bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of the optimized descriptive profile and temporal dominance of sensations methodologies
Authors: Crepalde Ludmylla Tamara , Vidigal Márcia Cristina Teixeira Ribeiro , Carneiro João de Deus Souza , Minim Valéria Paula Rodrigues
Published: March 2021

The multi‐attribute temporal analysis temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) allows for obtaining a qualitative explanation of the interaction and order of perception of the sensory attributes of a product. Considering the need for quantitative complementation of TDS data and a shorter analysis time to obtain a more complete sensory profile, it was proposed that the evaluators who performed the optimized descriptive profile (ODP) also evaluate the samples using the TDS, seeking to integrate the two sensory methodologies. For this, the sensory profile of five grape beverages with different sucrose concentrations and dilution factors was evaluated using the ODP and TDS methodologies. Integration of the ODP and TDS methodologies proved to be adequate, by optimizing the time required for obtaining the complete quantitative profile of the beverages, complemented by the order of perception of the attributes during the evaluation. This allowed for a more comprehensive analysis of the food matrix sensory profile.

Practical applications

The association between the methodologies temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) and optimized descriptive profile (ODP) permitted the identification of a sensory profile via different approaches, providing better interpretations of the evaluations. The differences between the intensity of attributes in a traditional descriptive analysis (punctual) and dominance perceptions in a temporal analysis, is justified when observed that the most intense attributes are not always those that dominate on the palate while food is ingested (taste over time). Acquisition of the more ample sensory profile (ODP + TDS) allows for better understanding the attributes identified by the panelists. Therefore, when using this sensory analysis industries may be able to reformulate and improve their products, monitoring the interaction of ingredients with evaluator's perceptions.
Pre‐procedural arrhythmia burden and the outcome of catheter ablation of idiopathic premature ventricular complexes
Authors: Asatryan Babken , Seiler Jens , Bourquin Luc , Knecht Sven , Servatius Helge , Madaffari Antonio , Baldinger Samuel H. , Badertscher Patrick , Küffer Thomas , Spies Florian , Tanner Hildegard , Kühne Michael , Osswald Stefan , Roten Laurent , Sticherling Christian , Reichlin Tobias
Published: March 2021

Background

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of idiopathic premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is an effective method for eliminating symptoms and preventing/reversing arrhythmia‐induced cardiomyopathy. One reason for procedural failure is low PVC frequency during the procedure. We aimed to investigate the relation between pre‐procedural PVC burden and outcome of idiopathic PVC catheter ablation.

Methods

Patients who underwent idiopathic PVC ablation between 2013 and 2019 at two tertiary referral centers were retrospectively included. All procedures were performed using irrigated‐tip ablation catheters and a 3D electro‐anatomical mapping system. Sustained ablation success was defined as a ≥80% reduction of pre‐procedural PVC burden determined by 24h‐Holter at follow‐up.

Results

Overall, 254 patients (median age 54 years [IQR 42–64]; 47% male) were enrolled. The median pre‐ablation PVC‐burden was 22% (IQR 11–31%), which was reduced to a post‐ablation PVC burden of 0.3% (IQR 0–4%) after a median of 90 days. Sustained ablation success was achieved in 182 patients (72%). Pre‐procedural PVC burden did not differ between patients with sustained ablation success and recurrence during follow‐up (median 21% vs. 22%, p = .76). When assessed in pre‐ablation PVC‐burden groups of ≤5%, 6–15%, 16–30%, and ≥31%, sustained ablation success was achieved in 67%, 75%, 71%, and 72%, respectively, with no significant difference (p = .89). Sustained ablation outcome for PVC‐burden ≤5% versus >5% showed no difference either (67% vs. 72%, p = .52).

Conclusions

Pre‐procedural Holter‐determined PVC burden does not predict the outcome of idiopathic PVC ablation. Thus, catheter ablation may be a reasonable first choice also for patients with symptomatic yet rare PVCs.
Cyprinid herpesvirus‐2 (CyHV‐2): a comprehensive review
Authors: Thangaraj Raja Swaminathan , Nithianantham Sundar Raj , Dharmaratnam Arathi , Kumar Raj , Pradhan Pravata Kumar , Thangalazhy Gopakumar Sumithra , Sood Neeraj
Published: March 2021

Cyprinid herpesvirus‐2 (CyHV‐2) is a linear double‐stranded DNA virus in the genus Cyprinivirus of family Alloherpesviridae. The virus is known to be highly pathogenic to ornamental goldfish (Carassius auratus), crucian carp (C. carassius) and Gibel carp (C. auratus gibelio), and also to the hybrids of goldfish and other carps. Cyprinid herpesvirus‐2, having the smallest genome (290.3 kb) among Cyprinivirus, causes herpesviral hematopoietic necrosis disease (HVHND) that results in huge economic losses in aquaculture industry as the disease can cause high mortality (50–100%) among the affected fish. The disease was initially reported as the cause of epizootics in juvenile goldfish of Japan during 1992 and 1993. To date, this disease has been reported around the world including Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia. Huge economic losses due to the CyHV‐2 infection among cultured gibel carp in China, during 2011–2012, mass mortality in crucian carp during 2012 in Italy, 95% mortality in goldfish during 2014 in France, 85% mortality in goldfish during 2016 in Poland had been reported. Strategies for controlling the spread of CyHV‐2 are thus urgently required to limit economic damage. Furthermore, the review will shed light on lacunae in current knowledge as well as on the perspectives that merits further investigations on CyHV‐2 research. The paper forms the first comprehensive overview of CyHV‐2 causing a serious economically significant fish disease and, will be helpful for the researchers to get all related information from a single manuscript.
Bare‐difference methodology and the scientific analogy
Authors: Kopeikin Zak A.
Published: March 2021

The bare‐difference methodology is considered to be a powerful tool in ethical reasoning. The underlying idea is that we can identify the intrinsic evaluative significance of some feature by constructing contrast cases or bare‐difference cases, i.e., two cases that hold everything constant but for the feature of interest. While this popular methodology has been challenged by prominent philosophers such as Kagan, Thomson, and Kamm, it is intuitively appealing because, as Perrett identifies, the methodology appears to share the same logical structure as a fruitful scientific procedure. In this paper, I argue that examining this ‘scientific analogy’ is crucial to understanding both the limitations and the prospects for ethical bare‐difference reasoning. I expand upon Perrett's discussion of the scientific analogy and examine another relevant similarity. I then highlight two relevant dissimilarities between ethical bare‐difference reasoning and its scientific analogue. Though these differences threaten to undermine the analogy, I show how the analogy might be mended to better bring the ethical methodology in line with its scientific counterpart and avoid challenges to ethical bare‐difference methodology raised by philosophers in the literature.
Black Ballerinas: The Management of Emotional and Aesthetic Labor*
Authors: Robinson Sekani
Published: March 2021

Ballet is an elite and predominantly white profession that has mirrored history. Black dancers have been historically excluded and remain severely underrepresented through controlling images, discrimination, and marginalization. As an occupation, ballet demands intensive emotional and aesthetic labor. This research relies on interviews to better understand the experiences of Black women in ballet in context. It specifically examines the ways that Black dancers negotiate two forms of labor that have typically been theorized separately: emotional and aesthetic labor. Theoretically, these findings build on and challenge conceptualizations of emotional and aesthetic labor as separately theorized social processes. In this article, I show how emotional and aesthetic labor are on dramatic display through Black ballet dancers’ workplace experiences.
An MRI approach to assess placental function in healthy humans and sheep
Authors: Saini Brahmdeep S. , Darby Jack R. T. , Marini Davide , Portnoy Sharon , Lock Mitchell C. , Yin Soo Jia , Holman Stacey L. , Perumal Sunthara R. , Wald Rachel M. , Windrim Rory , Macgowan Christopher K. , Kingdom John C. , Morrison Janna L. , Seed Mike
Published: March 2021

Key points

Human placental function is evaluated using non‐invasive Doppler ultrasound of umbilical and uterine artery pulsatility indices as measures of resistance in placental vascular beds, while measurement of placental oxygen consumption () is only possible during Caesarean delivery.

This study shows the feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in utero to measure blood flow and oxygen content in uterine and umbilical vessels to calculate oxygen delivery to and by the gravid uterus, uteroplacenta and fetus.

Normal late gestational human uteroplacental by MRI was ∼4 ml min−1 kg−1 fetal weight, which was similar to our MRI measurements in sheep and to those previously measured using invasive techniques.

Our MRI approach can quantify uteroplacental , which involves the quantification of maternal‐ and fetal‐placental blood flows, fetal oxygen delivery and , and the oxygen gradient between uterine‐ and umbilical‐venous blood, providing a comprehensive assessment of placental function with clinical potential.

It has not been feasible to perform routine clinical measurement of human placental oxygen consumption () and in vitro studies do not reflect true metabolism in utero. Here we propose an MRI method to non‐invasively quantify in utero placental and fetal oxygen delivery () and in healthy humans and sheep. Women (n = 20) and Merino sheep (n = 10; 23 sets of measurements) with singleton pregnancies underwent an MRI in late gestation (36 ± 2 weeks and 128 ± 9 days, respectively; mean ± SD). Blood flow (phase‐contrast) and oxygen content (T1 and T2 relaxometry) were measured in the major uterine‐ and umbilical‐placental vessels, allowing calculation of uteroplacental and fetal and . Maternal (ml min−1 kg−1 fetus) to the gravid uterus was similar in humans and sheep (human = 54 ± 15, sheep = 53 ± 21, P = 0.854), while fetal (human = 25 ± 4, sheep = 22 ± 5, P = 0.049) was slightly lower in sheep. Uteroplacental and fetal (ml min−1 kg−1 fetus; uteroplacental: human = 4.1 ± 1.5, sheep = 3.5 ± 1.9, P = 0.281; fetus: human = 6.8 ± 1.3, sheep = 7.2 ± 1.7, P = 0.426) were similar between species. Late gestational uteroplacental:fetal ratio did not change with age (human, P = 0.256; sheep, P = 0.121). Human umbilical blood flow (ml min−1 kg−1 fetus) decreased with advancing age (P = 0.008), while fetal was preserved through an increase in oxygen extraction (P = 0.046). By contrast, sheep fetal was preserved through stable umbilical flow (ml min−1 kg−1; P = 0.443) and oxygen extraction (P = 0.582). MRI derived measurements of uteroplacental and fetal between humans and sheep were similar and in keeping with prior data obtained using invasive techniques. Taken together, these data confirm the reliability of our approach, which offers a novel clinical ‘placental function test’.
Chronic musculoskeletal impairment is associated with alterations in brain regions responsible for the production and perception of movement
Authors: Conboy Veronica , Edwards Carl , Ainsworth Roberta , Natusch Douglas , Burcham Claire , Danisment Buse , Khot Sharmila , Seymour Richard , Larcombe Stephanie J. , Tracey Irene , Kolasinski James
Published: March 2021

Key points

Massive irreparable rotator cuff tear was used as a model to study the impact of chronic pain and motor impairment on the motor systems of the human brain using magnetic resonance imaging.

Patients show markers of lower grey/white matter integrity and lower functional connectivity compared with control participants in regions responsible for movement and the perception of visual movement and body shape.

An independent cohort of patients showed relative deficits in the perception of visual motion and hand laterality compared with an age‐matched control group.

These data support the hypothesis that the structure and function of the motor control system differs in patients who have experienced chronic motor impairment.

This work also raises a new hypothesis, supported by neuroimaging and behaviour, that a loss of motor function could also be associated with off‐target effects, namely a reduced ability to perceive motion and body form.

Changes in the way we move can induce changes in the brain, yet we know little of such plasticity in relation to musculoskeletal diseases. Here we use massive irreparable rotator cuff tear as a model to study the impact of chronic motor impairment and pain on the human brain. Cuff tear destabilises the shoulder, impairing upper‐limb function in overhead and load‐bearing tasks. We used neuroimaging and behavioural testing to investigate how brain structure and function differed in cuff tear patients and controls (imaging: 21 patients, age 76.3 ± 7.68; 18 controls, age 74.9 ± 6.59; behaviour: 13 patients, age 75.5 ± 10.2; 11 controls, age 73.4 ± 5.01). We observed lower grey matter density and cortical thickness in cuff tear patients in the postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, temporal‐parietal junction and the pulvinar – areas implicated in somatosensation, reach/grasp and body form perception. In patients we also observed lower functional connectivity between the motor network and the middle temporal visual cortex (MT), a region involved in visual motion perception. Lower white matter integrity was observed in patients in the inferior fronto‐occipital/longitudinal fasciculi. We investigated the cognitive domains associated with the brain regions identified. Patients exhibited relative impairment in visual body judgements and the perception of biological/global motion. These data support our initial hypothesis that cuff tear is associated with differences in the brain's motor control regions in comparison with unaffected individuals. Moreover, our combination of neuroimaging and behavioural data raises a new hypothesis that chronic motor impairment is associated with an altered perception of visual motion and body form.
Heavy-traffic Analysis of the Generalized Switch under Multidimensional State Space Collapse
Authors: Hurtado-Lange Daniela , Theja Maguluri Siva
Published: March 2021

Stochastic Processing Networks that model wired and wireless networks, and other queueing systems, have been studied in heavytraffic limit under the so-called Complete Resource Pooling (CRP) condition. When the CRP condition is not satisfied, heavy-traffic results are known only in the special case of an input-queued switch and bandwidth-sharing network.

In this paper, we consider a very general queueing system called the 'generalized switch' that includes wireless networks under fading, data center networks, input-queued switch, etc. The primary contribution of this paper is to present the exact value of the steadystate mean of certain linear combinations of queue lengths in the heavy-traffic limit under MaxWeight scheduling algorithm. We use the Drift method, and we also present a negative result that it is not possible to obtain the remaining linear combinations (and consequently all the individual mean queue lengths) using this method. We do this by presenting an alternate view of the Drift method in terms of an (under-determined) system of linear equations. Finally, we use this system of equations to obtain upper and lower bounds on all linear combinations of queue lengths.
Optimal Multiserver Scheduling with Unknown Job Sizes in Heavy Traffic
Authors: Scully Ziv , Grosof Isaac , Harchol-Balter Mor
Published: March 2021

We consider scheduling to minimize mean response time of the M/G/k queue with unknown job sizes. In the singleserver k = 1 case, the optimal policy is the Gittins policy, but it is not known whether Gittins or any other policy is optimal in the multiserver case. Exactly analyzing the M/G/k under any scheduling policy is intractable, and Gittins is a particularly complicated policy that is hard to analyze even in the single-server case.
Research on the Performance of Impressionist Painting Color Visual Communication Based on Wireless Communication and Machine Vision
Authors: Lin Jun
Published: March 2021

In order to solve the problem of poor visual communication effect of impressionist painting colors and low accuracy of painting color enhancement by existing methods, this thesis proposes a research on the performance of impressionist painting color visual communication based on machine vision under the background of wireless network. This method can improve the vision, speed, and efficiency of communication, through the analysis of the characteristics of impressionist paintings, and determine the visual communication objects of impressionist painting colors.  The process of visual communication is analyzed, and the color matching of impressionist painting is completed with the help of BP neural network algorithm. On this basis, the histogram method is used to process the image brightness of impressionist paintings, the image interpolation method is used to process the image brightness of impressionist paintings, and the image is corrected by gamma correction to complete the image performance research. The color vision communication of impressionist painting needs to correct the gray scale error of impressionist painting and enhance the color of impressionist painting. The experimental results show that the accuracy of this method for the color matching of impressionist painting images is about 98%, which has a certain degree of credibility.
[Retracted] Early Warning of Financial Risk Based on K‐Means Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Zhu Zhangyao , Liu Na
Published: March 2021

The early warning of financial risk is to identify and analyze existing financial risk factors, determine the possibility and severity of occurring risks, and provide scientific basis for risk prevention and management. The fragility of financial system and the destructiveness of financial crisis make it extremely important to build a good financial risk early‐warning mechanism. The main idea of the K‐means clustering algorithm is to gradually optimize clustering results and constantly redistribute target dataset to each clustering center to obtain optimal solution; its biggest advantage lies in its simplicity, speed, and objectivity, being widely used in many research fields such as data processing, image recognition, market analysis, and risk evaluation. On the basis of summarizing and analyzing previous research works, this paper expounded the current research status and significance of financial risk early‐warning, elaborated the development background, current status and future challenges of the K‐means clustering algorithm, introduced the related works of similarity measure and item clustering, proposed a financial risk indicator system based on the K‐means clustering algorithm, performed indicator selection and data processing, constructed a financial risk early‐warning model based on the K‐means clustering algorithm, conducted the classification of financial risk types and optimization of financial risk control, and finally carried out an empirical experiments and its result analysis. The study results show that the K‐means clustering method can effectively avoid the subjective negative impact caused by artificial division thresholds, continuously optimize the prediction process of financial risk and redistribute target dataset to each cluster center for obtaining optimized solution, so the algorithm can more accurately and objectively distinguish the state interval of different financial risks, determine risk occurrence possibility and its severity, and provide a scientific basis for risk prevention and management. The study results of this paper provide a reference for further researches on financial risk early‐warning based on K‐means clustering algorithm.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: A Next-Generation Probiotic in Gut Disease Improvement
Authors: He Xiaoya , Zhao Shuyang , Li Yan
Published: March 2021

The researchers are paying more attention to the role of gut commensal bacteria in health development beyond the classical pathogens. It has been widely demonstrated that dysbiosis, which means the alternations of the gut microbial structure, is closely associated with development of intestinal chronic inflammation-related diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and even infectious diseases including bacterial and viral infection. Thus, for reshaping ecological balance, a growing body of the literatures have proposed numerous strategies to modulate the structure of the gut microbiota, which provide more revelation for amelioration of these inflammation or infection-related diseases. While the ameliorative effects of traditional probiotics seem negligeable, emerging next generation probiotics (NGPs) start to receive great attention as new preventive and therapeutic tools. Encouragingly, within the last decade, the intestinal symbiotic bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has emerged as the “sentinel of the gut,” with multifunction of anti-inflammation, gut barrier enhancement, and butyrate production. A lower abundance of F. prausnitzii has been shown in IBD, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and virus infection such as COVID-19. It is reported that intervention with higher richness of F. prausnitzii through dietary modulation, fecal microbiota transplantation, or culture strategy can protect the mice or the subjects from inflammatory diseases. Therefore, F. prausnitzii may have potential ability to reduce microbial translocation and inflammation, preventing occurrences of gastrointestinal comorbidities especially in COVID-19 patients.
Sages, Heroes, and The Battle for Cycling’s Soul
Authors: Reid Heather L.
Published: March 2021

Using my experience at a stage of the 2014 Giro d’Italia, I argue that de (virtue) is the soul of cycling and that ancient Chinese philosophy’s insight into the conditions that promote de may help the sport. I compare the relationship between sages and virtuous practitioners, to the ancient Greek relationship between heroes and athletes, both of which depend on the performance of de. I also criticize modern cycling for its focus on technology, stark commercialism, and emphasis on the individual, prescribing as antidotes the connection between de and wuwei, the rejection of acquisitiveness and the emphasis on collectivity.
On the Compatibility Between Confucianism and Modern Olympism
Authors: Hsu Leo , Ilundáin-Agurruza Jesùs
Published: March 2021

At the confluence between Modern Olympism and Confucian teachings—nowadays embodied and expressed in East Asian Confucianisms—there are meaningful overlaps, significant challenges, and opportunities. This paper examines these. Despite radically different origins and apparently incommensurate tenets, we should not assume that the underlying ideals of Modern Olympism and East Asian Confucianisms cannot benefit mutually. It is precisely when considering their putative weak points, such as Modern Olympism’s soft metaphysics or vague ethics or Confucianism’s bias against physical activity or gender, that we find educational opportunities (character education, harmony) that make contributions to a universal humanistic sport education.
Receptivity and Creativity in Hermeneutics: From Gadamer to Onto-Hermeneutics (Part Two)
Authors: Cheng Chung-Ying
Published: March 2021

There are two aspects of the hermeneutic: the receptive and the creative. In this article, first of all, I shall identify the strengths of these two aspects of the hermeneutic in the main development of hermeneutics in Western world. Heidegger and Gadamer take ontological receptivity as the source of the meaning of existence as well as the meaningfulness of texts. In my view such a form of receptivity has shaped the predominant paradigm of hermeneutic thinking in Contemporary Europe or West. Therefore, I move to the creative formation and positive projection of a transformative cosmological philosophy, namely the Yijing《易經》 philosophy in Chinese tradition. In these two contrasts we shall not only notice the strong divergence between the two paradigms but come to see how receptivity and creativity of the hermeneutic could be divergently identified and located in concrete understanding of nature of reality and nature of the human being.
Normative Reasons and Moral Reasoning in the Mengzi and the Xunzi
Authors: Brunozzi Philippe
Published: March 2021

Given that moral reasoning is directed towards providing well-supported answers to moral questions, our understanding of what it means to be a normative reason that speaks in favor or against a line of conduct largely informs our conception of moral reasoning. This article focuses on this relationship between moral reasoning and normative reasons and tries to clarify how the early Confucian conceptions of moral reasoning we find in the Mengzi and the Xunzi are conditioned by their underlying accounts of normative reasons. This enables us to better locate and synthesize the remarks concerning moral reasoning we find in these texts.
Constructive Skepticism and Being a Mirror in the Zhuangzi
Authors: Wong David B.
Published: March 2021

The Zhuangzi text deploys two epistemic themes to accomplish its ends of combatting human pretensions to know the world and to prompting us to rediscover the world through fresh eyes. To get us to shed our arrogant dispositions it applies a constructive skepticism to whatever it is that human beings claim to know. To point towards a more constructive relationship with Nature, it articulates the stance of being a mirror to nature. This essay will explain how the text does this and relates its conceptions of skepticism and being as mirror to relevant contemporary science.
Reasoning with Zhuangzi
Authors: Wenzel Christian Helmut
Published: March 2021

In this essay I closely look at dialogues from the Daoist text Zhuangzi and examine their modes of reasoning. The observations, comments, and dialogues are often witty, surprising, and puzzling. Sometimes they are mystic and difficult to understand. But how “reasonable” are the answers given in these dialogues? I will focus on a dialogue from chapter 17, called “Autumn Floods.” I will closely follow and analyze the arguments and their twists. In particular, I will question the use of the word “Dao.” I will also place this analysis in broader comparative frameworks regarding rationality, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and Western traditions.
Translation
Authors: Agassi Joseph
Published: March 2021

The radical untranslatability thesis has a traditional, famous version and a modern, specific one, relating to precise, lean versions of the concept of translation, including machine translation. This version is not obvious and signifies for the study of translation and even for linguistics in general.
Reception of Old Testament Ideas in 19th Century China
Authors: Eber Irene
Published: March 2021

This paper explores some of the strategies used for translating the Old Testament from Hebrew into Chinese and its subsequent reception and interpretation. Special attention will be devoted to the Ten Commandments and important personalities like Abraham or Moses. According to their reception, they were endowed with characteristics valued in Chinese history and culture. The introduction of science seemingly contradicted the questions of Creation. Since Creation and the scientific perceptions of the universe were interconnected, those people dealing with Scriptural translation had to exercise special ingenuity to resolve the contradictions.
A Comparative Study of the Concepts of Torah in the Hebrew Bible and Li in Zuozhuan
Authors: Jiang Zhenshuai
Published: March 2021

The ancient Israelite concept of Torah as law developed from its initial reference to legal stipulations into a system representing almost everything of social-political and cosmic significance in the postexilic period. Likewise, the ancient Chinese notion of li (禮) transformed from reference to specific rituals into an abstract, all-inclusive, collective concept of cosmic dimensions. This study compares the notions of Torah in the Hebrew Bible (particularly in the Psalms) and li in Zuozhuan (particularly in “Lord Zhao 25”). These concepts share similarities but also differ. They provide mutual insights from perspectives of kingship, the public, and natural order.
Limits of Logic in Moism
Authors: Lucas Thierry
Published: March 2021

We are trying to answer the following question, using the distinctions of contemporary logic: why did the Moists stop at some points on their otherwise remarkable way to logic? We argue that they did not explicitly discover negation because of their insistence on linguistic parallelism; they did not recognize logical conjunction nor logical disjunction because of juxtaposition or prefixation; they did not identify the notion of sufficient condition; negation of quantifiers was treated as a problem of extension; their notion of proposition was limited; they discovered some intensionality phenomena but did not explore them very deeply; they insisted more on argumentation than on logic. However our exploration of these limitations shows that the Moists had discovered many logical phenomena and that their attention to the structure of the proposition and to their parallelism reveals a real interest in formal methods.
Hengxian and Self-Generation
Authors: Feng Cao
Published: March 2021

The abstruse phrase “Qi 氣is self-generating; constancy categorically does not engender Qi. Qi is self-generating and self-arising” in Hengxian 《恒先》 should be put in the context of the “self-generating” 自生 idea of Daoism. The cosmology depicted in the first part of Hengxian serves the political philosophy in the second part. “Qi is self-generating” serves the political philosophy of “non-action.” “Self-generating” is an important opinion in the philosophy of Daoism. However, the idea in ancient Daoist literature hasn’t been clearly analyzed. Hengxian shows that the idea of “self-generating” may have a long history and is related to the idea of “nature” 自然 in Laozi 《老子》 and Zhuangzi 《莊子》. “Self-generating” was inherited and developed by Yan Zun 嚴遵, Wang Chong 王充, Zheng Xuan 鄭玄, and Liezi 《列子》, and influenced Guo Xiang 郭象. The old “self-generating” theory based on Dao was developed into a new theory. Hengxian offers a precious resource for the ideological study of “self-generating.”
Political Equality, Confucian Meritocracy, and Citizenly Participation: A Reflection
Authors: Hong Cheng
Published: March 2021

This article presents a comparative study of Confucian meritocratic ideas, alongside modern democratic theories pertaining to political equality. It argues that the main premises that are often deployed to justify the incompatibility between Confucian meritocracy and political equality from the perspective of a democratic procedural view of political equality and social equality are not self-evidently true. In doing so, this article philosophically illustrates the value of a Confucian meritocratic view of political equality; such a meritocratic view is founded upon the early Confucian ideas of junzi 君子, ren 仁 and the “extension of love.”
Morphophysiological traits of an amphibian exposed to historical industrial pollution in a Brazilian biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Santana Erika , Schiesari Luis , Gomes Fernando , Martins Marcio
Published: March 2021

Industrial pollution is a significant global threat to biodiversity, but its consequences on rainforest ecosystems remain poorly understood. Amphibians are especially susceptible to pollutants released on natural environments due to their aquatic-terrestrial life cycle. Here, we explored the association of severe historical air, water, and soil pollution with physiological and morphological alterations on Rhinella ornata individuals, an endemic toad species of Atlantic Forest, a world biodiversity hotspot. We hypothesized that individuals sampled in sites closer to the pollution source will present worse indicators of health. As predicted, toads at decreasing distances from the pollution source presented enlargement of organs related to detoxification function (liver and kidneys) and compensatory immunological function (spleen). Contrary to our predictions, however, we do not found significant effects of proximity to the pollution source on individuals’ body condition index, on the indicative of fertility (testicles masses) or on macroparasite infection’s response (eosinophil counts). Surprisingly, proximity to the pollution source was associated with lower chronic stress levels (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) on individuals. We discuss which processes could promote the alterations found on the toads. We also discuss the possible acquirement of local resistance to contamination on toads populations closer from pollution source, giving the more than 60 years of exposure to chemical contaminants in the area.
Are Effects of School Resource Officers Moderated by Student Race and Ethnicity?
Authors: Crosse Scott , Gottfredson Denise C. , Bauer Erin L. , Tang Zhiqun , Harmon Michele A. , Hagen Carol A. , Greene Angela D.
Published: March 2021

We examined whether effects of an increase in school resource officer (SRO) staffing on school crime and exclusionary disciplinary responses to school crime varied by student race and ethnicity. Using monthly school level administrative data, we compared change in outcomes for 33 schools that enhanced SRO staffing and a matched sample of 72 schools that did not increase SRO staffing at the same time. We found that increases in offenses and exclusionary reactions due to increased SRO presence were most evident for Black and Hispanic as opposed to White students. Educational decision-makers should carefully weigh the benefits of placing SROs in schools against the knowledge that this practice differentially increases recorded school crime and exclusion from school for students of color.
Party Responsiveness to Public Opinion in Young Democracies
Authors: Ibenskas Raimondas , Polk Jonathan
Published: March 2021

Are political parties in young democracies responsive to the policy preferences of the public? Compared to extensive scholarship on party responsiveness in established democracies, research on party responsiveness in young democracies is limited. We argue that weaker programmatic party–voter linkages in post-communist democracies create incentives for parties to respond to their supporters rather than the more general electorate. Such responsiveness occurs in two ways. First, parties follow shifts in the mean position of their supporters. Second, drawing on the research on party–voter congruence, we argue that parties adjust their policy positions to eliminate previous incongruence between themselves and their supporters. Analyses based on a comprehensive dataset that uses expert surveys, parties’ manifestoes and election surveys to measure parties’ positions, and several cross-national and national surveys to measure voters’ preferences provide strong support for this argument.
Design and Methodology of the Study of Associated Risks of Stillbirth (SOARS) in Utah
Authors: DeSisto Carla L. , Stone Nicole , Algarin Barbara , Baksh Laurie , Dieke Ada , D’Angelo Denise V. , Harrison Leslie , Warner Lee , Shulman Holly B.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The Utah Study of Associated Risks of Stillbirth (SOARS) collects data about stillbirths that are not included in medical records or on fetal death certificates. We describe the design, methods, and survey response rate from the first year of SOARS.

Methods

The Utah Department of Health identified all Utah women who experienced a stillbirth from June 1, 2018, through May 31, 2019, via fetal death certificates and invited them to participate in SOARS. The research team based the study protocol on the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System surveillance of women with live births and modified it to be sensitive to women’s recent experience of a stillbirth. We used fetal death certificates to examine survey response rates overall and by maternal characteristics, gestational age of the fetus, and month in which the loss occurred.

Results:

Of 288 women invited to participate in the study, 167 (58.0%) completed the survey; 149 (89.2%) responded by mail and 18 (10.8%) by telephone. A higher proportion of women who were non-Hispanic White (vs other races/ethnicities), were married (vs unmarried), and had ≥high school education (vs <high school education) responded to the survey. Differences between responders and nonresponders by maternal age, gestational age of the fetus, or month of delivery were not significant. Among responders, item nonresponse rates were low (range, 0.6%-5.4%). The question about income (4.8%) and the questions about tests offered and performed during the hospital stay had the highest item nonresponse rates.

Conclusions:

The response rate suggests that a mail- and telephone-based survey can be successful in collecting self-reported information about risk factors for stillbirths not currently included in medical records or fetal death certificates.
COVID-19 in the New York City Jail System: Epidemiology and Health Care Response, March–April 2020
Authors: Chan Justin , Burke Kelsey , Bedard Rachael , Grigg James , Winters John , Vessell Colleen , Rosner Zachary , Cheng Jeffrey , Katyal Monica , Yang Patricia , MacDonald Ross
Published: March 2021

Objectives

People detained in correctional facilities are at high risk for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We described the epidemiology of the COVID-19 outbreak in a large urban jail system, including signs and symptoms at time of testing and risk factors for hospitalization.

Methods

This retrospective observational cohort study included all patients aged ≥18 years who were tested for COVID-19 during March 11–April 28, 2020, while in custody in the New York City jail system (N = 978). We described demographic characteristics and signs and symptoms at the time of testing and performed Cox regression analysis to identify factors associated with hospitalization among those with a positive test result.

Results

Of 978 people tested for COVID-19, 568 received a positive test result. Among symptomatic patients, the most common symptoms among those who received a positive test result were cough (n = 293 of 510, 57%) and objective fever (n = 288 of 510, 56%). Of 257 asymptomatic patients who were tested, 58 (23%) received a positive test result. Forty-five (8%) people who received a positive test result were hospitalized for COVID-19. Older age (aged ≥55 vs 18-34) (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 13.41; 95% CI, 3.80-47.33) and diabetes mellitus (aHR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.00-3.95) were significantly associated with hospitalization.

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of people tested in New York City jails received a positive test result for COVID-19, including a large proportion of people tested while asymptomatic. During periods of ongoing transmission, asymptomatic screening should complement symptom-driven COVID-19 testing in correctional facilities. Older patients and people with diabetes mellitus should be closely monitored after COVID-19 diagnosis because of their increased risk for hospitalization.
Preparing Blacks and Latinx for Workforce 2000: Unfulfilled Promises and Lost Opportunities
Authors: Riccucci Norma M.
Published: March 2021

In the mid-1980s, economists made predictions about what the workforce would look like in the 21st century and the implications for employees and employers. For example, it was predicted that due to demographic shifts in the overall population, blacks and Latinx would represent a large share of the new entrants into the workforce. The primary purpose of this article is to examine whether the economic forecasts for workforce 2000 were accurate. The findings of this study suggest economic forecasting was inaccurate and that public and private sectors failed to prepare blacks and Latinx for the modern economy.
Energy performance and loss analysis of 100 kWp grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic system
Authors: KhareSaxena Anupama , Saxena Seema , Sudhakar K
Published: March 2021

In the present work, simulation and energy analysis of a grid-tied 100 kWp solar photovoltaic power plant mounted on an institute's building rooftop in Bhopal city of India are carried out. The present study provides insight into the solar power plant's performance linked to the medium range grid under actual operating conditions in Central India. It is observed that the standard performance ratio and the capacity factor of the plant are 80.72% and 19.27% respectively. The average monthly energy produced is highest in April and lowest in July. Simulation results using different simulation tools have been compared and are shown to be in near agreement with the real calculated values. This plant set-up is expected to gain profit after a period of 5.9 years with a capacity to mitigate 136 tons of CO2 emission annually.

Practical application: This study estimates the energy output, system losses and performance parameters for a 100 kWp rooftop grid connected solar photovoltaic system. This helps to check the feasibility of such a system at this location. Also the payback period and reduction in carbon footprint are calculated to highlight the economic and environmental benefits. This would attract public interest for installation of more such plants on rooftops of buildings in the near future.
The potential for the Passive House standard in Longyearbyen – the High Arctic
Authors: Buijze Josien AJC , Wright Andrew J
Published: March 2021

Passive building design reduces a building’s energy consumption through mainly non-mechanical design strategies. The Passive House (or Passivhaus) Standard certifies such buildings that comply with its strict energy performance criteria. Achieving the Standard is very challenging for dwellings in extreme climates. There is limited knowledge of the Standard’s potential in Arctic regions, particularly the High Arctic. Through a review of the literature and energy modelling of a hypothetical dwelling, the challenges in achieving the Standard in Longyearbyen (78°N), Norway are investigated. Very low temperatures and 112 days without daylight create a high heating demand. Whereas previous studies measured actual building performances or used simple calculations, the findings in this investigation show the limitations of individual design parameters and technical limits of the building envelope. In theory the Standard can be achieved in Longyearbyen; however, the potential in practice is low due to the very tight margins in the heating criteria. The results show the significant impact of applying contextual (climatic) adjustments to the boundary conditions of the Standard. The investigation could contribute to a discussion on modifying the Passive House Standard for dwellings in the High Arctic and improving building design for the region.

Practical application: Current knowledge regarding energy efficient building performance in Arctic climates is limited, while the urgency for improved efficiencies is extremely high. The modelling in this work shows the valuable impact of contextual adjustments to the Passive House boundary conditions; the impact of individual design parameters; and the potential for significant energy savings through adopting passive house principles for dwelling design in Longyearbyen or similar climates. This investigation could encourage new policy making, additional research and the development of an optimized Passive House Standard that considers High Arctic climate conditions, thus encouraging new energy efficient building construction in cold climates.
Quantitative characterization method for microscopic heterogeneity in tight sandstone
Authors: Lv Tianxue , Li Zhiping
Published: March 2021

Understanding the microheterogeneity of tight sandstone is the basis of reservoir science, and quantitative characterization of the reservoir’s microheterogeneity is key to reservoir evaluation. In this study, an image-processing analysis method to study the heterogeneity of tight reservoirs is established. A modified Image J plugin is used to accurately identify the surface porosity of a thin casting sheet; the heterogeneity of the microscopic pores in a reservoir is then abstracted into discrete values of the surface porosity. A new parameter for quantitative characterization of the microscopic heterogeneity of tight sandstone, that is, the heterogeneity index Q, is proposed. The fractal dimension calculated via a liquid nitrogen adsorption experiment is used to test the new parameter, and the geological significance of Q is discussed. The results show that Q has a good positive correlation with the fractal dimension, which is beneficial in determining the heterogeneity of the reservoir, pore throat distribution, and roughness of the pore surface. Q has a good correlation with physical parameters such as the specific surface area, average pore diameter, and total pore volume of the sample, indicating that this index can effectively characterize and quantitatively evaluate the reservoir. Therefore, this parameter provides a new basis for reservoir evaluation and classification and provides a new direction for delineating advantageous horizons as well as guiding development and mining.
Attributions to Discrimination Against Black Victims in a Multiracial Society: Isolating the Effect of Perpetrator Group Membership
Authors: O’Brien Laurie T. , Merritt Sally K.
Published: March 2021

As the United States becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, interactions between Black people and other minority groups have become increasingly common. The present research examined how a perpetrator’s group membership affects judgments of employment discrimination against a Black victim. Four experiments (combined N = 1,016) tested predictions derived from the prototype model of discrimination. Participants reviewed a case file where a Black, Latino, Asian, or White manager rejected a Black job applicant. Attributions to discrimination were much stronger for a Latino, Asian, or White manager compared with a Black manager. Attributions to discrimination were slightly stronger for a White manager compared with an Asian or Latino manager; however, effect sizes for these differences were small. Attributions to discrimination were similar for the Asian and Latino managers. Whether the perpetrator had outgroup standing relative to the victim was the strongest factor influencing attributions to discrimination for a Black victim of employment discrimination.