bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Review: Molecular and Genetic Background of Indirect Inguinal Hernias
Authors: Somuncu Salih , Somuncu Özge Sezin
Published: April 2021

Background: The occurrence of indirect inguinal hernias (IIH) is 5 times more prevalent than that of direct inguinal hernias (IH) and it is 7 times more common in males, owing to the attendance of the processus vaginalis (PV) throughout testicular descent. Summary: In children, the immense mainstream of IH is indirect. The progress of IIH development in children is instigated with a patent PV, which is mostly treated by simple herniorrhaphy. Syndromes of the collagen, microfibril, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan constituents of the extracellular matrix may attend to the development of IH. Our recent research showed that the lack of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in children contributes to the development of IIH, while the scenario is defined as the opposite in adults. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on all of the genetic and molecular causes of the disease. Key Messages: Here we aimed to review the published genetic background of IH, the deficiencies of connective tissue causing the disease, recently defined molecular pathways involved including EMT, and possible recurrence reasons. This comprehensive study can deliver an analytic outline aiding to define patients with IH combined with fundamental genetic diseases.
The Streetlight Effect: Reappraising the Study of Addiction in Light of the Findings of Genome-wide Association Studies
Authors: Hall F. Scott , Chen Yu , Resendiz-Gutierrez Federico
Published: April 2021

Drug dependence has long been thought to have a genetic component. Research seeking to identify the genetic basis of addiction has gone through important transitions over its history, in part based upon the emergence of new technologies, but also as the result of changing perspectives. Early research approaches were largely dictated by available technology, with technological advancements having highly transformative effects on genetic research, but the limitations of technology also affected modes of thinking about the genetic causes of disease. This review explores these transitions in thinking about the genetic causes of addiction in terms of the “streetlight effect,” which is a type of observational bias whereby people search for something only where it is easiest to search. In this way, the genes that were initially studied in the field of addiction genetics were chosen because they were the most “obvious,” and formed current understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the actions of drugs of abuse and drug dependence. The problem with this emphasis is that prior to the genomic era the vast majority of genes and proteins had yet to be identified, much less studied. This review considers how these initial choices, as well as subsequent choices that were also driven by technological limitations, shaped the study of the genetic basis of drug dependence. While genome-wide approaches overcame the initial biases regarding which genes to choose to study inherent in candidate gene studies and other approaches, genome-wide approaches necessitated other assumptions. These included additive genetic causation and limited allelic heterogeneity, which both appear to be incorrect. Thus, the next stage of advancement in this field must overcome these shortcomings through approaches that allow the examination of complex interactive effects, both gene × gene and gene × environment interactions. Techniques for these sorts of studies have recently been developed and represent the next step in our understanding of the genetic basis of drug dependence.
РОЗДУМИ СТОСОВНО ЛІКУВАЛЬНОЇ ТА ПРОФІЛАКТИЧНОЇ ПЕРСПЕКТИВНОСТІ РІЗНИХ ЗАСОБІВ ПРИ COVID-19
Authors: Bondarenko A. M. , Kopcha V. S.
Published: April 2021

Мета роботи – на підставі зіставлення особливостей попередніх епідемій коронавірусних інфекцій та аналізу патогістології, патогенезу COVID-19 і досвіду емпірично апробованого лікування таких хворих виділити перспективні напрямки подальших засобів терапії та профілактики.

Наведено інформацію про зворотну залежність у ряді SARS→MERS→COVID-19 географічної поширеності з інкубаційним періодом і летальністю.

У патогенезі COVID-19 виділено два основні патогенетичні механізми: пряме вірусне пошкодження епітелію легень, ендотеліоцитів капілярів і тканинних легеневих фібробластів, а також прогресуюча запальна реакція, що супроводжується «цитокіновою бурею», яка спочатку може призводити до «гострого респіраторного дистрес-синдрому» (ГРДС), а потім – й до так званого синдрому гострої запальної відповіді. Таким чином, патогенез COVID-19 схожий з грипозними «геморагічними пневмоніями» або грипозним геморагічним набряком легень. Це дає змогу припускати першорядне значення не етіотропної, а патогенетичної протинабрякової, протизапальної та ангіопротекторної терапії хворих на COVID-19.

Перспективними профілактичними стосовно COVID-19 засобами видаються готові інтерферони або індуктори інтерфероногенезу.
ЩО НАСПРАВДІ ОЗНАЧАЄ ТЕСТУВАННЯ НА КОРОНАВІРУС ДЛЯ ПАЦІЄНТА?
Authors: Hrytsko R. Yu. , Bila H. I. , Bilyy R. O.
Published: April 2021

Пандемія коронавірусного захворювання внесла в наше повсякденнe життя термін «тест на коронавірус», і при цьому не один, а цілу їх різноманітність. Результати «тесту на COVID» рідко трактуються правильно і породжують багато неправильних уявлень у пацієнта, впливаючи як на соціальну діяльність, так і на фізичне самопочуття. Тому ми хотіли звернути увагу на трактування результатів основних типів тестів, які подаємо у доступній формі «запитання-відповідь». Ми обговорюємо принципи детекції, тести ЗТ-кПЛР, антитіла IgG, IgM, експрес-тести, а також наводимо дані наших оригінальних досліджень щодо тривалості імунної відповіді до коронавірусних антигенів.
КЛІНІЧНІ ПРОЯВИ ВІЛ-АСОЦІЙОВАНОГО УРАЖЕННЯ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЇ НЕРВОВОЇ СИСТЕМИ ТА ВПЛИВ НА НИХ АНТИРЕТРОВІРУСНОЇ ТЕРАПІЇ
Authors: Moskaliuk V. D. , Boyko Yu. I. , Randiuk Yu. O. , Andrushchak M. O.
Published: April 2021

Симптоматика ураження нервової системи проявляється в різних випадках по-різному: переважним залученням у процес речовини головного мозку; спинного мозку; оболонок; периферичних відділів нервової системи. Спектр порушень широкий і не є специфічним тільки для ВІЛ-інфекції. Реєструють порушення когнітивних функцій (пам’ять, інтелект, навчання), розлади свідомості та уваги, емоційні й поведінкові розлади аж до тяжкого ураження центральної нервової системи (ЦНС) – ВІЛ-асоційованої деменції. Можуть виявлятися симптоми ураження периферичної нервової системи. Неврологічні прояви СНІДу поділяються на первинні та вторинні. Первинні пов’язані з прямою шкідливою дією вірусу, автоімунними процесами, нейротоксичною дією антиретровірусної терапії, а вторинні – зумовлені прогресуючим імунним дефектом і приєднанням опортуністичних інфекцій. Первинні ураження поділяють на ранні: СНІД-деменція (ВІЛ-асоційована енцефалопатія з наступною деменцією, або СНІД-дементний комплекс); гострий ранній ВІЛ-енцефаліт; менінгіт або менінгоенцефаліт; васкулярний нейроСНІД; та пізні: мієлопатії вакуолярні на кшталт висхідного або поперечного мієліту; ураження периферичної нервової системи у вигляді симетричної сенсорної дистальної полінейропатії, хронічної запальної демілієнізуючої полінейропатії, гострої запальної демієлінізуючої полінейропатії за типом синдрому Гійєна-Барре, енцефаломієлополінейропатії, БАС-подібний синдром. Нині всі ВІЛ-обумовлені ураження ЦНС об’єднують під загальною назвою «ВІЛ-асоційовані нейрокогнітивні розлади».

Раннє призначення противірусної терапії є стримуючим чинником для патогенного впливу ВІЛ на функції ЦНС. Та для оптимізації схеми терапії доцільно визначати медикаментозну стійкість вірусу у спинно-мозковій рідині (СМР) і вірусне навантаження у лікворі. Та результати вивчення кореляційних стосунків між кількістю ВІЛ у СМР і плазмі крові розрізняються: одні дослідники виявляють взаємозв’язок, інші не знаходять статистично значущого зв’язку між цими показниками. Та очевидно, що необхідно підбирати схеми антиретровірусної терапії (АРТ) з добрим проникненням крізь гемато-енцефалічний бар’єр (ГЕБ) для забезпечення достатньої концентрації препаратів і припинення вірусної реплікації в клітинах ЦНС.

Таким чином, вимагають додаткових досліджень клініко-лабораторні аспекти ураження нервової системи при ВІЛ-інфекції. Клінічна інформативність вірусологічних досліджень СМР для оцінки ступеня тяжкості ВІЛ-асоційованого ураження ЦНС досі не доведена. У світі немає зареєстрованих тест-систем для оцінки навантаження ВІЛ у лікворі, й ці методи діагностики не застосовуються у клінічній практиці.
КІР У ДІТЕЙ, ПОЄДНАНИЙ З ІНШИМИ ІНФЕКЦІЙНИМИ ЗАХВОРЮВАННЯМИ
Authors: Ivanova L. A. , Haras M. N. , Horbatiuk I. B. , Bileychuk R. Yu. , Ruda T. D.
Published: April 2021

Метою роботи був аналіз особливостей кору у поєднанні з іншими інфекційними захворюваннями у дітей на прикладі клінічних випадків.

Наведено динаміку кору у пацієнтів з кліщовим бореліозом та ВІЛ-інфекцією під час стаціонарного лікування в інфекційному боксованому відділенні крапельних інфекцій обласної дитячої клінічної лікарні м. Чернівці.

Установлено, що при поєднаному перебігу кору та кліщового бореліозу спостерігалися типові клінічні симптоми обох захворювань із посиленням мігруючої еритеми на тлі макулопапульозного висипу. Перебіг кору, ускладненого пневмонією в імуноскомпрометованої ВІЛ-інфікованої дитини на тлі агресивної комбінованої антибіотикотерапії при лікуванні антиретровірусними препаратами характеризувався сприятливим прогнозом.
СЛАВНИЙ ЮВІЛЕЙ ДОЦЕНТА МИКОЛИ СТЕПАНОВИЧА СУРЕМЕНКА
Authors: Avtoriv Kolektyv
Published: April 2021

Висвітлено основні біографічні віхи та творчі досягнення доцента М.С. Суременка – відомого лікаря-інфекціоніста, викладача, вченого, доцента кафедри інфекційних хвороб ДЗ «Дніпропетровська медична академія Міністерства охорони здоров’я України».
A Study of Oddity in a Russian Clinical Sample
Authors: Atadzhykova Julia A. , Enikolopov Sergey S.
Published: April 2021

Background. At the beginning of 20th century, the phenomenon of oddity began to be studied. It was de!ned as a set of characteristics responsible for an individual giving the impression of being unusual, odd, and peculiar. Later, psychiatrists integrated oddity into the concept of schizotypy. Yet, while considered a part of the schizotypy construct, oddity has remained singular and maintained its status as an independent dimension. Objective. "e present article discusses oddity as a set of particular clinical traits that can be evaluated both by self-report measures and clinical assessment. We set out to investigate the oddity phenomena as manifested in a clinical sample, in order to delineate key features that constitute this concept. Design. Seventy-one patients were selected according to a speci!c set of criteria and subjected to a set of self-report measures (the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire and the Adult Personality Traits Questionnaire), a clinical interview, and a pathopsychological experiment. A number of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional characteristics were analyzed. An intra-group comparison was carried out in order to clarify the potential di#erences between the self-reported and clinically assessed phenomenon of oddity. Results. "e study’s !rst !nding was that the SPQ-74 does not identify odd personalities in the general population, as re$ected in the fact that the sample’s average scores proved to be low. Secondly, restricted emotionality and a de!cit in social interactions proved to be the prevalent characteristics of the sample of “odd” individuals. Furthermore, a set of certain speech peculiarities (word coinage, bizarrerie, etc.) and thinking impairments of various types (distortion of abstraction level and motivational de!cit) emerged as prominent characteristics in the majority of subjects. Finally, it was determined that clinical assessment allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of the psychology of odd personalities than self-report measures, due to a number of the personality, temperamental, and cognitive characteristics that the latter tend to exhibit. Conclusion. “Odd” individuals can be characterized by a number of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral features independent of social perception and relevant to clinical practice; they can be captured more successfully by the application of qualitative methods. Further research is needed to elaborate this set of traits and test this hypothesis on new samples.
The Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 7-18 s in Russia
Authors: Deviaterikova Alena A. , Kasatkin Vladimir V. , Velichovsky Boris B.
Published: April 2021

Background. Fatigue is the most common complaint by children both during and after cancer treatment, but in Russia, there is no reliable method for assessing fatigue. Objective. To develop a Russian version of the Turkish Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Ages 7-18. Design. Our first step was to translate all the items of the Turkish questionnaire into Russian. Then, through discussion, we created a single proposition for each item. The next step was obtaining expert opinions to assess the validity. Once the expert estimates agreed, a pilot version of the questionnaire was formed. The next step was to collect a large sample of patients to study the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Results. As a result of factor analysis, three factors were identified. The first factor was "fatigue associated with actions;" the second was "fatigue as feeling;" and the third was "fatigue associated with sleep difficulties." The children's and parents’ versions had the same factor structure. Conclusion. This study showed the possibility of using the questionnaire in a Russian sample. That’s why it is necessary to continue collecting and analyzing data in this direction. The reliability of the test was also assessed. The reliability of the parent version scored a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.91. The reliability of the children’s version showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93.
Counterproductive Work Behavior in Russian Nanotechnology Organizations
Authors: Sayapina Karina , Botone Daniela N.
Published: April 2021

Background. Organizational behavior plays a significant role in the effectiveness of enterprises specializing in nanotechnology. Its negative side – counterproductive work behavior (CWB) – has not been analyzed sufficiently in this industry. We evaluated different theoretical approaches to this problem. Objective. To estimate the predominant forms of counterproductive work behavior in relation to dimensions such as the intensity of the nanotechnology industry, seniority in the organization, and the age and gender of the subjects. Design. We used a descriptive exploratory methodology that analyzes the preponderance of counterproductive work behavior in profile companies throughout the Russian Federation. CWB was assessed through a self-report questionnaire and in-depth interview with each employee. The results were analyzed by correlation-regression analysis in SPSS. Results. We found significant correlations between the variables “intensity of the nanotechnology industry within the organization”, “seniority of employees within the organization”, “age of employees”, and the total score of CWB. Regarding the CWB dimensions, the highest average of the scores was obtained for “low level of conscientiousness” (mean = 21.75; SD = 2.9), followed closely by “low level of personal development” (mean = 20.53; SD = 3.09). Among the CWB dimensions, it seems that the conscientiousness of the employees plays a key role in the continuation of their professional activity and consequently in the increase of seniority in the organization. Conclusion. A professional difficulty can be perceived as a challenge by an employee with good physical and/or psychological resilience. Russian nanotechnology companies should evaluate their approach to dealing with employees and mitigate situations that might be unnecessarily stressful. From the data obtained through the semi-structured interview, we found that what happens in a work group is essential in the emergence of CWB. Organizations need clear policies that empower employees to deal with certain work tasks and with employees who engage in specific CWB.
Psychological Burnout among Professionals Working with Children with Motor Disabilities
Authors: Al-Ali Taghreed , Akour Mutasem M. , Al-Masri Enas , Mizaghobian Annie Abu Hanna , Ghaith Soua’d
Published: April 2021

Background. Psychological burnout is a state of psychological and physical fatigue that shows the effect of work stress on the individual and negatively affects his/her attitudes towards work. The current study was motivated by the assumption that people who work directly with students with special needs are at the forefront of professions that can create feelings of frustration, and thus may be vulnerable to psychological burnout. Objective. To identify the level of psychological burnout among professionals working with children with motor disabilities, and how these levels differ according to gender, workplace, years of experience, and the number of children the employees treat. Design. The sample comprised 195 staff members at the Al-Hussein Society for the rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in Amman, Jordan. The researchers used the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which consists of three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and the lack of a sense of personal accomplishment. Results. We found a low level of psychological burnout among those who work with children with motor disabilities. The level of psychological burnout was low for two dimensions: lack of a sense of personal accomplishment and depersonalization, whereas it was average for emotional exhaustion. The results showed statistically significant differences in the degrees of psychological burnout in its three dimensions according to the employee’s workplace, with higher levels at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. However, no statistically significant differences were found among the participants due to gender, years of experience, or the number of children they treat. Conclusion. The low levels of psychological burnout among professionals who work with children with motor disabilities might be due to the psychological and professional support they receive from their institutions.
Sources of Artifacts in SLODR Detection
Authors: Korneev Aleksei A. , Krichevets Anatoly N. , Sugonyaev Konstantin V. , Ushakov Dmitriy V. , Vinogradov Alexander G. , Fomichev Aram A.
Published: April 2021

Background. Spearman’s law of diminishing returns (SLODR) states that intercorrelations between scores on tests of intellectual abilities were higher when the data set was comprised of subjects with lower intellectual abilities and vice versa. After almost a hundred years of research, this trend has only been detected on average. Objective. To determine whether the very different results were obtained due to variations in scaling and the selection of subjects. Design. We used three methods for SLODR detection based on moderated factor analysis (MFCA) to test real data and three sets of simulated data. Of the latter group, the first one simulated a real SLODR effect. The second one simulated the case of a different density of tasks of varying difficulty; it did not have a real SLODR effect. The third one simulated a skewed selection of respondents with different abilities and also did not have a real SLODR effect. We selected the simulation parameters so that the correlation matrix of the simulated data was similar to the matrix created from the real data, and all distributions had similar skewness parameters (about -0.3). Results. The results of MFCA are contradictory and we cannot clearly distinguish by this method the dataset with real SLODR from datasets with similar correlation structure and skewness, but without a real SLODR effect. Theresults allow us to conclude that when effects like SLODR are very subtle and can be identified only with a large sample, then features of the psychometric scale become very important, because small variations of scale metrics may lead either to masking of real SLODR or to false identification of SLODR.
Materialisation of the Good Life in the New House
Authors: Wei Lan
Published: April 2021

Over the past two decades, Chinese rural architecture has experienced dramatic changes through the Building the Chinese Socialist New Village movement. Thousands of new houses, particularly in the model of the New Village, have risen abruptly out of the ground. These Western-style new houses with a garden (huayuan yangfang), which often appear in the media as typical family houses in Western society, largely represent the image of the good life of the state and the peasant in contemporary China. In this article, I focus on how the family house is produced and consumed in Baikou New Village in south China. By presenting the materiality of the dwelling space, this paper probes the intertwined processes of the materialisation of the blueprint of the good life and how the new houses influence family life (especially intergenerational relationships) in post-socialist Baikou New Village.
Targumic Parallels to Variant Readings of the Book of Samuel amongst the Cairo Geniza Manuscripts
Authors: Rendsburg Gary A.
Published: April 2021

The Cairo Geniza has yielded 650+ manuscripts (all fragmentary, of course) of the book of Samuel. A survey of those documents reveals a number of places with variant readings, especially when compared to the great medieval codices: Aleppo (A) and St Petersburg (L). The present article demonstrates that many of these variant readings are reflected in Targum Jonathan and in the Peshitta.
The Relationship Between Illusory Crescents and the Stream/Bounce Effect
Authors: A-Izzeddin Emily J. , Grove Philip M.
Published: April 2021

We conducted two experiments to evaluate Meyerhoff and Scholl’s (2018, Cognition 170, 88–94) hypothesis that illusory crescents contribute to resolutions in audiovisual stream/bounce displays. In Experiment 1, we measured illusory crescent size in the launching effect as a function of speed, overlap, and sound. In Experiment 2, we tabulated stream and bounce responses to similar stimuli with the same speed, sound, and overlap conditions as Experiment 1. Our critical manipulation of target speed spanned the range of values from typical stream/bounce investigations of ∼5 degrees/s up to the target speeds employed by Meyerhoff and Scholl ∼38 degrees/s. We replicated Meyerhoff and Scholl’s findings at higher speeds, but not at slower speeds. Critically, we found that speed influenced crescent size judgements and bouncing responses in opposite directions. As target speed increased, illusory crescent size increased (Experiment 1), but the overall percentage of bounce responses decreased (Experiment 2). Additionally, we found that sound failed to enhance illusory crescent size at slower speeds but promotes bouncing responses at all speeds. The disassociation of the effects of speed and sound on illusory crescents with those effects on reported streaming/bouncing in similar displays provides compelling evidence against Meyerhoff and Scholl’s hypothesis. Therefore, we conclude that illusory crescents do not account for the pattern of responses attributed to the stream/bounce effect.
Sterilizing Pregnant Companion Animals: Ethics and Law
Authors: Paterson Mandy B.A. , Jamieson Philip
Published: April 2021

Although the sterilization of pregnant companion animals occurs regularly in private veterinary clinics and animal shelters, there is growing concern amongst veterinarians and animal welfare supporters about the appropriateness of carrying out this procedure. The ethical and legal perspectives of the procedure have not been widely discussed in the available literature. This paper aims to remedy this situation. It considers the sterilization of pregnant companion animals using four ethical frameworks: animal rights, utilitarian, relational and contractarian. The possible interests of all involved parties, including the animal itself, the unborn young, the veterinarian, shelter and clinic staff, and the wider community are included. Where the science on companion animals in this area is limited, the paper draws on science involving other species. The legal aspects are discussed with analogies to human abortion laws. The paper concludes by providing a framework that veterinarians and others can use when making ethical decisions.
Locating the Non-Aḥrārī Silsila of the Naqshbandīya in Central Asia: A Historical Contextualization of Ḥāfiẓ Baṣīr within the Central Asian Sufi Tradition
Authors: Shanazarova Aziza
Published: April 2021

The aim of the paper is twofold. Firstly, to provide a historical contextualization of Ḥāfiẓ Baṣīr, the author of the Maẓhar al-‘ajā’ib (circa 973/1565), within the Central Asian Sufi tradition based on historical and hagiographical sources from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Secondly, to locate the non-Aḥrārī silsila of the Naqshbandīya in Central Asia passing through Ḥāfiẓ Baṣīr that survived in the region of Khwarazm until the second half of the 18th century.
Taxonomy of the sea stars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from Bahia State, including ontogenetic variation and an illustrated key to the Brazilian species
Authors: CUNHA ROSANA , MARTINS LUCIANA , MENEGOLA CARLA , SOUTO CAMILLA
Published: April 2021

Describing ontogenetic morphological change is an important part of integrative taxonomy; still, most taxonomic studies are based only on adult characters. Here, we provide illustrations and a morphological description of the sea stars from Bahia, including ontogenetic and intraspecific variation, and identify taxonomic issues. A total of 293 specimens from different localities along the Bahia State coastline and comparative material from other localities were examined. Eighteen species (11 genera, eight families) of Asteroidea were identified; Astropectinidae was the most representative family. All species identified also occur in subtropical Brazilian waters and most species are from shallow water habitats with soft bottoms. Most observed ontogenetic variation was quantitative in nature, such as the increase in the number of spines in the furrow and of spinelets in the paxillae with specimen growth. Genera that require further taxonomic studies are Astropecten and Othilia, whose specimens are commonly misidentified in local studies. One third of the species from Bahia are currently classified as “Vulnerable” in the Brazilian Red List, but baseline data on the population biology of these species are scarce. An illustrated identification key to the 65 Brazilian sea star species is also provided. This taxonomic study will facilitate the identification of specimens occurring along the Brazilian coast and help scientists and policy makers to establish the conservation status of the Brazilian species.
Knowing What to Do Substantially Improves the Effectiveness of Flood Early Warning
Authors: Kreibich Heidi , Hudson Paul , Merz Bruno
Published: April 2021

Flood warning systems are longstanding success stories with respect to protecting human life, but monetary losses continue to grow. Knowledge on the effectiveness of flood early warning in reducing monetary losses is scarce, especially at the individual level. To gain more knowledge in this area, we analyze a dataset that is unique with respect to detailed information on warning reception and monetary losses at the property level and with respect to amount of data available. The dataset contains 4,468 loss cases from six flood events in Germany. These floods occurred between 2002 and 2013. The data from each event were collected by computer-aided telephone interviews in four surveys following a repeated cross-sectional design. We quantitatively reveal that flood early warning is only effective in reducing monetary losses when people know what to do when they receive the warning. We also show that particularly long-term preparedness is associated with people knowing what to do when they receive a warning. Thus, risk communication, training, and (financial) support for private preparedness are effective in mitigating flood losses in two ways: precautionary measures and more effective emergency responses.
The power distribution between symmetric and anti-symmetric components of the tropical wavenumber-frequency spectrum
Authors: Shamir Ofer , Schwartz Chen , Garfinkel Chaim I. , Paldor Nathan
Published: April 2021

A yet unexplained feature of the tropical wavenumber-frequency spectrum is its parity distributions, i.e., the distribution of power between the meridionally symmetric and anti-symmetric components of the spectrum. Due to the linearity of the decomposition to symmetric and anti-symmetric components and the Fourier analysis, the total spectral power equals the sum of the power contained in each of these two components. However, the spectral power need not be evenly distributed between the two components. Satellite observations and reanalysis data provide ample evidence that the parity distribution of the tropical wavenumber-frequency spectrum is biased towards its symmetric component. Using an intermediate-complexity model of an idealized moist atmosphere, we find that the parity distribution of the tropical spectrum is nearly insensitive to large-scale forcing, including topography, ocean heat fluxes, and land-sea contrast. On the other hand, we find that a small-scale (stochastic) forcing has the capacity to affect the parity distribution at large spatial scales via an upscale (inverse) turbulent energy cascade. These results are qualitatively explained by considering the effects of triad interactions on the parity distribution. According to the proposed mechanism, any bias in the small-scale forcing, symmetric or anti-symmetric, leads to symmetric bias in the large-scale spectrum regardless of the source of variability responsible for the onset of the asymmetry. As this process is also associated with the generation of large-scale features in the Tropics by small-scale convection, the present study demonstrates that the physical process associated with deep-convection leads to a symmetric bias in the tropical spectrum.
Effect of Scale-Aware Planetary Boundary Layer Schemes on Tropical Cyclone Intensification and Structural Changes in the Gray Zone
Authors: Chen Xiaomin , Xue Ming , Zhou Bowen , Fang Juan , Zhang Jun A. , Marks Frank D.
Published: April 2021

Horizontal grid spacings of numerical weather prediction models are rapidly approaching O (1 km) and have become comparable with the dominant length scales of flows in the boundary layer; within such “gray-zone”, conventional planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes start to violate basic design assumptions. Scale-aware PBL schemes have been developed recently to address the gray-zone issue. By performing WRF simulations of Hurricane Earl (2010) at sub-kilometer grid spacings, this study investigates the effect of the scale-aware Shin-Hong (SH) scheme on the tropical cyclone (TC) intensification and structural changes in comparison to the non-scale-aware YSU scheme it is built upon. Results indicate that SH tends to produce a stronger TC with a more compact inner core than YSU. At early stages, the scale-aware coefficients in SH gradually decrease as the diagnosed boundary layer height exceeds the horizontal grid spacing. This scale-aware effect is most prominent for the nonlocal subgrid-scale vertical turbulent fluxes, in the non-precipitation regions radially outside of the convective rainband, and from the early stage through the middle of rapid intensification (RI) phase. Both the scale awareness and different parameterization of the nonlocal turbulent heat flux in SH reduce the parameterized vertical turbulent mixing, which further induces stronger radial inflows and helps retain more water vapor in the boundary layer. The resulting stronger moisture convergence and diabatic heating near the TC center account for the faster inner-core contraction before RI onset and the higher intensification rate during the RI period. Potential issues of applying these two PBL schemes in TC simulations and suggestions for improvements are discussed.
Integrating Ecological Impacts: Perspectives on Drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States
Authors: Cravens Amanda E. , McEvoy Jamie , Zoanni Dionne , Crausbay Shelley , Ramirez Aaron , Cooper Ashley E.
Published: April 2021

Drought is a complex challenge experienced in specific locations through diverse impacts, including ecological impacts. Different professionals involved in drought preparedness and response approach the problem from different points of view, which means they may or may not recognize ecological impacts. This study examines the extent to which interviewees perceive ecological drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters basin in southwestern Montana. Through semistructured interviews, this research investigates individuals’ perceptions of drought by analyzing how they define drought, how they describe their roles related to drought, and the extent to which they emphasize ecological impacts of drought. Results suggest that while most interviewees have an integrated understanding of drought, they tend to emphasize either ecological or nonecological impacts of drought. This focus was termed their drought orientation. Next, the analysis considers how participants understand exposure to drought. Results indicate that participants view drought as a complex problem driven by both human and natural factors. Last, the paper explores understandings of the available solution space by examining interviewees’ views on adaptive capacity, particularly factors that facilitate or hinder the ability of the Upper Missouri Headwaters region to cope with drought. Participants emphasized that adaptive capacity is both helped and hindered by institutional, cultural, and economic factors, as well as by available information and past resource management practices. Understanding how interviewees perceive the challenges of drought can shape drought preparedness and response, allowing those designing programs to better align their efforts to the perceptions of their target audience.
Effectiveness of Prophylactic Preoperative Antibiotics in Mandible Fracture Repair: A National Database Study
Authors: Wick Elizabeth H. , Deutsch Brian , Kallogjeri Dorina , Chi John J. , Branham Gregory H.
Published: April 2021

Objective

This is the first database study to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic preoperative antibiotics (PPAs) in mandible fracture repair.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Database study using US inpatient and outpatient insurance claims submitted from July 2006 to March 2015.

Methods

The IBM MarketScan Commercial Database was queried for adults aged 18 to 64 years who had undergone first‐time mandible fracture repair according to Current Procedural Terminology codes for open and closed repair. Primary outcomes included surgical revision, local infection, and osteomyelitis. Rates were compared between cohorts based on whether or not patients had filled antibiotic prescriptions during the preoperative period alone. The effects of drug abuse and type of mandible repair (open vs closed) were explored. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to calculate adjusted relative risk estimates, and 95% CIs were used to determine statistically significant differences.

Results

A total of 2676 patients were included, with 847 (31.7%) filling PPAs and 1829 (68.3%) filling no antibiotics. Rates were 38.9% for revision, 5.8% for local infection, and 2.1% for osteomyelitis. After multivariate analysis, exposure to PPAs was not associated with surgical revision (adjusted relative risk, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.94‐1.15), local infection (1.16; 0.82‐1.64), or osteomyelitis (1.21; 0.68‐2.14). Patients were more likely to fill PPAs if they underwent open repair (35.3%) versus closed (26.6%) (proportion difference, 8.7%; 95% CI, 5.2%‐12.2%), but exposure to antibiotics did not predict outcomes on subgroup analysis.

Conclusion

PPAs do not improve mandible repair outcomes, regardless of repair type.
Risk of COVID‐19 Infection Among Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients Receiving Oral Corticosteroids
Authors: Miller Lauren E. , Bhattacharyya Neil
Published: April 2021

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) management frequently comprises conservative treatment, including a combination of topical and oral corticosteroids (OCSs). However, in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, providers may have been reluctant to prescribe OCSs out of possible concern for an increased risk of contracting COVID‐19 or developing more severe COVID‐19 symptoms. This study thus sought to explore the association between the use of OCSs and the development of COVID‐19 in patients with CRS. We found no statistically significant difference in the rates of patients with a positive diagnosis of COVID‐19 who underwent an OCS treatment regimen compared to those who did not, both within 28 days (P =. 389) and 14 days (P =. 676) prior to the COVID‐19 test. Given OCSs are often a major component of medical management of CRS, this study proves helpful in counseling patients on risks of steroid use in CRS treatment during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Resource Stability and Federal Agency Performance
Authors: Chang Ahrum
Published: April 2021

Resources are essential for organizations to cope with challenges and to achieve their desirable outcomes. Although much scholarly attention has been paid to the type or level of resources allocated or used to enhance organizational effectiveness, relatively little effort has been made to analyze whether and how resource changes influence organizational performance. Considering today’s unstable fiscal climate, this study focuses on how government agencies respond to their budget fluctuations—both gains and cuts—and their distinctive impact on agency performance. Using data from the Performance and Accountability Reports from FY 2004 through FY 2014, we analyze the effect of budgetary resource changes on organizational performance in 52 U.S. federal agencies. Findings show that agency effectiveness is significantly influenced by budget changes. In particular, we find an asymmetric relationship between budgetary resource changes and organizational performance. It appears that budget cuts are not associated with changes in agency performance, whereas budgetary resource gains are associated with dampened agency effectiveness. Ultimately, this study provides insights into public organizations’ resilience and calls for considering change management perspectives when exploring resource–performance linkages.
A dimension-reduction metamodeling approach to simulation-based uncertainty quantification problems with high dimensionalities
Authors: Ju YP
Published: April 2021

A common strategy to handle simulation-based uncertainty quantification problems is adopting a metamodel to replace time-demanding calculations such as computational fluid dynamics simulation or finite element analysis within Monte Carlo simulation process. However, most of the so far metamodel-assisted uncertainty quantification methods suffer from the ‘curse of dimensionality.’ The required number of evaluations, which determines the computational cost, increases exponentially as the dimensionality of the input uncertainty increases, resulting in unaffordable computational cost for high-dimensional problems. Another challenge emerges when the output uncertainties are a spatially varying field accommodating a huge number of spatial nodes. To solve these issues, here we propose a dimension-reduction metamodeling approach, in which active subspace method is utilized to reduce the input dimensionality and proper orthogonal decomposition method is utilized to reduce the output dimensionality of the spatially varying field. The relationship between the two methods is established by using the support vector regression model. Through uncertainty quantification of seven stochastic analytical functions and one stochastic convection-diffusion equation, the proposed approach was verified to be fairly accurate in propagating high-dimensional input uncertainties to either a scalar value or a spatially varying output. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach in dealing with even more practical simulation-based problems were then validated by uncertainty quantification of a compressor cascade with stochastic protrusions/dents distributed on the blade surface. This work provides an effective and versatile approach for simulation-based high-dimensional uncertainty quantification problems.
A preliminary study on sediment records of possible typhoon in the northern South China Sea during the past 6500 years
Authors: Li Pingyuan , Li Mingkun , Gan Huayang , Xia Zhen
Published: April 2021

Typhoon is an important meteorological phenomenon that affects the living and development of human beings on the southern China coast. However, there is still lack of clarity in the paleo-typhoon history and its influence on the evolution of the ancient human settlement environment since the mid-Holocene. Here, we identify six typhoon-like deposits from a core retrieved from the northern South China Sea shelf, close to the Pearl River Estuary, based on accelerated mass spectrometry 14C dating, grain size, and geochemistry. The sand fractions, CaO, Sr, SiO2/TiO2, and SiO2/Al2O3 were used to indicate the typhoon-like deposits. Results show that the ages with high-frequency typhoons are present ~200–300 cal yr BP, ~800–1000 cal yr BP, ~1500–1700 cal yr BP, ~2000–2100 cal yr BP, ~2400–2500 cal yr BP, and ~2700–3000 cal yr BP. Our results are comparable to the records from adjacent regions. Significantly, the vast tides occurred in the duration of ~2700–3000 cal yr BP in southern China, which probably caused the ancestors’ migration to the inland. Further studies are needed to deeply study the paleo-typhoon history in the southern China coast to verify our results.
Prolonged Viral Shedding in Patients with Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Disease: A Regional Perspective
Authors: Hossain Mehrab E , Lister David , Bartolo Caroline , Kinsella Paul M , Knox James , Aldrich Rosemary , Cowan Raquel , Commons Robert J
Published: April 2021

Background

The risk of transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasingly understood to be greatest early after symptom onset, however, factors associated with prolonged and increased risk of transmission remain unclear. In settings where COVID-19 prevalence is low, there may be a benefit of extending the period that patients are isolated to decrease the risk of transmission. This study explored the duration of viral shedding in such a location, in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19 disease in Ballarat, Australia.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 disease using a real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay from oropharyngeal and bilateral deep nasopharyngeal sampling and managed through Ballarat Health Services between March 1 and May 1, 2020 were included. Patients were retested if they were afebrile for >72 hours, asymptomatic and >14 days since symptom onset. If positive on retesting, patients were tested every 3 to 7 days thereafter.

Results

Patients underwent testing a median of 4 days (range 1-12) after initial symptom onset. Duration of symptoms ranged from 1 to 36 days. Positive tests were recorded up to a median of day 21 (range 6-38). Cycle thresholds were inversely correlated with time since symptom onset ( P < .0001). Median time to the first negative test was 25 days (range 12-32). Two patients who had remained asymptomatic for >7 days after initial symptom onset had recrudescence of mild symptoms on day 13 and 14; both tested positive on follow-up tests at this time.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates prolonged shedding of COVID-19 in patients with mild-moderate disease. It suggests that some patients with mild disease may have recrudescence of symptoms a week or more after their initial symptoms resolved.
Sickness absence and disability pension after carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis: A register-based study of patients and matched references in Sweden
Authors: Lallukka Tea , Shiri Rahman , Alexanderson Kristina , Ervasti Jenni , Mittendorfer-Rutz Ellenor , Virtanen Marianna
Published: April 2021

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine sickness absence and disability pension (SA/DP) during working lifespan among individuals diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and their matched references, accounting for sociodemographic factors. Methods: We used a register cohort of 78,040 individuals aged 19–60 years when diagnosed with CTS in secondary health care (hospitals and outpatient specialist health care) and their 390,199 matched references from the general population in 2001–2010. Sociodemographic factors and SA/DP net days during a three-year follow-up were included. Negative binomial regression was used. Results: For those not on DP at inclusion, the average number of SA/DP days per person-year was 58 days (95% confidence interval (CI) 56–60 days) among individuals with CTS and 20 days (95% CI 19–21 days) among the matched references. Among both groups, these numbers increased with age and were higher among women than among men. The rate ratio (RR) of SA/DP days was threefold higher among people with CTS than among the matched references (adjusted RR=3.00, 95% CI 2.91–3.10) Moreover, compared to the matched references, the RR for SA/DP was higher among men with CTS (RR=3.86, 95% CI 3.61–4.13) than among women with CTS (RR=2.69, 95% CI 2.59–2.78). The association between CTS and the number of SA/DP days was smaller among older age groups. Sociodemographic factors were similarly associated with SA/DP among people with and without CTS. Conclusions: Numbers of SA/DP days were higher among people with CTS than their matched references in all age groups, particularly among individuals in their early work careers, highlighting public-health relevance of the findings.
Solidarity in a Community of Nursing Colleagues
Authors: Kristoffersen Margareth
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Several concepts have been used to describe the qualities of communities of nursing colleagues. Nonetheless, few studies have shed light on nursing communities by drawing on the concept of solidarity.

Objective

To explore solidarity among a community of nursing colleagues.

Methods

A qualitative research design with a reflective life world approach was selected. This study reused data from a larger Norwegian empirical study. The data from the original study consisted of qualitative interviews and follow-up interviews with 13 nurses (RNs). The research context was municipality and specialist health services. A secondary data analysis was conducted. The study was based on the SRQR reporting guidelines.

Results

The results were formulated under two themes: 1) having indispensable relationships and 2) encountering a relative absence of sympathy.

Conclusion

A sense of community among nursing colleagues seems to rely on solidarity: whatever affects one nurse affects another. The solidarity that arose from the content of commonalities involved maintaining indispensable relationships with nursing colleagues by supporting and aiding them and simultaneously enduring a relative absence of sympathy. Solidarity among the community in this study was not a peripheral concept of the general notion of solidarity, implying that the commonalities within the collegial relationships were ambiguous and could shift from something good to something relatively good and vice versa. Such a shift was evidenced by nurses’ experiences of their community.