviation was made possible due to the considerable influence of academics-turned-senior bureaucrats (policy entrepreneurs), who capitalized on the widespread distrust of the ruling government to drive the desired reform. In addition, the success of Obamacare as a populist healthcare program amid the capitalist US system also undermined the legitimacy of policy actors’ previous attempts to reject reform. This article helps clarify the development and application of the path-creation theory, comparing it to established theories to reduce ambiguity.
Is There a Continuum Between Acute Symptomatic Seizures Secondary to Autoimmune Encephalitis and Autoimmune-Associated Epilepsy?
Authors: Andrade Danielle M.
Published: June 2023

[Box: see text]
Assessing Autism in Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Youths: Interdisciplinary Teams, COVID Considerations, and Future Directions
Authors: McFayden Tyler C. , Culbertson Shannon , DeRamus Margaret , Kramer Christine , Roush Jackson , Mankowski Jean
Published: June 2023

Autism spectrum disorders are more prevalent in children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH) than in the general population. This potential for diagnostic overlap underscores the importance of understanding the best approaches for assessing autism spectrum disorder in D/HH youths. Despite the recognition of clinical significance, youths who are D/HH are often identified as autistic later than individuals with normal hearing, which results in delayed access to appropriate early intervention services. Three primary barriers to early identification include behavioral phenotypic overlap, a lack of “gold-standard” screening and diagnostic tools for this population, and limited access to qualified clinicians. In the current article, we seek to address these barriers to prompt an appropriate identification of autism by providing recommendations for autism assessment in children who are D/HH from an interdisciplinary hearing and development clinic, including virtual service delivery during COVID-19. Strengths, gaps, and future directions for implementation are addressed.
Hypercalcaemia
Authors: Turner Dr Helen
Published: June 2023

Calcium is essential for neuromuscular activity, blood coagulation and bone health. Ninety-nine percent of calcium in the human body is stored in bones and teeth; the remaining 1% is found in the extracellular fluid bound to proteins (mainly albumin) or in the ionised (active) form. Hypercalcaemia most commonly results from endogenous hormone excess (e.g. primary hyperparathyroidism), hypercalcaemia of malignancy, exogenous hormone excess (e.g. vitamin D toxicity) or a side-effect of drug therapy (e.g. Thiazide diuretics). This article offers a systematic approach to the investigation and management of hypercalcaemia aimed at preventing long term sequalae such as osteoporosis and identifying life- threatening levels for urgent intervention.
The role of environmental management accounting information in the design process of environmental and sustainable products
Authors: Jaleel Jafer Al Mosaoy Dunia
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of environmental management accounting information (EMAI) on the design process of environmental and sustainable products of Iraqi industrial companies. This process has five different sub-processes: research process, analysis process, conceptual design process, detailed design process and design production process. The study uses the quantitative approach as the questionnaire was designed and distributed to 87 quality managers, production managers, design managers and financial managers. The MANOVA analysis shows that EMAI has a positive and significant effect on three of these processes, namely research process, analysis process and detailed design process, while EMAI has an insignificant effect on conceptual design process and design production process. The study has practical implications for managers of industrial companies. The results provide practical and theoretical knowledge for design and production managers as well as senior management to plan the production of environmental or sustainable products.
Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid Treatments for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Product Properties
Authors: Ferkel Eric , Manjoo Ajay , Martins Damion , Bhandari Mohit , Sethi Paul , Nicholls Mathew
Published: June 2023

Introduction

There are many intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) products on the market that have known intrinsic differences in molecular size, source, and structure. The current review summarizes existing evidence describing and assessing these differences, while also identifying whether these differences have an impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods

This systematic review summarized all literature that specifically addresses IA-HA product differences. Included studies summarized basic science and mechanism of action comparisons of IA-HA product differences, or systematic reviews that assess differences in clinical outcomes between IA-HA product differences.

Results

A total of 20 investigations assessed basic science differences between IA-HA products, while 20 investigations provided assessments of the clinical outcome differences between IA-HA product characteristics. The published basic science literature provided a differentiation between low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) HA with regard to changes within the synovial fluid, driven by the interactions that these molecules have with receptors in the joint space. These differences in receptor interaction manifest within clinical outcomes, as meta-analyses comparing pain relief after IA-HA suggest that pain reduction is superior in patients who receive HMW HA as opposed to LMW HA.

Conclusion

This review highlights differences between IA-HA characteristics, and how important the molecular weight, derivation of the product, and structure are to variances in reported clinical outcomes to treat osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. HMW IA-HAs have shown greater efficacy compared to the alternative of LMW products, while avian-derived and cross-linked products have potentially demonstrated an increase in inflammatory events over non-avian-derived, non-cross-linked HAs.
Musculoskeletal Injury in American Football: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Most Cited Articles
Authors: Desai Sohil S. , Dent Craig S. , El-Najjar Dany B. , Swindell Hasani W. , Popkin Charles A.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Textbook knowledge and clinical dogma are often insufficient for effective evidence-based decision making when treating musculoskeletal injuries in American football players, given the variability in presentation and outcomes across different sports and different levels of competition. Key evidence can be drawn directly from high-quality published articles to make the appropriate decisions and recommendations for each athlete’s unique situation.

Purpose:

To identify and analyze the 50 most cited articles related to football-related musculoskeletal injury to provide an efficient tool in the arsenal of trainees, researchers, and evidence-based practitioners alike.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

The ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS databases were queried for articles pertaining to musculoskeletal injury in American football. For each of the top 50 most cited articles, bibliometric elements were evaluated: citation count and density, decade of publication, journal, country, multiple publications by the same first author or senior author, article content (topic, injury area), and level of evidence (LOE).

Results:

The mean ± SD number of citations was 102.76 ± 37.11; the most cited article, with 227 citations, was “Syndesmotic Ankle Sprains” published in 1991 by Boytim et al. Several authors served as a first or senior author on >1 publication, including J.S. Torg (n = 6), J.P. Bradley (n = 4), and J.W. Powell (n = 4). The American Journal of Sports Medicine published the majority of the 50 most cited articles (n = 31). A total of 29 articles discussed lower extremity injuries, while only 4 discussed upper extremity injuries. The majority of the articles (n = 28) had an LOE of 4, with only 1 article having an LOE of 1. The articles with an LOE of 3 had the highest mean citation number (133.67 ± 55.23; F = 4.02; P = .05).

Conclusion:

The results of this study highlight the need for more prospective research surrounding the management of football-related injury. The low overall number of articles on upper extremity injury (n = 4) also highlights an area for further research.
Bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannoma in a 5-year-old patient; expect the unexpected!
Authors: Kenani Mona , Babgi Rafaa , Bakri Sultan
Published: June 2023

Rare, atypical ophthalmological conditions in adults include bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannomas, which are usually asymptomatic. Few case reports in the literature indicate the presence of orbital/conjunctival schwannomas in adult patients and, rarely, among children under the age of 12. We report a case of a 5-year-old girl who presented in an outpatient clinic with inferior temporal conjunctival nonpigmented cystic lesion of a 10 × 10 mm size. Upon examination, we could not identify a feeding vessel. The mass was mobile and not fixed to the sclera. The history indicated a 1-year duration but the mass in the left eye had progressively increased in size during the last 2 months prior to presentation. There was no traumatic injury or past history of ophthalmic surgery. Surgical excision of the cyst was sucessfully performed, and histopathological examination confirmed bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannoma diagnosis. Upon regular follow-up evaluation, there was no evidence of recurrence or malignant transformation. Although it is extremely rare to encounter conjunctival schwannomas in children, it should be considered in ovoidal well-circumscribed orbital swellings, particularly those that appear with no history of trauma or surgery to the eye. Surgical excision is effective and safe therapeutic intervention.
RPBEE: Performance-based earthquake engineering on a regional scale
Authors: Heresi Pablo , Miranda Eduardo
Published: June 2023

Over the last two decades, the performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) framework developed by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center has gained the attention of researchers and practitioners worldwide. This framework was originally focused on quantifying the seismic risk of individual structures. However, with the advent of the “seismic resilience” concept, broader definitions of stakeholders and performance metrics on a regional scale are desirable. In this context, we present a formalized extension of the PEER PBEE framework for its use in groups of structures spatially distributed over a region, herein referred to as RPBEE framework. As an example, we use the RPBEE framework for computing the total number of damaged structures, the expected total economic loss, and the probability distribution of total economic losses within a region. We highlight differences with the original PEER framework and challenges arising from the implementation of the new RPBEE framework for future research and adoption, along with potential ways to overcome them.