bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Model of protective behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
Authors: Agung Ivan Muhammad , Husni Desma
Published: July 2023

To prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from spreading extensively and rapidly during the pandemic, protective behaviors are crucial. This study aimed to determine the influence of risk perceptions, health care, social influences, and intentions on the improvement of protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 325 participants consisting of 74 men and 251 women (mean age (M)=21.47, SD=6.8). Based on previous studies, measurements were conducted using a variety of questionnaires. The hypotheses were examined by data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that the proposed model met the established criteria. It is interesting to note that risk perceptions influence how protective behaviors are improved through health care and intentions. The social influences on protective behaviors, meanwhile, are both directly and partially mediated by intentions. In conclusion, health care and intentions serve as mediators between risk perceptions and protective behaviors rather than being directly associated. Health care, however, is unrelated to intentions. Furthermore, social influences are the most dominant factor in improving protective behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it may serve as a preliminary justification for the government to promote for a policy that addresses social influences in order to improve protective behaviors.
Association between screen time, physical activity and sleep quality among youths
Authors: Liu Gang , Liu Duan
Published: July 2023

To reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 during the outbreak, the use of portable smart terminals (PST) among youths has increased significantly because youths prefer playing on their PST indoors. Hence, this article aims to study the impact of PST on youths’ sleep quality and the effect of walking on improving sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted on the daily walking steps, sleep quality, and the use of PST among 312 ordinary youths aged 18-25. The control group kept their original lifestyle, while the experimental group walked 10,000 steps a day for 30 days. This study found that 88% of the respondents used PST for more than four hours. Also, the detection rate of sleep disorders among youths accounted for 39% of the total respondents. Compared to the control group, the sleep duration and quality of youths in the exercise group significantly improved (p<0.05). In conclusion, youths spend more time on PST and less time on physical activities, which worsens their sleep quality. Thus, by appropriately increasing their daily steps, the adverse effects of PST can be reduced, and the sleep quality of youths can be improved.
Sansevieria trifasciata extract effectively inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria, in vitro
Authors: Rachmaniyah Rachmaniyah , Rusmiati Rusmiati
Published: July 2023

Sansevieria trifasciata is a plant that has the potential to kill pathogenic bacteria due to its content. An experimental study with a laboratory experimental design was carried out to test the inhibition of Sansevieria trifasciata extract against Escherichia coli in vitro. Antibacterial testing of Sansevieria trifasciata extract was carried out at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 40% to explore the growth of Escherichia coli by maceration method and using 96% ethanol. The medium used was Mueller Hinton Agar which had previously been inoculated with the test microbe (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and then the results obtained were compared with the control group for comparison. The ethanol extract of Sansevieria trifasciata with concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 40% could inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria with the average diameter of the inhibition zone respectively 6.63 mm, 5.42 mm, and 6.55 mm compared to the diameter of the Escherichia coli on the control variable + using the previous ciprofloxacin, namely 20.4 mm, 20.8 mm and 20.4 mm. Sansevieria trifasciata has good inhibition against the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria with low or high concentrations.
Specific coping behaviours related to depression in adolescents with a divorced parent
Authors: Dianovinina Ktut , Surjaningrum Endang Retno , Wulandari Primatia Yogi
Published: July 2023

Parents’ divorce is one of the life events that elicit pressure in adolescents, to such an extent that parents’ divorce is a predictor of depressive disorder in adolescents. Coping strategy plays an important role in the relationship between pressure and depression. This research aimed to examine coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional coping) and specific coping behaviours which affect adolescents with divorced parents’ depressive symptoms. Participants are 80 adolescents with divorced parents from several cities in Indonesia, aged between 13 to 19 years old (mean=16.6 years, SD=1.62 with 76% female and 24% male). Depressive symptoms were measured using the children’s depression inventory, and specific coping behaviour was measured with Brief-COPE or coping orientation to problems experienced. In this research, it was found that 38% of the adolescents had depression. On the multiple linear regression, only problem-focused coping and dysfunctional coping significantly affected depression and not emotion-focused coping. Furthermore, among 14 specific coping behaviours, only instrumental support and behaviour disengagement affect depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that intervention focused on increasing the utilization of problem-focused coping and reducing dysfunctional coping might be beneficial to minimize depressive symptoms in adolescents with divorced parents.
Revisão sistemática: o uso de probióticos gera benefícios para pacientes em tratamento de doenças inflamatórias intestinais?
Authors: Mascarenhas Marselli Taubner , Melo Sofia Oliveira de , Cunha Ana Clara Lemos Andrade , Ferreira Ivone Catarina
Published: July 2023

Objectives: To review the literature that assesses whether the use of probiotics generates benefits for individuals with IBD and to describe the mechanisms of action of probiotics in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: This is a study classified as a systematic review. The selected publications were submitted to the Jadad Scale criteria to assess methodological quality. 15 articles were selected. Results: Of the five clinical trials that used placebo, only 1 did not show benefits from the use of probiotic therapy. The remainder showed a reduction in signs and symptoms and acute phase reagents or induction of remission in the groups treated with probiotics compared to placebo. Conclusion: The present systematic review suggests that the use of probiotics is beneficial in patients with IBD.
impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 nas práticas de biossegurança hospitalar
Authors: Nogueira Rayssa Almeida , Reis Larissa Castro dos , Paiva Miriana Figueiredo Pereira , Moreira Rafaela Sechim , Almeida Lavínia Lages , Percu Breno Silva , Guerrero Lorenzo , Martins Murillo José Silva , Mendonça Vinícius Rodrigues , Pacheco Renato Bittencourt , Resgala Ludmilla Carvalho Rangel
Published: July 2023

A pandemia de COVID-19 modificou a vida em âmbito global. Prejuízos econômicos, culturais e sociais foram notados em grande escala, junto às incontáveis mortes. Diante disso, mudanças nas práticas hospitalares tornaram-se necessárias para evitar a propagação do vírus entre os profissionais e os pacientes internados. Diante desse contexto, o estudo objetivou discutir os impactos trazidos pela pandemia de COVID-19 ao ambiente hospitalar, incluindo as principais mudanças no intuito de evitar a disseminação do vírus. Para a realização da pesquisa, foram utilizados artigos originais,  publicados em plataformas de referência bibliográfica, como SciELO e PubMed, em língua portuguesa, nos últimos 20 anos. Sendo assim, observou-se impactos no ambiente hospitalar, principalmente em relação ao aumento da utilização de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) e Coletiva (EPCs). Além disso, a adoção do álcool 70% mostrou-se de intensa valia como antisséptico, minimizando os  riscos de contaminação. Portanto, é possível inferir que apesar das práticas hospitalares anteriores à pandemia apresentarem relevância, a alta transmissibilidade do vírus SARS-CoV 2 obrigou que novas medidas fossem incluídas em contextos de biossegurança, culminando em menores riscos de auto e heterocontaminação no sistema de saúde.
Does small mammal species richness have a bimodal elevation gradient in Sikkim Himalaya?
Authors: Khatiwara Sunita , Thapa Joya , Kumar Ajith
Published: July 2023

The most reported elevation gradients in species richness are a unimodal peak and linear decline. However, the overlap of different biogeographic realms in a region can influence such gradients. We used live-capture data on small mammals (voles, rats, mice, shrews, and pikas) to describe elevation gradients in species richness in Sikkim, where Afrotropical, Indo-Malayan, and Palearctic fauna occur in the lower, middle, and higher elevations, respectively. We sampled 38 trap lines in an elevation range of 300 m to 4,200 m, which we binned into nine elevation zones. Each trap line had 50 Sherman traps run for 3–5 nights during 2003–05 and 2012–13. We had a total of 9,069 trap nights with 430 captures, including 13 species of murid rodents, five ground shrews, two voles, and one each of pika and tree shrews. The capture rate in a trap line ranged from 0 to 19.7 per 100 trap night (mean = 5.30±0.767 SEM) with a peak at 2,501–3,001 m (3.29±0.644), coinciding with temperate broad leaf and conifer forests. Species richness seemed to have a minor peak at 501–1,000 m (2.50±0.645 species per trapline) and a clear peak at 3,001–3,500 m (3.29±0.644), coinciding with tropical forests and temperate mixed conifer forests, respectively. The apparent bimodal elevation gradient is due to the overlap of western Asian and Indo-Malayan fauna in the lower elevation and of the latter and Palearctic fauna in the higher elevation. More intensive sampling is needed to test this hypothesis that the overlap of biogeographic regions can influence elevation gradient in species richness.
Implementation of an Atrial Fibrillation Decision Aid Care Pathway in the Emergency Department Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations
Authors: Gehi Anil K. , Armbruster Tiffany , Walker Jennifer , Rosman Lindsey , Laux Jeffrey , Becker Ari , Aladesanmi Oludamilola , Mazzella Anthony J. , Deyo Zachariah , Biese Kevin
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

A straightforward decision aid to guide disposition of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in the emergency department (ED) was developed for use by ED providers. The implementation of this decision aid in the ED has not been studied.

METHODS:

A pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster approach for analysis of retrospectively collected electronic health record data was used in which 5 hospitals were selected to commence the intervention at periodic intervals following an initial 1-year baseline assessment with 5 additional hospitals included in the comparison group (all in North Carolina). The primary end point of analysis was hospitalization rate. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analyses for admission as a function of the intervention while controlling for prespecified patient and hospital predictors were performed with clustering done at the hospital level.

RESULTS:

Between October 2017 and May 2020, a total of 11 458 patients (mean age, 71.4; 50.5% female) presented to 1 of the 10 hospitals with a primary diagnosis of AF. Absolute admission rate was reduced from 60.5% to 48.3% following the intervention (odds ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.71–0.97];
P
=0.016). After adjusting for covariates, the intervention was associated with a small increased rate of return to the ED for AF within 30 days of the initial presentation (1.6% to 2.7%; hazard ratio, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.26–2.31];
P
<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

We demonstrate that implementation of a novel decision aid to guide disposition of patients primary diagnosis of AF presenting to the ED was associated with a reduced admission rate independent of patient and hospital factors. Use of the protocol was associated with a small but significant increase in rate of repeat presentations for AF at 30-day follow-up. Use of a decision aid such as the one described here represents an important tool to reduce unnecessary AF hospitalizations.
T-Cell MyD88 Is a Novel Regulator of Cardiac Fibrosis Through Modulation of T-Cell Activation
Authors: Bayer Abraham L. , Smolgovsky Sasha , Ngwenyama Njabulo , Hernández-Martínez Ana , Kaur Kuljeet , Sulka Katherine , Amrute Junedh , Aronovitz Mark , Lavine Kory , Sharma Shruti , Alcaide Pilar
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Cardiac inflammation in heart failure is characterized by the presence of damage-associated molecular patterns, myeloid cells, and T cells. Cardiac damage-associated molecular patterns provide continuous proinflammatory signals to myeloid cells through TLRs (toll-like receptors) that converge onto the adaptor protein MyD88 (myeloid differentiation response 88). These induce activation into efficient antigen-presenting cells that activate T cells through their TCR (T-cell receptor). T-cell activation results in cardiotropism, cardiac fibroblast transformation, and maladaptive cardiac remodeling. T cells rely on TCR signaling for effector function and survival, and while they express MyD88 and damage-associated molecular pattern receptors, their role in T-cell activation and cardiac inflammation is unknown.

METHODS:

We performed transverse aortic constriction in mice lacking MyD88 in T cells and analyzed remodeling, systolic function, survival, and T-cell activation. We profiled wild type versus

Myd88
−/−

mouse T cells at the transcript and protein level and performed several functional assays.

RESULTS:

Analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data sets revealed that MyD88 is expressed in mouse and human cardiac T cells. MyD88 deletion in T cells resulted in increased levels of cardiac T-cell infiltration and fibrosis in response to transverse aortic constriction. We discovered that TCR-activated

Myd88
−/−

T cells had increased proinflammatory signaling at the transcript and protein level compared with wild type, resulting in increased T-cell effector functions such as adhesion, migration across endothelial cells, and activation of cardiac fibroblast. Mechanistically, we found that MyD88 modulates T-cell activation and survival through TCR-dependent rather than TLR-dependent signaling.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results outline a novel intrinsic role for MyD88 in limiting T-cell activation that is central to tune down cardiac inflammation during cardiac adaptation to stress.
Personality Effect on Individuals’ Dog Breed Choices: The Case of Turkish Dog Keepers
Authors: Ozturk Nursen , Ekiz Bulent , Kilic Halil Ibrahim , Ozcan Mustafa
Published: July 2023

To investigate the effect of individuals’ personality on their dog breed choices, an online questionnaire was conducted with 581 dog keepers. Breeds were classified according to body size, functions, temperament, and ban status. Personality classifications of keepers were achieved through the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire in the Turkish language. To determine effects of individuals’ personality on breed choices, the General Linear Model ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis analysis were applied. The result revealed no personality differences between keepers when dogs were grouped by body size, temperament, or function. In terms of the “lie” subscale, there was a difference between keepers who chose to have a banned dog breed versus those who did not. Results showed that keepers who scored lower on the “lie” subscale were found to prefer banned dog breeds. The outcomes of this study will help to better understand personality differences among dog keepers and their choices of dog breeds.
Molecular characterization and developmental function of jagged-1 in Exopalaemon carinicauda (Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae)
Authors: Lai Xiaofang , Chen Hao , Mi Xiaoyan , Shen Shanrui , Gao Huan
Published: July 2023

The Notch signalling pathway is widely present in organisms and is an essential factor involved in the developmental process. JAGGED-1, as an important ligand in the Notch signalling pathway, has been cloned from Exopalaemon carinicauda and its role in growth and development have been studied. The full length of the jagged-1 cDNA of E. carinicauda was 5148 bp encoding a protein composed of 1307 amino acids, which had the highest identity with JAGGED-1 of Procambarus clarkii. The expression of jagged-1 varied with development, with the highest expression at the gastrula stage of embryonic development, the Z2 stage of larval development, and the G4 stage of ovary development, respectively. The expression of jagged-1 in the interference group was significantly lower than that in the control group between 3 and 72 h post jagged-1 RNA interference. The expression of key genes in the Notch signalling pathway, including notch1 and delta, and genes related to growth and development, including chh, gih and mih, decreased significantly post jagged-1 RNA interference. After continuous jagged-1 RNA interference, the ovary of the interference group only developed to the G3 stage, while the ovary of the control group developed to the G4 stage. Further study found that there were 8 SNPs including one missense mutation (SNP 2389 T > C) and seven synonymous mutations, and the SNP 2389 T > C and SNP 2799 G > C might be related to the growth of E. carinicauda. The results showed that jagged-1 was involved in the growth and development of E. carinicauda.
Effects of different diets on growth and survival of first feeding second-stage juvenile Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) (Decapoda, Astacidea)
Authors: Özdoğan Hasan B. E. , Koca Habil U.
Published: July 2023

In this study, the effects of live feed and five different commercial microparticle feeds (300-500 μm) on the survival and growth performance of first-feeding juvenile Pontastacus leptodactylus were investigated for 21 days. Six groups were tested: Group I got the live feed, i.e., Artemia nauplii; Group II was fed Abalioglu feed; Group III got Kılıc feed; Group IV Allotec feed; Group V Inve feed; and Group VI Gemma feed. Twenty-five juveniles of the second developmental stage, with a mean weight of 0.03 ± 0.01 g and mean length of 11.0 ± 0.01 mm were randomly distributed as four replicates into four 70 × 30 × 40 cm aquariums. Accordingly, a total of 600 juvenile crayfish were divided into 24 experimental groups. The diets were abundantly fed over the experimental period. The growth rate and survival rates of the experimental groups were significantly different (). The results indicated that the best diet for feeding the second-stage juvenile crayfish in terms of growth, was the Inve feed.
The Teachings of Silvanus
Authors: van den Broek Roelof
Published: July 2023

Previous research on the Teachings of Silvanus has led to the generally accepted conclusion that the present form of the work is the result of a long textual development. Because of the text’s close relationship with the biblical and Hellenistic-Jewish Wisdom literature, it has been suggested that its earliest form was a Jewish sapiential writing, which over a long period of time was Christianised by the addition of New Testament material and Christian theological speculations. In the present study, the problem of the Teachings’ textual development is approached from a literary analysis of the text. It is argued that the work contains many instances of parallelismus membrorum, which in some cases are closely interwoven with biblical and Jewish sapiential texts and in other cases are abruptly broken up by Christian interpolations.
Freedom of Religion during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Poland: Legal and Sociological Perspectives
Authors: Skoczylas Łukasz , Olszanowski Jan , Golędzinowski Filip
Published: July 2023

This article presents an analysis of the legal regulations on practicing religion introduced in Poland with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic. The legal analysis juxtaposes these rules with freedom of religion, the rule of law (including the principle of proper legislation) and the principle of proportionality. A sociological analysis, based on IDI and CAWI research, explains the response of Polish society, specifically believers, to the restrictions imposed on the basis of the legal framework. The results of the analyses indicate that the regulations strongly violated the principles under scrutiny. However, in general, Polish society did not question the validity of the restrictions. Social criticism centered on specific solutions adopted by means of regulations, their questionable nature, and difficulties with their application, while the criticism did not express doubts of a legal nature.
Re-evaluating the Authenticity of Hadith on the Shariah Ruling of Female Circumcision in Malaysia
Authors: Ithnin Norazam Khair Mohd , Suliaman Ishak , Ibrahim Abdul Halim
Published: July 2023

The practice of female circumcision in Malaysia has been heavily criticized for being like the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa. This criticism started from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2018, organized by the United Nations Human Rights (UNHR), which called on Malaysia to stop the practice of female circumcision. Among the accusations made were that the practice of female circumcision was merely a tradition and not a religious requirement. In addition, they denied the authority of the hadith used as evidence for the legitimization of female circumcision, claiming that they were weak and lacked authority. Therefore, this study aims to reassess and re-evaluate the validity and authority of the hadith used as evidence for the legitimization of female circumcision. This study uses a qualitative method, employing historical-textual analysis, to analyze the opinions of hadith scholars regarding the sanad (Transmission) and matan (Text) of the hadith. The results of this study found that the hadith regarding female circumcision has various pathways that can support each other and can be upgraded to hasan li ghayrihi. In conclusion, this study found that the hadith used as evidence for the legitimization of female circumcision is authoritative, thereby affirming that this practice is part of Islamic law.
Esoteric Interpretation of the Quran in “The Study Quran”: A New Translation and Commentary (2015) by Seyyed Hossein Nasr et al.
Authors: Riza Zikri , Zainuddin
Published: July 2023

The fundamental objective of this research is to explicate the uniqueness of esoteric interpretation in The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary (2015) written by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and his team. This library research applies qualitative research methods and an interdisciplinary approach, that is Sufism science. The result unveils that esoteric interpretation tradition in the contemporary era tries not to reduce the esoteric meaning of the Quran to Sufism authority and that every individual has the possibility to interact with the Quran’s esoteric meaning. The uniqueness of moderate esoteric interpretation in The Study Quran helps find new meanings of the Quran as a contemporary perspective in interpreting a text.
Populist Discourses in Taiwan and the Case of Han Kuo-yu
Authors: Krumbein Frédéric
Published: July 2023

The article analyses the rise and fall of the Kuomintang candidate in the 2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Han Kuo-yu. It examines how three leading Taiwanese newspapers, the China Times, the Liberty Times, and the United Daily News, have reported about him and his populist strategy and style. Han Kuo-yu is almost uniformly viewed as a populist due to his anti-elite discourse, self-styling as a common man, and use of simple and direct language. The analysis of Han Kuo-yu and the media coverage about him is based on three leading approaches to defining and understanding populism—the ‘ideational’, ‘political-strategic’, and ‘socio-cultural’ approaches—and academic definitions of populism that have been used and invented by scholars in Taiwan since the island’s democratisation in the 1990s.
Lepiota baiyunensis sp. nov. (Agaricales, Agaricaceae) from Baiyun Mountain, China
Authors: LIANG YING-SHAN , XU YI-WEN , OUYANG MIN , HUANG XIAO-XIA , LIN ZHI-JUN , QIU LI-HONG
Published: July 2023

A novel species of Lepiota sect. Ovisporae from Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou, China is described, based on phylogenetic analysis of both internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and multi-loci (ITS, LSU, IGS and mtSSU) combined with morphological examinations. Lepiota baiyunensis sp. nov. differs from Lepiota lilacea by its light yellow lamellae, stipe covered with lamellar squamules, lacking true annulus, usually clavate cheilocystidia and trichodermal pileus covering composed of long, cylindrical elements.
Fusarium endophyticum sp. nov. (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales), a new endophytic fungus from northern Thailand
Authors: SUWANNARACH NAKARIN , KHUNA SURAPONG , KUMLA JATURONG , THITLA TANAPOL , HONGSANAN SINANG , NUANGMEK WIPORNPAN , LUMYONG SAISAMORN
Published: July 2023

A new endophytic ascomycete, described herein as Fusarium endophyticum, was isolated from leaves of Camellia sinensis var. assamica collected from Nan Province, northern Thailand. This species is described using morphological characteristics and molecular multi-gene analyses. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a combination of internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS), translation-elongation factor 1 alpha (tef-1), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1) genes revealed that F. endophyticum belonged to the Fusarium lateritium species complex (FLSC) and was distinct from all other known species. A full description, illustrations and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of F. endophyticum are provided.
Ostracods from the Barbalha and Crato formations, Aptian of the Araripe Basin, northeast Brazil
Authors: FILHO MARCOS ANTONIO BATISTA DOS SANTOS , CEOLIN DAIANE , FAUTH GERSON , LIMA FRANCISCO HENRIQUE DE OLIVEIRA
Published: July 2023

Ostracods have been widely used for biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental purposes for the Lower Cretaceous deposits of northeastern interior Brazilian basins. The ostracods of the Romualdo and Crato formations of the Araripe Basin are particularly well known; however, the ones from the underlying Barbalha Formation are less so. Here we report 10 ostracod species, of which three are new, obtained from 56 samples of the Barbalha and Crato formations collected from boreholes 1PS-06-CE and 1PS-10-CE: Candonopsis? alagoensis Tomé et al., 2014, Brasacypris subovatum Do Carmo et al., 2013, Damonella medialtis sp. nov., Cypridea araripensis Silva, 1978, Pattersoncypris cf. P. angulata (Krömmelbein & Weber, 1971), Pattersoncypris micropapillosa Bate, 1972, Pattersoncypris salitrensis (Krömmelbein & Weber, 1971), Pattersoncypris trapezium sp. nov., Looneyellopsis? sagittensis sp. nov., and Theriosynoecum silvai (Silva, 1978). Preservation of this material was very good in the Crato Formation and the Batateira Beds, with numerous well-preserved juvenile carapaces down to the A-6 instar having been found in the latter. Conversely, preservation was very poor in the upper portion of the Barbalha Formation, from which mostly molds were recovered.
Limbodessus moni sp. nov., a new high altitudinal diving beetle from the Grasberg in West Papua, Indonesia (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini)
Authors: SURBAKTI SURIANI , BALKE MICHAEL , HENDRICH LARS
Published: July 2023

Limbodessus moni sp. nov. is described from Lake Anderson and from small, richly vegetated swampy areas around alpine lakes at 3,970 m a.s.l. near the Grasberg Mine (Carstensz Pyramid) in the Central Mountain Range of New Guinea. The record of the new species marks the altitudinal maximum of a diving beetle in New Guinea. The new species is morphologically similar to L. alexanderi Balke & Hendrich, 2015 in terms of body size and dark coloration; however, both species can be easily separated by the shape of the median lobe and the more moniliform female antennomeres, not forming a conspicuous club as in L. alexanderi. A modified key for all five Limbodessus species from New Guinea and adjacent islands is presented.
Direct Evidence of Standing Internal Tide West of the Luzon Strait Observed by a Large-Scale Observation Array
Authors: Wang Min , Zhu Xiao-Hua , Zheng Hua , Chen Juntian , Liu Zhao-Jun , Ren Qiang , Liu Yansong , Nan Feng , Yu Fei , Li Qiang
Published: July 2023

Using a large-scale observation array of 27 simultaneous pressure-recording inverted echo sounders (PIESs), the standing wave features of the mode-1 M2 internal tide west of the Luzon Strait (LS) were identified. These features exhibited nonmonotonic spatial phase shifts and half-wavelength amplitude modulation, resulting in spatially varying amplitudes under PIES observations, which have not been previously observed in field observations west of the LS. Satellite altimeter measurements also identified standing-wave patterns consistent with the PIES observations. These patterns emanated from interference between the northwestward and southeastward beams from the LS and the slope of the southern Taiwan Strait, respectively. Near the LS, the two beams superimposed into partial standing waves, whereas the superimposed waves tended to become perfect standing waves near the slope of the southern Taiwan Strait. The nodes and antinodes of the wave shifted under the influence of an anticyclonic eddy. The eddy-induced background current modified the phase speed of the internal tides, and the superimposed standing-wave nodes and antinodes deflected clockwise. The node shifted during three anticyclonic eddy events, and two stations on two sides of the wave node showed opposite variations in amplitude.

Significance Statement

The internal tidal constituent (M2) propagating in opposite directions can result in standing waves, which have been frequently observed in global oceans but were absent west of the Luzon Strait (LS). Our observations (based on a large-scale array west of the LS) discovered a standing M2 internal tide, which stems from interference between the northwestward beams emanating from the LS and southeastward beams from the slope of the southern Taiwan Strait. Anticyclonic eddies play important roles in adjusting the amplitude of internal tides by deflecting the standing-wave nodes and antinodes clockwise. The study facilitates the understanding of the energy distribution and mixing processes west of the LS and provides a fresh perspective on the dynamic relationship between mesoscale perturbations and internal tides.
Effects of Knowledge of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) on Life Changes in People without NDEs
Authors: Ghasemiannejad Jahromi Alinaghi , Qaderi Bagajan Kaveh , Jamshidi Babak , Zakiei Ali
Published: July 2023

Background and Objective: Near-death experiences (NDEs) greatly change the lives of Near-death experiencers (NDErs); however, the influence of the knowledge of these experiences on other people is unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of knowledge of NDEs on various aspects of life and the sleep quality of those without NDEs. Methods: The research population consisted of people aged 12–60 years living in a number of different cities in Iran during 2021. A total of 766 out of 800 individuals who met the inclusion criteria completed the self-report questionnaires. Also, 466 respondents (60.8%) were women. Results: The findings of the study indicated that 57.6%, 58.1%, 72.1%, 79.6%, and 70.9% of the respondents acquired knowledge about NDEs through reading books and articles, watching movies and clips, using social media and networks, listening to lectures, and chatting with friends, respectively. Data analysis showed that 40% of the respondents reported a drastic change in their views or feelings and 57% experienced positive effects in their lives after learning about NDEs. Overall, the data in this study confirmed that most individuals were profoundly affected after exposure to NDEs. Conclusion: Knowledge of NDEs improves the quality of life, mental health, sleep quality, and the understanding of the life and death of most individuals without NDEs. Although there are some changes that are not necessarily positive and in some cases changes have been associated with negative consequences, later in this paper, the relevant associations and cautions are discussed.
Education and Voter Response to Principled Trade-Offs in Muslim Democracies
Authors: Sumaktoyo Nathanael Gratias , Kilavuz M Tahir
Published: July 2023

We contribute to the policy trade-offs literature by focusing on a principled trade-off that juxtaposes a widely desired objective with a moral belief and by examining how education conditions voters’ responses to this trade-off. Through survey experiments in Indonesia and Tunisia, we examine how voters respond to a liberal initiative to relax alcohol restrictions to raise revenue for social security and a conservative initiative to tighten alcohol restrictions even if it decreases social security revenue. We find that voters opposed the liberal initiative and that more educated voters supported the conservative initiative more than their less educated counterparts. These findings highlight the powerful constraints of moral beliefs even in the context of a trade-off with a common good and support the socialization perspective of education that portrays education as an institution that socializes individuals in the society’s dominant values—whether liberal or conservative—as opposed to simply a force for liberalization.
Mathematical modeling of magnetized nanofluid flow over extending and contracting pipe with heat source and chemical reaction: Error estimation and stability analysis
Authors: Zeeshan  , Islam Saeed
Published: July 2023

The aim of the current study is to examine the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow over the permeable pipe containing the nanoparticles with a heat transport mechanism. The leading equations of flow are obtained in terms of partial differential equations (PDEs). The suitable transformation is applied to alter PDEs to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and solved numerically via the RK4 method. The novelty of the current work is to investigate the MHD nanofluid overextending and shrinking pipe enclosing the chemical reaction with a heat reservoir. The outcomes of different factors are depicted through graphs and tables on the flow phenomena. It is observed that for both situations of wall extension or contraction with injection, the temperature is the increasing function of the thermophoresis and Brownian motion factors. It is explored that the heat is upraised when the heat generation is augmented but decays for heat absorption. The point to be noted here is that the Hartmann number and Prandtl number enhance the heat curves in the presence of a heat source. It is also observed that when the thermophoresis factor is increased the nanoparticles concentration is also enhanced via heat source/sink. The error estimation is computed for different order approximations. For the confirmation of the mathematical modeling, the current study is validated with the previous.
Collaborative Settings of Co-Creation: Knowledge Diplomacy and Pedagogical Thinking in Communication
Authors: Chaban Natalia
Published: July 2023

This paper explores the intersection of pedagogical research in communication and research on public diplomacy and engages with the notion of knowledge diplomacy. It revises the concept of the “collaborative” central to both public diplomacy and higher education pedagogy. With both fields emphasizing the importance of co-creation, the paper theorizes and operationalizes this concept, and argues that co-creation (as a process and a framework) is one solution to the challenge of dominance argued by the scholarship of knowledge diplomacy. Empirically, the article engages with two cases of grassroots knowledge diplomacy initiated by a tertiary communication program in collaboration with diplomats.
The “Partial Innocence” Effect: False Guilty Pleas to Partially Unethical Behaviors
Authors: Cardenas Stephanie A. , Sanchez Patricia Y. , Kassin Saul M.
Published: July 2023

Although research has focused on the “innocence problem,” “partial innocence” may also plague individuals who plead guilty to crimes they did not commit, but that are either comparable, more severe, or less severe than their actual crimes. Using a high-stake experimental paradigm and an immersive role-playing paradigm, we examined the psychology of partial innocence. Students were randomly induced (or imagined themselves) to be innocent, guilty, or partially innocent of committing an academic transgression and then given the choice to accept or reject a deal to avoid disciplinary sanction. Across three studies ( Ns = 88, 75, 746), partially innocent students pled to cheating nearly as often as guilty students and vastly more often than innocent students. Partially innocent students—not unlike guilty students—experienced greater feelings of guilt than did innocent students. In turn, these feelings of guilt, but not shame, were associated with taking responsibility for a range of transgressions not committed.
Mixed sex cord–stromal tumor (gynandroblastoma) with malignant morphology involving both ovaries: a case report
Authors: Maraqa Bayan , Al-Ashhab Maxim , Kamal Nazmi , Sughayer Maher , Barakat Fareed
Published: July 2023

Mixed sex cord–stromal tumors, which consist of poorly differentiated Sertoli cells and Leydig cells and juvenile granulosa cell tumor tissue, are extremely rare. Most of these tumors are unilateral and stage I at the time of diagnosis; nonetheless, according to the available relevant English-language literature, these tumors maintain a malignant potential. We herein report a case involving a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with a mixed sex cord–stromal tumor (gynandroblastoma with juvenile granulosa cell tumor component). Left salpingo-oophorectomy was initially performed, and the diagnosis of a juvenile granulosa cell tumor was established. Right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed 1 year later, at which time the specimen showed a different growth pattern involving epithelioid cells and tubules, resembling a Sertoli–Leydig cell tumor. Immunohistochemical staining was performed and the specimen was compared with that obtained 1 year earlier. We concluded that the tumors were linked and most likely constituted a gynandroblastoma (mixed form of sex cord–stromal tumor). Although this is an extremely uncommon ovarian tumor, it should be considered when diverse tumor morphology is identified. Bilateral metachronous involvement of the ovaries is possible. The grade of the Sertoli–Leydig cell component may influence the prognosis of such a tumor.
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the engagement in meaningful activities survey
Authors: Cruyt Ellen , Jarrey Mike , Eijkelkamp Ank , Vlerick Peter , De Letter Miet , Oostra Kristine , Calders Patrick , De Pauw Robby , Costenoble Axelle , Bautmans Ivan , Van de Velde Dominique , De Vriendt Patricia
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

Engaging in meaningful activities contributes to health and well-being. Therefore, it is important to measure this with reliable and valid evaluation tools. The Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS-VL) has been cross-culturally validated in Flemish and the psychometric properties determined.

Method:

The adaptation process followed the guidelines ‘Translation and Adaptation of Instruments’ and ‘Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self Report’. A forward and backward translation was performed. Three authors of the original EMAS were in close contact. Pretesting and cognitive interviews were performed on a sample of 10 chronically ill individuals. Psychometric analysis of survey data, collected during the COVID-19 lockdown ( N = 1938 Belgian adults, Flemish speaking), was performed. Internal consistency, factorial validity and construct validity were examined.

Results:

The adaptation process involved an accurate analysis of the items of the EMAS by the expert panel and EMAS authors. The EMAS-VL showed high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.91). Exploratory factor analysis discerned an interpretable two-factorial structure of the EMAS-VL. As hypothesized, moderate associations were found between GHQ-12 ( r = −0.57) and CD-RISC ( r = 0.50) so the EMAS-VL possesses satisfactory construct validity as well.

Conclusion:

EMAS-VL is shown to be a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating meaning in activities in Flanders.
Simulator and Microsimulation Study of Transportation Network Company Pickup/Dropoff Area Designs
Authors: Kaltenbronn Jacob , Jin Peng , Shu Xiaofan , Sun Carlos , Zhang Siyang
Published: July 2023

The advent of transportation network companies (TNCs), also known as commercial ridesharing providers, has disrupted transportation systems leading to new facility designs. Dedicated pickup/dropoff areas can facilitate the future shift to autonomous vehicles. In this study, angled stalls and parallel curbside parking, along with signage and education, were investigated using pedestrian and wheelchair simulators. Human behavior was examined with regard to safety, efficiency, and accessibility. Microsimulation and Surrogate Safety Assessment Model were used to examine the effect of increased demand on design capacity and number of conflicts. In simulations, both stall and curbside designs performed comparably in crosswalk usage, but the stall design was safer when passengers waited longer for vehicle arrival. It is preferable to wait to approach the loading area until the TNC vehicle arrives. Stall design was more accessible but curbside design had greater efficiency because of shorter vehicle waiting time (−7.31 s [ p < 0.01]). Signage and education were found to be effective in increasing sidewalk usage, decreasing deviations from the crosswalk, and reducing vehicle waiting time. Post-simulator surveys showed similar ratings for safety (80.65%), with stall design scoring higher in accessibility (90% versus 52%) and curbside design slightly higher in efficiency (77% versus 68%). Participants reported almost equal preference for stall or curbside designs (48% versus 52%), and over 90% found the signage and education effective. Microsimulation indicated that stall design had higher capacity (500 vehicles per hour) than curbside design (350 vehicles per hour) within 180 linear feet, and fewer overall conflicts at 300 loadings.
Winter Road Surface Condition Recognition Using Semantic Segmentation and the Generative Adversarial Network: A Case Study of Iowa, U.S.A.
Authors: Wu Mingjian , Kwon Tae J. , Huynh Nancy
Published: July 2023

Adverse road surface conditions (RSCs) are a significant concern for traffic safety and mobility during the winter season. Dealing with this issue requires the prompt execution of maintenance operations to restore safe driving conditions. The faster maintenance personnel are made aware of the dangerous conditions, the faster they can mobilize to mitigate adverse RSCs. Therefore, the speed at which RSC information is provided is vital for reducing potential road-related incidents and maintaining mobility. Intending to improve the delivery of RSC information, this study proposes developing a deep learning-based method through the usage of road weather information system (RWIS) images to automate the RSC classification process. While the RWIS collects images that give a direct view of the road, the traditional manual way of utilizing these images for RSC monitoring is laborious and time-consuming. To overcome this challenge as well as other limitations associated with previously developed RSC recognition methods, the application of deep neural networks using imagery data is investigated here. More specifically, the application of semantic segmentation (SS) and generative adversarial network (GAN) techniques in automating RSC recognition was adopted in an attempt to predict the locations of drivable areas and indicate the snow hazard level solely based on RWIS images. Case study results from Iowa, U.S.A., show that both SS and GAN techniques perform their tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
Outcomes of primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy: The role of maximum ureteral wall thickness at the site of stone impaction
Authors: Morena Tonino , Vismara Fugini Andrea , Veccia Alessandro , Riva Marianna , Peroni Angelo
Published: July 2023

Objectives:

To verify if the maximum thickness of the ureteral wall at the stone site (m-UWT) can affect the outcomes of primary retrograde ureteroscopic lithotripsy (P-URSL) within a single-center dataset.

Material and methods:

We retrospectively reviewed data on 354 consecutive URSL performed from January 2020 to May 2022 at “Fondazione Poliambulanza” in Brescia (Italy). We included patients older than 18 years who underwent URSL for a single ureteral stone with a maximum diameter ranging from 5 to 10 mm. Patients with anatomical abnormalities, a positive preoperative urinary culture, or without a NCCT performed during the acute event were excluded. Patients were treated in an emergency setting (P-URSL within 48 h from the diagnosis of acute ureteral colic) or in a delayed one (D-URSL after a period of maximum 90 days of ureteral double-j stenting). For the resulting 139 patients we recorded demographic, clinical and stone-related features and perioperative data. We processed these data by univariate and multivariate analysis, and with a logistic regression analysis.

Results:

Of the 139 included procedures, 63 were P-URSL and 76 D-URSL. At the univariate analysis we found that stone diameter (OR 0.845, p = 0.017), stone volume (OR 0.023, p = 0.001), stone density (OR 0.998, p = 0.000) and m-UWT (OR 0.499, p = 0.013) are predictors of P-URSL. Stone density (OR 0.998, p = 0.002) is an independent predictor of P-URSL at the multivariate analysis. At a logistic regression analysis, a distal ureteric position (OR 0.189, p = 0.014), stone diameter (OR 1.289, p = 0.006), and m-UWT (OR 2.297, p = 0.02) were found to be statistically significant predictors of incomplete stone clearance in patients undergoing P-URSL. m-UWT is the only predictor of short-term postoperative adverse events in patients undergoing P-URSL (OR 3.386, p < 0.001). From a descriptive analysis, it emerged that an increased m-UWT (>2 mm) significantly correlates to an endoscopic finding of ureteritis’ signs and to an increase in operative time, hospital stay and post-procedural stenting time. A m-UWT greater than 2 mm also correlates with a lower stone free rate (SFR) and with a significant increase in both short and long-term postoperative complications.

Conclusions:

Our study confirmed a connection between m-UWT and poor endoscopic findings, as well as a direct correlation with the main morphometric parameters of the stone and finally with the outcomes of P-URSL itself. Further studies are necessary to validate our results, so that m-UWT might be routinely considered a useful tool in the decision-making process for P-URSL.