bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporalis Muscle Flap for the Immediate Reconstruction of Oral Defects after Oncologic Resection
Authors: Nguyen Hong Loi , Nguyen Van Minh , Tran Xuan Phu
Published: May 2021

An oral defect after oncologic resection, especially in the upper jaw, is an extremely complex problem in terms of reconstructive surgery. Herein, we report 2 patients who were diagnosed with oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma. In one patient, the lesion was present on the right side of the hard palate, invading the maxillary bone. In the other patient, the lesion was present in the left retromolar trigone region. Reconstruction of the postsurgical defects was successfully done using a temporalis muscle flap. Both patients were discharged after ensuring the absence of any postsurgical complications. Furthermore, the postoperative functional and esthetic outcomes were adequate. These case reports highlight the usefulness and reliability of a temporalis muscle flap for the immediate reconstruction of oral and maxillary defects after oncologic resection.
Evaluation of Motor and Cognitive Performance in People with Parkinson’s Disease Using Instrumented Trail-Making Test
Authors: Mishra Ram kinker , Park Catherine , Zhou He , Najafi Bijan , Thrasher T. Adam
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) progressively impairs motor and cognitive performance. The current tools to detect decline in motor and cognitive functioning are often impractical for busy clinics and home settings. To address the gap, we designed an instrumented trail-making task (iTMT) based on a wearable sensor (worn on the shin) with interactive game-based software installed on a tablet. The iTMT test includes reaching to 5 indexed circles, a combination of numbers (1–3) and letters (A&B) randomly positioned inside target circles, in a sequential order, which virtually appears on a screen kept in front of the participants, by rotating one’s ankle joint while standing and holding a chair for safety. By measuring time to complete iTMT task (iTMT time), iTMT enables quantifying cognitive-motor performance. Purpose: This study’s objective is to examine the feasibility of iTMT to detect early cognitive-motor decline in PDs. Method: Three groups of volunteers, including 14 cognitively normal (CN) older adults, 14 PDs, and 11 mild cognitive impaireds (MCI), were recruited. Participants completed MoCA, 20 m walking test, and 3 trials of iTMT. Results: All participants enabled to complete iTMT with <3 min, indicating high feasibility. The average iTMT time for CN-Older, PD, and MCI participants were 20.9 ± 0.9 s, 32.3 ± 2.4 s, and 40.9 ± 4.5 s, respectively. After adjusting for age and education level, pairwise comparison suggested large effect sizes for iTMT between CN-older versus PD (Cohen’s d = 1.7, p = 0.024) and CN-older versus MCI (d = 1.57, p < 0.01). Significant correlations were observed when comparing iTMT time with the gait speed (r = −0.4, p = 0.011) and MoCA score (r = −0.56, p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility and early results supporting the potential application of iTMT to determine cognitive-motor and distinguishing individuals with MCI and PD from CN-older adults. Future studies are warranted to test the ability of iTMT to track its subtle changes over time.
Interação na internet e ideologia: excesso e atenuação
Authors: Gomes Regina Souza
Published: May 2021

Este trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir para a compreensão, sob a perspectiva da Semiótica de linha francesa, dos discursos que circulam nas redes sociais e em sites de internet, caracterizados, principalmente, pelas altercações políticas, pelas polarizações e pelos excessos nas relações enunciativas, pelas posições ideológicas arraigadas e apaixonadas (Barros, 2014; 2015; 2016). Em contrapartida, circulam também sites e textos que caminham em direção inversa – para uma busca, pelo menos aparente, de desaceleração, a exemplo do Movimento Slow.  Analisaremos, para tanto, as postagens do ex-Ministro da Educação em sua conta pessoal do Twitter, colhidas entre setembro e outubro de 2019, e sites que preconizam a atonia e os valores da contemplação, do equilíbrio e da harmonia, alinhados com o Movimento Slow (tais como Ciclo Vivo), além de reportagens sobre o tema, em jornais portugueses e brasileiros. Levaremos em conta, para a análise, principalmente, a sintaxe intensiva e as categorias tensivas da triagem e da mistura para a apreensão dos valores ideológicos, sem deixar de observar os recursos discursivos de aspectualização e de argumentação. A análise aponta para convergências, com diferentes gradações, tanto temáticas quanto de andamento e intensidade.
Aerobic Exercise Restores Aging‐Associated Reductions in Arterial Adropin Levels and Improves Adropin‐Induced Nitric Oxide‐Dependent Vasorelaxation
Authors: Fujie Shumpei , Hasegawa Natsuki , Horii Naoki , Uchida Masataka , Sanada Kiyoshi , Hamaoka Takafumi , Padilla Jaume , Martinez‐Lemus Luis A. , Maeda Seiji , Iemitsu Motoyuki
Published: May 2021

Background

Adropin is a peptide hormone that promotes nitric oxide (NO) production via activation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in endothelial cells. Its circulating levels are reduced with aging and increased with aerobic exercise training (AT). Using a mouse model, we hypothesized that AT restores aging‐associated reductions in arterial and circulating adropin and improves adropin‐induced NO‐dependent vasorelaxation. Further, we hypothesized these findings would be consistent with data obtained in elderly humans.

Methods and Results

In the animal study, 50‐week‐old SAMP1 male mice that underwent 12 weeks of voluntary wheel running, or kept sedentary, were studied. A separate cohort of 25‐week‐old SAMP1 male mice were used as a mature adult sedentary group. In the human study, 14 healthy elderly subjects completed an 8‐week AT program consisting of 45 minutes of cycling 3 days/week. In mice, we show that advanced age is associated with a decline in arterial and circulating levels of adropin along with deterioration of endothelial function, arterial NO production, and adropin‐induced vasodilation. All these defects were restored by AT. Moreover, AT‐induced increases in arterial adropin were correlated with increases in arterial eNOS phosphorylation and NO production. Consistently with these findings in mice, AT in elderly subjects enhanced circulating adropin levels and these effects were correlated with increases in circulating nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and endothelial function.

Conclusions

Changes in arterial adropin that occur with age or AT relate to alterations in endothelial function and NO production, supporting the notion that adropin should be considered a therapeutic target for vascular aging.

Registration

URL:
https://www.umin.ac.jp
; Unique identifier: UMIN000035520.
Challenging the Rule of Political Liberalism
Authors: Harbo Tor-Inge
Published: May 2021

The origin of the ongoing conflict between the EU and Poland may, according to the author, partly be subscribed to the EU-institutions conceptualization of the rule of law. This conceptualization, which in the article is referred to as “the rule of political liberalism”, establishes a particular set of legal institutional and substantial frames and limits for national democratic politics. Granted that the rule of law is an inherently contested concept, the author deconstructs the rule of political liberalism, reveals its weaknesses and ideological bias and proposes an alternative understanding of the rule of law. “The rule of pragmatism” is based on a pragmatic conceptualization of the law, and proscribes a regard for social context and consequences rather than abstract constructions and (good) intention. If applied by the EU institutions, the rule of pragmatism will secure greater legal and political pluralism in Europe and thus contributes to the mending of EU’s legitimacy deficit.
Gekko phuyenensis sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species from southern Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN VU DANG HOANG , NGUYEN LUAN THANH , ORLOV NIKOLAI L. , MURPHY ROBERT W. , NGUYEN SANG NGOC
Published: May 2021

A new species of the genus Gekko Laurenti, 1768 is described from Phu Yen Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. Gekko phuyenensis sp. nov. differs from other congeners by its moderate size, with a snout-vent length of 90.2–92.8 mm; nares in contact with rostral; internasal 1; interorbitals 35 or 36; ventrals 30–32; dorsal tubercle rows 9 or 10; precloacal pores 12 or 13 in males and precloacal pits 13 in female; subdigital lamellae under first finger 18–21, fourth finger 19 or 20, first toe 18–20, and fourth toe 21–23; subcaudals median enlarged; no webbing between toes; and the absence of tubercles on hind limbs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial gene COI (681 bp) using the geckos from Phu Yen and its congeners in southern Vietnam resolve the new species as the sister lineage to G. cf. grossmanni from Khanh Hoa Province. Genetic distances between G. phuyenensis sp. nov. and its congeners in southern Vietnam range from 16.9–24.2%. The discovery of this new species raises the number of known species of Gekko in Vietnam to 14.
Discovery of the spider wasp genus Telostholus Haupt, 1929 (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) in Laos, with the description of three new species
Authors: LOKTIONOV VALERY M.
Published: May 2021

The genus Telostholus Haupt, 1929 is newly reported from Laos, with three species which are newly described and illustrated: T. kubani Loktionov, sp. nov., T. lao Loktionov, sp. nov., and T. leleji Loktionov, sp. nov. A key to the males is given.
Remittance Houses and Transnational Citizenship: Mapping Eritrea’s Diaspora–State Relationships
Authors: Belloni Milena
Published: May 2021

Can diaspora houses be used as a site to explore transnational citizenship? Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Eritrea, this article shows that different kinds of remittance houses reify different categories of transnational citizens with various sets of rights and duties. Drawing on studies on state–diaspora relations and remittance houses, I illustrate the key role that housing plays in the Eritrean state’s efforts to build a loyal diaspora. By looking at housing projects (state-led and individual) over the last thirty years, the article shows how different groups of emigrants – based on their relationship to the state of origin as well as their status in their country of residence – have been more or less able to realise their aspirations to build a house back home. By doing this, I show the importance of considering remittance houses as not only transnational cultural artefacts but also political claims to membership.
Changing trends in quality of media reporting of suicide in the community following a celebrity suicide in India
Authors: Menon Vikas , Kar Sujita Kumar , Ransing Ramdas , Sharma Ginni , Pattnaik Jigyansa Ipsita , Kaliamoorthy Charanya , Varadharajan Natarajan , Mukherjee Srijeeta , Agrawal Aditya , Padhy Susanta Kumar , Arafat SM Yasir
Published: May 2021

Objective:

Little is known about changes in quality of media reporting of suicide in the community following a celebrity suicide. Our objective was to compare trends in quality of media reporting of suicide, before and after the suicide of an Indian entertainment celebrity, against the World Health Organization suicide reporting guidelines.

Method:

Online news portals of English and local language newspapers, as well as television channels, were searched to identify relevant suicide-related news articles. Comparison of reporting characteristics before and after the celebrity suicide was performed using chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test.

Results:

A total of 3867 eligible news reports were retrieved. There was a significant increase in harmful reporting characteristics, such as reporting the name, age and gender of the deceased ( p < 0.001 for all comparisons), mentioning the location ( p < 0.001) and reason for suicide ( p = 0.04) and including photos of the deceased ( p = 0.002) following the celebrity suicide. Helpful reporting practices were less affected; there was a significant rise in inclusion of expert opinion ( p = 0.04) and mention of suicide-related warning signs ( p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

Following a celebrity suicide, significant changes in the quality of media reporting of suicide were noted with an increase in several potentially harmful reporting characteristics.
School-Time Movement Behaviors and Fundamental Movement Skills in Preschoolers: An Isotemporal Reallocation Analysis
Authors: Martins Clarice Maria de Lucena , Clark Cain Craig Truman , Tassitano Rafael Miranda , Filho Anastácio Neco de Souza , Gaya Anelise Reis , Duncan Michael Joseph
Published: May 2021

Little is known of how reallocations of time spent in different movement behaviors during preschool might relate to preschoolers’ fundamental movement skills (FMS), a key predictor of later physical activity (PA). Thus, the aim of this study was to examine (a) whether preschoolers’ school-time movement was associated with their FMS and (b) the effects on FMS of reallocating time between PA and sedentary behavior (SB). This was a cross-sectional study, using intervention data with Brazilian low-income preschoolers. We observed Brazilian preschoolers of both sexes ( Mage = 4.5, SD = 0.8 years-old; 101boys) over 10 hours of school-time and objectively assessed their PA and SB with Actigraph wGT3X and their FMS with the Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition. We explored the associations between school-time movement behaviors and FMS and between reallocated school-time movement behaviors and FES using compositional analysis in R (version 1.40-1), robCompositions (version 0.92-7), and lmtest (version 0.9-35) packages. This isotemporal reallocation showed that, for manipulative skills, reallocating time (5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively) from light PA to SB was associated with increasing skill (0.14, 0.28, and 0.42 FMS units), raising questions as to whether fine motor activity occurred during SB. Thus, school-time movement significantly predicted FMS, with a modest increase in SB, at the expense of light PA eliciting improved manipulative skills.
Unsupervised defect detection algorithm for printed fabrics using content-based image retrieval techniques
Authors: Hu Xudong , Fu Mingyue , Zhu Zhijuan , Xiang Zhong , Qian Miao , Wang Junru
Published: May 2021

Automatic detection of printing defect technology is significant for improving printing fabrics’ appearance and quality. In this research, we proposed an unsupervised printing defect detection method by processing the difference map between the test image and the reference image. Aimed at this, we adopted a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) method to retrieve the reference image, which includes an image database, a convolutional denoising auto-encoder (CDAE) and a hash encoder (HE): the elements of image database are extracted from only one defect-free sample image of the test fabric; the CDAE prevents the system being affected by the texture of the fabric and provides a reliable feature description of the patterns; the HE indexes the feature vectors to binary code while maintaining their similarity; both CDAE and HE are trained in an unsupervised manner. With the retrieved reference image, the defect is determined by applying the Tsallis entropy thresholding and opening operation on the difference map. The method can be implemented without labeled and defective samples, and without consideration of the periodical primitive of patterns. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method in defect detection for printed fabrics with complex patterns.
Infrastructures of Decolonization: Scales of Worldmaking in the Writings of Frantz Fanon
Authors: Adalet Begüm
Published: May 2021

Political theorists are increasingly drawn to the recovery of anticolonial thinkers as global figures. Frantz Fanon is largely excluded from these discussions because of his presumed commitment to the nation-state and its territorialist assumptions. This essay claims, by contrast, that Fanon’s writings reveal an alternative way of thinking about worldmaking, less as a question of political and economic institution-building spearheaded by leaders than as a multiscalar project that permeates the production of the built environment and the creation of selves. I show how Fanon challenges the dichotomy between the global and the national by seeking to transform not just the national scale in relation to the international, but also the corporeal, urban, rural, and regional scales of an imperially configured world. In order to read Fanon as a scalar thinker and to highlight aspects of his thought that have been relatively neglected, I draw on concepts from geography, and specifically scalar analysis, which, I demonstrate, allows political theorists to develop a richer understanding of the operations of power in colonial contexts and how they can be restructured to inaugurate more liberated ways of being human.
Strategy and Uncertainty: Resource-Based View, Strategy-Creation View, and the Hybrid Between Them
Authors: Furr Nathan R. , Eisenhardt Kathleen M.
Published: May 2021

The resource-based view (RBV) makes a significant contribution to strategy by explaining the relationship between resources and firm performance. Particularly in low uncertainty markets, executives have the foresight and time to build strategically valuable resources in current markets and leverage them into related markets. RBV is also relevant for understanding strategies for market entry, extending the value of technology resources, and broadening the locus of resources within ecosystems. Conversely, in high uncertainty markets like nascent or disrupted ones, RBV seems less germane. Resources may not yet exist or their value (and rarity) may be indeterminate (or changing). Here, we contribute the Strategy Creation (SC) view—joining strategizing by doing, thinking, and shaping. It offers a strategic logic that fits highly uncertain markets. Finally, we contribute the insight that RBV and SC are complements under moderate uncertainty, such as growth markets and technology transitions. Overall, we propose that uncertainty forms a crucial boundary condition for RBV that distinguishes between qualitatively different strategic logics.
“Side by side”: Development of twin relationship dimensions from early to middle childhood and the role of zygosity and parenting
Authors: Segal Hila , Knafo-Noam Ariel
Published: May 2021

Twin relationships have a significant effect on the twins’ life and their families. In the first comprehensive study of this topic, our purpose was to examine the developmental courses of four dyadic dimensions of twins’ relationships: closeness, dependence, conflict and rivalry, and the impact of zygosity and parenting on their relationships. Parents reported on their twins’ relationships ( N = 1547 mothers and 536 fathers with data from at least one of four measurement points from 3 to 8–9 years of age). The sample included 322 monozygotic twin dyads (sharing virtually 100% of their genes), and 1194 dizygotic twin dyads (sharing 50% of their genetic variance, on average). Our findings indicated that closeness and dependence decreased while rivalry increased through childhood. Dependence and rivalry also presented quadratic change. The twins’ conflict increased only for dizygotic twins. As expected, we found that the twins’ closeness and dependence were highly associated, as did the associations between conflict and rivalry. The mostly nonsignificant associations of closeness with conflict and rivalry reinforced the notion that they are not bi-polar opposites. However, dependence was positively related to the twins’ conflict and rivalry. A zygosity effect was also evident as monozygotic twins had higher levels of closeness and dependence than dizygotic twins through childhood, but there was no significant difference in the levels of their conflict and rivalry. In congruence with family system theories, parental positivity predicted the twins’ closeness and dependence, and parental negativity predicted the twins’ dependence, conflict and rivalry. The results were discussed in light of an evolutionary perspective and the twins’ developmental challenges through childhood.
Research trends in sociological studies on social security and welfare
Authors: Hiraoka Koichi
Published: May 2021

This article reviews the research trends in welfare sociology (sociological studies on social security and welfare), one of the many subfields of active research in sociology in Japan. For this purpose, several research streams formed from the 1970s to the 2000s are described, and some of the most important research results produced within these in the past two decades are introduced. In the latter part of this article, a broad overview of the research trends in Japanese welfare sociology is attempted by focusing on the contents of the journal published by the Japan Welfare Sociology Association (JWSA).
A prospective study to determine the clinical utility of pharmacogenetic testing of veterans with treatment-resistant depression
Authors: McCarthy Michael J , Chen Yucui , Demodena Anna , Leckband Susan G , Fischer Eileen , Golshan Shahrokh , Suppes Trisha , Kelsoe John R
Published: May 2021

Background:

Pharmacotherapies for depression are often ineffective and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is common across bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patient genetic information can be used to predict treatment outcomes. Prospective studies indicate that pharmacogenetic (PGX) tests have utility in the treatment of depression. However, few studies have examined the utility of PGX in other diagnoses typified by depression, or in veterans, a cohort with high rates of medical comorbidity, social stress, and suicide.

Aim:

To determine the efficacy of genetically guided pharmacological treatment of TRD.

Methods:

We conducted an 8-week, prospective, multisite, single-blind study in 182 veterans with TRD including patients with BD, MDD, and PTSD. Subjects were randomly assigned to PGX-guided treatment in which the clinician incorporated PGX information into decision-making, or treatment as usual (TAU).

Results:

Overall, the PGX group improved marginally faster compared to TAU, but the difference was not statistically significant. Secondary analyses revealed that only PTSD patients showed a potential benefit from PGX testing. Patients predicted by PGX testing to have moderate levels of genetic risk showed a significant benefit from the PGX-guided treatment, whereas other risk groups demonstrated no benefit. Clinicians generally found the PGX test was useful, particularly in more depressed patients and/or those with more warnings for significant or serious adverse outcomes. Clinicians more often used the results to select a drug, but only rarely to adjust dosing.

Conclusions:

The data reveal possible group differences in the utility of PGX testing in veterans with TRD. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04469322.
Pre-Socratic Understandings of Moral Identity: The Theoretical Infrastructure, Development, Reliability and Validity of the Philotimo Scale
Authors: Mantzios Michail
Published: May 2021

The word Philotimo has often been literally translated from Greek to English as ‘love for honour’ or a ‘sense of honour’. This love for honour is described as being a pillar of upholding societal functioning at an optimal level, and an instigator of doing what is right for oneself and others; yet, there is no literature measuring or defining Philotimo. Philotimo is a commitment to unconditional selfless acts that are aligned to a sense of a moral identity; a definition derivative of the literature search and the enquiry of the core principles of Philotimo of the present research. In six studies ( N = 1144), the development and validation of the Philotimo Scale is described. In Study 1, Greek participants were asked to rate how much they thought they possessed the trait, which correlated with the total score of the scale, while in Study 2 bilingual Greeks were asked to fill in both versions of the scale with a 2-week interval. Study 3 assessed the reliability of the scale, and Study 4 its stability over time. Study 5 assessed the factor structure, and Study 6 validated the scale against other standardised scales. Together these studies propose a reliable and valid measure that is representative of the Greek sense of Philotimo.
Development and Validation of the Survey of Unorthodox Grading Beliefs for Teachers and Teacher Candidates
Authors: Bonner Sarah M. , Chen Peggy P.
Published: May 2021

Summative course grades or marks are teacher-constructed and contain sources of variance other than achievement. Nonachievement grading dimensions may relate to beliefs about learning and instruction, which are formed early and have effects on practice. We report the development and validation of the Survey of Unorthodox Grading Beliefs for teacher candidates and teachers. Individuals seeking licensure in teaching participated in survey research. Using confirmatory factor analysis ( n = 714), we found four latent factors related to management concerns, beliefs about effort, a success orientation, and general leniency. The internal structure was acceptable and further supported by external structural relationships. We found predicted relationships between dimensions of grading beliefs and other instructional and assessment perceptions such as attitudes about testing and constructivist teaching. The systematic nature of beliefs about grading has implications for research involving use of grades, as well as for teacher education and professional development.
Who Belongs among the “We?”: Hospitality, the Gospel, and the Systemic Sin of Christian Higher Education against LGBTQ+ Students
Authors: McRay Barrett , Ruff Samuel
Published: May 2021

The invitation of Jesus to come and belong with him and with all those who follow him is at the very heart of the gospel. However, not all who accept this invitation feel welcome and experience belonging. This article identifies some of the challenges to belonging experienced by LGBTQ+ students in Christian higher education contexts, names the systemic sin in these contexts which perpetuates the marginalization of these students, considers the place of hospitality and belonging in the life and teachings of Jesus, and offers the four-step framework of practical theology outlined by Richard Osmer (2008) as a framework by which Christian educators might begin to address this systemic sin in their contexts.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Predict Decisions of the Turkish Constitutional Court
Authors: Sert Mehmet Fatih , Yıldırım Engin , Haşlak İrfan
Published: May 2021

This article draws on an artificial intelligence (AI) technique to predict whether an individual application regarding the Turkish Constitutional Court's public morality and freedom of expression cases leding to a “violation” or a “nonviolation” decision. To this end, four different data sets have been composed, preclassification and fundamental word embeddings steps have been made on each data set. Multilayer perceptron, which is based on artificial neural networks, has been used for the prediction of the case decisions. We have predicted the court’s decisions on these cases with the high success rates (average accuracy of 90%) by using the subject or reasoning sections of texts of the cases as data. The subject section of the cases constituting only a very small part of the data has yielded the highest accuracy. The article has demonstrated that a basic AI technique can be successful in achieving accurate predictions even with relatively small data sets derived from well-structured court rulings.
Effect of the blade shaped by Joukowsky airfoil transformation on the characteristics of the torque converter
Authors: Pan Xiong , Xinyuan Chen , Hongjun Sun , Jiping Zhong , Lin Wu , Huichao Gao
Published: May 2021

Cavitation is common in traditional torque converters whose blades are designed by beam theory; the blade curvature is discontinuous and cannot be analysed by functions. In this paper, the YJH265 torque converter is used as the prototype to reconstruct the stator blades with Joukowsky airfoil transformation. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used analyse the flow field in the torque converter with the three-dimensional transient full flow channel. Combined with experiments, cavitation is found at the exit of the YJH265 torque converter stator. This is the same as the cavitation position of different torque converters studied by other scholars, and the flow state at the simulation outlet is high vacuum, boundary layer separation and high turbulent kinetic energy. Without changing the angle and chord length, the stator blades were reshaped and simulated with the optimised Joukowsky airfoil. As a result, the boundary layer separation phenomenon disappeared, the vacuum degree and turbulent kinetic energy were reduced, the torque ratio increased by 0.175 (5.6%), and the efficiency increased by 4.9%. To conclude, the optimised Joukowsky airfoil can be used in the design of stator blades, and its streamline is consistent with the fluid dynamics characteristics, which greatly reduces the probability of cavitation and improves the performance and service life of the torque converter.
Paleoparasitological study of Holocene South American camelids (ca. 8970–470 years 14C BP) from an archaeological site, Southern Puna of Argentina (Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca)
Authors: Tietze Eleonor , Urquiza Silvana V , Beltrame María Ornela
Published: May 2021

South American camelids (SAC) have occupied a central role in the development of Andean societies. They are widely distributed in South America and since ancient times are an important factor in Andean economies and social and ritual life. The archaeological site Punta de Peña 4 (PP4) is located in Antofagasta de la Sierra Basin (Southern Puna of Argentina). PP4 is a rock overhang and presents a large occupational sequence (early Holocene until historic times). The aim of this contribution is to study parasite diversity and the relationship among parasites and SAC through holocenic times in the Southern Puna of Argentina. Besides, differences in parasite egg preservation in the site were discussed. A total of 65 coprolites assigned to SAC were rehydratated, homogenized, filtered, allowed to spontaneous sedimentation and examined for parasite remains. Given the morphology of the coprolites, the biogeographic origin and the presence of coccidian oocysts of Eimeria macusaniensis in some of them, a camelid origin of the coprolites is suggested. This is the first paleoparasitological study from PP4, an archaeological site of Antofagasta de la Sierra, a key region in northwestern Argentina and Central Andes. Eleven taxa of parasites were found belonging to Apicomplexa, Platyhelminthes, and Nematoda. Specific parasite species of SAC were found, such as E. macusaniensis and Lamanema chavezi/Nematodirus lamae. A remarkable finding was the presence of Moniezia sp. and Strongyloides sp. in coprolites from different levels of PP4, pointing out the presence of these genera in native artiodactyls of the region previous to the arrival of Hispanic societies. Results displayed a change in the number of parasite taxa present in SAC through time. The parasite-SAC relation through time and differences in parasite egg preservation between levels and sectors (covered and uncovered) of the site are discussed.
Loss of PHLDA1 has a protective role in OGD/R-injured neurons via regulation of the GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway
Authors: Yang F , Chen R
Published: May 2021

Pleckstrin homology-like domain, family A, member 1 (PHLDA1) is a multifunctional protein that plays a role in diverse pathological conditions. However, whether PHLDA1 participates in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been reported. The goals of the present work were to assess the possible relationship between PHLDA1 and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Hippocampal neurons were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to simulate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro, which led to significant increases in the expression of PHLDA1. Cellular functional studies showed that the knockdown of PHLDA1 produced a protective role in OGD/R-injured neurons via the down-regulation of neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine release. On the contrary, the overexpression of PHLDA1 rendered neurons more vulnerable to OGD/R injury. In-depth research revealed that the inhibition of PHLDA1 resulted in the enhancement of nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) signaling in OGD/R-injured neurons. The reactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) abolished the PHLDA1-inhibition-mediated activation of Nrf2 signaling. Moreover, the restraint of Nrf2 signaling diminished the PHLDA1-knockdown-induced neuroprotective effects in OGD/R-injured neurons. In summary, the data of our work show that the loss of PHLDA1 protects against OGD/R injury via potentiating Nrf2 signaling via the regulation of GSK-3β. This work underscores a potential role of PHLDA1 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and proposes PHLDA1 as an attractive target for the development of neuroprotective therapy.
Investigating the Long-run and the Short-run Relationship Between Domestic Macroeconomic Forces and Indian Equity Market: Evidence Based on ARDL Bounds Testing Approach
Authors: Bhattacharjee Animesh , Das Joy
Published: May 2021

Understanding the effect of domestic macroeconomic forces on equity market is essential since macroeconomic forces have a systematic effect on the equity market returns. The present study uses monthly observations from India for the period from January 2012 to December 2019 to investigate the long-run and short-run relationship between the domestic macroeconomic forces and equity market. The study employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach and pair-wise granger causality test to attain the objective. The long-run empirical results indicated that the Indian equity market and the domestic macroeconomic forces are cointegrated. The long-run coefficients of foreign exchange rate and money supply are found to be significant. The short-run coefficients suggest that money supply, inflation and foreign exchange rate significantly influence the Indian equity market. The study also observed the presence of feedback mechanism between foreign exchange rate and Indian equity market. The study provides the policy and managerial implications.
Access Denied: How Equity Crowdfunding Platforms Use Quality Signals to Select New Ventures
Authors: Kleinert Simon , Bafera Julian , Urbig Diemo , Volkmann Christine K.
Published: May 2021

Among the new ventures actively seeking funds through equity crowdfunding, only a lucky few seemingly survive the rigorous selection process imposed by equity crowdfunding platforms (ECFPs). With a conjoint experiment involving decision-makers from 50 platforms in 22 countries, this study provides first quantitative evidence regarding how ECFPs actually use quality signals to select new ventures to start fundraising campaigns. The ECFPs interpret signals differently, depending on whether they impose a co-investment requirement or generate revenues from new ventures’ long-term performance. The effectiveness of the signals also is contingent on the applicant’s industry background and the signals’ accessibility in the country where the ECFP operates.
Multi-objective optimization design for a magnetorheological damper
Authors: Jiang Min , Rui Xiaoting , Yang Fufeng , Zhu Wei , Zhang Yanni
Published: May 2021

As one of the most important components in the semi-active damping system, the performance of MR damper directly determines the damping capacity of the damping system. In order to make the damping system has excellent damping effect, it is necessary to optimize the working performance of the MR damper. Therefore, Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm version II (NSGA-II) was applied to optimize the structure of MR dampers in this paper. Firstly, the structural scheme of MR damper was proposed. Secondly, the design principle of MR damper was described, and the magnetic circuit material and MR fluid were selected. Thirdly, taking the maximum dynamic range and the minimum number of turns of electromagnetic coil as the optimization objective, the structure of MR damper was optimized by NSGA-II. The structural parameters of MR damper were determined in the Pareto optimal solution set based on the principle of minimum mass. Finally, through the magnetic simulation and the performance testing of the MR damper, it was verified that the MR damper has reasonable magnetic circuit and excellent performance. And the design results meet the requirements. The proposed optimization method can provide a theoretical basis for the optimal design of related damping devices.
Virtual Reality Technology and Remote Digital Application for Tele-Simulation and Global Medical Education: An Innovative Hybrid System for Clinical Training
Authors: Almousa Omamah , Zhang Ruby , Dimma Meghan , Yao Jieming , Allen Arden , Chen Leo , Heidari Parastou , Qayumi Karim
Published: May 2021

Objective.

Although simulation-based medical education is fundamental for acquisition and maintenance of knowledge and skills; simulators are often located in urban centers and they are not easily accessible due to cost, time, and geographic constraints. Our objective is to develop a proof-of-concept innovative prototype using virtual reality (VR) technology for clinical tele simulation training to facilitate access and global academic collaborations.

Methodology.

Our project is a VR-based system using Oculus Quest as a standalone, portable, and wireless head-mounted device, along with a digital platform to deliver immersive clinical simulation sessions. Instructor’s control panel (ICP) application is designed to create VR-clinical scenarios remotely, live-stream sessions, communicate with learners and control VR-clinical training in real-time.

Results.

The Virtual Clinical Simulation (VCS) system offers realistic clinical training in virtual space that mimics hospital environments. Those VR clinical scenarios are customizable to suit the need, with high-fidelity lifelike characters designed to deliver interactive and immersive learning experience. The real-time connection and live-stream between ICP and VR-training system enables interactive academic learning and facilitates access to tele simulation training.

Conclusions.

VCS system provides innovative solutions to major challenges associated with conventional simulation training such as access, cost, personnel, and curriculum. VCS facilitates the delivery of academic and interactive clinical training that is similar to real-life settings. Tele-clinical simulation systems like VCS facilitate necessary academic-community partnerships, as well as global education network between resource-rich and low-income countries.
Police-Generated Killings: The Gap between Ethics and Law
Authors: Jones Ben
Published: May 2021

This article offers a normative analysis of some of the most controversial incidents involving police—what I call police-generated killings. In these cases, bad police tactics create a situation where deadly force becomes necessary, becomes perceived as necessary, or occurs unintentionally. Police deserve blame for such killings because they choose tactics that unnecessarily raise the risk of deadly force, thus violating their obligation to prioritize the protection of life. Since current law in the United States fails to ban many bad tactics, police-generated killings often are treated as “lawful but awful.” To address these killings, some call on changes to departmental policies or voluntary reparations by local governments, yet such measures leave in place a troubling gap between ethics and law. I argue that police-generated killings merit legal sanctions by appealing to a relevant analogy: self-generated self-defense, where the person who engages in self-defense started the trouble. The persistent lack of accountability for police-generated killings threatens life, police legitimacy, and trust in democratic institutions. The article closes by identifying tools in law and policy to address this challenge.
Design and experimental verification of self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system for in-wheel motor electric vehicles
Authors: Wang Ruochen , Jiang Yu , Ding Renkai , Liu Wei , Meng Xiangpeng , Sun Zeyu
Published: May 2021

A self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system integrated with a magnetorheological damper and a linear motor is designed to attenuate the negative effect of vertical vibration caused by the increased unsprung mass for in-wheel motor electric vehicles in this article. The magnetorheological damper is used as a suspension damper to suppress body vibration, and linear motor is used as a dynamic vibration absorber, namely, linear electromagnetic dynamic vibration absorber, to absorb tire vibration, and regenerates the vibration power to drive the magnetorheological damper, realizing self-power. Based on power flow theory, the power transfer mechanism of the vertical vibration for in-wheel motor electric vehicles and the regeneration potential are analyzed. The negative effect on the dynamic performance of in-wheel motor electric vehicles is analyzed through the root mean square of dynamic responses. Moreover, the specific structure scheme of the self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system is provided. The influence of system mass, stiffness, and damping of the linear electromagnetic dynamic vibration absorber on the dynamic performance is analyzed, and these parameters are optimized by particle swarm optimization. Simulation results show that in comparison with a passive damper, the self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system can reduce the body acceleration by 17.05%, which is better than the magnetorheological damper (10.08%). The self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system increases the tire dynamic load by 5.62%, but it is 8.68% less than the magnetorheological damper. Additionally, the regenerated power can offset the consumed power adequately to realize self-power. Finally, a bench test is conducted to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system.
The Value of Explaining the Process: How Journalistic Transparency and Perceptions of News Media Importance Can (Sometimes) Foster Message Credibility and Engagement Intentions
Authors: Peifer Jason T. , Meisinger Jared
Published: May 2021

This research highlights mechanisms underlying transparency’s influence on news engagement, as contingent upon perceptions of the news media’s importance (PNMI). Employing an experimental design with randomized exposure to a transparency feature and contrasting source (regional vs. national newspaper) attributions, the study provides evidence of transparency fostering increased message credibility and (indirectly) news engagement. Transparency’s indirect relationship with engagement intentions was shown to be strongest when average/high in PNMI. Notably, transparency’s effect did not vary by source attribution and was demonstrated with only one of the two stories featured in the study—further highlighting limitations of transparency as a solution for declining news trust and engagement.
Applying Expanded Servicescape to the Hotel Industry
Authors: Lee Seonjeong (Ally) , Chuang Ning-Kuang
Published: May 2021

The physical environment plays an essential role in customers’ hotel stay experiences. Hotels offer a differentiated atmosphere that creates favorable customers’ evaluations. Based on the significant role of environmental cues, this study investigates the effects of an expanded servicescape on customers’ evaluations, including customer satisfaction, quality of life, and customer loyalty, in the context of the hotel industry. To test the proposed research framework, this study collects data from previous hotel customers and conducts a self-administered, online survey. Findings identified ambience, interactions with employees, authenticity, and fascination positively influenced customers’ satisfaction, which further influenced customer loyalty. Only ambience and fascination positively influenced quality of life, which in turn influenced customer loyalty. Results contributed to the application of expanded servicescape in the hotel context. Results also suggested practical implications of the holistic approach of servicescape in the hotel industry.
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for corneal penetrating wounds
Authors: Sarnicola Enrica , Sarnicola Caterina , Cheung Albert Y , Sarnicola Vincenzo
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

To report our surgical experience of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) performed in eyes with scarring resulting from a corneal penetrating wound without tissue loss.

Methods:

Case series of three eyes of three patients that underwent DALK for poor vision due to a scar resulting from a previous corneal penetrating wound. Surgery was performed at least 1 year after the initial injury. Manual dissection technique was used in all cases. Preoperative and postoperative best correct visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative residual bed thickness, and postoperative endothelial cell count (ECC) were evaluated.

Results:

Preoperative BCVA ranged from 1.3 to 1.0 LogMAR. Two eyes were pseudophakic and one eye had a traumatic cataract. Manual DALK was successfully accomplished in all three cases. The mean residual recipient bed thickness was 103 µm (range 68–130 µm). The mean endothelial cell loss at the 6th month of follow-up was 6% (range 3%–11%) with a further 1% decrease at 4 years. One of the patients underwent cataract surgery and limbal relaxing incisions 1 year after DALK having a total endothelial cell loss of 4.8% at 2 years of follow-up. BCVA at 2 years of follow-up was 0.1 LogMAR (range 0.22–0.0 LogMAR). No episode of rejection was recorded, and all grafts remained clear at last follow-up (5 years, range 4–6 years).

Conclusions:

Manual DALK should be considered in cases of corneal scars in optical zone resulting from penetrating wound.