bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Northern Bobwhite Occupancy Patterns on Multiple Spatial Scales Across Arkansas
Authors: Lassiter Ellery V. , Asher Marcus , Christie Grace , Gale Connor , Massey Andrhea , Massery Cody , Middaugh Christopher R. , Veon John T. , DeGregorio Brett A.
Published: September 2021

Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus populations have been rapidly declining in the eastern, central, and southern United States for decades. Land use change and an incompatibility between northern bobwhite resource needs and human land use practices have driven declines. Here, we applied occupancy analyses on two spatial scales (state level and ecoregion level) to more than 5,000 northern bobwhite surveys conducted over 6 y across the entire state of Arkansas to explore patterns in occupancy and land use variables, and to identify priority areas for management and conservation. At the state level, northern bobwhite occupied 29% of sites and northern bobwhite were most likely to occur in areas with a high percentage of early successional habitat (grassland, pasture, and shrubland). The statewide model predicted that northern bobwhite were likely to occur (≥ 75% predicted occupancy) in < 20% of the state. Arkansas is comprised of five distinct ecoregions, and analyses at the ecoregion spatial scale showed that habitat associations of northern bobwhite could vary between ecoregions. For example, early successional habitat best predicted northern bobwhite occupancy in both the Arkansas River Valley and Ozark Mountains ecoregions, and other habitat associations such as the proportion of herbaceous habitat and hay-pasture habitat, respectively, further refined predictions. Contrastingly, richness of land cover classes alone best predicted northern bobwhite occupancy in the Ouachita Mountains ecoregion. Ecoregion-level models were thus more discerning than the state-level model and should be more helpful to managers in identifying priority conservation areas. However, in two of five ecoregions, surveys too rarely encountered northern bobwhite to accurately predict their occurrence. We found that likely occupied northern bobwhite habitat lay primarily on private properties (95%), but that numerous public entities own and manage land identified as suitable or likely occupied. We conclude that management of northern bobwhite in Arkansas could benefit from cooperation among state, federal, and military partners, as well as surrounding private landowners and that ecoregion-specific models may be more useful in identifying priority areas for management. Our approach incorporates multiple landscape scales when using remote sensing technology in conjunction with monitoring data and could have important application for the management of northern bobwhite and other grassland bird species.
Mass Media's Negative Narratives
Authors: Toma Michelle Jeanette
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the secondary psycho-sociological trauma like school shootings on students' self-identity and academic success. School shootings' endless highlight reels challenge critical analysis skills for validated information, proper context, and navigating societal ills. Students' social concepts and social engagement contend for proper development with the plethora of unsubstantiated mass media news stories. This chapter establishes a conceptual framework toward teacher counternarrative social capital shaping student resiliency as students deal with mass media's psycho-sociological secondary trauma through the lens of young Black males. These findings have implications for how researchers approach the impact that mass media depictions of school shootings can have on students. This chapter concludes with a discussion of how educators should respond to mass media negative narratives like school shootings to support social-identity development and proper perspectives of societal ills.
Death Reminders
Authors: Edmondson Kimberly R.
Published: September 2021

Discussing school shootings as current or historical events in social studies classrooms can be a difficult endeavour, as it requires confronting death and making sense of violent human behaviour. This chapter asserts that existential anxiety plays a role in helping us better understand these tragedies. Terror management theory (TMT) accounts for existential anxiety as a driver of human behaviour and can be a powerful conceptual tool to help students and teachers unpack the difficult subject matter of school shootings, as well as provide insight for behavioural responses that may emerge in the classroom in response to these discussions. As a result, TMT contributes a classroom of care that fosters a sense of student agency for which to imagine a preferable future.
Implications of the Inclusive Pro-Poor Tourism Planning in Uganda for Strategic Planning for Community-Based Tourism Development in Nigeria
Authors: Fagbolu Olukemi Deborah
Published: September 2021

Many Nigerians are unemployed and live in extreme poverty. The Nigerian government has therefore identified tourism as one of the promising sectors in its efforts to diversify the economy from the oil sector. CBT which is a kind of tourism that encourages environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability in communities could be a good model for addressing the socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria. Based on literature derived from JSTOR, Google Scholar, and Emerald, this chapter draws implications from the inclusive pro-poor tourism planning in Uganda for CBT development in Nigeria.
Crowdsourcing Translation for Community-Based Tourism Empowerment in Thailand
Authors: Phanthaphoommee Narongdej , Nomnian Singhanat
Published: September 2021

English has not only become a lingua franca for global communication, but it also carries a symbolic power that influences local people and stakeholders in community-based tourism (CBT) in Thailand. Thai villagers encounter communicative challenges due to their limited English proficiency. Thai-English speaking tour guides are valued, as they provide translation services on behalf of CBT members whose interactions with foreign tourists are minimal and marginalized. Losses in translation regarding local wisdom and heritage are inevitably unavoidable. This chapter addresses a conceptual model of crowdsourcing translation for CBT. The study hopes that the sociolinguistic and cultural gaps can be bridged for the enhancement of other CBT communities. Crowdsourcing in the form of collaborative translation and volunteering translators' efforts can potentially provide an alternative lens for possible translation scenarios. Tourism operators and stakeholders can apply these practices to assist the local people to promote lesser-known tourist attractions in remote areas in Thailand.
Application of Geoinformation Technology to the Management of Community-Based Natural Resources for Tourism Development in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Ngowi Norbert John
Published: September 2021

The approaches to natural resources management have evolved. Disparities in their adoption are likely to produce a long-lasting negative impact on the resources and the livelihood security of the community depending on them. The use of geoinformation by the local community is a critical measure to the sustainability of its resources. Nonetheless, the application of geoinformation technologies to the community-based natural resources for the tourism industry is highly unknown. This chapter reviewed the application of geoinformation technology to the management of community-based natural resources in the Pangani District of Northern Tanzania. It considers how geoinformation technology is used in the management of tourism activities for community development. Specifically, the chapter discusses community developments resulting from that as well as challenges associated with the use of geographical information systems and remote sensing technologies. The chapter concludes with key recommendations for improving those challenges.
The Role and Significance of Traditional Leadership in South African Local Governance
Authors: Mawere Joshua , Matshidze Pfarelo Eve , Kugara Stewart Lee , Madzivhandila Thanyani
Published: September 2021

Traditional leadership in South Africa pre-existed both the colonial and apartheid systems of governance and was the main known system of governance amongst indigenous people. In any case, as opposed to the current political pattern of discrediting traditional leadership, Africans have their own comprehension of democracy, which is pointedly from the liberal democracy of the West. Traditional leadership was democratic based on its own unique way in what we these days allude to as ‘consensus'. This chapter contends that the institution of traditional leadership is still significant as a trusted institution for governance by most of the people living in rural South Africa. The chapter contends as revered in the Basotho aphorism, mooa khotla ha a tsekisoe maxim, that traditional leadership is a sine qua non in rural areas. The South African post-apartheid government has neglected to conclusively characterize and unambiguously explain the role and significance of traditional leaders in local governance.
Socio-Intercultural Entrepreneurship Capability Building and Development
Authors: Vargas-Hernández José G. , López-Lemus Jorge Armando
Published: September 2021

This study aims to analyze the socio-intercultural entrepreneurship as capability building and development. The analysis departs from the assumption that entrepreneurship is a culturally embedded concept, although the intercultural category used in entrepreneurial studies has not found full conceptual, theoretical, and empirical support. Based on this existing research gap, this analysis reviews the literature to address the main issues of the socio-intercultural entrepreneurship focusing on the capability building and development to conclude that it is more situational in context and environmentally oriented. The methodologies used are the exploratory and analytical tools. Socio-intercultural entrepreneurship competence is highly related to be situational in context and environmentally dependent on awareness and understanding of cultural differences.
Career Predilections and Options to Opt Occupation for the Youth in Pakistan
Authors: Tunio Muhammad Nawaz , Shah Syed Mir Muhammed , Qureshi Muhammad Asif , Tunio Ahmed Nawaz , Shaikh Erum
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study is to find the employment options and career choices of young people in a developing country, Pakistan. In this regard, an exploratory approach is used to conduct this study. The findings of the study show that there are formal and informal options for the youth to choose occupations. Formal includes the employment opportunities provided by the government which include in the long term and short term in their services; however, informal employment includes different kinds of work in the different sectors. Overseas employment is the external option of the career choice for the youth. However, a business incubation center is an internal source of career for university students and graduates who want to opt for entrepreneurship as their career choice. This study provides implications for the government and non-government organizations to create different kinds of employment opportunities to accommodate the huge youth population and make them productive for the economic development of the country and reduce the rate of unemployment.
Using Combination Technique for Land Cover Classification of Optical Multispectral Images
Authors: Kulkarni Keerti , Vijaya P. A.
Published: September 2021

The need for efficient planning of the land is exponentially increasing because of the unplanned human activities, especially in the urban areas. A land cover map gives a detailed report on temporal dynamics of a given geographical area. The land cover map can be obtained by using machine learning classifiers on the raw satellite images. In this work, the authors propose a combination method for the land cover classification. This method combines the outputs of two classifiers, namely, random forests (RF) and support vector machines (SVM), using Dempster-Shafer combination theory (DSCT), also called the theory of evidence. This combination is possible because of the inherent uncertainties associated with the output of each classifier. The experimental results indicate an improved accuracy (89.6%, kappa = 0.86 as versus accuracy of RF [87.31%, kappa = 0.83] and SVM [82.144%, kappa = 0.76]). The results are validated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the overall accuracy (OA) has been used as a comparison basis.
Global Terrorism as a Virus
Authors: Fisogni Primavera
Published: September 2021

Two decades after the twin towers collapsed, the identification of global terrorism still remains an open question for everyone. However, since 9/11, the trope of the virus entered the scholarly discourses as well as the sociopolitical debate. This investigation is aimed at moving from the metaphor of terrorism as a virus to the virus-like pathogenic processes that affect terror threats. The proposal is to highlight the fluid identity of a main viral phenomenon of evildoing, according to a strict dialogue with the microbiological domain. New lenses are needed. As the author argues, systemic thinking better suits this subject matter than traditional linear thinking. The author will seek to highlight the development of global terrorism in terms of the biological mechanism of the virus's life (pathogenesis). Finally, it will be assumed that through the subject matter of global threat philosophy can improve the understanding of a dynamic principle of identity suitable to living entities/open systems.
Social Network Sites as Community Building Tools in Educational Networking
Authors: Nizzolino Salvatore , Canals Agustí
Published: September 2021

This paper discusses the educational context of social network sites (SNSs) and the manner in which they are adopted as Europeanization tools to develop the main EU education priorities. The Erasmus + (E+) context, articulated on networks of education bodies, denotes a promising ground to investigate social and digital trends emerging within institutionalized education communities. The research approach counts on a sample of 518 organizations aligned to a set of standards regulated within the institutionalized networking frame of the E+ program. Due to the compliance requirements of E+ guidelines, this work proposes a theoretical juxtaposition of the Community of Inquiry framework and the E+ framework. Final results show an EU educational trend verging to informal affordances and non-formal education features.
Analyzing the Network Readiness Index in the United States to Assess ICT Infrastructure in Handling Crises Like COVID-19
Authors: Tabar Saeed , Sharma Sushil , Volkman David , Lee HeeLak
Published: September 2021

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has caused disruption all over the world including in the US. It seems that this pandemic is going to stay for a while. Under current circumstances, what matters most is to mitigate its impact to get back to the daily routine as fast as possible. One answer to this challenge is to turn to technology, especially ICT (information and communication technology). Relying on ICT requires a dependable ICT infrastructure that can handle the fast-growing number of users transitioning to online mode. NRI (Network Readiness Index) is a composite index to measure the multi-faceted impact of ICT on society and development. It is a holistic framework measuring the impact of ICT on four fundamental dimensions of society: technology, people, governance, and impact. In this article, a thorough study of the NRI pillars in 2019 is conducted to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of network readiness in the US. The results of the analysis will provide insight into the trend of digital transformation in the USA.
The Use of Mobile Devices in University Distance Learning
Authors: Eom Sean B.
Published: September 2021

Mobile devices, primarily cell phones, smartphones, and tablet PCs, have gradually been introduced into the university campus and online education over the past few decades. Does the use of mobile devices in distance learning motivate students and affect the learning process? These are important questions that were raised more than a decade ago, but they are still unanswered. This research aims to answer these vital questions. A total of 323 valid and unduplicated responses from online students at a Midwestern university in the U.S. were used to examine the structural model, using SmartPLS v. 3.3.2. This study shows that the use of mobile devices positively affects the students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to learn, which in turn positively affects the cognitive learning process variables (student-student dialogue, student-instructor dialogue, and metacognitive self-regulated learning processes). Furthermore, the learning process variables positively affect the perceived learning outcomes.
The Effects of Facebook Live-Stream Teaching on Improving Students' Dance Skills
Authors: Wu Chien-Chih , Chao *Hsiao-Wen , Tsai Chia-Wen
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study is to enhance the effect of dance skill learning, learning motivation, and physical activity class satisfaction. Moreover, the outcome of these quasi-experiments illustrate the effects of Facebook Live-stream teaching, co-regulated learning (CRL), and experience-based learning (ExBL) on improving students' learning performance. The experimental design in this study was a 2 (CRL vs. non-CRL) × 2 (ExBL vs. non-ExBL) factorial pretest/post-test design. Four classes of a course titled ‘Physical Education: Dance' at university level were chosen for this study in one semester. According to the analysis of results, conclusions of this study are that students who receive ExBL have significantly higher physical activity class satisfaction than students who do not receive ExBL. In addition, in the case of ExBL teaching, the concurrent implementation of CRL can improve students' dance skill learning more than ExBL alone.
Rapid Response Logistics
Authors: Dhaliwal Amandeep , Arora Shilpa
Published: September 2021

Greater internet penetration and ecommerce has led to demand for personalized product development and faster fulfilment. This has increased global competition wherein the manufacturer and retailers not only have to deal with an unprecedented number and variety of products but also makes forecasting and scheduling difficult. To address these problems, rapid response logistics has become a necessity. The current study discusses the role of such rapid response systems and various implementation strategies in both the demand and supply side of supply chains that can be the solutions to the dynamic business environment. It discusses the information sharing technologies based on different level of sophistication which are used by the different echeloned supply chains. The paper reviews the important literature in these aspects and brings forth the challenges of the rapid response systems and the new directions of research which needs to be undertaken to gauge the real potential of rapid response systems.
Preparation and Properties of Mattel Oxide Nanoparticles by Pulse Laser Ablation in Liquid as Photo-Catalysis
Authors: Saleh Abeer A. , Haider Adawiya J. , Nazar Alaa
Published: September 2021

Zinc, nickel and silver oxide were prepared by the method of pulsed ablation laser in liquid, with different preparation conditions, where the number of pulses was changed (25, 50 and 75) and the frequency was 1 Hz and the energy was 600 mJ and at room temperature. We have used UV-visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FSEM), the EDX system, then these materials were added to the local dye and the photo-catalytic activity was applied to them using a UV-500 lamp for different periods of time (0, 30, 60 and 120 mint) and they acted as photo-catalysts.
Investigation of a Relative Weight Ratio of Graphite/Zinc Matrix Composite with a High-Resistance to Corrosion
Authors: Hassan Zainab , Al-Obaidi Mudhar
Published: September 2021

There has been a significant increase in the use of composite materials to reinforce metallic structures. Such an increase has been especially noted in marine and underground applications, where there is a higher corrosion impact. Whilst there have been several attempts to investigate the mechanical properties of several synthesized composite materials, few of these have analyzed the corrosion of such composite materials at different weight ratios. The aim of this paper is to explore the best weight ratios of a graphite/Zinc composite matrix that would yield the lowest corrosion rate for a variety of applications. The research is validated using experimentation based on six additives of graphite (1wt%, 2.5wt%, 4wt%, 6wt%, 8wt%, and 10wt%), which are used as reinforcements for a range of weight ratios. The additives were prepared using the powder metallurgy method. The corrosion rate for all specimens used was carried out at the room temperature of 27 °C. Analysis results showed that 1wt% of graphite additive has the highest corrosion resistance compared to other weight ratios tested. This has been verified by examining the microstructure of the composite using an optical microscope for 12h, 24h, and 48h of immersion time in a 1M HCl acid solution.
Rapid Removal of Methylene Blue in Water Using Polymer-Based Biochar Nanocomposite-Coated Filters
Authors: Lopez Edgar Clyde R. , Saporsantos Nathaniel M. , Magbalon William Ven R. , Aquino Richard C. , Celebre Miguel Lawrence Keith S.J. , Perez Jem Valerie D.
Published: September 2021

In this study, the effectiveness of novel nanocomposite-coated filters consisting of biochar (BC) functionalized with sodium alginate (SA) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was investigated for methylene (MB) blue removal. The filters were fabricated via a dip-coating method and SEM and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful coating of the filters. The impact of the nanocomposite formulation and the operating parameters (initial pH and MB concentration) on the performance of the coated filters were studied. A nanocomposite composition consisting of 1.0 wt.% SA, 2.0 wt.% PVA, and 1000 ppm BC were found to be optimum, reaching as high as 96.51% MB removal. The fabricated filters were determined to be robust over a wide range of pH and initial MB concentrations. The Sips isotherm model proved to be the best-fit model for MB adsorption, where chemisorption dominates at low MB concentrations, while physisorption dominates at high MB concentrations. The filters have a maximum sorption capacity of 54.5198 mg g-1 and showed good reusability. Overall, our synthesized SA/PVA/BC-coated filters can be used to effectively remove dyes in wastewater over a wide range of operating conditions.
Developing a HEC/CMC-Reduced Graphene Oxide Hydrogel Nanocomposite for Seawater Desalination
Authors: Tumolva Terence , Madamba Kenneth Carmelo , Nunag Isabelle Gabrielle , Villanueva Vinz Gabriel
Published: September 2021

Current available methods for water desalination are energy intensive, expensive, and not feasible for small-scale applications. As an alternative, hydrogels may be utilized as a draw agent and semi-permeable membrane forward osmosis by acting as both to desalinate water. This study aims to synthesize and characterize hydrogels made from cellulose derivatives and reduced graphene oxide nanofillers in order to desalinate and remove microbes from seawater without requiring a large energy input. The hydrogels are formed by combining carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, reduced graphene oxide, and water to form a paste which is soaked in a crosslinking solution made of citric acid. Swelling, compression, antimicrobial efficiency and desalination efficiency tests were done. The hydrogel that obtained the highest values has a swelling ratio of 1,447%, compressive strength of 4 bar, desalination efficiency of 30%, and antimicrobial properties.
Study of Thermal Stability of Superhydrophobic Properties of Coatings Formed on Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Nadaraia Konstantine V. , Mashtalyar Dmitry V. , Suchkov Sergey N. , Mostovaya Vera V. , Imshinetskiy Igor M. , Sinebrukhov Sergey L. , Gnedenkov Sergey V.
Published: September 2021

The thermal stability of the superhydrophobic properties of coatings obtained on a magnesium alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) followed by treatment with fluoropolymer was studied. It was established that formed surface layers have contact angle (CA) equal to 171° and contact angle hysteresis equal to 6° at 25 °C, which allows to characterize them as superhydrophobic. After 5 cycles of cooling-heating of composite layers, CA was 135°, indicating the durability of coatings. Additionally, obtained polymer-containing layers demonstrated low wettability at 0 °C (CA was 105°).
Cutting Edge: Intestinal IL-17A Receptor Signaling Specifically Regulates High-Fat Diet–Mediated, Microbiota-Driven Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Gaudino Stephen J , Huang Huakang , Jean-Pierre Makheni , Joshi Preet , Beaupre Michael , Kempen Cody , Wong Hoi Tong , Kumar Pawan
Published: September 2021

Previous studies indicate that IL-17A plays an important role in mediating the intestinal microbiota and systemic metabolic functions. However, it is not known where IL-17RA signaling occurs to mediate these effects. To investigate this question, we used intestinal epithelial–specific (Il17raΔIEC) and liver-specific (Il17raΔLiver) IL-17RA knockout mice as well as littermate control mice. Our results indicate that intestinal IL-17RA signaling helps mediate systemic metabolic functions upon exposure to prolonged high-fat diet. Il17raΔIEC mice display impaired glucose metabolism, altered hormone and adipokine levels, increased visceral adiposity, and greater hepatic lipid deposition when compared with their littermate controls. We show that IL-17RA–driven changes in microbiota composition are responsible for regulating systemic glucose metabolism. Altogether, our data elucidate the importance of intestinal IL-17RA signaling in regulating high-fat diet–mediated systemic glucose and lipid metabolism.
Microbiota-Immune Interactions Regulate Metabolic Disease
Authors: Klag Kendra A , Round June L
Published: September 2021

Metabolic diseases are common worldwide and include diseases of overnutrition, such as obesity, or undernutrition, such as kwashiorkor. Both the immune system and the microbiota contribute to a variety of metabolic diseases; however, these two processes have largely been studied independently of one another in this context. The gastrointestinal system houses the greatest density of microbes but also houses one of the largest collections of immune molecules, especially Abs. The IgA isotype dominates the Ab landscape at mucosal sites, and a number of studies have demonstrated the importance of this Ab to the stability of the microbiota. In this article, we review the literature that demonstrates how homeostatic Ab responses control microbiota composition and function to influence metabolic disease. We propose that many metabolic diseases may arise from disruptions to homeostatic immune control of gut commensals and that further understanding this interaction can offer a novel opportunity for therapeutic interventions.
Small Molecule Metabolites at the Host–Microbiota Interface
Authors: Bishai Jason D , Palm Noah W
Published: September 2021

The trillions of bacteria that constitutively colonize the human gut collectively generate thousands of unique small molecules. These microbial metabolites can accumulate both locally and systemically and potentially influence nearly all aspects of mammalian biology, including immunity, metabolism, and even mood and behavior. In this review, we briefly summarize recent work identifying bioactive microbiota metabolites, the means through which they are synthesized, and their effects on host physiology. Rather than offering an exhaustive list of all known bioactive microbial small molecules, we select a few examples from each key class of metabolites to illustrate the diverse impacts of microbiota-derived compounds on the host. In addition, we attempt to address the microbial logic behind specific biotransformations. Finally, we outline current and emerging strategies for identifying previously undiscovered bioactive microbiota metabolites that may shape human health and disease.
Hip Flexibility and Pitching Biomechanics in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Albiero Maxwell L. , Kokott Wesley , Dziuk Cody , Cross Janelle A.
Published: September 2021

Context

Inadequate hip active range of motion (AROM) may stifle the energy flow through the kinematic chain and decrease pitching performance while increasing the risk for pitcher injury.

Objective

To examine the relationship between hip AROM and pitching biomechanics during a fastball pitch in adolescent baseball pitchers.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Biomechanics laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants

A sample of 21 adolescent male baseball pitchers (age = 16.1 ± 0.8 years, height = 183.9 ± 5.2 cm, mass = 77.9 ± 8.3 kg).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Bilateral hip external-rotation (ER), internal-rotation, flexion, abduction, and extension AROM were measured. Three-dimensional biomechanics were assessed as participants threw from an indoor pitching mound to a strike-zone net at regulation distance. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were used to determine relationships between hip AROM and biomechanical metrics.

Results

Negative correlations were found at foot contact between back-hip ER AROM and torso-rotation angle (r = −0.468, P = .03), back-hip ER AROM and back-hip abduction angle (r = −0.474, P = .03), and back-hip abduction AROM and lead-hip abduction angle (r = −0.458, P = .04). Back-hip extension AROM was positively correlated with increased stride length (r = 0.446, P = .043). Lead-hip abduction AROM was also positively correlated with normalized elbow-varus torque (r = 0.464, P = .03).

Conclusions

We observed several relationships between hip AROM and biomechanical variables during the pitching motion. These findings support the influence that hip AROM can have on pitching biomechanics. Overall, greater movement at the hips allows the kinematic chain to work at maximal efficiency, increasing the pitch velocity potential.
Facilitated delivery of topical steroids after fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser failed to prevent the postthyroidectomy hypertrophic scar
Authors: Lin Ko-Chien , Wu Shao-Chun , Chi Shun-Yu , Lin Hui-Ping , Lin Cen-Hung , Tsai Yueh-Ju , Hsieh Mu-Han , Hsu Shiun-Yuan , Hsieh Ching-Hua
Published: September 2021

Background:

The ablative fractional laser can destroy the epidermal barrier and enhance the infiltration and distribution of drugs into the dermis.

Objectives:

This study was designed to investigate whether steroid delivery followed by the fractional ablative laser can prevent the formation of postthyroidectomy scar.

Methods:

This prospective split-scar design study recruited 12 adult female patients who underwent thyroidectomy between March 2018 and December 2018. The whole scar was treated with a fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser with topical 0.05% clobetasol propionate ointment only applied on the treatment side. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) questionnaire was used for outcome assessment at 1 year following the first treatment. The follow-up assessment by scar esthetic scale using digital photographs at 6 months and 1 year after first treatment was also done by three blinded plastic surgeons.

Results:

The POSAS revealed the improvement was not significant on vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, surface area, and overall opinion on the improvement (all P > 0.05). The digital photographs evaluation also did not reveal a significant difference between the treatment side and control side. The overall esthetic score in the assessment of digital photographs was 4.4 ± 1.5, 4.2 ± 1.9, and 3.4 ± 1.9 at 6 months, and 2.8 ± 1.9, 3.1 ± 1.9, and 2.4 ± 2.1 at 1 year, with 0–10 indicating totally identical to significantly different comparing the whole scar with surrounding normal skin.

Conclusion:

This prospective scar-split study revealed that the application of topical steroid after fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser has no significant effect to prevent the formation of postthyroidectomy scar.
Analgesic efficacy of dexamethasone versus dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block for post-operative pain relief in caesarean section: A prospective randomised controlled study
Authors: Singla Nitika , Garg Kamakshi , Jain Richa , Malhotra Aaina , Singh Mirley Rupinder , Grewal Anju
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims:

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is commonly used to treat post-operative pain after lower abdominal surgeries. The aim of this randomised controlled study was to assess the efficacy of addition of dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone to ropivacaine in TAP block and compare the two for post-operative pain relief in caesarean section.

Methods:

A hundred parturients (18–45 years) undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia received ultrasound-guided (USG) bilateral TAP block with 50ml of 3mg/kg ropivacaine along with 0.1mg/kg dexamethasone (Group A) or 1μg/kg dexmedetomidine (Group B) in this prospective, randomised, double-blind study. Time to initial self-reporting of post-operative pain, time to first rescue analgesic demand, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain haemodynamic parameters and adverse effects if any were noted, andaPvalue < 0.005 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:

Time to initial self-reporting of post-operative pain (411.35 vs. 338.20 min,P< 0.005) and time to first rescue analgesic (474.30 vs. 407.30 min,P< 0.005) were significantly longer in group B as compared to group A. VAS score at the time of initial self-reporting of pain was significantly lower in group B. No significant haemodynamic changes or side-effects were noted.

Conclusion:

Addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine as compared with dexamethasone in bilateral TAP block following caesarean section prolongs the time to initial post-operative pain and time to first rescue analgesic consumption.
Evaluation of analgesic efficacy of superficial cervical plexus block in patients undergoing modified radical mastoidectomy: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Deepika Vijaya , Ahuja Vanita , Thapa Deepak , Gombar Satinder , Gupta Nitin
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims:

Intravenous analgesics and local infiltration are used for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing mastoidectomy. No randomised controlled trial (RCT) has so far determined response rates of pain reduction after ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) in adult patients undergoing modified radical mastoidectomy.

Methods:

This double-blind RCT was conducted in 30 adult patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I/II undergoing modified radical mastoidectomy. The primary outcome was a reduction in the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Secondary outcomes were postoperative diclofenac consumption, haemodynamics, and occurrence of any adverse events. All patients received general anaesthesia. At the end of the surgery, patients were randomised to either Group ‘Block’ (n= 15) ultrasound guided SCPB with 5 mL ropivacaine 0.5% or Group ‘No block’ (n= 15). All patients received intravenous (IV) paracetamol 1 g every 6 hourly and rescue analgesic IV diclofenac 75 mg if VAS score >4.

Results:

Patients in Group ‘Block’ reported lower VAS score at rest versus Group ‘No block’ at 1 h postoperatively (P= 0.012). VAS score on movement was lower in patients of Group ‘Block’ compared to Group ‘No block’ at 1 h (P= 0.010), 4 h (P= 0.035), 8 h (P= 0.027), and 12 h (*P= 0.003) postoperatively. Diclofenac consumption was lower in patients of Group ‘Block’ (P= 0.041). No adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion:

Postoperative ultrasound-guided SCPB produced higher response rates in terms of reduction in VAS score in patients undergoing modified radical mastoidectomy.
Case Report: Paucisymptomatic College-Age Population as a Reservoir for Potentially Neutralization-Resistant Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants
Authors: Neuman Benjamin W. , Brashear Wesley A. , Brun Marcel , Chaki Sankar P. , Fischer Rebecca S. B. , Guidry Sierra J. , Hill Joshua E. , Hillhouse Andrew E. , Johnson Charles D. , Kahl-McDonagh Melissa M. , Metz Richard P. , Rice-Ficht Allison C. , Shuford Jennifer A. , Skaggs Tiffany A. , Stull Matthew A. , Threadgill David W. , Akpalu Yao , Zuelke Kurt
Published: September 2021

To better understand the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant lineage distribution in a college campus population, we carried out viral genome surveillance over a 7-week period from January to March 2021. Among the sequences were three novel viral variants: BV-1 with a B.1.1.7/20I genetic background and an additional spike mutation Q493R, associated with a mild but longer-than-usual COVID-19 case in a college-age person, BV-2 with a T478K mutation on a 20B genetic background, and BV-3, an apparent recombinant lineage. This work highlights the potential of an undervaccinated younger population as a reservoir for the spread and generation of novel variants. This also demonstrates the value of whole genome sequencing as a routine disease surveillance tool.
Status and Climate Applications of the 19th Century Forts and Volunteer Observer Database
Authors:   Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois, Westcott Nancy , Cooper Jason ,   National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA, Andsager Karen ,   Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois, Stoecker Leslie ,   University of Illinois, Shein Karsten ,   University of Illinois
Published: September 2021

The Climate Data Modernization Program Forts and Volunteer Observer Database (CDMP-Forts) currently consists of 450 keyed and 355 quality-controlled stations for the period 1788–1892, reaching across the United States. In conjunction with the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN) daily data, this resource is invaluable for examining 19th century weather and climate in the United States. CDMP-Forts is incomplete, however, with a considerable amount of data remaining to be digitally transcribed and quality controlled. It is the intent of this paper to provide an overview of the processes involved in rescuing these data and to show important ways these data can be used and the considerations that may have to be taken to create meaningful analyses. Finally, the dataset is placed in the context of other global datasets and efforts to rescue historical weather data.
Characterization and Derivation of Heard-Of Predicates for Asynchronous Message-Passing Models
Authors: Shimi Adam , Hurault Aurélie , Queinnec Philippe
Published: September 2021

In distributed computing, multiple processes interact to solve a problem
together. The main model of interaction is the message-passing model, where
processes communicate by exchanging messages. Nevertheless, there are several
models varying along important dimensions: degree of synchrony, kinds of
faults, number of faults... This variety is compounded by the lack of a general
formalism in which to abstract these models. One way to bring order is to
constrain these models to communicate in rounds. This is the setting of the
Heard-Of model, which captures many models through predicates on the messages
sent in a round and received on time. Yet, it is not easy to define the
predicate that captures a given operational model. The question is even harder
for the asynchronous case, as unbounded message delay means the implementation
of rounds must depend on details of the model. This paper shows that
characterising asynchronous models by heard-of predicates is indeed meaningful.
This characterization relies on delivered predicates, an intermediate
abstraction between the informal operational model and the heard-of predicates.
Our approach splits the problem into two steps: first extract the delivered
model capturing the informal model, and then characterize the heard-of
predicates that are generated by this delivered model. For the first part, we
provide examples of delivered predicates, and an approach to derive more. It
uses the intuition that complex models are a composition of simpler models. We
define operations like union, succession or repetition that make it easier to
derive complex delivered predicates from simple ones while retaining
expressivity. For the second part, we formalize and study strategies for when
to change rounds. Intuitively, the characterizing predicate of a model is the
one generated by a strategy that waits for as much messages as possible,
without blocking forever.
Algorithms for Classification of Signals Derived From Human Brain
Authors: Dimitrov Georgi P. , Panayotova Galina , Jekov Boyan , Petrov Pavel , Kostadinova Iva , Petrova Snejana , Bychkov Olexiy S. , Martsenyuk Vasyl , Parvanov Aleksandar
Published: September 2021

Comparison of the Accuracy of different off-line methods for classification Electroencephalograph (EEG) signals, obtained from Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) devices are investigated in this paper. BCI is a technology that allows people to interact directly or indirectly with their environment only by using brain activity. But, the method of signal acquisition is non-invasive, resulting in significant data loss. In addition, the received signals do not contain only useful information. All this requires careful selection of the method for the classification of the received signals. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a fair and extensive comparison of some commonly employed classification methods under the same conditions so that the assessment of different classifiers will be more convictive. In this study, we investigated the accuracy of the classification of the received signals with classifiers based on AdaBoost (AB), Decision Tree (DT), k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN), Gaussian SVM, Linear SVM, Polynomial SVM, Random Forest (RF), Random Forest Regression ( RFR ). We used only basic parameters in the classification, and we did not apply fine optimization of the classification results. The obtained results show suitable algorithms for the classification of EEG signals. This would help young researchers to achieve interesting results in this field faster.
Mentor-Mentee Experiences Amidst COVID-19: A Teaching Practice Case Study
Authors: Tsotetsi Cias T , Mile Selloane A
Published: September 2021

Preparing student teachers for the world of work is seen globally as a challenge. This research aims to explore mentors and mentees experiences in teaching practice during the COVID-19 period. In order to explore the challenge in this study, the following research question guided the paper: What are the teaching practice experiences of mentors and mentees at a school during COVID-19? The research question is a result of limited research done on the experiences of two groups during COVID-19. Informed by the realist social theory, we generated data via telephonic interviews with mentors and mentees in one school. The data was generated through semi-structured Interviews and thematic analysis was a method employed in the analysis of the data. The results present challenges experienced by mentees which, amongst others, include a feeling of inadequacy or a lack of confidence in their abilities to bring about order to the classroom and a feeling of being excluded in meetings and extra-curricular activities. On the other hand, mentors receive mentees without any prior warning or without arrangements made to accommodate them and the absence of the university officials except for assessment. Based on the results, a collaborative approach should be employed to deal with some of the challenges experienced by mentors and mentees.
Transition to online learning by a teacher education program with limited 4IR affordances
Authors: Tsakeni Maria
Published: September 2021

This study used the community of inquiry (CoI) framework and the affordances of Internet of things (IoT) to explore how the faculty of education of a rural campus of a university transitioned from face-to-face to online modes of instruction. In this qualitative interpretive study, data were collected through open-ended questionnaires from four purposely selected teacher educators and five final-year bachelor of education preservice teachers. Thematic content analysis techniques were used to analyze the data collected. The findings indicated the tensions experienced by the teacher educators as they negotiated the limited IoT affordances to ensure effective teaching, cognitive, and social presence in the newly formed online classrooms. Some of the tensions included the choices that were made on whether to use synchronous or asynchronous modes of instruction and the selection of effective communication modes. The teacher educators used a combination of the official learning management system (LMS) tools of the university and a social media platform as way of navigating the limited 4IR environments experienced by the preservice teachers.
Lecturer Autoethnographies of Adjusting to Online Student Interactions during COVID-19
Authors: Makwembere Sandra , Matarirano Obert , Jere Nobert Rangarirai
Published: September 2021

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed South African historically disadvantaged institutions, that had not yet reached advanced levels of technology use in teaching and learning, to find immediate solutions to salvage the disrupted academic year. Interactions with students, which had predominantly been face-to-face, shifted to various online platforms for lecturers to adopt emergency remote teaching approaches. Most of the lecturers were unprepared or incapacitated to make the shift to online environment. Studies have looked at the online teaching and learning experiences of students and lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic but very few have taken an autoethographic approach to their inquiry and situated experiences in historically disadvantaged institutions. In this article, as lecturers, we use autoethnographies to provide an account of adjusting to interacting with students online during national lockdowns at a historically disadvantaged institution. The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was applied to guide the study. This reflexive approach is valuable, as it captures professional encounters and reflections needed to understand the effects of rapid changes to teaching and learning in response to the pandemic. Given the education disparities that already existed between South African higher education institutions before COVID-19, the article contributes to the discourse on how historically disadvantaged institutions can advance higher standards of teaching and learning to serve students better. Our reflections point to the personal, technical and structural challenges of maintaining regular online interaction. Our findings show that different approaches and techniques were applied to adjust to virtual teaching and learning. As teaching and learning methodologies have the potential to ingrain social inequalities, we made recommendations on how to improve online interactions with students from historically disadvantaged contexts.