bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’optimisation juridique du paiement pour services environnementaux en faveur de la préservation des services environnementaux : le cas du Cameroun et de la République Démocratique du Congo
Authors: Mihigo Blaise-Pascal Ntirumenyerwa
Published: August 2021

The study starts from a hypothesis on the coherence and compatibility of the legal instruments in force in Cameroon and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the optimization of payment for environmental services (PES) and the preservation of environmental services. This study has employed a legal approach and interviews in order to investigate whether there is coherence and compatibility or not between the two variables of this hypothesis: (1) the legal instruments in force in Cameroon and in the DRC and (2) the optimization of PBS and the preservation of environmental services. This study consists of three parts. The first part deals with the theoretical framework of PES and the place of PES in the legal order. In this first part, the definition of an optimal PES, the indicators of an optimal PES and the categories of legal frameworks on PES have been revealed. These are the fundamental elements to conduct a systematic analysis in the second and third parts. Based on these fundamental elements, the study analyses the legal instruments from international, regional (Africa) and domestic (Cameroon and the DRC) levels and investigates through field research two PES projects, one in Cameroon called “PES comminatory project” and another in the DRC called “REDD CBFF-Luki” respectively in the second and the third parts. From the analysis of these legal instruments and the investigation of these two PES projects, it has become apparent that there is a lack of coherence and compatibility between the legal instruments and these two PES projects in Cameroon and in the DRC, and the optimization of PES and the preservation of environmental services in the Congo Basin in general, especially in these two States. Useful recommendations have been made to eradicate these shortcomings.
The mainly South African genus Lanurgus revised (Coleoptera, Scolytinae)
Authors: JORDAL BJARTE H.
Published: August 2021

The Afrotropical and mainly southern African genus Lanurgus Eggers, 1920 is revised. Five new species are described from the Cape provinces in South Africa: Lanurgus beaveri, sp. nov., Lanurgus carinatus, sp. nov., Lanurgus jubatus, sp. nov., Lanurgus mattheei, sp. nov., and Lanurgus tsitsikammae, sp. nov. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of nine species revealed deep divergence between fairly morphologically similar species, with few clues on nested relationships within the genus. Photos and a key to all known species is presented.
Comparative mitogenomes and phylogenetic analysis reveal taxonomic relationship of genera Teredorus and Systolederus (Orthoptera, Tetrigoidea)
Authors: LI XUEJUAN , LIU YUXIN , LIN LILIANG
Published: August 2021

The genera Teredorus and Systolederus belong to Tetriginae and Metrodorinae respectively. However, species within these two genera have strikingly similar features, made it difficult to identify clearly by morphological characteristics. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two Teredorus species, and compared them with Systolederus mitochondrial sequences. The sequenced mitogenomes of T. hainanensis and T. bashanensis are 14,946 bp and 14,775 bp in size, respectively. The A+T content of mitogenomes is 76.2% (T. hainanensis) and 74.0% (T. bashanensis). Comparative analysis showed that mitochondrial sequences and structure were similar within these two genera. The results of K2P distances and phylogenetic analysis revealed that Systolederus and Teredorus might be likely considered as one genus of Teredorus. It will provide important resources for further understanding of the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship of Systolederus and Teredorus.
Cropland Abandonment in the Community-Forestry Landscape in the Middle Hills of Nepal
Authors: Bista Rajesh , Zhang Qi , Parajuli Rajan , Karki Rahul , Khanal Chhetri Bir Bahadur , Song Conghe
Published: August 2021

Cropland abandonment has been a major land-use concern, threatening food security globally. Understanding the factors contributing to cropland abandonment advances land-use change science and provides essential information for policy making, both of which aim to improve agriculture land management. Despite many studies conducted on this topic, we still lack in-depth understanding on how feedbacks from the natural system influence cropland-use decisions at the household level in the human system. We fill this knowledge gap by conducting this study in the Middle Hills of Nepal, where community forestry is an integral part of the land-use system. We collected qualitative data through focus-group discussions, key-informant interviews, and review of local community-forest management documents, and we collected quantitative socioeconomic data through a household survey of 415 households. We geolocated 1264 cropland parcels owned by these households and recorded their use statuses. We found that there is an increasing trend of cropland abandonment that is due to multiple socioeconomic, ecological, and biophysical factors. A higher likelihood of cropland abandonment is linked to households that have more out-migrants, female heads, nonagricultural occupation of the household heads, and larger areas of agriculture landholding. The study also found that cropland parcels that are far from the households, close to the forest edge, and on steeper slopes are more likely to be abandoned. These findings provide key information for policy makers to devise effective measures on managing cropland and developing sustainable agriculture in rural Nepal.
Seasonal and regional signatures of ENSO in upper tropospheric jet characteristics from reanalyses
Authors: Manney Gloria L , Hegglin Michaela I , Lawrence Zachary D
Published: August 2021

The relationship of upper tropospheric jet variability to El Niño / Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in reanalysis datasets is analyzed for 1979–2018, revealing robust regional and seasonal variability. Tropical jets associated with monsoons and the Walker circulation are weaker and the zonal mean subtropical jet shifts equatorward in both hemispheres during El Niño, consistent with previous findings. Regional and seasonal variations are analyzed separately for subtropical and polar jets. The subtropical jet shifts poleward during El Niño over the NH eastern Pacific in DJF, and in some SH regions in MAMand SON. Subtropical jet altitudes increase during El Niño, with significant changes in the zonal mean in the NH and during summer/fall in the SH. Though zonal mean polar jet correlations with ENSO are rarely significant, robust regional/seasonal changes occur: The SH polar jet shifts equatorward during El Niño over Asia and the western Pacific in DJF, and poleward over the eastern Pacific in JJA and SON. Polar jets are weaker (stronger) during El Niño in the western (eastern) hemisphere, especially in the SH; conversely, subtropical jets are stronger (weaker) in the western (eastern) hemisphere during El Niño in winter and spring; these opposing changes, along with an anticorrelation between subtropical and polar jet windspeed, reinforce subtropical/polar jet strength differences during El Niño, and suggest ENSO-related covariability of the jets. ENSO-related jet latitude, altitude, and windspeed changes can reach 4(3)°, 0.6(0.3) km, and 6(3) ms−1, respectively, for the subtropical (polar) jets.
Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy via Pharyngostomy: Novel Access for Management of Upper Gastrointestinal Defects
Authors: Giraldo-Grueso Manuel , Bolton Nathan , Brown Russell
Published: August 2021

Background

Perforation and anastomotic leakage of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) has a high mortality and morbidity rate. Recently, UGI leaks have been treated with endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT). However, this technique traditionally requires multiple EVT changes and a prolonged and uncomfortable nasoenteric intubation. We describe our experience using EVT through a novel pharyngostomy access to manage UGI leaks.

Methods

We describe our development and implementation of EVT via a novel pharyngostomy access to treat a variety of UGI defects. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were analyzed.

Results

Six patients with UGI perforations or anastomotic leaks were treated with an EVT using a pharyngostomy access. The median age was 69 years (IQR 53-71). Four patients leaked after an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, one after a robotic para-esophageal hernia repair, and another after a Roux en Y esophagojejunostomy. Defects were detected on a median of 11.5 days (IQR 3-21). Median values for the duration of the EVT therapy and the number of EVT changes were 19.5 days (IQR 14-31) and 7 (IQR 6.5-9), respectively. Four of the patients were discharged with an EVT in place and were successfully managed as outpatients. At a median follow-up of 8 months, two patients developed strictures. None of the patients required any surgical re-intervention, they tolerated oral intake, and all leakages were confirmed closed by imaging and endoscopy.

Discussion

Endoscopic vacuum therapy can be successfully managed through a pharyngostomy access, as described. This access is easy, comfortable, and reliable and allows for a transition to outpatient management.
Toward Quantifying Trust Dynamics: How People Adjust Their Trust After Moment-to-Moment Interaction With Automation
Authors: Yang X. Jessie , Schemanske Christopher , Searle Christine
Published: August 2021

Objective

We examine how human operators adjust their trust in automation as a result of their moment-to-moment interaction with automation.

Background

Most existing studies measured trust by administering questionnaires at the end of an experiment. Only a limited number of studies viewed trust as a dynamic variable that can strengthen or decay over time.

Method

Seventy-five participants took part in an aided memory recognition task. In the task, participants viewed a series of images and later on performed 40 trials of the recognition task to identify a target image when it was presented with a distractor. In each trial, participants performed the initial recognition by themselves, received a recommendation from an automated decision aid, and performed the final recognition. After each trial, participants reported their trust on a visual analog scale.

Results

Outcome bias and contrast effect significantly influence human operators’ trust adjustments. An automation failure leads to a larger trust decrement if the final outcome is undesirable, and a marginally larger trust decrement if the human operator succeeds the task by him/herself. An automation success engenders a greater trust increment if the human operator fails the task. Additionally, automation failures have a larger effect on trust adjustment than automation successes.

Conclusion

Human operators adjust their trust in automation as a result of their moment-to-moment interaction with automation. Their trust adjustments are significantly influenced by decision-making heuristics/biases.

Application

Understanding the trust adjustment process enables accurate prediction of the operators’ moment-to-moment trust in automation and informs the design of trust-aware adaptive automation.
Expert and Novice Goalkeepers' Perceptions of Changes During Open Play Soccer
Authors: Li Jie , Yang Jing , Qin Yue , Zhang Yu
Published: August 2021

In the present study we investigated expert and novice football (i.e., soccer) goalkeepers' three stages of perceiving changes in open play situations—detection, localization, and identification—with and without time constraints. We adopted the continual cycling flicker paradigm to investigate goalkeepers' perceptions when provided with sufficient time (Experiment 1), and we utilized the limited display one-shot change detection paradigm to study their perceptions under time constraints (Experiment 2). Images of goalkeepers' first-person views of open play soccer scenes were used as stimuli. Semantic or non-semantic changes in these scenes were produced by modifying one element in each image. Separate groups of expert and novice goalkeepers were required to detect, localize, and identify the scene changes. We found that expert goalkeepers detected scene changes more quickly than novices under both time allowances. Furthermore, compared to novices, experts localized the changes more accurately under time constraints and identified the changes more quickly when given sufficient time. Additionally, semantic changes were detected more quickly and localized and identified more accurately than non-semantic changes when there was sufficient time. Under time constraints expert goalkeepers' greater efficiency was likely due to pre-attentive processing; with sufficient time, they were able to focus attention to extracting detailed information for identification.
Effectiveness of stretching exercise program among nurses with neck pain: Palestinian perspective
Authors: Amoudi Mosab , Ayed Ahmad
Published: August 2021

The study aimed to assess the effect of muscle stretching exercise on neck pain and disability among nurses in Palestine. A quasi-experimental, pre–post design with a convenience sample of 90 nurses with moderate-to-severe neck pain from two hospitals in Palestine participated in the study. The hospitals were randomly selected to be an experimental and the other one as a control group. The experimental group received the instruction to perform structured neck and around shoulder stretching exercises two sessions/day for 5 days/week for 1 month. The control group was told to maintain their current level of physical activity. Results showed that the magnitude of improvement in neck pain and disability was greater in the experimental group than in the control group ( t(88) = 8.5, P = 0.001).
Bullying Victimization and Weapon Carrying: A Partial Test of General Strain Theory
Authors: Oliphant Stephen N.
Published: August 2021

Much of the existing research on adolescent firearm and weapon carrying lacks a theoretical framework. Relatedly, few studies have examined the relationship between weapon carrying and bullying victimization experienced at school, which has been established as a key strain in adolescence. The present study seeks to provide a partial test of general strain theory as a theoretical framework to explain adolescent weapon carrying. Using a large U.S. sample of 7th through 10th grade students ( n = 8,867), I find qualified support for general strain theory. While an index measure of bullying victimization was positively associated with weapon carrying as expected, two measures assessing specific forms of bullying victimization had nonlinear effects that are inconsistent with the theory. The proportion of one’s friends who carry weapons was consistently one of the strongest predictors of a respondent’s own weapon carrying. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Difficult endoscopic resection of a giant esophageal fibrovascular polyp: case report and literature review
Authors: Nie Dan , Zong Ye , Li Jielin
Published: August 2021

Esophageal fibrovascular polyp is rare in esophageal neoplasms and usually very large. Here, we present a case of giant esophageal fibrovascular polyp. The patient had dysphagia and choking sensation at presentation. She underwent positron emission-computed tomography (PET-CT), endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, and fine needle aspiration. She was clinically diagnosed as having an esophageal benign tumor and underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection. The polyp was successfully resected; however, the process was very difficult, and the lesion was too large to pass through the upper esophagus. Finally, we removed the lesion surgically. Fibrovascular polyps are often large, and if endoscopic resection is chosen, it is necessary to consider the difficulties that may be encountered during resection, before initiating treatment.
Application of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Bridge Inspection
Authors: Azari Hoda , O’Shea Dennis , Campbell Joe
Published: August 2021

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are experiencing tremendous growth in both the technological advancement of the systems themselves and the expansion of practical uses for the systems. One application for this system includes the use of UAS as a tool in support of bridge inspections. The ability to fly UAS into positions difficult to reach by an inspector has the potential to save time, reduce costs, and improve safety. An increasing number of bridge owners are exploring the use of UAS for bridge inspections through pilot studies and early adoption as an integral part of their inspection processes. This study aims to enhance the industry awareness and knowledge base of stakeholders in bridge inspection processes. This paper presents the aircraft and sensors used to assist or augment inspections, the data needs of the bridge owners that can be provided through the use of UAS, and the means and methods by which the bridge owner, or the organization supporting the bridge owner, can manage the tremendous amount of data that can be collected by sensors deployed on UAS during an inspection.
Impact of Flextime on Departure Time Choice for Home-Based Commuting Trips in Austin, Texas
Authors: Rahman Mashrur , Murthy Gurumurthy Krishna , Kockelman Kara M.
Published: August 2021

An increasing number of corporations and workplaces are providing flexible working hours or flextime for employees, which is expected to reduce congestion by redistributing the temporal pattern of commuters’ departure time. This study examines the impact of flextime on departure time choice using a Bayesian continuous-time hazard duration model. The model accommodates the time-varying effect of covariates and unobserved heterogeneity. Results from the Austin Household Travel Survey collected between 2017 and 2018 show that workers who have a flextime option choose to leave later, with a predominant effect deterring morning peak departures. Other trip and individual-specific variables, such as travelers’ job type, trip duration, number of trips during the travel day, and household income, are found to have significant impacts on departure time choice. The results also show that flextime is more effective in shifting the departure time for retail and service sector employees, for those whose journeys are longer, and for those who perform more daily activities. The findings of this study support the theory that implementing such policies may ease congestion by staggering the travel demand from peak to off-peak hours.
Applying Constraint Programming and Integer Programming to Solve the Crew Scheduling Problem for Railroad Systems: Model Formulation and a Case Study
Authors: Chen Guei-Hao , Jong Jyh-Cherng , Han Anthony Fu-Wha
Published: August 2021

Crew scheduling is one of the crucial processes in railroad operation planning. Based on current regulations and working and break time requirements, as well as the operational rules, this process aims to find a duty arrangement with minimal cost that covers all trips. Most past studies considered this subject for railroad systems as an optimization problem and solved it with mathematical programming-based methods or heuristic algorithms, despite numerous logical constraints embedded in this problem. Few studies have applied constraint programming (CP) approaches to tackle the railroad crew scheduling problem. This paper proposes a hybrid approach to solve the problem with a CP model for duty generation, and an integer programming model for duty optimization. These models have been applied to the Kaohsiung depot of Taiwan Railways Administration, the largest railroad operator in Taiwan. The encouraging results show that the proposed approach is more efficient than the manual process and can achieve 30% savings of driver cost. Moreover, the approach is robust and provides flexibility to easily accommodate related operational concerns such as minimizing the number of overnight duties. Thus, this hybrid two-phase approach seems to have the potential for applications to the railroad crew scheduling problems outside Taiwan.
Extraction and characterisation of bioactive proteins from Pongamia pinnata and their conversion into bioproducts for food packaging applications
Authors: Nataraj Divya , Guna Vijaykumar , Battampara Prajwal , Shivashankara Nagananda Govinahalli , Rizzarelli Paola , Reddy Narendra
Published: August 2021

In this research, proteins were obtained from Pongamia pinnata oil meal and subsequently converted into films and compression molded into various packaging products. Films with a maximum tensile strength of 1.9 MPa were obtained when 15% citric acid was used as the crosslinker. Minimum swelling of 120% was seen in 20% citric acid crosslinked film whereas the uncrosslinked films readily disintegrated in water. The protein films had excellent antioxidant properties with an IC50 value of 14.6 µg/ml compared to 26.9 µg/ml for the standard ascorbic acid. The pongamia protein-based bioproducts showed good activity against Bacillus cereus and Aspergillus niger. Unique properties, low cost, and large availability make pongamia proteins an ideal biopolymer for the development of green and sustainable materials and bioproducts.
Weekend Admission Does Not Confer an Increased Risk of Mortality in Septic Shock
Authors: Baig Saqib H. , Oxman David A. , Yoo Erika J.
Published: August 2021

Purpose: To investigate the impact of weekend admission on mortality for patients with septic shock. Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study of adults in the 2017 to 2018 National Inpatient Sample coded as R65.21 (severe sepsis with septic shock) within the first 3 diagnosis codes according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Measurements and Main Results: After exclusions, 100,584 records were analyzed (73,966 weekday and 26,618 weekend admissions). Severity-of-illness was estimated using the Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index. Using weighted logistic regression adjusted for factors identified on univariate analysis as potentially significant, we found no higher odds of death for weekday compared to weekend admissions (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.02, P = .84). There was a temporal improvement in septic shock outcomes with 2018 admissions having lower odds of death (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98, P < .001). There was no evidence for interaction between weekend admission and individual years of admission ( P = .17 and P = .05 for 2017 and 2018, respectively). However, weekend mortality did seem to vary by region in our interaction analysis with higher odds of death seen in the West (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.11, P < .001). Conclusion: We found no evidence for higher mortality among patients admitted on weekends with septic shock.
Bringing Shame Out of the Shadows: Identifying Shame in Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure Processes and Implications for Psychotherapy
Authors: McElvaney Rosaleen , Lateef Rusan , Collin-Vézina Delphine , Alaggia Ramona , Simpson Megan
Published: August 2021

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been described as a highly stigmatizing experience. Despite the recognition of shame as a significant contributor to psychological distress following CSA, an inhibitor of CSA disclosure, and a challenging emotion to overcome in therapy, limited research has explored the experience of shame with young people who have been sexually abused. This study is unique in examining the transcripts of 47 young people aged 15–25 years from a large-scale study conducted in Ireland and Canada and exploring manifestations of shame in CSA disclosure narratives. Using a thematic analysis of both inductive and deductive coding, the data were examined for implicit, as distinct from explicit, manifestations of shame. Three key themes were identified in this study: languaging shame, avoiding shame, and reducing shame. The study supports previous authors in highlighting the need for nuanced measures of shame in research that takes account of the complexity of this emotion. Conceptualizations in the literature of the distinction between shame and guilt are challenged when these emotions are explored in the context of CSA. Finally, recommendations for working therapeutically with young people who have experienced CSA are offered with a view to addressing shame in therapeutic work.
Four-port hydraulic transformer with inlet and outlet equal flow and its flow characteristics
Authors: Zhang Chu , Zhou Lianquan , Bo Xiaonan , Qu Weiwei , Zang Panpan
Published: August 2021

Without changing the original valve control hydraulic system, a kind of hydraulic transformer, called four-port hydraulic transformer (FHT), is proposed to recover the energy loss caused by system throttling. The remarkable feature of FHT is that the flow rate at inlet and outlet ports are equal. This means that FHT can be connected into the load circuit of hydraulic system to recovery energy without refreshing flow rate. This paper investigates the flow characteristics of FHT, including instantaneous flow rates, average flow rates and flow pulsations in each port. The relationships between the structure of port plate and the flow characteristics are given. The variation rule of number of plungers connected to four ports is shown, and the relationship between the variation and the flow pulsation is revealed. The simulation results show that the flow rates and displacements of symmetrical ports are same, and the instantaneous flow rate of symmetrical ports has the same rule. The results also show the frequent changes of the number of plungers connected with each port lead to more flow jump points in instantaneous curves, and the jump point is the basic cause of its loud noise. The test shows that the flow rates of measurement data of the experiment are very close to the theoretical analysis, proved the theoretical analysis of flow characteristics for FHT are appropriate and reasonable, which has a certain reference for the development and energy-saving application for FHT.
Optimization and synthesis of a cam-linkage mechanism with a swing follower with variable pivot
Authors: Wang Liangwen , Zhang Shizhao , Wang Caidong , Wang Ruolan , Zheng Huadong , Xie Guizhong , Zhang Jihao
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a cam-linkage mechanism with a swing follower with variable pivot has been studied. In this mechanism, the pivot of the swing follower is installed on a slider with an adjustable track direction, the follower performs a complex planar motion, and the motion range of the output angle can be adjusted according to the output requirements. In order to synthesize this mechanism, firstly, the relevant model is established and the basic structural parameters are optimized by considering the assembly conditions and the pressure angle under the limit position of the movement track of the follower mounting slider. Subsequently, the inverse method and the envelope theory are employed to derive the cam contour coordinates. Finally, the corresponding follower motion law is selected, the corresponding cam contour coordinates are calculated, and the entire cam contour curve is obtained using spline interpolation. An automatic design system for cam contours is developed. The processes are carried out through design examples and verified through motion simulations and prototype experiment. The present work can enrich the design theory of cam-linkage mechanisms.
A Bayesian group lasso classification for ADNI volumetrics data
Authors: Majumder Atreyee , Maiti Tapabrata , Datta Subha
Published: August 2021

The primary objective of this paper is to develop a statistically valid classification procedure for analyzing brain image volumetrics data obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) in elderly subjects with cognitive impairments. The Bayesian group lasso method thereby proposed for logistic regression efficiently selects an optimal model with the use of a spike and slab type prior. This method selects groups of attributes of a brain subregion encouraged by the group lasso penalty. We conduct simulation studies for high- and low-dimensional scenarios where our method is always able to select the true parameters that are truly predictive among a large number of parameters. The method is then applied on dichotomous response ADNI data which selects predictive atrophied brain regions and classifies Alzheimer’s disease patients from healthy controls. Our analysis is able to give an accuracy rate of 80% for classifying Alzheimer’s disease. The suggested method selects 29 brain subregions. The medical literature indicates that all these regions are associated with Alzheimer’s patients. The Bayesian method of model selection further helps selecting only the subregions that are statistically significant, thus obtaining an optimal model.
Group Disparities in Educational Outcomes: An Age Cohort Perspective
Authors: Shukla Vachaspati
Published: August 2021

This article attempts to evaluate differential progress in educational attainment across social groups segregating the attainments at the level of age cohorts. It argues that mapping of educational attainment across age cohorts offers a robust understanding of educational progress, as it sheds light on the likelihood of younger age-groups getting educated in comparison with the older ones. This article examines attainments across five levels of education among the population subgroups which are categorised based on region (rural–urban), social background (SC/ST and Others), and gender (male–female) among others. The analysis reveals that group disparities tend to be lower among the younger age groups but increase along with rising levels of educational attainment. Gender disparity nearly disappears in the youngest age cohort among the better off groups. This exercise at the level of age cohorts offers an optimism that differentials seem to narrow down in recent times, which is not as stark at the aggregate subgroup levels.
Current situation and expectation of emergency medicine education for 8-year Doctor of Medicine degree program in China
Authors: Ge Zengzheng , Feng Shi , Liu Xiangning , Guo Shigong , Gao Yanxia , Lu Xin , Yu Shiyuan , Zhao Lina , Shi Di , Liu Jihai , Zhu Huadong , Li Yi
Published: August 2021

Background:

Appropriate lessons and formalized training concerning emergency medicine is becoming increasingly important in undergraduate medical education. There is an urgent need to evaluate undergraduate emergency medicine education of students enrolled on the 8-year Doctor of Medicine degree programs nationwide in China with the aim that the data extracted could ultimately be used to help develop a standardized emergency medicine curriculum in China.

Objectives:

The aim of the study is to accurately describe emergency medicine education of 8-year Doctor of Medicine program in China, including emergency medicine classes, clinical practice in emergency medicine department, and expectations toward emergency medicine education.

Methods:

An online questionnaire was distributed to all the medical students of 8-year Doctor of Medicine program who have attended emergency medicine education in 14 medical schools in China. Participation in the survey was voluntary and anonymized.

Results:

In total, 529 valid responses were collected. There was a clear difference between students with a career aspiration in emergency medicine and those without. Comparing to countries that have an established emergency medicine curriculum, shortage of classroom hours and clinical practice time is a major cause of unsatisfactory educational outcomes in China. A detailed uniform emergency medicine curriculum that outlines exact requirements for medical students is required as well.

Conclusion:

A consolidated syllabus and curriculum should be compiled by all the medical schools with the 8-year integrated Doctor of Medicine degree program in China. The specific diseases and skills that should be covered in emergency medical education remain up to debate.
Evidence-Based Recommendations for Nurse Monitoring and Management of Immunotherapy-Induced Cytokine Release Syndrome: A Systematic Review from the Children’s Oncology Group
Authors: Browne Emily K. , Daut Emily , Hente Monica , Turner Kelly , Waters Katherine , Duffy Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2021

Children with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and B-cell lymphoma, particularly those with relapsed or refractory disease, are increasingly enrolled on phase II and phase III clinical trials studying immunotherapies. These therapeutic agents may be associated with a high risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and nurses lack standardized guidelines for monitoring and managing patients with CRS. Six studies and one clinical practice guideline were included in this systematic review that examined the evidence of CRS following administration of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy or the bi-specific T-cell engager antibody, blinatumomab. Six nursing practice recommendations (five strong, one weak) were developed based on low or very low-quality evidence: three reflect preinfusion monitoring, one focuses on monitoring during and postinfusion, and three pertain to the nurse's role in CRS management.
Function-Based Self-Advocacy Training for Students With or at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in General Education Settings
Authors: Owens Tosha L. , Lo Ya-yu
Published: August 2021

This study evaluated the effects of a function-based self-advocacy (FBSA) intervention, which provided systematic and explicit instruction to three students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders on how to self-advocate their needs in regard to behavioral support based on the function of their behavior. We used a single-case, multiple-probe across-participants design and measured participants’ problem behaviors and replacement behaviors to determine the intervention effects. Results showed a functional relationship between FBSA and reduction of problem behaviors. There also was an increase in replacement behaviors upon implementation of the FBSA training. In addition, a descriptive analysis of students’ ability to complete steps to self-advocate needs indicated an increase in the number of responses emitted or steps completed across both intervention and generalization settings.
Family Violence in Context: An Intergenerational Systemic Model
Authors: Southern Stephen , Sullivan Raymond D.
Published: August 2021

Family violence represents a major public health problem and a violation of human rights. Violent families engage in child maltreatment or intimate partner violence in response to horizontal stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and vertical stressors, including events in the family life cycle and changes in cultural contexts. Although family violence is often considered an individual problem, solutions require close examination of family structure, dynamics, and competence. The Beavers Systems Model for Family Functioning identified family groupings at risk of family violence. An emerging perspective on intergenerational transmission of violence from childhood neglect and abuse to elder abuse accounts for the accumulation of adverse childhood experiences and increasing risk of victimization or perpetration. An intergenerational systemic model identifies multiple contexts and levels for evaluating and treating family violence over the life span. Early identification and intervention facilitate prevention and rehabilitation. As families transcend adversity, they are able to realize post-traumatic growth and resilience. Recommendations for applications of the model are offered.
Direct-write piezoelectric coating transducers in combination with discrete ceramic transducer and laser pulse excitation for ultrasonic impact damage detection on composite plates
Authors: Philibert Marilyne , Chen Shuting , Wong Voon-Kean , Liew Weng Heng , Yao Kui , Soutis Constantinos , Gresil Matthieu
Published: August 2021

In this work, direct-write piezoelectric transducers (DWTs) were made by spraying piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) coating with comb-shaped electrodes on carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates for drop weight impact damage detection. Their ability and performance were investigated and compared to discrete piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic transducers that were adhesively bonded on the same CFRP plate. Guided wave signals were acquired with different combinations of actuator-sensor involving DWT, PZT and laser ultrasonic excitation, in pitch-catch configuration. DWTs allowed consistency and simplified signal interpretation due to an effective mode selection (A0 or S0 mode) with wavelengths of 10 and 12 mm. PZTs generated stronger but much more complex signals and mode selection with a larger wavelength (20 mm). The configuration with PZT as actuator and DWT as receiver showed the highest signal amplitude changes of A0 or S0 mode, allowing efficient detection of damage introduced by a 31 J impact. Further ultrasonic B- and C-scans revealed a 27 mm long crack on the plate’s backside developed in addition to internal cracks and delaminations of about 34 mm in length. For realizing contactless ultrasound excitation, a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser (wavelength of 1064 nm, 5.4 ns pulses) was used to replace the surface-mounted brittle PZT. The combination of the broadband laser excitation with the DWTs as sensors achieved more reliable damage detection than equivalent PZTs, attributed to DWT’s effective single mode selection. In addition to reduced weight, the polymeric coated DWTs allow large area implementation (scaling up), even on curved surfaces due to their flexibility and conformability, in contrast to adhesively bonded discrete transducers.
Thoracic endograft placement using a transfemoral snare in a patient with angled aortic arch
Authors: Çamci Sencer , Ari Selma , Ari Hasan , Göncü Mehmet T
Published: August 2021

Objective

In complex anatomical challenges, endovascular endograft implantation to the thoracic aorta may not be performed. Various techniques have been put forward for endograft therapy. In this report, we present the effect of femoral snare support for a patient with an aortic arch angle.

Method

Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) was used for treating a 60-year-old male patient who suffered from severe angulation in the arcus aorta and aneurysmal enlargement of the left subclavian artery and descending aorta. The endovascular graft could not be advanced into the aortic arch with the guidewire because of the aortic arch angle. Therefore, the TEVAR graft distal end was caught with the snare advanced from the femoral artery, and the TEVAR graft was advanced into the aortic arch.

Conclusion and result

The femoral snare technique is a simple and successful method for endograft implantation of the aortic arch disease without the risk of heart trauma, especially in cases with aortic arch tortuosity.
Design of ZIF-67 MOF-derived Co3O4/NiCo2O4 nanosheets for supercapacitor electrode materials
Authors: Li Jianning , Zhang Chunyong , Wen Yingpin , Zhao Yuyue , Zhang Yiwen , Shu Li , Qin Hengfei
Published: August 2021

Binary transition metal oxides exhibit improved properties including good redox potentials and electrical conductivities compared with single metal oxides as electrode materials in energy storage. Herein, ZIF-67 is prepared by a one-step method using Co2+ as the central metal ion, 2-methylimidazole as the organic ligand, and methanol as an organic solvent at room temperature. Hollow NiCo2O4 and sheet-like Co3O4/NiCo2O4 derived from bimetallic imidazolate framework precursors were synthesized by adding cobalt and nickel ions in appropriate proportions. A hollow and porous structure is achieved for the reaction between a nickel salt and ZIF-67, and this unique nanostructure provides a high active surface area, which is beneficial to the electrochemical properties. Several samples are prepared and used as electrode materials for electrochemical tests in 6 M KOH. As a result, the Co3O4/NiCo2O4 electrode with a sheet nanostructure showed a high specific capacitance of 846 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. This Co3O4/NiCo2O4 electrode material is promising for future studies on high-performance supercapacitors to solve emerging energy-related problems.

[Formula: see text]
Essential Oil Composition From Cryptomeria japonica D.Don Grown in Azores: Biomass Valorization From Forest Management
Authors: Figueiredo A. Cristina , Moiteiro Cristina , Rodrigues Maria Conceição S.M. , Almeida António J.R.M.
Published: August 2021

Cryptomeria japonica biomass was obtained monthly from forest lumbering operations at São Miguel, Terceira and Pico (Azores), between May 2018 and June 2020. C japonica stands with different ages (2 to ±50 years), grown in different soil types (lithosol and andosol) and at different altitudes (200 to >800 m) were used. The chemical composition of 118 C japonica essential oil (EO) samples, plus 1 sample from an EO solid deposit, were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Chemical composition cluster analysis showed 2 clusters, cluster I and II, with no chemical correlation. Cluster I grouped all 117 EO samples that resulted from extraction of branches and foliage with, or without, strobili, from strobili, and from the solid deposit sample. Cluster II grouped the 2 samples of EO isolated from wood, with a markedly different composition. Cluster I showed 5 subclusters (Ia-Ie). The degree of chemical correlation between the samples in these subclusters varied between moderate (subclusters Id and Ie), high (subclusters Ib and Ic), and very high (subcluster Ia). Of the 119 samples, 94 (79% of the total) were included in subcluster Ia, with 66 samples from São Miguel, 2 from Terceira, and 26 from Pico, showing a yield range from 0.1% to 0.4% (v/w). All these samples, with a high chemical correlation, were obtained by steam distillation from branches and foliage with, or without, female or male strobili, or both. This subcluster did not show any grouping pattern regarding the collection month, the altitude (200 to >800 m), the soil type (lithosol, andosol, or its subtypes), or the wood age (±30 to ±50 years). Subcluster Ia was characterized by the dominance of α-pinene (13%-43%), sabinene (5%-25%), phyllocladene (2%-22%), limonene (2%-16%), kaurene (traces-13%), elemol (1%-11%), and terpinen-4-ol (1%-7%). The determination of the concentration limits of the EOs representative components confirmed the homogeneity of C japonica EO, obtained from plant material collected in the 3 Azores islands, despite the variability in the range of some diterpenes that deserves further study. This study allowed for the determination of the concentration limits of the EOs representative components, with the purpose of adding value to C japonica EO, obtained from forest lumbering.
Facing drug addiction: Vietnam’s struggle with opioids
Authors: Hieu Dang Minh , Gray Benjamin , Tuan Dang Minh , Colman Benjamin P
Published: August 2021

Drug addiction is a historical issue in Vietnam. Although Vietnam has a long history as a producer of opium poppies and crossroads for the illicit drug trade, it is now has some of the most stringent drug laws in the world. Vietnam has shown some success in reducing the production, trade, and transportation of narcotics. There has also been a shift in the attitudes of lawmakers and government authorities toward viewing drug abuse as a health problem rather than a social vice. Educating and encouraging citizens to collaboratively reduce drug use has also proven effective. However, despite these changes, the number of people who use drugs has increased in recent years. The US, too, has also experienced an increase in illicit opioid use. The Trump administration declared opioid addiction a public health emergency and has established goals to address the crisis. The results of these efforts have also been uneven. This article reviews Vietnam’s efforts to tackle its opioid epidemic, with the goal of identifying areas where Vietnam’s approach to opioid addiction may be improved. A brief overview of efforts by the U.S. government, an important foreign partner for Vietnam in the control of illicit opioids, serves to demonstrate the difficulty of treating opioid use in different political systems.
Chronic Stress Weakens Connectivity in the Prefrontal Cortex: Architectural and Molecular Changes
Authors: Woo Elizabeth , Sansing Lauren H. , Arnsten Amy F. T. , Datta Dibyadeep
Published: August 2021

Chronic exposure to uncontrollable stress causes loss of spines and dendrites in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a recently evolved brain region that provides top-down regulation of thought, action, and emotion. PFC neurons generate top-down goals through recurrent excitatory connections on spines. This persistent firing is the foundation for higher cognition, including working memory, and abstract thought. However, exposure to acute uncontrollable stress drives high levels of catecholamine release in the PFC, which activates feedforward calcium-cAMP signaling pathways to open nearby potassium channels, rapidly weakening synaptic connectivity to reduce persistent firing. Chronic stress exposures can further exacerbate these signaling events leading to loss of spines and resulting in marked cognitive impairment. In this review, we discuss how stress signaling mechanisms can lead to spine loss, including changes to BDNF-mTORC1 signaling, calcium homeostasis, actin dynamics, and mitochondrial actions that engage glial removal of spines through inflammatory signaling. Stress signaling events may be amplified in PFC spines due to cAMP magnification of internal calcium release. As PFC dendritic spine loss is a feature of many cognitive disorders, understanding how stress affects the structure and function of the PFC will help to inform strategies for treatment and prevention.
The US–China Trade War: Impact on India and Other Asian Regions
Authors: Chadha Rajesh , Pohit Sanjib , Pratap Devender
Published: August 2021

The growing protectionism globally and the outbreak of a major US–China trade war led Indian exports facing higher tariffs. This article has tried to investigate how India should react to the trade tensions between the two largest economies of the world. This will help policymakers in India to assess the impact of the likely developments and choose between different policy responses. In a bilateral US–China trade war, while both the United States and China stand to lose in terms of GDP, exports and imports, India stands to gain. India stands to lose when the US–China trade war applies also to India, which faces higher tariffs from both. India’s losses increase further when India responds by increasing its tariffs on imports from the United States and China. In fact, reducing own tariffs could be a wiser step. Enhancing productivity measures by raising port efficiency and making trade and transport sector more efficient appear to pay dividend. India gains even more from joining the RCEP-like trading block when the United States and China are indulging in bilateral trade war. Last but not least, US–China trade war seems to affect Asian countries, some positively some negatively.

JEL Codes: F13, C68, F14