bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Relationship Between Disability and Enhancement
Authors: Chaproniere Lysette
Published: May 2022

This paper assesses how views of disability and enhancement can combine. It is hard to maintain that disabilities and enhancements are both undesirable. Disability‐positive views can combine with support for or opposition to enhancement, but not with the view that enhanced traits reliably increase well‐being. It is consistent to hold that disability is bad and enhancement good; the plausibility of this combination depends on whether it is better to have more options and fewer limitations. Understanding these combined positions makes it easier to check for consistency by evaluating positions on disability and enhancement against each other.
Characterization ofLasiodiplodiaspecies causing leaf blight, stem rot and fruit rot of fig (Ficus carica) in Malaysia
Authors: Nur‐Shakirah Abdul Omar , Khadijah Mohd Safie , Kee Yee Jia , Huda‐Shakirah Abd Rahim , Mohd Hafifi Abu Bakar , Nurul‐Aliyaa Yakath Ali , Chew Bee Lynn , Zakaria Latiffah , Mohamed Nor Nik Mohd Izham , Sreeramanan Subramaniam , Leong Yin‐Hui , Mohd Masratul Hawa
Published: May 2022

Fig (Ficus carica) is an exotic deciduous plant that is grown worldwide. Fungal diseases pose a major threat to fig plants, affecting their fruit quality and production. This study was conducted to characterize the fungal isolates associated with leaf blight, stem rot and fruit rot ofF.caricain Malaysia through morphological analysis, DNA sequencing, multigene phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity tests. From September 2018 to March 2019, 30 blighted leaves and 30 rotted stems and fruits ofF.caricawere collected from several nurseries in Malaysia. Thirty fungal isolates that belonged toLasiodiplodia theobromae(27 isolates) andL. brasiliensis(three isolates) were identified based on morphological characteristics, comparison of DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), elongation translation factor 1‐α (tef1‐α), β‐tubulin (tub2) and DNA‐directed RNA polymerase II subunit (rpb2). Among the 27 isolates ofL.theobromae, nine isolates were obtained from leaves, eight isolates from stems and 10 isolates from fruits, whereas the three isolates ofL.brasiliensiswere obtained from stems (two isolates) and a leaf (one isolate). The results of pathogenicity tests revealed thatL.theobromaeandL.brasiliensisisolates were responsible for leaf blight and stem rot ofF.carica, whereas fruit rot was caused byL.theobromaeisolates. The present study highlighted two different species,L. theobromaeandL.brasiliensis, as the causal agents of leaf blight and stem rot ofF.carica. Additionally,L.theobromaecaused fruit rot ofF.caricain Malaysia.
Early physiological indicators of narcissism and self‐esteem in children
Authors: Brummelman Eddie , Nikolić Milica , Nevicka Barbara , Bögels Susan M.
Published: May 2022

A common belief is that narcissism is a manifestation of high self‐esteem. Here, we argue that self‐esteem and narcissism are fundamentally distinct and have unique early physiological indicators. We hypothesized that children predisposed to narcissism would show elevated, whereas children predisposed to high self‐esteem would show lowered, physiological arousal in social‐evaluative contexts. We tested this in a prospective study including 113 children, who were first assessed at age 4.5, a critical age when children begin evaluating themselves through others' eyes. At age 4.5, children sang a song in front of an audience while being videotaped. Children's physiological arousal (skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability) was assessed while children anticipated, performed, and recovered from the singing task. At age 7.5, children's narcissism and self‐esteem levels were assessed. Consistent with our predictions, children predisposed to higher narcissism levels showed elevated skin conductance levels during anticipation. Their skin conductance levels further rose during performance (but less so than for other children) and failed to return to baseline during recovery. By contrast, children predisposed to higher self‐esteem levels showed lowered skin conductance levels throughout the procedure. The effects emerged for skin conductance but not heart rate or heart rate variability, suggesting that arousal was sympathetically driven. Effects were larger and more robust for self‐esteem than for narcissism. Together, these findings uncover distinct physiological indicators of narcissism and self‐esteem: Narcissism is predicted by indicators reflecting early social‐evaluative concerns, whereas self‐esteem is predicted by indicators reflecting an early sense of comfort in social‐evaluative contexts.
RETRACTED: Employees' personality traits and needs' frustration predicts stress overload during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Dirzyte Aiste , Patapas Aleksandras , Zidoniene Dovile
Published: May 2022

This study aimed at identifying significant associations between stress, personality traits, and basic psychological needs' satisfaction and frustration. In the study, a simple random sample consisted of 245 employees (mean age = 39.6; SD = 10.82). 138 (57.5%) employees worked in the public sector, and 102 (42.5%) employees worked in the private sector. This study found no statistically significant differences between the private and public sector employees in the stress overload. Private sector employees demonstrated higher autonomy and relatedness satisfaction, while public sector employees demonstrated higher autonomy frustration. Public sector employees demonstrated higher scores on agreeableness and conscientiousness, but no significant differences between public and private sectors were found comparing the scores on extraversion, neuroticism, and open‐mindedness. The SEM identified some significant associations between neuroticism, unsatisfied needs, and stress overload; conscientiousness, unsatisfied needs, and stress overload; basic psychological needs' satisfaction and four personality traits, namely, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and open‐mindedness.
Objective and automatic grading system of facial signs from selfie pictures of South African women: Characterization of changes with age and sun‐exposures
Authors: Flament Frederic , Zhang Yuze , Jiang Ruowei , Trehin Cecilia , Cassier Matthieu , Delaunay Caroline , Balooch Guive , Kroely Camille
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the capacity of the automatic detection system to accurately grade, from smartphones’ selfie pictures, the severity of fifteen facial signs in South African women and their changes related to age and sun‐exposure habits.

Methods

A two‐steps approach was conducted based on self‐taken selfie images. At first, to assess on 306 South African women (20–69 years) enrolled in Pretoria area (25.74°S, 28.22°E), age changes on fifteen facial signs measured by an artificial intelligence (AI)‐based automatic grading system previously validated by experts/dermatologists. Second, as these South African panelists were recruited according to their usual behavior toward sun‐exposure, that is, nonsun‐phobic (NSP, N = 151) and sun‐phobic (SP, N = 155) and through their regular and early use of a photo‐protective product, to characterize the facial photo‐damages.

Results

(1) The automatic scores showed significant changes with age, by decade, of sagging and wrinkles/texture (p < 0.05) after 20 and 30 years, respectively. Pigmentation cluster scores presented no significant changes with age whereas cheek skin pores enlarged at a low extent with two plateaus at thirties and fifties. (2) After 60 years, a significantly increased severity of wrinkles/texture and sagging was observed in NSP versus SP women (p < 0.05). A trend of an increased pigmentation of the eye contour (p = 0.06) was observed after 50 years.

Conclusion

This work illustrates specific impacts of aging and sun‐exposures on facial signs of South African women, when compared to previous experiments conducted in Europe or East Asia. Results significantly confirm the importance of sun‐avoidance coupled with photo‐protective measures to avoid long‐term skin damages. In inclusive epidemiological studies that aim at investigating large human panels in very different contexts, the AI‐based system offers a fast, affordable and confidential approach in the detection and quantification of facial signs and their dependency with ages, environments, and lifestyles.
Incidence, etiology, risk factors, and outcomes of pre‐engraftment bloodstream infections after first and second allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Akhmedov Mobil , Klyasova Galina , Kuzmina Larisa , Fedorova Anastasia , Vasilyeva Vera , Drokov Mikhail , Parovichnikova Elena
Published: May 2022

Introduction

With an increasing number of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations (allo‐HCT) bloodstream infections (BSI) are still among the most common and serious complications. This study aimed to analyze the incidence, etiology, risk factors, and outcomes of pre‐engraftment BSI after the first and the second allo‐HCT.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective study of 284 patients who underwent the first allo‐HCT and 37 patients after the second allo‐HCT at the National Research Center for Hematology in Moscow, Russia, from January 2018 till September 2021.

Results

Cumulative incidence of pre‐engraftment BSI was 29.9% after the first allo‐HCT and 35.1% after the second (p = .805). The median time to the first BSI was 9 days (range 0–61 days) after the first and 16 days (range 1–28 days) after the second allo‐HCT (p = .014). A total of 113 pathogens were isolated during 94 BSI episodes after the first allo‐HCT (gram‐negative bacteria 52.2%; gram‐positive bacteria 47.7%). Fourteen pathogens were isolated during 14 BSI episodes after the second allo‐HCT (gram‐negative bacteria 50.0%; gram‐positive bacteria 50.0%). The only significant difference was found in the rate of carbapenem‐resistant gram‐negative bacteria, which was higher after the second allo‐HCT compared to the first (57.1% vs. 13.6%; p = .048).

Mismatched unrelated donor (hazards ratio [HR] 3.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.62–5.60; p < .0001) and haploidentical donor transplantations (HR 1.84; 95% CI: 1.02–3.33; p = .042) were the only independent risk factors associated with the higher risk of pre‐engraftment BSI.

Overall 30‐day survival after all BSI episodes was 94.4%. Survival was lower after BSI during the second allo‐HCT compared to the first (71.4% vs. 97.9%; p < .0001), particularly after BSI was caused by carbapenem‐resistant gram‐negative bacteria (25.0% vs. 100.0%; p = .0023). The non‐relapse mortality rate at day +60 was 4.0%, and the risk was highly associated with primary graft failure (HR 9.62; 95% CI: 1.33–71.43), second allo‐HCT (HR 6.80; 95% CI: 1.36–34.48), and pre‐engraftment BSI caused by carbapenem‐resistant gram‐negative bacteria (HR 32.11; 95% CI: 4.91–210.15).

Conclusions

Pre‐engraftment BSI is still a common complication after allo‐HCT, particularly after mismatched unrelated and haploidentical donor transplantations. BSI incidence was slightly higher after the second allo‐HCT with a significantly higher rate of carbapenem‐resistant BSI. Although pre‐engraftment BSI would generally follow a benign clinical course, survival was dramatically lower during the second allo‐HCT, especially after carbapenem‐resistant BSI.
Education and the European Green Deal: Strengthening Sustainability Education in the EU
Authors: Zotti Stefan
Published: May 2022

Education plays a key role in the global political attempts to promote sustainability and to tackle climate change. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 ‘Education for sustainable development and global citizenship’ calls on the states to ensure that learners acquire the knowledge and the necessary skills to promote sustainable development. The European Union, under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, through its Green Deal puts forward the ambitious goal to make Europe, by 2035, the first climate neutral continent in the world – an ambition which remains at the core of its political agenda. How can education contribute to this goal, what initiatives are taken at EU level to support sustainable development and how do the SDGs shape education policy itself? This article discusses the EU’s approach on environmental sustainability education and presents the most important policy initiatives aiming at supporting Member States’ education systems in addressing climate change and sustainability. It will be clear that the strategic aim goes far beyond slight adaptions of existing curricula - it puts sustainability at the heart of the European education policy reform agenda.
¿Lealtad en tiempos de COVID-19? Un análisis a partir de la RSC y la confianza percibidas en el consumo de víveres
Authors: Rangel Lyne Lucirene , Azuela Flores José Ignacio , Ochoa Hernández Magda Lizet
Published: May 2022

Este artículo analiza los efectos de la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) percibida sobre la confianza; y los efectos de esta sobre la lealtad de los consumidores durante la contingencia sanitaria debida a la COVID-19. Se estima un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales basado en varianzas, empleando una muestra de 72 consumidores. Los resultados muestran que las acciones de RSC incrementan la confianza y, a su vez, ésta repercute positivamente sobre la lealtad. La originalidad de este estudio radica en la forma de identificación de los consumidores leales, pues se consideraron los niveles de lealtad previos al análisis, de manera que sólo se tuvieron en cuenta los consumidores que declararon comprar en el mismo establecimiento antes y durante la contingencia sanitaria, lo que brinda una mejor aproximación al fenómeno estudiado.
Fueling Innovation For Medical Devices: An Interactive Market Visualization Studio For Rapid Assessment Of Healthcare Opportunities
Authors: Tasgaonkar Mugdha , Shrivastav Maneesh , Brandt Michael
Published: May 2022

An essential component of innovation for medical devices is a comprehensive market sizing assessment. This evaluation is useful for creating a solid business case and understanding market potential. This project involves the development of an online medical information dashboard for rapid market sizing assessments using business intelligence tools. A Spotfire front end was paired with a robust SQL database with market information. A visually appealing, simple, and clickable user interface was developed. This tool is designed with the technologist in mind and has value in the early prototyping stages of innovative new medical therapies.
Experimental Validation and Design Refinement of a Disposable, Articulated Surgical Instrument
Authors: Bomze Monica , Nelson Carl A.
Published: May 2022

In previous work, a proof-of-concept articulated instrument for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery (MILS) was proposed to overcome limitations of existing instruments. In this paper, experimental validation is pursued to satisfy constraints on biocompatibility, cost, stiffness, and durability. It was found that the instrument exhibits minimal bending deflection of approximately 3mm under the maximum load experienced during MILS, has favorable workspace volume of 679cm3, and has adequate joint durability of over 700 bending cycles. Overall, this paper demonstrates that the instrument is able to meet many of the criteria required of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery devices and addresses many of the shortcomings of traditionally used instruments.
Proof of Concept: Hand Extension Device to Aid Impaired Hand Functionn
Authors: Johannes Robin , Clarke-Sather Abigail
Published: May 2022

Human hands are made to do everything: grasp objects, communicate, perform daily tasks, and learn. Certain people with difficulties using their hands are affected greatly by spasticity, uncontrolled tightness in hand muscles, and impaired motor function in their hands. Hand spasticity specifically can be caused by several medical conditions including cerebral palsy, stroke, arthritis, and carpal tunnel. Often an individual's hand remains in a clenched fist position causing pain and limited mobility within the fingers. Many products exist on the market that specifically help meet the clinical needs of opening and extending a hand for long periods of time. Individuals can purchase products, but they are usually only used during occupational therapy sessions due to their high cost. The Hand Extender is a wearable designed for participants who struggle with functional use of their hands, and over time the Hand Extender is designed to support and aid their hand in everyday functions. Similar products only come in a few standard sizes, resulting in potentially poorer fit, e.g., commercially available products are not currently sized for the pediatric population or participants with an abnormal hand size. The custom fit glove of the Hand Extender made possible via 3D printed parts accommodates all participant populations with a variety of different hand sizes. The tailored glove also provides more accurate extension due to the better fit. A custom fit 3D Hand Extender was able to accurately fit two adult participants with different sized hands and normal hand function.
On the Impacts of Flow on the Migration and Growth of Cancer Cells
Authors: Akerkouch Lahcen , Le Trung , Jasuja Haneesh , Katti Kalpana , Katti Dinesh
Published: May 2022

Our study aims to identify the role of fluid flow in the growth of human bone cancer cells during metastasis. In our experiments, the cancer cells are seeded on the surface of cylindrical scaffolds in a bioreactor. The flow is laminar flow, which mimics the physiological conditions of the human body. A full-scale 3D high-resolution computational mesh of scaffold was created based on the physical scaffold's Micro-CT scans using open-source imaging software Slicer3D and Meshmixer. To investigate the influences of the flow on the seeded cells, we performed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with the immersed boundary method (Gilmanov, Le, Sotiropoulos, JCP 300, 1, 2015). The computational domain was generated using the commercial software Gridgen. Our results show that the fluid flow velocity is highly dependent on the shape and pore sizes. In addition, the magnitude of the velocity on the surface where the cells are seeded is in between [0-0.05] μm/sallowing the cells to grow without being detached from the surface of the scaffold. Our future work will focus on (i) investigating the role of the shear stress on the distribution and orientation of the cancer cells. (ii) Simulating multiple scaffolds within the bioreactor to further quantify the impact of the gap on the flow velocity and shear.
Development of an Epicardial Mapping Tank for Noninvasive Electrical Mapping of Ex Vivo Large Mammalian Hearts
Authors: Brigham Renee C. , Donley Erik R. , Iaizzo Paul A.
Published: May 2022

Electroanatomical mapping provides key insights into cardiac function and arrhythmia location. Epicardial mapping allows for the recording of electrograms from the body surface that can be combined with an anatomical geometry to create a real-time functional voltage map of cardiac electrical activity. Isolated heart models, like those studied on the Visible Heart® apparatus, provide a valuable platform for medical device design but are often limited to modified 3-lead electrocardiograms that do not provide anatomically specific electrical data. To provide detailed electroanatomical data for experiments on the Visible Heart® apparatus, a novel modified epicardial mapping tank was created that utilizes the CardioInsight™ software to create a map of reanimated hearts. The epicardial mapping tank is composed of 252 electrodes that are distributed across acrylic plates that surround the isolated heart. Half normal saline provides continuity to the electrodes, allowing uninterrupted signal acquisition. The system is fully removable and can be positioned while maintaining reanimation. To date, 5 swine hearts and 1 human heart have been reanimated and mapped in the epicardial mapping tank. The unique datasets generated from the epicardial mapping chamber will be a critical tool in pacing, ablation, and defibrillation experiments as well as provide valuable information relative to conduction system physiology.
Control Design and Preliminary Evaluation of a Medical Education Simulator for Ankle Tendon Reflex Assessment Training
Authors: Pei Yinan , Zallek Christopher M. , Hsiao-Wecksler Elizabeth T.
Published: May 2022

Ankle (or Achilles) tendon reflex is commonly assessed in a neurological examination. For a clinician trainee to master the correct assessment technique of Achilles tendon reflex and to be able to distinguish among various reflex activity levels indicating health or abnormality, repetitive training and practice are necessary. We propose to develop a robotic medical education training simulator that would generate a realistic reflex behavior depending on the simulated reflex activity level selected when given a tendon tap assessment. This development was based on an existing ankle-foot simulator [5]. A modified sensing system is still under development. In this paper, a reflex model was developed to estimate the ankle reflexive torque based on the input tap force. This reflex model prediction was validated in simulation and then implemented into our robotic simulator prototype. Preliminary benchtop results demonstrated that our simulator was able to accurately deliver the reflexive torque pattern required to simulate the clinical reflex movement to the trainee.
Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus N Protein Is a Critical Proinflammation Factor That Promotes MyD88 and NLRP3 Complex Assembly
Authors: Li Lingxia , Yang Wenping , Ma Xiaoxia , Wu Jinyan , Qin Xiaodong , Cao Xiaoan , Zhou Jianhua , Jin Li , He Jijun , Zheng Haixue , Liu Xiangtao , Li Dan , Shang Youjun
Published: May 2022

An important part of the innate immune response is the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and NLPR3 inflammasome, which is induced upon exposure to pathogens. Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly contagious virus causing fever, stomatitis, and pneumoenteritis in goats by inducing many proinflammatory cytokines.
Establishment of Economic Forecasting Model of High-tech Industry Based on Genetic Optimization Neural Network
Authors: Gao Kai , Liu Tingting , Hu Bin , Hao Miao , Zhang Yueran
Published: May 2022

Scientific and accurate prediction of high-tech industries is of great practical significance for government departments to grasp the future economic operation and formulate development strategies. In this paper, aiming at some shortcomings of neural network (NN) applied in economic forecasting, GANN was introduced to construct the economic forecasting model of high-tech industry. Genetic algorithm (GA) has simple calculation and strong robustness and can generally ensure convergence to the global optimum, which effectively overcomes the shortcomings of NN using gradient descent method. In order to verify the feasibility of the economic forecasting model in this paper, the comparative experiments of different models are carried out in this paper. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has faster convergence speed and greater generalization ability, and the average error rate is reduced to about 1%. The prediction accuracy of this model reached 95.14%, which was about 11.93% higher than the previous model. Applying the economic forecasting model in this paper to the economic forecasting of high-tech industries can provide the means and reference value for the government to formulate regional future economic development plans, forecast, and control the economic growth and development direction.
Perioperative Management and Long-Term Outcomes in Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery
Authors: He Yuan , Quan Zhuoya , Zhang Ruixue , Ji Zhi , Jia Jun , Liu Huifeng , Zhang Chuntao , He Beilei , Ren Yuan , Feng Yun
Published: May 2022

Objective. To observe the outcomes of cataract surgery in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) patients and explore routine perioperative medical treatments. Design. Retrospective case series. Methods. Fourteen eyes of 8 patients were included in the study. Foster’s stage 1-4 OCP patients were given human intravenous immunoglobulin, whereas patients with active inflammation were treated with prednisone tablets and methotrexate. Those who were intolerant to methotrexate and had severe inflammatory symptoms were treated with cyclophosphamide. Cataract surgery was performed for all patients after three months of systemic treatment under stable conditions. The conjunctival biopsy was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Then, patients were divided into individuals with or without ankyloblepharon. Records were reviewed for OCP stage, type of surgery, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Schirmer I test, corneal fluorescein sodium staining, meibomian gland coloboma range, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores. Follow-up was for the duration of taking topical and systemic medication. Results. Nine female (64.29%) and 4 male (35.71%) eyes were diagnosed with OCP by biopsy. The mean follow-up time was

60.64
±
35.62

months. Thirteen eyes (92.86%) of 7 patients underwent phacoemulsification. One eye underwent phacoemulsification combined with amniotic membrane transplantation. The intracapsular extraction of cataract was applied to one eye. The BCVA improved significantly in all the patients, which remained stable until the last follow-up. The Schirmer I test was higher than that before the surgery. Corneal fluorescein sodium staining after surgery showed a decrease in score compared to the preoperative score. The BCVA of the patients after surgery increased significantly. The OSDI scores of patients with ankyloblepharon were significantly higher than for those without it. Postoperative symblepharon showed no significant difference compared to the preoperative symblepharon. Conclusions. In this series, OCP patients with cataracts were able to undergo phacoemulsification surgery, whereas routine use of immunosuppression and closed postoperative follow-up were necessary.
C-Reactive Protein and High-Sensitive Cardiac Troponins Correlate with Oxidative Stress in Valvular Heart Disease Patients
Authors: Jan Muhammad Ishtiaq , Khan Riaz Anwar , Fozia  , Ahmad Ijaz , Khan Naeem , Urooj Komal , Shah Azhar Ul Haq Ali , Khan Asif Ullah , Ali Tahir , Ishtiaq Ayesha , Shah Muhib , Ullah Anwar , Murtaza Iram , Ullah Riaz , Alotaibi Amal , Murthy H. C. Ananda
Published: May 2022

Background. Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a major contributor to loss of physical function and longevity. Oxidative stress is one of the key causative factors involved in heart disease including VHD. Here, we aimed to illuminate the role and relation of oxidative stress to the VHD risk markers in the human population. Materials and Methods. 150 VHD patients and 103 healthy individuals as control were selected for the study and were divided into three groups: the aortic valve, mitral valve, and combined disease based on valvular calcification. Results. Our results demonstrated enhanced oxidative stress in the VHD condition, as we found elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the serum, supported by an increased level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) in the cardiac valvular tissues of the VHD patients. In contrast, we experienced declined antioxidants including Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) activities. Concurrently, increasing levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) were detected in the aortic, mitral, and combined disease condition, suggesting a key association of oxidative stress to VHD conditions. Furthermore, regression analysis validated a key association between the impairment of the redox system (ROS and antioxidant enzyme activities) and VHD condition. Conclusion. Taken together, dysregulated oxidative stress contributes to the progression of VHD via positively correlating with CRP, hs-TnI, and hs-TnT level.
Participation of Soccer Training Improves Lower Limb Coordination and Decreases Motor Lateralization
Authors: Akpinar Selcuk
Published: May 2022

Athletes, who display less lateralization, are considered to be more successful in their sports. Therefore, it is important to test the lateralization profiles of the athletes to determine future prospects. Soccer is one of the sports where lateralization plays an important role because performing the passes and kicks with either foot may increase the success rate. Improved lower limb coordination is also very essential to perform the soccer skills more efficiently. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the motor lateralization profiles of youth soccer players and to compare the same lateralization to non‐athletes. A total of 28 healthy youth (14 soccer players) aged between 14 and 16 years voluntarily participated in this study. All participants were right‐footed and were asked to hit the targets with their either foot maintaining accuracy in a custom‐made virtual reality interface. Final position error (FPE) and foot path deviation from linearity (FPDL) were calculated to test motor lateralization for each foot and group. Two‐way Mixed Model ANOVA was conducted for each dependent variable. Results indicated significant differences for FPDL between groups, while there were no significant differences between groups and within feet for FPE. Nonathletes had significantly higher FPDL with their nondominant foot compared to their dominant foot, which was not observed among soccer players. Overall, nonathletes’ movements were more curvature path compared to soccer players, thus, can be considered as less coordinated. As soccer players did not show a difference between their feet on FPDL and performed better than nonathletes, soccer participation can improve lower limb coordination as well as alter motor performance and lateralization.
SOA-based Information Integration Platform for Educational Management Decision Support System
Authors: Wang Junjun
Published: May 2022

The resource management platform based on the resource library has different structures, which brings a lot of inconvenience to the sharing of educational resources. However, the scale of the school is constantly expanding, the number of campuses and departments within the school increases, and the number of teachers and students increases. These new circumstances need the development of an open, secure, and effective school administration system that can operate online at any time and from any location. The “plan norm model” of educational management decision-making goals controls the decision-making dynamic structure. Whether the decision-making object is an “economic man” or a “social man,” its dynamic structure is built on a top-down control sequence, with the only variation being the control mechanisms used. In colleges and universities, educational administration management is an essential aspect of educational management. It is a work with strong timeliness, heavy workload, and high accuracy requirements, affecting the overall situation of teaching. This paper proposes an information integration platform based on SOA, which integrates various enterprise application systems into a unified platform by using a loose coupling structure, realizes information sharing among application systems, and meets the needs of cross-departmental enterprise business. As a new architecture idea, service-oriented architecture can package existing assets and reuse existing assets. It can also minimize the impact of demand changes because its implementation is loosely coupled. When users need to add or modify a function, they only need to make a few modifications in the presentation layer or business process layer.
Streak Metal Artifact Reduction Based on Sinogram Fusion and Tissue-Class Model in CT Images
Authors: Deng Shuwen , Li Yuanjin , Wang Dianhua
Published: May 2022

The presence of streak metal artifacts seriously degrades the diagnostic value and deteriorates the qualities of CT images. Analyzing the causes and classical streak metal artifact reduction (MAR) methods, the paper proposes the streak metal artifact reduction method based on sinogram fusion and tissue-class mode for CT images (F-MAR). Firstly, the original CT images are corrected using a linear interpolation streak metal artifact reduction (L-MAR) scheme in the raw data domain. Subsequently, to preserve the edge information, the metal artifact-reduced images are then smoothed into smoothed images (tissue-class model) by using the mean filter. Segment the original CT image that contained the streak artifacts. The original CT image and the CT image that contained high-density material are projected into the original sinogram and the high density material sinogram, respectively. Secondly, the simple linear interpolation is used to correct the CT original CT image into the corrected CT image. The mean filter is applied in the corrected CT image. The corrected CT image is projected into the corrected sinogram. Thirdly, according to the position of the high density material sinogram located in the original sinogram and the corrected sinogram, the original position sinogram included in the original sinogram and the corrected position sinogram included in the corrected sinogram are, respectively, obtained. The two sinograms are fused into the fused sinogram. The fused sinogram, the original sinogram, and the high-density material sinogram are fused into the final sinogram. Finally, the filtered back projection reconstruction algorithm is used to reconstruct the final sinogram into the reconstructed CT image. The reconstructed CT image and high density material image are fused into the final image. The experimentation results show that the method proposed in the paper can obtain better correction effect than the classical correction methods in vision.
Identification and Validation of a Gene Signature for Lower-Grade Gliomas Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes to Predict Survival and Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Lai Guichuan , Li Kangjie , Deng Jielian , Liu Hui , Xie Biao , Zhong Xiaoni
Published: May 2022

Pyroptosis plays a critical role in the immune response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) by mediating the tumor immune microenvironment. However, the impact of pyroptosis-related biomarkers on the prognosis and efficacy of ICIs in patients with lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) is unclear. An unsupervised clustering analysis identified pyroptosis-related subtypes (PRSs) based on the expression profile of 47 pyroptosis-related genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas-LGG cohort. A PRS gene signature was established using univariate Cox regression, random survival forest, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and stepwise multivariable Cox regression analyses. The predictive power of this signature was validated in the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas database. We also investigated the differences between high- and low-risk groups in terms of the tumor immune microenvironment, tumor mutation, and response to target therapy and ICIs. The PRS gene signature comprised eight PRS genes, which independently predicted the prognosis of LGG patients. High-risk patients had a worse overall survival than did the low-risk patients. The high-risk group also displayed a higher proportion of M1 macrophages and CD8+ T cells and higher immune scores, tumor mutational burden, immunophenoscore, IMmuno-PREdictive Score, MHC I association immune score, and T cell-inflamed gene expression profile scores, but lower suppressor cells scores, and were more suitable candidates for ICI treatment. Higher risk scores were more frequent in patients who responded to ICIs using data from the ImmuCellAI website. The presently established PRS gene signature can be validated in melanoma patients treated with real ICI treatment. This signature is valuable in predicting prognosis and ICI treatment of LGG patients, pending further prospective verification.
Ultrasound-Guided Quadratus Lumborum Block Enhances the Quality of Recovery after Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liu Qing-Ren , Dai Yu-Chen , Xie Jue , Li Xiang , Sun Xing-Bing , Sun Jie
Published: May 2022

Background. Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has been used to reduce postoperative acute pain and opioid consumption. However, the efficacy of QLB on the quality of recovery (QoR) after gastrointestinal surgery has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of QLB to enhance the postoperative QoR in patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery. Methods. Eighty-four patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided QLB with either 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine or saline. The primary outcome was the QoR-15 score at 24 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes were the postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and chronic pain. Results. The global QoR-15 score at 24 h postoperatively was significantly higher in the QLB group than in the control group (mean difference: 16.9; 95% CI: 11.9–21.9). Additionally, the QoR-15 scores for five dimensions were significantly higher in the QLB group than in the control group. The cumulative oxycodone consumption was significantly lower in the QLB group during 0–6, 6–24, 0–24, 24–48, and 0–48 h postoperatively than in the control group. At rest or during coughing, the pain verbal rating scale scores were significantly lower at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery in the QLB group than in the control group. The incidence of postoperative nausea was significantly different between the groups, but postoperative vomiting was not. Conclusion. Single-injection posteromedial QLB with ropivacaine enhanced the QoR at 48 h after surgery and improved analgesia during the early postoperative period in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
Revealing the diversity of ant-eating spiders in Colombia I: morphology, distribution and taxonomy of the barronus group of the genus Tenedos O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 (Araneae: Zodariidae)
Authors: MARTÍNEZ LEONEL , BRESCOVIT ANTONIO D. , CUERVO LUIS G. QUIJANO
Published: May 2022

The genus Tenedos O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 is the most diverse among Neotropical Zodariids. It is composed of 44 species, fourteen of which occur in Brazil, while in Colombia, the diversity of the genus is poorly known, with only seven species recorded for the country. Based on genital morphology, several species groups can be distinguished within the genus, but these have not been formally established. We propose the species group barronus to include 41 species, 34 of which are distributed in Colombia and the other seven exclusively occurring in: Brazil (one Amazonian species), Peru (three Andean species), and Venezuela (three Andean species). The previously proposed species Tenedos andes Jocqué & Baert, 2002; T. peckorum Jocqué & Baert, 2002; T. jocquei Quijano & Galvis, 2018 and T. capote Jocqué & Baert, 2002 are redescribed based on the type material and the females of the two former species are described for the first time. T. barronus (Chamberlin, 1925) and T. persulcatus Jocqué & Baert, 2002 are reported for Colombia for the first time, the female of the latter is described. Twenty-eight new species are herein described, illustrated and their distributions are represented (species listed according to morphological affinities): T. ayo sp. n. (♂♀), T. calebi sp. n. (♂), T. caqueta sp. n. (♂), T. choco sp. n. (♂♀), T. cofan sp. n. (♂♀), T. dankittipakuli sp. n. (♂♀), T. eberhardi sp. n. (♂♀), T. neitai sp. n. (♂♀), T. tama sp. n. (♂♀), T. griswoldi sp. n. (♂♀), T. guacharos sp. n. (♂), T. henrardi sp. n. (♂♀), T. humboldti sp. n. (♂♀), T. carlosprietoi sp. n. (♂♀), T. narinensis sp. n. (♂), T. mesa sp. n. (♂), T. macagual sp. n. (♂♀), T. marquetones sp. n. (♂), T. medina sp. n. (♂♀) , T. pensilvania sp. n. (♂), T. piedecuesta sp. n. (♂♀), T. quipile sp. n. (♂♀), T. santarosa sp. n. (♂♀), T. luzmarinae sp. n. (♂♀), T. tatama sp. n. (♂♀), T. ticuna sp. n. (♂♀), T. wayuu sp. n. (♂) and T. yurayaco sp. n. (♂). We further provide new morphological data for some species included in the barronus group, and briefly discuss some aspects on morphological affinities and distribution between the species, based on a comparison with Tenedos type species, T. lautus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897. Distribution maps for all Colombian species, including new records for T. barronus and T. persulcatus, are also herein included. Additionally, an identification key for all species of the barronus group is provided.
Re-establishment of the Nearctic oak cynipid gall wasp genus Druon Kinsey, 1937 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), with description of five new species
Authors: CUESTA-PORTA VICTOR , MELIKA GEORGE , NICHOLLS JAMES A. , STONE GRAHAM N. , PUJADE-VILLAR JULI
Published: May 2022

The Nearctic cynipid oak gall wasp genus Druon Kinsey comb. rev. is re-established, with 5 new species and 10 species previously placed in the genus Andricus Hartig 1840: D. alexandri Melika, Nicholls & Stone, sp. nov., D. flocculentum (Lyon), comb. nov., D. fullawayi (Beutenmüller), comb. nov., D. garciamartinonae Pujade-Villar, sp. nov., D. gregori Melika, Nicholls & Stone, sp. nov., D. hansoni Cuesta-Porta, Melika & Pujade-Villar, sp. nov., D. ignotum (Bassett), comb. nov., D. linaria Kinsey, comb. rev., D. pattoni (Bassett), comb. nov., D. protagion Kinsey, comb. rev. (D. malinum Kinsey, syn. nov., D. polymorphae Kinsey, syn. nov.), D. quercusflocci (Walsh), comb. nov., D. quercuslanigerum (Ashmead), comb. nov., D. receptum Kinsey, comb. rev., D. rusticum Kinsey, comb. rev. and D. serretae Pujade-Villar, Cuesta-Porta & Melika, sp. nov.. All species are known only from their asexual generation except for D. ignotum and D. quercuslanigerum, for which alternating asexual and sexual generations are known. The sexual generation of D. ignotum and a new morphological variety of D. quercuslanigerum from Mexico are both described for the first time. We provide descriptions, redescriptions, diagnoses, keys to species, DNA sequence data and analyses, and information on biology, phenology, and distribution. Additionally, four Andricus species with woolly galls and striato-reticulated metasomas are transferred to Striatoandricus Pujade-Villar: S. furnessulus, comb. nov., S. furnessae, comb. nov., S. guatemalensis, comb. nov., and S. tenuicornis, comb. nov.
Waterline Disinfectants Reduce Dental Bioaerosols: A Multitracer Validation
Authors: Allison J.R. , Dowson C. , Jakubovics N.S. , Nile C. , Durham J. , Holliday R.
Published: May 2022

Oral microbes are dispersed during dental treatment and reduction methods have been proposed, but dental unit waterline (DUWL) disinfectants have received little attention; specifically, the effect on viruses has not been studied. This study aims to 1) investigate the effect of DUWL disinfectants on viral dispersion in dental bioaerosols and 2) establish a dual-tracer system using live bacteriophage and fluorescein supported by optical particle measurement. Bacteriophage MS2 was used as a viral tracer and fluorescein as a fluorescent tracer. Validation experiments were conducted to exclude interference of one tracer with the other or of DUWL disinfectants on detection methods. Simulated “saliva” containing the tracers was infused into the mouth of a dental mannequin during 10-min dental procedures with an air turbine handpiece ( n = 3 replicates). Aerosols and droplets were sampled in an enclosed dental operatory using air samplers and settlement onto sterile filter papers. Bacteriophage was quantified using plaque assays and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Fluorescein was quantified fluorometrically. The effect of DUWL disinfectants on total aerosol concentration was assessed in separate experiments using an optical particle counter. DUWL disinfectants reduced bacteriophage viability, and interference between tracers was not observed. In simulated clinical procedures, the disinfectant ICX reduced bacteriophage detection substantially ( P < 0.001; 2-way analysis of variance). MS2 RNA was detected in all experimental samples but not negative controls. Samples positive on RT-qPCR but not plaque assays may indicate that virions at distant sites are nonviable. Fluorescein tracer showed good agreement with the bacteriophage tracer. DUWL disinfectants designed for continuous presence in irrigants reduce the dispersion of viable virus in dental bioaerosols during simulated procedures. Their use may therefore be important for routine infection control and as a mitigation factor during infectious disease outbreaks. Future studies should explore this using a range of viruses and other microbes.
Taming the ‘Chilling Effect’ of Defamation Law: English Experience and Implications for Australia
Authors: Gligorijevic Jelena
Published: May 2022

The ‘chilling effect’ of defamation law has driven legislative action narrowing this tort’s scope and operation. As substantial reforms come into effect across Australia, this article provides a detailed analysis of how defamation law in the United Kingdom has developed since similarly narrowing reforms took effect there almost a decade ago, and the implications this will have for Australia. Two important aspects of reform in both jurisdictions are the serious harm threshold and the public interest defence. Both are targeted at narrowing the tort and taming its ‘chilling effect’. Although both of these two changes have definitively narrowed the tort in the United Kingdom, neither of them has revolutionised this tort nor abolished its core purpose to protect reputation against false imputations. Given the consistency in legislative purpose and framing of the new provisions as between the two jurisdictions, Australian courts should, consistently with their English counterparts, exercise caution when interpreting the new threshold and the new defence, to ensure they do not tread too far from the deeper principles underpinning the tort, even in its narrower, tamer form.
The Association Between Targeted Instruction for Difficult Concepts and Performance on a Cumulative Final Exam in Introduction to Psychology
Authors: Williamson Manda J. , Garbin Jonah
Published: May 2022

Background

Research suggests improved retention for difficult concepts when courses incorporate retrieval practice with immediate feedback.

Objective

This study assessed the utility of targeted feedback during learning on final exam performance for Introduction to Psychology’s difficult concepts.

Method

Students in Introduction to Psychology ( N = 648) used either an interactive control e-textbook ( n = 369) or a treatment interactive e-textbook ( n =279) with difficult concept remediation. Three raters identified 28 out of 77 questions on a cumulative final exam as targeting those difficult concepts. Chi-square differences for those items were calculated. We hypothesized that the students who received the additional support during the learning process would perform better on these questions on the final exam.

Results

Students in the treatment condition scored higher on 13 out of the 28 questions, with small to moderate effect sizes.

Conclusion

The results indicate that targeted feedback and remediation in texts may lead to improved accuracy for traditionally difficult concepts in Introduction to Psychology.

Teaching implications

Textbooks targeting difficult concepts with feedback and remediation may improve student learning in a course. Instructors with less time and resources to provide differential instruction may benefit from materials that can provide this to their students.