bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Ginger Supplementation in Relieving Persistent Hypothyroid Symptoms in Patients with Controlled Primary Hypothyroidism: A Pilot Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Ashraf Hamide , Heydari Mojtaba , Shams Mesbah , Zarshenas Mohammad Mehdi , Tavakoli Ali , Sayadi Mehrab
Published: January 2022

Primary hypothyroidism is a common disease. Some patients have persistent symptoms despite normal serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Ginger is reported to be beneficial in relieving similar symptoms. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of ginger supplementation in relieving persistent symptoms in these patients. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 60 hypothyroid patients aged 20–60 years with normal serum TSH concentrations were randomly allocated to two equal parallel study groups of ginger (500 mg twice a day) or placebo for 30 days. Hypothyroid symptoms were evaluated as the primary outcome using the Thyroid Symptom Rating Questionnaire (ThySRQ) before and after the intervention. Anthropometric measures and laboratory indices including TSH, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TChol), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were considered as secondary outcomes. A significant lower mean total ThySRQ score (8.63 ± 5.47 vs. 15.76 ± 6.09,

P
<
0.001

) was observed in the ginger group compared to the control group. Ginger led to significant improvements in the mean scores of the weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, appetite, memory loss, concentration disturbance, and feeling giddy or dizzy domains (

P
<
0.001

). However, no significant improvements were observed in hair loss, nail fragility, hearing, hoarseness, speech, and depression or feeling down (

P
>
0.05

). Ginger supplementation also led to a significant decrease in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, serum TSH, FBS, TG, and TChol levels compared to the placebo. In summary according to preliminary results of this study, ginger supplementation can help relieve persistent hypothyroid symptoms. Also, it may have beneficial effects in terms of weight reduction and regulation of the FBS and lipid profile in hypothyroid patients.
[Retracted] Design and Research of the AI Badminton Model Based on the Deep Learning Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yujue , Hu He
Published: January 2022

In view of the fact that it is difficult for existing algorithms to identify the movements of a player in an accurate way, this paper puts forward an artificial intelligence (AI) motion model on the basis of the deep learning neural network instruction set architecture (ISA). Firstly, a mobile neural network (MNN) inference engine was utilized to create a new AI sports project‐side intelligent practice model. Under this model, a movement can be segmented into a series of decomposition movements, which are recognized and judged separately for the purpose of measuring the entire movement. In order to test its feasibility, the study compares the MNN inference engine with the traditional reasoning engine in terms of their algorithmic capabilities and compares the results obtained through this algorithm and traditional online motion app. Research shows that, in the MNN of the AI sports project proposed in this paper, the datasets of action recognition exceed the results of other inference engines, characterized by lightweight, high performance, and accessibility. Research also demonstrates that the AI sports project model can adapt to the needs of sports projects with a variety of themes and improve the accuracy of movement recognition details.
Research on Investment Performance of Venture Capital Network Community in the Internet Industry
Authors: Pei Xiaojie , Dang Xinghua
Published: January 2022

Venture capital has emerged as an important intermediary in financial markets, providing capital to young high-technology firms that might have otherwise gone unfunded. Venture capitalists have developed a variety of mechanisms to overcome the problems that emerge at each stage of the investment process. This study selected the China Venture (CV) source database for venture capital (VC) research in the Chinese Internet industry and extracted information on investment time, VC firms, and investment amount. Combining theoretical analysis and empirical research, the differences between the leader community and the self-organizing community in the Chinese Internet industry are analyzed and the reasons and paths leading to the change of investment performance are determined. It is found that the information dissemination of core nodes promotes the information dissemination of leaders’ communities and the two kinds of organizational learning have different effects on investment performance in the two communities. Under experimental learning and information dissemination, the investment performance of the leader community is greater than the self-organizing community. The outcomes of this research can be used as a reference for the sustainable development of the Chinese Internet industry.
Evaluation Model of Online and Offline Mixed Teaching Quality in Colleges and Universities Based on BP Neural Network
Authors: Guo Shanshan , Chai Qingqing , Wang Mengmeng
Published: January 2022

Hybrid online and offline teaching is becoming the mainstream teaching method in the postepidemic era. However, research on assessing its teaching quality is still limited. This article thus develops a teaching quality evaluation model based on the BP neural network. A three-dimensional indicator system involving 19 indicators is set in the model. The established model was demonstrated and validated by a case study. The results show that the developed model can accurately assess the teaching quality of hybrid online and offline teaching. Findings from this study can provide valuable references for improving the quality of hybrid online and offline teaching.
Research on Promoting Visual Communication of Local Folk Culture by Using Digital Technology
Authors: Jia Zhixiong , Yang Yingfa
Published: January 2022

Through the visual analysis of local customs and cultures by using digital technology, the total index of digital artificial intelligence, the environmental support of artificial intelligence (AI), and the competitiveness of AI industry have developed well, while the creativity of AI knowledge has developed steadily. According to the survey of digital technology audience education, it can be seen that the respondents with high school to undergraduate education have a higher audience rate of digital technology, while those with other academic qualifications have a lower audience rate, so digital technology can be popularized through education. Through the investigation of audience jobs, it is known that most of the audience of digital technology are engaged in enterprise staff, but they are less exposed to digital technology in political party organs. It can be seen that the loading time of visual images after clustering processing will be reduced by about 200 compared with that without clustering processing, which greatly improves the efficiency of visual graphics loading. As well as the analysis of the development of visualization, we can see that from the sixteenth century to the present, the visualization efficiency has increased from about 50% to 98%, which greatly improves the efficiency. According to the survey of local folk customs, from 2013 to 2019, local residents’ awareness of local folk customs has been continuously improved, from 30% to about 48%, while the awareness of completely unclear folk customs has dropped from 10% to about 1%. Through the investigation of local folk culture, it can be seen that in the promotion of local folk culture, the governance system and measures are insufficient, and the governance effect cannot be effectively fed back.
Robust Optimization of Dynamic Characteristics of Mechanical Structure Combined with Multivariable Predictive Compensation
Authors: Zhang Li
Published: January 2022

Due to the influence of many factors such as machining and working environment, the robot kinematics model has errors, which leads to the inaccuracy of the actual position and pose. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a method based on the genetic algorithm to directly modify the rotation variables of the manipulator joint to improve the positioning accuracy of the manipulator. Through the establishment of the mechanical kinematics model and the error model, the solution formula of joint correction is obtained. The actual pose of the end effector of the manipulator is detected by the NDI three-dimensional dynamic displacement measurement system, and the correction value is applied to the control of the designed 6-DOF series manipulator.
Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites as Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Liang Yuqing , Xie Shan , He Yanyun , Xu Manru , Qiao Xi , Zhu Yue , Wu Wenbin
Published: January 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that deteriorates cognitive function. Patients with AD generally exhibit neuroinflammation, elevated beta-amyloid (Aβ), tau phosphorylation (p-tau), and other pathological changes in the brain. The kynurenine pathway (KP) and several of its metabolites, especially quinolinic acid (QA), are considered to be involved in the neuropathogenesis of AD. The important metabolites and key enzymes show significant importance in neuroinflammation and AD. Meanwhile, the discovery of changed levels of KP metabolites in patients with AD suggests that KP metabolites may have a prominent role in the pathogenesis of AD. Further, some KP metabolites exhibit other effects on the brain, such as oxidative stress regulation and neurotoxicity. Both analogs of the neuroprotective and antineuroinflammation metabolites and small molecule enzyme inhibitors preventing the formation of neurotoxic and neuroinflammation compounds may have potential therapeutic significance. This review focused on the KP metabolites through the relationship of neuroinflammation in AD, significant KP metabolites, and associated molecular mechanisms as well as the utility of these metabolites as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD. The objective is to provide references to find biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with AD.
Gastrodin Pretreatment Alleviates Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Zheng Yi , Zhang Nan , Bai Fuding
Published: January 2022

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the possible effect of gastrodin in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and the mechanisms. Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group, saline-treated IRI group, and gastrodin-treated IRI group. Gastrodin or 0.9% saline (300 mg/kg/day) was intragastrically administrated for 8 days before operation. We analyzed renal function and histological change. The malondialdehyde level, antioxidant enzymes’ activities, and markers of inflammation and apoptosis were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA on ranks. Results: Gastrodin pretreatment improved IRI-induced renal dysfunction and histologic injury. Mechanistically, gastrodin reversed the elevation of malondialdehyde level and the reduction of antioxidant enzymes’ activities. Gastrodin also reduced the elevated myeloperoxidase activity, TNF-α and IL-1β levels, and the activation of p38 MAPK. Moreover, gastrodin-treated rats exhibited a dramatic reduction in renal tubular apoptosis, along with a decrease in caspase-3 activation and an increase in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Conclusion: Gastrodin pretreatment may alleviate renal IRI via the amelioration of oxidative injury, inflammatory response, and renal tubular apoptosis.
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program versus Crisis Counseling in Preventing Repeat Suicide Attempts: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Arvilommi Petri , Valkonen Jukka , Lindholm Lars H. , Gaily-Luoma Selma , Suominen Kirsi , Ruishalme Outi M. , Kukkonen Marena , Sihvola Harri , Isometsä Erkki
Published: January 2022

Introduction: The Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) is a brief psychotherapeutic intervention, and a pivotal study found it to be remarkably effective in reducing repeat suicide attempts. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of ASSIP to crisis counseling (CC) in a randomized clinical trial (ISRCTN13464512). Methods: Adult patients receiving treatment for a suicide attempt in a Helsinki City general hospital emergency room in 2016–2017 were eligible to participate. We excluded psychotic or likely non-adherent substance-abusing or substance-dependent patients. Eligible patients (n = 239) were randomly allocated to one of two interventions. (a) ASSIP comprised three visits, including a videotaped first visit, a case formulation, and an individualized safety plan, plus letters from the therapist every 3 months for 1 year, and then, every 6 months for the next year. (b) CC typically involved 2–5 (median 3) face-to-face individual sessions. In addition, all participants received their usual treatment. One and 2 years after baseline, information related to participants’ suicidal thoughts and attempts, and psychiatric treatment received was collected via telephone and from medical and psychiatric records. Results: Among randomized patients, two-thirds initiated either ASSIP (n = 89) or CC (n = 72), with 73 (82%) completing ASSIP and 58 (81%) CC. The proportion of patients who attempted suicide during the 2-year follow-up did not differ significantly between ASSIP and CC (29.2% [26/89] vs. 35.2% [25/71], OR 0.755 [95% Cl 0.379–1.504]). Conclusions: We found no difference in the effectiveness of the two brief interventions to prevent repeat suicide attempts.
Histological Prognostic Factors of Endometrial Cancer in Patients with Adenomyosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Raffone Antonio , Travaglino Antonio , Raimondo Diego , Maletta Manuela , Salucci Paolo , Santoro Angela , Zullo Fulvio , Zannoni Gian Franco , Casadio Paolo , Seracchioli Renato , Mollo Antonio
Published: January 2022

Background: A better endometrial cancer (EC) prognosis in patients with coexistent adenomyosis has been hypothesized based on a different prevalence of favorable EC histological prognostic factors. However, pooled risk of EC unfavorable histological prognostic factors in patients with adenomyosis has never been calculated. Objectives: We aimed to assess the risk of EC unfavorable histological prognostic factors in patients with adenomyosis. Methods: All studies with data about histological prognostic factors of EC in patients with and without adenomyosis were included. Relative risk for each unfavorable histological prognostic factor of EC, such as nonendometrioid histotype, FIGO grade 3, FIGO stage II–IV, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and deep myometrial invasion, was calculated in patients with adenomyosis compared to patients without adenomyosis. Results: Seven studies with 4,439 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. EC patients with adenomyosis showed a pooled RR of 0.77 (p = 0.05) for nonendometrioid histotype, 0.55 (p < 0.00001) for FIGO grade 3, 0.60 (p = 0.005) for FIGO stage II–IV, 0.75 (p = 0.004) for LVSI, and 0.65 (p = 0.001) for deep myometrial invasion. Conclusion: EC patients with adenomyosis have a significantly decreased risk for unfavorable histological prognostic factors of EC compared to EC patients without adenomyosis. Such findings might explain the supposed better EC prognosis in patients with adenomyosis.
Oral Abundance of Actinomyces spp. in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Bilgilier Ceren , Fuereder Thorsten , Kastner Marie-Theres , Vass Zoltan , Brandl Ingeborg , Sahbegovic Hanka , Singer Christian F. , Steininger Christoph
Published: January 2022

Objectives: Pathophysiology of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is still unclear, and disease development is associated with adverse reaction of bisphosphonates and denosumab, and Actinomyces spp. as well. In this study, we evaluated the abundance of Actinomyces spp. in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy compared to healthy controls. Methods: Oropharyngeal samples were collected from treatment-naive early-stage breast cancer patients, who were scheduled for standard of care therapy (eight samples throughout chemotherapy, one prior to radiotherapy and one after a year of start), as well as from healthy controls at matched timepoints. We quantified Actinomyces spp. in the samples with a highly sensitive and specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Twenty-one patients and 16 healthy subjects were enrolled. Forty-eight percent of patients suffered from estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive or -negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease, 38% were HER2-positive, and 14% were triple-negative. Comparison of Actinomyces spp. loads in cancer patients and healthy controls did not reveal significant difference. Fluctuations on bacterial quantity were observed in both groups over time. Tumor receptor status or different chemotherapy schemes of patients were not correlated with a particular pattern on abundance of Actinomyces spp. Conclusions: We suggest that Actinomyces spp. are not the initiative factors in MRONJ development. These bacteria are not altered in abundance during chemotherapy, but they behave opportunistic when there is a bone disruption in the oropharynx in the first place caused by antiresorptive drugs or dental trauma and proliferate in their new niche. Thus, Actinomyces spp. plays a latter role in MRONJ development, rather than a primary causative one.
De que maneira a ideologia afeta a disposição a se vacinar contra o Sars-Cov-2?
Authors: Barberia Lorena G. , Rosa Isabel Seelaender Costa
Published: January 2022

Desde o início da pandemia de covid-19, houve grande interesse acerca do papel intermediário exercido pela política e da maneira pela qual ela afeta decisões governamentais e individuais sobre o desenvolvimento e a procura por vacinas, bem como da implementação da vacinação. Um fator adicional que tem contribuído para a politização desses processos tem sido a difusão de informações falsas através das mídias sociais relacionadas ao vírus e às vacinas. Neste artigo, exploramos a forma como as atitudes acerca dos imunizantes desenvolvidos para proteger a população dos sintomas mais graves causados pelo Sars-Cov-2 estão correlacionadas com a ideologia. Utilizamos os dados provenientes da pesquisa “Valores em Crise” para analisar em que medida as atitudes dos eleitores em relação à vacinação afetam a probabilidade individual de vacinação contra o Sars-Cov-2.
Integrating Manifold Knowledge for Global Entity Linking with
Heterogeneous Graphs
Authors: Chen Zhibin , Wu Yuting , Feng Yansong , Zhao Dongyan
Published: January 2022

Entity Linking (EL) aims to automatically link the mentions in unstructured documents to corresponding entities in a knowledge base (KB), which has recently been dominated by global models. Although many global EL methods attempt to model the topical coherence among all linked entities, most of them failed in exploiting the correlations among manifold knowledge helpful for linking, such as the semantics of mentions and their candidates, the neighborhood information of candidate entities in KB and the fine-grained type information of entities. As we will show in the paper, interactions among these types of information are very useful for better characterizing the topic features of entities and more accurately estimating the topical coherence among all the referred entities within the same document. In this paper, we present a novel HEterogeneous Graph-based Entity Linker (HEGEL) for global entity linking, which builds an informative heterogeneous graph for every document to collect various linking clues. Then HEGEL utilizes a novel heterogeneous graph neural network (HGNN) to integrate the different types of manifold information and model the interactions among them. Experiments on the standard benchmark datasets demonstrate that HEGEL can well capture the global coherence and outperforms the prior state-of-the-art EL methods.
5. Co-Researchers’ Valued Capabilities
Authors: Martinez-Vargas Carmen
Published: January 2022

Chapter Five centres around the debate on the creation of universal capabilities for all (Nussbaum, 2011) in relation to the results of the case study in South Africa. Using a prospective application of the Capabilities Approach, the chapter argues the need to identify the valued capabilities of a group of participants before undertaking participatory practices. The analysis explores the valued capabilities of the case study’s twelve co-researchers, presenting six central capabilities for this group: Epistemic, Ubuntu, Human Recognition, Self-development, Health, and Free Time and Leisure capabilities, in addition to conceputalising Colonial Conversion Factors and Insurgent Capabilities.

The chapter highlights the importance of identifying contextual capability choices when applying participatory research, instead of using a universal list, thus using Nussbaum’s central capabilities (2011) to compare and understand their differences. The chapter argues that there is good reason to scrutinise this list, as many cultural and contextual specificities are lost in such aggregations, thereby wasting the grassroots potential of the Capabilities Approach. The chapter provides alternatives ways of seeing and understanding the Capabilities Approach from a Western-centric perspective when applying participatory practices.
6. The South African DCR Project
Authors: Martinez-Vargas Carmen
Published: January 2022

Chapter Six clarifies how the DCR process unfolded and what the DCR team did in each of the workshops, emphasising the valued capabilities highlighted in the previous chapter. Thus, this chapter presents the participatory project via the data from interviews and students’ perspectives. Nevertheless, data from journals and participant observation also problematise the power imbalances within the group and debates on participatory literature. This chapter provides researchers with a case study that, although focused on the Global South, is still valuable for Global North practitioners. It offers guidance on how to implement participatory workshops with co-researchers following the DCR framework, while remaining aware of the tensions, contradictions, and challenges of a participatory project. After reading this case study, international practitioners will be able to implement a DCR project and alter their practices according to the context, whether Global South or North.
Amplified Upward Trend of the Joint Occurrences of Heat and Ozone Extremes in China over 2013–20
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Xu Yangyang , Zhang Xiaorui , Wang Fan , Lu Xiao , Cai Zongwei , Brasseur Guy , Gao Meng
Published: January 2022

Climate change and air pollution are two intimately interlinked global concerns. The frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves are projected to increase globally under future climate change. A growing body of evidence indicates that health risks associated with the joint exposure to heat waves and air pollution can be greater than that due to individual factors. However, the cooccurrences of heat and air pollution extremes in China remain less explored in the observational records. Here we investigate the spatial pattern and temporal trend of frequency, intensity, and duration of cooccurrences of heat and air pollution extremes using China’s nationwide observations of hourly PM2.5 and O3, and the ERA5 reanalysis dataset over 2013–20. We identify a significant increase in the frequency of cooccurrence of wet-bulb temperature (Tw) and O3 exceedances (beyond a certain predefined threshold), mainly in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region (up by 4.7 days decade−1) and the Yangtze River delta (YRD). In addition, we find that the increasing rate (compared to the average levels during the study period) of joint exceedance is larger than the rate of Tw and O3 itself. For example, Tw and O3 coextremes increased by 7.0% in BTH, higher than the percentage increase of each at 0.9% and 5.5%, respectively. We identify same amplification for YRD. This ongoing upward trend in the joint occurrence of heat and O3 extremes should be recognized as an emerging environmental issue in China, given the potentially larger compounding impact to public health.
Asymmetric Changes in Intraseasonal Oscillation Intensity over the Tropical Western North Pacific in El Niño and La Niña Developing Summers
Authors: Wang Yuqi , Wu Renguang , Gu Qinlu
Published: January 2022

The intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) over the tropical western North Pacific (WNP) modulate atmospheric convection and heating and affect weather and climate in remote regions through atmospheric teleconnection. The present study unravels the fact that the ISO intensity increase over the tropical WNP in El Niño developing summers is larger, with the center located eastward, compared with the decrease in La Niña developing summers. The asymmetric ISO intensity changes are attributed to the eastward shift of regions of anomalous low-level westerly winds, ascent, easterly shear of zonal winds, and large moisture in El Niño developing summers and westward shift of regions of opposite anomalies in La Niña developing summers, respectively. The asymmetric atmospheric mean anomalies, in turn, are due to the westward shift of anomalous cooling in La Niña developing summers compared to anomalous warming in El Niño developing summers. The 10–20- and 30–60-day ISOs show different patterns of intensity variations due to their different source regions and propagation paths. Atmospheric model simulations confirm the asymmetric response of boreal summer ISO intensity over the tropical WNP to El Niño and La Niña events and the role of asymmetric atmospheric background field changes. Sensitivity experiments illustrate that asymmetric changes in the ISO intensity and atmospheric background fields over the tropical WNP are due to their asymmetric response to opposite tropical central-eastern Pacific SST anomalies. The asymmetry in tropical central-eastern Pacific SST anomalies in El Niño and La Niña events has a small impact on asymmetric ISO intensity changes over the tropical WNP.
To Accurately and Lightly Downscale the Temperature Field by Deep Learning
Authors: Tie Ruian , Shi Chunxiang , Wan Gang , Kang Lihua , Ge Lingling
Published: January 2022

Downscaling is essential in atmospheric science, aiming to infer the fine-scale field from the coarse-scale field. To obtain the high-resolution temperature field, our team proposed a deep learning–based model, the China Meteorological Administration land data assimilation system statistical downscaling model (CLDASSD). Inspired by some works in computer vision, we proposed the improved version, Light-CLDASSD, which is a lightweight model with fewer parameters. The modified model has the characteristics of light training and fewer parameters. What is more, we introduced station observation data in the model to make the downscaling results more accurate. Taking temperature as the research object, we performed experiments in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and downscaled the temperature field from 1/16° (0.0625°) to 0.01°. Experiments show that Light-CLDASSD can get robust results. As for spatial distribution, Light-CLDASSD can reconstruct fine and accurate spatial distribution on complex mountains and reconstruct small-scale characteristics in plain areas that other models cannot achieve. As for temporal change, Light-CLDASSD performs better at local noon and warm seasons. Furthermore, Light-CLDASSD achieves better performance than other models and is comparable with High-Resolution China Meteorological Administration’s Land Assimilation System (HRCLDAS). The root-mean-square error (RMSE) of Light-CLDASSD is 0.08°C lower than HRCLDAS, and the bias distribution is more concentrated at 0°C. This article is an upgrade of the CLDASSD model and preliminary exploration of the back-calculation for high-resolution historical data.

Significance Statement

This work proposes a deep learning–based statistical downscaling model named Light China Meteorological Administration land data assimilation system statistical downscaling model (Light-CLDASSD), which can downscale the temperature field generated by CLDAS from 1/16° (0.0625°) to 0.01°. Introducing observation data improves the performance, and the model results are comparable to HRCLDAS products. Our research is of great significance to developing high-resolution data and the back-calculation of historical assimilation data.
The Relationship between High-Presentation Asthma Days in Melbourne, Australia, and Modeled Thunderstorm Environments
Authors: Brown Andrew , Dowdy Andrew , Ebert Elizabeth E.
Published: January 2022

Epidemic asthma events represent a significant risk to emergency services as well as the wider community. In southeastern Australia, these events occur in conjunction with relatively high amounts of grass pollen during the late spring and early summer, which may become concentrated in populated areas through atmospheric convergence caused by a number of physical mechanisms including thunderstorm outflow. Thunderstorm forecasts are therefore important for identifying epidemic asthma risk factors. However, the representation of thunderstorm environments using regional numerical weather prediction models, which are a key aspect of the construction of these forecasts, have not yet been systematically evaluated in the context of epidemic asthma events. Here, we evaluate diagnostics of thunderstorm environments from historical simulations of weather conditions in the vicinity of Melbourne, Australia, in relation to the identification of epidemic asthma cases based on hospital data from a set of controls. Skillful identification of epidemic asthma cases is achieved using a thunderstorm diagnostic that describes near-surface water vapor mixing ratio. This diagnostic is then used to gain insights on the variability of meteorological environments related to epidemic asthma in this region, including diurnal variations, long-term trends, and the relationship with large-scale climate drivers. Results suggest that there has been a long-term increase in days with high water vapor mixing ratio during the grass pollen season, with large-scale climate drivers having a limited influence on these conditions.

Significance Statement

We investigate the atmospheric conditions associated with epidemic thunderstorm asthma events in Melbourne, Australia, using historical model simulations of the weather. Conditions appear to be associated with high atmospheric moisture content, which relates to environments favorable for severe thunderstorms, but also potentially pollen rupturing as suggested by previous studies. These conditions are shown to be just as important as the concentration of grass pollen for a set of epidemic thunderstorm asthma events in this region. This means that weather model simulations of thunderstorm conditions can be incorporated into the forecasting process for epidemic asthma in Melbourne, Australia. We also investigate long-term variability in atmospheric conditions associated with severe thunderstorms, including relationships with the large-scale climate and long-term trends.
Ultraviolet Emissions from Explosive Detonation Breakout
Authors: Johnson Stephanie , Schwallier Joel , Glumac Nick
Published: January 2022

Detailed spectroscopic measurements of high explosive detonation breakout in the ultraviolet region are presented. Molecular features associated with CN, NH, OH, and N2 are observed and analyzed. Spectra indicate extreme temperatures well in excess of 5000 K in the first few microseconds after breakout. Molecular bands are found to originate from the detonation products, as opposed to the ambient air, and are strongly attenuated in the presence of oxygen. Implications for forensic analysis of source explosive are discussed.
‘Well, what do You Want to do?’ A Case Study of Community Palliative Care Programme: ‘Heidi’s Have a Go’
Authors: Stanley Moira A. , Daddow Angela A.
Published: January 2022

The demand for palliative care has increased in high income countries as mortality in older adults has decreased and life expectancy increased. In this context, the priorities of palliative and end of life care (EoLC) have shifted in Australia, reflected in policy frameworks, national guidelines, service systems and funding models. However, aligning service systems and practice realities with these policy aspirations has been problematic in Australia and elsewhere. The current study investigates the recent implementation of a unique, community palliative care (CPC) programme called Heidi’s Have a Go (HHaG) in regional Australia, which seemed to bridge the problematic divide between policy aspirations and practice implementation. Qualitative research was undertaken to examine the programme design and influence from the perspective of programme staff and volunteers. The data generated compelling stories on staff and patient experiences in its first 2 years, achieving service outcomes aligned with current policy and national frameworks and privileging patient voices.
With Medicine in Mind? Exploring the Relevance of Having Recreational Experience When Becoming a Medicinal Cannabis User
Authors: Kvamme Sinikka L.
Published: January 2022

Background:

Beyond the legal use of medical cannabis in Denmark for selected patient groups, a large unregulated use of medicinal (non-prescribed) cannabis occurs. However, little is known about the paths to becoming a medicinal cannabis user and the role that previous recreational experience plays in this process.

Aim:

Inspired by Becker’s social learning approach to becoming a cannabis user, this study explores sources of inspiration for medicinal cannabis use, the social control factors related to use, and the relevance of recreational experience (RE) with cannabis.

Methods:

An anonymous survey was made available online to a convenience sample of 2,281 adults (≥18 years) who self-medicate with non-prescribed cannabis. Logistic regression analysis compared users with no RE (46.1%) to users with occasional RE (27.4%) and regular RE (26.5%) in terms of user characteristics, initiation of medicinal use, and experiences with social control factors.

Results:

Compared to users with RE, users with no RE were significantly more likely to be women, older, more frequent users, and to treat somatic conditions and use low potency CBD-oil. Users with no RE were more likely to rely on social networks for information on medicinal cannabis, use online sources for supply, and find supply stable. Moreover, users with no RE were less likely to keep use secret and find use problematic. Also, when medicinal use develops on a gradual transition from recreational use it is associated with increased odds of treating mental health conditions and with use of smoking as form of intake.

Conclusion:

The heterogeneity among medicinal cannabis users in Denmark, in terms of demographics, motives for use, and patterns of use, is related to the level of previous recreational experience and to whether medicinal use developed on a gradual transition from recreational use.
The Use of Concrete Examples Enhances the Learning of Abstract Concepts: A Replication Study
Authors: Micallef Alexia , Newton Philip M.
Published: January 2022

Background

Prior research suggests that the teaching of abstract concepts can be enhanced by the use of concrete examples, but there are few controlled studies.

Objective

To replicate key findings from experiment one from Rawson et al. (2015).

Method

Experiment participants studied definitions of abstract concepts from psychology, either with or without concrete examples. The replication differed from Rawson et al. by using a paid online participant pool, of non-psychology students, and a trimmed methodology focused on the key outcome.

Results

Concrete examples enhanced learning of abstract concepts. The critical finding was enhanced recognition of previously unseen examples matched to learned definitions, thus replicating the results of Rawson et al., with an effect size d = 0.30.

Conclusion

The use of concrete examples was found to enhance learning of abstract concepts when teaching concepts from psychology to non-psychology students using an online paid participant pool.

Teaching Implications

The teaching of abstract concepts in psychology could be helped by frequent use of concrete, real-world examples.
Rethinking online friction in the information society
Authors: Tomalin Marcus
Published: January 2022

A recurrent mantra of the technology industry is that all forms of ‘friction’ should be eliminated from online interactions (especially commercial transactions). In this context, ‘friction’ refers to any unnecessary retardation of a process or activity that delays the user accomplishing a desired action. This broad category can therefore include online adverts that link to the wrong webpages, pop-up windows that block access to content or delays in the physical delivery of an ordered item. Although visions of a frictionless future have been common since at least 1995 (the year Bill Gates popularised the phrase ‘friction-free capitalism’), the basic notion has remained unhelpfully vague. Accordingly, this article focuses specifically on the phenomenon of online friction (i.e. ‘e-friction’) and elaborates a typology of the main subtypes. An analytical framework of this kind makes it much easier to compare and contrast distinct kinds of e-friction, recognising that important differences distinguish those that are ‘elective’, ‘non-elective’, ‘impeding’, ‘distracting’ and so on. Having sketched a preliminary typology, the article reflects upon the ethical implications of the distinct varieties, and concludes by suggesting that there are several reasons why an entirely (e-)frictionless future is a profoundly disturbing one.
Spatiotemporal and Ground-Reaction Force Characteristics as Risk Factors for Running-Related Injury: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial Including 800+ Recreational Runners
Authors: Malisoux Laurent , Gette Paul , Delattre Nicolas , Urhausen Axel , Theisen Daniel
Published: January 2022

Background:

Running biomechanics may play a role in running-related injury development, but to date, only a few modifiable factors have been prospectively associated with injury risk.

Purpose:

To identify risk factors among spatiotemporal and ground-reaction force characteristics in recreational runners and to investigate whether shoe cushioning modifies the association between running biomechanics and injury risk.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Recreational runners (N = 848) were tested on an instrumented treadmill at their preferred running speed in randomly allocated, standardized running shoes (with either hard or soft cushioning). Typical kinetic and spatiotemporal metrics were derived from ground-reaction force recordings. Participants were subsequently followed up for 6 months regarding running activity and injury. Cox regression models for competing risk were used to investigate the association between biomechanical risk factors and injury risk, including stratified analyses by shoe version.

Results:

In the crude analysis, greater injury risk was found for greater step length (subhazard rate ratio [SHR], 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02; P = .038), longer flight time (SHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01; P = .028), shorter contact time (SHR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00; P = .030), and lower duty factor (defined as the ratio between contact time and stride time; SHR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98; P = .005). In the stratified analyses by shoe version, adjusted for previous injury and running speed, lower duty factor was associated with greater injury risk in those using the soft shoes (SHR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85-0.99; P = .042) but not in those using the hard shoes (SHR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.91-1.04; P = .348).

Conclusion:

Lower duty factor is an injury risk factor, especially for softer shoe use. Contrary to widespread beliefs, vertical impact peak, loading rate, and step rate were not injury risk factors in recreational runners.

Registration:

NCT03115437 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
When Refutation and Deep Reasoning Questions Lose Their Edge: The Case of Short, Narrated Videos
Authors: Schroeder Noah L. , Siegle Robert F. , Verma Vipin , Craig Scotty D.
Published: January 2022

Virtual humans are virtual characters within multimedia learning environments designed to aid the learning process. While there is a large variety of research examining how to design the physical appearance of the character or the teaching strategies it should embody, there is comparatively little work around the design of the narrative the virtual human uses to communicate with the learner. In this study, we examine the use of four different types of text structures to structure the character’s narrative in an instructional video: expository, refutation text, deep reasoning questions, and refutation text and deep reasoning questions; and their effects on learning, perceptions, attitudes, and emotions about genetically modified foods. Our results largely indicated no significant differences between the different communication strategies. We hypothesize that the length, dosage, and pacing of the intervention could explain why we did not see benefits from the different narrative structures that have been found in other contexts.
Family Firms and Environmental Performance: A Meta-Analytic Review
Authors: Miroshnychenko Ivan , De Massis Alfredo , Barontini Roberto , Testa Francesco
Published: January 2022

This article critically reviews and meta-analyzes the environmental performance of family firms. Using a sample of 40,910 firms covering a 12-year period, we conclude that the average effect of family involvement on environmental performance is negative, albeit small. This negative effect is more pronounced in primary studies that measure environmental performance via the environmental operational practices adopted and in those that define family business using the family ownership and management criteria. Our findings suggest that from an agency perspective, and compared with nonfamily firms, the negative view of the environmental performance of family firms prevails over the positive view.
Optimization design of a fully variable valve system based on Nelder-Mead algorithm
Authors: Zheng Cong , Liu Liang , Guo He , Xu Zhaoping
Published: January 2022

This paper presents an optimal design for the soft-landing of the fully variable valve system in internal combustion engines based on Nelder-Mead algorithm and integrated simulation. The system is used to enhance the engine performance in terms of emissions and fuel economy. The electromagnetic linear actuator (EMLA) and the magnetorheological (MR) buffer are modelled with COMSOL Multiphysics, and a co-simulation platform is constructed with MATLAB/Simulink. The prototype test results are basically consistent with the integrated simulation, indicating the feasibility of the integrated simulation platform. After that, the structure of the magnetorheological buffer is optimized based on the Nelder-Mead algorithm. The optimization objective is the adjustable coefficient and the optimized parameters are the effective length, the annular gap width, the piston diameter, the groove depth and length of the coil. The adjustable coefficient of the optimized MR buffer was increased from 8.8 to 25.46. And the co-simulation results showed that the optimized system has a great improvement in soft-landing performance, with the valve seat velocity reduced from 0.51 m/s to 0.03 m/s and the bounce height reduced from 0.6 mm to nearly 0 when the lift is 8 mm.
Coordinated control for path-following of an autonomous four in-wheel motor drive electric vehicle
Authors: Barari Ali , Saraygord Afshari Sajad , Liang Xihui
Published: January 2022

Coordination of Active Front Steering (AFS) and Direct Yaw Moment Control (DYC) has been widely used for non-autonomous vehicle lateral stability control. Recently, some researchers used it (AFS/DYC) for path-following of autonomous vehicles. However, current controllers are not robust enough with respect to uncertainties and different road conditions to guarantee lateral stability of Autonomous Four In-wheel Motor Drive Electric Vehicles. Thus, a coordinated control is proposed to address this issue. In this paper, a two-layer hierarchical control strategy is utilized. In the upper-layer, a self-tunable super-twisting sliding mode control is utilized to deal with parametric uncertainties, and a Model Predictive Control (MPC) is used in order to allocate the control action to each AFS and DYC. Parametric uncertainties of tires’ cornering stiffness, vehicle mass and moment of inertia are considered. Simulations with different road conditions for path-following scenario have been conducted in MATLAB/Simulink. An autonomous vehicle equipped with Four In-wheel Motor and two degrees of freedom vehicle dynamics model is used in this study. In the end, the performance of the proposed controller is compared with the MPC controller. Simulation results reveal that the proposed controller provides better path-following in comparison with the MPC controller.
Influence of wet compression on aerodynamic performance and stability boundary of transonic compressor
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhu Zihuan , Wang Yangang
Published: January 2022

The gas–liquid two-phase flow in a transonic compressor stage, Stage 35, under wet compression was numerically simulated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique along with Euler–Lagrange approach. The evaporation and cooling effect of water droplets on compressor performance and stable flow range was investigated by changing the inlet spraying conditions (droplet sizes and injected water flow rates). Further, the influencing mechanism was explained by the changes of rotor velocity triangle, rotor specific work, blade loading, and tip leakage flow before and after spraying. The results indicate that wet compression can improve the pressure ratio and efficiency of the compressor, but, under different comparison conditions before and after spraying, the influence on compressor power consumption has different trends. Wet compression improves the compressor specific power consumption under constant flow rate conditions, while it reduces compressor specific power consumption under equal pressure ratio conditions. Additionally, the stalling flow rate of compressor increases by wet compression effect, and the increasing degree of stalling flow rate is positively correlated with the increasing level of pressure ratio. The evaporative and cooling effect of droplets reduces the airflow temperature at rotor outlet, leading to the increase of airflow density, the decrease of axial velocity, which results in the promotion of rotor specific work—this is the main reason for the improvement of pressure ratio under constant flow rate conditions. Under wet compression condition, the enhanced blade loading near tip strengthens the tip leakage flow, making the compressor achieve stall criteria at larger flow rate, which is the cause for wet compression influencing the compressor stall boundary.
IgA anti-dsDNA antibodies: A neglected serological parameter in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Lee Adrian Y. S.
Published: January 2022

Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) autoantibodies are archetypal biomarkers found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although they can exist in any isotype, very little is understood about the IgA isotype for which most of our knowledge is derived from observational studies. This review article summarises our knowledge of this autoantibody isotype to date. Attention will be spent on clinical associations as well as its potential links with lupus nephritis for which there is still some controversy. Further understanding of this serological parameter may facilitate diagnosis, prognosis and treatments of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.