bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distributed feedback lasers using surface gratings in Bragg waveguides
Authors: Janjua Bilal , Iu Meng Lon , Yan Zhizhong , Charles Paul , Chen Eric , Helmy Amr S.
Published: June 2021

This Letter presents, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of a narrow-linewidth

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800

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edge-emitting semiconductor distributed feedback Bragg reflection waveguide diode laser (

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B

2

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L

). The

D
F
B

2

R
L
s

were fabricated using a ridge waveguide structure with 5th order, surface-etched grating forming the wavelength selective element. Unbonded devices with a 500 µm cavity length exhibited continuous wave threshold currents in the region of 25 mA with an output power of 2.5 mW per (uncoated) facet at 100 mA drive current. The devices operated in a single longitudinal mode, with side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) as high as 49 dB and linewidths as low as 207 kHz. Devices maintained single mode operation with high SMSR over a 9 nm wavelength range as the temperature was swept from 15°C to 50°C.
Thermo-optical properties of terbium sesquioxide (Tb2O3) ceramics at room temperature
Authors: Snetkov Ilya , Yakovlev Alexey , Starobor Aleksey , Balabanov Stanislav , Permin Dmitry , Rostokina Elena , Palashov Oleg
Published: June 2021

Thermo-optical properties of several

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b

1
−
x

Y

x

)
2

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ceramic samples were investigated in this Letter. The linear absorption and thermal conductivity coefficients, as well as the power dependence of thermally induced phase and polarization distortions of laser radiation, were measured. In addition, the effective thermo-optical constants

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f
f

and

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f
f

were estimated. Thermo-optical properties of the studied ceramics were compared with those of the widely used terbium gallium garnet. It was shown that the material under consideration is highly promising for Faraday isolators operating at high average power laser radiation.
Non-Planck thermal emission from two-level media
Authors: Nechepurenko Igor A. , Baranov Denis G.
Published: June 2021

Thermal emission is a universal phenomenon of stochastic electromagnetic emission from absorbing bodies at elevated temperatures. A defining feature of this emission is the monotonic and rapid growth of its intensity with the object’s temperature for most known materials. This growth originates from the Bose–Einstein statistics of the thermal photonic field. The fact that the material’s ability to emit light may change with temperature, however, is often overlooked. Here, we carry out a theoretical study of thermal emission from structures incorporating two-level media. We investigate this effect in a range of geometries including thin films and compact nanoparticles and establish the general dependencies in the evolution of thermal emission from such systems. Thermal emission turns out to be essentially non-Planckian and exhibits a universal asymptotic behavior in the limit of high temperatures. These results might have important implications for the design of thermal energy harvesting and thermal vision systems.
How public reaction to disease information across scales and the impacts of vector control methods influence disease prevalence and control efficacy
Authors: Jiao Jing , Suarez Gonzalo P. , Fefferman Nina H.
Published: June 2021

With the development of social media, the information about vector-borne disease incidence over broad spatial scales can cause demand for local vector control before local risk exists. Anticipatory intervention may still benefit local disease control efforts; however, infection risks are not the only focal concerns governing public demand for vector control. Concern for environmental contamination from pesticides and economic limitations on the frequency and magnitude of control measures also play key roles. Further, public concern may be focused more on ecological factors (i.e., controlling mosquito populations) or on epidemiological factors (i.e., controlling infection-carrying mosquitoes), which may lead to very different control outcomes. Here we introduced a generic Ross-MacDonald model, incorporating these factors under three spatial scales of disease information: local, regional, and global. We tailored and parameterized the model for Zika virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. We found that sensitive reactivity caused by larger-scale incidence information could decrease average human infections per patch breeding capacity, however, the associated increase in total control effort plays a larger role, which leads to an overall decrease in control efficacy. The shift of focal concerns from epidemiological to ecological risk could relax the negative effect of the sensitive reactivity on control efficacy when mosquito breeding capacity populations are expected to be large. This work demonstrates that, depending on expected total mosquito breeding capacity population size, and weights of different focal concerns, large-scale disease information can reduce disease infections without lowering control efficacy. Our findings provide guidance for vector-control strategies by considering public reaction through social media.
Multidimensional analysis and detection of informative features in human brain white matter
Authors: Richie-Halford Adam , Yeatman Jason D. , Simon Noah , Rokem Ariel
Published: June 2021

The white matter contains long-range connections between different brain regions and the organization of these connections holds important implications for brain function in health and disease. Tractometry uses diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to quantify tissue properties along the trajectories of these connections. Statistical inference from tractometry usually either averages these quantities along the length of each fiber bundle or computes regression models separately for each point along every one of the bundles. These approaches are limited in their sensitivity, in the former case, or in their statistical power, in the latter. We developed a method based on the sparse group lasso (SGL) that takes into account tissue properties along all of the bundles and selects informative features by enforcing both global and bundle-level sparsity. We demonstrate the performance of the method in two settings: i) in a classification setting, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are accurately distinguished from matched controls. Furthermore, SGL identifies the corticospinal tract as important for this classification, correctly finding the parts of the white matter known to be affected by the disease. ii) In a regression setting, SGL accurately predicts “brain age.” In this case, the weights are distributed throughout the white matter indicating that many different regions of the white matter change over the lifespan. Thus, SGL leverages the multivariate relationships between diffusion properties in multiple bundles to make accurate phenotypic predictions while simultaneously discovering the most relevant features of the white matter.
VAL genes regulate vegetative phase change via miR156-dependent and independent mechanisms
Authors: Fouracre Jim P. , He Jia , Chen Victoria J. , Sidoli Simone , Poethig R. Scott
Published: June 2021

How organisms control when to transition between different stages of development is a key question in biology. In plants, epigenetic silencing by Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and PRC2 plays a crucial role in promoting developmental transitions, including from juvenile-to-adult phases of vegetative growth. PRC1/2 are known to repress the master regulator of vegetative phase change, miR156, leading to the transition to adult growth, but how this process is regulated temporally is unknown. Here we investigate whether transcription factors in theVIVIPAROUS/ABI3-LIKE(VAL) gene family provide the temporal signal for the epigenetic repression of miR156. Exploiting a novelval1allele, we found thatVAL1andVAL2redundantly regulate vegetative phase change by controlling the overall level, rather than temporal dynamics, of miR156 expression. Furthermore, we discovered thatVAL1andVAL2also act independently of miR156 to control this important developmental transition. In combination, our results highlight the complexity of temporal regulation in plants.
A MYB4-MAN3-Mannose-MNB1 signaling cascade regulates cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yan Xingxing , Huang Ying , Song Hui , Chen Feng , Geng Qingliu , Hu Min , Zhang Cheng , Wu Xi , Fan Tingting , Cao Shuqing
Published: June 2021

Our previous studies showed that MAN3-mediated mannose plays an important role in plant responses to cadmium (Cd) stress. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways involved are poorly understood. In this study, we showed that an Arabidopsis MYB4-MAN3-Mannose-MNB1 signaling cascade is involved in the regulation of plant Cd tolerance. Loss-of-function of MNB1 (mannose-binding-lectin 1) led to decreased Cd accumulation and tolerance, whereas overexpression of MNB1 significantly enhanced Cd accumulation and tolerance. Consistently, expression of the genes involved in the GSH-dependent phytochelatin (PC) synthesis pathway (such as GSH1, GSH2, PCS1, and PCS2) was significantly reduced in the mnb1 mutants but markedly increased in the MNB1-OE lines in the absence or presence of Cd stress, which was positively correlated with Cd-activated PC synthesis. Moreover, we found that mannose is able to bind to the GNA-related domain of MNB1, and that mannose binding to the GNA-related domain of MNB1 is required for MAN3-mediated Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis. Further analysis showed that MYB4 directly binds to the promoter of MAN3 to positively regulate the transcript of MAN3 and thus Cd tolerance via the GSH-dependent PC synthesis pathway. Consistent with these findings, overexpression of MAN3 rescued the Cd-sensitive phenotype of the myb4 mutant but not the mnb1 mutant, whereas overexpression of MNB1 rescued the Cd-sensitive phenotype of the myb4 mutant. Taken together, our results provide compelling evidence that a MYB4-MAN3-Mannose-MNB1 signaling cascade regulates cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis through the GSH-dependent PC synthesis pathway.
Use of vector control to protect people from sleeping sickness in the focus of Bonon (Côte d’Ivoire)
Authors: Kaba Dramane , Djohan Vincent , Berté Djakaridja , TA Bi Tra Dieudonné , Selby Richard , Kouadio Koffi Alain De Marie , Coulibaly Bamoro , Traoré Gabehonron , Rayaisse Jean-Baptiste , Fauret Pierre , Jamonneau Vincent , Lingue Kouakou , Solano Phillipe , Torr Steve J. , Courtin Fabrice
Published: June 2021

Background

Gambian human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense transmitted by tsetse flies (Glossina). In Côte d’Ivoire, Bonon is the most important focus of gHAT, with 325 cases diagnosed from 2000 to 2015 and efforts against gHAT have relied largely on mass screening and treatment of human cases. We assessed whether the addition of tsetse control by deploying Tiny Targets offers benefit to sole reliance on the screen-and-treat strategy.

Methodology and principal findings

In 2015, we performed a census of the human population of the Bonon focus, followed by an exhaustive entomological survey at 278 sites. After a public sensitization campaign, ~2000 Tiny Targets were deployed across an area of 130 km2 in February of 2016, deployment was repeated annually in the same month of 2017 and 2018. The intervention’s impact on tsetse was evaluated using a network of 30 traps which were operated for 48 hours at three-month intervals from March 2016 to December 2018. A second comprehensive entomological survey was performed in December 2018 with traps deployed at 274 of the sites used in 2015. Sub-samples of tsetse were dissected and examined microscopically for presence of trypanosomes. The census recorded 26,697 inhabitants residing in 331 settlements. Prior to the deployment of targets, the mean catch of tsetse from the 30 monitoring traps was 12.75 tsetse/trap (5.047–32.203, 95%CI), i.e. 6.4 tsetse/trap/day. Following the deployment of Tiny Targets, mean catches ranged between 0.06 (0.016–0.260, 95%CI) and 0.55 (0.166–1.794, 95%CI) tsetse/trap, i.e. 0.03–0.28 tsetse/trap/day. During the final extensive survey performed in December 2018, 52 tsetse were caught compared to 1,909 in 2015, with 11.6% (5/43) and 23.1% (101/437) infected with Trypanosoma respectively.

Conclusions

The annual deployment of Tiny Targets in the gHAT focus of Bonon reduced the density of Glossina palpalis palpalis by >95%. Tiny Targets offer a powerful addition to current strategies towards eliminating gHAT from Côte d’Ivoire.
Research on residual strength characteristics of high water materials based on improved H-B criterion
Authors: Zheng Lihui , Zhou Yuejin , Li Mingpeng , Li Xiaotong
Published: June 2021

To develop a new gangue polymer filling material with low compressive ratio, this paper intends to add high water cementing material to the gangue for backfilling. Uniaxial and tri-axial bearing experiments were conducted to study its bearing characteristics and residual strength. Based on Hock-Brown model theory, it is proposed that friction angle φr can be introduced to substitute model parameter mi, and the degree of cohesion loss can characterize the value of s. So the improved H-B model is established to characterize the residual strength of materials with ductile failure characteristics. The results show that the compressive strength of high water filling material increases linearly corresponding to the rise of confining pressure, and its strength characteristics conform to Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion. The ductile failure characteristics of the sample endow it with high residual strength, which in turn qualifies it for underground filling. After the introduction of cohesion and friction angle, the improved H-B criterion can fit the residual strength curve of the high water filling material more competently. The fitting coefficient of the samples with three water contents is 1.00, 0.99, and 1.00, respectively. The improved H-B model of residual strength demonstrates the change rule of residual strength of the samples corresponding to the change of confining pressure; under tri-axial loading, the angle between fracture surface and axial direction becomes larger as the confining pressure rises; and the failure mode of the material transforms from splitting failure to shear failure.
The relationship of pre-corneal to pre-contact lens non-invasive tear breakup time
Authors: Graham Andrew D. , Lin Meng C.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To examine the relationship between pre-corneal and pre-contact lens tear film stability (TFS), and to determine whether pre-corneal TFS is a reliable predictor of subsequent pre-lens TFS after a contact lens is placed on the eye.

Methods

667 records met inclusion criteria and were extracted from a soft contact lens multi-study database. Multivariable linear mixed effects models were fit to examine the association between pre-corneal and pre-lens TFS, adjusting for potential confounders and accounting for repeated measures. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to assess the predictive performance of pre-corneal TFS for subsequent pre-lens TFS. TFS was quantified for this analysis as the non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT).

Results

Pre-corneal NITBUT was significantly related to the pre-lens NITBUT at both 10 min (p<0.001) and 2–6 hrs (p<0.001) post-lens insertion. However, the sensitivities of pre-corneal NITBUT for predicting symptom-associated thresholds of pre-lens NITBUT ranged from 50–65%, and specificities ranged from 57–72%, suggesting poor-to-moderate diagnostic performance.

Conclusions

Despite the association of pre-corneal and pre-lens TFS, the inherent lability and sensitivity to environmental exposures of the tear film introduce significant variability into NITBUT measurements. Using pre-corneal NITBUT to identify likely successful contact lens candidates prior to fitting is thus not sufficiently accurate to be relied upon in the clinical setting.
College from home during COVID-19: A mixed-methods study of heterogeneous experiences
Authors: Morris Margaret E. , Kuehn Kevin S. , Brown Jennifer , Nurius Paula S. , Zhang Han , Sefidgar Yasaman S. , Xu Xuhai , Riskin Eve A. , Dey Anind K. , Consolvo Sunny , Mankoff Jennifer C.
Published: June 2021

This mixed-method study examined the experiences of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic through surveys, experience sampling data collected over two academic quarters (Spring 2019 n1= 253; Spring 2020 n2= 147), and semi-structured interviews with 27 undergraduate students. There were no marked changes in mean levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, or loneliness between 2019 and 2020, or over the course of the Spring 2020 term. Students in both the 2019 and 2020 cohort who indicated psychosocial vulnerability at the initial assessment showed worse psychosocial functioning throughout the entire Spring term relative to other students. However, rates of distress increased faster in 2020 than in 2019 for these individuals. Across individuals, homogeneity of variance tests and multi-level models revealed significant heterogeneity, suggesting the need to examine not just means but the variations in individuals’ experiences. Thematic analysis of interviews characterizes these varied experiences, describing the contexts for students’ challenges and strategies. This analysis highlights the interweaving of psychosocial and academic distress: Challenges such as isolation from peers, lack of interactivity with instructors, and difficulty adjusting to family needs had both an emotional and academic toll. Strategies for adjusting to this new context included initiating remote study and hangout sessions with peers, as well as self-learning. In these and other strategies, students used technologies in different ways and for different purposes than they had previously. Supporting qualitative insight about adaptive responses were quantitative findings that students who used more problem-focused forms of coping reported fewer mental health symptoms over the course of the pandemic, even though they perceived their stress as more severe. These findings underline the need for interventions oriented towards problem-focused coping and suggest opportunities for peer role modeling.
Medical service quality, patient satisfaction and intent to revisit: Case study of public hub hospitals in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Woo Selin , Choi Mankyu
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to construct and test structural equation modeling of the causal relationship between quality of healthcare, patient satisfaction, and intent to revisit perceived by patients using regional hub public hospitals. In this study, data of 2,951 outpatients and 3,135 inpatients were collected using the “2018 Regional Hub Public Hospital Operational Evaluation.” A structural equation model was used to understand the relationship between patient satisfaction and intent to revisit, and bootstrap analysis was performed. In the direct effect, outpatients were presented in the order of the physician’s practice service, the hospital’s environment, and patient satisfaction. Inpatients were in the order of the physician’s practice service and, medical staff’s kindness and consideration,; patient satisfaction was shown in this order. In the indirect effect, the outpatients were presented in the order of physician’s practice service, medical staff’s kindness and consideration, and hospital’s physical environment. Inpatients were introduced in the order of medical staff’s kindness and consideration, nurse’s practice service, physician’s practice service, and patient satisfaction. Regional hub public hospitals need high-quality medical services and efforts from all departments to treat patients with sincerity to improve patient satisfaction and increase intent to revisit.
Is large improvement in efficiency of impulsive noise removal in color images still possible?
Authors: Malinski Lukasz , Radlak Krystian , Smolka Bogdan
Published: June 2021

The substantial improvement in the efficiency of switching filters, intended for the removal of impulsive noise within color images is described. Numerous noisy pixel detection and replacement techniques are evaluated, where the filtering performance for color images and subsequent results are assessed using statistical reasoning. Denoising efficiency for the applied detection and interpolation techniques are assessed when the location of corrupted pixels are identified by noisy pixel detection algorithms and also in the scenario when they are already known. The results show that improvement in objective quality measures can be achieved by using more robust detection techniques, combined with novel methods of corrupted pixel restoration. A significant increase in the image denoising performance is achieved for both pixel detection and interpolation, surpassing current filtering methods especially via the application of a convolutional network. The interpolation techniques used in the image inpainting methods also significantly increased the efficiency of impulsive noise removal.
AUBER: Automated BERT regularization
Authors: Lee Hyun Dong , Lee Seongmin , Kang U.
Published: June 2021

How can we effectively regularize BERT? Although BERT proves its effectiveness in various NLP tasks, it often overfits when there are only a small number of training instances. A promising direction to regularize BERT is based on pruning its attention heads with a proxy score for head importance. However, these methods are usually suboptimal since they resort to arbitrarily determined numbers of attention heads to be pruned and do not directly aim for the performance enhancement. In order to overcome such a limitation, we propose AUBER, an automated BERT regularization method, that leverages reinforcement learning to automatically prune the proper attention heads from BERT. We also minimize the model complexity and the action search space by proposing a low-dimensional state representation and dually-greedy approach for training. Experimental results show that AUBER outperforms existing pruning methods by achieving up to 9.58% better performance. In addition, the ablation study demonstrates the effectiveness of design choices for AUBER.
Pandemic catch-22: The role of mobility restrictions and institutional inequalities in halting the spread of COVID-19
Authors: Fakir Adnan M. S. , Bharati Tushar
Published: June 2021

Countries across the world responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with what might well be the set of biggest state-led mobility and activity restrictions in the history of humankind. But how effective were these measures across countries? Compared to multiple recent studies that document an association between such restrictions and the control of the contagion, we use an instrumental variable approach to estimate the causal effect of these restrictions on mobility, and the growth rate of confirmed cases and deaths during the first wave of the pandemic. Using the level of stringency in the rest of the world to predict the level of stringency of the restriction measures in a country, we show while stricter contemporaneous measures affected mobility, stringency in seven to fourteen days mattered most for containing the contagion. Heterogeneity analysis, by various institutional inequalities, reveals that even though the restrictions reduced mobility more in relatively less-developed countries, the causal effect of a reduction in mobility was higher in more developed countries. We propose several explanations. Our results highlight the need to complement mobility and activity restrictions with other health and information measures, especially in less-developed countries, to combat the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.
Hyperspectral band selection and modeling of soil organic matter content in a forest using the Ranger algorithm
Authors: Shi Yuanyuan , Zhao Junyu , Song Xianchong , Qin Zuoyu , Wu Lichao , Wang Huili , Tang Jian
Published: June 2021

Effective soil spectral band selection and modeling methods can improve modeling accuracy. To establish a hyperspectral prediction model of soil organic matter (SOM) content, this study investigated a forested Eucalyptus plantation in Huangmian Forest Farm, Guangxi, China. The Ranger and Lasso algorithms were used to screen spectral bands. Subsequently, models were established using four algorithms: partial least squares regression, random forest (RF), a support vector machine, and an artificial neural network (ANN). The optimal model was then selected. The results showed that the modeling accuracy was higher when band selection was based on the Ranger algorithm than when it was based on the Lasso algorithm. ANN modeling had the best goodness of fit, and the model established by RF had the most stable modeling results. Based on the above results, a new method is proposed in this study for band selection in the early phase of soil hyperspectral modeling. The Ranger algorithm can be applied to screen the spectral bands, and ANN or RF can then be selected to construct the prediction model based on different datasets, which is applicable to establish the prediction model of SOM content in red soil plantations. This study provides a reference for the remote sensing of soil fertility in forests of different soil types and a theoretical basis for developing portable equipment for the hyperspectral measurement of SOM content in forest habitats.
Evaluation of the effect of lidocaine epidural injection on immunological indices in dogs under total intravenous anesthesia submitted to ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Imani Rastabi Hadi , Khosravi Mohammad , Avizeh Reza , Moslemi Maryam
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of epidural anaesthesia with lidocaine in combination with general anaesthesia with propofol on some immunologic indices in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Twelve adult dogs were anesthetized with propofol (induction: 7 mg/kg; maintenance: 0.4 mg/kg/min) and were then allocated into either groups of epidural saline (control) or epidural lidocaine (4 mg/kg; treatment). All the included animals underwent ovariohysterectomy operation. The immune responses, hematologic parameters and cortisol levels were assessed in the predetermined intervals. Evaluation of the innate immunity revealed higher significant levels in the bactericidal, lysozyme and myeloperoxidase activities at 4 hours after surgery in the treatment. In the humoral immunity, the total immunoglobulin level was significantly higher in the treatment. In the assessment of cellular immunity, higher significant values were detected in the delayed skin sensitivity to phytohemagglutinine injection after 48 and 72 hours in the treatment. Moreover, higher significant levels were observed in the number and percentage of lymphocytes as well as an increase in the percentage of monocytes in the treatment at 4 hours after the operation. Notably, the cortisol hormone in the treatment was lower than control at 4 hours of the surgery. In conclusion, epidural anaesthesia with lidocaine when added to general anaesthesia with propofol attenuated the suppression of the innate and cellular immune responses produced by anaesthesia and surgery in the dogs.
Coping strategies adapted by Ghanaians during the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown: A population-based study
Authors: Iddi Samuel , Obiri-Yeboah Dorcas , Aboh Irene Korkoi , Quansah Reginald , Owusu Samuel Asiedu , Enyan Nancy Innocentia Ebu , Kodom Ruby Victoria , Nsabimana Epaphrodite , Jansen Stefan , Ekumah Benard , Boamah Sheila A. , Boateng Godfred Odei , Doku David Teye , Armah Frederick Ato
Published: June 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic and control measures adopted by countries globally can lead to stress and anxiety. Investigating the coping strategies to this unprecedented crisis is essential to guide mental health intervention and public health policy. This study examined how people are coping with the COVID-19 crisis in Ghana and identify factors influencing it.

Methods

This study was part of a multinational online cross-sectional survey on Personal and Family Coping with COVID-19 in the Global South. The study population included adults, ≥18 years and residents in Ghana. Respondents were recruited through different platforms, including social media and phone calls. The questionnaire was composed of different psychometrically validated instruments with coping as the outcome variable measured on the ordinal scale with 3 levels, namely, Not well or worse, Neutral, and Well or better. An ordinal logistic regression model using proportional odds assumption was then applied.

Results

A total of 811 responses were included in the analysis with 45.2% describing their coping level as well/better, 42.4% as neither worse nor better and 12.4% as worse/not well. Many respondents (46.9%) were between 25–34 years, 50.1% were males while 79.2% lived in urban Ghana. Having pre-existing conditions increased the chances of not coping well (aOR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.15–3.01). Not being concerned about supporting the family financially (aOR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.06–2.68) or having the feeling that life is better during the pandemic (aOR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.26–4.62) increased chances of coping well. Praying (aOR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.43–0.90) or sleeping (aOR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34–0.89) more during the pandemic than before reduces coping.

Conclusion

In Ghana, during the COVID-19 pandemic, financial security and optimism about the disease increase one’s chances of coping well while having pre-existing medical conditions, praying and sleeping more during the pandemic than before reduces one’s chances of coping well. These findings should be considered in planning mental health and public health intervention/policy.
Experimental investigation of sludge dewatering for single- and double-drainage conditions with a vacuum negative pressure load at the bottom
Authors: Zhang Jiesheng , Qi Yongzheng , Zhang Xue , Zhang Guofu , Yang Hang , Nattabi Firdawus
Published: June 2021

The moisture content of municipal sludge is relatively high, which increases the cost of sludge transportation and treatment. To reduce the volume of the sludge, sludge dewatering is needed. This paper proposes the theory of sludge dewatering and facilitates efficient and economical technology of sludge dewatering. Sludge dewatering tests were carried out by using homemade rapid sludge dewatering devices. There were two groups of tests with single- and double-drainage conditions, and all test runs were loaded with a negative vacuum pressure at the bottom. During the experiments, the vacuum degree and the pore water pressure in the sludge were monitored in real time. After the experiments, the data were compared and analyzed. At the initial stage, the sludge dewatering extent and the sludge dewatering velocity for double-drainage conditions were much higher than those for single-drainage conditions. The vacuum occurring for single-drainage conditions lagged behind that for double-drainage conditions in the sludge. The value of vacuum degree for single-drainage conditions was lower than that for double-drainage conditions, and the vacuum attenuation for single-drainage conditions was considerable. The excess pore water pressure for double-drainage conditions dissipated faster than that for single-drainage conditions in the sludge. The pore water pressure for single-drainage conditions at the top and middle of the sludge layer first increased and then decreased in the early loading stage, resembling the Mandel effect. Overall, with a vacuum negative pressure load at the bottom, the sludge dewatering efficiency for double-drainage conditions was much higher than that for single-drainage conditions. This study provides an experimental and theoretical basis for engineering applications in the sludge treatment industry.
Predictors of mortality in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alemu Ayinalem , Bitew Zebenay Workneh , Worku Teshager , Gamtesa Dinka Fikadu , Alebel Animut
Published: June 2021

Background

Even though the lives of millions have been saved in the past decades, the mortality rate in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis is still high. Different factors are associated with this mortality. However, there is no comprehensive global report addressing these risk factors. This study aimed to determine the predictors of mortality using data generated at the global level.

Methods

We systematically searched five electronic major databases (PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science), and other sources (Google Scholar, Google). We used the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools to assess the quality of included articles. Heterogeneity assessment was conducted using the forest plot and I2heterogeneity test. Data were analyzed using STATA Version 15. The pooled hazard ratio, risk ratio, and odd’s ratio were estimated along with their 95% CIs.

Result

After reviewing 640 articles, 49 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The predictors of mortality were; being male (HR = 1.25,95%CI;1.08,1.41,I2;30.5%), older age (HR = 2.13, 95%CI;1.64,2.62,I2;59.0%,RR = 1.40,95%CI; 1.26, 1.53, I2; 48.4%) including a 1 year increase in age (HR = 1.01, 95%CI;1.00,1.03,I2;73.0%), undernutrition (HR = 1.62,95%CI;1.28,1.97,I2;87.2%, RR = 3.13, 95% CI; 2.17,4.09, I2;0.0%), presence of any type of co-morbidity (HR = 1.92,95%CI;1.50–2.33,I2;61.4%, RR = 1.61, 95%CI;1.29, 1.93,I2;0.0%), having diabetes (HR = 1.74, 95%CI; 1.24,2.24, I2;37.3%, RR = 1.60, 95%CI;1.13,2.07, I2;0.0%), HIV co-infection (HR = 2.15, 95%CI;1.69,2.61, I2; 48.2%, RR = 1.49, 95%CI;1.27,1.72, I2;19.5%), TB history (HR = 1.30,95%CI;1.06,1.54, I2;64.6%), previous second-line anti-TB treatment (HR = 2.52, 95% CI;2.15,2.88, I2;0.0%), being smear positive at the baseline (HR = 1.45, 95%CI;1.14,1.76, I2;49.2%, RR = 1.58,95%CI;1.46,1.69, I2;48.7%), having XDR-TB (HR = 2.01, 95%CI;1.50,2.52, I2;60.8%, RR = 2.44, 95%CI;2.16,2.73,I2;46.1%), and any type of clinical complication (HR = 2.98, 95%CI; 2.32, 3.64, I2; 69.9%). There are differences and overlaps of predictors of mortality across different drug-resistance categories. The common predictors of mortality among different drug-resistance categories include; older age, presence of any type of co-morbidity, and undernutrition.

Conclusion

Different patient-related demographic (male sex, older age), and clinical factors (undernutrition, HIV co-infection, co-morbidity, diabetes, clinical complications, TB history, previous second-line anti-TB treatment, smear-positive TB, and XDR-TB) were the predictors of mortality in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. The findings would be an important input to the global community to take important measures.
Is stem cell transplantation still needed for adult Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy?: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ponvilawan Ben , Kungwankiattichai Smith , Charoenngam Nipith , Owattanapanich Weerapat
Published: June 2021

Background

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the current mainstay treatment for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). However, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) also play a significant role in the treatment of these patients. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of allogeneic (allo-) HSCT, autologous (auto-) HSCT, and chemotherapy (CMT) alone–all in combination with TKIs in adult Ph+ ALL patients.

Materials and methods

This systematic review identified studies from the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases from inception to April 2021 using search terms related to “ALL” and “HSCT.” Eligible studies could be randomized controlled trials or cohort studies that included adult Ph+ ALL patients who received a TKI and either allo-HSCT, auto-HSCT, or CMT alone, and that reported the number of patients in each group for each of our primary outcomes of interest: overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS). Point estimates and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) from each study were combined using the Hantel-Maenszel method.

Results

After two rounds of review, 26 cohort studies were determined to be eligible for the meta-analysis. Adult Ph+ ALL patients who received HSCT had better survival outcomes than those who did not receive any HSCT (pooled odds ratio [OR] for OS of 1.61, 95%CI: 1.08–2.40; I2 = 59%, and for DFS of 3.23, 95%CI: 2.00–5.23; I2 = 62% for allo-HSCT; and, pooled OR for OS of 7.04, 95%CI: 1.97–25.15; I2 = 0%, and for DFS of 5.78, 95%CI: 1.04–32.19; I2 = 42% for auto-HSCT). Allo-HSCT recipients had comparable OS and DFS, but lower relapse rate compared to auto-HSCT recipients. Funnel plot generally demonstrated no presence of publication bias.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated superior results of HSCT in Ph+ ALL patients compared to CMT alone. Moreover, auto-HSCT could be implemented with comparable survival outcomes to allo-HSCT in patients with no available donor or when haploidentical HSCT is not feasible.
Bowhead and beluga whale acoustic detections in the western Beaufort Sea 2008–2018
Authors: Stafford Kathleen M. , Citta John J. , Okkonen Stephen R. , Zhang Jinlun
Published: June 2021

The Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) was established to detect environmental changes in the Pacific Arctic by regular monitoring of biophysical responses in each of 8 DBO regions. Here we examine the occurrence of bowhead and beluga whale vocalizations in the western Beaufort Sea acquired by acoustic instruments deployed from September 2008-July 2014 and September 2016-October 2018 to examine inter-annual variability of these Arctic endemic species in DBO Region 6. Acoustic data were collected on an oceanographic mooring deployed in the Beaufort shelfbreak jet at ~71.4°N, 152.0°W. Spectrograms of acoustic data files were visually examined for the presence or absence of known signals of bowhead and beluga whales. Weekly averages of whale occurrence were compared with outputs of zooplankton, temperature and sea ice from the BIOMAS model to determine if any of these variables influenced whale occurrence. In addition, the dates of acoustic whale passage in the spring and fall were compared to annual sea ice melt-out and freeze-up dates to examine changes in phenology. Neither bowhead nor beluga whale migration times changed significantly in spring, but bowhead whales migrated significantly later in fall from 2008–2018. There were no clear relationships between bowhead whales and the environmental variables, suggesting that the DBO 6 region is a migratory corridor, but not a feeding hotspot, for this species. Surprisingly, beluga whale acoustic presence was related to zooplankton biomass near the mooring, but this is unlikely to be a direct relationship: there are likely interactions of environmental drivers that result in higher occurrence of both modeled zooplankton and belugas in the DBO 6 region. The environmental triggers that drive the migratory phenology of the two Arctic endemic cetacean species likely extend from Bering Sea transport of heat, nutrients and plankton through the Chukchi and into the Beaufort Sea.
MARKETING STRATEGY: the case of #curitibasualinda
Authors: Rangel Brendha Stacy , Ambrosio Nayla Gabriela , Ruiz Thays Cristina Domareski
Published: June 2021

The brand #CuritibaSuaLinda is an initiative of Curitiba City Hall, through an action with the Municipal Institute of Tourism and the public transportation company URBS (Urbanization of Curitiba). It was created to replace the former brand of souvenirs Leve Curitiba. Marketing is responsible for the communication and intermediation between the company and its customers. The strategy outlined by the 4Ps are of fundamental importance for marketing planning. The main objective was to identify the marketing strategies of the souvenir brand #CuritibaSuaLinda. Exploratory research was carried out, with a qualitative approach and descriptive analyses in which a need was perceived for the brand to keep abreast of new market trends and its own marketing positioning. Some shortfalls were seen in relation to the marketing planning, as well as a lack of strategies for its divulgation, particularly in the online environment.
IMPACTS OF TRAINING ON PERCEPTIONS OF ACCESSIBILITY IN TOURISM
Authors: Ferst Marklea da Cunha , Coutinho Helen Rita Menezes
Published: June 2021

The search for quality in the provision of tourist services is a constant feature among players in the sector. This study aims to analyze the impact of training on the perception of accessibility among participants in a course on how to serve tourists with disabilities. It uses applied, exploratory and descriptive research, with bibliographic analysis and case studies. Two questionnaires were applied to the same group of participants; one before a training course and the other after. The results of the two questionnaires were then compared, using a mixed approach method. The results showed that the training was able to alter the participants' perceptions of accessibility and improve their skills and competencies in serving tourists with disabilities or reduced mobility. As an academic contribution, this research demonstrates the importance of training in the provision of tourist services for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. As a practical contribution, the article provides a resource for market analysts, human resources professionals, government, businessmen and researchers in the area of tourism, for the development of effective training actions to cater for tourists with disabilities or reduced mobility.Â
Az Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) módszerének és egy lehetséges alkalmazásának bemutatása
Authors: Dubela Szabolcs
Published: June 2021

A vezetői döntések támogatását több matematikai (többek között operációkutatási) alapon nyugvó módszer segítheti. Az Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) egy, a nemzetközi menedzsmenttudományokban széles körben, elsősorban stratégiai döntéshozatalra alkalmazott operációkutatási metódus. Komplex, többkritériumos döntési problémáknál szisztematikus segítséget nyújt az egyes tényezők kapcsolódásainak és kölcsönhatásainak feltárására. Számos sikeres – mind a tudományos, mind az üzleti életben történt – alkalmazása ellenére hazánkban kevéssé ismert. A jelen tanulmány célja, hogy részletesen bemutassa az ISM-et, továbbá egy modell eredményeit, és azok értelmezését is közölje.
Introduction
Authors: Nyirő Nóra , Gálik Mihály
Published: June 2021

This special issue of Budapest Management Review is guest-edited in collaboration with the Working Group on “Audience interactivity and participation” of the COST A ction I S0906 “Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies”. COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, allowing the coordination of nationally-funded research at the European level. The Action “Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies” (2010–2014) is coordinating research efforts into the key transformations of European audiences within a changing media and communication environment, identifying their complex interrelationships with the social, cultural and political areas of E uropean societies. A range of interconnected but distinct topics concerning audiences are being developed by four Working Groups: (1) New media genres, media literacy and trust in the media; (2) Audience interactivity and participation; (3) The role of media and ICT use for evolving social relationships; and (4) Audience transformations and social integration.
O jogo com a ambivalência na Tropicália
Authors: F. Favaretto Celso
Published: June 2021

A ambivalência é categoria fundante nas proposições artísticas e nos textos teóricos e críticos de Hélio Oiticica, desde a teoria do parangolé até as manifestações ambientais e seus desenvolvimentos, explicitada exemplarmente na concepção do projeto ambiental Tropicália e nas relações que estabeleceu com a produção do grupo baiano de música popular. Referida também às reelaborações da antropofagia de Oswald de Andrade, a ambivalência é procedimento crítico que presidiu aos processos de criação e à dimensão política de um conjunto significativo de atividades surgidas simultaneamente nos anos 1967-68, que definiram uma posição específica, divergente, quanto às relações entre estética e polí- tica evidenciadas na década de 60, questionando as oposições em conflito, então fixadas, entre inconformismo artístico e inconformismo social.
Understanding democratic education policy queerly: Toward a queer democratic framework
Authors: Leonardi Bethy , Moses Michele S.
Published: June 2021

The aim of this paper is to bring together concepts and commitments from both liberal and queer theories with the purpose of designing an integrated framework for equity-focused education policy analysis and implementation. In essence, we aim to build a conceptual bridge between queer and liberal democratic theories and to develop what we call a “queer democratic framework” for policy analysis and implementation. We use the case of the Fair Accurate Inclusive and Respectful Education Act (FAIR) throughout this paper as an exemplar of how queer policy analysis and implementation change the terms of the policy discussion. We argue that as an example of a policy that comes out of liberal democratic theory, FAIR can only go so far. It is symbolic and positive, but cannot reach emancipatory aims in practice without queer analysis and implementation.
Možnosti diagnostiky tvořivosti a vývoj nového sebeposuzovacího nástroje: Creatixo Inventory
Authors: Bobek Milan , Höschlová Eva
Published: June 2021

In this article, we discuss some limits of methods being used most frequently for testing creativity and describe the process of developing a new diagnostic tool – a self-reporting inventory of creativity and innovativeness based on a complex set of skills and competencies identified in the review of existing research, relevant literature, and available diagnostic tools. Our complex applied creativity construct involves imagination, idea creation, openness, flexibility, and features like braveness, analytical skills, assertiveness, and even empathy, which are all necessary to transform a new idea into practical application beneficial for a company or society. We first gained data from 125 respondents and analyzed the structure of the first version of the questionnaire (reduction from 80 to 77 items had to be done based on correlation analysis). Then we undertook a series of exploratory factor analyses. After the iterative process of eliminating all the items with low loadings or problematic cross-loadings, we suggested the six-factor solution for the new, second version of the Creatixo inventory consisting of 47 items. On the new sample of 106 respondents confirmatory factor analysis supported the six-factor structure of the inventory (GOF indices: CFI = .990, GFI = .909, RMSEA = .025, SRMR = 0.101). The Creatixo tool has shown good results in internal consistency measures – e.g., McDonald's omega of all individual factors varies from .740 to .887. Now we are about to gather the bigger sample of the quota-representative population and cross-validate the psychometric analysis current outputs. We discuss the further validation studies and some limits of the self-reporting inventory approach to assessing creativity, innovativeness, and productivity.