bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Activity of Aspirin Eugenol Ester on Paraquat‐Induced Cell Damage in SH‐SY5Y Cells
Authors: Zhang Zhen-Dong , Yang Ya-Jun , Qin Zhe , Liu Xi-Wang , Li Shi-Hong , Bai Li-Xia , Li Jian-Yong
Published: August 2021

Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a new pharmaceutical compound esterified by aspirin and eugenol, which has anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of AEE on paraquat‐ (PQ‐) induced cell damage of SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and its potential molecular mechanism. There was no significant change in cell viability when AEE was used alone. PQ treatment reduced cell viability in a concentration‐dependent manner. However, AEE reduced the PQ‐induced loss of cell viability. Flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and 4 ′6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Compared with the PQ group, AEE pretreatment could significantly inhibit PQ‐induced cell damage. AEE pretreatment could reduce the cell damage of SH‐SY5Y cells induced by PQ via reducing superoxide anion, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) and increasing the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). At the same time, AEE could increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decrease the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of p‐PI3K, p‐Akt, and Bcl‐2 was significantly decreased, while the expression of caspase‐3 and Bax was significantly increased in the PQ group. In the AEE group, AEE pretreatment could upregulate the expression of p‐PI3K, p‐Akt, and Bcl‐2 and downregulate the expression of caspase‐3 and Bax in SH‐SY5Y cells. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the silencing of PI3K by shRNA could weaken the protective effect of AEE on PQ‐induced SH‐SY5Y cells. Therefore, AEE has a protective effect on PQ‐induced SH‐SY5Y cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt signal pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.
Research on Dewatering Ability of Municipal Sludge under the Treatment of Coupled Acid and Microwave
Authors: Zhang Xudong , Ye Peng , Wu Yajun , Guo Zhen , Huang Yuan , Zhang Xingtao , Sun Yuncong , Zhang Haiqiang
Published: August 2021

Municipal sludge is a by-product of urban sewage treatment; it has high water content and contains many hydrophilic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). It is difficult to achieve deep dewatering of sludge. Therefore, it is necessary to find an efficient method to treat sludge. In this study, an acid-microwave treatment method was proposed to improve the dewatering ability of sludge. A vacuum filtration test and particle size analysis test were used to explore the improvement effect of dehydration performance. After centrifugation, the concentrations of soluble proteins and polysaccharides in the supernatant were measured to explore the disintegration of acid-microwave treatment on EPS. Finally, the microstructure of sludge treated by acid-microwave was studied via the SEM test. The results showed that short-term microwave radiation was conducive to sludge dewatering. However, the sludge dewatering performance deteriorated significantly when the treatment time was too long. The optimal microwave treatment condition was 700 W for 180 s, and the SRF of sludge was the lowest, which was

10.11
×

10

12

 
m
/
kg

. After acid-microwave treatment, sludge particle size increased significantly. The concentration of protein and polysaccharide in supernatant increased with the increase of microwave treatment time. Acid-microwave treatment could significantly improve the release efficiency of the polysaccharide. Through the SEM test, it can be verified that the bulk floc structure of sludge is broken after microwave treatment, and acid-microwave treatment is beneficial to the aggregation of floc fragments to form large particles, which can provide larger pores for drainage.
miR-486 Promotes the Invasion and Cell Cycle Progression of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Targeting CADM1
Authors: Li Chenyang , Wang Yue , Wang Hao , Wang Bowen , Wang Yunxia , Li Nan , Qin Yanli , Wang Yesheng
Published: August 2021

Objective. To explore the role and possible underlying mechanism of miR-486 in ovarian cancer (OC) cells. Methods. The expression of miR-486 and CADM1 was detected by qRT-PCR in OC tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues and OC cell lines. The dual-luciferase reporter gene system was used to determine the targeting relationship between miR-486 and CADM1. CCK-8, colony formation assay, Transwell, and flow cytometry were performed to detect cell proliferation, cell invasion, cell cycle progression, and the apoptotic cell death, respectively. Western blot was carried out to detect the expression of CADM1 protein and the proteins associated with cell cycle progression. Results. miR-486 was significantly upregulated in OC tissues and cells, while CADM1 expression was significantly downregulated. Dual-luciferase reporter assays further confirmed that CADM1 was a target gene of miR-486. Interference with miR-486 could inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promoted the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells. Knocking down both miR-486 and CADM1 significantly increased the SKOV3 cell proliferation, invasion, and the number of cells transitioning from the G0/G1 phase into the S phase of cell cycle and reduced the cellular apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of cell cycle progression-related proteins (CyclinD1, CyclinE, and CDK6) was significantly reduced, and the p21 expression was increased when interfering with both miR-486 and CADM1 expression. Conclusion. Our results suggested that miR-486 could act as a tumor promoter by targeting CADM1 and be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of OC.
Accuracy of Deep Learning Algorithms for the Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity by Fundus Images: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Liu Yangyang , Mitsuhashi Toshiharu , Matsuo Toshihiko
Published: August 2021

Background. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) occurs in preterm infants and may contribute to blindness. Deep learning (DL) models have been used for ophthalmologic diagnoses. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published evidence to summarize and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of DL algorithms for ROP by fundus images. Methods. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore Digital Library on June 13, 2021, for studies using a DL algorithm to distinguish individuals with ROP of different grades, which provided accuracy measurements. The pooled sensitivity and specificity values and the area under the curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristics curves (SROC) summarized overall test performance. The performances in validation and test datasets were assessed together and separately. Subgroup analyses were conducted between the definition and grades of ROP. Threshold and nonthreshold effects were tested to assess biases and evaluate accuracy factors associated with DL models. Results. Nine studies with fifteen classifiers were included in our meta-analysis. A total of 521,586 objects were applied to DL models. For combined validation and test datasets in each study, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.953 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.946–0.959) and 0.975 (0.973–0.977), respectively, and the AUC was 0.984 (0.978–0.989). For the validation dataset and test dataset, the AUC was 0.977 (0.968–0.986) and 0.987 (0.982–0.992), respectively. In the subgroup analysis of ROP vs. normal and differentiation of two ROP grades, the AUC was 0.990 (0.944–0.994) and 0.982 (0.964–0.999), respectively. Conclusions. Our study shows that DL models can play an essential role in detecting and grading ROP with high sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability. The application of a DL-based automated system may improve ROP screening and diagnosis in the future.
A Miniaturized Broadband and High Gain Planar Vivaldi Antenna for Future Wireless Communication Applications
Authors: Soothar Permanand , Wang Hao , Xu Chunyan , Quan Yu , Dayo Zaheer Ahmed , Aamir Muhammad , Muneer Badar
Published: August 2021

This paper presents a new miniaturized planar Vivaldi antenna (PVA) design. The proposed antenna structure consists of an aperture tapered profile and cavity stub fed with a simple 50 Ω strip line feeding network. The designed PVA offers versatile advantages, including the miniaturized size and simple design, and exhibited an outstanding performance compared to the latest reported literature. The antenna occupies a minimal space with an electrical size of 0.92λ0 × 0.64λ0 × 0.03λ0. The antenna achieves an excellent relative impedance bandwidth 117.25% at 10 dB return loss, peak realized gain of 10.9 dBi, and an excellent radiation efficiency of 95% at the specific resonances. The antenna’s optimal features, that is, broadband, high gain, and radiation efficiency, are achieved with efficient grooves based approach. Besides, the proposed antenna results are also analyzed in the time domain, which shows the excellent group delay performance <2 ns in the operational band. The proposed antenna exhibited a stable far-ﬁeld radiation pattern in orthogonal planes and strong distribution of current at multiple resonances. Simulation and the measured result show a good agreement. The proposed antenna has achieved optimal performance and is suitable for future wireless communication applications.
How Many Bedrooms Do You Need? A Real-Estate Recommender System from Architectural Floor Plan Images
Authors: Gan Y.S. , Wang Shih-Yuan , Huang Chieh-En , Hsieh Yi-Chen , Wang Hsiang-Yu , Lin Wen-Hung , Chong Shing-Nam , Liong Sze-Teng
Published: August 2021

This paper introduces an automated image processing method to analyze an architectural floor plan database. The floor plan information, such as the measurement of the rooms, dimension lines, and even the location of each room, can be automatically produced. This assists the real-estate agents to maximise the chances of the closure of deals by providing explicit insights to the prospective purchasers. With a clear idea about the layout of the place, customers can quickly make an analytical decision. Besides, it reduces the specialized training cost and increases the efficiency in business actions by understanding the property types with the greatest demand. Succinctly, this paper utilizes both the traditional image processing and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to detect the bedrooms by undergoing the segmentation and classification processes. A thorough experiment, analysis, and evaluation had been performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework. As a result, a three-class bedroom classification accuracy of

∼

90% was achieved when validating on more than 500 image samples that consist of the different room numbers. In addition, qualitative findings were presented to manifest visually the feasibility of the algorithm developed.
The Involvement of the Oxidative Stress Status in Cancer Pathology: A Double View on the Role of the Antioxidants
Authors: Zahra Kamal Fatima , Lefter Radu , Ali Ahmad , Abdellah Ech-Chahad , Trus Constantin , Ciobica Alin , Timofte Daniel
Published: August 2021

Oxygen‐free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS), are known by their “double‐sided” nature in biological systems. The beneficial effects of ROS involve physiological roles as weapons in the arsenal of the immune system (destroying bacteria within phagocytic cells) and role in programmed cell death (apoptosis). On the other hand, the redox imbalance in favor of the prooxidants results in an overproduction of the ROS/RNS leading to oxidative stress. This imbalance can, therefore, be related to oncogenic stimulation. High levels of ROS disrupt cellular processes by nonspecifically attacking proteins, lipids, and DNA. It appears that DNA damage is the key player in cancer initiation and the formation of 8‐OH‐G, a potential biomarker for carcinogenesis. The harmful effect of ROS is neutralized by an antioxidant protection treatment as they convert ROS into less reactive species. However, contradictory epidemiological results show that supplementation above physiological doses recommended for antioxidants and taken over a long period can lead to harmful effects and even increase the risk of cancer. Thus, we are describing here some of the latest updates on the involvement of oxidative stress in cancer pathology and a double view on the role of the antioxidants in this context and how this could be relevant in the management and pathology of cancer.
Modulation Electronic Properties of Silicane/SnSe2 Van der Waals Heterostructures Using External Force and Electric Field
Authors: Xu Gang , He Yelu
Published: August 2021

In recent years, much interest in the study of Van der Waals heterostructures (vdWhs) has arisen. This has led to a significant amount of fundamental research being produced, from which novel optoelectronic applications have been established. By using first principles, we analyze the electronic structure of silicane/SnSe2 vdWhs in the response to an externally applied electric field and a normal strain. The results show that the silicane/SnSe2 vdWh acts as an indirect semiconductor when it is subjected to an applied electric field between −1 and 0.1 V/Å and becomes a metal in the 0.2 to 1 V/Å range. Significantly, the electronic band alignments of the silicane/SnSe2 vdWhs are modified from a type‐II to a type‐I when a field of −0.7 V/Å is applied. Furthermore, it is determined that the silicane/SnSe2 vdWhs appears to have a semiconductor‐metal phase transition at a strain of −5%. Our results indicate that the silicane/SnSe2 vdWhs have the potential for applications in novel high‐performance optoelectronic devices.
AMBRA1 Promotes TGFβ Signaling via Nonproteolytic Polyubiquitylation of Smad4
Authors: Liu Jinquan , Yuan Bo , Cao Jin , Luo Hongjie , Gu Shuchen , Zhang Mengdi , Ding Ran , Zhang Long , Zhou Fangfang , Hung Mien-Chie , Xu Pinglong , Lin Xia , Jin Jianping , Feng Xin-Hua
Published: August 2021

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is prometastatic in advanced cancers and its biological activities are mainly mediated by the Smad family of proteins. Smad4 is the central signal transducer and transcription factor in the TGFβ pathway, yet the underlying mechanisms that govern transcriptional activities of Smad4 are not fully understood. Here, we show that AMBRA1, a member of the DDB1 and CUL4-associated factor (DCAF) family of proteins, serves as the substrate receptor for Smad4 in the CUL4-RING (CRL4) ubiquitin ligase complex. The CRL4-AMBRA1 ubiquitin ligase mediates nonproteolytic polyubiquitylation of Smad4 to enhance its transcriptional functions. Consequently, AMBRA1 potentiated TGFβ signaling and critically promoted TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. Mouse models of breast cancer demonstrated that AMBRA1 promotes metastasis. Collectively, these results show that CRL4-AMBRA1 facilitates TGFβ-driven metastasis by increasing Smad4 polyubiquitylation, suggesting AMBRA1 may serve as a new therapeutic target in metastatic breast cancer.

Significance:

This study identifies AMBRA1 as a novel regulator of TGFβ signaling and breast cancer metastasis, supporting further exploration of AMBRA1 as a target for cancer therapy.
Superficial Acral Fibromyxoma: Clinicopathologic Analysis of Five Cases
Authors: Chiheb Soumiya , Mouradi Maha , Hali Fouzia
Published: August 2021

Superficial acral fibromyxoma is a relatively rare benign slow-growing soft-tissue tumor, first described by Fetsch’s group [Hum Pathol. 2001;32:704–14]. Since then, around three hundred publications have concerned this relatively new entity. The tumor involves peri- and subungual regions of fingers and toes in middle-aged adults with slight male predominance. This acral fibrous tumor is poorly known, and in certain cases, histology results may suggest myxoid dermatofibrosarcoma, which carries a completely different prognosis. In this article, we discuss the clinicopathologic features of this acral fibrous tumor through the report of 5 cases including 1 particular clinical presentation that revealed as a retronychia in a young woman.
Feasibility of Distal Radial Access for Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Xie Lianna , Wei Xianjing , Xie Zezhou , Jia Shengying , Xu Siwei , Wang Kaijun
Published: August 2021

Objective: Asymptomatic radial artery occlusion remains the most common complication in transradial coronary interventional procedure. To prevent radial artery occlusion, distal transradial access (dTRA) has been suggested recently. In this article, we aim to describe our experience and to assess feasibility and safety of this new access site for routine coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We retrospective analyzed 1,063 consecutive patients who were assigned to undergo CAG or procedural PCI through dTRA between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 at Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University. The size of radial sheath used was 5 or 6 French. The sheath was removed at procedure termination, and hemostasis was obtained by compression bandage with gauze. The success rate of dTRA access defined by successful radial artery cannulation on the first dTRA side attempted, the cause of access failure, the hemostasis duration, the incidence of post-catheterization radial artery occlusion, and the other access-related complications including hematoma of forearm and thumb numbness were assessed. Results: Radial artery cannulation via dTRA was successful in 953 of 1,063 patients with a success rate of 89.7%. Mean age of successful cases was 64.6 ± 11.2 years (26–94 years) with 339 (35.6%) women. A total of 363 (38.1%) cases were PCI. Among them, 95 cases (10%) underwent urgent PCI, including primary PCI in 64 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and immediate PCI (<2 h from hospital admission) in 31 patients with very high-risk non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. A total of 269 (28.2%) cases were via left dTRA. The 6 French sheath was used in 602 (63.2%) cases. Hemostasis was obtained within 2 h in 853 (89.5%) patients. There were 110 (10.3%) procedural failures: 59 (5.6%) cases of artery puncture failure, 49 (4.9%) cases of guide wire insertion failure, and 2 (0.2%) cases of sheath insertion failure. Complications potentially related to distal radial access included radial artery occlusion at the access site (13 cases, 1.4%), forearm radial artery occlusion (4 cases, 0.4%), hematoma of forearm (5 cases, 0.5%), and transient thumb numbness (2 cases, 0.2%). Conclusion: dTRA is a feasible and safe access and can be used as a rational alternative to traditional radial access for routine coronary interventional procedure.
Hydrogen Peroxide Is Crucial for NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated IL-1β Production and Cell Death in Pneumococcal Infections of Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Surabhi Surabhi , Jachmann Lana H. , Shumba Patience , Burchhardt Gerhard , Hammerschmidt Sven , Siemens Nikolai
Published: August 2021

Epithelial cells play a crucial role in detection of the pathogens as well as in initiation of the host immune response. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a typical colonizer of the human nasopharynx, which can disseminate to the lower respiratory tract and subsequently cause severe invasive diseases such as pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is produced by pneumococci as a product of the pyruvate oxidase SpxB. However, its role as a virulence determinant in pneumococcal infections of the lower respiratory tract is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of pneumococcal-derived H2O2 in initiating epithelial cell death by analyzing the interplay between 2 key cell death pathways, namely, apoptosis and pyroptosis. We demonstrate that H2O2 primes as well as activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and thereby mediates IL-1β production and release. Furthermore, we show that pneumococcal H2O2 causes cell death via the activation of both apoptotic as well as pyroptotic pathways which are mediated by the activation of caspase-3/7 and caspase-1, respectively. However, H2O2-mediated IL-1β release itself occurs mainly via apoptosis.
Early Neonatal Cyanosis as a Presentation of a Rare Cardiac Anomaly: Truncus Arteriosus Type IV
Authors: Mohamed Haider Amjad , Shehadeh Ammar M.H. , Mohamed Alfarra Rola
Published: August 2021

Truncus arteriosus (TA) is a rare congenital heart anomaly presenting with mild cyanosis and congestive heart failure. It occurs when the blood vessels coming out of the heart in the developing baby fail to separate completely during development, leaving a common trunk responsible for the pulmonary and systemic perfusion. There are several variants of TA, depending on the specific anatomy and arterial connection. We report a case of a full-term newborn who developed cyanosis and desaturation during the first day of life. Investigations and echocardiography were consistent with TA type IV. Prostaglandin infusion was immediately started, and then, a successful palliative right modified Blalock Taussig shunt was performed.
O pluralismo axiológico do jovem Canguilhem no contexto da ascensão do fascismo (1926-1939)
Authors: Souto Caio
Published: August 2021

Os textos publicados por Georges Canguilhem durante as décadas de 1920-1930, que desenvolviam uma filosofia dos valores com certa inflexão política, receberam grande influência do neokantiano Alain (pseudônimo de Émile Chartier). O grupo dos intelectuais reunidos em torno de Alain militava em favor do pacifismo, visando evitar um novo conflito mundial. Contudo, a ascensão do fascismo provocou uma nova postura por parte do “jovem Canguilhem”, que publicou anonimamente os resultados de uma pesquisa empírica com o título “Le fascisme et les paysans”, levando sua filosofia axiológica de então a uma nova inflexão política, culminando numa ruptura com o pensamento de Alain e de seu grupo.
Pensamentos de um espírito reto e sentimentos de um coração virtuoso e Fragmentos Diversos, de Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Authors: Leite Rafael de Araújo e Viana
Published: August 2021

Tradução, apresentação e notas de dois textos de Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a saber, os Pensamentos de um espírito reto e sentimentos de um coração virtuoso, assim como os chamados Fragmentos diversos, ambos pertencentes à Miscelânea de literatura e de moral, conforme classificação do segundo Tomo das Obras Completas de Rousseau (Gallimard, 1964).
John Locke político: a marca da tolerância, de Antônio Carlos dos Santos
Authors: Almeida Maria Cecília Pedreira de , Silva Saulo Henrique Souza
Published: August 2021

Trata-se de resenha escrita pelos professores Maria Cecília Pedreira de Almeida e Saulo Henrique Souza Silva a respeito do livro John Locke Político: a marca da tolerância, escrito pelo professor Antônio Carlos dos Santos (Edições Loyola, 2021).
Polineuropatia desmielinizante inflamatória crônica – uma revisão narrativa
Authors: Meireles André Luís Ferreira
Published: August 2021

Introdução: A Polineuropatia Desmielinizante Inflamatória Crônica (PDIC) é uma doença de caráter autoimune gerada por respostas imunes celulares e humorais que, atuando de forma sinérgica, irão agir contra antígenos dos nervos periféricos, gerando um quadro progressivo de debilidade sensório-motora que irá alterar a qualidade de vida de seus portadores. Objetivo: Sumarizar os conceitos básicos e atuais da PDIC, como etiologia, subtipos da doença, quadro clínico, patogênese e o tratamento farmacológico e não farmacológico. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática narrativa. As bases de dados Medline (Pubmed), Embase e PEDro foram utilizadas para sumarizar os tópicos dessa revisão. Os estudos que compuseram os tópicos dessa revisão foram selecionados por conveniência. Resultados: A PDIC pode acometer crianças e adultos, e o sexo masculino é o mais afetado. O quadro clínico da PDIC é composto de dormência, parestesia, alterações sensoriais, fraqueza muscular, hiporeflexia ou arreflexia, fadiga e alterações de equilíbrio, esse quadro tem caráter progressivo ou recidivante, simétrico e com evolução lenta. A doença tem caráter autoimune gerada por respostas imunes celulares e humorais, que irão agir contra antígenos dos nervos periféricos, gerando uma desmielinização e degeneração axonal. O tratamento da PDIC visa reduzir ou atenuar a evolução da sintomatologia. Os principais tipos de tratamentos são a administração intravenosa de imunoglobulinas, corticosteroides e transferência plasmática. Considerações Finais: Estudos explorando mais profundamente os mecanismos fisiopatológicos da PDIC e otimização do diagnóstico, são pontos importantes que deverão ser investigados para a melhora da assistência e assertividade do tratamento desses pacientes.
The Job Was Being Done: A Conversation About Dominika Macocha’s Video-sculptural Installation “50°31’29.7”N 22°46’39.1”E, 50°30’56.2”N 22°46’01.0”E, 50°30’41.0”N 22°45’49.5”E”
Authors: Janicka Elżbieta , Matyjaszek Konrad , Stańczyk Xawery , Stoll Katrin , Zawadzka Anna
Published: August 2021

This article is a record of a discussion concerning Dominika Macocha’s video-sculptural installation 50°31’29.7”N 22°46’39.1”E, 50°30’56.2”N 22°46’01.0”E, 50°30’41.0”N 22°45’49.5”E. The work deals with the uses of discourse and landscapes in mechanisms of camouflaging the crimes perpetrated on Jews by Poles during the Holocaust. The author lays bare and deconstructs these mechanisms – above all the mechanisms of  narrative fetishism of production of artificial landscape – drawing on examples from Biłgoraj county. In the course of the discussion, the work inspired a critical reassessment of the categories dominating the ways in which the Holocaust is currently described: (1) Martin Pollack’s category of contaminated landscapes, rooted in the ideology of two totalitarianisms; (2) the category of the witness / bystander, which conceals the observers’ participation in the scenario of the crime; and (3) the category of taboo, which is ambivalent considering the universal knowledge on the part of local communities about what happened to Jews from their localities. Reflection on the production of taboo leads the discussants to deliberate on the status of Jewish sources in the field of Holocaust studies. Collected since as early as the 1940s, and containing ample and detailed information about Polish crimes perpetrated on Jews, they are nevertheless not recognised as sources by Polish historians. The conversation is concluded by an attempt at recapitulating the present condition of Polish historiography in the light of the postulated new approach to sources.
Improving practice: Giving voice to the experiences of sexual health education teachers
Authors: Cummings Carol A , Fisher Christine M , Reilly-Chammat Rosemary
Published: August 2021

Objective:

To explore teachers’ beliefs, experiences and barriers influencing teaching related to sexual health education.

Methods, Design and Setting:

Descriptive, cross-sectional study design. Rhode Island certified health teachers ( n = 190) completed an online sexual health education survey. Teacher perceptions about the need and benefits of teaching this subject, coverage of essential topics, their experiences and the barriers they faced were gathered. Qualitative questions were analysed using open, axial and selective coding. Constant comparative approach was used to identify themes. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative items.

Results:

Findings indicated that 98% of teachers felt that sexual health education should be taught. Less than 50% agreed that coverage for topics identified in the national sexuality education standards for grades K-12 should begin at each grade level. Two common themes – prevention and access to accurate information – emerged as reasons for teaching the subject. Themes generated from teacher experiences revealed the use of a risk reduction approach to sexual health education. Healthy sexual development, gender identity, inclusive education and all components of a comprehensive approach were not identified. Perceived barriers to teaching included teacher comfort, time, parents’ likely responses and lack of training.

Conclusion:

Findings signal the need for ongoing professional development to broaden teachers’ understanding of comprehensive sex education and address the beliefs and barriers that hinder inclusive and comprehensive teaching approaches. Good quality training in which teachers reflect on their beliefs and develop proficiency in the use of effective pedagogies can strengthen educator capacity and self-efficacy.
Causal Nexus Between Crude, Gold, Dollar and Stock Markets in India: Empirical Explorations Before, During and After the Global Recession
Authors: Saji T. G.
Published: August 2021

This research study empirically examines the price linkages among oil, dollar, gold and stock markets in India over period from 1999:1 to 2019:12. We employ cointegrated vector error correction model (VECM) and Granger causality test to study the long-run and short-run relationships between commodity and financial markets before, during and after the global financial crisis. Our analysis finds the dependency on price movements in asset markets is time-varying and countercyclical in India. Findings suggest the asymmetric structure of price correlations among asset markets across three temporal periods on either side of the crisis. Our study offers useful insights into the strategic asset allocations to investors in response to economic cycles, to help optimise potential portfolio returns and provide protection towards some downside risks.

JEL Codes: C58, D53, F51
Experimental and numerical investigation of low velocity impact on hybrid short-fiber reinforced foam core sandwich panel
Authors: Sharei Alireza , Safarabadi Majid , Mashhadi Mahmoud M , Solut Reza Souri , Haghighi-Yazdi Mojtaba
Published: August 2021

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the low-velocity impact on foam core sandwich panels reinforced using hybrid short fibers. The foam cores were reinforced with carbon, aramid and carbon-aramid hybrid short fibers. The face-sheets were made of two layers of glass/epoxy, and foam cores were made of two-part polyurethane. In order to acquire the appropriate weight ratio between foam and short fibers, the weight percentage of 10% was chosen for short fibers. Comparing the experimental results proved that carbon, aramid, and carbon-aramid respectively had a better effect on increasing Young modulus by around 100 to 180 per cent. Before performing impact tests, indentation tests were conducted and based on the results for the parameter of impact energy, the value of 6  J was chosen. According to the results of impact tests and the maximum contact force, hybrid reinforced foam, aramid short fiber reinforced foam and carbon short fiber reinforced foam improved the properties respectively by 18 to 30 per cent in comparison to non-reinforced foam. Furthermore, numerical simulations were conducted via ABAQUS. After modeling face-sheet and foam separately, and verifying the results with experiments, the sandwich panel was modeled entirely while the simulation difference of 9.1% on average with the experiment results was concluded.
Evaluating the Continued Integration of Genetics into Medical Sociology
Authors: Boardman Jason D. , Fletcher Jason M.
Published: August 2021

The 2010 special issue of Journal of Health and Social Behavior, titled “Fifty Years of Medical Sociology,” defined the contours of the medical sociological perspective. We use this as a backdrop to outline and assess the continued integration of genetics into medical sociology research. We contend that the explosion of genetic and epigenetic data in population health data sources has made the medical sociological perspective increasingly relevant to researchers outside of sociology, including public health, epidemiology, and quantitative genetics. We describe vast, underappreciated, and mostly unsolved challenges that limit the scientifically appropriate interest in incorporating genetics into existing paradigms. It is our hope that medical sociologists continue this integration but redouble efforts to maintain the core insights in social science research, such as the importance of environmental and structural (i.e., nonbiological) factors in determining health processes and outcomes and the use of rich, integrated, and rigorous empirical analyses.
Grief and Loss During Care Transitions: Experiences of Direct Care Workers
Authors: Wladkowski Stephanie P. , Kusmaul Nancy , Latimer Abigail
Published: August 2021

Direct Care Workers (DCW) provide both personal care to patients and emotional support to patients and caregivers in hospice and palliative care. DCWs often develop close ties and are then expected to work with new clients immediately following a care transition, with little or no time to grieve. A qualitative pilot study (n = 24) was conducted to explore the experience of DCWs during care transitions. Data was collected via focus groups and individual interviews. Thematic analysis was used. Results suggest DCWs managed their experiences (n = 19), by anticipating and accepting grief and loss (n = 21), employing personal coping strategies (n = 19), and saying good-bye (n = 15). Relational factors impacted the experience of care transitions (n = 22), including building and maintaining the relationship (n = 14), and the strength of perceived connections (n = 15). Increased organizational support and training to help address grief and loss will better support DCWs and the direct care workforce.
Originality: The Holy Grail of Tourism Research
Authors: Rodríguez Sánchez Isabel , Mantecón Alejandro , Williams Allan M. , Makkonen Teemu , Kim Yoo Ri
Published: August 2021

Originality is an important goal of research. However, relatively little is known about the characteristics and motivations of individual researchers or about the facilitating or hindering factors that, in combination, can lead to original research outputs. This is a gap this study aims to fill. Interviews with 20 highly original academics (identified by their peers) active in the field of tourism identify four shared main traits among such researchers—nonconformism, commitment, self-confidence, and interdisciplinarity—and the importance of situational factors. The findings also show that there is no single optimum way of “becoming original” and, therefore, efforts to “replicate” originality may constrain rather than enable originality. From a managerial perspective, this suggests that it is easier to remove barriers than to positively facilitate original research.
Ecological Influences on the Formation of the Hiring Network in the Communication Job Market, 2015 to 2019
Authors: Xu Yu
Published: August 2021

This study investigates ecological factors that drive hiring decisions in the academic marketplace. Faculty hires between institutions are conceptualized as interorganizational network ties. Drawing on theoretical insights from network inertia and niche processes in organizational ecology, the current study builds an ecological framework to explain the formation mechanisms of the faculty hiring network among 81 U.S. institutions granting PhDs in communication. Consistent with the predictions of the ecological model of hiring decisions, the empirical results of exponential random graph models (ERGMs) revealed that past behavior (or the presence of previous ties), niche width (or the number of research specializations), and niche overlap (or the degree of shared research specializations) significantly constrained the likelihood of tie creation during the 2015 to 2019 period. These effects held true even when traditional explanations such as network self-organization and status-based hiring patterns were taken into account. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Criminal Histories and Rates of Recidivism Among Two Subtypes of Psychopathic Individuals
Authors: Weaver Shelby S. , Dargis Monika , Kiehl Kent A. , Koenigs Michael
Published: August 2021

Although it is well established that individuals with psychopathic traits are a high-risk group for criminal recidivism, there is considerable evidence that psychopathy is a heterogeneous personality disorder comprised of two subtypes who differ on levels of negative affect (NA). However, few studies have examined differences in criminal histories, and fewer still have investigated differences in recidivism among subtypes of psychopathy. The current study compared criminal histories and recidivism rates between psychopathy subtypes differing in NA (high-NA vs. low-NA) within a sample of adult males incarcerated in state prisons. The high-NA and low-NA psychopathy subtypes did not differ on histories of total, nonviolent, or violent crime, and did not differ on rates of total, nonviolent, or violent recidivism. This finding highlights equally high levels of criminal risk associated with both subtypes of psychopathic individuals. Intervention strategies should be prioritized for both subgroups to effectively reduce the criminal costs associated with psychopathy.
Radiation doses of workers engaged in decontamination of the environment
Authors: Ogawa T. , Ueno T. , Asano T. , Suzuki A. , Ito A.
Published: August 2021

After the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on 11 March 2011, radioactive materials were released into the atmosphere resulting in environmental contamination. Following the implementation of environmental decontamination efforts, the Radiation Dose Registration Centre of the Radiation Effects Association established the radiation dose registration system for decontamination and related workers to consolidate and prevent the loss of radiation records. This article presents statistics on the radiation doses of decontamination and related workers using official records. Since approximately 10 years have passed since the accident in Fukushima, the types of work conducted in the affected restricted areas have changed over time. Therefore, changes in radiation dose for each type of work and comparisons with nuclear workers are presented.
Infrastructures for media ‘extension’: licensing trade expos and the production of media distribution
Authors: Lolli Dario
Published: August 2021

This article focuses on licensing – the practise of brand ‘extension’ – to investigate global media distribution as it contingently emerges from the infrastructural spaces of professional trade events. Licensing expos are not only aesthetic, legal and financial compounds that ‘produce’ media distribution by coordinating the exchange of economic assets and the provision of adaptations, ancillary goods and ‘scripted experiences’ for global blockbuster films and media franchises. They are also sites where diffuse forms of power circulate within and against the bodies of their attendees through assemblages of data, objects, architectures and repeatable technical standards. Through multi-sited participant observation at these affective infrastructures, the paper argues that the production of media distribution is inseparable from the production of subjectivities – of the professionals that make these events as well as the active audiences whose behaviours they aim at envisioning, preempting and shaping.
African American Women’s Marital Attitudes: A Qualitative Study on Never Married Women
Authors: DeLoach McCutcheon Kendra P. , Watkins Karen Y. , Burton Eboni V. , Harris Arlaina C.
Published: August 2021

Over the past few decades, marriage rates in the United States among African Americans continue to decline, yet African American women continue to express a desire to be married. Using a grounded theory qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews ( N = 23), we explored marital attitudes among never married African American women. Participants identified both negative and positive exposures to marriage during childhood and messaging from family and faith communities as major sources influencing their desire to marry. Other themes, such as respectability and child behavioral benefits emerged that influenced women’s attitudes toward marriage. We present a discussion of the findings, limitations of this study, and next steps in the research.
The Intersubjective Markets Hypothesis
Authors: Bocher Romain
Published: August 2021

This study aims to introduce a new theoretical framework for capital markets understanding, reconciling findings from various disciplines such as anthropology, psychology, biology, statistics and physics. Assuming intersubjectivity to be the main driver of interactions between participants, the concept of market narrative is defined as subculture (or ideology) that influences the way investors react to both external events and endogenous dynamics. The new hypothesis is consistent with properties such as self-organisation, speculation, dependency, unboundedness, nonlinearity, dialogic and criticality.

JEL: D40, D50, D53, D70, D80
Breastfeeding: Knowledge, Perception, And Intention to Practice Among Female Students of Tertiary Institutions in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Ogundare Ezra , Babatola Adefunke , Omoyajowo Adefunke , Ajite Adebukola , Adeniyi Adewuyi , Fatunla Odunayo , Ojo Temitope , Agbesanwa Tosin , Olubosede Omolayo , Taiwo Adekunle , Oluyi Adedayo , Ajibola Ayotunde , Komolafe Akinwumi , Airemionkhale Alfred , Oluwayemi Isaac , Olatunya Oladele
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Breastfeeding is a public health practice that is critical for the survival of infants and young children. This study aimed at determining the knowledge, attitude, and future intention to breastfeed among female undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 1312 female students of the tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. By convenience sampling, female students were invited to participate in the study after giving verbal consent and those studying medical, nursing, and other courses allied to medicine were excluded. Internal consistency of the data obtained from this research instrument was determined using Cronbach’s coefficient Alpha with a reliability value of 0.82. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were computed. Results were summarized as frequencies and percentages. The differences in knowledge, attitude, and intention to practice breastfeeding as well as other responses among the participants were compared among age groups, faculties and the sources of information using Chi-square test.

Result

Although 93% of the respondents agreed that breast milk is important for the development of the infant’s brain thereby demonstrating good knowledge; 51.6% of the respondents demonstrated poor perception to breastfeeding believing breastfeeding makes the breast to sag while only 34% of the respondents indicated their intention to breastfeed their future babies.

Conclusion

The intention to breastfeed among our study participants was poor. This study revealed the need to increase awareness about breastfeeding and its benefits among this huge population of future mothers.
Money Matters: Sector Differences, Competition, and the Public Personnel System
Authors: Langbein Laura , Roberts Fei Wang
Published: August 2021

This study explores whether public personnel systems, particularly their compensation systems, are flexible and responsive to market wages in a competitive labor market. Focusing on registered nurses, we explore whether and how the public, private nonprofit, and for-profit labor markets influence each other in determining wages. We also examine if sector plays a role in determining wages. We use American Community Survey data from 2016 and 2017 to test these expectations. Fixed effects regressions and seemingly unrelated regressions with Chow tests reveal that higher wages in the dominant for-profit sector appear to drive up wages in the other two sectors, and vice versa. The results imply that public personnel systems are not so rigid and inflexible as perceived. Rather, they are sensitive to supply and demand and offer wages responding to competition from other sectors. Moreover, public employees do not ignore competitive opportunities in alternative employment markets in the private sectors. Students of public employment should not overlook the private sectors either. The markets are distinctive but not independent.
An improved de Laval nozzle experiment
Authors: Goodman Nicholas , Leege Brian J , Johnson Peter E
Published: August 2021

Exposing students to hands-on experiments has been a common approach to illustrating complex physical phenomena that have been otherwise modelled solely mathematically. Compressible, isentropic flow in a duct is an example of such a phenomenon, and it is often demonstrated via a de Laval nozzle experiment. We have improved an existing converging/diverging nozzle experiment so that students can modify the location of the normal shock that develops in the diverging portion to better understand the relationship between the shock and the pressure. We have also improved the data acquisition system for this experiment and explained how visualisation of the standing shock is now possible. The results of the updated system demonstrate that the accuracy of the isentropic flow characteristics has not been lost. Through pre- and post-laboratory quizzes, we show the impact on student learning as well.
Mechanical Properties and Durability of Sustainable Concrete Containing Various Industrial Solid Wastes
Authors: Zhang Xuanrui , Tang Zhuo , Ke Guojun , Li Wengui
Published: August 2021

Benefits of replacing ordinary Portland cement with industrial solid wastes are promising for reducing cement production and solving environmental problems associated with industrial solid wastes. In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of sustainable concrete containing different industrial solid wastes (e.g., waste glass, coal gangue, fly ash, and slag), with the attention on the mechanical strength, chloride transport property, and pore structure characteristics. Three water to binder ratios (i.e., 0.38, 0.48, and 0.65) and three replacement levels (i.e., 10%, 20%, and 30%) were considered in this work. The test results show that regardless of the content and type of industrial solid wastes, the inclusion of industrial solid wastes generally exerts a negative influence on the mechanical properties, especially under high water to binder ratios. However, acceptable mechanical strength can still be achieved in these sustainable concretes. In addition, the inclusion of industrial solid wastes could enhance the chloride diffusion resistance of concrete, and also the concrete with waste glass powder showed the best performance. Furthermore, the incorporation of industrial solid wastes has a refinement effect on the microstructure of the matrix, manifesting as decreased cumulative pore volume and compacted microstructural morphology.