bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Modulus Prediction of a High‐Modulus Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Wang Chaohui , Tan Songyuan , Chen Qian , Han Jiguo , Song Liang , Fu Yi
Published: June 2021

Dynamic modulus is a key evaluation index of the high‐modulus asphalt mixture, but it is relatively difficult to test and collect its data. The purpose is to achieve the accurate prediction of the dynamic modulus of the high‐modulus asphalt mixture and further optimize the design process of the high‐modulus asphalt mixture. Five high‐temperature performance indexes of high‐modulus asphalt and its mixture were selected. The correlation between the above five indexes and the dynamic modulus of the high‐modulus asphalt mixture was analyzed. On this basis, the dynamic modulus prediction models of the high‐modulus asphalt mixture based on small sample data were established by multiple regression, general regression neural network (GRNN), and support vector machine (SVM) neural network. According to parameter adjustment and cross‐validation, the output stability and accuracy of different prediction models were compared and evaluated. The most effective prediction model was recommended. The results show that the SVM model has more significant prediction accuracy and output stability than the multiple regression model and the GRNN model. Its prediction error was 0.98–9.71%. Compared with the other two models, the prediction error of the SVM model declined by 0.50–11.96% and 3.76–13.44%. The SVM neural network was recommended as the dynamic modulus prediction model of the high‐modulus asphalt mixture.
Personal Trajectory with Ring Structure Network: Algorithms and Experiments
Authors: Liu Guoqi , Gu Ruonan , Wang Jiantao , Yan Weidong
Published: June 2021

Network theory has provided a new analytical tool for the study of human trajectory and has also achieved rapid development in the complex network field. Conventional network model or complex network model ignores some details and cannot display the most remarkable features for a GPS based personal trajectory. It is necessary to set up a new personal trajectory model. For the purpose of researching the characteristics of trajectory for one person in a long time, we collected a GPS based personal LifeLog dataset named Liu Lifelog in the past 9 years. This paper analyzed the Liu Lifelog and proposed a ring structure personal trajectory (RSPT) model based on the basic complex network model. We discussed the definition, source, characteristic and attribute of the RSPT model and tested the model with the dataset which was provided by the Geolife project and verified that the model described the characteristic of trajectory for a person well. The result shows that this model is feasible and it can predict the human behavior characteristics more accurately and effectively.
Reaching Treatment Goals in Psoriasis with Conventional Systemic Drugs: How Long Are We Willing to Wait?
Authors: Jacobi Arnd , Weidemann-Röver Birgit , Barbus Sebastian , Mrowietz Ulrich
Published: June 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the attainment of treatment goals according to the European Consensus Programme (ECP-TGs) from 2011 in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis (Pso) treated with the first conventional systemic therapy and to identify factors that might compromise the attainment of these treatment goals. Methods: In a multicenter, prospective observational study, patients with moderate to severe Pso, defined as either body surface area (BSA) >10% or psoriasis area severity index (PASI) >10 and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) >10, received a conventional systemic therapy that could be modified at each follow-up visit over the course of 18 months. All subjects signed an informed consent form, were ≥18 years of age as well as systemic therapy naïve, and had regular study visits at months 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 after baseline. Among others and in addition to demographic and disease-related characteristics at baseline, we documented BSA, PASI, DLQI, and the physician-reported attainment of treatment goals at each follow-up visit. Factors related to a failure in achieving the ECP-TGs (i.e., either Δ PASI ≥75 or Δ PASI ≥50 and <75 with a DLQI ≤5) at month 18 were investigated by multiple logistic regression. Descriptive results are presented as the mean ± SD for interval data, and absolute as well as relative frequencies for nominal data. For this part of the analysis, data at baseline and months 6, 12, and 18 are presented. Results: A total of 133 Pso patients with a mean age and disease duration of 49.5 ± 14.4 and 15.6 ± 12.8 years, respectively, were included in the analysis; 54.1% (n = 72) were male. The mean baseline disease-related outcomes were: BSA: 21.5 ± 15.8%, PASI: 13.7 ± 7.14, and DLQI: 12.0 ± 6.11. The most common conventional systemic therapies initiated at baseline were fumaric acid esters (n = 74, 55.6%), methotrexate (n = 46, 34,6%), and ciclosporin (n = 6, 4.5%). The ECP-TGs were achieved by 58 patients (43.6%) at month 6, 86 patients (64.7%) at month 12, and 97 patients (72.9%) at month 18. An optimized reduced logistic regression model identified the presence of onycholysis/nail dystrophy at two or more digits to be associated with failing to attain the ECP-TGs (OR 10.7, 95% CI 2.5–46.7, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Patients with onycholysis/nail dystrophy at two or more digits were identified as having a higher risk of not achieving ECP-TGs under conventional systemic therapy. The ECP-TGs from 2011 were attained by 43.6% of our patients 6 months after starting conventional systemic therapies. In the era of safe, fast, and efficacious Pso therapies, much higher treatment goals might be achieved during therapy. New treatment goals are only of use if patients and dermatologists strive to attain them.
Postinfectious Olfactory Dysfunction: Oral Steroids and Olfactory Training versus Olfactory Training Alone: Is There any Benefit from Steroids?
Authors: Genetzaki Sotiria , Tsakiropoulou Evangelia , Nikolaidis Vasilios , Markou Konstantinos , Konstantinidis Iordanis
Published: June 2021

Introduction: There are limited treatment options for postinfectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD). Olfactory training has recently been used in clinical practice, but no medical treatment is widely accepted. Although there is weak evidence for their value, some physicians use oral corticosteroids as first-line treatment. The aim of this study was to compare combined oral methylprednisolone and olfactory training with olfactory training alone in the management of PIOD. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 131 patients with PIOD over a 2-year period before the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy-eight patients who were treated with oral methylprednisolone and olfactory training (group A) were compared with 53 patients who were treated with olfactory training only (group B). Olfactory function was evaluated with “Sniffin’ Sticks” at baseline and 2, 8, and 16 weeks after initial assessment. Patients who improved after steroid treatment underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the paranasal sinuses, skin prick tests, lung spirometry, and sputum eosinophil assessment. Results: Oral steroids improved 19.23% of patients (n = 15) of group A. History, clinical evaluation, imaging, and laboratory tests identified an inflammatory background in half of them (n = 8). The remaining 7 had no findings of nasal inflammation, and all had a short history of olfactory dysfunction. Both groups significantly improved in olfactory testing results at the end of the olfactory training scheme without significant difference between them. Conclusions: The percentage of improved patients after oral methylprednisolone was relatively low to suggest it as first-line treatment. Half of the improved patients had an underlying upper airway inflammatory condition not related to the infection that caused the acute loss of olfactory function.
Role of the Gut Microbiota in Stroke Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Yamashiro Kazuo , Kurita Naohide , Urabe Takao , Hattori Nobutaka
Published: June 2021

Background: Major advances have been made in stroke treatment and prevention in the past decades. However, the burden of stroke remains high. Identification of novel targets and establishment of effective interventions to improve stroke outcomes are, therefore, needed. Recent research highlights the contribution of the gut microbiota to stroke pathogenesis. Summary: Compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiota, termed dysbiosis, are linked to stroke risk factors, such as obesity, metabolic diseases, and atherosclerosis. In acute cerebral ischemia, the gut microbiota plays a key role in bidirectional interactions between the gut and brain, referred to as the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Gut dysbiosis prior to ischemic stroke affects outcomes. Additionally, the brain affects the gut microbiota during acute ischemic brain injury, which in turn impacts outcomes. Interactions between the gut microbiota and stroke pathogenesis are mediated by several factors including bacterial components (e.g., lipopolysaccharide), gut microbiota-related metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids and trimethylamine N-oxide), and the immune and nervous systems. Clinical studies have reported that patients with acute ischemic stroke exhibit gut dysbiosis, which is associated with host metabolism and inflammation, as well as functional outcomes. Modulation of the gut microbiota or its metabolites improves conditions related to stroke pathogenesis, including inflammation, cardiometabolic disease, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. Key Messages: Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiota plays a possible role in stroke pathogenesis. Modulation of the gut microbiota may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of stroke.
Anemia as a Problem: GP Approach
Authors: Milovanovic Tamara , Dragasevic Sanja , Nikolic Andreja Nebojsa , Markovic Aleksandra Pavlovic , Lalosevic Milica Stojkovic , Popovic Dusan D. , Krstic Miodrag N.
Published: June 2021

Background: Anemia is a presentation of an underlying disease or deficiency. As stated by the WHO, anemia is defined as hemoglobin (Hb) levels <12.0 g/dL in women and <13.0 g/dL in men. This review of clinical practice aimed to determine the diagnostic approach to anemia in primary care patients. Summary: Nutritional deficiencies, medications, chronic inflammatory conditions, malignancy, renal dysfunction, and bone marrow and inherent disorders contribute to anemia development. Anemia is classified and diagnosed by the values of hematological parameters, underlying pathological mechanism, and patient history. The diagnostic approach of anemia in primary care settings is focused on history, physical examination, laboratory findings including complete blood cell count, reticulocyte count, and peripheral smear examination, fecal occult blood test, and ultrasound findings. Key Messages: Anemia is the most common hematological disorder that represents a major health burden worldwide. Hb levels alter with gender, ethnicity, and physiological status. Anemia is often multifactorial. The evaluation of a patient with anemia in primary care includes clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory findings with fecal occult blood test and abdominal ultrasound. The wide variations in general practice in European countries are based on different health care systems but also knowledge of GPs that reflect educational and research policy.
Covid-19 e a imaginação político-viral
Authors: Grunvald Vitor
Published: June 2021

O objetivo desse texto é tecer algumas relações que explicitam a construção de uma imaginação política em torno da pandemia deslanchada pelo novo coronavírus, mas que não se limita a ele, projetando-se em direção a outros imaginários no que tenho chamado de imaginação político-viral. Para início de conversa, portanto, é importante marcar que imaginação, aqui, não é tomada algo ilusório, mas sim como uma forma de consciência que aponta para caminhos reflexivos do próprio sujeito social.
Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Regional Versus Global Myocardial Sympathetic Activity to Improve Risk Stratification in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zelt Jason G.E. , Wang Jean Zhuo , Mielniczuk Lisa M. , Beanlands Rob S.B. , Fallavollita James A. , Canty John M. , deKemp Robert A.
Published: June 2021

Background:

Current risk assessment approaches fail to identify the majority of patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Noninvasive imaging of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system using single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography offers the potential for refining SCA risk assessment. While various [
11
C]meta-hydroxyephedrine quantification parameters have been proposed, it is currently unknown whether regional denervation or global innervation yields greater SCA risk discrimination. The aim of the study was to determine whether the global innervation parameters yield any independent and additive prognostic value over the regional denervation alone.

Methods:

In a post hoc competing-risks analysis of the PAREPET trial (Prediction of Arrhythmic Events With Positron Emission Tomography), we compared global innervation and regional denervation parameters using the norepinephrine analog [
11
C]meta-hydroxyephedrine for SCA risk discrimination. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=174) eligible for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for the primary prevention of SCA were recruited into the trial. [
11
C]meta-hydroxyephedrine uptake and clearance rates were measured to assess global (left ventricle mean) retention index and volume of distribution. Regional defects were quantified as the percentage of the left ventricle having values <75% of the maximum.

Results:

During a median follow-up of 4.2 years, there were 56 cardiac-related deaths, of which 26 were SCAs. For any given regional denervation volume, there was substantial heterogeneity in global innervation scores. Global retention index and distribution volume did not decrease until regional defects exceeded 40% left ventricle. Global scale parameters, retention index, and distribution volume (area under the curve=0.61,
P
=0.034,
P
=0.046, respectively), yielded inferior SCA risk discrimination compared to regional heterogeneity (area under the curve=0.74).

Conclusions:

Regional denervation volume has superior cause-specific mortality prediction for SCA versus global parameters of sympathetic innervation. These results have widespread implications for future cardiac sympathetic imaging, which will greatly simplify innervation analysis.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01400334.
Parents’ Beliefs about Their Influence on Children’s Scientific and Religious Views: Perspectives from Iran, China and the United States
Authors: McLoughlin Niamh , Davoodi Telli , Cui Yixin Kelly , Clegg Jennifer M. , Harris Paul L. , Corriveau Kathleen H.
Published: June 2021

Parents in Iran, China and the United States were asked 1) about their potential influence on their children’s religious and scientific views and 2) to consider a situation in which their children expressed dissent. Iranian and US parents endorsed their influence on the children’s beliefs in the two domains. By contrast, Chinese parents claimed more influence in the domain of science than religion. Most parents spoke of influencing their children via Parent-only mechanisms in each domain (e.g., discussion, teaching), although US parents did spontaneously note Multiple sources for the transmission of religious views (e.g., church, other influential adults). Parents proposed a similar stance towards children’s dissenting religious and scientific views. Chinese and US parents were more likely to express Supportive approaches and Iranian parents were more likely to express a Directive approach by comparison. The present research informs our understanding of the cultural transmission of views about science and religion.
Does “Faith” in Science Correlate with Indicators of Well-Being?
Authors: Saide Anondah , McCaffree Kevin , Richert Rebekah
Published: June 2021

Religion has long been theorized to serve important functions for societies and individuals; specifically, as a source of knowledge about what is real and as a source of norms prescribing how individuals should behave. However, science and scientists appear to be playing an increasingly large role in public discourse. A majority of adults in the U.S. report interest in science and an increasing number are obtaining degrees in the sciences – more so among males than females. As a result, we examined (1) whether and how participants’ demographic background, religious background, and two indicators of well-being relate to a “belief in science” index, and (2) whether those relations differed among males and females. 560 young adults from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds participated. The findings presented here suggest that belief in science and religiosity are strongly inversely correlated, and if belief in science does confer emotion-related benefits, it may operate differently across demographic categories. Specifically, we find that belief in science is related to emotion dysregulation and death anxiety among males, but not females, even though females scored lower on these indicators of well-being overall.
Angel Spirituality in the World’s Happiest Country: The Attraction of Lorna Byrne among Finnish Women
Authors: Mikkola Elisa
Published: June 2021

This article discusses how women in Finland, the happiest country in the world in 2019, use new spiritual services and angels to cope with everyday life. Should not the high living standard and level of happiness decrease spirituality, as Norris and Inglehart suggest? The research material was collected using questionnaires in talks given by Irish mystic Lorna Byrne in Helsinki in 2011 and 2015. For the women studied, angels offer support and bring enchantment to their lives in a way institutionalized religion does not. While the high level of existential security decreases their religiousness, it opens these women up to other alternatives for new spirituality.
Hyptis lavoisierifolia, a new species from the noteworthy Hyptis subsect. Pachyphyllae (Lamiaceae—Hyptidinae) endemic to Chapada dos Veadeiros region, Goiás, Brazil

Authors: SOARES ARTHUR DE SOUZA , PASTORE JOSÉ FLORIANO BARÊA , ANTAR GUILHERME MEDEIROS , HARLEY RAYMOND MERVYN
Published: June 2021

Hyptis is a genus with about 151 species that belongs to subtribe Hyptidinae, a monophyletic and predominantly Neotropical group from Lamiaceae. The genus has gone through a series of taxonomic changes, especially sectional, since the early 19th century. Hyptis sect. Eriosphaeria subsect. Pachyphyllae, recent reestablished as subsection, is composed, until this paper, of four species, all endemic to the Chapada dos Veadeiros region, in Goiás state, Brazil. Here we report a novelty for the subsection.
Garcinia sibeswarii (Clusiaceae), a new species from Assam, India
Authors: SHAMEER PEERUMUHAMMED SUBAIDA , SARMA JATINDRA , MOHANAN NARAYANAN NAIR , BEGUM AJIMA
Published: June 2021

Garcinia sibeswarii, a new species of Garcinia from the Dulang Reserve Forest, Assam, North East India is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to Garcinia celebica, but differs in having 4-celled ovary; entire, peltate, reddish stigma and seeds with fibrous aril.
Leptomischus anisophyllus (Argostemmateae: Rubiaceae), a new species from Vietnam
Authors: ANH TRAN THI PHUONG , QUANG BUI HONG , NURALIEV MAXIM S. , NGUYEN KHANG SINH , AVERYANOV LEONID V.
Published: June 2021

Leptomischus anisophyllus, a new species of Rubiaceae, is described and illustrated, and its conservation status is discussed. The species was discovered in 2017 during a botanical survey of Pu Mat National Park (Nghe An Province, Central Vietnam). The new species is remarkable by its anisophylly, a rare feature in Leptomischus. Besides, Leptomischus anisophyllus differs from morphologically similar congeners by the following features: stems terete, pubescent when young, flowers distylous, corolla tube 10–15 mm long. An updated key to the Vietnamese species of Leptomischus is provided.
Temperature/Doping-Dependency of the Electrical Properties of the Nickel Doped Copper Oxide Thin Films
Authors: Y. Mahmoud Alaa , A. Alghameeti Wafa , S. Bahabri Fatmah
Published: June 2021

The electrical properties of the Nickel doped cupric oxide Ni-CuO thin films with various doping concentrations of Ni (0, 20, 30, 70, and 80%) are investigated at two different annealing temperatures; 200 and 400 °C. The electrical properties of the films; namely thermal activation
energy and electrical energy gap are calculated and compared. We find that for the non-annealed Ni-CuO films, both thermal activation energy and electrical energy gap are decreased by increasing the doping concentration, while for the annealed films, the increase in the Ni doping results in
the increase in thermal activation energy and electrical energy gap for most of the Ni-CuO films. We also observe that for a particular concentration, the annealing at 200 °C produces lower thermal activation energy and electrical energy gap than the annealing at 400 °C. We obtained
two values of the activation energy varying from -5.52 to -0.51 eV and from 0.49 to 3.36 eV, respectively, for the annealing at 200 and 400 °C. We also obtained two values of the electrical bandgap varying from -11.05 to -1.03 eV and from 0.97 to 6.71 eV, respectively, for the annealing
at 200 and 400 °C. It is also noticeable that the increase in the doping concentration reduces the activation energy, and hence the electrical bandgap energies.
Sensitive Determination of Platinum and Palladium in Mineral Samples by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) with Mixed Releasing Agent After the Separation and Preconcentration with Small Fire Assay
Authors: Wang Nan , Sun Xu-Dong , Huo Di , Zhang Mu , Liu Shao-Hong , Zhu Qi , Li Xiao-Dong , Li Ji-Guang
Published: June 2021

An improved lead assaying method, i.e., separation and preconcentration with small fire assay using CuSO4-La(NO3)3 as the release agent, was developed to detect platinum and palladium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. After the separation and
preconcentration with small fire assay, Pt PD were tested with AAS using CuSO4-La(NO3)3 as a sensitizer. Pt RSD (n= 11) is between 0.65%~5.63%, and Pd RSD is between 0.68%~10.86%, with a recovery rate between 95.87%~100.5%. The method is simple, rapid
and accurate.
Enhanced Gas Sensing of Tin Dioxide Based Sensor for Indoor Formaldehyde Application
Authors: Zhang Gaoqi , Zhang Fan , Wang Kaifang , Liu Shanyu , Wang Ying , Zhong Bo , Bai Hubin , Yin Jun , Zhang Hangbin , Cong Lin
Published: June 2021

Indoor formaldehyde detection is of great important at present. Using efficient solvothermal method, nanosheet-constructed and nanorod-constructed hierarchical tin dioxide (SnO2) microspheres were successfully synthesized in this work and used for the gas sensing material
for indoor formaldehyde application. The as-prepared two kinds of SnO2 gas sensing materials were applied to fabricate the gas sensors and formaldehyde gas sensing experiments were carried out. The HCHO gas sensing tests indicate that the gas response of the nanosheet-constructed
SnO2 microspheres is about 1.7 times higher than that of the nanorod-constructed SnO2 microspheres. In addition, both of the two SnO2 based gas sensors show almost fast response and recovery time to HCHO gas. For the nanosheet-constructed microspheres, the
response value is estimated to be 32.0 at 350 °C to 60 ppm formaldehyde gas, while the response and recovery times are 7 and 5 s, respectively. The simple and efficient preparation method and improved gas sensing properties show that the as-synthesized hierarchical SnO2 microsphere
that is constructed by a large amount of nanosheets exhibits significant potential application for the indoor formaldehyde sensing.
Zip Code-Related Income Disparities in Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Qwaider Yasmeen Z. , Sell Naomi M. , Boudreau Chloe , Stafford Caitlin E. , Ricciardi Rocco , Cauley Christy E. , Bordeianou Liliana G. , Berger David L. , Kunitake Hiroko , Goldstone Robert N.
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Screening and early detection reduce morbidity and mortality in colorectal cancer. Our aim is to study the effect of income disparities on the clinical characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer in Massachusetts.

Methods

Patients were extracted from a database containing all surgically treated colorectal cancers between 2004 and 2015 at a tertiary hospital in Massachusetts. We split patients into 2 groups: “above-median income” and “below-median income” according to the median income of Massachusetts ($74,167).

Results

The analysis included 817 patients. The above-median income group consisted of 528 patients (65%) and the below-median income group consisted of 289 patients (35%). The mean age of presentation was 64 ± 15 years for the above-median income group and 67 ± 15 years for the below-median income group ( P = .04). Patients with below-median income were screened less often ( P < .001) and presented more frequently with metastatic disease ( P = .02). Patients with above-median income survived an estimated 15 months longer than those with below-median income ( P < .001). The survival distribution was statistically significantly different between the groups for stage III disease ( P = .004), but not stages I, II, or IV ( P = 1, 1, and .2, respectively). For stage III disease, a lower proportion of below-median income patients received chemotherapy (61% vs. 79%, P = .002) and a higher proportion underwent nonelective surgery (5% vs. 2%, P = .007).

Conclusions

In Massachusetts, patients with colorectal cancer residing in lower income areas are screened less, received adjuvant chemotherapy less, and have worse outcomes, especially when analyzing those who present with stage III disease.
Deconstructing Dante: How things fall apart in the Paradiso
Authors: Steinberg Glenn A
Published: June 2021

Much recent commentary on Dante’s Commedia focuses on Dante’s truth claims in the poem. Indeed, Teodolinda Barolini has proposed that “the fundamental question for all readers of Dante’s poem” is “How are we to respond to the poet’s insistence that he is telling us the truth?” I propose that the poem itself gives us guidance as to the seriousness of its claims to literal truth. It does so by actively deconstructing its own meaning at critical junctures. I look at several such moments of deconstruction, but I argue that the first few cantos of the Paradiso in particular provide a reflection on the difference between reality and fiction. Early in the Paradiso, Dante draws attention to the metaphoric nature of his poem and reminds his reader, through his character’s own actions, that metaphor is not reality. In this way, Dante implies that we should not take the narrative particulars of his poem too literally but should treat metaphor as metaphor rather than as mimesis.
Methamphetamine use and the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis
Authors: Lewis Daniel , van den Heuvel Corinna , Kenneally Michaela , Byard Roger W
Published: June 2021

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening condition arising in individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, associated with hyperglycaemia and hyperketonaemia. While drugs such as methadone, cocaine and certain prescription medications may precipitate DKA, the potential effect of methamphetamine is unclear. Analysis of autopsy and toxicology case files at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, South Australia, was therefore undertaken from 1 January to 31 December 2019 of all cases where methamphetamine was detected in post-mortem blood samples. There were 94 cases with 11 diabetics ( n = 6 type 1 and n = 5 type 2). Four of the six decedents with type 1 diabetes had lethal DKA (66.7%; age range 30–54 years; average age 44.6 ± 10.5 years; M:F ratio 1:1). This incidence of DKA was higher than that of the general insulin-dependent diabetic population (6%) and also significantly higher than in medico-legal cases (13%; p < 0.05). The clinical and autopsy assessment of insulin-dependent diabetics presenting with DKA should therefore include specific screening for methamphetamine. The increase in both insulin-dependent diabetes and methamphetamine abuse in the community may lead to increases in such cases in medico-legal and health contexts.
On the Speed Sensitivity Parameter in the Lognormal Model for Response Times and Implications for High-Stakes Measurement Practice
Authors: Becker Benjamin , Debeer Dries , Weirich Sebastian , Goldhammer Frank
Published: June 2021

In high-stakes testing, often multiple test forms are used and a common time limit is enforced. Test fairness requires that ability estimates must not depend on the administration of a specific test form. Such a requirement may be violated if speededness differs between test forms. The impact of not taking speed sensitivity into account on the comparability of test forms regarding speededness and ability estimation was investigated. The lognormal measurement model for response times by van der Linden was compared with its extension by Klein Entink, van der Linden, and Fox, which includes a speed sensitivity parameter. An empirical data example was used to show that the extended model can fit the data better than the model without speed sensitivity parameters. A simulation was conducted, which showed that test forms with different average speed sensitivity yielded substantial different ability estimates for slow test takers, especially for test takers with high ability. Therefore, the use of the extended lognormal model for response times is recommended for the calibration of item pools in high-stakes testing situations. Limitations to the proposed approach and further research questions are discussed.
Traces of orientalism in media studies
Authors: Ranji Banafsheh
Published: June 2021

This article is a response to calls for more reflexivity in media scholarship. It argues that despite various attempts towards challenging the ‘Western-centrism’ of the field (notable among them is the ‘de-Westernisation’ project), media studies has remained highly captive to the distinctions between ‘West’ and ‘non-West’ as the principal starting point for analysis. Building on Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, and employing Said’s idea of methodological self-consciousness, this paper critically assesses the often taken-for-granted assumptions in media research. It reflects on anecdotal and personal experience, and on observations that I have made in the literature I have consulted, in the queries by colleagues, and in teaching. This article shows how and through which terminology the Orientalist discourse materializes in the field of media research. It reveals how a network of interests is shaped on any occasion when media and journalism in contexts that are deemed ‘non-Western’ are in question. This paper shows that media scholarship is marked by the use of binary terminology, collective terms and generalities, a one-sided relationship between the ‘West’ and ‘non-West’, and the notions of the superiority of Anglo-American research.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism and venous thromboembolism: A meta-analysis of 9 studies involving 3993 subjects
Authors: Huang Guangbin , Deng Xuejun , Xu Yanan , Wang Pan , Li Tao , Hu Ping
Published: June 2021

Background

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphism may influence the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, data from published studies with low statistical power are inconclusive. The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between eNOS polymorphism and the risk of VTE.

Method

Case-control studies evaluating the association between the eNOS polymorphism and VTE were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Wanfang, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM).

Results

A total of 1588 cases and 2405 controls from 9 studies were included in the analysis. The results showed that eNOS G894T polymorphism was related to VTE susceptibility and the difference was statistically significant [T vs G: OR = 1.41, 95% CI (1.13, 1.75), P = 0.002; TT + GG vs TG: OR = 0.71, 95% CI (0.60, 0.84), P = 0.000; TT + TG vs GG: OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.23, 1.70), P = 0.000]. Additionally, eNOS Intron 4 VNTR polymorphism was related to VTE susceptibility and the difference was statistically significant [4b4b vs 4a4a + 4a4b: OR = 2.77, 95% CI (1.01, 7.61), P = 0.048].

Conclusion

ENOS G894T and eNOS Intron 4 VNTR polymorphisms were associated with VTE susceptibility, especially in Asian populations. However, multicenter studies with larger samples should be conducted to further clarify this association and verify our findings.
Experimental study on the factors affecting squeak noise occurrence in automotive suspension bushings
Authors: Kang Byunghyun , Choi Cheol , Sung Daeun , Yoon Seongho , Choi Byoung-Ho
Published: June 2021

In this study, friction tests are performed, via a custom-built friction tester, on specimens of natural rubber used in automotive suspension bushings. By analyzing the problematic suspension bushings, the eleven candidate factors that influence squeak noise are selected: surface lubrication, hardness, vulcanization condition, surface texture, additive content, sample thickness, thermal aging, temperature, surface moisture, friction speed, and normal force. Through friction tests, the changes are investigated in frictional force and squeak noise occurrence according to various levels of the influencing factors. The degree of correlation between frictional force and squeak noise occurrence with the factors is determined through statistical tests, and the relationship between frictional force and squeak noise occurrence based on the test results is discussed. Squeak noise prediction models are constructed by considering the interactions among the influencing factors through both multiple logistic regression and neural network analysis. The accuracies of the two prediction models are evaluated by comparing predicted and measured results. The accuracies of the multiple logistic regression and neural network models in predicting the occurrence of squeak noise are 88.2% and 87.2%, respectively.
Beliefs About the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes Among First-Generation Asian Indians in the United States
Authors: Deol Rupinder M. , Thompson Lisa M. , Chun Kevin M , Chesla Catherine
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Asian Indians (AIs) have the highest prevalence rates (18.3%-29%) of diabetes in any minority group in the United States, yet little is known about their beliefs about what causes type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine first generation AIs causal beliefs about type 2 diabetes.

Method

Interpretative phenomenology was used to interview 12 first-generation AI participants with type 2 diabetes to elicit causal beliefs of their disease. Interpretative and thematic analysis were completed.

Results

Beliefs about the causes of diabetes in AIs were influenced by a general familiarity with the disease, limited knowledge about causal and preventative factors of the disease, and gender specific roles and norms.

Discussion

Health programs that aim to incorporate AI’s cultural and health beliefs about the causes of diabetes are warranted.
Evaluator Education Curriculum: Which Competencies Ought to Be Prioritized in Master’s and Doctoral Programs?
Authors: Montrosse-Moorhead Bianca , Gambino Anthony J. , Yahn Laura M. , Fan Mindy , Vo Anne T.
Published: June 2021

A budding area of research is devoted to studying evaluator curriculum, yet to date, it has focused exclusively on describing the content and emphasis of topics or competencies in university-based programs. This study aims to expand the foci of research efforts and investigates the extent to which evaluators agree on what competencies should guide the development and implementation of evaluator education. This study used the Delphi method with evaluators ( n = 11) and included three rounds of online surveys and follow-up interviews between rounds. This article discusses on which competencies evaluators were able to reach consensus. Where consensus was not found, possible reasons are offered. Where consensus was found, the necessity of each competency at both the master’s and doctoral levels is described. Findings are situated in ongoing debates about what is unique about what novice evaluators need to know and be able to do and the purpose of evaluator education.
Populism without host ideologies: A new home for voters with exclusionary attitudes in Italy’s Five Star Movement?
Authors: Benasaglio Berlucchi Antonio
Published: June 2021

The Five Star Movement (M5S) emerged as Italy’s largest party in the 2018 election. After one year in government with the far-right League, the party formed a new coalition with the center-left Democratic Party (PD). These unconventional alliances and the M5S’s ambiguity on substantive issues such as immigration and minority rights raise questions on the value positioning of its voters. Does the M5S represent a socially liberal electorate, or has the party become a new home for voters expressing sentiments of hostility toward immigrants and minorities? I hypothesize that the M5S’s ambivalence on social issues enabled the party to attract a significant share of voters with exclusionary attitudes toward foreigners and minorities. I use survey data to measure individuals’ dispositions toward outgroups and run binary and multinomial logistic regressions to predict vote choice for the M5S and the other main parties in the 2018 election. The empirical findings suggest that the M5S has become a valid option for voters adhering to exclusionary attitudes, and show that there is no particular elective affinity between the voters of the M5S and the PD.
Knowledge and Practices of Back Care, Experience in Colombian Children
Authors: Mantilla Toloza Sonia Carolina , Jaimes Guerrero Carlos Alberto , Lerma Castaño Piedad Rocio
Published: June 2021

Early back care has become the preventive strategy to mitigate bad postural habits and musculoskeletal alterations that trigger inadequate postural patterns in the body schema. The objective was to determine the knowledge and practice of back care in first-grade school children after applying an educational intervention for back care. Quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-tests in a sample of 71 first grade school students. Knowledge and practices for back care were evaluated before and after of the intervention. During 5 weeks, a program of education for back care was developed in the intervention group, formed by concepts about anatomy, physiology, alterations of the spine, adoption of appropriate postures and movements in school life and the execution of adequate movements learned. Simultaneously, physical exercises based on aerobic work, strengthening and stretching the back muscles were carried out with the children in the control group. A linear regression model and a two-level hierarchical model were applied to estimate the effect of the intervention. After the execution of the back care education program, a better score was found in the knowledge and practice questionnaire, which was different between the intervention group and the control group (1.72 95% CI 1.21-2.24). The development of an education program generated a change in the score of the questionnaire on knowledge of back care in the intervnetion group, which suggests the implementation of these strategies in the school context during early childhood, contributing to the prevention of back disorders and deficiencies
Effect of dentin pretreatment on the resulting abrasive dentin wear
Authors: Hamza Blend , Kazimi Marina , Körner Philipp , Attin Thomas , Wegehaupt Florian Just
Published: June 2021

Background

This study aims to investigate the influence of different dentin pretreatment procedures on the resulting abrasive dentin wear.

Methods

Two groups (A, B) of 60 dentin samples each were prepared. Group A was brushed with an abrasive slurry (RDA = 85) and group B with a different abrasive slurry (RDA = 174). Four subgroups in each group (n = 15) were created (A1–A4) and (B1–B4). The subgroups were pretreated as follows: A1 + B1 with 1200-grit grinding paper, A2 + B2 with 1200- and 2000-grit papers, A3 + B3 with 1200-, 2000-, and 4000-grit papers, A4 + B4 with 1200-, 2000-, 4000-grit papers and with 1000 brushing strokes with a slurry of Elmex toothpaste. All samples were brushed for 25 min at 120 strokes/min. Abrasive dentin wear was measured for each sample profilometrically and the subgroups were compared with each other within the same group. Repeated measures one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare the subgroups and pairwise contrasts were estimated for multiple testing according to Tukey (α = 0.05).

Results

The resulting abrasive dentin wear in group A ranged between 15.3 ± 3.4 µm and 17.3 ± 5.5 µm and between 20.3 ± 6.8 µm and 22.5 ± 2.6 µm in group B. No statistically significant difference was noticed between any subgroups within the same group (p ˃ 0.05).

Conclusions

Different dentin pretreatment procedures do not affect the resulting abrasive dentin wear independent of the RDA value of the employed abrasive slurry.
Correction to: Elevated plasma IL-6 and CRP levels are associated with adverse clinical outcomes and death in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients: infammatory response of SARS-CoV-2 patients
Authors: Lavillegrand Jean-Rémi , Garnier Marc , Spaeth Agathe , Mario Nathalie , Hariri Geofroy , Pilon Antoine , Berti Enora , Fieux Fabienne , Thietart Sara , Urbina Tomas , Turpin Matthieu , Darrivere Lucie , Fartoukh Muriel , Verdonk Franck , Dumas Guillaume , Tedgui Alain , Guidet Bertrand , Maury Eric , Chantran Yannick , Voiriot Guillaume , Ait-Oufella Hafd
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
A robust multi-feature based method for distinguishing between humans and pets to ensure signal source in vital signs monitoring using UWB radar
Authors: Ma Yangyang , Wang Pengfei , Huang Wenzhe , Qi Fugui , Liang Fulai , Lv Hao , Yu Xiao , Wang Jianqi , Zhang Yang
Published: June 2021

Pets have been indispensable members for many families in modern life, especially significant for the elderly and the blind. However, they may cause false alarm when misused as signal source in non-contact monitoring of the vital signs using ultra-wideband (UWB) radar. Distinguishing between humans and pets can help ensure the correct signal source. Nevertheless, existing solutions are few or only utilize a single feature, which can hinder robustness and accuracy because of individual differences. In this study, we proposed a robust multi-feature based method to solve the problem. First, 19 discriminative features were extracted to reflect differences in aspects of energy, frequency, wavelet entropy, and correlation coefficient. Second, the features were ranked by recursive feature elimination algorithm and the top eight were then selected to build an optimal support vector machine (SVM) model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the optimal SVM model reached 0.9620. The false and missing alarms for identifying humans were 0.0962 and 0.0600, respectively. Finally, comparison with the state-of-the-art method that only employed one feature validated the advance and accuracy of the proposed method. The method is envisioned to facilitate the UWB radar applications in non-contact and continuous vital signs monitoring.
Confidence interval methods for antimicrobial resistance surveillance data
Authors: Kalanxhi Erta , Osena Gilbert , Kapoor Geetanjali , Klein Eili
Published: June 2021

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest global health challenges today, but burden assessment is hindered by uncertainty of AMR prevalence estimates. Geographical representation of AMR estimates typically pools data collected from several laboratories; however, these aggregations may introduce bias by not accounting for the heterogeneity of the population that each laboratory represents.

Methods

We used AMR data from up to 381 laboratories in the United States from The Surveillance Network to evaluate methods for estimating uncertainty of AMR prevalence estimates. We constructed confidence intervals for the proportion of resistant isolates using (1) methods that account for the clustered structure of the data, and (2) standard methods that assume data independence. Using samples of the full dataset with increasing facility coverage levels, we examined how likely the estimated confidence intervals were to include the population mean.

Results

Methods constructing 95% confidence intervals while accounting for possible within-cluster correlations (Survey and standard methods adjusted to employ cluster-robust errors), were more likely to include the sample mean than standard methods (Logit, Wilson score and Jeffreys interval) operating under the assumption of independence. While increased geographical coverage improved the probability of encompassing the mean for all methods, large samples still did not compensate for the bias introduced from the violation of the data independence assumption.

Conclusion

General methods for estimating the confidence intervals of AMR rates that assume data are independent, are likely to produce biased results. When feasible, the clustered structure of the data and any possible intra-cluster variation should be accounted for when calculating confidence intervals around AMR estimates, in order to better capture the uncertainty of prevalence estimates.
A scalable association rule learning heuristic for large datasets
Authors: Li Haosong , Sheu Phillip C.-Y.
Published: June 2021

Many algorithms have proposed to solve the association rule learning problem. However, most of these algorithms suffer from the problem of scalability either because of tremendous time complexity or memory usage, especially when the dataset is large and the minimum support (minsup) is set to a lower number. This paper introduces a heuristic approach based on divide-and-conquer which may exponentially reduce both the time complexity and memory usage to obtain approximate results that are close to the accurate results. It is shown from comparative experiments that the proposed heuristic approach can achieve significant speedup over existing algorithms.
Lymphoepthelial cyst of submandibular region: a case report
Authors: Iqbal Sana , Ahmed Sufyan , Kashif Mehwash
Published: June 2021

Background

The oral lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) is a rare, soft-tissue, developmental cyst, initially presented by Gold in 1962 as a “branchial cleft cyst”. It may occur in the pancreas, tongue, neck, and other regions of the oral cavity. No study has been reported in Pakistan and Karachi reporting a case of lymphoepithelial cyst in the submandibular region. This rare case of LEC has been reported to help the clinicians to bring LEC into their differential diagnosis for lesions affecting the submandibular region.

Case presentation

We report a case of 57 years old female reported to the Maxillofacial OPD of a tertiary care hospital with the complaint of swelling on the right side of the neck for 3 weeks which was rapidly increasing in size. She was having difficulty in mastication. On extra-oral examination, there was swelling on the right side in the submandibular area. The overlying skin is normal with no evidence of pus and discharge. On palpation, the swelling was soft, non-tender, non-fluctuant, non-displaceable into the submandibular area. Lymph nodes were impalpable. Excision of the lesion performed under general anesthesia and biopsy revealed lymphoepithelial cyst associated with submandibular gland. Here we present an attention-grabbing case of swelling in the right submandibular region which was provisionally diagnosed as a malignant submandibular lymph node however later evidence histopathologically as a lymphoepithelial cyst of the submandibular gland.

Conclusion

An unusual cause of swelling in the neck is lymphoepithelial cysts. Submandibular gland appearance is not usual and can prove to be a clinical problem.