bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel solution methodology for longitudinal flight characterization of a Flying-Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Shams Taimur Ali , Shah Syed Irtiza Ali , Shahzad Aamer , Habib Muzaffar , Asim Farhat , Mansoor Mohtashim
Published: April 2022

A longitudinal flight dynamic study of a low mass moment of inertia vehicle is presented. Aerodynamic and stability derivatives of a flying-wing microaerial vehicle (FWMAV) were obtained through detailed subsonic wind tunnel tests at a Reynolds Number of 1.87 × 105. Rate and acceleration derivatives were obtained using the potential flow solver, Tornado®. A novel methodology for the estimation of dimensional derivatives is proposed, and results are compared with the conventional linear time-invariant systems (LTI) approach. Free response for natural frequency, damping coefficient, and time constant as well as forced response upon a unit step and a unit impulse elevon input has been calculated and analyzed. The proposed methodology predicted two pairs of complex conjugates for the longitudinal flight up to a pitch angle of 89° whereas the conventional methodology predicted the same up to 57°. Longitudinal modes sensitivity in terms of stability with the variation of mass, velocity, and pitch angle has also been analyzed. The flying-wing microaerial vehicle was able to sustain straight and level flight during flight trials; however, higher frequencies of phugoid and short period modes were observed. These high frequencies were the consequence of large magnitude of [Formula: see text] (ratio of Z-force derivative with the angle of attack and cruise velocity) and [Formula: see text] (ratio of Z-force derivative with the axial velocity and cruise velocity). It is concluded that the proposed methodology presented a more realistic representation of longitudinal flight modes since classical flight modes are captured till 89° which conventional LTI methodology failed to do so.
Determination of efficient configurations of vertical axis wind turbine using design of experiments
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad , Shahzad Aamer , Akram Farooq , Qadri Muhammad Nafees Mumtaz
Published: April 2022

This study aims to optimize the design parameters of a vertical axis wind turbine using design of experiments (DOE). Response surface methodology combined with desirability optimization was used to optimize multiple parameters such as the chord length, number of blades, aspect ratio, and pitch angle. The range of contributing parameters was selected using one factor at a time (OFAT) approach, and the performance parameters were evaluated by applying the double multiple streamtube theory. Datasets retrieved from the Q-Blade open-source software were employed in the DOE to determine the optimal configurations. Based on response surface investigation, a quadratic model was established and the accuracy of the model was determined by applying analysis of variance, goodness of fit, normal plot of residuals, and R-squared values. The optimized chord length, number of blades, pitch angle, and aspect ratio were 0.546 m, 03, −2.82°, and 0.808, respectively. The maximum power coefficient of 0.45 was obtained at a tip speed ratio of 3 from the optimized design parameters. The analysis revealed an increase of approximately 8.43% in the maximum power coefficient of the proposed wind turbine. A 3D unsteady computational fluid dynamics model along with Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations were utilized to verify the obtained results, and a maximum difference of less than 1.5% was found. A standard H-rotor Darrieus configuration obtained from the OFAT approach was also tested at different wind speeds for comparison. The analysis revealed that when the wind speed was less than 3.85 m/sec, the standard Darrieus produced no power; however, the self-starting speed of the optimized VAWT was as low as 3.22 m/sec. This novel design methodology provides guidelines for obtaining optimum design configurations and can help in achieving high-fidelity analysis in the early design phase.
Civic activity of librarians versus social engagement and individual social capital
Authors: Wojciechowska Maja
Published: April 2022

It is currently acknowledged that, apart from theoretical knowledge and professional competencies, the right attitude and engagement of librarians are important in order for libraries, in their role of local community keystones, to engage in various services beyond the traditional provision of information, such as social animation and engagement or civic education. The paper presents the results of research on the civic activity (civic attitude) of librarians versus their social engagement (social attitude) and level of individual social capital. Surveys conducted in 20 countries of the world confirm that civic activity is linked to the social activity of librarians and a high level of their individual social capital. This means that libraries may actively participate in promoting the civil society and engage in the social integration of local communities.
Users’ search performance prediction in cross-device search
Authors: Wu Dan , Dong Jing , Yuan Fang , Cheng Lei
Published: April 2022

Users’ search performance indicates the effectiveness and success with which users’ information needs are met, which is calculated based on the relevance judgment by users themselves. This study proposed to explore the prediction of users’ search performance in the context of cross-device search. A user experiment was performed to collect users’ relevance judgments and search behaviors in cross-device search. Based on users’ relevance judgments, users’ search performance was evaluated by calculating the percentage of valid clicks, effective search time, nDCG@n, and satisfaction. A simple linear regression model was adopted to train the prediction model. The final results showed that a combination of users’ search performance in pre-switch sessions and their search behavior in post-switch sessions can attain the best prediction accuracy. Important features to predict users’ search performance in cross-device search shed light on improving search systems to aid users in completing the task efficiently.
Assessment of the association between TNIP1 polymorphism with clinical features and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Azhdari Sara , Saghi Mostafa , Alani Behrang , Zare Rafie Maryam , Kenarangi Taiebe , Nasrollahzadeh Sabet Mehrdad , Pakzad Bahram , Ghorashi Tahereh , Gholami Milad , Soosanabadi Mohsen
Published: April 2022

Objective

Over the past decades, TNIP1 has been identified as a strong risk locus in multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS), spanning multiple populations and various autoimmune diseases. TNIP1 is a polyubiquitin-binding protein that works as a physiological inhibitor of NF-κB and maintains immune homeostasis. Some studies have confirmed that TNIP1 is downregulated in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the current study, for the first time, we evaluated the possible association between rs6889239 polymorphism in the TNIP1 gene with the risk and clinical characteristics of RA and SLE in the Iranian population.

Method

In this case–control study, 115 patients with RA, 115 patients with SLE, and 115 unrelated healthy subjects were enrolled to estimate rs6889239 genotypes with real-time PCR high resolution melting (HRM) method.

Results

Our results demonstrated considerable associations between CC genotype and C allele of rs6889239 with augmented risk of SLE (OR for CC genotype= 2.23; 95%CI [1.175–4.307], OR for C allele= 1.84; 95%CI [1.254–2.720]). However, there was an insignificant association between genotypes and allele frequencies of rs6889239 with the occurrence risk of RA in the population under study ( p > 0.05). Additionally, stratification analysis specified that the C allele in rs6889239 was linked with the incidence of renal involvement in SLE patients and lower age of onset in the RA group ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings propose a significant association between TNIP1 polymorphism and higher risk of SLE and some clinical characteristics of RA and SLE.
Electroacupuncture attenuates ac4C modification of P16 mRNA in the ovarian granulosa cells of a mouse model premature ovarian failure
Authors: Geng Zixiang , Liu Peng , Yuan Long , Zhang Kaiyong , Lin Jiajia , Nie Xiaoli , Jiang Huiru , Li Bingrong , Liu Te , Zhang Bimeng
Published: April 2022

Background:

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a type of pathological aging, which seriously interferes with the fertility of affected women. Electroacupuncture (EA) may have a beneficial effect; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of EA on ovarian function in ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs) in a cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced mouse model of POF.

Methods:

Mice were divided into three groups: wild type (WT) group, CTX group and CTX + EA group. EA was administered under isoflurane anesthesia at CV4, ST36 and SP6 for 30 min every 2 days, 2–3 times per week for a total of 4 weeks. Effects of EA on ovarian weight and level of estrogen were examined. The mRNA and protein expression levels of cell cycle–associated proteins were detected and mRNA modifications were analyzed.

Results:

EA significantly increased ovarian weight and reduced the proportion of atretic follicles in mice with CTX-induced POF (p < 0.05). EA increased the level of estrogen in the peripheral blood of mice and inhibited the modification of total mRNA N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C). A significant increase in the expression of P16 and N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) and a significant decrease in the expression of Cyclin D (CCND1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) were observed in the OGCs of POF mice (p<0.05). After EA, P16 and NAT10 expression was decreased, and CCND1 and CDK6 expression was increased. Finally, EA reduced the ac4C modification of P16 mRNA-specific sites in the OGCs of POF mice.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that EA promoted the repair of the ovarian microenvironment by inhibiting the ac4C modification of P16 mRNA to decrease its stability and expression intensity, and by altering the activity of the P16/CDK6/CCND1 axis in OGCs.
Media During Pandemic Crisis in India: An Analysis of People’s Perception During the First Wave of COVID-19
Authors: Goswami Manash P. , Anjali R. , Raj Adharsh , Puthiyakath Hashim Hamza , Thanvi Jyoti
Published: April 2022

In April 2021, India was hit by the second wave of COVID-19 (News18, 2021, Second wave of COVID-19 very similar to first wave: Govt cites data to alleviate fear). People realised that the second wave of COVID-19 is more devastating than the first wave. Different factors might have influenced the perception of people during the first wave of COVID-19. The needful amount of fear among the people was reduced by the end of the first wave and normalcy was gained, which might have triggered the second wave of COVID-19 in India. The research aims to determine the perception of respondents about the COVID-19 crisis and to analyse the influence of media in instilling fear, stress, anxiety, tension, relief and ignorance among them when they read about the pandemic during the first wave of COVID-19. Based on the defined objectives, a questionnaire was prepared and the link to the survey was distributed around the country. According to the study’s findings, people were affected in many ways during the first wave.
Exploring the Effectiveness of Advergame: The Role of Transportation on Continuous Intention to Play Advergames
Authors: Kim Yunju , Lee Heejun
Published: April 2022

This study argues that research on advergames needs to better address the relationships between players’ psychological characteristics and their behavioural responses. In this article, we present a theoretical model that explains the antecedents and consequences of players’ transportation experience to have positive advergame outcomes. Our model demonstrates that three key psychological traits (sensation seeking, transportability and perceived interactivity) foster positive attitudes towards the featured brand in an advergame and intention to replay the game. The results also reveal that transportability is the most influential factor than others. Then, we show a mediation effect of transportation in the association between the psychological traits and desired advergame outcomes. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Adaptive functions in an agent-based model of an economic system
Authors: White David
Published: April 2022

Agent-based models, with a history reaching back to the 1940s, have been cited as a useful technique for planning economic development and simulating the effect of economic crashes. These models offer an insightful alternative to the traditional techniques of mathematical modelling. Understanding how different designs of agent-based models change simulation outcomes will be useful for modellers of economic and other simulation scenarios. The work presented here examines how a computer simulation of an agent-based model responds to disruptive events, in the context of an economic model. Agents within the model interact by producing, selling and buying goods. A series of experiments compare system stability in two scenarios: one where a top-down rule is applied to the pricing of goods and another where decision-making is at the individual agent level, a bottom-up approach. These two approaches are termed system-adaptive and self-adaptive. Results draw the conclusion that a self-adaptive function can provide greater stability, but this depends on whether the measured variable is a primary or secondary variable to the adaptive function. Considerations are presented for future work which could consider the impact adaptive functions have on secondary variable measurements.
Effects of a Violence Prevention Education Program Using Empathy (VPEP-E) on Fifth-Grade Students in South Korea
Authors: Kang Kyung-Ah , Kim Shin-Jeong , Kang SoRa , Lee JungMin
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a violence-prevention education program using empathy (VPEP-E) on elementary school students. This quasi-experimental design examined fifth-grade students’ (a) empathy level, (b) perception of violence, and (c) permissive and negligent attitudes toward violence, using a pre- and post-test design. A total of 101 students participated: the experimental group ( n = 48) received eight sessions of VPEP-E, whereas the control group ( n = 53) received violence prevention education through classroom lectures. Significant differences were observed between the groups’ empathy level ( t = 6.81, p < .001), perception of violence ( t = 2.79, p = .006), and permissive and negligent attitudes toward violence ( t = -2.21, p = .030; t = -2.02, p = .046). Thus, a school-based VPEP-E may help elementary school students. Long-term studies evaluating behavioral changes from VPEP-E implementation are needed for establishing the effects on violent behavior.
Bringing the “Invisible Population” to Light: Justice for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women
Authors: Cobbina-Dungy Jennifer E.
Published: April 2022

Women who are involved in the correctional system are often neglected and overlooked. Although justice-involved women enter the carceral system with high levels of abuse and trauma, many are exposed to State violence from staff or incarcerated individuals. Criminal victimization in prison presents a significant threat to one's well-being. According to international human rights law, preventing and combatting violence against women is the responsibility of the State in all contexts, including prisons. It is imperative that women be treated humanely while under the custody of the State, which increases odds of post-release success. Policy implications and recommendations are discussed.
Establishing the Social and Legal Categories for “Girls” and “Girl Children”
Authors: Guercio Laura
Published: April 2022

This article examines whether a clearer lexical and conceptual distinction between the various stages of development, from birth to adulthood, is required to better recognize and protect the needs of the young female population affected by armed conflict. Using intersectional feminist theory, this analysis proposes a reflection on the use of a more precise definition and conceptualization of the term girls and girl children, as two distinct age stages with distinct physical and psychological development.
Deep learning algorithms for detection of diabetic macular edema in OCT images: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li He-Yan , Wang Dai-Xi , Dong Li , Wei Wen-Bin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) can detect diabetic macular edema (DME) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. We aimed to evaluate the performance of deep learning neural networks in DME detection.

Methods

Embase, Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, and IEEE Xplore were searched up to August 14, 2021. We included studies using deep learning algorithms to detect DME from OCT images. Two reviewers extracted the data independently, and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was applied to assess the risk of bias. The study is reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies (PRISMA-DTA).

Results

Ninteen studies involving 41005 subjects were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 96.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 93.9% to 97.3%) and 99.3% (95% CI: 98.2% to 99.7%), respectively. Subgroup analyses found that data set selection, sample size of training set and the choice of OCT devices contributed to the heterogeneity (all P < 0.05). While there was no association between the diagnostic accuracy and transfer learning adoption or image management (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Deep learning methods, particularly the convolutional neural networks (CNNs) could effectively detect clinically significant DME, which can provide referral suggestions to the patients.
Is humoral and cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine modified by DMT in patients with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases?
Authors: Zabalza Ana , Arrambide Georgina , Otero-Romero Susana , Pappolla Agustín , Tagliani Paula , López-Maza Samuel , Cárdenas-Robledo Simón , Esperalba Juliana , Fernández-Naval Candela , Martínez-Gallo Monica , Castillo Mireia , Bonastre Mercè , Resina-Salles Mireia , Bertran Jordina , Rodriguez-Barranco Marta , Carbonell-Mirabent Pere , Gonzalez Marina , Merchan Miguel , Quiroga-Varela Ana , Miguela Albert , Gómez Imma , Álvarez Gary , Robles René , Perez del Campo Dúnia , Queralt Xavier , Soler Maria José , Agraz Irene , Martinez-Valle Fernando , Rodríguez-Acevedo Breogán , Midaglia Luciana , Vidal-Jordana Ángela , Cobo-Calvo Álvaro , Tur Carmen , Galan Ingrid , Castillo Joaquín , Río Jordi , Espejo Carmen , Comabella Manuel , Nos Carlos , Sastre-Garriga Jaume , Ramió-Torrentà Lluís , Tintoré Mar , Montalban Xavier
Published: April 2022

Background:

The effect of disease-modifying therapies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine response is unclear.

Objectives:

We aim to determine the immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 in multiple sclerosis (MS) and anti-CD20-treated patients with other autoimmune diseases (AID).

Methods:

Humoral and cellular responses we determined before and 30-90 days after vaccination in patients with MS and anti-CD20-treated patients with other AID in two Catalan centers.

Results:

457 patients were enrolled. Findings showed that humoral response decreased under anti-CD20s or sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators (S1PRM) and with longer treatment duration and increased after 4.5 months from the last anti-CD20 infusion. Cellular response decreased in S1PRM-treated. Patients on anti-CD20 can present cellular responses even in the absence of antibodies.

Conclusion:

Anti-CD20s and S1PRM modify the immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of active COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: An observational study
Authors: Manzano Giovanna S , Rice Dylan R , Klawiter Eric C , Matiello Marcelo , Gillani Rebecca L , Tauhid Shahamat S , Bakshi Rohit , Mateen Farrah J
Published: April 2022

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) received emergency use authorization for the acute treatment of COVID-19. We are not aware of published data on their use in immunosuppressed people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). We report 23 pwMS (mean age = 49 years, ocrelizumab ( n = 19), fingolimod ( n = 2), vaccinated with at least an initial series ( n = 19)) who received mAb for acute COVID-19. Following mAb receipt, approximately half recovered in <7 days (48%). There were no adverse events or deaths. Use of mAb for pwMS treated with fingolimod or ocrelizumab was not observed to be harmful and is likely helpful for treatment of acute COVID-19.
Improving a framework for evaluating participatory science
Authors: Calyx Cobi , Finlay Summer May
Published: April 2022

This article proposes improvements to an open framework for evaluating participatory science, including projects framed as citizen science. An original proposed framework, while valuable in its comprehensiveness, used problematic language that makes it unworkable in many international contexts. In countries like Australia where Indigenous data sovereignty matters profoundly, language about ‘target groups’ and ‘easing access’ to knowledge can harmfully perpetuate colonial discourses. The original proposed framework is sufficiently useful that it is worth constructively revising, so critique in this article is aimed towards collaborative progression of an open framework more suitable for international use. As well as replacing ‘target groups’ with partnership approaches, we argue that ‘easing access’ to knowledge for exploitation is a frame perpetuating the colonial doctrine of discovery, proposing recovery as an alternative aligned with several international movements for social justice and sustainability.
Experiential brand positioning: Developing positioning strategies for beach destinations using online reviews
Authors: Taecharungroj Viriya
Published: April 2022

This research analysed tourist experiences on beaches and suggested appropriate brand positioning for Thai beach destinations. A new destination positioning method was proposed involving a topic modelling algorithm, hierarchical clustering and textual analysis using data from 75,500 TripAdvisor reviews. Eleven tourist experiences and five clusters of distinctive beach destinations were identified. Findings suggested that the Tourism Authority of Thailand should replace their current “all-in-one” message with strategic and relevant communications to strengthen brand positioning by reinforcing the positive experiences and improving the negative aspects of beach tourism. Experiential brand positioning can assist DMOs to differentiate destinations as multi-faceted and dynamic.
Prevalence, factors, and impact of exposure to parental intimate partner violence: A scoping review
Authors: Louis Jolly M , Reyes Marc Eric S
Published: April 2022

Exposure of children to their parents’ intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized as an adverse childhood experience that has a significant impact on the overall healthy development of the children and this research summarizes all relevant literature to determine the prevalence, impacts, risks, and protective factors of adolescents subjected to parental IPV since childhood. The literature in this scoping was scrutinized based on both inclusion, exclusion criteria. Almost 15 articles were reviewed out of 118 related literature sourced from electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Research Gate, and Google Scholar published in the year 2016–2021. The search method followed Mays, Roberts, and Popay’s process of gathering relevant literature and mapping important ideas to capture the available data in a study topic, especially the one which lacked proper evaluation. The results of this review of the literature indicate that parental IPV is a pervasive problem that impairs the adolescent’s overall well-being. It also highlights a range of protective factors that can mitigate the impact of parental IPV. The findings of this scoping review have implications for practice and policy. Given the enormous scope and burden of children’s parental IPV exposure, intervention techniques to safeguard this vulnerable population and enhance well-being are urgently needed.
Effects of prior knowledge and reasoning demands on Chinese EFL writing performance
Authors: Tao Na , Wang Ying
Published: April 2022

Task design features have different effects on second language (L2) production and can be adopted for different pedagogical purposes. However, the synergistic effects of task features were left unexplored in the extant task-based literature. The present study investigated the synergistic effects of two task design features, namely, prior knowledge and reasoning demands, on the writing performance of Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Fifty EFL learners were invited to complete two writing tasks, with varying reasoning demands, under one of two conditions, namely, with prior knowledge available or without prior knowledge available. Their written texts were analysed in terms of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and communicative adequacy, to reflect the multi-componential nature of task performance. The results revealed that increasing reasoning demands reduced syntactic complexity. Furthermore, the availability of prior knowledge resulted in greater lexical sophistication. The findings also showed that the interaction of prior knowledge and reasoning demands led to substantial effects on lexical diversity, lexical sophistication, and communicative adequacy. These findings are interpreted in light of Skehan’s Limited Capacity Model and Robinson’s Cognition Hypothesis. Suggestions are provided for the direction of further research on the influence of task complexity on EFL writing performance.
Task sequencing and L2 writing development: Exploring the SSARC model of pedagogic task sequencing
Authors: Abdi Tabari Mahmoud , Cho Minyoung
Published: April 2022

To test the predictive power of the SSARC (stabilize, simplify, automatize, reconstruct, and complexify) model of pedagogic task sequencing in second language (L2) writing development, the present study explores the performance of written decision-making tasks with varied levels of cognitive complexity in a simple-to-complex sequence in comparison to complex-to-simple and individual task performance sequences over time. The participants, 100 advanced-mid learners of English as a second language (ESL), who were divided into three groups completed writing tasks either (1) in a simple-to-complex sequence, (2) in a complex-to-simple sequence, or (3) at one level of complexity (i.e. simple, medium, or complex task versions). Their written production was analysed for syntactic complexity, accuracy, lexical complexity, and fluency (CALF). Quantitative analyses found that the simple-to-complex group produced more syntactically complex and accurate essays over time than the complex-to-simple group, although neither group’s progression was linear. When the two sequencing conditions were compared to the individual task performance condition, the results showed more improvement in CALF in both sequencing groups than in the individual performance group over time, with more and steadier growth in the simple-to-complex condition. These findings support the SSARC model and expand current understandings of the relationship between cognitive task complexity and L2 writing development under different task sequencing conditions, with implications for L2 writing pedagogy.
Bridging critical thinking and transformative learning: The role of perspective-taking
Authors: Southworth James
Published: April 2022

Although the literature on critical thinking and transformative learning has remained relatively distinct, they have both emphasized the importance of working through and resolving states of doubt. There has been less focus, however, on how we can bring ourselves from a confirmed belief to a position of doubt. This is a foundational skill. Without it, the possibility for intellectual and personal growth is limited. In part one, I focus on critical thinking to investigate what ability and/or disposition can help thinkers arouse a state of doubt. I first consider traditional dispositions of critical thinking, specifically reflection and open-mindedness, and argue that they are largely ineffective as they do not confront the problem of cognitive bias. I then propose perspective-taking as an essential tool to bring about a position of doubt. In part two, I examine leading theorists in transformative experience, transformative education, and transformative learning, who have also largely neglected perspective-taking. I illustrate that perspective-taking can initiate some instances of transformative learning and thereby provides a connecting point to critical thinking. Nevertheless, when engaging with perspective-taking exercises, I argue that instructors ought to prioritize the development of students’ critical thinking skills. In part three, I focus my discussion on incorporating nonfiction perspective-taking readings into university course syllabi as a way to develop students’ critical thinking while creating the conditions for transformative learning.
Perinatal methadone exposure attenuates myelination and induces oligodendrocyte apoptosis in neonatal rat brain
Authors: Gibson Jennifer M , Chu Tianci , Zeng Wenxin , Wethall Ashley C , Kong Maiying , Mellen Nicholas , Devlin Phinney Lori A , Cai Jun
Published: April 2022

Methadone (MTD) is a commonly prescribed treatment for opioid use disorder in pregnancy, despite limited information on the effects of passive exposure on fetal brain development. Animal studies suggest a link between perinatal MTD exposure and impaired white matter development. In this study, we characterized the effect of perinatal MTD exposure through the evaluation of oligodendrocyte development and glial cell activation in the neonatal rat brain. Six pregnant Sprague Dawley rat dams were randomized to MTD (0.2 mL/L) or untreated drinking water from embryonic day 7. Pups were terminated at postnatal day 7 and tissue sections were harvested from six randomly selected pups (one male and one female per litter) of each experimental group for immunohistochemistry in areas of corpus callosum (CC), lateral CC, external capsule (EC), and cerebellar white matter. In the MTD-exposed rat pups, myelination was significantly decreased in the CC, lateral CC, EC, and arbor vitae compared with the controls. The increased density and percentage of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were observed in the CC and cerebellar white matter. The highly active proliferation of OPCs as well as decreased density and percentage of differentiated oligodendrocytes were found in the cerebellum but no differences in the cerebrum. Apoptotic activities of both differentiated oligodendrocytes and myelinating oligodendrocytes were significantly increased in all regions of the cerebrum and cerebellum after MTD exposure. There was no quantitative difference in astrocyte, however, cell density and/or morphologic difference consistent with activation were observed in microglia throughout MTD-exposed CC and cerebellum. Taken together, perinatal MTD exposure reveals global attenuation of myelination, accelerated apoptosis of both differentiated and myelinating oligodendrocytes, and microglia activation, supporting an association between antenatal MTD exposure and impaired myelination in the developing brain.
The State of Specialized Epilepsy Care in the States: Increased Access, New Tools, but the Same Dismal Underutilization of Epilepsy Surgery
Authors: Punia Vineet
Published: April 2022

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Horror Video Games and the “Active-Passive” Debate
Authors: Christopher David , Leuszler Aidan
Published: April 2022

In Perron’s edited compendium of essays regarding horror video games subtitled Essays on the Fusion of Fear and Play (2009), much of the argumentation orbits debate regarding the definition and creation of the experience of horror compared between an ostensibly passive cinema reception (from whence the games take most of their conventions) and the ostensibly more active reception of ludological horror. As the argument goes, ludic activity creates greater identification with diegetic characters and therefore heightens the player’s experience of horror. But is this true, or is it a specious contention that does not really account for the complex mechanics of identification with characters in the ostensibly “passive” experience of cinema viewing, nor for the fact that lacking realism and “active” gameplay may actually compromise the experience of “transportation”?
Capacity Development of Research Ethics Administrators: Scoping Review
Authors: Mulondo Mutshidzi A , Tsoka-Gwegweni Joyce M , LenkaBula Puleng , Chikobvu Perpetual
Published: April 2022

Capacity development of research ethics committees is generally limited to members, and seldom includes administrators. This study sought to map the capacity development efforts of research ethics administrators. A scoping review was conducted. The literature search yielded 92 potentially relevant records, and further screening yielded 22 studies. The 22 studies were extracted and synthesized; two studies spoke directly on administrators’ capacity development, while the remaining 20 focused on the capacity development of committees or of committee members. The two studies which spoke directly on administrators reported about two capacity development efforts targeting administrators in Africa, namely the African Conference for Administrators of Research Ethics Committees, and the West African Bioethics Training Program.
The Influence of University Recreation Centers on Student Return and Retention During COVID-19
Authors: Miller John J. , Croft J. Chris
Published: April 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, university and college student enrollment has decreased by slightly more than 5% from fall 2019 to the present. While previous studies have revealed that student involvement in recreation center activities increases return and retention at college campuses, are these results still true during the COVID-19 pandemic? The results indicated that students agreed they returned and planned to remain at the university due to a sense of belonging created from involvement in recreation center activities. The results also revealed significant relationships between underclassmen and a sense of belonging from participating in recreation center activities. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is estimated that universities may lose between $17-$30 billion by 2025. From an applied viewpoint, the results offer information for university administrators to better understand how a student recreation center may attract and retain students during this unstable time in the United States higher education.
Development and Evaluation of pH-Responsive Pluronic F 127 Co-Poly- (Acrylic Acid) Biodegradable Nanogels for Topical Delivery of Terbinafine HCL
Authors: Hassan Shams ul , Khalid Ikrima , Hussain Liaqat , Barkat Kashif , Khan Ikram Ullah
Published: April 2022

Research aimed to develop and evaluate biodegradable, pH-responsive chemically cross-linked Pluronic F127 co-poly- (acrylic acid) nanogels for dermal delivery of Terbinafine HCL (TBH) to increase its permeability and as a new approach to treat skin fungal infections. TBH-loaded nanogels were successfully synthesized from acrylic acid (AA) and Pluronic F127 by free-radical copolymerization technique using N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker and ammonium persulphate (APS) as initiator. Prepared nanogels exhibited 93.51% drug entrapment efficiency (DEE), 45 nm particle size, pH-dependent swelling and release behavior. Nanogels were characterized using different physicochemical techniques. The ex-vivo skin retention studies through rat skin showed about 42.34% drug retention from nanogels while 1% Lamisil cream (marketed product) showed about 26.56% drug retention. Moreover, skin irritation studies showed that nanogels were not irritating. Nanogels showed improved in-vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared to commercial product. In-vivo studies on rats infected with Candida albicans confirmed superiority of nanogels over 1% Lamisil for eradication of fungal infection. This confirms that TBH loaded in Pluronic F127 co-poly-(acrylic acid) nanogels provided greater targetibility and cure rates of poorly soluble TBH in animal model and hence nanogels could be a potential carrier for effective topical delivery of TBH for skin fungal infection treatment.
Home as a Site of Exclusion: The Nazi Occupation, Housing Shortages and the Holocaust in France
Authors: Fogg Shannon L.
Published: April 2022

During World War II, France faced a housing crisis with over 1.2 million dwellings destroyed or damaged. In addition to the destruction, the German occupiers requisitioned thousands of accommodations including some 6–7,000 locales in Paris. Anti-Jewish persecution forced thousands of Jews from their homes and the average non-Jewish French resident, facing their own housing issues, benefited from the availability of these vacated homes. Paris was the largest city in Europe under German occupation during the war and was home to the largest Jewish community in occupied Western Europe, but perhaps due to its size, we know relatively little about the daily interactions that centered on housing concerns. This article examines the strategies used to solve the housing crisis in France and demonstrates the ways in which housing and Jewish persecution were increasingly intertwined. With a particular focus on Paris, this article argues that a wide variety of individuals actively participated in exclusionary measures to improve their own housing situation. This challenges the view that the non-Jewish population ‘protected’ 75% of the Jews in France from deportation and death. It reveals, rather, the centrality of housing concerns in facilitating the Holocaust and the complicity of individuals in the exclusion of Jews for economic, ideological, and geographic reasons.
If philosophers went on a leadership course: A (serious) farce in three Acts
Authors: Wilson Suze , Lee Hugh , Ford Jackie , Harding Nancy
Published: April 2022

Leadership development is big business, with business schools and private providers offering leadership development programmes claimed to help turn managers into wise, good and able leaders. Leadership development originated in philosophy and, in the Western tradition, dates back at least as far as Socrates. This article asks: how would philosophers qua wisdom-lovers [philo-sophes] respond to contemporary programmes? We use the dramatic licence offered by theatre to imagine Foucault, Butler, Kant, Hume and others participating in a leadership training course. As our play opens, we find them critiquing a 360-degree psychometric assessment instrument they have been asked to complete. Our highly select group argue it solicits docile, servile supplicants to the interests of neoliberal capitalism. They offer an alternative containing key questions putative leaders should explore. The script includes other dramatis personnae and a Chorus (the authors of this paper). Speeches and programme notes provide the necessary bones of an academic paper, such as literature reviews and philosophical contexts. We ask colleagues to join with us in reconnecting leadership development to its philosophical roots in an effort to foster wiser and more ethical leadership.
When you are not here, I cannot do what I want on the tablet – The use of ICT to promote social participation of young people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Björquist Elisabet , Tryggvason Nina
Published: April 2022

Most youths use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for socialising, but there is a discussion about whether using ICT promotes social participation for youths with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Employing the concepts of social participation and self-determination together with the youths’ perspectives, as conveyed by staff, we examine how social participation might be promoted for youths with intellectual disabilities in institutional settings in Sweden. The findings revealed three overarching themes. The first theme, Developing skills, self-determination and becoming less reliant, illustrates the basic use of ICT. The second theme, Sharing events, socialising and participating with others, draws attention to how youths take technology a step further to interact with others. The third theme, Resources and attitudes, concerns the youths’ need and desires for adequate support and equipment and the mindset of surrounding communities concerning ICT. Our conclusion is that ICT has the potential to promote social participation if the youths have access to personalised equipment and supportive staff.
Mediators of cognitive impairment in cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Authors: Durrani Romella , Wang Meng , Cox Emily , Irving Elisabeth , Saad Feryal , McCreary Cheryl R , Beaudin Andrew E , Gee Myrlene , Nelles Krista , Sajobi Tolulope T , Ismail Zahinoor , Camicioli Richard , Smith Eric E
Published: April 2022

Background:

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is associated with cognitive decline. CAA has diverse impacts on brain structure and function; however, the brain lesions that mediate the association of CAA with cognition are not understood well.

Aims:

To determine the degree to which CAA neuroimaging biomarkers mediate the association of CAA with cognitive dysfunction.

Methods:

We analyzed cross-sectional data of patients with probable CAA and controls without cognitive impairment from the Functional Assessment of Vascular Reactivity study. Neuropsychological tests were grouped into domains of memory, executive function, and processing speed. Candidate CAA neuroimaging biomarkers were pre-specified based on prior literature, consisting of white matter hyperintensity volume, peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) on diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), cortical thickness, and cortical thickness in a meta-region of interest typically affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cognitive scores and neuroimaging markers were standardized and reported in relation to values in controls. Mediation analysis was used to estimate the total effect of CAA on cognition and the proportion of the total effect that was mediated by neuroimaging biomarkers, controlling for age, sex, and education.

Results:

There were 131 participants (67 CAA and 64 controls). Mean age was 72.1 ± 7.7 years, and 54.2% were women. As expected, compared to controls, CAA was associated with lower cognition. In mediation analyses, CAA had direct unmediated effects of 48%, 46%, and 52% on all three cognitive domains. The association of CAA with memory was partially mediated by CVR and PSMD, accounting for 18% and 36% of the total effect of CAA. The association of CAA with executive function was partially mediated by PSMD and mean cortical thickness in the AD meta-region of interest (ROI), accounting for 33% and 31% of the total effect of CAA. The association of CAA with processing speed was partially mediated by CVR and PSMD, accounting for 8% and 34% of the total effect of CAA. Among CAA participants, the presence of cortical superficial siderosis was associated with lower processing speed.

Conclusion:

Altered white matter diffusivity (i.e. PSMD), CVR, and atrophy, taken together, account for about half the effect of CAA on cognition.
Globalisation, media trust, and populism: A comparative study of the US and Germany
Authors: Yan Pu , Schroeder Ralph
Published: April 2022

Globalisation is an area where supporters and non-supporters of left- and right-wing parties disagree, both for domestic and international policies. Populists see metropolitan elites as ‘corrupt’ and oppose policies that encourage globalisation in trade, immigration, and multi-culturalism. Media play important roles in providing pro- and anti-globalisation content, both in traditional and digital media. We use a unique combination of large-scale web-tracking and cross-country survey data to study the interactions between populism, media trust, consumption, and globalisation attitudes in the US and Germany. We find country variances for different aspects of globalisation, particularly among the supporters of right-wing populist parties or leaders. Populist anti-elitism and a feeling of powerlessness in relation to influencing the country's politics are two important factors behind the backlash against globalisation. We also find that a higher level of trust in public service media is associated with more supportive attitudes toward globalisation.
The double-lasso loop technique of Biceps tenodesis has lower displacement after cyclic loading, compared to interference screw fixation: Biomechanical analysis in an ovine model
Authors: Teo Bryon JX , Yew Andy , Tan Marcus Wei Ping , Chou Siaw Meng , Lie Denny Tjiauw Tjoen
Published: April 2022

Background

Biceps tenodesis is an effective treatment for symptomatic long head of biceps tendon pathology. Recently the arthroscopic “double lasso-loop” suture anchor (DLSA) technique was described, advantaged by reduced cost, complexity, and operative time. We aimed to compare the in vitro strength of DLSA with conventional interference screws (IS).

Methods

A biomechanical analysis was conducted on 14 sheep shoulders (8 DLSA, 6 IS), consisting of a 500-cycle cyclic loading experiment of 5–70 N and ultimate failure load (UFL) test where each specimen was pulled until failure. Displacement (mm) was recorded every 100 cycles, while stiffness and UFL were observed.

Results

Cyclic displacement was significantly lower with DLSA at 100 cycles, but not above. During the UFL test, IS was stiffer (27.68 ± 6.56 N/mm versus 14.10 ± 5.80 N/mm, p = .005) and had higher UFL (453.67 ± 148.55 N versus 234.22 ± 44.57 N, p = .001) than DLSA. All DLSA failures occurred with suture/anchor pull-out, while all IS constructs failed at the muscle/tendon.

Discussion

Comparison of the novel DLSA technique with a traditional IS method found lower initial displacement. While our IS constructs could withstand higher UFL, peak load characteristics of DLSA were similar to previous ovine studies. Hence, the DLSA technique is a viable alternative to IS for biceps tenodesis with its purported non-biomechanical advantages.