bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Manner of Information Presentation on Risky Choice
Authors: Liu Hong-Zhi , Wei Zi-Han , Li Peng
Published: October 2021

We are constantly faced with decisive situations in which the options are not presented simultaneously. How the information of options is presented might influence the subsequent decision-making. For instance, presenting the information of options in an alternative- or dimension-wise manner may affect searching patterns and thus lead to different choices. In this study, the effects of this manner of information presentation on risky choice according to two experiments (Experiment 1, N = 45; Experiment 2, N = 50) are systematically examined. Specifically, two tasks with different presentation are conducted. Participants could search the information of one option (alternative-wise task) or dimension (dimension-wise task) for each time. Results revealed that the participants assigned in the alternative-wise task exhibited more choices consistent with expected value theory and took a longer decision time than those in the dimension-wise task. Moreover, the effect of task on choice was mediated by the direction of information search. These findings suggest a relationship between information search pattern and risky choice and allow for a better understanding of the mechanisms and processes involved in risky choice.
Examining Distinctive Working Memory Profiles in Chinese Children With Predominantly Inattentive Subtype of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Reading Difficulties
Authors: Poon Kean , Ho Mimi S. H. , Wang Li-Chih
Published: October 2021

Although evidence has shown that both RD and ADHD-I children suffer from working memory problems, inconsistencies in impaired modalities have been reported. This study aimed to (1) compare the three WM domains (i.e., verbal WM, visual-spatial WM, and behavioral WM) among pure ADHD-I, pure RD, comorbid ADHD-I+RD, and typical control groups and (2) examine the impact of comorbidity on the three WM domains. A Chinese sample of participants from Hong Kong included 29 children in the ADHD-I group, 78 children in the RD group, 31 children in the comorbid group (ADHD-I+RD), and 64 children in the TD control group. All participants completed the assessments individually. The findings showed that the children with ADHD-I and/or RD exhibited diverse cognitive profiles. In particular, RD was associated with verbal and visual-spatial working memory deficits, while ADHD-I was associated with behavioral working memory deficits. Interestingly, the comorbid condition demonstrated additive deficits of the two disorders but with greater deficits in behavioral working memory. These findings support the cognitive subtype hypothesis and provide a clearer picture of the distinctive working memory profiles of different groups, allowing for the development of intervention programs in the future.
Self-Report Stress Measures to Assess Stress in Adults With Mild Intellectual Disabilities—A Scoping Review
Authors: de Witte Martina , Kooijmans Roel , Hermanns Maria , Hooren Susan van , Biesmans Kim , Hermsen Maaike , Stams Geert Jan , Moonen Xavier
Published: October 2021

Stress has a major negative impact on the development of psychopathology and contributes to the onset of adverse physical conditions. Timely recognition and monitoring of stress-related problems are therefore important, especially in client populations that are more vulnerable to stress, such as people with mild intellectual disabilities (MID). Recent research on the use of physiological measures to assess stress levels emphasize that, in addition to these measures, self-report instruments are necessary to gain insight into the individual perception and impact of stress on daily life. However, there is no current overview of self-report stress measures that focus on the experience of stress in the present moment or in daily life. To provide an overview of the existing self-report stress measures for clinicians and researchers, a scoping review was conducted. In addition, to advise clinical professionals on the use of self-report measures of stress for people with MID, the results of an expert consultation were used to refine the preliminary findings. A systematic scoping literature search resulted in a total of 13 self-reported stress measures that met the final inclusion criteria, of which three were developed specifically for assessing stress in adults with MID (GAS-ID, LI, and SAS-ID). For each included self-report stress measure, the psychometric quality, assessment procedure, and suitability for adults with MID were reported. These were supplemented by the findings from the expert consultation. Implications for clinical practice on the use of self-report stress measures, particularly for people with MID, are discussed. Recommendations for future research and development are given.
Imagine, Sing, Play- Combined Mental, Vocal and Physical Practice Improves Musical Performance
Authors: Steenstrup Kristian , Haumann Niels Trusbak , Kleber Boris , Camarasa Carles , Vuust Peter , Petersen Bjørn
Published: October 2021

Classical musicians face a high demand for flawless and expressive performance, leading to highly intensified practice activity. Whereas the advantage of using mental strategies is well documented in sports research, few studies have explored the efficacy of mental imagery and overt singing on musical instrumental learning. In this study, 50 classically trained trumpet students performed short unfamiliar pieces. Performances were recorded before and after applying four prescribed practice strategies which were (1) physical practice, (2) mental imagery, (3) overt singing with optional use of solfege, (4) a combination of 1, 2 and 3 or a control condition, no practice. Three experts independently assessed pitch and rhythm accuracy, sound quality, intonation, and musical expression in all recordings. We found higher gains in the overall performance, as well as in pitch accuracy for the physical practice, and the combined practice strategies, compared to no practice. Furthermore, only the combined strategy yielded a significant improvement in musical expression. Pitch performance improvement was positively correlated with previous solfege training and frequent use of random practice strategies. The findings highlight benefits from applying practice strategies that complement physical practice in music instrument practice in short term early stages of learning a new piece. The study may generalize to other forms of learning, involving cognitive processes and motor skills.
A Hypothesis of Gender Differences in Self-Reporting Symptom of Depression: Implications to Solve Under-Diagnosis and Under-Treatment of Depression in Males
Authors: Shi Peixia , Yang Aigang , Zhao Qing , Chen Zhaohua , Ren Xiaomei , Dai Qin
Published: October 2021

The phenomenon of female preponderance in depression has been well-reported, which has been challenged by higher rates of suicide and addictive behaviors in males, and a longer life-span in females. We thus propose an alternative hypothesis “Gender differences in self-reporting symptom of depression,” suggesting mild-moderate depression tends to be reported more often by females, and severe depression and suicide tend to be reported more often by males. Potential mechanisms that account for this difference may include three aspects: covariation between estrogen levels and the incidence peak of female depression, gender differences in coping style (e.g., comparative emotional inexpressiveness and non-help-seeking in males), and gender differences in symptom phenotypes (e.g., atypical symptoms in male depression). Our newly presented hypothesis implied the overlooked under-diagnosis and under-treatment of depression in males. For effective diagnoses and timely treatment of male depression, it is critical to incorporate symptoms of depression in males into the relevant diagnostic criteria, encourage males to express negative emotions, and increase awareness of suicidal behavior in males.
The Effects of the National Centralized Drug Purchasing Pilot Program on Nucleos(t)ide Analogs in Shenzhen City: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Authors: Wen Xiaotong , Yin Shicheng , Cui Lanyue , Mao Lining , Lin Zhaoyu , Yaermaimaiti Zilalai , Geng Xin , Li Yingxia , Yang Ying , Cui Dan , Mao Zongfu
Published: October 2021

Objectives: To assess the effects of the National Centralized Drug Purchasing Pilot Program on nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) in Shenzhen city.

Methods: Drugs procurement records in medical institutions were analyzed covering the period from January 2018 to December 2019. An interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the “4+7” pilot policy on NAs in Shenzhen city. The outcome measures were usage volume, expenditures, daily cost, and distribution structure of NAs.

Findings: After the introduction of the “4+7” pilot policy, the defined daily doses (DDDs) of NA drugs increased by 76.48%, the expenditures and defined daily dose cost (DDDc) of NAs decreased by 45.43 and 69.08%, respectively. The proportion of winning products in Entecavir and Tenofovir Fumarate DDDs was increased by 64.21 and 19.20%, respectively. The post-intervention period witnessed a significant increase in the regression level for NAs DDDs (level coefficient: β2 = 631.87, p < 0.05). The expenditures (trend coefficient: β3 = 392.24, p < 0.05) and DDDc (level coefficient: β2 = −6.17, p < 0.001; trend coefficient: β3 = −0.21, p < 0.05) of NAs showed decreasing trend in the post-intervention period. The expenditures of original products and generic products both showed a decreasing trend in the post-intervention period (trend coefficient: β3 = −372.78, p < 0.05, trend coefficient: β3 = −130.78, p < 0.05, respectively). The DDDc of original products in the policy-related varieties was a significant decrease in the regression slope and level (level coefficient: β2 = −2.18, p < 0.05; trend coefficient: β3 = −0.32, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: After the implementation of the“4+7” policy, the DDDc of NAs decreased, the accessibility of policy-related drugs was improved, and the usage of generic medicine was promoted.
Move The Object or Move The User: The Role of Interaction Techniques on Embodied Learning in VR
Authors: Bagher Mahda M. , Sajjadi Pejman , Wallgrün Jan Oliver , La Femina Peter C. , Klippel Alexander
Published: October 2021

To incorporate immersive technologies as part of the educational curriculum, this article is an endeavor to investigate the role of two affordances that are crucial in designing embodied interactive virtual learning environments (VLEs) to enhance students’ learning experience and performance: 1) the sense of presence as a subjective affordance of the VR system, and 2) bodily engagement as an embodied affordance and the associated sense of agency that is created through interaction techniques with three-dimensional learning objects. To investigate the impact of different design choices for interaction, and how they would affect the associated sense of agency, learning experience and performance, we designed two VLEs in the context of penetrative thinking in a critical 3D task in geosciences education: understanding the cross-sections of earthquakes’ depth and geometry in subduction zones around the world. Both VLEs were web-based desktop VR applications containing 3D data that participants ran remotely on their own computers using a normal screen. In the drag and scroll condition, we facilitated bodily engagement with the 3D data through object manipulation, object manipulation. In the first-person condition, we provided the ability for the user to move in space. In other words, we compared moving the objects or moving the user in space as the interaction modalities. We found that students had a better learning experience in the drag and scroll condition, but we could not find a significant difference in the sense of presence between the two conditions. Regarding learning performance, we found a positive correlation between the sense of agency and knowledge gain in both conditions. In terms of students with low prior knowledge of the field, exposure to the VR experience in both conditions significantly improved their knowledge gain. In the matter of individual differences, we investigated the knowledge gain of students with a low penetrative thinking ability. We found that they benefited from the type of bodily engagement in the first-person condition and had a significantly higher knowledge gain than the other condition. Our results encourage in-depth studies of embodied learning in VR to design more effective embodied virtual learning environments.
Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Flexible Ureteroscopy for Treatment of Urolithiasis in Horseshoe Kidney Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yi Xianyanling , Cao Dehong , You Pinghong , Xiong Xingyu , Zheng Xiaonan , Jin Tao , Peng Ge , Xu Hang , Liao Dazhou , Wei Qiang , Li Hong , Yang Lu , Ai Jianzhong
Published: October 2021

Background: Urolithiasis is the most common complication of horseshoe kidney (HK), which can be treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), flexible ureteroscopy (FURS), and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). When comparing treatments of ESWL and FURS, it is unclear which is more efficient and safe. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of FURS and SWL for the treatment of urolithiasis in HK patients.

Methods: A systematic search of the Web of Science, PubMed, and EMBASE was performed in February 2021. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the risk of bias in each study.

Results: Five studies published between 2008 and 2018 were synthesized in the present meta-analysis. The study revealed that FURS compared with SWL had greater initial and overall stone-free rates (SFRs). Risk ratios (RRs) were 2.46 (P < 0.00001) in initial SFRs, 1.36 (P = 0.02) in overall SFRs. No differences were found in the retreatment ratio, RRs were 0.49 (P = 0.43). In addition, no major complications were encountered, and all the complications were mild to moderate.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated that FURS and SWL are effective and safe treatments for patients with HK with stones (<20 mm). Moreover, FURS has greater clearance rates and lower complication rates than SWL.
Ambulatory Thoracoscopic Pleurodesis Combined With Indwelling Pleural Catheter in Malignant Pleural Effusion
Authors: Foo Chuan T. , Pulimood Thomas , Knolle Martin , Marciniak Stefan J. , Herre Jurgen
Published: October 2021

Background and Objective: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) often results in debilitating symptoms. Relief of dyspnoea and improvement in quality of life can be achieved with either talc pleurodesis or insertion of an indwelling tunneled pleural catheter (IPC). The former requires a lengthy hospital stay and the latter is associated with lower pleurodesis rates. In response to limited hospital bed capacity, we developed a pragmatic approach in managing MPE by combining thoracoscopic talc poudrage and insertion of IPC into a single day case procedure. We present data on the safety and efficacy of this approach.

Methods: Patients who had undergone the abovementioned procedure between 2017 and 2020 were analyzed. Demographic data, hospital length of stay (LOS), histological diagnosis, rates of pleurodesis success and procedural related complications were collated. Patients were followed-up for 6 months.

Results: Forty-five patients underwent the procedure. Mean age was 68.5 ± 10.4 years and 56% were male. Histological diagnosis was achieved in all cases. 86.7% of patients were discharged on the day of the procedure. Median LOS was 0 (IQR 0–0) days. Successful pleurodesis was attained in 77.8% at 6-month follow-up. No procedure related deaths or IPC related infections were recorded.

Conclusion: Ambulatory thoracoscopic poudrage and IPC insertion is a safe and effective option in the management of MPE. All patients received a definitive pleural intervention with 77.8% pleurodesis success at 6-months and majority of them discharged on the same day. Future randomized trials are required to confirm these findings.
Association of Abdominal Incision Length With Gastrointestinal Function Recovery Post-operatively: A Multicenter Registry System-Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Song Jianning , Yang Yingchi , Guan Wenxian , Jin Gang , Yang Yinmo , Chen Lin , Wan Yong , Li Leping , He Qingsi , Zhang Wei , Zhu Weiming , Chen Lei , Xiu Dianrong , Tian Weijun , Yang Daogui , Lou Wenhui , Zhang Zhongtao
Published: October 2021

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the abdominal incision length on the gastrointestinal function recovery post-operatively.

Background: Gut motility recovers more quickly after the minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery compared than after the traditional open surgery; however, whether the minimal abdominal incision contributes to the faster gut motility recovery is controversial and lacks solid clinical evidence.

Methods: A registry-based secondary cohort analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between the abdominal incision length and gut motility recovery post-operatively based on a multicenter, prospective, and observational study of the prolonged post-operative ileus (PPOI) incidence and the risk factors in the patients with the major abdominal surgery. The incision length, in the centimeters, was the exposure. The primary outcome measures were the PPOI incidence and its association with the incision length. The secondary outcome included the days to the first passage of flatus and the days to the first passage of stool.

Results: Overall, 1,840 patients, including 287 (15.7%) patients with the PPOI, were recruited. The PPOI incidence was 17.6% and 13.3% in the long-incision (>18 cm) and short-incision patients ( ≤ 18 cm), respectively. The incidence of the PPOI increased by 1.1% (1.0–1.1) by each centimeter increment of the incision length after adjusting for the confounding factors. In comparison to the short-incision patients, the long-incision patients had prolonged passage of stool (4.46 vs. 4.95 days, p < 0.001). Each centimeter increment of the incision length contributed to a 2% increased risk of delay in the first bowel movement [hazard ratio (HR) 0.980 (0.967, 0.994)].

Conclusion: A long abdominal incision length independently contributed to the prolonged gut function recovery post-operatively mainly by delaying the time to the first bowel movement, but not influencing the time to first passage of flatus.
Immunogenicity of the Oral Rabies Vaccine Strain SPBN GASGAS in Dogs Under Field Settings in Namibia
Authors: Molini Umberto , Hassel Rainer , Ortmann Steffen , Vos Ad , Loschke Malaika , Shilongo Albertina , Freuling Conrad M. , Müller Thomas
Published: October 2021

Dog-mediated rabies is endemic throughout Africa. While free-roaming dogs that play a crucial role in rabies transmission are often inaccessible for parenteral vaccination during mass dog vaccination campaigns, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) is considered to be a promising alternative to increase vaccination coverage in these hard-to-reach dogs. The acceptance of ORV as an efficient supplementary tool is still low, not least because of limited immunogenicity and field trial data in local dogs. In this study, the immunogenicity of the highly attenuated 3rd-generation oral rabies vaccine strain SPBN GASGAS in local free-roaming dogs from Namibia was assessed by determining the immune response in terms of seroconversion for up to 56 days post-vaccination. At two study sites, free-roaming dogs were vaccinated by administering the vaccine either by direct oral administration or via a vaccine-loaded egg bait. Pre- and post-vaccination blood samples were tested for rabies virus neutralizing as well as binding antibodies using standard serological assays. A multiple logistic regression (MLR) analysis was performed to determine a possible influence of study area, vaccination method, and vaccine dose on the seroconversion rate obtained. About 78% of the dogs vaccinated by the oral route seroconverted (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA), though the seroconversion as determined by a rapid fluorescence focus inhibition test (RFFIT) was much lower. None of the factors examined had a significant effect on the seroconversion rate. This study confirms the immunogenicity of the vaccine strain SPBN GASGAS and the potential utility of ORV for the control of dog-mediated rabies in African dogs.
Risk Factors Associated With Increased Ethically Challenging Situations Encountered by Veterinary Team Members During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Quain Anne , Mullan Siobhan , Ward Michael P.
Published: October 2021

Ethically challenging situations (ECS) are commonly encountered in veterinary settings. The number of ECS encountered by some veterinary team members may increase during a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for experiencing an increase in the frequency of ECS in the months following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing data from a global survey of veterinarians, veterinary nurses and animal health technicians collected from May to July 2020. In this study, descriptive analyses were performed to characterize veterinary team members who responded to the survey (n = 540). Binomial logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with an increase in ECS encountered since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being a veterinary nurse or animal health technician, working with companion animals, working in the USA or Canada, and being not confident or underconfident in dealing with ECS in the workplace were factors associated with an increase in ECS encountered since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggest a need to explore the ECS encountered by veterinary team members, particularly veterinary nurses and animal health technicians working in companion animal practice, in depth. Identification of risk factors may facilitate better preparation of veterinary team members for managing ECS, and minimizing the negative impact of ECS on the well-being of those who care for animals.
Significado de los relatos en psicoterapia: los frutos de una nueva unidad observacional.
Authors: Luborsky Lester , Barber Jacques P. , Diguer Louis
Published: October 2021

De nuestras observaciones se ha extraido una nueva definición de las narrativas relacionales en psicoterapia en una revisión sobre su significado para el proceso terapéutico. Entre las observaciones descriptivas externas más significativas se encuentran su identificabilidad, su frecuencia y su focalización en acontecimientos recientes de las relaciones íntimas. Las observaciones internas provienen del método CCRT (Tema de las Relaciones Nucleares Conflictivas), incluyendo una alta frecuencia de deseos de intimidad así como de independencia, una alta frecuencia de expectativas negativas respecto a las respuestas de los demás y de sí mismo, una alta saturación de deseos iniciales y finales en la terapia y un aumento en las respuestas positivas de los demás y de sí mismo de los pacientes que mejoran en psicoterapia.
Metaheuristics for the Minimum Time Cut Path Problem with Different Cutting and Sliding Speeds
Authors: Amaro Junior Bonfim , Santos Marcio Costa , de Carvalho Guilherme Nepomuceno , de Araújo Luiz Jonatã Pires , Pinheiro Placido Rogerio
Published: October 2021

The problem of efficiently cutting smaller two-dimensional pieces from a larger surface is recurrent in several manufacturing settings. This problem belongs to the domain of cutting and packing (C&P) problems. This study approached a category of C&P problems called the minimum time cut path (MTCP) problem, which aims to identify a sequence of cutting and sliding movements for the head device to minimize manufacturing time. Both cutting and slide speeds (just moving the head) vary according to equipment, despite their relevance in real-world scenarios. This study applied the MTCP problem on the practical scope and presents two metaheuristics for tackling more significant instances that resemble real-world requirements. The experiments presented in this study utilized parameter values from typical laser cutting machines to assess the feasibility of the proposed methods compared to existing commercial software. The results show that metaheuristic-based solutions are competitive when addressing practical problems, achieving increased performance regarding the processing time for 94% of the instances.
Prescribed Performance Control with Sliding-Mode Dynamic Surface for a Glue Pump Motor Based on Extended State Observers
Authors: Wang Peiyu , Zhu Liangkuan , Zhang Chunrui , Wang Chengcheng , Xiao Kangming
Published: October 2021

The actuator of a particleboard glue-dosing system, the glue pump motor, is affected by external disturbances and unknown uncertainty. In order to achieve accurate glue-flow tracking, in this paper, a glue pump motor compound control method was designed. First, the prescribed performance control method is used to improve the transient behaviors, and the error of the glue flow tracking is guaranteed to converge to a preset range, as a result of the design of an appropriate performance function. Second, two extended state observers were designed to estimate the state vector and the disturbance, in order to improve the robustness of the controlled system. To further strengthen the steady-state performance of the system, the sliding-mode dynamic surface control method was introduced to compensate for uncertainties and disturbances. Finally, a Lyapunov stability analysis was conducted, in order to prove that all of the signals are bounded in a closed-loop system, and the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method were verified through numerical simulation.
Germination and Agronomic Traits of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Beans Sprayed with Trichoderma Strains and Attacked by Acanthoscelides obtectus
Authors: Rodríguez-González Álvaro , Guerra Marcos , Ramírez-Lozano Daniela , Casquero Pedro Antonio , Gutiérrez Santiago
Published: October 2021

Acanthoscelides obtectus, one of the world’s most important post-harvest pests, attacks wild and cultivated common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Four Trichoderma strains, Trichoderma arundinaceum IBT 40,837 (=Ta37), a wild-type strain producer of trichothecene harzianum A (HA); two transformed strains of Ta37, Ta37-17.139 (Δtri17) and Ta37-23.74 (Δtri23); and T. brevicompactum IBT 40,841 (=Tb41), a wild-type strain producer of the trichothecene trichodermin, were evaluated to determine the effect of these compounds on the virulence of A. obtectus and the effect of these strains on the seed’s capacity of germination and on the agronomic traits of the plants grown from these seeds. Treatments of bean seeds with different Trichoderma strains provided varying survival rates in A. obtectus adults, so life survival of insects after Tb41 strain application was reduced to 15 days. Δtri17 and Tb41 strains sprayed on P. vulgaris beans resulted in low weight losses (1.21 and 1.55%, respectively). In spite of the low germination percentage of beans treated with Δtri23 strain (lower than the germination percentages of the rest of the fungal strains applied), this treatment encouraged a greater Wet Weight of Aerial Part of the plants grown from both damaged and undamaged beans. High germination rates of Ta37 and Δtri17 strains (higher than with the rest of treatments), did not turn into a greater Wet Weight Aerial Part and Wet Weight of Root System in the future plants developed. Linear regression between the number of exit holes and the wet weight aerial part on the one hand, and between the number of exit holes and the wet weight root system on the other, showed interaction, so Δtri23 and Tb41 strains behaved differently in comparison to their respective control treatments. The number of exit holes of beans treated with Δtri23 or Tb41 was negatively correlated with both the wet weight aerial part and the wet weight root system in P. vulgaris plants. Δtri23 sprayed on undamaged beans caused the greatest Wet Weight Aerial Part and wet weight root system in plants. Due to the good results obtained by Δtri23 and Tb41 strains in this work, more studies for A. obtectus control, P. vulgaris plant growth and trichothecenes production by these strains should be explored, in order to advance in the knowledge of how these fungi could be used in the field crop, together with the application of management strategies to mitigate risks for farmers and to minimize environmental contamination.
Salinity as a Key Factor on the Benthic Fauna Diversity in the Coastal Lakes
Authors: Mrozińska Natalia , Glińska-Lewczuk Katarzyna , Obolewski Krystian
Published: October 2021

Benthic communities were studied in nine Polish coastal lakes of the Baltic Sea; representing three levels of hydrological connection with the sea (isolated, periodically connected, and permanently connected), with resultant differences in salinity (freshwater, transitional, and brackish). The lakes classified in this way allowed us to investigate biodiversity in relation to the degree of environmental pressure. Stress intensity in coastal water bodies, resulting from contrasting marine and terrestrial influences, varied from mild to severe. Spatial variation in environmental predictors affected species richness more strongly than seasonal fluctuations. The broader the spatial salinity gradient, the smaller the species number recorded. Differences in the intensity of natural instability only slightly affected species number and α-diversity. In Baltic coastal lakes, characterized by low salinity (max. 7.5 PSU), benthic faunal communities were dominated by large populations of opportunistic species. This applied primarily to closed systems and those periodically influenced by seawater intrusion. The marine component of fauna played a more important role in increasing the diversity of benthos in permanently open water bodies (brackish). The highest density of benthic fauna was recorded in them, whereas low values were associated with the strongest instability, observed in lakes periodically linked with the sea (transitional).
Laparoscopic Castration Using Bipolar Forceps vs. Orchiectomy in Dogs: A Comparison of Two Techniques
Authors: Tavares Inês Tenreiro , Barreno Ramón R. , Sales-Luís José P. , Vaudano Carlo G. , Jaber José Raduan
Published: October 2021

This paper aimed to study the feasibility of a new laparoscopic castration technique in male dogs, evaluate the pain associated with it, and compare it with the classical orchiectomy. Surgical times, pain scores, blood and salivary cortisol, and CRP were recorded and compared between the two groups. The use of high-frequency bipolar forceps allowed quick and uneventful laparoscopic procedures. The laparoscopic group had significantly lower pain scores, cortisol, and PCR values than the orchiectomy group. No complications were seen in any group. Our results suggest that this laparoscopic castration is a safe and beneficial surgical alternative to traditional orchiectomy in dogs.
Outcomes and Future Prospect of Japan’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2016–2020)
Authors: Gu Yoshiaki , Fujitomo Yumiko , Ohmagari Norio
Published: October 2021

The threat from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow. Japan’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, which was formulated in 2016 and targets six areas, has already had a major impact on the countermeasures implemented against AMR. Particular advances have been made in AMR-related surveillance, and we now know the situation regarding antimicrobial use and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the country. Educational and awareness-raising activities for medical professionals and the general public have been actively implemented and seem to have contributed to a gradual move toward an appropriate use of antimicrobials. However, there is still insufficient understanding of the issue among the general public. Determining how to use surveillance results and implementing further awareness-raising activities are crucial to address this. Tasks for the future include both raising awareness and the promotion of AMR research and development and international cooperation. The government’s next Action Plan, which will detail future countermeasures against AMR based on the outcomes of and tasks identified in the current Action Plan, has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is urgently awaited.
LW1497, an Inhibitor of Malate Dehydrogenase, Suppresses TGF-β1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer Cells by Downregulating Slug
Authors: Kim Hyun Ji , Park Mi Kyung , Byun Hyun Jung , Kim Minkyoung , Kim Boram , Yu Lu , Nguyen Tuan Minh , Nguyen Thi Ha , Do Phuong Anh , Kim Eun Ji , Kim Ji Hyun , Enkhtaivan Enkhmend , Kim Kyung Sung , Jang Ji Yun , Kang Gyeoung Jin , Lee Ho , Won Misun , Lee Kyeong , Cho Jungsook , Lee Chang Hoon
Published: October 2021

LW1497 suppresses the expression of the hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF)-1α inhibiting malate dehydrogenase. Although hypoxia and HIF-1α are known to be important in cancer, LW1497 has not been therapeutically applied to cancer yet. Thus, we investigated the effect of LW1497 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung cancer cells. A549 and H1299 lung cancer cells were induced to undergo via TGF-β1 treatment, resulting in the downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin and Vimentin concurrently with increases in the migration and invasion capacities of the cells. These effects of TGF-β1 were suppressed upon co-treatment of the cells with LW1497. An RNA-seq analysis revealed that LW1497 induced differential expression of genes related to hypoxia, RNA splicing, angiogenesis, cell migration, and metastasis in the A549 lung cancer cell lines. We confirmed the differential expression of Slug, an EMT-related transcription factor. Results from Western blotting and RT-PCR confirmed that LW1497 inhibited the expression of EMT markers and Slug. After orthotopically transplanting A549 cancer cells into mice, LW1497 was administered to examine whether the lung cancer progression was inhibited. We observed that LW1497 reduced the area of cancer. In addition, the results from immunohistochemical analyses showed that LW1497 downregulated EMT markers and Slug. In conclusion, LW1497 suppresses cancer progression through the inhibition of EMT by downregulating Slug.
A Digital Cash Paradigm with Valued and No-Valued e-Coins
Authors: Borges Ricard , Sebé Francesc
Published: October 2021

Digital cash is a form of money that is stored digitally. Its main advantage when compared to traditional credit or debit cards is the possibility of carrying out anonymous transactions. Diverse digital cash paradigms have been proposed during the last decades, providing different approaches to avoid the double-spending fraud, or features like divisibility or transferability. This paper presents a new digital cash paradigm that includes the so-called no-valued e-coins, which are e-coins that can be generated free of charge by customers. A vendor receiving a payment cannot distinguish whether the received e-coin is valued or not, but the customer will receive the requested digital item only in the former case. A straightforward application of bogus transactions involving no-valued e-coins is the masking of consumption patterns. This new paradigm has also proven its validity in the scope of privacy-preserving pay-by-phone parking systems, and we believe it can become a very versatile building block in the design of privacy-preserving protocols in other areas of research. This paper provides a formal description of the new paradigm, including the features required for each of its components together with a formal analysis of its security.
A Novel Method for Detecting Advanced Persistent Threat Attack Based on Belief Rule Base
Authors: Wang Guozhu , Cui Yiwen , Wang Jie , Wu Lihua , Hu Guanyu
Published: October 2021

Advanced persistent threat (APT) is a special attack method, which is usually initiated by hacker groups to steal data or destroy systems for large enterprises and even countries. APT has a long-term and multi-stage characteristic, which makes it difficult for traditional detection methods to effectively identify. To detect APT attacks requires solving some problems: how to deal with various uncertain information during APT attack detection, how to fully train the APT detection model with small attack samples, and how to obtain the interpretable detection results for subsequent APT attack forensics. Traditional detection methods cannot effectively utilize multiple uncertain information with small samples. Meanwhile, most detection models are black box and lack a transparent calculation process, which makes it impossible for managers to analyze the reliability and evidence of the results. To solve these problems, a novel detection method based on belief rule base (BRB) is proposed in this paper, where expert knowledge and small samples are both utilized to obtain interpretable detection results. A case study with numerical simulation is established to prove the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method.
Ecological Conditions of the Lower Dniester and Some Indicators for Assessment of the Hydropower Impact
Authors: Kovalyshyna Svitlana , Chuzhekova Tatiana , Grandova Maria , Onishchenko Eduard , Zubcov Elena , Ukrainskyy Volodymyr , Goncharov Oleksandr , Munjiu Oxana , Nabokin Mikhailo , Ene Antoaneta
Published: October 2021

The Dniester is one of the largest transboundary rivers of the Black Sea basin, and its lower reaches integrate the influence of climate change and hydropower plant (HPP) impact on the waterway. The decrease in precipitation and average annual air temperature increase and intensive hydroelectric construction have led to a decline in the total water content of the river, during the last 10 years, being below the long-term historical “norm”. The shifts in the river flow result in multidirectional seasonal dynamics of nutrient concentrations. During the modern period, a stabilization of nutrient concentrations takes place, being lower than at the peak of eutrophication in the 1970s–1980s, but higher than in the natural flow period. The construction of reservoirs leads to a long-term decline in silica concentrations, continuing in the modern period. The concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in water and bottom sediments of the river generally corresponds to the ecological status of “Moderate”. Biological communities show a high β-diversity of microalgae, but low diversity of plankton and benthic invertebrates. Biological communities respond to the impact of HPP in both the short- and long-term. Hydroelectric dams change the bioavailability of nutrients downstream which, in the long-term, causes shifts in phytoplankton composition, especially the reduction of Bacillariophyta due to the lack of silicates that are deposited in reservoirs. However, in the short-term, after the discharge from the HPP dam, the concentration of silicates and the proportion of diatoms increase. Long-term changes also include a decline in the proportion of Rotifera and an increase in Copepoda in the total abundance of zooplankton and the unification of the benthic community with an increase in the biomass of gastropods in the area, which can be considered as indicators of the impact of hydroelectric power plants. The saprobity index, calculated both for zooplankton and macrozoobenthos, characterised the water as moderately polluted; benthic biotic indexes (Biological monitoring working party (BMWP), Belgian Biotic Index (BBI), Danish Stream Fauna Index (DSFI)) calculated on macrozoobenthos described the condition as “low” quality.
Vibration Control of a Two-Link Flexible Robot Arm with Time Delay through the Robust Receptance Method
Authors: Araújo José Mário , Bettega Jason , Dantas Nelson J. B. , Dórea Carlos E. T. , Richiedei Dario , Tamellin Iacopo
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a method for active vibration control to a two-link flexible robot arm in the presence of time delay, by means of robust pole placement. The issue is of practical and theoretical interest as time delay in vibration control can cause instability if not properly taken into account in the controller design. The controller design is performed through the receptance method to exactly assign a pair of pole and to achieve a given stability margin for ensuring robustness to uncertainty. The desired stability margin is achieved by solving an optimization problem based on the Nyquist stability criterion. The method is applied on a laboratory testbed that mimic a typical flexible robotic system employed for pick-and-place applications. The linearization assumption about an equilibrium configuration leads to the identification of the local receptances, holding for infinitesimal displacements about it, and hence applying the proposed control design technique. Nonlinear terms, due to the finite displacements, uncertainty, disturbances, and the coarse encoder quantization, are effectively handled by embedding the robustness requirement into the design. The experimental results, and the consistence with the numerical expectations, demonstrate the method effectiveness and ease of application.
Electrochemically Activated Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode for Determination of Ibuprofen
Authors: Tyszczuk-Rotko Katarzyna , Kozak Jędrzej , Węzińska Anna
Published: October 2021

In this study, we present a simple, sensitive and selective analytical procedure for the ibuprofen (IBP) analysis using the commercially available screen-printed carbon electrode electrochemically activated (aSPCE) by cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M NaOH. The quantitative determinations of IBP were carried out in 0.25 M acetate buffer solution of pH 4.5 ± 0.1 using the differential-pulse voltammetry (DPV). Different experimental parameters for DPV analysis were optimized, including pH and concentration of supporting electrolyte, amplitude (ΔEA), scan rate (ν) and modulation time (tm). The linear ranges of calibration curve were from 0.50–20.0 and 20.0–500.0 µM. The detection and quantification limits were estimated to be 0.059 and 0.20 µM. The aSPCE displayed satisfactory repeatability, reproducibility, and selectivity. Furthermore, the DPV procedure with the use of aSPCE was used to determination of IBP in pharmaceutical formulations. The results achieved by DPV show satisfactory agreement with those obtained by manufacturers (the relative errors are in the range of 3.1–4.7%).
How Character-Centric Game Icon Design Affects the Perception of Gameplay
Authors: Cao Xiaoxiao , Watanabe Makoto , Ono Kenta
Published: October 2021

Mobile games are developing rapidly as an important part of the national economy. Gameplay is an important attribute, and a game’s icon sometimes determines the user’s initial impression. Whether the user can accurately perceive gameplay and affective quality through the icon is particularly critical. In this article, a two-stage perceptual matching procedure is used to evaluate the perceptual quality of six categories of games whose icons include characters as elements. First, 60 highly visual matching icons were selected as second-stage objects through classification tasks. Second, through the semantic differential method and correlation analysis, highly visual matching icons’ affective matching quality was measured. Finally, a series of icon samples were determined, and element analysis was carried out. Several methods were proposed for improving the perceptual quality of game icons. Studying the perceptual matching relationship can better enhance the interaction between designers, developers, and users.
Comparison of Traffic Flow Models with Real Traffic Data Based on a Quantitative Assessment
Authors: Romanowska Aleksandra , Jamroz Kazimierz
Published: October 2021

The fundamental relationship of traffic flow and bivariate relations between speed and flow, speed and density, and flow and density are of great importance in transportation engineering. Fundamental relationship models may be applied to assess and forecast traffic conditions at uninterrupted traffic flow facilities. The objective of the article was to analyze and compare existing models of the fundamental relationship. To that end, we proposed a universal and quantitative method for assessing models of the fundamental relationship based on real traffic data from a Polish expressway. The proposed methodology seeks to address the problem of finding the best deterministic model to describe the empirical relationship between fundamental traffic flow parameters: average speed, flow, and density based on simple and transparent criteria. Both single and multi-regime models were considered: a total of 17 models. For the given data, the results helped to identify the best performing models that meet the boundary conditions and ensure simplicity, empirical accuracy, and good estimation of traffic flow parameters.
Influence of Oxygen Admixture on Plasma Nitrocarburizing Process and Monitoring of an Active Screen Plasma Treatment
Authors: Böcker Jan , Dalke Anke , Puth Alexander , Schimpf Christian , Röpcke Jürgen , van Helden Jean-Pierre H. , Biermann Horst
Published: October 2021

The effect of a controlled oxygen admixture to a plasma nitrocarburizing process using active screen technology and an active screen made of carbon was investigated to control the carburizing potential within the plasma-assisted process. Laser absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the resulting process gas composition at different levels of oxygen admixture using O2 and CO2, respectively, as well as the long-term trends of the concentration of major reaction products over the duration of a material treatment of ARMCO® iron. The short-term studies of the resulting process gas composition, as a function of oxygen addition to the process feed gases N2 and H2, showed that a stepwise increase in oxygen addition led to the formation of oxygen-containing species, such as CO, CO2, and H2O, and to a significant decrease in the concentrations of hydrocarbons and HCN. Despite increased oxygen concentration within the process gas, no oxygen enrichment was observed in the compound layer of ARMCO® iron; however, the diffusion depth of nitrogen and carbon increased significantly. Increasing the local nitrogen concentration changed the stoichiometry of the ε-Fe3(N,C)1+x phase in the compound layer and opens up additional degrees of freedom for improved process control.
Multi-Shape Free-Form Deformation Framework for Efficient Data Transmission in AR-Based Medical Training Simulators
Authors: Kim Myeongjin , Bello Fernando
Published: October 2021

Augmented reality medical training simulators can provide a realistic and immersive experience by overlapping the virtual scene on to the real world. Latency in augmented reality (AR) medical training simulators is an important issue as it can lead to motion sickness for users. This paper proposes a framework that can achieve real-time rendering of the 3D scene aligned to the real world using a head-mounted display (HMD). Model deformation in the 3D scene is categorised into local deformation derived from user interaction and global deformation determined by the simulation scenario. Target shapes are predefined by a simulation scenario, and control points are placed to embed the predefined shapes. Free-form deformation (FFD) is applied to multiple shapes to efficiently transfer the simulated model to the HMD. Global deformation is computed by blending a mapping matrix of each FFD with an assigned weighting value. The local and global deformation are then transferred through the control points updated from a deformed surface mesh and its corresponding weighting value. The proposed framework is verified in terms of latency caused by data transmission and the accuracy of a transmitted surface mesh in a vaginal examination (VE) training simulation. The average latency is reduced to 7 ms, less than the latency causing motion sickness in virtual reality simulations. The maximum relative error is less than 3%. Our framework allows seamless rendering of a virtual scene to the real world with substantially reduced latency and without the need for an external tracking system.