bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelagem BIM para orçamentação com uso do SINAPI
Authors: Andrade Felipe Miguel Rocha , Biotto Clarissa Notariano , Serra Sheyla Mara Baptista
Published: April 2021

O processo de orçamentação para licitação de uma obra pública ocorre por meio da composição de custos unitários e pesquisa de preços dos insumos registrados em planilhas orçamentárias. A fase inicial deste processo é o levantamento dos quantitativos de materiais e serviços extraídos dos diferentes projetos do edifício. Normalmente, o levantamento é realizado de forma manual e pode apresentar-se falho. Ciente disso e sabendo da importância da avaliação de custos para um empreendimento público, somado da obrigatóriedade do Building Information Modelling (BIM) em obras públicas a partir de 2021, neste trabalho estudou-se a aplicação do BIM para extração de quantitativos e precificação vinculada às especificações do Sistema Nacional de Pesquisa de Custos e Índices da Construção Civil (SINAPI). O método de pesquisa utilizado foi o estudo de caso de uma obra pública. Para isso, utilizou-se documentos da licitação, como a planilha orçamentária inicial e o projeto básico de arquitetura em CAD 2D. Foram feitas duas modelagens BIM: a primeira para a extração de quantitativos e comparação com dados da licitação; e a segunda para compor diretamente os custos da alvenaria estrutural baseado nos serviços do SINAPI. Por fim, o estudo demonstrou similaridade entre quantitativos extraídos do modelo BIM com o processo manual para a licitação, porém, para se utilizar os dados de custos do SINAPI é necessário que o modelo seja elaborado visando, especificamente, a orçamentação.
Monocyte-Chemoattractant Protein-1 Levels in Human Atherosclerotic Lesions Associate With Plaque Vulnerability
Authors: Georgakis Marios K. , van der Laan Sander W. , Asare Yaw , Mekke Joost M. , Haitjema Saskia , Schoneveld Arjan H. , de Jager Saskia C.A. , Nurmohamed Nick S. , Kroon Jeffrey , Stroes Erik S.G. , de Kleijn Dominique P.V. , de Borst Gert J. , Maegdefessel Lars , Soehnlein Oliver , Pasterkamp Gerard , Dichgans Martin
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To determine whether MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) levels in human atherosclerotic plaques associate with plaque vulnerability features.

Approach and Results:

We measured MCP-1 levels in human atherosclerotic plaque samples from 1199 patients in the Athero-EXPRESS Biobank who underwent endarterectomy for treatment of carotid stenosis. We explored associations with histopathologic and molecular features of plaque vulnerability, clinical plaque manifestations, and vascular events up to 3 years after endarterectomy. Following adjustments for age, sex, and vascular risk factors, MCP-1 plaque levels were associated with histopathologic markers of plaque vulnerability (large lipid core, low collagen content, high macrophage burden, low smooth muscle cell burden, intraplaque hemorrhage) and with a composite vulnerability index (range 0–5, β per SD increment in MCP-1, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.30–0.53],
P
=5.4×10
−13
). We further found significant associations with higher plaque levels of other chemokines and proinflammatory molecules and markers of neovascularization and matrix turnover. When exploring clinical plaque instability, MCP-1 plaque levels were higher among individuals with symptomatic plaques as compared with those with asymptomatic plaques (odds ratio per SD increment in MCP-1, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.09–1.69]). MCP-1 levels were further associated with a higher risk of periprocedural major adverse vascular events and strokes occurring in the first 30 days after plaque removal.

Conclusions:

Higher MCP-1 plaque levels are associated with histopathologic, molecular, and clinical hallmarks of plaque vulnerability in individuals undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Our findings highlight a role of MCP-1 in clinical plaque instability in humans and complement previous epidemiological, genetic, and experimental studies supporting the translational perspective of targeting MCP-1 signaling in atherosclerosis.
Relationship Between Influenza, Temperature, and Type 1 Myocardial Infarction: An Ecological Time‐Series Study
Authors: García‐Lledó Alberto , Rodríguez‐Martín Sara , Tobías Aurelio , García‐de‐Santiago Elvira , Ordobás‐Gavín María , Ansede‐Cascudo Juan Carlos , Alonso‐Martín Joaquin , de Abajo Francisco J.
Published: April 2021

Background

Previous studies investigating the relationship of influenza with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not distinguished between AMI types 1 and 2. Influenza and cold temperature can explain the increased incidence of AMI during winter but, because they are closely related in temperate regions, their relative contribution is unknown.

Methods and Results

The temporal relationship between incidence rates of AMI with demonstrated culprit plaque (type 1 AMI) from the regional primary angioplasty network and influenza, adjusted for ambient temperature, was studied in Madrid region (Spain) during 5 influenza seasons (from June 2013 to June 2018). A time‐series analysis with quasi‐Poisson regression models and distributed lag‐nonlinear models was used. The incidence rate of type 1 AMI according to influenza vaccination status was also explored. A total of 8240 cases of confirmed type 1 AMI were recorded. The overall risk ratio (RR) of type 1 AMI during epidemic periods, adjusted for year, month, and temperature, was 1.23 (95% CI, 1.03–1.47). An increase of weekly influenza rate of 50 cases per 100 000 inhabitants resulted in an RR for type 1 AMI of 1.16 (95% CI, 1.09–1.23) during the same week, disappearing 1 week after. When adjusted for influenza, a decrease of 1ºC in the minimum temperature resulted in an increase of 2.5% type 1 AMI. Influenza vaccination was associated with a decreased risk of type 1 AMI in subjects aged 60 to 64 years (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.47–0.71) and ≥65 years (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.49–0.57).

Conclusions

Influenza and cold temperature were both independently associated with an increased risk of type 1 AMI, whereas vaccination was associated with a reduced risk among older patients.
Susceptibility Vessel Sign in Relation With Time From Onset to Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Soize Sebastien , Manceau Pierre-François , Gauberti Maxime , Herbin Thibault , Zuber Mathieu , Pierot Laurent , Touzé Emmanuel
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

In acute ischemic stroke, the susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on T2* MR-sequence witnesses the red blood cell content of the clot. Although clot composition strongly depends on its age in vitro, the relationship between SVS and time has not been studied. In this study, we evaluated whether the presence of SVS was related to the time from symptom onset.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed our institutional registry of patients with acute stroke between November 2007 and June 2018. We included patients with an ischemic stroke confirmed by diffusion-weighted imaging magnetic resonance imaging within 8 hours from symptom onset caused by M1 or M2 occlusion and with interpretable T2*-weighted images. We compared clinical and imaging variables among SVS+ and SVS− patients. Time from onset was split into tertiles. Independent markers of SVS+ were identified using multivariable logistic regression. The probability of being SVS+ given time from symptoms onset was modeled using Probit regression.

Results:

Among the 608 patients included, 433 (71.2%) were SVS+. The odds of being SVS+ increased with time from symptom onset (
P
trend=0.005). In the multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with a SVS+ were symptom onset to magnetic resonance imaging ([130–180 min] odds ratio [OR], 1.62 [95% CI, 1.03–2.53]; [>180 min] OR, 3.14 [95% CI, 1.92–5.12]), type of magnetic resonance imaging-scanner (OR, 2.83 [95% CI, 1.82–4.41]), cardioembolic cause (OR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.02–2.24]), and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.01–1.08]). The probability of being SVS+ increased with time from symptom onset (
P
=0.004): around 60% at 1 hour, 70% at 3 hours, 80% at 6 hours, and 90% at 8 hours.

Conclusions:

In acute ischemic stroke, the presence of SVS depends on time from onset to imaging.
BRAND FİNANCE TURKEY 100 LİSTESİNDE YER ALAN BANKALARIN MARKA DEĞERLERİ İLE İLİŞKİLİ ÖLÇÜTLERİN BELİRLENMESİNE YÖNELİK BİR ANALİZ
Authors: GÜNAY Burhan
Published: April 2021

Küreselleşme ve son yıllardaki teknolojideki gelişmeler, entelektüel sermaye, bilgi sistemleri ve marka gibi maddi olmayan varlıkların piyasanın en temel unsurları olmasını sağlamıştır. Marka, rekabetin artmasıyla birlikte önemi gittikçe artan şirket değerinin arttırılmasına önemli katkılar sağlamaktadır. Değere dayalı yönetim anlayışının finansal piyasalarda yerleşmesi ile birlikte şirket değerinin belirlenmesinde son zamanlarda değere dayalı ölçütler kullanılmaya başlanmıştır. Bu ölçütlerin başında Ekonomik Katma Değer (Economic Value Added-EVA) ve Piyasa Katma Değeri (Market Value Added-MVA) ölçütleri gelmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı, marka değeri ile değere dayalı ölçütler ve piyasa değeri arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılmasıdır. Çalışmada Brand Finance uluslararası bağımsız marka değerleme kuruluşunun, Türkiye’nin en değerli 100 markası olarak açıkladığı listede yer alan bankaların 2012-2018 verilerinden yararlanılmıştır. Panel veri analizi yöntemi kullanılarak oluşturulan modelde Brand Finance tarafından hesaplanan marka değeri bağımlı, Piyasa Değeri, EVA ve MVA ölçütleri bağımsız değişken olarak kullanılmıştır. Çalışmadaki model sonucunda, bankaların marka değerleri ile EVA ve MVA arasında anlamlı ve pozitif ilişki bulunmuş, Piyasa Değeri ile herhangi bir anlamlı ilişki tespit edilememiştir.
Beyond “Man” vs. Nature: Pearling and the Construction of Gender, Generation, and Heritage in Bahrain
Authors: Willis John Thabiti
Published: April 2021

Heritage sites and studies of the pearling industry in Arab Gulf nations focus predominantly on men who labored as merchants, boat captains, and pearl divers. They represent merchants as having reaped the greatest returns and divers as having endured the greatest hardships over the history of the industry. Recently published memoirs and interviews feature elder men’s recollections of their experiences as divers during their youth; these men focus on the hardships that they endured and attribute their success – even their survival – to chance or divine intervention. British records from the 1930s not only document the tribulations that divers reported; they also, as this article argues, depict human agency – instead of nature, chance, or divine intervention – as the main source of misfortune for divers. These findings trouble “official” representations of pearl diving, particularly the treatment of the divers, at such heritage sites.
Innovation-Centric Cluster Business Model: Findings from a Design-Oriented Literature Review
Authors: Lupova-Henry Evgeniya , Blili Sam , Zotto Cinzia Dal
Published: April 2021

How should a cluster be designed to foster the innovativeness of its members? In this article, we view self-aware and organised clusters as “meta-organisations” which can deliberately shape their internal structures through design-based interventions. To formulate interventions for cluster design fostering its innovativeness, we adopt a methodology combining a systematic literature review and a design-oriented synthesis. We distinguish between six cluster business model elements: actors and their roles, resources and capabilities, value flows, governance, value propositions and value-creating activities. To gain insight into the properties of these elements conducive to cluster innovativeness, we review literature at the intersection of cluster, meta-organisation, business model and innovation studies. Our study allows to consolidate the extant research into “organised” clustering and the drivers of the cluster actors’ innovativeness. It also helps identify several important unanswered questions in the literature and to suggest potentially fruitful directions for further work.
Updated list of Anopheles species (Diptera: Culicidae) by country in the Afrotropical Region and associated islands
Authors: IRISH SETH R. , KYALO DAVID , SNOW ROBERT W. , COETZEE MAUREEN
Published: April 2021

The distributions of the Afrotropical Anopheles mosquitoes were first summarized in 1938. In 2017, an extensive geo-coded inventory was published for 48 sub-Saharan African countries, including information such as sampling methods, collection dates, geographic co-ordinates and the literature consulted to produce the database. Using the information from the 2017 inventory, earlier distribution lists, museum collections and publications since 2016, this paper presents an updated, simplified list of Anopheles species by mainland countries and associated Afrotropical islands, with comments where applicable. It is intended as a supplement to the 2017 geo-coded inventory.
A new species of Knodus (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Rio Cupari drainage, lower Rio Tapajós basin, Brazil
Authors: DE SOUSA DEISE J. DOS ANJOS , SILVA-OLIVEIRA CÁRLISON , CANTO ANDRÉ LUIZ C. , RIBEIRO FRANK RAYNNER V.
Published: April 2021

A new species of Knodus is described from the rio Cupari drainage, a tributary from the right margin of the lower rio Tapajós, Pará State, Brazil. The new species differs from its congeners, except K. geryi, by having a dark basal blotch on each caudal fin lobe (vs. caudal fin lobes with sparse chromatophores, lacking basal blotches) and, with the exception of K. borki, K. heteresthes, and K. pasco, by having 10–12 scales around the caudal peduncle (vs. 13–15).
Three new species of the genus Dendronotus from Japan and Russia (Mollusca, Nudibranchia)
Authors: MARTYNOV ALEXANDER , FUJIWARA YOSHIHIRO , TSUCHIDA SHINJI , NAKANO RIE , SANAMYAN NADEZHDA , SANAMYAN KAREN , FLETCHER KARIN , KORSHUNOVA TATIANA
Published: April 2021

Three new species of the genus Dendronotus are described from the North Pacific waters of Japan and Russia. For the first time since 1949, three new species, D. jamsteci sp. nov., D. zakuro sp. nov. and D. bathyvela sp. nov. are described from the waters of the Japanese Islands. D. zakuro sp. nov. was also discovered in the waters of Russia (Kamchatka). The descriptions of the new species D. jamsteci sp. nov. and D. zakuro sp. nov. are based on morphological and molecular data; D. bathyvela sp. nov. morphologically belongs to the group of D. robustus, D. velifer and D. patricki. This study revises our knowledge of North Pacific species of the genus Dendronotus, considerably expands the number of species worldwide and contributes to the multilevel fine-scale diversity concept.
Nine new species of the Anaulacomerina subtribe of katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae: Phaneropterini) from Brazil
Authors: FIANCO MARCOS
Published: April 2021

Nine new species of katydids of the Anaulacomerina subtribe (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae: Phaneropterini) are herein described, being eight of the genus Anaulacomera Stål and one of Separatula Gorochov. The following species are described as new: A. (Anallomes) sylviae sp. n., A. (Anaulacomera.) caudata sp. n., A. (Anaul.) rubrovittata sp. n., A. (Anaul.) zefai sp. n., A. (Oecella) marshae sp. n., A. (O.) mediastina sp. n., A. (O.) spirala sp. n., A. (O.) zebrina sp. n. and S. araguaiensis sp. n. External morphological characters as tegmina venation, cerci and subgenital plate; and internal morphological characters as male genitalia are included in the descriptions.
Oxynoemacheilus phasicus, a new nemacheilid loach from the eastern Black Sea basin with some remarks on other Caucasian Oxynoemacheilus (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)
Authors: FREYHOF JÖRG , KAYA CÜNEYT , EPITASHVILI GIORGI , GEIGER MATTHIAS F.
Published: April 2021

Oxynoemacheilus phasicus, new species, is described from the Rioni and Enguri River drainages in Georgia. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the O. brandtii group by a mottled or marbled flank pattern in adults, a slightly emarginate caudal fin, and a deep caudal peduncle. Molecular data suggest that the new species is characterized by a minimum K2P distance of 7.5% from O. brandtii from the Kura drainage in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Oxynoemacheilus brandtii and O. elsae are re-diagnosed. A very slender Oxynoemacheilus from the Aras drainage clusters as sister to O. elsae in our molecular analysis and not with O. brandtii from the Kura River. However, it is identified as O. brandtii as it is indistinguishable from this species in morphological characters.
Examining the Viability of the World’s Busiest Winter Road to Climate Change Using a Process-Based Lake Model
Authors: Mullan D. J. , Barr I. D. , Flood R. P. , Galloway J. M. , Newton A. M. W. , Swindles G. T.
Published: April 2021

Winter roads play a vital role in linking communities and building economies in the northern high latitudes. With these regions warming 2–3 times faster than the global average, climate change threatens the long-term viability of these important seasonal transport routes. We examine how climate change will impact the world’s busiest heavy-haul winter road—the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road (TCWR) in northern Canada. The FLake freshwater lake model is used to project ice thickness for a lake at the start of the TCWR—first using observational climate data, and second using modeled future climate scenarios corresponding to varying rates of warming ranging from 1.5° to 4°C above preindustrial temperatures. Our results suggest that 2°C warming could be a tipping point for the viability of the TCWR, requiring at best costly adaptation and at worst alternative forms of transportation. Containing warming to the more ambitious temperature target of 1.5°C pledged at the 2016 Paris Agreement may be the only way to keep the TCWR viable—albeit with a shortened annual operational season relative to present. More widely, we show that higher regional winter warming across much of the rest of Arctic North America threatens the long-term viability of winter roads at a continental scale. This underlines the importance of continued global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions to avoid many long-term and irreversible impacts of climate change.
Changing nature of adoption and need for post-adoption services: Intercountry adoption practice in Taiwan and Australia
Authors: Lin Ching-Hsuan , Chen Yu-Wen , Wang Chin-Wan , Wright Amy Conley , Spencer Margaret , Van Wichelen Sonja
Published: April 2021

This study explores issues on post-adoption services in intercountry adoptions based on the perspectives of adoption professionals from Taiwan and Australia. Findings revealed that both birth and adoptive families identify service needs for material and emotional support and connection after the adoption process is finalized. However, the current lack of government funding for post-adoption services result in gaps in service delivery. Adoption agencies experience challenges in funding and balancing the interests of the child and the two families. Implications for practice and policy are discussed to enhance the quality of post-adoption services and improve the well-being of the adoption triad.
Connecting the dots: Neighbourhood House and institutional accessibility
Authors: Yan Miu Chung , Lauer Sean
Published: April 2021

Accessibility to public resources has been a major challenge to many service users. The fragmentation among different organizational stakeholders in social service generates a ‘wicked problem’ that creates an institutional barrier for service users in the community to navigate the maze of service networks. However, this institutional barrier has not been fully discussed and articulated in the social service literature. Based on the findings of a study on Neighbourhood House in Metro Vancouver, Canada, we argue that as a place-based community service organization it has successfully generated an institutional accessibility for service providers and service users to reach each other.
Old World Homecomings: Campaigns of Ancestral Tourism and Cultural Diplomacy, 1945–66
Authors: Hjorthén Adam
Published: April 2021

This article examines the history of ancestral tourism and its development as a form of cultural diplomacy between 1945 and 1966. The phenomenon often referred to as ‘roots tourism’ has during the last decades increased in popularity, especially in Old World countries that historically have sent large numbers of people to North America. While previous scholarship has focused on its existential dimensions and its relation to the twenty-first century tourism and heritage economies, this article looks at how ancestral tourism grew out of European attempts at expanding the tourism industry after 1945. It studies the international spread of ‘person-to-person’ programs that sought to turn travelers into ‘ambassadors’, and the subsequent transformation of such initiatives into ‘homecoming’ campaigns through notions of co-descent, targeting Americans of European descent. By exploring the case of the 1966 Homecoming Year campaign in Sweden, the article shows that the attraction of ancestral tourism was grounded in its ability to combine economic and political incentives articulated in the Marshall Plan. It developed out of a liberal-democratic ideology that vested individual travelers with diplomatic agency. In the process, European tourist agencies calcified the notion that ancestral tourism served not only individual experiences, but also national economies and international relations.
Exploring climate change adaptation strategies in maize (Zea mays) postharvest management practices among smallholder farmers
Authors: Kutyauripo Innocent , Masamha Blessing , Maringe Peter
Published: April 2021

Climate change has negative effects on postharvest management of cereals. However, much emphasis is placed on climate change adaptation (CCA) in crop production whilst not adequately addressing the CCA in postharvest management of maize. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among smallholder farmers. Key informant interviews, observations and structured interviews on 280 household heads were done. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse determinants of use of postharvest CCA practices whilst multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse determinants of use of postharvest storage facilities. Farmers used grain protectants (40.4%) and minimised the duration of the harvesting process (34.3%) as their major CCA practices in maize postharvest management. There was a significant difference in postharvest maize loss quantities ( p ≤ 0.05) between users and non-users of CCA practices. The choice and use of climate-resilient postharvest strategies were significantly influenced by location, cultivated land, access to radio and membership to farmer club. Choice of a postharvest storage facility was significantly influenced by training and membership to farmers’ club. Smallholder farmers are using some conventional maize postharvest management practices like grain protectants to adapt to the effects of climate change. The use of maize postharvest CCA strategies significantly reduced postharvest losses.
Statistical techniques for predicting rupture risk in abdominal aortic aneurysms: A contribution based on bootstrap
Authors: Nieto-Palomo Félix , Pérez-Rueda María-Ángeles , Lipsa Laurentiu-Mihai , Vaquero-Puerta Carlos , Vilalta-Alonso José-Alberto , Vilalta-Alonso Guillermo , Soudah-Prieto Eduardo
Published: April 2021

The morphometry of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has been recognized as one of the main factors that may predispose them to rupture. The need to quantify the morphometry of AAA on a patient-specific basis constitutes a valuable tool for assisting in rupture risk prediction. Previous results of this research group have determined the correlations between hemodynamic stresses and aneurysm morphometry by means of the Pearson coefficient. The present work aims to find how the AAA morphology correlates with the hemodynamic stresses acting on the arterial wall. To do so, the potential of the bootstrap technique has been explored. Bootstrap works appropriately in applications where few data are available (13 patient-specific AAA models were simulated). The methodology developed can be considered a contribution to predicting the hemodynamic stresses from the size and shape indices. The present work explores the use of a specific statistical technique (the bootstrap technique) to predict, based on morphological correlations, the patient-specific aneurysm rupture risk, provide greater understanding of this complex phenomenon that can bring about improvements in the clinical management of aneurysmatic patients. The results obtained using the bootstrap technique have greater reliability and robustness than those obtained by regression analysis using the Pearson coefficient, thus allowing to obtain more reliable results from the characteristics of the samples used, such as their small size and high variability. Additionally, it could be an indicator that other indices, such as AAA length, deformation rate, saccular index, and asymmetry, are important.
Frontal Angle: A New Predictor of Difficulty in Endoscopic Frontal Sinus Surgery—A Preliminary Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Kołodziejczyk Paulina , Gotlib Tomasz , Niemczyk Kazimierz
Published: April 2021

Objectives:

The possibility of visualization of the frontal sinus during endoscopic surgery depends on 3-dimensional configuration of the frontal sinus opening (FSO). We aimed to determine the prevalence of unfavorable angulation of the lower part of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus and its relation to FSO diameter.

Methods:

One hundred and twenty-eight computed tomography (CT) scans were retrospectively reviewed to measure (1) the angle between the nasal floor and the plane tangent to the posterior table of the frontal sinus above the most posterior aspect of the anterior buttress (frontal angle, FA) and (2) dimensions of the FSO.

Results:

The FA ranged from below 30° to 90°. Nearly 13% of sinuses (16.4% of patients) showed FA about 90°, which should enable good visualization of the sinus with the 30° scope after opening and clearing the frontal recess, while 4% (6.25% of patients) showed FA ≤ 30°. The anterior–posterior diameter (A-PD) was below 5 mm in 17.6% of sinuses (26.6% of patients). There was a significant correlation between FA and A-PD. Unfavorable combination of FA and A-PD (<45°, <5 mm) was present in 5.2% of sinuses (8.6% of patients), and extremely unfavorable combination (<30°, <5 mm) in 0.8% (0.8% of patients).

Conclusions:

The FA shows great interindividual variability, which is very likely to reflect the possibility of inspection of the frontal sinus. This implies a need for further prospective clinical studies to validate FA as a predictor of difficulty in frontal sinus surgery.
Paranasal Mass in a Healthy Male Toddler
Authors: Phillips Melonie Anne , Lind Meredith , McGwire Gerd , Rodriguez Diana , Logan Suzanna
Published: April 2021

Head and neck tumors are rare in pediatric patients but should be kept in the differential when a patient presents with a new swelling or mass. One of these tumors is a myxoma, which is an insidiously growing, benign mass originating from the mesenchyme. They most commonly arise in the myocardium but can also develop in facial structures, particularly in the maxilla and mandible. When arising in facial structures, ocular, respiratory, and digestive systems can be affected based on local invasion. Complete surgical resection is curative but can lead to significant morbidity as well. Here, we present a case of a 15-month-old toddler presenting with a paranasal mass, which was ultimately diagnosed as a maxillary myxoma. This tumor is very rare in the pediatric population, especially in the toddler age-group, reminding clinicians to broaden the differential diagnosis when a patient’s course is atypical.
Surgical Removal of Hearing Aid Earmold Impression Material in the Middle Ear
Authors: Kim Hwabin , Kim Sanghoon , Park Hye-Jin , Choi Sung-Won
Published: April 2021

When fitting hearing aids, patients are required to make an earmold impression material for device fixation. It usually causes no problems, although in rare cases, the earmold passes through the middle ear through tympanic membrane perforations. 1 – 3 Foreign bodies may cause a delayed inflammatory reaction and deterioration of aeration, especially in the Eustachian tube. Herein, we report a rare case of earmold impression material as a foreign body in the middle ear that required surgical removal.
Congenital Aural Fistula Developing Between the Third and Fourth Hillocks of the Embryonal Helix and Presenting a Large Temporal Mass: A Case Report
Authors: Sonoda Kenji , Tsunoda Atsunobu , Yoshikawa Akihisa , Tou Miri , Anzai Takashi , Matsumoto Fumihiko
Published: April 2021

This report aimed to introduce a very rare presentation of congenital aural fistula and its treatment. A 13-year-old girl presented with a mass on the right temporal region with protrusion of the helix. She noticed a mass a month previously, and the mass gradually swelled with pain. Pus discharged from the pit behind the helix. Mastoiditis was suspected; however, the tympanic membrane was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic mass in the temporal region. The surgical removal of the mass was performed using a postauricular incision. The mass was cystic and had a stem connected to the pit. Insertion of a probe into the pit showed a connection to the mass. The mass was totally removed with the skin around the pit. Histologically, the cyst connected to the fistula and its lumen was covered with squamous cells. A diagnosis of a congenital aural fistula developed posterior to the helix was made. Considering its location, the fistula had been formed between the third and fourth hillocks of the embryonal helix. Aural fistula developed posteriorly is very rare, and it mimicked a temporal tumor or mastoiditis with a protruding auricle. Careful observation of the skin and consideration from developmental aspects are needed for an accurate diagnosis.
That Really Escalated Quickly—Online Learning Moves Into the Mainstream: Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Kennedy Michael J. , Boyle Joseph R.
Published: April 2021

Early in 2020, it became clear the COVID-19 pandemic was on its way toward disrupting the status quo in education in a substantial manner. As schools reacted by moving teaching and learning online, teachers, staff, parents, students, and other stakeholders were thrust into a world of learning previously discussed in this journal, but unknown to most in the field of special education. In this introduction to the special issue on online learning, we highlight key themes across the six articles, as well as lay out a vision for additional research and development that is required in our field.
Associations between dairy consumption and constipation in adults: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Aslam Hajara , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Ruusunen Anu , Dawson Samantha L , Williams Lana J , Berk Michael , Holloway-Kew Kara L , Collier Fiona , Loughman Amy , Pasco Julie A , Jacka Felice N
Published: April 2021

Objective:

The current study aimed to assess the association between dairy consumption and constipation in the general adult population.

Design:

Data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were used to assess the association between dairy consumption and constipation in women ( n=632) and men ( n=609). Information on milk, yogurt and cheese, and constipation were self-reported. Total dairy was calculated by summing the intake of milk, yogurt and cheese and expressed as servings per day. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for irritable bowel syndrome, major depressive disorders, mobility, body mass index, age and fibre intake were used to examine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) between the consumption of categories of total dairy, milk, yogurt, cheese, and constipation.

Results:

In women, consumption of 1–2 servings/d of total dairy was associated with reduced odds for constipation (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26-0.90; P=0.021) compared to consuming <1 serving/d of total dairy after adjusting for covariates. Also, consumption of 1–4 servings/d of milk was associated with marginally reduced odds for constipation (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.39-1.02; P=0.058) compared to women who consumed <1 serving/d of milk after adjusting for covariates. There were no significant associations detected between other types of dairy consumption and constipation in women, and none in men.

Conclusion:

In women, consumption of moderate amounts of dairy is associated with reduced odds for constipation whereas in men no associations were detected between dairy consumption and constipation. Further studies are warranted to confirm results.
The Backlash Against Neoliberal Globalization from Above: Elite Origins of the Crisis of the New Constitutionalism
Authors: Slobodian Quinn
Published: April 2021

This article recounts the backlash against the neoliberal constitutionalism that locked in free trade and capital rights through the multilateral treaty organizations of the 1990s. It argues that we can find important forces in the disruption of the status quo among the elite losers of the 1990s settlement. Undercut by competition from China, the US steel industry, in particular, became a vocal opponent of unconditional free trade and a red thread linking all of Trump’s primary advisers on matters of trade. Steel lobbyists themselves helped frame a critique of actually existing neoliberal globalism, which Trump both adopted and acted on as part of his trade war. By searching for the contemporary attack on neoliberal constitutionalism among the disgruntled corporate elite, we find that our current crisis must be framed as a backlash from above as well as one from below.
Central macular thickness in patients with sickle cell disease and no signs of retinopathy: a cross-sectional study of Jordanian patients
Authors: Abu-Yaghi Nakhleh E. , AlNawaiseh Ahmad M. , Khourshid Issam M. , AlRawashdeh Tala J. , Rawashdeh Majd M. Al , Zghoul Ayat M. , Shafagoj Abdallah N. , Alomairi Yousif A. , Muhsen Sana' M. , AlRyalat SaifAldeen S.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To measure central macular thickness in Jordanian patients with sickle cell disease who did not have retinopathy and compare the findings with age- and sex-matched controls using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT).

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, participants underwent visual acuity testing, slit-lamp bio-microscopy, dilated ophthalmoscopy, and SDOCT imaging to measure central macular thickness. Macular quadrant measurements and thickness difference indexes (TDIs) were compared between groups.

Results

Twenty eyes with sickle cell disease and 20 control eyes were enrolled. The median visual acuity in both groups was 20/20. The mean macular thickness was significantly lower in eyes with sickle cell disease than in matched controls (mean difference, 22.15 ± 6.44 µm). Peripheral quadrants were all significantly thinner in eyes with sickle cell disease, especially in superior and temporal quadrants. TDIs were lower in eyes with sickle cell disease than in control eyes.

Conclusions

Eyes with sickle cell disease that had no clinical evidence of retinopathy exhibited significantly lower central macular thickness in all quadrants, compared with eyes in age- and sex-matched controls. SDOCT is a non-invasive imaging modality that can detect preclinical changes in eyes with sickle cell disease and can be used to screen and monitor the disease process.
Distribution of microRNAs associated with major depressive disorder among blood compartments
Authors: Homorogan Claudia , Enatescu Virgil Radu , Nitusca Diana , Marcu Anca , Seclaman Edward , Marian Catalin
Published: April 2021

Objective

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent disorder with an increasing incidence. Alterations in key signaling pathways of the nervous system, such as the Wnt and MAPK pathways, mediated through microRNAs (miRNAs) provide crucial information regarding the etiopathology of MDD. We aimed to analyze whether the heterogeneity of literature findings regarding differential expression of miRNAs in the blood could arise from their different distributions among blood compartments.

Methods

We performed a pilot study analyzing the differential expression of miR-26a, miR-494, miR-30c, miR-93, and miR-101 and investigated their levels in white blood cells, total plasma (TP), exosomes from plasma, and exosome depleted plasma (EDP) in patients with MDD before and after antidepressant treatment with escitalopram and in healthy controls.

Results

MiR-494 was more abundant in EDP, and miR-26a and miR-30c were predominantly more abundant in TP relative to other blood compartments. Moreover, miR-30c, miR-101, and miR-26a, were significantly downregulated in TP of patients with MDD compared with controls. After antidepressant treatment, only miR-494 was significantly differently expressed in EDP.

Conclusions

This proof-of-principle study suggests that identifying the miRNA abundance in different blood compartments is crucial for biomarker development and could enrich the current knowledge regarding MDD pathophysiology.
The Perpetrator-Victim Relationship: An Important Clue in Understanding Intimate Partner Homicide in China
Authors: Zhao Shuhong
Published: April 2021

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a global public health issue that has serious consequences for an individual’s health. Whereas prior research has made some progress analyzing the perpetrator-victim relationship in understanding the dynamics of IPH, research set in the context of China in this field using the perpetrator-victim relationship as a focal variable in analyzing IPH is still lacking. The current study addresses this gap and builds on existing research by exploring the significance of the perpetrator-victim relationship in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of IPH in China. After examining 979 IPH criminal judgments, the findings revealed that the perpetrator-victim relationship is an important clue in understanding IPH in China today. By analyzing the correlation between intimate relationships as a focal variable and other variables such as IPH characteristics and risk factors, it is possible to understand the prevalence of IPH in China in greater detail. Irrespective of the kind of relationship between the perpetrator and victim, the findings revealed that most of them come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, have no previous history of intimate partner violence, and are not satisfied with their marriages. Although research has provided detailed explanations, the perpetrator-victim relationship remains neglected, especially in the context of research on contemporary China. The findings showed that over half of the perpetrators and victims had intimate relationships with people outside their marriages. This may be the main reason for the rapid increase in the number of instances of IPH, which seems to be in tandem with China’s rapid modernization and urbanization.
Fluid Stewardship of Maintenance Intravenous Fluids
Authors: Carr John R. , Hawkins W. Anthony , Newsome Andrea Sikora , Smith Susan E. , Amber B Clemmons , Bland Christopher M. , Branan Trisha N. ,   on behalf of The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy Critical Care Collaborative (UGAC3).
Published: April 2021

Despite the frequent use of maintenance intravenous fluids (mIVF) in critically ill patients, limited guidance is available. Notably, fluid overload secondary to mIVF mismanagement is associated with significant adverse patient outcomes. The Four Rights (right drug, right dose, right duration, right patient) construct of fluid stewardship has been proposed for the safe evaluation and use of fluids. The purpose of this evidence-based review is to offer practical insights for the clinician regarding mIVF selection, dosing, and duration in line with the Four Rights of Fluid Stewardship.
Physical realisation of a nonlinear electromagnetic energy harvester for rotational applications
Authors: Gunn B , Theodossiades S , Rothberg SJ
Published: April 2021

Control and structural health monitoring sensors are becoming increasingly common in industrial and household applications due to recent advances reducing their manufacturing costs, size and power consumption. Nevertheless, providing power for these sensors poses a key challenge to engineers, particularly in system locations where limited access renders regular maintenance infeasible due to high associated costs. In the present work, the design and physical prototype testing of a nonlinear electromagnetic vibration energy harvester is presented based on a previously reported concept of the authors. The harvester is activated by the torsional speed fluctuations of a rotating shaft. Experimental testing in a rig driven by an electric motor confirms the harvester’s properties and the modelled oscillatory behaviour. This novel rotational vibration energy harvester concept may generate over 10 mW of electrical power for a broadband speed range of approximately 400 rpm (in the examined rotational system with set fluctuating speed) for wireless sensing purposes on rotating shafts.
Hypothesis for fault dynamic monitoring evolution in railway systems
Authors: Bruner Massimiliano , Croccolo Fabio
Published: April 2021

This paper presents the technical analysis and results of an inquiry carried out by General Directorate for Railway and Maritime Investigations (DiGIFeMa) belonging to Infrastructure and Transportation Italian Minister. The target of this study tries drawing how the prognostic theory can be applied to railway maintenance in order to optimize procedures and operational features on railway safety. The case of study points on a HS railway vehicle derailment event, that has analysed in an Official Investigation Report drawn by Italian Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry. This document, drafted according to Legislative Decree n. 50/2019, represents the identification of technical faults, which have generated the accident, and leads to specific technical recommendations. Starting from these results, one of the most important Italian Railway Undertaking has carried out a verification of the existing vehicle safety monitoring devices, used during high-speed rail operation. Moreover, due to the prognostic’s theory, a wide research and series of experimental tests could be developed on old and new devices which verify the functional status of mechanical elements connected to the rotation of the railway wheelsets.
Entropy generation and heat transfer analysis for ferrofluid flow between two rotating disks with variable conductivity
Authors: Bhandari Anupam
Published: April 2021

Present model analyze the flow and heat transfer of water-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [Formula: see text] ferrofluid flow between two radially stretchable rotating disks in the presence of a uniform magnetic field. A study for entropy generation analysis is carried out to measure the irreversibility of the system. Using similarity transformation, the governing equations in the model are transformed into a set of nonlinear coupled differential equations in non-dimensional form. The nonlinear coupled differential equations are solved numerically through the finite element method. Variable viscosity, variable thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and volume concentration have a crucial role in heat transfer enhancement. The results for the entropy generation rate, velocity distributions, and temperature distribution are graphically presented in the presence of physical and geometrical parameters of the flow. Increasing the values of ferromagnetic interaction number, Reynolds number, and temperature-dependent viscosity enhances the skin friction coefficients on the surface and wall of the lower disk. The local heat transfer rate near the lower disk is reduced in the presence of Harman number, Reynolds number, and Prandtl number. The ferrohydrodynamic flow between two rotating disks might be useful to optimize the use of hybrid nanofluid for liquid seals in rotating machinery.
Optimal path planning with modified A-Star algorithm for stealth unmanned aerial vehicles in 3D network radar environment
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Wu Jian , Dai Jiyang , He Cheng
Published: April 2021

For stealth unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), path security and search efficiency of penetration paths are the two most important factors in performing missions. This article investigates an optimal penetration path planning method that simultaneously considers the principles of kinematics, the dynamic radar cross-section of stealth UAVs, and the network radar system. By introducing the radar threat estimation function and a 3D bidirectional sector multilayer variable step search strategy into the conventional A-Star algorithm, a modified A-Star algorithm was proposed which aims to satisfy waypoint accuracy and the algorithm searching efficiency. Next, using the proposed penetration path planning method, new waypoints were selected simultaneously which satisfy the attitude angle constraints and rank-K fusion criterion of the radar system. Furthermore, for comparative analysis of different algorithms, the conventional A-Star algorithm, bidirectional multilayer A-Star algorithm, and modified A-Star algorithm were utilized to settle the penetration path problem that UAVs experience under various threat scenarios. Finally, the simulation results indicate that the paths obtained by employing the modified algorithm have optimal path costs and higher safety in a 3D complex network radar environment, which show the effectiveness of the proposed path planning scheme.
Experimental and numerical study of the rib effect in a gas-gas heat exchanger performance used in a sponge iron production plant (MIDREX)
Authors: Hosseini AM , Faghih Khorasani A
Published: April 2021

Heat loss is a leading cause of heightened global temperatures and carbon dioxide. The energy crisis has raised concerns on addressing heat recovery, especially in iron and steel industries. Iron and steel industries are consuming roughly 10 to 15 percent of the world’s energy. Increasing the production of heat recovery can reduce carbon dioxide production, which in effect decreases the overall cost of production. This article evaluates heat recovery in a gas-gas heat exchanger of a sponge production using the direct reduction by gas method in the MIDREX process. In this research a numerical and experimental study on ribs placed on the chosen heat exchanger in the MIDREX process has been performed. Based on results obtained from the other study, a reasonable width and height range was selected for the ribs. The best performance evaluation criterion (PEC) based on the numerical results was obtained at the lowest width and highest height of the rib. The best value for PEC was found at 1.15.
The explanation of a complex problem: A content analysis of causality in cancer news
Authors: Peng Wei , de Tuya Gabriel Alexander , Eduardo Andrea Alexandra , Vishny Jessica Allison , Huang Qian
Published: April 2021

Understanding causality is a critical part of developing preventive and treatment actions against cancer. Three main causality models—necessary, sufficient-component, and probabilistic causality have been commonly used to explain the causation between causal factors and risks in health science. However, news media do not usually follow a strict protocol to report the causality of health risks. The purpose of this study was to describe and understand how the causation of cancer was articulated on news media. A content analysis of 471 newspaper articles published in the United States during two time-frames (2007–2008 and 2017–2018) was conducted. The analysis showed that probabilistic causality was most frequently used to explain the causal relationship between risk factors and cancer. The findings also uncovered other important details of news framing, including types and characteristics of risk factors, intervention measures, and sources of evidence. The results provided theoretical and practical implications for public understanding and assessment of cancer risks.