bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Task Migration Based on Reinforcement Learning in Vehicular Edge Computing
Authors: Moon Sungwon , Park Jaesung , Lim Yujin
Published: May 2021

Multiaccess edge computing (MEC) has emerged as a promising technology for time‐sensitive and computation‐intensive tasks. With the high mobility of users, especially in a vehicular environment, computational task migration between vehicular edge computing servers (VECSs) has become one of the most critical challenges in guaranteeing quality of service (QoS) requirements. If the vehicle’s tasks unequally migrate to specific VECSs, the performance can degrade in terms of latency and quality of service. Therefore, in this study, we define a computational task migration problem for balancing the loads of VECSs and minimizing migration costs. To solve this problem, we adopt a reinforcement learning algorithm in a cooperative VECS group environment that can collaborate with VECSs in the group. The objective of this study is to optimize load balancing and migration cost while satisfying the delay constraints of the computation task of vehicles. Simulations are performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results show that compared to other algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieves approximately 20–40% better load balancing and approximately 13–28% higher task completion rate within the delay constraints.
Deep Learning with Heterogeneous Graph Embeddings for Mortality
Prediction from Electronic Health Records
Authors: Wanyan Tingyi , Honarvar Hossein , Azad Ariful , Ding Ying , Glicksberg Benjamin S.
Published: May 2021

Computational prediction of in-hospital mortality in the setting of an intensive care unit can help clinical practitioners to guide care and make early decisions for interventions. As clinical data are complex and varied in their structure and components, continued innovation of modelling strategies is required to identify architectures that can best model outcomes. In this work, we trained a Heterogeneous Graph Model (HGM) on electronic health record (EHR) data and used the resulting embedding vector as additional information added to a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model for predicting in-hospital mortality. We show that the additional information provided by including time as a vector in the embedding captured the relationships between medical concepts, lab tests, and diagnoses, which enhanced predictive performance. We found that adding HGM to a CNN model increased the mortality prediction accuracy up to 4%. This framework served as a foundation for future experiments involving different EHR data types on important healthcare prediction tasks.
(Mis)Identifying Teachers in Late Antique Gaul
Authors: John Alison
Published: May 2021

Mamertus Claudianus, a priest in Vienne in the mid-fifth century, has been identified by some scholars as a professional teacher of Latin rhetoric. This article contests this classification, arguing that Claudianus was an active member of learned Christian literary circles and leader of philosophical and theological ‘literary salons’. It demonstrates the importance of correctly identifying teachers in the prosopography and illustrates the potential of incorrect identifications to produce flawed and distorted historical reconstructions of the cultural transformations of the late antique west. A close reading of the sources for Claudianus, coupled with a firm understanding of the cultural and educational realities of late antique Gaul, sheds light on the evolution of an increasingly Christian intellectual culture among the Gallo-Roman litterati of the fifth century, and contributes to a better understanding of the transformation of educational practices in this period and after the ‘fall’ of Rome.
The Tyrant’s Progress: The Meaning of ΤΥΡΑΝΝΟΣ in Plato and Aristotle
Authors: Stewart Edmund
Published: May 2021

This article considers a longstanding problem: what does the word τύραννος mean? And if it means ‘bad / tyrannical ruler’, why are good rulers called tyrants? The solution proposed here is that tyranny is not a fixed state of being, or not being, but instead a gradual process of development. To be called a tyrant, a ruler need not embody all the stereotypical traits of tyranny. If tyranny is, by definition, unconstitutional and illegitimate rule, then there may be no clear moment at which one ceases to be a general or king and becomes a tyrant, only a process by which the tyrant gradually strengthens his rule and develops the negative attributes associated with absolute and illegitimate power. A strong trend in not only the political theory of Plato and Aristotle, but also Greek poetry and historiography in general, is to trace the decline of tyrannies from initially good and popular governments to ones that are despotic and unpopular: the tyrant’s progress.
Echocardiographic left ventricular geometry profiles for prediction of stroke, coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality in the Chinese community: a rural cohort population study
Authors: Li Tan , Li Guangxiao , Guo Xiaofan , Li Zhao , Sun Yingxian
Published: May 2021

Background

The utility of echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) geometry in the prediction of stroke/coronary heart disease (CHD) and all-cause mortality is not well characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the overall and sex-specific prognostic value of different geometric patterns on the incidence of stroke/CHD and all-cause mortality in a Chinese population-based cohort.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study in the general population in Northeast China, and a total of 9940 participants aged ≥ 35 years underwent echocardiography for LV geometry and were successfully followed up for incident stroke/CHD and all-cause death. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to estimate the association of baseline LV geometry with adverse outcomes.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 4.66 years, abnormal LV geometric patterns had increased crude incident rates of stroke/CHD and all-cause mortality compared with normal geometry in overall population and each sex group (all P < 0.05). Multivariable Cox analysis reported that LV concentric and eccentric hypertrophy were associated with incident stroke/CHD (concentric hypertrophy: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.86; eccentric hypertrophy: HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.11–1.82) and all-cause mortality (concentric hypertrophy: HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.07–2.12; eccentric hypertrophy: HR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.19–2.10), and LV concentric remodeling was related to stroke/CHD incidence (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.09–1.84) in total population compared to normal geometry after the adjustment for potential confounders. In men, a significant increase was observed from LV eccentric hypertrophy for incident stroke/CHD, whereas in women, LV concentric hypertrophy was associated with elevated incidence of both stroke/CHD and all-cause death, and eccentric hypertrophy was correlated with increased all-cause mortality (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our prospective cohort supports that abnormal LV geometry by echocardiography has a prognostic significance for incident stroke/CHD and all-cause mortality, implying that early detection and intervention of LV structural remodeling in rural China are urgently needed to prevent adverse outcomes.
Naturalistic exploratory study of the associations of substance use on ADHD outcomes and function
Authors: MacDonald Benjamin , Sadek Joseph
Published: May 2021

Background

Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with an increased risk of substance use disorder (SUD), existing literature on how SUD interacts with ADHD outcomes is limited. This study investigates whether SUD among individuals with ADHD is associated with worse ADHD outcomes and prognosis, and the association between overall functioning and SUD. In addition, we seek to understand whether heavy cannabis use is a better predictor of poorer outcomes compared to SUD status alone.

Method

We conducted a retrospective analysis on 50 ADHD patient charts, which were allocated based on SUD status. Subgroup analysis was performed on the total sample population, with allocation based on heavy cannabis use. Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were used for both the primary and subgroup analyses.

Results

SUD status highly correlated with more ADHD-related cognitive impairments and poorer functional outcomes at the time of diagnosis. ADHD patients with comorbid ADHD-SUD scored significantly lower (p = < 0.0001) on objective cognitive testing (Integrated Auditory and Visual Continuous Performance Test (IVA/CPT)) than ADHD patients without SUD. The correlation with poorer ADHD outcomes was more pronounced when groups were allocated based on heavy cannabis use status; in addition to significantly lower IVA/CPT scores (p = 0.0011), heavy cannabis use was associated with more severe fine motor hyperactivity and self-reported hyperactivity/impulsivity scores (p = 0.0088 and 0.0172, respectively).

Conclusion

Future research is needed to determine how substance abuse can be a barrier to improved ADHD outcomes, and the effect cannabis and other substances have on cognitive function and pharmacotherapy of ADHD.
Secondary malaria vectors in western Kenya include novel species with unexpectedly high densities and parasite infection rates
Authors: Mustapha Amine M. , Musembi Susan , Nyamache Anthony K. , Machani Maxwell G. , Kosgei Jackline , Wamuyu Lucy , Ochomo Eric , Lobo Neil F.
Published: May 2021

Background

Malaria vector control has been implemented chiefly through indoor interventions targeting primary vectors resulting in population declines—pointing to a possible greater proportional contribution to transmission by secondary malaria vectors with their predominant exophagic and exophilic traits. With a historical focus on primary vectors, there is paucity of data on secondary malaria vectors in many countries in Africa. This study sought to determine the species compositions and bionomic traits, including proportions infected withPlasmodium falciparumand phenotypic insecticide resistance, of secondary vectors in three sites with high malaria transmission in Kisumu County, western Kenya.

Methods

Cross-sectional sampling of adultAnopheleswas conducted using indoor and outdoor CDC light traps (CDC-LT) and animal-baited traps (ABTs) in Kakola-Ombaka and Kisian, while larvae were sampled in Ahero. Secondary vectors captured were exposed to permethrin using WHO bioassays and then analyzed by ELISA to test for proportions infected withP. falciparumsporozoites. AllAnopheleswere identified to species using morphological keys with a subset being molecularly identified using ITS2 andCO1sequencing for species identification.

Results

Two morphologically identified secondary vectors captured—An. coustaniandAn. pharoensis—were determined to consist of four species molecularly. These includedAn. christyi,An. sp. 15 BSL-2014,an unidentified member of theAn. coustanicomplex (An. cf. coustani) and a species similar to that ofAn. pharoensisandAn. squamosus(An. cf. pharoensis). Standardized (Anophelesper trap per night) capture rates demonstrate higher proportions of secondary vectors across most trapping methods—with overall indoor and outdoor CDC-LTs and ABT captures composed of 52.2% (n = 93), 78.9% (n = 221) and 58.1% (n = 573) secondary vectors respectively. Secondary vectors were primarily caught outdoors. The overall proportion of secondary vectors withP. falciparumsporozoite was 0.63% (n = 5), with the unidentified speciesAn. cf. pharoensis,determined to carryPlasmodium. Overall secondary vectors were susceptible to permethrin with a > 99% mortality rate.

Conclusions

Given their high densities, endophily equivalent to primary vectors, higher exophily andPlasmodium-positive proportions, secondary vectors may contribute substantially to malaria transmission. Unidentified species demonstrate the need for further morphological and molecular identification studies towards further characterization. Continued monitoring is essential for understanding their temporal contributions to transmission, the possible elevation of some to primary vectors and the development of insecticide resistance.

Graphical Abstract
Immunotherapy for Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Decade of Progress
Authors: Shields Misty Dawn , Marin-Acevedo Julian A. , Pellini Bruna
Published: May 2021

The treatment paradigm for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer has substantially changed with the discovery of immunotherapy. The incorporation of immunotherapy into treatment algorithms has resulted in better outcomes for patients, with fewer side effects compared with classic chemotherapeutic agents. Multiple treatment options are now available for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer, ranging from single-agent immunotherapy to quadruple therapy, which involves dual immune checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy plus anti–vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. This article will review landmark studies that have led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of immunotherapy agents alone or in combination with chemotherapy or other immunotherapy drugs to treat advanced non–small cell lung cancer.
Disparities in Health Care and Medical Evaluations by Gender: A Review of Evidence and Mechanisms
Authors: Cabral Marika , Dillender Marcus
Published: May 2021

Male and female patients often receive different medical evaluations and treatment even when they have the same symptoms, and relative to men, women are less likely to receive benefits within social insurance programs that rely on medical evaluations. This article reviews evidence from prior research that documents the existence of these gender gaps in health care and disability benefit receipt. The article then describes potential mechanisms underlying these gender gaps. The article concludes by discussing new work on the role of health-care providers in contributing to gender gaps.
Measuring the Impact of COVID-19 on Businesses and People: Lessons from the Census Bureau’s Experience
Authors: Buffington Catherine , Fields Jason , Foster Lucia
Published: May 2021

We provide an overview of Census Bureau activities to enhance the consistency, timeliness, and relevance of our data products in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlight new data products designed to provide timely and granular information on the pandemic's impact: the Small Business Pulse Survey, weekly Business Formation Statistics, the Household Pulse Survey, and Community Resilience Estimates. We describe pandemic-related content introduced to existing surveys such as the Annual Business Survey and the Current Population Survey. We discuss adaptations to ensure the continuity and consistency of existing data products such as principal economic indicators and the American Community Survey.
Recent perspectives of nanotechnology in burn wounds management: a review
Authors: Na Ruan , Wei Tian
Published: May 2021

Objective:

The burden of the management of problematic skin wounds characterised by a compromised skin barrier is growing rapidly. Almost six million patients are affected in the US alone, with an estimated market of $25 billion annually. There is an urgent requirement for efficient mechanism-based treatments and more efficacious drug delivery systems. Novel strategies are needed for faster healing by reducing infection, moisturising the wound, stimulating the healing mechanisms, speeding up wound closure and reducing scar formation.

Methods:

A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted on the recent perspectives of nanotechnology in burn wounds management. Pubmed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsychINFO databases were all systematically searched. Authors independently rated the reporting of the qualitative studies included. A comprehensive literature search was conducted covering various resources up to 2018–2019. Traditional techniques aim to simply cover the wound without playing any active role in wound healing. However, nanotechnology-based solutions are being used to create multipurpose biomaterials, not only for regeneration and repair, but also for on-demand delivery of specific molecules. The chronic nature and associated complications of nonhealing wounds have led to the emergence of nanotechnology-based therapies that aim at facilitating the healing process and ultimately repairing the injured tissue.

Conclusion:

Nanotechnology-based therapy is in the forefront of next-generation therapy that is able to advance wound healing of hard-to-heal wounds. In this review, we will highlight the developed nanotechnology-based therapeutic agents and assess the viability and efficacy of each treatment. Herein we will explore the unmet needs and future directions of current technologies, while discussing promising strategies that can advance the wound-healing field
Overall survival based on oncologist density in the United States: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Siddappa Malleshappa Sudeep K. , Giri Smith , Patel Smit , Mehta Tapan , Appleman Leonard , Huntington Scott F. , Passero Vida , Parikh Rahul A. , Mehta Kathan D.
Published: May 2021

Medically underserved areas (MUA) or health professional shortage areas (HPSA) designations are based on primary care health services availability. These designations are used in recruiting international medical graduates (IMGs) trained in primary care or subspecialty (e.g., oncology) to areas of need. Whether the MUA/HPSA designation correlates with Oncologist Density (OD) and supports IMG oncologists’ recruitment to areas of need is unknown. We evaluated the concordance of OD with the designation of MUAs/HPSAs and evaluated the impact of OD and MUA/HPSA status on overall survival. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies or metastatic solid tumors in 2011 from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. SEER was linked to the American Medical Association Masterfile to calculate OD, defined as the number of oncologists per 100,000 population at the county level. We calculated the proportion of counties with MUA or HPSA designation for each OD category. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between the OD category using a log-rank test. We identified 68,699 adult patients with hematologic malignancies or metastatic solid cancers in 609 counties. The proportion of MUA/HPSA designation was similar across counties categorized by OD (93.2%, 95.4%, 90.3%, and 91.7% in counties with <2.9, 2.9–6.5, 6.5–8.4 and >8.4 oncologists per 100K population, p = 0.7). Patients’ median survival in counties with the lowest OD was significantly lower compared to counties with the highest OD (8 vs. 11 months, p<0.0001). The difference remained statistically significant in multivariate and subgroup analysis. MUA/HPSA status was not associated with survival (HR 1.03, 95%CI 0.97–1.09, p = 0.3). MUA/HPSA designation based on primary care services is not concordant with OD. Patients in counties with lower OD correlated with inferior survival. Federal programs designed to recruit physicians in high-need areas should consider the availability of health care services beyond primary care.
Estudio Descriptivo Transversal: Factores de Riesgo de Infección del Tracto Urinario en Pacientes Hospitalizados Menores de 5 Años en el Hospital Humanitario Pablo Jaramillo, Cuenca 2014 – 2015
Authors: Blacio Vidal Willie Jack , Siranaula Arias Veronica Irene
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection is the colonization and microbial replication along the urinary tract, it is a frequent cause for seeking medical attention. Its clinical presentation is often nonspecific and represents a risk of permanent kidney damage, which is higher as younger is the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of known risk factors for urinary tract infection in hospitalized patients under the age of 5 years and older than a month of age. METhODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 68 patients with diagnosis of urinary tract infection (confirmed by urine culture), hospitalized at the Pediatrics department of Hospital Hu-manitario Pablo Jaramillo from January 2014 to December 2015. We measured the prevalence of the known risk factors for urinary tract infection. Data was collected in a form with the information obtained from the medical records and analyzed in SPSS V 20. Possible associations between the variables was evaluated with the Chi square test. RESUlTS: 67.6% of the sample were women and 32.4% were men. The age group with the highest prevalence of UTI was the group under 12 months (80.9%), with a higher frequency in females in all age groups. Among the risk factors, the maternal background of urinary infection represented 13.3%. Ve-sico-ureteral reflux represented 7.2% and hydronephrosis 8.8%. Phimosis was predominant in children under 12 months (11.7% of the total sample). The prolonged use of the diaper corresponded to 36.7 %. 5.9% of the patients with UTI presented constipation. CONClUSiON: UTIs are a frequent infectious disease in children under 5, with different distribution ac-cording to age and sex. The age group more frequently affected was the group under 12 months of age, and it was higher on women. Prolonged used of diaper (higher than 8 hours) was the most frequent risk factor in this study, and we found statistical significant association between this two variables. KEyWORDS: URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS, RISK FACTORS, CHILD, HOSPITALIZED, HYDRONEPHROSIS, PHYMOSIS, DIAPERS.
Σ-Shaped Bifurcation Curves
Authors: Acharya A. , Fonseka N. , Quiroa J. , Shivaji R.
Published: May 2021

We study positive solutions to the steady state reaction diffusion equation of the form:

−Δu=λf(u); Ω∂u∂η+λu=0; ∂Ω$$\begin{array}{} \displaystyle \left\lbrace \begin{matrix} -{\it\Delta} u =\lambda f(u);~ {\it\Omega} \\ \frac{\partial u}{\partial \eta}+ \sqrt{\lambda} u=0;~\partial {\it\Omega}\end{matrix} \right. \end{array}$$

whereλ> 0 is a positive parameter,Ωis a bounded domain in ℝNwhenN> 1 (with smooth boundary∂ Ω) orΩ= (0, 1), and∂u∂η$\begin{array}{} \displaystyle \frac{\partial u}{\partial \eta} \end{array}$is the outward normal derivative ofu. Heref(s) =ms+g(s) wherem≥ 0 (constant) andg∈C2[0,r) ∩C[0, ∞) for somer> 0. Further, we assume thatgis increasing, sublinear at infinity,g(0) = 0,g′(0) = 1 andg″(0) > 0. In particular, we discuss the existence of multiple positive solutions for certain ranges ofλleading to the occurrence ofΣ-shaped bifurcation diagrams. We establish our multiplicity results via the method of sub-supersolutions.
Exercise-induced changes in miRNA expression in coronary artery disease
Authors: Mayr Barbara , Müller Edith E. , Schäfer Christine , Droese Silke , Schönfelder Martin , Niebauer Josef
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that control gene expression by translational inhibition. Exercise has been shown to affect several miRNAs’ expression in healthy subjects, but this has not yet been studied in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Since exercise training confers beneficial long-term effects and may also trigger acute coronary events, it is of utmost interest to be able to identify those who are risk for untoward effects. Therefore, we set out to assess miRNA expression in response to maximal ergospirometry in patients with CAD.

Methods

Total RNA was extracted from blood drawn immediately before and 5 min after maximal cycle-ergospirometry (10 male and 10 female CAD patients). A qRT-PCR was performed for 187 target miRNAs associated with endothelial function/dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death.

Results

In response to a maximal ergospirometry, 33 miRNAs significantly changed their expression levels. Of these miRNAs 16 were significantly differently expressed between gender. Using multi-variance analysis, nine miRNAs (let-7e-5p; miR-1; miR-19b-1-5p; miR-103a-3p; miR-148b-3p; miR-181b-5p; miR-188-5p; miR-423-5p; miR-874-3p) showed significantly different responses to maximal ergospirometry between genders.

Conclusions

We report for the first time that in patients with CAD, miRNA expression is amenable to maximal ergospirometry and that the extent of changes differs between genders. Affected by exercise and gender were miRNAs that are associated, among others, with pathways for glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis. Future studies should assess whether disease-specific miRNA expression in response to maximal exercise might serve as a marker for patient outcome.
Comparative evaluation of cardioprotective activity of Gala and Fuji apple juice against isoprenaline-induced cardiotoxicity in rats
Authors: Ahmad Shoaib , Mahmood Tarique , Kumar Ranjan , Bagga Paramdeep , Ahsan Farogh , Shamim Arshiya , Ansari Abdullah , Shariq Mohammad
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Comparative evaluation of cardioprotective activity of Gala and Fuji apple juice against isoprenaline induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Methods

Rats (125–150 g) were orally administered Gala (GA) and Fuji (FA) apple juice (3 mL/day, per oral) for 13 days. Myocardial injury was inducted on 14th and 15th day by the administration of Isoprenaline (85 mg/kg/day, subcutaneous).

Results

In treated group i.e. GA and FA, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), Troponin-I level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was reduced while glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) level was significantly increased. Marked reduction in cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipids, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) was observed while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level increased significantly. In tissue and serum total serum protein (TSP) level, Albumin, Globulin and A/G ratio increased very significantly in the treated group while the level of white blood corpuscles (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total fibrinogen (TF), bleeding time (BT), c-reactive protein (C-rP), red blood corpuscles (RBC), clotting time (CT) and prothrombin time (PT) showed a significant rise in the level. The level of Sialic acid, hexose, fucose and hexosamine was highly significantly increased, there was an increase in the level of K+ and glycogen while a significant reduction in electrolyte and glucose level was observed when all these parameters were compared to Isoprenaline (ISO) group. The above findings were supported by histopathological examination of hearts. Cardioprotective activity was compared with standard drug, metoprolol. On comparative analysis of both juices, GA juices have found more effective when compared to FA juice.

Conclusions

The study was concluded that Gala and Fuji apple possessed significant prophylactic and protective effects against Isoprenaline-induced cardiotoxicity in rats through maintaining inhibiting lipid peroxidation, endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities and cytokine levels.
Psychometric validation of the modified Naranjo algorithm used in homeopathy for chronic cases
Authors: Manchanda Rajkumar , Rutten Lex , Dogra Atanu , Chakraborty Parthasarathi , Misra Alok , Chakma Abhijit , Prasad Varanasi Gayatri , Singh Pramodji , Kundu Chittaranjan , Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil
Published: May 2021

Objectives

The modified Naranjo algorithm assesses the physician assigned cause-effect relationship for homeopathic medicines. It is being adopted in homeopathy researches, but not yet validated systematically. We intended to validate the modified Naranjo algorithm by examining its psychometric properties.

Methods

An online survey sought agreement of 25 experts on the 10 items of the tool on 5-point agreement scale. Next, 285 responses from collected prospectively from chronic cases enrolled under the clinical verification program of the council in 2018 were subjected to testing of construct validity using exploratory principal component analysis (PCA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n=150) was performed to verify the goodness-of-fit of the model. Reliability was tested using internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability by kappa statistics.

Results

Experts’ responses mean values were 4 or higher (i.e. responses were relevant) and standard deviations were less than 1 (i.e. less heterogeneous). In PCA using varimax, all the items loaded above the pre-specified value of 0.4 and identified 4 components explaining 64.1% of variation. The goodness-of -fit of the 4-component CFA model was acceptable (chi-square 89.253, p<0.001). Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.7) was borderline; test–retest reliability was acceptable. Kappa statistics was moderate to fair, but poor for few of the items.

Conclusions

Statistical evaluations indicate that the modified Naranjo algorithm is useful, but needs improvement.
Investigating the performance of all-optical AND logic gate based on FWM effect in SOA at low power
Authors: Hejib Pragya , Kaur Sanmukh
Published: May 2021

In the present work, the performance of the all-optical AND logic gate using four wave mixing in wide band semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) has been analyzed for different modulation formats. The two binary inputs of all-optical AND gate are modulated by return to zero and non-return to zero (NRZ) modulation formats. The quality factor (Q-factor) has been examined on the basis of critical parameters of SOA. The obtained results show that the acceptable Q-factor (>6) is possible with the proposed design at input signal power even as low as 50 μW (−13 dBm), when the data is modulated in NRZ on-off keying (OOK) format.
Aspects on bond strength in sheet structures from TMP and CTMP – a review
Authors: Pettersson Gunilla , Norgren Sven , Engstrand Per , Rundlöf Mats , Höglund Hans
Published: May 2021

High yield pulps (HYP), manufactured in mechanical and chemimechanical pulping processes, are mainly used in graphic papers and paper grades where a high bulk is preferable, like in paperboards. Moreover, packaging papers with very high demands on both dry and wet strength could be manufactured from HYP in a near future. Preferred bonds between fibre components (long fibres, shortened fibres and fines) in the various paper grades are quite different. In the review, plausible effects of mechanical interlocking, intermolecular interactions (“physical bonding”), hydrogen bonds, intermixing of polymers, additives and possible specific interactions in the formation of strong bonds in sheet structures from HYP are discussed. A required condition for high bond strength in sheets from HYP furnishes is that fibre components are forced into sufficiently close contact. This is to a great extent impeded if the fibre walls are too stiff. Consequently, the current review focuses on both how fibre fractions should preferably be developed for different end uses and how suitable bonds might be achieved in different paper grades. The ideal type of bonds is certainly different depending on the demands on the final paper quality.
Novel potentiometric methods for the estimation of bisoprolol and alverine in pharmaceutical forms and human serum
Authors: Elgendy Khaled , Elmosallamy Mohamed A.F. , Soltan Moustafa K. , Amin Alaa S. , Elshaprawy Dina S.
Published: May 2021

Two new potentiometric sensors were created for the quantification of bisoprolol fumarate and alverine citrate in bulk pharmaceutical dosage forms and human serum. Bisoprolol and alverine sensors were manufactured by combining potassium tetrakis (p-chlorophenyl) borate ion pairs to serve as electroactive substances, plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) matrix membranes, ando-nitrophenyl octyl ether. They demonstrated high responses over the concentration ranges of 1.0×10−6to 1.0×10−2mol L−1bisoprolol and alverine with close to Nernstian cationic slopes of 52 and 56 mV decade−1, respectively. The detection limits for bisoprolol and alverine were 2.6×10−6and 1.75×10−6mol L−1, respectively. For both medications, the response time was instantaneous (2.0 s). The working pH ranges for bisoprolol and alverine were 4.50–8.50 and 2.00–8.80, respectively. For both sensors, the life cycle was long (3 months). The sensors were used in pharmaceutical dosage types for the assay of bisoprolol and alverine, recording average recoveries of 99.40% and 99.98% respectively and were also successfully used for estimating the two drugs in human serum with an average recovery of 99.60% for both drugs. For all multiple staged interfering materials, the reported latest potentiometric sensor methods displayed high selectivity. The current sensor obtained a high percentage recovery and an excellent relative standard deviation compared with those obtained from previously published methods.
The Use of Dishwashers in Commercial Enterprises – An Initial Analysis
Authors: Kerschgens Svenja , Esmarch-Rummler Britta von , Stamminger Rainer
Published: May 2021

The requirements for commercial dishwashers differ fundamentally from those for domestic dishwashers. For commercial dishwashers, capacity and programme duration are the main factors. Accordingly, different designs are offered for the different types of requirement. Comprehensive data on the usage behaviour of commercial dishwashers is scarcely available. Within the framework of face-to-face interviews, 200 companies in Germany and Denmark were visited to record their user behaviour. With the help of the data obtained, not only errors in the usage behaviour were found, but also indications of unnecessarily high water and energy consumption, which, inter alia, lead to increased costs for the companies. The results show that manual pre-rinsing in particular leads to increased water consumption. Furthermore, the dishwashers are only partially loaded, which leads to more wash cycles than necessary. In order to ensure the optimal utilisation and correct user behaviour of commercial dishwashers, while simultaneously reducing the impact on the environment, there is an urgent need to educate users better on how to use them correctly.
Wahrnehmung der Nachhaltigkeitsmaßnahmen von Bergbahnen – Erkenntnisse aus Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz
Authors: Amacher Hoppler Anna , Rosenberg-Taufer Barbara , Walter David K. , Meier-Crameri Ursina , Heinrich Carmen
Published: May 2021

Nachhaltigkeit ist in der Bergbahnbranche nicht eine Selbstverständlichkeit, auch wenn nachhaltige Praktiken existieren. Um Handlungsempfehlungen für das strategische Management machen zu können, wurden 1500 Gäste von deutschen, österreichischen und schweizerischen Bergbahnunternehmen in einer Onlinebefragung nach ihrer Wahrnehmung der Nachhaltigkeitsmaßnahmen von Bergbahnen befragt. Insgesamt ist Nachhaltigkeit nur für jeden zehnten Wintergast ein entscheidendes Auswahlkriterium, um zu einer Bergbahn zu reisen. Allerdings werden von einer Mehrheit der Gäste Belastungen durch die Bergbahnaktivitäten wahrgenommen. Gleichzeitig werden die von Bergbahnen umgesetzten Nachhaltigkeitsmaßnahmen nur von einer Minderheit bemerkt. Somit besteht sowohl bei der Umsetzung als auch der Kommunikation Potenzial.
A nyelvi tájkép és a társadalmi folyamatok összefüggései Észak-Macedóniában
Authors:   Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem, Urbanisztika Tanszék, Balizs Dániel
Published: May 2021

A country in the Western Balkans, with which all its neighbours have some problems, whose society is extremely divided ethnically and politically, suffered by intensive emigration now and a civil war a few years ago and which signs agreements on its internal affairs and even changes its name – is called North Macedonia. The tension between Macedonians, who make up barely two-thirds of the population and the rapidly growing Albanian minority will lead to the emergence of parallel societies. Otherwise, the expansion of Albanians is spectacular in all areas of everyday life. The Macedonian community experiences that everyone else (the Albanian minority, neighbouring countries, the European Union or NATO) has more impact on the affairs of the Macedonian State than he has. In this study, I am going to present the recent transformation of the Macedonian political and economic situation with an effective method, the survey of the linguistic landscape.
Uso de modelos mixtos en el análisis de estudios de homogeneidad para ensayos de aptitud
Authors: Molina Castro Gabriel Ignacio , Venegas-Padilla Jimmy , Calderón-Jiménez Bryan
Published: May 2021

Los ensayos de aptitud han demostrado ser una herramienta poderosa para evaluar la calidad de las mediciones. El presente trabajo evalúa las ventajas del uso de modelos mixtos lineales frente a modelos tradicionales de efectos aleatorios en estudios de homogeneidad aplicados en ensayos de aptitud, y describe su aplicación en ejemplo para la medición de elementos de agua potable, correspondiente al ensayo de aptitud DMQ-001-2018 del LCM. Ambos modelos fueron ajustados y evaluados para los datos de medición de calcio (Ca) y magnesio (Mg) utilizando el software estadístico R. Se evidenció la presencia de una tendencia por medición para Mg (p = 0.0005), pero no para Ca (p = 0.4265). Un análisis de las componentes de incertidumbre por falta de homogeneidad (uhom) y por repetibilidad (ur) demostró la similitud entre los modelos cuando no existe una tendencia (modelo mixto: uhom = 0.4536 mg/L y ur = 0.4643 mg/L, modelo aleatorio: uhom = 0.4705 mg/L y ur = 0.4494 mg/L). Sin embargo, diferencias significativas fueron observadas cuando existen tendencias (modelo mixto: uhom = 3.0468 ∙ 10-6 mg/L y ur = 0.0842 mg/L, modelo aleatorio: uhom = no estimable y ur = 0.2343 mg/L). Se evidenciaron ventajas para el modelo mixto lineal en comparación con el modelo tradicional, resaltando la posibilidad de eliminar indefiniciones en la estimación de uhom y la mitigación de posibles sobreestimaciones de ur. Finalmente, se brinda un código programado en R para procesar datos de estudios de homogeneidad basado en el ajuste de un modelo mixto lineal.
"Ciało (...) jest (...) dla Pana, a Pan dla ciała" (1 Kor 6, 13). Biblijne podstawy teologii ludzkiego ciała
Authors: Dąbek Tomasz Maria
Published: May 2021

W przedstawianych rozważaniach zwrócimy uwagę na teksty biblijne podkreślające godność i wartość ludzkiego ciała. Pod wpływem myśli greckiej w wielu religijnych pismach chrześcijańskich przeciwstawia się element materialny naszej natury – ciało – nieśmiertelnej duszy. W literaturze duchowej z przełomu XIX i XX w. „dusze” oznaczają ludzi pobożnych czy w ogóle ludzi powołanych do zbawienia, choć często lekceważących to powołanie. Takie określenia w tym znaczeniu stosuje też wielka mistyczka XX wieku, św. Siostra Faustyna Kowalska oraz np. patron Małych Braci i Małych Sióstr bł. Karol de Foucauld. Niektóre teksty biblijne zwierają również takie przeciwstawienie. Niemniej, zwłaszcza dla św. Pawła, ciało nie oznacza ludzkiej cielesności, lecz naturę osłabioną przez grzech pierwszych ludzi, którą przeciwstawia duchowi – postawie kształtowanej przez Ducha Świętego, którego chrześcijanie otrzymują na chrzcie świętym. Trzeba przypomnieć semicką koncepcję człowieka stojącą u podstaw myślenia natchnionych autorów tekstów biblijnych, w której ciało jest istotnym przejawem ludzkiego istnienia, i w tym duchu interpretować wypowiedzi na temat ciała, które jest narzędziem dobrych czynów. Ciało Chrystusa stało się „narzędziem przebłagania” (Rz 3, 25) – również nasze ciała zgodnie z nauką Pisma Świętego powinny być traktowane z godnością i dobrze wykorzystywane w drodze do zbawienia. Dla Semitów człowiek był jednością, a dusza i ciało to różne sposoby manifestowania się tej jedności. W naszych rozważaniach postaramy się przede wszystkim podkreślać to, co natchnione teksty mówią pozytywnie o ludzkim ciele. W życiu religijnym trzeba dbać o ciało podobnie jak o duszę, by coraz lepiej odpowiadać na Boże wezwanie do bycia z Nim i uczestniczenia w przekazywaniu Jego miłości całemu stworzeniu.
A Note on the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution of Lesotho
Authors: 'Nyane Hoolo
Published: May 2021

The Constitution of Lesotho has been amended nine times since its adoption in 1993. The latest amendment, styled the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution, was assented into law in May 2020 amidst great controversy. The Amendment makes fundamental changes to the Constitution. Its main thrust is to cushion parliament from early dissolutions necessitated by a motion of no confidence against the government. The Amendment has also introduced other significant changes to the Constitution. Those other changes are on the prorogation of parliament, the Prime Minister's resignation for personal reasons and the caretaker government. All these changes have been inspired by the country's constitutional problems since the advent of coalition politics in 2012. The purpose of this commentary is to critique these changes. The paper contends that the changes brought about by the Ninth Amendment can at best be regarded as interim rather than permanent measures, while the long-lasting constitutional reforms are being prepared for the country.
Vision-Based Mobile Robot Controllers: A Scientific Review
Authors: Fayez Saeed Faizi Adnan Mohsin Abdulazeez,
Published: May 2021

Today, there are different types of self-controlled robots. Some of them had critical effects on our lives like industrial and medical robots. Others are for military usages such as drones and the pets robots just for entertainment. The crucial differences between this kind of robot and the controlled ones are their ability to move on their own and make decisions based on their observations of the world around them. Mobile robots must have a data source used as an input dataset and processed to change their behavior; for instance, moving, stopping, rotating, or doing any required action based on the information gathered from the surrounding environment. Different types of sensors were used to feed robots controllers with data. Such data source could be ultrasonic sensor, laser sensor, torque sensor, or vision sensor. Robots integrated with cameras were becoming an essential field of study. They recently attracted significant attention from researchers it has been commonly used in many sectors of healthcare, manufacturing, and many other services. The robot needs a controller with a powerful mechanism of realization to deal with such incoming data. The world of mobile robot controllers is discussed in this paper, and the latest trends were reviewed. This review aims to provide a general understanding of robot controllers and navigation methods developed over the last few years.
Diverse Congestion Control Schemes for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Et al. Amit Grover
Published: May 2021

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) comprised of battery operated sensor nodes that collect data from their neighbor nodes and transmit the aggregated information to the sink node or the Base Station (BS). This may result in congestion near the BS and leads to a bottleneck situation in the network. In this paper, an extensive study of earlier reported diverse congestion techniques explicitly diverse Algorithm based - and Layer based-congestion techniques is carried out. Accordingly, a recommendation is drawn based upon their performance comparison. Furthermore, a demonstration is carried out for contemporary earlier reported strategies such as Pro-AODV, CC-AODV, EDAPR, ED-AODV and PCC-AODV by evaluating delay, packet delivery ratio (PDR) and packet loss ratio (PLR). Accordingly, a recommended congestion strategy is suggested depending upon the comparison of the demonstrated schemes.
Hands-on Making Leather Goods: Learning from YouTube Videos
Authors:   the Department of Industrial Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, Wang Chih-Mei , Ye Jian-Hong , Ye Jhen-Ni
Published: May 2021

YouTube is the world’s most popular video platform, which not only provides entertainment videos, but also allows many professional or amateur teachers to upload teaching videos for users to learn specific skills. However, most of the current research focuses on the effectiveness of YouTube for formal learning. In the perspective of cognitive-affective theory of learning with media (CATLM), the informal learning model through YouTube can also be regarded as a meaningful learning method. Therefore, based on CATLM, this research constructed a research model and proposed 4 research hypotheses. For the purpose of the research, this research used Facebook’s hand-made leather goods club to distribute questionnaires, collected 258 questionnaires, and deleted a total of 51 copies of questionnaires with invalid data. Then the number of questionnaires with valid data were 207, and the effective recovery rate was 80.2%. The data were analyzed for reliability and validity, and SEM was used to verify the research model. The research results showed that: 1) YouTube self-efficacy was positively related to learning interest; 2) YouTube self-efficacy was positively related to learning attitude; 3) Learning attitude was positively related to h learning satisfaction; 4) Learning interest was positively related to learning satisfaction.
OPERA DIRECTOR ACHIM FREYER: FRAGMENTS ON METHOD
Authors: Sokolskaya Anna A.
Published: May 2021

This article discusses the creative method of the German painter, set designer and operatic director Achim Freyer. The paper deals with structural and hermeneutic analysis of several scenographic and directorial techniques in his opera productions “Don Giovanni” and “Die Zauberflöte” by Mozart, “Parsifal” and the tetralogy “Der Ring des Nibelungen” by Wagner, “Freischütz” by Weber, “Ariodant” by Handel. It explores the questions of corporeality and representation of gender, the embodiment of the unconscious, the use of hyperboles and fragmentation, the citation of cultural signs and aesthetic codes of different genesis. Freyer’s creative method refers to Brecht’s theoretical views on theatre. In these productions the principle of gestus and idea of the dialectical spiral as a basis of drama are realized. The main approach of the article is the investigation of the stage metaphors in Freyer’s productions as the way to accentuate the concepts of the libretto.
Endocarditis infecciosa en canino con diagnóstico previo de síndrome vestibular periférico secundario a probable otitis media-interna: reporte de caso
Authors: Guzmán Solano María Andrea , Vargas-Pinto Pedro , Cabrejo Saavedra César Augusto
Published: May 2021

Infectious endocarditis is a pathological process with low incidence in the daily clinical practice. The main etiology are the bacterial agents that colonize with higher prevalence the mitral and aortic valves. This paper reports the case of a dog with a previous diagnosis of peripheral vestibular syndrome secondary to probable otitis media-interna. The dog has a sudden heart murmur, intermittent claudications, lack of appetite, depression and temperatures. It is performed an echocardiographic assessment that shows mitral valve thickening with hyperecoic structures in the free border that indicates vegetations. Using the Modified Duke Criteria, a definitive diagnosis of infectious endocarditis is concluded. The dog is provided a medical treatment at the clinic without success. The clinical and paraclinical findings match the background found in the literature. Modified Duke Criteria allow guiding the diagnosis process and uncovering the alarm clinical signs. Antimicrobial clinical treatment must be administered based on blood cultures and sensitivity tests and considering both the pathogen prevalence and infection primary origin. Doctors must deem this condition as a bad prognosis pathology with a high mortality percentage. Finally, it is concluded that the main limitation in this case is a lack of histopathological confirmation.