bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Posicionamiento de la familia ante el uso de la tableta en el aprendizaje del alumnado de Educación Primaria
Authors: Sánchez-Martínez Cristina , Ricoy María-Carmen
Published: February 2022

La influenciada de las TIC es notoria en todos los ámbitos y su utilización también se lleva incrementado en el contexto familiar y escolar. Por ello, el objetivo central de este trabajo es analizar y conocer el posicionamiento de la familia, concretamente de los padres-madres, en la integración de la tableta digital en el alumnado de Educación Primaria. La presente investigación se encuadra en la metodología cualitativa, para ello se ha abordado un estudio de casos múltiples, a partir de la recogida de narrativas a los progenitores del alumnado de cuatro centros educativos situados en el noroeste de España. A los datos obtenidos se le aplicó un análisis de contenido. Como principales resultados y conclusiones cabe señalar que los padres-madres ponen de manifiesto la inexistencia de dificultades para trabajar con la tableta con sus descendientes, aunque no recibieron formación específica ni la consideran necesaria. Su valoración en general es positiva y sostienen que la utilización de la tableta aumenta la motivación de sus hijos-as, sin embargo no encuentran mejora en su rendimiento escolar. Es de destacar que acompañan a sus hijos-as, a petición de los mismos, con el uso de la tableta en el hogar sin estimularles directamente.
Young people's learning trajectories in the digital age
Authors: Miño Puigcercós Raquel
Published: February 2022

The immersion of societies in the digital and networked age has led to an increase of opportunities for young people to learn across countless face-to-face and online contexts. However, youth disaffection towards school remains high and access to opportunities across and within countries is remarkably unequal. This article builds on the results of two ethnographic case studies conducted in Spain and the learning stories narrated by 22 youth about their transitions across home, school, spare time, extracurricular activities, trips and virtual environments. The analysis of the stories show how young people establish connections and feel tensions across their experiences, creating continuities and discontinuities that are key for their learning. It also evidence that secondary school is only one node of the big sociocultural network through which young people learn. Building on the results, the conclusions raise the question: might a better understanding of learning trajectories favor a more inclusive educational system?
Activity and learning contexts in educational transmedia
Authors: Molas Castells Núria , Rodríguez Illera José Luis
Published: February 2022

Activity and learning contexts  in educational transmedia
Enhancement of photoacoustic spectroscopy with sorption enrichment for ppt-level benzene detection
Authors: Karhu Juho , Hieta Tuomas
Published: February 2022

A real-time trace gas detector for benzene is demonstrated. The measurement system takes advantage of modest enrichment through short adsorption periods to reach a ppt-level detection limit with a sampling cycle of 90 s, which includes sample adsorption, desorption, and a spectroscopic measurement. Benzene is collected on Tenax TA sorbent for 30 s and then detected from the enriched samples with photoacoustic spectroscopy. High sensitivity is achieved using cantilever-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy and a continuous-wave quantum cascade laser emitting at 14.8 µm wavelength, which corresponds to the absorption wavelength of the strongest benzene infrared band. We reach a detection limit of 150 ppt of benzene, over one sampling cycle. Interference from humidity and other common petrochemicals is evaluated.
Compact, broadband, and low-loss multimode optical switch based on phase-change material for mode division multiplexing systems
Authors: Atri Ali , Zarifkar Abbas , Mehrabi Kolsoom
Published: February 2022

Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) technology is one of the suitable approaches to increase data transmission capacity in photonic integrated circuits. Multimode optical switches play an important role in MDM interconnection networks. In this article, we present a multimode on–off optical switch using

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phase-change material for the first two TE modes (TE0 and TE1) and the first two TM modes (TM0 and TM1) in a wide wavelength range between 100 nm to around 1550 nm. The 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations indicate that for each propagating mode across the bandwidth, the insertion loss and extinction ratio are less than 0.80 dB and more than 20.21 dB, respectively. The proposed switch has a compact footprint of

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. The presented switch also tolerates a

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change in the waveguide width, a

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GSST thickness variation with an insertion loss lower than 0.91 dB and an extinction ratio higher than 19.04 dB.
Convolutional dictionary learning for blind deconvolution of optical coherence tomography images
Authors: Wang Junzhe , Wohlberg Brendt , Adamson R. B. A.
Published: February 2022

In this study, we demonstrate a sparsity-regularized, complex, blind deconvolution method for removing sidelobe artefacts and stochastic noise from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Our method estimates the complex scattering amplitude of tissue on a line-by-line basis by estimating and deconvolving the complex, one-dimensional axial point spread function (PSF) from measured OCT A-line data. We also present a strategy for employing a sparsity weighting mask to mitigate the loss of speckle brightness within tissue-containing regions caused by the sparse deconvolution. Qualitative and quantitative analyses show that this approach suppresses sidelobe artefacts and background noise better than traditional spectral reshaping techniques, with negligible loss of tissue structure. The technique is particularly useful for emerging OCT applications where OCT images contain strong specular reflections at air-tissue boundaries that create large sidelobe artefacts.
Rapid detection of hysteromyoma and cervical cancer based on serum surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and a support vector machine
Authors: Zheng Xiangxiang , Wu Guohua , Wang Jing , Yin Longfei , Lv Xiaoyi
Published: February 2022

In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm to discriminate hysteromyoma and cervical cancer from healthy volunteers rapidly. SERS spectra of serum samples were recorded from 30 hysteromyoma patients, 36 cervical cancer patients as well as 30 healthy subjects. SVM was used to establish the classification models, and three types of kernel functions, namely linear, polynomial, and Gaussian radial basis function (RBF), were utilized for comparison. When the polynomial kernel function was employed, the overall diagnostic accuracy for classifying the three groups could achieve 86.5%. In addition, when the optimal kernel function was selected, the diagnostic accuracy for identifying healthy versus hysteromyoma, healthy versus cervical cancer, and hysteromyoma versus cervical cancer reached 98.3%, 93.9%, and 90.9%, respectively. The current results indicate that serum SERS technology, together with the SVM algorithm, is expected to become a clinical tool for rapid screening of hysteromyoma and cervical cancer.
Automated instrument-tracking for 4D video-rate imaging of ophthalmic surgical maneuvers
Authors: Tang Eric M. , El-Haddad Mohamed T. , Patel Shriji N. , Tao Yuankai K.
Published: February 2022

Intraoperative image-guidance provides enhanced feedback that facilitates surgical decision-making in a wide variety of medical fields and is especially useful when haptic feedback is limited. In these cases, automated instrument-tracking and localization are essential to guide surgical maneuvers and prevent damage to underlying tissue. However, instrument-tracking is challenging and often confounded by variations in the surgical environment, resulting in a trade-off between accuracy and speed. Ophthalmic microsurgery presents additional challenges due to the nonrigid relationship between instrument motion and instrument deformation inside the eye, image field distortion, image artifacts, and bulk motion due to patient movement and physiological tremor. We present an automated instrument-tracking method by leveraging multimodal imaging and deep-learning to dynamically detect surgical instrument positions and re-center imaging fields for 4D video-rate visualization of ophthalmic surgical maneuvers. We are able to achieve resolution-limited tracking accuracy at varying instrument orientations as well as at extreme instrument speeds and image defocus beyond typical use cases. As proof-of-concept, we perform automated instrument-tracking and 4D imaging of a mock surgical task. Here, we apply our methods for specific applications in ophthalmic microsurgery, but the proposed technologies are broadly applicable for intraoperative image-guidance with high speed and accuracy.
Cost-effective improvement of the performance of AWG-based FBG wavelength interrogation via a cascaded neural network
Authors: Chen Shengchao , Yao Feifan , Ren Sufen , Wang Guanjun , Huang Mengxing
Published: February 2022

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have been widely applied in various applications, especially for structural health monitoring. Low cost, wide range, and low error are necessary for an excellent performance FBG sensor signal demodulation system. Yet the improvement of performance is commonly accompanied by costly and complex systems. A high-performance, low-cost wavelength interrogation method for FBG sensors was introduced in this paper. The information from the FBG sensor signal was extracted by the array waveguide grating (AWG) and fed into the proposed cascaded neural network. The proposed network was constructed by cascading a convolutional neural network and a residual backpropagation neural network. We demonstrate that our network yields a vastly significant performance improvement in AWG-based wavelength interrogation over that given by other machine learning models and validate it in experiments. The proposed network cost-effectively widens the wavelength interrogation range of the demodulation system and optimizes the wavelength interrogation error substantially, also making the system scalable.
Primary aberration optimization for double-plane symmetric beam shaping systems using a pair of curved reference surfaces
Authors: Tan Qin-Wen , Guo Ya-Ding , Li Yang , Zhang Lin , Shao Chong-Feng , Cui Da-Fu , Peng Qin-Jun
Published: February 2022

The geometric aberration of centered refracting double-plane symmetric optical systems (DPSOS) is investigated. For DPSOS with different defocus values in the tangential plane and the sagittal plane (astigmatic wavefront), a pair of curved reference surfaces which vanishes the quadratic terms of the optical path difference (OPD) between a general ray and a reference ray are deduced. With the curved reference surfaces, the primary (fourth-order) wave aberration function for DPSOS is calculated and analyzed, which can be used for beam shaping designs with astigmatic input wavefront, such as slab lasers and semiconductor lasers. Further, the proposed curved reference surfaces can be applied to analyze the aberrations of general DPSOS.
Bit-error rate and average capacity of an absorbent and turbulent underwater wireless communication link with perfect Laguerre-Gauss beam
Authors: Yang Hongbin , Yan Qingze , Wang Pan , Hu Lifa , Zhang Yixin
Published: February 2022

The proper selection of signal source structure and parameters is one of the effective methods to suppress the random disturbance of underwater channel and enhance the performance of link communication. In this paper, the bit error probability and average capacity of a weakly turbulent absorbing seawater link with a perfect Laguerre-Gaussian beam are studied. The bit error rate of orbital angular momentum (OAM) channel under on-off key modulation is derived. The average capacity model of the optical wireless communication link is established on the basis that the OAM channel formed by vortex carrier of topological charge m is symmetric channel. The relationship between OAM channel capacity, carrier wavelength and seawater absorption is numerically analyzed by seawater spectral absorption coefficient, and it is concluded that in the range of “window transmission wavelength” and long channel, the conclusion of the longer signal source wavelength is beneficial to the performance of non-absorptive turbulent channel is no longer valid. Some other numerical results are worked out to show that the underwater communication link with perfect Laguerre-Gaussian beam can obtain high channel capacity by adopting low OAM topological charge, smaller aperture of transmitter as well as receiver.
Hidden Markov Modeling with HMMTeacher
Authors: Fuentes-Beals Camilo , Valdés-Jiménez Alejandro , Riadi Gonzalo
Published: February 2022

Is it possible to learn and create a first Hidden Markov Model (HMM) without programming skills or understanding the algorithms in detail? In this concise tutorial, we present the HMM through the 2 general questions it was initially developed to answer and describe its elements. The HMM elements include variables, hidden and observed parameters, the vector of initial probabilities, and the transition and emission probability matrices. Then, we suggest a set of ordered steps, for modeling the variables and illustrate them with a simple exercise of modeling and predicting transmembrane segments in a protein sequence. Finally, we show how to interpret the results of the algorithms for this particular problem. To guide the process of information input and explicit solution of the basic HMM algorithms that answer the HMM questions posed, we developed an educational webserver called HMMTeacher. Additional solved HMM modeling exercises can be found in the user’s manual and answers to frequently asked questions. HMMTeacher is available at https://hmmteacher.mobilomics.org, mirrored at https://hmmteacher1.mobilomics.org. A repository with the code of the tool and the webpage is available at https://gitlab.com/kmilo.f/hmmteacher.
Predicted impact of the viral mutational landscape on the cytotoxic response against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Foix Anna , López Daniel , Díez-Fuertes Francisco , McConnell Michael J. , Martín-Galiano Antonio J.
Published: February 2022

The massive assessment of immune evasion due to viral mutations that increase COVID-19 susceptibility can be computationally facilitated. The adaptive cytotoxic T response is critical during primary infection and the generation of long-term protection. Here, potential HLA class I epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome were predicted for 2,915 human alleles of 71 families using the netMHCIpan EL algorithm. Allele families showed extreme epitopic differences, underscoring genetic variability of protective capacity between humans. Up to 1,222 epitopes were associated with any of the twelve supertypes, that is, allele clusters covering 90% population. Next, from all mutations identified in ~118,000 viral NCBI isolates, those causing significant epitope score reduction were considered epitope escape mutations. These mutations mainly involved non-conservative substitutions at the second and C-terminal position of the ligand core, or total ligand removal by large recurrent deletions. Escape mutations affected 47% of supertype epitopes, which in 21% of cases concerned isolates from two or more sub-continental areas. Some of these changes were coupled, but never surpassed 15% of evaded epitopes for the same supertype in the same isolate, except for B27. In contrast to most supertypes, eight allele families mostly contained alleles with few SARS-CoV-2 ligands. Isolates harboring cytotoxic escape mutations for these families co-existed geographically within sub-Saharan and Asian populations enriched in these alleles according to the Allele Frequency Net Database. Collectively, our findings indicate that escape mutation events have already occurred for half of HLA class I supertype epitopes. However, it is presently unlikely that, overall, it poses a threat to the global population. In contrast, single and double mutations for susceptible alleles may be associated with viral selective pressure and alarming local outbreaks. The integration of genomic, geographical and immunoinformatic information eases the surveillance of variants potentially affecting the global population, as well as minority subpopulations.
Genomic legacy of migration in endangered caribou
Authors: Cavedon Maria , vonHoldt Bridgett , Hebblewhite Mark , Hegel Troy , Heppenheimer Elizabeth , Hervieux Dave , Mariani Stefano , Schwantje Helen , Steenweg Robin , Theoret Jessica , Watters Megan , Musiani Marco
Published: February 2022

Wide-ranging animals, including migratory species, are significantly threatened by the effects of habitat fragmentation and habitat loss. In the case of terrestrial mammals, this results in nearly a quarter of species being at risk of extinction. Caribou are one such example of a wide-ranging, migratory, terrestrial, and endangered mammal. In populations of caribou, the proportion of individuals considered as “migrants” can vary dramatically. There is therefore a possibility that, under the condition that migratory behavior is genetically determined, those individuals or populations that are migratory will be further impacted by humans, and this impact could result in the permanent loss of the migratory trait in some populations. However, genetic determination of migration has not previously been studied in an endangered terrestrial mammal. We examined migratory behavior of 139 GPS-collared endangered caribou in western North America and carried out genomic scans for the same individuals. Here we determine a genetic subdivision of caribou into a Northern and a Southern genetic cluster. We also detect >50 SNPs associated with migratory behavior, which are in genes with hypothesized roles in determining migration in other organisms. Furthermore, we determine that propensity to migrate depends upon the proportion of ancestry in individual caribou, and thus on the evolutionary history of its migratory and sedentary subspecies. If, as we report, migratory behavior is influenced by genes, caribou could be further impacted by the loss of the migratory trait in some isolated populations already at low numbers. Our results indicating an ancestral genetic component also suggest that the migratory trait and their associated genetic mutations could not be easily re-established when lost in a population.
Seroprevalence of dengue, Zika, chikungunya and Ross River viruses across the Solomon Islands
Authors: Russell Tanya L. , Horwood Paul F. , Harrington Humpress , Apairamo Allan , Kama Nathan J. , Bobogare Albino , MacLaren David , Burkot Thomas R.
Published: February 2022

Across the Pacific, and including in the Solomon Islands, outbreaks of arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are increasing in frequency, scale and impact. Outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease have the potential to overwhelm the health systems of small island nations. This study mapped the seroprevalence of dengue, Zika, chikungunya and Ross River viruses in 5 study sites in the Solomon Islands. Serum samples from 1,021 participants were analysed by ELISA. Overall, 56% of participants were flavivirus-seropositive for dengue (28%), Zika (1%) or both flaviviruses (27%); and 53% of participants were alphavirus-seropositive for chikungunya (3%), Ross River virus (31%) or both alphaviruses (18%). Seroprevalence for both flaviviruses and alphaviruses varied by village and age of the participant. The most prevalent arboviruses in the Solomon Islands were dengue and Ross River virus. The high seroprevalence of dengue suggests that herd immunity may be a driver of dengue outbreak dynamics in the Solomon Islands. Despite being undetected prior to this survey, serology results suggest that Ross River virus transmission is endemic. There is a real need to increase the diagnostic capacities for each of the arboviruses to support effective case management and to provide timely information to inform vector control efforts and other outbreak mitigation interventions.
Mouse models of Japanese encephalitis virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis using a meta-regression approach
Authors: Bharucha Tehmina , Cleary Ben , Farmiloe Alice , Sutton Elizabeth , Hayati Hanifah , Kirkwood Peggy , Al Hamed Layal , van Ginneken Nadja , Subramaniam Krishanthi S. , Zitzmann Nicole , Davies Gerry , Turtle Lance
Published: February 2022

Background

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus (JEV) remains a leading cause of neurological infection across Asia. The high lethality of disease and absence of effective therapies mean that standardised animal models will be crucial in developing therapeutics. However, published mouse models are heterogeneous. We performed a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of published JEV mouse experiments to investigate the variation in model parameters, assess homogeneity and test the relationship of key variables against mortality.

Methodology/ Principal findings

A PubMed search was performed up to August 2020. 1991 publications were identified, of which 127 met inclusion criteria, with data for 5026 individual mice across 487 experimental groups. Quality assessment was performed using a modified CAMARADES criteria and demonstrated incomplete reporting with a median quality score of 10/17. The pooled estimate of mortality in mice after JEV challenge was 64.7% (95% confidence interval 60.9 to 68.3) with substantial heterogeneity between experimental groups (I^2 70.1%, df 486). Using meta-regression to identify key moderators, a refined dataset was used to model outcome dependent on five variables: mouse age, mouse strain, virus strain, virus dose (in log10PFU) and route of inoculation. The final model reduced the heterogeneity substantially (I^2 38.9, df 265), explaining 54% of the variability.

Conclusion/ Significance

This is the first systematic review of mouse models of JEV infection. Better adherence to CAMARADES guidelines may reduce bias and variability of reporting. In particular, sample size calculations were notably absent. We report that mouse age, mouse strain, virus strain, virus dose and route of inoculation account for much, though not all, of the variation in mortality. This dataset is available for researchers to access and use as a guideline for JEV mouse experiments.
First PCR Confirmed anthrax outbreaks in Ethiopia—Amhara region, 2018–2019
Authors: Ashenefe Wassie Baye , Fantaw Surafel , Mekonene Yonas , Teshale Amete Mihret , Yitagesu Yohannis , Tsige Estifanos , Getahun Desalegn , Tasew Geremew , Abichu Getachew , Moges Beyene , Abate Ebba , Abayneh Takele , Zeru Taye , Belay Zewdu , Mor Siobhan M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Anthrax is a disease that affects humans and animals. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a reportable disease and assumed to be endemic, although laboratory confirmation has not been routinely performed until recently. We describe the findings from the investigation of two outbreaks in Amhara region.

Methods

Following reports of suspected outbreaks in Wag Hamra zone (Outbreak 1) and South Gondar zone (Outbreak 2), multi-sectoral teams involving both animal and public health officials were deployed to investigate and establish control programs. A suspect case was defined as: sudden death with rapid bloating or bleeding from orifice(s) with unclotted blood (animals); and signs compatible with cutaneous, ingestion, or inhalation anthrax ≤7 days after exposure to a suspect animal (humans). Suspect human cases were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Samples were collected from humans with suspected anthrax (Outbreak 1 and Outbreak 2) as well as dried meat of suspect animal cases (Outbreak 2). A case was confirmed if a positive test was returned using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

In Outbreak 1, a total of 49 cows died due to suspected anthrax and 22 humans developed symptoms consistent with cutaneous anthrax (40% attack rate), two of whom died due to suspected ingestion anthrax. Three people were confirmed to have anthrax by qPCR. In Outbreak 2, anthrax was suspected to have caused the deaths of two livestock animals and one human. Subsequent investigation revealed 18 suspected cases of cutaneous anthrax in humans (27% attack rate). None of the 12 human samples collected tested positive, however, a swab taken from the dried meat of one animal case (goat) was positive by qPCR.

Conclusion

We report the first qPCR-confirmed outbreaks of anthrax in Ethiopia. Both outbreaks were controlled through active case finding, carcass management, ring vaccination of livestock, training of health professionals and outreach with livestock owners. Human and animal health authorities should work together using a One Health approach to improve case reporting and vaccine coverage.
Syndromic surveillance: A key component of population health monitoring during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in France, February-June 2020
Authors: Thiam Marie-Michèle , Pontais Isabelle , Forgeot Cécile , Pedrono Gaëlle ,   SurSaUD® Regional Focal Point,   SOS Médecins,   Group of Emergency Medicine Doctors, Paget Louis-Marie , Fouillet Anne , Caserio-Schönemann Céline
Published: February 2022

Background

The French syndromic surveillance (SyS) system, SurSaUD®, was one of the systems used to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak.

Aim

This study described the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19-related visits to both emergency departments (EDs) and the network of emergency general practitioners known as SOS Médecins (SOSMed) in France from 17 February to 28 June 2020.

Methods

Data on all visits to 634 EDs and 60 SOSMed associations were collected daily. COVID-19-related visits were identified using ICD-10 codes after coding recommendations were sent to all ED and SOSMed doctors. The time course of COVID-19-related visits was described by age group and region. During the lockdown period, the characteristics of ED and SOSMed visits and hospitalisations after visits were described by age group and gender. The most frequent diagnoses associated with COVID-19-related visits were analysed.

Results

COVID-19 SyS was implemented on 29 February and 4 March for EDs and SOSMed, respectively. A total of 170,113 ED and 59,087 SOSMed visits relating to COVID-19 were recorded, representing 4.0% and 5.6% of the overall coded activity with a peak in late March representing 22.5% and 25% of all ED and SOSMed visits, respectively. COVID-19-related visits were most frequently reported for women and those aged 15–64 years, although patients who were subsequently hospitalised were more often men and persons aged 65 years and older.

Conclusion

SyS allowed for population health monitoring of the COVID-19 epidemic in France. As SyS has more than 15 years of historical data with high quality and reliability, it was considered sufficiently robust to contribute to defining the post-lockdown strategy.
Determining vitreous viscosity using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching
Authors: Srikantha Nishanthan , Teijeiro-Gonzalez Yurema , Simpson Andrew , Elsaid Naba , Somavarapu Satyanarayana , Suhling Klaus , Jackson Timothy L.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Vitreous humor is a complex biofluid whose composition determines its structure and function. Vitreous viscosity will affect the delivery, distribution, and half-life of intraocular drugs, and key physiological molecules. The central pig vitreous is thought to closely match human vitreous viscosity. Diffusion is inversely related to viscosity, and diffusion is of fundamental importance for all biochemical reactions. Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) may provide a novel means of measuring intravitreal diffusion that could be applied to drugs and physiological macromolecules. It would also provide information about vitreous viscosity, which is relevant to drug elimination, and delivery.

Methods

Vitreous viscosity and intravitreal macromolecular diffusion of fluorescently labelled macromolecules were investigated in porcine eyes using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated (FITC) dextrans and ficolls of varying molecular weights (MWs), and FITC-bovine serum albumin (BSA) were employed using FRAP bleach areas of different diameters.

Results

The mean (±standard deviation) viscosity of porcine vitreous using dextran, ficoll and BSA were 3.54 ± 1.40, 2.86 ± 1.13 and 4.54 ± 0.13 cP respectively, with an average of 3.65 ± 0.60 cP.

Conclusions

FRAP is a feasible and practical optical method to quantify the diffusion of macromolecules through vitreous.
The publicness enigma: Can perceived publicness predict employees’ formal and prosocial behavior across sectors?
Authors: Dryzin-Amit Yinnon , Vashdi Dana R. , Vigoda-Gadot Eran
Published: February 2022

The meaning of Publicness for organizations and for individuals has received growing attention in the public administration literature in recent years. We adopt a perceived publicness perspective to expand our understanding of the publicness concept and operationalize this perception as a means to predict employees’ formal and prosocial behaviors across sectors. Using a recently developed Publicness Perceptions Scale (PPS), we present and empirically examine a model regarding the direct and indirect relationships among perceived publicness, employees’ engagement, and their performance in public and hybrid organizations. Findings based on a field study of 340 employees from governmental (i.e. public) and non-governmental (i.e. hybrid) organizations reveal that perceived publicness has a positive relationship with Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCB) and that this relationship is largely mediated by employees’ engagement. In addition, in non-government organizations perceived publicness is negatively related to employees’ in-role performance. We thus contribute to the theoretical knowledge on publicness at the perceptual level and point to its role in formal and informal performance across sectors. Other theoretical, methodological, and practical implications are discussed, and directions for future studies are suggested.
Research on government subsidy strategies for new drug R&D considering spillover effects
Authors: Huang Zhe , Lan Yipeng , Zha Xiangqi
Published: February 2022

This paper studies the pharmaceutical production supply chain system composed of upstream and downstream pharmaceutical enterprises, and explores the impact of government subsidy strategies on the new drug research and development (R&D) decision variables and profits of pharmaceutical enterprises as well as social welfare, when considering both the horizontal spillover effects within the industry and the vertical spillover effects between industries. Comparing and analyzing the impact of these strategies including non-government subsidy strategy, pharmaceutical enterprise innovation input subsidy strategy, pharmaceutical enterprise innovative product subsidy strategy, patient price subsidy strategy, and patient medical insurance subsidy strategy. By establishing a four-stage Cournot duopoly model incorporating spillover effects, the equilibrium solutions are obtained by backward induction, and the impact of spillover effects on decision variables is investigated accordingly. Studies have shown that: (a) Government subsidy strategies can promote pharmaceutical enterprises’ R&D investment and have a positive incentive effect on the pharmaceutical enterprises’ profits and social welfare. (b) The patient medical insurance subsidy strategy is the optimal subsidy strategy, which can generate higher profits for pharmaceutical enterprises and higher social welfare. (c) The horizontal and vertical spillover effects have different effect on decision variables, enterprises’ profits and social welfare under various subsidy strategies.
Development and validation of the Self-Harm Screening Inventory (SHSI) for adolescents
Authors: Kim Sojung , Seo Dong Gi , Park Jae-Chul , Son Yeonkyeong , Lee Ji-Hyun , Yoon Dasol , Kim Jae-Won , Yoo Jae Hyun , Lee Jong-Sun
Published: February 2022

Despite the rapidly increasing rate of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents, there is a dearth of culturally appropriate psychological measures screening for NSSI among the adolescents in the Asian countries. This study aimed to develop and validate the Self-Harm Screening Inventory (SHSI), a culturally sensitive and suitable scale for screening adolescents for NSSI. In total, 514 Korean adolescents (aged 12–16 years) were recruited nationwide. All participants gave informed consent and completed the online self-report measures on NSSI, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Thereafter, preliminary items were developed through a series of steps: literature review, ratings of experts on self-harm and suicide, and statistical analyses. Ten of the 20 preliminary items were eliminated after exploratory factor analysis due to low endorsement and factor loading (less than .70). The final version of the SHSI comprised 10 binary items relating to self-harm behaviors within the past year (e.g., cut my body with sharp objects, hit my body). A confirmatory factor analysis supported a one-factor structure, as hypothesized. The one-factor model had a good model fit (x2(35) = 84.958, p < .001, RMSEA = .053, CFI = .981, TLI = .975, SRMR = .124). The SHSI also had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .795) and 4-week test-retest reliability (r = .786, p < .01). The SHSI had high correlations with another self-harm related scale, the Self-Harm Inventory (r = .773, p < .01), and moderate correlations with the Child Depression Inventory (r = .484, p < .01) and Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (r = .433, p < .01). Additionally, the SHSI was negatively correlated with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (r = -.399, p < .01). The findings indicate that the SHSI is a reliable and valid measure for the screening of self-harm behaviors among adolescents.
Predictors of subjective well-being in Korean men and women: Analysis of nationwide panel survey data
Authors: Song Inmyung , Lee Hye-Jae
Published: February 2022

Subjective well-being has been associated with sociodemographic characteristics, health, and satisfaction with family life. There is evidence on gender difference in subjective well-being and differential relationships of predictors between men and women worldwide. However, little is known about the gender gaps in subjective well-being in Korean adults. Using nationwide panel survey data, this study aims to examine predictors of subjective well-being in the Korean population and to investigate if there is a difference in the impact of some predictors between men and women. Generalized estimating equations were used to measure the relationship between subjective well-being and explanatory variables, using individual-level data from the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS) between 2017 and 2020. Model 1 investigated sociodemographic variables. Model 2 added three health-related variables (such as disability, chronic disease, and subjective health status) and satisfaction with family life. Additional models included a range of interaction terms. In the 2020 KOWEPS, 10,758 respondents rated their subjective well-being scores on the Cantril ladder. The mean score of all respondents was 6.74 (SD = 1.66). In the analysis of the pooled sample, subjective well-being was higher in women than in men (Models 1–2, p < .01). Among all variables examined, satisfaction with family life was the most important predictor of subjective well-being (β = 1.3625; p < .01). Education level and employment status had significant interaction effects with gender on subjective well-being. In particular, higher education was more important for women and stable employment was more important for men.
Assessment of medical management in Coronary Type 2 Diabetic patients with previous percutaneous coronary intervention in Spain: A retrospective analysis of electronic health records using Natural Language Processing
Authors: González-Juanatey Carlos , Anguita-Sá́nchez Manuel , Barrios Vivencio , Núñez-Gil Iván , Gómez-Doblas Juan Josá , García-Moll Xavier , Lafuente-Gormaz Carlos , Rollán-Gómez María Jesús , Peral-Disdie Vicente , Martínez-Dolz Luis , Rodríguez-Santamarta Miguel , Viñolas-Prat Xavier , Soriano-Colomé Toni , Muñoz-Aguilera Roberto , Plaza Ignacio , Curcio-Ruigómez Alejandro , Orts-Soler Ernesto , Segovia Javier , Maté Claudia ,   SAVANA Research Group, Cequier Ángel
Published: February 2022

Introduction and objectives

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) previously revascularized with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at high risk of recurrent ischemic events. We aimed to provide real-world insights into the clinical characteristics and management of this clinical population, excluding patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, using Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology.

Methods

This is a multicenter, retrospective study based on the secondary use of 2014–2018 real-world data captured in the Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of 1,579 patients (0.72% of the T2D population analyzed; n = 217,632 patients) from 12 representative hospitals in Spain. To access the unstructured clinical information in EHRs, we used the EHRead® technology, based on NLP and machine learning. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were considered: MI, ischemic stroke, urgent coronary revascularization, and hospitalization due to unstable angina. The association between MACE rates and the variables included in this study was evaluated following univariate and multivariate approaches.

Results

Most patients were male (72.13%), with a mean age of 70.5±10 years. Regarding T2D, most patients were non-insulin-dependent T2D (61.75%) with high prevalence of comorbidities. The median (Q1-Q3) duration of follow-up was 1.2 (0.3–4.5) years. Overall, 35.66% of patients suffered from at least one MACE during follow up. Using a Cox Proportional Hazards regression model analysis, several independent factors were associated with MACE during follow up: CAD duration (p < 0.001), COPD/Asthma (p = 0.021), heart valve disease (p = 0.031), multivessel disease (p = 0.005), insulin treatment (p < 0.001), statins treatment (p < 0.001), and clopidogrel treatment (p = 0.039).

Conclusions

Our results showed high rates of MACE in a large real-world series of PCI-revascularized patients with T2D and CAD with no history of MI or stroke. These data represent a potential opportunity to improve the clinical management of these patients.
Transgenerational inheritance of fetal alcohol effects on proopiomelanocortin gene expression and methylation, cortisol response to stress, and anxiety-like behaviors in offspring for three generations in rats: Evidence for male germline transmission
Authors: Gangisetty Omkaram , Chaudhary Shaista , Palagani Ajay , Sarkar Dipak K.
Published: February 2022

Previously it has been shown that fetal alcohol exposure increases the stress response partly due to lowering stress regulatory proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) gene expression in the hypothalamus via epigenetic mechanisms for multiple generations in mixed-breed rats. In this study we assess the induction of heritable epigenetic changes of Pomc-related variants by fetal alcohol exposure in isogenic Fischer 344 rats. Using transgenerational breeding models and fetal alcohol exposure procedures, we determined changes in hypothalamic Pomc gene expression and its methylation levels, plasma corticosterone hormone response to restraint stress, and anxiety-like behaviors using elevated plus maze tests in fetal alcohol-exposed offspring for multiple generations in isogenic Fischer rats. Fetal alcohol-exposed male and female rat offspring showed significant deficits in POMC neuronal functions with increased Pomc gene methylation and reduced expression. These changes in POMC neuronal functions were associated with increased plasma corticosterone response to restraint stress and increased anxiety-like behavior. These effects of fetal alcohol exposure persisted in the F1, F2, and F3 progeny of the male germline but not of the female germline. These data suggest that fetal alcohol exposure induces heritable changes in Pomc-related variants involving stress hyperresponsiveness and anxiety-like behaviors which perpetuate into subsequent generations through the male germline via epigenetic modifications.
Birth cohort studies using symptom diaries for assessing respiratory diseases–a scoping review
Authors: Langer Susan , Klee Bianca , Gottschick Cornelia , Mikolajczyk Rafael
Published: February 2022

Background

Respiratory infections are the most frequent health problem in childhood leading to morbidity and socioeconomic burden. Studying symptoms of respiratory infections in home based settings requires dedicated prospective cohort studies using diaries. However, no information is available on which birth cohort studies using symptom diary data. A review of birth cohort studies with available symptom diary data, follow-up data, and bio samples is needed to support research collaborations and create potential synergies.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review of birth cohort studies using diaries for the collection of respiratory symptoms. The scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension. We searched the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Web of science and CINAHL (last search November 2020) resulting in 5872 records (based on title and abstract screening) eligible for further screening.

Results

We examined 735 records as full text articles and finally included 57 according to predefined inclusion criteria. We identified 22 birth cohort studies that collect(ed) data on respiratory symptoms using a symptom diary starting at birth. Numbers of participants ranged from 129 to 8677. Eight studies collected symptom diary information only for the first year of life, nine for the first two years or less and six between three and six years. Most of the cohorts collected biosamples (n = 18) and information on environmental exposures (n = 19).

Conclusion

Information on respiratory symptoms with daily resolution was collected in several birth cohorts, often including related biosamples, and these data and samples can be used to study full spectrum of infections, particularly including those which did not require medical treatment.
The coordinated development of manufacturing industry and logistics industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: Empirical study by stages based on Haken Model
Authors: Du Wei , Yang Yachen
Published: February 2022

It has great significance for improving the logistics service ability of the Yangtze River economic belt, optimizing the industrial structure of manufacturing industry, and realizing the integrated development of the Yangtze River economic belt to explore the collaborative evolution of logistics industry and manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River economic belt, and identify the leading position of the collaborative development of the two industries, so as to. Based on the Haken Model, this paper summarizes the coevolution law of logistics industry and manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River economic belt through two-stage empirical analysis, and identifies the order parameters of the co-development of logistics industry and manufacturing industry. The results show that the overall degree of coordination between the logistics industry and the manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River economic belt is high. And the order parameter has been changed from manufacturing industry in 2003–2009 to logistics industry in 2010–2017. The gap between regions has been reduced, and the western region has the advantage of post development.
Exploring the effect of professionalization, risk-taking and technological innovation on business performance
Authors: García-Lopera Francisca , Santos-Jaén José Manuel , Palacios-Manzano Mercedes , Ruiz-Palomo Daniel
Published: February 2022

The aim of this paper is to analize the influence of professionalization over firm’s performance and the effect of two mediating variables, risk-taking and technological innovation. A total of 310 Spanish SMEs were surveyed, and the study was conducted using partial least squares path modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings showed that firm’s performance is influenced by professionalization, risk-taking and technological innovation. These effects are not only direct and positive, but there are also important indirect effects that reinforce the positive effects of professionalization on firm’s performance. This research contributes to the literature on professionalization considering mediating effects of risk-taking and technological innovation in the relationship between professionalization and firm’s performance. The results provide interesting implications for theory and practice, indicating how companies can orient their strategies with the aim of gaining competitive advantage in order to increase their performance.
Tracking ebolavirus genomic drift with a resequencing microarray
Authors: Tiper Irina , Kourout Moussa , Lanning Bryan , Fisher Carolyn , Konduru Krishnamurthy , Purkayastha Anjan , Kaplan Gerardo , Duncan Robert
Published: February 2022

Filoviruses are emerging pathogens that cause acute fever with high fatality rate and present a global public health threat. During the 2013–2016 Ebola virus outbreak, genome sequencing allowed the study of virus evolution, mutations affecting pathogenicity and infectivity, and tracing the viral spread. In 2018, early sequence identification of the Ebolavirus as EBOV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo supported the use of an Ebola virus vaccine. However, field-deployable sequencing methods are needed to enable a rapid public health response. Resequencing microarrays (RMA) are a targeted method to obtain genomic sequence on clinical specimens rapidly, and sensitively, overcoming the need for extensive bioinformatic analysis. This study presents the design and initial evaluation of an ebolavirus resequencing microarray (Ebolavirus-RMA) system for sequencing the major genomic regions of four Ebolaviruses that cause disease in humans. The design of the Ebolavirus-RMA system is described and evaluated by sequencing repository samples of three Ebolaviruses and two EBOV variants. The ability of the system to identify genetic drift in a replicating virus was achieved by sequencing the ebolavirus glycoprotein gene in a recombinant virus cultured under pressure from a neutralizing antibody. Comparison of the Ebolavirus-RMA results to the Genbank database sequence file with the accession number given for the source RNA and Ebolavirus-RMA results compared to Next Generation Sequence results of the same RNA samples showed up to 99% agreement.