bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Pharmaceuticals in Surface Water Samples in Ghana
Authors: Azanu David , Adu-Poku David , Saah Selina Ama , Appaw William Ofori
Published: December 2021

Pharmaceuticals, among the emerging contaminants, are pseudopersistent and recently of serious concern due to universal use, toxicity, and resistance development at low concentrations. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk of eight pharmaceuticals in surface water used for vegetable irrigation in Ghana’s Kumasi and Sunyani metropolises, which are influenced by hospitals, sewage treatment facilities, and market effluents. Samples were concentrated via solid-phase extraction (SPE) while liquid chromatography was used to identify and quantify the analytes. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and diclofenac were the detected analgesics in this study, with concentrations stretching from below detection limit (not detected) to 319.0 ng/L, while amoxicillin, trimethoprim, and cefuroxime were the detected antibiotics with a concentration range of no detection to 840.0 ng/L. Based on the available long-term data, an environmental risk assessment was conducted. Because of the presence of ibuprofen, the lowest trophic level and fish were shown to be at risk. The estimated risk quotient values for antibiotics resistance were above 1 for all the antibiotics investigated in surface water impacted by the wastewater of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies’ except surface water impacted by sewage treatment plants (STPs) and market wastewater. The existence of these pharmaceuticals in surface water does not only point to a general concern for the environment but also a potential health risk on humans and other lives as a result of their impact on drinking water and vegetable production in Ghana.
[Retracted] Application of the Deep Learning Algorithm and Similarity Calculation Model in Optimization of Personalized Online Teaching System of English Course
Authors: Fang Yuan , Li Jingning
Published: December 2021

This study provides an in‐depth study and analysis of English course recommendation techniques through a combination of bee colony algorithm and neural network algorithm. In this study, the acquired text is trained with a document vector by a deep learning model and combined with a collaborative filtering method to recommend suitable courses for users. Based on the analysis of the current research status and development of the technology related to course resource recommendation, the deep learning technology is applied to the course resource recommendation based on the current problems of sparse data and low accuracy of the course recommendation. For the problem that the importance of learning resources to users changes with time, this study proposes to fuse the time information into the neural collaborative filtering algorithm through the clustering classification algorithm and proposes a deep learning‐based course resource recommendation algorithm to better recommend the course that users want to learn at this stage promptly. Secondly, the course cosine similarity calculation model is improved for the course recommendation algorithm. Considering the impact of the number of times users rate courses and the time interval between users rating different courses on the course similarity calculation, the contribution of active users to the cosine similarity is reduced and a time decay penalty is given to users rating courses at different periods. By improving the hybrid recommendation algorithm and similarity calculation model, the error value, recall, and accuracy of course recommendation results outperform other algorithmic models. The requirements analysis identifies the personalized online teaching system with rural primary and secondary school students as the main service target and then designs the overall architecture and functional modules of the recommendation system and the database table structure to implement the user registration, login, and personal center functional modules, course publishing, popular recommendation, personalized recommendation, Q&A, and rating functional modules.
Dynamic Characteristics of a Double‐Pylon Cable‐Stayed Bridge with Steel Truss Girder and Single‐Cable Plane
Authors: Zeng Yong , Zeng Yutong , Yu Hao , Tan Yujie , Tan Hongmei , Zheng Huijun
Published: December 2021

The dynamic characteristics are closely linked to the seismic stability and wind‐resistant of the bridge. But different bridge types have different dynamic characteristics. In order to study the dynamic characteristics of a double‐pylon cable‐stayed bridge with a single‐cable plane and steel truss girder whose main span is the longest in the world, the dynamic load test was done, and the finite element and the subspace iteration methods were used to analyze the vibration mode of the bridge. The influence of different structural parameters on the dynamic characteristics of the bridge was analyzed. The changed structural parameters are cable layout, stiffness of steel truss girder, stiffness of stayed cables, stiffness of pylons, the concentration of dead load, number and location of auxiliary piers, and structural system. The results show that the bending and torsion resistance of the double‐pylon cable‐stayed bridge with a single‐cable plane and steel truss girder is weak. The torsional stiffness of the cable‐stayed bridge with a double‐cable plane is stronger than that of the cable‐stayed bridge with a single‐cable plane. The seismic stability and wind‐resistant of the bridge can be improved by using light dead load, improving the stiffness of pylon and girder, and adding auxiliary piers scientifically. However, the change of cable stiffness has a complex influence on the dynamic characteristics of the bridge. The conclusion can offer references for the construction, maintenance, and design of the same type of bridges.
Tests Research on Grouting Materials of Waste‐Concrete‐Powder Cement for Goaf Ground Improvement
Authors: Dun Zhilin , Wang Mengqi , Ren Lianwei , Dun Zhiyuan
Published: December 2021

Waste concrete powder (WCP) is proposed to replace part of the cement to seek environmentally friendly grouting materials for ground improvement in mine goaf. The optimal mixing proportion was selected based on the performance indexes of the water‐separation ratio, stone rate, viscosity, setting time, and compressive strength. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were also conducted to analyze mineralogical phases and investigate the microscopic mechanism. Test results show that the slurry prepared by the substitution rate of 70% and adding 0.05% water‐reducing agent meets well the requirements of ground grouting in mine goaf. The WCP produced by grinding mainly exerts microaggregate effect in the slurry due to low activity. A lot of pores on the surface of WCP were shown by SEM which can absorb the water in the slurry and increase the stone rate. The WCP application for ground grouting in mine goaf can not only recycle WC but also provide new grouting materials for goaf ground.
BCOR and BCORL1 Mutations Drive Epigenetic Reprogramming and Oncogenic Signaling by Unlinking PRC1.1 from Target Genes
Authors: Schaefer Eva J. , Wang Helen C. , Karp Hannah Q. , Meyer Clifford A. , Cejas Paloma , Gearhart Micah D. , Adelman Emmalee R. , Fares Iman , Apffel Annie , Lim Klothilda , Xie Yingtian , Gibson Christopher J. , Schenone Monica , Murdock H. Moses , Wang Eunice S. , Gondek Lukasz P. , Carroll Martin P. , Vedula Rahul S. , Winer Eric S. , Garcia Jacqueline S. , Stone Richard M. , Luskin Marlise R. , Carr Steven A. , Long Henry W. , Bardwell Vivian J. , Figueroa Maria E. , Lindsley R. Coleman
Published: December 2021

Polycomb repressive epigenetic complexes are recurrently dysregulated in cancer. Unlike polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), the role of PRC1 in oncogenesis and therapy resistance is not well-defined. Here, we demonstrate that highly recurrent mutations of the PRC1 subunits BCOR and BCORL1 in leukemia disrupt assembly of a noncanonical PRC1.1 complex, thereby selectively unlinking the RING-PCGF enzymatic core from the chromatin-targeting auxiliary subcomplex. As a result, BCOR-mutated PRC1.1 is localized to chromatin but lacks repressive activity, leading to epigenetic reprogramming and transcriptional activation at target loci. We define a set of functional targets that drive aberrant oncogenic signaling programs in PRC1.1-mutated cells and primary patient samples. Activation of these PRC1.1 targets in BCOR-mutated cells confers acquired resistance to treatment while sensitizing to targeted kinase inhibition. Our study thus reveals a novel epigenetic mechanism that explains PRC1.1 tumor-suppressive activity and identifies a therapeutic strategy in PRC1.1-mutated cancer.

Significance:

We demonstrate that BCOR and BCORL1 mutations in leukemia unlink PRC1.1 repressive function from target genes, resulting in epigenetic reprogramming and activation of aberrant cell signaling programs that mediate treatment resistance. Our study provides mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of PRC1.1-mutated leukemia that inform novel therapeutic approaches.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 85
103 butterflies (Papilionoidea) from Ilha Grande and Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Pinheiro Carlos Eduardo Guimarães , Ribeiro Millena Castro , Xerez Roberto de
Published: December 2021

Here we show a list of 103 butterflies (Papilionoidea) found at Ilha Grande and Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. To our knowledge, this is the first butterfly inventory conducted in these islands. The species richness, the collecting methods utilized, endemism, and the mimicry rings found in the islands are discussed. Moreover, we emphasize the importance and the utilization of butterflies as suitable models to assess community ecology patterns.
Extensão ou incomunicação? Para um reencontro com Freire na comunicação
Authors: Meditsch Eduardo
Published: December 2021

Este artigo parte do reconhecimento de Paulo Freire como autor fundamental para a compreensão teórica da comunicação no contexto latino-americano. Por outro lado, constata sua subutilização no ensino e na pesquisa dessa área de conhecimento no Brasil. Busca uma explicação para isso na improvável compatibilidade entre o método praxiológico de Freire e a perspectiva aplicacionista dominante no ensino e na pesquisa universitárias. Como alternativa, discute a possibilidade de uma concepção freiriana de extensão, proposta como tese em sua passagem pela Universidade de Recife, rejeitada como antítese em seu trabalho no Chile e reafirmada como síntese pelo Fórum Nacional de Pró-Reitores de Extensão de Universidades Públicas no presente.
Revendo Paulo Freire: uma introdução
Authors: Citelli Adilson , Suzina Ana Cristina , Tufte Thomas
Published: December 2021

A revista Matrizes lança este número especial dedicado ao centenário do nascimento de Paulo Freire (1921-1998). Os textos a serem lidos reúnem artigos produzidos por autores e autoras de vários países, o que atesta o vigor e a atualidade da contribuição teórico-prática, deste pernambucano cidadão do mundo. Tais análises intentam verificar quais as contribuições do pensamento freiriano para o campo da comunicação, da educação e do desenvolvimento da sociedade civil, considerando asrealidades locais em que foram mobilizadas.
Leitura e mídias digitais: interações entre jogadores e leitores
Authors: Trevisan Ana Lucia , Marino Heloisa Antoniolli
Published: December 2021

O constante crescimento das diferentes mídias, especialmente os jogos eletrônicos, estabelece um movimento de evolução da maneira de como contar uma narrativa, permitindo que as formalidades sejam rompidas, surgindo novos tipos de leituras, e como resultado, outros perfis de leitores. Em vista disso, o presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma análise sobre as relações entre leitores e jogadores frente às narrativas textuais e dos jogos eletrônicos, utilizando-se como base as teorias sobre a formação de leitores para estabelecer as diferenças e semelhanças dos papéis que cada um exerce dentro de cada meio, procurando identificar os artifícios que estruturam a interação entre os receptores e as narrativas ficcionais.
A representação da criança na Literatura Infantil e Juvenil: Entrevista com Isabel Lopes Coelho
Authors: Lins Euclides , Iannace Ricardo
Published: December 2021

No presente número de Literartes, entrevistamos a Dra. Isabel Lopes Coelho que fala sobre suas vivências literárias e editoriais e nos conduz pelas veredas de sua densa obra publicada em 2020.Nesta entrevista gentilmente concedida via e-mail, Isabel Lopes Coelho conta-nos sobre sua trajetória como profissional e pesquisadora, experiências as quais resultaram na publicação de A representação da criança na literatura infantojuvenil; título dotado de criteriosa fundamentação, que deve seguramente figurar na biblioteca de amantes e estudiosos da ficção para os públicos mirim e jovem.Ao longo destas linhas, saberemos quais leituras marcaram a infância da entrevistada, suas escolhas no tocante ao corpus literário e aos postulados teórico-críticos que nortearam sua produção ensaística, bem como aos pontos de vista da autora a respeito do lugar ocupado pela literatura infantojuvenil no âmbito acadêmico.
Dostoiévski e o ressentimento na filosofia de Nietzsche: Alguns apontamentos a partir de Crime e Castigo
Authors: Dias Luís Francisco Fianco
Published: December 2021

O presente texto tem como objetivo recuperar o conceito de ressentimento na narrativa do romance de Dostoiévski Crime e Castigo e aproximá-lo da conceitualização do ressentimento no pensamento de Nietzsche, mediante igualmente a contribuição da psicanálise. Para tanto, utilizaremos, além do texto de Dostoiévski citado e da obra Genealogia da Moral, entre outras de Nietzsche, o estudo recente sobre o ressentimento na intersecção da filosofia e da psicanálise de Maria Rita Kehl, Ressentimento, entre outros textos. Em função das diversas intersecções possíveis entre Dostoiévski e Nietzsche, nosso estudo não tem a intenção de exaurir o tema, e sim de, ao mesmo tempo que nos permita estabelecer conexões entre os dois autores, poder acrescentar algo ao estudo da interseção de ambos.
Metal Quivers from Western Asia
Authors: Castelluccia Manuel
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a review of metal quivers, which belong to a category of metal objects found in Iron Age archaeological contexts in the Ancient Near East, especially in the variegate cultures living in the mountainous highlands bordering Mesopotamia. Each cultural sphere is considered separately, focusing on material brought to light during archaeological excavations. An analysis of different traditions allows comparison of these artifacts in order to detect evidence of contacts and reciprocal influences between different cultural regions, which strongly interacted during the first half of the Iron Age.
Inquisitor as Physician: Friars, Inquisitors, Women, and Medical Knowledge in Early Colonial New Spain (1530–1650)
Authors: Holler Jacqueline
Published: December 2021

New Spain was the site not only of one of the largest-scale missionary enterprises in Christian history, but also of a prolonged encounter among diverse medical traditions of Mesoamerican, African, and European origin in which male missionaries were central. Given the paucity of licensed physicians in the colony, religious involvement in medical practice remained significant throughout the colonial period. This paper considers the confluence of religion and medicine in the encounters that friars and inquisitors had with women, arguing that in these encounters, missionaries and inquisitors participated in the translation, circulation, and creation of medical knowledge and positioned themselves as both theological and medical authorities, as proponents and translators of Galenic medical theory, and as “confessor-physicians” rather than “confessor-judges.” Women thus played a crucial interlocutory role in the articulation of a colonial religio-medical regime whose primary framers were not physicians, but clergymen.
The New Religious Political Right in Neo-Apartheid South Africa
Authors: Dube Siphiwe Ignatius
Published: December 2021

This article argues that, in similar ways that scholars such as Kaye (1987) and Apple (1990) have respectively demonstrated how post 1970s America and Britain fused the neo-liberal discourse of free markets with the neo-conservative Christian discourse of moral rightness to found a New Right, we can apply this analytical model in post-apartheid/neo-apartheid South Africa. The aim of this analytical comparison is to support the broad claim that the article makes about the rise of the New Right in contemporary South Africa as directly related to the fusion of neo-Pentecostal Christianity with neoliberal economics in very salient ways. Using discourse analysis, the article demonstrates how the New Right in South Africa also draws from the language of crisis to justify a response that brings together the interlocking of race, religion, and neoliberalism. The paper’s main argument is that, a different type of New Right is emerging in current day South Africa, one that is not simply the purview of whitenationalism, but has main appeal also within the black middle-class.
Seismic Shifts: The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Gendered Fault Lines and Implications for International Law
Authors: Rana Shruti
Published: December 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic and related shutdowns created seismic shifts in the boundaries between public and private life, with lasting implications for human rights and international law. Arriving just as the international legal order was wobbling in the wake of a populist backlash and other great challenges, the pandemic intensified fault lines of marginalisation and state action, amplifying the forces that had already left the liberal international order in crisis and retreat. This article examines the pandemic’s impacts on the international legal order through a gendered lens. It argues that in the short-term, the pandemic has reinforced public-private divides in international law, reinvigorating previous debates over the role of the state in protecting its people from harm. It argues that in the long-term, these developments threaten to unravel the most recent gains in international law and global governance that have supported and expanded the recognition of human rights to marginalised groups. Left unaddressed, this unraveling will further entrench such divides and contribute to the further retreat of the liberal international order. Examining these fault lines and their implications can help us re-imagine a post-pandemic international legal order that offers more protection for human rights, even as multilateral institutions and cooperation sputter or fail.
Understanding Future Increases in Precipitation Extremes in Global Land Monsoon Regions
Authors: Chang Meiyu , Liu Bo , Wang Bin , Martinez-Villalobos Cristian , Ren Guoyu , Zhou Tianjun
Published: December 2021

This study investigates future changes in daily precipitation extremes and the involved physics over the global land monsoon (GM) region using climate models from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The daily precipitation extreme is identified by the cutoff scale, measuring the extreme tail of the precipitation distribution. Compared to the historical period, multimodel results reveal a continuous increase in precipitation extremes under four scenarios, with a progressively higher fraction of precipitation exceeding the historical cutoff scale when moving into the future. The rise of the cutoff scale by the end of the century is reduced by 57.8% in the moderate emission scenario relative to the highest scenario, underscoring the social benefit in reducing emissions. The cutoff scale sensitivity, defined by the increasing rates of the cutoff scale over the GM region to the global mean surface temperature increase, is nearly independent of the projected periods and emission scenarios, roughly 8.0% K−1by averaging all periods and scenarios. To understand the cause of the changes, we applied a physical scaling diagnostic to decompose them into thermodynamic and dynamic contributions. We find that thermodynamics and dynamics have comparable contributions to the intensified precipitation extremes in the GM region. Changes in thermodynamic scaling contribute to a spatially uniform increase pattern, while changes in dynamic scaling dominate the regional differences in the increased precipitation extremes. Furthermore, the large intermodel spread of the projection is primarily attributed to variations of dynamic scaling among models.
Endoscopic Endonasal Treatment of a Sinonasal Vascular Neoplasm in the Postnatal Period: Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Morvant Stephen W. , Maroda Andrew J. , Reed Leighton F. , Sheyn Anthony M. , Peterson Jeremy , Elijovich Lucas , Michael L. Madison , DiNitto Julie M. , Rangarajan Sanjeet V.
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

Congenital vascular lesions commonly present in the head and neck, and most are managed conservatively. Location and rapid growth, however, may necessitate surgical intervention. Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) in the pediatric population has emerged as a viable option in treating sinonasal and skull base lesions. Utilizing these techniques in newborns carries unique challenges. The objective of this report is to describe the successful use of direct intralesional embolization followed by endoscopic endonasal resection of a venous malformation in a postnatal patient.

Methods:

We reviewed the case reported and reviewed the pertinent literature.

Results:

A 6-week-old infant was found to have a large right-sided sinonasal lesion confirmed as a venous malformation. Rapid growth, impending orbital compromise, and potential long-term craniofacial abnormalities demanded the need for urgent surgical intervention. Risk of bleeding was mitigated with direct intralesional embolization. Immediately afterward, the patient underwent endoscopic endonasal resection of the lesion. EES in the very young presents multiple challenges both anatomically and behaviorally. A multidisciplinary approach lead to a successful outcome.

Conclusion:

We report a case of a 6-week-old infant, the youngest reported patient to the authors’ knowledge, who successfully underwent direct intralesional embolization followed by endoscopic endonasal resection of a sinonasal vascular malformation. This report highlights the challenges of this technique in the very young and demonstrates it as a viable treatment strategy for sinonasal vascular anomalies in this population.
Mesoporous Zirconia Coating for Sensing Applications Using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy
Authors: Wacht Dominik , David Mauro , Hinkov Borislav , Detz Hermann , Schwaighofer Andreas , Baumgartner Bettina , Lendl Bernhard
Published: December 2021

Mid-infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for in situ monitoring of various processes. Mesoporous silica, an extensively studied material, has already been applied in sensing schemes due to its high surface area and tunable surface chemistry. However, its poor chemical stability in aqueous solutions at pH values higher than 8 and strong absorption below 1250 cm−1 limits its range of applications. To circumvent these problems, a mesoporous zirconia coating on ATR crystals was developed. Herein, the synthesis, surface modification, and characterization of ordered mesoporous zirconia films on Si wafers and Si-ATR crystals are presented. The modified coating was applied in sensing schemes using aromatic and aliphatic nitriles in aqueous solution as organic pollutants. The mesoporous zirconia coating shows strong chemical resistance when kept in alkaline solution for 72 h. The success of surface modification is confirmed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Benzonitrile and valeronitrile in water are used as model analytes to evaluate the enrichment performance of the film. The experimental results are fitted using Freundlich isotherms, and enrichment factors of 162 and 26 are calculated for 10 mg L−1 benzonitrile and 25 mg L−1 valeronitrile in water, respectively. Limits of detection of 1 mg L−1 for benzonitrile and 11 mg L−1 for valeronitrile are obtained. The high chemical stability of this coating allows application in diverse fields such as catalysis with the possibility of in situ monitoring using FT-IR spectroscopy.
The Future Ready Lab: Maintaining Students’ Access to Internships during Times of Crisis
Authors: Fletcher Edward C. , Minar Nicholas J. , Rice Brooke A.
Published: December 2021

In this manuscript, we highlight the virtual Future Ready Lab as one example of an innovative internship concept designed to increase the quantity of meaningful paid internship experiences available for students to participate in, prepare for further education, and be able to compete in the 21st Century workforce. The Lab’s premise is to provide access to student populations (e.g., economically disadvantaged, Black, and Latinx students) who oftentimes are not afforded the opportunity to hone their 21st Century skills in a high-impact internship experience. The virtual nature of the Future Ready Labs provided opportunities for high school students to participate, despite transportation limitations, social distancing, emerging safety precautions, and requirements based on the COVID-19 pandemic. In this manuscript, we help fill gaps in existing literature concerning how schools support students’ work-based learning experiences during times of crisis, particularly for diverse and economically disadvantaged learners. We conclude with recommendations for practice, and a broader work-based learning framework for how partnerships can be forged and sustained in high schools across the nation, as well as implications for educational policy, practice, and research.
Default Effects of Credit Card Minimum Payments
Authors: Sakaguchi Hiroaki , Stewart Neil , Gathergood John , Adams Paul , Guttman-Kenney Benedict , Hayes Lucy , Hunt Stefan
Published: December 2021

Credit card minimum payments are designed to ensure that individuals pay down their debt over time, and scheduling minimum automatic repayments helps people avoid forgetting to repay. Yet minimum payments have additional, unintended psychological default effects by drawing attention away from the card balance due. First, once individuals set the minimum automatic repayment as the default, they then neglect to make the occasional larger repayments they made previously. As a result, individuals incur considerably more credit card interest than late payment fees avoided. Using detailed transaction data, the authors show that approximately 8% of all of the interest ever paid is due to this effect. Second, manual credit card payments are lower when individuals are prompted with minimum payment information. In an experiment, the authors test two new interventions to mitigate this effect—a prompt for full repayment and a prompt asking those repaying little to pay more—yielding large counter effects. Thus, shrouding the minimum payment option for automatic and manual payments and directing attention to the full balance may remedy the unintended effects of default minimum payments.
A County-Level Program for the Evaluation of the Potential for Take-Home Lead Exposures Among Children in Michigan
Authors: Oliveri Anthony N. , Fagerstrom Lindsey A. , Wang Ling , Rosenman Kenneth D.
Published: December 2021

Objective:

Take-home lead exposure involves lead dust inadvertently carried from the worksite by employees that becomes deposited in their homes and vehicles. We piloted a program in 2 counties in Michigan to investigate the countywide potential for take-home lead exposures across industries.

Methods:

During 2018-2020, we identified establishments through internet searches and industry-specific registries. We visited establishments with a physical storefront in-person; we attempted to contact the remaining establishments via telephone. We administered questionnaires at the establishment level to assess the presence of lead and the current use of practices meant to mitigate the potential for take-home lead exposures. We recruited workers for wipe sampling of lead dust from their vehicle floors to test for lead levels.

Results:

We identified 320 establishments with potential lead use or exposures. Questionnaire responses revealed widespread worker exposures to lead and a lack of education and implementation of best practices to prevent lead from leaving the worksite. Dust samples (n = 60) collected from employee vehicles showed a ubiquitous tracking of lead out of the workplace, with a range of 5.7 to 84 000 µg/ft2 and a geometric mean of 234 µg/ft2. Of the sample results, 95.0% were above the lead dust clearance levels for homes established by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Conclusions:

This work suggests that take-home lead exposures are widespread and may be important sources of lead exposure among children. It also demonstrates the feasibility of a program for the identification of establishments whose employees may be susceptible to taking lead dust home with them and whose children may subsequently be targeted for blood lead monitoring.
Nonlinear modeling and prediction of forklift acoustic annoyance based on the improved neural networks
Authors: Zhang Enlai , Lian Jiading , Zhang Jingjing , Lin Jiahe
Published: December 2021

Aiming at the characteristics of high decibels and multiple samples for forklift noise, a subjective evaluation method of rank score comparison (RSC) based on annoyance is presented. After pre-evaluation, comprehensive evaluation and data tests on collected 50 noise samples, the annoyance grades of all noise samples were obtained, and seven psycho-acoustic parameters including linear sound pressure level (LSPL), A-weighted sound pressure level (ASPL), loudness, sharpness, roughness, impulsiveness and articulation index (AI) were determined by correlation calculation. Considering the nonlinear characteristics of human ear subjective perception, objective parameters, and annoyance were used as input and output variables correspondingly and then three nonlinear mathematical models of forklift acoustic annoyance were established using traditional artificial neural network (ANN), genetic-algorithm neural network (GANN), and particle-swarm-optimization neural network (PSONN). Moreover, the prediction accuracy of the three models was tested and compared by sample data. The results indicate that the average relative error (ARE) between the experimental and predicted values of acoustic annoyance based on PSONN model is 3.893%, which provides an effective technical support for further optimization and subjective evaluation.
3-Month Symptom-Based Ambidirectional Follow-up Study Among Recovered COVID-19 Patients from a Tertiary Care Hospital Using Telehealth in Chennai, India
Authors: Nesan G Shiny Chrism Queen , Keerthana D , Yamini Raja , Jain Timsi , Kumar Dinesh , Eashwer Ananth , Maiya G Rakesh
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Post-COVID-19 symptoms and its features in many recovered patients are almost similar to post-severe acute respiratory syndrome. The study aims to assess the outcome and manifestations during post-COVID follow-up period in recovered patients.

Methods

Ambidirectional longitudinal study was conducted among recovered COVID-19 patients from a tertiary care hospital near Chennai through telephonic interview after discharge. Total admitted patients from June to November 2020 were 3496 and among those 183 died and 12 transferred to other hospitals. Totally 1354 consented for study and the rest were wrong numbers or not willing to participate. Chi-square test and multinominal logistic regression analysis were done.

Results

Majority of, that is, 27.6% and 18.7% were in 21–30 years and >60 years, respectively. Majority were admitted with fever (38.3%), cough (15.3), and body pain (10%). Post-COVID symptoms reported were fatigue (39.7%), stress and anxiety (27.6%), and mood changes (5.8%). Some patients were newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (10), hypertension (5), and TB (1) after discharge. Having diabetes mellitus is an independent risk to have neurological and cardio-respiratory symptoms and patients who were discharged with minimal support were to have an independent risk factor of renal symptoms on follow-up than other subjects.

Conclusion

The follow-up symptoms were associated with the patients’ comorbidities, age, severity of illness, and environmental factors.
Cardboard Bed Without Mattress Is Ineffective in Improving the body Contact Pressure-a Preliminary Study Using a Dummy Model
Authors: Hamanishi Seiji
Published: December 2021

Objective

This study aimed to describe and evaluate the dispersion of body-mattress contact pressure on a cardboard bed and investigate whether the cardboard bed has a positive effect on evacuees’ musculoskeletal burden.

Materials and Methods

A high-performance nursing simulator was used to measure the contact pressure and the body surface contour area of the bed, and these values were collected with the patient in the supine position using the Body Pressure Measurement System. Data of each test were acquired 10 times and were compared among 4 conditions (plastic sheet, cardboard bed, cardboard bed with a blanket, and cardboard bed with a mattress-topper). The data analysis for body-mattress contacts pressure and the surface contour area of the whole body, head, chest, and buttocks were conducted by one-way repeated analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc test.

Results

The average body-contact pressure on the cardboard bed did not decrease compared with that on the floor with plastic sheets. In contrast, the body surface contour area was significantly different among any other conditions, but the gap was only approximately 16%. However, the body-contact pressure and the body surface contour area were improved when a mattress-topper was added on the cardboard bed. When a blanket was laid on the cardboard bed, the contact area was increased.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the pressure dispersion ability of the cardboard bed was not sufficient; however, adding the mattress-topper or the blanket could contribute to an improvement in the evacuees’ musculoskeletal burden. Many evacuees lay a mattress topper or futon on a cardboard bed after installing cardboard beds. Our findings may also support the scientific validity of the evacuees’ actual sleeping style in Japan. This preliminary study provides the basis for future research on exploring an appropriate sleeping bed condition in evacuee shelters.
From Tribal Society to National Church
Authors: Loewen Jacob A.
Published: December 2021

“For sheer and pervasive fervor, the love of nationhood has no equal among contemporary political passions. Independence is the fetish, fad, and totem of our times. Everybody who can muster a quorum in a colony wants Freedom Now—and such is the temper of the age that they can usually have it. Roughly one third of the world, some one billion people, have run up their own flags in the great dismantlement of empires since World War II, creating sixty new nations over the face of the earth. In the process they have also created, for themselves and for the world, a congeries of unstable and uneasy entities that are usually kept alive only by economic aid and stand constantly on the verge of erupting into turmoil. Nationhood is not an easy art to master as Ghana, Nigeria, and Indonesia have painfully learned in recent weeks.”1
Religious Acculturation in the Philippines
Authors: Rich John A.
Published: December 2021

The problem of how far the missionary should go in accommodating the pre-existing beliefs and religious practices of the people among whom he is working is a very sensitive one, and one may not always agree with a given solution, such as that proposed in this article. What is certainly true is that the missionary had better be aware of the hind of automatic accommodation the people will make spontaneously as they seek to understand the new in the light of the old. Whatever the dangers of conscious and deliberate accommodation, it is not certain that they are greater than those which result from ignoring the problem.
Protestantism and the Latin American Middle Class
Authors: Denton Charles F.
Published: December 2021

The author feels that the development of a middle class in Latin America has been fostered by the effects of Protestant evangelism among the lower classes, which has spurred upward social mobility. But instead of becoming a positive force for social and economic reform, this middle class has become as reactionary as the small traditional upper class. This, together with the inability of most Protestant pastors to minister effectively to middle class persons and intellectuals, is a serious problem for the church in Latin America.
People Must Change
Authors: Smith Donald K.
Published: December 2021

This is the first of four articles under the general title “Literacy–And Then?” which deal with the problems and possibilities of the use of mass media in bringing about needed change in African countries. These articles will be published in successive issues of PA. Though the approach is not anthropological in the strict academic sense, it is a valid and scholarly one grounded in serious theory and empirical research, and it emphatically deals with cross-cultural communications, which is the reason for PA's existence. We feel therefore that these articles enter into our purpose and will be of interest to our readers.

In this first article, the author underlines the fact that needed changes to develop in African countries the capacity to create wealth must come from the people themselves, who will need to change their attitudes. The mass media ought to help bring this about, but there are problems; the reading habit is practically non-existent in Africa because of illiteracy, high costs of publications, poor teaching, bad material conditions for learning and reading, inadequate format, and irrelevant content. In subsequent articles approaches to a solution will be outlined.
Developing Indigenous Leadership in Miskito Evangelization
Authors: Smutko Gregory
Published: December 2021

The author describes an approach to evangelization motivated both by the shortage of priests and by the need to be relevant in the Miskito setting. Native lay evangelizers, democratically selected by their own peoples, were given training in an institute to become leaders of local groups of believers. Because the men who merited and gained the respect of the group were often older and illiterate, they were usually assisted by younger, literate aids. Periodic meetings of a day or two, and annual sessions for further training became occasions also for development of esprit de corps and for group planning of the pastoral ministry. Priests spend most of their time in the training program, while the native evangelizers carry on most of the day-to-day evangelization and parish work. Other ingredients in this effective, culturally relevant program include frequent youth conferences, and a cooperative program for mutual help in agriculture, health, and other aspects of human welfare. The entire approach is genuinely indigenous and effectively integrated, and is on the whole quite successful, though there are problems.
Cultural Violence and Twentieth Century Progress
Authors: Wittmer Joe
Published: December 2021

The Amish are a traditional agricultural community perpetuating a distinctive way of life in strong contrast with the surrounding majority culture. This distinctiveness is based on strong religious convictions. The Amish believe in education, but not in that dispensed by the public schools, because it unfits youth for farm life. In a number of communities public school officials have attempted coercion to make Amish children attend, but with no success. Persecution and harassments are also intense in war time because the Amish are pacifists. Rather than yield to the pressures, an increasing number of Amish are emigrating to more hospitable countries.
Some Roles of Mission Stations
Authors: Fountain Oswald C.
Published: December 2021

The author points out that mission stations have many roles: Base camp, contact, employment opportunity, evangelization, Bible teaching, medical, and educational. Some are consciously planned, some just grow. But too often the net result is to create formalized, institutional relationships between missionaries and nationals in which the former are dominant and the latter cannot respond freely; the depth of their commitment can therefore be questioned. The author advocates the view that a mission station, rather than being a closed cultural enclave dominated by the missionary, ought to serve as a cultural link with both missionaries and nationals sharing ideas and participating freely in the resulting change.
Dimensions of Crosscultural Communication
Authors: Hesselgrave David J.
Published: December 2021

There are at least seven dimensions of crosscultural communication: The worldview, the cognitive process, the linguistic form, the behavioral pattern, the media, the social structure, and the motivational dimension. These are operative at both micro-cultural and macro-cultural levels, and serve as either channels or obstacles to effective crosscultural communication, depending on how they are understood and exploited.
Too True to Be Good: The Subculture of American Missionaries in Urban Africa
Authors: Wolcott Harry F.
Published: December 2021

During a year of sabbatical leave spent in Africa, the author frequently found himself in the presence of American missionaries in urban settings. As a social scientist interested in cultural behavior, he followed his inclination to look for persistent behavior patterns that were characteristic of the missionary groups with whom he came in contact. Taking “culture” to be the shared responses to human problems, he here identifies four pan human problem areas and describes adaptation he observed among missionaries for resolving them. Although his sample is necessarily limited both geographically and denominationally, the observations are provocative and serve as a reminder that the missionary is a product of, as well as an avowed changer of culture.
The Fifth Point of the Compass
Authors: Nida Eugene A.
Published: December 2021

In order to get to where you want to go, you have to know where you are; otherwise, a compass won't help you. This is equally true in planning for the future in missionary work. Dr. Nida suggests some ways of determining the “fifth point” of the missionary compass.
Finite-time asynchronous control of discrete-time switched linear systems with event-triggered H∞ filtering
Authors: He Ziyi , Wu Baowei , Wang Yue-E , He Mingfei
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the event-triggered H∞ filtering problem for discrete-time linear switched systems is investigated under asynchronous switching. Under the mode-dependent event-triggered transmission mechanism (METM), the switching signal and filtering signal are combined into an augmented switching signal by merging signal technology, and the switched system and filtering system are modeled as a filtering error system (FES). Because the switching signal of the filtering system is determined by METM, there will be an asynchronous switching phenomenon between the switched system and filtering system. The novel sufficient conditions are given to ensure that the FES is finite-time bounded (FTB) and has a specified H∞ performance by the average dwell time (ADT) and multi-Lyapunov functional method. And based on this, the design method of the H∞ filter is given. Ultimately, the numerical examples are inspired to manifest the availability of the effects in the study.
Saccharin test: Methodological validation and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Caponnetto Pasquale , Emma Rosalia , Benfatto Francesca , Ferlito Salvatore , Gulino Alessandro , Maniaci Antonino , Lechien Jerome R , Ingrassia Angelo , Cocuzza Salvatore , Polosa Riccardo
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Saccharin test (ST) is a convenient method to assess the efficiency of mucociliary clearance, the primary defense mechanism of the upper airways’ tract. The study objectives are to: (1) substantiate its short- (3 days) and long-term (30 days) repeatability; (2) assess its tolerability; (3) conduct a systematic literature review and to compare our results with the existing evidence.

Methods

Twenty-nine healthy subjects were enrolled in an observational prospective study to perform an ST on three separate visits (at baseline; at follow-up visits at day 3 and at day 30). Transit times were recorded and self-reported nasal and general symptoms noted. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to compare our results with the existing literature.

Results

The mean values (±SD) of ST transit time (STTT) were 7.085 (±2.19), 7.788 (±2.11), and 7.790 (±2.06) minutes at baseline, day 3, and day 30, respectively. Significant linear regression analysis was observed between day 3 and baseline ( r = .193; P = .019) and day 30 and baseline ( r = .182 P = .024). Significant agreement for the intrasession repeatability was observed with an ICC = .354 ( P = .001). Outcomes’ comparisons between baseline vs day 3 ( P = .197) and baseline vs day 30 ( P = .173) were not statistically significant. ST was well tolerated. Concordance with existing literature’s data and high level of STTT repeatability were confirmed by the qualitative analysis.

Conclusion

STTT reproducibility was good both in the short- and long-term. ST tolerability was very good. Our study data are consistent with the existing literature, indicating ST as a sound methodology for detection of early respiratory health changes and for specific regulatory application in respiratory research.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs): The potential for enhancing the dissemination of agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mapiye Obvious , Makombe Godswill , Molotsi Annelin , Dzama Kennedy , Mapiye Cletos
Published: December 2021

The transformation of smallholder farming is poised to be one of the key drivers of achieving the dual objectives of food security and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Smallholder farmers account for between 60–80% of the food produced in the region but face many challenges that impede their productivity. Such challenges include a lack of timely access to appropriate agricultural information and services, which results in poor decision-making, particularly in addressing challenges and responding effectively to opportunities. In that context, the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in improving accessibility to appropriate agricultural information and services presents substantial prospects for transforming the productivity and livelihoods of the farmers. Currently, the region experiences massive penetration and propagation of mobile and web-based applications. However, there is a dearth of compelling, comprehensive reviews evaluating their importance in enhancing agricultural information and services dissemination to smallholder farmers. Therefore, the current review explores the potential of enhancing agricultural information and services dissemination to smallholder farmers through ICTs and highlights gaps in their development and deployment in SSA. Five existing mobile applications used to disseminate agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers were identified, and their advantages, limitations, and opportunities were discussed. These were Esoko, iCow, Community Knowledge Workers, WeFarm and DigiFarm. The development and deployment of user-driven mobile applications that provide curated skill-sharing platforms, encourage farmers to give feedback to extension systems in real-time and promote the participation of women and youth in agriculture are recommended.