bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of an enhanced recovery programme on length of stay and post-discharge resource usage following hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Milligan David J. , Hill Janet C. , Agus Ashley , Bryce Leeann , Gallagher Nicola , Beverland David
Published: November 2021

Aims

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a pilot enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme on length of stay (LOS) and post-discharge resource usage via service evaluation and cost analysis.

Methods

Between May and December 2019, 100 patients requiring hip or knee arthroplasty were enrolled with the intention that each would have a preadmission discharge plan, a preoperative education class with nominated helper, a day of surgery admission and mobilization, a day one discharge, and access to a 24/7 dedicated helpline. Each was matched with a patient under the pre-existing pathway from the previous year.

Results

Mean LOS for ERAS patients was 1.59 days (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14 to 2.04), significantly less than that of the matched cohort (3.01 days; 95% CI 2.56 to 3.46). There were no significant differences in readmission rates for ERAS patients at both 30 and 90 days (six vs four readmissions at 30 days, and nine vs four at 90 days). Despite matching, there were significantly more American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 3 patients in the ERAS cohort. There was a mean cost saving of £757.26 (95% CI £-1,200.96 to £-313.56) per patient. This is despite small increases in postoperative resource usage in the ERAS patients.

Conclusion

ERAS represents a safe and effective means of reducing LOS in primary joint arthroplasty patients. Implementation of ERAS principles has potential financial savings and could increase patient throughput without compromising care. In elective care, a preadmission discharge plan is key. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(11):966–973.
Comparing Voice Assistant Risks and Potential with Technology-Based Users: A Study from Germany and Spain
Authors: Klein Andreas M. , Rauschenberger Maria , Thomaschewski J¨org , Escalona Maria Jos´e
Published: November 2021

Currently, voice assistants (VAs) are trendy and highly available. The VA adoption rate of internet users differs among European countries and also in the global view. Due to speech intelligibility and privacy concerns, using VAs is challenging. Additionally, user experience (UX) assessment methods and VA improvement possibilities are still missing, but are urgently needed to overcome users’ concerns and increase the adoption rate. Therefore, we conducted an intercultural study of technology-based users from Germany and Spain, expecting that higher improvement potential would outweigh concerns about VAs. We investigated VA use in terms of availability versus actual use, usage patterns, concerns, and improvement proposals. Comparing Germany and Spain, our findings show that nearly the same amount of intensive VA use is found in both technology-based user groups. Despite cultural differences, further results show very similar tendencies, e.g., frequency of use, privacy concerns, and demand for VA improvements.
Polarization-tunable compact plasmonic wavelength demultiplexers based on Fano nanoantennas
Authors: Xu Yang , Qin Yulu , Ji Boyu , Lang Peng , Song Xiaowei , Lin Jingquan
Published: November 2021

A compact plasmonic wavelength demultiplexer is an essential prerequisite for practical applications, including the next-generation on-chip devices, near-field optical trapping, and micromanipulation. However, alleviating the polarization dependence of the wavelength demultiplexers remains one of the most challenging issues in realizing such a plasmonic device. Here we propose a gold disk-slit-based compact Fano-type nanoantenna capable of launching surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) directionally when irradiated under different wavelengths of light, realizing a wavelength demultiplexing function. More importantly, our simulation results show that the shortage of requirement of specific light polarization direction excitation in such wavelength demultiplexers can be circumvented. Furthermore, it is found that the output channel of the SPP can be switched in multiple directions under different polarization excitations. In addition, the results show that the applicable wave band of the wavelength demultiplexing device can be flexibly adjusted by changing the size of the nanoantenna. The technique of introducing the polarization-tunable function into the wavelength demultiplexers in the plasmonic interconnect application enhances the freedom of information transmission and offers a promising building block for future high-speed and high-bandwidth on-chip optical communication.
Robust nanosecond laser passively Q-switched by tin selenide nanoflowers
Authors: Yi Qian , Yang Lingling , Yang Ke , Li Jie , Du Lin , Huang Bin , Miao Lili , Zhao Chujun
Published: November 2021

We report the generation of the robust nanosecond Nd:YVO4 solid-state laser and Er3+:ZBLAN fiber laser passively Q-switched by the tin selenide (SnSe) nanoflowers saturable absorbers. The SnSe nanoflowers prepared via chemical precipitation method exhibit broadband nonlinear optical absorption performance, and can modulate the separate lasers to deliver stable nanosecond pulse ∼1 µm and ∼2.8 µm successfully. The experimental results show that the low-dimensional transition-metal monochalcogenides hold great potential for the broadband robust saturable absorbers, and may pave an avenue toward developing high-performance broadband optoelectronic devices.
Watt-level 743 nm source by second-harmonic generation of a cascaded phosphosilicate Raman fiber amplifier
Authors: Chandran A. M. , Battle R. A. , Murray R. T. , Runcorn T. H. , Taylor J. R.
Published: November 2021

We demonstrate a nanosecond pulsed 743 nm source through second-harmonic generation of a cascaded phosphosilicate Raman fiber amplifier system operating at 1485 nm. The amplifier is pumped by a 1240 nm phosphosilicate Raman fiber amplifier and seeded with a continuous-wave 1485 nm diode. This 1485 nm light is used for second-harmonic generation in periodically poled lithium niobate. Greater than 1 W of average power is generated at 743 nm with a corresponding pulse energy of 220 nJ at a repetition rate of 5 MHz. The source displays excellent beam quality (M

x
,
y

2

 
≤

1.18) with ideal parameters for biomedical imaging applications.
Engineered fluidic device to achieve multiplexed monitoring of cell cultures with digital holographic microscopy
Authors: Bélanger Erik , Benadiba Carine , Rioux-Pellerin Émile , Becq Frédéric , Jourdain Pascal , Marquet Pierre
Published: November 2021

We present a low-cost, 3D-printed, and biocompatible fluidic device, engineered to produce laminar and homogeneous flow over a large field-of-view. Such a fluidic device allows us to perform multiplexed temporal monitoring of cell cultures compatible with the use of various pharmacological protocols. Therefore, specific properties of each of the observed cell cultures can be discriminated simultaneously during the same experiment. This was illustrated by monitoring the agonists-mediated cellular responses, with digital holographic microscopy, of four different cell culture models of cystic fibrosis. Quantitatively speaking, this multiplexed approach provides a time saving factor of around four to reveal specific cellular features.
Quadriwave gradient light inteference microscopy for lable-free thick sample imaging
Authors: Wang Jingyi , You Wu , Jiao Yuheng , Liu Xiaojun , Jiang Xiangqian , Lu Wenlong
Published: November 2021

Due to the multiple scattering effect, quantitative phase imaging of thick specimens is challenging in biomedicine research. Phase gradient methods with partially coherent illumination in the reflection geometry have significant potential. However, to reconstruct two-dimensional (2D) phase information robustly, these methods cannot avoid changing the shear direction orthogonally. Here we propose a rotation-free method named quadriwave gradient light interference microscopy (qGLIM). qGLIM excludes conventional shear components and uses an amplitude-type spatial light modulator (SLM) to perform lateral shearing and phase shifting. By displaying checkerboard gratings on the SLM, we can reconstruct phase gradient information in orthogonal shear directions simultaneously. We extract the phase quantitatively by applying the phase-shifting technique and deconvolution algorithm. We demonstrate this approach by standard samples, thin samples, and thick multiple scattering samples.
Molecular detection of dugbe orthonairovirus in cattle and their infesting ticks (Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)) in Nigeria
Authors: Daodu Oluwafemi Babatunde , Eisenbarth Albert , Schulz Ansgar , Hartlaub Julia , Olopade James Olukayode , Oluwayelu Daniel Oladimeji , Groschup Martin H.
Published: November 2021

Dugbe orthonairovirus (DUGV), a tick-borne zoonotic arbovirus, was first isolated in 1964 in Nigeria. For over four decades, no active surveillance was conducted to monitor the spread and genetic variation of DUGV. This study detected and genetically characterized DUGV circulating in cattle and their infesting ticks (Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)) in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. Blood and or ticks were collected from 1051 cattle at 31 sampling sites (abattoirs and farms) across 10 local government areas of the State. DUGV detection was carried out by RT-qPCR, and positive samples sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. A total of 11824 ticks, mostly A. variegatum (36.0%) and R. (B.) microplus (63.9%), were obtained with mean tick burden of 12 ticks/cattle. Thirty-four (32 A. variegatum and two R. (B.) microplus) of 4644 examined ticks were DUGV-positive, whereas all of the cattle sera tested negative for DUGV genome. Whole genome sequence (S, M and L segments) and phylogenetic analyses indicate that the positive samples shared up to 99.88% nucleotide identity with and clustered around the Nigerian DUGV prototype strain IbAr 1792. Hence, DUGV with high similarity to the previously characterised strain has been detected in Nigeria. To our knowledge, this is the first report of DUGV in North-Central Nigeria and the most recent information after its last surveillance in 1974.
Premature cognitive decline in specific domains found in young veterans with mTBI coincide with elder normative scores and advanced-age subjects with early-stage Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Nejtek Vicki A. , James Rachael N. , Salvatore Michael F. , Alphonso Helene M. , Boehm Gary W.
Published: November 2021

Importance

Epidemiologists report a 56% increased risk of veterans with (+) mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) within 12-years post-injury. The most relevant contributors to this high risk of PD in veterans (+) mTBI is unknown. As cognitive problems often precede PD diagnosis, identifying specific domains most involved with mTBI-related PD onset is critical.

Objectives

To discern which cognitive domains underlie the mTBI-PD risk relationship proposed in epidemiology studies.

Design and setting

This exploratory match-controlled, cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical school laboratory from 2017–2020.

Participants

Age- and IQ-matched veterans with (+) and without mTBI, non-veteran healthy controls, and IQ-matched non-demented early-stage PD were compared. Chronic neurological, unremitted/debilitating diseases, disorders, dementia, and substance use among others were excluded.

Exposure

Veterans were or were not exposed to non-penetrating combat-related mTBI occurring within the past 7-years. No other groups had recent military service or mTBI.

Main outcomes / measures

Cognitive flexibility, attention, memory, visuospatial ability, and verbal fluency were examined with well-known standardized neuropsychological assessments.

Results

Out of 200 volunteers, 114 provided evaluable data. Groups significantly differed on cognitive tests [F (21,299) = 3.09, p<0.0001]. Post hoc tests showed veterans (+) mTBI performed significantly worse than matched-control groups on four out of eight cognitive tests (range: p = .009 to .049), and more often than not performed comparably to early-stage PD (range: p = .749 to .140).

Conclusions and relevance

We found subtle, premature cognitive decline occurring in very specific cognitive domains in veterans (+) mTBI that would typically be overlooked in a clinic setting, This result potentially puts them at-risk for continual cognitive decline that may portend to the eventual onset of PD or some other neurodegenerative disease.
Representativeness of individual-level data in COVID-19 phone surveys: Findings from Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Brubaker Joshua , Kilic Talip , Wollburg Philip
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has created urgent demand for timely data, leading to a surge in mobile phone surveys for tracking the impacts of and responses to the pandemic. Using data from national phone surveys implemented in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda during the pandemic and the pre-COVID-19 national face-to-face surveys that served as the sampling frames for the phone surveys, this paper documents selection the biases in individual-level analyses based on phone survey data. In most cases, individual-level data are available only for phone survey respondents, who we find are more likely to be household heads or their spouses and non-farm enterprise owners, and on average, are older and better educated vis-a-vis the general adult population. These differences are the result of uneven access to mobile phones in the population and the way that phone survey respondents are selected. To improve the representativeness of individual-level analysis using phone survey data, we recalibrate the phone survey sampling weights based on propensity score adjustments that are derived from a model of an individual’s likelihood of being interviewed as a function of individual- and household-level attributes. We find that reweighting improves the representativeness of the estimates for phone survey respondents, moving them closer to those of the general adult population. This holds for both women and men and for a range of demographic, education, and labor market outcomes. However, reweighting increases the variance of the estimates and, in most cases, fails to overcome selection biases. This indicates limitations to deriving representative individual-level estimates from phone survey data. Obtaining reliable data on men and women through future phone surveys will require random selection of adult interviewees within sampled households.
Media use, attention, mental health and academic performance among 8 to 12 year old children
Authors: Cardoso-Leite Pedro , Buchard Albert , Tissieres Isabel , Mussack Dominic , Bavelier Daphne
Published: November 2021

The rise in digital media consumption, especially among children, raises the societal question of its impact on cognition, mental health and academic achievement. Here, we investigate three different ways of measuring technology use-—total hours of media consumed, hours of video game play and number of media used concurrently—-in 118 eight-to-twelve year-old children. At stake is the question of whether different technology uses have different effects, which could explain some of the past mixed findings. We collected data about children’s media uses as well as (i) attentional and behavioral control abilities, (ii) psychological distress, psychosocial functioning, and sleep, and (iii) academic achievement and motivation. While attentional control abilities were assessed using both cognitive tests and questionnaires, mental health and sleep were all questionnaire-based. Finally, academic performance was based on self-reported grades, with motivational variables being measured through the grit and the growth-mindset questionnaires. We present partial correlation analyses and construct a psychological network to assess the structural associations between different forms of media consumption and the three categories of measures. We observe that children consume large amounts of media and media multitask substantially. Partial correlation analyses show that media multitasking specifically was mostly correlated with negative mental health, while playing video games was associated with faster responding and better mental health. No significant partial correlations were observed for total hours on media. Psychological network analysis complement these first results by indicating that all three ways of consuming technology are only indirectly related to self-reported grades. Thus, technology uses appear to only indirectly relate to academic performance, while more directly affecting mental health. This work emphasizes the need to differentiate among technology uses if one is to understand how every day digital consumption impacts human behavior.
Age, gender, and financial literacy in Japan
Authors: Okamoto Shohei , Komamura Kohei
Published: November 2021

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between financial literacy and age as well as gender differences in financial literacy.

Methods

We analyse a sample of 25,000 individuals from ‘The Financial Literacy Survey 2016’ conducted by the Central Council for Financial Services Information (Bank of Japan). The analysis focuses on the relationship of age and financial literacy as well as that of age and self-rated financial knowledge. To consider factors accounting for gender differences in financial literacy, we use the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method. To further our understanding of financial literacy, we conduct additional analyses on financial behaviour and attitude.

Results

Although age is associated with increased financial literacy (Men, β: 0.249, standard error [SE]: 0.030; Women, 0.354, SE: 0.026), the growth rate decreases among the older respondents (Men, β: -0.002, SE: 0.000; Women, -0.003, SE: 0.000). However, the association between age and self-rated financial knowledge among men moves in the opposite direction (Age, β: -0.021, SE: 0.009, Age2, β: 0.000, SE: 0.000). Furthermore, female respondents are likely to be less financially literate than their male counterparts (β: -0.586, SE: 0.095) due to gender differences in the distribution of the factors that affect financial literacy (specifically education), their responses to financial literacy, and the interactions of these effects. In contrast to knowledge-based financial literacy, financial behaviour and attitudes among women are more preferable to those among men, namely, more premeditated.

Conclusion

Financial literacy increases until about one’s early 60s, after which it declines, while confidence in financial literacy reflects the inverse trend, especially among men. Additionally, men are more financially literate than women; however, these differences could be mitigated through education. Meanwhile, financial behaviour and attitudes among men are less premeditated. Thus, policies are needed that can help older adults with their financial decision-making, enhance women’s financial literacy, and improve men’s financial behaviours and attitudes.
Alternative method for assessment of southwestern Atlantic humpback whale population status
Authors: Bortolotto Guilherme A. , Thomas Len , Hammond Philip , Zerbini Alexandre N.
Published: November 2021

The population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) wintering off eastern South America was exploited by commercial whaling almost to the point of extinction in the mid-twentieth century. Since cessation of whaling in the 1970s it is recovering, but the timing and level of recovery is uncertain. We implemented a Bayesian population dynamics model describing the population’s trajectory from 1901 and projecting it to 2040 to revise a previous population status assessment that used Sampling-Importance-Resampling in a Bayesian framework. Using our alternative method for model fitting (Markov chain Monte Carlo), which is more widely accessible to ecologists, we replicate a “base case scenario” to verify the effect on model results, and introduce additional data to update the status assessment. Our approach allowed us to widen the previous informative prior on carrying capacity to better reflect scientific uncertainty around historical population levels. The updated model provided more precise estimates for population sizes over the period considered (1901–2040) and suggests that carrying capacity (K: median 22,882, mean 22,948, 95% credible interval [CI] 22,711–23,545) and minimum population size (N1958: median 305, mean 319, 95% CI 271–444) might be lower than previously estimated (K: median 24,558, mean 25,110, 95% CI 22,791–31,118;N1958: median 503, mean 850, 95% CI 159–3,943). However, posterior 95% credible intervals of parameters in the updated model overlap those of the previous study. Our approach provides an accessible framework for investigating the status of depleted animal populations for which information is available on historical mortality (e.g., catches) and intermittent estimates of population size and/or trend.
Forecasting mergers and acquisitions failure based on partial-sigmoid neural network and feature selection
Authors: Bi Wenbin , Zhang Qiusheng
Published: November 2021

Traditional forecasting methods in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) data have two limitations that significantly reduce forecasting accuracy: (1) the imbalance of data, that is, the failure cases of M&A are far fewer than the successful cases (82%/18% of our sample), and (2) both the bidder and the target of the merger have numerous descriptive features, making it difficult to choose which ones to forecast. This study proposes a neural network using partial-sigmoid (i.e., partial-sigmoid neural network [PSNN]) as the activation function of the output layer and compares three feature selection methods, namely, chi-square (chi2) test, information gain and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT). Experimental results prove that our PSNN (improved up to 0.37 precision, 0.49 recall, 0.41 G-Mean and 0.23 F1-measure) and feature selection (improved 1.83%-13.16% accuracy) method can effectively improve the adverse effects of the defects of the above two merger data on forecasting. Scholars who studied the forecast of merger failure have overlooked three important features: assets of the previous year, market value and capital expenditure. The chi2 test feature selection method is the best among the three feature selection methods.
Mitral valve thickening in acute rheumatic fever as a predictor of late valvar dysfunction
Authors: da Silva Telêmaco Luis , Pazin-Filho Antonio , Romano Minna M. D. , Ferriani Virgínia P. L. , Marin-Neto José A. , Maciel Benedito C. , Schmidt André
Published: November 2021

Background

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) complicating acute rheumatic fever (ARF) remains an important health problem in developing countries. No definitive diagnostic test for ARF exists and the role of Doppler echocardiography (DEC) for long-term prognostic evaluation following ARF is not well established.

Objective

To investigate the prognostic value of DEC in patients with ARF as a predictor of chronic valve dysfunction.

Methods

Prospectively enrolled patients with clinical ARF had a DEC performed soon after diagnosis and repeated at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and thereafter at every 1–2 years. We defined chronic valve dysfunction by ≥ 3 of the following: increased valve thickening, commissure fusion, subvalvular thickening, reduced leaflet mobility, non-trivial mitral and/or aortic regurgitation. We performed univariate analysis and developed multivariate logistic regression models to identify variables that may influence evolution to RHD. p <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

We evaluated 70(57% men) patients, 10.8±5.6 years-old during the ARF episode and followed for 95±26 months. Chronic valve dysfunction was identified in 36(51.4%) which fulfilled criteria for RHD and 10(27.8%) of them died or underwent valve surgery. Univariate analysis showed that mitral valve thickening and presence of mitral regurgitation at baseline DEC, were associated with RHD(p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only mitral valve thickness either as a continuous (Odds-Ratio:5.8;95%CI:1.7–19.7) or as a categorical variable (Odds-Ratio:4.04;95%CI:1.06–15.3) was an independent predictor of chronic valve dysfunction.

Conclusions

Mitral leaflets thickening documented at the time of diagnosis of ARF is a consistent prognostic marker for the subsequent evolution to RHD.
Assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure of groundnut germplasm collections using phenotypic traits and SNP markers: Implications for drought tolerance breeding
Authors: Abady Seltene , Shimelis Hussein , Janila Pasupuleti , Yaduru Shasidhar , Shayanowako Admire I. T. , Deshmukh Dnyaneshwar , Chaudhari Sunil , Manohar Surendra S.
Published: November 2021

Profiling the genetic composition and relationships among groundnut germplasm collections is essential for the breeding of new cultivars. The objectives of this study were to assess the genetic diversity and population structure among 100 improved groundnut genotypes using agronomic traits and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The genotypes were evaluated for agronomic traits and drought tolerance at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)/India across two seasons. Ninety-nine of the test genotypes were profiled with 16363 SNP markers. Pod yield per plant (PY), seed yield per plant (SY), and harvest index (HI) were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by genotype × environment interaction effects. Genotypes ICGV 07222, ICGV 06040, ICGV 01260, ICGV 15083, ICGV 10143, ICGV 03042, ICGV 06039, ICGV 14001, ICGV 11380, and ICGV 13200 ranked top in terms of pod yield under both drought-stressed and optimum conditions. PY exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.05) correlation with SY, HI, and total biomass (TBM) under both test conditions. Based on the principal component (PC) analysis, PY, SY, HSW, shelling percentage (SHP), and HI were allocated in PC 1 and contributed to the maximum variability for yield under the two water regimes. Hence, selecting these traits could be successful for screening groundnut genotypes under drought-stressed and optimum conditions. The model-based population structure analysis grouped the studied genotypes into three sub-populations. Dendrogram for phenotypic and genotypic also grouped the studied 99 genotypes into three heterogeneous clusters. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 98% of the total genetic variation was attributed to individuals, while only 2% of the total variance was due to variation among the subspecies. The genetic distance between the Spanish bunch and Virginia bunch types ranged from 0.11 to 0.52. The genotypes ICGV 13189, ICGV 95111, ICGV 14421, and ICGV 171007 were selected for further breeding based on their wide genetic divergence. Data presented in this study will guide groundnut cultivar development emphasizing economic traits and adaptation to water-limited agro-ecologies, including in Ethiopia.
Angiotensin II receptor I auto-antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Jiang Yonghou , Duffy Fergal , Hadlock Jennifer , Raappana Andrew , Styrchak Sheila , Beck Ingrid , Mast Fred D. , Miller Leslie R. , Chour William , Houck John , Armistead Blair , Duvvuri Venkata R. , Yeung Winnie , Haglund Micaela , Wallner Jackson , Wallick Julie A. , Hardy Samantha , Oldroyd Alyssa , Ko Daisy , Gervassi Ana , Murray Kim M. , Kaplan Henry , Aitchison John D. , Heath James R. , Sather D. Noah , Goldman Jason D. , Frenkel Lisa , Harrington Whitney E.
Published: November 2021

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with endothelial activation and coagulopathy, which may be related to pre-existing or infection-induced pro-thrombotic autoantibodies such as those targeting angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R-Ab).

Methods

We compared prevalence and levels of AT1R-Ab in COVID-19 cases with mild or severe disease to age and sex matched negative controls utilizing multivariate logistic and quantile regression adjusted for comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Results

There were trends toward increased prevalence (50% vs. 33%, p = 0.1) and level of AT1R-Ab (median 9.8 vs. 6.1 U/mL, p = 0.06) in all cases versus controls. When considered by COVID-19 disease severity, there was a trend toward increased prevalence of AT1R-Ab (55% vs. 31%, p = 0.07), as well as significantly higher AT1R-Ab levels (median 10.7 vs. 5.9 U/mL, p = 0.03) amongst individuals with mild COVID-19 versus matched controls. In contrast, the prevalence (42% vs. 37%, p = 0.9) and level (both medians 6.7 U/mL, p = 0.9) of AT1R-Ab amongst those with severe COVID-19 did not differ from matched controls.

Conclusions

These findings support an association between COVID-19 and AT1R-Ab, emphasizing that vascular pathology may be present in individuals with mild COVID-19 as well as those with severe disease.
Relationships between core self-evaluation, leader empowering behavior, and job security among Jordan University Hospital nurses
Authors: Sulaiman Ali M. , Alfuqaha Othman A. , Shaath Thana A. , Alkurdi Rawan I. , Almomani Rahmah B.
Published: November 2021

Nurses are facing real stressors due to patients’ needs and leaders’ demands. The aim of this study is to explore the perceived level of core self-evaluation (CSE), leader empowering behavior (LEB), and job security among Jordan University Hospital nurses in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Furthermore, it investigates the relationship between the selected variables. Differences of gender, educational level, experience, and site of work are also examined with job security. Moreover, it evaluates the contribution of CSE, LEB, gender, educational level, experience, and site of work in predicting job security among Jordan University Hospital nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for this study. A convenience sample of 214 nurses from Jordan University Hospital was completed the CSE scale, LEB scale, and job security scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and stepwise regression were used to analyze the results. The results indicate that job security is found to be at high level, whereas LEB and CSE are found to be at moderate levels among nurses. Significant positive relationships are found between CSE, LEB, and job security. Male nurses and medical/surgical floors reported higher levels of job security than female nurses and intensive care units. Finally, the results show that LEB and gender are significant predictors of job security among nurses. We suggest that managers of nurses should apply leadership behaviors in order to increase their job security and career empowerment.
ADCC-mediating non-neutralizing antibodies can exert immune pressure in early HIV-1 infection
Authors: Mielke Dieter , Bandawe Gama , Zheng Jie , Jones Jennifer , Abrahams Melissa-Rose , Bekker Valerie , Ochsenbauer Christina , Garrett Nigel , Abdool Karim Salim , Moore Penny L. , Morris Lynn , Montefiori David , Anthony Colin , Ferrari Guido , Williamson Carolyn
Published: November 2021

Despite antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses being implicated in protection from HIV-1 infection, there is limited evidence that they control virus replication. The high mutability of HIV-1 enables the virus to rapidly adapt, and thus evidence of viral escape is a very sensitive approach to demonstrate the importance of this response. To enable us to deconvolute ADCC escape from neutralizing antibody (nAb) escape, we identified individuals soon after infection with detectable ADCC responses, but no nAb responses. We evaluated the kinetics of ADCC and nAb responses, and viral escape, in five recently HIV-1-infected individuals. In one individual we detected viruses that escaped from ADCC responses but were sensitive to nAbs. In the remaining four participants, we did not find evidence of viral evolution exclusively associated with ADCC-mediating non-neutralizing Abs (nnAbs). However, in all individuals escape from nAbs was rapid, occurred at very low titers, and in three of five cases we found evidence of viral escape before detectable nAb responses. These data show that ADCC-mediating nnAbs can drive immune escape in early infection, but that nAbs were far more effective. This suggests that if ADCC responses have a protective role, their impact is limited after systemic virus dissemination.
SAFA initiates innate immunity against cytoplasmic RNA virus SFTSV infection
Authors: Liu Bin-yan , Yu Xue-jie , Zhou Chuan-min
Published: November 2021

Nuclear scaffold attachment factor A (SAFA) is a novel RNA sensor involved in sensing viral RNA in the nucleus and mediating antiviral immunity. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a bunyavirus that causes SFTS with a high fatality rate of up to 30%. It remains elusive whether and how cytoplasmic SFTSV can be sensed by the RNA sensor SAFA. Here, we demonstrated that SAFA was able to detect SFTSV infection and mediate antiviral interferon and inflammatory responses. Transcription and expression levels of SAFA were strikingly upregulated under SFTSV infection. SAFA was retained in the cytoplasm by interaction with SFTSV nucleocapsid protein (NP). Importantly, SFTSV genomic RNA was recognized by cytoplasmic SAFA, which recruited and promoted activation of the STING-TBK1 signaling axis against SFTSV infection. Of note, the nuclear localization signal (NLS) domain of SAFA was important for interaction with SFTSV NP and recognition of SFTSV RNA in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, our study reveals a novel antiviral mechanism in which SAFA functions as a novel cytoplasmic RNA sensor that directly recognizes RNA virus SFTSV and mediates an antiviral response.
Discrimination Experience and Adjustment Process of Migrant Adolescents in Korea: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Jin Bae Sul Jin Bae Sul ,   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore how migrant adolescents recognize and overcome discrimination and social prejudice experienced in school and social adjustment process. In this study, in-depth interview data were collected for 19 youths from migrant backgrounds and analyzed based on Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory approach. As a result, the study found 120 concepts, 17 categories and 42 subcategories derived through open, axial, and selective coding. The central phenomenon is ‘recognition of differences and experiences of discrimination’ and the core category is ‘having positive aspirations by overcoming negative environments’. ‘Multicultural environment change and migrant background’ works as a causal condition, and ‘social support and foreign language ability’ are found as intervening conditions. As a contextual condition in which discrimination experiences and adjustments take place, ‘entering public education system and the relationship with the mother country’ are derived. Migrant adolescents try to adapt to school and social life through various interaction strategies in order to respond to the central phenomenon.
Colorimetric Analysis and Fastness Properties of Jute Fabric Dyed with Eucalyptus Leaves
Authors:   Northern University Bangladesh, Department of Textile Engineering, Kawlar Jamea Masjid Road 111/2, Dhaskhin Khan, Khilkhet, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh, Nahar Kamrun , Arju Shurfun Nahar ,   Bangladesh University of Textiles, Department of Wet Process Engineering, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Avenue 92, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka 1208, Bangladesh, Ferdush Jannatul ,   Northern University Bangladesh, Department of Textile Engineering, Kawlar Jamea Masjid Road 111/2, Dhaskhin Khan, Khilkhet, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh, Islam Marzia ,   Northern University Bangladesh, Department of Textile Engineering, Kawlar Jamea Masjid Road 111/2, Dhaskhin Khan, Khilkhet, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh, Akter Tarifun ,   Northern University Bangladesh, Department of Textile Engineering, Kawlar Jamea Masjid Road 111/2, Dhaskhin Khan, Khilkhet, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
Published: November 2021

Natural dyestuff has reverted its position in the colouration of textile substrates due to rising concerns of consumers and buyers, particularly about environmental impacts and health issues. Eucalyptus leaves were selected in this study as a source of natural dye along with some of the most generally used mordants to observe the impact of dyeing on jute fabric while trying to keep the dyeing parameters at a minimum level. Dyes were extracted from eucalyptus leaves by boiling in water. Then, the fabric was pre-mordanted using different synthetic mordanting agents, such as alum, potassium dichromate, copper sulphate and ferrous sulphate, which are generally used to substantively enhance the dyestuff on textile fabrics and to improve the fastness properties. Synthetic mordant was used here instead of natural mordant due to the better dyeing compatibility of jute fabric with eucalyptus leaves, since natural mordant has little effect on jute fabric during the process of dyeing. Another aim of this research is to curb the time and energy consumption of the jute dyeing process and so the dyeing is carried out at 75 °C for about 30 minutes. Various types of evaluations were conducted through visual assessment, checking the colour-coordinate values and colour strength values. While colour fastness properties were evaluated by different fastness testing, such as colour fastness to water, washing, rubbing and perspiration. This dyeing process yields a colour range from yellowish to brown with the variation of mordants applied on the fabric. In addition to that, colour co-ordinate and colour strength values ensure better results of dyed fabrics pretreated with ferrous sulphate. Jute fabric dyed with only extracted eucalyptus solution provided satisfactory results in all colour fastness tests, while fabric treated with different mordants showed variations in fastness ratings, and fabric treated with ferrous sulphate and copper sulphate had slightly better fastness ratings.
Body Proportions of Football Players and the Untrained Population, and the Impact on the fit of the Trousers
Authors:   University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, Department of Clothing Technology, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia, Brlobašić Šajatović Blaženka , Ujević Darko ,   University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, Department of Clothing Technology, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia, Petrak Slavenka ,   University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, Department of Clothing Technology, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
Published: November 2021

The aim of this research was to identify the differences in body proportions between football players and the untrained population, and their influence on trouser fit. By identifying the differences in body measurements, and comparing the empirical and constructional values of body measurements required for the construction of men’s trousers, an attempt was made to prove the need for a change in the existing cut of trousers. A total of 324 men aged 15 to 26 years participated in the research. The survey involved 162 football players with an average playing experience of 10.7 years and 162 untrained subjects from the general population. A total of 19 variables were analysed relating to the study of the fit of men’s trousers. The SPSS software package was used for statistical data processing. The results showed that the football players were slightly but not significantly, taller, that their chest girth was almost the same as untrained subjects, and that their hip girth was slightly smaller. The greatest and most significant statistical difference was in the mid-thigh girth, which is greater in football players, and the waist girth, which is smaller in football players. Due to the identified value of a statistically significant increase of the mean thigh girth in football players, the modelling of trousers in this area was performed. The performed modelling of men’s trousers met the criterion of garment fit, and opens the possibility of cooperation with industry in terms of improving the making of cuts for the surveyed sport population.
Study and Optimization of a Hybrid Power Generation System to Power Kalakala, a Remote Locality in Northern Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Koffi Jules Yao , Sako Koita Mohamed , Koua Blaise Kamenan , Koffi Paul Magloire Ekoun , Nguessan Yao , Diango Alphonse Kouadio
Published: November 2021

This work presents the results of a study to optimize the production of electricity, by hybrid system Photovoltaic – Diesel – Batteries, to power the village of Kalakala in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. The study site is an isolated rural community, powered by a diesel generator. It is located in northern Côte d'Ivoire. HOMER software has been used for system simulation and optimization. The result of this study is then compared to those of PV - Batteries and diesel alone systems. From the results of the simulations, it appears that the optimal combination of the hybrid system includes a diesel generator of 50 kW, a photovoltaic field of 46 kW, 10 batteries of 48V and a converter of 100 kW. With a photovoltaic penetration rate of 52.7%, this system, compared to the photovoltaic - batteries system, reduces the photovoltaic field by 56%, the number of batteries by 61.5% and increases battery life by 42.84%. Compared to diesel alone, it reduces fuel consumption and the quantity of CO2 by 60% and improves diesel efficiency by 17%. The cost of generating electricity for the hybrid system is €0.373/kWh compared to €0.466 and €0.608/kWh respectively, for the PV-Batteries and diesel alone systems. The hybrid system with the best technical, economic and environmental performance could be a good alternative for generating electricity in remote communities.
Water-Energy-Food Nexus Review for Biofuels Assessment
Authors: Gazal Abass A. , Jakrawatana Napat , Silalertruksa Thapat , Gheewala Shabbir H.
Published: November 2021

The appropriate use of limited natural resources for generating basic human needs such as energy, food, and water, is essential to help the society function efficiently. Hence, a new approach called nexus is being considered to resolve the effects of intrinsic trade-offs between the essential needs. A review of different methods and frameworks of the water-energy-food nexus was done in this article to give a detailed repository of information on existing approaches and advocate the development of a more holistic quantitative nexus method. Assessing biofuels under the water-energy-food nexus perspective, this review addresses the sustainability of bioenergy production. The results show the countries that can sustainably produce first-generation biofuels. Only a few methods have varied interdisciplinary procedures to analyse the nexus, and more analytical software and data on resource availability/use are needed to address trade-offs between these interacting resource sectors constituting the nexus. Also, “land” is suggested as an additional sector to consider in future studies using both the nexus index and life cycle assessment methodology. The review reveals that to tackle composite challenges related to resource management, cross-disciplinary methods are essential to integrate environmental, socio-political facets of water, energy, and food; employ collaborative frameworks; and seek the engagement of decision-makers.
KONTRIBUSI SISTEM HUKUM EROPA KONTINENTAL TERHADAP PEMBANGUNAN SISTEM HUKUM NASIONAL DI INDONESIA
Authors: Saputri Novi Eka , Kusdarini Eny
Published: November 2021

Sistem hukum Eropa Kontinental mewarnai perjalanan sejarah sistem hukum Indonesia. Sistem Eropa Kontinental mengedepankan tradisi hukum tertulis. Hal tersebut merupakan awal untuk cikal-bakal hukum Eropa Kontinental yang turut membangun sistem hukum Indonesia. Berdasarkan kajian yang dilakukan, dapat disimpulkan bahwa: Pertama, ditemukan jenis atau karakteristik sistem hukum Eropa Kontinental dalam karakteristik hukumnya, yakni secara mendasar mengutamakan suatu hukum tertulis. Kedua, dalam sejarah perkembangan sistem hukum yang dianut oleh bangsa Indonesia, pada awalnya cenderung berkarakter Eropa Kontinental. Seiring berjalannya waktu, berbagai macam sistem hukum saling melengkapi dan mewarnai pembangunan sistem hukum Indonesia. Dengan adanya hal tersebut, memberikan bukti mengenai Indonesia yang sedang mengusahakan suatu sistem hukum yang memiliki karakteristik nasional dalam sebuah sistem hukum yang berlaku di Indonesia.
Prospects for the production of radioisotopes and radiobioconjugates for theranostics
Authors: Choiński Jarosław , Łyczko Monika
Published: November 2021

The development of diagnostic methods in medicine as well as the progress in the synthesis of biologically active compounds allows the use of selected radioisotopes for the simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of diseases, especially cancerous ones, in patients. This approach is called theranostic. This review article includes chemical and physical characterization of chosen theranostic radioisotopes and their compounds that are or could be useful in nuclear medicine.
Semiotic modeling of the text-driven conceptual paradigm in language education
Authors: Li Yufeng
Published: November 2021

The conceptual paradigm of Thomas Sebeok’s modeling systems theory builds a theoretical foundation that modeling and knowing converge and coexist in the process of life evolution, and affords multiple narrative spaces for foreign language education, allowing us to address living and learning concurrently in the process of meaning modeling. The present paper argues that the concept of modeling has elevated us above the long-standing emphasis on the most valuable knowledge with the same (target) language standards and the same discourse power, and has captured the interest of language educators to establish a semiotic connection between knowledge content and knowledge representation through a representation model, the English textbook, which is generally considered as an important carrier of language knowledge. The study of the concept of English textbooks promotes sustainable regeneration of semiotic information on multi-level spatial interpretability so that learning can be regarded as exploration and growth of experience. Based on what these analyses reveal, the paper concludes by confirming that the textbook can effectively construct a diverse cultural signification order, considering the learner’s greater flexibility and social responsibility and providing the curriculum with a modeling nature for meaning negotiation among all parties involved.
The end of Sebeok’s century meets twenty-first century pandemic: modeling through and beyond Sebeok’s systems, semiotics, science
Authors: Cannizzaro Sara , Anderson Myrdene
Published: November 2021

Thomas A. Sebeok’s name became all but synonymous with semiotics during the last half of the twentieth century. Sebeok located neglected semioticians in antiquity, and convinced many contemporary scholars that they were semioticians. One of his most fruitful encounters was with Juri Lotman of the Tartu–Moscow School of Semiotics, who had published in 1967 an ambitious model of human sign systems in which language would constitute a primary modeling system, and cultural phenomena a secondary modeling system. We inspect how Sebeok amended Lotman’s system, inserting another primary modeling system before language. This brings biological precursors to human language as a syntactic and learned faculty that builds on many nonsyntactic and sometimes nonconscious senses, including emotion, affect, and memory. We note how, in Sebeok’s final book in 2000 on modeling systems theory, co-authored with Marcel Danesi, there is a suggestion that the three layers of modeling systems may be colored by Peircean notions of firstness, secondness, and thirdness; we clarify how these layers are analogue. Finally, the fundamentals of the primary modeling system leak into languaging, as better understood through post-Sebeok cognitive and neurological sciences, and rendering less mysterious some of the strange effects of the COVID-19 pandemic’s proxemics crisis.