bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agency and Displacement of Ethnic Polish and Jewish Families After World War II
Authors: Cichopek-Gajraj Anna
Published: May 2021

This article follows the migratory experiences of four ethnic Polish and Jewish families from Poland in the aftermath of World War II. It focuses on their agency—choices and decisions—at the time of their displacement, showing that they all improvised or acted creatively, at times outside legal bounds, to find new homes. This article places their agency within gendered family dynamics and the broader social, cultural, and economic contexts. While the postwar displacement by and large maintained gender inequalities, it also created conditions in which the most constrained family members (women and children) could exercise meaningful action by using the available models and resources and inverting the traditional family roles.
Enhanced recovery after cystectomy in patients with preoperative narcotic use
Authors: Ghodoussipour Saum , Ghoreifi Alireza , Katebian Behdod , Cameron Brian H. , Mitra Anirban P. , Cai Jie , Miranda Gus , Schuckman Anne K. , Daneshmand Siamak , Djaladat Hooman
Published: May 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of radical cystectomy with an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients with a history of chronic preoperative narcotic use compared to narcotic-naive patients.

Methods: We identified 553 patients who underwent open radical cystectomy with ERAS. Preoperative narcotic use was identified in 34 patients who were then matched to 68 narcotic-naive patients. Postoperative outcomes, opioid use, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were analyzed and compared. All routes of opioid use were recorded and converted to a morphine equivalent dose (MED).

Results: Patients with preoperative narcotic use reported higher median VAS pain scores per day (POD1: 5.2 vs. 3.9, p=0.003; POD2: 5.1 vs. 3.6, p<0.001; POD3: 4.6 vs. 3.8, p=0.004) and used significantly more opioids (median MED) per day (POD1: 13.2 vs. 10.0, p=0.02; POD2: 11.3 vs. 6.4, p=0.003; POD3: 10.2 vs. 5.0, p=0.005) following surgery. Preoperative narcotic users were noted to have a significantly higher incidence of 90-day readmissions (41.2% vs. 20.6%, p=0.03). There was no difference in median hospital stay (4 vs. 4 days, p=0.6), 30- or 90-day complications (64.7% vs. 60.3%, p=0.8 and 82.4% vs. 75.0%, p=0.4, respectively) or gastrointestinal complications (29.4% vs. 26.5%, p=0.8), including postoperative ileus (11.8% vs. 20.6%, p=0.2).

Conclusions: Patients with preoperative narcotic exposure report higher pain scores and require more opioid use following radical cystectomy with ERAS and are more likely to be readmitted within 90 days. However, there was no observed difference in hospital stay or complications.
Do Performance Goals and Development, Feedback and Recognition, and a Climate of Trust Improve Employee Engagement in Small Businesses in the United States?
Authors: Tate Tywanda D. , Lartey Franklin M. , Randall Phillip M.
Published: May 2021

Small businesses are the predominant contributors to the U.S. economy, yet they face many challenges to remain competitive and sustainable. There are several reasons a small business could fail, including a lack of human resources, limited financial resources, competition, technological advancements, disaster, and globalization. Improving employee performance by getting them engaged and productive in their work is an issue that cannot be overlooked for small businesses to function and remain competitive. There is limited empirical evidence that explains the dimensions of performance management and employee engagement in small businesses. However, how small businesses sustain their long-term performance remains uncertain. This study sought to bring together two previously distinct constructs: overall employee engagement and overall performance management, characterized by performance goals and development, a climate of trust, and feedback and recognition. The research was correlational in nature. A survey was conducted to generate and analyze data gathered from 121 employees of small businesses located in the United States. A series of Pearson correlation analyses confirmed the existence of statistically significant positive relationships between employee engagement and each variable of performance management, namely performance goals and development, feedback and recognition, and climate of trust. Notwithstanding these positive correlations, a multiple regression model with the three performance management variables as independent variables and employee engagement as the dependent variable suggested that there was a statistically significant regression model F(3, 117) = 32.34, p < .001, R2 = .453, explaining 45.3% of the variability in employee engagement. Nonetheless, this model confirmed that the variables performance goals and development and climate of trust were not statistically significant in the model (p > .05). In other words, only the feedback and recognition variable was statistically significant in the regression model, suggesting that it explained most of the variability in engagement, including that already explained by the other two variables. Overall, the outcome of this study suggests that small businesses implementing performance management processes have more engaged employees. The conclusions drawn from these findings suggest that overall performance management and overall employee engagement contribute to small business productivity and organizational success.
Some Considerations on the Issue of Economic and Social Sustainability
Authors: COSSIGA Giovanni Antonio
Published: May 2021

To be implemented and analyzed, according to the good rules of relationship with nature, sustainability must be equipped with a theoretical scheme able of helping to understand the dynamics of this relationship together with the opportunities offered to improve the development of the economic system. Essentially, it’s about acknowledging that, just like physics, also the economy is subject to some general and abstract laws. This is the case of the core inflation value, defined by Central Banks as a value close to 2%. So, if the economy moves along the track indicated by this value, we have confirmation that growth is regularly developing. This core inflation value is implicitly defined without a clear specification. We can therefore admit that it’s an ideal value like the great universal constants, which reports about an economic system that develops according to the rules of natural compatibility. According to this point of view, the core inflation close to 2% is essentially a utopia, because it can only be achieved if the global economic growth moves in full accordance with the nature around us. It follows that even if we can verify on field the realization of a base value close to 2%, actually we are not in the best conditions, especially if the global economy is suffering from deflation as today. The deflation, that is the tendency of prices to fall, is part of the complex messages sent by the nature and economic systems to signal that the economy is not doing well and has become unstable. Both inflation and deflation are messages that never contribute to the economic development course, but they are born and evolving in parallel with the appearance of the economic cycle in daily activity. In summary, a mechanism that has the responsibility, by imposing pauses on the system, to reduce the instability of the systems and to facilitate the return to the natural development condition. A correction system based on the economic conjuncture that obviously distinguishes the stability by the way that the economy grows and develops in a linear and constant inclination depending on differentials.
Anesthetic considerations and postoperative pain management in radical penectomy: Case report
Authors: Ghiringhelli M. Juan Pablo , López Maryana
Published: May 2021

Radical penectomy (RP) is infrequently performed as it is reserved for specific cases of penile cancer, hence the paucity of reports regarding surgical and anesthetic considerations. Acute postoperative pain, chronic post-surgical pain, concomitant mood disorders as well as a profound impact on the patient’s quality of life have been documented. This case is of a patient with diabetes and coronary heart disease, who presented with advanced, overinfected penile cancer, depressive disorder and a history of pain of neuropathic characteristics. The patient underwent radical penectomy using a combined spinal-epidural technique for anesthesia. Preoperatively, the patient was treated with pregabalin and magnesium sulphate, and later received a blood transfusion due to intraoperative blood loss. Adequate intra and postoperative analgesia was achieved with L-bupivacaine given through a peridural catheter during one week. Recovery was good, pain was stabilized to preoperative levels and the patient received pharmacological support and follow-up by psychiatry and the pain team.
Successful systemic fibrinolysis in a patient with Covid- 19: Case report
Authors: Flores Cajal Beatriz , Ortolá Rocher Begoña , Betolaza Weimer Laura , Gil Mayo Diego , León Núñez María , Repáraz Grávalos Paloma , Gómez Rojo María , Bartolomé Rubio Guillermo
Published: May 2021

The new coronavirus 2019-nCov or SARS-Cov-2 is responsible for the most important pandemic in the 21st century: the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The 2019-nCov infection elicits a hyper-coagulable state, conditioning a worse outcome in these patients. The pathophysiology of the exaggerated coagulation activation in these patients is still unknown, and probably involves several mechanisms, different from those involved in sepsis-associated coagulopathy.
This article discusses the case of a patient with no remarkable medical history, who after 7 days of fever, diarrhea and epigastric pain was diagnosed with COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia, further aggravated by severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. In this context, the patient experienced a massive acute pulmonary thromboembolism accompanied by an acute thrombus in the heart’s right ventricle, leading to hemodynamic instability. For the first time in our center in these patients, systemic fibrinolysis was successfully performed, with resolution of the intracavitary thrombus and the acute hemodynamic shock.
Tecnologías emergentes, poderes en competencia y regiones en disputa: América latina y el 5G en la contienda tecnológica entre China y Estados Unidos
Authors: Colombo Sandra , López María Paz , Vera Nevia
Published: May 2021

El presente artículo se centra en la vigente disputa tecnológica entre Estados Unidos y la República Popular China, haciendo hincapié en el impacto que la misma presenta a nivel latinoamericano. Más precisamente, analiza las medidas y presiones que, frente a la implementación -real y potencial- de la tecnología de 5G china en América Latina, pone en marcha Estados Unidos, en el intento de contener la primacía tecnológica del gigante asiático sobre su histórica área de influencia y predominio. Para ello, se adopta un enfoque cualitativo, se estudian dos casos específicos –Brasil y Argentina-, y se analizan artículos, documentos y notasperiodísticas. Se concluye en que, a pesar de las crecientes expresiones de esta puja sino-estadounidense en torno de la implementación de la tecnología de 5G en territorio latinoamericano, la cual atraviesa aspectos fundamentales como la seguridad y la autonomía tecnológica, los países de la región no han colocado aún la temática en agenda. En especial, Argentina y Brasil no han podido superar sus diferencias políticas recientes, lo cual debilita su capacidad de negociación en la materia.
High-Level and Efficient Stream Parallelism on Multi-core Systems with SPar for Data Compression Applications
Authors: Griebler Dalvan , B. Hoffmann Renato , Loff Junior , Danelutto Marco , Gustavo Fernandes Luiz
Published: May 2021

The stream processing domain is present in several real-world applications that are running on multi-core systems. In this paper, we focus on data compression applications that are an important sub-set of this domain. Our main goal is to assess the programmability and efficiency of domain-specific language called SPar. It was specially designed for expressing stream parallelism and it promises higher-level parallelism abstractions without significant performance losses. Therefore, we parallelized Lzip and Bzip2 compressors with SPar and compared with state-of-the-art frameworks. The results revealed that SPar is able to efficiently exploit stream parallelism as well as provide suitable abstractions with less code intrusion and code refactoring.
De Clerambault Syndrome: Current Perspective
Authors: Ghosh Tulika , Chowdhary Minkesh
Published: May 2021

De Clerambault syndrome is a psychological condition named after Gaetan Gatian De Clerambault in which the sufferer is under the delusion that a certain person is in love with him or her. This is a condition in which the patient, often a single woman, believes than an exalted person is in love with her although the alleged lover may never have spoken to them. Occasionally, isolated delusions of this kind are found in abnormal personality states. Erotomania may also be a feature of paranoid schizophrenia. Sometimes, schizophrenia may begin with a circumscribed delusion of a fantasy lover, and subsequently delusions may become more diffuse, and hallucinations may develop. This chapter will focus on the role of technological advancements in the origin of this syndrome in various age groups.
Characteristics and Antibiotic Resistance of Haemophilus influenzae in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Chengdu, China
Authors: Wang Qin , Liu Cheng-Gui , Xu Jian , Zhang Qin , Zhao Chong-Hui , Song Pei-Pei
Published: May 2021

Background: Haemophilus influenzae is an opportunistic pathogen of the human respiratory tract. Haemophilus influenzae can cause not only respiratory tract infection in children but also otitis media, epiglottitis and sinusitis. With the widespread use of antibiotics, the positive rate of β-lactamase in H. influenzae is increasing, and the rate of antimicrobial resistance is also increasing, which increases the difficulty of clinical treatment. Objectives: To study the infection characteristics of patients and the antibiotic resistance of H. influenzae in lower respiratory tract samples of children in Chengdu, so as to provide a reference for its clinical diagnosis and the rational use of antibiotics. Methods: Sputum samples of 15891 children aged 0-14 years with lower respiratory tract infection were collected. Haemophilus influenzae was cultured and identified, its drug susceptibility tested, and the results determined according to the guidelines of CLSI 2020. Results: A total of 15891 clinical isolate strains in sputum were detected for drug sensitivity from December 2018 to January 2020, of which 5488 were H. influenzae, accounting for 34.54% (5488/15891). The sex of children infected with H. influenzae was not skewed (P > 0.05). The detection rate of H. influenzae was the highest in children aged 7 - 11 months, and the lowest was in the age group ≤ 28 d. The detection rate was the highest in spring and the lowest in autumn. The positive rate of β-lactamase was 92.0%, the resistance rate to ampicillin was 92.0%, the sensitivity to amoxicillin/clavulanate was 70.2%, and the sensitivity to cefotaxime, ofloxacin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and rifampicin was more than 90.0%. Conclusions: Children aged 7 months to 14 years were generally susceptible to H. influenzae in spring, and the positive rate of β-lactamase was high. Doctors should refer to the infection characteristics and drug resistance of H. influenzae and choose antibiotics correctly to better control the infection.
Hacia un modelo Transdiagnóstico integrador de la Psicopatología externalizante [Towards an Integrative Transdiagnostic Model of the Externalizing Psychopathology]
Authors: Toro Ronald , García-García Juan , Zaldivar-Basurto Flor
Published: May 2021

ResumenLa investigación de las psicopatologías del espectro externalizante ha tenido avances significativos desde modelos transdiagnósticos integradores. En el presente artículo se presenta un análisis de los avances y las direcciones de integración, haciendo un énfasis particular en las principales variables y modelos teóricos considerados relevantes. En primer lugar, se resalta la importancia de una perspectiva dimensional espectral de los diagnósticos, según sus mecanismos etiológicos y mantenedores comunes, no solamente a nivel sintomático sino procesal. Entre las variables con mayor evidencia se presentan la disregulación emocional y la rumiación ira, ambas asociadas a la aparición y modulación de la respuesta agresiva reactiva y proactiva. Al finalizar, se propone la integración de los aportes derivados de la teoría de la sensibilidad al refuerzo y los sistemas de dominancia conductual, en un modelo transdiagnóstico integrador. Esta propuesta involucra los avances teóricos a nivel motivacional como la inhibición y la activación conductual, cuya capacidad explicativa permite comprender las dificultades relativas a la impulsividad, la psicopatía, y la autorregulación emocional y conductual. Estos avances convergen en el marco de investigación de criterio dominante, un verdadero avance en los estudios de la salud mental actual. AbstractResearch on externalizing spectrum psychopathologies has had significant advances from integrative transdiagnostic models. This article analyzes the progress and directions of integration, with particular emphasis on the main variables and theoretical models considered relevant. First, the importance of a spectral dimensional perspective of the diagnoses is highlighted based on their common etiological mechanisms and maintainers, not only at the symptomatic level but also at the procedural level. Emotional dysregulation and anger rumination are among the variables with the most evidence, both associated with the appearance and modulation of the reactive and proactive aggressive response. In the end, the integration of the contributions derived from the theory of reinforcement sensitivity, and behavioral dominance systems is proposed in an integrative transdiagnostic model. This proposal involves theoretical advances at the motivational level, such as inhibition and behavioral activation, whose explanatory capacity allows understanding the difficulties related to impulsivity, psychopathy, and emotional and behavioral self-regulation. These advances converge in the dominant criterion research framework, a real breakthrough in current mental health studies.
From the Manifest Motive to the Real Demand of the Patient in the Psychological Consultation [Del motivo manifiesto a la demanda real del paciente en la consulta psicológica]
Authors: Prieto Silva Patricia , Hernández Martínez Laura , Muñoz Domínguez Miguel Omar
Published: May 2021

AbtractSometimes it is confusing to determine why you go to a psychological consultation; for the interviewer, it is extremely important to be clear about the manifest and latent motives, as well as the expectations of treatment with a psychoanalytic approach. It is a qualitative study, with a descriptive-explanatory design, which includes the analysis of semi-structured interviews. Twenty medical records of patients who attended the Centers for Psychological Intervention (CISP) in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico; in order to identify the manifest motive and latent motives, as well as treatment expectations and disease awareness. A relationship between these will be established, and their relevance of knowing them will be demonstrated so that later it can be used in an effective therapeutic process.ResumenEn ocasiones resulta confuso determinar por qué se acude a una consulta psicológica; para el entrevistador es de suma relevancia tener claros los motivos manifiestos y la­tentes, así como las expectativas del tratamiento con orien­tación psicoanalítica. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, de diseño descriptivo-explicativo, el cual incluye el análisis de entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Se analizaron 20 histo­rias clínicas de pacientes que acudieron a los Centros de Intervención Psicológica (CISP) en el estado de Zacatecas, México; con la finalidad de identificar el motivo mani­fiesto y los motivos latentes, así como las expectativas del tratamiento y la conciencia de enfermedad. Se establecerá una relación entre estos, y se demostrará su relevancia de conocer los mismos para que posteriormente se consiga emplear en un proceso terapéutico eficaz
Geometry and Resistance of the IACC Systematic Series "Il Moro di Venezia"
Authors: Batti D. , Peri D. , Campana E. F.
Published: May 2021

The geometry and bare hull resistance of the IACC systematic series “Il Moro di Venezia” are presented and analyzed. In the first part, the geometry of the model is described; then a number of comparisons is made, following the logic of development of the series. The parent model resistance is compared with that of models for which a single parameter has been varied. Variations concern the bow shape, the stern overhang, the prismatic coefficient, the midsection coefficient, the BWL/TC and LWL/BWL ratios, the displacement. The comparisons in some cases confirm already known trends, like the effect related to the beam and draft variation. In other cases results are somewhat new and interesting both from a qualitative and quantitative viewpoint, like those concerning the bow shape variation. The second part of the paper deals with a statistical study of the systematic series. The main point of this study is to apply a simple approach that allows the researcher to rank the influence of the geometric parameters on the resistance curve. The choice here is to adopt the simple method of correlation coefficients. Starting from a first ranking of a number of non-dimensional parameters based on the mentioned coefficients, a first approximation of the resistance is obtained. Then this function is successfully improved, by adopting some additional restrictions coming from the consideration of the mutual correlation among the variables and regarding the type of included statistical indicators.
Database of Sail Shapes vs. Sail Performance and Validation of Numerical Calculation for Upwind Condition
Authors: Masuyama Yutaka , Tahara Yusuke , Fukasawa Toichi , Maeda Naotoshi
Published: May 2021

Database of full-scale three-dimensional sail shapes are presented with the aerodynamic coefficients for the upwind condition of IMS type sails. Three-dimensional shape data are used for the input of numerical calculations and the results are compared with the measured sail performance. The sail shapes and performance are measured using a sail dynamometer boat Fujin. The Fujin is a 34-foot LOA boat, in which load cells and charge coupled devices (CCD) cameras are installed to measure the sail forces and shapes simultaneously. The sailing conditions of the boat, such as boat speed, heel angle, wind speed, wind angle, and so on, are also measured. The tested sail configurations are as follows: mainsail with 130% jib, mainsail with 75% jib and mainsail alone. Sail shapes are measured at several height positions. The measured shape parameters are chord length, maximum draft, maximum draft position, entry angle at the luff and exit angle at the leech. From these parameters three-dimensional coordinates of the sails are calculated by interpolation. These three-dimensional coordinates are tabulated with the aerodynamic coefficients.

Numerical calculations are performed using the measured sail shapes. The calculation methods are of two types; Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)-based CFD and vortex lattice methods (VLM). A multi-block RANS-based CFD method was developed by one of the authors and is capable of predicting viscous flows and aerodynamic forces for complicated sail configuration for upwind as well as downwind conditions. Important features of the numerical method are summarized as follows: a Finite- Analytic scheme to discretize transport equations, a PISO type velocity-pressure coupling scheme, multi-block domain decomposition capability, and several choices of turbulence models depending on flows of interest. An automatic grid generation scheme is also included. Another calculation method, the vortex lattice method is also adopted. In this case, step-by-step calculations are conducted to attain the steady state of the sail in steady wind. Wake vortices are generated step-by-step, which flow in the direction of the local velocity vector. These calculated sail forces are compared with the measured one, and the validity of the numerical method is studied. The sail shape database and comparison with numerical calculations will provide a good benchmark for the sail performance analysis of the upwind condition of IMS type sails.
Enhanced Wind Tunnel and Full-Scale Sail Force Comparison
Authors: Hansen Heikki , Richards Peter J. , Jackson Peter S.
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a comparison between wind tunnel and full-scale aerodynamic sail force measurements using enhanced wind tunnel testing techniques to model the full-scale sailing conditions more accurately. The first comparison was conducted by Hansen et al., 2003a, in the Twisted Flow Wind Tunnel (TFWT) at The University of Auckland and followed standard testing procedures. Since then enhancements have been made and two aspects not considered in the original comparison are highlighted here. The interaction of the hull and sail forces is now considered and trim changes of the sails due to wind strength are included.

For the enhanced comparison the interaction between the hull/deck and the sails is investigated by installing a secondary force balance inside the model to measure the hull/deck forces and by pressure tapping the hull/deck to determine the surface pressure distribution. It is found that the presence of the sails significantly affects the forces on hull/deck when sailing upwind, which should be accounted for consistently in comparisons of full-scale, wind tunnel, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data.

In the original comparison the sails were trimmed in the wind tunnel to the aerodynamically optimal shape by maximizing the drive force. Trim variations due to wind strength were however noted in full-scale data so that depowering is considered in the enhanced comparison. The sails in the wind tunnel were trimmed based on the fullscale wind strength and the yacht performance by employing a Real-Time Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) to achieve realistically depowered sail shapes.

Utilising the enhanced wind tunnel techniques a generally good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the full-scale data was achieved, but a conclusive judgment of the accuracy of the comparison cannot be made.
Performance Prediction without Empiricism: A RANS-Based VPP and Design Optimization Capability
Authors: Korpus Richard
Published: May 2021

The use of Velocity Prediction Programs (VPP’s) in sailing yacht design has been standard practice for years. VPP fidelity, however, continues to be limited by the accuracy of aero and hydro force data used to represent a particular yacht. Even the most advanced America’s Cup VPP’s usually derive sail forces from panel or vortexlattice models, and hull forces from potential flow codes or experiment. Real world effects attributed to viscosity are added using simplified theoretical or empirical models that cannot resolve all the complexity of sailboat physics.

This paper describes a new approach for performance prediction and design optimization that relies solely on high-resolution Reynolds-Averaged NavierStokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics. All aero and hydro forces and moments are generated by RANS, and therefore include the real-world flow features of boundary layers, separation, shed vorticity, and turbulence. RANS software and grid model requirements suitable for VPP applications are discussed, and sample aero and hydro solutions included. Examples from America’s Cup design are used to demonstrate the technique’s practicality and accuracy. Finally, since VPP’s require forces from a large number of sailing conditions, the extensive development effort (undertaken through three America’s Cup cycles) to transition state-of-the-art RANS into the practical realm is summarized.
SNAME’s Stability Letter Improvement Project (SLIP) for
Passenger Sailing Vessels
Authors: Miles Jan C. , Johnson Bruce , Womack John , Franzen Iver
Published: May 2021

The current required USCG stability letters for passenger sailing vessels provide little useful stability information to the master when operating their vessel in “typical” every day conditions. Sudden squalls, even moderate ones, with their rapid and relatively large increases in wind speed and/or shifts in direction can be of more concern to the master than full fledged storms, both for vessel and passenger safety. This paper will present an overview of SNAME’s ongoing SLIP project to improve operator guidance available for passenger sailing vessels, traditional and otherwise. New approaches to developing operator guidance for non full storm conditions and presenting that guidance in a manner useful to the master will be explored. In addition, the prototype instrumentation and data logging package installed onboard Pride of Baltimore II for her 2005 European cruise will also be discussed including the analysis of two squalls that were encountered.
La réputation de l’acquéreur et la réaction des marchés financiers à l’annonce de fusions-acquisitions internationales
Authors: Chalençon Ludivine , Colovic Ana , Lamotte Olivier , Mayrhofer Ulrike
Published: May 2021

Nous examinons l’influence de la réputation de l’acquéreur sur la réaction des investisseurs suite à l’annonce de fusions-acquisitions internationales. En nous appuyant sur la théorie du signal, nous avançons que la réputation envoie un signal positif aux investisseurs lorsque de telles opérations sont annoncées. Notre étude empirique est fondée sur 134 fusions-acquisitions internationales réalisées par des entreprises multinationales françaises. Nos résultats confirment que la réputation est positivement liée à la création de valeur à court terme des fusions-acquisitions. Toutefois, la réaction positive des investisseurs à l’annonce de fusions-acquisitions est de moindre intensité pour les entreprises les plus réputées. De plus, nous montrons que la relation entre réputation et création de valeur est négativement modérée par la stratégie de diversification sectorielle de l’acquéreur.
Théorie et pratique d’une pensée intempestive. À propos du Devoir d’indignation d’Ambroise Kom
Authors: Tchumkam Hervé
Published: May 2021

Dans cet article, je propose une réflexion théorique inspirée de l’ouvrage Le Devoir d’indignation (2012) d’Ambroise Kom, en me focalisant sur ce que j’ai nommé une pensée intempestive qui recoupe les oscillations d’une réflexion qui, faisant l’éloge de la dissidence, en appelle au devoir d’indignation. À partir des réflexions d’Ambroise Kom sur la fiction du monde noir et de sa diaspora, je mettrai en relief des points de croisement entre littérature et philosophie, en proposant en effet que le renouvellement de la pensée critique qui s’applique aux littératures africaines devra passer par des approches philosophiques, notamment celles centrées autour du rapport entre esthétique et politique.
I TAK W KOŁO MACIEJU, CZYLI JAK POWSTAJE SZUM MEDIALNY
Authors: Miotk Anna, Danuta
Published: May 2021

Szum medialny został zdefiniowany przez Petera Vastermana jako generowana przez media, wszechogarniająca fala wiadomości, wywołana przez jedno określone wydarzenie i wzmocniona przez samonapędzający się proces w ramach produkcji wiadomości przez media. Badacze zajmujący się tym zjawiskiem określają je różnymi nazwami, wskazują jego typowe cechy wraz z przedstawianiem jego przebiegu pod postacią graficznie zwizualizowanych modeli oraz zastanawiają się nad jego genezą. Celem opisanej w tekście analizy było usystematyzowanie wiedzy badaczy na temat przyczyn powstawania szumu medialnego na bazie analizy anglojęzycznej literatury przedmiotu. Jest to pierwsza tego typu analiza, zarówno na gruncie polskim (gdzie szum medialny jako samoistne zjawisko nie był do tej pory opisywany), jak i zagranicznym (gdzie jak dotąd nie dokonano systematyzacji zjawiska).
Protocol of Explanatory Study on Social, Economic and Political Dimensions of Nutritional Status of Children Aged Six to Sixty Months from Low Socio-Economic Strata in Kerala, India
Authors: Jayalakshmi Rajeev , Srinivasan Kannan
Published: May 2021

Background: Despite having better human development indicators, one-fifth of under-five children in Kerala are undernourished. The demographic, socio-economic, cultural and political transition in Kerala necessitates a revisit on the causes of undernutrition among children given that it tackled many of the immediate causes of undernutrition. The present study aims at the multi-dimensional factors' influence on nutritional status of children from low socio-economic strata in Kerala.

Methods/Design: The conceptual framework for the present study adapted the ecosocial theory by Nancy Krieger. We use an explanatory study design, by adopting both quantitative and qualitative methods. The sample size for the quantitative phase is 600 children of age six to 60 months and their mothers. The qualitative phase includes in-depth interviews with key informants. The data collection tools include weighing scale and stadiometer for taking anthropometric measurements, household survey questionnaire, interview schedule for mothers, interview guide for key informants, field diary and checklist for document analysis.

Discussion: Contextual evidence that the study generates will have implications at individual, service provision and policy perspectives of undernutrition among children in Kerala. It will help improve the nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive policies and programs in Kerala, which in turn will improve the nutritional status of the children.
Secure and dynamic access control for the Internet of Things (IoT) based traffic system
Authors: Aftab Muhammad Umar , Oluwasanmi Ariyo , Alharbi Abdullah , Sohaib Osama , Nie Xuyun , Qin Zhiguang , Ngo Son Tung
Published: May 2021

Today, the trend of the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasing through the use of smart devices, vehicular networks, and household devices with internet-based networks. Specifically, the IoT smart devices and gadgets used in government and military are crucial to operational success. Communication and data sharing between these devices have increased in several ways. Similarly, the threats of information breaches between communication channels have also surged significantly, making data security a challenging task. In this context, access control is an approach that can secure data by restricting unauthorized users. Various access control models exist that can effectively implement access control yet, and there is no single state-of-the-art model that can provide dynamicity, security, ease of administration, and rapid execution all at once. In combating this loophole, we propose a novel secure and dynamic access control (SDAC) model for the IoT networks (smart traffic control and roadside parking management). Our proposed model allows IoT devices to communicate and share information through a secure means by using wired and wireless networks (Cellular Networks or Wi-Fi). The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed model are demonstrated using mathematical models and discussed with many example implementations.
Mobile-assisted and gamification-based language learning: a systematic literature review
Authors: Ishaq Kashif , Mat Zin Nor Azan , Rosdi Fadhilah , Jehanghir Muhammad , Ishaq Samia , Abid Adnan
Published: May 2021

Learning a new language is a challenging task. In many countries, students are encouraged to learn an international language at school level. In particular, English is the most widely used international language and is being taught at the school level in many countries. The ubiquity and accessibility of smartphones combined with the recent developments in mobile application and gamification in teaching and training have paved the way for experimenting with language learning using mobile phones. This article presents a systematic literature review of the published research work in mobile-assisted language learning. To this end, more than 60 relevant primary studies which have been published in well-reputed venues have been selected for further analysis. The detailed analysis reveals that researchers developed many different simple and gamified mobile applications for learning languages based on various theories, frameworks, and advanced tools. Furthermore, the study also analyses how different applications have been evaluated and tested at different educational levels using different experimental settings while incorporating a variety of evaluation measures. Lastly, a taxonomy has been proposed for the research work in mobile-assisted language learning, which is followed by promising future research challenges in this domain.
Risk Factors for Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Positivity for SARS-CoV-2 among Health Care Workers in a Group of Tertiary Care Hospitals in Mumbai: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Mutha Amit Shrenikraj , Beldar Amit Shashikant , Desai Shashank , Kumar Nishant , Bhartiya Shibal , Singh Tarundeep
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Health Care Workers (HCWs) can acquire or transmit Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from and to patients respectively. There is limited data on risk factors for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among HCWs. Aim: To evaluate the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst HCWs of tertiary care hospitals in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted among 801 HCWs from three tertiary care hospitals. Data regarding demography, co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, immunosuppressive therapy, asthma), symptoms, contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and protective precautions at the work place was collected. Infection diagnosed by Respiratory Tract samples- Reverse Trancriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test was correlated with the above factors. Results: Of the participants, 50.1% were working in designated COVID-19 area; 85.1% had no co-morbidity. A total of 62 of the 801 (7.75%) HCWs had a history of positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Only asthma was associated with a significant higher in infection rate. Loss of taste/smell (30%), acute febrile illness (46.4%), acute respiratory illness (18.5%) were more common in persons with RT-PCR positivity (p<0.05). Visit to fever clinic, positive household member, and a definite history of exposure to a COVID-19 positive patient, were significantly associated with higher risk of infection. Working in designated COVID-19 hospital was not a significant risk factor (8.5% vs 5.6%). HCWs on Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) prophylaxis had significantly lower rate of infection. Conclusion: Rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs was 7.7%. Presence of symptoms, especially, loss of taste/smell, fever and respiratory symptoms are associated with high positive rates. Working in a designated COVID hospital was not a risk factor for increased rate of infection. HCQ prophylaxis is associated with reduced rate of COVID-19 among HCWs.
Hydrogen Desorption Properties of MgH2 + 10 wt% SiO2 + 5 wt% Ni Prepared by Planetary Ball Milling
Authors: Malahayati Malahayati , Yufita Evi , Ismail Ismail , Mursal Mursal , Idroes Rinaldi , Jalil Zulkarnain
Published: May 2021

MgH2 is a very hopeful material for application as hydrogen storage material in the solid form. This is due to its reversibility and its ability to store large amounts of hydrogen, which is 7.6 wt%. However, this material still has weaknesses, namely high operating temperature and slow kinetic reactions. Various attempts have been made to overcome this weakness, including downsizing and adding catalyst. In this study, double catalyst was used, namely natural silica extracted from rice husk ash and nickel nano powder, with a composition of MgH2 + 10 wt% SiO2 + 5 wt% Ni. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of downsizing and using these catalysts to the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the hydrogen storage material MgH2. Samples were prepared by using High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM), with variations in milling time of 1, 5, 10, and 15 hours. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern showed the presence of an impurity phase in the samples milled for 10 and 15 hours. It also showed a reduction in grain size with increasing milling time. However, agglomeration has occurred in the samples milled for 15 hours. From the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results can be seen that the sample with longer milling time, were homogeneously distribute. Thermal investigation showed that the lowest desorption temperature was achieved in samples with milling time of 5 and 10 hours, namely 287 °C and 288 °C. This study shows that natural silica catalyst plays a role in improving the thermodynamic characteristics of MgH2, while Ni plays a role in improving the kinetic characteristics of MgH2. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Lipopolysaccharide from the commensal microbiota of the breast enhances cancer growth: role of S100A7 and TLR4
Authors: Wilkie Tasha , Verma Ajeet K. , Zhao Helong , Charan Manish , Ahirwar Dinesh K. , Kant Sashi , Pancholi Vijay , Mishra Sanjay , Ganju Ramesh K.
Published: May 2021

The role of commensal bacterial microbiota in the pathogenesis of human malignancies has been a research field of incomparable progress in recent years. Although breast tissue is commonly assumed to be sterile, recent studies suggest that human breast tissue may contain a bacterial microbiota. In this study, we used an immune‐competent orthotopic breast cancer mouse model to explore the existence of a unique and independent bacterial microbiota in breast tumors. We observed some similarities in breast cancer microbiota with skin; however, breast tumor microbiota was mainly enriched with Gram‐negative bacteria, serving as a primary source of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) treatment in late‐stage tumor lesions increased LPS levels in the breast tissue environment. We also discovered an increased expression of S100A7 and low level of TLR4 in late‐stage tumors with or without DSS as compared to early‐stage tumor lesions. The treatment of breast cancer cells with LPS increased the expression of S100A7 in breast cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, S100A7 overexpression downregulated TLR4 and upregulated RAGE expression in breast cancer cells. Analysis of human breast cancer samples also highlighted the inverse correlation between S100A7 and TLR4 expression. Overall, these findings suggest that the commensal microbiota of breast tissue may enhance breast tumor burden through a novel LPS/S100A7/TLR4/RAGE signaling axis.
Tungsten‐Disulfide/Polyaniline High Frequency Supercapacitors
Authors: De Adhikari Amrita , Shauloff Nitzan , Turkulets Yury , Shalish Ilan , Jelinek Raz
Published: May 2021

Transition metal dichalcogenides are considered promising constituents in energy storage devices due to their large surface areas, 2D sheet structures, and occurrence of efficient redox reactions at their surfaces. Supercapacitors comprising WS2‐polyaniline (PANI) composite electrodes which exhibit excellent electrochemical properties, particularly effective high frequency response, are constructed. The highly porous WS2‐PANI device facilitate rapid ion transport and surface access, aiding rapid reversible redox reactions contributing to the high frequency pseudocapacitive profile of the device. The symmetric WS2‐PANI supercapacitor displays significantly higher capacitance of 180 µF cm−2 at a frequency of 120 Hz. This study points to potential application of WS2 composites in high frequency applications such as alternating current line filtering, and may open new avenues for employing the material in energy storage applications.
A Fully Integrated Ferroelectric Thin‐Film‐Transistor – Influence of Device Scaling on Threshold Voltage Compensation in Displays
Authors: Lehninger David , Ellinger Martin , Ali Tarek , Li Songrui , Mertens Konstantin , Lederer Maximilian , Olivio Ricardo , Kämpfe Thomas , Hanisch Norbert , Biedermann Kati , Rudolph Matthias , Brackmann Varvara , Sanctis Shawn , Jank Michael P. M. , Seidel Konrad
Published: May 2021

Thin‐film transistors (TFTs) based on amorphous indium‐gallium‐zinc‐oxide (a‐IGZO) have attracted vast attention for use in organic light‐emitting diode (AMOLED) displays due to their high electron mobility and large current on–off ratio. Although amorphous oxide semiconductors show considerably less threshold voltage (Vth) variation than poly‐silicon, large‐area processing and degradation effects can impede the characteristic parameters of a‐IGZO TFTs, which manifests in an uneven brightness distribution across the display panel. SuchVthvariations are usually reduced by additional compensation circuits consisting of TFTs and capacitors. Herein, a new approach to compensate such variabilities is demonstrated: the integration of a programmable ferroelectric (FE) film in the gate stack of the TFT. This simplifies the complexity of the pixel cell and potentially minimizes the need for compensation circuits, which is crucial for transparent displays. To test this new approach, fully integrated FE‐TFTs (i.e., with vias contacting a structured bottom gate electrode from the top) based on a‐IGZO and FE hafnium‐zirconium oxide (HZO) are developed. A single low‐temperature post‐fabrication treatment at 350 °C for 1 h in air is used to simultaneously crystallize the HZO film in the FE phase and to reduce the number of defects in the a‐IGZO channel. The structural and electrical characterizations provide comprehensive guidance for the design of effective FE‐TFT gate stacks and device geometries. An accurate control of the polarization state and linear switching between multiple intermediate states is shown by using programming pulses of various amplitudes and widths. Furthermore, a direct correlation between the channel length and the applied pulse width for programming is observed.
Variation in frequency of plastid RNA editing within Adiantum implies rapid evolution in fern plastomes
Authors: Fauskee Blake D. , Sigel Erin M. , Pryer Kathleen M. , Grusz Amanda L.
Published: May 2021

Premise

Recent studies of plant RNA editing have demonstrated that the number of editing sites can vary widely among large taxonomic groups (orders, families). Yet, very little is known about intrageneric variation in frequency of plant RNA editing, and no study has been conducted in ferns.

Methods

We determined plastid RNA‐editing counts for two species of Adiantum (Pteridaceae), A. shastense and A. aleuticum, by implementing a pipeline that integrated read‐mapping and SNP‐calling software to identify RNA‐editing sites. We then compared the edits found in A. aleuticum and A. shastense with previously published edits from A. capillus‐veneris by generating alignments for each plastid gene.

Results

We found direct evidence for 505 plastid RNA‐editing sites in A. aleuticum and 509 in A. shastense, compared with 350 sites in A. capillus‐veneris. We observed striking variation in the number and location of the RNA‐editing sites among the three species, with reverse (U‐to‐C) editing sites showing a higher degree of conservation than forward (C‐to‐U) sites. Additionally, sites involving start and stop codons were highly conserved.

Conclusions

Variation in the frequency of RNA editing within Adiantum implies that RNA‐editing sites can be rapidly gained or lost throughout evolution. However, varying degrees of conservation between both C‐to‐U and U‐to‐C sites and sites in start or stop codons, versus other codons, hints at the likely independent origin of both types of edits and a potential selective advantage conferred by RNA editing.