bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A High-Speed and Power-Efficient Approximate Adder for Image Processing Applications
Authors: Kumar Uppugunduru Anil , Sahith G. , Chatterjee Sumit K , Ahmed Syed Ershad
Published: September 2021

Most image processing applications are naturally imprecise and can tolerate computational error up to a specific limit. In such applications, savings in power are achieved by pruning the data path units, such as an adder module. Truncation, however, may lead to errors in computing, and therefore, it is always a challenge between the amount of error that can be tolerated in an application and savings achieved in area, power and delay. This paper proposes a segmented approximate adder to reduce the computation complexity in error-resilient image processing applications. The sub-carry generator aids in achieving a faster design while carry speculation method employed improves the accuracy. Synthesis results indicate a reduced die-area up to 36.6%, improvement in delay up to 62.9%, and reduction in power consumption up to 34.1% compared to similar work published previously. Finally, the proposed adder is evaluated by using image smoothing and sharpening techniques. Simulations carried out on these applications prove that the proposed adder obtains better peak signal-to-noise ratio than those available in the literature.
A New ANFIS-Based Hybrid Method in the Design and Fabrication of a High-Performance Novel Microstrip Diplexer for Wireless Applications
Authors: Yahya Salah I. , Rezaei Abbas , Yahya Rafaa I.
Published: September 2021

In this work, we have used a novel adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) method to design and fabricate a high-performance microstrip diplexer. For developing the proposed ANFIS model, the hybrid learning method consisting of least square estimation and back-propagation (BP) techniques is utilized. To achieve a compact diplexer, a designing process written in MATLAB 7.4 software is introduced based on the proposed ANFIS model. The basic microstrip resonator used in this study is mathematically analyzed. The designed microstrip diplexer operates at 2.2[Formula: see text]GHz and 5.1[Formula: see text]GHz for wideband wireless applications. Compared to the previous works, it has the minimum insertion losses and the smallest area of 0.007 [Formula: see text] (72.2[Formula: see text]mm2). It has flat channels with very low group delays (GDs) and wide fractional bandwidths (FBWs). The GDs at its lower and upper channels are only 0.48[Formula: see text]ns and 0.76[Formula: see text]ns, respectively. Another advantage of this work is its suppressed harmonics up to 12.9[Formula: see text]GHz (5th harmonic). To design the proposed diplexer, an LC model of the presented resonator is introduced and analyzed. To verify the simulation results and the presented ANFIS method, we fabricated and measured the proposed diplexer. The results show that both simulations and measurements data are in good agreement, which give reliability to the proposed ANFIS method.
Self-Adaptive Rainfall Optimization-Based Reconfiguration of Distribution Networks
Authors: Arulprakasam Sakthidasan , Muthusamy Senthilkumar
Published: September 2021

Reconfiguration that alters on/off status of sectionalizing and tie switches attempts to improve the operational performances of distribution networks (DNWs). This paper formulates the reconfiguration problem as a multi-objective optimization problem of reducing the net feeder loss(NFL), improving the node voltage profile (NVP) and enhancing the node voltage stability (NVS) and proposes a new reconfiguration method involving rainfall optimization (RO) for obtaining robust solutions. The method performs search for optimal tie switches in several sets of sectionalizing switches; each set is obtained from a closed loop formed for each tie switch, with a view of reducing the computational burden and adapting a self-adaptive technique for tuning the RO parameters for improving convergence. It performs study on 33-, 69- and 119-node DNWs and exhibits its superior performance over existing methods.
Linking numbers, quandles and groups
Authors: Traldi Lorenzo
Published: September 2021

We introduce a quandle invariant of classical and virtual links, denoted by [Formula: see text]. This quandle has the property that [Formula: see text] if and only if the components of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can be indexed in such a way that [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and for each index [Formula: see text], there is a multiplier [Formula: see text] that connects virtual linking numbers over [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] to virtual linking numbers over [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]. We also extend to virtual links a classical theorem of Chen, which relates linking numbers to the nilpotent quotient [Formula: see text].
Optimizations of Generational Garbage Collections Based on Continuous Damage Process
Authors: Feng Hongshuang , Wu Wenjuan , Wang Junyuan
Published: September 2021

In the computer science community, garbage collection is a dynamic storage management technology to ensure the reliability of computer systems. In this paper, we consider two garbage collection policies to meet the goal of time consumption for a generational garbage collector when increase in objects might be unclear at discrete times for the high frequency of computer processes. That is, (a) tenuring collection is triggered at the [Formula: see text]th minor collection preventively or at a threshold amount [Formula: see text] of surviving objects correctively, and (b) major collection is made at discrete times [Formula: see text] for a given [Formula: see text] or at the [Formula: see text]th collection including minor and tenuring collections. Using the damage process and renewal theory, the expected cost rates are obtained, and their optimal policies for tenuring and major collection are discussed analytically and computed numerically.
Seismic Performance of Storage Tank Isolated by Different Isolators Through Real-Time Hybrid Simulation
Authors: Tang Zhenyun , Hong Yue , He Liusheng , Li Zhenbao
Published: September 2021

There are three kinds of isolators commonly used in storage tank, friction pendulum bearing (FPB), laminated rubber bearing (LRB), and variable curvature friction pendulum bearing (VCFPB), respectively. Real-time hybrid simulation is conducted in this paper to compare the seismic performance of the storage tank isolated by the above three types of bearings. The storage tank is used as the physical substructure for experimental testing, and the isolators are adopted as the numerical substructure for numerical simulation. The isolation performance is estimated by the following perspectives: deformation of the isolator, shear force, overturning moment, and input energy. Test results show that the deformation of LRB is the largest, which can be twice that of FPB, and that larger deformation will enlarge the seismic energy input into the storage tank. Moreover, the low-frequency components of shear force and overturning moment are amplified by LRB. In contrast, the FPB and VCFPB have a good performance on all frequency bands. Particularly, the softening mechanism enables VCFPB to have better seismic performance and have a reduction rate of about twice that of LRB.
Denoising, Edge Aware Restoration and Enhancement of Single Shallow Coastal Water Image
Authors: Cecilia Mary , Murugan S. Sakthivel
Published: September 2021

The dissolved particles and their resultant scattering are the underlying cause of low contrast and blur thereby producing poor quality underwater images. Single-shot shallow coastal underwater images are much in need of the preprocessing steps viz. image enhancement and restoration. The underwater image processing operations like classification, object detection and computer vision require an enhancement/restoration preprocessing. The paper aims to restore the visibility of objects in turbid water images with its effective edge aware restoration cum enhancement model. The restricted rolling guidance filter on the DCP-based restoration method produces better edge aware restoration and denoised output image. The model-based (MB) dark channel prior (DCP) along with an edge emphasis and contrast enhancement achieves the essential dehazing and improvement in contrast for the heavily blurred underwater images. The subjective and objective projections are an evidence for the same. This edge preserving and denoising nature of the model is also exhibited with comparisons made with promising algorithms over the decade.
Online regularized pairwise learning with non-i.i.d. observations
Authors: Qin Yimo , Zou Bin , Zeng Jingjing , Sheng Zhifei , Yin Lei
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we consider the online regularized pairwise learning (ORPL) algorithm with least squares loss function for non-independently and identically distribution (non-i.i.d.) observations. We first establish new Bennett’s inequalities for [Formula: see text]-mixing sequence, geometrically [Formula: see text]-mixing sequence, [Formula: see text]-geometrically ergodic Markov chain and uniformly ergodic Markov chain. Then we establish the convergence rates for the last iterate of the ORPL algorithm with the polynomially decaying step sizes and varying regularization parameters for non-i.i.d. observations. These established results in this paper extend the previously known results of ORPL from i.i.d. observations to the case of non-i.i.d. observations, and the established result of ORPL for [Formula: see text]-mixing can be nearly optimal rate of ORPL for i.i.d. observations with [Formula: see text]-norm.
Graceful labeling of power graph of group Z2k−1 × Z4
Authors: Sehgal Amit , Takshak Neeraj , Maan Pradeep , Malik Archana
Published: September 2021

The power graph of a finite group G is a special type of undirected simple graph whose vertex set is set of elements of G, in which two distinct vertices of G are adjacent if one is the power of other. Let [Formula: see text] be a finite abelian 2-group of order [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we establish that the power graph of finite abelian group G always has graceful labeling without any condition on [Formula: see text].
RF Vital Sign Sensing under Free Body Movement
Authors: Gong Jian , Zhang Xinyu , Lin Kaixin , Ren Ju , Zhang Yaoxue , Qiu Wenxun
Published: September 2021

Radio frequency (RF) sensors such as radar are instrumental for continuous, contactless sensing of vital signs, especially heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR). However, decades of related research mainly focused on static subjects, because the motion artifacts from other body parts may easily overwhelm the weak reflections from vital signs. This paper marks a first step in enabling RF vital sign sensing under ambulant daily living conditions. Our solution is inspired by existing physiological research that revealed the correlation between vital signs and body movement. Specifically, we propose to combine direct RF sensing for static instances and indirect vital sign prediction based on movement power estimation. We design customized machine learning models to capture the sophisticated correlation between RF signal pattern, movement power, and vital signs. We further design an instant calibration and adaptive training scheme to enable cross-subjects generalization, without any explicit data labeling from unknown subjects. We prototype and evaluate the framework using a commodity radar sensor. Under a variety of moving conditions, our solution demonstrates an average estimation error of 5.57 bpm for HR and 3.32 bpm for RR across multiple subjects, which largely outperforms state-of-the-art systems.
GlucoMine
Authors: Bartolome Abigail , Shah Sahaj , Prioleau Temiloluwa
Published: September 2021

The growing popularity of wearable devices for continuous sensing has made personal health data increasingly available, yet methods for data interpretation are still a work in progress. This paper investigates potential under-utilization of wearable device data in diabetes management and develops an analytic approach - GlucoMine - to uncover individualized patterns in extended periods of such data to support and improve care. In addition, we conduct a user study with clinicians to assess and compare conventional tools used for reviewing wearable device data in diabetes management with the proposed solution. Using 3-6 months of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data from 54 patients with type 1 diabetes, we found that: 1) the recommended practice of reviewing only short periods (e.g., the most recent 2-weeks) of CGM data based on correlation analysis is not sufficient for finding hidden patterns of poor management; 2) majority of subjects (96% in this study) had clinically-recognized episodes of recurrent adverse glycemic events observable from analysis of extended periods of their CGM data; 3) majority of clinicians (89% in this study) believe there is benefit to be gained in having an algorithm for extracting patterns of adverse glycemic events from longer periods of wearable device data. Findings from our user study also provides insights, including strengths and weakness of various data presentation tools, to guide development of better solutions that improve the use of wearable device data for patient care.
Coupling Action of Cooling and Dynamic Load Impact on Deformation Characteristics of High-Salinity Saline Soils
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zou Meisi , Tian Runze , Xu Anhua , Hou Yunlong , Han Bingbing , Li Xuemei
Published: September 2021

In order to grasp the characteristics and mechanism of saline soil deformation under the coupling action of cooling and dynamic load, three types of subgrade fillings from the Qarhan-Golmud Highway in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were selected as experimental soil samples for the experimental study. Firstly, the freezing temperature experiment was carried out on SS (sandy silt) and HS (high-sulfate silty clay). The test results showed that the freezing temperature of SS is -0.32°C, while that of HC (high-chloride silty clay) and HS will not freeze at -20°C, due to the presence of salt. Secondly, the three soil samples were subjected to deformation characteristic test under coupling action of cooling and dynamic load, respectively, and the time history curve of temperature gradient change, the time history curve of the change rate of deformation, and deformation rate were summarized. Finally, the model of deformation rate vs. time and the model of change rate of deformation vs. deformation rate under the coupling action of cooling and dynamic load are proposed. The test results found that (1) the cooling rate of the temperature gradient curve of the three soil samples showed a rapid cooling rate in the early stage, and it tends to stabilize in the later stage. The distance of the 0°C line from the top gradually decreases, which is affected by the freezing temperature and the salt content. (2) Affected by the freezing temperature and salt type, SS exhibits frost heave, and HS and HC appear to settlement. The final deformation is 1.0%, -0.73%, and -1.10%, respectively. (3) The model of deformation rate vs. time and the model of change rate of deformation vs. deformation rate under the coupling action of cooling and dynamic load were proposed and verified, which are helpful for the evaluation of engineering stability on saline soil subgrade fillings.
Analysis of COVID-19 Fractional Model Pertaining to the Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo Fractional Derivatives
Authors: Ullah Roman , Waseem Muhammad , Rosli Norhayati Binti , Kafle Jeevan
Published: September 2021

The transmission dynamics of a COVID-19 pandemic model with vertical transmission is extended to nonsingular kernel type of fractional differentiation. To study the model, Atangana-Baleanu fractional operator in Caputo sense with nonsingular and nonlocal kernels is used. By using the Picard-Lindel method, the existence and uniqueness of the solution are investigated. The Hyers-Ulam type stability of the extended model is discussed. Finally, numerical simulations are performed based on real data of COVID-19 in Indonesia to show the plots of the impacts of the fractional order derivative with the expectation that the proposed model approximation will be better than that of the established classical model.
Salivary Redox Biomarkers in Insulin Resistance: Preclinical Studies in an Animal Model
Authors: Maciejczyk Mateusz , Pawlukianiec Cezary , Żendzian-Piotrowska Małgorzata , Ładny Jerzy Robert , Zalewska Anna
Published: September 2021

Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition of impaired tissue response to insulin. Although there are many methods to diagnose IR, new biomarkers are still being sought for early and noninvasive diagnosis of the disease. Of particular interest in laboratory diagnostics is saliva collected in a stress‐free, noninvasive, and straightforward manner. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of salivary redox biomarkers in preclinical studies in an animal model. The study was conducted on 20 male Wistar rats divided into two equal groups: a standard diet and a high‐fat diet (HFD). In all rats fed the HFD, IR was confirmed by an elevated homeostasis model assessment (HOMA‐IR) index. We have shown that IR is responsible for the depletion of the enzymatic (↓superoxide dismutase) and nonenzymatic (↓ascorbic acid, ↓reduced glutathione (GSH)) antioxidant barrier at both the central (serum/plasma) and salivary gland (saliva) levels. In IR rats, we also demonstrated significantly higher concentrations of protein/lipid oxidation (↑protein carbonyls, ↑4‐hydroxynoneal (4‐HNE)), glycation (↑advanced glycation end products), and nitration (↑3‐nitrotyrosine) products in both saliva and blood plasma. Salivary nonenzymatic antioxidants and oxidative stress products generally correlate with their blood levels, while GSH and 4‐HNE have the highest correlation coefficient. Salivary GSH and 4‐HNE correlate with body weight and BMI and indices of carbohydrate metabolism (glucose, insulin, HOMA‐IR) and proinflammatory adipokines (leptin, resistin, TNF‐α). These biomarkers differentiate IR from healthy controls with very high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%). The high diagnostic utility of salivary GSH and 4‐HNE is also confirmed by multivariate regression analysis. Summarizing, saliva can be used to assess the systemic antioxidant status and the intensity of systemic oxidative stress. Salivary GSH and 4‐HNE may be potential biomarkers of IR progression. There is a need for human clinical trials to evaluate the diagnostic utility of salivary redox biomarkers in IR conditions.
Sedimentary Facies of the Longmaxi Formation Shale Gas Reservoir in the Weiyuan Area Based on Elemental Characteristics
Authors: Wu Yijia , Tang Hongming , Wang Ying , Li Jing , Zeng Yanxiang , Jiang Songlian , Mu Yongcheng
Published: September 2021

The Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the southern Sichuan Basin is composed of a series of dark carbonaceous shales deposited in a hydrostatic shelf reduction environment. In this study, the ratio of uranium to thorium (U/Th), the total organic carbon (TOC), and the biological silicon content (SiBio) were selected as the characteristic parameters to precisely analyze the sedimentary environment and its impact on reservoir quality. The results show that the Weiyuan area in the Early Silurian Longmaxi period experienced two transgression-regression cycles, forming two third-class sequences, SSQ1 and SSQ2, which can be divided into six sedimentary microfacies: organic-rich siliceous argillaceous shelf, organic-rich silicon-containing argillaceous shelf, organic-rich silty argillaceous shelf, deep-water silty argillaceous shelf, shallow-water silty argillaceous shelf, and shallow-water argillaceous silty shelf microfacies. The organic-rich siliceous argillaceous shelf and organic-rich silicon-containing argillaceous shelf microfacies developed in the deepest transgressive system tract (TST1), with high U/Th, high TOC, and high SiBio, which are identified as the main control facies for reservoir development. These two microfacies are located in the middle of the study area, while a transition occurs in the east affected by the Neijiang Uplift. According to the classification criteria proposed in this article, the favourable shale gas reservoirs in Weiyuan area are characterized with high U/Th (>1.25), high TOC (>3%), and high SiBio (>15%). This paper proposed an evaluation method for shale sedimentary facies based on elemental and electrical logging characteristics, avoiding the limitations of core samples, which makes the quantitative division of shale sediments and the efficient recognition of high-quality reservoirs available. It is of great significance for delineating the potential production areas in the study area and beneficial for the scaled development of shale gas reservoirs.
Mechanical Mechanism of Water Injection to Enhance the Stability of Soft Coal
Authors: Zhu Chuanqi , Fan Hao , Liu Wanrong , Li Shaobo
Published: September 2021

The physical and mechanical properties of soft coal body constitute one of the most important factors inducing coal wall spalling. In order to explore the mechanical essence of coal instability disaster and stability enhancement of water injection, the 7# coal in Huainan mining area is taken as the research object. Firstly, the distribution characteristics of coal particle size, point‐load strength, original water content, microstructure characteristics, and shear strength of coal under different water contents are measured by laboratory tests. Then, based on the test results, the cementation morphology and force evolution law of granular coal water in coal body are analyzed using liquid bridge theory. The results show the following: (1) With the increase of particle size, the mass ratio of granular coal increases gradually. The percentage of particle coal with particle size less than 2.5 mm accounts for 47.157%, fractal dimension is 2.172, and uniaxial compressive strength and tensile strength are 3.822 MPa and 0.165 MPa, respectively. (2) The coal body is dry (the original moisture content is 1.336%), containing a large number of loose particles, pores, fissures, and other microfabrics. This “low water content and multiporosity” feature is the essential reason for its low strength, fragmentation, and instability and disaster. (3) In the process of water content increasing from 0.966% to 26.580%, the shear stress‐displacement curve of coal body gradually changes from softening type to hardening type, and the failure type transitions from brittleness to ductility. The cohesive force increases first and then decreases, while the angle of internal friction almost has no change. (4) After reasonable water injection, the shape of liquid bridge in coal body changes into capillary tube, and the liquid bridge force reaches the maximum value, which transforms from a highly unstable bulk to a stable continuum. The research results have important theoretical significance and practical value for the safe and efficient mining of soft coal seams.
Crecimiento estancado
Authors: García Carlos
Published: September 2021

Después de la recuperación de la pandemia, es importante analizar si la economía chilena crecerá a tasas que en el mediano plazo nos permitan alcanzar los niveles de desarrollos e ingresos que otras economías registran, como Canadá, Nueva Zelanda, Australia, etc. Los desafíos no son menores, puesto que indicadores señalan que el país saldrá debilitado de la actual crisis para enfrentar este objetivo. Continuar leyendo...
Incidence, Mechanism, and Outcomes of On‐Plane Versus Off‐Plane Cardiac Arrest in Air Travelers
Authors: Chatterjee Neal A. , Kume Kosuke , Drucker Christopher , Kudenchuk Peter J. , Rea Thomas D.
Published: September 2021

Background

Air travel affords an opportunity to evaluate resuscitation performance and outcome in a setting where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available.

Methods and Results

The study cohort included people aged ≥18 years with out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) traveling through Seattle‐Tacoma International Airport between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2019 treated by emergency medical services (EMS). The primary outcomes were pre‐EMS therapies (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, application of AED), return of spontaneous circulation, and survival to hospital discharge. Over the 16‐year study period, there were 143 OHCA occurring before EMS arrival, 34 (24%) on‐plane and 109 (76%) off‐plane. Cardiac etiology (81%) was the most common mechanism of arrest. The majority of arrests were bystander‐witnessed and presented with a shockable rhythm; these characteristics were more common in off‐plane OHCA compared with on‐plane (witnessed: 89% versus 74% and shockable: 72% versus 50%). Pre‐EMS therapies including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED application were common regardless of arrest location. Compared with on‐plane OHCA, off‐plane OHCA was associated with greater rates of return of spontaneous circulation (68% versus 44%) and 3‐fold higher rate of survival to hospital discharge (44% versus 15%). All survivors of on‐plane OHCA had AED application with defibrillation before EMS arrival.

Conclusions

When applied to air travel volumes, we estimate 350 air travel‐associated OHCA occur in the United States and 2000 OHCA worldwide each year, nearly a quarter of which happen on‐plane. These events are survivable when early arrest interventions including rapid arrest recognition, AED application, and CPR are deployed.
The significances and clinical implications of cholesterol components in human breast cancer
Authors: Wei Yanghui , Huang Yao , Yang Weiqin , Huang Qingnan , Chen Yong , Zeng Kai , Chen Juan , Chen Jiawei
Published: September 2021

Breast cancer is one the most common malignancies and leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Recent studies suggested that hypercholesterolemia may be the potential modifiable risk factors for breast cancer. Cholesterol was well-known for its strong association with cardiovascular disease for long. Moreover, solid evidence has been provided by different studies to illustrate the correlation between lipid and incidence in multiple cancers. Although the conclusion remains controversial or sometimes contrary, which may be due to the multifactorial nature of the disease and the disparity of ethnic population, it is critical to elucidate the relationship between specific cholesterol components in certain population and the exact underlying mechanism of the lipid-associated signaling pathway in breast cancer. The implications of dysregulated lipoproteins as therapeutic targets or options for breast cancer provide novel strategies for us in combating with this malignant disease, which may be achieved by manipulating lipid levels with pharmacological compounds.
How Historians Got Involved in Memory Politics: Patterns of the Historiography of the Polish People’s Republic before and after 1989
Authors: Behr Valentin
Published: September 2021

Memory politics in contemporary Poland has often been described as a limitation to historians’ freedom of research. Against this backdrop, this article explores how historians of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) have been contributing to memory politics in the context of the democratic transition. It argues that the dissidence of the 1980s has paved the way to the post-1989 historiographical renewal, by favoring the development of an anti-communist historiography that ultimately facilitated the advent of the historical policy ( polityka historyczna) of the 2000s. After 1989, the Polish historiography of the PRL was extensively reshaped on the basis of the dissident historiography of the 1980s. The main protagonists of the 1990s were largely drawn from the ranks of dissent, and many of them saw their scholarship as an extension of their past anti-communist engagement. Additionally, political changes turned the legacy of the old regime into a central issue of post-communist politics. History was called upon as a policy tool at the service of the democratic transition, whether it involved criminalizing the communist regime or maintaining the collective memory of the dictatorship. This conception of history resulted in the creation of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) at the end of the 1990s, but also in the affirmation of a historical policy justified by the need to redress the wrongs of the memory politics conducted in communist Poland. Contemporary history in the post-1989 years was thus far from free of politicization, even if it took different forms.
Adapting evidence-based group therapies following COVID-19 restrictions
Authors: Dark Frances , Miles Anne , Madson Kathy , Strochnetter Ellen
Published: September 2021

Aim:

The COVID-19 pandemic has created barriers to the running of group therapies due to the need to maintain social distance. This paper aims to describe modifications of existing therapeutic groups delivered to people diagnosed with serious and enduring mental illnesses (SMIs) to enable the therapies to continue in an online format due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Conclusions:

Therapists and consumers were motivated to find a way to continue the therapies described despite the context of the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. This paper describes what was involved in ‘pivoting’ to a new mode of practice and modifications that were required over time and as new regulations were put in place. Formal research is required to establish an evidence base if these therapies were required to be regularly delivered in an online mode.
Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Approaches Plateau Around Three to Six Weeks Post-stroke
Authors: Lang Catherine E. , Waddell Kimberly J. , Barth Jessica , Holleran Carey L. , Strube Michael J , Bland Marghuretta D.
Published: September 2021

Background. Wearable sensors allow for direct measurement of upper limb (UL) performance in daily life. Objective. To map the trajectory of UL performance and its relationships to other factors post-stroke. Methods. Participants (n = 67) with first stroke and UL paresis were assessed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks after stroke. Assessments captured UL impairment (Fugl-Meyer), capacity for activity (Action Research Arm Test), and performance of activity in daily life (accelerometer variables of use ratio and hours of paretic limb activity), along with other potential modifying factors. We modeled individual trajectories of change for each measurement level and the moderating effects on UL performance trajectories. Results. Individual trajectories were best fit with a 3-parameter logistic model, capturing the rapid growth early after stroke within the longer data collection period. Plateaus (90% of asymptote) in impairment (bootstrap mean ± SE: 32 ± 4 days post-stroke) preceded those in capacity (41 ± 4 days). Plateau in performance, as measured by the use ratio (24 ± 5 days), tended to precede plateaus in impairment and capacity. Plateau in performance, as measured by hours of paretic activity (41 ± 6 days), occurred at a similar time to that of capacity and slightly lagged impairment. Modifiers of performance trajectories were capacity, concordance, UL rehabilitation, depressive symptomatology, and cognition. Conclusions. Upper limb performance in daily life approached plateau 3 to 6 weeks post-stroke. Individuals with stroke started to achieve a stable pattern of UL use in daily life early, often before neurological impairments and functional capacity started to stabilize.
Real-World Functional Grasping Activity in Individuals With Stroke and Healthy Controls Using a Novel Wearable Wrist Sensor
Authors: Yang Chieh-ling , Liu Johnson , Simpson Lisa A. , Menon Carlo , Eng Janice J.
Published: September 2021

Background. While wrist-worn accelerometers have been used to measure upper extremity use in the past, they primarily measure arm motion and lack the ability to capture functional hand opening and grasping activities which are essential for activities of daily living. Objectives. To characterize real-world functional hand opening and grasping activities captured over multiple days in adults with stroke and in matched controls using a novel wrist-worn device. Methods. Twenty-eight individuals (fourteen individuals with stroke and 14 healthy controls) wore the devices on both wrists for 3 days. Functional hand activity was characterized by daily hand counts, hourly hand counts, and asymmetry between hands. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to evaluate differences in functional hand activities between the two groups. Results. The stroke group had 1480 and 4691 daily hand counts in their affected and nonaffected hands, respectively. The control group had 3559 and 5021 daily hand counts in their nondominant and dominant hands, respectively. Significantly fewer daily hand counts (P = .019), fewer hourly hand counts (P = .024), and a larger asymmetry index (P = .01) of the affected hand in the stroke group were found compared to that of the nondominant hand in the control group. Conclusions. Real-world functional upper extremity activity can be measured using this novel wrist-worn device. Unlike wrist-worn accelerometers, this wrist-worn device can provide a measurement of functional grasping activity. The findings have implications for clinicians and researchers to monitor and assess real-world hand activity, as well as to apply specific doses of repetitions to improve neural recovery after stroke.
Titanium Mesh Exposure After Bone Grafting: Treatment Approaches—A Systematic Review
Authors: Cunha Giovanni , Carvalho Pedro Henrique de Azambuja , Quirino Lílian Caldas , Torres Luiz Henrique Soares , Filho Valfrido Antônio Pereira , Gabrielli Mario Francisco Real , Gabrielli Marisa Aparecida Cabrini
Published: September 2021

Study Design:

A systematic review according to PRISMA statement has been designed to answer the preliminary question: “ In titanium mesh exposures, is there a treatment alternative which leads to an increased graft maintenance?” and fill the PICO assessment out.

Objective:

To review studies published in the past 20 years (1999-2019) in which mesh exposure has occurred, detecting the suitable approaches to treat exposure allowing the graft maintenance.

Methods:

Initial search on PUBMED, SCOPUS, and COCHRANE databases resulted in 777 articles, and hand-searching identified 6 articles. After removing duplicates and unrelated articles, eligibility criteria were applied, and 31 studies were selected (randomized clinical trials, retrospective/prospective clinical trials, and case series).

Results:

A total of 677 surgical sites and 225 cases of mesh exposure were identified. Eleven treatments have been identified. Chlorhexidine was the primary approach in 46% of cases, followed by oral hygiene instructions and follow-up with 22.5% of occurrences. In 21% of clinical situations, titanium mesh removal was the treatment of choice, associated with other measures (i.e., antibiotic prescription). There seems to be a consensus in cases of infection. When this complication was associated with tissue dehiscence, the primary treatment was mesh removal. The same does not occur when the site needs to be cleaned for long-term periods.

Conclusion:

In 2 decades of use of titanium meshes, the available treatments do not seem to have evolved, and there is not enough data to establish a guideline.
Triazole susceptibility of Aspergillus species: environmental survey in Lagos, Nigeria and review of the rest of Africa
Authors: Campbell Cynthia Abosede , Osaigbovo Iriagbonse Iyabo , Oladele Rita Okeoghene
Published: September 2021

Background:

Triazole resistance is an emerging problem in the management of human aspergillosis globally and can arise in Aspergillus species which have been exposed to azole fungicides in the environment. We surveyed local government and council development areas in Lagos, Nigeria, to determine the distribution of Aspergillus species in the environment and their susceptibility to locally available triazole antifungal agents. We also reviewed the literature on the subject from the rest of Africa.

Methods:

A total of 168 soil samples from six locations in Lagos, Nigeria were processed and cultured on Saboraud dextrose agar impregnated with chloramphenicol to isolate Aspergillus species. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to itraconazole and voriconazole by microbroth dilution according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing reference method. Relevant databases were searched to identify published work pertaining to triazole susceptibility of Aspergillus species in Africa.

Results:

A total of 117 Aspergillus species were isolated. Aspergillus niger was the most frequently isolated species (42.7%). Other species isolated were Aspergillus flavus, 37 (31.6%), Aspergillus terreus, 20 (17.1%), Aspergillus fumigatus, 5 (4.3%) and Aspergillus nidulans, 5 (4.3%). All isolates were susceptible to itraconazole and voriconazole. The literature review showed documented evidence of triazole-resistant Aspergillus species from East and West Africa.

Conclusions:

We found no triazole resistance in environmental isolates of Aspergillus in Lagos, Nigeria. Nevertheless, regular surveillance in clinical and environmental isolates is necessary in the light of findings from other African studies.
Improving Preschool Accountability Systems: Bringing Individual Children’s Experiences Back to Child Policy
Authors: Sabol Terri J.
Published: September 2021

Preschool accountability systems, including Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), seek to assess, monitor, and improve children’s outcomes across the early care and education (ECE) landscape. QRIS have a number of strengths, especially by focusing on classroom-level quality inputs for all children collectively across multiple domains that are well aligned with developmental science. This article considers how to build on the QRIS framework by highlighting children’s individual experiences within classrooms as a key indicator of quality in addition to the more traditional classroom-level measures. The article first provides the theoretical rationale and empirical evidence for focusing on children’s individual experiences based on new insights from developmental science. The article then illustrates key factors that relate to variation in children’s experiences, including child temperament, gender, age, and race/ethnicity. The article concludes by considering opportunities for innovation to better measure individual children’s experiences in QRIS.
Promoting School Safety for LGBTQ and All Students
Authors: Russell Stephen T. , Bishop Meg D. , Saba Victoria C. , James Isaac , Ioverno Salvatore
Published: September 2021

Schools are often unsafe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) students; they frequently experience negative or hostile school climates, including bullying and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity at school. Negative school climates and discriminatory experiences can threaten LGBTQ students’ well-being. Simultaneously, a consistent body of research identifies strategies to support LGBTQ and all students to be safe and thrive at school. First, policies that specifically identify or enumerate protected groups such as LGBTQ students create supportive contexts for all youth. Second, professional development prepares educators and other school personnel with tools to support and protect all students. Third, access to information and support related to sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE), including curricula that is SOGIE-inclusive, provides students with resources, support, and inclusion, creating school climate. Fourth, the presence of student-led clubs or organizations such as gender-sexuality alliances (i.e., GSAs) improve students’ school experiences and well-being, and contribute to positive school climate. This article reviews the research foundations of each of these strategies and concludes with recommendations for multiple audiences: policymakers, school personnel, parents, and students.
Back to Basics: Developmental Catalysts of Quality Improvement in Early Education and Care
Authors: Hanno Emily C. , Jones Stephanie M. , Lesaux Nonie K.
Published: September 2021

Children’s experiences in early education programs can have a profound influence on their cognitive, social, and emotional development. In these settings, interactions with educators serve as catalysts for children’s healthy development. Yet too few children today are in the types of high-quality early learning environments marked by warm, cognitively stimulating exchanges. This review summarizes research on the features of settings that promote growth in children’s skills across a range of developmental domains, then describes research documenting these features across today’s early education and care landscape. Turning to strategies for cultivating these features across the diverse early education and care system, the discussion focuses on the central role of the educator. The conclusion draws implications for ongoing public preK expansion and quality improvement efforts, as well as highlights opportunities for future research to further these efforts.
Critical Pedagogy and Children’s Beneficial Development
Authors: Pinedo Andres , Vossoughi Nadia , Lewis Neil A.
Published: September 2021

Ongoing controversy debates whether public schools should implement critical pedagogy—curricula centering on the perspectives of marginalized peoples. Despite much contention, students (particularly racially marginalized students) enrolled in courses that employ critical pedagogy demonstrate more school engagement, higher grade point averages (GPAs), and more civic engagement than students who do not. Building on previous reviews, this article briefly summarizes the history and controversy of critical pedagogy, evaluates the scientific evidence surrounding it, and offers suggestions on how to make the most of critical pedagogy in academic curricula.
What Is Social Inclusion? Insights From Interventions With Youth Across Migration Systems
Authors: Daiute Colette , Sullu Bengi , Kovács-Cerović Tünde
Published: September 2021

Social inclusion is a goal of 21st-century education and social welfare, yet research with violently displaced youth leaves gaps in its meaning. Social inclusion, a societal aim, lacks the perspectives of youth at its center. Given the pressures and power relations involved in learning how young people think and feel about social injustices and the support they need, developmental researchers must find innovative ways to study youth experiences and intentions in relation to environments, especially environments that threaten young lives. Emerging research highlights how displaced youth, peers along their journeys, and adults guiding supportive interventions make audible the meaning of social inclusion. Policy paradigms would benefit from research on sense-making in interventions rather than from emphasizing behavioral assessments and assimilation to local norms, as implied by social inclusion.
Supporting Young Children’s Development of Executive Function Through Early Mathematics
Authors: Mulcahy Christina , Day Hess Crystal A. , Clements Douglas H. , Ernst Jasmine R. , Pan Sarah E. , Mazzocco Michèle M. M. , Sarama Julie
Published: September 2021

Early childhood teachers face competing instructional priorities to support specific academic skills and general skills that underlie learning, such as executive function (EF) skills that allow children to control their own thinking and behavior. As the evidence shows, EF skills predict later mathematics achievement, and early mathematics predicts later EF. These relations between mathematics and EF suggest high-quality mathematics teaching has a dual benefit: Teachers can promote children’s math and EF competencies by embedding support for EF in high-quality mathematics activities. Children benefit when guided to reflect on solutions and alternative strategies, and teachers benefit from guidance on how to support both math and EF. Finally, research on teachers developing both domains can inform educational policy.
Talking to Children About Race, Gender, and Social Issues: Review and Recommendations
Authors: Hilliard Lacey J. , Attaya Matthew K. , Millben Michelle
Published: September 2021

Children notice group conflict and societal injustices. Educators and caregivers sometimes shield children from challenging social issues because they think that children cannot understand complex topics or because they think learning the information will be harmful. By avoiding such conversations, educators and caregivers are ignoring societal structures that privilege some groups over others. Children are aware of current events, social issues, and differences between people. They come to their own conclusions about the observed differences and differential treatment but without the tools to challenge biases and inequities. This brief reviews research on children’s developmental capacity to understand discrimination, with a focus on early-to-middle childhood and topics related to race, gender, and immigration status. Implications for policy and practice appear alongside recommendations, with a particular focus on the benefits to having these challenging conversations in schools.
The impact of Airbnb on housing affordability: Evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Liang Cong , Yeung Matthew Chi Hei , Au Alan Kai Ming
Published: September 2021

Recent years have witnessed the rapid expansion of the home-sharing business. The home-sharing services provided by Airbnb not only allow the homeowner to earn extra income by renting out part of the property to the potential renters but also provides the renters an authentic travel experience by living with residents. The emerging business model of Airbnb may bring about some uncertainties to rental housing markets. This study aims to explore an important issue – whether the home-sharing services provided by Airbnb would exacerbate the problem of housing affordability in Hong Kong. By examining the data from multiple sources such as the website of Airbnb and Census statistics from the Hong Kong Government, and housing rental transactions from property agents’ website via several econometric methods, we found that (1) the arrival of Airbnb would drive up housing rent rate around 3.6–4%; (2) The Airbnb activities would increase the rent-to-income ratio by 4%–4.7% in Hong Kong; (3) short-term home-sharing provided by Airbnb under current circumstance would lead to housing unaffordability in Hong Kong. It is suggested that regulations/guidelines on home-sharing should set a quota or limit the number of offering from long-term rentals to short-term rentals.