bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical practices used by information literacy and media information literacy services to enable academic libraries to handle the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ortega-Martínez Eugenia de los Angeles , Saavedra-Alamillas César , Rosendahl Matthew , Sánchez-Hernández Apolinar
Published: June 2022

This study analyses the techniques and procedures that were developed and the changes that took place in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), both in Mexico, and the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), in the United States of America. To face the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, librarians in these institutions improved their Information Literacy (IL) and Media Information Literacy (MIL) programmes. Design / methodology / approach: This study has a mixed methodology with a comparative analysis. For this purpose, data shows the universities’ contexts: the communities of students, teachers, researchers, and librarians, and the e-learning strategies of IL and MIL programmes. Findings: As part of the results of the crowdsourcing collaboration between the UMD, UNAM and BUAP, the study shows the different online learning communities and their innovations. Originality: Although there is theoretical knowledge about IL and MIL in Mexican universities and University of Minnesota Duluth, the e-learning strategies used by their librarians in this document sought to provide technical solutions and other options for a virtual work scheme that responded to the specific problems presented by COVID-19. In this case, the framework for creating online library services was designed by their librarians for their communities in the context of the current crisis, even when online services had already been established for more than ten years. Research limitations / implications: The technological infrastructure, the professionalisation of the library staff and a lack of knowledge of the new virtual teaching-learning needs. Practical implications: Analysis of tools for virtual teaching-learning services, description of strategies used by library staff, results and feedback. Social implications: IL and MIL strategies created in a variety of contexts can be enhanced by library collaboration in a fully virtual setting. Libraries with better technological infrastructure play a decisive role.
Improving information literacy and academic skills tuition through flipped online delivery
Authors: Morris Laurence , McDermott Lindsey
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic forced UK universities to move the majority or all of tuition online. The Library Academic Support Team at Leeds Beckett University used that shift as an opportunity to improve information literacy (IL) and academic skills tuition across the institution. Instruction and support were redesigned on a flipped basis to ensure that online delivery improved on face-to-face delivery rather than simply replicating it. This project report reviews that work with usage statistics, user feedback, practicalities of service provision and discussion of impact. The report extends existing literature with a model of significant institution-level changes to IL and academic skills instruction which could be applied elsewhere. It concludes that the shift to flipped online learning was a qualified success, with the revised approach proving notably more popular and inclusive, also providing other benefits such as more focused in-class discussion.
Instructional elements in an online information literacy Open Educational Resource (OER) and their influence on learner achievement, satisfaction, and self-efficacy
Authors: Sommer Max , Hampton John , Kohnen Angela , Ritzhaupt Albert
Published: June 2022

This study tested the influence of instructional elements within an online Open Educational Resource (OER) focused on information literacy (IL) on outcome measures of IL achievement, learner satisfaction and IL self-efficacy among undergraduate students. An online OER was designed to address the domains of access, evaluation and communication of IL guided by the notion of instructional scaffolding and self-regulated learning. Participants were randomly placed into one of six different OER conditions: (a) full version with all instructional elements, (b) lean version, (c) version without tooltip text, (d) version without embedded practice questions, (e) version without learning objectives and (f) version without summaries. There were no significant differences found across the six conditions on the dependent measures. Participants averaged 58% for IL achievement, performing slightly better in the domain of access versus evaluate and communicate. Limitations include a controlled laboratory setting where participants were not necessarily motivated to complete the study tasks at a high level of achievement. Future research can explore more ecologically valid environments where learners might be more motivated, along with more rigorous intervention and assessment construction. This paper includes implications for educators and researchers to explore the established and innovative instructional elements that are natural affordances of an online OER in IL. This paper presents innovative IL instruction that does not require instructor or learner training and evaluates its effectiveness using a sound, replicable methodological approach to isolate the effects of the individual instructional elements.
Rigoutorum a new genus for Diaphonia bacchusi Rigout and Allard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Schizorhinini), with description of a second species from Western Australia and notes on habitats and behaviours
Authors: HUTCHINSON PAUL M. , MOESENEDER CHRISTIAN H. , MITCHELL ANDREW
Published: June 2022

Rigoutorum new genus Hutchinson & Moeseneder (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Schizorhinini: Schizorhinina) is created for Diaphonia bacchusi Rigout & Allard, 1997, resulting in Rigoutorum bacchusi new combination. Rigoutorum jakli Hutchinson & Moeseneder, new species, which has been lumped with R. bacchusi in collections and confirmed as distinct through our molecular work, is described. The males and females of both species are described or redescribed. Rigoutorum is diagnosed and compared with Diaphonia Newman, 1840 and Aurum Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2019, the most similar genera. Habitat and behavioural observations are given, and a distribution map shows that the two species of this endemic genus occupy different climatic regions in southern Western Australia, Australia.
Two new species of Pharaxonothinae beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) inhabiting cones of the cycad Ceratozamia santillanii Pérez-Farr. & Vovides (Cycadales: Zamiaceae) in Mexico
Authors: TANG WILLIAM , DOMINGUEZ HECTOR GOMEZ
Published: June 2022

Two beetles, Ceratophila (Vovidesa) chipjonesi, new species, and Pharaxonotha perezi, new species, (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) are described from the male cones of the New World cycad Ceratozamia santillanii Pérez-Farr. & Vovides (Cycadales: Zamiaceae). Morphological analysis and keys are provided for distinguishing these from related beetles inhabiting Ceratozamia in Mexico.
How Close Are Leading Tropical Tropospheric Temperature Perturbations to Those under Convective Quasi Equilibrium?
Authors: Li Yi-Xian , Neelin J. David , Kuo Yi-Hung , Hsu Huang-Hsiung , Yu Jia-Yuh
Published: June 2022

In convective quasi-equilibrium theory, tropical tropospheric temperature perturbations are expected to follow vertical profiles constrained by convection, referred to as A-profiles here, often approximated by perturbations of moist adiabats. Differences between an idealized A-profile based on moist-static energy conservation and temperature perturbations derived from entraining and nonentraining parcel computations are modest under convective conditions—deep convection mostly occurs when the lower troposphere is close to saturation, thus minimizing the impact of entrainment on tropospheric temperature. Simple calculations with pseudoadiabatic perturbations about the observed profile thus provide useful baseline A-profiles. The first EOF mode of tropospheric temperature (TEOF1) from the ERA-Interim and AIRS retrievals below the level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) is compared with these A-profiles. The TEOF1 profiles with high LNB, typically above 400 hPa, yield high vertical spatial correlation (∼0.9) with A-profiles, indicating that tropospheric temperature perturbations tend to be consistent with the quasi-equilibrium assumption where the environment is favorable to deep convection. Lower correlation tends to occur in regions with low climatological LNB, less favorable to deep convection. Excluding temperature profiles with low LNB significantly increases the tropical mean vertical spatial correlation. The temperature perturbations near LNB exhibit negative deviations from the A-profiles—the convective cold-top phenomenon—with greater deviation for higher LNB. In regions with lower correlation, the deviation from A-profile shows an S-like shape beneath 600 hPa, usually accompanied by a drier lower troposphere. These findings are robust across a wide range of time scales from daily to monthly, although the vertical spatial correlation and TEOF1 explained variance tend to decrease on short time scales.
Combined Effects of Tropical Indo-Pacific–Atlantic SST Anomalies on Record-Breaking Floods over Central-North China in September 2021
Authors: Liu Boqi , Zhu Congwen , Ma Shuangmei , Yan Yuhan
Published: June 2022

The rainy season typically terminates over the area of central northern China (CNC) in late August with the rapid retreat of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). However, the CNC suffered continuous heavy rainfall in September 2021. The monthly accumulative precipitation amount broke its historical record since 1961 and caused severe floods. The present study ascribes this extreme rainfall event to the westward inland intrusion of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH). Both case study and statistical analysis indicate that westward extension of the WNPSH is significantly positively correlated with convection over the Maritime Continent (MC) and northern Indian Peninsula (NIP) under the influence of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs). Atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments validate the individual and combined effects of SSTAs in the tropical Indo-Pacific–Atlantic Oceans on WNPSH and CNC rainfall. In particular, the warm SSTAs in the Indo-Pacific warm pool increase the probability of extremely westward extension of the WNPSH and above-normal rainfall over the CNC. The cold SSTAs in the equatorial central-eastern Pacific enlarge the zonal SSTA gradient, strengthen the anomalous convection over the MC and NIP, and intensify the WNPSH and CNC rainfall anomalies. Meanwhile, the warmer tropical Atlantic anchors the anomalous WNPSH and CNC rainfall in their observed positions. A statistical model based on the tropical SSTAs in August can skillfully predict the westward extension of the WNPSH in September 2021, suggesting that the combined effects of tropical Indo-Pacific–Atlantic SSTAs in late summer possibly tend to prolong rainy season of the EASM until early autumn.
The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Predicts Impaired Myocardial Perfusion and Short-Term Mortality in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients
Authors: Vatan Mehmet Bülent , Çakmak Ahmet Can , Ağaç Suret , Eynel Emre , Erkan Hakan
Published: June 2022

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the utility of the immune-inflammation index (SII) in estimating the no-reflow phenomenon and short-term cardiovascular prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). 723 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in our study. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off value of SII to predict the no-reflow. The multivariate regression analysis analyzed the correlation between no-reflow and SII. The median value of SII was significantly higher in patients with no-reflow in comparison with normal reperfusion [1466 (939–2409) vs 905 (566–1379), p < .001]. The optimal threshold for SII in predicting the no-reflow phenomenon was 1036, with sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 59%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.66–0.75, p < .001). In multivariate analysis, SII ≥ 1036 value showed an independent predictive value for the no-reflow (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29–0.92, p = .02) and the 30-day cardiovascular mortality (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.34–4.19, p = .003). Our results suggest that higher SII levels are independently associated with the no-reflow phenomenon and 30-day mortality in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.
Trace Element Distribution in Zoned Kyanite of Thassos Island (Greece) Using Combined Spectroscopic Analyses
Authors: Trebus Kimberly , Tarantola Alexandre , Fabre Cécile , Caumon Marie-Camille , Cauzid Jean , Motto-Ros Vincent , Lecomte Andreï , Peiffert Chantal , Voudouris Panagiotis , Mavrogonatos Constantinos
Published: June 2022

Comprehensive mineralogical and petrographic studies require analytical methods capable to report the distribution of major to trace elements within crystals in order to unravel their formation conditions and subsequent evolution. Additionally, the investigation of transition elements (e.g., Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Zn) is essential for the comprehension of substitution processes within colored minerals. This study is conducted on a zoned kyanite crystal from a deformed quartz vein found within garnet–kyanite–biotite–hematite–plagioclase±staurolite±sillimanite paragneiss of Thassos Island, Greece. Herein, we show the efficiency of combining conventional, for example, cathodoluminescence, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and new methods, for example, micro-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (µLIBS), micro-X-ray fluorescence (µXRF), and Raman spectroscopy, to determine the chemical and crystallographic features of minerals. The simple chemistry of this crystal offers an ideal case to compare and valuate the potential of combined spectroscopy techniques to analyze minerals. We demonstrate that µLIBS and µXRF are perfectly adapted to perform multi-element imaging of major to trace elements down to the ppm level within a pluricentimetric crystal (2.3 x 0.5 cm) prior to quantitative analyses. We also highlight the benefit of cathodoluminescence and Raman mapping in the investigation of crystallographic features within minerals. The multispectroscopic approach enabled us to correlate growth stages of kyanite with the polymetamorphic history of the sample. Our results also highlight the spatial dependence of Ti for the generation of blue zonation by Fe2+–Ti4+substitutions with Al3+.
Decoration or Mutilation? Female Genital Piercing and the Law
Authors: Gaffney-Rhys Ruth
Published: June 2022

This article assesses the legality of Female Genital Piercing (FGP), which refers to the piercing of female genitalia to adorn it with jewellery, for decoration or sexual enhancement. The position in the UK is uncertain because the World Health Organisation regards piercing as a form of FGM, which is a criminal offence in all parts of the UK. After analysing the stance adopted by the international community, the paper examines the legislation that criminalises FGM and considers whether FGP could fall within its scope. The paper concludes that female genital piercings could constitute FGM in limited circumstances, but even then, it may not be in the public interest to initiate a criminal prosecution. This lack of certainty is problematic for professional piercers who would welcome legislation providing an express exemption for genital piercings performed on consenting adult women.
Revisiting the potential role of BCG and MMR vaccines in COVID-19
Authors: Bayram Zeina , Musharrafieh Umayya , Bizri Abdul Rahman
Published: June 2022

Despite the development and deployment of effective COVID-19 vaccines, many regions remain poorly covered. Seeking alternative tools for achieving immunity against COVID-19 remains to be of high importance. “Trained immunity” is the nonspecific immune response usually established through administering live attenuated vaccines and is a potential preventive tool against unrelated infections. Evidence regarding a possible protective role for certain live attenuated vaccines against COVID-19 has emerged mainly for those administered as part of childhood vaccination protocols. This review summarizes the relevant literature about the potential impact of Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines on COVID-19. Existing available data suggest a potential role for BCG and MMR in reducing COVID-19 casualties and burden. However, more investigation and comparative studies are required for a better understanding of their impact on COVID-19 outcomes.
Coin retained in the upper esophagus for more than 4 years: A case report and literature review
Authors: Assiri Hassan , Alshareef Waleed , Aldriweesh Bshair , AlShehri Khaled , AlFraih Yasser , Makoshi Latifah A.
Published: June 2022

Coins are among the most common foreign bodies ingested by children, especially those below 5 years of age. Early endoscopic retrieval of esophageal coins minimizes the risk of serious complications. However, significant morbidity and mortality are reported when coins are retained in the gastrointestinal tract for prolonged periods of time. We report a case in which a coin was retained in the upper esophagus for 4 years and presented a distinctive clinical course. An esophageal coin retained for a prolonged period may place the patient at a risk of complications such as tracheoesophageal fistulas. The management of patients with complicated aerodigestive tract foreign bodies is challenging. To avoid a delayed diagnosis and to improve the patients’ safety, the quality of medical care in rural areas should be monitored by implementing continuous educational programs for primary physicians.
Introduction to the special section on social norms and behavioral development
Authors: Veenstra René
Published: June 2022

This introduction outlines the goals for the special section on social norms and behavioral development. The study of social norms has attracted much interest in peer relations research, and has turned attention to group-level processes, often defined based on the classroom, which create and sustain shared meanings that impact adolescent behavioral and social adjustment. Norms can be differentiated in three ways. First, prescriptive or injunctive norms can be distinguished from descriptive norms. Second, a distinction can be made between what is salient for all classmates or for a subgroup of norm setters, in particular popular peers. Third, social norms can be distinguished from perceived norms. The contributions to this special section invite debate on the future of research on norms, and suggest numerous avenues for further research, with hopes that an understanding of how social norms affect social development will better inform peer relations research as well as norm-based interventions.
Variation in the Price of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Procedures
Authors: Wu Michael Pei‐hong , Xiao Roy , Rathi Vinay K. , Sethi Rosh K.V.
Published: June 2022

Health care costs can present a significant strain on patients with head and neck cancer. It remains unclear how much prices may vary among hospitals providing care and what factors lead to differences in prices of surgical procedures. A cross‐sectional analysis of private payer–negotiated prices was performed for 10 commonly performed head and neck surgical oncology procedures. In total, 896 hospitals disclosed prices for at least 1 common head and neck surgical oncology procedure. Wide variation in negotiated surgical prices was identified. Across‐center ratios ranged from 6.2 (partial glossectomy without primary closure) to 22.8 (excision of tongue lesion without closure). For‐profit hospital ownership structure and geographic region outside of the northeast United States were associated with increased prices. For example, private payer–negotiated prices for direct laryngoscopy with biopsy were on average $2083 greater at for‐profit hospitals when compared with nonprofit hospitals ($5215 vs $3132, P < .001). Further research comparing prices and outcomes is needed.
Predictors of Surgical Site Infection in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Quimby Alexandra E. , Grose Elysia , Reddy Deepti , Webster Richard , Malic Claudia , Vaccani Jean‐Philippe
Published: June 2022

Objective

To determine risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) after cochlear implantation (CI) in pediatric patients.

Study Design

Case‐control study.

Setting

A total of 150 hospitals contributing data to the ACS‐NSQIP Pediatric database (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) in North America and worldwide.

Methods

Pediatric patients (aged <18 years) undergoing CI during the years 2012 to 2017 were identified in the ACS‐NSQIP Pediatric database. Uni‐ and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) of SSI (including superficial incisional, deep incisional, organ/space) occurring up to 30 days postoperatively.

Results

A total of 79 SSIs occurred over a 5‐year period (n = 5146). Longer operative time significantly increased the odds of SSI (OR, 1.965; 95% CI, 1.205‐3.289). Younger age was also found to raise the odds of SSI, with decreased odds associated with each 6‐month increase in age (OR, 0.887; 95% CI, 0.814‐0.958).

Conclusion

Longer operative time and younger age appear to significantly increase the odds of SSI in pediatric CI. Body mass index, recent steroid use, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, bilateral vs unilateral implantation, and hospital length of stay do not appear to significantly influence SSI risk. These findings must be interpreted in the context of the limitations inherent to adverse events reporting, which are mitigated by the stringent manner of data collection by the ACS‐NSQIP, and those inherent to the definition of SSI. Future prospective studies should investigate the impact of reducing operative time on the risk of SSI and other complications in pediatric CI.
Antiquity in the history of music: A critical review of the music textbooks for secondary education in Spain
Authors: Martínez-Rodríguez Marta
Published: June 2022

The history of music is shaped through narratives that sometimes contain a number of issues regarding cultural stereotypes, historiographic approaches, Eurocentrism or colonialism. For this reason, its transmission and the way it is taught must be the object of study and careful consideration. The present research analyses – on the basis of narratological and organological premises – the contents that shape the discourses underlying the coverage of the ancient period by music education textbooks used in the Spanish compulsory secondary education stage. To this effect, an ad hoc instrument was designed and implemented on 24 coursebooks. The results confirmed that the chronological narrative is the most widely used strategy and that in more than half of the textbooks under examination the history of music begins to be told after Antiquity. Other findings were that the construct of the ‘foundational’ civilisations of the West is still perpetuated and that an organological narrative is proposed which is inspired by a diffusionist approach. In conclusion, we detect patterns that are controversial and need to be subjected to revision at a time when educational textbooks are a decisive resource that adapts the official curriculum and mediates between the latter and music education teachers.
From adversity to advice: Survival threats as a trigger for sustained engagement with external business support in small firms
Authors: Jibril Halima , Wishart Maria , Roper Stephen
Published: June 2022

This article analyses the relationship between the experience of a crisis and advice seeking in small firms. Although the benefits of business advice and support to smaller firms are well documented, smaller firms are often reluctant to seek external advice, relying instead on informal routines and a focus on daily operations. Conceptualising crisis as a trigger for advice seeking, and using survey data from 2089 small firms, we find a strong and significant relationship between experiencing a crisis and seeking external business advice up to five years after the crisis. This sustained effect on advice seeking is particularly strong for firms who also sought advice at the time of the crisis. Additionally, we find that the effect of a business crisis on sustained advice seeking is stronger for firms subject to a crisis with external origins.
Relationship between dynamic visual acuity and multiple object tracking performance
Authors: Vera Jesús , Redondo Beatríz , Molina Rubén , Jiménez Raimundo , Dalton Kristine
Published: June 2022

We assessed the association between measures of dynamic visual acuity and a multiple object tracking task in physically active young adults. Ninety-four young adults performed the dynamic visual acuity and multiple object tracking tasks. Dynamic visual acuity was measured for horizontal and random walk motion paths at four target speeds (5, 10, 20, and 30°/s). For the multiple object tracking task, participants had to track three out of eight balls for 10 s, and the object speed was adjusted by a staircase procedure. We found that multiple object tracking performance was associated with better identification of horizontally and randomly moving targets in the dynamic visual acuity test ( p < .001, r = −.35 [−.52, −.16]; and p < .001, r = −.52 [−.65, −.35]; respectively). This effect was consistent across all target speeds (all p-values<0.05). However, static visual acuity did not correlate with any measure of dynamic visual acuity or multiple object tracking ( p > 0.170 in all cases). This study provides novel insights into the association between the ability to identify horizontally and randomly moving targets and track multiple objects. Future studies are needed to determine the potential utility of dynamic visual acuity for talent identification and predicting sports performance in real-game situations.
COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence: Investigating the “Shadow Pandemic” of Sexual Violence During Crisis Lockdown in Nigeria
Authors: Aborisade Richard A.
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic created a myriad of problems including an increase in the cases of gender-based violence, prompting the United Nations Women to refer to the trend as a “shadow pandemic.” In spite of this trend, research exploring the impact of COVID-19 in Africa have given little consideration to issues bordering on gender. To address this, a qualitative study involving 19 women and girls who experienced sexual violence during the lockdown, and 6 officials of women and child protection services as key informants, was conducted. Findings indicated a variety of sexual violence directed toward participants including marital rape, incest, acquaintance rape, date rape, and stranger rape. The conditions of the COVID-19 lockdown not only created opportunities for motivated offenders, but also increased the vulnerabilities of women to sexual victimization. These findings advance the need to acknowledge the increase in sexual violence, reimagine government’s policies, create awareness, and recognize women and child support networks as essential services during a lockdown.
“I’m Not a Child Molester, But a Victim Myself”: Examining Rationalizations Among Male Sex Offenders Who Report Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Authors: Steely Smith Mollee
Published: June 2022

Persons convicted of sexual offenses (PCSOs) hold distorted attitudes and beliefs, or rationalizations that minimize the severity of their offending. Despite this, knowledge of rationalizations held by PCSOs remains limited, especially for offenders who report being sexually abused as children. The purpose of the study was to qualitatively assess post-conviction rationalizations of PCSOs who reported childhood sexual abuse ( n = 40) and those who reported no sexual abuse ( n = 40) focusing on account variations—a framework proposed by Scott & Lyman. Offenders were interviewed and assessed for risk and community notification purposes in 2014 in a southern state. The manner in which PCSOs use rationalizations to avert responsibility for their offenses provides insight into their motivations for offending, and therefore, can inform treatment initiatives for PCSOs with and without histories of sexual victimization. Results can help inform differentiated treatment for those with histories of sexual abuse and those without.
“It’s Just Flourishing Hope Everywhere”: The Experiences of Incarcerated Men Sharing Their Stories
Authors: Tryon Rebecca , Gerstenblatt Paula , Bove Andrew
Published: June 2022

Of the 2.2 million people incarcerated throughout the United States, 93% are men. The current phenomenological study adds to the existing body of qualitative research on the lived experiences of men who are incarcerated and supports storytelling as a therapeutic technique. Four essential themes were revealed through an analysis of participant interviews: (1) substance use, (2) anticipation of storytelling, (3) the act of storytelling, and (4) reflections on storytelling. Understanding these experiences can assist in the development of storytelling-based interventions and community programing that is mutually beneficial to both the teller and the listener.
Strategies for checking misinformation: An approach from the Global South
Authors: Das Anup Kumar , Tripathi Manorama
Published: June 2022

The manipulation of information to suit one’s vested interests is a growing hazard. It has elements of disinformation, misinformation and fake news, and lacks authenticity. Such manipulation and distortion of facts can have serious consequences for a community, especially in a diverse nation like India. It calls for strict measures and awareness to check this spread. Technology further catalyses such dissemination. Institutions, libraries, governments and the media are all deliberating effective means to distinguish fake news from authentic news. This article details some such initiatives. It discusses the Government of India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to curb such deceitful dissemination, elements of which can be replicable in other geographies. It spotlights the issue and underscores the need for media and information literacy for all to be more discerning during the reception, consumption and assimilation of information before responding to it. Further, the fact-checking initiatives and Information Technology Rules as taken and framed in India may be replicated in other countries.
Effect of CaO and hydrothermal carbonization conditions on the fuel characteristics of rice husk hydrochars
Authors: Liu Yaoxin , Wang Enyu , Kan Ze , Liu Baotong
Published: June 2022

The effects of hydrothermal temperature and catalyst concentration on the basic elements and combustion characteristics and kinetic parameters of hydrochars were investigated using ultimate analyzer and thermogravimetric method with rice husk as the research object and CaO as the additives. The results showed that: (1) the fixed carbon content of hydrochars gradually increased with the increase of hydrothermal temperature, whereas the volatile content gradually decreased. When CaO was added, the changes of fixed carbon and volatile fraction gradually decreased with the increase of hydrothermal temperature, and H/C atomic ratio increased to different degrees, which had a certain inhibitory effect on the degree of hydrothermal carbonization of rice husk. (2) The peak of the volatile fraction combustion section of hydrochars combustion derivative thermogravimetric curve was higher than that of the fixed carbon combustion section. CaO concentration has less effect on the volatile combustion section, and the combustion peak of the fixed carbon section is significantly reduced. (3) When the heating rate of the combustion test is accelerated, the ignition and burnout temperatures of the sample increase and the overall combustion curve shifts to the high temperature region. (4) The comprehensive combustion index SN decreases with the increase in hydrothermal temperature. When the hydrothermal temperature is certain, the CaO concentration causes the SN to increase and then decrease, which finally reduces the combustion performance of hydrochars. (5) The activation energy of the fixed carbon combustion section of hydrochars is lower than that of the volatile combustion section, and the activation energy of both volatile and fixed carbon combustion sections gradually decreases after adding CaO. The primary reaction kinetic model was used to describe the combustion kinetics of hydrochars, and the correlation coefficients ( R2) were all above 0.92, and the results were reliable.
pH-sensitive carbon nanotubes graft polymethylacrylic acid self-assembly nanoplatforms for cellular drug release
Authors: Han Mei , Zhou Zi-Hao , Luo Yan-Ling , Xu Feng , Chen Ya-Shao
Published: June 2022

pH-Sensitive carbon nanotubes graft polymethylacrylic acid hybrids (CNTs- g-PMAA) were prepared through a three-step process, and self-assembled into core-shell micelle nanoparticles. The chemical structure of the hybrids were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and TGA. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was measured by surface tension, and the value hinged on the Mn values or chain lengths of PMAA segments. The UV-vis transmittance, dynamical light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements indicated that the hybrid self-assembly exhibited pH-sensentive responsiveness. The self-assembly was used to load an anticancer drug, paclitaxel (PTX), with an encapsulation efficiency of 77%. The PTX-loaded hybrid drug preparations were applied for cancer-cellular drug release, finding that the release rate was dependent on pH environments, and faster in acidic media of pH < 6.8 than in pH 7.4. MTT and hemolysis assays manifested that the blank hybrid drug carriers were nontoxic and safe, whereas the PTX-loaded drug preparations possessed comparable and even higher anticancer activity in comparison with free PTX. Consequently, the developed hybrid drug nanocarriers can be used for cancer therapy as a promising candidate.
Compensatory Work Devotion: How a Culture of Overwork Shapes Women’s Parental Leave in South Korea
Authors: Oh Eunsil , Mun Eunmi
Published: June 2022

Despite growing concerns that parental leave policies may reinforce the marginalization of mothers in the labor market and reproduce the gendered division of household labor, few studies examine how women themselves approach and use parental leave. Through 64 in-depth interviews with college-educated Korean mothers, we find that although women’s involvement in family responsibilities increases during leave, they do not reduce their work devotion but reinvent it throughout the leave-taking process. Embedded in the culture of overwork in Korean workplaces, women find it justifiable to use leave only when they are highly committed to work and adjust the length of leave to accommodate workplace demands. Upon returning to work, they try to compensate for their absence by working harder than before, thereby showing that they are more committed than their colleagues. Given this “compensatory” work devotion, women question their own entitlement in the workplace, and some quit when they cannot meet their goal of compensating by doing more than others. This study highlights how the workplace culture shapes women’s work devotion during and after leave.
Against Imperial Social Policy: Recasting Mkandawire’s Transformative Ideas for Africa’s Liberation
Authors: Phiri Madalitso Zililo
Published: June 2022

Forty years have passed since the implementation of the pernicious neoliberal structural reforms on the African continent in 1981. If 2021 marked a 40-year commemoration of a diabolical neocolonial project such as neoliberalism, then the year 2020 signified another 40-year period of rebirth aborted, as the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 was undermined in favour of the Berg Report of 1981. These two periodizations delineate African liberation or continued neocolonial oppression, yet also coincide with Thandika Mkandawire’s life’s strivings. How do Mkandawire’s ideas on social policy, inspired by radical African Nationalists, aid in the dismantling of contemporary forms of racialized neoliberal social policy making? Mkandawire’s life straddled two 40-year periods (1940–1980 and 1980–2020) marked by sui generis contributions to African and global social sciences. This paper recasts his scholarly contributions on transformative social policy as a prophetic theoretician of African liberation. Mkandawire’s scholarly corpus provides a programmatic approach to the unmaking of a hierarchical racialized neoliberal global order.
Effects of geometry and loading on the elastic behavior of a single osteon via analytical structural mechanics approaches
Authors: Asadollahi Sina , Dehestani Mehdi
Published: June 2022

In this study, two analytical approaches for lamella texture at micro-scale including disordered mineralized and organized collagen fibers are employed to provide analytical models of an osteon. A two-step homogenization procedure is also applied to characterize the elastic properties of the osteon. Numerical evaluations are accomplished to explore the effects of loading and geometrical parameters on the behavior of the osteon. Results show the diameter of the Haversian canal is the dominant geometrical parameter influencing the elastic stresses in the osteon. The radial and hoop stresses as well as radial displacement are insensitive to the changes in the number of lamellae. The ordered motif osteon model can also be used to explain circumferential micro-cracks along lamellae leading to irregular profiles of fracture in osteon direct tensile tests. The theoretical model of osteon based on the lamination theory generally indicated better agreement with existing experimental results.
Mechanisms of performance degradation in a double-suction centrifugal pump under inflow distortions
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Boxing , Lu Jinling , Feng Jianjun , Zhang Lefu , Luo Xingqi
Published: June 2022

Inlet pipes of the centrifugal pump are generally bent to fit in the limited installation space, which can cause inflow distortions for two sides of the double-suction impeller. This study aimed to understand the effect of primary geometric parameters of inlet pipes, including corner angle, straight pipe length downstream of elbow, and turning radius, on pump performance and pressure fluctuations. The pump head, efficiency, and pressure fluctuations were measured for six kinds of inlet pipes in the experiment. Unsteady numerical simulations were performed to understand the flow mechanisms. Results indicate that the bending of inlet pipes is a significant reason for the loss of pump head and efficiency. The penalty on pump performance is augmented by the increase in corner angle, decrease in turning radius, and installation of a short straight pipe downstream of the elbow. Pump efficiency could be maximally reduced by 6.58% with a large corner angle and a small turning radius. The bending of inlet pipes induces pressure imbalance for the two sides of the impeller and increases low-frequency disturbance in the suction chamber, which are responsible for the performance loss. Numerical results reveal that the low-frequency disturbance is caused by the vortex formed in the suction chamber, and the accompanying secondary vortex aggravates the pressure fluctuation synchronously. Parametric studies conclude that the corner angle should be minimized to reduce the penalty on pump performance and pressure fluctuations, and a long straight pipe downstream of the elbow can be installed to decrease vibration for the pump with bent inlet pipes.
Effect of nanospray on hydrodynamic cylindrical film flow of Sutterby–Casson nanoliquids: A renewable energy application
Authors: Minnam Reddy Vasudeva Reddy , Sreevallabha Reddy A , Suresh Babu R , Sandeep N
Published: June 2022

Renewable energy is the most prominent energy source due to its industrial and technological needs. A computational examination is performed to explore the result of the nanospray on the film flow of Casson and Sutterby nanofluids over a cylindrical surface. Due to the effective thermal conductivity of graphene oxide, the water–graphene oxide nanofluid is considered in the existence of radiative heat, Catteneo–Christove heat flux, and hydrodynamic effects. A mathematical model is established and resolved numerically by applying appropriate similarities. Simultaneous results are obtained for Sutterby and Casson nano models. The impact of considered physical features on the flow and heat transmission of both liquids is studied with the help of pictorial and mathematical outcomes. The heat transmission rate of the Casson nanoliquid is higher than the Sutterby nanoliquid. Hence, the fluids with Casson rheological nature are helpful in heat transfer applications. Both liquids’ flow and heat transport rate can be regulated by adjusting the film thickness.
Climate and human exploitation have regulated Atlantic salmon populations in the River Spey, Scotland, over the last 2000 years
Authors: Sear David , Langdon Pete , Leng Melanie , Edwards Mary , Heaton Tim , Langdon Catherine , Leyland Julian
Published: June 2022

Historical salmon catch records suggest that climatic variability, and more recently human exploitation, control patterns of abundance in Atlantic salmon populations. We present the first long-term (2000-year) reconstruction of Atlantic Salmon population variations based on a Marine Derived Nutrient (MDN) lake sediment record. Our record is constructed from nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) measured from a lake sediment core, which we compare with an escapement index (EI) derived from historic net catch data on major Scottish salmon rivers. We used an isotope mixing model to demonstrate that the N isotope values are likely enriched with MDN and demonstrate that Loch Insh sediments are enriched compared with a control site (Loch Vaa) that has never had exposure to salmon. We demonstrate that current adult spawner returns are around half that of historic values prior to major human exploitation. Before the onset of widespread human exploitation and habitat degradation, large fluctuations in salmon abundance are attributed to variations in North Atlantic sea surface temperature. While our data support published reconstructions of declining Atlantic salmon stocks in Northwest European rivers over the last 1000 years, rather than point to a solely human cause, the human impact appears to be overprinted on larger-scale changes in marine habitat occurring at the transition from the warmer Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA) to the cooler Little Ice Age (LIA).
Effects of Lovastatin on Brain Cancer Cells
Authors: Amadasu Efosa , Kang Richard , Usmani Ahsan , Borlongan Cesario V.
Published: June 2022

Although brain tumors occur less frequently than other forms of cancer, they have one of the bleakest prognoses with low survival rates. The conventional treatment for brain tumors includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, resistance to treatment remains a problem with recurrence shortly following. The resistance to treatment may be caused by cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subset of brain tumor cells with the affinity for self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell lineages. An emerging approach to targeting CSCs in brain tumors is through repurposing the lipid-lowering medication, lovastatin. Lovastatin is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor that impacts the mevalonate pathway. The inhibition of intermediates in the mevalonate pathway affects signaling cascades and oncogenes associated with brain tumor stem cells (BTSC). In this review, we show the possible mechanisms where lovastatin can target BTSC for different varieties of malignant brain tumors.
Trends in Cleft lip and/or Palate Prevalence at Birth in Mexico: A National (Ecological) Study Between 2003 and 2019
Authors: Cerón-Zamora Eduardo , Scougall-Vilchis Rogelio José , Contreras-Bulnes Rosalía , González-López Blanca Silvia , Veras-Hernández Miriam Alejandra , Lucas-Rincón Salvador Eduardo , Escoffié-Ramirez Mauricio , Medina-Solís Carlo Eduardo , Maupomé Gerardo
Published: June 2022

Objective

To describe trends in cases and prevalence at birth rates of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in Mexico between 2003 and 2019.

Design

Ecological study.

Setting

Multiple data sources systematically collected into a national epidemiological surveillance data warehouse.

Participants

National Live Birth Information System.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Both cases and prevalence at birth rates of CL/P in Mexico within a 17-year period were used as dependent variables.

Results

At the national level there were 23 184 new cases of CL/P (average of 1364 per year) in the 32 states of Mexico, with an average prevalence at birth rate of 0.53 per 1000 live births. The states with the highest prevalence at birth rates of CL/P during the period were Hidalgo (1.59) and Jalisco (1.32), while the states with the lowest rates were Nayarit (0.22) and Durango (0.29). A slight decrease in both cases (z = −2.41, P = .016) and prevalence at birth rates (z = −2.58, P = .010) of CL/P was observed at the national level. States such as Durango, Puebla, Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Coahuila and Jalisco showed a clear downward trend ( P < .05) in their prevalence at birth of CL/P between 2003 and 2019, while in Hidalgo its trend was upward ( P = .05). Significant differences by sex and region were observed ( P < .05).

Conclusion

Some states consistently had the highest or lowest prevalence of CL/P. Decreasing trends in the overall prevalence at birth rates were observed. More detailed, epidemiological studies are necessary to adequately characterize CL/P in the Mexican population.
Association of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma With the Interaction Between Poor Oral Health and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Regulating Cell Cycles and Angiogenesis: A Case-Control Study in High-Incidence Chinese
Authors: Zhao Renjia , Li Xiaoxiao , Yang Xiaorong , Zhang Tiejun , Lu Ming , Ye Weimin , Jin Li , Suo Chen , Chen Xingdong
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Oral health and genetic factors can independently influence the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Objectives

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of oral health and genetic factors on ESCC risk.

Methods

This was a matched case-control study with 927 ESCC patients and 1701 matched controls. We selected 101 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 59 genes that were associated with ESCC. Oral health was assessed based on tooth-brushing frequency, tooth loss, and age at the time of first tooth loss. An unconditional logistic regression model was employed in which SNP–oral health interactions were assessed as risk factors for ESCC, after adjusting for age and sex. A genetic risk score (GRS) analysis was conducted.

Results

The association between GRS and ESCC and the synergistic effect of GRS and oral health on ESCC were examined. Daily frequency of tooth-brushing was found to interact with 5 SNPs, rs3765524, rs753724, rs994771, rs3781264, and rs11187842, to increase the risk of ESCC. In particular, individuals with genotype TT of rs3765524 who brushed their teeth less than twice a day had a 5.13-times higher risk of ESCC than those with genotype CC who brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Furthermore, tooth loss interacted with two SNPs: rs1159918 from ADH1B and rs3813867 from CYP2E1.

Conclusion

Oral health may interact with genetic factors increasing ESCC risk, which provides new insights into the relationship between ESCC and gene–lifestyle interactions which can be used for disease prevention.