bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ATTITUDE TO HEALTH AND READINESS FOR TREATMENT IN THE SITUATION OF PANDEMIC
Authors: Rasskazova Elena I. , Tkhostov Aleхаndеr Sh.
Published: March 2023

Background. X e COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented model for psychology to explore the factors of adherence to recommendations, vaccination and protective actions in a situation of uncertainty. Objective.X e aim of the study is to reveal the relationship between attitudes towards health and readiness for treatment with adherence to recommendations and protective actions during the pandemic. Methods. In November-December 2020, 523 respondents aged 18 to 65 W lled in scales to assess their tendency for monitoring information about the pandemic, level of anxiety caused by the pandemic, vaccination, and protective actions during the pandemic, their readiness for vaccination, illness-related locus of control, selfeY cacy in relation to treatment, “hypochondriac discourse”, as well as readiness for treatment and ideas on the speciW cs of medication. Results. Respondents were more willing to actively comply with safety recommendations if they (1) had external locus of control in treatment — this eZ ect was both direct and indirect, which implied higher pandemic anxiety; (2) believed in alternative medicine methods; (3) declared readiness for treatment; and also (4) valued health care as a resource conservation, which in[ uenced compliance indirectly — through the higher pandemic anxiety. Adherence to self-isolation was higher with health being more important as a means of protection against risk (both direct and indirect eZ ects) and indirectly (because of greater pandemic anxiety) as well as with an external locus of control for treatment. Vaccination readiness depended on the internal locus of control for illness causes, lower internal and higher external locus of control for treatment, and also distrust toward the medical system. At the same time, mistrust in the medical system was characterized by two indirect eZ ects in relation to lower readiness for vaccination: on the one hand, distrust was associated with greater anxiety about the pandemic and therefore greater readiness for vaccination, and on the other hand, with greater anxiety about vaccination and therefore less readiness for it. Respondents reported better lifestyle control in cases of more pronounced self-eY cacy, conW dence in the importance of taking care of health and resorting to the methods of alternative medicine, as well as declared readiness for treatment. Outdoor trips were associated with self-eY cacy and conW dence in the importance of treatment with alternative medicine. Both of these eZ ects were not explained by pandemic anxiety and vaccination anxiety. Conclusion. Active and passive adherence to recommendations, as well as other ways of caring for health, depend diZ erently on attitudes towards health and readiness for treatment.
Five new species of Coccothrinax (Cryosophileae, Coryphoideae, Arecaceae) from Hispaniola
Authors: HENDERSON ANDREW , FERNÁNDEZ ELADIO , MONTERO OSCAR , CLASE TEODORO , GRATACOS XAVIER , BACON CHRISTINE D.
Published: March 2023

Five new species of Coccothrinax from Hispaniola are described and illustrated. A key is given to all species from the island.
Use of a Carbon Nanoparticle Tracer to Detect Sentinel Lymph Nodes for the Precise Treatment of Endometrial Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Haiying , Jin Yue , Hu Yan , Wang Zhiying , Chen Xiaoxiao , Liao Liyun , Zhu Haibin
Published: March 2023

We evaluated the usefulness of a carbon nanoparticle (CNP) tracer for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) for the precise treatment of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Among patients who presented at First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, and Xiangshan
First People’s Hospital Medical and Health Group between February 2019 and February 2022, we selected 90 patients who required surgical treatment for EC. During the operation, CNP was injected into the cervix by the two-point method, and black-stained LNs were identified as SLNs and
resected. Then, statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate SLN occurrence area, CNP traceability, SLN detection rate, as well as diagnostic data such as false negative rate (FNR), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive/negative predictive value (PPV/NPV), and accuracy (ACC). CNP
tracing detected SLN mainly at the external iliac (45.09%) and obturator (36.36%) regions. CNP tracing of SLNs was successful in 80 patients, with an SLN detection rate of 88.89%. Eight cases (10.00%) were positive for SLNs, with an FNR of 12.50%. The SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, and ACC values for
CNP detection of SLNs were 87.50%, 98.78%, 87.50%, 98.78%, and 97.78%, respectively. Our results indicate that CNP is an effective tracer for SLNs. When operating on EC patients, CNP tracing of SLNs can help to judge lymph node metastasis and regional distribution, providing a reliable basis
for the determination of surgical scope.
A Label-Free Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on a Truncated Aptamer for the Detection of Progesterone
Authors: Yang Jie , Hou Yucui , Ren Yi , Tang Chunhua , Li HuanHuan , Huang Jing , Jiang Hanbing , Cai Tongji , Zhao Jia , Yu Peng
Published: March 2023

This study built an electrochemical label-free progesterone aptasensor to detect progesterone (P4) levels in environmental water samples. The truncated aptamer-modified sulfhydryl adopted self-assembly as a way to stably immobilize at the electrode surface modified by gold nanoparticles
(AuNPs). When progesterone combines with the aptamer, the complexes will inhibit electrode surface electron transfer, which reduces the redox peak current value of [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−. As a result, the amount of progesterone combined with the aptamer on the electrode
reacted to the electric current’s response values. We have established the relationship between the concentration of progesterone and the current change by a standard curve that is ΔI (μA) = 11.78log CP4 (nM)+48.98. The coefficient of association was 0.9358.
The test ranges were from 0.5 nM to 1000 nM. At the same time, other molecules with a similar structure, such as testosterone, estradiol, and 17α-hydroxyl progesterone, had lower response interference than P4. In conclusion, the aptasensor, which had outstanding repeatability
and stability, could be applied to determine P4. Food hygiene and clinical diagnosis can be made easier with this newly developed electrochemical biosensor based on aptamers.
DAPT Alleviates Cardiac Dysfunction in Psoriasis by Inhibiting Angiogenesis Through Regulating the Notch/DLL4 Pathway
Authors: Chen Wei , Yang Xiaohong
Published: March 2023

This study aims to explore the effect of DAPT on cardiac dysfunction in psoriasis. The psoriasis model was established in mice by smeared with 50 mg/cm2 imiquimod (IMQ), followed by administration of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg DAPT, respectively. The elevated thickness of epidermal
layers observed IMQ-treated mice was greatly reduced by DAPT, accompanied by a downregulation of VEGF and CD34. Furthermore, the activated Notch/DLL4 pathway in IMQ-treated mice was repressed by DAPT. The increased value of LVIDd, LVIDs, and heart index, as well as the declined EF, were dramatically
reversed by DAPT, accompanied by repaired ultrastructure in myocardial cells and reduced number of collagen fibers observed in cardiac tissues. In addition, the activated Notch/DLL4 pathway in cardiac tissues of IMQ-treated mice was inhibited by DAPT. A co-cultural system was established between
HUVECs and HaCaT cells, followed by incubating with 2.5 μM DAPT, 5 μM DAPT, and 10 μM DAPT for 48 hours, respectively. A dramatically declined cell viability, increased apoptotic rate, and suppressed tube formation capacity were observed in HUVECs after the treatment
of DAPT, accompanied by an inhibition of Notch/DII4 signaling. Collectively, DAPT alleviated cardiac dysfunction in psoriasis by inhibiting angiogenesis through regulating the Notch/DLL4 pathway.
Ophiopogon japonicas Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats Through Regulation of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhao Lingjiao , Zhou Liyan , Li Gaowen , You Weijing , Su Chengxiao , Tong Ziyi , Xia Qing , Chen Qun
Published: March 2023

Ophiopogon japonicas has a protective effect on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury-related diseases. Using network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches, we aimed to investigate the potential role of OJPs in myocardial damage. Also, the effects of OJPs and verapamil
on cardiac function, cardiac marker enzymes, oxidative stress, inflammation, histopathological changes, apoptosis, TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, as well Nrf2/HO-1 pathways were determined by echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin and staining, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbnent Assay,
TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling, IHC and Western blot assays in MI/RI rats, respectively. A total of 28 absorbable compounds of OJPs and 65 OJPs-MI/RI-related targets were screened. Regulation of inflammatory response and apoptotic signaling pathway might contribute to OJPs against MI/RI.
Besides, molecular docking presented that there are 6 core targets including AKT1, IL6, TNF, VEGFA, EGFR, and Caspase 3 with a certain binding affinity on the absorbable components of OJPs. The in vivo experiments illustrated that OJPs ameliorated cardiac function, oxidative stress,
inflammation, and histopathological injury in I/R rats. Moreover, OJPs also could repress levels of apoptosis and TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB-related targets, as well as activate PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. Collectively, our findings suggest OJPs could attenuate MI/RI by weakening
the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling, as well as activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.
Changes in Extreme Temperature and Precipitation over the Southern Extratropical Continents in Response to Antarctic Sea Ice Loss
Authors: Zhu Zhu , Liu Jiping , Song Mirong , Hu Yongyun
Published: March 2023

Current climate models project that Antarctic sea ice will decrease by the end of the twenty-first century. Previous studies have suggested that Antarctic sea ice changes have impacts on atmospheric circulation and the mean state of the Southern Hemisphere. However, little is known about whether Antarctic sea ice loss may have a tangible impact on climate extremes over the southern continents and whether ocean–atmosphere coupling plays an important role in changes of climate extremes over the southern continents. In this study, we conduct a set of fully coupled and atmosphere-only model experiments forced by present and future Antarctic sea ice cover. It is found that the projected Antarctic sea ice loss by the end of the twenty-first century leads to an increase in the frequency and duration of warm extremes (especially warm nights) over the southern continents and a decrease in cold extremes over most regions. The frequency and duration of wet extremes are projected to increase over South America and Antarctica, whereas changes in dry days and the longest dry spell vary with regions. Further Antarctic sea ice loss under a quadrupling of CO2 leads to similar but larger changes. Comparison between the coupled and atmosphere-only model experiments suggests that ocean dynamics and their interactions with the atmosphere induced by Antarctic sea ice loss play a key role in driving the identified changes in temperature and precipitation extremes over southern continents. By comparing with global warming experiments, we find that Antarctic sea ice loss may affect temperature and precipitation extremes for some regions under greenhouse warming, especially Antarctica.
Origin and Evolution of Synoptic-Scale Vortices Initiated at Low Level Downwind of the Hoggar Mountains
Authors: Duvel Jean-Philippe
Published: March 2023

Numerous low-level vortices are initiated downwind of the Hoggar Mountains and progress toward the Atlantic coast on the northern path of African easterly waves (AEWs). These vortices occur mostly in July and August and more specifically when the northern position of the Saharan heat low (SHL) generates stronger and vertically expanded easterly winds over the Hoggar Mountains. At synoptic time scales, a composite analysis reveals that vortex initiation and westward motion are also statistically triggered by a reinforcement of these easterly winds by a wide and persistent high pressure anomaly developing around the Strait of Gibraltar and by a weak wave trough approaching from the east. The vortices are generated in the lee of the Hoggar, about 1000 km west of this approaching trough, and intensify rapidly. The evolution of the vortex perturbation is afterward comparable with the known evolution of the AEWs of the northern path and suggest a growth due to dry barotropic and baroclinic processes induced in particular by the strong cyclonic shear between the reinforced easterly winds and the monsoon flow. These results show that vortex genesis promoted by changes in orographic forcing due to the strengthening of easterly winds over the Hoggar Mountains is a source of intensification of the northern path of AEWs in July and August. These results also provide a possible mechanism to explain the role of the SHL and of particular midlatitude intraseasonal disturbances on the intensity of these waves.
A Systematic Assessment of the Overall Dropsonde Impact during the 2017–20 Hurricane Seasons Using the Basin-Scale HWRF
Authors: Ditchek Sarah D. , Sippel Jason A. , Alaka Ghassan J. , Goldenberg Stanley B. , Cucurull Lidia
Published: March 2023

This study comprehensively assesses the overall impact of dropsondes on tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts. We compare two experiments to quantify dropsonde impact: one that assimilated and another that denied dropsonde observations. These experiments used a basin-scale, multistorm configuration of the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF) and covered active North Atlantic basin periods during the 2017–20 hurricane seasons. The importance of a sufficiently large sample size as well as thoroughly understanding the error distribution by stratifying results are highlighted by this work. Overall, dropsondes directly improved forecasts during sampled periods and indirectly impacted forecasts during unsampled periods. Benefits for forecasts of track, intensity, and outer wind radii were more pronounced during sampled periods. The forecast improvements of outer wind radii were most notable given the impact that TC size has on TC-hazards forecasts. Additionally, robustly observing the inner- and near-core region was necessary for hurricane-force wind radii forecasts. Yet, these benefits were heavily dependent on the data assimilation (DA) system quality. More specifically, dropsondes only improved forecasts when the analysis used mesoscale error covariance derived from a cycled HWRF ensemble, suggesting that it is a vital DA component. Further, while forecast improvements were found regardless of initial classification and in steady-state TCs, TCs undergoing an intensity change had diminished benefits. The diminished benefits during intensity change probably reflect continued DA deficiencies. Thus, improving DA system quality and observing system limitations would likely enhance dropsonde impacts.

Significance Statement

This study uses a regional hurricane model to conduct the most comprehensive assessment of the impact of dropsondes on tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts to date. The main finding is that dropsondes can improve many aspects of TC forecasts if their data are assimilated with sufficiently advanced assimilation techniques. Particularly notable is the impact of dropsondes on TC outer-wind-radii forecasts, since improving those forecasts leads to more effective TC-hazard forecasts.
Nomadland: A Film by Chloé Zhao
Authors: Jasper David
Published: March 2023

Nomadland is a triple Oscar winning film, starring Frances McDormand as Fern, widowed and from a dying town in Nevada, who sets out in an old camper van to join the community of nomads travelling the roads and deserts of the American west. It is a tale of mourning, of coming to terms with the past and learning to face the unknown future without the comforts and securities of American middle-class existence. It bears comparison with biblical desert wanderers like Abraham, and early Christian saints of the desert who lived in the world as pilgrims, travelling towards the future with courage and perhaps hope.
Public trust in the Chinese government and life satisfaction during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Cai Qimeng
Published: March 2023

It is important to understand the public’s trust in the government’s ability to handle crisis events. Based on China Family Panel Studies data in 2018 and 2020, this paper explores the interaction between government trust and life satisfaction during the pandemic. It is found that with the increase in public trust in government officials, individual life satisfaction has been significantly improved. The main mechanism is that government trust enhances people’s confidence in the future and promotes the government’s investment in the livelihood fields. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, individual life satisfaction suffered a negative impact. Individuals with high trust in the government before the pandemic had a small decrease in life satisfaction. At the same time, when faced with the pandemic, individuals were more willing to trust the government due to the desire to overcome common threats, which will alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic on individual life satisfaction. The research reported in this paper helps to explain the role of government in the crisis period from the perspective of public trust and provides useful information for the government to formulate and adjust policies to mitigate the impact of the crisis events.

Points for practitioners In China, trust in local governments is related to public satisfaction. People are more willing to increase trust in the government to overcome a common crisis, thus reducing the negative impact of the crisis on individual life satisfaction. Perhaps more important is to promote the public service motivation of government officials through government trust. Providing public services, increasing accountability and transparency in society, and increasing citizen engagement are all effective ways to foster institutional trust.
Family First: Evidence of Consistency and Variation in the Value of Family Versus Personal Happiness Across 49 Different Cultures
Authors: Krys Kuba , Chun Yeung June , Haas Brian W. , van Osch Yvette , Kosiarczyk Aleksandra , Kocimska-Zych Agata , Torres Claudio , Selim Heyla A. , Zelenski John M. , Bond Michael Harris , Park Joonha , Lun Vivian Miu-Chi , Maricchiolo Fridanna , Vauclair Christin-Melanie , Poláčková Šolcová Iva , Sirlopú David , Xing Cai , Vignoles Vivian L. , van Tilburg Wijnand A. P. , Teyssier Julien , Sun Chien-Ru , Serdarevich Ursula , Schwarz Beate , Sargautyte Ruta , Røysamb Espen , Romashov Vladyslav , Rizwan Muhammad , Pavlović Zoran , Pavlopoulos Vassilis , Okvitawanli Ayu , Nadi Azar , Nader Martin , Mustaffa Nur Fariza , Murdock Elke , Mosca Oriana , Mohorić Tamara , Barrientos Marroquin Pablo Eduardo , Malyonova Arina , Liu Xinhui , Lee J. Hannah , Kwiatkowska Anna , Kronberger Nicole , Klůzová Kráčmarová Lucie , Kascakova Natalia , Işık İdil , Igou Eric R. , Igbokwe David O. , Hanke-Boer Diana , Gavreliuc Alin , Garðarsdóttir Ragna B. , Fülöp Márta , Gamsakhurdia Vladimer , Esteves Carla Sofia , Domínguez-Espinosa Alejandra , Denoux Patrick , Charkviani Salome , Baltin Arno , Arevalo Douglas , Appoh Lily , Akotia Charity , Adamovic Mladen , Uchida Yukiko
Published: March 2023

People care about their own well-being and about the well-being of their families. It is currently, however, unknown how much people tend to value their own versus their family’s well-being. A recent study documented that people value family happiness over personal happiness across four cultures. In this study, we sought to replicate this finding across a larger sample size ( N = 12,819) and a greater number of countries ( N = 49). We found that the strength of the idealization of family over personal happiness preference was small (average Cohen’s ds = .20, range −.02 to.48), but present in 98% of the studied countries, with statistical significance in 73% to 75%, and variance across countries <2%. We also found that the size of this effect did vary somewhat across cultural contexts. In Latin American cultures highest on relational mobility, the idealization of family over personal happiness was very small (average Cohen’s ds for Latin America = .15 and .18), while in Confucian Asia cultures lowest on relational mobility, this effect was closer to medium ( ds > .40 and .30). Importantly, we did not find strong support for traditional theories in cross-cultural psychology that associate collectivism with greater prioritization of the family versus the individual; country-level individualism–collectivism was not associated with variation in the idealization of family versus individual happiness. Our findings indicate that no matter how much various populists abuse the argument of “protecting family life” to disrupt emancipation, family happiness seems to be a pan-culturally phenomenon. Family well-being is a key ingredient of social fabric across the world, and should be acknowledged by psychology and well-being researchers and by progressive movements too.
Food Craving Increases Unhealthy Food Purchases: A Study of SNAP Households
Authors: Thomas Manoj , Ma Yu , Gauri Dinesh K.
Published: March 2023

Analysis of actual transactions in a grocery store shows that households enrolled in the U.S. government's Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) purchase more unhealthy hedonic food, compared with households that do not receive SNAP benefits. SNAP households purchased more unhealthy hedonic food regardless of whether they used government funds or cash to pay for their purchases. Three follow-up simulated grocery shopping studies were designed to understand the mechanisms underlying this food consumption pattern by SNAP households. SNAP households, compared with households that do not receive SNAP benefits, reported stronger food craving. Stronger food craving was associated with lower unhealthiness perception of hedonic food. Overall, the results suggest that food cravings can reduce perceptions of unhealthiness and thus increase unhealthy food purchases. Interventions that reduce the effect of food cravings on shopping decisions might reduce unhealthy consumption.
The Emmaus Project: Aging, Illness, and Dying Among Older Christians—A Qualitative Study
Authors: Quinn Kathryn R. T. , Kim Jenny , Yoon John D.
Published: March 2023

Older patients have an increased risk of depression, neglect, and abuse. Studies demonstrate that spiritual and religious coping is important at times of personal crisis, but few studies explore the impact of religion on older persons’ experiences of aging, illness, and impending death. This study set out to identify recurring spiritual and clinical themes shared by retirement home residents in the context of a Christian faith-based processing group. A qualitative cohort study of residents over the age of 65 was conducted at a retirement home in Chicago, Illinois. The study consisted of 8 hour-long Scripture-based processing group sessions co-led by a study researcher and the onsite chaplain. Questionnaires were administered to each group and handwritten responses were collected and analyzed to identify recurring clinical and spiritual themes. Ten participants enrolled in the group study. The questionnaire completion rate was 35% (49/140). The most recurring clinical themes included 1) events of death or terminal illness and 2) physical limitations. The most recurring spiritual themes included 1) God's presence and 2) prayer and worship. The most recurring coded theme overall was family. This study provided insight into the spiritual experiences of older Christians in one retirement home community. Increased awareness of the spiritual perspectives of the geriatric population may strengthen the doctor–patient relationship and lead to improvements in clinical care.
Exploring Collaborative Efforts Toward Promoting Better Eating Habits among Autistic Children in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Opoku Maxwell Peprah , Mustafa Ashraf , Anwahi Noora , Shah Haseena , Aldhaheri Salma , Almeqbaali Aysha , Alkateri Thara , Belbase Shashidhar
Published: March 2023

According to the principle of duty of care, adults in the lives of children with disabilities such as autistic children are expected to promote their development. The Nutbeam's health literacy model was adopted to explore the efforts of special education teachers and parents toward promoting better eating habits among autistic children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Twenty-one participants, comprising fifteen special education teachers and six parents with autistic children, were examined in this study. The results indicated that some special education teachers’ and parents’ limited understanding of unhealthy food might impact the development of autistic children. Furthermore, the findings also highlight the lack of collaboration and communication between teachers regarding the nutrition and healthy living of autistic children. The findings have practical consequences, such as urging UAE health policymakers to provide professional development for special education instructors and parents of autistic children.
Anticharismatic Authority: Joe Biden's Approximation of the Ideal Type
Authors: Wagner-Pacifici Robin
Published: March 2023

Sociologists have productively theorized power and politics via typologies and genealogies. This article combines these theorizing modalities to analyze the election of Joseph Biden in the 2020 US presidential election. Thinking about presidential genealogy, the semiotics of sequence and succession favored humility over hubris in the victory of Biden after Donald Trump. As well, drawing on Weber's three types of authority (traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational) and Fred Block's elaboration of a flexible but constrained and accountable missing fourth type, this article terms that fourth type anticharisma and reads Joe Biden as an anticharismatic aspirant. Whereas charisma draws its strength from the monopolization of attention by the leader, rupture, and crisis, anticharisma aspires to domestic tranquility, competence, familiarity, and empathy. The elaborated typology of authority presented here provides important angles into both the election of Joe Biden as the anticharismatic candidate and the constraints on democratic leadership in the United States.
Power of Sentiment Expressions on Peer-to-Peer Rental Platforms: A Mixed-Method Approach
Authors: Zhang Xi , Wei Xin , Zhang Te , Liang Sai , Ma Yao , Law Rob
Published: March 2023

Studies have confirmed the ineffectiveness of sentiment expressions generated by sellers in improving guests’ purchasing intentions. However, how sentiment expressions can influence guest behavior and host performance remains unclear, given the relative importance of seller-generated content in peer-to-peer rental platforms. After collecting data from Airbnb and developing empirical models, this study confirmed that hosts’ sentiment expressions largely benefit from their online performance. This case is especially true when their properties did not receive high-quality negative reviews. To further reveal the mechanism behind this effect, we further conducted two experiments. Results show that trust plays an intermediary role in the relationship between hosts’ sentiment expressions and guests’ purchasing intentions. This work contributes to tourism literature and property owners on peer-to-peer rental platforms in practice.
Non-fragile guaranteed cost control of nonlinear switched systems with actuator saturation
Authors: Wang Jianlin , Li Huiju , Zhang Xinquan
Published: March 2023

This paper considers a non-fragile guaranteed cost control problem for a class of nonlinear switched systems with actuator saturation. For nonlinear switched systems, we derive some sufficient conditions to satisfy simultaneously the stabilization and the performance index of guaranteed cost control. To ensure the asymptotic stability of the nonlinear switched systems and minimize the upper bound of cost function, a switching law and non-fragile state feedback controllers are designed using the multiple Lyapunov functions method. On this basis, an optimization problem is solved by adopting linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints, and the minimum upper bound of cost function is determined. At the end of the paper, a numerical example is given to prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Context Matters: Emotional Sensitivity to Probabilities and the Bias for Action in Cancer Treatment Decisions
Authors: Lacey Heather P. , Lacey Steven C. , Dayal Prerna , Forest Caroline , Blasi Dana
Published: March 2023

Background

Past studies have shown a commission bias for cancer treatment, a tendency to choose active treatment even when watchful waiting is less risky. This bias suggests motivations for action beyond mortality statistics, but recent evidence suggests that individuals differ in their emotional sensitivity to probabilities (ESP), the tendency to calibrate emotional reactions to probability. The current study aims to examine the role of ESP in the commission bias, specifically whether those higher in ESP are more likely to choose watchful waiting when risk probabilities align with that choice.

Methods

Participants ( N = 1,055) read a scenario describing a hypothetical cancer diagnosis and chose between surgery and watchful waiting, with random assignment between versions where the mortality rate was either lower for surgery or for watchful waiting. We modeled choice using the Possibility Probability Questionnaire (PPQ), a measure of ESP, and several other individual differences in a logistic regression.

Results

We observed a commission bias as in past studies with most participants choosing surgery both when surgery was optimal (71%) and when watchful waiting was optimal (58%). An ESP × Condition interaction indicated that the predictive role of ESP depended on condition. Those higher in ESP were more likely to choose surgery when probabilities favored surgery, β = 0.57, P < 0.001, but when probabilities favored watchful waiting, ESP had a near-zero relationship with choice, β = 0.05, P < 0.99.

Conclusions

The role of ESP in decision making is context specific. Higher levels of ESP predict choosing action when that action is warranted but do not predict a shift away from surgery when watchful waiting offers better chances of survival. ESP does not overcome the commission bias.

Highlights

Past studies have identified a “commission bias,” a tendency to choose active treatment over watchful waiting, even when mortality rate is lower for waiting. Evaluation of risk probabilities is related to individual differences in emotional sensitivity to probabilities (ESP) and has been shown to predict reactions to and decisions about health risk situations. ESP appears to be selectively factored into decision making. ESP was a robust predictor of choosing surgery when probability information supported surgery but did not predict decisions when probability information supported watchful waiting. Those who are most emotionally attuned to probabilities are just as susceptible to the commission bias as those who are less attuned.
Unusual cases of chlamydiosis in psittacine birds
Authors: Walsh Audra L. , Shivaprasad H. L.
Published: March 2023

Avian chlamydiosis is a common disease found in domesticated and nondomesticated avian species caused by several species of chlamydiae including but not limited to Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia avium, Chlamydia gallinacea, Chlamydia buteonis, and Chlamydia ibidis. Generally, early in the disease course, birds present with mild nonspecific clinical signs associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory tract disease. During end-stage disease, birds may present in a severe state of emaciation, dehydration, and/or acute death with no known history of prior illness. Between 2000 and 2009, 14 unusual cases of avian chlamydiosis were submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. Histologic lesions noted in the 14 birds included meningoencephalomyelitis (3 of 13, 23%), otitis media (3 of 8), bursitis (9 of 11, 81%), nephritis (8 of 13, 61%), and orchitis (1 of 8). Corresponding immunopositive chlamydiae intracytoplasmic inclusions were detected in all tissues. Positive immunolabeling was detected in optic nerves (5 of 10, 50%), meninges (5 of 13, 38%), and endothelial cells (14 of 14, 100%) in the absence of significant microscopic lesions. This study highlights unusual gross, histological, and immunohistochemical findings of chlamydiosis in psittacines and highlights the importance of a thorough diagnostic approach when confirming or excluding chlamydiosis in psittacine birds.
Optimum Dosage and Product Selection Guidance for Flocculant Usage in Construction Stormwater Treatment
Authors: Kazaz Billur , Perez Michael A. , Donald Wesley N. , Fang Xing , Shaw Joey N.
Published: March 2023

Implementing proper methods and techniques for construction stormwater management brings numerous benefits in protecting the environment, maintaining social justice, and enhancing sustainability within the construction industry. Flocculants improve construction stormwater management on active job sites by enhancing the function of temporary sediment control practices by facilitating the capture of fine-sized soil particles that are otherwise difficult to settle. The performance of flocculants is dependent on specific soil properties, dosage, and application techniques. Proper product selection and identification of adequate dosage rates is an arduous task for practitioners given the soil variability across job sites and a lack of implementation guidance. This study investigated the performance of various commercially available flocculant products on 15 soil samples collected from construction sites across Alabama through bench-scale testing methods. Experiments focused on providing guidance on product selection and identifying optimum dosage rates through soil assessment, match tests, and dosage experiment phases. The performance of polyacrylamide, sodium montmorillonite, chitosan, agricultural gypsum, and alum-based products was investigated across all soil samples for product selection. Dosage of selected products was evaluated by ranging manufacturers’ dosage recommendations from 0% to 200% to evaluate settling performance across a range of dosing conditions. Results indicated that increasing recommended dosage rates negatively affected the turbidity reduction performance of tested products. In general, dosages lower than 40% manufacturer recommended rates showed a statistically significant improvement in turbidity reduction at a 95% confidence level. The study provides insight for practitioners and future research agendas on the proper usage of flocculants in the construction industry.
Evaluation of Automatic Emergency Braking Systems in Two-Wheeler Crash Scenarios
Authors: Zhou Weixuan , Wang Xuesong
Published: March 2023

The two-wheeler (TW) is a popular means of transportation in China, but TWs often suffer from serious traffic crashes because of their highly flexible trajectory and low detectability. Therefore, they present a challenge for the sensing and decision-making systems in autonomous vehicles (AVs). Collision avoidance systems, such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), have provided an effective way for AVs to avoid collisions with different objects, including TWs. The effectiveness of the AEB system is highly dependent on its parameter configurations, however, which vary among TW crash scenarios. This study, therefore, evaluates the AEB parameters, including time to collision (TTC), deceleration, and detection area (including detection range, field of vision, and trigger width) in two AEB systems: one-stage AEB and three-stage AEB. A total of 243 crashes extracted from the China In-Depth Accident Study database were simulated in Matlab’s Simulink. Results show: (i) one-stage AEB crash avoidance rates range from 15.2% to 81.5%, while three-stage AEB has crash avoidance rates as high as 87.2%; (ii) deceleration, TTC, and detection area all have significant main effects on crash rate, but detection area has less influence in longitudinal than in crossing scenarios; (iii) higher crash avoidance rates resulted in lower traffic efficiency for both AEB systems, but resulted in greater speed reduction only for one-stage AEB; and (iv) collisions are less likely to be avoided in scenarios with high initial speed of TW and AV. This study demonstrates the performance of AEB algorithms in multiple actual crash scenarios and provides a reliable basis for the development of AEB systems.
Simultaneous Capturing of a Flexible Substitution Pattern and the Complementary/Supplementary Relationship in a Consideration Set in Mode Choice Modeling by Using Stated Preference Data
Authors: Rashedi Zohreh , Hasnine Md Sami , Habib Khandker Nurul
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates the use of an elicited consideration set in a mathematical model of choice and consideration set formation. It proposes an econometric formulation by allowing unrestricted correlations among alternatives in the consideration set formation and a flexible substitution pattern in the choice model. Data from a stated preference (SP) survey is used where the SP choice tasks were followed by an elicitation of the consideration set while responding to the SP experiments. As opposed to the latent choice set formation approach, the elicited consideration set reduces the computational burden for model estimation. Empirical models reveal the benefit of modeling choice in conjunction with consideration of the set formation. It is evident that overlooking the probabilistic consideration set results in the over-estimation of the effects of key choice attributes, for example, travel time and generalized cost. Estimated correlations among alternatives in the consideration set formation revealed rich patterns of complementary and supplementary relationships among the alternatives that would not be possible to observe otherwise. However, it is also clear that the relationship in the consideration set formation may not be fully translated into substitution patterns in the choice model; that is explained by the error-component mixed logit model.
Effects of straw addition on the physicochemical and microbial features of black soldier fly larvae frass derived from fish meat and bone meal
Authors: Liang Jiaqi , Cheng Yixian , Ma Ye , Yu Xiaohui , Wang Zhiqiang , Wu Nan , Wang Xiaobo , Liu Xinyuan , Xu Xiaoyan
Published: March 2023

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) hold great promise for sustainable management of meat and bone meal (MBM), a kind of organic waste. Harvested BSFL frass can be used as soil amendment or organic fertilizer. This study evaluated the quality and microbial profile in the frass of BSFL, fed with fish MBM containing 0% (CK), 1% (T1), 2% (T2) and 3% (T3) of rice straw. Results suggested straw addition into fish MBM had no significant impacts on BSFL weight; however, straw addition remarkably affected waste reduction and conversion efficiency, as well as physicochemical properties including electric conductivity, organic matter (OM) and total phosphorus contents in frass. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that increasing levels of cellulose and lignin might not be fully degraded or transformed by BSFL when more straw was introduced into substrates. Straw addition had hardly significant influences on microbial richness or evenness in BSFL frass, only T3 treatment remarkably elevated the phylogenetic diversity value more than the control. Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes were the most dominant phyla. Genera Myroides, Acinetobacter and Paenochrobactrum maintained high abundances in all frass samples. Elements including OM, pH and Na were key factors in shaping the microbiological characteristics of BSFL frass. Our findings helped to understand the effects of fish MBM waste manipulation on BSFL frass qualities and contributed to the further application of BSFL frass.
What healthcare leadership can do in a climate crisis
Authors: Sergeant Myles , Hategan Ana
Published: March 2023

Healthcare governing boards, executives, medical staff, health professionals, and allied staff members should all play a role in devising, promoting, and implementing solutions for climate change mitigation, which must extend beyond the boundaries of their own workplaces and healthcare institutions. Such actions can potentially influence not only healthcare professionals and their patients but also healthcare supply chains and entire communities. Thus, leaders of healthcare organizations can play a vital role in leading by example. The authors herein propose some initiatives for promoting and implementing a culture of sustainability and climate action in medicine.
Triadic Differences and Theological Coherence: Oliver O’Donovan's Reflections on Friendship as a Locus for Comparing Resurrection and Moral Order and Ethics as Theology
Authors: Cotterill Aden
Published: March 2023

This article leverages the theme of friendship in Oliver O’Donovan's Entering into Rest as a locus of comparison between his earlier Resurrection and Moral Order and the Ethics as Theology trilogy. It does so by using demonstrable methodological differences between the two moral-theological projects to illumine a fundamental theological coherence. The article pursues this task in five sections. The first expounds O’Donovan's reflection on friendship in Entering into Rest. The second articulates the triadic approach adopted in these reflections. The third examines a similar triad articulated by O’Donovan in Resurrection and Moral Order. The fourth uses this triadic connection to demonstrate theological coherence between Resurrection and Moral Order and the Ethics as Theology trilogy. The fifth concludes by raising a critical query about the arbitrariness of the triadic methodology employed by O’Donovan. The article’s conclusion considers more generally—in light of O’Donovan's pursuit of ethics as theology—the inherent contingency and incompleteness of theological ethics.
Nano mixed particles enhanced Nickel-Cobalt composite coatings by scanning jet electrodeposition
Authors: Jiang Wei , Li Huigui , Chen Yuanlong , Fang Cheng , Sheng Liangcheng , Chen Ya , Shen Lida , Huang Xiaoqing , Lao Yuanxia
Published: March 2023

Jet electrodeposition has the characteristics of rapid deposition with high current density, but faces the problem of tip discharge, which causes a decrease in coating surface uniformity and flatness. In this paper, scanning jet electrodeposition was adopted to optimize the tip discharge. The different nanoparticles were mixed as the reinforcing phase of Ni-Co alloy coating. Nano-CeO2/Nip mixed particles enhanced Nickel-Cobalt composite coatings on 304 stainless steel by scanning jet electrodeposition. The morphologies, texture orientation, microhardness, coating adhesion, and corrosion resistance of Ni-Co-CeO2/Ni composite coatings were characterized. The addition of nano-mixed particles (CeO2/Nip) changed the morphology of Ni-Co-CeO2/Nip composite coating from large cellular protrusion structures to fine granular structures and improved the uniformity of the composite coating. Compared with Ni-Co alloy coating, the microhardness increased from 467.8 to 524.7 HV, the adhesion between the substrate and the coating increased from 20.6 to 28.9 N, and the corrosion current density decreased from 2.413 × 10−5 to 5.598 × 10−6 A·cm−2 in Ni-Co-CeO2/Nip (4 g/L) composite coating, indicating that nano-mixed particles (CeO2/Nip) improved the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Ni-Co alloy coating in scanning jet electrodeposition.
Surgeon Henry Tonks and the blur of artistry
Authors: Helling Thomas S
Published: March 2023

The professional career of 20th Century British surgeon and artist Henry Tonks provides a unique perspective into the complex balance of technique, creativity, and empathy necessary to heal both body and soul. For Tonks, the skills of surgery did not suffice to address his intense emotional attachment to his suffering patients. For that reason, he turned to painting as an expression of deeper efforts to demonstrate human suffering to which he was so sensitive and which engulfed him at times in the tragedies of mankind. Nevertheless, his appreciation of the fine details of surgery and surgical manipulations of the body never diminished. His anatomic sketches proved invaluable in reconstructive surgery. Yet, his preference remained to display the entire dimensions of his world through brush and colors. In the process, concern for the personal imperfections of both of his chosen professions enabled Tonks to continually analyze his artistry and to instill that same discipline in his students. This, too, made him a revered teacher and effective interpreter of humanism.
Translation, Validation, and Cultural Adaptation of CLEFT-Q© for use in Indonesia
Authors: Kreshanti Prasetyanugraheni , Djarot Kasih Rahardjo , Kaligis Fransiska , Friska Dewi , Swanson Jordan W. , Blum Jessica , Martin Valencia Jane , Bangun Kristaninta
Published: March 2023

Objective

To translate and validate CLEFT-Q©, patient-reported outcome measure for patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL and/or P), into Indonesian. CLEFT-Q© covers the domains of appearance, facial function, health-related quality of life and consists of scales describing outcomes after cleft surgery.

Design

The CLEFT-Q© instrument was translated according to the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research guidelines, including translation, cognitive debriefing, and field-testing.

Setting

Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Indonesia; independent CL and/or P support groups.

Patients

Patients ages 8-29 with a history of repaired CL and/or P were grouped based on age. Those unable to complete the questionnaire independently were excluded.

Interventions

The primary objective was reliable translation of the CLEFT-Q® instrument. Each scale was assessed for its internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and validity (inter-item correlation), and sub-group analyses were performed based on age group.

Results

Forward and back translation revealed 25(13.3%) and 12(6.3%) of items were difficult to translate. Cognitive debriefing revealed 10(5.3%) items were difficult to understand, with the lowest reliability on the facial appearance scale (α=0.27). Other scales demonstrated acceptable to excellent reliability (α=0.53–0.68). Field testing revealed acceptable reliability and validity of the translation (α = 0.74-0.92; 69% ideal range of inter-item correlation). Sub-group analyses revealed patients in the <11y.o. and >18y.o. groups had the lowest scores on the “cleft lip scar” scale while those 11-18y.o. had the lowest scores on the “nostrils” scale.

Conclusion

Iterative translation and cultural adaptation of CLEFT-Q© into Indonesian demonstrated reliability and validity of the tool, supported by acceptable to excellent internal consistency and ideal inter-item correlation.