bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibonacci Series-Based Pairwise Comparison Scale for Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Can Yıldırım Boğaç , Karakaya Gülşah , Gönül Mustafa Sinan
Published: March 2021

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of the most widely used quantitative tools in multi-criteria decision-making problems. Despite its popularity and use due to its simple but systematic procedure, AHP has limitations especially in terms of the numerical comparison scale used in one of its core steps: pairwise comparisons. AHP is based on verbal comparisons of alternatives/criteria, which are, then, converted into quantitative scores with a one-to-one mapping between the verbal comparisons and a predetermined numerical scale. The choice of the numerical scale affects an essential characteristic of pairwise comparisons: consistency. In order to understand the intrinsic consistency propinquities, this study evaluates the most widely used numerical pairwise comparison scale (Fundamental Scale) and other numerical scales that have been proposed since the initial formulation of AHP. After identifying the limitations of known scales, a new scale based on Fibonacci series is developed considering these limitations, and further analysis is conducted through extensive simulations. The results show that the proposed scale performs well when compared to the other scales.
NASICON-structured Na ion conductor for next generation energy storage
Authors: Huang Qing , Chen Gongxuan , Zheng Ping , Li Wei , Wu Tian
Published: March 2021

The demand for electrical energy storage (EES) is ever increasing in order to develop better batteries. NASICON-structured Na ion conductor represents a class of solid electrolytes, which is of great interest due to its superior ionic conductivity and stable structures. They are widely employed in all-solid-state ion batteries, all-solid-state air batteries, and hybrid batteries. In this review, their structure, composition, properties, and applications for next generation energy storage are reviewed.
Onset of Hyperkalemia following the Administration of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor or Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker
Authors: Jun Hye-Ran , Kim Hyunah , Lee Seung-Hwan , Cho Jae Hyoung , Lee Hyunyong , Yim Hyeon Woo , Yoon Kun-Ho , Kim Hun-Sung
Published: March 2021

Introduction. In spite of the established importance of detecting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker- (ARB-) induced hyperkalemia, there have not been many studies on the time of its occurrence. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records to determine the onset time and incidence rate of hyperkalemia (

serum
 
potassium
>
5.5
 
mEq
/
L

or 6.0 mEq/L) among hospitalized patients newly started on a 15-day ACEI or ARB therapy. Results. Among 3101 hospitalized patients, hyperkalemia incidence was 0.5%–0.9% and 0.8%–2.1% in the ACEI and ARB groups, respectively. However, it was not significantly different among different ARB types. Hyperkalemia’s onset was distributed throughout 15 days, without any trend. Hyperkalemia incidence was 7.3 and 35.1 times higher at 5.5 mEq/L (

hazard
 
ratio
 

HR

=
7.31

,

95
%
confidence
 
interval
 

CI

=
4.19
–
12.76

,

p
<
0.001

) and 6.0 mEq/L (

HR
=
35.11

,

95
%
CI
=
8.25
–
149.52

,

p
<
0.001

), respectively, than the baseline creatinine level. Hyperkalemia incidence in patients with chronic renal failure was 5.7 and 9.2 times higher at 5.5 mEq/L (

HR
=
5.72

,

95
%
CI
=
3.24
–
10.12

,

p
<
0.001

) and 6.0 mEq/L (

HR
=
9.16

,

95
%
CI
=
4.02
–
20.88

,

p
<
0.001

), respectively. Conclusions. It is unlikely that it is necessary to monitor hyperkalemia immediately after administration of ACEI or ARB. However, when prescribed for patients with abnormal kidney function, clinicians should always consider the possibility of developing hyperkalemia.
Uniformly Nonsquare in Orlicz Space Equipped with the Mazur-Orlicz
F
-Norm
Authors: Cui Yunan , Wang Tongyu
Published: March 2021

The definition of uniformly nonsquareness in Banach spaces is extended to

F

-normed spaces. Most of the results from this paper concern (uniformly) nonsquareness in the sense of James or in the sense of Schäffer in Orlicz spaces equipped with the Mazur-Orlicz

F

-norm. It is well known that uniform nonsquareness in the sense of Schäffer and in the sense of James are equivalent in Banach spaces. In this paper, we found that uniform nonsquareness in the sense of James and in the sense of Schäffer are not equivalent for

F

-normed spaces. Criteria for Orlicz spaces equipped with the Mazur-Orlicz

F

-norm to be nonsquare and uniformly nonsquare in the sense of James or in the sense of Schäffer are given.
Cytotoxin-Associated Gene A-Positive Helicobacter pylori Promotes Autophagy in Colon Cancer Cells by Inhibiting miR-125b-5p
Authors: Zhong Xiaolin , Chen Ou , Zhou TieJun , Lü Muhan , Wan Juyi
Published: March 2021

Objectives. To investigate the effects of cytotoxin-associated gene A- (CagA-) positive Helicobacter pylori on proliferation, invasion, autophagy, and expression of miR-125b-5p in colon cancer cells. Methods. Colon cancer cells were cocultured with H. pylori (CagA+) to analyze the effects of H. pylori on miR-125b-5p and autophagy. Colon cancer cells infected with H. pylori (CagA+) were mimicked by transfection of CagA plasmid. The effects of CagA on the proliferation, invasion, and autophagy of colon cancer cells were analyzed. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), clone formation, and Transwell assays were used to detect cell viability, proliferation, and invasion ability, respectively. Proteins and miRNAs were detected by western blotting and qPCR, respectively. Results. H. pylori (CagA+) inhibited expression of miR-125b-5p and promoted autophagy in colon cancer cells. MiR-125 b-5p was underexpressed in colon cancer cells after CagA overexpression. CagA promoted colon cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and autophagy. Overexpression of miR-125b-5p inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and autophagy of colon cancer cells and reversed the effects of CagA. Conclusion. H. pylori (CagA+) infection may promote the development and invasion of colon cancer by inhibiting miR-125b-5p.
High Serum Asprosin Levels Are Associated with Presence of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Hong Tao , Li Jiao-Yang , Wang Ya-Di , Qi Xiao-Yan , Liao Zhe-Zhen , Bhadel Poonam , Ran Li , Yang Jing , Yan Bin , Liu Jiang-Hua , Xiao Xin-Hua
Published: March 2021

Objective. Asprosin, a new adipocytokine, has reportedly been associated with glucose release, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance (IR). However, the relationship of asprosin with metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate serum asprosin levels in MetS as well as their association with various metabolic parameters in humans. Methods. A total of 131 consecutive patients with MetS, and 162 age-matched, healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Serum asprosin concentrations were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lipid profile, glucose, insulin, and inflammatory markers were also measured. Results. Serum asprosin levels were higher in subjects with MetS (23.52 [16.70, 32.05] ng/mL) than in controls (16.70 [12.87, 22.38] ng/mL;

P
<
0.01

), and they showed an increasing trend with increasing numbers of metabolic components (

P

for trend < 0.01). In all studied subjects, serum asprosin levels were positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (

P
<
0.05

). In multiple linear regression, asprosin was independently and positively correlated with triglyceride and HOMA-IR (

P
<
0.05

). Binary logistic regression revealed that asprosin was independently and positively correlated with the occurrence of MetS and IR, even after controlling for anthropometric variables, lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers. Conclusion. Asprosin is a potential metabolic-related adipokine and may be related to IR and MetS. This trial was registered with ChiCTR, ChiCTR1800018347.
Effective and Efficient Correction of Severe Skeletal Class II Division 1 Malocclusion with Intermaxillary Elastics
Authors: Badri Mohammed K.
Published: March 2021

Treatment of Class II malocclusion accompanied with a skeletal discrepancy is challenging. The approach of correction depends on several factors such as the status and pattern of growth, severity of the malocclusion, and patient cooperation. This case report describes a successful management of a 12-year-old young adolescent boy that was presented with a Class II division 1 malocclusion with an underlying skeletal discrepancy in horizontal and vertical dimensions. Growth modification was achieved by means of bite opening and unlocking the mandible together with Class II elastics and mechanics. Treatment was highly effective and efficient by achieving all treatment goals within a period of 18 months.
Effect of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin on QT Interval Prolongation and Other Cardiac Arrhythmias in COVID-19 Confirmed Patients
Authors: Eftekhar Seyed Parsa , Kazemi Sohrab , Barary Mohammad , Javanian Mostafa , Ebrahimpour Soheil , Ziaei Naghmeh
Published: March 2021

Background. Hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin was one of the common therapies at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They can prolong QT interval, cause torsade de pointes, and lead to sudden cardiac death. We aimed to assess QT interval prolongation and its risk factors in patients who received hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin. Methods. This study was a retrospective cohort study. One hundred seventy-two confirmed COVID-19 patients were included in this study, hospitalized at Babol University of Medical Sciences hospitals between March 5, 2020, and April 3, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: hydroxychloroquine alone and hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin. Electrocardiograms were used for outcome assessment. Results. 83.1% of patients received hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin vs. 16.9% of patients who received only hydroxychloroquine. The mean age of patients was

59.2
±
15.4

.The mean of posttreatment QTc interval in the monotherapy group was shorter than the mean of posttreatment QTc interval in the combination therapy group, but it had no significant statistical difference (

462.5
±
43.1

milliseconds vs.

464.3
±
59.1

milliseconds;

p
=
0.488

). Generally, 22.1% of patients had a prolonged QTc interval after treatment. Male gender, or baseline

QTc
≥
450

milliseconds, or high-risk Tisdale score increased the likelihood of prolonged QTc interval. Due to QTc prolongation, fourteen patients did not continue therapy after four days. Conclusions. Hospitalized patients treated by hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin had no significant difference in prolongation of QT interval and outcome. The numbers of patients with prolonged QT intervals in this study emphasize careful cardiac monitoring during therapy, especially in high-risk patients.
Analysis of Travel Mode Choice in Seoul Using an Interpretable Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Kim Eui-Jin
Published: March 2021

Understanding choice behavior regarding travel mode is essential in forecasting travel demand. Machine learning (ML) approaches have been proposed to model mode choice behavior, and their usefulness for predicting performance has been reported. However, due to the black-box nature of ML, it is difficult to determine a suitable explanation for the relationship between the input and output variables. This paper proposes an interpretable ML approach to improve the interpretability (i.e., the degree of understanding the cause of decisions) of ML concerning travel mode choice modeling. This approach applied to national household travel survey data in Seoul. First, extreme gradient boosting (XGB) was applied to travel mode choice modeling, and the XGB outperformed the other ML models. Variable importance, variable interaction, and accumulated local effects (ALE) were measured to interpret the prediction of the best-performing XGB. The results of variable importance and interaction indicated that the correlated trip- and tour-related variables significantly influence predicting travel mode choice by the main and cross effects between them. Age and number of trips on tour were also shown to be an important variable in choosing travel mode. ALE measured the main effect of variables that have a nonlinear relation to choice probability, which cannot be observed in the conventional multinomial logit model. This information can provide interesting behavioral insights on urban mobility.
Depth Semantic Segmentation of Tobacco Planting Areas from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing Images in Plateau Mountains
Authors: Huang Liang , Wu Xuequn , Peng Qiuzhi , Yu Xueqin
Published: March 2021

The tobacco in plateau mountains has the characteristics of fragmented planting, uneven growth, and mixed/interplanting of crops. It is difficult to extract effective features using an object-oriented image analysis method to accurately extract tobacco planting areas. To this end, the advantage of deep learning features self-learning is relied on in this paper. An accurate extraction method of tobacco planting areas based on a deep semantic segmentation model from the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing images in plateau mountains is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the tobacco semantic segmentation dataset is established using Labelme. Four deep semantic segmentation models of DeeplabV3+, PSPNet, SegNet, and U-Net are used to train the sample data in the dataset. Among them, in order to reduce the model training time, the MobileNet series of lightweight networks are used to replace the original backbone networks of the four network models. Finally, the predictive images are semantically segmented by trained networks, and the mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) is used to evaluate the accuracy. The experimental results show that, using DeeplabV3+, PSPNet, SegNet, and U-Net to perform semantic segmentation on 71 scene prediction images, the mIoU obtained is 0.9436, 0.9118, 0.9392, and 0.9473, respectively, and the accuracy of semantic segmentation is high. The feasibility of the deep semantic segmentation method for extracting tobacco planting surface from UAV remote sensing images has been verified, and the research method can provide a reference for subsequent automatic extraction of tobacco planting areas.
Treatment Effect of Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Outpatient Department Based on Blockchain Electronic Mobile Medical App
Authors: Liu Yang , Yu Zhaoxiang , Sun Hua
Published: March 2021

As the pace of people’s lives accelerates, there are more and more diabetic patients. This research mainly explores the treatment effect of type 2 diabetic patients based on blockchain electronic mobile medical app. Considering that it is more realistic to adopt an off-chain storage solution, the blockchain-based medical data sharing platform in this study adopts an off-chain storage solution. Only key information is stored in the blockchain network, and all medical data will be in the cloud space. For storage, cloud storage uses Aliyun’s OSS storage service, which can be expanded infinitely. The cloud operation module is responsible for all operations that interact with cloud storage. The chain code can call the cloud operation module to upload the user’s encrypted medical data and user ID to Alibaba Cloud’s OSS. The chain code will return the storage address of the medical data and the authorized access address is sent to the blockchain network for consensus on the chain. The message processing module provides information processing functions such as chat information processing, APP use reminders, and health tips. The indicator recording module includes indicator recording functions including 6 indicators of blood sugar, medication, diet, weight, exercise, and sleep. The main function of the indicator analysis module is to display the curve trends of the 6 indicators recorded by the patient in three days, one week, and one month. Comparing the change range of the mean value of glycosylated hemoglobin at the beginning and end of the two groups of patients, it can be found that the change range of glycosylated hemoglobin in the intervention group is −6.04%, while the change range of the control group is only −3.26%. The impact of the mobile medical app designed in this study will indeed be reflected in the patient’s blood sugar control and help patients to better control blood sugar.
Human Engineered Heart Tissue Patches Remuscularize the Injured Heart in a Dose-Dependent Manner
Authors: Querdel Eva , Reinsch Marina , Castro Liesa , Köse Deniz , Bähr Andrea , Reich Svenja , Geertz Birgit , Ulmer Bärbel , Schulze Mirja , Lemoine Marc D. , Krause Tobias , Lemme Marta , Sani Jascha , Shibamiya Aya , Stüdemann Tim , Köhne Maria , Bibra Constantin von , Hornaschewitz Nadja , Pecha Simon , Nejahsie Yusuf , Mannhardt Ingra , Christ Torsten , Reichenspurner Hermann , Hansen Arne , Klymiuk Nikolai , Krane M. , Kupatt C. , Eschenhagen Thomas , Weinberger Florian
Published: March 2021

Background:

Human engineered heart tissue (EHT) transplantation represents a potential regenerative strategy for patients with heart failure and has been successful in preclinical models. Clinical application requires upscaling, adaptation to good manufacturing practices, and determination of the effective dose.

Methods:

Cardiomyocytes were differentiated from 3 different human induced pluripotent stem cell lines including one reprogrammed under good manufacturing practice conditions. Protocols for human induced pluripotent stem cell expansion, cardiomyocyte differentiation, and EHT generation were adapted to substances available in good manufacturing practice quality. EHT geometry was modified to generate patches suitable for transplantation in a small-animal model and perspectively humans. Repair efficacy was evaluated at 3 doses in a cryo-injury guinea pig model. Human-scale patches were epicardially transplanted onto healthy hearts in pigs to assess technical feasibility.

Results:

We created mesh-structured tissue patches for transplantation in guinea pigs (1.5×2.5 cm, 9–15×10
6
cardiomyocytes) and pigs (5×7 cm, 450×10
6
cardiomyocytes). EHT patches coherently beat in culture and developed high force (mean 4.6 mN). Cardiomyocytes matured, aligned along the force lines, and demonstrated advanced sarcomeric structure and action potential characteristics closely resembling human ventricular tissue. EHT patches containing ≈4.5, 8.5, 12×10
6
, or no cells were transplanted 7 days after cryo-injury (n=18–19 per group). EHT transplantation resulted in a dose-dependent remuscularization (graft size: 0%–12% of the scar). Only high-dose patches improved left ventricular function (+8% absolute, +24% relative increase). The grafts showed time-dependent cardiomyocyte proliferation. Although standard EHT patches did not withstand transplantation in pigs, the human-scale patch enabled successful patch transplantation.

Conclusions:

EHT patch transplantation resulted in a partial remuscularization of the injured heart and improved left ventricular function in a dose-dependent manner in a guinea pig injury model. Human-scale patches were successfully transplanted in pigs in a proof-of-principle study.
FINANCIAL CRISIS AND GENDER POLITICS IN EUROPE
Authors: INCE YENİLMEZ Meltem
Published: March 2021

The economic crisis that happened in the US in 2008 has affected the labor markets in Europe badly. Employment opportunities have plummeted around Europe as a whole. The recession that occasioned the crisis had a lesser effect on female employment unlike their male counterparts. The second phase of the crisis was notable with stimulus package implementation particularly on consolidations that was supposed to favor male employments more. The third phase where plans of austerity was introduced, might not be easy for female employment. All these gendered based effect of the crisis are made clearer by occupational and sectorial segregation that were gender based. This paper’s focus is to analyze and describe the employment situation for women within the various crisis stages in Europe. In some nations like Italy and Spain, the crisis has impacted the gender gap by narrowing it; this is basically explained by the gender sectorial segregation. In Denmark and UK, women have lesser protection from sectorial segregation due to higher job losses compared to when the various economic sectors had enjoyed the same distribution in the course of the crisis. This paper establishes if the crisis and policy responses have helped address the issue of gender equity or if the developments have actually worsened the case.
Making Sense of the Political Question Doctrine: The Case of Kosovo
Authors: Beširević Violeta
Published: March 2021

Ever since it was announced in Madison v. Marbury, and articulated in Baker v. Carr, the political question doctrine that tends to exclude ‘mega politics’ from judicial check has been a controversial tool of judicial abstention. Not only that it is not universally applied, but it seems also to be losing significance even in countries of its usual influence due to extensive judicialization of ‘mega politics,’ which implies that there is no claim which the courts will not hear. Based on the judicialization of the Kosovo conflict, this paper shows why the doctrine deserves to be revived and even transplanted in jurisdictions outside its usual reach, particularly in disputes regarding real-life unilateral secession.
Wolf in sheep’s clothing? The interpretation and application of the equality guarantee under the Ethiopian constitution
Authors: Bulto Takele Soboka
Published: March 2021

Constitutionally prohibited grounds of differentiation are normally allowed to command the deserved heightened degree of deference before they are set aside in the implementation of the equality guarantee which underpins the remainder of the ‘Bill of Rights.’ So, too, emphasis should be placed on the imperatives of walking the tight rope in reconciling and balancing competing interests that have a legitimate claim to equal attention in order that the equality guarantee is translated into practice. Nevertheless, the obiter dicta of the House of the Federation in the Benishagul Gumuz decision too easily dispensed with explicit constitutional prohibition of distinctions based on attributes such as language and ethnic origin and legitimated the use of the working language of a regional stare as a criterion for candidacy in future elections. The driving motive appears to be to promote (the right to) the use of indigenous languages of each regional state as the official working language, a right that has been denied to the great majority of the nations, nationalities and peoples of the country. This paper explores the conceptual and normative underpinnings of the right to equality, in the light of which it argues that the House of the Federation has erroneously responded to one threat with another. The crux of the contention is that instead of devising ways that uphold every citizen’s right to the use of one’s language anywhere in the country, it takes away the same rights from the non-indigenes of the various regional states, thereby consigning them to the fate either of forced assimilation or permanent exclusion from elections in the path towards public office.
Sustainable groundwater management in Lagos, Nigeria: the regulatory framework
Authors: Ogunba Adebola
Published: March 2021

This doctoral research focuses on groundwater degradation in Lagos, Nigeria. Groundwater is a fundamental natural resource in Lagos that is presently troubled by pollution emanating from solid waste and wastewater. The city generates 10,000 metric tons of waste and 350 million gallons of wastewater daily, all of which are improperly managed and are heavily polluting its groundwater. This direct environmental pollution is aggravated by indirect problems of over-urbanization, and legal and institutional shortcomings. Over-urbanization in Lagos has resulted into a monumental population of 21 million people in the tiny city, which generates the enormous quantities of solid waste and wastewater. The population places a tremendous burden on the city’s water resources, forcing residents to revert to groundwater which is suffering the plight of pollution, and hence the concern of this research. The pollution problem is worsened by civic apathy to environmental matters, and unresolved by a nascent water sector whose evolving governance structures do not adequately address the multi-dimensional pollution problem. In the final analysis, the absence of holistic and comprehensive groundwater legislation that addresses all these problems challenges the sustainability of this vital resource. The research study contributes to knowledge by attempting to provide broad and holistic recommendations for law reform which address the pollution, management of the effects of over-urbanization and overpopulation on groundwater, and the strengthening of institutions to achieve a sustainable groundwater resource.
Préférences ethnobotaniques des espèces ligneuses locales exploitées pour laproduction d’huile végétale dans lecercle de Sikasso, Mali
Authors: Dembélé Urbain , Koné Yénizié , Témé Bino , Lykke Anne M. , Kouyaté Amadou M.
Published: March 2021

This study examines the preferences of communities in the Mali-South area in terms of local woody species exploited for the production of oil. The study was conducted using ethnobotanical surveys based on semi-structured interviews in two localities of the circle of Sikasso. The surveyed ethnic groups are the Fulani and Senufo in Ziékorodougou, and Bambara and Fulani in Niankorobougou. The sample totaled 48 informants, including twelve defined by ethnic group in both localities. Vitellaria paradoxa, Lophira lanceolata, Carapa procera and Pentadesma butyraceae are the main local tree species identified for the production of oil in the area. Preference ranking scores revealed that C. procera is a species of priority importance after V. paradoxa. There is a similarity of community preferences in terms of plant species used for the production of edible oil. In contrast, community preference varied in terms of choices for the production of cosmetic oil. This difference appears to be related to the level of knowledge and uses of the products of these plants by local communities. The results of this study will help to integrate the needs of people in term of production of vegetable oil in promotion strategies and sustainable management of forest resources.
Enforceability of Environmental Rights: A Possible Panacea to Man’s Environmental Imbroglio – Nigeria’s Niger-Delta as a Case Study
Authors: Ojo Olayinka Oluwamuyiwa
Published: March 2021

This research examines the potential of a human rights-based approach to address the environmental problems affecting Nigeria’s Niger Delta and the world at large. This research critically assesses the various environmental legislation and policies in Nigeria, and interrogates why, despite the enactment of an environmental provision in Section 20 of the Constitution, gross environmental injustice has occurred in the country. Further discussion on the methods and strategies that can be used to guarantee access to the Court, as well as enforcing the right to a healthy environment in Nigeria, despite the current provision of the Constitution, are elucidated. This research argues that a constitutionally enforceable right to a healthy environment, a full implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the establishment of Environmental Courts and Tribunals (ECT), comprehensive and quantitative environmental citizen education, as well as the empowerment of environmental NGOs, may be the solution to the environmental challenges currently faced in Nigeria’s Niger Delta as well as the entire country.
6. Saudi Arabia
Authors: Kraidy Marwan M.
Published: March 2021

A combination of geopolitics, religion, and economics have shaped the media of Saudi Arabia. A structure that began as a national broadcasting system in the 1960s, alongside a well-established privately-owned Arabic-language press, had by the 1990s evolved into a regional system of Arabic- and English-language outlets. This made Saudi Arabia the media superpower of the Middle East. The ascent of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the 2010s ushered in an era of control of both news and entertainment media. As a result, Saudi government influence over Arab media has grown more expansive and more direct. The desire to clamp down on dissent globally led to the disastrous killing of Jamal Khashoggi and the resulting global uproar has affected the stature of Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia’s media face multiple challenges, including the difficult-to-control burgeoning digital media environment and the tensions arising from the kingdom’s political and economic priorities.
14. Sudan
Authors: Galander Mahmoud M.
Published: March 2021

This chapter describes the impact of the incessant political changes that took place in Sudan and highlights the impact of the shifts of the country from democratic to military governments since independence of the performance of the media. In particular, the chapter describes the role of newspapers in the development of nationalism in the early 1920s and in the development of partisan politics after independence. The chapter explores how, as radio and television remained public in their early years, they served as government propaganda and education tools, but later with the advent of satellite transmission and reception, how private entertainment radio and TV services prevailed. The chapter discusses the impact of the numerous political systems that shaped the media–politics relationship, and in particular, the effect of the various media laws that were promulgated in the country by the different political regimes.
15. Libya
Authors: Richter Carola
Published: March 2021

“From house to house, from apartment to apartment, from alley to alley” he would “cleanse Libya of dirt and filth.” With this statement, Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi threatened the rebels during the “Arab Spring” in a thunderous speech on February 22, 2011 on Libyan state television. As he had so often done, he tried to use “his” medium to explain, justify, and mobilize. The media – and television in particular – were understood by the self-proclaimed “Brother Leader” to be a direct channel to the masses since he had come to power in 1969.

William Rugh (1987) classified the Libyan media system as a mobilization system. Mobilization media intend to shake people up, at best educate them, and make them good citizens. In practice, however, this approach meant the dissemination of regime propaganda through media, which, in a simple sender–receiver model, were assumed to have immediate effects on the audience. This understanding of the media as instruments for the dissemination of ideology to a supposedly receptive audience is still prevalent in the Libyan media system today even after the fall of the Qadhafi regime.
16. Tunisia
Authors: Miladi Noureddine
Published: March 2021

The media landscape in Tunisia has witnessed significant transformations since the revolution of 14 January 2011. After decades of direct control and tight monitoring by the dictatorial regimes of Bourguiba and Ben Ali, the country has shifted to a new era of a diverse media market. Public service media have been consolidated and made independent from government interference. Also, newly set up TV and radio channels have been thriving and stand in competition with the public service broadcasters. This diversity in the media market has also been accompanied by regulatory frameworks which guarantee free speech and the independence of journalists. In spite of its slow development, the independent TV and radio regulator, Haute Autorité Indépendante de la Communication Audiovisuelle (High Independent Authority of the Audiovisual Commission) (HAICA), has been considered decisive in transforming the nature of the audio-visual market to meet international standards.

However, despite the abovementioned substantial strides, I argue in this chapter that, similar to any other transitional democracy, in the case of Tunisia, ideological forces, the power of business magnates, and overseas influences remain key factors which affect the operation and effects of various media outlets.
When race trumps political ideology: Black teachers who advocate for social responsibility are penalized by both liberals and conservatives
Authors: Rivera Grace N. , Salter Phia S. , Friedman Matt , Crist Jaren , Schlegel Rebecca J.
Published: March 2021

Meritocracy is a prominent narrative embedded in America’s educational system: work hard and anyone can achieve success. Yet, racial disparities in education suggest this narrative does not tell the full story. Four studies ( N = 1,439) examined how applicants for a teaching position are evaluated when they invoke different narratives regarding who or what is to blame for racial disparities (i.e., individuals vs. systems). We hypothesized these evaluations would differ depending on teacher race (Black/White) and evaluator political orientation. Results revealed conservatives evaluated Black and White applicants advocating for personal responsibility more favorably than applicants advocating for social responsibility. Liberals preferred social responsibility applicants, but only when they were White. They were more ambivalent in their evaluations and hiring decisions if the applicants were Black. Our findings suggest that Black applicants advocating for social change are penalized by both liberal and conservative evaluators.
Intergenerational Perspectives of Paternal Parenting Practices: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Authors: Ee Chang Hui , Wen Sng Qian , Shorey Shefaly
Published: March 2021

There are limited studies exploring the phenomenon of fatherhood in an Asian context, and no dyad qualitative studies have been conducted to understand grandfathers’ and fathers’ perspectives on parenting. This study aims to explore the intergenerational perspectives of paternal parenting practices in Singapore. A descriptive qualitative approach was adopted. Face-to-face interviews were conducted on 12 grandfather–father dyads from the pediatric general ward in a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. Thematic analysis revealed four themes on the influences that affect grandfathers’ and fathers’ perspectives on parenting: (a) Personal traits influencing fathers’ perspectives, (b) external influences that shape parenting, (c) personal views on parenting, and (d) child’s traits that influence parenting. The findings urge professionals to involve fathers in maternity and pediatric care and encourage fathers to work closely with grandfathers to promote positive child developmental outcomes. Further research is needed to develop educational or supportive programs for fathers and grandfathers.
Pyriform Aperture Enlargement for Internal Nasal Valve Obstruction in Adults: Systematic Review and Surgical Classification
Authors: Hajem Humoud , Botter Charles , Al Omani Mohammad , Sounthakith Vincent , de Bressieux Eléonore , Benkhatar Hakim
Published: March 2021

Objective

Pyriform aperture enlargement or “pyriplasty” is an uncommonly used procedure for internal nasal valve obstruction in adults besides functional rhinoplasty, inferior turbinate reduction, and septoplasty. A systematic review of the literature was performed to analyze current surgical techniques, their suggested indications, and their related outcome in terms of success and complications.

Data Sources

The search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases.

Review Methods

The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Studies on congenital, traumatic, tumoral, or infectious internal nasal valve obstruction were excluded.

Results

Eight articles were finally included. Three types of pyriplasty have been described according to the level of bone resection: low‐level pyriplasty through the sublabial approach, mid‐level pyriplasty through endonasal approach, and extended pyriplasty through either approach. Indications included (1) clinically or radiologically narrow pyriform aperture, (2) previously unsuccessful internal nasal valve surgery, (3) lateral nasal wall collapse, and (4) inferior turbinate’s head hypertrophy. Subjective improvement of nasal obstruction was reported in these 4 indications. No major complication was encountered.

Conclusion

Pyriplasty for nasal obstruction is a simple and safe procedure that could be effective in selected cases. However, level of evidence is currently low, and success rate may vary with indications and pyriplasty techniques. Moreover, there is no clear definition of normal pyriform aperture dimensions to date. Further prospective studies are thereby necessary and should include radiological analysis of pyriform aperture and validated nasal obstruction measurement tools.
Gendered division of labor during a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown: Implications for relationship problems and satisfaction
Authors: Waddell Nina , Overall Nickola C. , Chang Valerie T. , Hammond Matthew D.
Published: March 2021

COVID-19 lockdowns have required many working parents to balance domestic and paid labor while confined at home. Are women and men equally sharing the workload? Are inequities in the division of labor compromising relationships? Leveraging a pre-pandemic longitudinal study of couples with young children, we examine gender differences in the division and impact of domestic and paid labor during a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown ( N = 157 dyads). Women did more of the parenting and housework, whereas men engaged in more paid work and personal time, during the lockdown. Couple members agreed that women’s share of parenting, housework and personal time was unfair, but this did not protect women from the detrimental relationship outcomes associated with an inequitable share of domestic labor. A greater, and more unfair, share of parenting, housework and personal time predicted residual increases in relationship problems and decreases in relationship satisfaction for women. Exploratory analyses indicated that men who were the primary caregiver or were not working fulltime also experienced negative relationship outcomes when they did more housework and parenting. These results substantiate concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic may undermine advances toward gender equality by reinforcing inequitable divisions of labor, thereby damaging women’s relationship wellbeing.
What defines the comprehensive assessment of needs in palliative care? An integrative systematic review
Authors: Goni-Fuste Blanca , Crespo Iris , Monforte-Royo Cristina , Porta-Sales Josep , Balaguer Albert , Pergolizzi Denise
Published: March 2021

Background:

The comprehensive assessment of needs in palliative care identifies where patients most want attention to guide clinical decisions that tailor care provision from their first encounters.

Aim:

To define how and what needs are identified by the comprehensive assessment of needs in the original peer-reviewed articles in the field of palliative care.

Design:

An integrative systematic review as outlined by Whittemore and Knafl. Quality appraisal performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Data sources:

PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science databases searched through May 2019 and updated in July 2020.

Results:

Forty-nine articles met inclusion criteria for original articles in English or Spanish reporting comprehensive assessment of needs of adult patients receiving palliative care. The majority (41/49) of studies were moderate to high quality. Two themes were identified: (1) How a comprehensive assessment of needs should be carried out in palliative care, which reflected a preference to develop structured tools for assessment; (2) What needs of patients should be assessed in the comprehensive assessment of needs in palliative care, which conveyed a trend to assess beyond core domains – physical, psychological, social, spiritual – with information and practical most prevalent, but with substantial variation in specifying and classifying needs into domains.

Conclusions:

The assessment of needs in palliative care is comprehensive but lacks consensus on the needs and domains that should be assessed by the palliative care team. Future studies should better define what needs can be standardized into the assessment to improve process of care and patient satisfaction.
Higher education and violent revolutionary activism under authoritarianism: Subnational evidence from Iran
Authors: Asadzade Peyman
Published: March 2021

Existing research shows that education reduces the likelihood of individuals’ participation in political violence and increases conventional political participation, such as voting. However, how does education affect political behavior in authoritarian contexts where opportunities for conventional political participation are limited or non-existent? Focusing on higher education, I argue that college education is likely to encourage violent revolutionary activism in authoritarian contexts because of two mechanisms. First, higher educational institutions facilitate social network-building and, as a result, make recruitment easier. Second, higher education increases expectations for political participation in authoritarian contexts where opportunities for institutionalized activity are often limited. The absence of peaceful paths for political engagement makes violent activism an appealing choice under authoritarianism. I use an original dataset of Iranian armed revolutionary activists in the 1960s and the 1970s to test the argument. I utilize quantitative and qualitative sources such as census data, biographical information, primary archival documents, and interviews with former revolutionary activists to explore why individuals engage in violent activism under authoritarianism and how education contributes to their decision to join armed anti-government groups. The findings suggest that higher education significantly increases the probability of individuals’ participation in armed revolutionary activism against authoritarianism.
Perception of Gender Equality Matters: Targets’ Responses to Workplace Sexual Harassment in Chinese Metropolises
Authors: Wang Xiying , Chui Wing Hong , Wang Yean
Published: March 2021

Workplace sexual harassment (WSH) has been recognized in the literature as a serious problem for the past 40 years. Since 2017, the global #MeToo movement has fostered local awareness of WSH and inspired researchers in China to pay increasing attention. Guided by the gender empowerment theory, this study investigated the relationships between women’s responses as targets of WSH (e.g., choosing avoidance or confrontation) and both their perceptions of gender equality and their knowledge of the relevant national laws. We used data from a recent large-scale online survey conducted on the topic of sexual harassment among Chinese women in four metropolitan cities in 2018 and selected 862 women who had experienced WSH during the previous 12 months as the study sample. The results revealed that 545 of the respondents chose to show resistance when faced with WSH, while 287 identified their boss as their harasser. In addition, respondents’ perceptions of gender equality and their knowledge of national laws on anti-domestic violence were shown to have positive effects on their responses as targets of WSH. Moreover, monthly income, household registration, and type of WSH were found to be associated with targets’ responses in a statistically significant way, whereas their marital status, educational background, and age were not. Furthermore, the study found that the boss as harasser weakened the relationship between women’s perception of gender equality and their active response to WSH incidents. With this study, we advance our understanding of the important role that perceptions of gender equality play in women’s responses as targets of WSH, and we discuss implications for prevention and intervention efforts that encourage targets to actively respond. We advocate promoting education on gender equality, fostering awareness of the laws and regulations relevant to WSH, and cultivating an organizational culture and environment that is hostile toward WSH.
The Implementation and Effect of Weekend Pharmacy-Driven Antimicrobial Stewardship Services at a Large Academic Medical Center
Authors: Bohn Brian C. , Neuner Elizabeth A. , Athans Vasilios , Rivard Kaitlyn R. , Riffle Allison R. , Richter Sandra S. , Fraser Thomas G. , Gordon Steven M.
Published: March 2021

Background:

In September 2018, pharmacy antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) services were expanded to include weekends at this academic medical center. Activities performed by AMS pharmacists on the weekends include blood culture rapid diagnostic (RDT) review, antiretroviral therapy (ART) review, prospective audit and feedback (PAF) utilizing clinical decision support, vancomycin dosing, and operational support. The purpose of this study was to assess the operational and clinical impact of these expanded AMS services.

Methods:

This single-center, quasi-experimental study included data from weekends before (9/2017–11/2017) and after (9/2018–11/2018) implementation. The descriptive primary outcome was the number of activities completed for each AMS activity type in the post-implementation group only. Secondary outcomes were time to AMS opportunity resolution, time to escalation or de-escalation following PAF or RDT alert, time to resolution of miscellaneous AMS related opportunities, length of stay (LOS), and antimicrobial use outcomes.

Results:

During the post-implementation period 1258 activities were completed, averaging 97/weekend. Inclusion criteria for time to resolution outcomes were met by 72 patients pre-implementation and 59 patients post. The median (IQR) time to AMS opportunity resolution decreased from 18.5 hours pre-intervention (7.7-35.7) to 8.5 hours post-intervention (IQR 1.8-14.0), p < 0.01. Time to escalation was 11.6 hours compared to 1.7 hours (p = 0.1), de-escalation 16.7 hours compared to 10.8 hours (p = 0.03), and miscellaneous opportunity 40.8 hours compared to 13.2 hours (p = 0.01). No differences were observed in LOS or antimicrobial use outcomes.

Conclusion:

Presence of pharmacist-driven weekend AMS services significantly reduced time to resolution of AMS opportunities. These data support the value of weekend AMS services.
Fabrication of circular cooling channels by cold metal transfer based wire and arc additive manufacturing
Authors: Han Shaohua , Zhang Zhongzhong , Ruan Pengxiang , Cheng Shiwen , Xue Dingqi
Published: March 2021

Additive manufacturing has been proven to be a promising technology for fabricating high-performance dies, molds, and conformal cooling channels. As one of the manufacturing methods, wire and arc additive manufacturing displays unique advantages of low cost and high deposition rate that are better than other high energy beam-based ones. This paper presents a preliminary study of fabricating integrated cooling channels by CMT-based wire and arc additive manufacturing process. The deposition strategies for fabricating circular cross-sectional cooling channels both in conformal and straight-line patterns have been investigated. It included optimizing the welding torch angle, fabricating the enclosed semicircle structure and predicting the collision between the torch and constructed part. The cooling effect test was also conducted on both the conformal cooling channel and straight-line cooling channel. The results affirmed a higher cooling efficiency and better uniform cooling effect of the conformal cooling channel than straight-line cooling channel.